The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-29
THRICE THwARTED BY CEN.
 GRANT.
i Alex. E. Swee,, in Texas Sitiaxs l

as high private, was stationed in northern Texas. The Federal armies never seriously invaded Texas until afeer the surrender ct General Lee During the tour years oi the war Texas was exempt from invasion by A hostile foe. The regiment to which l belonged was stationed most of that time in Texas, Put these two items together, and-one explains the other. The Federal authori- ties refused to invade Texas as long as the sd Texas cavalry was in the state. l belonged to the s3i. Alter the waI was over, and ~e had dishanded, then the Federal forces occupied Texas, but not before, We were under fire every day, more or less that is, camp fire, tor we had to do our own cooking. The Confederacy did not furnish us with cooks.
 We were languishing in camp, panting for toeman worthy of our steel. The Confederate farmess who raised chickens hogs, watermelons, etc io the vicinity of our camp were also anxious that we should meet the hirehng toe. ,ha, is, if we had to so away to meet him. They wanted some of their chickens for them- selves. In fact, the depredations made on their live stock by the 33d Texas cavalry resulted in the development ot a strong Uaion sentiment, which still exists in that neighbolhood.
 One day, while 1 was busy picking a chicken, Lieutenant Vlnton came to my mess. ae was smiling so copiously that l imagined he was go,ng to sit around until dinner was served up, but prospects of fried chicken were not uppermoI in his thoughts, for he said:-
 Alex, we are in luck. I've go, good news for you
 Has Lee taken Washington ? Is the war over without the Yankees getting a whaok at the 3i11"
 |" No, but ve been detailed ,o 20 to San Antonio with six men, and you arc one of them. We will have a nice time of it. We will establish a camp near town, and will have good smoking tobacco and hot biscuits. and whisky. particularly whisky, and we will be four hundred miles further away from the Ankees than VIC are now"
 As my home was in San Antonio 1 was so much pleased that invited L,eutenan; Vinton to stop and have some of the fried chicken. Alter dinner was over it occurred to me to ask him what sort of detached service we were to perform at San Antonio.
 :" Press mules" was the reply.
 There may be some persons who do not grasp the term. It did not mean that we were 10 squeeEe mules, in the physical sense of the word. We we're on detached service for the purpose of detachng mules from their owners tor the benefit of the Coniederacy.
 There were in Texas quite a number of very ardent Confederate farmers, who objected io taking Confederate money ID payment for forage. mules, or anything else. At that time one silver dollar could purchase about 5000 in Conted- crate money, new issue. This may have had something to do with the teuaclty with which some of the most bitter Con- federates adhered to their mules aud forage. Our mission in San Antonio was to raise mules after the Mexican | prtSfamo fashion. Soldiers who had kept the Federal armies out of Texas year after year would be able to cope with man who refused to part with his mule.
 In due time Lieutenant Vinton and l HlS otA ulCn iCA[nCu tuC fkbAtUO AIvs Alter resting day or so, we proceeded to select camp on the Olmos creek, near a corral after which Lieutenant VInon rode to San Antonio to the post comm ander, in order to obtain informs- ton as to where the mules were. He came back ID a very short time and went out to meet him. There was a peculiar expression on his face which 1 had never noticed before.
 Well, lieutenant. when are we going to press mules9 am fairly aching to press a mule"
 It's too late. The war is over"
 HunAh for the Southern Conted- eracy!"
 Shut up, you blank fool"
 Lee has captured Washingio on," 1 yelled.
 Captured sbeoll Grant has captured Lee"
 sat down on a stump in dazed sort of a way, and listened to the incredible news
 "So the mules will not be pressed ["
 Not by me. l am going to Brazl !" and he turned his horses head in that direction, and saw him no more.
 Thus was my plan to press mule thwarted by General Grant. I'll proba. bly never have another chance. 1t was no longer safe to press mules for the Con 'ederacy, and Grant was to blame for it.
 That was not the only time Grant interiered with my plans. In the sum- mer of 1879. fourteen years afterwards, was reparter on the C alvesson News. One day wanted to go fishing. con- suited with the proprietoFs Of the paper about it, and they said No" When asked for reason they said :-- | Grant"
 How SO In asked.
 He is expected on the next steamer from Mexico, and when he arrives ve will need the services of everybody on the paper"
 was detailed to interview Gsn. Grant. ! shook hands cordially with him.