Willmar tribune., 1916-05-24

KoAOAuS VI "ClIAOS n4u "AOA AAA
action upon 4 smoke-covered field he
certainly was an object of admiration.
was the generals only companion on
that ride, and for one excellent rea-
son, among others, my mount could
keep pace with his.
There were few moments during
the ride In which l was reasonably
sure that our time had come. AS we
penetrated thicket of dwarf pine and
emerged into q small clearing line Of
Federal troops cropping their way along
clashed, in our immediate front, with
detachment Of Confederates who
were pushing through the tangle OF
wood. A fusillade of bullets was the
result, and several sang an ominous
song about our heads. We reined up.
and then, as our men drove the enemy
back to cover, he continued on his way
with this comment:
when our time comes, Beckwith.
we'll go, and not before. There's no
use trying to avoid it,
And avoid 1t he did not.
UNDIsMAYED BY TlDINGs.
AS was inevitable under such condi-
tions as prevailed in the Wilderness,
reports of the vicissitudes Of the en-.
gagement were numerous and con-
fiicting. To headquarters, where Grant
awaited the outcome of the second
days fight, came courier after courier
bringing news Of the progress of the
contest from various portions of the
aeld.
Some of these were alarmingly in
correct.
u But the evil tidings didn't disturb
1.-The silent Grant. Several times during
the night visited his tent to receive
or deliver messages, and found him
: apparently unmoved by the d1reful ru.
imors.
He had done all that any command.
or could do to insure victory; the re-
I stlt was with Providence. Even with
some of these disquieting tales unre
futed, he retired to his cot to snatch
q much-needed rest, the least rufled
Of the group about headquarters.
The morning of the 7th broke upon
. battlefield strewn with the wreckage
of terrible fighting, but the two for
midable opponents had finished writ
| Ing into history the Battle of the VIII
derness. The forces of Lee had re-
tired behind their intrenchments; the
Federal troops were unwilling to at
tack them so protected.
Orders were issued late in the after
noon for night march Of the entire
army toward Spottsylvania. Early in
the evening the Acknowledgement and
Meade with their stats started out
upon the way. When we reached Han
cocks corps, the brave fellows were
lying behind their works most of them
asleep, and we picked our steps care
fully along In the darkness to safe
guard the recumbent soldiers.
Grant sought brief interview with
General Hancock and the twain
crawled into an ambulance wagon and
held converse for some time. I had
been riding close behind my superior
and now l dismounted and threw my
bride rein across the limb of fallen
tree nearby, while flung myself down
upon pile of brush to await the re-
appearance of the general. was pref
ty we'll tagged out and a few mo-
ments rest was most welcome.
It wasn't long before the boys
sensed the presence of Grant, and al
though orders had been given to re-
N2in from cheering, owing to the prox.
Unity of the enemy, when they learned
that he was facing southwark, they
sprang to their feet and the rocks and
woods sent back the echo Of their
boisterous shouts.
Some rather harsh criticism has
been directed at General Grant for the
tremendous sacrifice of life in the WILL
derness campaign, and his alleged cal.
lousness at the wholesale slaughter Of
his men.
sTolclsM OF GREAT CAPTAIN.
: Let me, who was his constant COM
panion during three years OF the Civil
war, bear testimony to his possession
Of genuine humanity and manly SYM
pathy. His was q most peculiar nature.
Where others would fret and grieve,
manifesting their anxiety in words
and actions, he preserved stern 81
lence. But l am certain he felt as
keenly and deeply the barb of misfor-
, tune and sorrow as did those about
{ him. During the bloody days Of relent-
! less attack and stubborn defense in
the spring of 1864 noticed an almost
1ndefnable sadness in Grant, a sort Of
moody reticence, that convinced me,
who understood the man, that he was
= suffering at the destruction Of so many
gallant troops.
It was after the battle of Cold Har-
bor that went to the generals tent to
deliver q ciphergram, and found him
sitting alone, smoking cigar and evi-
IDENTITY buried In thought. His face
bore . care-worn. expression that IN
/. .. 80 -.s- la.a-=