The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-09-28
4 CHaprER OF GR4NT's LIFE.
His Drunkenness and Consequent DIE
srace-How He Rose-Hts Accidental
Promotion by Fremont.
A correspondent of the St. Louis Republican


| Promotion by Fremont.
correspondent of the St. Louis Republican
| tells us:
In 1854 Lieutenant U. S. Grant was the quar-
termaster OF The Fourth lnlanlry, statloneo at
Yancouvers Island, on the Pacl1c coast.
Alfred Pleasonton 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 guarantee OF future
abstinence. placed his resignation in the hands
| of Colonel Buchanan, TO be used in case of
another dsgracelnl spree. Soon after this
| Grant went to San Francisco, and while there
rot on another "tear," and overstayed
his leave, being seduced by the wonderful
temptations and destinations OF the occidental
| CITY, When he returned to his post he found,
much TO his surprise and modification, that
his dissipation had become known, and his re.
| sirnaIion had been forwarded with such an
endorsement as secured its immediate accep.
| tauce, In due course Of time Grant became
private citizen. He was now In bad FIX.
Impecunious and despendent, ne tried 10
anton and Ingalls, were warm personal
friends of "sam Grant," and together they
ssstaked" him. so as to enable him to reach the
States via Panama He proceeded to St.
Louis, and there lived the life OF a vagabond of
the first water, loaling about the city, alternat-
several miles out OF the city, at this time
General William s. Hillyer ana General Rawins
were in business together as counsellors and
attorneys at law, and Grant used to
| make their rooms sort OF headqnart-
ers, dropping in almost every day, and pas
sing hours with his leet cooked on the taole,
or q chair, enjoying MIS- inevitable smoke
| al,
| friendship for Rawlins and Hillyer became ce-
menled. and this accounts for their selection
| ON Grants personal staff when he became a
Dricadier-general. Every one knows how DICK
Yates, then Governor OF Indiana, took him
for his military secretary, and afterwards gave
him the colonecy OF an insubordinate regl-
mept which had been tried by two or three
colonels. who were unable to subdue their
riotous and mutinous disposition. Grant soon
| Strengthened them out, and demonstrated his
value as a disciplinarian. Being sent to the
department of Missouri, then Under command
of General J. C. Fremont, Grant was assigned
| to General John Pope's command, and was
the senior colonel in that army. On one occa-
sion 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
| brusuueness and discourtesy for which he was
noted. said to Grant that he wished he would
do his writing in his own tent aud not intrnde
himself 80 much at headquarters. Nat
urally indignant Grant wrathlully stepped out
and proceeded to the tent of the sut!er, with
whom he was very Intimate, and whose WINS
key be had drunk ad ibltum. TO this bosom
| friend he poured out oil his woes, and as ne
slipped his t'Bourbon straight" he vindlctlvely
CALCULATED: II hope shall live to see the day
when I shall outrank General Pope !" So out
raoeous did he become In his cups, that Pope
| finally found 1t necessary 10 send MIN 10 81;
Louis, with recommendation that ne snouia
be dismissed for drunkenness. Altnougn MT.
| Lincoln had placed almost autocratlc power 10
| the hands of General Fremont he hesitated TO
dlsmiss him, and let his case hang on from
| day 10 day, awaiting leisure moment TO give
| the matter his personal attention. Meanwhile
| Grant loafed about st. Louis, neglected, I'm
pecunlous and shabby, dancing attendance at
headquarters every day 10 the nope OF
time the enemy were advancing upon Cape
| Gjrardeau, which was then occupied by new
| leyies, undisciplned aud undrilled, under tne
command of Genera, prentiss, of Illinois. OW.
| ing to Premises want Of experience Fremont
deemed 1t advisable to superceGe MIN, ont Ia
| the absence OF other more experienced omcers
the general hardly knew whom to select 20
relieve him. While he was in this quandary,
| gentleman occupying high Official posltlon,
| in whom Fremont had great confidence, called
| to see him one day. AS he passed up STAIRS
he saw Grant In the hall, sitting on wooden
| bench. Grants red face shone over MS wool,
| len shirt, dirty and tooacco-stalned. he nao
| no collar, his uniform was greasy and shaooy,
| and altogether he presented miserable and
woe -begSne appearance. The gentleman refer
| red to recognized him, and as he shook hands
he asked what he was doing there! Grant re.
piled that he was in little trouble" "and,
said he, ~ want you 10 help me out" The
dfflcully was related BY Grant, and his friend
said he would see what could be done, after
which he passed up stairs TO the presence OF
| the great Pathfinder. During the eonversa-
tion, Fremont mentioned the Cape Glrardeau
difficulty, and said he did not know who TO
send there Il know the very man you
as I came up" "who is he!" inquired Ere.
mont. "Why, Sam Grant; he's Just the man;
send him down" Fremont called his adjutant-
general and asked him what the circumstan-
ces of Grants case were, and he was INFORM
ed. ..Oh yes. know" said the other. sam
is drunkard; but he will fight, and ne knows
| how 10 do it, TOO" liz,
But" said Fremont, '"ney all rduh u'in
"Send every d-6 one Of them away, and
put Grant In command. He'll hght, KNOW. "
| So Fremont, somewhat unwllinSly, anu lot
want of better man, consented 10 the oruer
ON his way down stairs Grants friend took
him along, and as he entered his ouggy ne
asked Grant where he was stopping.
Nowhere" said Grant.
1Where is your baggage" ne asked.
"I haven't any," said Grant.
"Thars bad lookout come with me, ana
he took Grant to the Planters House, straight
ened him UP, got his transportation LOT nim,
and inside OF ten hours had him started Tor
Cane Grardeau by special train. AS was ex-
nected. his seniors Kicked against his assum,
inc the command. and they were all relieved
by Fremont, and Grant lett with snpIeme
Command. AT this time President Lincoln
was determined in his opposition 10 the lava,
sion of Kentucky, even thousn .ne me-. eIeny uany
were occupying her soil and advancing Upon
onr forces. He persisted in considering hen-
tucky as neutral ground, AS the enemy aa.
vanced upon Grant, another general was or.
Kentucky, and cut him on from MS osse,
while Grant was to attack him 10 'front.'. Inls
general, instead OF obeyinE his orders, tele,
Sraphed them to Lincoln. VINO countermanoed
iham At once. Grant. however, like true
soldier, obeyed the orders from MS superior,
and advancing into Kentucky, met the enemy
and routed him. This laid the foundation OF
his military lame, and was the first step on
the ti, ladder BY which he reached his present po-
sit.on.