The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1899-09-14
He knew his own merits and also his


imperfections. He frankly admitted
that he was inferior to Sherman and
Mcpherson in military scholarship, but
he knew that when n new problem in
war was presented to him he could sec
the right mode of solving 1t. lie also
knew that he had what Sherman in
letter to him called, Your dogged per
severance and pluck" "Mr. Grant
said his wife, sis a very obstinate
man."
Gen. Grant told a story about him
self and his military studies which
shows that he never allowed the acqui-
sition of knowledge to interfere With
his reasoning faculties and his indie
pendence of thought. Certain friends,
wishing to give him a library for his
new house in Washington, asked him
what military books he then had, so
that they might not duplicate thera.
He replied that he had no military
books, and never had had any, except
the West Point text books.
Doubtless he might have profited by
additional study; but this fact is ap-
parent-his native military genius was
permitted to develop itself by personal
experience and independent thought,
Its development was not hindered by
the knowledge of what other command.
ers had done, or by the temptation 10
become an imitator Of Caesar or Marl-
borough or Napoleon.
Grant knew that he had not the abil-
ity to speak in public, and that the in
ability was due neither to mOdesty nor
to diffidence. but TO natural incompe-
tence to express himself ION his legs"
He accepted the fact as one of his i'm
perfections, and did not even care TO
conceal it.
Such was the veracity which made
his incapable of deceiving anybody
that when, in later years, he had so far
overcome this inability as to speak at
a public dinner from notes written, on
card, he would hold the card in plain
view, so that every guest could see
that he was reading his little speech.
In telling a story, he would some
times modify the facts to produce
greater effect. Then, after he had told
the story, he would explain in what re-
spect he had altered the facts, so that
no listener might receive n wrong i'm
preston. If his attention was called
to mistake he had made, he would
admit it quickly, and with a smile of
qualification that the error had been
pointed out.
But If Grant had little, If any, of
that false pride of opinion which most
men exhibit when corrected, he tena-
ciOusly adhered to his own judgment.
and resented any interference with the
command by which he sought to make
it authoritative.
A treasury official Informed Presi-
dent Grant that he could not find any
law to justify what he, the President
desired to be done. "Then," replied
Grant, 81 will see if 1 can find a treas
ury officer who can find that law" The
law was found.
When Grant was rendered the com
mand of all the armies, with the rank
| of lieutenant general, he told President
Lincoln that he was willing to accept
the commission. provided it meant that
he was to command without any inter
ference from the War Department He
accepted, on being assured that he
should be in actual command of all the
armies of the United States, and that
no one, not even the President, would
interfere with his authority. or ask to
know his plans. How faithfully the
President adhered to his promise, and
| how well Grant did his work. are mat
ters of history.