The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-07-12
CORPORAL JONES.
How a Pass From Grant Opened the Road to
Temporary Fortune.

Temporary fortune.
To the Editor NATIONAL. TRIBUNE:
In the spring of 1864, while on special service In
the district provost-marshars office Mt Vieksburg
Miss, came in contact officially with one OF the
queerest characters and most brazen adventures
the war produced The lapse of time has erased
from my memory the name of the hero of this
sketch, but he was a corporal in some Indiana
regiment, and for the present purpose Will call
him Jones. Up to the surrender Jones was doing
full duty with his company, but he had an idea
and this idea worked and rankled in his bosom
until his proud soul revolted against the daily
drudgery of camp life In short, Jones yearned to
be released from service and engage In some lucra-
tive business speculation. One day when he
corporal of the guard at or near General Grants
headquarters and while he was sauntering leisurey
upand down in front of the guard quarters he found
himself face TO face with General Grant BAD Adju-
General Rawlins of his staff. See here cor
poral' said the general, get on that horse ride
over to Colonel Is tent, and deliver this
packet" But, general, the guards over there
won't let through" said Jones. Gen. Grant
took out his note book, tore out page, and wrote
on it. Guards pass Corporal Jones.-U. s. Grant
major general" That night Jones was the happi-
est man in the Army of the Tennessee. He went
back to his regiment and reported to his officers
that General Grant had selected him special
after some one else must carry his gun and KNAPP
sack Green with envy, his comrades crowded
around him and gazed open-mouthed and with
blted breath at his pass and its awe-inSpiring sig
nature. Jones at once laid aside his uniform and
accoutrements and donned a nobby suit of citizens
clothing. He staggered around the hotels, ogled
and even imposed on the provost marshal of the
district with his pass and brass star. As
General Grant left Vicksburg he attacked business
in earnest hiring all the idle negroes that could be
induced 10 work, and setting them to gathering
and packing rags and lead. By March, 1864. he
had made a profit of over $4,000 on his transae-
camps around Vicksburg. He boarded at the best
hotel, wore diamond pin, and sported splendid
team of imported blacks. But presently rags be-
gan to get alarmngly scarce, and Jones yearned
Tor more worlds to conquer and for fresh fields of
enterprise. Being in excellent luck, he had not
long to wait The little VickSburg theater lost its
lessee and manager and our hero stepped into the
breach and became an operate impressario.
The unbounded gall of Jones is shown by a
little incident which happened about the time he
opened his theater. Needing some attractive talent
in the way of prima dome and ballet girls, he
called on the Post @. NJ and on the plea of work
ing up an immense smuggling case, actually pro-
cured transportation to New York and return for
himself and such men and women as he might
wish to bring back with him. He went to New
York, secured full corps de ballet, a number of
actors and actresses, and brought them back to
Vicksburg at Government expense. But as they
saXin dime novels the ayenger was on his track,
and Jones downfall was near. BY means of his
rag business and theater he was fast getting rich
and was becoming excessively overbearing and
arrogant. 1t was always sacred custom in VickS-
burg to deadhead into places of amusement every
one connected with the provost-marshal's Office,
from the colonel down to Tom, the janitor, and SO
firmly was this custom fixed that many evenings
the very best seats were occupied blythe provost
marshall crowd, while paying auditors were stand
ing III the IobDeS. But Jones favored REFORM and
one evening the occasion being the benefit of NJ lie
Gaiietonetti he tackled up shingle just where the
eyes of the boys must rest as they up stairs,
which bore the unpleasant legend: Free List Sus-
pended This set the whole department by the
ears A council of war was held, and, as a result,
General Slocum, post commander, received the
following letter.
GENERAL: Jones, who runs the theater. picks
| rags, and sports diamond pin, is common eorpo-
raj of the --th Indiana regiment and remains
away from his regiment pass from General
Grant written on fly leaf with pencil, for tempo
| rary only, while his poor comrades are fight
ing in the Red River country, &c.
GEO. C. R., and others'
Like an avenging Nemesis, Gen. Slocum pouneed
upon jones' and his diamond pin. The ballet and
prima dome wept the blooded horses were put
into a battery. and Jones became " fresh fish for
the inmates of the military prison. As soon as
arrangements could be made amournful procession
left the Vicksburg Jail in the following order: 1st
file of soldiers; I'd, Corporal Jones; Sd, another
| file of soders 4th, carriage containing assistant
| provost marshal and two clerks. Slowly and sadly
| the procession marched down to the leyee, where
| the steamer Uncle Sam lay waiting to bear
Jones to his regiment. 1t is needless to say that
Jones rag warehouse and theater both bore the
door panel the legend: For Rent" c. \. K,
PEKIN, ILL. 18th Illinois Inf.