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Appendix: The Death of General Grant
- Southern Illinois University Press
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Appendix The Death of General Grant "Records of the Last Days of the Magnanimous Soldier U. S. Grant," pp. 277-85, John Hancock Douglas Papers, Library of Congress July 20. Monday. . . . During the morning after he had taken his breakfast, he went out on the piazza, the day being a very good one, temperature on the piazza 680 , with a tendency upward. . . . I had become very apprehensive, and had been so for several days. The reporters were asking me if it was safe for them to go to Saratoga. I replied that I thought sufficient warning would be given, but should advise them not to absent themselves for any time from the mountain. When consulted about one of the family going to Saratoga on a short visit, I advised against it. Everything looked as favorable as it had, and the General's own statement confirmed the impression that no immediate and serious change was imminent, still I noticed in a way hardly to be explained, that the end was drawing near. At 4 P.M. this day, he wrote me: "What do you think of my taking the Bath wagon, and going to overlook the South view?" (Eastern outlook). I called for Col. Grant, and told him his father's request, and asked the General if he felt strong enough to take the ride; to which he nodded his head affirmatively. Harrison was called, and with the Colonel we started down the hill, passed the station, making a stop where the first good 133 134 Appendix view of the plain is obtained, when a halt was made for an instant . Then we went on to the summer-house of the Eastern outlook , where another halt was made. It was now a question whether we should return the way we came down, or make the tour which would lead us up the hill, and as we supposed, back to the cottage, another way. The ascent was quite steep, and at its summit the road terminated at a platform used by the Railroad for dumping coal, upon the opposite side of which the road commenced again. I had never been around this road, nor had Col. Grant. We both thought the road was continuous, and that all we had to do was to drag the chair up, which would fatigue only those who pulled. Arrived at the sUD;lmit, we found that the chair had not only to be lifted over the track, but on to the platform over some coal lying there. This could not be easily done, while the General was seated in it, so he alighted from the chair, mounted the platform by three steps, picked his way through the coal, and stood there a moment, while the Bath chair was lifted up, when he again entered the chair, and was drawn to the cottage. On the way back, we passed under the covered way which led to the hotel. Just as we crossed the plank path of this covered way, we met some ladies coming from the hotel, who saluted the General. He responded by lifting his hat. I noticed that he was very pale. We hurried him to the side of the cottage, where the steps were few. He walked up with the Colonel's aid, and when he entered his own room, sank immediately into his chair, from which he did not again stir that night. July 21. Tuesday. The night passed with a quietness which we supposed was sleep, so that when morning came, we thought he had had eight hours of at least restful repose. The pulse was not any more frequent , but it had not gained in volume. As this day advanced, what with the steadily increasing heat, [204.236.220.47] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 05:39 GMT) The Death of General Grant 135 the thermometer registering 85°, sultry and stifling, the inability to take food, the return of the attacks of hiccough, and the increasing restlessness, it became very apparent that the General was not regaining the strength he had yesterday morning. Liquid food was presented to him frequently. He would try to swallow it, but after taking a mouthful or two, it would induce coughing, and be rejected. The amount of food taken today has been very small. Alcoholic stimulants he persistently declines. The weakness is evidently increasing. I could not yield to his request to give him a large hypodermic injection of morphine, for fear that in his...