Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-18
THE FATHER OF GENERAL GRANT
How the Old Gentleman Heard from His
Relative. Through Two Boys.

BELLEVUE. VA. May Especial -
In the year 1868 Il think il was) when
Grant and Lee were fighting In the Wi
darness." a boy companion Of mine from
Maysvills Ky, whom | will call g., aud
| were standing In front % the Times
bulletin-board on Third street Cincin-
natl. scanning the news from the battle
field. and commenting on the situation Of
affairs. We noticed the approach OF an
old gentleman. dressed somewhat in the
style that prevailed at the beginning OF
the present century, or rather, more cor
rectly speaking. in the garb In which
Brother iona than" Is usually depicted in
the pictorial papers Seeing that he In
tended speaking 10 us, and wishing 10
ascertain II he was favorable 10 the
southern side OF the question" as we
We're lin those days caution was "A very
necessary element In declaring ones SEN
timents). We agreed between US 10 in
vestigate the old gentleman when he ar
rived at the point at which W. We're
standing as to what his views were on
the war question"
When the old gentleman stopped and
inquired OF US: well. boys. what's the
news2' | made some alluslon 10 the fact
that General Lee was getting the best
of General Grant. and that 1t was highly
probable General Lee would be the victor
in the contest. c.. on his part, refuted
the proposition, and said If General l. @
got out Of the evidences" without being
utterly demolished by General Grant il
was more than he thought could be pos
sible
After 'sparring" with each other for a
few moments in that manner. | ventured
TO ask the old gentleman as to which
side his sympathy inclined. He replied
~. f,
to say" l in turn said that as We had
expressed our opinions very freely I'm his
presence | failed to see why he should be
unwilling to express his whereupon the
old gentleman said:
Grant Is my son. and ! don't think IL
would be exactly right to express my
views Just at present"
ANOTHER SURPRISE.
Our establishment at this exclamation
can better be imagined than described
but the strangest part Of our accidental
meeting with the father OF General Grant
Is To come yet and is, | think one Of
the most singular of all the condolences
that ever came under my observation, or
any have ever read OF.
Turning to me Mr.. Grant said: Where
are you FROM" | replied. From the
Kanawha Valley, in Virginia now West
Virginia).
Then you know my sister, Mrs. Thornn-
kins, l suppose" he said, to which re-
piled that did. and also all the members
OF her family.
AFTER inquiring about each one OF them.
no turned to my companion and asked
nun where he was from. and upon his
replying that he was from Maysville.
NY, SAID: Il suppose you know nv
prother' James, who lives there
I. SAID he knew him well. and that he
was wei acquainted with all OF his fam
ny from further conversation with Mr..
Grant we learned that there were only
TWO brothers and one sister of them
himseT jesse. James. and Mrs. Tomp-
kins' ana that they had not seen each
o.nyr Tor years or. If 1 remember cor.
rectiy' since they were children. ana 4,
certainly seemed strange. to saw ,hs
, ,east' mat he should have heard from his
lons ana widely-separated brother and
SISTER by an accidental meeting win ,aa
boys on the street of u large CITY WV
REMINISCENT