Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-10-14
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
Unwritten History Revealed by
Grants Letter.
SECRETARY DAVIS REPLY

Lincoln Company Muster Roll-Lara'
est Single Draft Ever Issued by
u. S. Was in Payment for Pur-
chase of Alaska.
In over.hauling the files of the Trea-
sury Department, preparing the papers
for removal to the Hall of Records.
which will be their future depository,
a great many documents representa-
tive of epochs in the nations history
have been discovered. Transactions
long since forgotten are recalled by
faded, stained and tat,ered papers
which now assume all additional value
above their historic worth.
One of the apparent anomalies pre-
sented in the unearthed documents IS
q letter from Jefferson DAVIS, as Sec
rerary of War. accepting the resigna-
tiou Of y. S. Grant from the Army.
The accompanying papers in this case
reveal little unwritten history. 1t
seems that the resolution OF Grant 10
leave the military service was con-
ceived without the knowledge OF his
parents, and that they did not learn
of 1t until too late to compel him TO
change his mind The records in this
case were gotten together when Fred
Grant was settling the estate of his
father, and when the government was
paying tht balance due from the
longevity pay of General U. S. Grant.
Back in April, 1854, Captain U. S.
Grant was serving in the Fourth In.
fantry at Fort Humbolt. Humbolt Bay,
California. Life in the Army was evi-
IDENTIFY becoming tiresome to him, for
in that month he wrote the following
letter to Colonel S. Cooper. the adJu-
tant general the Army:
81 very respectfully tender my resig'
nation of my commission as an officer
of the army, and request That it may
take effect from the 31st of July
next"
a couple of months later member
of Congress, apparently at the request
of young Grants father, wrote to the
department, asking that the captain
be assigned to recruiting duty. This
brought out letter from Jefferson
Davis, Secretary of War, to the effect
that Grants resignation had been ac-
cepted. This news came as big sur.
prise to young Grants father, who
wrote to the department to Inquire il
1t were true and urging that the ac-
ceptance be withdrawn. Secretary
Davis sent the following reply:
'In reply to your letter of the 21st
instant, asking tina. the acceptance OF
the resi- gnation OF your son, Captain
u. S. Grant, may be withdrawn and he.
be allowed six months leave Of abb
sence. Il have the honor to inform you
that Captain Grant tstepde deredS his resigs
snafien and assigned no reason why he
desired to quit the service and the
motives which influenced him are not
known to the department He only
asked that his resignation should take
effect on the 31st of July next, and it
was accepted accordingly on the I'd
instant, and the same day announced
to the army. The acceptance is, there
fore, complete and it cannot be recon
sidered.
Every respectfully your obedient
servant, JEFF'N DAVIS"
None Of the records of the Treasury
Department is more highly priced
than the original muster roll of Cap
tain A. Lincoln's Conn any," in the
handwriting of that famous man him.
SELF 1t was voluntary company or
ganized by Lincoln in 1882 to serve
il the Black Hawk War. Lincoln as
an Army officer was the same pains.
taking, careful and orderly man that
he was later as President He kept
the muster rolls of his company him.
self, and nowhere can a neater and
more complete account be found. AL
though more than 70 years old now,
the roll is wonderfully well preserved.
The paper is of poor quality, but the
handwriting is still legible and dis
tsnct, not single error having been
made IN the copy. The record has
bCCu DOuhu lOSClnCl dIOuS IuO CuSSo
and where it has been folded constant
handling has done considerable dam
age to it.
The muster roll is in charge Of the
auditor for the Treasury. Quite q
fright was given to him a year ago
when it was announced that the roll
had disappeared. A thorough search
failed to reveal it, and it was given
up for lost. Last week it was found in
the desk formerly occupied by clerk
who was dismissed few months ago.
The interesting document is headed,
Muster Roll of Captain A. Lincoln's
Company of the Fourth Regiment Of
Mounted Volunteers, commanded by
Brigadier General Samuel Whitesides.
Mustered out of service of the United
States at the mouth of Fox River,
May the 9th, 1892"
The roll shows that Abraham Lin
coin was the captain and that he was
enrolled with the rest of the command
ON April 21, at Richland, Sangemon
County, Ill. At the foot is Lincoln's
certificate as to the correctness OF the
muster roll at the time of muster out
The only other handwriting on the
document is that of Nathaniel Buck.
master, inspector and muster officer,
certifying to the accuracy Of the roll
of Lincoln's company.
The largest single draft ever issued
hy tho Jrnitod St.tac poyernment wrs
in payment of the purchase of Alaska
from the Russian government in 1868.
1t was made payable to the Car and
was for S7,200.0O0. Larger sums have
been paid out by this government, but
never in single lump.
EIanneIs In Summer.
The new boarder was not aware OF
l,o,,,Iod trod;tiopc nf thp hoard