The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-05-19
How Mr., Deloaoh Saved Gen, Grants
life.

1t has been stated that Mr.. Deloach
was appointed Postmaster at Memphis
by the President because he had saw
cd his life on one occasion. Mr. De-
loach gave this account Of the incident
to the Memphis Post:
"Soon after Memphis was captured
General Grant commenced extending
his lines in this direction. Sherman
and Hurlburt advanced from Corinth,
and had reached Moscow and Lafay.
ctte. =. Our scouts were ,traversing
the>intervenipg country, and it was
regarded as virtually in Federal occu-
patton. General Grant was eager to
reach Memphis, and started without q
strong escort to ride towards the city.
lie reached Mr.. Deloach's house near
noon on q hot day in June, accompa-
MED by fourteen staff officers and or
derlies. Mr.. Deloach was known
through the scouts, to be reliable
Union man, and General Grant greet.
cd him warmly, and, having dismount-
ed, asked for water. This was
brought, and Mr.. Deloaoh offered the
General Northern paper which he
had just received. He sat eagerly
reading, when o neighbor known as a
violent rebel, came in and took seat.
In few minutes colored boy enter
ed by.a back door, looking much per-
turbed and alarmed. lie bcckoned
to Mrs. Deloach, and whispered to her
that Jackson's rebel cavalry had. en-
camped just back of Mr.. Deloach's
plantation, the night previous, and
were then breaking up and preparing
to move. Mrs. peloaoh communicat.
cd this,in great alarm, buttin strict
secrecy, to her husband, for their re-
bel neighbor was Watching, as they
supposed, and would denouncel them
if he observed any indication of
friendliness. to the Union General.
Mr.. Deloach ut once returned to the
room, much excited, as he says, but
he is informed by the President that
he caught wink from him and nod
of the bead toward the road leading
to Memphis. General Grant imme-
diatelyearose, and said quietly, that
they had long ride before them, and
must decline Mrs. Deloach's invitation
to dinner. u Mr.. DeLoach followed
them to the gate and Informed tho
General of his danger, suggesting that
their safety would depend upon the
speed of their horses. They left at
full gallop, and when they had rode
about two miles they caught sight Of
d squad Of mounted men coming down
q GROSS road, and were unable to de-.
eide to which side they belonged. -
General Grant told his escort that
their only safety was to charge through
this squad, if, they, were rebels, as a
heavier force was behind them. They
quickened their, pace, ,and were agreea-
bly, relieved soon to discover that it
was a party Of our. own scouts, who
had just been accommodating Jacksou's
movements. But in a few minutes
after they, had left Mr.. Deloach's
house squad of Jaokson's cavalry
rode up to, the gate, and halloed -
They. asked if General Grant, had
been there, and Mr.. Deloach replied
that he, had. They demanded what
no was doing. He told them that he
gave him drink Of water, as he
would them, if they had asked for it.
They commenced abusing him, when
Mrs. Deloaoh interfered, and told
them they had no right to blame Mr.
Deloach that he was known by eve
rybody TO be ,Upion man., but he
stayed at home and was attending to
his, own business. They finally left
after considerable pickering, and
rode, rapidly in the direction which
Grant had taken, but their delay and
the speed Of bis horse saved him from
any annoyance. = |'n"i@'''~' ~ 80
@G" III, -. . 80 -l.gl 3, .."
an rtN.M rn.,.r.l - - -.-