Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-05-07
VICTORY OVER DRINK.
HOW GENERAL GRANT 0vERcAME HIS
APPETITE FOR STRONG LIQUOR.
He Needed the Warning Of General Rawlins
Before vicksburg.


TO most persons, in the light of Cen
eral Grants magnificent achievements
during the war of rebellion, the story
that at times his efficiency was inn
paired by the too free indulgence in the
use of stimulants, will recall no more
serious remembrance than President
Lincoln's retort, when some such re-
port was brought to his ears, that he
wished he could find what brand of
whiskey Grant used so he might sup
ply his other generals with the same
sort of inspiration.
But the paper read before the John
H. Rawlins post, G. A. R., in Mime
apolis by Judge j. nj. Shaw on "The
Life of General Rawlins," shows that
the man who stood nearest General
Grant during the war entertained
grave apprehension for his chief weak
ness IN this respect, and did not hest
tate to protest against it. Faithful
are the wounds OF a friend. Judge
Shaw in his paper paid this handsome
compliment to both General Grant
and his faithful mentor:
at is undoubtedly true that at one
time, and at very critical period,
there was a lurking demon OF tempta-
tion and awakened appetite haunting
this great man which came very near
getting him into its tolls. The temp
tation, the combined struggle OF the
two friends against it, the final grapple
and the triumphant outcome form a
hitherto unpublished episode in the
history OF the war which will reflect
added luster upon the character OF
both of them"
This statement Judge Shaw substan-
tiated by reading copy OF letter ad-
dressed by General Rawlins to General
Grant, on this subject, as follows:
"BEFORE VICKsBURG, Miss, June 9,
/ S63, o'clock a. m.-Dear General:
The great solitude / feel for the safety
of this army leads me to mention what
/ had hoped never again to do, the sub
ject of your drinking. This may sur
prise you, for may be, and | trust j
am, doing you an injustice by un-
founded suspicious, but If an error 1t
had better be on the side OF his coun
try's safety than in fear OF offending a
friend.
L nave DtdEtl UilStb III etO Nfch-
eral Sherman's a few days ago, induced
you, notwithstanding your pledge to
me, to take a glass OF wine and to-day
when | found a box OF wine in front OF
your tent and proposed to move it,
which did, was told that you had
forbidden it's being taken away for you
intended to keep it until you entered
Vicksburg, that you might have it for
your friends; and tonight when you
should, because of the condition OF
your health, if nothing else, have been
in bed, find you where the wine bot
ties have Just been emptied, in COM
pany with those who drink and urge
you to do likewise, and the lack OF
your usual promptness and decision
and clearness in expressing yourself In
writing conduces to confirm my sus-
picions.
"You have full control over your ap-
petite and can let drinking alone.
Had you not pledged me the sincerity
of your honor early last March that
you would drink no more during the
war, and kept that pledge during your
recent campaign, you would not this
day have stood first in the worlds his
tory as successful military leader.
Your only salvation depends upon
your strict adherence TO that pledge.
You cannot succeed in any other way.
As 1 have before stated, | may be
wrong i'm my suspicious, but If one sees
that which leads him to suppose a SEN
tinel is falling asleep at his post, 1T is
his duty to arouse him, and if one sees
that which leads him to fear that the
general commanding a great army is
being reduced to that step which he
knows will bring disgrace to that gen
eral and defeat to his command, II he
fails to sound the proper note OF warn
ing, the wives and children of those
brave men whose lives he permits to
remain thus in peril will accuse him
while he lives. and stand swift wit
nesses OF wrath against him in the day
when all shall be tried.
"If my suspicious are unfounded,
let my friendship for you and my zeal
for my country be my excuse for this
letter; and, if they are correctly founded
and you are determined not to heed
the admonition and prayers OF this
hasty note by Immediately ceaslng to
touch drop OF any kind OF liquor, no
matter by whom asked, or under what
circumst ances, let my immediate re-
lief from duty in this department he
the result. | am, general, your friend,
JOHN A. RAwLINS."
Upon this letter, in the handwriting
of Rawlins, was the following indorse-
ment:
| "This is an exact copy OF a letter
given to the person to whom 1T is ad-
dressed, at it's date. about four miles
from our headquarters in the rear OF
Vicksburg. Its admonitions were
| haada6 and al went well "