The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-02-11
(San Francisco Call. }

II nave HOt Ccul W my name; VIII
you allow me to sleep tonight on that
lounge?"
"You need not do that" was the
answer; "here is a dollar for your lodg-
ings."
81 am greatly obliged, but | will
save the dollar for my dinner and
breakfast
So this man who was shabby and
penniless slept on rickety old lounge
in back Office in San Francisco and
(for he had no place in which to lay
his head) the next morning said he
had slept we'll. He added with
pleased look, that he had saved his
dollar. Ten years later this shabby
and penniless man, having changed
his fortunes by his own exertions and
consummate genius, received the sur
render of Gen. Robert f. Lee, for the
shabby man was no other than Ulysses
5. Grant.
ago by Gen. w. H. l.. Barnes to an
assemblage of army and navy officers,
active and retired, representing the
regular and the volunteer service,
mostly men whose boards and hair
have become sllvered since they threw
their caps in the air, nearly thirty-two
years ago, when Lee capitulated at
Appomattox. The meeting was one
OF the California Commandery of the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of
the United States, and the occasion
was desl gnated as Grant night"
Speech making was the order of ,he
evening, and 1t all referred TO Ulysses
S. Grant, whose portrait, enwreathed
with American flags, and crowned with
laurels, was suspended over the table
on which the repast was laid.
The two principal orators were Gen,
w. H. l.. Barnes and Bishop Newman,
the one robust and athletic, standing
erectly, his eyes sparkling with good
health and keen enjoyment OF the
occasion; the other, equally we'll known
as an orator throughout the United
States, tall of figure, but bowed some
what by years. Both had new stor es
Of Gen Grant, which have never pre-
siously been in print. Those told by
Gen. Barnes were local and brought
INTO the consideration and exploits of
the great military leader a racy touch
of early California. The meeting of
the commandery was held in the Occi
dental Hotel, not very far from that
office where the pennlleSs Grant,
dreaming not of fame, slept to Save
dollar that he might have enough to
purchase two meals and avoid going
hungry. The occasion and the To-
Callty gave realism to a story which,
were it not sober history, would be
Justly considered as allied to Arabian
romanCes of the days of AL Raschd.
"At the age Of 81 years, said Gen.
Barnes, "when he (GranO had attained
the rank Of captain and while serving
with battalion Of his regiment in Ore
gon, he resigned his commission. After
his resignation he came to San Fran
cisco, intending to take passage by
steamer for New York. Capt. Richard
l.. Ogden was at that time clerk in
the office of the United States Quarter
master at San Francisco. Some time
after my arrival in California he told
me story concerning Capt. Grant,
the entire accuracy of which have no
reason to question, which illustrates
very clearly the condition in which he
was at that time
Then Gen. Barnes, who has been
making a study of all that appertaincd
to Gen. Grant, gave Capt. Osden's
story for the first time, which he
(Barnes) recently copied from Capt.
Ogden's diary, the narrative, in Capt.
Ogden's words, running as follows:
LAS was about closing the office
a shabbily dressed person came in and
inquired for Major Allen, Quarter
master, who had just left. did not
at first recognize him. He produced
a certificate for per diem service on a
courtmartlal, which, Of course, ldentl-
! fed him. The certificate entitled him
to about $40, but it was incorrectly
drawn and virtually void, of which fact
| informed him, and also that we were
destitute Of funds wherewith to pay in
any case, whereupon his CounteranCe
fell and look of utter despair came
over it.
"He turned to leave the office, then
| hcsltated moment, turned back,
asked me if would allow him 10 sleep
on the old lounge in Major Aliens S
room, for said he, Il have not cent
to my name said, You need not
do that. Here is 81 for your lodging.
He replied, Il am greatly obliged, but
with your permission, will use the
dollar for my dinner and breakfast
and the lounge will save ME the dol
lar So he slept on the rlckety old
lounge and | found him there when |
went to the office early in the morn
ing. and when | said, You had hard
bed he said, 'Oh, no; | slept we'll and
saved my dollar.
Some account of the stralghts TO
which Ulysses S. Grant was put oa
this occasion OF California interest has
been made heretofore, but the full par
,icularS are, II is believed, now told for
the first time. A few DAYS later than
this Gran, had left San Francisco, not
to return again until he had been The