The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-19
GRANT AND TOOMBS.
The Facts About the Dead Soldiers Old Army
Accounts.
Interview with n. E. Dawson.

Interview with \. E. Dawson.
Mr.. Dawson's attention was called to state
ment made by General Toombs, in a recent in
terview, in reference to charges against General
Grant when the latter was in California. The
passage referred to in the interview, which was
SHOWN to Mr.. Dawson, was as follows
The Toombs and Crawford families had always
oeen quite intimate. Governor CTawForl's sister
hao married Dr. Dent, VINO aeterward died of
V@li l" Is fever il Augusta During Mr. .Toombs
service in the federal Senate young officer
named Grant had been court martialled in Cali
fornia for paying out too much money as
quarter master Of the Fourth regiment, to his
brother officers John j. Crttenden, of Ken.
lucky, approached Senator Toombs to secure
Congressional relief for the unfortunate captain
he stated that young Grant had married Miss
Julia, the daughter of Frederick Dent Of Mis-
souri,. This Dent, it was developed. was a
brother of the gentleman in Augusta, and it was
hoped that Senator Toombs' interest in consti-
tnent would induce him to lend hand III saving
the honor Of the Dent family"
Yes, answered Mr.. Dawson, Il have read
that interview, and have heard it spoken Of in
the family 1t is far from being correct. and |
may we'll explain this matter to which Gen.
Ioombs refers somewhat in detail as you have
happened to mention it.
w hen General Grant was an officer tQuarter-
mastery in Mexico he was obliged to carry the
funds in his trunk. His tent was cut open in the
back and the trunk dragged out and cut open,
and the funds, about 81 000 extracted. Lieuten-
ant Grant reported this to the proper authorizes.
After the victory OF Fort Donelson bill was
passed by Congress relieving him of this debt to
the government without any solicitations his
part.
Sat the time he resigned from the army in Cal
norma he made out his accounts and sent them,
together with his vouchers to Washington, but
the steamer on which they were sent was de-
stroyed by fire and all these papers We're lost
Upon their non arrival being reported to Captain
Grant, he wrote back to Sergeant Smith, who
had been his clerk when he was quartermaster.
to forward to him vouchers. These were
sent, but a long time afterward, and were re-
celved IN the absence Of Captain Grant, and, the
value of the package not being appreciated, put
away and forgotten. When General Grant was
candidate for the Presidency the second time the
unsettled accounts were discovered in of the
auditors Offices of the Treasury Department,
and the matter being called to the attention of
General Grant he gave his check for the amount
Then Mrs. Grant, upon hearing this, remembered
that she had received those vouchers. But the
PRESIDENT said that a settlement could not be
effected then without great deal Of trouble and
the passage OF bill through Congress for that
purpose. and no action was taken looking to that
end. NO bill except the one passed just after the
victory of Fort Donelson passed for his
relief, nor was one ever applied for
lis there not some mistake about General
Grant going to Washington at the time referred
to by General Toombs!'
General Grant never visited Washington
after he went to California prior to the time he
was called there to receive the Lieutenant Gen
eralcy General Toombs IS wrong. too about
the Dents Mr. Dent, General Grants father
IN law, had but one brother, who was lawyer
and died bachelor