The Portland daily press., 1869-04-23

Friday Morning, April 2S, 1869.
How Mr.. Deieaeh saved General fsranes

How Mr.. Deioaeh Saved General Grants
Life.
1t has been stated that Mr.. DeIoaeh was
appointed Postmaster at Memphis by the
President because he had saved his life ON
one occasion. Mr.. Deloach 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
Lafayette. Our scouts were trayersipp the
intervening country, and IL was regarded as
virtually IN Federal occupation. Gen. Grant
was eager TO reach Memphis, and started
without a strong escort to ride toward the
city. He reached Mr.. Deloach's house near
noon on hot day in June, accompanied by
fourteen staff officers and orderlies. Mr.. De-
loach was known, through the scouts, to be a
reliable Union man, and General Grant
greeted him warmly, and, having dismcunted.
asked for water. This was brought, and Mr..
Deloach offered the General 6. Northern pa
per which he had just received. He sat ca
gerly reading, when neighbor, known as a
violent rebel, came in and took seat. In a
few minutes a colored boy entered, look
ing much perturbed and alarmed. He beck
oned to Mrs. Deloach, and whispered to her
that Jackson's rebel cavalry had encamped
just back of Mr.. Deloach's plantation the
night previous, and were then breaking up
and preparing to move. Mrs. Deloach COM
,municated this, in great alarm, but in strict
secrecy, to her husband; for their rebel
neighbor was watching, as they supposed,
and would denounce them if he observed any
indication OF friendliness 10 the Union Cen
eral. MIR. Deloach at once returned to the
room, much excited, as he says, but he is in
formed by the President that he caught a
wink and nod of the head toward the road
leading to Memphis. Gen. Grant immedi-
ately arose, and said quietly, that they had a
long ride before them, and must decline Mrs.
Deloach's invitation to dinner. Mr.. Deloach
followed them to the gate, and informed the
General of his danger, suggesting that their
safety would depend upon tie speed of their
horses. They left at full gallop, and when
they had rode about two miles they caught
sight OF squad of enen coming down a cross
road, and were unable to decide 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 agreeably relieved soon
to discover that 1t was party of our own
scouts, who had just been accommodating
Jackson's movements. They reached Mem
phis unmOlested. But in few minutes after
they had lett Mr.. DeIoach's house squad of
Jackson's cavalry rode up to the gate and
halloed. They asked If Gen. Grant had been
there, and Mr.. Deloach replied that he had.
They demanded what he was doing He told
them that he gave him drink Of water, as
he would them if they asked for it. They
commenced abusing him, when Mrs. Deloach
interlered, and told them they had no right
to blame Mr.. Deloach; that he was known
by everybody to be a Union man, but he
stayed at home and was attending TO his own
business. They finally LETT after considerable
pickering, and rode rapidly in the direction
which Grant had taken, but their delay and
the speed of his horse saved him from any
annoyance.