The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-04
NEW STORIES OF GRANT.
He Had No Patience with LuxurIousiy
Inclined Onicers In the Field.

NEW STORIES OF GRANT.
He Had No Patience with LuxurIousiy
Inclined Onicers In the Field.
From Edmund Kirke's New Book
In the summer of 1854 / passed two
days at the headquarters of General
Grant at City Point, Va, and thus had
an opportunity to observe the way of
life of this most democratic of union
commanders. He messed with his staff
and at his table sat Familiarity every
member of his military household. The
expenses of the mess, / was told, were
divided among the various members.
not in equal proportions, but accord
ing to the rank of the various members
and in a manner satisfactory to ALL
There was no show of parade in either
furniture or equipage. Everything
seemed to be for use, and arranged to
economize both space and attention.
The crockery was scanty and of the
plainest description. and the fare,
though abundant in quantity. was of
quality that might be found on the
table of any well-to-do workingman in
the north. A chop. with a cup of cof-
fee, served for breakfast; a bit of roast
beef with potatoes and hard tack,
fianked by dish of pork and greens,
sufficed for the o'clock dinner, which
had neither pastry nor dessert. A cup
"
completed the fare for the day. The
beds were merely camp cots. some of
them without mattresses, and all the
visible toilet apparatus were a few tin
wash basins, a scanty supply of tow
els, bit of looking glass and horn
comb.
Everyone has read the inventory of
the generals baggage when he made
the Vicksburg campaign-"a briarwood
telescope and a tooth brush" When 1
met him at City Point he had not
greatly enlarged his personal posses
sions. Except the three stars upon his
shoulders, there was absolutely moth
ing about him to indicate his exalted
rank. His clothes were threadbare,
and, despite the constant brushing of
his servant, they would present an I'M
tidy look, due, no doubt, to his going
everywhere and seeing everything for
himself. The general understood the
kinship of cleanliness and goodness,
but there was an utter absence of
fuss and feathers about him and his
entire surroundings. Judging of him
find him decidedly reticent, but, on the
contrary, / observed that in familiar
intercourse he was somewhat loquac-
ious, fond of a good story and often
giving vent to grim humor that was
decidedly enjoyable. Illustrative of this
pHdSe Ol Ills CndTdCleT, SOME members
of his staff repeated to me several
anecdotes. two of vwhich-as 1
have never seen them in print-it may
not be amiss to give to the public.
1 was told that when the generals
were at Culpepper an Of
ficer attached to the quartermaster's
who was stationed some
half dozen miles away, desired to con-
suit him on some business that he
deemed of Importance. The day was
exceedingly rainy and the roads were
knee deep in mud, and to avoid undue
exposure to the weather the officer
who was one of the old regime, with
full appreciation of the dignity of his
up a close carriage, and,
as IL was likely that night would come
on before he could return, had the
lamps trimmed and hung out on either
side of the drivers seat. Then, with an
escort of IL cavalrymen, he set out for
happy in the thought
that he was proof against the fast de-
rain.
Not far from Culpepper he met an
ordinary looking horseman, attended
only by a single orderly, and was about
TO pass him without notice when he
recognized him to be the lieu
tenant general, who, in spite of the
rain, was making his usual round of
the army. attended by his usual slen-
Ter escort. To descend from the car
rage and salute his chief was but the
work of a moment, but the general, ir-
-itated by the style and pretention of
the officer, was in no hurry to see him |
regain the shelter of his carriage.
Walk along with me a little" said the |
II want to talk with you" |
With polished boots and unexception- |
lble kids, Mr.. Quartermaster did as he |
was hidden. and, with a touch of grim |
ness, the general led him through the |
nuddiest part of the road, and did not |
release him until he was wet to the |
,kin-as wet as was the general him |
,elf. Then he dismissed him with a |
lew curt remarks; which were not /
overheard by the orderly. Their pur- |
bort, however was conJectured by the /
GENERALS staff, for they observed that |
he officer never again appeared at |
in a close carriage.