Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-11
ULYSSES THE SILENT.
General Grant When He Was
Sam Grant, OF Galena.
From the aalena tIll.) Democrat ]

We are repeatedly called upon, in
common with others Of our fellow
citizens, by letters from different parts Of
the Union, for information in regard TO
the antecedents, moral, social and politi.
cal, Of Gen. U. s. Grant, or Gen. Samuel
Ulysses Grant, according TO a late news.
paper 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 q.
s. Grant, or s. U. Grant, we have conse-
quenty no objection 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 aud moral
status, we have little to say at present (;
but as to his politics we have excellent
authority to whom we can refer for proof
that is, if General Grant had any fixed
opinion while be resided in Galena.
| us. Grant, or s. y. Grant, came TO
this city about nine years ago. HIS
father was q resident of Covington, Ken
lucky, had leather store here, and was
engaged, through his two sons, Orville
and Simpson Grant, in the purchase OF
hides, which were shipped to Covington.
Hither came Ulysses, after he wandered
out of the United States army, and was
employed as a kind of porter about the
establishment. He was equally uHknown
to fame or to society here, and so re-
mained until 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 Presiden-
tial election 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 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 nothingism
appears at all times to be his predomi-
mating political characteristic.
| But few of our citizens knew U. s. or
| s. u. Grant during his residence here I;
and it was not until the title of General
was attached to his name that they began
to inquire: "Who and what is this Gen
eral Grant who is announced as distin-
| guished citizen of GaleBaY" We never
knew himl" "What is his-what did he
do here p Everybody seemed astonish.
ed to find that we had Bourbon among
| u.s." and had ignorantly been nursing
military genius in our midst, who was
destined POLITICALLY at leas) to over
slaugh all competitors.
1t is generally understood that there is,
and has been for some time past, In fact
ever since General Grant loomed up in
the political horizon, quite a contest or
rivalry as to the particular individual who
first lent Grant helping hand-both b.
| B. Washburne and Dick Yates claiming
the merit of being his benefactor.
| 1t appears that, on the breaking out OF
| the rebellion u. s. or S. U. Grant 1--WE
had better call him Sam for short) wan
dered to Springfield, and obtained tenn
porary employment as clerk or peace
adiutsnt in the Office of that moral, sober
and exemplary chief magistrate, Cover
n,qr Richard Yates, then busily attempt
inc TO organize the militia of Illinois. 1t
was here the first stroke of good luck oc-
curred to him. A regiment was being
Organized and Dick was about to appoint
a certain A. B. Colonel thereof, against
| whom the officers of the embryo corps
! rebelled stoutly. "Who, then, shall |
appoint p said His Excellency. Any
body but politician" responded the
Captain and Lieutenants present
There's Captain Grant how will he
do-he's West Pointer says Dick
(Sam was writing at table in the room J:
Content" answered the officers, and
Grant was Immediately commissioned by
the Governor Colonel of the Twenty.
! Illinois regiment, and who probably in
that capacity, was the best appointment
that Dick had made.
ULYSSES Sam, or Sam Ulysses, after
his singular accidental fortune in getting
| the regiment, had next to raise the funds
to 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 out OF
army contracts. He was poor; they
were rich. His own family refused to
aid him; and, had it not been for the
kindness of gentleman who was DEM
ocrat, and had. been at one time con-
nected with his father in business, he
would not have been able to purchase his
outfit.
I'm to this time it is said that Sam.
Grant had never known Z. b. Wash
burne. or Washburne known Sam,
although some members of his family
had politically stood by Washburne:.
The Congressman had often passed and
repassed the unknown hero in blessed
Ignorance of who and what he was.
When and where they found out their
resnectiye merits is unknown TO us. So
also others of our citizens, who now ad-
ulate, fawn upon and worship Grant,
hailing him as the Agamemnon OF
the army, never recognized him, patron
ized him, or extended to him the right
hand Of fellowship until Washburne led
the way. after be had been manufactured
into a General, aud then it was that be
was first deemed worthy Of their dis
tinguished consideration.
Such is a brief sketch Of the tialena
career of"Uncle Sam Grant, as he was
wont TO be called by his comrades in the
regular army. We have naught ex-
tenuated or set down in malice. HIS
gooa lock in things personal has adhered
10 him thus far. As We have before re-
marked, the very men who knew him not
who never extended TO him their hands
in friendship, or their hospitality to nlm