The National tribune., 1905-12-14
IN GEN. GRANTS TENT.


4 Very Memorable HouP-ana-a-Half
With the Great Silent Conmandsr.
Editor National Tribune: Having been
. participant In the campaign that led
up to the capture Of Vicksburg. I have
been an interested reader of McElroy's
serial Of Opening the Mississippi" My
regiment, "The Morton Rifles" (34th
Ind.). had wintered near Helena, Ark.
In the early Spring our active services
began, when the levee Of the Mississippi
was cut and an effort made to work our
way through the bayous. Your graphic
description Of that attempt recalled
many Of the hardships we then encoun-
tered. It would be futile to attempt at
this late day to impress on the minds
Of your readers the labor and suffering
we then endured.
The Johnnie Rebs'' had felled large
cottonwoods and cypress trees across
these bayous, and we were engaged for
several days with rope and tackle in
hauling these immense trunks out of
the bayous. Our men worked all day
In mud ankle deep. The only solace
we had was that we had dry place to
sleep at night on the decks Of the trans
ports. AS you said, this attempt failed.
In March we Joined Gen. Grants army
at Milliken's Bend. The canal across
the Isthmus had been abandoned when
we reached there, and the army COM
menced moving across the Peninsula
to the neighborhood Of Grand Gulf.
You have fully described the obstacles
that had to be overcome, the landing
at Bruinsburg Of the army, the battles
of Magnolia, Raymond, Jackson, Cham
pion Hills and the investment of Vicks-
burg, all of which in the main are cor
rect. In this, as in all other cam
paigns, many instances Of a personal
character might be written that would
be interesting to your readers. Espe-
c1ally Is this the case of anything touch
ing our great commander. Presenting
on this, I will give you a personal in
with Gen. Grant during the progress of
the siege. Your readers are all aware
that Gen. Joe Johnson was massing an
army at Jackson with which he was
threatening our rear, and that we had
to picket our rear as well as front.
Some time in the latter part of June I
received an order from Gen. A. p.
Eovey, our Division Commander, to re-
port to Gen. Rawlins as Division Officer
of the Day. On the morning on which
l was to report it was raining very hard
and continued for several hours. Put
ting on a rubber coat and cap, mount
ed my horse and rode to Gen. Grants
headquarters, which was nearly two
miles from our camp. Reaching there,
| dismounted, tied my horse, and raped
at the first tent l came to. It was still
raining very hard. l heard some one
untying the fastenings, and when opened
who should be the lone occupant but
the General, who in a CHEEKY voice in
vited me to come in. I begged his par
don, telling him that I was ordered to
report to his Adjutant-G eneral. He
again said, "Come in out of the rain. :"
Stepping inside Of the walled tent, I
found it only contained small table,
on which lay, scattered about, some
writing material and a box of cigars.
There were two or three camp stools
and an improvised sleeping cot. His
sword and belt hung against the rear
tent pole. Bidding me to be seated, /
laid aside my rubber coat. He at once
noticed that I wore the rank strap of
Ia Captain, and remarked, did I un-
derstand that you have been detailed
as Division Officer of the Day." An
swering in the affirmative, he said, rs
not this detail out of the ordinary, as
1t lis the custom to assign a field officer
as Division Officer Of the Day."
answered, Yes, but as an officer
only know that it is my duty to obey
orders"
He said, THAT is right, and I have
no doubt that Gen. Hovey had good