Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-07-13
THE 30 OMING GA MON
REcITALS OF CAMP AND SAT
TIE INCIDENTS
Survivors Of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl.
dents of Marches, Camp Life, ForaS-

400 soldier who passed through
INI the experiences of the front
1A during the winter of 1864 and
1866 can forget the anxieties, disap-
pointments, surprises, joys and woes
of that important nine months cam
paign which had the Wilderness and
the investiture of Petersburg as its
most striking features. Moreover, just
now, through the war talk over the
Philippines, good stories OF the olden
time come up perforce. Major Gil K.
Osmun tells one of the only time he
ever saw the late General Grant laugh.
II was an orderly on Hancock's
headquarters says the Major, "and
the handsomest as well as one of tue
very best generals in the army wanted
to send a message to City Point, nine
or ten miles away, where General
Grant had his headquarters. | was de-
tailed for the duty and, getting my
horse ready, I was informed as to two
routes by which | might make my
journey. The shorter route, on clear
day, was considered the dangerous one,
because it was nearer during all OF It's
length to the picket lines of the enemy.
AS the day upon which | was detailed
was rainy, lurid and dismal, | elected
to take the short way and by exercising
reasonable care l made the journey to
within mile or so of City Point with
out incident. With my cap drawn well
down, my poncho covering myself and
horse to the saddle skirts, | had been
plugging along in the rain, meeting
struggling parties of cavalry now ana
then, when l noticed the approach OF
another party of five or six horsemen.
could see the blue of our army and
continued my ride without paying any
attention to them. AS the last horse
man in the group passed me l recog-
| niZed in him an enlisted man whom
| had seen somewhere before and re-
membered that he was an orderly with
some headquarters or other.
accordingly, l wheeled my horse
and rode up to his side, asking, is this
someone's headquarters" He answered
| that it was the Generals, and | asked
what General, at which, with great cor
diality, he replied: why, the only
General, you damned fool. That's Gen
eral Grant at the head Of the column
| thanked my friend and rode up ahead
! to the side of General Grant. Saluting
him, asked is this General GrantT
Receiving an affirmative answer
| handed him the letter. He did not step
his horse, but riding along he opened
the envelope and read the message. at
the conclusion Of the reading he turned
! and scanned me closely for an instant,
after which he asked: Didn't you meet
me just a few minutes ago| l replied
that l did, at which he asked: Why
did you not give me this message at
that timer My answer was that, COW
cred as he was with his ponchO and
with his hat drawn down, | had not
obtained a good view of his face and
did not recognize him. What's that?'
asked the General, just bit shar0lN
why didn't you know meY | replied
with absolute truth: We'll, General, l
expected you would be riding a better
horse than the one under you At this
General Grant turned up the brinl of
his hat with a quick motion eand
laughed loudly and heartily, while l
saluted and held my horse back until
the entire party passed, when l fell in
to the rear. Many years afterwarG Col
onel Parke1, of his staff, told me that
| the occasion of which | have told was
the only time during the entire sam
paign that ne had heard General Grant
Laugh out loudly"
| First Bull Run Battle.
| 1Nhoro 1n11St he some alive tn-da in