The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-26
A CONF EDERA ATE OFFICERS
RECOLLECTION OF GEN, GRANT

"hh anu SDarch ms Ille. ! dislike TO
spot so pretty and credible story as
this, but am glad TO know that Colonel
foukc lived and died with this belief
am willing TO add, however, that
it is my opinion that had my brother,
Colonel John Y. wright. led that com
nand and recognized his OLD friend.
Colonel Foukc that he would have
ordered his men not TO fire. and ON the
grounds which Colonel FouI,e placed it.
on General Grants return from his
famous trip around the world, and
just a. ne returned from Mexico, /
happened to be in Memphis. Tenn. the
day he visited there. Memphis had
been my home for many years ana /
! was glad to sec preparations mad. by
! the citizens TO give him a grand re-
cepton. which thcy did called to
see him at the Peabody Hotel soon
after he arrived. lie met nc very
( cordially. and invited me to join him
! TIE next morning in his car from
Memphis to Little Rock. I was going
on business for the War Department
10 the Indian Territory. His receptions
in Memphis was one OF the finest ova-
tons ! ever witnessed. joined him
: in tic Pullman car the next morning
at o'clock, and found no other occu-
pants but the General and Mrs Grant
and Nh. Byron. Il newspaper CORES
ponieut of Chicago. and his wife and
Japanese servant OF General Grant
Al every station on the route between
Memphis ana Little Rock there were
principal town crowds came TO meet
the :rain with a speech OF welcome
II became my. duty TO Introduce tn"
general at these places, and he made
brief and apprcciative responses to the
speeches At many places ladies
crowded around the car with punches
OF flowers asking for Mrs Grant 1
also acted as introducer for her. and
/ her seat in the car was banked with
I beautiful flowers. Mrs. Gran, met the
; ladies with great cordially. and ex
pressed her thanks in the kindest
words. on this trip had much uniu-
ierrupted conversation with General
Grant. and l made notes after leaving
him OF the many points OF his con
versaton from which l give this brief
statement
There is an impression that General
Grant was rcticcnt and silent man.
He was neither. He was a very patti.
ent and attentive listener fond OF
hearing what others had TO say. and
took ia thoroughly every idea adj
vanced. He talked to his friends with
great freedom, ana was nae con-
versationalist He never seemed to
endcavor to concea, anything regard
versne. lie talked to me more like
he would have talked to member OF
his own military family than one who
had fought in an opposing army. He
and l occupied TIE same seat in the
car; he being next % the window The
seat in front was turned down towards
US. and on this he had several boxes
OF Mexican cigars, representing differ
ent brands and qualities.
Mrs. Grant sat immediately behind
us engaged in some sort of needle
work, and occasionally joined in the
conversation. lie expressed the deep
est interest in the future OF Mexico
ana predicted II would become a pros
porous and leading nation and be an
excellent example to other Latin
American countries. lie thought the
war waged by the United States
against Mexico in lS46-47 an unjust
war / did not attempt to express my
views on this subject. although | held
exactly the opposite opinion. that If
there ever was n just cause for war
between nations, that the United
States had this cause III its war With
Mexico. General Grant i'll his me
moirs repeats this opinion. He pre-
dictcd the building OF railroads con-
meeting the two countries, and tho
development of the mineral and agri-
cultural resources Of Mexico. and Of
cordial relations which would develop
| questioned him about his travels
in the East He was impressed with
! the great resources and possibilitioa
of the Chinese empire, but feared their
adhesion 10 old customs would impede
their progress. AS to Japan he was
( Very optomistic. He thought they
were rapidly imbibing Western ideas,
| and were greatly iiA. advance of other
Eastern or Mongolhn nations. He
stated that they were inquisitive. and
seemed to be on the lookout for new
and advan I'D ideas. lie particularly
dwell upon their politencss and their
! attention to old people. Here Mrs
/ Grant gave an incident OF Japanese
prince whom she saw step out OF his
way to allow an aged beggar woman
| TO pass over muddy crossing
General Grant dwclt with much
feeling the devotion of the Japa.
ncsc 10 their parents to whom he
said on almost all occasions they
showed the greatest affection and re.
spect. lie predicted the change OF
government which afterwards occurred
in Japan, but which he did not live 20
see. He impressed me very much bv
his close observation or the country
through which we were passing and
made many inquiries abou, the soil
climate. products, etc. IN speaking Of
the future status OF the negro. lie said
II was very serious question, and
one which gave him much concern
lie stated TINT his reason for urging
the acquisition Of San Domingo while