Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-05-06
How Mr.. D,loaon saved Gen. Grant.

How Mr.. Deioach saved Gen. Grants
Life.
Ithas been stated that Mr.. Delosch
was app iintei Postmaster at Memphis
by the President because he had saved
his life On one occasion. Dir. Deloach
gave this account Of the incident to the
Memphis Post: -.i..
/ Soon after Memphis was captured,
Gen Grant commenced extending his
lines in this direction. sherman anu
Huribut advanced frem Corinth,, and
had reached Moscow and Lafayette
Our scouts were traversing the interven
ing country, and it was regarded as vir-
tually in Federal occupation. General
Grant was eager te reach Memphis, and
started without a strong escert TO ride
toward the city. He reached Mr.. Del
oach's house near noon on a hot day IN
June, accompanied by fourteen staff of
ficers and orderlies. Mr.. Deloach was
known, through the scouts, to be q re-
liable Union man, and Gen. Grant greet
ed him warmly, and, having disrnoant-
ed, asked for wateS, This was brought,
and Mr.. Deloach offered the General a
Northern paper which he had just re-
ceived. He sat eagerly reading when a
neighbor, knswn as a violent rebel, came
in and took seat. In few minutes a
colorsd boy entered by the back door,
looking Imuch purturbed ana alarmed.
He beckoned to Mrs. Deloach, and
whispered to her that Jackson's rebel
cavalry had encamped just back of Mr..
Deleach's plantation the night previous
and were then breaking up and prepar-
ing to move. Mrs Deioach cemmuni-
4, 10 hat in mi.
secrecy, to her husband; for their rebel
neighbor was watching, as they suppos-
ed, and would denounce them if he OBJ
served any indication of friendliness to
the Union General. Mr.. Deloach al
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 head toward the
road leading to Memphis. Gen. Grant
immediately arose, and said quietly that
they had 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 the speed of
their horses. They left at full gallop,
and when they had rode about two miles
they caught sight of squad OF noun
ted men coming down = crsss road, and
were unable 10 decide to which side they
belonged. Gen. Grant told his escort
that their only safety was to charge
through this squad, if they We're rebels.
ss heavier force was behind Them
They quickened their pace. and were
agreeably relieved soon to discover thai
it was party o. our own scouts, who
had just been reconnoitering Jackson's
movements They reached Memphis
unmoIfst.d. But in n few minutes after
they had left Mr.. Delosch's house 8
squad of Jackson's cavalry rode up to
the gate and haiiowed. They asked ii
Gen. Grant had been there, and Nj
Deloach replied that he had. They de-
msndei what he was doing. He told
them that he gave him drink of water
as he would them f-rhey asked for it
They cornmsnced abusing him, whep
Mrs. Deloach in erfered and told them
they hsd no right to blame Mr.. Dcloanh
that he was known by everybody to. be
a Union man. but he stayed st ,hom,
and WAS attending to his own bu.iness.
They finally left after considerable,
bick-ring aud rpde rapidly in the diree-
tion which Grant had taken, but their
delay and the spehd Of his horse saved
him from any annovsnce.