Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-01-10
How OAR Worthy President hrs'
made the Acquaintance OF
Zach Chandler.
ONE OF GRANTS VICTORIES.

We find the following interesting
i'll despatch dated Detroit,
Mich, Dec 9th, which notwthstand-
inc its date, we transfer it to our col
umns with pleasure. 1t says that
some twenty-five years ago, Grant
having recently graduated at West
Point, was stationed i'll this city.
Now, the barracks were situated just
outside the city limits, and to get to
his quarters, from the business por-
ton of the town, Grant was obhged
to walk q long distance through untre-
qucnted streets and past vacant lots,
several of which belonged to Chand-
ler, who at that time was the most
prominent wholesale dry goods dealer
in Detroit.
1t so happened one night among
the wee small hours that precede the
day, that as Grant and two or three
of his boon companions were mean
dering to quarters, Grant slipped down
and was so severely wounded that he
had to be helped to the rear by his
brothers-ln. arms. In few days, as
soon as he had become sufficiently
conva.escent, he again went over that
battle field and taking dowr the num
Der of the vacant lot, he sought the
Registers Office and finding that
Chandler owned the lot, at once callet
on him at his big store, and stating
bis case in the presence OF his wltnes
ses, claimed damages on the Sroun(
that the snow had not been shovelle(
from the sidewalk, AS the law required
and that the rains and frost had chang
ged the snow into ice, charging tina
his smash up was entirely owing t.
there being ice on the track, so that
the brakes wouldn't work.
Chandler heard him through, AM
E instead of coming down handsomely
he wouldn't pay damages worth
cent. On the contrary, he poured on
, the vials of his red.hot wrath upo
the heads of Grant and his compal
ions told them, among other thing
a that they were a disgrace to the arm
q aud to the city that the! were hi
bitually coming to town, trequentln
the vilest rum holes, drinking tangl
foot whiskcy, and making night hi'
V eous, and advised them to stay at the
J. quarters, keep sober, and study the
If tactics.
n Grant retreated in good order. sa'
o. inc all his men, and not even maxim
> speech. Old Zach supposed he h'
G. won a signal victory. Not so, ho'
r. ever. Grant Immediately commen
% ed suit against hilD, and there being
+. city ordinance tnlng every one vi
IS did not have the snow removed ire
C the sidewalk within twenty-tonr hou
ce Grant got judgment every time t
he snow fell, and as Chandler owned
d, good many vacant lots, he was trett
he and worried all winter with petty la
lar suits that always went against HI
VI until finally he concluded the b'
way was to make friends with
of young soldier, and he sent a note
ire him, asking him to call at his OFT
I'd, for the purpose OF making an amica
bt. settlement.
Ill But Grant didn't go 4 second Ii
ch into the enemy's stronghold. lnste
at he sent word that if Old Zach wan,
* to see him for an amicable intervi
it he could come where he was, add
zen that he had some powerful tanglet
ch and some large fall pippins. Cha
tn Ter Immediately ordered his carrl'
and drove to the barracks, but all I
'st, was ever known outside the quart
ties about that interview is that Chant
us did not return to his place of busir
the that day, and that Grant and he h
en. been intimate friends ever since.