Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-07-25
ANECDOTES OF GRANT.

Grant and ingalls, were great
friends, this Oregon statesman con-
tinued. "They were together at West
Point, and they are, | believe, good
friends to this day. During the war,
while Ingalls, was the quartermas.cr
general of the Army of the Potomac.
he and Grant were sitting together one
night about a campfire when Grant
said to Ingalls,: Rufus, / am going to
make you commander of the Army of
the Potomac But Ingalls, objected.
He had very nice place in his quarter
mastership, with hundreds of men un-
der him, and he did not want to make
the change. Grant persisted, but after
q long talk he finally acceded to In
gals wishes, and did not appoint him.
Had Ingalls, accepted the position he
might have been one of the great gem
erals of the United States, and perhaps
the lieutenant general. Instead, he is
q retired officer. / doubt not he re-
grets what must have been the great
mistake of his life. Grant had high
opinion of ingalls,. While he was in
Europe on his tour round the world he
wrote to general of the army that he
regarded ingalls, as one of the very
best men to have commanded the Army
of the Potomac, and in saying this he
did not intend disparagemcnt to any
other officer"
In an old magazine of the valuable
collection in the Congressional library
find the following story. The actors in
the scenes it relates are for the most
part dead, and the chief is now dying
at Mount McGregor. The story is told,
Ishould say, by the editor of the maga-
zine, and it may be that its republica-
ton will develop the proof of its truth
or falsehood. Andrew johnson, saws
this man, became very anxious during
the latter part of his term to get Grant
out of the country. He saw that he
could not manipulate him to suit his
desires, and thought that if he was out
of the way and Sherman was at the head
of the army ho would be more likely to
control matters as events might occur
He got it into his head that he would
send Grant on a diplomatic mission to
Mexico. With this in view he called
the general to the white house, and
there told him he wanted him to go to
Mexico. Gen. Grant at once saw
through the scheme, and declined to
60. johnson insisted, but Grant con-
tinued to decline, and finally sent
declination to the president in writing.
Shortly after this, the story goes, Grant
was summoned to a cabinet meeting.
When he arrived his instructions as
ambassador to Mexico were shown
him. They were printed, and were
read aloud by the secretary Of the state
as though he had accepted instead Of
declined The mission. Grant at once,
and in the presence of the entire cabi-
net, declared his unwillingness to 60
on such an errand. At this President
johnson became angry, and asked the
attorney general If there was any rea-
son why Grant should not obey tho or
ders of the president, his superior Off
Ger. It was his opinion, he said, that
an officer Of the army could be en-
ployed in the diplomatic service. At
this Gen. Grant started to his feet and
exclaimed: Mr.. President. can an
swer that question without appealing
to the attorney general I am an
American citizen, and have been guilty
Of no treason or crime, and I am eli
gible 70 any Office 70 which any other
American citizen IS eligible. But this
is purely q civil duty TO which you
would assign me, and cannot be COM
pelled to undertake II. ANY legal
military order You may give me / will
obey, but this is civil, not military.
and decline tho duty. No power on
earth can force me TO il. So saying
he left the room and the cabinet meet
ing.
Grants old body servant iscmploycd
in the departments here. His name IS
William Barnes, and he was with
Grant from 1862 until tho second year
Of bis presidential term. William IS
good-lO0king colora no. though
he must Be more than IS years old.
does not look over =. lie Is very
proud of his service with Grant. and
delights 10 talk of the rcminiseences Of
the time. He SAYS Grant was tie