Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 105, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1917 — ULYSSES S. GRANT MAN AND. SOLDIER [ARTICLE]

ULYSSES S. GRANT MAN AND. SOLDIER

—By a practically unanimous vertlict, I'lysses S; Grant is named as one of the few great military clneffains of~tife"Worßt; " And the closest scrutiny of his work will convince us that his fame rests upon the most substantial foundation; upon success unqalified and unquestioned r upon the carrying through to its fulfillment of the most stupendous projects, involving such perplexing and elusive problems as are only to be encountered in the art of war, Henry E. Wing writes in the New York Christian Advocate. And lu- won his success without any of the p {o^y--p^rs»ma4 -=advmrtages wltlr -which;-r-hr-the* ’popular fancy, the Ideal hero Is endowed; Grant was not h liandsqme man. I mean there was nothing, specially attractive in bis bearing. He Jiuxuigi beelL. InTrst*man F attd- he was. of a certain soft, riding, occasionally, the most fractious animals, and riding always like one of the furies. But. mounteti or afoot, he had a careless and almost slouching manner, and he cut a pretty poor figure by the side of the stately apd dignified side7oFSliw dashing Sheridan and Hancock, His Jiabitual conduct was exceedingly quiet and reserved, giving one the impression of innate diffidence, bordering on real liashfulness. His ordinary conversation was on the most commonplace topics, and I have no recollection of his ever giving expression, by look or language, to the extraordtriary genius with which he was-certainly endowed. The trait for which he was best esteemed, at the time I knew him. was his tenacity. But I am certain that it was not appreciated. How, while sturdily holding to his main purpose, he submitted the details of the campaign to almost and l sometimes most radical changes. His, message to General Halleck, from Spottsylvanla. “I purpose to fight It out on this line If it takes all summer," was interpreted! to mean that he would not alter hfs course qtie lota, whatever might happen. This did him great injustice, as representing him to be

a very stubl>orn"-nnnr;~ while, on the contrary?among Grant’s most valuable characteristics were his operr-mindetln-ess-und-hls wonderful faculty of putting lessons once learned into practice. Behind that impassive face this silent man was holding a substantial scheme for putting down the secession. This scheme embraced the general movements of all the great armies of the United States and involved the intelligent co-operation of half a score of loyal general commanders. Grant had evidently such implicit confidence in this general phm that no incident of battle, march or siege <-ould disturb his equunimi ty. Only once-in my presence in that whole ettinpaign (lid hr betray the slightest perturbation or vexation. That was with his chief subordinate on The fatal morning of the Petersburg mine explosion. After the mine had been fired ir was absolutely necessary that rhe assault should be Instantly made. We ryalted a Iqng time to hear the cheersGof the men as»they would charge through tlie breach. At list, facing the stalwUrt y commander of the .army, lie cried: “Why don't the boys go in?” And on Meade—to whom this seemed a new idea—starting to stammer some reply. Grant gave 111 m one look of Intense disgust, and, wheeling his horse, rushed headlong to the front. An example of thi* resfllute faith occurred at the Wilderness. When affairs were in the most 4eFrßd4Lconfriri4m mi. mirJef t, an. rode-up. and reported; In an excited manner, that Han cock had been cut off and captured. Grant was sitting on the ground with his back to a tree. He did not even get to liis feet. He quietly took his pipe from his mouth and said that he did not believe it. And he was right. It was during this battle that he gave me a characteristic message to insert in my dispatch to the Tribune. “Tell the people that everything is going svziminingly down here," This was in the midst of an engagement which was at least Indecisive, and in which all,his plans were being frustrated. 7