The sayings of the people are always simple and wise.
What a fine thing it was that Grant said at Shiloh. The first day
closed in disaster. The enemy had all but driven the Union Army into
the river. Not a great distance from the banks of the stream they will
point out to you the tree under which Grant stood, cigar clinched
between his teeth, directing the disposition of his forces. Some one
reported to him a fresh disaster.
With the calmness of the certainty that nobody could defeat _him_, so
the story runs, Grant replied, "Never mind; I will lick them
to-morrow." Very like Caesar, was it not? "_I_ came, _I_ saw, _I_
conquered." Or that other audacity of the great Roman, when the ship
was actually sinking: "Fear not," said he; "fear not, you carry
_Caesar_ and _his_ fortunes."
In the same battle it is credibly reported that Grant rode to an
important position held by a large number of his troops under one of
his most trusted generals. "What have you been doing?" asked Grant.
"Fighting," answered the commander in charge of that position, equally
laconic. For a while Grant surveyed the field, and, turning, was about
to ride away. "But what shall I do now, General?" asked his
subordinate.
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