Waterbury Democrat., 1901-08-21
GRANT, THE FIGHTER
HIS INSTANTANEOUS TRIP TO
 SEE LINCOLN.
Many Stories Being Told About the Man Who Proposed to Fight It Out on That Line-He Could
 Not Afford to Quarrel with
General McClernand.

General McClernanu.
 This story IS told of the first time Grant ever had charge of large body of men sent out to give battle. He was colonel in the early part of 1862, detailed to go to the relief of an Illinois regiment, supposed to be sur rounded by rebels at Palmyra, Mo, but when he arrived the regiment had re- lieyed itself by retiring. Grant then went on to Florida, in the same state, and, as the regiment toiled over the hill beyond which the enemy was sup posed to be in waiting, Grant says he would have given anything to be back again in Illinois, At the top of the hill instead of troops drawn up, i'll battle array Grant saw deserted camp. Tt occurred to me at once that Harris had been as much afraid of me as 1 had been of him,'' said Grant. From that event to the close of the war l never experienced trepidation upon confronting an enemy, though II always felt more or less anxiety never forgot that he had as much req son to fear my forces as 1 had his"
 As is natural in times of war, the promotion of some aroused the jeal-
 
 tion, and his rapid rise irritated many who had begun the war high in the list of officers.
 One such was General McClernand, who was put under Grant at the siege of Vicksburg. McClernand was much dissatisfied, having sought at Wash ington the command of the expedition. He wrote Grant such an insolent letter that the latter was advised to relieve him of all command and to send him to the rear. Instead of complying, the commander even showed him favor. Some time after ill front of Vicksburg, McClernand was guilty of breach of discipline, which made 1t necessary for Grant to relieve him.
 To those who argued the removal of Me Clernand, Grant replied: "No, l can't afford to quarrel with a man whom 1 have to command"
 Grant was not given to oStentation. No incident shows this better than the manner in which he went to Washing ton to take the commission of lieuten- ant general of the army. It was the first visit he had ever made to the national capital, and his first personal meeting with President Lincoln, though he had heard Lincoln speak years before.
 The trip was made after victories which had sent Grants name into every home in the land, and foreign countries had placed it beside the names of their great military leaders. Everybody was anxious to see him, but he journeyed simply and avoided demonstration. On March s, 1864, lie arrived at Washington and went to the hotel where he waited unrecog- niZed until the throng of guests had registered. Then he went to the desk and wrote simply "U. s. Grant and son, Galena.''
 Hardly any part of the history of the civil war is better known than that relating to the fighting in the Wilderness and at Spotsylvania. Grant had hoped to conquer Lee, and Lee had counted on repulsing Grant. Neither had succeeded, yet neither slightly with the union side After six days of continuous fighting, Grant sent word to the war depart ment declaring his purpose ito fight it out on this line if it takes all sum- mer." It was the indomitable spirit characteristic of Grant, and such as won him the admiration and confi- dence of the whole country, even in that time of partial defeat.
 Though Grant was incorporate in his use of liquor and tobacco, he was not profane. General Horace Porter of Grants staff, and an intimate mill itary friend says the strongest ex- pression he ever heard the general use was "confound iti' He had the genius to be master of the situation at all times, and had answering faith in the ultimate success of his purpose.
 Lincoln had great confidence in Grant. This was shown during the campaign of the Potomac, when Lin- coin wrote to Grant: "The particulars of your campaign I neither know nor seek to know. I wish not to intrude any restraints nor constraints upon you" To this Grant replied: Should my success be less than I desire or ex- pect, the least I can say is, the fault is not yours" The two men seemed to understand each other without so much as single word of explanation. The fact is an evidence of Lincoln's ability to read men and to trust them with mighty tasks, and also an evi- dence of Grants greatness.