The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-17

OH"
We know with good deal of detail the
story of Grants successes from the time of
Belmont to the day when he delivered over
the White House to his successor. But the
part of his career which was uneventfully
contained in the few months prior to the
outbreak of the Civil War and few weeks
after, or until he received his colonelcy, is
so little known that all that can be said of
1t by almost every one is that it was a
period of trial, of hard luck and at times
almost of despair. 1t is possible, however,
now to give something of detailed nara
tive of that time, because one who was
near Grant at Galena, who saw him in the
tanners store many times, who went with
him to the meeting called by the citizens
of Galena in answer to Lineoln's proclama-
ton, who had him as a companion
from Gaena to the Illinois capital, and
his roommate while Grant was
there desperately struggling to gain
an entrance into the service, is now
living and can recall those times with
vividness. He is General Augustus l..
Chetlain, now living in Chicago, known to
every member of the Loyal Legion of the
United States not only as a fighter who
knew no fear, although in many battles,
but as the man who was the intimate of
Grant in the days when he had few in
Inmates. General Chetlain's ability to
speak with truth of O. ant in those early
times is maintained by Colonel Fred D.
Grant, who said in answer to a question:
"Oh, yes, [ know General Chetlain very
well, and he was the intimate and trusted
Of foil rIx dow Of 4 .a
war"
1t is from General Chetlain in the main
that this narrative has been obtained. al
though his precise language is not fol
lowed, and some of the incidents narrated
were collected from other sources of in
formation.
Captain Grant went to Galena to serve
his father as a clerk in the leather-store
and tannery OF J. D. Grant d Co. He
gladly accepted such employment year
or two before the outbreak OF the war. He
received at first $40 a month, and his pay
was afterward raised to $75. He hired
little cottage, still standing, and paid SD a
month rent, leaving a sum upon which he
could support his family only by scrimp-
ing and the hardest sort of economy.
Upon stormy days or times when Gus
toners were few and idle moments plenty
the young men used to go into the tanners
store and there they often found young
Captain Grant seated upon the counter
sometimes with an old gray coat that cost
So on his shoulders, a very rusty felt hat
upon his head and a short pipe in his
mouth. He was known also as a clerk
who had no special fondness for the coun-
ter or for hides, but who would rather sit
and chat than sell goods or take in money.
When LincOln's proclamation calling for
Io,UOO volunteers was published Grant pre-
sided at a meeting in Galena and was the
most important man in the enlistment of a
company of volunteers there. 1t was the
general desire to make him captain of the
company, but this he declined and Mr..
Chetlaln was chosen captain instead. In
conversation with Captain Chetlain, Just
after the company was organized, Captain
Grant said: II don't want to overestimate
my abilities, and I don't think l do when
say that l feel that my education at West
Point and my service in the army have
qualified me to take the colonelcy of a
regiment. l feel pretty sure that 1 could
command a regiment creditably enough,
and | suppose that / have a share OF mill
tary pride which causes me to feel justified
In asking the Governor to give me regi-
ment and I'm going to do it."
On the day that the Galena company
was to depart for the State capital patriotic
enthusiasm was most gloriously stirred in
that town. The company, in its new uni
form, paraded the principal streets and
then turned toward the railway station
AS it was passing the leather-store of J. D.
Grant d Co. Captain Chetlain saw stand
ing IN the doorway a short, slender Young
man with a rusty S. overcoat concealing
his weli-worn and coarse suit of clothes
Upon his head was the familiar and faded
soft felt hat, in his mouth was short pine
from which at frequent interval great puffs
of smoke were fercely blown. The cap
tains eye fell upon an old-fashioned trav-
elng-bag made of carpet, one of those
which justified the early name Of carpet
bag, well-known and ancient relic of
domestic service, and this the man who
eeood in the doorway of J. D. Grants
leather-shop was carrying. Captain Chef
lain nodded and received in reply a recog-
milton which was half military salute
and half friendly sign. When the com
pany passed the young man stepped from
the doorway, fell in behind and marched
at the rear of the company, bearing his
faded carpet-bag and still smoking his
pipe.
Captain Grant carried with him to
Springfield nothing excepting the change
of linen which was contained in an old
carpet-bag, and letter of introduction to
Governor Yates, written by E. D. Wash
burn, then member of Congress from the
Galena district. The capital was in tur-
mol. Gayly uniformed volunteer officers
were proud to display their buttons and
their activity.
Two or three days after the Galena COM
pdlly ICdOnCO OdDIdIU O0eUldln
had some business which called him to the
Capitol. AS he walked down the corridor
he saw a man sitting on bench smoking
a pipe and looking almost the picture of
despair. The gayly dressed young soldiers
brushed by, some of them turning for an
instant to glance at this man who seemed
almost like an outcast, so strong was the
contrast between his appearance and
theirs. Captain Chetlain recognized him,
although he had not seen him for day or
two. and going up to him said, "Why,
captain, what are you doing here?'
"Well, L am trying to get my letter of
introduction to Governor Yates, and have
been waiting so long that 1 don't know as
it will be of any use. However, 1 am 60
ing to stay here until the building closes"
Captain Chetlain saw that Grant was a
little respondent and suggested to him
that the Governor was very busy, but that
lie would soner or later be sure to receive
any one who bore a letter from Congress
man Washburn. Two or three hours later
Captain Grant was able to find some one
who condescended to take the letter of in
PRODUCTION from Mr.. Washburn to the Gov
ernor, and after a while this messenger re-