The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-09
A SOUTHERN WOMAN WHO COM
PLANNED TO GRAN


General Horace Porter gives many
pers on Campaigning with Grant" in
the Century. He tells the following
story of the campaign on the North
Anna: When l recrossed the river and
returned to headquarters in the evening
I found General Grant sitting in front
Of his tent smoking cigar and anxious
to hear the report as to the extent of
the damage to the railroad. About the
time I finished relating to him what
had been accomplished, an old woman
who occupied a small house near by
strolled over to headquarters, appa-
rently bent upon having friendly chat
with the commander of the Yankee ar
mics. The number of questions she
asked showed that she was not lacking
in the quality of curiosity which is sup
posed to be common to her sex. She
wore an old-fashioned calico dress
about six inches too short, with the
sleeves rolled up to the elbows. She
had a nose so sharp that it looked as if
it had been caught in the crack of a
door, and small gray eyes that twin
killed. and snapped as she spoke.
She began by nodding familiar
How do you do?" to the general, and
saying in a voice which squeaked like
the high notes of an e flat clarinet with
soft reed: Il believe you command
all these h'yah Yankees that are comm
down h'yah and cavortin' round over
this whole section of country" The
general bowed an assent and she con-
tinued: I'm powerful glad General
Lee has been lickin' you-all from the
Rapidan cFah down h'yah, and that
now he's got you jes wh'ah he wants
you"
Then she drew up a amp-chair
alongside the general, seated herself on
it, and finding that her remarks seemed
to be received good naturally, grew
still more familiar, and went on to say:
Yes, and afo' long Lee'll be a-chasin'
you-all up through Pennsylvany ag'in.
Was you up than in Pennsylvany when
he got aftah you-all last summer"
The general had great difficulty in
keeping his face straight as he replied
"Well, no; I wasn't there myself /
had some business in another direc-
ton" He did not explain to her that
Vicksburg was at that time command
| ing something of his attention. Said
she: Il notice our boys got away with
| lots of 'em Conestoga bosses up thah
and they brought lots of em back with
| 'em. We've got a pretty good show of
'em round this section of country, and
| they're jes the best lighthouses you
ever see. Hope the boys'll get up thai
ag'in soon, and bring back some more
of EN-
| The general kept on smoking his CT
gar, and was greatly amused by the
conversation. After a little while the
| woman went back to her house, but re-
| turned later, and said: See hyah; I'm
all alone in my house, and I am kinder
| skeered. 1 expect them Yankee sol
diers of yourn'll steal everything I have
and murder me afo' morning, if you
| don't give me some protection" oh
| replied the general, well see that you
are not hurt" and turning to Lieuten
ant Dunn of the staff, he said: Dunn
! you had better go and stay in the ole
| lady's house tonight. You can proba-
bly, make yourself more comfortable
there than in camp anyhow; and
don't want her to be frightened"
Dunn followed the old woman rather
reluctantly to her house, and played
guardian angel to her till the mex
morning.