Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-11-26
HIRAM ULYSSES
John FIshback Relates Some Incidents
Never Published.

aid published an interview with A. II.
Corbin, brother-in-law of General.
Grant, wherein he stated that the gen
eral was not a tanner, thus overthrow
ing another of the popular illusions
which have more or less surrounded
all great men. Knowing that John
Fishback, of the Brookside tannery, q
boy with Grant, could in all prOba-
bility throw some light on the ques-
ton ut being a generally accepted be-
lief that he and Ulysses worked at the
bench together), a News reporter
sought him and asked him to state
what he knew about it. He said:
"Brother-in-law Corbin is correct
in his statement that General Grant
was not a tanner, but wrong in saying
his brothers were not. Both Simpson
and 0rville were good tanners, and in
early life worked hard at the trade.
A moments reflection would satisfy
anyone that, if Ulysses entered West
Point when a lad, some time previous
was spent in preparing him for the
duty there, and that he had no time
to acquire the trade Of a tanner. After
leaving West Point he entered the
army and kept his position until he
resigned, while in California. He was
appointed as a cadet at the request Of
General Thomas L. Hamer, then CON
gresham from the district in which
Clermont county is situated.
" l remember when he made his
first visit home after a two years stay
at West Point. He was then quite q
young man. His cadet suit, white
pants, blue jacket, guilt buttons and
| cloth cap made quite an impression on
the youth at that time. The impress
sion his reception by the family made
upon my mind has always been fresh.
He came to my native town, which
was the end ofthe stage route, and the
nearest point to his home. | drove
him home, and expected to see after
so long an absence a warm greeting,
but it was simply, How are you, my
son2' and How are you, brother Uly-
sees?' entirely cool and without emo
ton, the same trait which has charac-
terized the general in his after life.
AT Bethel, the little village where
his family lived, the boys concluded
that Cadet Grant was putting on style,
and not knowing that his dress was il
accordance with the regulation of the
school, determined to dress up a buff
foon in the style and set him following
lGrant about the streets. Ulysei
never betrayed by his manner that h'
knew anything Of their designs, anC
his department was so manly that they
became disguised with themselves
and afterward were his friends.
"The absence Of gush was no evi.
dence that there was a want of afec.
ton existing in the Grant family
The general has shown hal he has {
warm place in his heart for his rela.
tives, and in spite of abuse and ridi
cule he has always stuck to them ant
to his friends. No father ever had
greater admiration or affection for
I son than Jesse Il. Grant had for Ulys
ses, and his tender regard for hi
/, father until his days were ende,
showed that he was not wanting il
gratitude. No doubt the old gentle
! mans vanity often mortified the son
but never a word ofreproof. To illus
, trate the old g~entleman's attaehmen
to his son, whoever crossed the thresh
! old of the Grant mansion was immedi
: ately invited 10 listen 10 the last lette
! ! received from Ulysses, or to the las
. report, or to examine the many speci
5 mems Of his drawings which adorne
+ the walls Of the house. On one coca
sion the old gentleman vainly over
: came his Judgment and came near gel
ting Ulysses into trouble.
Ulysses was in command of a CON
pany of regular soldiers in the arm
that invaded Mexico, and while be
tween the Rio Grande and Buen
Vista they we're Joined by some of th
0hio volunteers. The captains natiy
county was represented by a compan,
and their dirty and ragged condition
peculiar to the volunteers when fir
entering the service, in comparisc
with his clean, well kept regulars, a
t. tracted his attention, and in a lett,
% homo he mado some severe criticism
Ie upon their appearance. The old gel
+ tleman fastened to the county SCI
is and had the letter published in Il
county paper. AS a matter of oours
J. each family represented IN the arm
le sent q marked copy of tho paper to Il
D. boys in Mexico. When that ms
reached the army there was a storm
al indignation and loud threats We
Of made against Captain Grant. B
th General Hamer, the early friend
of Grant, and who was In command
II. the division of volunteers, soon had
ey satisfactory explanation made, al
m the wrath Of tho volunteers was a
r. peased."
ne AFRO there any other matters CO
ne nected with General Grants histc
y, previous to his entering the army aga
he in 1861, not heretofore made publ
Or with which you are familiar"
ed "After the failure Of Captain Grt
RS as a wood-hauler TO the ST, LOI
he market he moved to Galena, Wit
his younger brother, 0rville, was
es, charge Of hls fathers leather and hi
ed store, where he became assistant.
il representative Of a New York leatl
III. house told me he happened to be
the store one night when the capt.
Dr. asked 0rville for five dollars. Oryi
is was in command then, and gave b
of three dollars, with the remark that
ty. had no use for five dollars. The CT
he tain, like a good soldier, quietly 81
les mitted to the dictation ofhis superi
an Soon after, Captain Grant was asl
ic, TO assist in tho organization OF
ale Illinois troops, and Governor va
Ter offered him command Of a regime
10. lie stopped in indianapolis ON
- I-I- N" L. IA