Fergus County argus., 1889-11-21
THE GREATNESS OF GRANT.
His Record from Galena to vicksburg Traced
by An Old Friend.

"The idea has been prevalent" SAID
Gen. Chetlain, that General Grant
was at Galena when the war brok.
out, poor and obscure, and was sud
denly lifted up by political power and
iloated like n bubble from Galena to
Nicksburg, from Nicksburg to Appom.
mattox, and from APPROXIMATION to
the White House. The fact is that he
struggled against influences of which
few people had any knowledge, but he
never complained. patiently waiting
until his time came. In the spring oi
1850 ] met for the first time ut Galena
Ulysses ;. Grant, ex-captain OF the
United States regular army, who had
recently taken a place in the store of
his brother, Simpson Grant. The sal
AIRY was small and barely sufficient
for the support OF his family. He led
"a quiet life, but was a free and intelli-
gent talker, and frequently entert aimed
his neighbOrs with stories Of his expe-
riences in the Mexican war. lie was
not an active politician, but took "a
keen mi crest in the affairs of the cOun-
try. When the call for troops came. a
mass meeting was held ut Galena, and
resolutions proposed by Hon. T.. B.
Washburne, were adopted, pledgnc
support to the government and flag.
Another meeting was held on the 18th
toraise a military company, and Capt.
Grant presided.
was the first volunteer to respond,
and it was the first company organ
lzed in the northwest out side of Chi
cago. Grant declined the captaincy.
as, having been in the regular army, he
thought he should have something
better, and ] waschOscn. Capt. Grant
went with the company to Springfield.
bearing with him u letter from Mr..
Washburne to the governor, recon-
mendng that he disappointed to some
position where his military education
and experience would make him valu-
able. lie was finally offered clerical
work in the adiutant generals Office
and accepted, being willing to do any
thing. But he grew disgus,ed with his
position, and one day saId to me: 81
am going back to the store tonight |
You have boys in the compnnv
who can do this work" But | ner-
-uaded him O remain.
\ regiment was then being formed. |
and ! suggested Grant a. colonel. TN. |
other officers were willing. but a promi. |
nent politician who wanted the posi |
tion opposed him on the ground th,t |
he had To leave the regular army an
account of his habits. | couIJ say
nothing, of course. and Can't. John |
McArthur was elected colonel Grant |
was then detailed to take chorce nj |
Fort Yates. and then became muster.
ng officer on the governors stan. lie
went to st. Louis to see if he could |
obtain an appointment in Missouri.
but nothing could be obtained there
lie stopped with me at Caseyville ON
ms way back to Springfield and then
that AN educated military
man with experience could not get =
suitable appointment in the volunteer
service, while civilians could obtain
hem without any trouble.
IL am not conceited," iv, said. "bu,
believe could command a regiment
If volunteer troops. | am willing TO
nv ANYWAY Aludinc To his old
,rmv friend. Captain George Il. McClel-
an. he said: "imonr all the regular
army officers in the volunteer repi
nenis. | look on him as the brightest.
md he Is sure to make his mark i'm
he war" Grant went to springfield.
md after mastering in several com.
,anies went back to Gal.na. di.ap-
pointed and Inundated. lie visited
ohio. but could get no appoiutmen
here and reluctantly returned. Asn
ast resort he wrote to the adiutnnt
of the United States. tender
NJ hi. services and saving he felt com
,etent to command a regiment. No
.eply was ever received. ON June lOth
ne was rendered the colouelcy of n
.eniment at Mattoon, afterwards the
rNenty first Illinois. and ON ,June
,sth IT was mustered into the govern.
n,nt service.
lie was "A poor man and the o,lery
rose how to purchase n horse and
Uniform. For this purpose he asked
,is father for IA loan of 800. but was
efused. His fathers partner. r 4
'ollins. heard of it. and. though an
,nti-war Democrat. uuietIv sent him
check for the amount President