He also issued an order forbidding captains of steamboats from charging officers and soldiers exorbitant rates of passage between Vicksburg and Cairo. "I will teach them, if they need the lesson," said the gallant General, "that the men who have perilled their lives to open the Mississippi river for their benefit, cannot be imposed upon with impunity." One unprincipled, speculative captain, when about steaming from the wharf, was compelled by the General to return to his passengers (about two hundred and fifty officers and one thousand privates) all the money they had paid for the trip in excess of the officiallyprescribed rates of five dollars for enlisted men, and seven dollars for officers. The presence of a guard enforced the payment, much to the delight of the heroes, who were thus afforded another evidence of the consideration of their commander for his troops.

GENERAL GRANT AT MEMPHIS-A PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT GIVEN TO HIM BY THE

CITIZENS.

In the latter part of August, 1863, General Grant left Vicksburg to pay a visit to the various districts of his Department, and on the twenty-fifth of that month he arrived in Memphis, where he was received with all the honors to which his valuable services entitled him. On the following morning he was waited upon by a committee of citizens who welcomed him to Memphis, and inviting him to a public entertainment to take place the same evening, presented him with a series of complimentary resolutions.

Upon General Grant's appearance in the hall in which the entertainment was given, the large number of persons assembled there welcomed him in the most enthusiastic manner. After this reception the guests were invited into the dining-room, where, after partaking of the substantials, the regular toasts of the evening were read. The third of the series was

"GENERAL GRANT THE GUEST OF THE CITY."

This was the signal for the most unbounded applause, and loud calls were made for the hero of Vicksburg, but to the disappointment of all present he retained his seat, while his staff-surgeon, Dr. Hewitt, arose and made the following brief speech:

"I a am instructed by General Grant to say that, as he has never been given to public speaking, you will have to excuse him on this occasion; and, as I am the only member of his staff present, I therefore feel it my duty to thank you for this manifestation of your good will, as also the numerous other kindnesses of which he has been the recipient ever since his arrival among you. General Grant believes that in all he has done he has no more than accomplished a duty, and one, too, for which no particular honor is due. But the world, as you do, will accord otherwise."

The doctor then proposed, at General Grant's request"The officers of the different staffs, and the non-commissioned officers and privates of the Army of the Tennessee." Subsequently some beautiful verses were read, in which the discovery of the Mississippi river by De Soto, and the benefits derived from the invention of Fulton, who "sent his messengers in smoke and flame up to the Mississippi's very font," were referred to, and which conIcluded as follows:

"Then spoke an enemy-and on his banks

Armed men appeared, and cannon-shot proclaimed
The Mississippi closed—that mighty stream
Found by De Soto, and by Fulton won!

One thought to chain him! ignominious thought!

But then the grand old monarch shook his locks

And burst his fetters like a Samson freed!

The heights were crowned with ramparts sheltering those
Whose treason knew no bounds: the frowning forts
Belched lightnings, and the morning gun

A thousand miles told mournfully the tale,
The Mississippi closed.

"Not long; from the Lord God of Hosts was sent
A leader who with patient vigil planned

A great deliverance: height by height was gained,
Island and hill and woody bank and cliff.
Month followed month, till on our natal day

The last great barrier fell, and never more
The sire of waters shall obstruction know!
Now with De Soto's name, and Fulton's, see
The greater name of Grant!

"Our children's children, noble Grant, shall sing
That great deliverance! On the floods of spring
Thy name shall sparkle, smiling commerce tell
Thy great achievement which restores the chain,
Never again to break, which makes us one."

The last toast of the evening was as follows: "General Grant-Your Grant and my Grant. Having granted us victories, grant us the restoration of the "Old Flag" and grant us supplies so that we may grant to our friends this grant to us."

GENERAL GRANT'S LETTER TO THE CITIZENS OF MEMPHIS.

At the conclusion of the entertainment, which was kept up with great spirit until an early hour of the ensuing morning, General Grant left for Vicksburg, but before embarking he addressed the following modest and patriotic letter to the committee of citizens:

'MEMPHIS, TENN., August 26th, 1863. "GENTLEMEN :-I have received a copy of resolutions passed by the loyal citizens of Memphis, at a meeting held at the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce, August 25th, 1863,' tendering me a public reception.

"In accepting this testimonial, which I do at a great sacrifice of my personal feelings, I simply desire to pay a tribute to the first public exhibition in Memphis of loyalty to the government which I represent in the Department of the Tennessee. I should dislike to refuse for considerations of personal convenience, to acknowledge, anywhere or in any form, the existence of sentiments which I have so long and so ardently desired to see manifested in this department. The stability of this government and the unity of this nation depend solely on the cordial support and the earnest loyalty of the people. While, therefore, I thank you sincerely for the kind expressions you have used towards myself, I am profoundly gratified at this public recognition, in the city of Memphis, of the power and authority of the government of the United States.

"I thank you, too, in the name of the noble army which I have the honor to command. It is composed of men whose loyalty is proved by their deeds of heroism and their willing sacrifices of life and health. They will rejoice with me that the miserable adherents of the rebellion, whom their bayonets have driven from this fair land, are being replaced by men who acknowledge human liberty as the only true foundation of human government. May your efforts to restore your city to the cause of the Union be as successful as have been theirs to reclaim it from the despotic rule of the leaders of the rebellion. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your very obedient servant, "U. S. GRANT, Major-General.”

GRANT

IN

NEW

GENERAL ORLEANS-HE MEETS WITH A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

From Vicksburg, General Grant went to Natchez and New Orleans, arriving in the latter city on the second of September, 1863, and the next day the trade of that emporium with the ports in the Northwest was declared free of any military restriction. On the fourth of September, in company with General Banks, the Commander of the Department, he reviewed the Thirteenth Army Corps, which had at one time formed a portion of his command. An eye-witness states that "he was in undress uniform, without sword, sash or belt, coat unbuttoned, a low-cornered black felt hat without any mark upon it of military rank, and with a cigar in his mouth. It must be known, however, that he is never without the latter except when asleep." General Grant is an excellent horseman, but on the occasion referred to was riding a strange horse and was thrown from his seat to the ground, and so seriously injured that for some time it was apprehended that he would be compelled to relinquish active service in the field, if not his connection with the army, but the care and skill of the surgeon in a few weeks restored him to a condition which enabled him once again to assume the charge of the armies in the Southwest. His accident, however, was of great temporary inconvenience to the government, which had contemplated giving him the command of the Union forces moving towards Northwestern Georgia.

General Halleck, in referring to the subject in his annual report, says:

66

'As three separate armies--those of the Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee-were now to operate in the same field, it seemed. necessary to have a single commander, in order to secure a more perfect co-operation than had been obtained with the separate commands of Burnside and Rosecrans. General Grant, by his distinguished services and superior rank to all the other generals in the West, seemed entitled to this general command. But, unfortunately, he was at this time in New Orleans, unable to take the field. Moreover, there was no telegraphic communication with him, and the despatches of September 13th, directed to him and General Sherman, did not reach them until some days after their dates, thus delaying the movement of General Grant's forces from Vicksburg. General Hurlbut, however, had moved the troops of his own corps, then in West Tennessee, with commendable promptness. These were to be replaced by reinforcements from Steele's Corps in Arkansas, which also formed part of General Grant's army. Hearing nothing from General Grant or General Sherman's Corps at Vicksburg, it was determined on the 23d to detach the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps from the Army of the Potomac, and send them by rail, under the command of General Hooker, to protect General Rosecrans' line of communication from Bridgeport to Nashville."

HE GOES TO INDIANAPOLIS-APPOINTED TO THE COMMAND OF THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

As soon however as General Grant was able to move, he started up the Mississippi to Cairo, stopping at the different military posts, and making the necessary arrangements at each for the departure of the troops to join the forces near Chattanooga. At Vicksburg he organized a board of officers, eight of the members being generals, to prepare and present, as a reward, to the members of the Seventeeeth Corps, who had displayed conspicuous valor on the field of battle or endurance in the march, a medal of honor, having upon it the inscription, "Vicksburg, July 4th, 1863."

From Cairo, General Grant went to Indianapolis, where he received a despatch from the Secretary of War requesting him to remain at that point until he joined him. They