The Indianapolis journal., 1901-09-29

highly beneficial TO the service. Grant
smiled at my remark. but made no reply.
Whatever his opinion might have been he
kept it to himself: but the fact that he
afterward trusted Sherman's judgment and
faithfulness implicitly led me to believe
that j had very nearly expressed his own
thoughts.
General Sherman was very quick and i'm
pulsive in those first days of the war. In
deed, that was a characteristic which re-
mained with him throughout. life: but in
the beginning Of the contest he sometimes
acted first and thought afterward For in
stance, while at dinner that day in Padu-
cab he said to Captain Hammond. his as
sistant adjutant general:
Captain. | guess I'll order back So-and-
So" mentioning an officers name who had
been sent on some service that Sherman,
on reflection, regarded as hardly wise.
This OF the eccentricities that
led to the charge of insanity: but his later
experiences in the field soon caused him to
abandon these traits and he became one of
the most careful as we'll as successful of
our commanders.
Immediately after the capture of Donel-
son Grant was promoted TO the rank of
major general, thus outranking Sherman,
who was his senior, but it made no differ
ence whatever in their personal relations.
GRANT AT FORT DONELSON.
The army reached the vicinity of Fort
Donelson on Wednesday, the 18th of Feb
ruary, 1862. and as soon as General Grant
arrived he made himself personally famil-
lar with all the leading features of the sit
uation. He was especially desirous of
ascertaining the exact location of the Cum
berland river, and with this object in view
he rode to the top of hill near by, where
he soon attracted the attention of the Con-
federates. who complimented him with a
round of grape shot. A shower of limbs
and twigs fell about him from the trees
overhead. but he fortunately escaped per-
sonal injury. 1t was the expectation that
the fleet, under Commodore Foote, would
arrive on Wednesday,, simultaneously with
the army, but no information had been re-
ceived from it: and this was the cause Of
the generals anxiety to know the location
of the river. The works at Donelson were
so extensive that the army was not large
enough to fully invest them, and the fleet
was needed TO fill up the gap; but we were
already on the ground and could not wait
The battle opened furiously and ragged dur
ing Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The
fleet did not arrive until during the night
of that day. At midnight messenger
reached headquarters with dispatch from
Foote, announcing his arrival and request
ing an immediate interview with the gen.
eral. 1t was eight miles to the river where
the fleet lay, and Grant started as soon
as it was light enough to ride, without
waiting for his breakfast. 1t was then
Saturday morning, the day of the heaviest
fighting Before leaving he gave me an
order TO be delivered to General McCler
nand, who commanded our right. l set out
at once. and found the whole command
already hotly engaged.
1--WE HAVE GOT THEM"
Where is the general?" was McCler-
nand's first inquiry. as 1 rode up. l deliv
cred the order and told him that Grant
had gone to the fleet in response to a re-
quest for a conference with Commodore
Foote.
1.-The rebels are fighting like tigers" said
McClernand with their knapsacks on
their backs, and l don't know what it
means. They are forcing me back, ana
must have assistance
He hurried me off at once for reinforce
ments, and several regiments were sent TO
his relief. 1 then rode as quickly as pos
sible to the fleet and informed General
Grant of the situation. He was on board
the flagship Lexington, in company with
the commodore, but as soon L told him
that the Confederates were fighting with
their knapsacks on he exclaimed:
1--WE have got them, commodore; they
are trying to get away"
He Immediately went ashore, and mount
ing his horse rode directly to the battle
field. l mention these facts because some
of his enemies charged him at the time with
abandoning his army in the morning of
that particular day, and of indulging too
freely on board one Of the transports in the
river while the battle ragged. Soon after
ward when this charge was repeated to
President Lincoln, he asked the informer
if he knew what particular brand of spirits
Grant used, as he would like to get a sup
ply Of it for some of the other generals. 1
can say from personal knowledge that Gen.
Grant touched no liquor that day, for 1
was in his presence most of the time, and
it required so little to affect him that any
one who knew him would observe it in a
moment. These calumnies were wholly un-
founded and of the most cruel character.
\ GLOOMY NIGHT.
Saturday night was a gloomy time at
headquarters. The fighting throughout the
day had been of the most desperate char
aHer, and our principal officers believed
Nat we had received the worst of it. But
the general said nothing. He was as taci-
turn and grim as ever. We had given up
our quarters to the wounded, and what
little sleep we secured was obtained as
we lay in the snow under the trees. Dur
ing the night the general wrote and sent
a dispatch TO General Halleck, at St Louis.
which, if L had known the contents, would
have induced me to believe that he was
beside himself. Some time afterward Gen
eral Totten. who was Hallecks chief of ar
tillery at the time, repeated the substance
of the dispatch to me, which was as fol-
lows:
Battlefield near Donelson. Feb. Is. To-
morrow morning by 10 o'clock / will have
DOnelsOn.
The dispatch was received with derision
at Headquarters, and il led to a good deal
of unfavOrable criticism among the officers.
1t was subsequently put forward as one of
the justifying reasons for Hallecks un-
generous treatment of Grant, for at the
time the dispatch was received ii was not
believed that DonelsOn could be captured
without weeks OF hard fighting.
HIS DEMAND ON BUCKNER.
Eayly on Sunday morning we moved our
quarters to a deserted negro cabin that
stood on the battle-ground There were
present, besides the commander, Rawlins,
Webster, Mcpherson, and several others.
General Grant was dressing. when Gen. c.
F. Smith entered with a dispatch which