GENERAL GRANT AND THE LIEUTENANT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1168, 5 August 1885, Page 3

GENERAL GRANT AND THE LIEUTENANT.

WJien Grant. in August, 1861, was sent iwith a brigade to Southern Missouri -to xepel a threatened invasiori, of it by Jeff Thompson, an incident occurred which is thus described W one of his staff officers :— " The distance from the starting point of the lexpedition to the supposed rendezvous , of the Confederates was about 110 miles, and the greater portion of the route lay through a howling ' wilderness. The imaginary suffering , that ' our soldiers endured during the first two days of their inarch was enormous. ljb was impossible to steal or ' 'confiscate ' uncultivated real estate, and not a hog, nor a chicken, nor an ear of corn was anywhere to be seen. ' The third day, however, affairs looked more hopeful, for a few small specks of ground in a state of partial cultivation were here and there visible. That day Lieut. Wickfield of an Indian cavalry . regiment commanded the advance v guard, consisting' of eight mounted men. About noon he came up to a small farmhouse, from the outside appearance of which he judged there might be something fit to eeart r inside. He halted his command, dismounted, and, with two second lieutenants, entered the dwelling. He knew that Grant's incipient fame had already gone out through all that country, and it seemed to him that by representing himself to be General Grant he might obtain the best tho House afforded. So, assuming a very imperative demeanor, he accosted the inmates of the house and told them that he must have something for himself and 1 staff to eat. They desired to know who he was, and he told them that he was Brig. -General Grant. At the' sound of the name they all flew round with alarming alacrity, and served up about all they had in the House,i taking.- great pains all the while to make loud professions of loyalty. The lieutenants ate as much as they couldof the not oversnmptuous meal, but which was, nevertheless, good for that country, and demanded what was to pay. ' Nothing,' and they went on their way rejoicing. In the meantime General Grant, who had Halted his army a few miles further back for a brief resting spell, came in sight and was rather impressed with the appearance of the same house. Biding up to the fence in front of the door, he desired to know if they would cook him a meal. 'No,' said the female in a gruff voice. ' General Grant and his staff have just been here and eaten everything in the house except one pumpkin pie.' 'Humph,' muttered G, rant, ' what is your name ? ' ' Selvidge,' replied the woman. Casting a half-dollar, in at the door ; he asked if she would keep that pie until He sent an officer for it, to which she replied that she would. That evening, after the camping ground had been selected, the various regiments were notified that there would be a grand parade at 6.30 for orders. Officers would see that all their men turned out, &c. In five minutes the camp was in a perfect uproar, and filled with all sorts of rumors. Some thought the enemy were upon them, it being so unusual to have parades when on march. At 6.30 the parade was formed, ten columns deep and nearly a quarter of a mile in length. Both officers and men were amazed at this unusual parade "after such a long and weary march, and wondered what it portended, when the Assistant Adjutant General rode in front of the lines, and, in a grave, loud and clear yoice, read the following order : — •HbADQUABTEES AKMY IK THE FIBLP. • Special Order No. * Lieut. Wickfield, ot the Indiana Cavalry, having on this day eaten everything in Mrs Selvidge's house, at the crossing of the Trenton and Fooahontas, and Black Birer and Cape GHrardean roads, except one pumpkin pie, Lieut. Wickfield is hereby ordered to return with an escort of 100 cavalry and eat that pie also. TF, S. Q-EAira, 1 Brigadier-General Commanding .' "It is impossible to describe the effect the reading of this order had on the troops. Everyone was expecting to hear some momentous announcement, and hence listened with eager attention, and when it was finisfied looked at each other in utter bewilderment, and asked, what did it mean ? The parade was over, and the moment they dispersed each one sought an explanation of the strange affair. It Boon leaked but, and by the time the crestfallen lieutenant was ready with His escort to, leave -the camp, it was in a perfect roar, and peals of laughter followed him as he defiled along the road on his way back to eat the pie. Grant made no explanation of his conduct, and followed it by no reprimand. The order carried its own lesson, administered its own rebuke, and each one knew that it would not be a safe business to pass himself off for the General-in-chief, much less forage in His name for his own benefit. "When the lieutenant returned to camp, late in ,the evening, he, was glad to escape to his tent to avoid tTie numberless questions and jokes aooutthe pumpkin pie." /