Bridgeton pioneer., 1908-01-09
GRANTS CLOSE CALL
The Federal Commanders Mar
row Escape From Capture.
HIS FLIGHT FROM JACKSON.
O Confederate Officers Story Of What
He Saw and Heard While Spending
His Furiough In the House at Which
Grant Halted For Refreshments.

His Furiough In the House at Which
Grant Halted For Refreshments.
Every now and then an incident or
story showing the little personal hu-
uan side of the war between the states
comes to light. Harvey w. Hill con-
tributes just such a story to the Metro
EsoIitan Magazine. The narrative Is
woven aroung General Grant. Mr.. Hill
was an officer in the Confederate army,
sand he claims that his story supplies
missing leaf in the life and experience
of the Federal commander which might
nave changed the destiny of the war.
Yhe story runs as follows:
1t was my fortune to have been
soldier, enlisting as an orderly sergeant
In the Confederate army, and in that
capacity l received my baptismal fire
In the celebrated battle of Shiloh.
fought on the 9th of April, 1862, the
United States forces being commanded
by General Grant, the Confederate by
Albert Sidney Johnston. This battle
was one of the bloodiest ever fought
between civilized forces in this or any
other country, exceeding in slaughter
the losses sustained in the celebrated
bartle of Waterloo.
As is we'll known, the Confederate
army retreated south, while the north
crn army went down the river to
Ticksburg.
Why General Grant did not take the
Eame route is a mystery that history
tails to supply. Instead he, with his
staff, went from the battlefield by the
overland route to Memphis, a distance
aof about seventy-fve miles.
The intervening space between these
two places was at the time infested
with rowing bands Of guerrillas.
Twenty-one miles east Of Memphis
'Ered one Josiah Deloach. His residence
fronted the Memphis and Charleston
RaiIroad.
After the battle referred to l OBJ
sained furlough and repaired to this
quiet country home for rest. Mr..
Deloach was my stepfather. He was
known near and far as a pronounced
Juion man. with violent opposing ideas
That General Grant before starting on
his dangerous effort to cross the coun-
TRY had learned the politics of this
quiet country gentleman and selected
Els house as place of temporary rest
for himself and staf At any rate.
-8bnDt noon on a seorching day in June
while Mr.. Deloach, myself and moth
-.s.f,S ff,1 f1,n do
>cOterie Of mounted soldiers, richly
caparisonad, dashed up and dismount-
ed at the gate.
AS they entered the yard my step
1ather said. by George, 1 believe that
fss General Grant," and, turning to me,
suggested that I had better leave. But
since l was in civilian attire I re-
1nained. AS the general mounted the
porch he extended his right hand, say
Ing, s'Mr. Deloach, l believe"
Eyes, sir, and believe this is Gen
'eral Grant?"
Taking a seat, he asked for refresh
ment for himself and staff and water
$sEr their horses. He also called for the
latest papers.
WOHuSISu VII ILLS u6duI. L COulu
scarcely realize the fact that the COM
1nander In chief of the United States
army could thus recklessly isolate and
Ss,1anger himself and his future, for In
azanger he was, for while sitting there
awaiting the refreshments a negro
1nan, our carriage driver, came rush
ing up to the porch and motioned Mr.
fn To To ;-f Il
'as that about mile away the Confed-
~STate cavalry under General Jackson
was advancing in that direction to a
point intercepting the generals route to
Memphis. Of course immediate action
was demanded and the general at once
4 ordered his men to mount, and quicker
3han it takes to tell 1t he and his staff
were gone.
could distinctly see the dust rising
Irom the column, and my heart came
DO my throat; but, as luck would have
Ut, by speedy flight our distinguished
guests passed the danger point, hotly
pursued by Confederate squad, eager
20 capture SO distinguished a prize.
The post commandant at Memphis,
having learned of his commanders pre-
" dicament, sent out relief detachment,
and the general and his staff were thus
saved from capture, possibly death, by
fhe timely action of Mr.. Deloach, the
NEGRO man and the Federal forces.
General Grant was naturally grateful
or the service rendered him. He made
Ar. Deloach promise to call upon him
whenever he should need aid in the
Future. A short time later Grant fur
ntshed Mr.. Deloach with a permit by
(which he was allowed to take cotton
lhrough the blockade lines. This privi-
Asge netted him over $4,000.
When General Grant became presi.
nent 1t was necessary to appoint a
postmaster at Memphis Mr.. Deloacb
Vas given the place and was reappoint.
sEd during Grants second term. Some
1zduence was brought to bear to defeat
nis second appointment, but Grant
proved steadfast in his gratitude. The
writer continues:
General Grant wired Mr.. Deloach ia
aEFsNTna tn 70 ,crt0y t.