The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-04
MEMOIRS OF GENERAL GRANT
The Story Of His Western Campaigns,
Up to the Capture Of Vicksburg.
Estimates Of Some Of His Contemporaries in
Two Wars-General Iogan's Services
phe General and His Enemies

Shood up to the surrender of Vicksburg. Much
that is contained in the volume has already been
given to the public through the old commanders
papers in the Century and by advance sheets
Some points, however, are entirely new, and as
they are given in General Grants own words
unusual interest attaches to them.
1t is thought worthy Of mention that the little
town of Georgetown, o., where the Generals
rboyhood was spent, and whence he went to West
Point, furnished the Union army with four gen.
eral officers and one colonel. West Point gradu-
ates, and nine generals and field officers of vol
-unteers, many of whom were companions Of
Grants boyhood. Of his stay at the academy
it is told that military life had attractions for
him. and he did expect to stay in the army, even
If he graduated. His idea was to get through the
course secure detail for a few years. as assist
ant professor Of mathematics at the academy
and afterwards obtain permanent position as
professor in some respectable college. During
the first years encampment General Scott re-
viewd the cadets, and Cadet Grant thought him
the finest specimen of manhood his eyes had
ever beheld, and the most to be envied He re-
3ates having presentimentfor moment that he
should one day occupy General SCOTS place In
the review. The next summer President Mar
tin Van Buren, visited the academy, but he did
Describing his army life at Jefferson Barracks,
St, Louis, after graduation, incidental reference
lis made to Lieutenant Ewel who subsequently
became confederate general, and proved him
self efficient officer in two wars-both unholy.
OF the first of these unholy wars-the Mexican
this events leading up to it furnish an incident
which calls forth an estimate on the practice of
dueling. While his regiment was in New Or
leans, one morning the young officer left his
quarters to learn the meaning of rihe-shot
He observed two knots of men near by and
learned afterwards that 1t was nothing-'onl a
couple of gentlemen deciding a difference of
opinion with rifles at twenty PAGES" 81 do not
believe" is the Generals comment, II ever
would have the courage to fight duel. If any
man should wrong me to the extent of my being
willing to kill him l would not be willing to give
him the choice of weapons with which it should
be done and of the time, Mace and distance sep
arating us when I executed him. If should do
another such wrong as to justify him in killing
me would make any reasonable atonement
within my power if convinced of the wrong
dene."
: Most of what is said about the Mexican war
has already been published in the newspapers
The battle of Cerro Gordo calls out contrast of
the man who had won his admiration at the
academy-General Scotland General Taylor
OF the former he relates that he was not averse
TO speaking of himself often in the third person.
and could bestow praise upon the person he was
talking about without the least embarrassment
both were pleasant to serve under-Taylor was
PHEASANT TO serve Win. BOCh were true,
patriotic and upright in all their dealings Scott
saw more through the eyes of his staff officers
than through his own. His plans were deiber-
@tely prepared and fully expressed in his orders
Taylor saw for himself, and gave orders to meet
fhe emergency without reference to how they
hwould read in history.
Bits of description like the following are occa-
sionally found
while at Corpus Christi all the officers who
Mad fancy for riding kept horses The ami
rmal5 cost but little in the first instance and
Ewhen picketed they would get their living with
Out any cost l had three not long before the
sarmy moved, but sad accident bereft me of
sthem all at one time. A colored boy, who gave
them all the attention they got-besides looking
after my tent, and that of classmate and fell
pow-leutenant and cooking for us, all for about
$8 per month-was riding one to water and lead
ing the other two. The led horses pulled him
from his seat, and all three ran away. They
were never heard of afterward. Shortly after
that some one told Captain Bliss, General Tay-
3or's adjutant- general, of my misfortune. Yes
4 heard Grant lost five or six dollars worth of
horses the other day he replied That was
SANDER; they were broken to the saddle when
got them, and cost nearly $40. l never suspected
the colored boy OF malicious intent in letting
them get away, because if they had not escaped
he could have had one of them to ride on the
long march then in prospect"
1t was during the advance on the City of Mex
leo that Grant was promoted to be first lieuten
ant. He had gone into the battle of Palo Alto
In Nav, 1886 second lieutenant and it was
sixteen months later before his promotion had
come. After the was over his marriage
soon followed, and little later came his trans
Ter to San Francisco, where he got his promo
ton as captain. The result of his resignation
from the army and life as a farmer in the log
cabin near ST Louis is told. 'In the fall
of 1893 sold out my stock, crop and farming
utensils at auction and gave up farming"
His first presidential vote and the reasons
Hherefor told as follows:
"As the time for the presidential election of
- - L ~
voting-approached party feeling began to run
high. Tine Republican party was regarded in the
South and the border States not only as op-
posed to the extension of slavery. but as favor
ling the compulsory abolition of the institution
without compensation to the owners
THE most horrible visions seemed to present
themselves to the minds of the people, who, one
would suppose. ought to have known better.
MANY educated and otherwise sensible persons
appeared to believe that emancipation meant
social equality. Treason to the government
was openly advocated. and was not rebuked.
1t was evident to my mind that the election of
a Republican President in 1856 meant the seces-
sion OF all the Slave States and rebellion. I'm
der these circumstances, preferred the success
of candidate whose election would prevent or
postpone secession to seeing the country plunged
into war, the end of which man could fore
tell. With Democrat elected by the unani-
nous vote of the slave States, there could be no
pretext for secession for four years. very
much hoped that the passions of the people would
subside in that time. and the catastrophe be
nyerted altogether; if it was not,
1 believed the country would be
better prepared to receive the shock and
resist it. | therefore voted for James
Buchanan for President. Four years later the
Republican party successful in electing its
candidate to the Presidency. The civilized world
has learned the consequence. Four millions of
human beings held as chattes have been liberat-
ed; the ballot has been given to them; the free
schools OF the country have been opened to their
children. The Nation still lives and the people
are just as free to avoid social intimacy with the
blacks as ever they were or as they are with
white people
When the election of 1860 took place he had
not been living in Galena long enough to be a
citizen of Illinois, and therefore was not able to
xote. The contest he considered to lie between
Breckenridge and Lincoln, and as between them