The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-19
GRANT NO. 1 AND NO. 2
HOW MUCH GEN. FRED GRANT RE-
SEMBLES HIS FAMOUS FATHER.
His Experiences in Battle at Vicks-
burg Frightened Him, but He
Kept i'm the Thickest.
New York Press.

years older than his father was at the time
of the civil war, though appearances would
indicate that the son is ten years older.
Fred Grant bears a striking resemblance
to his father, as the old soldiers who
fought in the armies of the West and of
the Potomac have observed. The trim of
the beard added to the square face, the
blue eyes, and the quiet manner, goes a
long way toward heightening this resem-
blance. Fred Grant believes, naturally, that
the highest compliment that can be paid to
him is to tell him that he looks like his
father, whom he idoizes. When at West
Point the young man was asked by an up
per class man:
who was the greatest Americana"
washington" responded the plebe.
"He was the greatest general, too, wasn't
he?" leered the yearling.
He wasn't a greater general than my
father said loyal Fred
What howled the yearling, why.
Grant is more to be compared to Wash
ington as a general than grasshopper to a
kangaroo"
That was the signal for fight, and young
Fred Grant was not worsted.
The build of neither of the Grants is that
which is popularity supposed to be the char
acteristic of soldiers. U. S. Grant was
stoop- shouldered. and his son is the same,
only more so. The general opinion about
Z. S. Grant at the opening of the civil
war was wholly unappreciative of the
qualities which he afterward showed. Who
knows but Fred Grant may display, after
all, that the resemblance to his father is
not all in person? Who knows but genu-
iS in str
There is nothing in the life of Fred Grant
which would show that he should not
achieve measure Of success rather above
the average. He was with his father be-
fore Vicksburg. In his Memoirs" the gen
eral said of his son at this time: He
looked out for himself and was in every
battle of the campaign. His age, then not
quite thirteen. enabled him to take in all he
saw and to retain a recollection of it that
would not be possible in more mature
years"
Fred Grant was on the hurricane deck of
one OF the gunboats which ran the batteries
of Vicksburg. He stood by his fathers
side at the time.
II remember said he last year to Frank
G. Carpenter, that he was smoking at the
time, and that l noticed an intense light in
Il was on a gunboat a little later when
we were near the batteries of the Grand
gulf. / saw many men killed there | re-
member seeing one man jump on the enc
my's parapet just as our guns We're dis
charged at them. A shell exploded on
the spot where he was standing and it
must have blown him to bits During this
battle l was on tugboat with my father
and we were steaming in and out among
the gunboats during the firing.
UNDER FIRE ON A BOAT.
after time we went on board the Ben
ton to see Admiral Porter. The sight sick
ened me. The deck was covered with
blood and pieces of flesh. Dead men, torn
and lacerated, lay about everywhere, and
some of the gunners. with still bleeding
wounds, were standing by their cannons
Admiral Porter had been struck by piece
of shell on the back of the head. AS we
came up 1 could see that he was in great
agony. He was pale, and he leaned upon
his sword, using it as a cane while my
father talked to him. Father suggested
that the gunboats should engage the enc
mys batteries that night in order that
the transports might run past them in the
midst of the bonbardment. To this Ad-
niral Porter agreed, and we started to
leave, when the admiral turned to me and
asked if did not want to remain with him
during the next engagement. He said that
one of his best gunners had just been
killed. and that could have his place
looked upon the wounded and dead men
about me and replied, trembling lest my
father might contradict my statement,
that did not believe my papa would leave
me there if l wanted to stay.
Il was always frightened when l got IN
der fire, but the excitement and interest
was such that could not keep out. / re-
member l slept that night on the gunboat
Price, and when | awoke the next morning
/ found my father had gone / knew
there was a battle on the. shore for l could
hear the firing, and l asked Gen Lorenzo
Thomas, who commanded the Price to let
me go to see the fight. He told me that
TO leave the boat Shortly after this, while
we were landing some troops rabbit
jumped up and the soldiers tried to catch
it. l asked General Thomas if l could help
them. He said yes, but when reached the
soldiers the rabbit had disappeared.
Il concluded not to go back to the boat,
but to run off TO the battlefield / ran in
the direction Of the firing. l got a lift upon
one of the ammunition wagons, and soon
came to ground where wounded men We're
lying about, and where there were dead men
scattered here and there. / saw a battery
of artillery dashing off at forl; in the road,
and left the mule team and followed them
1 soon got 10 a place where l could see
the fight. While was looking / saw father
coming | was afraid he would send me
hid there until he had passed. AS 1 watched
j heard great shout. Our lines moved
forward. ! could see the enemy running
and a little later | was told that the battle
was over. and that we had gained the day
THE first thing.I did was 10 try to find
my father. 1t was already growing dark,
and / was tired and hungry. / walked
about trying to find some one who could
tell me whore M father was, and every
where went / saw dead and wounded men
The ground was everywhere bloody and
the air was filled with the means OF the
wounded and the dying. There were sur
geon5 here and there amputating limbs
while the poor fellows upon whom they were
operating were shrieking with pain. 1t was
all so terrible that / began to feel faint.
/ remember ! lay down beside tree and
rested. feeling very sick. AS was lying
He recognized me. and ! told him all about
my runaway trip from the boat. He took
his blanket from his horse and spread II
cut on the ground and gave mh his saddle