Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-11
ANOTHER "REMINISCENCES OF
GRANT.

=.
His Original Determination to Join
the ssRebels''-The Governor Of I'LL.
nOIs Outbfds the Governor OF His
souri,.
When in the beginning of the war in
Missouri, Gov. jackson, of that State, was
organizing bis military camps he felt great
ly the need of educated military talent 70
instruct his new recruits. The State was
young, and none of her sons who had been
educated at West Point had risen to any
distinction in the army. The Governor
saw the best blood of the State was rush
ing to bis standard, but he had saff city
enough to see that something more than
raw valor was needed to make an efficient
army. In bis trouble he consulted with
Professor D., an intimate friend. Professor
d. recommended his friend and kinsman,
Capt. Giant, as he was then called. He
spoke of him as a man of decided character,
who had graduated reputably at West Point;
had Afterwards abandoned the army, mar
ried into a respectable st. Louis family;
was a consistent, well-Dronounced, pro-
slavery Democrat; bad lived long time in
the State; in fine, was in all respects just such
man as the Governor wanted. Prof. D.,
by the authority of Gov. jackson, wrote to
Capt. Grant, then resident in Illinois, offer
ing him, in Gov. Jaekson's name, posi-
ton in the Missouri insurgent army. Capt.
Grant accepted the offer, and while at rail-
way station awaiting the train for st. Louis,
letter was handed him containing Colo
ners commission from the Governor Of Illi-
nois.
He accepted the latter and thus became
an officer in-the army in the North. The
Governor of Illinois had outbid the Missouri
Governor and got his man. And this man,
who thus narrowly escaped position In
the "rebel army" is held out to the black
man as his peculiar friend, his especial
champion. Professor D., whom know
well TO be a truthful man, related to me in
person the above facts in the city Of st.
Louis since the close of the war.-ShreUe-
port Telegraph.
The matters detailed in the above were
made known to US by reputable citizen OF
Houston, who was personally cognizant OF
the facts. There was, however, according
to our recollection, one slight though not
material variation, viz: that the proposal
was first made to Gen. Price and through
him to Gov. Jackson, and that the place Of
fered Grant in the Rebel army was less in
rank than that offered by the Governor of
Illinois. Our informant was upon Gen.
Prices staff at the time, and an
intimate friend of the Professor Grants
relative by marriage,) when the proposal
was made, and through this informant it
was communicated to Gen. Price. The
witnesses of these matters are yet living,
and the facts can be proven. Our inform
ant is now absent, but will ere long return,
and we shall submit the matter to him for
his :evidence, and such is bis position
that it will not be questioned by
any candid man. The facts
show that Grant was a mere adventurer,
ready to draw his sword in favor of the
side offering him the largest place or posi-
ton. 1t is also charged against Grant that
he declared that be would not fight to free
the slaves, but the evidence of this we
have not so positively as the other. Still,
if he could accept of the larger place on
the Union side at the very time he was
negotiating for place on the ''rebeP' side,
he was capable of anything for his own az
grandisement. Without Rawlins to plan
for him, he never would have attained a
name, and when the former died his good
genius died with him.-HOuSt0R (TerGS)
Telegraph.