The Plymouth Weekly Democrat

How Times and Men Change--
Gen. Grant and Jeff. Davis.

Some years ago a certain United States officer was wild, and as unpopular among his army comrades as he was reckless. During the great Crystal Palace exhibition in New York city he distinguished himself by riding a horse into a hat store, and performed several other feats which at last brought him to a court martial. The court assembled at Fortress Monroe, the officer was tried, and the finding given, but not published--"guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman." Informed of the finding, and anticipating its approval, the captain, for such he was, went at once to Washington, called upon the secretary of war, and made a frank statement of the case. He acknowledged his fault, but said that if published by the court in the manner he expected, he would be forever disgraced. In consideration of his position as an officer, and the circumstances connected with his family, he begged permission to resign. The secretary informed him that such a thing as resignation after charges had been preferred was unheard of in the annals of military law, and contrary to the rule and practice of the service. But the officer begged on, and finally the secretary yielded; the resignation was allowed; and the soldier became a civilian and merchant. That officer was Gen. U. S. Grant, and the secretary of war, ex-president Jefferson Davis. These are the facts as they were related to us by an officer of the United States army.--Charleston News.