The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-12-30
WHEN l FIRST SAW
GENERAL GRANT.
Ex-Rebel Gives Graphic Descrip-
ton OF His Ups and Downs
During the War.

nessee Mars Robert, Gen. Lee,"
invited him back to Virginia to help
entertain Gen. Grant in the spring
and summer campaign, the invita-
tion WAS great treat to the brave
boys OF that command, for the
change Of departments meant more
rations and more fighting and the
latter was no drag when Mars Robt.
was near, though no reflection on
Gen. Longstreet for the men who
followed him in the early sixties
was among the flower of the south,
land Gen. Longstreet was considered
the off horse OF the team. Our
march back to old Virginia was slow
and pleasant, which gave me big
opportunities to sample poultry
yards and milk houses on our line
OF march. The last two days of
our Journey WAS not quite 50 pleas
ant, for Gen. Grant had broken
camp earlier than expected who no
doubt expected to scoop Mars Robt.
up during Longstreet's absence.
Gen. Lee knew Longstrcct and knew
his men. He was satisfied when
he made the order for Longstreet to
come ut once there would be no lirk-
ing or struggling. Being two days
away our next camp was on General
Lees lines. We arrived in the mic
of time, for Grant with his large
host was certainly on n fair way to
Richmond. When Grant found
that Longstreet was on hand he
swung his forces around to the
Wilderness but found Mars Robt.
in his front all the same.
AS history don't give any account
OF myself in this bloody campaign,
who was q private soldier in the
rear ranks, wish to say that I re-
ccived many wounds from spent
balls, and no doubt If the enemy
could have possessed better guns l
would have been a pensioner today.
After the most stubborn fighting
that American soil ever witnessed
and Grant saw that Mars Robt.
could not be foiled, he moved his
army around to Petersburg and I
guess to his great surprise he found
Mars Robt. in his front again, whom
he thought with one more desperate
effort that heo wuld mop the earth
with the forces in his front. But
those brave boys who confronted
him were not Of that kind Of stuff,
SO lastly Grant had to resort to n
siege or give up the fight. Grant
cntrcnchcd his forces and Mars
Robt. done the same. The hard
marches for the foot-sorc vets was
sccmingly at an end. During this
scigc never enjoyed myself better.
l had no fears of the firing line.
My position was in the bottom Of a
ditch where | ever remained until
carefully relieved. But lastly all Of
my joys and safcties which / had
carefully protected came to an end
in a very mysterious way to me at
that time. 1t was after the dawn
of morning when the sweet wings of
peace and quietness was seemingly
spreading over our position when
mother earth began to culver and
before / could gain my feet our po-
Isition with occupants was hurled to
words the celestial lands. After
lpassing up above the smoke and
| dirt / turned my face towards the
cnemies camp. 1t was then when
saw Gen. Grant as / thought then
viewing n fearful volcano. How
high I went / am unable to say,
but would suppose high enough to
, see the Atlantic az well as the Pa
citic oceans. While my ascention
was pretty nearly spent, I met my
captain coming down who ordered
me to fall back to Petersburg and
give 'em ell. Being without foot
holt saw no altcrnity but to obey
, the captains orders. When my
heels landed on mothers greer
, earth I was like chicken with hi.
| head pecked. ! saw the great crate,
filled with Yanks that I believe hat
come from the eternal regions.
saw Charner Greer with other brave
boys execute the S 81 word orde,
that my captain had given me
But | did not propose to fight mer
e who, as thought, were from the
! lower region. 30 trusted myself Il
the peculiar faculties that | DOS
seesed and in a very short time
was burning the streets of Rich
mond, where was halted and ar.
rested by the provost guard and
8 carried before the officer Of the da,
who, at first Oh hearing my wofuI
, experience thought that I was in.
sane but later saw that contained
plenty Of sanity and pluck, car
9 ricd me over TO the capitol and pre,