The Washington herald., 1914-11-15
Winter Quarters for Grant.
November Tenth. N

Fifty years ago today log huts wer,
being constructed at City Point, Va, q.
winter quarters for Gen. U. 8. Grant an
his stan. Since the siege Of Petersburg
began. in June, Grant and his stan ON
GERS had lived under canvas.
The erection OF huts for Grants win
ter quarters was not unnoted by tn,
press correspondents with the army, ant
many Jokes were made IN the NortherI
press at the expense of the Federal gen,
| eraL .-
Grants delay IN getting into Richmond
| had been the subject OF much caustiS
comment in the Presidential campaign
The comic paragraphists now wrote thai
| Grant. having declared he would "hght
II out on that line If It took all sum
mer," was prepared also to remain ali
winter, since he had set up his stove.
These quips did not rune Grant. He
was satisfied with the progress Of the
siege. His greatest concern was to keep
Lee stationary, in order that he migRi
starve him into surrender. He saw no
reason why comfort should not be con-
suited while the process was going on.
Grants. headquarters, however, were OF
the simplest His log hut contained but
two rooms. One was his workroom. the
other his bedroom. These were suf1cient
for his needs. for his family, which had
visited him In the early fail, had returned
North, the children having been placed
in school at Burlington, N. ]. During the
stay Of MIS-. Grant and the children
Frederick D., fourteen; Ulysses s. twelve:
Nellie, nine, and Jesse R.. six-Grant had
spent some Of the happiest hours that had
been his since the war began.
One Of his star, Col. Horace Porter,
wrote that when calling At headquarters
he found Grant more than once having
q great romp with the boys, whose wrest-
order Of his papers.
Grants Quiet Manner.
The now historic blur at City Point,
where Grant had his headquarters, was
about eight miles from the lines before
Petersburg, but was connected with them
by military railroad.
City Point was thus described by a
writer who visited it in the fall Of 1854:
The few scattering houses were mo-
nopolized by clerks Of commissaries and
provost marshals; new buildings filed
out the streets, rough pine shanties, mar
kets. suffers shops, clothing stores. am
brotype saloons, hotels ahs 4Gpels. Ike
the mushroom growth OF California.
The headquarters Of Gen. Grant, were
on a bluff at the junction Of the James
and the Appomattox. where these rivers
open out like a lake. while beyond were
the rich abandoned plantations and the
low fertile plains, all trampled over by
the foot Of war.
IAN old villa, with its wide veranda,
all green and beautiful amidst its cling
ing vines, served as the ONCE for Gen.
Ingalls,, the chief ouartermaster Of the
army; while upon the lawn. under
spreading oaks, were plain log huts, the
camping ground OF the lieutenant gen.
eral. -
Here, puflng his cigar with that com
Portable repose Of manner which many
have mistaken for dullness, with nothing
but his three stars To attract the notice
Of 3 stranger, he moved about his head
quarters, keeping his own counsel, de-
veloptng silently his own, plans, to be
seen at any time, and easy to be ap-
preached by al.
He deals with all questions In a plain,
businesslike manner, with the least
show Of feeling. and with that plain COM
mon sense which decides on the instant,
and then dismisses the subject from the
mind. His undemonstrstiveness had
nothing repulsive about il. for he made
and retained many strong friends"
Grants democratic manner was often
the subject Of comment among civilians.
One who saw him at headquarters wrote
thus Of him:
with none Of that showy pretension
which sometimes wins the personal de-
votion Of an army, Gen. Grant, by the
kindness and consideration with which
he listens to the humblest soldier, Rained
that enduring confidence Of his men
which no reveTses could destroy.
a colored sergeant In our hospital,
whose mother was dying, wished a fur
lough- The application, II made in the
ordinary routine. would be too late. He1
therefore went to headquarters and found
the general engaged with q member Of
his STAN. Turning to the soldier he said,
'WeIl. sereeant?'
The man stated his case brleny and
when he finished, the general looked him
steadily in the eye with that same pen
etraton which always places men Just
where they belong. and Immediately d.
rected his adjutant general to make out
. thirty days furlouxh. When II was
ready the general handed IL to the ser
geant took his hand, and shaking it, |
kindly said:
: Sergeant. hope youIl md your
mother living when You get home which |
could bring no response from the poor
colored soldier, except a choking Cod |
bless you General"