Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-07
GRANTS GOOD LUCK.
How a Steamboat Captain Got Him
His First Commission.

Captain David White, who died Sun
day morning at Kcokuk, Iowa, former
ly of Madison, Ind, and recently of
st. Louis, whose demise was announced
yesterday by telegraph, well known in
this section, passed through many ups
and downs" IN life. He was an init
mate friend of President Grant, and
Thereby hangs tale" During
Grants residence in this city up to
1859, the time of his removal to Galena,
I'll, Lo q. s,o-Jd Democrat, oven of
the most Southern fire eating sort"
When an applicant tor city engineer
the records Will show who supported
him. The firm of Boggs & Grant, real
estate agents, proved an i'll success, and
by the course of events, Ulysses drifted
to Galena, but retained his sympathies
and political proclivities. The war
broke out in 1861, and men were called
for to put down the rebellion,
in sixty days, as Seward affirmed.
Grant, after consulting Mr.. Dent, his
brother in-law, who eounseled him to do
anything In order to support his fami-
ly, concluded 70 take part In the Union
war. He accordingly went to Spring
field, Ills, and was made mastering
officer at Camp Douglas-to organize
the regiments that were to rendezvous
there. This duty performed he re-
turned to Galena and private life.
Capt. Dave White, recently deceased,
General Rawlings, General Grants
subsequent adjutant, and Ben. Camp
bell. conceived the idea of going to
Springfield to beg a commission for
him from Governor Dick Yates. After
several days of fruitless efforts, Rawl-
ings and Campbell, persuaded that it
was 'no 60" returned home.
Capt. Dave White said he had come
''to fight 1t out on that line, +" or some
thing similar, and intended to see the
end. He met Yates frequently and
never failed to ply him for a commits
sion for his friend; Yates invariably
answering This is a Republican war,
and our friends must have the Offices"
The Captain said, "Why, Governor,
you cannot fight this war out with all
Republicans; Grant is aDemocrat, but
a military educated man" Still Yates
answered, "Our friends must have the
commissions" AT length, after sever
al conversations on the same day, and
reiterated assertions that Repubh-
cans alone could not fight out the war,
Capt. Dave met Dick Yates at the St.
Nicholas hotel, Springfield, about 3
o'clock A. NJ.
The same conversation recommended.
Gov. Yates said. "he would see about
it, f" and finally he accepted an invita-
ton to the room of Capt. Dave, where
something more to drink was had.
What about that commission, Gov
ernor?"
IN see about it."
mo you don't! 1 want an answer
now and here"
We'll" said Yates, "bring the COM
mission to me tomorrow and I'll see
about it."
Il have the commission with me,
sign it :"
well, if | must, must, said Yates.
and the commission was signed. Capt.
David White, with the commission in
his pocket, took the first train to Ca
lena. There were Grant, Rawlings and
Campbell in blissful Ignorance of the
good fortune hanging on the commits.
sion that Capt. Dave hid in his pocket
a dejeuner was arranged at Grants
house, the experiences at Springfield, and
the obstinacy of the black Republican
governor was canvassed, and when
all was merry and disappointments
forgotten, the captain pulled out the
commission, U. S. Grant, Colonel of the
Twenty-frst Illinois volunteers, sta
toned at Nation, III. They were
Democrats, and three Republican col
Onels had been unable to bulge them.
This was the manner Of Grants APP
pointment, as often detailed to the
writer Of this from the mouth of Capt
David Wuite-and thus We have a
President