Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-08-28
Gen. Grant.
MS GOODNESS AND sELF-rOssEsSION How M
RErEIvEs EEBEL AND DEMOCRATIC INSULT

MS GOODNESS AND sFLT-rOssESSION How uE
RECEIVES REBEL AND DEMOCRATIC GSsuLrs.
Cen. Brleiu, ia hi, work on the military his
tory Of Gen. Grant. tells the following luec.lo;e
of Gen Grant reception by the rebel Generals
whom he hadlIeieItci, when be entered Viek--
bur. on the ith If July, 1863:
s.. He went direct 10 one Of the rebel head
quarters. but there was no one 20 receive him,
and he iismouuteI and entered the porch
where Pembertou sat with his generals they
-aluted Grant but not one Of them offered him
q chair. though all had seats thsmselyes Neither
the rank nor reputation Of their captor. nor the
swords he had allowed them 10 wear, prompted
them 10 this simple act Of courtesy. Penber-
ton WIS especially sullen, both in conversation
and behavior. Finally, for very shame, one Of
the rebels offered a place 10 Gen Grant. The
day was hot and dusty. lie was thirsty from
his ride, and asked for a drink Of water. They
told him he could find it outside and no one
showing him the way, he yroped in a passage
until he found a negro, who gave him a cup If
cold water only, which his enemy hal almost
denie,l When he returned his seat hal been
taken. and he remained standing during the rest
Of the interview, which lasted about half an
hour"
This is perfectly correct account Of what
ulIifHlltTA N4 IAhA NNIt1liA AAif lAANiif~~ VI
the rebels was perfect, but 50 was the dignifed,
imperturhahle, forbearing polteness Of their vic
tor Grant never appeared greater than in his
quiet endurance Of the absurd il-manners of
the men he hal conquered. We presume 10 one
who witnessed the scene Will ever forget 1t, and
those who have such reason to be ashamed Of II
viii probably forget it least Of all.
A parallel 10 it, however, may be found in
what recently happened at Carlinvile, ILL.,, on
the occasion Of Gen. Grants passage through
that town, when he was assailed by some men
who had iust come from Democratic meeting
The occurrence is thus reported by the Spring
field Journal:
When they heard that Grant was upon the
train they started for the depot, several hundred
strong, and taking possession Of the platform
and surrounding the Generals car, they set
upon him with the most unearthly yells and
screenings, insulting him and his family in the
most dastar,lly and shameful manner. The fel-
low o 'Brien was lOudest and foremost in egging
on the drunken mob. Gen. Grant had raised
the window Of the car for the purpose Of shaking
hands with some friends whom he recognized,
when one of the dirty hounds, more impudent
than the rest, rushed to the window, and shout
ing Hurrah for Seymour and Blair struck
Gen Grant in the face with his hat. Mr.. Nc
1onnell, who was conversing with the General
at the time, resented the indignity by giving the
fellow a blow on the side Of the smeller, which
sent him sprawling, and Lieut.. Mckee and 9TH
ers at once kicked him off the platform This,
however, only the more incensed the mob, and
though ii was intended by the decent citizens Of
the place to extend to the General who had sue
cessfully led our armies through the war, some
Indication Of their personal, not to say political
appreciation Of his services, it was found TO be
utterly impossible to do 50, and the train passed
on