The morning times., 1897-01-31
GENERAL GRANTS aBILL"
The Faithful Col0red Servant Of the
Commander.
As Devoted as NapoIeon's MameIukr,
If Not - Picturesque He Was
Runaway slave.

Gen. Horace Porter, in his series Of ar
ticIes on Campaigning with Grant now
running il tie Century, gives nlany fresh
giinpses of headquarters life. In the Febru-
arg number. after describing an engage
ment on the Fredericksburg road, Gen. For
ter says. The next morning. Nav 20, tie
general was later than usual in making his
appearance in consequence Of having over
slept. Finally his voice was heard calling
from bis tent To his colored servant, .'B.H.
Ho, Bi!l. What time is it, The servant
ran 10 him, found he was still in bed, and
told him the hour. In searcelS more than
ten minutes the general appeared at the
mess table We were not surprised a the
rapidity with which he had dressed himself,
for we had learned by this time that IN put
ting on. biS clothes he was as quick as :.
hghtRiDg-change actor in variety thea
ter. When the officers at HEADQUARTERS
were called up particularly early TO start
on tise march, every one did his Utmost e. bt.
on time and not keep the general waiting;
but, however vigorous the effort, no one
could match him in getting on ms clothes
There was seldom any occasion for such
hurried dressing, but with him it was q
habit which continued through life
Bill, the servant who waited en- the gen
eral. vas notable Character lie was
entirely q creature OF accident When the
general was at Cairo, in 1851 Bill sui
denly appeared one day at Headquarters
with two other slave boys who had lust
escaped from their former masters in
Missouri They belonged To that class
of fugitive blacks, who We're characterized
10y those given TO artistic Comparisons as
Charcoal sketches from The hands OF
the old masters" Bill was OF genuine
buTnt-cork hue, and no white blood con
taminated the purity of his hnea ge Hc
at once set himself TO work without orders,
taking care OF one of the aides, and by (Iint
of his force of character resisted all
efforts of thar officer to discharge him
When any waiter was absent or even
/ when all We're present, he would turn up
! IN the headquarters mcsS-tent and insist
on helping the general at table Then ht.
attached himself To Col. Boomer ard forced
| thGt officer in spite 5f himself 70 submit
To his services. After the colonel ha d been
killedin the assault on VickSbug. Bill sud
! denly put in an appearance again ut head
quarters, and was found making himself
useful TO the general. notwithstanding
the protests of the other servants, and
before long he had himself regularly
| entered upon the generals private pay
roll When his chief came East. Bill
followed, and gradually took charge Of
the generals personal comfort as valet,
waiter, and mar OF all work He was
devoted, never known to be bey Ond call,
had studied the generals habits so care
! fully that he could always anticipate hf,
few wants, and became really very
useful.
had u striking illustration one morning
In front of SpouSylvania OF how devoted Ball
was TO OthegeneraTSc comfort. While wewer,.
| camping in the region of wood ticSS. garter.
| snakes and beetles, saw BiiIiu froutof the
generals tent thrusting his hand first into
| one of the chiefs boots. and then into the
/ other What are you doing that for FiIle''
i asked oh" Unexplained. Il alters feels
around in de gln'raI's boots afore lets him
| put dem on. to see dat no ipsec's done got
! into dem de prev'us night He rcIIowedin
/ the generals shadow all through his PreSi-
| deutialterms, then heinsist ed uponattempt-
| ing business in Washington and afterward
/ tried his hand at preaching; but he had fed
| so long ut the public crib that his appetite
! bad been spoile d for any other means OF StIS-
I tanning life. and he finally ma de his wayintu
( government department. as messenger.
( where he still is and where IL IS hoped
| that his eventful life may be rounded cut
! in the quiet and comfort town his publi,:
| services cntitIe him. He Will not be as
( dramatic an historical character as Ma
i poleOn's MameIuke but in his humble way
| he was as faithful and devoted t. his chief
[ as the famous Roustan.