Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-04-06
GRANT UNDER FIRE.

While l was standing by the pontoon
bridge watching the boys cross the ba-
you | heard somebody cheering, and,
looking around, saw an officer on horse
back in q major-general's uniform. He
dismounted and came over to the very
spot where | was standing. | did net
know hls face, but something told me it
was Grant-Ulysses Grant, at the same
moment tho hero OF the western army
Solid he stood-erect about Ave feet
eight, with square features, thin closed
lips, brown hair, broad beard, both cut
hundred and fifty pounds looks just like
the soldier he is. | think he is larger
than Napoleon, but not much-he is not
so dumpy looks like man in good
earnest, and the rebels think he is" And
this was tho first time | saw Grant.
think | still possess some of tho feeling
that overcame mo at that moment, as
stood SO near TO ono who held our lives,
and, possibly, our country's, in his hands.
| heard him speak "Men, push right
along close up fast, and hurry over"
Two or three men mounted on mules at
tempted to wedge past The soldiers on tho
bridge. Grant noticed it and quietly
said, Lieutenant, send those men to tho
rear" Every soldier passing turned to
gaze on him, hut there was no further
recognition. Thore WAS no Mcclellan,
begging the boys to allow him to light
his cigar by theirs, or inqulring to what
regiment that exceedingly Gne-marching
company belonged. There was no Pope,
Bullying the men for not marching fast.
er, or officers for somo trivial detailed ro-
membered only by martincts. There
was no Bonaparte posturing for effect, no
pointing to tho Pyramids, no calling tho
centuries to witness. There was no nom
sense, no sentiment only plain busi-
moss man of tho republic, there for tho
one single purpose of getting that com
mand across the river in tho shortest
time possible. On a horse near by, and
among the still mounted staff, sat tho
generals son, bright looking lad Of
/ hbpul tltNtH 0tUles Aufitilth 10 MS llt-
tie waist by tho broad yellow bolt was his
fathers sword that sword on whose
clear steel was soon to be engraved Vicks-
burg, SpottsyIvania, tho Wilderness and
Richmond. The boy talked aud jostod
with the bronzod soldiers near him, who
laughingly inquired whore wo should
camp, 10 which tho young field marshal
replied, "over the river" Over the rv-
er! All that night wo slept with our
guns in our hands and another night,
and another, saw moro thnn one OF our
division camped beyond and oyor tho
rivor-in that last tonting ground whero
the reveiIo was heard 40 more forever.
| next saw Grant on May Is, 1863, and
this time at the battle OF Champion Ilils,
in the rear Of Viclcsburg. We had cross
cd the Mississippi river at Grand Gulf,
and swung of cast andnorth had fought
the battles Of Port Gibson, Raymond aud
Jackson, aud were oyoHuking Pembrr-
toms army Fastening to tho will Of Vicks-
burg. 1t was n very hot day, and we
had marched hard, siept litiu and rested
none. Among the magnolias on Cham
pion Hills the enemy, 10000 or $4,000
strong, turned on Us. Sbermau's corps
was already engaged far on the right, IA
we approached the fold in that oyerpow-
ering Mississippi sun. Our brigade was
soon in line, on the edge Of tho moodow,
or open field soping towards the woods,
whore tho enemy were concealed and
steadily firing on us. We wcro in tao
most trying position Of soldiers for reg
ulars eyen-being fred on without per-
mission to return tho shots. Wo were
standing two files deep, bearing MS n.
tiently as We could not heavy, but II
steady fire from infantry, while an occa
siona cannon bah tore up tho turf in
front or behind rs. A good many mon
were falling, and the wounded we've being
borne to the rear Of tho Brigade, close to
An old well, whose wooden curb seemed
to ofior tho only protection from bullets
on tho exposed line.s Colonel, move
your mon little by the left flank" said
a quiet, though commanding voice. On
looking round, / saw, Immediately be-
hind US, Grant, tho commnndor-in-c -chioR,
mounted on n beautiful bay mare, anil
followed by perhaps half dozen of his
staff. For somo reason he dismouuted,
and most Of his officers were sent of
bearing orders probably to other quarters
OF the field. 1t was Grant under fire. -
The rattling musketry increased on our
front and grow louder, too, on the left
flank Grant had led his horse to the loft,
and thus kept near to the the company to
which | belonged. lie now stood leaning
complacently agNnt his favorto steed,
smoking-as seemed babitual with him
the stump Of a cigar. His was the only
horse near tho line, and must naturally
have attracted some Of the enemy's fire.
What if he should be killed, thought TO
myself, and the army be left without its
commander? In front Of us was an en-
emy behind us and about ", were his
reinforcements. For days we had beon
away from our base of supplies, and
marching inside the enemy's lines. What
if Grant should be killed, and we be do
feated herein such place and at such
: time am sure every one who reeog.
nized him wished him away but there
he stood-clear, calm and immovable.-
was close enough to see his features
Earnest they we're but sign Of inwa d
movement there was none. 1t was tho
same COO !, calculating face l have seen
| l.l..n "a ~ lr.1..n ~ n.,,,,. n..e,1