The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-21
MORTAR BEDS FOR GRANT.
Story Of the war-Abrsm : uevi,,
and the Iron Men.

and the Iron Men.
A friend Of Mayor Hewitt told a 20
porter story IF his employment tv
President Lincoln Mt another critic.l
juncture in the progress Of the war. s,1
the reporter applied 10 the MAYOR for u. .
particulars Of the occurrence. Mr. Hewitt
said:
Let me think a minute. II w.s In
the winter OF 1851 and 1862. Just before }
went TO Europe. was at the tea tailo
one Sunday might've always had some.
thing OF company, some twenty or
thirty on such occasions--and was ae
the head Of the table when q messencor
brought ne telegram from Mr.. Lincoln
1t was a long printed roll have tbo
original still somewhere and If ran tb,s
way:
understand that you are q iran that en- d.
things that other Wen sly cant 10 done a..
Grant is CT Cairo ready 10 Move or Fort Dooe,.,,.
lie has thirty mortar bombs and thirty mortar.
are on the way from Pittsburg 20 Cairo Itf.no.,
discovered that there are no mortar beds for ~.
lack OF which the expedition viii fail becats ~.
ordnance bureau says they cant be Prod .e..f
under Zine months They mus BE- al Cairo M
thirty days Yours truly, LlNcots
II had never seen mortar bed saiJ
Mr.. Hewitt, but had heard that (,en
Rodman, who was then IN command IN
Watertown arsenal, had Just completed
the model Of one, and that n Int nlaoeJ
myself In communicate vrh him \
thing | had no difficulty In doing. le.no
at the time president OF H. American
Telegraph company. | -Ga able to r.t
Che operators 10 stand at tho mach.n.
while | talked TO Gen nDdman. ln
reply 20 my question, Con Rodman .aIl
that the first mortar BED bad iust bon
completed. ! asked h.m it hoCmld send
1t down TO New York hv tao Monday
night boat 40 the latest 1hswas SUNDAY
night, you understand. and th.r. u..fo
way to get il down theue.td.r. Ue
sand hc could send itif houceifcl orders
To DO SO. | told him 10 consider that ID
was under orders for the time being
assuring him that | would see that here
ccived them, which allervard did.
"tic sent tine mortar bed. and ~ ar-
rived Tuesday morning hy the Fall River
boat. | spent Monday running around
to the Novelty. Allaire and Cornells iron
works. 70 secure draughtsmon a. BE-
ready Tuesday morning 10 prepare plans
Va WV 81 = al llil' OF the ilNikIl Ift on
its arrival. | found that il WEIGHED
about ton and half. and was CON
posed Of several connected parts. had
1t carted TO the Novelty iron works and
taken TO pieces, and distributed tho
pieces around among the three works
have mentioned, each agreeing 10 make
certain parts and 10 do all they possibly
,ould 10 get them ready in time Tho
material 10 make them was not on hand.
ma lad 10 be provided. Being in the
ron business | knew who made the diff
erent kinds OF material. The PRINCIPAL
maker OF an essential kind of iron re-
used 10 change his rolls % make what
vas wanted, and | telegraphcd 10 Mr..
lincoln to send an officer 10 take posses-
ION OF his works. which he did. Tho
YORK progressed with such success that
s result | was able e. send the first NOR
ar bed forward IN thirteen DAYS from tho
me received Mr.. Lincoln telegram and
he whole thirty in twenty-six DAYS lsent
messenger on with each mortar led. and
ne car upon which it was loadedwas at
iched 10 tho express trains with "A
rlnted orucr q the secretary Of war
lsted upon it which read as follows:
- N'i i,.i'- OF '' ". 1.Af ii'.fi uharf penalty
death. hy order % The secra-i. oi war
Gen Grant received the mortar BEDS
4 time the expedition went forward.
nj DOnclsOn and Henry were taken. /
nd all the expenses OF making and for
arding the mortar beds. amounting 10
.er $4,000. At the time paper money
rs substantially at par, or nearly So.
hen got my pay an paper money
ar aitorwad paper money bad dcpre-
ited over hall, and got it then only
the order Of Mr.. Lincoln. with whom
hen had my first interview When
T. presented 10 him be said: Why. you
not such a tremendous fellow after
/ thought YOU must De- 3 feet high
d weigh 800 pounds. View York
mes