The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-07-04
Gen. Grant as q Joker.
by AN OFFICER OF HIS srArr.

The hero and veteran, who was citizen,
Captain, Colonel, Brigadicr and Major
/ General, within space OF nine months,
! though rigid discipl.narian, and perfect
Ironsides in the discharge of his ofSial
duties, could enjoy good joke and Is al
ways ready - perpetrate one when aD OPP
portunty presents. Indeed. among his
acquaintances, he IS rs much renowned
for his excentric humor, as he is for bls
skill and bravery as a commander.
When Grant was a Brigadier in south-
east Missouri, he commanded an expedi-
ton against the rebels under jeff Them
SON in northeast Arkansas. The distance
from the starting point OF the expedition
to the supposed rendezvous of the rebels
was about one hundred and ten miles, aud
the greater portion of the route lay thro'
bowling wilderness. The imaginary suf-
fering that our soldiers endured during
the first two days OF their march, was
enormous 1t was impossible to steal Or
.'confscate" uncultivated real estate, and
not hog, or & chicken, or an cara of corn
was anywhere to be seen. On the third
day, however affairs looked more hopeful,
for few small specks Of ground, in a state
of partial cultivation, Were here and
there visible On that day, Lieutenant
Wickfield, OF the Indiana cavalry regi-
ment, commanded the advance guard,
consisting Of eighty mounted men. About
noon, he came up to a small farm house,
from the outward appearance OF which he
Judged that there might be something tit
! to eat inside He halted his company,
dismounted and with two Second Lieu
tenants entered the dwelling. He knew
4 that Grants incipient fame had already
I gone out through all that country, ard II
occurred to him that by representing HIM
self to be the General, he might obtain the
best the house afforded. SO. assuming
very imperative dem meanor, he accosted the
inmates of the house, and told them he
must have something for himself and staff
to eat. They desired to know who he
was, and he told them that he was Brig
adler Gen eral-Gra At the sound Of
that name they flew round with alarming
! alacrity, and served up about all they had
| in the house, taking great pains all the
while to make loud professions OF loyalty.
/ The Lieutenants ate as iRuch as they
| could Of the not over sunptuous meal. but
which was, nevertheless, good Tor that
country, and demanded what was to pay
Nothing" And they went on their
way rejoicing.
In the meantime General Grant, who
had halted his army a few miles further
back for brief resting spell, came in sight
of, and was rather favorobly impressed
! with the appearance of this same house
! Riding up to the fence in front Of tho
door, he desired to know if they would
cook him 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.
al nj ~ hot a
| your name?'
! "Selvidge," replied the woman"
Casting 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 half past six, for orders. 9th.
GERS would see that their men all turned
out, &c.
In fyo minutes the camp was in a per.
feet uproar; and filled with all sorts of
rumors; some thought the enemy were
upon them, it being so Unusual to have
| parades when on q march.
At half past six the parade was formed,
ten columns deep, and nearly quarter OF
i mile in length.
alter tue USUAL TOutlue "
the A. \. A. q. read the following order
HEApeuAprERs, ARMY IN THE FIELD.
I Special Ordsr No.
Lieut.. Wicktisld, of the - Indiana
Cavalry, having on this day, eaten every>
thing in Mrs. Selvidges house, at the
crossing of the Ironton and Pocahoptas,
and Black River and Cape Girardeau
roads, except one pumpkin pie, Lieu.
Wickfield'is hereby ordered to return with
an escort Of one hundred cavalry, and eat
that pie also. Z: S. GRANT,
IL. Brig. Gen. Commanding.
Grants orders were law, and no soldier
ever attempted to evade them. AT
o'clock the Lieutenant filed out OF camp
with his hundsed men, amid the cheers
! of the entire army. Tho escort ccncurred
in stating that lie devonred the whoie OF
the Die, and seemed to relish it.
a CrEr.rS CURE FOR CAScER.-Take
onantity of red oak bark, burn it to ashes;
TO this add water; boil to the consistency
of molasse.. Applysit freely. TO the part
stfac,ed lraye It on for an hour; after
wards cover the plaster with tar; remove
r,w ,lays and if protuberances ap-