Evening Star Newspaper, April 4, 1885, Page 3

ii bis THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D.C., SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1885—DOUBLE- SHEET. THE HERO OF APPOMATTOX. ‘The Plain Old Soldier and His Won- derful Life. & REVIEW OF ONE OF THE GRANDEST CHARAC- ‘TERS OF HISTORY—WHY THE PEOPLE LOVED AND TRUSTED HIM, The following interesting sketch was printed by George Alfred Townsend last summer, after the announcement of Gen. Grant's misfortunes in business: Grant, with a poor snit of clothes and $600 a year salary, went to a public meeting at Galenar Iil., where the young men were ready to die for their country and the old men ready to contrib- ute their savings, and somebody said: “Capt. Grant is with us; I move that he preside at this meeting. twas then about 38 years of age. He had been in the Mexican war; had been through West Point; had married a sister | of a fellow-cadet and officer; had been in vari- ous posts of the Unton, from St. Louis around to Oregon, and when his name was mentioned no- body in town knew there was a Capt. Grant. There stepped up on the platform a quiet, sive, plaiucfaced man, with bardly ang’ fine- flowing lines in his figure, and he proceeded to tell that little meeting what a company was. He said a company was con ‘of perhaps a handred men or less, that it was divided Into iatoons; that it required to have a captain and wo Heufenants, and some non-commissioned Officers. The people in Galena, though they Were assembled from all parts of the country, had considered it almost preposterous to Know anything about war. They listened, however, to these rks with satisfaction, and the lain man in the blue overcoat loomed up in heir minds as a person of some consequence. ‘They inquired who he was, and it was said that he was A SON OF OLD GRANT who kept a branch leather store in Galena. One or two remembered that his son had never had much Inck, although he enjoyed some oppor tunities, At that time it was said that his wife was assisting to wash the clothes of her husband and her boys. She had taken up her lot with the man she married, and it was as sweet for her to labor for him as for Jacob to work many years for Rachel's favor. He stepped out into tliat war, perhaps, feeling that it was to be no hol chine: The military service was associated with all the disappointments in Hfe. He had been in the Mexican war, had been In the posts, knew nearly all the leading officers of the a was acquaintedwith the roster of the arn much as an office-seeker knows Con- ressmen. He felt that a great contest might be impending, and that he had another chance in life, and that chance was patnotic duty. His personal affairs were no greater certainty in his mind than HIS PATRIOTIC AMBITION. Ifa man is entirely unselfish he is no good toanybody. An upright selfishness is the pre- servative quality of the patriot. You will find humbugs who have been balancing a steel pen for thirty years to tell you that a man should think of nothing when he goes into the service of his country but her, meaning the aforesaid country. This is humbug, and the man who writes it was never in the service of his country. If opportunities justify a mau in using all bis energies for his famfiy, certainly war should ennoble that same seltishness. Grant had a Congressman living in the same town by the name of Washburne,a man with some good points of character and some mean ones. He is capable of a virtuous indignation Seainst a false public steward, and yet will fight @ man who questions his public proprieties. ‘Washburne never was as pure-hearted a man as Grant. In the midst of his public spirit there ‘was always a predatory something that at last pt him down and lost him Grant's confidence. Bie will be known to fame chiefly as aman who, tor a time, was true to Grant. Gtant was TRUE TO EVERYBODY whom he knew. He was true to his wife, true to his passing friends, true to his new acquaint- ances, true to his own errors. He was # mascu- Une spirit, fond of men’s pursuits. If he wanted to take a little relief at the card table he did it with all bis might. Unsuspecting even of gam. bling, his joys and sorrows were such as only an upright spirit can appreciate. Now, while he is temporarily depressed from’ the stupidity Of his son and the rascality ot his son’s friend, it is due to him to say that those who understand him have never for one moment doubted him. Errors of taste he has committed, It was un- guestionably a mistake for him to havegone into Wall street after being President. Yet are all our ex-Presidents to follow each other like sheep in example and give _us no re- Hef in their successive biographies? You take the children born of your body.and one is relia- ble, another is passionate, a third has genius, a fourth is loving, a fifth is mean and deceitful. If they were all alike what pleasure would you have in them? So with all ex-Presidents. Only Weak. cheap, pleayune men expect them to be measured with the samestick, and that stick the critic himself. Let us arise to the Joy of human life and variety. Grant and the Con- gressman, WENT DOWN TO SPRINGFIELD, the capital of Illinois, in order that Grant should get a commission and have a command, Ifit had been George William Curtis going down there fora commission he would have committed suicide on the first or second day. Human life was at play everywhere. The gov- €rnor was a weak, sensual, yet patriotic man. It occurred to him’at that fime that the great war had come for the purpose of re-electing him governor. He was giving out his commissions nobly with the object of re-electing himself. Washburne he considered a selfish ofd Yankee, who was measurably true to his party, but Yould have no hesitation in Kicking the gov ernor out of his office and taking it if he could: but as to Grant, he looked at him, observed his clothes, talked to him a little, and said: “Cer tainly there is nothing in this man to achieve the great end of the war, whieh is to reelect me vernor, or put me ‘in the United States nate.”’ But Grant, neither believing nor dis- believing in anvbody, plain and upright, will- ing to wait, willing to be disappointed, not par- ticularly thin-skinned , not very thick-skinned, just hung around, supposing that the ger ernor would fulfil his word after a while. The governor wished that something would kill that fellow off. There was nothing dieable, however, about the man. Dick Yates took & look at him now and then on the sly, and de- spaired that Grant would ever fo, away. Ie rant had been like some of our editorial states- men he would have written to the papers say- ing that the governor of the state was unworthy is post—that he was a liar,and had women now and then, and took too many drinks. The poor clerk and ex-captain meant to doa food Service to his country, and not tobegin {t by Hbeling people in power. With that re: for authority which must continue to exist if we are to have a country and substantial society, he merely thought that the governor was & procrastinating. A MUTINOUS REGIMENT, After a while the governor had a regiment returned on his hands, at the head of which he had put a man patriotte for the high purpose of reelecting Dick Yates. This fellow could do nothing with the regiment. When you go to war you have murderers in your company. ‘The next officer to yourself has killed three or fourmen with aknife. No. in the regiment has abandoned his family and is a terrible ex- am A, fumbled away everything he had. is aliar,and yet with ail the cow- ardice of a lar is a good disciplinarian and off. cer, and will fight in time of battle. Grant had to turn around and face human nature and lead fellow officers like that to death or glory. If he bad been a moral reformer he would have writ- ten to the papers that it did not become a great country to have such fellows wi its chev- rons. Dick Yates said to himself: “This fellow Grant, whom Washburne has brought here, shall have this mutinous regiment, and I hope they will kill him ina day or two.” "Grant took the regiment, marched it across the state, put in arrest persons who misbehaved, gave his confidence to bad men who for the moment were doing their duty, and he for the moment assisted to recover character and career among those black sheep for the uses of their taste. Uniike a great many officers, he did not ik bis eye on the goverument at Washington. pt ONE EYE AT LEAST on the enemy, and said, “I will get @ whack at athim directly.” The first whack he got at the enemy rather turned him inside out. But he had been pitched off a horse when a boy. He took whack number two. All at once, with both eyes on the enemy and his heart strong in human nature, he captured more men than all the union forces had taken al rin all Parts of this country. The men he captured Were Just as good soldiers as marched any- where. The invincible spirit native toa natural mai had given him fame and authority, While other men were studying the lives of Napoli id Wellington and other old gesse In the orane ards. He fought that armed enemy with quiet ¥: Nothing delighted him more than a grap- ple with the enemy. As he rose from step to step anonymous let- ters were written about him; petty eritics as- sailed him in the papers. He made some mis- takes about that time in thinking that all the People who wrote for the papers were bad. The Inan writing to the papers was attending to his Part of life just as well as Grant, ‘were Making their mistakes. Almost without re- cord or biography THE NAME OF GRANT town was a foregone had taken advantage earl and shat him But at Vieksbui my at Jackson and other places. The Missis- sippi river was opened by the poor clerk of Ga lena. Washburne said to himself: “God Al mighty must have sent this man to me.” Then Grant came east and had to deal with these moral reformers, who abound in those old east- ern states, people with the misfortune of having had grandfathers, folks who are guided by the Rewspapers. He was pronounced in all the op- Position papers the greatest failure in the World. ‘The New York World, with which T was connected at the close of the war, had an article in it every day, written bya mau named Marble, or inspired by him, saying that Grant wax a colossal humbug, that’ he was murdering le in the Wilderness, that he ought to be cashiered, that he was a drunkard, &c. I some- times look with wonder at some of these quill seratchers who continue to write platforms for great parties, who have recorded themselves ainst a SUCH FAME AS GRANT'S, ‘When we consider how hard itis to have great responsibility, to be disconnected with the great powers of the state, to have scarcely a friend on the press,and at the same time to have-in our faces @ courageous and prodigious name taking us by the throat; how hard it isin the blackness of the camp at night to take up the paper and find ourselves put down as a seamp, a charlatan, a petty villain. This brave hearted little man read all such’ things and never opened his mouth. The splendor of Lee's feuctalship never was displayed against any- as it was against Grant. He seemed for the first time In his career to delight in the re- bellion, of which he was the great leader, as he sprang’ at that little western man who had opened the Mississippi river. As Grant marched toward Richmond with his long line exposed, Lee and all his great captains sprang at him from the woods. Anticipating the rise of some such natural man as this, they had fortified permanently all the leading positions on the roads. Grant could fight, but he could make no impression on this powerful enemy, though he id not come back like McClellin and some others, with his hand in his mouth, and point to the President of the United States, himself sorely derided, and say: “You did this. Tam @great man and you are a fool.” ‘The simplicity with which GRANT AND LINCOLN hung to each other, like David and Jonathan, brings tears to good men’s eyes now. Grant con- tinued on. He did not get to Richmond, but he got tothe back door of it. There he sat down and hammered away, and at last the valiant confederacy acknowledged that it had a mas- The man Grant received the swort of Gen. é. The little northern clerk at $600 a year made the heir of Gen. Washington concede his superiority. Then what a magnanimous op- ponent he was! “Take your horses all with you, general,” said Le; “let all your boys ride their horses home, and put them to plowing.” Are we to forget such a man as that because his sons had too much of his faith, and he and they lost their great apparent wealth? What is afterall, thata man had a million yesterds and canhot pay a due bill to-day If he is a true- spirited man? This wretched measuring of everything in the world by pecuniary success is the only stigma in the American character. Gen. Grant next had to meet the politicians, and they tried to make every sort of thing out ofhim. Old Seward attempted to handle hin Johnson, the President, endeavored to fondie him; Stanton, the Seeretary of War, cheated him’and lied to him. He was just as well aware of what was due him as the people who con- trolled that day were. He walked into the office of President almost without an effort. He had hardly been elected when newspapers at Chiengo assailed him because he had given some office to his aunt or little cousin. The great Horace White wrote the first article against Grant. He was informed that his administration would be a failure ifhe gave any crumbs from the table to his little cousinsand other folks. How ridicu- lous all this seems now when we look back at it. However, bedbugs possess thelr own na- tures, GRANT'S PRESIDENTIAL TERMS, with the defects which sprung from human nature, were on the whole glorious terms, Hon- est men will never forget that in those two terms this continent was bound together with links ofsteel. This nation stopped squabbling about theories and reformed its functions as a great nation, The capital city sprang to beauty. The biography of the country was transferred. men scarcely known were given an opportuni: ty; old humbugs and fossils were set aside; Rewness became the complexionof the state, and the old opponents to Grant from the con: federacy found him such a Yankee as they had never dreamed of. Delusions passed away; fellowship started afresh; men cast the beams out of their own eyes and kissed the motes out of their brethren’s. ‘The last day of Grant's ad- ministration was the greatest of all. a set of hungry office-seekers were ready to begin an- other civil war, and both parties rather hoped there would be'a fight. Grant stood between, and his name was might. He had tried every kind of man in his administration. He took George William Curtis and gave hima civil ser- Nice opportunity, but there wasnot enough man about Curtis to have even gratitude. The mo- ment he ceased to give Curtis some- thing conspicuous Curtis _ceased to have interest in Grant. Grant took Mosby, the poor outlawed guerrilla, and ave him the exequator of the United States. ¢ took Longstreet, who had socruelly assailed his flank in the Wilderness, and made a gen- tleman of him and restored him to loyalty and authority. What wonder if he did indulge the idea of another term of office, when so many thousands expected it ofhim, and flattere him with that hope. Ifyou take the human nature out of Grant you take the true greatness outof him. His errors, his weaknesses, are necessary to the fullness of his character. In some respects he was an inferiorman. Lacking in imagination, he lacked that thing which puts the hue upon the flower. Yet, when shall we have another Grant? How often in future years will people recur to this man’s mistakes as the humanizing elements about him? He went abroad to see the world... Nothing un- natural about that. The world wanted to see him. And so he returned to his own country with another Kind of reputation, and his friends again put him up for President. A great deal is sald about what would have happened if he had been been electetl, but Ican see that nothing would have happened. There would have been Grant three times President. Poor and human Grant. Then his sons, who had been brought up in another generation, among different associations, TEMPTED THE RETIRED PUBLIC MAN into business, He and they failed, but so has an old skinfint like Garrison; 6o have the sons of Ene, one of our most conservative merchants and citizens; so has Villard, who created 50 many of the present humbugs. The sum and residue of Grant are neither greater nor less than those of almost any man of great career. The Duke of Wellington recaptured Spain and Portugal and delivered Napoleon up to his jailer, and lived to see his windows broken in Apsley house, and died at last praised by the poets, but disliked by the multitude. Gen. rant became a victim to the very people who are now deriding his latter days. ‘These fel- lows who are printing bonds and selling them to the people assume to be Grant's critics. They made money and Grant lost his. They woncer that Grant was deceived. How happy some of these men would be if they were once honestly deceived and brought back to human natu by submission and sutfering! There comes time when the highest career lies feebly upon its last couch and counts its pulse, and knows that the doctors is merely the harpy. In that last day which impends over every person we may have reason to thank God for our mis- takes which brought us to a likeness to Him, who was also mocked and Sabon te and slay dered. The most hidious picture in life isa man who never had any back-sets, but died unde- plored because he was so perfect. ———+ee. GEN. GRANT'S HOME LIFE. His Devotion to His Family—How He Won His Bride—An Incident of Mrs. Grant’s Early Days. Genera] Grant’s home surroundings have always been happy, and the ties that bind the family together have been very strong. While President he never forgot the happiness of his wife and children in considering the immense responsibilities that rested upon him, and after the strain of the day's business was over it was his greatest pleasure to be with them alto- gether. It is said that when Mrs. Grant hap- pened to be ill with the terrible headaches to which she was subject he would not leave her side, not even to meet his cabinet ministers. The same tenderness was manifested by the children towards their parents and each other. The general was always very. tolls daughter Nellie, and Me danehtectn gree Mrs. Fred. Grant, was a great favogite with him also. When she came to the White House as a bride he gave her the name of “Sunshine.” ‘The marriages of all the children have been = to the general and have been quite en General Grant married Miss Julia Dent, the ‘hter of Col. Dent, of Dent, the dang t, of St. Louis, on reat fame he was to reach. He and rant’s brother were fellow-atudents at Point, and Miss Dent and the young cadet met for the first time on the occasion of his secre, panying roung Dent home on a vacation. Miss ot had many admirers, The sed, to Fide out Mrs, ‘West prey f E BE ee \ THE SURRENDER AT APPOMATTOX. THE SURRENDER OF LEE. The Last Memorable Scene in the Great Civil War. THE MEETING OF GRANT AND LEE—THE TERMS OF SURRENDER—THE FICTION OF THE APPLE TREE, &C. One of the most memorable scenes in Amer- icoxhistory is the surrender of Lee at Appo- mattox. The apple tree at Appomattox will live in tradition as long as the Stars and Stripes wave. The apple tree is, however, somewhat ofamyth. Its only actual appearance was in the fact that Lee, not Grant, sat under such a tree when he received Grant’s note in reply to his offer tosurrender. After the fall of Peters- burg Grant dispatched Sheridan at once to intercept Lee, who, with his army, was hasten- ing to Danville to unite his forces with those of Johnston. After a hot pursuit Lee turned off the main road, and hisarmy toiled all day along wood roads” and s, winding ran thickets unmolested. y and men and animals, worn down, dragze themselves wearily along. The next’ mornin: they struck the main road, and taking couras: marehed quite rapidly until dark, and en- camped. in the nelghboring fields, ‘That night Lee held a consultation with his officers as to the best course to be pursued. It was a gloomy council, and its deliberations were hurried by the boom of Sheridan’s cannon in front, show- ing that their way was hopelessly blocked. The end was reached. LEE’S SURRENDER DEMANDED, Grant, knowing how hopeless was Lee's con- dition, sent him a dispatch from Farmville de- manding the surrender of his army, on the ground that to hold out longer was a useless ef fusion of blood. Lee replied the same day, re- pudiating the insinnation that his case was hopeless, but concluded with asking the “terms he would offer.” The next day Grant returned an answer, saying: “Peace being my. first de- sire, there’ is but one condition that I ins upon, that the men surrendered shall be dis ualified from taking up arms against the United States government. until, properly ex- changed.” Lee, in reply, denied that he pro- posed to surrender his army, but to ask his terms, saying: “To be frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the surrender.” At this time, it is stated, Lee had not more than ten thousand men with muskets in their hands to resist Grant’s magnificent army. He proposed to meet Grant next day at ten o'clock and talk the matter over. ‘The next day Grant sent a letter saying that he had not recei his letter until 11:50, but would immediat ush forward to the front to meet him, This ispateh arrived just in time to prevent an at- tack of Sheridan’s cavalry. The bugles were ready tosound acharge when a flag of truce ralsed in front of Gordon’s troops prevented it, THE TERMS OFFERED. The final correspondence then took place, as follows: Appomattox Court House, April 8th, 18 In accordance with the substance of my letters toyou of the Sth inst., I propose to re. ceive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wi Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer to be designated by me, the other to be retained by such officers as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not to take arms against the government of the Uni- ted States until properly exchanged, and each company or regimental commander to sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery and public property to be packed and stacked and turned over to. the officers appointed by me to receive them. ‘This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers nor their private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to retun to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their parole and the laws in force where they reside. Very respectfully, U.S. Grant, Lieutenant General. Lee replied, saying that he ‘accepted these terms, and that he would designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect. It was at this time that Lee was seated under an apple tree, accompanied only by asingle statt officer, Col. Babcock, of Grant's staff, rode up, saluted him, and reported that Gen. Grant was riding along that road, a little way behind, and would soon come up. ‘Lee at once told his aid to find a proper place to receive him, ‘The lat- ter, seeing a man passing by, asked if there was a house near, The man_ pointed toan empty house near by, partly in ruins. But Lee, refus- ing torecetve Grant in such a desolate looking building, the man offered his own farm house, a little way off. THE MEETING BETWEEN GRANT AND LEE. Thither Lee proceeded, and soon Grant, accom- panied by his staff and several generals—among them Sheridan—rode up. These two heroes met with frankness and informality. Lee wore his sword, but Grant was without his, and, observ. ing that the former noticed it, said: *I mus apologize, General, for not wearing iy sword, It had gone off with my baggage when I re- ceived your note.” Lee bowed and at once in- troduced the subject which had brought them together, and asked Grant to state in writing the terms on which he proposed the Army of Northern Virginia should surrender. Grant sat down at a table and wrote the terms as given in the above letter. He then handed it to Lec, who, after reading it carefully, asked what hé meant by “private horses,” as ‘most of the cav alry owned their horses. The latter replied they mast be turned over to the government. Lee acknowledged the justice of this, when Grant said that he would “instruct his officers to let those men whoowned their horses retain them, as they would need them to till their farms,” fi . While this document was being copled.the two generals conversed familiarly about West Point: Umes and old army friends.” At length, allud- ing to the business before them, Lee said he had two or three thousand federal prisoners and was afraid he had not rations sufficient to supply them, Sheridan, who overheard the Temark, replied, “I have rations for 20,000 men.” The document having been copied, Col. Marshall began his reply with “I have the honor to reply to yourcommunication,” &c. Lee scratched it allout, and in a clear, soidierly hand wrote, “General, I have received your letter ,of this date, containing the terms of the surrénder of the Army of Northern Virginia, as proposed by you; as they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the Sth inst., they are accepted. Iwill proceed to d te the oper Officers to carry the stipulations into ef- Fect”. Thus ended the interview berween the two great leaders in the most memorable war of modern times. Three days later the confed- ast ‘ber im | ‘Miss’ ‘was lead had erate army was drawn up as for a parade and marched to. spot near the court house, where the soldiery stacked their arms and piled to- gether their flags. Reduced by straggling and risoners, only about 25,000 remained, and of thisnumber not more than half had arms to lay down. ——$—$+oe——_____ GRANT AND SHERMAN. The Characteristic Letters that Passed When Grant was Made Lieutenant General—Sherman’s Esti- mate of Grant. On the 26th of February, 1864, a bill to revive the grade of lieutenant general of the army was passed by Congress, and in accordance with the intentions of the originators and supporters of the bill the President nominated Gen. Grant, and he was confirmed by the Senate. This was of this success is due to the energy, skill, and the harmonious putting forth of that eyerzy and skill, of those whom it has been my "good fortune to have occupying subordinate positions under m ‘There are many officers to whom these re- marks are applicable to a greater or less de- gree,proportionate to their ability assold{ers;but What I want is toexpress my thanks te zou ana MePherson as the men to whom, above all others, I feel indebted for whatever'I have had of success. How far your advice and assistance have been of help to me you know. How far your execu- tion of whatever has been given to you to do entitles you to the reward I'am receiving, you camyjot know as well as I. I feel all the gratitude this letter would ex- press, giving it the most flattering construc- tion. The word you I use in the plural, intending it for McPherson also. I should writé to him, an will some day; but’ starting in the morning, do not know that I will find time just now. Your friend, —_U. S. GRANT, Major Gen’l, Shermen received this letter near Memphis, on the 10th of March, and immediately re- plied: Dear Ihave your more than kind istic letter of the 4th instant. I ill send a copy to Gen. McPherson at once. You do yourself injustice, and us too much honor, in assigning to us too large a share of the merits which have led to your high ad- Vancement. I know you approve the friend- ship I have ever professed to you, and will per- mil me to continue, as heretofore, to manifest iton all proper occasions. You are now Washington's legitimate succes- sor, and occupy a position of almost dangerous elevation; but if you can continue as heretofore to be yourself—simpie, honest and unpretend- ing—you will enjoy through life the respect and love of friends and the homage of millions of human beings that will award you a largeshare in securing to them and their descendants a. government of law and stability. Irepeat, you do Gen. McPherson and myself too mueh ‘honor. At Belmont you manifested your traits, neither of us being near. At Donel- son also you illustrated your whole character, I was not near, and Gen. McPherson in too sub ordinate a capacity to influence you. Until you had won Donelson f confess I was almost cowed by the terrible array of anarchi- cal elements that presented themselves at every point; but that admitted a ray of light I have followed since. J belleve you are as brave;patri- otle and just.as the great prototype, Waghing- ton; as unselfish, kind-hearted and honest as a. man should be; but the chief characteristic 1s the simple faith in success you have always manifested, whieh I can liken to nothing else than the faltira Christian has in the Saviour, ‘This faith gave you victory at Shiloh and Vicksburg. Also, when you have completed your best preparations, you go into battle with- out hesitation, as at Chattanooga—no doubts— no reserves; and I tell you it was this that made us act with confidence. I knew, wherever I was, that you thought of me, and'if I got in a tight place you wouid help me out, if alive. My only point of doubt was in your knowl- edge of grand strategy, and of books of science and history; but I confess your common sense seems to have supplied all these. Now, as tothe future, Don’t stay in Wash- Come west—take to yourself the whole ippi valley. Let us make it dead sure— 1l_you the Atlantic slopes and the Pa- ill follow its destiny, as sure.as the limbs of a tree live or die with the main trunk. We have done much, but still mach remains. Time, and time's influences, are with us. We could’ almost afford to sit still, and let these in- fluences work. Here lies the seat of the coming empire, and from the west, when our task is done, we will make short work of Clirleston and Richmond, aud the impoverished eoast of the Atlantic, Your sincere friend, W. T. SHERMAN, +94 ORDERED TO EAT THE PIE. How Grant Punished a Lieutenant for STORIES OF GRANT. Anecdotes which Illustrate His Charac- - teristic Traits. INCIDENTS OF HIS BOYHOOD—HIS UNCONQUER- ABLE DETERMINATION—HOW HE EARNED A SOUBRIQUET—HIS HAPPY DAYS WHEN HAUL- IN@ Woop. Many stories are told of Grant's boyhood, illustrative of the characteristics which he afterward exhibited. His father st one time had seen a horse which he'wished to purchase, butcould not agree with the owner about the price. Finally he concluded he must have it, and sent Ulysses after it with instructions to offer fifty dollars for it, and if the man would not take that sum, offer him fifty-five and at last sixty. With these instructions the boy de- parted on his mission. On telling the owner of the horse his errand, the man asked him how much his father said he would give for the horse. The lad frankly told him his instrue- tions. The owner chuckled at the greenness of the boy, and of course told him very emphatic. ally that he could not have the horse for one cent less than sixty dollars. He had reckoned on tne simplicity of the unsophisticated diplo- Mmatist a little too much, for the latter replied that, though his father had instructed him re- specting the price as he had told him, yet he, himself, had made up his mind, on seeing the horse, that he was not worth over'fitt would give but that amount... ‘The astonished owner seeing that the boy had made up his mind and was going away without the horse, actually sold jt to him for fifty dollars. HIS SELF-RELIANCE AS A BOY. The father gives the following anecdote that. ANustrates strikingly not only the boy's ability, but the father’s confidence in it, to take care of himself when but twelve years old. He says: “Tt was necessary for me to have a deposition taken once, to be used in a law suit in whien I Was engaged. Ihad written more than once about itto my lawyers, but could not get the business done. ‘I can do it,’ said Ulysses. SoI sent him on the errand alone. Before he started T gave him an open letter that he might show the captuin of the boat, or any one else, if he should have occasion, stating that he was my gon and was going down to Louisville on my business. Going down he happened to meet a neighbor with whom he was acquainted, so he had no occasion to use the letter. But when he came on board a boat toreturn the captain asked him who he was. He told him, but the captain answered, ‘I cannot take you, you may be run- ning away.’ Ulysses then produced my letter, Which put every thing right, and the captain not only treated him with great kindnesss, but took so much interest in him as to invite ‘him togoas far as Maysville with him, where he had relatives ‘living, free of expense. He brought back the deposition with him, and that enabled me to succeed in making a satis- factory adjustment of my suit.” Tt would seem very extraordinary to send a lad only twelve years of age on such business atall, but tosend him to another state, to find his way by railroad and_ steamboat, as’best he could, would be foolhardiness under any ch= cumstances, except that the boy had previously shown himself to be an uncomimon child. HIS PHRENOLOGICAL “BUMPS.” Again the father says: “I will relate another circumstance which I have never mentioned before, which you may use as you think proper. ‘He was always regarded as extremely apt in figures. When he was ten years old a distin- guished phrenologist came along and stayed several days in the place. He was frequently asked to examine heads blindfolded. Among others Ulysses was placed jn the chair. The phrenologist felt his head for several minutes without saying anything. Atlength a noted doctor asked him if the boy had a capacity for mathematics. The phrenologist, after some further examination, sald: ‘You’ need not be surprised if you see this boy fill the President- fal chair.” AN EARLY EVIDENCE OF OBSTINATE DETERMI- NATION. In those early days he exhibited another trait, which shone out most conspicuously in his public career as a general, viz: The appar- ent unconsciousness that he was unuble to do anything he once set about, To begin a thing with him makes sure the end. He exhibited this trait at Shiloh, and though terribly beaten the first day, he intended, even if Buell had not arrived, to fight the victorious army the next. Nothing but his total destruction would secure his defeat, This peculiarity was ex- hibited in early lite. His father sent him one day with a team in the woods to bring back some pieces of timber, supposing there were men at work there, who would help him load. But, on his arrival, they were gone, ‘The nat- ural, usual course would have been’ to return and report the state of the case. But having been sent for the timber, it never occurred to him that he was togo back without it. Soafter contemplating the Job for awhile, he ‘set about accomplishing it, A haif fallen tree lay “near making an inclined plane. Up this he suc- ceeded in rolling the heavy sticks, leaving the ends projecting over. Backing his team up under these, he fastened them with a chain to the wagon, and so hauled them on it,one by one, and returned home with his load, NOT MORETHAN 10,000 TO CARRY OVER, After the battle of Shiloh and even up to the | present day, there has been a good deal of dis- cussion as to whether Grant was justified in selecting his position with the river in the rear, It is reported that Grant when asked the question, what would he have done had he been forced to cross the stream? replied: “We would have tised the gun boats.” “But,” continued his questioner, “the gun boats could have carried over only 10,000 men Foraging Under an Assumed Name. When Grant, in August, 1861, was sent with a brigade to southern Missouri to repel a threat- ened invasion of it by Jeff. Thompson, an inci- dent occurred which is thus described by one of his stam officers: abe ‘distance from the start; ing point of the ex; lon to the suppose rendezvous of the confederates was about one hundred and ten miles, and the greater portion of the route lay through a howling wilderness, The imaginary suffering that our soldiers en- dured during the first two days of their march was enormous. It was impossible to steal or ‘confiscate’ uncultivated réal estate, and not a hog, or @ chicken, or an ear of corn was any- where to be seen. On the third day, however, affairs looked more hopeful, for a few smali specks of ground ina state of partial cultivation were here and there visible. On that day Lieut. Wickfield, of an Indiana cavalry regiment, commanded the advance guard, consisting of eight mounted men. About nooh he came u) to a small farm-house, from the out) appearance of which’ he judged — there might be something fit to eat inside, He halted his command, dismounted, and, with * two second lieutenants, entered the Givelling. He knew that Grant's incipient form had alread: gone out through all that country, and it seemed to him by representing himself to be Gen. Grant, he might obtain the best the house atforded. assuming a very imperative de- meanor he accosted the Inmates of the house and told them that he must have something for himself and staff to eat. They desired to know who he was, and he told them that he was Brig. Gen. Grant. At the sound of the name they all sew around with alarming: Slacrity,and served up about all they had fn the house, taking great pains all the wille to make loud professions of loyalty. The lieutenants ate as Much us they could Of the not oversumptuous meal, but which was, nevertheless, good for that country, and demanded what was to pay. ‘Nothing.’ And they went on their way re- joicing. sgn the meantime Gen. Grant,whohad halted hisarmy a few miles further back fora brief resting spell, came in sight of, and was rather favorably impressed’ with the appearance of this same house. Riding up to the fence in front of the door, he: desired to know if they would cook him & meal. . “'‘No,’ said a female, in a gruff voice. ‘Gen. Grant and his staff have just been. here and eaten everything In the house except one pumpkin ple,? a “‘Humph,’ murnfured Grant; ‘what is your name?’ “‘Selvidge,’ replied the woman, “Casting a hall-dollar in at the door, he asked ifshe would keep that pie until he sent an offi- cer for it, to which she replied that she would. “That evening, aftor the camping ground had been selected, the Various regiments were noti- fled that there would be a grand parade at half- past six, for orders, Officers would see that all eir men turned out, ete, “In tive minutes the camp was in a perfect uproar, and filled with allsortsoframors, Some houghit the enemy Were upon them, it being #0 unusual to have es When on @ march. “At haltpast six the parade was formed, ten columns deep, and nearly a quarter of a maile in Both officers and men were amazed at. unusual parade after such a io Srenry ‘HEADQUARTERS ARMY IX THE FIELD, “Special Order No, — ee Wi Selvidee an Tard off this, "8 house, id, Pocahontas at most.”” “Well,” said Grant, “there would not have been more than 10,000 men to carry over.” “ UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” GRANT. Gen. Grant has had a great many soubriquets applied to him, both during and since the war. One of the earliest, after he became known to the country, was that of “Unconditional Sur- render Grant.” It arose in this way: After the attack upon Fort Donelson, Gen. Buckner wrote to Gen. Grant proposing an armistice in order to upon the terms of capitulation, He received the following charateristic reply: Yours of this date, proposing an armistice and appointment of commissioners to settle terms of capitulation is just received. No terms other than an unconditional and immediate surren- der can be accepted. I propose to move imme- diately upon your works.” The “unconditional surrender” at once fol- lowed. HIS HAPPY DAYS WHEN HAULING Woop, The following anecdote illustrates Grant's mode of life after he resigned from the army in 1854, and resided on a farm near St. Louis, It is related by one familiar with it. The writer says is well known that when he resided in Missouri he was very poor, and lived in a amall, uncomfortable house, cultivating a farm of a few acres, Hischief income was derived by hauling wood to the city of St. Louis, He used to supply Hon. Henry T. Blow, of that city,with his fuel. Mr. Blow was elected to the Thirty- ninth Congress, and on ane occasion went with his wife to one'of General Grant’s popular re- ceptions. Mrs.Blow wondered if General Grant would recognize her as an old friend or a0 quaintance under the different cireumstances oftheir relative circumstances in life. Well, Mrs, Blow had not been long at the general's before he came to her and said, ‘Mrs. Blow, I remember you well. What great changes have taken place since last we met!’ ‘Yes, general,’ said Mrs, B., ‘the war is over.’ ‘Ido not mean that,’ he repiled ‘I mean with myself. Do you recollect when I used to supply your husband with wood, and pile 1t myself, and measure it the news of the surrender reached President Lincoln officially, he wrote the following auto- graph letter to Grant: Woattngton, July 15 1003. Grant: oe even of his most intimate friends, dreamed of a ac e for him, itis to add that, looking now, we must confess that the possession of many excellent qualities, and the entire ab- ‘sence of all lowand mean ones, establish a cal sequence from first to last, and illustrate, a manner, the poet's fancy about “The baby of the giant mass ‘Of things tocome at large.” HIS SIMPLICITY OF DRESS The plainness of dress of both Lincoln and Grant harmonized. In February, 1865, when Grant came to Washington he called at the Capitol and paid his respetis to the Senate in session. That body was so scandalized by the carelessness of his attire that after he had gone one of the Senators actually arose and asked the consideration of the Senate on the matter. “Itis evident,” said the finespun Senator, “thata e hasbeen made in ap inting Grant lleutenant general, I tell you, er isn't a second lieutenantof the home guardin my state that does not cut a bigger Swell than this man who has just left our pres- ence.” GEN. GRANT'S HOMES. The Story of His Life as Told by the Houses He Has Occupied—The Lowly Cot Where He was Born and the Stately Mansion Where He Now Lies Dying. HOUSE WHERE GEN. GRANT WAS BORN. Gen. Grant was born in a house at Point Pleasant, Ohio, which could hardly claim any higher dignity than that of a log cabin. His father was one of the pioneers of the now wealthy and populous state. He was a hard- working man, and Ulysses, from early boyhood, was inured to toil. There are several houses in St. Louis which are pointed out as houses which have been identified with the life history of Gen, Grant. Gen. Grant, then a lieutenant, was married August 22, 1848, to Miss Julia Dent, daughter of Col. Dent, of St. Louis, at Col. Dent's house. This house, which is still standing, fs located on the southwest corner of Cerre street and 4th avenue, St. Louis. It is a two-story and gable-roofed house of the old- fashioned type. Horse cars, unknown in the days when the brave soldier went there a-court- ing, now jingle past its door, and there is tacked up on the spot which the old-fashioned brass knocker used to occupy a printed sign notifying passers by that “rooms” may be obtained within for $4 a week, and that “table board” at$3, or “single meals” at 25 cents, are to be had upon application. A Mrs. Puteher reigns supreme within. The same chandelier which lighted the bridal festival hangs from the cell- ing. It is one of several evidences left that the house was ever the home of an affluent and cul- lvated family. It is a bronze affair, trident shaped, the figure of a knight rising between its three supporting rods, ‘The house now rents for forty-five dollars a month and is the property of Mrs. Walsh, of St. Louis. After Gen. Grant resigned from. ‘the army in 1854 he tried farming, and lived for a while in an old farm house belonging to Col. Dent, on the Gravois road, near St. Louis. It was there Miss Nellie, now Mrs. Sartoris, and one or two of the boys were born, The place was known as the Wish-ton-Wish, and its | memory is doubtless very tender to the general. Becoming dissatistied with farming, and hav ing been wofully disappointed by a failure to obtain the position of county surveyor, he moved his rapidly increae'ng family back to St. Louis and rented a house at the corner of 7th and Lynch streets, which is standing to-d: The lite of the Grants during their occupation ofthis residence was none too bright. It was clouded'by the fact that their funds were run- ning low and that the young ex-soldier and ex- farmer was paable to find any employment. His army life had entirely unfitted him for mereantile pursuits, and his prospects of find- ing something suitable to his hand were small. Realizing the necessity of economy, the Grants | gave up their house on 7th street and removed to a little cottage which now bears the number 1008 Barton street. The house is not what could be called alarge mansion. Ithas been enlarged since the Grant's occupied it. In those days it consisted ofa single room on each floor, and Mrs. Adolfph Weekiler, the present occupant, who with her husband has lived there for more than twelve years, declares that the interior of the front or main room is precisely the same as it was when. Mrs. U. S, Grant superintended its dusting and sweeping. The front door opens directly into the stunted little apartment. Rising from a corner of the lower room is a Uttle flight of stairs which leads up to the garret chamber, which suggests @ child's play-house more than the sleeping apartments of a milita hero. The four ls are met by a ceiling whicl slants down on all sides to meet them at a point not more than four feet from the floor. A rude wooden railing still extends in front of two COL. MARKLANDIYS RECOLLECTIONS, Memories of Grant as a School Boy and asa Military Leader. Col. A. H. Markland, of this city, was a schoo!- mate of Gen. Grant at the Maysville, Ky., acad- emy,and during the war bad direction of the mail service of Gen. Grant's army; so he was thrown into contact with Gen. Grant at two most. interesting periods of his life. Speaking of Grant as a boy, he said, “My home was at Maysville, Ky., and young Grant came there a boy oftwelve or thirteen to attend the academy, He lived with his aunt in Maysville, and was a Very quiet, retiring and studlc member him nt with a round, freckled face and sandy hair, He was a good-natured boy, and went by the name of ‘Lys.’ Shortly after’ he left school he went to West Paint, and from that time I did not meet him again until in the fall of 1861,” A MAN WHO NEV “Gen, Grant never swore,” said Col. Marke land, “and in my long connection with him I have never beard him utter a profane word, I have been with him on many oceastons in which, perhaps, the use of profanity would have been pardonab Tha heard him teli in so- cial circles stories in which oaths have been al- Ways used, but in retelling them he would not quote the oaths. He was freer from using un kind expressions toward his fellow-man th any one I have ever known. fortunes of his life have a And the chief mts- risen from his miss placed confidence in his tellow-man, Speaking of profanity, I remember one or two occasions on which Grant should have sworn, and I think would have sworn if he could, One was while we were at Young's Point, with headquarters on the steamboat ola. Two of the stat officers horth under orders, leav- ing their rooms on the boat vacant. Gen, Grant invited two officers on board one night for can- sultation. During the consultation a violent rainstorm came up, and Gen, Grant asked these officers to remain on board over night, saying that he had two rooms and that it would be more pleasant for thent to stay there than togo to the: mp inthe storm. The time for retir- ved and the officers were shown to their When the doors were opened, however, it was found that the beds were occupied by the colored servants of the who were ab nt. Gen. Grant was ¥ ry, but bis indige tion did not find vent ns; he merely or- d these servants out into the rain, and in a short time. his indignation having cooled, he sent tell them they could come : RISED. not surprised ant speak or staff officers ere sur would try to see if t hibit surpri a Btories or by never succes pd at them particular! me else never gave any indication tter of the surprise was not miliar to bi the most he was t slest and 200 tons dge in vsite Grant ploded by muse id to a stat! offi gooui and see what is the mat ever dist x lost his hi the most startling new y, but his. face would never ate that it was news to him. If he was ‘ant Of a matter about which you we: would drawyyou out in such a quiet way that you would never imagine that the whole matter was not perfectly famili to hi! yA GEN, STS KINDNESS AND POLITENESS, Col, Markland’s war memories, jotted down at the time, contain, among other references to Grant, the ‘following: “One of the very marked features of Gen, Grant's life’ in the feld wag that no one ever came _to his quarters on legit: mate busine was brought there a prisoner who Was not kindly and considerately treated, He was punctilious in having. all persons whe came properly to his quarters politely treated and cared tor. He never gave offense himself, and would not tolerate it in others, No officer in the army ever lived’ more p nly than Gen, Grant, and none was more willing to divide what he had. After a successful battle he nevet exhibited the slightest boastful feeling, Te have seen him aud heard him talk one would have supposed that de had had nothing to de with the battle if it were not for the orders he was dictating for the future movements of the army or for the burial of the dead or for the caring for the sick and wound: A MEETING BETWEEN GEN. GRANT AND HTS OLD TEACHER, Col. Markland has 1 from his ola ceptor, W. W. E tter, in which, speaking of Gi “It was av to me, through Ideman, to have met > honored guest ot atified to meet me, ates with kind re: ce and exhibited great pleasure in rom them, On Mr. pman’s Jocu- believed the great hero of se many victories had once been whipped, meat ing at school, the general eyed me attentively until J assured him t I remembered no su: occasion, W d ‘Nor do I, sir.’ While ny, but at Georgetown, at partor my educa. the kindness Gen, Grant when b Louisville, He re ville aeade performed t en asked by one of the invited guesis mes of cards in the different countries isited were similar to the games played in the United States, looking fixedly at me, he made the curt repl ‘The professor ne taught me cards,’ No other reference was made to cards.” ———_~+ee______ GRANT AS A SCHOOLBOY. The Recollections of His Old Teacher— The Great Soldier in Miniature. Mr. W. W. Richeson, the principal of thesem- inary at Maysville, Kentucky, where Gen. Grant was a pupil, gives thy following reminis- ces of his school days: “H."U. Grant entered asa pupil in Maysville seminary during the winter season of 1336 and 1837. In his classes he sustained himseif with credit, and in hia dangerous windows in the front wall of this upper room, which was placed there by Gen. Grant himself to ‘prevent Mise Nellie and the ounger children from falling ou! the eas! Rae of the cottage is a queer old-fashioned weil. After further failures toobtain lucrative em- loyment Gen. Grant accepted an offer from Bis father to enter into partnership with him in Galena, He presented four slaves he owned to Mr. John F. » and removed his other chat- tels to Illinois. In Galena he was engaged in the leather business with his father in 4 modest little store bearing the mignot “Grant & Son, leather dealers,” ane occupied a — + t but modest, jousa “He was living nere when the war broke out and he took up his sword. Upon coming to Washington after the war General Graut Aten a ee but modest ouse on I street, near 3a, ‘Arter hte election to the Prenidenty he summered in a cottage ining Mr. George 'W. Childs’ co’ at Long Branch. This is one of the most modest cottages on the water side of Ocean avenue, near the West End. The house on 66th street, near the corner of 5th avenue, New York, where Gen. Grant has spent his last days, is a superb brown stone mansion, Tain partics who held an original ‘mortgage on in les who held an me ‘on the building. The house was by the general's friends and present to his wife. It ‘was valued ut $100,000, but there was a mort- on it of $60,000. The full amount was Faised and $40,000 paid down on the delivery of the deed, the remainder being placed to Mrs. Grant's credit in the bank. She made rey fone term to ran, the holder bf the mortgage term run, older of would not di it. When the firm of Graut & Ward was started Mrs. Grant trans- ferred her account to the house,and with it the $60,000 to pay off the mortgage on their home. ‘That sum went in the crash, and it is un- derstood a settlement has since been made qudred possession of the propert amily of the property, as the Ly could not afford to continue ownership conduct sand general bearing was the lifelike miniature of Gen. U. 8. Grant, the great soldier and statesman ofthe present’ era. He was @ member of the Philomathea society, to which the juniors of the institution belonged. The seniors of the school were members of the Kappa Gamma Chi society. I find in the records of the Philomathean that, “in Januar’ 1837, Lissant Cox, Ulysses Grant, Absalom 11 Markland, William G. Richardson and Jobn I’. Phister were appointed as the executive con mittee for the ensuing gponth, and Mr. Phiste term of office as p! ntexpiring with the meeting, he delivered his valedictory, to which great attention was paid by the mem Thave copied verbatim from the minutes of the society, from which you will discover that young Grant, even then, was considered an ex- ecutive member. John P. Phister, a president of that occasion, is now president of the city coun- cilof Maysville, and allofthat Philomathian ex- ecutive board are now men of position and of ahigh order of intelligence. On another of the secretary's book I find that Mr, it submitted the following resolution: “Resolved, — itbe es out te Sager for any mem! ir to speak on the opposi: ie to which he belongs.” In this record you perceive his consistency, even at the early aze of fifteen, In February of the same year, 1537, the records show that “Ulysses Grant and E.M. Richeson were pointed to declaim on the ensuing Friday.” At another meeting I find that “Mr. Grant sub- mitted the following resolutior “Resolved, Thatany member who leaves his seat during debate be fined not less than cents.” ‘he importance of order, decision and consis- tency seems to have impressed him at an early age. While he attended the Maysville seminary he boarded with the family of bis an Peter Grant. Young Ulysses during his sch: on atthe Maysville seminary, ranked high in a! his classes, and his deportment was ex ion- ally good. Some years after leaving the school at sville, on a trip home from West Point, he called to see his former teacher at the semi: nary, remarking to him that al ‘the steamer would remain at the landing bul be age ne could not think of passing by ville without calling to seebim. During very pleasant interview he was invited into the female department, to see the young ladles of the schoo! but he diffidentiy declined visiting them on that occasion, showing a high degree his natural modesty. | The few incidents to whieh I have aliud nly exhibit since developed in this truly great and citizen ofour beloved country.” ot ited Got a Cigar from Grant. THE ADVENTURE OF TWO WASHINGTON UR CHINS. General Grant, when President, used to out every evening fora smoke. Justat dusk he ould come ont of te north gale of the Honse alone, with a cigar in his mouth, head bent down just a little, and his left etnies Son ee hackmen 3 fl i 5 5