Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-11-26
Letter from Iowa.

DUBuoUE November 20. 1879
Messrs. Editors Il know, of course, that the
long-legged everywhere-present telegraph has
told you all about the home-welccming given the
Man OF Destiny" after his tour around the
world; and so wonder II you would care for
some odds and ends OF items, as seen by the eyes
of a former Vermont girl. At eleven o'clock on
Wednesday, the 9Th OF November, train CON-
posed OF two engines and thirteen cars crowded
to the utmost, started from Dubuque for the scene
OF festivities, our sister city, Gaena. On the
arrival OF the tran cannons fired on Mount
Hope and the bells rang ont unanimously. Your
humble correspondent sighed, 60 dearl there's
a fire, and looked far and near for the devour-
ing element This is the second time that Galena
has welcomed home her hero with banners and
evergreens, and let me predict it is not the last
The city wore her holiday attire, and was very
attractive The principal arch, Or properly speak
log the three combined arches, crossed the street
from the corner Of the De Soto House, and Joined
the speaker stand, that occupied the entire width
OF a cross street. Over the center arch an i'm
mense bronze eagle held crossed flags in his bcak,
and behind this was arranged the band stand
Across the top in huge capitals, on one side read,
Welcome home, General" and on the other,
Beloved at home, and honored abroad" and
over each OF the three arches formed by the
green pillars, read, From Gaena to Appomattox
Court House," From Galena to the White
House. From Galena round the world" and
on the opposite side Grant" then Sherman.
Sheridan" and over the last arch Galena's la
mented hero, "Rawlins" Before the train on
which General Grant and party were to arrive
was due, crowd OF at least fifteen thousand
people had gathered near the depot, and after
little delay, caused by crowds along the line Of
route, the train rushed in amid the booming Of
cannon and the cang of all the bells in the city
rhe train was of moderate length, in the last Of
which was the general and party. The engine
was gaily drsped with bunting and decked with
| flags, among which hung two small black flags,
in memory of the lamented dead Senator Chand-
er Cheer after cheer greeted the arrival; and
after some moments spent in official receiving in
side the car, the general stepped out the plat
form. entered the waiting c,rriage drawn by
| four fine white horses He raised his hat, bow
ing quietly as the carriage drove off to take its
place in line with the long procession OF civil and
military societies waiting to receive him, followed
by Mrs. Grant and party, drawn by more milk
white steeds. OF course knew the general by
| the engravngs had seem and yet one must see
the face to know the man. His pictures give no
idea OF him. There stamped all the unswerv-
ing integrity of the boy; the patient laboring Of
the young years; the true husband; the loving
| father; the ndomitable will OF the general that
| could say, We will fight it out on this line
and you knew he ,oould do it. The grand, mas
sive, powerful brain that could hold one OF the
mightest armies the world ever saw, and never
call a council OF war, but lead them on to victory;
nd nj nj uit v hat
say to the conquered at his feet, when asked what
he would do with the horses OF the rebel army,
You will need your horses for blowing" 1t Is
face to remember lifetime, in which all things
grand and good are possible-a face to which one
could trust countrys honor and never find that
trust betrayed. Later as he stood on the speak
| ers stand, listening to the addresses of welcome
| from Senator Mcclellan, the whole unparalleled
history OF the man rose up-not from the past
but from the face OF him before us, courage, pa
thence. magnanimity. His answering speech was
short, and spoken in quiet straightforward way,
that uttered as much by his bearing as his words
the thought that all honors showered upon him
by foreign nations had been received as for his
| country, in which no dash OF egotism entered
Short speeches from the three governors, repre-
senting the states that in politics and territoriay
here stand shoulder to shoulder, followed; and
| as Governor Cullum remarked, ." 1t WAS not an
extra day for governors, either" General Logan.
who was one of the generals party, followed with
| warm, hearty words-his swarthy hair and foreign
looking face in sharp contrast to the fair, white
haired ex- Minister washburne, always an orator,
and together with Senator Allison, one Of our
| prime fayorites Allison refined and gentle
manly whose thorough understanding aud wide
experience, gained in long years spent In the
council chamber OF the nation, make his words
mighty as well as gracious. day within sound
| Of the voices Of such men renews ones faith in
| all mankind. After the speeches Mrs Grant
kindly answered the calls, and came forward,
smilingly acknowledging the hearty cheers sent
up from the admiring thousands How docs she
iook2 Like noble, sensible woman; not beau
tiu after the pattern OF some fanciful Aphrodite,
perhaps yet what woman that could rise from
the common walks OF life to the height Of worldly
honors, as modestly and unassumngly as she
has, could fail To be beautiful in the eyes Of all
| Americans as she was In ours How was she
dressed9 | don't know. A gentleman present
remarks, with quiet elegance" which ! sup
pose must be true; the truest elegance Is dress
In no way conspicuous, but was busy reading
character In faces not yelvets and seaskin cloaks.
| When later at the reception some huge Hoosier
nterposed his bury proportions between US, and
the generals pleasant eyes sought us out and he,
ignoring the Hoosiers open palm, extended 10 as
| q hearty, magnetic In d-clasp; we, with heart
no less iull II honor and admiration, than In all
the years since 't3 IRON heart OF hearts cried
silently, Piue le General Vipe IL General
MAUD MxKKprru.