Connecticut western news., 1885-05-06
LIEUTENANT AND THE PIE.
A LITTLE ARMY STORY OF GENERAL
 GRANT AND HIS WAYS.
How n Lieutenant who Passed Himself od
 Rs General Grant came to Grief.

Here is 8 comical story of the way in which General Grant is said to have punished cheeky" lieutenant. We find it in the Springfield Union. "The officer in question coming upon a lonely farm. house one day, and being struck with the bangs of hunger, dismounted, and in order to get the best the house afforded, had the impotence to repre- sent himself as General Grant. He was served with the greatest alacrity, and, with his companions, nearly cleaned the larder. Pay was refused, and they rode away rejoicing.
 "In' the meantime General Grant, who had halted bis army few miles further back for a brief resting spell, came in sight of and was rather favor ably 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 meal.
 "' No, said 8 female, in gruff voice. General Grant and his staff have just been here and eaten everything in the house except one pumpkin pie
 "'Humph,' murmured Grant 'what Is your nameT
 "Selvidge,' replied the woman.
 "Casting half-dollar in at the door, he asked if she would keep that pie until he sent an officer for it, to which she replied that she would.
 "That evening, after the camping ground had been selected, the various regiments were notified that there would be grand parade at half-past six, for orders. Officers would see that all their men turned out, etc.
 "In five minutes the camp was in a perfect uproar, and filled with all sorts of rumors. Some thought the enemy were upon them, it being so unusual to have parades when 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 portended, when the assistant adjutant- general rode in front of the lines, and, in a grave, loud, and clear voice, read the following order:
 HEADQUARTERS ARMY IN THE FIELD. "'Special Order No. -.
 "Lieutenant Wickheld, of the h. diana cavalry, having on this day, eaten everything in Mrs. Selvidge's house, at the crossing of the Trenton and Poco- hontas and Black River and Cape Girar. deau Roads, except the pumpkin pie, Lieutenant Wickfeld is hereby ordered to return, with an escort of 100 cavalry, and eat that pie also.
 "'U. s GRANT,
 'Brigadier General Commanding
 'It is impossible to describe the effect the reading of this order had on the troops. Every one was expecting to hear some momentuous announcement, and hence, listened with eager attention, and when 1t 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- planation of the strange affair. It soon leaked out, and by the time the crest fallen lieutenant was ready, with bis es- cort, to leave camp, it was in perfect uproar, and peals of laughter followed him as he deiled along the road on his way back to eat that pie.
 "Grant made no explanation of his conduct, followed it by no reprimand. The order carried its own lesson, admin istered its own rebuke, and each one knew that it would not be safe business to pass himself of as the General-in- Chief, much less forage in his narne for his own benefit. When the lieutenant returned to camp, late in the evening, he was glad to escape to his tent to avoid the enumberless questions and jokes about the pumpkin pie"