Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-03-11

The New President at the
White HOMse.
History Of His Intimacy with
WashbuFne.


THE PRESIDENTS ARRIVAL AT THE
/ WHITE HOUSE.
The gates of the inclosure Of the White
House grounds were promptly and care
! fully closed as soon as Mr. Johnson and
the Cabinet had retired at 1890 o'clock,
from the occupancy of the building, and
! the policemen were stationed at every
/ gate, with orders to admit only the priv.
ileged persons before the arrival of the
now President. When the head OF the
procession reached the front of the White
| House, the carriage of the President and
| that of his staff were admitted, but no
| others, and they were quickly rolled
amid the loud plaudits OF the immense
i crowd, to the door of the White House.
Senator Crsgin, Mr.. Colfax, A. T. Stew
art, Generals Parker and I3adeau accom-
panied the President. Senator Cragin
and Mr.. ColfsX descended first from the
carriage, Gen. Grant following. He had
assembled two or three of the steps lead
| ing 10 the main entrance, when he no.
tieed that he had left the door of the car
risge open, and hastily retraeing his
steps he carefully closed it and nodded
to the driver, who Immediately drove
off.
Gen. SchOfield had been left by the re-
tiring President in charge of the White
House as the only non.retiring member
of the Cabinet, and he had been Joined
by Gen. Rawlings, Gen. Polte Gen.
BabcOck, Gen. Gibbon, Gen. Pitcher,
Col. Taylor and Gen. Michler. The lat
ter was constituted, as the officer in
charge of public buildings, master of
ceremonies, and on Gen. Grants appear
ance at the door of the White House,
Gen. Miohler advanced with that pecu.
liar ease and grace and dignity which is
always noticeable in him, and welcomed
the new occupant to his temporary
home. The p esiGent shook hands with
him, and very warmly with Rawlings
and the Others, who had advanced, and
then turned to speak few words to those
who had accompanied him from the
Capitol. He then advanced, under the
guidance OF Gen. Miehler, to the door of
the blue room. In the hall, the steward
of the hOEsc, q cOlored man, was pre-
sented to Gen. Michler, who remarked:
I" This gentleman will be glad to pro-
vide a dinner for you"
"Thank yOu," said the General.
|" And this gentleman" said MichIer,
in his quist, humorous way, presenting
Mr.. JOhnsOn's late body servant, q per-
feet specimen OF animate ebony, twill
be happy to brush your clothes."
The President repeated his thanks, and
then, turning about and looking in every
direction, he said to Michler, in a half
despairing tone, "Well, what am l to
do next ?n
Mr.. Colfsx suggested to him to retire
to his room on the fl DOT above, and after
few words the President did so. He
was soon after followed by Mr.. Colfsx.
The procession meanwhile continued
to pass in front of the White House, but
outside OF the incloeure.
GRANTS INTIMACY WITH wAsHBURNE.
From the Correspondent Of the n. Y Tribune
Capt. Grant resided at Galens several
years before Mr.. Wsshburne knew him.
Wsshburne was then the leading man of
his Congressional District, carrying il,
as the phrase goes, "in his breeches
pocket owned and resided in one of the
most elegant residences in the city, while
Grant was clerk in his fathers leather
store, aud occupied little two story cot |
to climb stairs SONS two hundred feet |
every time be went home. at the first |
war meeting held in Galena to muster |
Mr.. Washburne offered reso- |
lQti0ns and engineered the meeting, and |
mads g speech. Capt. Grant |
was present, but seems to have tean too /
inoOnsplguous to be called on to take /
part. AT the second meeting, however,
Capt Grant Wss nominated for chair /
man. The first company raised elected |
one Chetlain Captain, and Jesse Grants |
psrtIer, COlling, a peace Democrat, said |
to Wash burner " A pretty set of fellows,
you soldiers are, to elect Chetlain for
Captain ~ "Why not ?" "They were
foolish enough to take him when they |
could get such man ss Grant, What's |
Grants history?" "Why, he's old man
Grants son, was educated at West Point,
served in the army eleven years, and
came out with the very best reputation
Immediately called upon
Grant and invited him to go to Spring-
field. There Pope Was the hero of the
hour Wsshburne urged Grants claims
and the latter had already applied to the
Governor OF Ohio, his native State, and o
the Adju5ant-Genersl of the Army at
who had not even the |
grace to answer his letter.
Wsshburne with difficulty restrained |
him from rtturniDg ia disgust to G. alens.
At length Grant was employed to assist
10 Gov. Yates Office, and in mastering |
In regiments.
lis most improbable that either WASH
hurne or Grant had any prescience of
Grants future success, as Grant himself |
is reported TO have answered a friend |
who ssked him why be did not apply for
a Colonelcy: ITO tell you the truth, l
would rather like regiment, yet there
are few men really competent to com
msud Thousand soldiers, and / doubt |
whether / Am one OF them"
Yates having appointed Grant Colonel |
Of regiment, he was indebted for his
next promotion to Washburne.