RASCALLY PEDDLERS.

171

ments he was never once deceived by false reports. What an evidence of his skill as a general! What a caution to others in command!

On the morning of the 29th of November, 1862, he reached Holly Springs, passing directly through it; waiting not a moment for any exhibition of temporary triumph, but pressing on to the next point of importance. His arrival at the adjacent town of Waterford was so sudden to the rebels, who had foolishly imagined he would halt and refresh and exult, as some other generals have done in other places, when he reached Holly Springs, that they were all taken completely by surprise. It was here he discovered, before the traitors had time to re move them, the proofs of the illicit traffic carried on between the town and some of the "speculators" of St. Louis, Mo.,- a gang of that delectable clan of robbers who are always on the wait with their traps and poisons for "de advance of de armee." After the sample we have had of his summary ejection of one of these villanous hangers-on from his tent we need not stop to ask here what the general did with these Waterford scoundrels. We will give a brief conversation on the subject between two soldiers :

First soldier. "I say, Frank, did you see what Gen. Grant done with them chaps he caught peddlin' their St. Louis plunder last night?"

Second soldier. "No, Sam: what was it?"

First soldier. "Gaully fy! old feller! you ought

ter seen him. I was with Col. Lee's cavalry, and we'd pushed on far ahead. We kum down on the on buzzards, before they knew Gorre! didn't they scamper? did, though!"

rebs, like hawks do we was a-coming! Better believe they Second soldier. First soldier.

er

But where was Gen. Grant?" "Oh! he was close aboard the old

rips, with their gew-gaws and gim-cracks; and the way he scattered them! my! but it was a caution to Moses and Aaron and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and all the rest of the tribe!

"Orderly!' says the general; and you oughter seen him straighten himself up in his stirrups, on them are big cavalry boots o' his'n! His foot kept a-twitchin' up an' down, as tho' he wanted to git off orfully, and put the toe to 'em. Orderly !' says he, what are these fellows doing here? Bring a guard instantly, and march them to the guard-house! Put them in close confinement, on bread and water, till further orders!'

"Hi yah! But you ought ter seen 'em drap their greasy bedtick packs, and try to run!

"No, you don't!' says some of our boys, of Washburne's cavalry. Stop there, you thievin' rascals or we'll put a bullet through every one of yer dirty carcasses !'

"Oh! how they fell down on their marrer bones! while Gen. Grant rid off with a cool smile on his face, as he left 'em in our hands.

.. SARVED 'EM RIGHT!"

173

"And didn't we put them are villins through? I'll bet we did! They went over that shell road two forty, and no mistake!"

Second soldier. "Sarved 'em right!"

First soldier. "Of course it did.

Didn't do

nothin' els. And we ain't been troubled with the varmin eny more ever sence!"

The two soldier-boys rode on together, with a joint hearty laugh. The peddling scamps and spies felt the full force of practical "confiscation" in this case, the act being carried out to the letter, "by authority" of the commanding general.

CHAPTER XXI.

HOLLY SPRING S.

LL the movements made by Grant had direct reference to the ultimate capture of Vicksburg. However circuitous might be his routes or distant his attacks, they were all intended to culminate in the one great object of the re-opening of the Mississippi to free navigation. The movement on Holly Springs and vicinity was one of this character. His consummate generalship was seen everywhere as he advanced. From Oxford to Water Valley, from Coffeville to Delta, from Corinth to the Yazoo, the entire line of operations was always under his immediate management. Every place he captured was always left so well guarded by him, that no advantage could be taken by the enemy of his subsequent advances. Thus to guard well the rear, to leave no loophole by which the wily foe can enter, is one of the best proofs of good generalship that can be afforded. Such was ever the skill and strategy of General Grant. But he could not always rely on equal discernment and caution in all under his command. Hence, when he had passed on with his vic

GUARDING THE REAR.

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torious wing of the army to Oxford, Mississippi, and made his headquarters there, he soon changed his base in consequence of the disobedience of his commands by a subordinate. Some delay and loss were caused at Holly Springs by neglecting to fortify the place. The sensitive nature of Grant was deeply pained and mortified by this neglect. He knew that the post could have been held, if only a few hours' labor had been devoted by the garrison to the erection of breastworks. To form these an abundance of baled cotton and other materials was at hand. Once properly erected and guarded, they would have proved an ample defence against any force the enemy could at that time bring into the field.

In connection with this affair at Holly Springs he established a rule with regard to paroles on the field. He showed the part of the army concerned that by refusing paroles, under such circumstances, the officers and men compel the enemy to take care of them as prisoners of war; which would have forced the rebels, in this case, to have abandoned all aggressive operations, as it would have required all their effective troops to take care of their Union prisoners. In that case their ultimate discomfiture would have been almost certain.

He immediately issued orders, therefore, to have all these field paroled men gathered in camp by themselves; and directed commanders throughout the department to arrest and hold in charge for