Incidents of the United States Christian Commission . ing like an adequate idea of the characteristics of thecolored soldier. Yet an incident or two may help toform a partial picture. Rev. E. F. Williams gives astory occurring at the City Point General Hospital: On one of the hottest days in August, Grant rode up Pastor of Congregational Church, Longmeadow, Mass. CITY POINT. 359 to the Commission headquarters, and asked for a drink of water. A cup of lemonade, sweetened with blaek-brown sugar, was handed him, with the apology that we had no water and the , , . , ,, . ^, Gen. Grant
Incidents of the United States Christian Commission . ing like an adequate idea of the characteristics of thecolored soldier. Yet an incident or two may help toform a partial picture. Rev. E. F. Williams gives astory occurring at the City Point General Hospital: On one of the hottest days in August, Grant rode up Pastor of Congregational Church, Longmeadow, Mass. CITY POINT. 359 to the Commission headquarters, and asked for a drink of water. A cup of lemonade, sweetened with blaek-brown sugar, was handed him, with the apology that we had no water and the , , . , ,, . ^, Gen. Grant and lemonade was lust such as we gave the men m the ,,--,,. , - the Contraband. hospitals. The General drank it with great apparentrelish, thanked us for it, declared it could not be better, and shookhands with the Delegates who crowded around him. Asking for theaccustomed light, he was just about mounting his horse, when oneof our negro employes, without hat, coat or vest, elbowed his waythrough the crowd, and reaching out an enormous hand, said—. ^^----S^^ QUESTIONING GENERAL GRANT. How de do, Ginral Grant ? The word? were spoken with gentlemanly deference, and the manswhole appearance indicated that he had been attracted not by mere 360 CHRISTIAN COMMISSION INCIDENTS. curiosity. The General shook the proffered hand warmly. The manthen disclosed the purpose of his approach: How am tings goin, Ginral ? To appreciate the question it must be remembered that it was at atime of great depression among the colored people,—not long afterthe fatal mine explosion in front of Petersburg. The simple answerof the General at once quieted the mans fears: Everything is going right, sir. Politely bowing his thanks, his eyes meantime beaming gratitude,he backed out of the circle and returned to his work. On his wayback I met him and asked where he had been: Been to see Ginral Grant, sah. What did he say to you ? Said eberyting was goin righl, sah. Before a great while the Generals Sybillin
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