The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-24
EARLY STORIES OF GRANT.
Some Anecpotes sof His First Reg
mental Command.

I
well had been the scene of desperate
guerrilla warfare since the beginning of
spring, and troops had been mustered
here for the southeTn army, but the sight
of regiment of United States soldiers
was a novel one indeed.
The grass-grown walks were thronged
with wide-eyed, open-inouthed villagers
as the soldiers halted on the common
and proceeded TO divest themselves OF their
knapsacks and rifles.
Suddenly a shot rang out There was
| panic among the spectators, and A
| goose that had been quietly cropping
[ grass on the green, came quacking and
| fluttering into the road, with one wing
bleeding and broken. Col. Grant was on
| hand in an instant. Who shot that
| goose?' he demanded
A young private stepped from the ranks.
81 did it, sir, he said. but it was not
intentional. My gun was accidentally
discharged as 1 was removing my KNAPP
sack
You may take four hours in the guard
house for carelessness in the discharge Of
duty, said Grant sternly.
Mean while Mrs. Grieg, the woman who
owned the goose. had rushed into the
road and had gathered the poor, wounded
bird up in her apron. Grant approached
her. what value do you set on that
fowl, madam" he asked. 'Oh, wouldn't
a taken no money fur it," she calculated.
Grant dropped silver dollar into her
hand. Perhaps that will pay for the
feathers it might have yielded, and you
can eat the goose for supper" he sail
That evening, when the colonel was about
to sit down TO his meal of coarse camp
fare boy appeared with huge basket
on his arm. Here, Mr.. Grant air the
goose" he said Nav thought il warnt
right fur you to pay fur the goose an
her to eat It, She put in few extrays
an hoped as how you'd have good
supper
Some five miles from Hunnewell lay
the broad fields of a notorious rebel
named Van Skoyk. The fact had become
current that the old Nor wegian was har-
boring rebel fugitives in an old log house
back in the woods, and when the Tegi-
meHt OF Union soldiers moved out Of Hun
newell youth on horseback was dis
patched to warn Van Skoyk of the ap
preach of danger.
Let the black rascals come on the
old man said ind gnan1y, I'VE Misspu-
rians will teach this Mr.. Grant and his
Illinois men that we are masters IN our
own State" In vain the boy entreated
him to seek safety in flight The old
man shook his head doggedly and went
on blowing Scarcely had the boy dis
appeared when the sound OF martial
foe was upon him For moment he
wayered; but it was too late TO fly: be
had been seen
With a determination Co meet his
fate, whatever it might be, he turned
his horses toward the road, mean while
keeping his eyes on the furrow he was
turning. HIS only hope was that he
would attract no attention from the
passing regiment, but in this he was
disappointed, for when he reached The
fence Grant was awaiting him there
Growing hot and cold by turns, he
took Off his hat and tried to speak. bet
the words stuck in his throat Never
had life seemed 50 sweet to him as now.
Grant broke the silence Your name
is Van Skoyk, believe he said
Yes, and I am native Of NORWAY.
l have never become citizen of this
country" he returned.
That is too bad said Grant we
have a great country. in which you
seem to have prospered Don't you
think you ought TO give it your support
in this tine of need?''
Il have worked for every penny l
have, and all the air l breathe and all
the water l drink have been given to
me by the State OF Missouri, Van Skoyk
Ietorted
Then you have water TO give to others
who are thirsty Grant asked
Water! The purest in the country
the old ma replied. with touch Of pride
May my men have a drink" Grant
asked, simply.
See here. Mr. Grant. is this trick 20
catch me?' Van Skoyk asked, with an
angry CLEAN in his eye. "Because il tits,
you may spare yourself the trouble l am
unarmed y
Il don't want you for my prisoner. /
want you for my friend, said Grant, and
yuu can manifest your kindly disposition
toward me and my country by giving ny
men drink OF water
The Old Norwegian dropped The lines
and hurried a way To the house, while the
regiment moved on toward the old well.
Before the first bucket of water had been
drawn Van Skoyk emerged from the house
with a massive cup Of silver and gold. an
heirloom that had been brought over from
the fatherland.
Here, MIR. Grant, you must not drink
cut of the tin cup, he said
What is good enough for my men is
good enough for me, - the colonel replied,
but, seeing the look OF disappointment IN
the old mans face, he took the cup and
drank a long draft to the health of MS host
Would your men like some peaches
for their lunch on the way?'' Van Skoyk
asked when his treasure had been returned
TO his hand.
They certainly would IL you have them
to spare the colonel replied.
We have such crop this year that
we are feeding them to the pigs said
Van Skuyk, and going into the cellar he |
returned with a basket OF luscious fruit,
from which the soldiers were invited to
fill their pockets.
When Grant moved off down the road |
he left on the Van skoyk farm the stanehes |
friend he or the Union ever possessed.
On July 81, 1861, the building Of the |
bridge having been completed, Grant und |
his regiment broke camp and marched |
to Mexico, in Andrian county One regi- |
ment had already been stationed here, and
the sight of blue-coat was a terror to the |
Inhabitants, SO lawless had been the de |
pertinent Of the soldiers.
Grant Went into camp Just west Of |
town. and, in three days, had convinced |,
The citizens of Mexico that Union sol
Her. and desperate" were not synony-