West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-09-18
1Hs DEAD SOLDIER.
bec; Perley PoOre's "Reminiscences ~
0euorai Grant

/ -fN'F ANNhf Asfhthi~cNnNoa OF
0euorai Grant,
General Grant used to love to talk
about Mexico better than almost any
other topic. lie was while there Quar-.
termaster of the Fourth Infantry. and
he could have remained in the rear with
his baggage tram during a battle. but
he was always at the front. and Sc
cured, 10y his gallantry. promotion from
the rank of Second Lieutenant 10 that
OF Captain 10y brcvct He took great
interest I'm the National Cemetery
established in the suburbs of the City
of Mexico. TO which tho remains of
those who fell in the great battles
fought 10y General SCOTS army were
removed. In the spring of 1875 m III
rectod General Belknap then Secretary
OF War, to send me 60 inspect this Gem
etery. IL is a beautiful spot. and
found that ConSul-Gencral Skilton hid
II kept in the best of order.
On my return from Washington re-
/ ported at the White House. and General
| Grant talked with me for nearly three
/ hourS. lie showed an intimate a.
! quNntance with the Government and
! business of Mexico, but expressed no
| opinion rs to the practcabilty or the
! possibility of future annexation. He
! had asked me. before | went. To see if
! i could find the house at lacubaya
one of the suburbs of the city. i'm which
! he was quartered. and hc described il,
locality. ! could not find it. and when
! lac went himself to Mexico "A few wears
later he was equally unsuccessful
! General Grant used To talk about ,he
/ Mexican cooking, which he rather
I iancled. Among the dishes which suit
eel hS palate was the ollie podrda, or
/ Spanish stew of mutton, pork, cabbage,
/ beans, onions, red peppers-in short.
almost as many things rs were con-
tanned in the sheet which ST. Peter pro
nounced uncleau. Friiolcs. small black
beans were slowed in lard and sea-
weeds with red pepper. Tortillas were
made of half boiled homny. rolled and
/ kneaded into thin. tough cakes, baked
\ between heated stones. And there Was
/ pulque, yeasty beer, which is the
/ fermcnted sap of a large variety of the
cactus family scoopcd from cavities
| cut IN the growing plant and put up in
/ bogskins. There have been some mys-
/ tcrious illusions to Grant leaving the
army but there was nothing dishonor-
able about IT, He was a Captain i'm the
| fourth infantry in which nc fought in
| every battle of the Mexican war. ON
both SCOTS and Taylors lines. with
the exception of Buena Vista. ON his
! return TO the States his regiment was
ordered TO the North Pacific coast.
! whore his pay would not allow him Ia
support his wife and children. and
whore there was nothing 10 enliven the
round of military duties. lie became
dissI sIpatcd, and the result was that he
was told by his commander he had
| better resign or reform lie accord-
lngly placed his resignation i'm :he
! hands Cononel Buchanan, TO be used in
case OF his iutoXicatiOn A few weeks
later he visited San Francisco, where
some conyivial army friends got him ON
tear and when he returned 10 his
| post ne found, 10 his modification, that
| Colonel Buchanan, hearing Of his dis
/ spatiOn, had forwarded his RESIGNATION
win such recommendation rs would
secure its immediate acccutance IIo
| was again private citizen, and hig
friends, Alfred Pleasanton then Lien
tenant Of dragons, and Rufus InoaIls
then the Post Quartrrnastcr. advanced
HIM money enough 20 pay his pagsaqc
TO ST Louis by the way Of the f,tbmus
OF Panama When lac signed his last
pay receipt before leaving his regiment
he said 10 a friend "'Tcn wears hence
you will hear from me a. q substantial
well-to-do Missouri farmer"
Grants attempt 80 farming near
| 81 Louis, however, was not success.
The land was poor, and his crops did
not prove rcmuncrative. Indeed. his
only cash income was derived from
wool, which he and his negro man
would cut and which be would haul to
| 81 Louis going Fr~H house 10 house
until he could seil 1t e five dollars n
cord. Among his customers wa. Henry
Il. Blow. who was afterward elected to
Congress. where he took Mrs Blow 10
one Oi President Grants reccptjons ot
the White House Mrs Blow wondered
# General Grant would recognize her
a. an old friend or acquaintance. under
the different circumstances OF their rel
alive situations In life. Mr. Blow
had not been long a. the General K be
fore he went % her aud said. ''Mrs
Blow. ] remember you we'll What
great changes have taken place since
we last metz Yes, General 4aid
Mrs Blow, "the war Is over. 81 do
not mean that. he replied. "I meant
with myself DO YOU recolect WHOM +
used 20 supply your husband with
wood, and pile 30 myself and measure it.
100 ana 90 up 20 his Office for my
paYs' ooh yes, General your face
wastamiliar In those days Mrs Blow
those were happy days, for was doing
the best ] could 10 support my family.
--BOgt0H BUdgck