Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-07-23
Gen. Grant and the Persimmon Brigade.

n hiChu sumo 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 l863-4-and no doubt
we have large number of them
will remember that the soldiers were
very scantily supplied with clothing,
and it was a common thing to issue
corn IN the ear rs rations both to
men and mules, each man receiving
from one to three ears per day. This
was especially true Of brigade of
Indiana six months men, know as
the "Persimmon Brigade" because,
not relishing corn in the ear, they
chose to subsist on persimmons. SO
much were the men kept on the alert
that though Major Ballard, pay
master, was present, the command
ing officer would not allow him to
pay off the regiment for more than a
month.
Such was the state of affairs when
General Grant, having been appoints
ed to the supreme command of the
army paid a dying visit to the
forces.
Grant arrived unannounced and
unexpected, at the place, on bitter
cold day, and forbade the firing Of
q salute or making any other demon
STATIONS.
After spending some time with
General Wilcox, 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, alters
nately striking the butt Of his musket
on the pavement, and testing the
the solidity Of the frozen earth by
trying to thrust his bayonet into it.
General Grant appeared to be anus
ed at the performance and addressing
the soldier, said, "Well, my man, to
what command do you belong 2"
Picking an old shoe on the point of
his bayonet, and twirling it in the
air, the man replied, 81 belong to
the wun hundred and-the Ingy>
amy, COL, the ID old rip"
"You don't seem like COL"
9aid Gen Grant.
"Now, look here, Mister" replied
the soldier, II don't wish you any
harm, but [ wish you had to take
my place under him for month or
two"
"Why, what is the matter with
him ~ inquired the General
"Matter why dod rot his old
soul he's starvin' us to death"
eyes, sir, starvin' us ! don't ex-
pect you'll bleeve ne, for it's tough
story to tell a white man; but it's
a gospW truth. ! haint had a thing to
eat now for more than eight days
except few persimmons p
"Well, said Grant, "tbat is pref
ty tough story"
eyes, it is, but I'll take my solid
oath on stack of bibles as high as
that house that it's every word the
gospW truth Mister, can you give
me chaw of tobaker ?"
II have no tobacco about me
said the General, but | can get you
some; and turning to one OF the es-
cort he got a plug of tobacco and
handed it over to +" Injianny."
He took out his knife as to cut it,
and looking up, said, "Please Mis-
ter may | take two chaws / hain't
had taste of tobacker for more'n
| four weeks bod rot the suffers"
80, yes, said Grant, you may keep
the whole plug if you choose. We
have plenty"
":Now. Mister | thank you very
much. I'll give you ten pounds OF
tobackersome time. This'll be meat,
coffee and blankets for jim and
me-"
"Why, don't you have blankets
enough ~
BLANKETS thunder Mister,
spose you'll think Pm an ungodly
liar; but / hain't had no blanket
nor no overcoat now for more'n six
weeks and, lordy amt it cold O.
nights? | wish you had to try it as
we do No that's lie II don
wish it neither p
allow came you to be without an
overcoat and blanket 2" the Gener>
al inquired.
"Why, sir" said the Hoosier, "Col-
onel--. the id old rip took us
out of camp over here at Clinch Gap,
and while we were gone, the john
nies-dod rot their theivin' rebel
hearts | wish [ had about six Of
EN- here now they made raid
on my camp, and stole all our over
coats and blankets bod darn EN-, =
"Well, said Grant, you do not seem
to have hard time oft"
81 rawther guess we do said the
soldier; tand that amt all | hain't
never had no pay neither Darn me
eff I've had dollar now for more'n
four months"
"What is the reason ofthat queri
ed the General. Don't the Paymas
ter ever come around here?"
eyes, said the soldier, the Paymas,
ter came around two months ago
and he was lousy with greenbacks.
''Well, then, said Grant, Why didn't
You get your pay z"
"Why jist this reason, Mister A
ter we'd signed the pay rolls, and
the Paymaster had the ready John
Davis counted out in piles for us, Col
, the id old rip, marched US
off over the Clinch Gap, and | hain't
seen no Paymaster since. And | tel
you, Mister, when this tobacker's
gone, I'll be dod rottcd to thunder 81
me and the boys don't make q raid
on one of the suffers, eff we're hung
for it in five minutes Darn 'em
they're as bad as the rebs They
won't trust fellow to AGENT r
"Now, said the General, you look
like an honest man; and ifyou'll be
sure to pay me, III lend you a dol
lar
The Hoosier's countenance bright,
| apnI