Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-04-07
He SAW GRANT

HE 6AW GRANT
1bsr Inssrssets9 PsvSsds 81 tAs Gssst 6sn-
erars Career.
Philadelphia Newsl
3In the year 1888. " said Col Peyton.
II was working, as boy, in country
store at Flat Rock, Bourbon County,
Ky. Ulysses s. Grant was then boy .
living at Georgetown, O., not many
miles distance One day Grant drove
over to Flint Rock with the niece OF
my employer. Grant was then 16 years
of age, awkward, ungainly, determined,
industrious. and very poorly dressed.
He drove vicious horse. The night
after his arrival at Flat Rock he slept
with me in the store It was cold
night, and we boys kept close to the
lee of the counter. In the morning
Grant asked me if he could assist me.
l said yes. He helped me take down
the shutters and sweep out the store
and put stock in place. After break
fast he drove off. I heard from him
of his drive home. Before
he had gone far from Flat Rock his
horse ran away and finally brought up
with crash in fence corner. Moth
ing broke. Grant jumped out, seized
the trembling horse by the bride and
tied his handkerchief over the beasts
eyes. He drove the horse blindfolded
all the way to Georgetown, O.
"Years passed before I met Grant
again. At last I saw him in st Louis
in 1852. He was hauling wood to town
on a rough wagon. He was wretchedly
dressed, pants stuck in the top of his
cow-hide boots, and was very poor. He
lived on little farm near the city. I
was standing with my brother-in-law,
Mr.. Peterson. It was just IL o'clock.
In st. Louis it was customary to take
, drink at II o'clock, and Mr.. Peterson
said:
Capt Grant-he had been cap
5ain in the army you join us?
You see the hour And he pointed to
} clock. Grant nodded. He was surly.
We went and had something. For an
hour or two we talked and Grant sat
With us, in store, but he hardly ut
;ered word. At last he got his load
If wood and drove away to sell it.
"Soon after the rebellion broke out
was at Cairo, and heard that Grant
vas there as the Colonel of regiment.
soon saw him. He wore the hand
ome uniform Of his rank, and pre-
ented far better appearance than
when loafng through st. Louis in 1852:
Ny brother-in-law, Mr.. Peterson, al
Ways thought that Grant had remark
bile stuff in him and would make q re-
man. Mr.. Rollins, after.
Yards Secretary of War, and a man
Vho did as much to help Grant on as
ny one else in the world, was at Cairo
t this time. Gen. Prentice, the COM
banding officer, asked me to stay and |
ee dress parade of Grants battalion.
stayed, saw it, and helped them place |
he pickets that night. Grant was a
Ugh liver at that time, but his friends
rere firm in the belief that he would |
lake his mark.
II met Grant in the Go ,tinental
[otel, in this city, during the war,
hen he were the three stars of a
lajor general upon his shoulders. He
'as in command of all the armies of |
ne Union. He and I went out the
ack door into SAMSON street in order
, get to a tailor's, where Grant had a
nit. The crowd watching for him on
hestnut street was enormous, block
lg that highway. The next time I
aw Grant was one year before he died,
/ the dining-room of the Fifth Avenue
[otel, New York. There were several
entlemen with him. He rose as I
anne in and looked at me. I walked
p to him.
DO you know me?' asked.
" Yes. You are Barclay Peyton.'
I am not. But I am Jesse Peyton.
70 you remember where you saw me
rst?'
AT Cairo
" No. You and I slept together in
,e old store at Flat Rock, Bour bon
ounty, Ky, in 1881
"Grant grasped my hand. TWAS the
nly time I ever saw him express emo
on. We talked together for some
me. At last I said goodbye and
card from him no more until he died.