The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1868-04-16
GENERAL GRANT.
His Appointment in the Army

General GRANT, written by the deu-
erals father, aud now being publish
ed by Mr.. Robert Bonner, in Ihe Now
York Ledger, We make the following
extract
III owned leather store at Oalcua
Illinois, which was conducted BY my
two other sons. Grant went to Ga
lena aud joined them in that.
lie took righ, hold of tho business
with his accustomed Industry, and
was a very good salesman. lie had
faculty to entertain people in con
yersatiou, although he talked but lit
tie himself But be never would take
pains to extend his acquaintance in
Galena; and after he Joined the army
and had begun to be distinguished,
citizens Of tho town would stop in
front of our store, within six feet oI
the windows, aud look in to see
which of the Grants it was that was
absent, aud had suddenly become ia
nous.
After the fall Of Fort Sumter
Grant wrote to me at COvington ask
ing me if did not think, as ho had
been educated at the expense of the
Government, he had better go into
the army2 wrote back that |
thought he had better. But before h,
received my answer, aud within six
days after the fall of Fort Sumter, h,
was drilling u company,
This company offered to elect him
captain; but a gentleman who desired
a higher position, aud thought thi.
would serve as u stepping stone to il
frankly confessed his aspirations to
Grant, who told him that ho should
not be a candidate himself, and also
told the company that he should de
cline; but he agreed to 20 with then
to Springfield, the capital of tn,
State.
On this mission no was accompani-
ed by the Hon, Il. b WAshburne
the Representative in Congress from
the Gulena district, who introduced
him to Governor Yates, the Governor
of the State. Mr.. Yates did not APP
pear to take much notice Of him a
the time; but, a day or two afterwards
sent for him aud asked him:
do you understand how nan,
men it takes to make u company
Aud how many to make regiment
Aud what officers each must have2'
"Oh, yes" replied Grsut, IL un
derstand all about such matters;
was educated at West Point, au,
served eleven years in the regula
army"
"Well, then" said the Governor
~ want you to take chair, here il
my office as Adjutant General Of til
State"
llo remained in the Office severa
weeks when he made short visit I,
US Mt COyiugton. While he wa
! ,bsent from Springfield, Mr.. Burk,
.,up- mau employed in our house a
49,, called on Governor Yates
and in ,bs CO nrse of the interview
the Governor sai, "a him;
"What kind of man is this Grant
lie has been educated at Wet r"ln'
and he says he wants to 90 iGto :"
army, several regiments have offered
to elect him Colonel, but he says No
aud declines to be candidate. Wha
does he want, do you know2"
"Yuu see, Governor, says Burk
'Grant has only served in the regu
lar army, where they have no cleo
tions, but officers ars promoted nc
cording to seniority Whatever
place yon want him FIR, just appoint
him without consulting him at al
before hand, aud you will dnd he viii
accept whatever ne is appointed to.
Acting on this suggestion, tn
Governor telegraphed to me that h,
had appointed Ulysses Colonel Of th
21st Illinois Iufantry. But Gran
had left for Springfield before tn
telegram was received, by way o
Terre Haute, where Reynolds, ia
vorite class.mate Of his, was living
Ou his arrival at Springfield he WI
notified Of his appointment, aud as
sumed conmand OF his regiment
which entered at once int aetiv
service in Missouri, under Brigade
General Pope.
AT the Beginning of the war, Gran
or rather Mrs. Graut, owned thre
very likely slaves in Missouri; but b
told them before the proclamation Q
emancipation vas issued to 60 fire.
aud Look out for themselves.
The history of General Grant
subsequent military career, of hi
great western aud eastern campaigur
aud of his respective promotions u
TO his present rank, is part of th
familiar history Of the country; an
| do not propose to enter upon tha
When the great outcry was mad
against him after the battle OF Pitt
! burg Landing, Que Of his aids wrot
several letters ia his defence, au
sent them to mo for publication.
published one, which seemed to haV
very salutary effect on public sen
timent in this part of the oountr,
but as soon as General Grant loarne
of it, he telegraphed me not to pub
lish any more.
Gen Grant wrote to me once fro
the West, during the war, that IL
government had asked a good deal
him, but they had never asked an
, more than he felt himself equal {
He always wrote in good spirits.
On his way to Washington to tai
Command of the Army of the Potoma
he stopped an hour to see us. II
/ mother asked him If he was n,
/ afraid to attack Lee" "Not at all
, he replied. II know all his strou
} points, aud all his weak ones. l il
| tend to attack his weak points, al
faux his strong ones"
He wrote to us occasionally thougl
l out the war. hut his time was u