The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-17

army comrades and even rode with
them when they set out to dispense a
hostile demonstration, nevertheless he
found no encouragement that Missouri
would accept his services. Returning
to Springfield and again almost deter
mined to go to his home, he happened
TO think of Mcclellan, who was then
in Cincinnati preparing to leave for the
front. He knew Mcclellan Slightly and
was certain that Mcclellan knew of
him. But in Cincinnati he faced the
same Indifference and bad luck. McClel-
ian mad just gone TO Washington but
his brilliantly uniformed staff were in
and about the hotel and there was no
offer of comradeShip when Captain
Grant timidly introduced himself to
two or three of them. There was moth
ing TO do but to return to Springfield,
and on his way thither he stopped over
for day in Indianapolis, thinking
that perhaps his services might be &C
cepted by Governor Morton. A few
hours there showed him plainly that
the political colonies and political in
fuences were quite as strong in Indi-
ana as they were in Illinois. Then his
mind was made up. He went to
Springfield, babe Captain Chetlain
goodbye, and then returned a despond-
ent man to his home in Galena, believ-
ing that for the time at least there
was no chance for an obscure military
man, since the politicians were max
ing the officers of the regiments and
brigades.
Colonel at Last, But Without Horse
or Uniform.
The opportunity came more quickly
than he expected. He had sown good
seeds at Nation. The ability. energy
and thorough understanding of himself
and his duties which he displayed when
mastering in the Twenty-first regiment
of Illinois Volunteers made a deep i'm
preston upon some of the officers and
many of the men. For some reason
the first appointed colonel of that regi-
ment resigned, and at that time the
officers ora regiment had the privilege
of designating by vote their wishes as
to the colonelcy. These officers met,
and among them was a Captain Pat
terson, who after was an able judge
in one of the Illinois districts. During
the discussion Captain Patterson sug-
gested that they vote for the election
Of that Captain Grant who had mus
tered the regiment in, and the idea was
received with instant favor. a vote
was taken and the proposition was car
ried, and a petition setting forth these
facts was sent to Governor Yates.
A few days later Captain Grant sit
ting in his fathers leather store re-
ceived a telegram from Governor
Yates asking him if he would accept
an appointment as colonel of the
TWenty-f1rst Regiment. Accept the ap-
pointmenti would an eagle fly if it
had the chance? Grant telegraphed
back instantly that he would gladly
command the regiment, and as soon as
possible went again to Springfield. He
received his commission and joined the
regiment, and the firm impulse of his
discipline was Immediately made ap-
parent. Yet Grant was not freed from
humiliation. He had been unable to
procure any better clothes than those
which he wore when he first went to
Springfield, and while those served
him we'll enough, having Upon the
shoulders of his coat the straps
his authority, when he was drill
ling the regiment, yet of course he
could not appear upon dress parade
unless in full uniform and he did not
possess the money to buy a uniform,
sword or horse. Therefore for more
than two weeks he left to Lieutenant
Colonel Alexander the duty of appear
ing upon dress parade, no man in that
regiment then knowing that the only
reason why he himself did not take
command was because his clothing
would not permit him to do so.
In that emergency Colonel Grant
wrote his father and asked for the loan
of $500, the money to be used in buy
ing uniform, sword and horse. Colonel
Grants father did not see his way
clear to advance him this money. but
''Ulyss'' as he was always known in
the store had a good friend in the jul
Nor partner of the house, Mr.. Collins.
He knew of this request for loan,
and he procured the money at the
bank, sent it to Colonel Grant not even
Indicating at the time that it was sent
by the junior partner and not by the
father In the enclosure containing the
draft for $500 was a promissory note
put in out of motive of delicacy so that
Colonel Grant would feel that he had
borrowed the money, whereas Mr.. Col
Inns looked upon that sum as contri-
button to the cause of the Union. With
a part of the money Colonel Grant
bought the famous yellow horse which
became afterwards known as "Old
Clayback" and as soon as he could
have the uniform made he appeared
upon dress parade.