Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-05-30
a story of the RriesdshiP Of Tive NInn-
" Wen.

| Grant Joined the same regiment, stationed
in that year at Fort jefferson twelve miles
from st. Louis. The ties thus formed have
never been broken, but there was charm
that held us together, of which the world
has never heard. Ny kinsman, Mr. Fred
erick Dent, was a substantial farmer living
near Fort Jefferson. He had liking for
army officers, and his son, Fred, was pu-
| pill at West Point One day received an
invitation from him TO visit his house, in
order to meet young Fred who had just
returned, and asked Lieut. Grant 10 90
with me. This he did, and was of course
| introduced TO the family, the last one to
come in being Miss Julia Dent, the charm
| ing daughter of our host. IL is needless to
say that we saw but little of Grant during
the rest of the visit He paid court, in
fact, with such assiduity as TO give rise to
the hope that he had forever gotten over
his difiidence Five years later, in 1S4S,
after the usual uncertainties of a soldiers
courtship, Grant returned and claimed Miss
Dent as his bride. | had been married Just
six months at that time, and my wife and
! were among the guests at the wedding.
''In 1874, the Fourth Regiment was or
dered to Louisiana to form part of the
army for observation. Still later we form
ed part of the army of occupation in Cor
all society, without books or papers, we
had an excellent opportunity Of studying
each other. l and every one else always
found Grant resolute and doing his duty in
a simple manner. His honor was never
even suspected, his friendships were true,
his hatred of guile was pronounced, and
his detestation of tale-bearing was, | may
say, absolute. The soul of honor himself,
he never even suspected others, either then
or years afterward. He could not bring
himself to look upon the rascally side of
human nature.
while we remained in Corpus Christi
an incident illustrating Grants skill and
fearlessness as a horseman occurred. The
Mexicans were in the habit of bringing in
wild horses, which they would sell for two
or three dollars. These horses came near
costing one officer his life.
"One day a particularly furious animal
was brought in. Every officer in the camp
declined to purchase the animal except
Grant, who declared that he would either
break the horses neck or his own. He had
the horse blindfolded, bridled and saddled
and when firmly in the saddle he threw off
the bride, sunk his spurs in the horses
fianks and was out of sight. For three
| hours he rode the animal over all kinds of
| ground-through field and stream, and
when horse and rider returned TO camp the
horse was thoroughly tanned. For years
afterward the story of Grants ride was re-
lated at every campfire in the country.
During the Mexican war we were separat-
ed, Grant having been made quartermaster
of the Fourth Regiment, while l was as
| signed to duty as djutant of the Eighth.
At the battle of Molino del Rey, however,
| | had occasion to notice his superb coolness
and courage under fire. So noticeable was
his bearing that his gallantry was alluded
to in the official reports
I'm the long days of our stay in Louisiana
and Texas continued Gen. Longstreet,
I'VE frequently engaged in the game of
brag and five-cent ante, and similar diver
sions. We instructed Grant in the mys-
teries of these games, but he made poor
| player. The man who lost seventy-five
cents in one day was esteemed in those
times a peculiarly unfortunate person. The
| games often lasted the entire day. Years
later, in 1858, happened TO be in st. Lou
is, and there met Capt. Holloway and other
army chums We went into the Planters
Hotel to talk about old times, and it was
soon proposed that we should have an old
time game of brag, but it was found that
we were one short in making up full
hand. Wait a few minutes, said Hollo-
| way, ana Will nud some one.
"In few minutes he returned with a
man poorly dressed in citizens clothes, in
in whom we recognized our old friend
Grant. Going into civil life, Grant had
been unfortunate, and he was really in
needy circumstances. The next day was
walking in front of the Planters when |
found myself face to face with Grant, who,
placing in the palm of my hand a five dol
lar gold piece, insisted that | should take it
in payment of a debt of honor over fifteen
years old. peremptorily declined to take
it, alleging that he was out of the service
and more in need of it than l.
"'You must take it, said he. 4 cannot
live with anything in my possession that is
not mine. Seeing the determination in
the mans face, and in order to save him
modification, l took the money, and shak-
ing hands, we parted.
"The next time we met, said Gen. Long
street, was at AppomatUx, and the first
thing Gen. Grant said to me when we step
ped aside, placing his hand in mine, was
" Pete Ia soubriquet of mine let us have
another game of brag to recall the old days
which were so pleasant to us all
" Great God ? thought | to myself, how
my heart swells out to such magnani-
nous touch of humanity, Why do men
fight who were born to be brothers 2
During the war my immediate COM
mand had engaged the troops of Grant but
once-at the battle of the Wilderness. We
came in no sort of personal relation, how
ever. In the spring of 1885, one day while
awaiting a letter from Gen Grant, Gen.
Lee said TO me:
"'There is nothing ahead of us but TO
surrender
''It was as one of the commissioners APP
pointed to arrange terms of peace that
met Gen. Grant at Appomatox. His whole
greeting and conduct toward us was as
though nothing had occurred to mar our
pleasant relations.
"In 1866 had occasion to visit Washing
ton on business, and while there l made
call of courtesy ON Gen. Grant at his office.
As l rose to leave he followed me out into
the hallway and asked me to spend an even
ing with his family, thanked him, prom
ising compliance, and passed a most enjoy
able evening When leaving, Grant ac-
companied me into the hallway and said
"'General, " would you like to have an
amnestyF
"Wholly unprepared for this, | replied
would like TO have it, but had no hope of
getting it. He told me to write out my APP
pication and TO call at his office at noon
the next day, and in the meantime he
would see President johnson and Secretary
of War Stanton in my behalf When
called he had already seen these men, and
assured me that there was not an obstacle
in the way. He endorsed my application
that it be granted as a special personal ia
vor TO himself.
"In the January before Grant was inau-
gurated for the first time paid him pass
ing friendly visit. He then said to me
"Longstreet, | want you TO come and see
me after l am inaugurated and let me
know what you want
"After the Inauguration ! was walking
up the avenue one day 20 see Grant when
| met a friend who informed me that the
President had sent in my name for cOnfir-
nation as surveyor of the port of New Or
leans For several weeks the nomination
hung in the Senate, when | went to Grant
and begged him TO withdraw it, as l did
not want his personal friendship for me to
embarrass his administration.
Give yourself no uneasiness about
that" he said The senators have as many
favors to ask of me as have of them, and
/ will see that you are confirmed
"From what l have already told you, "
said Gen. Longstreet 1T will be seen that
Grant was a modest man, simple man, a
man believing in the honesty of his fell
lows, true TO his friends, faithful 10 tradi-
tions, and of perfect personal honor. When
the United States district court in Rich
mond was about 10 indict Gen. Lee and
myself for treason, Gen. Grant interposed
and said