The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-12-20
hp used to know You AT Yves. Point and

he used to know you at West Point and
in Mexico"
"'Why, It can't be Sam Grant was
the reply. 4 knew he was out OF the
army, bnt ! haven't seen him since We
parted In Mexico.
"'lIc said lie would be back, said the
Adjutant Genera, M he closed the door.
"Au hour thereafter Captain -
Raw u shadow between himself and the
window in front OF him,
lie VIA plainly clad, hie face was GOV.
cred with ahCAvy, brown beard, and he
wore a not very new soft felt hat.
"Why, don't you know me, TomT
he asked.
ats Sam Grant, isn't IT. said Cap.
tain - Hs lie rosc up aud warmly
shook hands with his comrade
Of old West Point and Mexican war days.
Hn haslily ran his eyes over Grant. 1t
was clear that lie was not prosperous.
"l'Se come here to get something to
do, but I've no influence, sAid Grant,
md am becoming discouraged. Can't
you give me something to dor
"Why, yes the Captain replied, i
need some ono to help mo with these
mnster rolls, and you know all about
them, dtn't you?'
"Fho other man nodded.
"Well, then, take the deck over there.
ri give youS!00 per month, which am
allowed Tor Il clerk, and perhaps ! can
help you to Il commission Grant nod.
del again, hung up his hat, and so be-
gan hs service 10 his country III tho
great civil war.
"ilc told Captain - his story. and
aaid he blamed no one but himself for
his troubles. III l Gun but get chance,
Tom, I'll viudcalc myself. III redeem
the past" And the captain, looking at
GrNut0 RwelIing veins, rs his face flush
cd mp, said 10 himself: III l can help
You, Sam Grant, will
$50 they worked on together, these
two old comrades, till Granto chance
linal!y came.
"Ono hot summer day dispatches tina,
R"l Springfield simply wild came to hand.
General Polk was on his way to Cairo,
H., %ith 10000 men. The War De-
pay:meut directed that every available
man should at oucN be sent to the front.
"InerG were 5000 men in camp. Cap
tain - reported to Governor Yates
that afternoon that he was ready to
muster into tho United States service
the NiueCeenth, Twentieth and Twenty.
first Illinois regiments OF volunteers
Uniforms and arms had been issued To
the men that morning. Nothing but
the musser.in and making out of the
Geld officers commissions remained tC
be done.
"'Who are you going 10 appoint colo
nels and Observation-Disclosures OF these
new regiments, Governor inquired
the captain. 4 ask, because il tho news
be lfne, these officers will have to lead
their men in II fight in forty.eight hours.
"The room was full OF candidates iol
the places mentioned. They knew the
captain had been in every fight in Mex
leo. So they listened uneas!ly to the
| next words OF the veteran.
Have you any suggestion to make 2
the Governor slowly said. BY Jove!
don't w0at my troops destroyed because
their officers arc unframed.
az have in my otlice, said the mus.
teting officer, ECU Old soldier. He was ut
West Point with me, and we served to-
Gether Gll through Mexico. He knows
his businees. recommend him for a
commission as colonel or lieutenant col
Onel Tor one Of these regiments
There was hurried consultation
among the candidates.
49,! will give your friend the commits.
sioa oi colonel OF the Twenty-ilrst Regi.
nent upon your recommendation. Make
nut Lis commission, General Mathers.
What is his name"
"'ulysses S. Grant said the captain.
Half IN hour thereafter Captain -
banded the Coloncl's commission to Sam
Grant, saying: Here's your chance,
Sam"
and go it wae. Tho rest is history"