The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-20
TALES OF THE TIMES.
Colonel Watrous Tells Some New Stories
of General Grant.
I have some new Grant stories.


1 have some new Grant stories.
For several years there was much said
about railroad from GaIena to GAINESVILLE.
| the idea being when once there, to arrange
with the then Milwaukee and Mississippi,
now the Chicago, Milwaukee and St.
Paul, to run line to GAINESVILLE from Mil
ton Junction, and thus secure Milwau-
kee connection. The line was built from
Milton to GAINESVILLE, but from Galena to
GAINESVILLE the road is still an air castle.
A number of moneyed men of Galena
had been induced to interest themselves
in the project. In 1860 several of these
gentlemen, including the banker Henry
Corwith, who loaned vast sums of money
to Wisconsin lumbermen from 80 to 40
years ago. being of the number, drove
overland to GAINESVILLE for double pur
pose-to see the character of the country
through which the proposed road was, to
run and to consult with A. Hyatt Smith
and other GAINESVILLE men concerning the
contemplated enterprise. Mr.. Corwith
and his party were met by Mr.. Smith and
several others. There was a carriage ride
in the afternoon. One of the Galena party
had not been provided with a seat. He
stood in front of the hotel watching the
delegations preparing for the trip of pleas
ure and business.
''Mr. Corwith, that gentlemen is of your
party, is he not?'' asked Hyatt Smith.
yes; he ca1nO over with US.
''WelI, WE'LL I'll sit with the driver,
and he can take my place.
Never mind him, Mr.. Smith. Presume
he does not care to go. He is our driver. "
1t was not exactly a banquet they had
that evening after the GAINESVILLE people
had shown their visitors the town and
told them as much in it's favor as it would
bear, but it was a spread something beyond
the average for the little town of 2, 600 or
5000 inhabitants.
''Have you registered?'' asked the land
lord of e man he saw sitting near the stove
soon after the visitors and their entertain
ers had been located in the dining room.
"NO, SIR
"Going to stay with Us tonight?''
81 guess SO.
care you of the Galena partyP'
"Yes, am the teamster."
The landlord stepped into the dining
room and said: Mr.. Cowrith, your driver
is in the barroom. Shall he come to sup
per now or waltz
Some one suggested that he wait.
''No, let him como in. Yes, landlord,
tell the captain to come in. -
So it happened that Captain Grant did
not have to wait and eat with the serv
ants, even if he was the teamster.
How little any one at the GAINESVILLE ia
BILE thought that within four years the
quiet "teamster'' would be the first of
modern military chieftains-that he would
stop driving railroad delegations about the
country long enough to serve eight years
as president; that he would have place
in American history that well enough be-
longs by the side of Washington and Lin
coIni For that matter, who in all the
wide world had such thoughts in 1860?
What astonishing things time and op-
Mill All the f5PT'
needed was an opportunity. A cluster of
hotheaded southern leaders in congress
gave him the opportunity, and God gave
the Widow Washburne of Maine the wis
dom, heart brain and desire essential to
bring up a family of boys to a type Of man
hood not often Surpassed, one of whom
saw to it that the opportunity was not
wrenched from the teamster. One of the
Widow Washburne's sons lived at Galena
when Grants opportunity came, and his
good bringing up had taken him to con-
gress and made him one of the most useful
and influential bers of the house
Who can tell what Grant and the nation
would have lost if Elihu 3. Washhurne
had not been close to and in the confidence
of another Illinois captain-a soldier in
the Black Hawk war-Captain abraham
Lincoln? Washburne and Lincoln saved
Grant more than once. Who from? Never
mind now.
Captain Grant used to drive through
southern Wisconsin selling leather. A
young German opened sIiop at I,ancas-
ter. Grant called upon the German. After
trying again and again in vain TO make
the young man understand he asked
friend to direct him to some one vino could
talk German. A Mrs. Cox was named.
Captain Grant, e-enforced by Mrs. Cox,
renewed the attack on the young German
and made a good customer. That is the
way Grant fought it out on the Lancaster
line.
Mrs Cox is still living and delights in
talking about the times when she was
General Grants interpreter.
s'The first time saw General Grant,
said Major Ross, twas at Spottsylvania in
1864. 1 saw two horsemen and an orderly.
The two men proved to be Grant and
Meade. Grant looked lessAike a general
than his orderly. His uniform was dusty,
coat unbuttoned, hat like a tralnp's.
Looking up, I saw General Burnside, staff
and bodyguard of 100 riding past
mean no reflection upon Burnside. The