The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-29
GRANTAT VICKSBURG
HOW HE APPEARED TO A SOLDIER IN
THE RANKS.

Very Little Style About tho Great Com
mander-southerners Surprised at His
Piainness-ExamininR the Breastworks.
Two Divisions Sacrificed.
There Is nobody who Is not familiar
with the portrait OF General Grant or the
picture Of his life that hangs with 10 on
The walls of thousands Of homes and
hearts, but there are fow Of tho American
people who knew him as did thoseofficers
and private soldiers with whom no came
In close contact during the greater part Of
that stormy period In the history OF this
country never to be forgotten. To many
he was great silent being. who inspired
confidence and caused a supremoly com
Portable feeling to pervade tho minds Of
the people during his war inistrations
This is all good, but 10 Is better % sit
down on the side Of an old soldiers resi-
denoe and hear about tho great general
from lips that often greeted him under
circumstances extraordinary-those who
saw him from soldiers point of view,
when ho commanded the largest and
grandest army ever mustered under the
sun. The following "reminiscences Of Cen
eral Grant are quoted from a captain OF
an Indiana regiment who was at Vicks-
burg:
ave had taken about Q, 800 rebel pris-
oners and were guarding them. General
Grant and three or four OF his staff rodo
near us. Ono Of tho curious southerncrs
beckoned mo to him and asked, who Is
that general over therei I told him 10 was
Co. oral Grant. He looked at mo spspi-
ciousiy. Presently he called another
guard up and asked him the same ques-
tion. This did not seem TO satisfy him,
Tor shortly after ho called TO another and
repeated the question. Well said he,
Il wouldn't have believed it, There isn't
. subordinate officer In our whole army
who doesn't put on more style than your
General Grant
"Wo had built O line Of breastworks,
over which q mans head was in range Of
the Confederate ri1emen. General Grant
came down TO examine the dsfenses. He
walked calmly up TO the works and stood
scanning their entire length at his leisure.
One OF the officers of my regiment walked
down to the general, begged his pardon
and Informed him that the position he oc-
cupied was extremely dangerous; that the
sharpshooters had picked of several men
along the line. The general smiled So
renely thanked the officer cordially and
remarked ooolly that he thought no was
all right After few minutes observa-
tion he walked slowly away.
There were about 30, 900 Confederates
occupying position ahead OF us. All
day long there had been q disposition on
tho part Of both sides to let each other
alone. and the occasional shot of a sharp
shooter had alone disturbed the quietude
OF the afternoon.
In the rear of them was a road which.
IL we could take, would prevent their re-
treat to Vicksburg. No effort had as yet
been made by them TO retreat toward It,
We were down In depression, while the
Confederates wero up tho hill. General |
Grant rode to our division and said TO |
General McGinnis, Will your men 20 up |
that hills?
They will go through hi IL poces-
sary, was the prompt reply.
All right They will have chance |
to do it after awhile
This was all said as coolly rs though |
IL all were Of the most trifing import,
and in short time the order came for us |
TO advance. We'll, we went on. Four
nfths OF our mon were killed and wound |
cd. The Confederates were cutting us |
down like grass. Our shattered lines rep
resented the base and perpendicular of |
triangle. Tho Confederate forces had
almost surrounded us when, 10, before
we knew what was the matter, the plans
OF Generai Grant dawned upon rs. AS
the roar Confederates ran like sheep
through our lines In retreat, firing was
heard TO the right aud left Of us. Our
two divisions had been sacrificed to draw
the enemy into trap, which, although
we suffered for it, after all saved thou
sands OF lives. The most of the Confed.
crates got back into Vicksburg, but this
move destroyed their lines and virtually
captured that city, After tho battle !
found Generals Hovey and McGinnis and
Colonel Spicely all seated together crying
like children over tho heavy losses sus.
tained by their mon. n."-Indianapolis Jour
nal.