The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-05-30
RAWLINS SAVED GRANT.
a REMARKABLE INCIDENT BE-
FORE vIcKSBURO.
A Temperance Lecture Delivered by
General Rawlns TO HIS superior
Oncer-It Was the Turn
Ing Point With Him.

~
Rawlins 10 Gen. Grant while the Union
army was investing yicksburg de-
serves to be read by every young man
In the land General Rawlins stood
nearer TO Grant during the war than
any other man. and the letter shows
that he entertained grave apprehen-
sions from his chiefs weakness In re-
spoct 10 too free Indulgence in stimu-
lants, and did not hesitate TO protest
against IL.
1T Is undoubtedly true" said
Judge Shaw. OF Minneapolis. not long
ago. 'that Mt one time and at very
critical period, there was lurking
demon OF temptation and awakened
appetite haunting this great man,
which came very near getting him In
10 It's tolls. The temptation. the COM
bined struggle OF the two friends
against it. the final grapple. and the
triumphant outcome form hitherto
unpublished episode in the history OF
the war which will reflect added luster
upon the character of both .. them"
This statement Judge Shaw substan-
tiated by reading n copy OF letter
addressed by Gen. Rawlins to Gen.
Grant on this subject. a. follows:
Before vicksburg, Miss. June 6.
1868. / o'clock n. m. Dear General:
The great solicitude / feel for the
safety OF this army leads me TO mention
what | had hoped never again 20 do.
the subject OF your drinking. This
may surprise you. for ! may be, and
trust | am, doing you AN injustice by
unfounded suspicion. but II an error.
II better be on the side OF his country's
safety than in fear OF offending
friend.
II have heard that DR.. -. at Gen.
Sherman's few days ago, induced
you, Notwithstanding your pledge 10
me. To take glass OF wine and to-
day. when | found box OF wine in
front OF your tent and proposed to
move It, which / did. was told that
you had forbidden its being taken
away. for you intended 10 keep il until
you entered Vicksburg that YOU might
have IL for your friends; and tonight
when you should. because OF the con-
dition OF your health. II nothing else
have been In bed. | find you whore the
wine bottles have just been emptied.
In company with those who drink and
urge yon TO do likewise. and the lack
OF your usual promptncss and decision
and clcarncss in expressing yourself in
writing conduccs TO confirm my sus-
picions.
.'You have full control over your
appetite 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
history as a successful military leader.
Your only salvation depends upon
your strict adherence TO that pledge.
You cannot succeed I'm any other way.
As / have before stated. / may be
wrong in my suspicious. but II one
sees that which leads him 20 suppose n
sentinel Is falling asleep at his post IL
is duty 10 arouse him. and II one sees
that which leads him 20 fear the gen.
cral commanding a great army Is being
reduced 10 that step which he knows
will bring disgrace upon that general
and defeat 20 his command. II he fails
10 sound the proper note OF warning.
the wives and children OF those brave
men whose lives he permits 10 remain
thus in peril will accuse him. while he
| lives. and stand swift witnesses OF
wrath against him in the day when all
/ shall be tried.
If my suspicious are unfoundcd. let
my friendship for you and my zeal for
my country be my excuse for this let
ter; and. IL they are correctly founded,
and you determine not 20 heed the adj
monition and prayers OF this hasty
note by Immediately ceasing TO touch
n single drop OF any kind OF liquor, no
matter by whom asked. or under what
circumstances LET my immediate relief
from duty In this department be the
result. ann. general. your friend,
john A. RAwLINs.
Upon this letter. In the handwriting
OF Rawlins. was the following endorse
ment:
This is an exact copy OF n letter
given TO the person 10 whom n Is adj
dressed. at It's date. about four miles
from our headquarters I'm the rear OF
Viclxsburg. It's admonitions were
needed and all went well.