Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-27
Grants Birthday
Being Celebrated
Today Al Galena

Springfield. Ill, April 27.-Trials OF
courage through which Ulysses s.
Grant passed and rebuffs he endured
before Illinois ~hesitatingly. accepted
from which he emerged as athe~vfc-
torious commander-in-chief. are re-
called here today on the ninety ninth
anniversary of his birth.
Here it, was that the future presi-
dent tool command of his first regi-
ment, the tEenty-first Illinois regi-
ment. as colonel. This n of the
times in Springfield for a chance to
serve in the struggle which he fore
saw meant the doom of slavery" be-
fore shis worth was recognized and APP
pointment given him.
Political colonies" stood in his
way After ~oIganizing a volunteer
regular army should be put at once
at the service of the union.
~ Celebrating Birthday.
Galena Is celebrating Grants birth.
day today. This city where General
Grant had his home when the war
opened and where he left his wife and
children honors the day as It's great
est. Senator ]. Thomas Helm of Ala
bama is h speaker of this years
| C~eleOratlOn.
Even War Governor Richard Yates
however. repulsed him Tn so<ry, to
say, captain" he told the former
army man. there is nothing for you
Ito do. Call again."
!, Remaining in Springfield until, his
finances ran low, Capt. Grant called a
second time at. Governor Yates of
fee, this time at the governor'aeinvi-
tation. He was given a. desk in the
! ah infant synneraJa 0fico on1 ronf fn
work drawing lines n filling in
blanks. ANY boy could do my work"
history records him as saying. He re-
manned faithfully at the TASK, how
ever, and on May IA, 1861. was given
title of mastering officer"
His first duty vas mastering In the
regiment he was later to command.
the seventh congressional district
regiment at Nation. From there he
proceeded to two other points, mus
tering in soldiers, and on May 20
closed this work and drew a. voucher
for $3.50. His pay had been at the
rate of So a day, but he did not re-
ceive the money until long after. t
Returned to Galcna.
Out of funds. lonesome, poor and
detected Capt. Grant returned to Ga
lena. Offering his services then to Me
adjutant general at Washington and
az AN~PoAAS>s AN oASEA
to Springfield. His reception differed
little from that on his first visit. Gov
ernor Yates, it is said, did not think
of giving him a command. Without
political influence and without a
chance with the orators and other
w~ire-pullers who crowded about, he
was considered a military dead-beat"
by politicians, and a "decayed soldier
by citizens, it is recorded by the his
torian.
1T is strange he told a friend,
that a man of my experience and
education cannot secure a command"
With that he left Illinois. He tried
the service by that state by offer of
the command of the twelfth Ohio, but
a telegram drew him back to SPRING
field. will you accept the con mand
of the seventh district regiment" WAS
the dispatch which procured the fu-
ture president his entrance into the
conflict. 1t came. although belated,
from Governor Yates.
This regiment was composed Of
lusty. bold young men, who had
abused the lax discipline OF theiri first
commander. One OF them Knocked
! Colonel Grants hat off. Young man,
that's not very polite" vas Grants
only comment at the time, but step
by step he frightened discipline until
regiment was a military unit ready
for service.
The first call came to Illinois from
General Fremont, who wanted a. regt-
ment in northern Missouri.
Send me-" was Grants request to
Governor Yates.
40 transportation" was the gov
errors reply.
I'll find transportation the col
onel insisted, apd on July 2. 1861. he
issued his first marching orders.