The National tribune., 1904-09-29

| ihdn, WHU was d great tOFeT Oh tne
sat alongside of me and soon commenced
criticising the play, earnestly protesting
that II was being murdered. / had 10
check him several times and tell him un-
less he kept quiet the soldiers in the audi
ence would recognize him and there would
be a scene. We had entered late. and
there soon came on the scene where ilam-
let sOliloquizes over the skull of lorrick.
The audience was perfectly still, endeavcr-
ing to comprehend the actors words. wien
a soldier far back in the audience roe up
and in a clear voice called out, as the acior
held up the skull, Say pard, what IS il,
Yank or Reb?' The house appreciated the
point and was instantly in an uproar. and
Gen. Grant said We had better leave. 80
We went quietly out, no one discovering
Grants or Sherman's presence. Sherman
Immediately suggested that We should find
an oyster-house and get something to eat,
and Gen. Rawlins was put forward az
guide and spokesman. He found a very
inviting place. We went in and found
there was but one large table in the place.
There was one man sitting at it, and Raw
Inns in his modest way, without informing
the man who his party was, asked him is
he would change to a smaller table and let
US have that one. The man said the table
was good enough for him and kept on eat
ing. and Rawlins backed out into the street
again. Sherman said il we depended on
Rawlins We would get nothing TO eat. and
said he would see what could be done. lie
hailed man, who pointed out another
saloon kept by a woman, and to this Sher-
man took us and she served us what We
then considered q very nice oyster stew.
As we sat around the table, we talked
more than We ate, and by the time we had
half finished our supper the woman came
in and asked for the pay and said we must
leave, as under the military rules her honso
must close at II midnight and it was then
a few minutes after that hour, so out We
got and took our way to Grants headquar-
ters. where we bunked down the best we
could during the night. Some of the stan
heard of our evenings adventure and gave
the news to the press, and the next MORN
ing before breakfast all the parties were
present to apologize to Grant that they did
not recognize him. as We were out of our
own jurisdiction and in that of the Army
of the Cumberland, but Grant in his modest
way satisfied them that he had no COM
plaint. However. there poured in on him
for all of us complimentary tickets and
invitations to almost everything in Mask
vile.
GRANT AND THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
After breakfast we all assembled in q
large room at headquarters to hear what
Gen. Grant had to say to us. We were all
anxious to hear of his visit to the Army
of the Potomac, and his opinion of it. and
He said it was the finest army he had ever
seen, far superior to any of ours in equip
ment, supplies and transportation. lie
said. however, that the officers he talked
with considered he would have a much
more difficult problem on his hands than
he had had in the West and he said TO
Sherman that some officer who both Of
them knew, but whose name | have forgot
ten. told him, You have not faced Bobby
Lee yet," and as he said it, / could see that
twinkle in Grants eye that We often saw
there when he meant mischief. Grant. after
discussing the Army of the Potomac, and
having nothing but praise for it. informed
us that he should make his headquarters
with that army and leave Sherman to COM
mand the armies of the West. also inform
ing MS that he proposed to take several OK
us East with him. Sherman protested
strongly against this, and is was finally
compromised by his taking Sheridan and
leaving the rest of us with Sherman. Dur
ing the two or three days we were with
Grant he outlined in a general way his
plan of campaign that every army should
move as early as possible in the Spring. all
on the same day against the enemy, SO that
Lee and Johnston could not detach any OF
their commands to reinforce the others. He
said, Il will try to keep Lee from sending
Sherman, IF he does, will send you two
men where he sends one" He also in
formed us of the necessity of closing the
war with this campaign.
PERFEcTING THE PLANS FOR 1864.
Our visit with Grant ended, he took
Sherman as far as Cincinnati with him, to
talk over and complete their plans. while
we returned to our commands to fit them
out for the campaign. Gen. Sherman has
since pointed out to me in the Burnett
House at Cincinnati the room they occupied
tha y,iohf hnfn thax rSa6 a,,1 rharA
over their maps the final orders were given
him and final arrangements made that in
augurated the two great campaigns or
Richmond and Petersburg in the East and
Atlanta in the West After the Atlanta
campaign l paid Gen. Grant a visit at
City Point. l reached his headquarters in
October and spent two weeks with him,
and saw the armies of the James and Po-
tomac. Evenings we would sit around his
campfire, and in his genial comprehensive
way he told us of his campaign and the
great battles the Army of the Potomac had
fought and brought out fully to me what
a great army it was. | asked him what he
claimed for the battle of the Wilderness.
There had been great discussion. about it,
and Grant. with the same twinkle of the
eve that | had seen at Nashville. said: Il
only claim that after that battle. and took
the initiative on the march towards Rich
mond, that the Army of the Potomac was
not forgotten his talk with us at Nash
vile.
GEN. SHERMAN'S FEELINGS.
At one time Gen. Sherman was travelling
with me over the State of Ohio and at
every station the people crowded to see him
and pay him honor. He said to me that he
evidently did not appreciate the Importance
of the work he had done or looked upon ID
as the people did. and that the great 'ove
and many kindnesses he had received s.nce
the war were very impressive to him. and
as he grew older he appreciated them more
and more. He said that the enthusiasts
and praise that were given during the wax
in the hustle and cruelty of great CAM
paigns and battles did not carry to him the
full appreciation of the feelings of the
people. But now, so many years after the
war. the great love that the people seemed
TO have for those who were successful in
the war. or had accomplished great success,
seemed to grow as time, passed by, and il
was hard for him to give the proper and
heartfelt Acknowledgements that such demon
strations required.