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Under the guns

Chapter 52: FRED D. GRANT—THE BRAVE ORDERLY AT VICKSBURG.
By Annie Wittenmyer
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About This Book

An army nurse and sanitary agent recalls her Civil War service, describing visits to camps and hospitals, nursing the sick and dying, organizing supplies and evacuations, and enduring battlefield perils and severe weather. The memoir presents vivid anecdotes of tending wounded soldiers, coordinating with military and relief officials, and relying on women’s networks for support. Practical challenges such as transport, overcrowded hospitals, and communication difficulties are set beside personal reflections on compassion, sacrifice, and the daily work of medical relief during the conflict.

FRED D. GRANT—THE BRAVE ORDERLY AT VICKSBURG.

NEARLY every day during the siege of Vicksburg, General Grant rode around the fiery line of the besieged city on his little black horse; and his son Fred, about thirteen years old, who acted as his orderly, followed about fifty yards in the rear.

It was a wild ride over the rough, roadless fields and bluffs in the rear of our batteries, where the enemy’s guns were ploughing the ground here and there, over which they were riding.

Almost every day, as I drove about the lines, at some point or other I would see General Grant and his brave little orderly riding at full speed in the face of the long lines of the enemy’s batteries, and within range of their murderous fire. But most of all to be feared was the surer fire of the Confederate sharpshooters.

They were never within speaking distance, being much nearer the batteries than was the roadway along which I drove.

There was great anxiety for General Grant during the siege. Personally he was beloved by officers and men, but there were deeper reasons. His life was so important to the Union cause, that his death would have been the greatest calamity that the army could have suffered. Officers and civilians warned and entreated him, but as far as I could see he made no change in his course.

Fred Grant shared his father’s dangers; and although he was one of the nicest boys I ever saw, few knew his real merits and bravery. Like his distinguished father, he was free from bombast, and was quiet and reserved, so his heroic services during the siege were not paraded before the public, as the deeds of many who did not show half the courage he did.

We did not meet very often; but when we did, I always had some kindly words and an approving smile for him. It was fortunate that his devoted mother was not there at that time to see his danger as he went out under the guns daily.

Her anxiety would have been unbearable, as she was a most devoted wife and mother, and the dangers were appalling.

Fred D. Grant ought in some marked way to receive public honor for his wonderful heroism at Vicksburg.