Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-08-05

fantry,' he went on to say, and, after mo-
ment's meditation, softly muttered, though
Grant was never a violently protane man:
tRalleck Major General and Sherman a
Colonel The Lord look down! Tom con-
tinued Grant, after thinking minute, cant
you awe me something to do here? Yes, |
can, | said; you can help me make out
these muster rolls right So it was agreed
that Grant should come into my Office, help
me in my duties as mastering officer, and
receive S120 per month for his services.
So it went on until L had mustered
in eighteen regiments. One afternoon Gov.
Yates sent for me. l found him in q state
of excitement-poor fellow, he was that
way very often. He had just had dispatch
from Gen Prentiss, at Cairo, that there was
an immense force of rebels on the Kentucky
side within a few hours of Cairo, and he bad
undoubted information that they were to be
crossed over at once, perhaps that very
night. He begged the Governor to send him
every available man at once. This alarming
news was followed by another telegram from
President Lincoln at Washington, telling
Yates that on no account must the rebels get
any foothold in Illinois; to prevent any
crossing If possible, and to cooperate with
Gen. Prentiss The Governor had sent for
me to say that he wanted the troops then in
camp mustered into the United States SER
vice and sent of to Cairo that night While
the Governor was talking, thought flashed
into my mind Why can't put Grant into
one of these new regimentS2 Governor,
said 1, these regiments will probably get
into fight within twenty-four hours. 1t is
rather important that they should be prop
erly commanded. Who are to be made Col
OnelsT Most OF the candidates for the field
officers were In hearing; and the fact that
they would have to go into LATHE within
twenty-four honrs seemed to repress their
military ardor somewhat Now, Governor
said /, Il have in my Office an old claSSmate
and coInrade. He was all through the
Mexican war, and was good soldier.
What he has been doing since, l do not
exactly know, but he has not been very
successful IN business, and would like to go
out in one of these new regiments, especially
as they will have to go into fight so soon.
strongly recommend the appointment of
Capt. Grant to command one of these new
regiments The Governor didn know what
TO do. He had promised nearly all the posi-
lions except the last regiment, which would
tie the Twenty-tirst Illinois, and man named
Alexander wanted to be the Colonel, and was
very strongly backed for the position. But
Alexander had seen no service, and was will
ing to take the second place in view of the
probable fight Yates insisted, however, that
Grant must be recommended for the place by
some one in the State. Can't you get some
one to recommend your said to Grant. He
finally said he knew man named Washburne
a little, who was then member of Congress
from the Galena district, but that as he
(Graut) was Democrat and Washburne a
Republican, 1t was doubtful If Washburne
would do it. However, will try him. said
Grant, and he telegraphed to Washburne
about as follows: Recommend me for posi-
ton as field officer in new regiments start
ing for Cairo In four hours Washburne re-
piled about like this: 4 think Capt. Grant
might be useful as field officer in one of the
new regiments leaving Springfield tonight,
if you can consistently appoint him. Well,
this fixed it. Grant was made Colonel Of the
Twenty-first Illinois Infantry. l loaned him
money enough to send his wife some and have
enough left to purchase horse and such ar
ticles Of equipment as were necessary. This
is the way Grant went into the war;