The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1912-02-23
new NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How Grant Came to Make His
First Speech.
Persuaded by Rawllns, He Addressed
Meeting Near Galena to Re-
erult Company After the
Attack on Sumter.
BY e. J. EDWARDS.


When General Grant became presi-
dent on March 4. 1869, he made John
A. Rawlins secretary OF war Shortly
after he had become major OF
volunteer Illinois regiment in the
FIRST year of the civil war, Rawlins re-
signed that post In order to assume
the duties of assistant adjutant gen
eral on General Grants STAFF. From
then on until the close of the war,
Rawlins served on Grants staff. He
was the youngest of all the men who
served with the great commander, but,
nevertheless, he was one of Grants
closest advisers In military matters,
He also was his chiefs intimate
friend; and It was most natural for
Grant. when he knew for certainty
that he would be called upon to make
up a cabinet, to turn to General Raw
Tins as the one man to fill the office
of secretary of war. But that post
General Rawlins occupied for a few
months only. He had contracted con-
sumption as the result of exposure
during the war, and In September,
1859. he died.
Ono afternoon In 1901 met the late
General A. G. Chetlain, then OF chi
cago. who, as a resident of Galena,
Ill, In 1861, had enlisted In the first
company of volunteers that left Grants
home town In defense OF the Union |
asked General Chetlain II he had
known well General Rawlins, who was
a resident of Galena at the time OF
the war.
Indeed did" was the reply, and
existed between him and Grant prior
to the outbreak of the war. | have
only to shut my eyes now and see
them In memory as they sit together
in Grants fathers leather store earn
estly discussing political questions,
and, most earnestly of all. the one
great question of the day-would there
be war between north and south?
But though they often differed on
other questions, on the question OF the
possibility of war they were fully
agreed; and of all the men who gath
cred In the leather store from time to
time to talk the matter over they were
the only two who felt that war was
surely coming and that It would be
a prolonged struggle. Rawlins thought
that II would take as much AZ five
years to overcome the south, while
Grant would declare that no one could
tell how long 1t would take to do that
haV Of a
trying to convince their fellow citi.
xens that they were wrong In the be.
lief that, II war did come, the north
would be able to subdue the south In
30 days--an opinion commonly held
throughout the north at that time.
and we'll l remember, too" contin
ued General Chetlain. that II was
Rawlins who persuaded Grant to make
the first speech he ever delivered
las soon as we had received the
news that Fort Sumter had been free
on. Immediately began to recruit ou
first Galena company, Of which
was elected captain, and with whicl
Grant went from Galena to Springfield
the state capital, where the compan
was mustered In. II was though
worth while to have somebody go to
little suburb of Galena, some three o
four miles beyond the city limits, ant
make a speech that would urge tn
our company Rawlins was well know
and liked in that community. and
asked him II he would undertake THU
task. He replied that he would b,
glad to do SO. adding. as an after
thought. that he'd take Captain Grant
with him.
We'll. at the appointed time Raw.
Inns and Captain Grant drove out To
the suburb, and Rawlins told me after
wards that he made a brief speech
and then introduced Captain Grant,
saying that the captain had already
served In the United States army in
Mexico and was therefore more compe-
tent than any civilian to address a
meeting called to secure recruits. You
know how backward the captain Is ex-
cept before his friends said Rawlins.
Well, without the slightest hesitation
he stood upon the rostrum and made a
very plain and simple but earnest
speech. about Is minutes In length.
After he had finished four or FIVE of
the farmer boys came forward and
said that they would, on the following
day. come to our recruiting office In
Galena and enlist
80 1t was John Rawlins who In.
duced Grant to make his first speech !;
and 1t was Grants success as a speak
er in that little village which led to
our making him chairman Of the great
mass meeting which day or two later
was held in our Galena public hall"
Copyright, 1911. by &c. J. Edwards All
Rights Reserved)