The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-31

One Who Knew Him Long and Well Tells q
Very Interesting Story.
coorra ~ --- in Denver Opinion.

Very Interesting Story.
George G. B,,.,. in Denver Opinion.
Since all who knew intimately ma t.'a'
brave old hero are making contributions to his
biography and furnishing "reminiscences of his
early life, it may not be inappropriate for one
who SO far back as 1840 had the pleasure of his
friendship, and not only held Office under him,
from 1871 to 1873, but was familiar with all his
grand elements of character, and also with his
infrmities, if any he had, from April, 1S49
down to the day Of his death, to contribute to
the truth of history, in order that, when his life
is finally written in years yet to come, the world
may have correct rounded, and accurate view
of the wole man as hero, statesman, civilian,
citizen husband, father, neighbor and friend.
If there was one trait above all others that
General Grant admired in friend and foe it was
fidelity to truth and no man was more conscious
of his own errors in his early life than was he
And while he might overlook all other faults IN
himself and others, yet he never forgot his own
shortcomings, his misfortunes and his faults. In
life and in death he suffered more from the false
pretenses of scurvy politicians and such men
than he ever did from his worst enemies. If any
he had: but in truth and in faith he had no ene-
mics, save false and pretended partisans, who
sought to use him and his memory for their own
aggrardiZementa and advancement'-dead moons,
with no light in themselves, that circled around
him while President and clustered at his grave
in death.
1t was the Belknaps. the Bores, the Babcocks,
y ..
that becouded his presidential career And
such are many of the men who during his last
illness, have lowered like birds of prey around
his dying bed, and who seek to illumine their
own selfish and rascallv lives by the halo re-
hected from Grants purity of purpose, even as
the two thieves borrowed Christian sympathy on
the cross beside Christ.
In the month of April, 1849, the Fourth Regi-
ment of United States Infantry, commanded by
Colonel Whistler then the oldest officer in our
army, took post in Detroit, and Grant was a first
lieutenant therein, and the regiment remained
there until July, 1852, when it moved to Van
couver, VIA the lsthmuS of Panama, where 1t
encountered the cholera, and Grant showed his
indomtable pluck and courage his devotion to
duty and to his friend, Captain Gore, as no other
mortal man could have done; for he was as indlf-
ferent apparently, to cholera as to Jack Penn
berton, the lady killer" whom he extlnguished
at Ficksburg on July 4, 1863. although he had
been one of his early friends.
Being at that period a connection by marriage
with Colonel Whistler, and United States dis
trict attorney of Michigan, an acquaintance
between Lieutenant Grant and family and myself
and family began, and soon ripened into
friendship between the Lieutenant and myself,
which was intensified while l was living in San
Francisco, from June, 1852. down to November,
1856, when he made my office his headquarters
when off military duty there and where he was
my guest and slept in my room after his resi- gna
ton at Fort Vancouver, in 1854, for nearly a
week at the time
Society at that time in Detroit was very free,
and easy, and fast, and even more so IN San
Francisco, and Lieutenant Grant. like all of his
companions INDUCED in it to the fullest extent.
In Detroit he spent much of his time driving a
very fast pony in a French traineau the
Rude Rouge, and was always accompanied by a
box of cigars and old Monongahela whisky. and
where our friendship was intensified. because. as
/ once said, Il like you Grant" why soy said
Grant. because you are the most silent lis
tener l ever had, and l talk all the time" To
which he dryly replied: yes. but always talk
when [ have anything to say" Then l was
silent
On his way across the fsthmus, Captain Gore,
his alter ago--his Damon to Grants Pytnias-
died of cholera, and almost the first act Of his
presidential life was to appoint Mrs. Gore, the
widow. beautiful, lovely woman, postmstress
Of Covington, KY, an Office she held during all
his presidential career. All the old citizens of
Detroit of 1912 knew Grant we'll as quiet,
generous, unpretending soldier. who free
and easy in his habits; and many of the old
Wings took fancy for him because on one oc-
casion he gave Zach Chandler a drubbing for his
insolence in Office as mayor of Detroit.
Being at Port Oxford, on the Pacific coast, in
July, 1854, I there met him, just after his resig
nation from the army and soon afterward he
came to San Francisco, where he spent week
with Major Brent, of Detroit, and myself and
other friends, and where he sought to secure so
humble business as a billiard room to work.
But fortunately for him and our country, he
failed and when, at Bella Union, l gave him
and his brother officers a San Francisco
dinner, which lasted from o'clock P.
NJ. to high tide at noon the next day.
when we put him on board the steamer
Pacific, Capt. Napoleon Collins an old friend of
his and who, having sunk confederate ship in
the harbor of Bahia, within the three marine
leagues had beel smissed the service and who
was restored by Grant to his command by his
first official act President of the United
States During all this period of time Lieuten-
ant Grant proved himself to be one of the most
modest, quiet, unpretending, truthful. honest
men that had ever seen and he was respected,
esteemed and beloved by all wha knew him, but
was never supposed by any of his friends to be a
prohibitonist-a redribbon man or teetotaler
We were all gay, jolly good fellows and the
Lieutenant was among the gayest and pleasant
est of us ALL in his own silent way. The records
of the War Department show why he resigned
his commission in the army, and SO accepted
Secretary Davis's alternatives and it Is mora