Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-07-03

glasses from the Hewlett House line
on the James river, opposite Dutch Gap
canal. This line across to Swift Greek
and Fort Clifton on the Appomattox
was held by Pickett's division after the
retaking Of Bermuda Hundred, which
capture so pleased General Lee that
he sent Pickett a complimentary ac-
acknowledgement of his services.
1t was the summer Of 1864. General
Pickett and l were riding along the
line, looking over at the Federal gun
boats and monitors not more than 600
yards from our headquarters, when
suddenly l saw a puff of smoke drift
ing, scattering, becoming a mere shad
ow as it foated higher and was lost
against the blue sky.
'Look-look General I" | said isn't
that beautiful?'
Dangerously beautiful. It's from a
shell. The enemy are firing over there.
Come, dear; whip UP your horse, and
let me get you out of this as quick as
l can"
mo, indeed" l said. I'm not a
bit afraid, and if l were, General, do
you think 1 would let Pickett's men
see me rum"
Come, dear, please! You are in
danger, useless danger, and that is not
bravery" he said.
The Generals soldiers did not seem
to agree with him, and Corse's brigade
when we passed sent up cheer after
cheer as 1 rode slowly along Just
then Captain Smith came across the
field to greet us.
What is the cause of the firing,
Captain?" asked the General.
1.-THE Federals are testing some guns,
I think, for the entertainment of Wis
itors. They are not firing at us. l
learn that Mrs. Grant and some friends
have come down from Washington this
morning. They are over there to the
right of that oak Mrs Grant, you
see," he said, handing me the field
glasses, lis standing between those two
short, stout men. The one at the left
with a cigar in his mouth is Grant.
is ingalls,, Grants Quartermaster Gen
eral, who, they say, is one of the brain
lest men in the army"
Eyes, that's old Rufus" said the Gen
eral. ''See him laugh, the old rascal
But come; let's ride on
NO" said Captain Smith, sit isn't
safe here. 1 would take Mrs. Pickett
away. Turn to the left there into that
clump of trees''
Unfortunately, Captain, Mrs. Pick
EFT outranks me. She will not go, and
| can't issue military order, as in
the case of an insubordinate."
Permit me, please, Mrs. Pickett, to
add my entreaties to the Generals 1t
really isn't safe here
LET me get down and try our guns,
too, please, and then I'll CO." l said.
Not for the world replied the Gen
eral. "The enemy are not shooting at
us. Mrs. Grant is kind-hearted wom-
an, and would not even shoot this way
if she thought it interrupted our morn
ing ride. Besides, she is very cross
eyed and doesn't know directions"
The Captain saluted the General,
lifted his cap TO me, suggestively point
ing to the beautiful grove on our left,
and rode away. / was watching his
graceful horsemanship. which the
Southerner has by Inheritance through
a long line of ancestors, and, becom-
ing ashamed of my disobedience, was
about to turn into the grove, when
cannon ball swept across the field, and
then I saw Captain Smiths horse dash
madly on, bearing his headless body.
AS / looked it swayed from side to
side, and fell a hundred yards in adj
vance of the handsome head. My heart
stood still. It stands still even now
as l family try to record the dread
sight. One of the aimless balls, alas!
had found a mark The memory of
General Grant, as I saw him that day
across the waters on the SLOPE quietly,
peacefully smoking, always comes to
me associated with the fearful sight
that followed it.
On July II, 1864, when General Pick
cit WAS IluluS mo ItiCuLuOIlu W Wei"
come his first baby boy, the loving,
loyal men of his division built bonfres
all along their line in honor of the
event. The Army of the Potomac,
knowing that there had been no battle
were curious and anxious, accrediting
the demonstration to the only plausible
reason, foreign acknowledgment Of our
independence. General Grant sent out
scouts to reconnoiter, and when he
learned the cause of the celebration he
turned to ingalls, and asked
Haven't we got some kindling wood
over here on our side Of the line? Why
don't we strike a light for the young
Pickett?"
The light was struck by Grants or
der, and bonfires burned along the Fed
eral line as well to welcome General
Pickett's heir.
The next day this letter, marked
Unofficial came through the lines and