The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-11-26
The Causes Which Led to His
Entry Into the United States Ser.
vice During the Late War With
the South.
BY JOHANNES FACTOTUN.

In nay last letter | gave detailed
account of an exciting war meeting held
at the court house in this city .aIy IN
the summer of 1861, over wb' n Grant
was called to preside, agreea,ly to the
nomination Of Z. B. arshburne, who
knew the President as an ex.army Off
Ger, and one who might make valuable
suggestions relative to the enrolment
of volunteers. Grant had previously
openly avowed himself Douglas Dem
ocrat in politics. and claimed to have
cast his only vote for the office Of Pres
ident in favor of James Buchanan.
Upon this casion, however, he placed
himself on the side Of the Union, and in
few patriotic remarks. completely set
at rest all fears as to his disloyalty. At
the conclusion of this meeting, Raw
Inns who had electrified this audience
with such an outburst of eloquence as
was never listened to before or since
upon such an occasion, left the court
house in company with w. r. Rowley,
at that time Circuit Clerk of Daviess
county, and subsequently member of
Grants staff.
On the way home an agreement was
entered into between the two men to
set out for Hanover Ia small town in
this county, the next afternoon, for the
purpose of holding war meeting and
encouraging enlistments. On the fol-
lowing forenoon these two gentlemen
met at the store of Jesse Grant, and to
Ulysses made known their intentions.
The latter in reply asked permission to
accompany his friends, remarking, Il
will hitch up the ponies and save you
the expense of hiring team The
proposition was cheerfully accepted. and
in due time the party embarked for
Hanover. held their meeting, secured
large number of volunteers, and fol-
lowed ty the cheers of the patriotic
citizens Of the place, turned their faces
homeward. Before reaching home, a
: general conversation ensued relative to
the prospects for continued war, tno
military of the South, &c, Rowley and
Rawlins assuming that the war would
be put down with n handful of men.
and that the South was lily prepared to
cope with the North. Grant. however
took an opposite view in the matter
!, prophesled a prolonged and bloody war
and urged his friends to prepare for tn,
worst. Before reaching home an agree
= ment. which was never carried out
1 however. was entered into between the
r three friends. to the effect that they
were to raise company, of which Gran
a would be Captain. and the next high
est office, that of First Lieutenant, t,
be decided bv the drawing of lots be
: tween Rawley and Rawlins.
Enlistments in the city were pro
a crossing rapidly, and Grant, who wa
the only man in this section versed i,
military tactics, was induced to devot
the greater part Of his spare time t
: the drilling Of squads at different rem
). devious in this city.
One morning during the latter par
of May. 1861, f. B. Washburne Gale
!" upon Rowley at his office in the Cour
r House. and informed that gentlema
r that he was intending to leave the cit
70 for Springfield that night. for the pu,
4. pose Of consulting with Governor Yate
"a relative to the organization of Illinoi
regiments, and earnestly urged Rowle
= to accompany him. The latter reptile
that he knew nothing of military ma
7, tiers, and suggested that Grant Was ju:
r the man. Mr.. Washburne then waite
a upon the ''Capt.in," as he was fami
iarly called at that time, who reluctan
= ly gave his consent to the propositio,
10 and on the evening of the same da
n Washburne set out for Springfield, a
e. companied by Grant, the Hon. R. /
;. McClelland. then = member of the LIE
islature from this district. and Gener
John Z. Smith, now in command
7 Fort Laramie, though At that tin
IL Treasurer of this county and Add
,g camp on Yates Gubernatorial staff.
On arriving At Springfield the mode
,e Ulysses was introduced to the Cover
!. or. who Immediately appointed hi
Adjutant of Camp Yates, on the re
ommendation of his friends In Il
~ capacity he Was engaged for one wei
in in ASSIGNING troops, superintendil
ne matters and advising generally. B
ar services were so valuable that the Go
!. ernor appointed him commandant. .,
subsequently ordered him to differe
= points for the purpose Of mastering
IN regiments. At Nation he muster
MT the Twensy-frst Illinois. which b