Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1885-08-08
An Incident in Gen. Grants Lille
NCver Before Published.

At this time every scrap OF nara
tive OF the illustri0us dead sill he
read With interest. L; Is OH good
fortune to be able TO relate al incl
dent of Gen. Grant. that puts IN the
best Light the kindness and Ge2tle-
ness OF character fcr which he was
noted.
On the 9Th Of july, 1868, South
ern planter and Mrs. Dockory, OF Ar
kansas, slowly made their way to
Gen. Grants headquarters III the
rear CT vicksburg The day before
the long tcdior.s siege ended N the
surrender OF tie Confederate forces
to- Gen. Grant. All was, therefore,
in confusion and hustle, but the I'm
ion soldiers were in excellent humor.
and offered no opposition to the
progress Of the two visitors to see
the "old man. as they loved TO cal
their Commander.
Mrs. Dockery was the wife Cf q
Confederate BriCalicr General, who
took part i'll the defense Of the city.
During the siege she had remained
eleven miles in rear of NlcksburS
With the planter and his family.
She coald hear The fearful connonad-
ing:all during the long combat, and at
times the reports Of the cannon were
as rapid as the notes OF quick tune
on q violin. As soon as the city sur
rendered. che determined to hear
the fac OF hey husband, So she per-
suaded the planter to get an old
dilaridated buggy leg. III tic place
nv some % the struggling soldiers
and with harness imr-oyised with
old stra' s, ropes end strings, and a
mule carsht on tIie highway to at
tempt the trip to Gen Grams head
quarters. The mule pulled to
buggy and its two occupants along
the hot dusty road at lively pace
and by eleven o'clock Grants shady
retreat about three miles to the lear
Of Vicksburg was reached. His
headQuarter tents were pitched just
a little to the north % the OLD Jack
son road OF a ridge th,ckly covered
With dense shade frees As soon rs
the guards were reached, a sergeant
informed the two they could pro-
coed no further, rs he knew Gen.
Grant would not see them. Mrs.
Dochery with tears in her eyes beg
ged the soldiers to go TO Grant ani
tell him that Lady III great distress
wished only to see Linn just ''one lit
tie minute" The officer went into
the generals tent, remained only one
instant, refunded and invited Mrs.
DockGry and the planter to walk
in. They left the buggy with the
guards and. tremblinSly approached
Grants tent. What was that agree
able surprise to be cordially inTited
bv Grant himself to he seated. Be
fore hardl, word was spoken Grant
instructed I'm orderly to serve hrs
guests with cool water and insisted
on Mrs. Dcckery taking IN easy chair,
which he vacated for her. As soon
as Mrs Dockery could command Ian
guage, she poured into the General S
ears her fears that her husband was
wounded or dead, and asked for a
pass to go to VicksburS aud learn
what was his fate. Grant replied al
most word for word as follows :
Madam, Gen. Grant has issued an
order that there shall be 70 passing
to and from VicIsburg, and he can
NOT set the example of violating his
own orders"
Mrs. Dockery was in tears, when
she said, "oh my God what shall !
do
A smile fl6, ,st passed over Grants
face as she0eplied.
'Oh don't distress yourself l will
take it upon myself to get news from
your husband. He must be a gallan,
fellow to have won sucL a devoted
wife"
But when will YOU tinl out ior