Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-24
RrOss and Grant.

Some ten years ago General Grant was in
command at Cairo, and received instructions
from General Halleck, then in charge of the
western department, to make a demonstration
against Columbus. Ky, to prevent the garrison
at that point trom being weakened to reinforce
Bowling Green, against which General Bue was
then moving. To make the movement a success
1t was absolutely necessary that the enemy
should be led TO believe 1t no feint, but a serious
operation. General q. IL. Smith was marched
from Paducah, across Kentucky and General
Oglesby from Binds Point through Missouri,
General Grant in person taking command of the
expedition by river, a totilla OF transports
guarded by gunboats. To maintain the
secrecy necessary TO success, orders were is
sued that no civilians whOmSoever should be per
mitted to accompany the expedition. Governor
Bross was then at Cairo. Governor Bross in
the pre-Horatlon age, was power on the Fri.
bune. What he wrote was sure to appear, I'M
mangled by scissors and unmutated by pencil.
Nay, his very articles on Colorado and the
Canadian canals eluded the waste basket That
any general order excluding the press should
apply to the Tribune, or that Governor Rross
should be included in the common category of
| civilians, seemed too absurd for belief Accord
lngly, he presented himself before Gen Grant.
| and asked leave to accompany the troOps. The
general politely declined. The deacon explained
| Inc general firmly reiterated his refusal. The
| deacon WaXed indignant The general became
| icy in his determination.
There was evidently no possibility of securing
the designed object by legitimate means, SO
others must be adopted. He chung to the belief
that if he could by stratagem or bribery once
gain access 10 the vessel and stow himself away
till they were fairly under way, General Grant
would not have the heart to put him ashore as
ruthlessly and unceremoniously as a river can
tam dumps gambler out to paddle his own
cottonwood log with his shngle amid mocking
salutes from the steam whistle Jove did moi
shrink from assuming lowly DISCUSSES the form
OF the swan or the shape of the bull, when the
eNgencles Of the public service demanded such
action, and the thunderer Of Olympus a heather
and myth, could not be permitted in tle state
OF Illinois TO Guido the thunderer of Chicago a
Christian and a tangiblity. Accordingly. the
good deacon packed his trunk in a red siIly
handkerchiei-his wardrobe consisted of n fine
tooth comb, Faber No. g a cake az
honey soap aud pair of No. IA gray worsted
hose--and took his stand on the wharf on tbe
day the expedition was to sail. A fortunate
chance presented itself. A number Of HOSPITAL
attendants were carrying cots and mattresses on
board. The deacon seized one, loaded il ON his
shoulders with the grace Of a roustlbOut and
mounted the gangway. The weather was warm.
The deacon was stout The load was heavy
The gangway was Steep To saw that he ner.
spired freely would be 10 understand the facts of
the case. But he passed the sentinels in safety
and in few moments had tumbled his mn
WleldlY burden upon the heap, and had en-
seonced himself in salety-under a sink. His
quarters were close; they could not be called
comm0dious; they were not bv any means
Clean. But he nobly held his ground, and did
not vince audlbly when negro cook boy poured
pan full of dish water down his DIAGONAL hack
70 the detrlment OF his DIAGONAL coat At last
we Welc0ihe snort OF the engines and dash of
the wheels announced that the boat was under
Welghy and he crawled from his retreat ANA
entered zen Grants cabin, prepared TO enjoy
ms own triumph and the generals discom6tnrc
When the general saw him he injured II
Deacoh bfoss was not aware Of the existence of
Olu 5g asansl SlYlllans accompanying the ex-
petition. The deacon said he was, bnt thai If
was all right. mo, sir, that is not all rigbt
Aid-de-camp," said he, turning TO an officer
"stop the steamer; take a boat, and put tbis
gentleman ashore" "But am Mr. Bross of the
Chicago Tribune" IF you were Horace cree.
ley Of the New York Tribune il would be ali the
same" The officer laid his hand on the dea-
cons shoulder Resistance was in vain; a boat
was launched, and in Eve minutes he was seated
on log under a spreading tree while the last
vessel of the hotilla disappeared round bend in
the river
History draws a charitable veil over the events
OIL the hours Immediately succeeding Ii is
SAID that the shore thence 20 Cairo was pro-
ianea Ny undiaconsl eXpletiyes all that night:
elut man about the deacon's size FLASHED
I ISaihy along II, up 10 the waist In mOrasses
L omn 9n ms nose over deadfals torn by briers
banr,oa ,g rocks, deyoured by mosquitoes,
maunted ny the wall Of the bullfr1o n a eaid
thal ne ate Of the berries of tie n7ood "a az a.,
Salnsu Oh the deep. II Is said maj az eori,,
uaWn nc crep unto Cairo, muddy bnrs,r,, ~
,.r amu ~ p sad-and there appears 10 be- good
thet aer III Dol9vlhg the assertion to he true
has been utterly unable for The in oS M H.,oo ~,
MAKE OUT What the people could See In Cena,ai
Grant anyhow. And this is part of tbe ,,iis
the Chicago Tribune's cocoanut, NUN III