His sentences were always short and to the point, and his observations upon things remarkably shrewd.

When he had nothing to say he said nothing.

I noticed that he was never tired of praising his subordinates in the war.

He spoke of them as a fond father speaks of his children.
The story is told that during the trials of war in the West, General Grant began to indulge too freely in liquor.

His chief of staff, Rawlins, boldly ventured to tell him so.