The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-07-09

ChAlii Il Ills lIIlc dCTOSS 10 SWlIl Oseek
and Fort Clifton on the Appomattox
was held by Pickett's division after tae
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 | were riding along the
line, looking over at the Federal gun
boats and monitors not more than eco
yards from our headquarters, when
suddenly 1 saw a puff of smoke drift
ing. scattering, becoming a mere shad-
ew rs it fioated higher and was lost
against the blue sky.
Cookbook. General :" I said isn't
that beautiful?'
Dangerously beautiful. It's from a
theil- The enemy are firing over there.
Come, dear; whip up your horse, and
let me get you out of this as quick as
can"
mo, indeed" 1 said I'm not a
bit afraid. and If / were, General, do
you think | would let Pickett's men
see me run?"
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.
The Federals are testing some guns,
1 think, for the entertainment of Wis
Hors. They are not firing at us. /
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 cigar in his mouth is Grant.
The shorter, stouter one on the right
Is ingalls,. Grants Quartermaster Cen
eral, who. they say, Is one of the brain
k<Sst lHcii III the army.
NYes. that's old Rufus said the Cen
erai. "See him laugh. the old rascal .
But come; let's ride on"
NO said Captain Smith. cit isn't
safe here. l would take Mrs. Pickett
away Turn to the left there into that
clump of trees
Unfortunately. Captain. Mrs. Pick
EFT outranils me. She will not go. and
can't issue a military order, as in
the case of an insubordinate."
Permit me. please, Mrs. Pickett. TO
add my entreaties to the Generals. L.
really isn't safe here"
Let me get down and try our guns.
too. please. and then I'll CO." / said.
Not for the world" replied the Cen
eral- THE enemy are not shooting al.
us Mrs Grant is kind-hearted won
an. and would not even shoot this W. >
II 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 90 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
long line of ancestors, and, becom-
ing ashamed of my disobedience, was
about to turn into the grove, when a
ean,on ball swept across the field. and
then saw Captain Smiths horse dash
madly on, bearing is headless body.
AS I looked it sway I'd from side to
side, and fell hundred yards in ad-
vance of the handsome head. MY heart
stood still. 1t stands still even now
as 1 family try to record the dread
sight. One of the aimless balls, alas
had found q mark. The memory of
General Grant, as / saw him that day
across the waters on the slope, quietly,
peacefully smoking, always comes to
me associated with the fearful sight
that followed 1t.
On July II, 1864, when General Pick
EFT was riding into Richmond to vel.
come his first baby boy, the loving,
loyal men Of his division built bonfires
all along theis 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
PickettT
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
was mysteriously delivered at Pick
ett's headquarters
"July IS, 1S64--To George f. Pick
EFT: We are sending our congratula-
lions to you, the young mother and the
young recruit. Grant, ingalls,. Suck
ley"
This unofficial and the following Off
cfaI letter from General Lees head
quarters are still sacredly preserved,
and the ink and the sentiment ex-
pressed are alike unfaded:
Headquarters Army of Northern
Virginia. = Dear General: Accept
through me the congra .ulations of the
General commanding and the whole
army. Ny best wishes in addition.
Yours truly, w. III. Taylor, Acting Ad-
tutant General"
Some days later there came through
the Federal lines a beautiful silver cup
engraved, FOR George f. Pickett, Jr.,
from his fathers friends"
Grant was at West Point at the
same time as Pickett, but in the class
ahead OF him. In the Mexican war,