The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-08-06
STORIES ABOUT GRANT.
POLITICAL AND PERSONAL ANECDOTES
A Conspicuous Man In American izis-
tory His Persistence, Nodesty
md Pluck.

pie, without regard TO party, race. religion
who stood at the front when heroes were
needed; to the man who never lost bat
tie, who never asked an order, who never
shirked a duty, who never wavered nor
weakened, and who extended to the erring
the hand Of ellowship-enthusias
praise, grateful remembrance and
mournful sympathy. OF all those who
came out of the war crowned with laurels
and the object CT love and admiration,
Grant is the one who will live the longest
and brightest in history. His name is
embalmed: his deeds are affeCtonately
treasured; the rising generation and the
generation to come, and those who teach
them, will never fail to revere the memory
CT the great American soldier.
At the present time probably more than
at any previous time since the war, old
soldiers and army officers are reviving
their experiences with Gen. Grant during
the days of the great strife, and it Is sell
dom that two or more of them meet
together that they have not got something
to say about him.
Major James F. McFarlan relates the
following incident that but verifies the
many statements that have already been
published in veritication of the famous
mans simple habits: He was n man
eXi. ton of his stripes or insignia of
office while he was al the head of the
armies of the Union than any officer in it,
1t often happened to my certain knowl-
edge that minor officers failed to recog-
niZe HIM as the great General when pas
sing close by his side, on account of his
simple dress, and habit not been for my
previous meetings with him, when knew
him TO be Gen. Grant, | believe | would
have been guilty OF doing a thing that
would long have regretted, so far as my
conduct toward him was concerned. 1t
happened on the 18th day of October, 1864
when we were encamped on the James
River near Jones's Landing. We were
lying on hesouth side of the river and had
a pontoon bridge across it. Early in the
morning part of our forces who were on
the north side of the river got into an en-
gagement with the rebels, in which they
had taken from them-that is, our fellows
had taken from them-a cannon, and
orders were sent to me TO take my batal-
kon of four companies across the bridge
and recapture, II possible, the gun. Well,
we started, and when | reached the op-
posite side of the river with portion of
my command | noticed that my column
had been cut by a number of officers
whom saw just about to ride upon the
bridge. AS our time was limited, and we
were under special orders, put spurs to
my horse, rode back over the bridge as
fast as | could go. and not n little out of
sorts, thinking that the men | saw who
had cut my column We're n lot Of staff
officers, who usually had the mpudence
to do Just such thing when there was no
cause whatever for it, Well, ! rode right
let out on them the worst kind. even if it
amounted to running them off the bridge
into the river, when who should recoy-
nize at the head of them but General
Grant, who called out to me. 'MaiCr, lam
sorry to have been Obliged to cut your
column, but | am very anxious to get
across the river and won't DELAY Won but a
few minutes. Well, if have to tell it
myself, will say that never got over a
mad so quickly in my life, I don't be.
lieve that ANYTHING ever made me wiz so
soon. The General and his stan were off
and over the bridge almost befo:c | could
get nv breath back again. and then The
rest OF nv column followed and we rot to
the gun we were sent after;
Can't D. w c. Lewis of West Chester
tells the following little anecdote Of Gen
Grant as showing his caD1bility for orooni.
zation and accomniishinU ibinCs In
1868 the graves of the soldiers at ARLINGTON
were to be decorated ard Ger Grant fhen
General of the Army. was present with
his staff nv invitation II was the first
time that the ceremony Of decorating
graves had been tried and there was no
Dlan AS to how il sbonId he done All
sorts of plans were suggested hnt rone
iiO''N
Grant. who had been s'ttinT siIentiw
listening, remarked. ct each man tate
two baskets of flowers. and accon,n.ninS
by two ladies. the work will soon be done y
The General picked I'D his basket and
started with two ladies, the crowd accent
ing the idea and following him. In a
short time the graves were all decorated
Capt Lewis started with his two baskets
the ladies with him being Miss Chandler
dauohter of Senator Chandler and Mise
Matthews. half sister of SCHUYLER Col,ay
and he remarked. referring 10 Gen. Grant
There goes the next President
"NeIl y said Miss Matthevs ~ that !.
so. | hope nv brother will Le the Vice
President The RepubIican Conyention
of that wear nominated Grant and Colfay
| In the ear,v DAYS of tbe Paris Ex,osi-
ton Grant was at the French capiial
bright Thought struck some genius Grant
| ShOuld be brought forward 10 rive pciat
| to tbe American eyEibit on oneS;rg Gav
| Courtesy led the soldier i.resiIrnt n
accede f. the imnotunities Of his rnnntrv,
mon and ha faced n crowd ri tbousanI,
| to carry ont the arranged nrnoran, nj
turn;n1 on steam tn Start Amer;rcn
| machinerW and then he foIinweL ,,s'rHn,
niaininoiy The cnmr,;ttea Titter avn
tbitbar for their own ,.ara6e and ,,Io.;ttc r,,'
ton ahore oil otba, tb;ug onnare,,fiw Ia
| did not GOV ha WIS bornd7 mn 10 W. o,,S
he heard with astonishment. not 10 say
oacions n q rat + ,ymt,d le on aNcaaE.
ineIy hannr .bing To enfettain he bio
| and;epce mjfb n III of oratnry to,iiJ fo,s
he more bor,Ibia " Snnefb n,ati ir In In
Fnoljsh IN crnv,d of par'sians' Ttr