Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-11-28
KIDNAPPING GRANT.
A story OF the yicl.burs Campaign
st. Iouis Post.

1t appears that after Vicksburg
had been invested aud the South
threatened at other points, Governor
Allen, of Louisiana, conceived the
desperate idea of capturing the per.
son of General Grant. He believed
that Grant was the evil genius of the
confederacy, and that if he could be
killed or taken prisoner the siege of
Vicksbnrg could be raised and the
federal army driven back. He sent
for Joe Lee and impaired to him hil
thoughts, aud asked him if be could
devise plan. 1t was readily taken
to by Lee, who Immediately pro-
posed to execute the daring enter
prise. Al that time--that is in the
spring of 1S64-,-Grant and his army
we're encampe. at Milligan's Bend,
near vours's Point 90 the Mississip-
pi, Some eight, IN miles above Vicks-
blrg. Gen. Grants headquarters
we're in the dwelling house that be-
longed to a magnificent plantation,
much of which can be seen from the
deck of a passing steamer. Joe Lee
proposed to 60 TO that houee and
bring away the body of
GEN. GRANT, DEAD OR ALIVE.
lie chose five out of his most trusty
men. They were the two James
brothers, two of the Younger broth.
ers and John Jarrett. These with
himself made six. There never were
six better men for such an expedi-
ton. There were young. strong and
brave as the bravest. They had al
ready seen all there is in war. They
had been tried in the most try
ing places had suffered all manner
of hardships; did not care much
whether they lived or died were
the quickest and best shots in the
world, and rode the feetest horses
in the land. 1t was just before the
federal army sent out on that sur
prising march down the west side of
the river The country was all full
of marshes, bayous and morasses, so
that the natural advantages for the
execution of tho plot were good.
The plan was for Joe Lee and his
five trusty followers to dress up in
full federal Uniform, ride on horses
back to Milligan's Bend, go direct
to the house where Grant was stop
ping, rush in and secure his person,
put him on spare horse and then
escape to the swamps, which were
near by. On one Saturday evening
late the party set out from Dickson's
honse near Delhi and erode toward
the Mississippi. There was not q
soul on earth besides themselves and
Gov. Allen that knew Of their desper-
ate mission. 1t was something over
twenty-five miles they bad to 90,
and the night was q dark one, but
long before day they were
/ AT THE EDGE OF THE WOODS
that bordered on the plantation on
which Grant was quartered. There
was no enemy TO attack from the
west side, and there was no particu-
lar precaution about guards. The
pickets were passed before sun up,
and while the general was yet asleep,
the guerillas rode boldly up through
the open field toward the house.
There they were-six men--seven
horses. The empty saddle for the
commander Of the hundred thousand
men who were camped about in
every direction. They approached
| in almost stones throw of the
house, when they meta negro. They
were discovered. 1t was an old man
whom these worry men had run away
| from Delhi not en- days before. He
knew them all snd Immediately gave
the alarm. IL moment there was
q great tumult, and the six gnerillas
had nothing to do but save their
lives. They broke through the field
and in the twinkling of an eye were
back In the woods, but not until q
| hundred shots had been fired after
them. Before the sun went down
they were at their favorite rendez-
vous. Thus was frustrated one of
the most daring plots of the war. It
is not probable that Gen. Grant took
any particular notice of the affair,
and it is not at all probable that he
hes ever real zed the valuable SER
vices of the old coIored man. What
Interpretation the officers of the
army put upon The presence Of the
strange and hostile men at such q
time and place, is not know, but if
there we're any doubts as to their
mission, this bit Of history may serve
4 4 A.