The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-21
GRANTS UNIQUE ORDER.
PUnislling an Officer who had As
sunled the Generate Name.

Furnishing an officer who had As
sumed the Generate Nance
When Grant, in August, 1861, was
to repel threatened invasion of it by
which is thus described by one of his
starting point of the expedition to the
was about 10 miles, and the greater por-
ton of the route lay through the howl
ing wilderness. The imaginary suffering
that our soldiers endured during the first
two days of their march was enormous.
1t was impossible to steal or 'confscate'
uncultivated real estate, and not hog
or chicken or an ear of corn was any
where to be seen. On the third day,
however. affairs looked more hopeful,
for few small specks of ground in
state of partial cultivation were
here and there visible. On that
day Lieutenant Wickfeld, Of an Indi-
ana cavalry regiment, commanded the
advance guard, consisting of eight
mounted men. About noon he came up
to small farm house, from the outward
appearance of which he judged there
might be something fit to eat inside.
He halted his command, dismounted,
and, with two Iieutenants, entered the
dwelling. He knew that Grants incip.
lent fame had already gone out through
the country, and it seemed to him by
representing himself to be General Grant
he might obtain the best the house af-
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 Brigadier-
General Grant. At tn. 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-sumptuous
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 mean
time General Grant, who halted his army
a few miles farther back for 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 meal.
No. said female, in gruff voice; !;
General Grant and his staff have just
been here and eaten everything in the
house except the pumpkin pie.
'Humph,' muttered Grant; what is your
name?' 'Selvidge, replied she. 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 tho
camping ground had been selected, the
various regiments were notified that
there would be grand parade at 6 80
for orders Officers would see that all
their men turned out, etc. In five
minutes the camp was in perfect up
roar, and filled with all sorts of rumors.
Some thought the enemy were upon
them, it being so unusual to have
parades when on march. At go the
parade was formed, ten columns deep
and nearly quarter of mile in length.
Both officers and men were amazed at
this unusual parade after long aDd
weary march, and wondered what it
portended, when the assistant adjutant-
general rode in front of the lines, and in
grave, loud and clear voice read the
following order:
-"HEADQUARTERs ARMY IN THE FIELD
Special Order -: Lieutenant Wickfjeld,
of the Indiana cavalry, having on this day
eaten everything in Mrs. Selvidge's house, at
the crossing of the Trenton and Pocahontas
and Black river and Cape Girardeau roads,
except one pumpkin pie, Lieutenant Wick
field is hereby ordered to return with an es-
cort of one hundred cavalry and eat that pie
also.
"U. S. GRANT,
"Brigadier- General Commanding
cit 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 mean2 The parade was over, and
the moment they dispersed each one
sought an explanation of the strange af-
fair. It soon leaked out, and by the
time the crestfallen lieutenant was ready
with his escort 20 leave camp it was in a
followed him as he de6led along the road
on his way back to eat that pie. Grant
made no explanation of his conduct, fol-
lowed it by no reprimand. The order
carried its own lesson, ad dministered its
own rebuke, and each one knew that it
would not be safe business to pass him
self off for the general-in chief, much
less forage in his name for his own bene-
fit. When the lieutenant returned to
camp, late in the evening, he was glad
to escape to his tent to avoid the num-
berless questions and jokes about the
pumpkin pie.'