Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-02-27
CAMPFIRE STORIES.
GRANT BEFORE WcksBURe.
How He Succeeded In Getting Much Need
ed Reinforcements.

How He Succeeded In Getting Auch Neeo-
ed ReinEorcements.
The following story of Lincoln, Stan
ton, Grant and Vicksburg, as related by
a prominent army officer, is here made
public for the first time:
In the last part Of 1862, when General
Grant was preparing to make move
ment by land to reach the rear of Vicks-
burg, in accordance with the plans he
had made for the capture of that strong
hold, he saw that he did not have a suffi-
cient number of men to command sue
cess, and that it was imperative he
should have 5000 or 10, 600 more. His
plans had been sent to Washington and
approved, but to his request for men the
answer camo that he must go ahead
with the force he had. In response
Grant informed the President that he
could not do it, the attempt would end
in failure, and that the expedition had
better be abandoned than attempted
without reinforcements. Determined
that the War Department should fully
understand the situation, he ordered
former member of his staff, General NJ.
D. Leggett, of Ohio, then commanding
one of his brigades, to proceed to Wash
ington and lay the whole matter before
the President and Secretary of War.
General Leggett had personal ac-
quaintance with Mr.. Stanton, and knew
there was little hope of changing his
mind when once made up. and accord
ingly decided to gain access to the Pres
ident before the Secretary should fore
stall him by the presentation of the
War Department side of the case. he
therefore called upon the Secretary at
eight o'clock in the morning OF the day
after his arrival and said to him. Mr..
| Stanton, wish you would take me to
Mr.. Lincoln and introduce me and let
me do the talking. don't want you to
destroy my case with objections"
''All right" was the response, and the
call was made. General Leggett was
permitted to present General Grants
idea as fully and clearly as possible,
while Mr.. Lincoln listened with the
| closest attention.
When he had concluded the President
took him in hand and gave him the most
severe and critical cross-examination he
had ever undergone as to the situation
in the West, Grants purposes, etc. Mr..
Stanton added several questions of his
own, and when he had ended the Pres
ident thought for moment and then
said decidedly: "Well, he must have
the troops"
"But where will you get them?" asked
| the Secretary.
Turning to General Leggett the Pres
ident said: How many must he
| have?"
Sixteen thousand" General Leggett
responded. setting high figure for the
purpose of future compromise If need
| be.
Turning to the Secretary the Presi-
dent asked series of questions as to
the disposition of certain forces not then
| in the field; 'How many are at Cleve-
land? How many at Detroit? How
many here, and how many there, until
| he had gone over the available force in
| the West, and had demonstrated that
L., 900 or 16, 900 could be sent to Grant
Then Mr.. Lincoln turned to General
Leggett and asked him when he intend
ed to leave Washington.
cat five p. m"
"Well, want you until then"
A carriage was ordered, and the two
/ entered it and were driven to the
Soldiers Home, where the President
was then living. Of all the quizzings
and close examinations General Leggett
ever experienced those of that day were
the most severe. 1t must be borne in
mind that the Grant who was then plan
ming so great and important a move as
the reduction of Vickburg was not the
| Grant of Appomattox, but only of Don
elson and Henry, and known then
neither to Mr.. Lincoln nor fame, as in
the later days; but the President was
| determined to learn all he could from
the witness then present, and as General
Leggett was loyal in heart as in speech
to his chief, and had already had q
dawning realization of the great figure
Grant was destined to cut in the civil
war, his responses were clear and to the
point, and visibly impressed Mr.. Lin
coin as being as true as they were COM
| plimentary.
General Leggett returned to the West,
and when the Union troops marched in
! to Vicksburg he had the honor, although
suffering from severe wounds, to ride in
TO the city at the head of the First
Brigade, which was granted the priv
! ilege of being the first to enter, receive
the surrender, and raise the Union flag.
Washington Cor \. Y. Times.