The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1871-10-13
WI i s. g q IIane Gus .
Correspondence Of he Missouri RY,u5licd,
GRANTS BIOGRAPHY,

In 1854 Lieutenant U. S. Grant was the
quartermaster of the Fourth infantry, sta
toned at Vancouver's Island on the PaciE
ic coast. Alfred Pleasanton was lieutenant
Of dragons, and Rufus ingalls, was the
quartermaster OF the post. Grant had been
addicted to drink to that extent that he
had been several times cautioned by his
friends, and he, finally. TO- prevent trouble,
and as a guaranteed of his future abstinence,
placed his resignation in the hands of Col
onel Buchanan, to be used in case of anoth-
CT disgraceful spree. Soon after this Grant
went to San Francisco, and while there got
on another tear" and ovcrstayed his leave,
being seduced by the wonderful tempta-
tons and destinations of the Occidental
city, so noted for its wonderful and acct
dental Changes of fortune and life. When
he returned to his post he found, much to
his surprise and modification, that his dis
sipation had become known and his resigna-
ton had been forwarded with such an in
dorsement as secured its immediate accep-
lance. In due course oftime Grant became
private citizen. He was now in bad fix.
Impecunious and Respondent he tried to
drown his sorrows in the flowing bowl.
Pleasanton and ingalls, were warm person.
al friends of "Sam" Grant, and together they
" staked him, so as to enable him TO reach
the States via Panama. He proceeded to
St Louis, and there lived the life of a vag-
abond OF the first water, loafing about the
city, alternating between the city and old
Dents farm, several miles out of the city.
At this time General William S. Hillyor
and Rawlins were in business together as
counsellors and attorneys-at-l law, and Grant
used to make their rooms u sort of head
quarters, dropping in almost every day,
and passing hours with his feet cooked on
the table or chair, enjoying his inevitable
smoke and no less pleasant chat In this
way the friendship for Rawlins and Hillyer
became cemented, and this accounts for
their selection on Grants personal staff
when he became brigadier-general. Every
one knows how Dick Yates, then Cover
nor of Illinois, took him for his military
secretary, and afterwards gave him the
Colonelcy Of an insubordinate regiment
which had been tried by two or three Colo
nels who were unable to subduc their riotous
and mutinous dispositions. Grant soon
Strengthened them out and demonstrated
his value as a disciplinarian. Being sent
to the department of Missouri, then under
command of General ]. G. Fremont, Grant
was assigned to General John Pope's COM
mand and was the senior Colonel in that
army. On one occasion Pope had business
away and Grant, as senior officer, was in
the command. On Pope's return he found
Grant in his headquarters tent, writing
and doing such business as was incident to
his command Pope, with that brusque-
ness and discourtesy for which he was
noted, said to Grant that he wished he
would do his writing in his own tent and
not intrude himself so much at headauar-
tiers. Naturally indignant, Grant wrathful-
ly stepped out and proceeded to the tent of
the sutlcr, with whom he was very init
mate, and whose whiskey he had drunk ad
R6atatna. To this bosom friend he poured
out all his woes, and as he slipped his
Bourbon straight" he vindictively ejac-
ulated: &C hope shall live to see the
day when shall outrank General Pope ~
So outrageous did he become in his cups,
that Pope finally found it necessary to send
him to st. Louis, with accommodation
that he should be dismissed for drunkenness.
Although Mr.. Lincoln had placed almost
autocratic power in the hands of Gen. FIRE.
mont, he hesitated to dismiss him, and let
his case hang on from day to day, awaiting
Il leisure moment to give the matter his
personal attention. Meanwhile Grant loaf
ed about st. Louis, neglected, impecuni-
Gus and shabby, dancing attendance at
headquarters every day in the hope of a
speedy settlement of his difficulty. At this
time the enemy were advancing upon Cape
Girardeau, which was then occupied by
new levies, undisciplined and undrilled,
under the command of Gen. Prentiss, of
Illinois. Owing to Prentiss' want of ex-
perience, Fremont deemed it advisable to
supercede him, but in the absence of other