Year: 1868


day, the 29th of April and was confined
to the house until Saturday, when our re-
porter saw him and obtained the fore
going facts. Mr.. Richardson desires to
acknowledge gratefully the kindness of
Captain Clark, and says more consider
ate gentleman does not sail on the Western
rivers ~


! The narrative of Mr. Richardson we
have given without establishment 1t
needs none. If there are those who doubt
the existence of a Ku-KluX Khan, or that
its objects and works are the most blood
| thirsty and coWardly that can be imagined,
| Mr.. Richardson is not one OF them-he
knows better. nalH5a.5>sf tna
FALSE REPORTS ABOUT GEN.
| 4 sssr GRANT. ss1 ras
Mr.. f. LAW OLMsTEAD writes to the
| Nation the following curious story, show
| ing how false report is raised against a
mans reputation


To the Editor of the Nation: e@F 1@@


One day in the spring 1868, Frederick
Knapp and myself were guests of General
Grant, at his headquarters, on a steamboat
lying at Milliken's Bend, few miles above
Vicksburg. A curtain had been hung in
such way as to give q certain degree OF
seclusion to the after part of the main
cabin, and when we rose from dinner we
were asked to sit with the General behind
| the screen, where there was a writing ta-
bic with pitcher and glasses The Gen.
eral then told us that he had a few hours
before received unfavorable intelligence
| from General Sherman's expedition up the
! Sunf1ower. a


Inviting our inquiries, and replying to
all we thought it proper to make with an
unexpected generous freedom and pains
taking thoroughness of explanation, he
was gradually led into comprehensive
review of the existing conditions of his
campaign, which it was easy to see were
of the very grayest character. We were
impressed as much by. the remarkable
| methodical clearness of the narration, as
by the simple candor and righteousness
with which it was given to us, who, the
day before, had been strangers to him.
He took up several hypothesis and sig1
gestions and analyzed them in such y
way as to make prominent the uncertain7
ties and uncomfortable elements which
| were involved in them, and could not
but think, so musingly and quietly reflect!
ing was his manner, and yet 50 exact and
well arranged his expressions, that he was
simply repeating process of thinking it
out" in order to assure himself that he
fully comprehended and gave just weight
to all the important elements of some
grand military problem, the solution
Of which he was about to undertake,
fThe last attempt to attack Vicksburg
on the north ended that day, and a few
hours after our interview the first step was
taken looking toward the approach from
the south but of this no hint was given
us, and we only heard of 1.-THE next morn
ing.) M aa s9Gfn 6 a


All at once he stopped short, and with
an expression of surprise, if not of dis
tress, put his cigar away, rose, and moved
his chair aside. A moment before we
could not have imagined that there was a
woman within many miles Of us; but,
turning my eyes, | saw one who had just
parted the screen, comely, well-dressed,
and with the air and manner of d gentle
woman She had just arrived bya steam-t
boat from Memphis, and came to presen
General Grant with memorial or petit
ton. In few words she made known
her purpose, and offered to give in detail
certain facts, of which she stated she was
cognizant, bearing upon her object. The
General stood listening to her in an atti-
tude of the most deferential attention, his
hand still upon his chair, which was half
in front of him as he turned to face her,
and slightly nodding his head as an ex-
preston of assent at almost every sentence
she uttered When she had completed
her statement, he said, speaking very low,
and with an appearance OF reluctance "
shall be compelled to consult my medical
director, and to obtain report from him
before can meet your wishes. If agree
able to you, will ask him to call upon
you to-morrow-shall / say at eleven
o'clock The lady bowed and withdrew;
the General resumed his cigar and his
seat, and said that he was inclined to think
her proposition reasonable and humane
one, and then went on with the inter-
rupted review.


A week or two after this, having gone
up the river, Mr. Knapp met this lady at
hotel, when, in the course of a conversa-
ton, she referred with much sadness to the
deplorable habits of General Grant, and
the hopelessness of success while our
army was commanded by a man so unfit
to be charged with any grave responsible
ty. Mr.. Knapp replied that he had the
best reason for stating that the reports TO
which she referred were without founda-





exact information of which he happened
to be possessed, which, as far as possible,
refuted them Unfortunately, said the
lady, /" have certain knowledge that they
are but too true" She then described her
recent interview with Gen. Grant, and it
appeared that, from her point of view, the
General was engaged in a carouse with
one or two boon companions when she
came unexpectedly upon him that he rose
to his feet with difficulty, could not stand
without staggering, and was obliged to
support himself with chair; that he was
evidently conscious that he was in an unfit
condition to attend to business, and
wanted to put her off till the next day;
that his voice was thick, he spoke inco-
herentIy and she was 50 much shocked
that she was obliged to withdraw almost
Immediately The next day, being
ashamed to see her himself, he sent his
doctor to find out what she wanted.


! Mr.. Knapp then told her that, having
been one Of the boon companions whom
she had observed with the General on that
occasion, and that having dined with him
and been face to face with him for fully
three hours, he not only knew that he was
under the influence of 30 drink stronger