Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-07
THE DEAD CHrErTAIN.
His Patriotism and Hts Most brilliant
Achievements.

Mr.. Hanson A Risley. formerly OF this city,
who occupied a responsible and confidential
government position during the war. has cone
trtbuted to the Colorado Springs Gasctts some
very interesting "reminiscences of Gen. Grant,
nom which the following extracts are made:
SAVING s1,0o0.o00 A DAY.
Immediately after the surrender at Appa.
mattox Gen. Grant visited Washington GO ar.
range for stopping enlistmentS, the purchase Of
supplies and war material and shipping them,
and for disbanding the victorious army. was
present with him at conversation with Mr..
McCulloch, Secretary OF the Treasury, prepar.
Ing proper orders for suspendine all further
proceedings under the laws and regulations re-
garding commercial intercourse with insurrec.
tionary states. remember that Gen. Grant said
TO secretary McCulloch, In answer 90 a suggess
ton that he should have thought IL would have
queror after its fall. that he Thought he could
save the government million dollars day by
repairing At once to Washington,
AND HE MADE HASTE TO CONF
We read In history OF conquerors returning
from great victories under triumphal arches,
amid pomp and pageantry, to the capital.
When before did n successful military chieftair
leave the thester OF his tripmphs and return
unheralded and alone TO attend 90 simple rou.
une-the dry details OF official business and
duty?
HIS ESTIMATE OF HIS own WORK.
Learning that Thurlow Weed had come In
nom New York and was at willards hotel.
tered, 1 called on Mr.. Weed In the evening and
entering into conversation on the al-absorbIns
topic OF the surrender, mentioned that Gem
eral Grant was in town and In the hotel and
that supposed he knew him. lie replied no,
that he had never seen General Grant I pro-
posed that we call upon him, and by way %
ascertalnfng whether he was In his room OF
could receive us wrote on a card Mr.. Weeds
name and my own and sent IL by a servant In
very few minutes there was a tap al the door.
and opening IL, there stood General Grant with
our card in his hand; He said he had NOT
waited for ceremony, but came directly to SEQ
u.s. 1 introduced Mr.. Weed, and we entered
into a long conversation, mostly carried on by
General Grant, who was very cordial and come
municatixe unlike what was expected by us
&rom "a silent man."
He told us Of his entering the service I'm the
adJutant generals Office in Illinois and of his
appointment by Governor Yates as colonel of
the 21st regiment of state volunteers. He told
OF their march across the country 10 Mexico, In
Missouri Governor Yates offered him trans
portation but he preferred to march the long
distance, as the troops were undiscplined and
the march would give him opportunity TO drill
ana instruct them on the way. He spoke Of
his soon being placed at the head OF the brigade
70 operate against General Polk, commanding
the rebels, who were In possession OF the Mis-
sisslppi and the surrounding country from tho
gulf almost TO Cairo. He described his first
battle at Belmont infinitely, and said IL he had
ever deserved any credit as a military man it
was in that battle. The troops were entirely
raw-not dozen Of them had ever heard n
hostile gun. Most Of their muskets had been
supplied but two days before the battle and
many were given 10 the men on the field after
the battle had commenced. His staff was In.
complete and inexperienced; he carried and de.
nvered his orders, running his horse from
point TO point; and he had always felt that
gaining any success at all that day was almost
miracle, and saving his command from utter
otherthrow and capture was the most brilliant
achievement OF his life.