Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-01-26
HOW GRANT BEGAN.
[As Grant told it back of vicksburg in 1ses.-

Gen. Grant said that when the govern
or of Illinois called for volunteers-the |
first call-he wanted to offer his SER
vices, and he might have gone as a pri-
vate 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 lit
tie money in his pocket he started for
Springfield, the capital of the state.
Here the troops were gathered in cha
otic mass. In 1861 the novelty of army
life was attractive enough, but to orga-
nize and perfect system such as the
authorities at Washington expected was
puzzling them all, and beyond the ken
of the governors staff. The quiet inof-
fensive appearance of plain citizen Grant
| from Galena didn't seem to help mat
ters, for when he presented himself the
| governor told him there were no vacan-
cies. but that he might call tomorrow.
Grant returned to his tavern, where he
was putting up, and the next morning
he did call and received 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 ex-
perience in the army to the disposal Of
accumulated business. Fortunately for
the future of the government, there was
a vacant place that morning. and there
was lots of unfinished business upon the
desk, and the governor told quiet Capt.
Grant from 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 at the state capitol but was doing
something toward suppressing the re-
bellion, and he was happy.
Gov. Yates says he does not recollect
anything in particular of Capt. Grant
until the insubordination 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 I'll
make you the colonel if you will take
the regiment off my hands p said the
governor, and Grant said he would do
it if they would let him send to Galena
c. s-e.--o l---yv slIO1U tv ~ LIZ .l;-~
tant The appointments were made out
and these two citizens of Galena-the
colonel and adjutant- Joined by the for
tunes of war in the 2lst regiment of IL
E linois volunteers, enjoyed each others
sacred confidence in everything through.
a out their illustrious and eventful life
A companionship begun thus early ir
| the war was only severed by the death
of the lamented, the noble soldier, tn,
! secretary of war, John A. Rawlins. Al
: the trusted adjutant, the favored chic
f of staff, and as years rolled by and hon
Il ors were thrust upon them, as his secre
tary Of war, the lameuted John A. Raw
lins testified his feality and devoted hi
y life's service to noble and worthy com
e mander. Somebody present asked th
Il general how Rawlins and be manage
4 the 2lst Illinois where others had fail
ed, and he commenced with a good III
,e derstanding at first. He established
r. guard line that was like lawful fence
r and when the stragglers came into cam
70 to see their new commander, he just bel
= them there till they got right well az
quainted. "Our stay" said the genera
:. sin Springfield was short, but Will
there, from reveille to tattoo. kept N
a men busy. Squad drill, company drill
10 regimental drill. police and guard dut
kept them dusting around, and whe
:. they had chance to sleep they stoppe
:. in camp instead of running the guar
~ line, and being caught at it. Our fir
of engagement was in Missouri. under Ge
Pope, and can tell you now that ne
er was more nervous in my life tia
- upon that occasion. | never felt n
:. responsibility to the state and the go
:. ernment, " said Gen. Grant, ''more kee
ly than IN that little skirmish in the
.. ginning of our civil war.