The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-04-30
Grants Governing Ability
From, tho ROstnp Herald

When Grant, in August, 1861, was sent
with brigade to southern Missouri TO
rcpel threatened invasion of it by JEFF
Thompson, an incident occurred which
is thus described by one of his staff off,
GERS: "The distance from the starting
point of the expedition to the supposed
rendezvous of the confederates was
about 10 miles, and the greater portion
Of the route lay through d bowling will
derness. The imaginary sufferings that
our soldiers endured during the first two
DAYS OF their march was enormous. II
was impossible to steal or 'connscate'
uncululYaIed real estate, and not hog
or chicken, or an car OF corn
was anywhere TO be seen.
On the third day, how
ever, affairs looked more hopeful, for a
few small specks OF ground in state OF
partial cultivation were here and there
Visible. On that day Lieut.. Wickfield,
OF an Indiana cavalry regiment, com
| manded the advance guard, consisting OF
| eight mounted men. About noon he
came up 10 small farm house, from the
outward appearance of which he judged
there might be something fit to cat IN
side. He halted his command, dis
mounted, and, with Two second lieuLen-
ants, entered the dwelling. He knew
| that Grants incipient form had already
gone out through all that country, ana il
| seemed to him by representing
| himself to be Gen. Grant
| he might obtain the best the house at
| forded. So, assuming very imperative
| demeanor, he accosted the inmates OF
| the house and told them that he must
| have something for himself and staff TO
eat. They desired to know who he was,
| and he told them that he was Brig. Gen.
| 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 o!
the not oversumptuOu5 meal. but which
was, nevertheless, gooI for that country
| aud demanded what was to pay.
| Nothing And they went on
their way rejoicing. In the
| meantime, Gen. Grant, who had
halted his army few miles farther
back 1or brief resting spell, came in
sight of and was rather impressed with
the appearance of this same house.
door, he desired to know if they would
cook him a meal. NO. SAID a female
in gruff voice. Gen. Grant and hIt
staff haYe just been here and eaten every
thing in the house except one pumpkin
pie. 'Humph,' muttered Grant; 'Wha'
is your name?' 'Selvidge,' replied the
woman. Casting half dollar In at the
dood, he asked II she would keep tina
PIE until he sent an officer for it, t
which she replied that sht
would. That evening. after th'
camping ground had been Sc
lected, the various regiments were mott
fed that there would be grand paTad
at 6:30 for orders Officers would Sc
that all their men turned out, etc Il
five mlnutes the camp was in u perfec
uproar, and filed with all sorts OF ~
murs. Some thought the enemy wer
upou them, il being SO unusual to hav
pnrades when on the march. At g
the parade was formed, ten column
deep, and nearly quarter of mile i
length. Both officers and men wer
J amazed at this unusual parade ate
3 such long aud weary march and won
dered what it porteuded, when the a.
sistant adjuiant general rode in front {
the lines, and in grave, loud and cles
S voice read the following order:
$ | HEADQUARTERS ARMY IN THE FIELI
= | 'Specia! Order No
Lieut.. Wickfield, of the Indiana cav
Il airy, having this day eaten everythin
T in Mrs. Selvidge's house, at the crossin
OF the Trenton and Pocahontas an
. Black River and Cape GIrardeau road
except one pumpkin pie, LieutenzI
Wickdeld IS hereby ordered TO retuI
with an escort of 100 cavalry and el
{ that pie also. U. s. GRANT.
! 'Brigadier General Commanding
at is impossible to describe the effet
the reading of this order had on II
L troops. Every one was expecting
q hear some momentous announcement
. and hence listened with eager attentio
and when il was finished looked at eaC
other in utter bewilderment, and aske
q what did It mean? The parade W
d over, and the moment they dispersed eaC
!, one sought an explanation of the stranl
affair. 1t soon leaked out, and by Il
i time the crestfallen lieutenant WI
Il | ready with his escort to leave camp,
IL was in a perfect roar, and peals of laug
% ter followed him as he defiied along Il
e, road on his way back to eat that pi
Grant made an explanation of his CO.
d duct, followed 1t by no repremand. II
n order carried its own lesson, admin
'e tered its own rebuke, and each Oh
y knew that il would not be q safe busine
d 10 pass himself OF for the general-in-chit
ts much less forage in his own benef
Re When the lieutenant returned to cam
10 late in the evening, he was glad to {
" cape 20 his tent to avoid the Humberle
ID questions and jokes about the pumpk
er pie"