. . . is given by a correspondent of the Boston Journal:
He has a fine physique – is stout, burly, weights two hundred avoirdupois, has a round head, is middle aged, black hair filling fast with silver. He walks by the hour in front of his quarters, his thumbs in the armpits of his vest, looking mostly at the ground, but casting quick looks now to the right, now to left, evidently not for the purpose of seeing anything or anybody, but staring into vacancy the while. His eyes see only the problem before him, which with the forces under him he is to work out a satisfactory conclusion. He is bronzed already, and in complexion reminds one of Daniel Webster, though not so dark hued as Webster – Such is his personal appearance. I understand that he does business off hand, is impatient at long stories, and cuts many an officer short in their verbal communications. He evidently has his odd ways. I am informed he puts on citizens dress and walks through the camp. The other day he helped a teamster out of the mud then gave him a severe lecture for not driving carefully. He laughed heartily to hear the witticisms of a teamster upon himself. The high water in the river made a slough all but impossible. The teamster had foundered through it, and reaching the top of the bluff, and being in sight of headquarters, relieved himself of volley after volley of oaths upon the creek, his horses, the roads, and lastly upon Gen. Halleck for not having the creek bridged. The criticism was just, but the General had already ordered the construction of a bridge, and being incog., could enjoy the verbal castigation. The army evidently has confidence in its commander, though I doubt if he is personally known to many of the officers and very few of the men.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 3
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