The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-11-21
KIDNAPPING GRANT.
A Story of the yicksburs Campaign

1t appears that after Ficksburg hat
been invested and the South threalenec
at other points, Governor Allen, o
Louisiana, conceived the desperate idea
of capturing the person Of Grant. lie
believed that Grant was the evil geniu:
of the Confederacy, and that if he could
be killed or taken prisoner the siege o
Ficksburg could be raised and the Fed
eral army driven bnck. He sent for Joe
Lee and impaired to him his thoughts
and asked him if he could devisc plan
It was readily taken to by Lee, who i'm
mcdiately proposed to execute the daring
enterprise. At that time--that is in the
spring of 1SG4-Grant and his army were
encamped at Milligan's Bend, near
Ioung's Point, Oil the Mississippi, some
eighteen niles above Vicksburg. Gen.
eral Grants headquarters were in the
dwelling hoiisc that belonged to mag
niiicent plantation, much of which can
be seen from the deck &C passing steam
er. Joe Lee proposed togo to that house
and bring away the body of
GENERAL GRANT, DEAD OR ALIVE.
He chose five out of his most trusty
men. They were the two Jamcs broth
ers, two of the Younger brothers and
John Jarrett. These with himself made
six. There never were six better men
for such an expedition. They were
young, strong and as brave as the BRAY
est. They had already seen all there is
III war. They had been tried in the most
trying places; hnd suffered NIL manner
of hardships did not care much wheth-
er they lived or died were the quick
est and best shots in the world, and rode
the flcctest horses in the land It was
just before the Federal army sent out on
that surprising march down the west
side Of the river. The country WAS ali
full OF marshes. bayous and morasses, so
that the natural advantages for the exc.
cution of the plot were goUd. The plan
was for Joe Lee and his five trusty fol-
lowers to dress tip In full Federal uni
form, ride on horseback to Milligan's
Bend, 20 direct to the house where Grant
was stopping, rush in and secure his
person, put him on 4 spare horse and
then escape to the swamps which were
near By, On one Saturday. evening late
The party set out from Dickson's house
near Delhi and rode towards the Missis
slppi. There was not soul on earth be-
sides themselves and Governor Allen
that knew OF their desperate mission. II
was something over twenty-five miles
they had to go, and the night was dark
one, but long before day they were
AT THE EDGE OF THE WOODS
that bordered on the plantation on which
Grant was CHARTERED. There was no ell
emy to attnck from the west side, anc
there was no particular precaution about
guards. The pickets we're passed before
sun up, and, while the General wns ye
asleep, the guerillas rode boldly ur
through the open field towards the house.
There they were-siX men-seven horses
The empty saddle for the commander O
the hundred thousand men who we're
camped about in every direction. The,
approached III almost stones throw O
the house, when they met negro. The,
were discovered. 1t was an old maj
whom these very men had run away from
Delhi not ten days before. He knew
them al! aid Immediately gave the alarm
In n moment there was great tumult
and the six guerrillas had nothing to d.
but save their lives. They brok,
through the field and il. the t.iEiling o
an eye we're back in the woods, but moi
until hundred shots had been free
after them. Before the sun went dowr
they were safe at their fav..ite rendez
vous. Thus was frustrated one of the
most daring plots of the war. 1t is not
probable that Gen. Grant took any par
ticular notice of the affair, and it is not
atall probable that he has ever realized
the valuable services Of the old colored
man. What Interpretation the officers oi
the army put upon the presence of the
strange and hostile men at such a time
and place, is not known, but if there
were any doubts as to their mission, this
bit OF history may serve to remove them.