Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1896-06-11
GENERAL GRANT IN MEXICO.
Some Anecdotes Told About the Great
Union General While He Was Sta
toned With His Troops in
This City.

1896, is an excellent article by James
L. Crane, late Chaplain of the Twenty
First Illinois U. S. V. on "Grant as a
Colonel"
In the course of the article the writer
tells several interesting anecdotes
which happened in 1861 when Grant
was stationed with some troops in
West Mexico.
There are those in this city who re-
member General Grants stay here
and they will doubtless be able to re-
call some of the incidents, which are
as follows:
Grants promptness and energy in
correcting errors, and reforming
abuses IN his regiment, sometimes led
his men, especially those who were
guilty, to feel that he was hard and
severe beyond necessity. But while
he was thus vigilant and active in en-
forcing strict discipline, yet he was
not unfeeling nor indifferent in regard
to the sufferings which the necessary
penalties of camp life brought upon
unsophisticated and unintentional Of
tenders.
When we halted at Salt River, Mis-
souri,, two of our young bloods, sup
posing that it was necessary to sho
their hatred to the rebellion by some
valorous exploit, had hardly pitched
their tents when they started off, on
their own responsibility, to seek for
the enemies of the Union. They left
in the afternoon, stayed all night, and
came back next day with flying col
ors, bringing with them 'secesher"
and two of his horses. Grant was
seated by the door of his tent when
the two heroes brought the trophies
of their victory before him. He did
not rise from his seat, nor pull his
pipe from his mouth, but quietly ask
ed the boys: "Who gave you per-
mission to be- absent from camp?"
"Nobody; we just thought we'd go
out and look after some 'seceshers,
and we've found this feller and brought
him up" and they pointed triumph
antly to the prisoner, who was still
sitting on his horse, and looked as if
he expected to be shot before he could
say his prayers.
"I'll attend to your case first" said
! the Colonel; and the flush of victory
began to fade from their faces as he
continued: 'Captain, you will take
these boys, and have them tied to a
tree for six hours, for leaving camp
without permission"
The boys looked crestfallen and dis
appeared in company with the cap
tain. After the Colonel had question
ed the trembling farmer, and his pro-
fessions of attachment to the Union
were found to be satisfactory, and he
freely took the oath of allegiance, he
| set him at liberty, and leisurely re-
sumed his smoking, and in half min
ute looked as though nothing unusual
had happened. Then turning to me,
with apparently no aim IN his remark,
he inquired:
"Chaplain, what do you think OF
camp life by this timer"
sIt is entirely new phase of life to
me, Colonel, and have hardly been
able to come to a definite conclusion
yet"
"What did you think of the conduct
of those two young men?" he asked
as cody as if he were inquiring about
the weather.
81 think the young men were not
Intentionally guilty of violation o.
discipline; the method was irregular
but they, doubtless, thought they
were doing good thing for the coun'
try"
"Do you think punished them too
severely?"
"WeII, Colonel, l do not know tina
I am prepared to Judge of what is too
severe in military life."
81 don't ask you for military opin
ion; 1 ask for your opinion as citi
zen. Chaplains are not supposed t,
be military men; they are supposed t.
carry into camp the same feelings an,
views of justice and right they had il
civil life." And he raised his eyes a
if to see whether 1 were appreciatini
his remarks.
, GAS you have asked me for candi
opinion, l will give it. I think tn
b. punishment of those boys was no
:, proportioned to their offense. If
were l, six hours tied up to tre
would be serious business. l thin
: it was rather too severe on the boys
!, Colonel"
> "But, Chaplain, suppose we wer
surrounded by an enemy, and me
Z were allowed to stray from camp
y they would be taken prisoners or los
their lives in such a case"
: "That appears reasonable, Colonel
but we are not near an enemy. Be
sides, the boys are in a new position
and know not exactly what is expect
ed of them, and had no idea what the
were bringing on themselves.
e "But we should so prepare when tn
: enemy is at a distance that we may
. ready when he is near at hand"
= "That is true, sir; yet still think
!. milder punishment for unwilling oi
= tenders would as effectually work tn
: same result"
] The Colonel stroked his beard wit
!. his left hand, a habit to which he
! accustomed when there is the slight
!. est interruption to the current of b
n thoughts, and he puffed his smok
!, with renewed vigor, and, rejecting
= !, moment, called out:
e "Orderly, go and tell the guard
release those boys tied to the trees
!, they have been punished Ion
;, enough"
In the afternoon of very hot da
IS in July, 1861, while the regiment wa
+ stationed in the town of Mexico, Mil
souri,, had gone to the cars, as the
!, were passing, and procured the dali
i Missouri Democrat, and seated myse
s in the shadow of my tent to read tf
! news. In the telegraphic column
soon came to the announcement thi
d Grant, with several others, was mad
a brigadier-general. In few minut'