Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10

own State, he had resided there only little
| more than a year. When he retired from
the army by resignation on July 81, 1854, as
Captain, he selected Missouri as his home
and settled on a farm near st. Louis. He
had won promotion at the battles of Molino
del Rey and Chapultepec in the. Mexican
war, and was brevetted for special gallantry.
During the nearly seven years between
his retirement from the army and re-enter-
ing the military service at the beginning of
the Civil War, he had done little or nothing
to make himself known to fame. He had
moved from Missouri to Galena early in
1860 to improve his worldly condition BY
accepting salary of 5000 from his two
brothers, who were then engaged in the
leather business.
Grants Ambition in Sixty.
After remaining with them for a year his
salary was advanced to $500, and in letter
to friend he exhibited his qualification at
his business success ard expressed the hope
of reaching what then seemed to be his
highest ambition-a partnership in the firm.
His life in Galena was quiet and unobtru-
sive as was Grants habit under all circum-
stances; and when the first call for troops
from Galena to Springfield without any
friends to press his promotion, it is not sur
prising that, while political colonels were
turned out with great rapidity, Grant re-
mained without a command. He served on
the staff of Governor Yates for several
weeks, giving him the benefit of his mill
tary experience in organizing new troops,
but it does not seem to have occurred to
Giant to suggest his own appointment to q
TO -
him one
He returned to Galena, and on the oath of
MAY, 1861, sent formal request to the Ad-
jutant General of the army at Washington
for an assignment to military duty until
the close of the war in such capacity as may
be offered" To this no reply was ever re-
ceived and month later he made personal
visit to General McCIellan's headquarters,
then in command of the Ohio volunteers at
Cincinnati, hoping that Mcclellan would
tender him a position on his staff; but he
failed to meet Mcclellan and returned
home without suggesting to anyone desire
to enter the service under the Cincinnati
commander.
How Grant Got His Chance.
1t was a wayward and insubordinate regi-
ment at Springfield that called Grant back
to the military service and started him on
his matehless career. The Twenty-frst IL
linois defed the efforts of Governor Yates
to reduce it to discipline; and, in despair, he
telegraphed to the modest Captain Grant at
Galena, asking him to come and accept the
Colonelcy. The prompt answer came: 'I
accept the regiment and will start imme-
diately." 1t is needless to say that the ap-
pearance of plain, ununiformed and mod
est man like Grant made little impression =
at first upon his insubordinate command,
but in q very short time he made it the best
disciplined regiment from the State, and
the men as proud of their commander as he
was of them.
The story of Grants military achieve
ments from Belmont to Shiloh is familiar to
every reader of American history. 1t was
his sententious answer to General Buckner
at Fort Donelson that proclaimed to the
nation his heroic qualities as a military
commander. He said: ''No terms ex-
cept unconditional and immediate surren-
der can be accepted; L propose to move i'm
mediately upon your works" He soon be-
came known as Unconditional Surrender
Grant," and while his superior officers, in
cluding General in Chief Mcclellan and his
imme diate division commander, Halleck,
seemed to agree only in hindering Grant in
his military movements, the country pro-
foundly appreciated his victories.
Discraced Only to Be Honored.
Boon aIIer the capture OF NdSQVllle ne was
ordered by Halleck to make q new military
that was rendered impossible BY
immense floods which prevailed in the
Western waters. Halleek reported him to
complaining that he had left his
post without leave and had failed to make
reports, ETC., to which Mcclellan replied:
Do not hesitate to arrest him at once ifthe
rood of the service requires it and place c.
&. Smith in command" Halleck immedi-
Itely relieved Grant and placed Smith in
command of the proposed expedition. Grant
ice done to him. but as the wrong was con-
inued he asked to be relieved from duty.
In the meantime Halleek had discovered
lis error and atoned for it by answering to
Grant: "Instead of relieving you, wish
rou, as soon as your new army is in the
leld, to assume the immediate command
md lead it on to new victories"
1t was not until after the battle of Shiloh,
ought on the 9th and 7th Of April, 1862,
hat Lincoln was placed in a position to ex-
rcise controlling influence in shaping the
estiny of Grant. The first days battle at
shiloh was q serious disaster to the Union
rmy commanded by Grant, who was driven
rom his position that seems to have been
elected without any special reference to re-
isting an attack from the enemy, and, al
hough his army fought most calamity in
arlous separate encounters, bne Gay closed
nth the field in possession of the enemy
nd Grants army driven back to the river
Wave of Unjust Indignation.
Fortunately, the advance of Buell's army
,rmed junction with Grant late in the
vening, and that night all of Buell's army
rived, consisting of three divisions. The
Ro Generals arranged their plans for an Of
,nsive movement early the next morning,
nd, after another stubborn battle, the lost
ED was regained and the enemy compelled
, retreat with the loss Of its commander,