Year: 1868

D 25, 1868. ''. s-z''sr@se


educated as any cadet at West
Point. But they, as well as all
really great men, acquired a vast
deal by experience, and had the
original vigor and good sense to
apply the knowledge acquired by
experience to the best advantage.
1 admire science and love letters,
but I can not conceal from myself
the fact that it is not by such ac-
quirements only that our country
has attained to freedom and great
ness. Washington was a Virginia
surveyor; Adams a poor lawyer of
Boston; Putnam a farmer in the
field; and Hamilton a young ad-
venturer from the West Indies.
There were other and more highly
cultivated men than these in the
American Congress, but none that
did more service. We shall always
have in our Congress men Of high
cultivation; but the men Of affairs,
those who have the practical ad-
ministration Of public business, need
not be men of great science OF of
refined literary tastes. So :.
The moral qualities of public
man are, in my opinion, of more
Importance to the country by far
than the most shining abilities or
the most courtly manners. In the
stern virtues Of integrity, of true
loyalty, of justice, Of prudence, of
frugality, and of obedience to law,
the country can have more reliance
than in the eloquence of Cicero or
the genius of Napoleon. It is to
these homely virtues that God has
given more of success to men and
nations than to all the other talents
of the human race. These were the
real talents which gave success to
our Revolutionary ancestors, and
founded this Government on prin-
ciples Of justice and of freedom.
How far has General Grant exhib-
tied these virtues? He has never
been charged by any one with want
of integrity, which, in these latter
times, is evidence that he is not
suspected of any. Loyalty, obedi-
ence to law, prudence, were all ex-
hibited by him in the conduct of the
war. A sense of justice was proved
by his treatment of the negro, and
his uniform kindness to his officers


Nor does he seem to have exhibited
bad temper, or made unreasonable
demands, which is rather uncom-
mon among officers Of the army. I
say these things because, having
gone over the history of his con-
duct in the service of the Govern
ment, these are the impressions left
on my mind, and seem characters
tic of one with whom I am person
ally unacquainted.


The following article is written
with SO much circumstantiality as
to bear the air of truth, and may
serve, in place of numerous stories
told of him, to illustrate his man
ners in the army It is from lady
correspondent of the ''Philadelphia
Press -..-.5


"During the first three years of
the war I was actively identified
with the Western branch of the
Sanitary Commission, and had
abundant opportunity of judging
for myself in regard to the charac-
ter and ability of our generals. Du-
ring the entire campaign of the
opening Of the Mississippi it was
my privilege to aid in caring for
our noble patriots, both in hospital
and camps, and l have. been for
weeks together where I saw Gen
eral Grant frequently, heard his
name constantly, and never. did I
hear intemperance mentioned in
connection with it. Facts are stub
born things. 1 will relate a few of
the many that came directly to my
knowledge. In the winter Of 1862
63, when the army arrived at Mem
phis, after long, weary marching,
and trials that sicken the heait to
think of, two-thirds of the officers
and soldiers were in hospitals


General Grant was lying sick at the
Gayoso House. One morning Mrs.
Grant came into the ladies' parlor,
very much depressed, and said the
medical director had just been to
see Mr.. Grant, and thought he
would not be able to go any fur


ther if he did not stimulate. Said she
And 1 can't persuade him to do
so. He says be will not die, and
he will not touch drop upon any
consideration In less than week
he was on board the advance boat
on the way to Vicksburg.


"Again, few months after, 1 was
on board the head quarters boat at
Milliken's- Bend, where quite a gath
ering of officers and ladies had
assembled. Calds and music were
the order of the evening. General
Grant sat in the ladies cabin, lean
ing upon a table covered with in
Vulnerable maps and routes to Vicks-
burg, wholly absorbed in centem-
plation of the great matter before
him. He paid no attention what
ever to what was going on around,
neither did any one dare to inter
rupt him. For hours he sat thus,
till the loved and lamented Nc
Pherson stepped up to him, with a
glass of liquor in his hand, and
said General, this won't do; you
are injuring yourself. Join with
us in few toasts, and throw this
burden off your mind Looking