Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-08-21
GEN. GRANT IN CAMP.

washington, April 3o.-A military
friend who has just passed some days in
the military headquarters at Culpepper
= has given me ar account of the visit
;. and of the habits of the lieutenant gen.
& era that am glad to transcribe. Gen.
a Grant messes with his staff in a house
in the village, and at his table sits famil-
iarly every member of his military fam
lily. The expenses of the mess are
divided among ten, not in equal proper
tons exactly, but in a manner satisfac-
tory to all. There is not the slightest
attempt at show or parade in the furni-
ture or equipage; everything is for use
and economy in trouble and space.
The crockery is scanty and of the plain
est, and the fare, though sufficient in
quantity, is just as homely as that of
any thrifty and careful mechanic in
your city. A chop with a cup of coffee
for breakfast, bit of roast beef with
potatoes and hard tack, confronting a
dish of pork and green's served for the
O'Clock dinner, which was concluded
without pastry or dessert. A cup OF
tea and bit of toast anil butter at 30
o'clock finished up the day. The beds
are simply camp cots, some with and
others without matresses and all the
toilet apparatus anywhere visible were
a few tin wash basins, moderate sup
ply of towels, bit of looking glass and
horn comb. At the table neither dis
titled wine nor liquor is permitted. The
general will not have either about him
for his own or others use.
The inventory of the generals bag
gage when he made his brilliant cam
paign in the rear of Vicksburg, is, l
take it, well remembered-a briar wood
telescope and a tooth brush. In what
relates to personal adornment and out
side of the necessity of eating and
drinking, personal comfort, he has not
greatly enlarged his possessions. His
three stars indicate his exalted rank, to
say nothing of the charm which in the
soldiers eyes these glittering marks of
rank possess, doubt whether there is
.
as plainly clad as he. His clothes are
worn threadbare, and despite the steady !,
brushing of his servant they will have
an untidy look, due no doubt, to the
generals habit of going everywhere :,
and seeing everything himself. The
general understands the relation be-
tween cleanliness and goodness, but in =
his opinion practically evinced there =
is as much of either in a flannel shirt "
as in one of linen of drawing room inn Il
You readers are not to suppose that l
am describing careless or indolent "
man, or one who does not know the III
difference between the garb of gen.
ire pointed out only as proof that this
mans mind is so intent upon the great ca
problem before him that he has neither III
ime nor inclination to consider frivoli- ag
les. He holds a great nations fate lie
n the palm of his hands, and it is an tie
Encouragement to know that every fac ed
lily of his mind is calmly but profound la
Y exercised for the national welfare ST
All mis- thoughts of carriages center in an
he carriages which lear his field pieces. sti
lis discussion of the question of eating hi
intends no farther than to the rations mi
his men; and he would hate himself In
he could spend a minute over the fit VIZ
r fashion of his coat.
f1f,
General Grant never swears. No man PIC
his camp has ever heard him give
tterance to profanity in any of his gu
ANY forms He rarely laughs, either, III
1t he has a sort of grim humor which
not without its effect tits related as cd
part of the gossip of the front that an pie
hcer attached to the quartermaster' thi
,partment of his army wanted one wet bel
" to consult with the general-in-
lief He is a believer in the old re- cui
me and practiced what under McClel- oo'
n he was taught. lie had half dozen
Hes TO go, more or less, so he ordered the
1t his horse and carriage, and as It wa wo
,ely that night would come before he
uld return the lamps were trimme yer
ID hung out on each side of the drive get
at. Then with an escort of twelve "
agoons ne started, happy no doubt -
the belief that he was proof against col,
e descending rain. Approaching Gull "
PIPER he met an ordinary looking man tina
horseback attended only by an or l.
\