The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-08-27
A RemInIscence of Gen. Grant,
NOT BY HIS FATHER.

our hearths nor in orr hearts,
a slow, constant rain had been falling
since early morn, rendering the atmosphere
so chill and cold that the soldiers gathered
their oveTcoats more closely about their per
son, or drew nearer their camp h.es. Gen.
Grant sat in his comfortable headquarters,
in Mexico, Mo, awaiting the return OF a
scouting party sent out the day before AT
last they came: the muddy horses bearing
their Grenched. dripping burdens up to the
very door of the room in which their Gen
oral was seated. They cid not return alone,
those dreaded scouts. They knew too well
what was required at their hands, to return
without prisoners prisoners taken from
their quiet farm-hOuses, or from their peace
full pursuits-no matter wiere-they must
be broughtSin to lend an air OF importance
to their shameless raids.
This time they had resped a rich harvest,
to Judge bv the number in citizens diess.
that were being hurried toward the cod, con-
fortress warehouse that had been turned into
prison.
A week passed On and Dethng was heard
from the unfortunate inmates of that gloomy
building until one day little child was
playing beneath its windows and picked up
a small note that lad found its way to the
ground and took it home. 1t read
"W. Garnett, of Lewis county, is seriously
i'll. For Heaven's sake, see that he has
medical assistancei"
The next day. three ladies'. Mrs G., Mrs,
W and tho writer of this rude sketch, visited
General Grants headquarters.
We found him with cigar in his mouth,
and his feet at az elevation higher than his
head. resting upon a stove. Neither Of these
were removed as we entered.
General" said Mrs. c.. in her plain,
straight forward way, "you have a eery sick
prisoner down here. in whose behalf we have
come this morning to intercede."
"Ah!" Was the response, as he looked out
from under the fatigue cap that shaded his
eyes.
"Yrs,'' continued the dear Old lady, "and
we are willing to give bonds, if necessary. il
you will parole him f,r few days until he
gets better"
.'Ha! ha! Ladies, IL l should grant your
request | would be beseged night and day
by all the rebel women in the country unt
not one bushwhacker would be left in my
safe keeping"
After several arguments were used to nC
avail we left the room, feeling that we were
turning away from a man dead TO every feel
ing Of humanity and alive to nothing but hi,
own selfish interest.
A few days more and another whitening
ed messenger found its way to US, confirming
our worst fears Poor, unknown prisoner
was growing rapidly worse, aud could Do
held out much longer without relief" so th,
note ran. and our hearts grew faint withir
us, S we thought OF the poor prospect q
being permitted to render. him the slightes
assistance.
Should we make one more effart2 Yes
said Mrs. G.. we will try once more, ne can
but refuse
The second time our attempt was success
ful. After giving bonds Tor the appearance,
Of the prisoner, the poor sufferer was per
mitted to be taken - Mrs G.'s house :
very handsome man he was, with his large
dark. eyes, brown hair aud heavy Whiskeu
"a cattle dealer, he tod rs, AMI had takeg
no Gctivc part in the war. and a man O.
, family too-a wife and a little babe; We
when he spoke Of them we found the efI0r
WIS too great for hjm-it affected him 70,
/ deeply, his voice trembled and his hand 20,
! that poor. emlciated hand, as hc } a &C,
/ it to shade his eyes.
! lie had bought some cattle, and he an,
/ the farmer Of whom be purchased were driv
! log them to pasture, when they met III
scouts, who captured them and the cattl
/ too, and brought them in that rainy day
the fat cattle, doubtless the best sign @
''disloya,ty," they wished to discover.
The best medical assistance was secured
| but the physician shook his head doubfully
after closely examining his patient-h
! disease was pneumonia, had been neglected
| too long, and his recovery was doubtful.
We learned from him the address If hi
/ wife, and wrote to her, breaking the saC
! tidings as gently as we could, but rathe
urging upon her. if practicable, to visit hin
and us. who had taken such an interest il
the stranger.
Alas! were ever words so fearfuIy DC
tent. so full of meaning, as the words "to
late !"
Even before the letter had been dispatched
we began to discover our patient CROWN,
worse.
1t was towards the evening Of the secon.
day after his removal. that we entered Lii
room, and found his dark eye aglow with
strange, unnatural fire.
| "Ah Maggie" he almost shrieked 3.
/ knew you would come. 1t was hard to Iii
! here among strangers, and without YOU"
| lie raved until near midnight, when b
! sunk into deep Sleep.
! When he awoke The fearful change wrough
| upon his features told us too plainly tha
Death had already begun it's inroads upol
| him.
Then Mrs. w drew near him, and re
ceived messages for the absent loved ones
assuring him they sheuld be faithfully de
| Hvered, aud speaking to him of a happy an
! glorious meeting in heavenly home.
As she mentioned the last word, his ral
lips caught it up, pronounced it long an
| lovingly; his eye frightened for a moment
then closed forever, while his freed spir
had fled away to where the dark waves {
eternity break upon an unknown shore.''
His parole was ended, and General Gran
by his cold indifference to suffering humani
ty, his neglect to provide medical asSistauc,
rendered one more unhappy woman a widow
| and added one more little innocent to tl
list OF helpless orphanage st. Joseph { Mo
| Yindicotor
THINGS as TnTY ARE-T'he following q,
plain figures, which every day laborer. an
every Taxpayer, can understand. "a l.,