The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-22

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While standing about halfway between
the tent 0f General Meade and the bot
tom OF the hill. taking sort OF BIRDS
eye view Of the terrible fighting in the
woods beyond, saw General Grant. &C.
companied by an orderly. riding slowly
up the hill. as though bent on q visit
to see General Meade.
Grant presented somewhat jaded.
wornout appearance, and ne was well
covered with dust. He seemed to be
engaged in deep thought. He dismount-
ed, and after glancing toward the scene
of fighting in the woods he threw the
| reins Of his horse to the orderly and
walked slowly up the hill Getting aside
and entirely alone Grant took a seat on
the trunk of a tree and looked steadily
at the ground before him.
He then took from his pocket what
appeared to be q map. and after
spreading 1t out on his lap. bent his head
over it with his hand to his forehead.
and was apparently engaged In study.
ing 1t. The writer and q few ofiicers
who were attracted to the spot by the
presence OF Grant stood contemplating
him at D respectful distance. AFTER
musing for q few moments Grant took
from his pocket = tablet and . lead
pencil and commenced to write some
thing. When he had finished he had
doubled up the paper and, calling up
his orderly, handed the manuscript to
him. with q few words OF instruction,
and the orderly quickly rode OF with
the paper in his hand.
The time, the place the occurrences
| in progress all around, and the period
that elapsed before 1t was published to
| the world In the form Of an oflicial dis
patch from President Lincoln, has ever
since I saw Grant writing while seated
ON that tree stump. convinced me that
! Grant was then and there engaged in
penning the famous dispatch to the War
department: II propose to fight It out
on this line IL 1t takes all summer"
| further believe that then and there
Grant had resolved to make his great
flank movement. which was really a
move forward in the face Of defeat and
which brought the army up to Lees
front at Spottsylvania, instead OF re-
crossing the Rapidan after the misfor-
tunes of the Wilderness. After Grant
had finished writing on the tree stump
he arose, and walking slowly to his
horse, remounted and rode of, and was
seen to press forward into scenes where
bullets were flying thickest and which
caused the remark made by an oficer
and overheard by the writer: '0rant
has no right to expose himself that
way. What would be the result to us
IL he stops a bullet?"
GRANT AT sPOTTSYLvANIX.
| I did not see General Grant again
until during the very height Of the fight
ing at Spottsylvania. l was riding up
a rising piece Of ground in full view Of
the battle going on. when met General
Grant mounted and surrounded by q
number of his STAFF. He was Intensely
engaged in watching the progress OF the
fighting on his front. a short distance
away. and ever and anon he would be
making some quiet remark to those
nearest him.
l rode as near up to Grant as was per-
missible at the time, and as he was
talking and gazing steadily into the
woods where the battle ragged fiercest I
heard a staff officer behind him say:
We'll, we had a pretty good account
Of that affair from Mr.. Washburne' "a
member of congress who accompanied
the army. and u great friend of General
Grant,. The remark was made in re-
| latiOn to some exciting incident that
had taken place. Grant turned his
head around, and with a quiet smile re-
marked: "Oh. yes, 1 heard him, but
you know Washburne was considerably
excited about that time"
On the morning of the 18th Of May II
rained In torrents, and the battle OF
Spottsylvania was raging at its worst.
1t was the morning that Hancock made
his celebrated charge. General Grant
was standing by large wood fire. dry
ing his clothes, and near him stood Cen
eral Meade, General Humphries, Gen.
eral Hunt, chief Of artillery, and the
writer Of this article. Grant was watch
ing the battle going with great intent
ness, and then, turning to Meade. he
remarked: well, General, let's be 60
ing" Meade said: wait short
time. I want to see how Warren de-
velops himself"
Just then an orderly came up to
Grant and handed him dispatch.
/
al, have captured from 30 to 40 guns. I
have finished up Johnson, and am now
going into Early" This was the only
| real good news Of the campaign, and
word came with the dispatch that 5000
prisoners had been taken. Grant, after
reading the dispatch, handed 1t over to
Meade, and in quiet unconcerned way
simply remarked: "Bully!" and then
| said: Come, General. let's go over to
quarters" and the little party then
broke up.
General Edward Johnson, the cap
tured rebel officer, was brought into
Meade's quarters. Grant was there, and
Johnson was introduced to him. Grant
shook hands with him in quiet. i'm
passive way, when johnson drew back
to the rear a little and gazed long and
| steadily at the Union commander.