The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-05-07
EATING PIE UNDER ORDERS.
General Grants Way OF furnishing nm IL,
Z postoT.

General Grants Way OF Furnishing an Ip-
IL postor.
When Grant, in August, 1861, was sent
with . brigade to Southern Missouri TO
| repel threatened invasion Of it by jeff.
| Thompson. an incident occurred which is
thus described by one of his staff officers:
The distance from the starting point OF
the expedition TO the supposed repdez.
vous Of the Confederates was about II 10
miles, and the greater portion of the
route lay through bowling wilderness.
| The imaginary suffering that orr soldiers
endured during the first two days Of
their march was enormous. 1t was
| impossible TO steal or 'confiscate' uncul
tivated real estate, and not hog or
chicken or an car OF corn was anywhere
to be seen. On the third day, however,
affairs looked more hopeful, Tor few
small specks of ground in state Of
partial cultivation were here and there
visible. On that day Lieutenant Wick.
commanded the advance guard, consisting
came up TO small farmhouse, from the
outward appearance of which he judged
there might be something fit to eat inside.
and, with two second lieutenants, entered
the dwelling. He knew that Grants
incipient fame had already gone out
through all that country, and itseemed 10
him by representing himself to be Gen.
eral Grant he might obtain the best the
house afforded. So, assuming a very
imperative demeanor, lie accosted the
inmates cf the house and told them that
he must have something for himself aud
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 profess.
ions Of loyalty. The Lieutenants ate as
much as they could of the not oversum'
tuous meal, but which was, nevertheless,
good for that country, and demanded
what was to. pay. Nothing. And they
went on their way rejoicing. In the
meantime, General Grant, who had halt.
ed his army few miles farther back for
brief resting spell, came in sight OF,
and was rather impressed by the appear.
ance 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 female in gruff voice.
General Grant and his staff have just
been here, and eaten everything in the
house except one pumpkin pie 'Humph,
muttered Grant; what is your name?'
'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 secured, the
various regiments were notified that there
would be q grand parade at $50 for
orders. Officers would see that all their
men turned out, etc. In five minutes the
camp was perfect uproar, and filled
with all sorts of rumors. Some thought
the enemy were upon them, it being 80
unusual to have parades when on the
march. AT G.30 the parade was formed,
ten columns deep, and nearly quarter
of mile in length. Both officers aud
men were amazed ut this unusual parade
after such q long and weary march, and
wondered what it portended, when the
Assistant Adjutant General rode in front
of the lines, and, in q grave, loud aud
clear voice, read the following order:
HEADQUARTERS,
ARMY IN THE FIELD.
Especial O-der No..
"Lieutenant Wickfeld, of the Indiana
cavalry, having on this day eaten every
thlLg in Mrs. Selvidge's house, at the
crossing of the Trenton and Pocahontas
and Black River and Cape Girsrdesu
roads, except one pumpkin pie, 1ieuten.
ant Wickfield is hereby ordered to return
pie also.
"U. s. GRANT.
"Brigadier General Commanding"
ut is impossible to describe the effect
the reading of this order had on the
trt ops. 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 mean7 The parade was over, and
the moment they dispersed each one
sought an explanation of the strange |
affair. Itsoon leaked out, and by the time |
the crestfallen Lieutenant was ready with |
his escort to leave camp. it was in perfect |
roar, and peals of laughter followed him |
as he defiled along the road on his way
back to eas that pie. Grant made no ex. |
planation of his conduct, followed it by |
no reprimand. The order carried it's |
own lesson, administered its own rebuke,
and each one knew that 1t would not be
a safe business to pass himself off for
Guneral-in Chief, much less forage in his !
own name, 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 numberless questions
and jokes about the pumpkin pie."-
Boston Herald.
A Congressman's Cow Trade.