From: Bill Utterback To: Carl Greenfield Subject: General Grant in Paducah Date: Tuesday, January 01, 2002 6:28 PM I have reposted the piece twice to the Lore List, but folks are still subscribing,so I am sending it along via private message - I've shown the narrative below. Happy New Year! -B ============================================================================ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ GRANT IN PADUCAH The Arrival of the First Federal Troops in this City A reporter for the News, yesterday afternoon, persuaded Jailer Sauner to give his recollections of the first appearance of the Federal troops in Paducah in 1861. The city, according to Mr. Sauner, was intensely Southern in sentiment, and a great many young men from here had enlisted for service in the Confederate army. The Federal troops had been in force at Cairo for some time. Day by Day rumors of THE INTENDED OCCUPATION of the town by the blue-coats had been heard on the streets. But none having arrived, the story soon grew to be so venerable that it was disbelieved and the citizens had ceased to look for the "invader." Mr. Sauner was Mayor of Paducah, a not altogether enviable position in those stormy times. There were no organized Confederate troops here, but the recruiting officers had a small squad ready to leave for the camp instruction. Capt. Clay King had succeeded in getting hold of some 40 stands of muskets, for the purpose of arming this squad, but had been persuaded to give them up to the city authorities (sic) and Mayor Sauner had stored them away in his warehouse, he being then engaged in the grocery business on Market street. "THEY COME, THEY COME!" Some time on the morning of the 6th of Sept., 1861, a report reached Mr. Sauner that the Yankees had landed some distance below the city and were marching on the town. The same news had been heard so often that he paid no attention to it. Shortly after men came running through his store, and each one would grab a musket and rush out again. The first thing he knew the Federal troops were all over the city. Learning that a gun-boat was at the wharf, he started to walk down Broadway to get a look at it. When he came out on the street he says the whole city was in a terrible uproar, the scene absolutely beggaring description. Men, women and children were fleeing in every direction. And it seemed as if each one in their terror had picked up the first thing that came to hand. Some were carrying iron pots and kettles, some were rushing away loaded down with bedding. Everybody who had a horse or wagon hastily loaded in such of his household goods as came handy and pushed out for the country. They did not get very far, however, for the most of them only fled from the gun-boat to RUSH INTO THE ARMS of the Federal infantry, who by this time had completely surrounded the city and cut off every avenue of escape. Continuing his way towards the river through this motley crowd of frightened refugees, Mr. Sauner went down to Smedley's warehouse, where he could see the landing. There, sure enough, was the gun-boat, with her crew at quarters, her ports open and her guns run out. While he stood in the warehouse looking at the boat, a sergeant, with a dozen soldiers at his heels, walked in and inquired for the Mayor. Mr. S. stated that he had that honor, and received a pressing invitation to CALL ON GEN. GRANT, whose quarters were on board. "You bet I went." said Mr. Sauner, "and when I got down there they made me climb over a gun into a port-hole. I didn't know what was coming, and had never seen so many cannon in my life. The first man I met was Capt. Hilyer, of Gen. Grant's staff. He was a very pleasant gentleman, and used me like one. He soon introduced me to Gen. Grant, who met me very courteously and treated me with perfect politeness. He said that the Federal authorities had decided, to occupy the place, and that as long as the people behaved themselves and did not interfere with the military they would not be molested; but, on the contrary, would be protected in their rights. He wanted me to tell the people this. I was then permitted to go ashore. Capt. Hilyer accompanying me. I thought to myself, these Yankees are not such bad fellows, after all, but I WAS A LITTLE TOO FAST Mr. Sauner said he had hardly got to the top of the hill before he was accosted by another sergeant and squad, who said he had orders to arrest him and take him before Gen. Payne, whose headquarters were at the depot. He was accompanied to Payne's headquarters by Capt. Hilyer. His greeting by that irascible (sic), old tyrant was not as rosy as Grant's. Payne's first words were "So you're the G--d d---n secession ------of a ------, that's mayor of this town." This took away "Uncle John's" breath, but as soon as he could get it again, he replied, "General, if we were on equal terms you couldn't call me those names." This made Payne wild in a moment, and he turned to the guard and , with a profusion of oaths, ordered them to shoot Mr. Sauner on the spot if he offered to lift a hand. "Then," said "Uncle John," "he kept me there for about an hour and gave one the worst cursing and abusing I have ever heard in my life. His last words, as he dismissed me, were that if I attempted to interfere in any way with the military he would have me shot at once. "For a while afterwards," continued Mr. Sauner, "I got along all right, but THE OLD CUSS was watching me and waiting to get his grip on me, and I knew it. One day a Federal officer--a nice fellow with whom I had gotten acquainted---told me that Payne was fixing to arrest me, and there was danger he would carry out his threat of filing up my frame with lead. I knew the old devil was none to good to do it, and I ---well, I skipped and went to Cincinati(sic), where I stayed six weeks. "While I was there I got a letter from my wife in which she said she had been notified that unless I paid a fine of $1,500 immediately, they would confiscate all my propery (sic) But she added that if she could find out when they were going to take it, they would get it in ashes. "Uncle John" wound up with the remark that Payne being relieved, he came home and never had any further trouble with the soldiers. "And," he added, with a peculiar grin of satisfaction, "they never got that $1,500, and don't you forget it, either." -Saturday, Feb. 3, 1883, Paducah Daily News. At 04:58 PM 1/1/2002 -0600, you wrote: >Bill, >I just subscribed to the Lore-L list but evidently I missed your posting >on Gen. Grant. >Would you please re-post it or send me a copy of the posting. >Thanks, >Carl Greenfield