Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-12-17
HOW GRANT BEGUN.

How Grant told it back of Vicksburg in 1863,
Gen. Grant said that when the Cover
nor of Illinois called for volunteers-the
first call-he wanted to offer his services,
and he might have gone as private sol
dier, but he knew that Uncle Sam had
trained him up for something better than
that, and so he arranged his little busi-
ness affairs, and with but little money in
his pocket, he started for Springfield, the
capital of the state Here the troops
were gathered in a chaotic mass. In lo-
81 the novelty of army life was attractive
enough, but to organize and perfect a
system such as the authorities at Wash
ington expected was puzzling them al,
and beyond the ken of the Governor
staff, The quiet, inofensive appearance
of plain Citizen Grant from Galena didn't
seem to help matters. for when he pre-
there were no vacancies, but that he
might call tomorrow Grant returned to
his tavern, where he was putting up,
and the next morning he called and re-
ceived about the same response. He
called again and again, with no better
success. One morning, when his funds
were getting low, and the Governor was
being accustomed to his daily visitations,
Grant asked for office work. He asked
permission to occupy vacant desk and
to apply his clerical knowledge and his
previous experience in the army to the
disposal of accumulated business. Fortu-
nately for the future government, there
was vacant place that morning, and
there was lots Of unfinished business
upon the desk, and the Governor told
quiet Capt. Grant of Galena to pitch in.
He went to work, one of dozen clerks
in the office, and was much elated by
his position. He wrote to Mrs. Grant
that he was no longer drone in the busy
hive ssat the state capital but was doing
somethink toward suppressing the rebel
lion, and he was happy.
Gov. Yates says he does not recollect
anything in particular Of Gen. Grant un-
til the insubordination of the 21st regi-
ment was talked of and commented up
on in his presence, and Captain Grant
spoke up and asked to be appointed
drillmaster of the regiment. 'Egad!
I'll make you the Colonel if you will take
the regiment off my handsl' said the
Governor, and Grant said he would do ii
if they would let him send to Galena foi
a young lawyer there to be his regimen
tai adjutant. The appointments were
made out Of these two citizens of Galena
the Colonel and Adjutant-:joined by
the fortunes of war in the 2lst regiment
of Illinois volunteers, enjoyed each Others
sacred confidence in everything through
out their illustrious and eventful life. a
companionship begun thus early in the
war was only severed by the death OF the
lamented, the noble soldier the Secretary
of War, John A. Rawlins. As the trust
ed Adjutant, the favored chief of staff
and as years rolled by and honors were
thrust upon them, as his Secretary o
War, the lamented John A. Rawlins tes
titled his fealty and devoted. his life ser
vice to a noble and worthy commander
Somebody present asked the General how
| Rawlins and he managed the 21st Hi
nois where others had failed, and he sale
he commenced with a good understand
ing at first He established a guard line
that was like a lawful fence, and Wher
the stragglers came into camp to see then
new commander he just held them there
till they got right well acquainted. Our
stay" said the General, "in Springfield
was short, but while there, from reveille
to tattoo, kept my men busy. Squad
drill company drill, regimental drill
police and guard duty kept them busting
around, and when they had chance tt
sleep they stopped in camp instead OF
running the guard line, and being caught
at it. Our first engagement was in Mis-
souri, under General Pope, and can tel
you now that [ never was more nervous
in my life than upon that occasion. ]
never felt my responsibility to the State
and the government, ''said General Grant
''more keenly than in that little skirmish
in the beginning Of our civil war;