Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-11-11
THE FIELD OF BATTLE
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF
THE WAR.
The Veterans of the Rebellion Tell of
Whistling Bullets, Bright Bayonets,
Bursting Bombs, Bloody Battles,

While at Denver last month Major
John Davidson told me a story about
Gen. Grants service as a deputy sher-
Davidson lived at Prairie du Chen at
that time. He Is now resident of
Junction City, Kan.
"A merchant named Ammen encoun-
tered financial difficulties and his store
| was closed.
Among those Ammen owed was the
| firm of Grant & Co. of Galena, ILL.,,
the head of the firm being Gen.
| Grants father. AS soon as the Galena
| firm heard that the store was closed,
Capt Grant was sent to Prairie du
| Chen to look into the matter. Reach
ing there he learned that Mr.. Ammen
had armed himself with a shotgun.
taken a stand in the store, and let 1t be
known that lie would shoot down any
man who entered the store.
Everybody in town was excited
over the situation, and when Capt,
Grant arrived 1t was predicted that
he would not risk his life in an attempt
to enter the place of business.
"A lot of us young fellows decided
| to see the whole show We stood in
the street in front of the law Office of
| o. T. Thomas, afterwards captain
in a Wisconsin regiment and then in
Congress four or five terms, while the
ex-regular captain REINFORCED himself
with the required legal papers. That
done, we followed him to the sherff's
office. and when the sheriff, Lawyer
Thomas and Capt. Grant started for
the store where we We're sure some
body would be killed, we followed ut
a respectful distance and closed in
when the store was reached.
"Tho sheriff commanded Ammen to
open the door.
: 1 will not open the door, and l will
kill you or any of your crowd If you
force your way into the building was
Ammen's reply.
THE sheriff said the old man was
desperate and would be pretty sure to
kill some one.
There was hestancy on the part of
the sheriff whereupon Capt Grant
quietly said. If you don't want to risk
1t, make me Il deputy and l will try
it,
THAT was done. Our gang crowded
up closer to the door.
AS an officer of the law, Mr. Am
men. / command you to open this door,
said the newly made deputy sheriff.
/ . / refuse, and again warn you and
your crowd that death awaits the man
who breaks into this store
Capt Grant stepped back a couple
Of yards and springing forward plant
ed both feet against the door, hurting
if from It's hinges.
There the old merchant stood, shot
gun in hand. but he seemed to be daz-
ed. Capt. Grant quietly walked past
him and proceeded direct to the office.
at the other end of the store, the old
man following, carrying the gun in his
right hand. At the office Capt Grant
removed his hat, hung it up. and turn
ing to the merchant, said, Mr., Am
men, put your gun away and help me
take an account of our firms part Of
this stock Of goods and Mr.. Ammen
obeyed like soldier.
I'VE Youngsters were looking for
tragedy, not comedy, and dispersed
good deal disguised.
Il didn't see Capt Grant again I'M
! til March, 1864, when he came to the
Army of the Potomac in Virginia. He
was Lieut. Gen. Grant then. and ha
| had a much harder job on hand than
that one at Prairie du Chen, but, back
ed by Uncle Sam and powerful army
and a wide-awake navy, it took him
/ only a year to kick the Confederacy
/ into worse confusion than old man
Ammen's store was that morning In
/ 1860"
/ Whe Capt. Grant was selling goods
( in southwestern Wisconsin, the wear
/ lcfore the war, he disposed Of a bin
+ 10 a shoemaker at Spring Green. Grant
/ county. 1t developed that the shoe
+ maker was a much better buyer than
payer Grant made numerous ATTEMPTS
/ TO collect the bill, but without avail. I'm
spite Of the fact that he was known
as a remarkably good collector.
After the seller of leather had be
come famous as head Of the army ana
was winning great battles. the Spring
Green shoemaker had a good deal to
say about his personal acquaintance
with Gen. Grant
The shoemaker had son who was
lacking in wit, though he was NOT
wholly an idiot
One evening when half a dozen pat
rons were in the shop, the old man told
interesting stories about Grants visits
and chats I'm his place, much to the de
light of his hearers. The half-wit was
also an attentive listener.
Mrs. Shoemaker called her husband
to the house.
During his absence the son took his
fathers place as a talker about the