Mexico weekly ledger., 1908-05-14
Grant as Colonel in

ava aAASeE2N
When the government began TO use
the Hannibal & st. Joe railroad 70.
transport troops and supplies during
the early years Of the Civil war, the
bushwhackers were making trouble
by burning the bridges at various
river crossings. Colonel q. s Grant
with a few companies, was intrusted
with the protection Of the large bridge
over Salt river q few miles east Of
Macon. The vicinity was full Of
Southern sympathizers, who. when
they learned that the bluecoats were
about, hiked for the tall timber. Many
families left for fear Of trouble or In
suit from the sOldiery. Colonel Grant
issued q proclamation to all OF them
10 return and get acquainted with
him. Some thought 10 but q subtle
means TO make prisoners of them,
such was their dread Of the enemy
John v. Coz was among those who
had fed 10 Florida, the town In Mon
roe county, where Mark Twain was
born. Mr.. Cox, though a strong
Southerner, decided TO risk Colonel
Grants prefer Of friendship and put
his head In the lions mouth. So he
loaded his family and 3 few neigbbors
into . lumber wagon and drove out to
the camp. Not long afterwards the
quiet man, whom the people here
knew and respected as q plain, fair
fighting soldier, was In command Of
all the armies Of the United States,
while two leS considerate nearby
commanders, both Of higher rank than
Grant. were forgotten save by the
friends and relatives Of those who had
suffered by their action.
Colonel Grant made Mr.. Cox and
his friends come into his tent and
trested all guests with finest courtesy,
inviting them to dine with him. In
fact. be treated these people OF hostile
views just the same as he would in
time Of peace had they been guests at
his home.
the soldiers were roasting beef on
sticks over the fire and great black
pots were steaming with coffee. When
the people about Salt river found out
that the Yankees we're not going to
eat them they became very friendly
and often visited the camp. On all
occasions they found Grant the samel
quiet, hospitable host. He talked
politely in a calm, dispasslonate way,
and never with heat or anger. Some
Of those who visited bis camp in those
days quote him as saying that II he
bad considered the war merely to free
slaves be would have taken bis
command and Joined the South. This
made them all the more his friends
and they becsme warmly attached to
the quiet soldier, whose only mission
seemed TO be to restore order and good
will.
1t was while campaigning in those
parts that the great soldier learned a
war lesson that he said stood him well
in hand during bis subsequent mill
tary career. Tnere was quite a re-
spectacle sized force OF Confederstes
under Colonel Tom Harris roaming
around through the country south Of
the railroad and Grant put bis conn.,
mand 10 motion for battle. Harris and
bis musketeers were reported close at
hand and Grant confessed that be be-
gan 70 feel 8 me Of the symptoms of
stage fright, Harris had a terrible
reputation for swift riding, hard fight
Ing and all that and Grant and his
men climbed owe hill, expecting the
blood TO flow In rivnlets when they
reached the other side. But when
they could see over the country they
found that Harris and company had
skedaddled. 1t was then, Colonel
Cant said, that he learned that the
enemy might be as badly scared of
him as be was Of the enemy.
An old resident Of Shelbfna, 10 tell.
Ing Of q visit 70 Grant At the Salt
river camp. said:
sDo you know, II 1 had asked him.,
Colonel Grant would have come home
with me to supper lots Of times, and
then ! could have pointed out the
chair he sat 10, the dishes be used and
the pipe be sraoked after eating. Butt
how the mischief was | TO know what
was going to happen to him? He never
gave 1t away while he was among us.n
-DaFfa fMa 4 R4oxnn.u