Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-02-12
GENERAL GRANT.
some Accounts Of his Life in Galens

Some Accounts of His Life In GaIena.
From the Galeaa Qli) Democrat.
We are repeatedly called upon, in COM
mon with others of our fellow-citizeus by
letters from different parts of the Union,
for information in regard to the antecedents,
moral, social and political, OF General U.
S. Grant, or General Samuel Ulysses Grant,
according TO a late newspaper writer, who
says he derives the information from Sans
own father, who, if he knows anything.
Ought to know his own son'sname Having
no personal feeling against U. S. Grant or
S. u. Grant, we have consequently no OBJ
lection to give an answer 10 these queries,
and to state fairly all that ia known, or can
be brought forward, in regard to the politi-
cal opinions of this gentleman. As to his
social and moral status, we have little to say
at present; but as to politics, we have ex-
cellent authority to whom We can refer for
proof-that is, if General Grant ever had
any Fixed opinions while he resided in
Galena. u. S. Grant or S. Z. Grant, came
to this city about nine years ago. His
father was resident of Covington, KY,
had leather store here, and was engaged
through his two sons, OrviIle and Simpson
Grant, in the purchase Of hides, which were
shipped 10 Covington. Hither came Ulys-
ses, after he wandered out of the United
States army, and was employed as a kind
of porter about the establishment He was
equally unknown TO fame or tosociety here,
and 80 remained until his good luck came
into play with that of the Black Republi-
can dynasty of A. Lincoln. Ii has been
repeatedly stated that Grant voted for
Douglas at the Presidential election of 1860,
which resulted in the triumph Of
Black old Abe and the eternal nigEsri"
Again it has been said that both he and
his brother voted for A. Lincoln. His
brother did vote the Republican ticket, but
Sam did not vote at all. He told one
gentleman that, if he did vote, he would
prefer to do so for Bell and Everett the
Know Nothing candidates. To another
gentleman he expressed his preference for
Judge Douglas, adding, however, that he
did not like to oppose the wishes of his
father and brother, who were Republicans,
thus exhibiting the same vacillating course
in politics that he does at present. Know
Nottingham appears at all times to be his
predominsting political Characteristic. But
few of our citizens knew u. s. or s.. q.
Grant during his residence here; and it
was not until the title of General was at
tacned to his name that they began to in
uuire, Who and what is this General
| Grant who il announced as 8 distinguished
citizen of Galena We never knew
him e. "What is he, aud whstdid he do
here ?" Everybody seemed astonished to
| find that we had a Bourbon among us"
aud had iguorantly been nursing military
/ IL -
! litically at least to overslaugh all compel
itors. 1t is generally understood that there
| is, and has been Tor some time past-in
fact, ever since Gen. Grant doomed up in the
| political horizon, quite a contest of rivalry
as to the particular individual who fret lent
| Graut helping hand-both r. q.
| Washburne and Dick Yates claim
ing the merit of being his bene-
] factor. Ii appears that on the break
| ing ont Of the rebellion, u. S. orS. L. Grant
| I'VE had better call him Sam for short
wandered to Springfield, and obtained TEN
porary employment "a a Clerk or Peace
! Adiutant 10 the office of that moral, sober and
exemplary Chief Magistrate, Governor
Richard Yates, then busily attempting 10
! organize the militia of Illinois. IL was here
the iirsi stroke of good luck occurred to him.
A regiment was being organized and Dick
was about to appoint certain A. b. Colonel
thereof. against whom the officers of the
embryo corps rebelled stoutly. who
then, shall 1 appoint y' said his Excellen-
/ cy. Anybody but politician" responded
the Captains and Lieutenants present.
There's Captain Grant, hew will he do
he's a West Pointer ~ Gays Dick Sam was
writing 81 table in the room. Content
answered the officers, and Grant was imme-
diaiely commissioned by the Governor
Colonel of the twenty first Illinois regi-
ment, and who probably in that capacity, was
the best appointment that Dick had made.
Ulysses Sam or Sam Ulysses, after his sin
galarly aecidentalfostunei ngetting theregi-
nent, had next 10 raise the faads 20 equip
himself His present admirers were not the
men TO assist him; they stood aloof, although
many OF them at the time were making
money cut Of army contracts He wa.
poor they were rich. His own family re
fuse TO aid him; and had it not been fol