Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-09-26
Touching Story OF Gen. Grants Farew,
Visit to tho Boya in ulue.

boys In blue, accompanied by their
wives or other female relatives, await.
ing the coming Of their old COM
mander. Having been detained at
dinner party, Gen. Grant did not
arrive at the hall until after nine
o'clock, when, In company with Gen.
Beale, he drove up in q carriage. He
was met by the commanding officer Of
the regiment, and when he saw the
immense crowd Of veterans there as
sembled he expressed great hesitation
about entering.
How can l ever get away from
these old soldiers?" he said. ut Is i'm.
possible for me to remain longer than
half or three-quarters Of an hour, and
am afraid my presence will excite
them to such an extent that will not
be able to escape in time to meet my
engagements
Upon being assured that perfect or.
der would 10 maintained, and that
these old soldiers had not lost, In the
lapse Of time, the lessons Of discipline,
and that the general should leave at
any moment he saw ct, he consented
to enter, and amid great cheering and
beating Of drums and squesking Of
flies he was conducted to the platform
The tumult was simply appalling, and
Gen. Grant was in dismay.
The colonel Of the regiment stepped
forward on the platform, commanded
silence, and in an instant hush came
over the assemblage and pin could
almost have been heard to fall. He
then said;
Comrades, we have with us our old
commander, who has come to meet US,
possibly for the last time. lie particu-
larly desires to take each and all OF
you by the hand and greet you. He Is
weary and his engagements compel
him to remain but short time. 1t will
be impossible for him to make any ad-
dress further than am authorized to
speak for him and to say God bless
you ALL Now, il you will form in
double column, two by two, around
the room, Gen. Grant will step in front
Of the platform and Twill present each
one OF you to him by name"
This address was received with
cheers and instantly double column
commenced to form, the same as line
Of battle, moving by the tanks. Gen.
Grant stepped In front Of the platform
and the old soldiers, coming up two by
two, were presented and shook hands
with him As the men who had lost a
right arm came forward Grant would
extend his left hand and shake their
left, while the men without arms he
grasped about the waist. The process
sion was probably half an hour IN
passing, but nota word was said. Each
man looked into the generals face as
II to say:
This may be the last time we shall
look upon each other,
A very affecting incident occurred at
the close of the reception. A woman
dressed in black and deeply yelled, the
last Of all, came forward and said to
the colonel:
81 am Mrs Chisholm, the widow OF
Judge Chisholm and the mother Of our
daughter, both of whom were assassi-
mated in Copiah county, Miss, pre-
sumo you remember the details of this
terrible event. have never seen Gen.
Grant. Will you kindly present me to
himT
As she moved forward she Threw her
veil on one side and the colonel saidi
Gen. Grant, this is Mrs. Chisholm,
the widow of Judge Chisholm, who,
you will remember, was assassinated
In Copiah county, Miss"
The general stepped forward, reached
out polh hahus' anu graspeu oolh OF
hers and inc two stood looking into
each others faces for what seemed sew
eral minutes, but really lar less The
'earS cour, , 'u y, VIM 'l'e "onlan scneehs
anu 'ooA VI .n.en'' y inpa'ny anu
sauness was iene'',u VII 'ne Benefui
laoe' No' one "olu "a' pau. ~ was
',ie ''len' eApieSSion u uespa'i VI 'ne
n,ue anu 'n',,'e soi'o" oh 'nc o.''er'
incs a,oppeT ri na''s'S ana Nfs, e ..,
pasSeo on' no kone'ai "as "oou1 W
.urn away W iesunne M piaee upon
INC pia'iorn'' wn,n' y sutton NV
puise' nc ."rne' ms neau W guLe a'
the reIreatihB lorin Vi the pooT WiuoW,