Evening journal., 1911-01-02
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
When General Grant Turned
Music Teacher
By SHsuaudr

After General Grant had changed
bis base line from central Virginia
10 the James river, in tho summer OF
1864, and had begun 10 prepare for
tho campaign which ended at Apo
mattox nine months later, he was
much concerned over an attempt made
/ by General Lee upon the rear OF the
Union army In fact, it was pre-
sumed that Lee would make either
feint or rear attack upon Washington
General Early did bring bis army 10
/ the boundaries Of Washington in the
summer Of 1864, and the skirmish that
Followed is still commemorated BY
tho Union cemetery, which is about
four miles from the Capitol.
! General Grant determined TO drive
the Confederatcs out Of the Shenau-
doah Valley and to destroy Earlys
army. Therefore, without visiting
/ Washington, Grant went TO Maryland
arriving In Baltimore on September
10, 1864. Then he went 10 the front
to visit General Hunter, IN command
Of the army there, and TO consult with
| General Sheridan. IL was this really
secret visit which furnished the oc-
casion Of the incident lee told, and
/ in which Henry g. Woodruff, now
/ one OF tho more prominent wholesale
merchants Of New York city, played a
leading part
General Grant made his hcadquar-
ters at the Woodruff farm. The senior
Woodruff was in sympathy with the
| Confederate cause, but the Union COM
mander had not been in bis house an
hour before friendly relation had
been established between tho two men.
Grant did not reprosch his host nor
in any manner argue with him with
intent to show that ho erred in SYM
pathizing with the South.
II was a little boy at that time"
said Mr.. Woodruff, "and ! shared in
my youthful way the material spirit Of
the time. ! had a drum which / beat
! in a boyish way. / marched up and
down the piazza, beating upon it and
singing The Bonny Blue Flag which
was one OF the leading Confederate
songs. ] passed back and forth in front
OF General Grant, and recall that ne
seemed to be amused by my youthful
music and enthusiasm.
AT last he summoned mo TO him
and took me upon his knee. He be-
gan to talk very kindly to me. He
spoke Of my drum and my singing Of
The Bonny Blue Flag He added
that he would be glad TO hear me
drum while / sang 'omc other songs,
and then be said that he would re-
peat to me the words OF a song which
many Of The soldiers Of his army were
found Of singing and which the bands
played constantly. He ended by ask
ing if I would like to hear the words
of the song.
"All aglow with interest. told him
that I would. Then he began TO SC
cite 10 me the words Of the now IA
miliar song,
John Browns body likes a moulder-
ing in the grave
His soul Is marching on.
General Grant repeated the words
to me two or three times, and hummed
over the tune. Then he asked me If
| would play It upon my drum. and l
was delighted 10 make the attempt.
The General seemed to be greatly
pleased with my manner Of executine
the song upon the drum, and we be-
came very good friends. A few days
later he went away. and we were al
sorry that he was gone"
Years later. Mr. Woodruff. as
member Of the Maryland militia, found
himself encamped near Long Branch.
, \. J. He learned that General Grant
was summering there and he went 10
the Generals residence and asked TO
see him. Told by the butler that
Grant was not receiving any one. the
young man insisted that his card be
taken in nevertheless. This was done.
Immediately word came out for Mr..
Woodruff to come i'm, and as he step
ped into Grants presence that great
man came forward with oustretched
hands. Why. Harry, my boy!" he
exclaimed, delightedly. Aud soon the
hero of the Appomattox was laugh
ingly recalling the time when he had
taught a little Confederate lad how ID
play upon a drum and TO sing a IA
nous Union army song.
! Copyright. 1911. by Il. J. Edwards
All rights reseryed.)
! n = d.