Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-11-22

made him lieutenant general and sent
him to our dear old Army OF the Potomac,
that had fought so much, lost so heavily,
and advanced so little Mexico as the
boys called me. was tolerably happy
Yankee soldier 1t did not take me long
to get up courage to make an attempt
to meet him. Gun regiment was in camp
near Culpepper courthouse Virginia,
Grants headquarters, the spring of 1861.
The first time I went to headquarters
was told that Gen Grant had gone to
Washington, but would return the fol-
lowing Monday Knowing when the train
would arrive, | was at the little station.
where hundreds of others had gathered
to get Il view of the great general.
Soon after the tram pulled IN the
staff officers stepped to the street, formed
in two ranks, faced inward, took two
steps to the rear. one lire facing to the
right, the other left facing
The little procession moved in SLOW
time, without music, and the crowd of
soldier onl0Okers was so intent on seeing
the hero that it forgot to cheer. L shall
never forget how the dear old commander
looked IN mat march to headquarters.
his right hand was held in his left, both
on his back. His head was bowed step
SLOW. eyes fixed on the ground, just as |
had seen him in the old days, when he
had a single company instead of a million
and a half of men to command.
After the general and staff had gone
into the house [ penciled my name and
company of the Fourth infantry on
scrap OF paper, and asked an orderly to
pass it in to Gen. Grant
- tGupSS | can't do IT. Spropaut bIt Iii
try said the orderly.
The orderly rushed out to tell me that
the general haf, said, when nc looked at
my message, My old regiment! Bring
him in
L was excited as [ followed the order
~, but when two warm hands closed on
my two blue hands, and Il familiar voice
uttered the WOr1s, 1 remember YOU ser
9eant; you helped nc to break mules III
Mexico my fright disappeared L am
glad to see you. Down here to help me
out Of another hard scrape, are you? We
Used to think there was nothing the old
Fourth infantry couldn't do. Glad YOU
came to see me. Any other Fourth men
III your regiment? Rawlins, take the
sergeant's name and address and call my
attention to it this evening" said the
general, who at that moment had greater
responsibilities resting upon his shoulders
than any other man in the nation, except,
possibly, President Lincoln, as he gave
me a hearty hand-grasp and said good
bye.
After the battle of Cold Harbor, Col
Hoffman,, of our regiment, sent for me-
Sergeant said he, do you know
Gen. Grant personality
1 do, sir; | served in his company in
Mexico
That explains it. Read this letter
from the governor It said that Gen.
Grant had made Il request that one of
his old corporals of the Fourth infantry
be given a commission-that he could
vouch for his bravery in battle and good
character.
1t is all right, sergeant said the
colonel. The general and governor have
simply got little the start Of me-"
In ending the pleasant talk the old
captain safe: DO you remember that
fine soldier in Co. A, Thirty ninth
volunteers, at Vancouver barracks? His
grandfather fought by my side in Mex
leo and his father went with Sherman
from Chattanooga to Atlanta and from
there to the sea. There is good blood in
his veins; soldier blood"
\ few months after that conversation
[ went to the Philippines. At the city
of Taal, the home of Agoncillo, Aguinol
dos representative at Washington when
the latter was preparing to make war on
the Americans, [ met the Co. A sol
der. He was wearing shoulder straps
and IN command of a company. The old
man had not overestimated the quality
OF his blood.-Eyening Wisconsin,