Year: 1868

0OIuleTs
[From the Life of Ulysses S. Grant, by Charles A.


Dana and j. IL. Wilson, Brevet Major General,


U. s. A.


HIS APPEARANCE AND MANNERS.


GRANT is somewhat under the medium
size though his body is closely and power
fully built His feet and hands are small
and neatly shaped; his dress is plain and
exceedingly unostentatious; his eyes are
large, deep, leonine, and very strong,
equally capable of blazing with resolu-
ton that nothing can Withstand, and of
shining with the steady light of benevo-
lence and amiability. His fiber is like that
of steel wire, elastic, close-grained, and
enduring; his temperament is admirably
compounded of the sanguine, nervous and
lymphatic, but the last is in such proper
tion as to tone down and hold in equili-
brium the other two, perfecting both
mental and physical organization. His
capacity for labor surpasses comprehen-
sion; neither mental nor physical exertion
seems to produce the least wear and tear
in his case. He rides at dashing speed
hour after hour and day after day with the
same ease with which he plans battle or
issues the instructions for a campaign.
There is no noise or clash or clangor in the
man; his voice is as quiet and orderly as q
woman's, and his language judiciously and
tastefully chosen. He was never heard to
give utterance to a rude word or vulgar
Jest; no oath or fierce, fiery imprecation
has ever escaped his lips. No laundering
order, no unfeeling or undignifed speech,
and no thoughtless or ill-natured criticism
ever fell from him. When angry, which
is rarely the case, or, at least, he rarely
shows his anger, he speaks with we'll
ordered but subdued vehemence, display
inr hyro al
earnest flash of the eye. But it must be
said of him, that of all men he is the slow
est to anger. He has been heard to say
that even under the severest insult he
never became indignant till week after
the otfense had been given, and'then only
at himself for not having sooner discov-
cred that he had been insulted or misused
This arises rather from an unconscious
selfAbnegation than from any incapacity
for choler 1t is precisely this quality
which has made him so successful in the
personal questions which have arisen be-
tween him and his subordinates. They
have usually mistaken his slowness for
dullness or lack of spirit, and have dis
covered their mistake only after becom-
ing rash and committing fatal error
1 Grant is as unsuspicious and pure-hearted
as q child, aud as free from harmful inten-





of his nature by an act of inhumanity or
brutality of any sort; while meanness, or
ingratitude, or uncharitableness excites
him to the display of the liveliest indigna-
ton. He is not slow in the exhibition of
contempt or disgust for whatever is un-
manly or unbecoming.


| KINDNESS TO sUBORDINATEs.


In issuing orders TO his subordinates, or
in asking a service at the hand of staff
officer, he is always scrupulously polite
and respectful in manner and orders or
requests rather as he would ask a friend
to oblige him personally than as a military
commander whose word is law. His CON
sideration for those about him is admirably
shown by the following incident: On tfe
night after the battle at Mission Ridge
while returning from the front to his
headquarters at Chattanooga, he desired
to know what had become of Sheridan's
division, which had been reported at noon
as engaged in building bridge across the
Chicamauga at Mission Mills; and al
though it was then after midnight, he re.
quested one of his staff to obtain the de-
sired information. The officer, after a
long and tiresome ride, reported at head
| quarters just at sunrise, and found the
General not yet asleep. 1t seems that in
returning TO Chattanooga at about 1
o'clock, he found full explanation of the
days operations, and, instead Of going to
sleep, he spent the rest of the night in
thinking of the long and tedious ride he
had required from his officer all for no
purpose, as he expressed il. Such solici.
tude for the comfort of others, it is need
less TO say, was rare, even among the most
humane of our Generals Many of them
would not have hesitated To save them
selves even the slightest trouble at the ex-
pense Of others aud not few would have
given themselves scarce moments
thought had an aid-de-camp been killed,
much less if he had only gone on a long
and difficult ride upon wintry night.


HABITS, TASTES, AND MENTAL, CHARACTER
| IsTICs.


Grants personal habits and tastes are ex-
ceedingly simple he despises the pomp
and show Of empty parade. and in his
severe simplicity and manly pride he
seOFns all adYentltious aids 70 popularity,