The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-25
Impression Of His Mental Ability
Made Upon His Subordinates.

General Horace Porter, in the Century.
n Being informed that the general wished
room he was occupying at headquarters,
and found two of his staff officers seated
nod of the head by way of recognition and,
pointing. to chair said rather bluntly,
but politely. "Sit down. In reply to a
question which he asked 1 gave him some
information he desired in regard to the
character and location OF certain heavy
guns which 1 had recently assisted in put
ting in position on the advanced portion of
our lines, and the kind and amount of
artillery ammunition. He soon after began
resumed my seat as he said, "Sit still"
My attention soon attracted to the
correspondence At this time. as through
out his later career, he wrote nearly all
his documents with his own hand and
seldom dictated to any one even the most
unimportant dispatch. His work was per-
formed swiftly and uninterruptedly, but
without any marked display of nervous en-
ergy His thoughts flowed as freely from
his mind as the ink from his pen: he was
never at a loss for an expression and seldom
rection, He sat with his head bent low
over the table, and when he had occasion
paper he wanted. he would glide rapidly
across the room without Strengthening him
sell. and return to his seat with his body
sui Dent over at about the same angle at
wnlch ne had been sitting when he left
his chair. Upon this occasion he tossed
the sheets of paper across the table as he
~ .X. =
dlspruer. When he had completed the dis
patcn ne gathered up the scattered sheets
read them over rapidly, and arranged
them in their proper order. Turning
to me after time, he said. Perhaps Won
might like to read what L am sending" I
thanked him. and In looking over the dis
patches | found that he was ordering ND
shermans entire force from Corinth to
forming Halleck of the dispositions decided
upon for the opening of a line of supplies
and assuring him that everything possible
would be done for the relief of Burnside in
East Tennessee. Directions We're also given
Tor the taking of vigorous and compro-
nenSfye steps in every direction throughout
his new and extensive command. AT a late
hour, after having given further directions
for the opening of the route from Bridge
port to Chattanooga, and in the rnear,ti,ne
sending back to be foraged all the animals
that could be spared. he bid those present
a pleasant good night, and limped off to
his bedroom.
j cannot dwell forcibly on the deem i'm.
preston made upon those who had come
In contact for the first time with the new
commander by the exhibition they wit
messed of his singular mental powers and
Els rare military qualities. Coming to us
crowned with the laurels he had gained in
tne Drilllant campaign of Vicksburg we
naturally expected to meet a well-equipped
soldier, but hardly anybody was prepared
TO find one who had the grasp. the prompr-
ness OF decision, and the general adu,inis
trative capacity which he displayed at the
very start as commander of an extensive
military division, in which many commit
Gated problems We're presented for imine-
date solution.
/ had fallen into the habit of making
careful. notes of everything of interest
vi ich came under my own observation
script Of memoranda of events jotted down
ut the time they occurred.