Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-07-07
Gen. Grant as a Joker.
BY AN OFFICER OF nIs STAFF.

The hero and veteran, who was citizen,
Captain, Colonel, Brigadier AMI Major
General, Sithin a space Of nine months,
though rigid discI linarian, and per-
feet Ironsides in the discharge Of his
cffcial duties, could erj"y good j'ke,
and is always ready to perpetIHte one
when On opportunity presents. Indeed,
among lis ocquainsanccs, he is as much
renowned sor his eccentric humor, a. he
is for his skill and bravery az command-
Or. ~ .. ....
When Grant was B,igadier in south
east Missouri, he Commanded an expedl-
1ion against the rebelt under Jef Them
son, in northeast Arkansas. The distance
from the starting punt Ct she expedition 10
the supposed rendezvous ct the rebels was
about one hundred and ten miles, ard the
greater portion ct the route lay 'nTouS"
bowling wilderness.
The imaginary suffering that our sol-
diers endured during the first two days OF
their march, was enormous. 1t was i'm
pussible to steal or COZ fiscate" uncultivat-
ed real estate, and not hog. or q chicken
CT an ear Of corn was anywhere TO be Hsen.
Or the third day, however, sfa'rt
Looked more hopeful, for q few small
specks Of ground, in a stute Of partial cul'i-
vRtion, wore here and there visible. %
that dsy, Lieutenant Wickhtll, Of an In
diana cavalry regiment, comm anded the
advance guard, consisting Of eighty mount
ed men. About noon, he came up TO
small farmhouse, from the outward AZ
pearance Of which he judged that there
might be something e. /, cot iLsi5e. lie
halted his cnmpaDy, dismOuuted, and with
two Second. LieuseDants entered the dwell
ing.
He knew that Grants incipient fame
had already gone out through all that
country, and il occurred to him that By
representing himself to be the General, lie
might obtain the best the house afforded -
So, assuming q very imperative deneanor
he accosted the inmates Of the house, and
told them be must have something fer
himself aud staff to eat. They des;r d e.
know wb5 he was, and he told them that
he was Brigadier Central Grant. At the
sound Of that name. they few IouCG with
alarming alacrity. and served up about oil
they had in the house. taking great yains
oil the while to make Loud professions Of
loyalty
The Lieutenants ate as ruch as they
could Of the not over sumptuous meal, bnt
which was, nevertheless, good Cor that
country, ana demanded what was to pay
Nothing" And they went ON their way
rejoicing.
In the meantime Gen. Grant, who mao
halted his army q few miles further bacI
for q brief resting spell; came il sight Of
and was rather iaVOrably impressed will
the appearance Of this same house. Rid
ing up to the fence IN front e. the door
he desired to know if they could cook hin
0 meal.
NO.. SAID female in gruF voice
"Gen. Grant and his staff have just beer
here and eaten everything in the house ex
cept one pumpkin pie"
"IIumph," murmured Grant; "what il
your name ?"
"Selvidge," replied the woman.
Casting a half dollar in at the door, hi
asked if she would keep that pie till he sen
an officer for it, to which she replied tina
she would.
That evening, after the camping ground
had been selected. the various regiment
were notified that there would be q gram
parade at half.past 6, for orders. Ofhcer
would see that their men oil turned Out
60. ....-
In FIVE minutes the camp was in pet
feet upruar; and filed with all sorts OF ~
more; some Thought the enemy were upn
them, it being so unusual to have parade
when on muFeh.
At half past six the parade was fOrmet
ten columns deep, and nearly aquarter I
mills in length.
After the usual routine Of ceremonie
the A. A. G. read the following order:
Headquarters, Army in the Field.