The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-05
GRANTS START IN THEWAR
[From the NliIwaukee sentineLl

1T LOAA lAic A4AWdUfAGE koCnlA4lCt-4
How old do you think I amp" asked
J. H. Evans of Plattsburg, Wis. in the
course of a conversation reminiscent in
character.
..Sixty-five."
''Seventy-onei"
4 knew Gen. Grant before. during.
and after the war;" continued Mr.. Ev-
ans. Il am 13 years old than my broth
er, H. Clay Evans. the pension COM
missioner, about whom SO much has
been written and said
las 1 was saying I knew Gen Grant
before the war. He used to drive from
Galena to Platteville as a salesman fof
Grant & Perkins, trying to sell leather.
He was not a successful business man
He succeeded a brother, Simpson Grant,
who died in St Paul. Mimi When
Simpson died Jesse Grant, the father
who resided in st. Louis and was the
senior s1ember of the firm Of Grant &
Perkins, wrote his partner telling him
they would have to give Ulysses Grant
a chance. i know he isn't worth much,
wrote the generals parent; he has prov
ed failure in everything he has under
taken. However, put him on, pay him
not enough to support him and his fam
lily I viii pay the difference
Mr. Perkins put the future com
nander of the largest army in the world
at work travelling about the neighbor-
hood selling leather, and after a time
concluded he was worth S45 a month,
paid him $50, and charged Jesse Grant
with half of the amount This was
told me by Mr.. Perkins himself.
Gen. Grant was in Galena only
short time when the war broke out. A
mass meeting was held, at which John
A. Rawlins, an eloquent young lawyer
and a companion of the leather sales
man, presided. a the conclusion of the
speaking Grant declared that, having
been educated by the government at
West Point. he should fight for the gov
eminent. He and Rawlins started in
to raise company.
Before the ranks were filed. how
ever, Governor Yates met E E. Wash
burne in Chicago and said:
= Senator, we are in a tangle out in
Springfield over the mastering in of our
soldiers. Can you tell me where I can
get a good man to attend to the bust
ness?'
Senator Washburne was silent for a
moment, and then exclaimed:
- The very man for the placei I have
himi Capt. Grant of Galena.'
&c For heavens sake send for him as
quickly as you can
Capt. Grant reported for duty at
Springfield. was placed in the adjutant
generals Office, and began bringing or
der out of chaos.
"A regiment-the Twenty-third-wa
raised in Chicago and Quincy Some
trouble broke out in Hannibal, Mo, and
the TWenty-third was ordered there to
quell the disturbance. The Quincy men
refused to go. claiming that they did
not enlist to fight their neighbors( Quin-
cy is just across the river from Hanni-
bald. The colonel OF the regiment was a
weakling. thoroughly Incompetent. Gov
ernor Yates sent for Can't. Grant.
s. Can you take the Twenty reg
iment to Hannibal. captain2 inquired
the governor
II can replied the captain.
-" You are in command. sir. Do it,
capt, now Col Grant, had neither
horse to ride nor uniform or accoAtre-
mentS to wear. He finally obtained an
ordinary animal of William Underwood
a liVeryman, on credit, for $50, and his
fathers partner, Mr. Perkins. loaned
him the money to buy his uniform and
sword.
Then Col Grant. in the gathering
shade of night, issued his first order in
the War OF the Rebellion. It was fer
the Twenty-third Illinois infantry to
parade. This made it necessary for the
men to have their knapsacks, packed
ready for the march. Ordinarily such
an order would mean little. but when
the inspection parade terminated the
Twenty-third regiment was Y miles
from Springfield on the road to Hanni-
bal with wagons and camp impediments
following in their wake.
1.-The men did not realize what was up
and went into camp without a murmur.
The march was continued until Quincy
was reached. Hannibal was invaded
and the disturbance ended. Down the
ticipated in the battle Of Belmont, on
posite Columbus, K y, and Grants ca
reer as a soldier started, en- route for
ApDOmattOX.