The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-08-28
THE DEAD SOLDIER.
Ben: Perley PORES "reminiscences
General Grant.

GenSra1 Grant.
General Grant used to love to talk
about Mexico better than almost any
other topic. He was while there Quar-
termaster of the Fourth Infantry, and
ne could have remained in the rear with
ais baggage train during battle, but
he was always at the front, and Sc
cured, by his gallantry, promotion from
the rank of Second Lieutenant to that
of Captain by breYet. He took great
interest in Toe National Cemetery
established in the suburbs of the City
of Mexico, to which the remains of
those VINO fell in the great battles
fought by General Scott's army were
removed. In the spring of 1876 he di-
rected General Belknap, then Secretary
of War, to send me to inspect this GEM
etery. 1t is a beautiful spot, and I
found that Consul-General Skilton had
it kept in the best of order
On my return from Washington 1 re-
ported at the White House, and General
Grant talked with me for nearly three
hours. He showed an intimate ac-
quaintance with the Government and
business of Mexico, but expressed no
opinion as to the practicability or the
possibility of future annexation. He
had asked me, before | went, to see if
could find the house at Tacubava,
one of the suburbs of the city, in which
he was CHARTERED, and he described its
locality. | could not find it, and when
he went himself to Mexico, few years
later, he was equally unsuccessful.
General Grant used to talk about the
Mexican cooking, which he rather
fancied. Among the dishes which suit
ed his palate was the ollie podrida, or
Spanish stew of mutton, pork, cabbage,
beans, onions, red peppers-in short,
almost as many things as were con-
tanned in the sheet which ST. Peter pro-
nounced unelean. Friioles, small black
beans, were stewed in lard and sea-
weeds with red pepper. Tortillas were
made of half boiled hominy. rolled and
kneaded into thin, tough cakes, baked
between heated stones. And there was
pulque, a yeasty beer, which is the
fermented sap of a large variety of the
cactus family, scooped from cavities
cut in the growing plant and put up in
hogskins. There have been some mys-
FERROUS illusions to Grant leaving the
army, but there was nothing dishonor-'
able about it. He was Captain in the
fourth infantry, in which he fought in
every battle of the Mexican war, on
both Scott's and Tayl0r's lines, with
the exception OF Buena Vista. On his
return to the States hio regiment was
ordered to the North Pacific coast,
where his pay would not allow him to
support his wife and children, and
where there was nothing to eniven the
round of military duties. He became
dissipated, and the result was that he
was told by his commander he had
better resign or reform. He accord
ingly placed his resignation in the
hands Cononel Buchanan, to be used in
case of his intoxication. A few weeks
later he visited San Francisco, where
some conviyial army friends got him on
D tear, " and when he returned to his
post he found, 10 his modification, that
Colonel Buchanan, hearing of his dis
sipation, had forwarded his resignation
with such recommendation as would
secure its immediate acceptance. He
was again private citizen, and his
friends, Alfred Pleasantor, then Lieu
tenant of dragons, and Rufus Ingalls,,
then the Post Quartermaster, advanced
him money enough to pay his passage
to st. Louis by the way of the Isthmus
of Panama. When he signed his last
pay receipt before leaving his regiment
he said to a friend: '"'Ten years hen g
you will hear from me as Il substantial,
well-todo Missouri farmer"
Grants attempt at farming near
st. Louis, however, was not a. success.
The land was poor, and his crops did
not prove remuneratiVe. Indeed. his
only cash income was derived from
tlre-wOOd, which he and his negro man
would cut and which he would haul to
St Louis, going sfrom house to house
until he could sell it at FIVE dollars a
cord. Among his customers was Henry
L. Blow, who was afterward elected to
Congress, where he took Mrs. Blow to
one OF President Grants receptions at
the White House. Mrs. Blow wondered
il General Grant would recognize her
as an old friend or acquaintance, under
the different circumstances of their rel
alive situations in life. Mrs. Blow
had not been long at the Generals be-
fore he went to her and said: '.Mrs.
Blow, | remember you well. What
great changes have taken place since
we last metz Eyes, General" said
Mrs. Blow, ''the war is over" 81 do
not mean that, he replied; 81 meant
with myself Do you recollect when
used to supply your husband with
wood, and pile it myself and measure it,
too, and 90 up to his Office for my
pay?" "Oh yes, General, your face
was.familiar in those days" Mrs. Blow,
those were happy days, for was doing
the best [ could to support my family. "
Boston Budget.