The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1863-07-03
Gcncrai Gran, as N Joker,
ny AN OFFICER OF his srArr.

The hero and veteran, who was eitxsr,
Captain, Colonel, BrigOdicr and Major
General, within space Of nine months.
though n rigid disciplinarian, and a per-
feet 1rousdes in the dlschSrge Of his of
fetal duties, could ENJOY good Joke, and
is always ready TO perpetrato one when
nn opportunity presents. Indeed, among
his Ocquaintainces, he is as much rcnownn
cd for his eccentric humor, as he is for his
skill and bravery as commander.
When Grant was a Brigadier in south,
c0st Missouri, he commanded an cxpedi-
tion against the rebels under JEFF, Thvm-
son, in northeast Arkansas. The dis
tance from the starting point ofthe cxpc.
dition 10 The supposed rendezvous Of the
rebels was about one hundred and ten
miles, and the greater portion OF the rout
lay through a bowling wilderness. The
Imaginary suffering that our soldiers en-.
dured during the first two days Of their
march, was enormous. 1t was impossible
TO steal or conflfcate uncultvated
real estate, and not hog. or a chicken,
or ON ear of corn was any where to be
seen. On the third day, however, affairs
looked more hopeful, for 4 few small
spccks Of ground, in a state Of partial
cultivation, were here and there visible,
On that day, Lieutenant Wickfeld. Of an
Indiana cavalry regiment, commanded the
advance Gu rd, consisting of eighty
mounted men. He came up TO q small
farmhouse, from the outward appearance
of which he judged that there might be
something fit TO eat inside. He halted
his company, dismountcd, aud with tve
Sccond-l.icutenants, entered the dwell-
ing. He knew that Grants incipicnt
fame had already gone throughout that
country, aud il occurred TO him that BY
representing hims clf ns the Genersi, ho
might obtain the best the house uffordcd,
So, assuming ivory imperative demeanor
he uccOsted the inmates of the house and
told them he must have something for
himself aud staff to eat. They desired
10 know who he was, and he told them
that he was Brigadier-General Grant,
At the sound of that name they flew
around with alarming alacrity, and served
W about all they hud in the house, taking
great pains, all The while TO make loud
professions Of loyalty. The Leutenants
ate as much as they could Of the not over
sumptous meal, but which was, neverthe-
less, good for that country, and demands
ed what was to pay" Nothing" And
they went on their way rejoicing.
In the meantime General Grant who
had ha!ted his army few miles further
back for brief resting spell, came in
sight of, and wus rather fuvorably i'm.
pressed with the appearance of this sania
house. Riding up to the fence in front
OF the door, he desired to know II they
would cook him meal.
No." said female in a gruf voice,
/" General Gran. and his stoff have just
been here and eaten everything ia tho
house except one pumpkin pi :"
Humph," murmured Grant; what is
your name 7"
Seyidge," replied the woman,
Casting half-dolar in at the door, he
asked her il she would keep III at pie till
he sent an officer lor il, 10 which she reS
piled that she would.
That evening, after the camping
ground had been selected, the various
regiments were notified that there would
be graud parade ut half-past six, for or
ders. Officers would see that their men
all turned out, etc,
In five minutes the camp was in per-
feet uproar and filled with all sorts OF
rumor some thought the enemy was up
on them it being so unusual to have pa
rades when on march.
At half.past six ths parade wss formed,
ten columns deep, and nearly quarter
of mile in length.
After the usual routine oi ceremonies,
the A. A. A. G. read the following or
der;
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY IN THE FIELD.
Special Order, No
Lieut.. Wickfeid, of the--Indiana
Cavalry, having on this day eaten every
thing in Mrs. Selvdge's house, at the
crossing. of the Ironton and Pocahontas,
and Black River and Cape Girardeau
roads, except one pumpkin pie. Lieut.,
Wickfcld is hereby ordered to return
with an escort Of one hundred cavalry,