The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1871-10-13


is he?" inquired Fremont. "Why, Sam
Grant; he's just the man; send him."
Fremont called his Adjutant- General and
asked him what the circumstances of Grants
case were, and he was informed ooh YES,
KNOW" said the other. "Sam is a drunk
ard; but he will fight, and he knows how
to do it, too"
But, said Fremont, they all rank him
down there"
"Send every id one of them away,
and put Grant in command He'll fight, i
know"
SO Fremont somewhat unwillinely,
and for want of It better man, consented to
the order being issued.
On his way down stairs Grants friend
took him along, and as he entered his bug
gy he asked Grant where he was stopping.
Nowhere" said Grant.
"Whcre is your baggage 2" he asked.
I" i HAUNT any," said Grant.
"fhat's q bad lookout; come with me-"
and he took Grant to the Planters House,
straig htened him up, got his transportation
for him, and inside of ten hours had him
started for Cape Girardeau. by special train.
AS was expected, his seniors kicked against
his assuming command, and they were all
relieved by Fremont, and Grant left with
supreme command. At this time Presi-
dent Lincoln WAS determined in his oppo.
sition to the inv&sira Of Kentucky, even
though the enemy were occupying her soil
and advancing upon the forces lie per-
sisted in considering Kentucky as neutral
ground. AS the enemy ADVANCED upon
Grant another general was ordered by FIRE.
~ t,> ,fE
and cut him off from his base, while Grant
was to attack him in front. This general,
instead of obeying his orders, tclegrnpIle,l
them to Lincoln, who countcrm@nicd them
at once. Grant, however, like Il true sol
dier, obeyed the orders from his superior,
and advancing into Kentucky, met the en-
envy and routed him. This laid thc iopn-
dation of his military fame, and was the
first step on the ladder by which he reach
cd his present PROUD pseition. An}1 l'tF2
It might be said, en- p1sS0nt, that it is 10
Fremont that Grant owes his delivery lron
obscurity, and not as SO many suppose, 10
Washburn entirely. The President recog
nizes this fact, and now entertains the very
kindliest feelings for Fremont. Only a
short time ago, at one Of the Washington
levecs, Grant walked across the room to
where Mrs. Fremont stood, and asked ifhe
might have the pleasure of rendering to
her son, who stood by her side, cadet
ship to West Point, and adding, that he
knew of no one whose family was more
justly entitled to it, through distinguished
services to the country. Mrs. Fremont
called the General to her side and the ap-
pointment was accepted. This anecdotc is
simply to show the cordiality existing be-
tween them now. Every one who knows
the President, knows that whatever his
faults may be, he never forgets friend or
a favor.
AS soon as he became brigadier-gene-
raj. he called to his personal staff the law
yers in whose office he had been so hospi-
tably treated before the war, and Hillyer
and Pawlins rose to rank and position as
fast as Grant did himself. 1t was this old
friendship which made Rawlins Secretary
of War, and which created the military
ring which now rules the roost. Ingalls,,
through affection, as well as by the force
and weight of his ability, isnow the great
power behind the throne, and chief mogul
of the military ring. Horace Porter, the
Presidents private secretary, is the con-
slant companion of General Grant, where
ever he goes, and is the faithful watch dog
who guards the approaches to the Execu-
tive, and barks when there is danger to the
ring. At his bay Ingalls, hurries to the res
cue, and the danger is averted Pleason-
ton owed his rapid promotion to Grants
friendship, and his elevation to the Com
missionership of Internal Revenue to the
influence of General ingalls,, but failing to
acknowledge their supremacy in everything,
and unwilling to follow their instructions
in certain particulars, he was decapitated
with the same easy nonc1tdlance with which
he was promoted. Pleasonton can mott
be said to belong to the ring, and he is tax
en- up as martyr by the opposition, or
Greeley Fenton ring of the party hero. In
gals and the rest have dropped him, and
even refuse to recognize him socially. The
influence of the military ring pervades ev-
cry department of the Federal government
in this city. Honest Tom Murphy was the
principal organizer of the first Grant cam
paign club in this city in the summer of
1867. He lost no time in 'shadowing" Por-
ter. Thomas gives great many presents
and has a very insinuating manner. He
captured Porter and cultivated the acquain-
lance. There was areal estate ring at Long
Branch; Murphy had some, SO did John
Chamberlin, the prince of gamblers; so did
John Hoey of Adams Express, who was
once the cutest newsboy that ever yelled an
"extra." Some way or another the Presi-
dent got sandwitched in between Murphy
and Porter, and it was there, in the scot
tage by tie sea-" during the summer of 1869,
that Murphy and Porter went for Moses
Grinnell's scalp. Grinnell had furnished
the sinews of war during the campaign, and
being one of the oldest merchants of the ci-
ty of New York, felt secure in his position
as collector of the port. Colonel George
Leet was mustered out of the United States
army, Aug. 1, 1870. He was on General
Grants staff, and was Porter's intimate
friend and companion. Leet had to be pro-
vided for He would have left the army
before, if Grinnell could have been induced
to give him the entire general order bus
mess of the port; but Grinnell would not.
The monopoly of that business was fraud
ON the merchants of New York, and Grin
nell positively refused. Grinnel was remov
ed and the first act of Honest Tom was to