The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-05-30

cnrcAoo. Ill, March 7th.

CHICAGO. H., March 7th.
| To the Editor Of the Tiness
Grant for Presidcntw Could the
negro.worshipping fanatics, who clamoi
so loudly for the accidentally manufact
urcd Jupiter who commands our armies
to be chosen chief magistrate Of the ma
ton, have as clear aud positive knowledge
Of the habits, character and ability oI
the man Us the writer hereof it is doubt
ful if many would be 10 loud in their
laudations Of his supposed virtue, his cx.
aggerated bravery, his questionable wis
dom, his overlaudcd heroism. It has
been my privilege to know General GRAM
intimately since he first assumed command
of the forces of the Mississippi valley
when he made his headquarters at Cairo
and what | am about to state OF him, his
habits, character and conduct, / shal
substantiate by the statements Of gentle
men we'll known in this city, and whose
word will not be disputed, if they may be
asked whether my statements may be
true or false. Not only will all / write
be corroborated by the persons / shal
name, Radicals though they may be
but scores Of the most respectable citi
zens of Cairo viii respond most unequiv.
ocally TO the accuracy Of my allegations
That sobriety was the exception and not
the rule OF General Grants conduct
while located at Cairo is fact too well
known to need any confirmation. but in.
dividual instances Of beastly drunkenness
are not Of rare occurrence. will men
ton two or three which fell under ms
own personal knowledge, and which | am
ready TO verify on call On the 9Th day
of November, 1861, the steamer Alice
Scott started from Cairo on trip to Col.
umbus, KY, carrying flag of truce, and
Gen. Grant, his staff, aud few other
officers, the newspaper correspondents
aud some invited guests. When the boat
reached her destination bcvy Of rebeI
officers came on board, among whom were
General Cheatham, General Pillow, Col
onel Rusk, and Geuci al from Arkansas
whose name do not rcmcmber-when q
general drunk commenced, which wa,
kept up until late in the night. after the
flag -of-truce officers had separated aud the
Scott had returned TO Cairo. When the
boat reached Cairo, General Grant was in
such beastly state Of intoxication that
it was deemed imprudcnt TO take him Il
his headquarters, over the City Bank
where his wife was awaiting him, and he
was escorted and assisted to the ST. Charlie:
Hotel, where he remained during the
night. When he arrived at the hotel il
was found that he was 80 drank that con
siderable assistance was needed 10 enable
him TO reach room on the second floor
and Capt. Il B. Hatch, Post. Quartermas
ter, and Robert Forsyth, general freigh
agent Of the Illinois Central Railroad
one upon either side, and each with {
shoulder under the Generals armpit-
hoisted him up the stairs, to Captain
Ha,ch's room. A hundred persons wit
messed this scene, AID loud and many
we're the expressions uttered of ccnsur'
and Of disgust at the spectacle. Abou
II o'clock that night Grant got musical
aud an orderly was dispatched for ths
brigade band to come and sercnade him
The band soon put in an appearance, ant
were about to commence playing, whel
Mr.. Bcdard aud Mr.. Landcn, the propri
ctors of the hotel, attempted to stop them
on word being taken TO General Grant o
the obstruction 10 the music, he, Will
drunken and profane indecency, declared
that he was commanecr of that post, ans
he would have the band when and when
he desired. So the band proceeded to th,
/ hal Ia he xuh hn
was rollicking in his drunkenness, ant
for half-hour played TO drown the up
roar of tie hell within. A month late
to a day the same steamer was tn,
scene of the same gorgeous drunk, upoI
another occasion Of flag of truce" Wis
it to Columbus, when Grant became S,
wretchcdly drunk that his friends pu
him TO bed, and kept the boat in the riv
er until he became sober enough to b,
taken home. But of his most disastrou
spree-that at Fort Donelson-L shal
not speak until another time IF possible
to induce the Chicago tribune to tell tn
truth, would be glad to have Governo
Bross relate what he saw and what h
: said of the scene when General Gran
landed from his fag-of. truce visit to Col
! umbus, just after the battle of Belmont
when he (Grant) was SO drunk that h
fell halfdozen times in going up tn
levee from the wharf-boat, and the unite
: effors of Capt. Hillyer and Lagow wer
insufficient to keep him on his Plus.
would also be pleased to hear what tn
fat writer of the same paper wituesse
upon the occasion Of Governor Yates
visit to Grant, when he (Yates) was az
companied by Mrs. Major Reynolds, whc
report said, was sometimes on the Cover
nor's staff. Eye WITNESS.