Year: 1868

A lady, who was for three years of
the war, connected with the Western
Sanitary Commission, and who had
abundant opportunity Of Judging for
herself in regard to the character and
ability of many of our Generals, writes
to the Philadelphia Press. We quote
the following from her letter:


During the entire campaign Of the
opening of the Mississippi it was my
privilege to aid in caring for our no
bic patriots, both in hospitals and in
camps, and I have been for weeks to-
gether where | saw General Grant
daily, heard his name constantly, and
never did | hear intemperance NEIL
toned in connection with it. Facts
are stubborn things. | will relate Il
few Of the many that came directly to
my own knowledge


In the winter of 1923, when the
army arrived at Memphis, after long
weary marching, and trials that sick
en- the heart to think of, t@-thirds of
of the officers and soldiers were in hcs-
pitals, General Grant was lying sicl;
at the Gayoso Hotel. One morning
Mrs. Grant came into the ladies par
lor, very much depressed, and said the
medical director had Just been to see
Mr.. Grant, and thought he would not
be able to 60 any further if he did not
stimulate. Said she "And cannot
persuade him to do so, he says he will
not die, and he will not touch Il drop
upon any considerations" In less than
a week he was on board the advance
boat on the way to Nicksburg.


Again a few months after / was on
board the headquarters boat at Mill
ken's Bend, where quite lively gath
ering of officers and ladies had assem-
bled. Cards and music were the or
der of the evening. General Grant
sat in the ladies' cabin, leaning upon
a table covered with innumerable
maps and routes to Nic!lsburg, wholly
absorbed in contemplation of the great
matter before him. He paid no at
tention whatever to what was going
on around, neither did any one dare
to interrupt him for hours he sat
thus, until the loved and lamented
MCPHERSON stepped up to him with
glass of liquor in his hand, and said (:
"General, this won't do, you are in
juring yourself; join with us in few
toasts, and throw this burden off your
mind" Looking up with a smile he
replied, "NIac, you know your whisky
won't help me to think give me a
dozen Of the best cigars you can find,
and, if the ladies will excuse me for
smoking, | think by the time | have
finished them / will have this job
pretty nearly planned" Thus he sat;
and, when the company retired we left
him there, still smoking and thinking
net having touched one drop Of IL
quor.


When the army lay around Vicks-
burg during that long siege, the time
that tried mems souls, | watched every
movement it were possible for me to
do, feeling almost certain that he would
eventually succumb to the custom
alas ! too universal among the officers.
| was in with gentleman from Chi
cago, who while calling. upon the Gen
eral, remarked 81 have some very
fine brandy upon the boat, and if you
will send an orderly with me to the
river, | will send you a case or two"
81 am greatly Obliged" replied the
General, "but do not use the article.
| have big job on hand, and though
[ shall win, | know / must do it
with a cool head. Send all the liquor
you intend for to my hospital in
The rear [ don't think little will
hurt the poor fellows down there"


At celebration on the 22d of Feb
ruary, before the surrender of Vicks-
burg, while all around were drinking
tcdsts in sparkling champagne | saw
General Grant push aside a glass of
wine, and taking up glass of Miss
issippi water, with the remark, "This
suits the matter in hand" drank to
the toast, "God gave us Lincoln and
Liberty; lctrs fight for both"