The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-07-13

carrying troops and supplies and char
! tered everything they had that was
suitable
Not single agent dreamed that the
United States was about to embark in
SO vast a scheme of ocean transporta-
ton from San Francisco to Manila.
Had they done so. prices of transpor-
tauon would have been increased 100
per cent, for il was a case of must"
nave them. This able, clear headed
/, and competent young captain gave out
put one bit Of instruction TO the agents
with whom he had done business I'D
into the hundreds OF thousands of dol
iarS. and 1t was simply this: Keep
your own counsel. Don't let a human
being know word Of what has hap
pened- In this way the United States
got It's military transportation to Ma
ma without being skinned by a lot of
Snarp, INSCRIPTIONS agents, who see in
the nations extremity their own op-
portunity. The captain is now a ma
Jor in his corps, but he will probably
never have a greater opportunity for
serving his country than he had from
the last of May to the list of June. 1898.
Inc quartermaster's department is the
largest OF our military staff corps. It
mas nfty-eight members, ranking from
full colonies to captains, besides its
chief, who is a brigadier general. and
ought to be a major general, for ne has
the most difficult, the most thankless
ana the most strenuous position in the
entire army.
FOR the first time in many years the
quartermaster general is the entire Of
ncer OF his corps in service. If General
Ludington lives until Oct 20, this year.
ne VIII have been In the Quartermas-
ter's department forty years. This is
the longest continuous service of an
omcer OF the general staff in our
army's history, SO far as is known. and
a pretty accurate. account has been.
Kept of the service of the officers in
the several stan corps. In fact, II is
doubtful If the history of the United
states army includes another instance
or a continuous active service of forty
years, either in staff or line
General Ludingtons service has been
exceptional. He was a very young
man, indeed, to have held the rank he
did He could not have been more
than p when he was made major and
quartermaster of volunteers. Two
years later. almost to a day, in fact,
he was full colonel in his corps, and a
corps quartermaster besides. with TWEEN
" or more Quartermasters taking or
ders from him, all of them his senior
in years, and the most of them very
much his senior.
And there was no politics in his
promotion, either It CHANGED that
Grant was commanding all the armies
OF the United States and the army of
the Potomac in particular when Lud-
ington was made full colonel. Grant.
VINO knew all about everything that
was going on in the army where he
commanded, had noticed that one of his
corps was always well supplied and
that there was never any trouble about
It's transportation or wagons. Others
We're always in trouble about some
thing. Grant thought he would like to
know more about this. So taking
Horace Porter and Babcock. his two
favorite aides, he rode over one after
noon in the fall of 1864 to the head
quarters Of the corps in question.
II his particular afternoon was a
beautiful one. 1t was late in October
and Virginia was in the midst of the
beauty Of that most charming season,
Indian summer. After the usual COM
pliments and drink or two-for Grant
would take one and perhaps two drinks,
but never any more, and not these If
his staff officers were present-well, the
second drink time was due, and the
niTnble African had responded to the
call of his boss" Here. Gyascutus.
produce the denijohn. likewise glasses.
some spoons and sugar, and go down
there to the branch and see If you can
find a stalk or two of fresh mint"
What?" said Grant, smiIing-a thing
he did not often do-for he did like a
mint julep. have you all the luxuries
OF the land here?' We'll, not exactly.
general" the other man added, but
we have got some OF them, and these
Virginia spring branches do produce
superb mint" Just then the ''Ethiope''
came in with two trimming goblets.
They were full of a straw-colored COM
pound, in which were some sprigs of
mint. On the top hoated a few amber
coiored grapes. by Georgei" said
Grant, you are doing the thing in
princely fashion Wei, here's how"
the Oldest military toast on record.
Now is there anything L can do for
you?" asked Grant half an hour later
as he mounted his horse and shook the
hospitable hand of his host and corps
commander in cordial goodbye.
Wen, yes, general; there is a thing
1 mad meant to speak to you about
some time soon. and now is as good
a time as any. There's my quarternas-
ter, young Ludington- I'd like To have
him promoted. He's only d major. but
ne Is q corps Quarternaster. and III be
LAZY OO-46C4 IL you nOulQ use your
influence for his promotion TO lieuten-
ant colonel"
Why not make him a full coIoneI2"
said the general of all the armies.
Why, / had not thought OF that"
the other general officer said.
Well. you write to the secretary of
war, recommending his promotion, and
send the letter 90 me-"
The gallant commander OF the corps
ntd SO, and Grant put a strong indorse-
ment on IL. So, when It reached the
secretary of war, grim old Stanton.
VINO liked men that won him victories.
put an unusually favorable indorse-
Lnent OF approval on il, and. of course.
BIZ Lincoln approved it. And this is
how II happened that Major Luding-
ton OF the GuartermasteT's department.
: nv OF the Potomac, was promoted
from major to colonel, passing over the
grade OF lieutenant colonel entirely
Colonel Ludington remained continu-
Dusty in service after the war. much
10 the establishment OF the men. who
would ask: WHO is that boy coIon6I9''