Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-03-23

in the village of Dexter a few miles
from the fort, [ attended school and
boarded with liyeryman who had the
charge and care of a few horses which
| exercised before and after school
hours by riding. One of these horses,
fine cream-colored animal, belonged
to the captain, who came with officers
occasionally to see how his horse was
treated. There was nothing at the
time especially attractive about the
captain, except his uniform and his
quiet, easy manner. He had little to
say to me or the liveryman, his horse
receiving all his attention.
''In 1862, when General Mcpherson
was in command of the Seventeenth
Army corps, | was a member of com
pany F, Second Illinois cavalry, and
was sergeant of his orderlies, and near
ly every day for several months saw
General Grant, the commanding Gen
eral. While in camp in Northern Mis-
sissippi one evening in September,
shortly after Lincoln had issued his
famous proclamation giving liberty to
the slaves on certain conditions, | over
heard a remarkable conversation.
There was quite bitter feeling, mostly
among Democrats, against the prOcla
nation. General Grant and many Off
GERS of his command were seated in
front of their tents, all of which were
we'll lighted by the blazing camp fires
near Colonel Dicl1ey Of the Fourth
Illinois cavalry made his appearance,
and, approaching General Grant, said,
after he had saluted, that he. would
like his views in regard to the procla-
nation. The attention of all present
was turned to the two. The General
made no reply to the question and ut
tered not word.
"After little the Colonel remarked:
Then you do not wish to express your
views? The General remained silent,
and no movement of his person or eX
preston Of his countenance in any way
indicated his thoughts or feelings. He
was as silent and as unresponsiye as a
statue. The Colonel then addressed
General Mcpherson and asked for his
views concerning the proclamation. No
reply was given, but from the cheerful
expression of McPhersons face, one
would infer that he was not unfavor-
able to it. General John A. Logan, who
had command of a division in the Sew
enteenth corps, was the first to make a
reply, and when asked by the Colonel
what he thought about it, said distinct
ly and emphatically: Proclamation or
no proclamation, we are here to whip
the rebels, and we are going to do it.
'"There seemed to be general APP
prevail Of Logans remarks, though no
acts or words were then given to ex-
press it, While Colonel Dickey was
thus endeavoring to get the views of
principal officers General Grant re-
manned quietly seated. and what his
thoughts were, even about Logan's re-
ply, no one could tell. His conduct on
this OCCASION which plainly showed his
self-control. as we'll as knowledge Of
his duty as the commanding officer,
was afterward commented upon and
generally approved by rank and file as
well as officers
Grant" said the Colonel, had his
tongue under better control than any
other officer l ever knew When he
came to Chattanooga in 1868 he was,
for time, at Gen. Thomas headquar-
ters, and he heard from staff officers
and others all sorts of complaints and
determinations. Hooker was then at
Bridgeport and later came up to Look
out Valley. Sherman was coming up
from Memphis. and the attack on
Bragg was delayed until his army
could be put in position. Rosecrans,
McCook and Crittenden had been re-
lieved from command and their friends
were eager to get Grants ear, while
the friends of Thomas We're anxious
to have Grant properly understand and
appreciate their favorte.
The two corps commanded by Nc
Cook and Crittenden were consolidated
under General Gordon Granger All of
.IcCook's division generals were re-
Iained, but Van Cleye, of Crittenden's
corps, and Negley, of Thomas corps,
were dropped or transferred. Rousseau
was sent to Nashville, Reynolds be-
came chief of staff, and Brannan chief
of artillery. and there was wedding
out of brigade commanders. Palmer
who didn't like the promotion of Gran
GER over him, was made commander of
Thomas old corps. much to the disgust
of Rousseau and his friends and Chas.
A. Dana Schurz had quarrel with
Hooker, which had to be settled by
court of inquiry. and nobody was quite
satisfied with the shaking up incident
to reorganization.
"a talkatiye man would be in hot
water all the time. and a man of ordin-
AIRY resentments would have kept old
riyalries and jealousies at white heat
But Grant did not talk and he WAS not