Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-19
Ma. M. R. William Grebe.


were then and since among the most Illus
trious of the nation, the offense was a hun
dred times outweighed by service of the
sword
In view of the '.restorations," pensions
Corrections" etc, granted by Congress
every year-sometimes on a rather slender
l,asis-it seems remarkable to any one not
familiar with legislative procedure, and
even to those who know the way the wheels
go around, that the Grebe case has not
been finally adjusted before this.
Some Extraordinary Letters.
OF the thousands of letters written to
Major Grebe, indorsing his claim for res
toration to the commissioned personnel
and speaking in the highest praise of his
military record, are some written by illus
trious men dead, which are of more
than ordinary interest. Witness this let
ter written to him by Abraham Lincoln
during the war time:
Major NJ. R. William Grebe:
My Dear Major:
Yours asking for my autograph for
your father in Germany received. As we
are not personally acquainted and my mail
IS so large, l, at first, thought myself un-
able to comply. When saw the above and
the letter of General Grierson, I sent for
your record. When I read it and the let
ters of Generals Grant, Sherman, How
ard, Logan and Blair, written near Peters,
burg, Va, and Lovejoy station, respective
anxious TO write you personally as / was
reticent before. and now wish to make this
my personal, grateful acknowledgment for
the purpose, first, to honor you for your
heroic conduct in the battles for human
liberty and the maintenance of the repub-
lie; second, to honor your father, whom
you wish to please. and finally, to honor
the land of your birth which sent you of
the almost inestimable service you have
done this country.
Your chiYalrous daring, described by the
above generals, so appreciated by them and
by myself, which always wins the admira-
ton of the world, are acts of absolute in
domitable courage, not needing to be bla-
zoned by the correspondents pen. as they
are written In the annals of American his
tory with your sword.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) A. LINCOLN
On September 16 1864, Gen. Grant wrote
| the colonelency of the 14th Regiment, Mis-
Petersburg, Va, letter to the governor
of Missouri recommending Capt. Grebe to
the colonelency of the 14th Regiment Mis-
| souri, Cavalry, with the following comment.
~ . to submit the incloSed reeommen-
dations of his immediate superior officers,
Gems. Sherman, Howard, Logan and Blair.
| Coming from foreign lands to the support
of the United States in the hour of peril, he
has served with credit to himself and your
state, and proven an honor to his native
land. l am personally acquainted with the
applicant and pledge myself for him to
give eire satisfaction.
i
~. 8. GRANT"
Sixteen years later, when Gen. Grant re-
turned from his trip around the world he
visited Kansas City and was given a re-
ception. Maj. Grebe was in command of the
ex-President's personal bodyguard. Maj.
Grebe, after the parade spoke to Gen. Grant
of the treatment he had received and the
latter Endorsed the following comment on his
sixteen-year-old letter:
Examined by the above this Sd day of
July, 1880, and found correct as was written
by my own hand. What you call ''stig-
ma on your name is stain, on Congress
for not correcting your otherwise undisput-
ably good record.
Very respectfully. your obedient servant,
~. s. GRANT,
A Tribute to His Bravery.
Then there is a letter from Mai Gen.
Blair of the 18th Army Corps--a letter
which stirs the blood and tells briefly but
graphically of an incident that explains. in
some measure. why so many brave and gal
liant men have sung the praises Of this
sometime officer Of the Royal Guards
BY your efficiency In military science and
discipline" says Gen. Blair in his letter to
Maj. Grebe, and, above all. by your Prov
ess Ia critical moments and your extraor-
binary galiantry in action. you have amply
deserved promotion, and your gallant deeds
have greatly contributed to the success of