Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-15
STORIES OF GRANT.
kirke" Relates Couple
of New War Anecdotes.


In the summer Of 1864 passed between
two and three days az the headquarters or
General Grant. at City Point, Va, ana
thus had an opportunity to observe the
life Of this most democratic or the Union
commanders. lie messed with his staH'
and az his stan sat familiarly every MEM
Der of his military household. me eN-
ponses OF the mess. ! was told, were d.
vldod among the various members not
I'm equal proportion. but according TO the
rank Of the various members, and in a
manner satisfactory 10 all There was no
show or parade Don either furniture or
equipago. Everything seemed for use ana
arranged 90 economize both space ana at
tention. The cr0ckery was scanty ana ol
the pluinest description. and the fare
though abundant in quantity, was or the
quality that might be found on the taDle
OF any Wlll-t0-do worklngman In the
North. 4 chop with "a cup of coffee served
for breakfast. biz OF roast beef, with
potatoes and hagd-tack, hanked by a
dish OF pork and greens. sutilced for the
5-o'clock dinner which had neither pastry
nor dess .rt. a cup Of tea and "a slice
of bread and butter completed the fare
for the day. The beds were merely camp
cots. same with. some without mattresses,
and all the visible toAet-apparatus We're
a few tin wash-basins. a scanty supply
OF towels, a BIT of looking glass, and
horn comb
Every one has read tho inventory OF the
Generals baggage when be made the
Nicksburg Campaign-"a brlarNOod tele-
scope and a toothbrush" When l met
him at city Point he had not greatly en-
larged his personal possessions. Except
the three stars upon his shoulders there
was absolutely nothing about him TO lndi-
cate his exalted rank His clothes were
threadbare, and despite the constant
brushing Of his servant they would present
an untidy look, due no doubt TO his habit
Of going everywhere and seeing every
thing for himself. The General understood
the kinship OF cleanliness and g0dliness,
but there was an utter absence of fuss
and feathers" about him and his entire
surroundings Judging of him by common
report ] had expected 10 find him dccid-
edly reticeut, but on the contrary | OBJ
served that in familiar intercourse he was
somewhat lOquacious. fond Of a good
story. and often giving vent 10 a grim
humor that was decidedly enjoyable. IL
Illustrative Of this phase OF his character
some members repeated 10 me several
amusing anecdotes. two Of which-as /
have never seen them I'm print-lt may not
be amiss to give 10 the public.
GRANT MEETS \ SAIARTLN-DRESSE
OFFICER.
7 was told that when the Generals
headquarters were at Culpeper, an Of
iicer attached to the quartermasters de-
partment who was stationed some half
dozen miles away. desired 10 consult him
on some business, that he deemed OF inn
portance The day was exceedingly rainy
and the roads were knee-deep in mud,
and. 10 avoid undue exposure 10 tho
weather the officer. who was one OF the
old regime with a fun Appreciated Of
the dignity OF his rank, ordered up a
close carriage; and. as IL was likely that
night would come on before he could
return, he had the lamps trimmed and
hung out on either side Of the drivers
seat. Then. with an escort Of twelve
dragons. he set out for headquarters,
haDpy in the thought that he Was
proof against the fast-descending rain.
Not far from Culpeper he met an or
dinary-looking hOrseman. attended by
single orderly. and was about 20 pass him
without notice when he suddenly recog-
nized him 10 b. the lieutenant-gene-
raj. who. In spite OF the RAIN was
making his usual round OF the army
attended by his usual slender escort To
descend from his carriage and salute his
chief was but the work OF a moment. but
the General. irriated by the style and
pretention OF the officer was In no hurry
to see him regain the shelter OF his car
rage. walk along with me n little"
said the General. Il want TO talk with
you" With polished boots and unox-
ceptional kids. Mr. Quartermaster did
az he was hidden. and. with touch
OF grimness the General led him through
the muddlest part OF the road. and he did
not release him until he was wet to the
skin-as wet as was the General himself.
Then he dismissed him with few curt
remarks. which were not overheard by
the orderly. Their purport, however.
was conjectured by the Generals stan.
for they observed that the officer never
again appeared at headquarters in a close
carriage.
LIEUT. WICKFIELD'S HUNGRY SOL
DIERS.
Another amusing anecdcte was related
to me by one OF General Grants STAFF
officers. The incident occurred early in
the war, when he was in command OF an
expedition against the Confederates In
Southwestern Arkansas. He was on a
march OF more than hundred miles, the