Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-08-12
STORIES ABOUT GRANT,
Anecdotes and "reminiscences of the Great
Commander.
WHEN GRANT YELLED LIKE AN IN
DIaN.

Dian.
Mrs. Grant and the Boys-The Kind of
Music the General Liked.
An army officer, now stationed in Bos-
ION, who was Inspector at the headquar-
tiers of 1.-The armies operating against Rich
mond, says:
The only time / ever saw Gen. Grant show
any exhllaration was when news was re-
ceiyed OF Sheridan's victory in Winchester
valley, at Cedar Creek. He came out of his
tent, threw his hat up in the air, yelled like
an Indian, and then went back into his tent.
He knew that that was the beginning Of the
end.
''Some people attribute his success to luck.
but oil he ever earned was by hard work and
carefully elaborated plans. He would fire.
Qutntly sit all night by the telegraph instru-
ment at his City Point headquarters recetv-
ing and sending dispatches, and keeping
two operators constantly employed. L have
looked out of my tent, many time, and
seen him studying maps OF the fie ids OF
operations in the East and West with Gen.
John S. Barnard his chief engineer. He
talked but little, but what he said
was generally to the point. He always
seemed to read the newspapers carefully,
and never appeared to have any idle time.
At the time articles appeared in the Northern
papers charging him with drunkenness there
was no liquor at his headquarters, to my GER
tain knowledge; andif man wanted drink
secretly, knowing the Generals opposition to
it. He always seemed preoccupied. and ire
Quently seated himself in the q dry
goods box in front of my tent. While medi-
tating he would keep his foot going like. a
pendulum, and thump the box at every
swim. | was writing out my reports one
day. and being annoyed by the continued
thumpin2, was about to yell clear out of
there, suppOSing the culpr1t was an orderly.
Fortunately concluded to look out first,
fn NV &c t0y1iC CHI pn6
that il was Gen. Grant.
Il remember an incident that caused con-
Siderable comment at the expense of the suit
Iers about that time. There was quite q
fleet of boats, laden with suffers supplies
they were principally schooners-lying right
at the foot o. the bluff, under Grants head
quarters, waiting for favorable time to take
the stores to the front and there sell them.
Operations were going at the time which
prevented wagons from being on the road.
The suffers improved their idle time by pick
ing over their eggs and throwing the bad ones
into the river. The current threw many of
them up on the shore, breaking them against
the rocks at the foot of the bluff, and aSSai-
ing the Commander-in- Chiefs position with
q stencil quite equal to the 'stink-pOts used
in Chinese military operations. Gen. Grant
took III the situation. and issued an order re-
curing the suffers to go in boats and pick
up all The eggs floating on the water. This,
a perhaps you can imagine, was anything
buU an agreeable task the eggs frequently
breaking and almost Overwhelming tie SUIT
lers with their powerful odor.
Mrs. Grant visited the General in October,
1861. ] think, bringing two of the children
with her. There w a lock Of ouaii living
in the underbrush OF the AppOmattox side of
the blur. and every morning they marched
up on the lawn in front of the tents. On
the occasion OF Mrs. Grant visit, some per-
son in passing startled the birds, and they
few wildly in among Gen. Grants tents. The
Grant children tore after them. and the
General selling his SLOUGH hat, Joined in the
cha e. rushing from tent to tent, upsetting
tables and stools, end finally capturing enc
of the birds under his hat.
He had no ear or music, and could not
distinguish between Hail Columbia and
Hail to the Chief Occasionally fine band
would come down the Appoma:tox to
serenade him at his headquarters, much
to the delight OF his music-loving staff. but
the General always busy, regarded the
music only an interruption, and usually
sent the band away ter it had played one
piece TIE only satisfaction left to the Off
GERS was the pleasure Of listening to the
music grow FAINTER ard fainter as the
little steamer carrying the band move
slowly ~ the river, soo2 disappearing
il the dArtncss Hut there was one
kind Of music which, though pri IL
tive, seemed to afford the General great
delight. There was an American am
bgianc7-driver at headquarters named sam,
who PLAYED the b2niO with great CeXterity
and ] haG in my employ colored | o. whom
everybody at headquarters dubbed Cupid,
wbo was remarkable fer his ugly features
and expert jiG-dancing. When the General
had any foreigner Of distinction visiting him
lie w0,,ld send his compliments to NE and
ask to borrow Cupid. hen he would get
sam to pay the banjo and have Cupid dance
JIG after n front of the campfire on the
taii-board OF an army wagon for the amuse-
ment of himself and guests The General
couvulsed with laughter at Cupid's antics
would sit there by the hour, with a cigar in
his mouth, apparently ENJOYING himself
hugely. He was rarely seen without cigar
in his mouth. - gtoI2 Globe.