Mexico weekly ledger., 1885-07-30

During a portion of the year 1861
his regiment-the 21st Illinois Vol
unteers-was encamped in this city,
the prairie between j. NJ. Meme
fees residence and Uncle Billie
Vests, in West Mexico. Grant was
at that time a Colonel. The regi-
ment had been in camp here about a
week, when one afternoon about 3
O'Clock a telegraph message was
brought to regimental headquarters,
bearing the inscription. BRIG. Gen.
U. S. Grant," and delivered to Lieut..
Col. Alexander Gen. GRAFT being
absent inspecting the guard-posts,
situated on the different roads lead
ing into town. Col. Alexander i'm
mediately notified the company Of
fcers of what he supposed the mes
sage contained, viz: Col. Grants ap-
pointment as Brigadier General, and
they all congregated at headquarters
to give the General a royal reception
when he should return from bis visit
to the ''pieket posts" was prob
ably an hour after the dispatch was
delivered at headquarters when Gen.
Grant was seen coming up the road
toward camp, and the soldiers, who
had received an inkling of what was
going on and the good news that was
awaiting the General at headquar-
tiers, were all out on their company
parade grounds ready to cheer the
General as soon as he entered the
limits of the camp. The Adjutant
of the regiment, Chas. Fuller, took
the dispatch and fastened out on
the road and met the General and
delivered it to him. The dispatch
was from Hon. E. B. Washburne,
dated that day, at Washington, and
was as follows:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 1851
BRIG. GEN. U. S. GRANT, Mexico, Mo
You have this day been appointed by
the President as Brigadier Genera
of Volunteers. Accept my congrat
ulations. E. B. WAsHBURNE.
As soon as the General had reat
the dispatch there was a shout wen
s up from officers and men of the 21s
e that convinced the General that hi
4 regiment were rejoiced and proud o
r the distinguished honor that had bee
bestowed upon him.
The next morning the train brough
the st. Louis papers, with telegraph
It dispatches confirming the one re
b ceived the day before. Some two Q
three days after this, the regimen
was ordered to Ironton, Mo-, an
took the cars for that place. Ger
Grant accompanied the regiment t
is Ironton and established his heat
ri quarters there as commander of til
Ie post. The General remained thel
. probably ten days, when he was O
t. dered to Jefferson City, by Gener'
1T Fremont, and was afterward tran
le ferred to the command of the post
70 Cairo. Here he issued his first ord,
g to troops to engage in battle.
ID Grants tent stood about whe.
it the Rice property now is, and the
,e were present, when the news came
ii his promotion, Col. Alexander, Il
chaplain and Mr.. John Saunders
this city. In q short time Ora
came in, as did also Gen. Pope, win
congratulations all around followe
f. Many of our older citizens rememb
"The Silent Man" we'll, and reta
" pleasant memories of him the she
o. time he and his men were in our mid
of The first regularly established,Co
er federate flag the General had, up
90 that time, ever seen, was made al
on presented to him by Mrs. r. Fl. X
he nan, of this city, and it was consid,
,p ed by him quite q curiosity. +
m ensign was made of silk, and b
~ three bars and q blue field. At Il
an time the rebelious states had
seeded, and each was represent
by a star. The flag is supposed
now be among the war relics Of
m dead soldier.