The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-16
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desire to rise by the fall of others; no
glorying over another's abasement; no
exulting over another's tears. He went
forth to the field of strife only at the
call of his country. and he strikes at
her bidding, smites at her command,
and when the rebellion shall cry
enough and his country shall bid
him retire, he Will quietly and duti-
fully return, and reDose on the bosom
he has SO bravely defended.
GRANT WAS PROMPT AND EXACT
ED PRONPTNBSs.
He does his work at the time and
he requires all under his command to
be equally prompt. / was walking over
the encampment with him one morn
ing after breakfast. 1t was usual for
each company to call the roll at a
given hour: it was now probably half
an hour after the time for that duty.
The colonel was quietly smoking his
old meerschaum and talking and walk
ing leisurely along, when he noticed a
company drawn up in line and the roll
being called. He instantly drew his
pipe from his mouth and exclaimed,
Captain, this is no time for calling
the roll; order your men to their quar-
tiers Immediately" The command
was instantly obeyed and the colonel
resumed his smoking and walked on.
cOnverSing as quietly as if nothing had
happened. For this violation of disci-
pine those men went without rdtiOnS
that day, excepting what they gath
cred up privately from among their
friends of other companies Such a
breach of order was never witnessed
in the regiment afterwards while he
was colonel This promptness is one
of Grants characteristics, and it is
one Of the causes of his success.
n want of this coming to time has
been the cause of many of the disas-
tiers that have attended our arms. a
general is behind time with his divi-
sion or corps, and the day is lost We
may conjecture that the battle of Bull
Kun would have resulted in our ia
Vor had Patterson been prompt to in
tereept the reinforcements of the en-
envy, as he was directed. And a cloud
came well nigh settling upon the head
of Grant at Shiloh because of the lott
ering Of Buel.
Grant would correct, and. if neces-
sary, punish any want of conformity to
rule or neglect of orders, or infrac-
ton OF regulations in as cool and un-
ruh1ed manner even as you would
give directions to your gardener be-
fore breakfast.
GRANT EMPTIES THE WHISKY
FROM THE CANTEENS.
On one of our marches, while passing
through one of those small towns
where the grocery is the principal es-
adjustment, some of the lovers Of
lntoxication had broken or gIided awav
from our lines and filled their can+eens
with whisky, and soon were Keeling
IN Ill
While apparently stopping the regi-
ment for rest, Grant passed quietly
along the ranks and took each canteen.
and whenever he detected the odor
emptled the liquor on the ground with
as much nonchalance as he would
empty his pipe, and had the Offenders
tied behind the baggage wagons until
they had sobered into soldierly pro-
priety. On this point his orders were
imperative; no whisky or Intoxicating
beverages were allowed in his camp.
Right here l would notice the report
that once obtained circulation. that
Grant was "a lover of ardent spirits
himself. and that ne INDUCED too free
ly in their use. OF this report I would
say that [ was with him the most mart
of three months. in all sorts of wealth
er, marches and exposure; we ate at
the same table, often slept in the same
tent, and sat around the same c,anp
fire, and [ never knew him to allow
ardent spirits in the regiment nor did
l ever know him even to taste them in
any form. I have seen him in COM
pany with his superiors in Office where
wine and brandy were freely passing
and when offered to him he invariably
refused, usually remarking that he
never INDUCED in anything stronger
than coffee and tobacco
his promptneSs and energy in cor
rectng errors and reforming abuses in
his regiment sometimes led his men.
especially those Who were guilty. to
feel that he was hard and severe be-
yond necessity; but while he was thus
vigilant and active in enforcing strict
discipline, yet he was not unfeeling nor
Indifferent in regard to the sufferinss
which the. necessary penalties of camp
life brought upon unsophisticated and
unintentional offenders
AN EXAMPLE OF GRANT DIsCI-
PINE.
When we halted at Salt River. Mo
two of our young bEoods, supposing
that it was necessary TO show their
hatred to the rebellion by some yaIor-
Gus exploit, had hardly pitched their
tents when they started off on their
own responsibility to seek for the enc
mics to the Union. They left in the
afternoon, stayed all night, and came
back next day in flying colors. bringing
with them a "secesher'' and two of his
horses. Grant was seated by the door
of his tent when the two heroes
brought the trophies of their victory
before him. He did not rise from his
seat nor pull his pipe from his mouth.
but quietly asked the boys: ''Who gave
you permission to be absent from the
camp?' Nobody; we just thought we'd
go out and look after some seceshers,
and we've found this Teller and brought
him I'D and they pointed triumphant
~ to the prisoner, who was still sitting
on his horse, looking as if he expected
to be shot before he could say his
prayers.
III attend to your case first" said
the colonel, and the flush of victory
began to fade from their faces as he
continued: Captain, you will take these
boys and have them tied to a tree for
six hours for leaving camp without per-
mission" The boys looked crestfallen
and disappeared in company with their
captain. After the colonel had ques-
toned the trembling farmer, and his
professions of attachment to the Union
were found to be satisfactory, and he