Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-05-11
HE GOT ONE CHANCE.
THE USE GRANT MADE OF -
HISTORY TELLS.
He Had violated a Pledge Given TO TVS
Superior and Resigned From the army
He Was Capt. Grant Then-ho" nc
Got hack into the Army.

The majority OF people who know
,rucb about the life OF Grant are aware
that he graduated from the military
academy al West Point. and remalneu
in the army some years, when ne let'
tba service "a enter II again when his
services were needed and troops NeFe
called ont 20 suppress the rebellion
Gen. Grant was a captain In the t'outth
infantry at the time OF his resisnat ,l-
and his regiment was stationed IA
gon. says a writer In the Cinclhha. r+n
qulrer, Mai X. c. buchanan aiso .
graduate OF the academy, ana hi's
type of the old soldier, was In coIii''aiin
of the battalion to which capt SF"t'
company was attached
"Old Buck" as Maj. buchanan was
generally called in the army, took y "
to his head that capt. Grant was drink
ing too much and said so % HIN -
that time there was good deal "l
drinking In the army. Finally " SPY
spring OF 1854. "Old Buck made Grant
sign a pledge, which with his reSlshA-
ton. he placed In Mai Buchanan
hands Grant meant 10 keep MS W'rd'
but one cold morning Grant called upon
a brother officer. who had Just brought
his wife to the post OF course th~re
were refreshments. and among lhrM
eggnog. and Grant was invited by tAs
bride 10 Join her in a glass % this DE-
licious drink. little thinking OF the con
sequences, as she did not know % the
captains pledge. and he took one
A few days after this Capt. Grant was
sent Tor By Mai. buchanan. Poor Grant
knew what was coming as he walked
across the parade ground 20 the Office o.
the commanding officer. and when he
entered the office several brother Of
ficers left.
Capt Grant. here are two papers
you signed two months ago. one Is
your pledge. the other your resignation
Is II true that you have broken the for
mer?"
Grant met his commanding officers
eye fearlessly. Yes, sir. Il IL true. he
said
What do you deem my duty In the
matter OF your resigna,ion?" vas the
majors next question.
There was moments silence Then
Grant spoke You are an old soldier.
Mai. Buchanan You DO not need In
structlon from me But. since you have
asked me the question. I will answer Il.
II Is your duty 70 send In the rnslgna-
ton OF any officer who breaks his pledge.
and know % no reason why an excep-
ton to the rule should be made In the
case before you" He stood n moment
longer lie had spoken.
THAT Is ALL sir answered "Old
Buck" as he rose and bowed Grant out.
Two months later an official communi-
cation reached the post u Informed
Capt. Z. $. Grant that his resignation
had been accepted. 10 take effect July
81. 1854. This was the end % It and
Capt. Grant ceased 10 be an army o.
hcer from that date. He packed 40 his
goods and early one morning left Tor
the east
This Is how Grant len the army the
first time How he got back Ia told be-
low In the spring Of 1861 a captain 10
the regular army was ordered 70 repair
TO Springfield, H.. and hegin the dutis
OF mastering officer He found On hts
arrival at the capitol that the ndIutant-
general OF the state was a young man
who knew very little Of army matters
ana papers. and who was really 81 rs
assistance 10 him In making out the In
tricate muster rolls He was told ~
the Acknowledgement that he was nu-
thortz 4 10 hire a clerk That Same day.
while he WAS working over pile of mus
ter rolls the door % his office opened
and man plainly clad and wearing "a
heavy bear !. entered. Walking u Il
the desk he said:
WY. don't you know me. Tom"
IT'S Sam Grant isn't IT." replied the
captain. as he rose and warmly shook
hands with his comrade of West Point
and the Mexican war days. re ran hl4
eyes over Grant, and II was clear that
ne was not prosperous
I've come here 10 got something 10
do but I've no influence and I'm getting
disgusted. Can't you give me something
to dor Grant asked.
Il need a clerk 70 help me with thaas
rolls said the captain. and II Won ara
willing TO take the place al 800 a month
1 will be glad to have you.
News reached Springfield that Gen
Polk was on his way TO Cairo win 20 Olq
men. The war department directed mar
every available man be sent 10 the front
at once. There were 1900 men in onrnr,
The captain reported to the govarnar
that he was ready 20 muster I'm thr..
regiments. Uniforms and arms b,d
been issued u { morning Notbtns, III.
the mastering In and the making on, ~
the commissions for the field nnlrcrs
remained to be done.
Governor, whom are you gotns, t,...
point colonies and lieutenant. e,.t,.,,,.i.
OF u new reglments?" inquired M
captain. Il ask II because ~ tbo -,
be true these regiments win DO M M.
battle by those officers In fortv.eish,
hours" 'S"t
BY Jove; don't want my troona H.,
stroyed because the officers ara ~
trained" answered the governor "tIswa
you any suggestions 10 make?"
II have in my office" said the ,,,,,.
Ing officer. IAN old soldier. ue y,aa
West Point with me. and algo .ar,.a,
through the Mexican war. hi 49,.
his business. recommend him ~,
az colonel or lleutenant.a.,
onel OF one Of these regiments
II will give your friend no CO.,
sion OF colonel Of the Twenty-tbird , -,
nent upon your recommendation 49,
)ut his commission" said tho s,n,,s -','Ne
turning to his Acknowledgement y '''r'
What is his name, captain 2,'
Ulysses s. Grant" said tho c,,.,.,
Half an hour later the cantaIr I IAN
he 1pgk In fr1ut 80 'hti on