The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-10-12
A STORY OF GRANT.
The Private Knew Him When it Was Too
Late.

A. Z. Prince, of Bethlehem, Pa, has
furnished the New York Telegram with
this story of Gen. Grant:
"Our regiment-the First New York
Mounted Rifles, with many other troops,
lay in front of Richmond in March, 1860.
We had been hustled around pretty lively
for several weeks and had no permanent
camp. One night the word was passed
along the line, and soon became common
property, that there was to be an early
advance the following morning, and ev-
erywhere was hustle and confusion. Ev-
cry man was ordered to be in his saddle
at a. m. was at this time clerk in the
quarter-master's department, under
Lieut.. Corby. About 10 or II o'clock Col.
Sumner sent word to the quarter-master
to send me to his tent mounted. re-
ported at headquarters in a few minutes,
and the colonel handed me despatch
and told me to go to City Point with it
at once, and to go lively aud to deliver it
at once to one of the departments which
l do not recall now, as it did not impress
me as much as what occurred after
ward
1.-The weather was pleasant, and it was
starlight night. I started off on lope,
and had Preached the James river and
crossed the pontoon bridge, and had fol
lowed the road probably mile, keeping
the right of it. / had met no one up to
this time, but now in the distance heard
horseman approaching in the opposite
direction, riding fast. I did not slacken
my regular gait, as supposed the rider,
like myself, was private soldier, or he
would not be riding alone at that hour
of the night probably midnight). AS we
approached each other, my left leg struck
his left leg with such violence that both
of us were nearly unseated and swept
from our saddles. My first involuntary
exclamation was: why the devil don't
you keep the right side of the road, you
chucklehead? or something to that eff
feet. He replied in similar strain, as
we were both mad and felt sore. This
kind of talk was kept up for few min
utes pro and con, each blaming the other
for the accident. and it was give and take
all the time, as / felt perfectly secure in
my position, having the right of the road,
until he asked the question: How does
it happen that you are galloping your
horse p replied that [ had the same
right to gallop my horse that he had to
gallop his. Yes, said he, but | thought
had issued orders that there should be
LIZ S1i1oPiA9 VI hOloOo IL oAiAo NeoPe'i u
ment.'
''Thatwas the first intimation l had
received that [ was not talking to a pri-
vate soldier, as it was too dark to see
anything but the outlines of man and
horse. | at once took a back track and
was profuse in my apologies. But he
answered me CURLY and said: Come
along back to the pontoon bridge, and [
will place you in charge of the officer in
command.
turned about and started back with
him. was satisfied by this time l had
struck snag and had nearly knocked
the breath out of a commanding officer,
but who it was l had not the remotest
idea. I now explained to him my errand
and the Importance of haste in its exc
cution, and that had been ordered by
Colonel Sumner to ride quick We had
only proceeded quarter or half a mile
when he turned and said: I guess you
can go on. My name is U. S. Grant.
Look out that you don't RIM into my
staff. You will find them down the
road somewhere.'i And, sure enough,
when / got down the road about half a
mile I met his staff Gathering along at a
rapid pace.
General Grant was on his way to the
front to be ready for the movement that
was to take place the following morning,
and had ridden out of sight and hearing
of his staff"