The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-03-30
GRANTS GREAT MEMORY.

GRANTS GREAT MEMORY.
The Captain of the Ohio, R. w. Sar-
gent, type of the very best class of
American seamen. He says: General
Grant crossed with me on his tour
around the world, and he was the most
interesting passenger that | remember
to have carried. | had seen him once
before under peculiar circumstances,
and it goes to show the Generals re
markable memory that he remembered
my face 1t was this way: l was on
the flagship Agawom repeating the ad
miral's signals, and consequently it was
my business to keep close at the Ad-
miral's side. President Lincoln and
General Grant came on board to run
the rebel batteries and go up and in
spect the work at the Dutch Gap canal.
As soon as the rebels began to fire at
US the officers made the President and
General Grant crouch down under the
Dulwarks, and being youngster without
much respect for authority, | grinned
at them as they stopped down-the
Presidents long body in that unGignifed
position especially appealing to my
sense of the ridiculous. We were out
of the line of fire in few minutes, and
that was all of the episode. But when
Grant came on board for his voyage he
looked at me after | was introduced
and said: Captain Sargent, I've seen
you before
"1 was near you once, General l
answered, during the war
"'Don't tell me where said he, slet
me see if can't place you
s"The matter dropped. Next day
General Grant SAID: Il haven't placed
you yet, but wait
Next morning he came to my room
laughing and said I've got you now.
You were on the bridge of the Agawam,
but what you were doing there or who
you were l don't know. 1t was when
we were going up to the Dutch Gap
canal 1t was surprising instance of
his power of remembering.
"When we got into Queenstown, ~
the captain continued, a delegation
came out in the tender to welcome the
General, and John Russell Young told
me of the monster reception which was
being prepared at Liverpool for Grant.
1t was to be kept secret from the
General, but they wanted me to know
so there would be no contretemps. The
| General was wearing a suit of travelling
clothes, and so next morning ventured
to suggest that he had better put on a
broadcloth coat. He told me that the
clothes he was wearing were quite good
enough to 60 to the hotel with, and the
matter was so delicate a one that !
dropped it and went to one of his
friends. A second trial was attended
with no better result. The General in
timated very plainly that he did not
want to be bothered, that there was
nothing the matter with his clothes, and
that there would be plenty of time to
change at hotel. In despair I went to
Mrs. Grant, vowed her to secrecy, and
told her what we wanted. She said she
would attend to 1t, and a few minutes
later she came to my room, where the
General was chatting with some friends,
and said:
".General. come down and change
your clothes
"'All right, mamma
"And he went.
"And when he came back on deck
there was quiet twinkle in his eye
and he said as he passed me: "Well
you got that soup into me after all
didn't you?"
"He had no intimation of the re-
ception, however, and as we swung up
the river asked him. Mrs. Grant and
Jessie 10 come on the bridge and look
at the scenery. Two ships passed by
dressed with flags, and saluted US, and
the General remarked that this seemed
to be gala day i'll Liverpool, asking
me if knew why. l suggested that
the City of Brussels, which was supposed
to haye been lost, had got IN, and that
rejoicing was on that score. The ex-
PLANTATION satisfied him. As we ap,
preached the city. however, it dawned
upon him that he was the honored
guest. All the shipping was ablaze
with bunting, flags were dipping to US
as we passed, and at the landing stage
was gathered thousands of the citizens
of Liverpool, waiting to do him honor
There never was such an ovation giver
by the city before or since, and the
cheer that went up from those people
as we steamed slowly by the landing
stage could be heard for miles. | stole
a glance at the General. His eyes were
full of tears. ."-JZInueabois Tribune.