RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND HORSES 



tributed in 1896 to Scribner's Magazine, on the 

 " Evolution of the Trotting Horse " is a full-page 

 illustration of " A Typical Evening in the Smoking 

 Room at Stony Ford." It was drawn by W. R. 

 Leigh from nature and from photographs, and at- 

 tracted much attention. General Grant is sitting in 

 the big chair near the center-table, smoking and in 

 deep thought. Next to him is Robert Bonner talk- 

 ing in his emphatic way. Then comes Charles Back- 

 man in his favorite rocking chair, and then Benjamin 

 F. Tracy in a chair with his arm resting on a time- 

 worn sofa. Standing to the right of General Grant 

 is William C. Whitney. Mr. Leigh had the advice 

 of Mr. Backman in posing the figures, and the scene 

 is as historically correct as such scenes usually are. 

 When I turn to the picture, I am reminded of the 

 change which attends the footsteps of time. It fills 

 me with sadness to think that, at the time I write, 

 Benjamin F. Tracy is the only member of the group 

 who is alive. All the others have gone to explore 

 the mysteries of the Beyond. 



I shall carry with me to the end of life's pilgrim- 

 age the picture of General Grant as I saw him on the 

 field of Shiloh. The slaughter had been dreadful, 

 and the timely crossing of the Tennessee by the army 

 of General Buell changed defeat into victory. For 

 a time Grant was out of favor at Washington, and, 

 as he rode from camp to camp that April morning, 

 his face was stern to sadness. There were no out- 

 bursts from the soldiers who had borne the brunt of 



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