The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-08-26
General Grant as a Joker.
NE STORY OF a PUMPKIN De.

ShlSdSO; SI'eo tH0 ioiio"luS Aiuo'4atiOu
of General Grants tendency to indulge
in joking
''Ihe hero and veteran, who was citi-
zen, Captain, Colonel, Brigadier and Ma
jor-General within the space of nine
months, though rigid dlsciplinarian and
a perfect Ironsides in the discharge Of his
official duties, could enjoy good joke,
and Is always ready to perpetrate one
when opportunity offers. Indeed among
his acquaintances he is as much renowned
for his excentric humor as be is for his
skill and bravery as commander.
"When Grant was a Brigadier in
Southeast Missouri, he commanded an
expedition against the rebels under JEFF.
Thompson in northeast Arkansas. The
distance froD the starting point of the
expedition to the supposed rendezvous OF
the rebels was about one e~hundred and
ten miles, and the greater portion of the
way lay through howlIng wilderness.
The imaginary suffering that our soldiers
endured during the first two DAYS of their
march was enormous 1t was impossible
to steal or coniscate uncultivated real
estate, and not hog or a chicken, or an
ear Of corn, was anywhere to be seen
On the third day, however, things looked
little more hopeful, for a few small
specks of ground in a state Of partial cul-
.tivation, were here and there visible. On
that day Lieutenant Wlckdeld, of an In-
diana cavalry regiment. commanded the
advance guard consisting Of eighty
monnted men.
about noon he came up to small
/ farm house, from the outward appearance
of which he judged there might be some
thing fit to eat inside He halted bis
company, dismounted, and with two Sec
ond-lieutenants entered the dwelling
He knew that Grants iucipient fame had
already gone out through all that country,
and it occurred to him that by represent
ing himself to be the General he might
obtain the best the house afforded So.
assuming very imperative demeanor, he
accosted the inmates of the house, and
( lDi4 ELSu LtlG- LG III isl nave SUILIlL
for himself aud staff to eat They de-
sired to know who be was, and he told
them that he was General Grant At
the sound of that name they few around
with alarming alacrity, and served up all
they had in the house, taking great pains
all the while to make loud professions OF
+ LOYALTY. The lieutenants ate as much as
they could of the not over sumptuous
meal, but which was, nevertheless, good
for that country, and demanded what was
to pay-.'Nothing ng'-and they vent Oh
their way rejoicing.
SIN the meantime General Grant, who
had halted his army a few miles farther
back, for brief resting spell, came in
sight of and was rather favorably i'm
pressed with the appearance of this same
house. Riding up to the fence in front
Of the door he desired to know if they
would cook him a meal
"'No,' said female in a gruf voice,
General Grant and his staff have just
been here and eaten everything in the
house except one pumpkin pie
"'Hunph,' said General Grant, what
is your name?'
"'Selfidge,' replied the woman.
Casting a half dollar in at the door he
asked if she would keep that pie till he
sent an officer for it, TO which she replied
that she would.
"That evening, after the camping
ground had been selected, the various
regiments were notified that there would
be grand parade at halfpast six for
orders OEicers would see that all their
men turn out, &c.
SIN five minutes the camp was in a
perfect uproar, aud filled with all sorts of
rumo:s some thought the enemy was
upon them, it being SO unusual to haYe
parades when Oh a march.
"At half-past six the parade vas formed
ten columns deep, and nearly quarter
of mile in length
"After the usual routine of ceremo-
MES the \. A. \. 6. read the following
order:
AAL-AbNS = EhS AhIA1 lH The
FIELD.-SPECIAL ORnER, No. -.
Lieutenant Wickield, cf the - Indi-
ana cavalry, having this day eaten every
thing In Mrs, Selvidge's house, at the
crossing OF the Ironton and Pocahontas,
aud Black River and Cape Girardeau
roads, except one pumpkin pie, Lieuten-
ant Wlck6eld is hereby ordered to return
with an escort of one hundred cavalry,
and eat that pie also.
U. S. GRANT, Brig. Gen. Conn., g
Grants orders were wand no soldier
ever attempted to eyade them. At seven
o'clock the Lieutenant fled out of camp
with his hundred men, awid the cheers
OF the whole army. The escort concnr-
~ad In Sfatipo thar he Javo,raJ - u a