The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-01-16
Ought to be- Thankful.


fund of interesting incidents, says
the N. Y. Tribune, but can relate
them between cigarette puffs in way
that makes him th, most entertaining
of companions.
He represents the United States
government on the Antietam board,
and when the commissioners from any
State are ready to 60 to the battlefield
to locate the position Of the regiments
from their State; it is his duty to go
with them.
Zone night after the war;" said he,
| as he tilted his chair back against the
wall, in the little hotel at Sharpsburg,
after day passed in walking over the
battlefield, II attended a little party
| of those I had known at West Point.
Burnside was there, with whom l had
roomed at school and so was Sher-
man, next whom I sat during the
evening. Sherman and I fought our
battles over again, but at one point,
something I said made him break out
with, But you damned rebels did so
and so. Damned rebels, said l.
If there are any two persons on God s
earth who ought to get down on their
knees three times every day and thank
the Lord that there were any damned
rebels you and Grant are the ones !
If it hadn't been for us damned
rebels you would still be teaching
school, and Grant would be tanning
leather. ;"
"Aud what did Sherman say to
that ?" was asked.
''He slapped me on the back, and
said, with hearty laugh, That is
So. -"
| The General lighted fresh ciga-
rette, and continued:
IT met Grant few days after that,
and, in the course Of our talking, he
said to me, DO you remember the
time, years ago, when I came very
near breaking your neck ?
IT replied, I suppose you refer to
| the time when you took me out riding,
in 50, to show me your fast, ,horse,.
and an accident threw us both out,
and you fell on your head and shoul-
ders 2
"'That was the time,' said Grant.
"'Do you know what I have thought
of it since p I asked him.
"sNo.'
"'Well, I have wished a 100 times,
since, that you had broken your
neck. >"
"That accident added General
| Heath, "illustrated General Grants
character. he was considerably hurt,
but he insisted on completing the
trip, and we went out few miles and
visited two or three classmates we had
known at West Point. In referring
to this in 1863, Grant added, DO you
remember when we got out there,
those fellows didn't offer US anything
to drink p"
The conversation finally drifted on
to the subject Of Gettysburg.
"I suppose" said General Heath,
"that was responsible for that battle
being fought at that point. I was at
Easttown with my division, when I
learned that were lot of shoes at
Gettysburg. I directed one of my
Colonels to take his regiment and go
there and get them. He went part Of
the way, and then came back and re-
ported that he had heard drums beat
ing near the village, and was sure that
some of the Yankees were there. My
division needed the shoes, so | took
my command and started over there to
get them, but met your cavalry on the
way, and our fighting led to reinforce
ments being brought up on both sides,
and, finally, of the battle being fought
there, where it had not been anticipa-
ted"
'Lee, then, was not ready or anxi-
GUS for the fight ?"
''Lee never needed urging or asking.
He was always more ready than his
officers, even jackson. If he thought
there was half chance, he did not
have to be urged to have US go in"
Although General Heath was not
present at the time of the battle Of
Antietam, he has been close student
Of that engagement, and has become
very familiar with every portion of the
field by repeated visits. He is mark
ing three positions for each brigade,
the one occupied en- the morning Of
September II, 1862; the point of
furthest advance during the day, and
the bivouac on the night Of the 17th.
He estimates that the fifteen hundred
acres which the government will have
to acquire will cost about one hundred
thousand dollars, and he expects to
ask the next Congress for fifty thous-
and dollars with which to begin the
permanent work.
A lady was once playing upon
piano before small company, when
great professor Of music entered the
room The laGv emharra ssed at the