Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-07-10
Anecdote on GeneraI Grand

| A friend some time ago related to US
an anecdote of General Grant, which is
] too good to be lost.
Such of our readers as served in East
! Tennessee during the winter campaign
of IS63|64-and no doubt we have a
large number of them-Wi1 remember
that the soldiers were very seantily
supplied with clothing, and it was a
common thing to issue corn in the ear
as rations both to men and mules, each
man receiving from one to three ears Of
corn per day. As the contending
armies were lying near each other, each
desirous of obtaining the mastery Of the
country, there was daily skirmishing,
and, in fact, such engagements, as In
the early part of the war, would have
been considered respectable battles,
were of frequent occurrence. On sud-
den emergencies the soldiers would be
ordered into line, leaving their baggage
in camp, to which they might not re-
turn for days, and when they did return
they frequently found that the enemy
had been there in the meantime, and
carried off or destroyed everything OF
value. This was especially true of
brigade of a Indiana six months men,
known as the "Persimmon Brigade"
because, not relishing corn in the ear.
they chose to subsist on persimmons.-I
So much were the men kept on the
alert that, though Major Ballard, a
Paymaster, was present. the command
ing officers could not allow him to pay |
off some of the regiments for more
than 8 month
Such was the state of affairs when |
General Grant, having been appointed
to the supreme command OF the army, |
paid flying visit to the forces occupy
ing the country to the northeast Of the
Clinch river. on his way to Washington |
in the winter of 1864. A few days be-
fore, the main body of the enemy had
retired toward Southwestern Virginia, |
and Gen. Wilcox, who commanded the !
district of the Clineh, had fixed his
Headquarters at one of the county /
towns in the northern part of East
Tennessee. Grant arrived, unannounc-
ed and unexpected, at the place, on a
bitter cold day, and forbade the firing
of a salute or making any other demon
stration. Even the sentinel in front OF
Gen. Wilcox's quarters, who was one OF
the "PersimmOn Brigade" was not
aware of his presence. After spending
some time with Gen. Wilcox, General
Grant went out and mounted his horse.
The sentinel, who was an uncouth
specimen of the Hoosier, was trying to
keep himself warm by walking to and
fro, alternately striking the butt of his
musket on the pavement, and testing
the solidity of the frozen earth BY try
ing to thrust his bsyonet into it.
Gen. Grant appeared to be amused
at the performance, and addressing the :
soldier, said, swell, my man, TO what ,
do you belong?"
Picking up an old shoe on the point
IF his bayonet, and twirling Il in the !
liz, the man replied, ST belong to the :
Fun hundred and-th Injianuy;- J
Jol. -, the d-d old rip"
"You don't seem to like Col. y - :,
aid Gen. Grant. =
Now, look here, Mister replied the !
older, 81 don't wish ycu any harm,
,ut l.wish you had to take my place
lnder him for a month or two"
why, what is the matter with himG' Y
INQUIRED the General. /
"Matteri-why dod rot his old SOUL v
les starvin' US 10 DEATH" d
''Starving your" y
'Yes, sir, starvin' as don't expect Q
ou'll bleeye me, for it's tough story \