Waterbury Democrat., 1902-03-26
GRANTS START IN THE WAR.

Fl. Evans of Plattsville, Wis, in the course of conversation reminiscent in character.
 "Sixty-five."
 Seventy
 T knew General Grant before, dur ing and after the war; continued Mir Evans. T am thirteen years older than my brother. H. Clay Evans. the pension commissioner. about whom so much has been written and said
 As l was saying. I knew General Grant before the war. He used to drive from Galena to Platteville as salesman for Grant X Perkins. trying to sell leather. He was not success ful business man. He succeeded a brother. Simpson Grant. who died in St Paul, Minn. When Simpson died Jesse Grant. the father who resided in St Louis and was the senior member of the firm of Grant X 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 proved a failure in everything he has under taken. However, put him on pay him what you find he is worth, and if it is not enough to support him and his family I will pay the difference.'
 'Alr Perkins put the future com mander of the largest army in the world at work travelling about the neighborhood selling leather, and after q time concluded he was worth S45 a month, paid him $90, and charged Jesse Grant half of the amount. This was told me by Mir Perkins himself.
 General Grant was in Galena only q short time when the war broke out. A mass meeting was held, at which John A. Rawlins, an eloquent young lawyer and companion of the leather salesman, presided. At the conclusion of the speaking Grant declared that, having been educated by the govern ment at West Point, he should fight for the government. He and Rawlins started in to raise a company. Before the ranks were filled. how ever, Governor Yates met E. B. Wash. bufne in Chicago and said: Senator, we are in tangle out in Springfield over the mastering in of our soldiers. Can you tell me where can get a good man to attend to the l business?
 Senator Washburne was silent for q moment and then exclaimed:
 The very man for the place! ] have him! Captain Grant of Galena.' For heavens sake send for him l as quickly as you can
 Captain Grant reported for duty at i Springfield, was placed in the adjutant- generals office, and began bringing order out of chaos.
 l A regiment-the Twenty-third-wa 1 raised in Chicago and Quincy. Some l 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 1 Quincy just across the river from HannibaD. The colonel of the reg1. ment was weakling, thoroughly in. competent. Governor Yates sent for 1 Captain Grant
 Can you take the Twenty-third regiment to Hannibal, captain?' fn. l quired the governor.
 T can replied the captain. 1 You are in command. sir Do it. l Captain, now Colonel Grant. had neither horse to ride nor uniform or accoutrements to wear He finally ob- tained an ordinary animal of William ] Culderwood, liveryman, on credit, for S1oO, and his fathers partner, MT Per
 kins, loaned him the money to buy his uniform and sword.
 Then Colonel Grant. in the gather. ing shade of night, issued his first or. der in the war of the Rebellion. It was for the Twenty-third Illinois in- fantry to appear the following day for inspection parade. This made it neces- sary for the men to have their knap- sacks, packed ready for the march. Or. d1narily such an order would mean lit tie, but when the inspection parade terminated the Twenty third regiment was twelve miles from Springfield on the road to Hannibal, with wagons and camp implements following in their wake
 "Themen did not realize what was up and went into camp without murmur. The march was continued until Quincy was reached. Hannibal was invaded and the disturbance ended. Down the Iriver the regiment journeyed and par ticipated in the battle of Belmont. op- posite Columbus. Ky, and Grants ca reer as soldier started, en route for Appomattox. Milwaukee Sentinel