John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

[203] and his staff, as well as of the President and Secretary of War. His position was a difficult one, even with all we did to make it easy for him; but as this narrative will show, he filled it with tact, ability, and patriotism to the end. He was at all times not only modest and unobtrusive, but alert and ready to go where he might observe and learn for himself. In the full vigor of life, an excellent horseman and athlete entirely without timidity or fear, he was a helpful and encouraging influence upon all with whom he came in contact, and with no one more than with General Grant, who adopted towards him the most friendly and cordial manner and seemed to take special pleasure in his company both in camp and on the march. In fact, Dana was in a certain sense a revelation to Grant as well as to those of us who were younger. He was not only genial, unaffected, and sympathetic in his manners, but far and away the best educated and most widely informed man that any of us had up to that time ever met. His companionship was therefore most acceptable and beneficial to all.