The Portland daily press., 1879-12-15
How Grant Begun.
The Story of His Entrance into the Army.

las Grant told it back of Vieksburg in 1861
Gen. Grant said that when the Governor Of
Illinois called for volunteers-the first call-he
wanted to offer his services, and he might have
gone as a private soldier, but he knew that
Uncle Sam had trained him up for something
better than that, and so he arranged his little
business affairs and with but little money in
his pocket he started for Springfield, the cap
ital of the State Here the troops were gath
cred in chaotic mass In 1861 the novelty of
army life was attractive enough, but to organ
ize and perfect system such as the authori-
ties at Washington expected was puzzling them
all, and beyond the ken of the Governors staff
The quiet inoffensive appearance of plain Git
izen Grant from Galena didn't seem to help
matters, for when he presented himself the
Governor told him 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 did call 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 getting accustomed to his
daily vistations Grant asked for office work
He asked permission to occupy vacant desk
previous experience in the army to the disposal
of accumulated business. Fortunately for the
future of the government there was vacant
place that morning, and there was lots OF un-
finished business upon the desk, and the Gov
ernor told quiet Capt. Grant 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
a drone in the busy hive at the State Capital
but was doing something toward suppressing
she rebellion and he happy.
Gov. Yates says he does not recollect any
thing in particular of Capt. Grant until the in
subordination of the 21st regiment was talked
of and commented upon in his presence, and
Capt Grant spoke up and asked to be appointed
drill-master of the regiment. "Egad! III make
you the Colonel if you will take the regiment
off my handsl' said the Governor, and Grant
said he would do it if they would let him send
to Galena for young lawyer there to be his
regimental adjutant. The appointments were
made out and these two citizens OF Galena-the
Colonel and Authenticated by the fortunes
of war in the 21st regiment OF illinois volun-
teers enioyed each others sacred confidence
in everything throughout their illustrious and
eventful life. A companion'h ship begun thus
early in the war was only severed by the death
of the lamented, the noble soldier the Secre-
tary of War, John q Rawlins: AS the trusted
Adiutant, the favored chief of staff, and as the
years rolled by and honors were thrust upon
them as his Secretary OF War, the lamented
Gen. John A. Rawlins testified his fealty and
devoted his life's service to noble and a wor-
thy commander. Somebody present asked the
General how Rawlins and he managed the 2lst
Illinois where others had failed, and he said
he commenced with a good understanding at
first. He established guard line that was
like lawful fence, and when the stragglers
came into camp to see their new commander,
he Just held them there till they got right well
"in Springfield was short, but while there,
from reveille to tattoo, 1 kept my men busy.
Squad drill, company drill, regimental drill,
police and guard duty kept them dusting
around, and when they had chance to sleep
they stopped in camp instead of running The
guard line and being caught at it. Our first
engagement was in Missouri, under Gen. Pope,
and can tell you now that 1 never was more
nervous in my life than upon that occasion. l
never felt nv responsibility to the State and
the government said Gen. Grant, more
keeniy than in that little skirmish in the be-
Ginning of our civil war;"