The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-02-22
HISTORICAL
DEPARTMENT.
CONGRATULATIONS
GRANT ORDERED A COLONEL
TO HANG HIS OWN SON.

1 Colonel George Inman, a civil engi'
neer, who was an engineer in the Unior
army with Grant IN front of Peters
burg in 1S641S65, as colonel of engi-
neers, now engaged on some public
work near Richmond told this story
of L. 5. Grant to a group of Confeder-
| ate veterans, eX-officers, there recently
In the winter of 1864 Captain Ham
ilton of the Confederate army was cap
| tured within the Federal lines, and
| there were found on his person papers
which clearly indicated that he had
penetrated the lines for the purpose of
gaining information for General Lee.
He was court martialed and was at
once condemned to be hanged at sun
rise the next day. Colonel Hamilton,
who was in command of a cavalry reg
iment under General Grant. was
charged with the duty of furnishing
the detail which was to execute the
sentence of the court.
The night of the day on which the
court pronounced the sentence on Cap
tain Hamilton Colonel Inman went to
General Grants tent to see him on a
matter connected with the operations
against the Confederates. He had been
in the tent for some time when the or
derby announced, Colonel Hamilton. "
soldierly appearing officer entered
and saluted. Before General Grant had
time to speak the colonel said in hard
tones; General, / cannot obey the or
der to execute the spy tomorrow
morning"
General Grant started as if shot.
Why not?" he said in sharp tones.
The colonel was silent He stood with
barred head dropped on his bosom. Gen
eral Grant again asked him why he re-
fused to obey his order, and this time
there was a sharpness in his tone which
was not there before. Colonel Hamil-
ton raised his head and looked the
commander in chief full in the face.
General, that man is my only SON."
General Grant looked his officer in
the face for moment. Then he turned
his back. The colonel remained stand
ing and silent, uncovered and his head
bowed. Then General Grant wheeled
around and said in harsh tone:
Colonel Hamilton, you will obey
your ORDERS
The colonel saluted and left the tent.
Colonel Inman remembered that the
next morning the detail charged with
the duty OF hanging the spy went to
the tent, and when the sentry entered
it was found that there was nobody
inside.
About ten years afterward Colonel
Inman was in San Francisco on bust
ness connected with his profession
While there he CHANGED to meet a Mr..
with whom he became well
acquainted. Hamilton one day men,
toned that he was in the Confederate
army, and the relation of war expert
ences began. 1t came out that the Mr..
Hamilton was the Captain Hamilton
whom Colonel Hamilton had been or
dered to hang. There were questions
from Colonel Inman of course and the
story of the escape of the young SOL
der was brought out.
On the night before the day on which
he was to be executed, he said after
he was lying on the blankets
in his tent, half asleep, for the Cir !
did not warrant heavy
sleep. He was aroused by the entrance |
Of someone into the tent. A candle |
was burning dimly, and he saw before !
him a heavy built man with short. |
5tubby whiskers, wearing a blue uni !
form without any insignia of rank on |
his shoulders, a black SLOUGH hat pulled |
Town over his eyes. He recognized !
General Grant.
The story does not go into details as !
o the converse ton which enSued. The
was 'tiAl 1uS CoAuelnueu spy, al
er there had been exacted a promise
hat he would never again assume the
1art which had so nearly cost him his
ife, was given the countersign which
would enable him to pass the sentries
Then the man in the SLOUGH hat went
way.
And the man who was to have
Hanged him at sunrise did the same
hing, and before the sun was set was
within the Confederate lines.-New
York Journal