The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-27
TopekonS Tell of Gen. Grant
Many Interesting Incidents of Army Life With Cen
eral Grant Are Told by Veterans of the Civil
War, Now Living in Topeka.
JUDGE HURON KNEW HIM
Topekan Saw Much of Famous Gen
eraI During the War.

eraI During the War.
Judge C. A. Huron, who was with
the Indiana Sanitary Commission in
the Army of the Potomac. saw much
of General Grant during the war. Be
sides this, he lived just three blocks
from the general in Washington for
about three years following the close
of the war. General Grant worked
in the war department, and Judge
Huron in the treasury department
They both had to take the same street
and be at the capitol at the same time
every morning, SO consequently they
met = by chance = practically every
day and walked the mile to work to-
gether. Judge Huron also says, that
many a time Fred Grant, the generals
son, when he was home from West
Point would pass them in the pony
phaeton taking his sisters and two
brothers to school at Georgetown
but Grant always walked.
Judge Huron says that Grant was
a little shorter than he-about five
feet eight inches and rather stocky
and muscular.
At that time people were scandal
izing about Grants drinking. One
day in the treasury office a fellow was
abusing Grant in regard to this fail
ing The clerk to whom he was talk
ing, turned to Huron and asked him
what he thought about it Huron
replied. Never in all my life have
seen Grant look the one-hupdredth
part the drinking man that scoundrel
doesi"
Judge Huron also tells this story.
During the war. after Lincoln had
made Grant a lieutenant general,
major general was complaining about
having a drunkard in command over
him. Lincoln said, What brand does
didn't know well" said the presi-
dent, II wish you'd find out just what
distillery makes his whisky" The
major general asked why he wanted
to know and Lincoln replied, why, 1
want TO have the product of that dis
tillery fed to the rest of you officers"
One time during the war, Judge
Huron, who was on his way to City
Point to look over the sanitary con-
ditions, was on the same train with
General Grant, his staff and their
wives, who were going to City Polnt
to review the army of the Potomac.
Some of the officers wives were very
young and inexperienced and they had
the notion that they were such high
and mighty personages that every one
should bow in homage to them When
City Point was reached acres and
acres of men greeted the eye-just a
sea of heads and faces. AS one OF
these women, who was quite intoxi-
Gated with her importance. was alight-
ing, she threw her head in the air
and exclaimed, why. the impudence,
ing here to see half a dozen women"'
A soldier standing near said, Madam,
We didn't know there was a woman on
the train. We wanted to see General
Grants arithmetic head!" Judge
Huron said that expressed the senti-
ment of thousands of soldiers-they
all wanted to see Grants arithmetic
head.
The president was not a fighting
man, so the whole army had implicit
confidence in the general
Judge Huron arrived at Appomatox
on the morning of April 10, the day
after the surrender. About midnight,
the night before The train on which
for some unknown reason, in the midst
Of the woods. In a few moments d
large band of rebel prisoners came
into view. IL was then that Judge
and that these prisoners were Fitz
Hugh Lees cavalry. Fitz Hugh was
a nephew of the great General Lee.
While breakfast was being cooked
for these half-starved rebels. Judge
Huron met and talked to F'itz Hugh /
Lee, not more than six hours after the
surrender. When Huron asked him
what he thought would be the result |
of the surrender of the day before. Lee
said. We have not only reached the
last ditch. but are in it,
Lee said that the day before, when
the SouthernerS surrendered, they
asked Grant what he wished done with |
their horses. Grant asked if the men |
owned their horses. When told that
they did, Grant said, THE government |
doesn't want.your horses. You'll need
them in making crops, SO take them
home with you"
Judge Huron said that Fitz Hugh
Lee, the conquered. couldn't have
spoken in higher terms of Grant if he |
had been his brother fighting on the
same side.
You can't place your finger on any |
man in history who was so magnani- |
NOUS" said Judge Huron.