Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-04-23
ORDERED TO EAT THE PIE.
for Foraging Under an Assumed
Name.

=. ne,' "A
Name.
When Grant, in August, 1861, was sen
with brigade to southern Missouri to re
pei threatened invasion of il by JEFF
Thompson, and incident occurred which i.
thus described by one of his staff officers
The distance from the starting point o.
the expedition to the supposed rendezvou:
Of the confederates was about 1l0 miles
and the greater portion of the route lay
through bowling wilderness. The i'm
aginary suffering that cur soldiers endured
during the first two days of their march
was enormous. 1t was impossible to steal
or 'confiscate' uncultivated real estate and
not hog, or chicken, or an ear of corn
was anywhere to be seen. On the third
! day, however, affairs looked more hopeful
| for few small specks of ground in a state
of partial cultivation were here and there
visible. On that day Lieutenant Wick
| field, of an Indiana cavalry regiment, COM
manded the advance guard, consisting of
eight mounted men. About noon he came
up TO small farm house, from the out
ward appearance of which he judged
there might be something fit to eat on the
inside. He halted his command, dis
mounted. and, with two second lieuten-
ants, entered the dwelling. He knew that
Grants incipient fame had already gone
out through all that country, and it seemed
to him that by representing himself to be
General Grant, he might obtain the best
the house afforded. So assuming a very
imperative demeanor, he accosted the in
mates of the house and told them that he
must have something for himself and staff
TO eat. They desired to know who he was
and he told them that he was Brigadier
General Grant. At the sound of the name
they all flew around with alarming alacrity,
and served up about all they had in the
house, taking great pains all the while TO
make loud professions OF loyalty. The
heutenants ate as much as they could of
the not oversumptuous meal, but which
was, nevertheless, good for that country,
and demanded what was to pay. Moth
ing And they went on their way re-
ioicing.
I'm the meantime General Grant, who
had halted his army a few miles further
back for briet resting spell, came in sight
OF. and was rather iavorably impressed
with the appearance of this same house.
Riding up to the fence in front of the door
he desired to know if they would cook
him a meal
mo, said female, in a gruff voice
Gen. Grant and his staff have just been
here and eaten everything in the house ex-
cept one pumpkin pie
"'Humph,' murmured Grant what is
your name?'
"'Selvidge,' replied the woman.
Ill Al ~ 4.
asked if she would keep that pie until he
sent an officer for it, 20 which she replied
that she would.
That evening, after the camping ground
had been selected, the various regiments
were notified that there would be a grand
parade at half-past six, for orders. Officers
would see that all their men turned out, etc.
I'm five minutes the camp was in a per-
feet uproar, and filled with all sorts Of ru-
mors. Some thought the enemy were up
on them, i, being so unusual to have pa
rades on a march.
AT half-past six the parade was formed,
ten columns deep, and nearly a quarter OF
a mile in length.
Both officers and men were amazed at
this unusual parade after such long and
weary march, and wondered what it por-
tended when the assistant adiutant general
rode in front of the lines, and, in grave,
loud and clear voice, read the following or
der:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY IN THE FIELD,
Special Order No. -..
Lieut. Wickfield of the Indiana cavalry,
having on this day eaten everything in
Mrs. Selvidges house, at the crossing of
the Trenton and Pocahontas and Black
river and Cape Girardeau roads, except one
pumpkin pie, Lieut.. Wickfield is hereby
ordered TO return with an escort of one
hundred cavalry and eat that pie also
us, GRANT
'Brigadier General Commanding
1T is impossible to describe the effect |
the reading Of this order had on the troops. |
Everyone was expecting to hear some mo- !
mentous announcement, and hence listened |
with eager attention, and when il was |
finished looked ut each other in utter be- |
wilderment and asked, what did it mean |
The parade was over, and the moment |
they dispersed each one sonGht an sxpla- |
nation of the strange affair. Ii soon leaked /
put, and by the time the crestfallen lieu |
tenant was ready with his escort to leave /
camp, it was in perfect uproar, and peals /
Of laughter followed him as he defiled /
along the road on his way back to eat that |
pie.
Grant made no explanation of his con-
luct, followed it by no reprimand. The
,rder carried its own lesson, administered |
Is own Tebuke, and each one knew that it
would not be safe business to pass him
'elf of for the general-in-chief, much less
orage in his name for his own benefit.
When the lieutenant returned to camp,
IL 4. -.