The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-18
The Adventures Of Some Michigan Boys
With General Grant.


A correspondent Of the Rochester IN. "
Express says:-
During the spring of 1866 l was on detail at
General Ord's headquarters, and frequently
carried dispatches to General Grant. He
knew me as one of General Ord's orderlies.
When the latter was transferred from the
North to the south side of the James river,
and operated with General Sheridan in the
rout and capture of Lees army, was often
compelled to ride through the greater part of
our own troops before l could find Grant and
deliver my dispatches.
One morning in April / received some cap
tuTed letters and orders and some copies of re-
ports of scouts and Rebel deserters, and was
directed to find General Grant and deliver
them to him. After riding several hours l
found him between our lines during one of the
front and rear attacks which the enemy
made upon our left near Dinwiddie Court
House. THIS rear attack produced not little
confusion in our troops. Here and there was
hurrying to and fro, riding in hot haste, giving
and changing orders, taking new positions, or
changing front. AS yet the firing was desul-
tory; a few had been killed and several
wounded. General Grant, accompanied with
one staff officer and an orderly or two, was
assisting the division and brigade commanders
in the suitable disposition OF their forces, he
having come upon that part of our line soon
after these simultaneous attacks were made.
While engaged with these arrangements,
three soldiers passed near the General, carry
ing dead man, wrapped in a blanket, from
the skirmish line. Grant rode up to them, and
ordering them to stop, said:-"Who have you
here ?"
Of our Captain. We are taking it to the rear.
He was just now killed on the skirmish line"
They were young men, rather tall and iue-
looking, and appeared from eighteen to twen-
ty-four years of age.
''You remember, my brave boys" says the
General, 'that the first duty of soldier, in
the hour of battle, is to secure the victory;
that acquired, there will be sufficient time to
care for the wounded, collect the captured
property, and bury the dead"
eve know that, General" " said the Oldest,
glancipg at the stars of the Lieutenant Gene
raj; 'but he was our father, too. When we
set out for the war we all promised our mother
and sister that whoever should die the survi-
voTs would send home to b9 buried on the
banks of the Kalamazoo"
at can make but little difference to your
brave father where his body lies," said Grant,
''while the more than Spartan patriotism aud
selfdenial Of your mother and sister will not
permit you to leave the post of duty in an
hour like this.'' They nodded assent, but
were too deeply affected to reply. They laid
the body of their father at the roots of pine
tree which stood near by, and half running,
half walking, returned to their regiment.
Tears glistened in the eyes of the commanding
General as he remarked their earnest, though
sorrowful resignation, and he often turned to
catch glimpse of them as they sunk in the
little valleys and rose on the hills hurrying
back.
within less than two hours the battle for
the day was won. The three brothers came
out unhurt. The body of their father was
embalmed at City Point, and sent to Parma,
Michigan.
a little more than a month afterwards,
when that part of the army passed through
Richmond, the two younger brothers were the
Junior officers in their fathers company, and
the elder was the adjutant of their regiment.