The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-31
SIDELIGHTS ON GRANT
DISTINGUISHED MEN RELATE IN
TEREsTING ANECDOTES.
The General Realized His Great Task
How He Vetoed Imitation Bill
and Dehed Mr.. Blaine

New YORK Letter IN Hnlldueipnld
A day or two ago little company of
men who have been for years prominent
in affairs here were discussing the great
events elsewhere in the world. which are
characterizing the closing days Of the
year, and, OF course. the commanding topic
was the war in South Africa. Among 9TH
ers who were in this group were Commo-
dore Van Santvoord, Salem H. Wales.
whose association with the Republican
party began with the foundation of the
party. and who, is father-in-law Of the
secretary of war. Mr.. Root. and ex-Sen-
ator Warner Miller. Noah Davis. formerly
chief justice Of our Supreme Court, who
was defeated by one vote in the Republican
caucus as the party's candidate for United
States Senate. his successful competitor
having been Roscoe Conkling, and former
Postmaster General Thomas L. James. 1t
seemed natural that each one OF these men,
who had at one time or another known
General Grant intimately, should speak of
some incident or recall some opinions OF
Grant that have some bearing upon the
momentous war that Great Britain Is now
waging.
For instance, Commodore Van SAINT
voord said that the sudden awakening of
the British people and government to the
truth that they had no petty rebellion or
insignificant hostility TO subdue. but what
will probably prove to be the greatest con-
fict in all English history. at least within
200 years. suggested the clear understand
ing OF the gigantic nature of our civil war,
which Grant was Of the first of our
generals TO obtain and TO maintain.
1t happened that in the midwinter of
1896 Commodore Van Santvoord was
called to Fortress Monroe. One of the
commodore's steamboats,, the River Queen,
had been chartered by the government. and
It was in connection with this charter that
the commodore was called TO Fortress Mon
roe. After the business that called him
there had been done the commandant Of
the fort said to the commodorethat he had
just received dispatches from General Sher-
man for General Grant. They were the
first written dispatches that had come
from Sherman after his capture OF Savan-
nah IF you want to see General Grant
you can have a good opportunity through
acting as my messenger in taking these
dispatches to him. L will give you a pilot
who will take the River Queen UP to City
Point" said the commandment.
Commodore Van Stantvoord was. or
course. greatly pleased TO have an oppor-
ply. the pilot ran the River Queen ashore
At Harrison's Landing, just at nightfall
The dispatches for Grant were sent for
ward by messenger and delivered 10 Gen
eral Meigs, but the commodore and his
friends were obliged TO remain upon the
River Queen all night. In the morning the
steamboat got out OF the false channel and
went on To City Point, where one or Gen.
eral Meigs's assistants met the commodore
and his party. He escorted the party to
General Grant headquarters.
NO FINE FEATHERS.
In few moments the log hut cabin
which was Grants headquarters came in
view and the commodore saw standing in
the doorway clutching firmly the door
5amb a man in a shabby uniform and wear
ing a SLOUGH hat. He was looking intently
at the approaching party. The commo-
dore asked what that man was and the or
derby with half smile replied, THAT is
the man who Is running the machine"
And, although the commodore haa met
General Grant a number of times. yet he
did not recognize him in his shabby uni
form and well-worn hat. Grant, however,
greeted the party very cordially.
lie led them into the single room that
was his headquarters. A roaring fire was
blazing upon the open hearth. General
Grant chatted with them little while and
then spoke of the dispatches which he had
received through their aid the night before.
He said it was the first communication
that he had had from General Sherman.
and spoke of the magnitude of the achieve
ment which had at last brought Sherman
and. his army TO the scene Upon all that
had been done Grant felt free to converse
apparently with full expression of opinion
and with the most glowing commentator
for Sherman and his army. But of what
was yet to be done he was. as ever. silent.
after a few moments he seemed to forget
hat anyone was with him and sat staring
lntently at the fire as though his whole
mind was concentrated with all its power
upon some vast problem.
ut last he looked away from the blazing
logs at the company, and then said quietly
and grimly: Gentlemen. IL is a big
thing" And although the expression was
laconic and was merely an echo or the
colloquialis1n. almost the slang of the day,
yet the tone I'm which IL was said. the in
tense earnestness which seemed TO shine
through Grants eyes as he spoke. gave TO
this party n full and perhaps first realiza-
ton that this silent man. undemonstrative.
modest. without any self-consciousness or
heavy dignity, had a fun realisation of the
gigantic nature of the task which he had
undertaken. and in which Sherman and
Sheridan had so thoroughly co-operated
with him. which had for its purpose the
bringing of the civil war 10 an end.
When the commodore had told this anec-
dote IL was the common thought with
all those who heard IL that perhaps had
there been true understanding i'm Great
Britain OF the nature of the task that ma
tioE now confronts the war might not
have been undertaken. or IL undertaken
then under different auspices and with
more careful preparation.
AN OPINION OF ROBERTS.
General James followed with another
anecdote the one that Commodore Van
Santvoord had Just told. He said that Just
after the bombardment OF Alexandria in
Egypt General Grant, who happened al
that time to be in Long Branch. came ur
from the Branch TO New York on a steam
boat in company with himself General
James) The conversation turned on the
British assault upon Alexandria and Gen
erai James asked Grant If he had met
General Wolseley at any time during his
tour around the world. and IL Sc what he
thought of Wolseley as a military man.
Grant did not reply to the question. al
though General James remembered thai
Grant did at one time meet Wolseley but
forgot whether that meeting took place IN
Great Britain OF India But II Genera
Grant did not answer that question he ex.
pressed another opinion, which is singular.
ly interesting at this time. Said he:
England has got another man named
Roberts who in my opinion WILL IL the
opportunity ever occurs through ann
war, make for himself name that viii
compare with that OF any OF England's
greatest generals. That man has n real
genius for command" When IL is re.
membered that this opinion was expressed
by Grant nearly twenty years ago IL vii
be the more impressively understood how
accurate was his Judgment OF men. at least
or the military capacity OF men. who wer.
professional soldiers.