Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-11-20

A StOry,Of the Vicksburg Campaign.
St Louis Post

1t appears that after Vicksburg had
been invested and the south threatened
at other points, Governor Allen, of
Louisiana, conceived the desperate idea
of capturing the person 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 Vicksburg could be raised
and the federal army driven back. He
sent for Joe Lee and impaired to him
his thoughts, and asked him if he could
devise the plan. 1t was readily taken
to by Lee, who Immediately proposed to
execute the daring enterprise. At that
time-that is in the spring of 1851
Grant and his army were encamped at
Milligan's Bend, near Young's Point,
on the Mississippi, some eighteen miles
above Vicksburg. Gen. Grants head
quarters were in the dwelling house
that belonged to magnificent planta-
the deck of a passing steamer. Joe Lee
proposed to go to that house and bring
away the body of Gen. Grant, dead or
alive.
He chose five out of his most trusty
men. They were the two James broth
ers, two of the Younger brothers, and
John Jarrett. These with himself made
six. There never we're six better men
for such an expedition. They were
young, strong and brave as the bravest.
| They had already seen all there is in
war. They had been tried in the most
trying places; had suffered all manner
IF cl, ri, Of 4l,ox
they lived or died: were the quickest
and best shots in the world, and rode
the feetest horses in the land It was
Just before the federal army set out on
that surprising march down the west
side of the river. The country was all
full ofmarches, bayous and morasses,so
that the natural advantages for the ex-
ecutlon Of the plot were good. The
plan was for Joe Lee and his five trusty
followers to dress up in full federal uni
form, ride on horseback to Milligan's
bend, go direct to the house where
Grant was stopping, rush in and secure
his person, put him on spare horse
and then escape to the sWamps which
were near by. On one Saturday even
ing late the party set out from Dickson's
house near Delhi and rode toward the
Mississippi There was not soul on
earth besides themselves and Gov.
Allen that knew of their desperate mis-
sion. 1t was something over twenty
fives miles they had to go, and the
night was a 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 particular pre-
caution about guards. The pickets were
passed before sun up, and while the
general was yet asleep, the guerilIas 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 met negro. They were
discovered. 1t was an old man whom
these very men had run away from
Delhi not ten days before. He knew
them all and Immediately gave the
alarm. In a moment there was a
great tumult, and the six guerillas 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 a hundred shots
had been fired after them. Before the
sun went down they were safe at their
| favorite rendezvous. Thus was frustrat-
ed one of the most daring plots of the
war. 1t is not probable that Gen.
Grant took any particular notice Of the
affair, and it is not at ali probable that
he has ever realized the valuable SER
vice of the old colored man. What in
depreciation the officers of the army put
upon the presence of the strange and
hostile men at such time and place,
is hot known, but if there were any
doubts as to their mission, this bit of
history may serve to remove them.
A FAyoRITE name for Kentucky girls