The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-05-31
JUST GRANTS LUCK.
How lie Happened TO Fe-Enter the Army
In 1861.

| In 1861.
| WAsHINGToS, May IA Sunday
paper publishes the story of how Grant
re.entered the Army in 1861, as told by
an old clnssmate who was then muster.
ing officer IN Illinois. Grant" he eaya
turned up one day. He had not seen
him since the Mexican war. Grant said
he was married and had very bad luck.
Somehow he couldn't get along. He did
not know why. He said just then he
lived in Galena and was working in q
!annery 10 which ht. hai small intercs:.
why don't you 60 into the army?' said
|. We'll, / have been thinking of that
ne answered, but have no ;nfluence.
aud ii seems sou can't get ANYTHING
nowadays without influence. That ia
very true said. Did you notice they
have made Hallock (who was instructor
in mathematics when Grant was cadet)
a major. general? said Grant; and see
that red headed Cump Sherman has been
made colonel of the new 18th infantry,
he vent on to say, and, sner inonieut's s
meditation. softly muttered, though
Grant was never violently prOfane
man: 'Halleck major. general and
sherman colonel! The Lord look
down? 'Tom, continued Grant, after
thinking Il minute, can't you give me
something TO dc here?' YES, can, /
said; you can help me make out these
muster rolls right. So it was agreed that
Grant should come into my office, help
me III my duties as mastering office and
receive $l20 per month for his services.
So it went on until had mustered in is
regiments. One afternoon Gov. Yates
sent for me. l found him in state OF
excitement--poor fellow, he was that
way very often. He had just had dis.
patch from Gen. Prentiss at Cairo, that
there was an immense force of rebels on
the Kentucky ride, within few hours of
Cairo, and he had undoubted informa.
alton that they were to be crossed
over at once, perhaps TINT very night.
Tie begged the Governor to send him
every available man at once. This
alarming news was followed by another
telegram from President Lincoln, at
Washington, telling Yates that on no &C.
count must the rebels get any foothold
IN Illinois, to prevent any crossing if
possible, and to cooperate with Gen.
Prentiss. The Governor had sent for me
TO say that he wanted the troops then in
camp mustered into the United States
service and sent of to Cairo that night.
While the Governor WAS talking.
thought flashed into my mind. Why
can't | Put Grant into one of these new
req imentsf Governor said /, these
regiments viii probably get into a fight
within "a hours. 1t is rather important
that they should be properly command
ed. Who are to be made colonels p
Most Of the candidates for field officers
were in hearing, and The fact That they
would have to go into battle within "a
hours seemed 10 repress their military
ardor somewhat. "Now. Governor said
|, i have in my Office an old classmate
and conrade. He was all through the
Mexican war, and was a good soldier.
What he has been doing since, do not
eKactly know, but he has not been very
successful in business and would like to
go out in one of these new regiments es
pecally as they will probably have to 20
into fight 30 soon. ! strongly recon-
mend the appointment of Captain Grant
TO command one of these new regiments.'
The Governor didn't know what to do.
He had promised nearly al! the positions
except the last regiment, which would be
the 2lst Illinois, and man named Al.
exander wanted to be the colonel and
was very strongly backed for the posi-
ton. But Alexander had seen no SER
vice, and was willing to take the second
place in view OF the probable fight.
Yates insisted, however, that Grant must
be recommended for tie place by some
one in the State. Can't you get some
one to recommend you p said to Grant.
He finally said he knew n man named
Washburne little, who was then q
member of Congress from the Galena
district, but that ds he (Grsnt) was a
Democrat and Washburne q Republican
il vast doubtful If Washburne would do
it. However, will try him. said
Grant, and he telegraphed to Washburne
about as follows: Recommend me for
position as field officer in new regiments
starting for Cairo In four hours Wash.
burne replied about like this: think
Capt. Grant might be useful as a field
officer in one Of the new regiments leav.
ing Springfield to- might, if you can con-
sistently appoint him. Well, this fixed
1t. Grant was made colonel of the 2lst
Illinois Infantry. loaned him money
enough TO send his wife some and have
enough left to purchase horse and such
articles of equipment as were necessary.
This ia the way Grant went into the war.
The rest ID history"
Grant never forgot the friend who had
stood by him so staunchly when the
clouds looked the darkest. He made
him colonel in the army in 1866,
and appointed one son in the army aud
the other to West Point, where ho grad.
uated we'll. When his leg got well
enough TO allow him to do any service
Grant made him superintendent of the
United States Military Academy at West
Point, and, SITTER his tour of duty there
he was appointed superintendent of the
Soldiers' Home :ies. Washington. He
can always get anything Grant can help