The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-02

Personal Appearance Of the Com.
mander Of the Army.

Gen. Horace Porter in the Century.
A description of General Grants personal
appearance at this important period of his
ticularly up to that time the public had
received such erroneous impressions OF
HIM There were then few S correct t. p or
earliest pictures purporting to be photo
graphs of him had been MANUFACTURED n
when he was at the distant i from, ne 6
focused" Nothing daunted, the prac-
TIGERS of that art which is the chief solace
OF the vain had photographed burly beef
contractor. and spread the pictures broad
cast as representing the determined, but
rather robust, features of the coming hero
and ii was some time before the real pho
tographs which followed were believed to
be genuine.
False Impressions Of him were derived
too. from the fact that he had come forth
nous chiefly for striking sledgehammer
blows in the field and conducting relentless
pursuits n of his foes through the va
popular mind as striding about in the most
approved swash- buckler style of melo-
drama Many of US were not a little sur
prised to find in him man OF slim figure,
slightly stopped, five feet eight inches in
height, Weighing only 135 pounds. and of a
nodeSty of mien and gentieresS Of manner
which seemed to fit him more for the court
than for the camp. His eyes were dark
gray, and were the most expressive Of his
features. Like nearly all men who speak
little, he was a good listener: but his face
gave little indication of his thoughts. and
it was the expression of his eyes which
furnished about the only response to the
speaker who conversed with him. When
he was about to say anything amusing
there was always perceptibe twinkle in
his eyes before he began TO speak. and he
often laughed heartily at q witty remark
or humorous incident.
His mouth. like Washington's, was of the
forming n nearly horizontal lire. This
feature was or pattern in striking con-
trast with that of Napoleon. who had a
bow mouth. which looked as If 4 had been
modelled after q front view of his cooked
hat. The frmness with which the Gen.
erals square-shaped jaws were set when
pressive of his force of character and the
strength of his will power. His hair and
beard were Of a chestnut-brown color. The
beard was worn full, no part of the face
being shaved. but, like the hair was al
ways kept closely and neatly trimmed.
Like Cromwell, Lincoln and several other
great men IN history. he had a wart on
his cheek. In his case it was small, and
located on the right side just above the
line of the beard. His face was not per-
fectly symmetrical. the left eye being a
very little lower than the right. His brow
was high. broad and rather square. and
creased with several horizontal wrin-
kles. which helped to emphasize the seri-
Gus and somewhat careworn look which
was never absent from his countenance.
This expression. however, was in no wise
an indication of his nature, winch was al
ways buoyant, cheerful and hopeful. His
voice w9s exceedingly musical. and one OF
the clearest in sound and most distinct in
utterance that / have ever heard. Ii had a
singular power Of penetration and sem
fences spoken by him in an ordinary tone
in camp could be heard 1T a distance which
was surprising.
His gait in walking might have been
called decidedly unmilitary. He never car
ried his boz, erect, and. having no ear for
music or rhythm. he never kept step to
the airs played by the bands. no matter
how vigorously the bass drums empha sized
the accent. When walking in company
there was no attempt TO keep step with
others. In conversing he usually employed
only two gesture; one was the stroking of
his chin beard with his left hand the Other
was the raising and lowering Of his right
hand. and resting ii at intervals unon his
knee or table. the hand being held with
the fingers close together and the knuckles
bent. so that the back of the hand and
fingers formed a right angle. When not
pressed by any matter of Importance he
was often slow in his movements but when
reused TO activity he was quick In every
motion. and worked with marvellous rapid
lily. lie was civil to all who came in con-
tact with him. and never attempted to
snub any one or treat anybody with less
consideration on account OF his irferiori,y
In rank. With him there was none Of The
puppyism so often bred by power. and nUlle
of the dogmatism which Samuel johnson
characterized as puppyism grown 10 ma
turity-