The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-11-08
THE GRANT OF GALENA.
l3alena Letter in the Cincinnati Saturday
Night

i'AA'A III INC Nlutlundll NAlllluNN
Night
An accurate account Of the incidents
connected with President Grants sojourn
in Gslena, believe, has never been tur.
nished the press, and thinking that u briei
letter in reference thereto would not prove
uninteresting to the many readers OF the
Saturday Night, l respectfully submit the
following, claiming for IL the merit, if 1t
possesses none other, of plain, unsd ulterat-
ed truth:
Ulysses 5. Grant came to this city from
ST. Loui, in september, 1859, and imme.
diately entered the service OF j. X. Grant,
his father, leather dealer, whose busine ss
at that time was in charge Of Orville
Grant, the Generals brother and junior
by ten years. His salary was fixed at $40
per month, and was not in creased so long
as he remained 10 the employ of his
| father, and during his stay IN Gale
na he did not acquire, either by pur-
| chase or otherwise, a single dollars worth
| of interest in tho establishment. While
thus employed, Grant was principally en- =
gagged in buying hides on the street, and E,
when necessary, acting Ms clerk but in
this latter capacity he Is acknowledged 10
! have been sad failure. His dress con.
sisted OF gray military suit and sloutched
nat, which were the only distiDguishable
features in his makeup. In appearance
he was no more than man in the ordin-
AIRY walks of life, and in his department
quiet and unobtrusive, mingled but little
in society, and possessed but few friends
and AcquRintsnces. Among the number
we're Captain Dick Morehouse, now dead;
Jack Booth, formerly station agent Of the
Illinnia Nantral railrnad at thia oit
j Ohm A. Rawlins, at that time q rising
young lawyer Of Galensi j. @. Calder
wood, keeper Of q livery stable j. L.
Smith, then jsweler, and one
or two others whose names ! can
not now call. With these congenial
associations Grant would pass his even
ings after business hours, in room 1893, De
Sofa House, playing cards or indulging in
social conversation. The impression pre-
walls among many that Grant, while n
...'dsnt of this city, and during his mill.
tAry eerNiNsi INDUCED in the use of intox-
icRting liquors. ihis am prepared to
deny, and can substantiate the assertion by
| the evidence Of both his friends
and enemies who knew him
while here, MS well rs that
Of his only surviving staff officer, General
W. X. Rowley, Of Galens, u man whose
integrity cannot be questioned. The story,
therefore, of his debAucheries during these
periods possesses no foundation in truth,
and Is = direct libel upon a man whom
fate had destined TO DO great, and whose
star of glory history shall emblazon
among the renowned deeds Of men with
| imperishable brillianoy.
The euccess which has marked the ca.
reer OF the president since he took COM
4 If h.. Cat -
nois VOLUNTEERS, as colonel, IL regarded by
many as extraordinary and unaccountable,
from the fact that while resident of this
city he seomed 10 be utterly wanting In
those characteristics which develop into
greatness. On the other hand, there are
y few who are not the least surprised
at the events which have marked his lat
ter history, claiming them as the fulfill
ment OF prophesies INDUCED in At the out
sci. Among the latter number is tho
Hon. L. Is. WashburD, present Minister
to France, and General John Il. smith
now in command Of Fort Laramie, who
II 10 asserted, urged the appointment of
his friend TO the colonelcy OF tho Twenty
nrst regiment At the hands OF Governor
Yates.
The former class insist that Grant owes
bis many victories while commanding
the army OF the West, and his subse.
quent success on the Potomac to the cool,
intrepid and sagacious Rawlins, whose
plans and suggestions we're followed to the
letter by his superior.
Grants GAlsna home was al hum bic
one, consisting OF a plain two-story brick
house, then rs now, owned by lime
burner named Robinson, to whom
monthly rental OF $40 was paid. The fur.
niture embraced limited number Of plain
pieces, together with few relics from
their St. Louis home. Mrs. Grant, com.
ing - she did from the wealthy and aris-
tocratic Dent family, felt her humbled
circumstances keeniy, and sought and
cared for but little society. The few ac.
quaintsnces shc possessed were far below
the "upper-tendum, and did not mbrsce
the certain ones who have toadled TO her
since Grant came into prominence.
| The president, during hisl sojourn in
this city, was, a. l have stated, but little
known, except by his club Of associates,
who entertained feelings OF respect and
friendship for the captain" as he was
familiarity called by them. While inter
viewing one Of his former companion,
last evening, ! was informed that Grant
was regarded as the best euchre player in |