The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-08-29
General Grant.

A correspondent of the n. y. Tribune,
in writing up the reception of General
Grant at his old Galena home, gives
some facts in the Generals history not
before published. After speaking Of
Grants service in the Mexican War,
having fought in ali its battles but one,
of his service in Oregon as Captain OF
the Quartermasters Department, and
of his going to reside on his farm near
St Louis, from which he hauled wood
to market, the correspondent comes to
the connection of Capt Grant with the
tanning business. He was invited by
his father to take charge of the store
in Galena. We quote:
Capt. Grant as he was called, found
the affairs of the concern in great dis
order, but he went to work, and in
three weeks had everything straight
There was one clerk beside himself,
and generally more or less hired men.
As this was the only establishment Of
the kind in the place, the trade OF
which was large, there was much to do.
Capt. Grant was not remarkable as 8
salesman, but he was good to oversee
and to manage. Generally he bought
the hides as they were brought TO the
store in country wagons. He took them
in himself That he might not dirty
his clothes he had short leather apron
which he always wore. Those not ac-
quainted mistook him for the porter.
In this way, here in the city of Galena,
| he toiled on for two long years lie
was employed at $40 month. The in
tention on the part of his father was,
to establish him in the business after a
while, but he was expected to live on
$3.50 a year. To do this, and TO live in
society is impossible. Everything must
be cheap and plain. Sometimes his
wife had hired girl, but usually did
her own work.
During these two years Capt Grant
made very few acquaintance. There
were plenty Of business men on the
etreet who did not know him, and who
never heard his name spoken. | pre-
sums il would be easy to number MS
I hedOllttto OA MEkCAns A1NN~
heard business men say that they never
heard of him till he was put in COM
mand at Cairo On his arrival here
to-day, the vast majority Of the citizens
of Galena are able TO recognize him
only by his portraits, and yet this is the
only home he has.
Those two years were years OF trial
and discourRgement In fact the Cap
tain came hither from St. Louis in q
great degree dishesrtened, still he
would not give up. He is described as
q broken down man. This anecdote is
related during the great depreciation
in currency, Captsin Grant bought pork
Of the farmers 10 send on East to get
New York exchange. One day some
farmers sold him their pork; they in.
quired where they could get gold; they
must have II 70 pay taxes. The clerk
in the house would sell it for q certain
figure; Capt Grant said he believed
this was too much; he did not know
exactly what it ought 10 be, but be
advised them to 60 20 the bank and
inquire. The result was The faTmers
saved Sl2 That Wss the style Of the
man.
at this same time, Capt Grant Wsa
drawing beyond his expenses, though
this was not ssceFtained till the end ol
the year. He could not live on $40 9
month. BE seldom went abroad. A
few near neighbors were All be visited
here he would sit and smoke his pipe
His conversation was varied, bat he
liked to talk on the Mexican war
Mostly he was q man Of silence kr
Washburne tells me that he seemed q
him TO be thinking on some ahstraoi
subject, and be took him 70 Be-
thoughtful, reflective and large-naineee
man. Sach being his condition, one .
reminded Of Frederick the Great durinl
the years be was hanished BY his faith
er. But in whatever makes mau
Grant the American Hero, far excals
l viii say here, that he always was ten
perAte, and ever way correct IN hi
behavior.
This brings his history down % th
firing upon Fort Sumpter, during Whicl
Can't Grant & described - pacing %
streets ol 6alsnA with > nervous treas