The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-02-10
GRANT At GALENA.
Seine Account Of His Life i'm That
City.
His Present Clacquers "Did't Know"
Elm at ILL.
From the Galena (Tu.) Democrat.

We are repeatedly called upon, in com
mon with others of orr fellow citizens, by
letters from different parts of the Union, for
information in regard to the antecedents
moral, social, and political, of Gen. u. 5.
Grant, or Gen. Samuel Ulysses Grant, &C
cerding 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 sons name.
Having no personal feeling against [. S.
Grant, or S. [. Grant, We have consequent
ly no objections to give an answer to these
queries, and to state fairly all that is known.
or can be brought forward in regard to the
political opinions of this gentleman. As to
his social and moral status, we have little
to say at present; bat, as to his politics, We
have excellent authority to whom we can re
fer for proof,-that is, if Gen. Grant ever
had any fixed opinions while he resided in
Galena-
L. S. Grant or S. L. Grant came to tins
city about nine years ago. His father was
a resident of Covington, Ky, had a leather
store here, and was engaged, through his
two sons, Orvilie and Sampson Grant, in the
purchase of hides, which were shipped to
Covington. Hither came Ulysses, after he
wandered oat of the United States army, and
was employed as a kind of porter about the
establishment. He was equally unknown. TO
fame or to society here, and so remained I'M
til his good luck came into play with that of
the black republican dynasty of A. Lincoln.
1t has been repeatedly stated that Grant
voted for Douglas at the presidential cleo
ton of 1860, which resulted in the triumph
of
.'Black Old Abe and the eternal niger"
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 candi
dates. To another gentleman he expressed
his preference for Judge Douglas, adding,
however, that he did not like to oppose the
wishes of mis- father and brother, who were
republicans thus exhibiting the same vacil-
liating course in politics that he does at
present. Know nothingism appears at all
times to be his predominating political char
acterIstic.
But few of our citizens knew L. S. or S.
U. Grant doring his residence here and it
was not until the title of general was attach
ed to his name that they began TO inquire :
"Who and what is this Gen. Grant who is
announced as distinguished citizen of Ga
lena ?' ave never knew him :" "What is
he, and what did he do here p Everybody
seemed astonished to find that we had n
Bourbon among u.s." and had ignorantly
been nursing military genius in our midst.
who was destined POLITICALLY at least) to
overslaugh all competitors.
1t is generally understood that there is.
and has been for some time past, in fact.
ever since Gen. Grant doomed up in the no.
| litical horizon. quite contest or rivalry as
| to the particular individual who 6rst lent
| Grant q helping band-boih Z. b. Wash
burne and Dick Yates claiming the merit of
being his benefactor.
| ltappears that, on the breaking out of the
rebellion, U. S. or S. u. Grant I'VE had bet
ter call him Sam, for short wandered to
Springfield, and obtained temporary employ
ment as a clerk or peace adjutant In the of.
| flee OF that moral sober, and exemplary
| chief magistrate, Gov Richard Yates, then
busily attempting to organize the militia of
Illinois. 1t was here the first stroke of good
luck occurred to him. a regiment was be-
| ing organized and Dick was about to appoint
certain A. b. colonel thereof. against
whom the officers of the embryo corps re-
belled stoutly. "Who then, shall 1 APP
point p said his excellency. "Anybody but
politician" responded the captains and
| lieutenants present. "There's Capt. Grant,
how will he do-he's West Pointer ?" says
Dick Sam was writing at q table in the
room. "Content." answered the officers,
| and Grant was Immediately commissioned
by the governor colonel of the 2lst Illinois
regiment, and who probably, in that capaci-