The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-10-10
FOOLED HIS FATHER.
A STORY ILLUSTRATING GRANTS
STRONG SENSE OF HONOR

The General Wanted to Do His Duty
Without Hurting His Fathers
Feelings, and by a Clever Little
Ruse He Succeeded Admirably.
Great men frequently discover that
relatives are not the most charming
things to have or cultivate, after great
ness comes. Were it possible to in
duce public men of the past and pres
ent to reveal just what they thought
of their relatives the revelations might
furnish some most interesting side
lights on certain famous careers.
To Walpole is attribuated the bitter
exclamation:
Relatives are tails to already over
loaded kites"
This may be unwelcome truth, since
history contains many instances where
| cousins and aunts have proved treach
erous stumbling blocks for ambitious
| leaders.
General Grant was at Memphis in
| command of the army Of the west, and
| Just before his elevation to the COM
| mand of all the armies of The Union,
| when he received word that his father
| was about to make his headquarters a
visit
| The news did not please him. His
staff noticed his perturbation, but pass
ed it by without comment. One night
shortly before the arrival of his sire
| he sent for General Dichie, his chief of
cavalry. General Dckie afterward be-
| came chief justice of the supreme
court of Illinois, and. strangely enough,
| died at Atlantic City on the same day
that Grant passed away mt McGregor.
To Dickie General Grant said:
81 have sent for you as personal
friend. My father is coming to visit
me, and what l have got to tell you
about that visit is not pleasing to me,
but something must be done. Some Of
the money sharks and cotton specu-
lators have gained an unwarrantable
influence over the old man, and he is
really coming down here to use his in
huence over me to gain favors for
them. This cannot be done. l do not
wish to wound his feelings. do not
wish him to know that | understand
l
plan of action which l wish you to
aid me in carrying out"
General Dickie understood the char
acter Of Grant as few men did. He
promised his aid. General Grant then
said:
"You are relieved from all duty from
this time on until the departure of my
father. The instant he arrives wish
you to take him to your tent and en-.
tertain him there. Keep him there all
the time. Under no circumstances
allow him to be with me alone while
he is here"
General Dickie Immediately made
: preparations for the old gentleman
: and when he came received him with
open arms. He was very anxious te
i see his son. but glad to take Dickie's
, headquarters for his own and pleased
with the cordiality displayed toward
, him. AS soon as he was settled ht
made vigorous efforts to have a per
} sonal interview with his son, but some
: thing always happened to prevent.
+ Wherever he turned, Dickie was BY
his side. General Grant called on hin
! daily, but never alone. If he went t.
r the generals quarters he always fOunt
: him occupied. If he tried to meet hin
3 in Dickie's tent Dickie was sure to b,
] around, and personal conversation wa
2 an impossibility.
, At the end of four or five days tn,
] old gentleman was very restless, bu
: there was no chance for him to protes
t and no chance for him to get close
= than a public audience with his son
+ For nearly ten days he made the effort
but failed, and then left for home, hap
= py as to the entertainment he had re
s ceived, but dismayed at his inability t.
r see his son alone.
n As soon as he was gone, Grant re
], stored General Dickie to cavalry duty
n but never referred again to the pur
e pose of his fathers visit. Genera
e Dickie told the story shortly before hi
: death to Chicago lawyer, but it ha
never been printed until now.
In semipublic letter written b.
General Grant after his retiremen
v from the presidency. there occurs tn
t lines:
n "Whatever mistakes l have made 4
q my public life, l have never erred 70
e my own gain. What l have done 70
n the republic has been from a sense o
e duty, and not with any thought as t
It what it would profit me. Many III
IS kind things have been said and writ
a ten of me by those who least kno,
8 how have been situated, but my act
e have been inspired by the highes
"a sense of fealty to my country and GOV
!. ernment."-Chicago Times Herald.