Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-05-29
GRANTS UNIQUE ORDER.

INVASION Oh IL ny Jcl lhOhl poOhi
an incident occurred which is thus
by one OF his stan oili-
GERS. The distance from the
starting point of the expedition to
the supposed rendezvous Of the
Coniederates was about 10 miles,
and the greater portion Of the
route lay through the bowling
wilderness. The imaginary suffer
ing that our soldiers endured dur
ing the first two days OF their
march was enormous. 1t was im-
possible to steal or cOniiscatc'
uncultivated real estate, and not a
hog or a chicken or an ear Of corn
was anywhere to be seen. On the
third day, however, affairs looked
more hopeful, for a few small
specks Of ground in a state Of
cultivation were here and there
visible. On that day Lieutenant
WickAeld, of an Indiana cavalry
regiment, commanded the advance
guard, consisting Of eight mounted
men. About noon he came up to a
small farm house, from the out
ward appearance of which he
judged there might be something
fit to eat inside. He halted his
command, dismounted, and, with
two Iieutenants, entered the dwell
ing. He knew that Grants incip-
lent fame had alreadp gone out
through the country, and it seemed
to him by representing himself to
be General Grant he might obtain
the best the house afforded. SO,
assuming a very imperative de-
meanor, he accosted the inmates
OF the house and told them that lie
must have something for himself
aud staff to eat. They desired TO
know if he was Brigadier.Gen-
eral 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 lieutenants ate as much as
they could of the not over.sump-
tuous meal, but which was,
nevertheless, good Tor that country,
and demanded what was to pay
Nothing And they went on their
way rejoicing. In the meantime
General Grent, who halted his
army a few miles farther back
for a brief resting spell, came in
sight Of and was rather 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. NO. said a female, in a
gruli voice; General Grant and
his staff have just been here and
eaten everything in the house ex-
cept the pumpkin pie 'Humph,'
muttered Gr1nt; what is your
nameY 'Selvidge,' replied She
| Casting a half dollar in at the door,
ne asked If she would keep that
pie until he sent an officer for il,
to which she replied that she would.
That evening, after the camping
ground had been selected, tue
various regiments were notified
/ that there would bea grand parade
at $3.50 for orders. Officers would
see that all their men turned out,
etc. In five minutes the camp was
| in perfect uproar, and filled with
all sorts of rumOrs,. Some thought
the enemy were upon them, il
being so unusual to have parades
when OH march. AT G:30 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 a long and weary
march, and wondered what II
portended, when the assistant adj
iutant. general rode in front of the
lines, aud in a grave, loud aud clear
voice read the following order:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY NTHE FIELD.
Special Order -: Lieutenant
Wickfeld, Of the Indiana cavalry,
havingon this day eaten every thing
in Mrs. Selvidge's house, at the
crossing of the Trenton and POca-
hOntas aud Black river and Cape
Girardeau roads, except one
pumpkin pie, Lieutenant Wick
field is hereby ordered to return
with an escort of one hundeIed
cavalry and eat that pie also.
"U. S. GRANT,
"Brlgadier.General Commanding.
1T is impossible to describe the
effect the reading Of this order had
on the troops. Every one was
expecting to hear some mOmentOus
announcement, and hence listened
with eager attention, and when it
was finished looked at each other
in utter bewilderment, and asked,
what did it mean ! The parade
was over, and the moment they
dispersed each one sought an ex-
PLANTATION of the strange affair. II
soon leaked out, and by the time
the crestfallen lieutenant was ready
with his escort to leave camp twas
in a perfect roar, and the peals OF
laughter followed him as he defiled
along the road on his way back tC
eat that pie. Grant made no ex,
nlanation of his conduct. followed