A personal history of Ulysses S. Grant, and sketch of Schuyler Colfax (1868) (14598507188)

Identifier: personalhistoryo00rich
Title: A personal history of Ulysses S. Grant, and sketch of Schuyler Colfax
Year: 1868 (1860s)
Authors: Richardson, Albert D. (Albert Deane), 1833-1869
Subjects: Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885 Colfax, Schuyler, 1823-1885
Publisher: Hartford, Conn., American Publishing Company San Francisco, Cal., R. J. Trumbull & Co.
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



Text Appearing Before Image:
hefirst was to take away from it its military strength. That was done at Ap-pomattox. The second, to take away its political strength. That will bedone next November. It will be a short campaign, but as decisive as Appo-mattox. The General-in-Chief thoughtfully reciprocated the es-teem of his lieutenant. To a ISTew York editor he said :— The people dont understand Sheridan. Though hehas all the popularity any man could desire, his capacity isnot appreciated. The impression seems to be that he is onlya brave, downright fighter. Really, he is a man of admir-able judgment, capable of handling, under any circum-stances, the largest army ever seen in the United States. A closing observation or two upon Grants personal traits.Xo man has a more tender heart. Manv were his unosten-tatious deeds of kindness, even in his years of poverty ; andsince Fame and Fortune smiled upon him, all sorts of pen-sioners have shared his beneficence. To the widows and ISoS.J A Letter from Phil. Sheridan. 547
Text Appearing After Image:
548 Some of Grants Personal Traits. [1864. orphans of fallen soldiers particularly, his helpfulness andgenerosity have been unfailing. Not Abraham Lincoln himself had a more forgivingspirit. If he is capable of malice toward any humanbeing, I have failed to find evidence of it. While a secondlieutenant at Jefferson Barracks, soon after leaving the Mil-itary Academy, his mess attempted to enforce the rigidsocial discipline of the English army. Failure to comepromptly to meals, or any slight neglect in dress, was pun-ished by a fine of a bottle of wine. Grant, naturally care-less in his attire, was frequently mulcted. One day heventured to suggest that this rule was proving very hard onhim. The commandant, a strict martinet, replied coldly :— Lieutenant, young men should be seen and notheard. This quite quenched the modest subaltern. Ten yearslater, the same rigid colonel was the means of his leaving thearmy. This would have stirred the eternal enmity of any nar-row nature. But Grant,