The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-29
RANSOM'S LAST DAYS.
Visit to Gen. Grant at City Point, and His
Death While Returning to Sherman's
Army.
By S. Il. BECKwITH.

By S. Il. BECKwITH.
One pleasant morning, while at my busy
desk at City Point, Va, l found myself
confronted by Gen. Ransom's handsome,
pale, careworn face. Pens and pencils fol
lowed my impulsive dash Of greeting. 1t
was a sad mOmentary salutation, and then
he quietly returned to the Lieutenant Gen
erals quarters.
1t was, indeed, a happy moment for me
when he looked into my tent. My quick
not in the least cheerful, and yet failed
in those hurrying times to discover the
critical condition of my dear friends life.
From day to day, while he remained as
the guest of Gen. Grant, he drifted around
to my tent and offered his pleasurable mo-
mentary salutation, strangely refraining
the acceptance of my welcome, highback
chairs, until the day when he was to take
his departure. This was an experience
which l shall always cherish. If we had
been searching for hearts all through those
long years, it seemed to me l saw the little
confessional emblems glstening on his
cheek as he said, Beck, wish you woulG
go with me-"
There was something more pathetic in
his words than had ever before heard.
He had not told me Of any ailment: his sad
eye told me more than he seemed willing
to confess.
l bravely brushed my tears aside, and
with an enforced movement threw him
back into my high-back Office chair, say
ing. BE quiet for few moments
A quick and quiet interview with Gen.
Grant gave me the opportunity of comply
sr,sr e RafA
he was quite aware of the condition | had
thrown myself into civilian dress, and re-
ported to him even before his own eyes.
The transformation had been so brief
and unexpected that my respectful salute,
General. at your SERVICE" startled him
sufficiently to sieze me impulsively with
both hands, half rising. well, Beck, You
haven't forgotten quick movements" He
was pleased to discover my respectful civ
ility. Then he seemed doubly pleased to
discover my hidden love for him, love so
thoroughly absorbing that l had thought
iessly omitted to suggest to Gen. Grant
the special dispatch boat Mary Martin,
whereupOn ! might have entertained him
as guest of Gen. Grant We went aboard
the mail steamer Thos. Colyer
All the time that Ransom had spent at
City Point seemed to have been given to
Gen. Grant and his own quiet bedroom,
while his trusty Aid-deCamp, G.. !. Davis.
tumbled into my tent upon my horse; and,
in his general happy way, gave me to I'M
derstand that everything was for him and
Gen. Ransom. 1t afforded me great com
fort to be able to give him all he could
LAY to-"
On board the Colyer Ransom adhered
quite closely to Davis and me. without
any apparent desire to talk. He seemed
to desire TO hold my hand and look ut me-
Immediately on approaching Wilson'S
Landing the Colyer slowed up, and little
boat shot off from the shore bearing Mai.
Ransom, of the 4th U. S. Art. who came
aboard. We withdrew respectfully, and
for the last time in life the two brothers
briefly met.
The great side whe els Of the Colyer
once more started. splashing back the
white foaming bubbles toward Wilson's
Landing.
AS we neared Norfolk Ransom seemed
to move nearer and nearer to me. 1t was
not so much in what he said, but it was
the way he said it. First, he invited me
to accompany him to New York. Grace
fully acknowledging the compliment,
begged to remind him that ! was on a spe-
cal leave of absence. Even my appeal,
Surely, General, you of all others would
not be accessory to having me placed on
the rolls as deserter?" Then / made the
plea Of mo money" He offered to me
money for my full expenses. He seemed
SO thoroughly bent on the idea that he
sought TO have the gang-planks of the
steamer pulled in on me. Excuses seemed
of no avail.
l have always been led to believe that
Ransom felt the hand of death upon him,
and outside of the love he had for Gunyon
l. Davis, his trusty Aid-dc-Camp, he could
not have chosen a more acceptable hand
to close his eyes than mine.
Gen. Thomas Il. q. Ransom died in TIE
ambulance while attempting to rejoin
Sherman's army in 1864. Sherman's an
nouncement came at late hour to City
Point Va, in cipher. l went in person
with the translation, and finding Gen.
Grant quite alone. l respectfully announc-
ed my presence by lightly laying my hand
OH Gen. Grants left shoulder, while. with
the other, l held in the usual way the pa
per for Eerusal.
Gen. Grant was so deeply affected that
it was readily discovered he was strug-
Cling with his emotions. 1t was only for
an instant, though, and then quick as
thought he sought y clean sheet Of paper
and while n tear drop glistcned on his
sympathetic face. asked Secretary of War
Stanton to make Ransom Major General
to date from the day of his death and
send the commission to Ransom's mother
No word had been spoken, and without
lifting his face he handed the response and
in IL minutes l had sent it to the tele-
graph Office for transmission in cipher to
Washington.