The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-01-03
Misfellauenas.
GEN. GRANT AND TfE PERSIM-
MON BRIGADE.

lanecdote OF General Grant, which - too
mod n 4. Lost.
Such of our oountrymen as served in
East Tennessee during the winter cam.
pairn of ls63.4-and no doubt we have
large number of them-wil remember
tbs, IN. .old;.r, were very scan,ily supplictl
,,;,h clo,b;,v and |, xas a common thing
10 issue corn in the car as ra,ions to both
men and mules, each man receiving from
on, to three ears per day. This was es.
peciully 80 Of. brigade of Indiana six
months men, known as the "Persimmon
Brigade" because, not relishing corn IN
tho ear, they chose to subsist on pcrsim.
mons. So much were the men kept on
tho alert, that though Major Ballard, pay |
master, WINS present, the commanding Off.
Gers would not allow him to pay of tho
regiments for more than month.
Such was tho state Of affairs when Gen.
crul Grant. having been appointed to the
supreme command Of the army, paid a fly
ing visit to the forces.
Gran, arrived uuannounced and uncxpect.
cd, at the place, on a o''ler co'd my ""u
forbade the firing Oft salute or making any
other demonstration. !
After spending some tmo VII" "e"o'a'
Wilcox, General uran' went ou' a'" ''''""'
ed his horse. The sentinel VINO was u"
uncoulh specimen oil the hoo''c'' was ny
ing to keep himself warm by walking ,oI
and fro. alternately striking Inc o'''! Of .''
mu'kst on the pavement, ana 'e'""e ",0
soIdi,y of the frozen earth by thrusting his
bayone, into Il.
General Gran, appeared TO 10 amu,cd at
tho performance, and addressing the sol.
der .,;d.
.well NV man, to wha. command do
YOU beloug?"
Picking IN an old shoe on tho poin, Of
hi, b,von.,. and ,wirling |, In tho air, the
man rcnl;ed. al belong to the one hundred
and -,b ln;i,nny. Col. -, the DID
-, 4"
.yo, ao,r ,ec,, tn like Colonel -,"b
c., 4
.,N...,..,. .... m;.,.r.n re,l;ed the soy. /
H.. nj ,,,, w;.b WIN ,ny harm. butIi
,v,b vou had to take nv place under him
- ,von
awhy WIN, !. tho matter with him ?"
;,o,;r.J tho GeneroL
"M.,,er , wl,y, dod 70, his old soul, he s
s,aryiu' us all to DEATH"
Starving you?"
.Ycs. mir, s,arvin' Nc. 1 don't expect
you'll believe mo, It's tough story to tell
white man but IT'S gospH truth, aint
had thing to eat for moro than eight days.
except few simmons
"Wcll," said General uroh'' "a'
pretty tough story. -.
ayes 1t Is, out l" Jake my ''"" oa' '"
stack Of bloies as h'gh Us '""' '''''o "'"'
it's every word the gospH 'ru'i' ms'er'
can you give me a chaw OF 'ooack'r
81 have no tobacco ABOUT me- sa'u '"c
General, "put l can ge' you 'o"'0' wv"
turning 10 ono OF ms esoo''' "e gov '"s
OF tobacco anu hanoea I" o'e' " '9"!"""'
tie took out MS kn'le as" 10 cut ~ a".
looking up he so,d' "f'e"'e' "'''''' "'!
take two chaws! ha'nt hau '"s'o u w.
hacker for mcr''n four weeks; dod rot Inc
suffers :"
"Oh. yes" said Grant, "you may keep
the whole Mug, ir YOU choose. We have
plenty"
Snow, Mister, ! thank you very m"ch'
Ill give you ten pounds OF tohacker some
time. This will be meat and coffee and
blankets for Jim and me-"
"Why, is it possible YOU don't have
blankets cnough?"
.I,lankets thunder! Mister, ! 'sposc
Won think I'm an ungodly liar hut haint
had no blanket nor overcoat now for more
than six wecks-and. Ioriy amt il cold o.
nights? ! wish you had to try il as wo do!
N0.-thai's a lie DO not WISH u hei'h'
cr!"
allow came you to DO without an over.
coat and blanket?" the General inquired.
SWhy," said the Hoosier. "Col.-thc
Id old rim, took us out Of camp over here
ut Clinch Gap. and while we were gone,
the Johnnics-dod rot their 'hicvin, rebel
hearts! wish had abou. six OF them
here now-made raid on my camp and
stole NIL our overcoats and blankets Dol
I,I,rn en-.
.,yell." said Grant, you seem to have
n barl time Of IT,"
81 uw,her GUESS We do" said tho sol.
,licr "and Tint amt all. I l,aint never had
no nav neither! Darn mo il I've had dol.
lar now for morc'n four months"
.Wha, is the reason Of that!" qucried
I'm, General. "Docs not the Payu,u.ter