The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-05-28
STEALING STEAMBOATS,.
A Reminiscence Of the Late Unpleasant.
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N hehinisceHco VI the Lh'o OhpiouHunp
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When Grant and his army were closing
In on Richmond there came lull in the
proceedings, which lot of youngsters OF
the line and staff improved by getting up
ball at Fort Randolph. Grants head
quarters were several miles up the river
from Fort Randolph, and lot OF the
junior officers of his and other staffs
wanted to go to the ball. But how to get
there was the question. 1t was too far to
ride, and the only thing left to do was tc
apply to General Grant for the use Of the
Metamora steamer, then in Government
project. Then the boys were in fix, and
there were many heartbreaking consulta.
tions among them, interspersed with few
iron-clad and red.hot "blank it alls"
thrown In, as required by headquarters
etiquette. Finally few Of the more reck-
less and daring ones resolved that they
would take the Metamora and go anyhow.
The girls were at Fort Randolph, and how
could they stay awayH They couldn't, and
they didn't, but Just got aboard the Meta
mora and away they went. The intention
Of the boys was to get back SO early the
next morning that they would be snug In
their quarters before the "old man" was
up. But one dance more, and just one
glass more, kept them late, and it was
broad daylight when they steamed up tc
headquarters. General Grant then had
a habit of walking every morning on the
bluffs Of the river, and the boys saw him
looking at the Metamora as she steamed
up. Some Of them took the yawl and went
ashore, sneaking away to the water's edge
down below the bluffs. Our youngster,
with two or three others, determined tc
face the music, and have the storm over as
soon as possible. The old man never let
on that he saw anything unusual or out Of
the way, and the boys reached their quar-.
ters congratulating each other that the old
man hadn't twigged their little game and
all was calm and serene But about ten
O'Clock an orderly came TO Lieutenant
Johnson's tent, with message that the
old man wanted TO see him at headquar.
ters. The Lieutenant nervously buckled
on his cheese-kniio and away he went. As
soon as he appeared, the old man opened
up:
"Lieutenant, where were you last night
between the hours Of @ p. m. and six o'clock
this morningW
"on the river part Of the timo and tine
Metamora part Of the time"
"Who gave you leave to take the Meta.
morap
"Nobody, sir, that know Of"
"Dldn't you know that II was wrong,
that IL was theft-stealing the Government
coal? You will consider yourself under ar.
rest till / see about this gross violation OF
discipline, SIR"
The youngster backed out with a salute.
He was soon released, "ht into the war"
till II ended, and then went to Italy TO help
Garibaldi. That row ended, he came back
here to this city while Grant was Secretary
of War ad interim under Johnson. Being
in financial straits, he was advised to ap.
ply to his old commander. SO he went up
to the War Department and sent in his
card. Pretty soon he was called in in his
turn, aud as soon as he faced the old man
the latter exclaimed:
"Why, how are you, Lieutenant Where
have you been oil this timep
"over in Italy, helping Garlbaldi."
"Humph! Been over to Italy, have you,
helping Garibaldi, eh? Steal any steam.
boats over there, Lieutenantp
And he laughed till be shook, and hand.
ed the Lieutenant paper which eventual.
ly secured him good position under Uncle
Sam.