Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-30
Grant Was Not q
Drunkard

Omaha, April $50 the Editor
Of The Beel Gen, Grant was no
dFunkaFd, The history from his
neishbeFs and the War department,
both dispute this ehargs, Neither
Was he considered a failure Ia any
respect,
| have esnyersed with his near
neighbafs. ia his Ohio home, Point
Pleasant, people who knew him
when he went 10 West Point, and
when he returned, They always de-
nouneed the story that he Was a
pfoflsats or a drunkafd, Ills seFy-
ices la the war with Mexico received
more Citations for bravery and good
Judgment than any other offieer IN
ths entire army, Gen, Zachary ray-
iar, In his report says Lieut., Grant
did valiant service and displayed the
hest OF judgment ~ all times dur
ing the liefesst battles, and Tor
which he was promoted 20 a mrs,
iIeutenanry, soon after Was made
a captain. based upon his service
In the Mefiean war,
Two OF my brothers knew him
while he was in California; they
also knew the Grants In Ohio. This
acquaintance gave them a closer
knowledge OF Capt, Grant IN Cali
fornia than most az men, ~ the
time Grant was in California 4 cap
tain,s pay would not furnish a man
the most ordinary living expenses,
Flour was 81 to IS per pound. other
supplies accordingly. Capt. Grant
said then he would have TO get out
of the army II he was 10 be sta.
toned In California, for he could
not support his family, and he re-
signed his commission. His oid.time
friends who knew him in California
denounced the story that he was
drnnknrd.
About the year 1853 he came TO
Warren. Ill. is miles from my ma
tive home, where his father had
branch house OF his tannery. stayed
there about one year and then went
10 Galena. only few miles further.
and was In Gniena when the civil
war came on. Several soldiers In my
company during the civil war,
Dixon. Van Matre. sherman. Me-
Knight and others who knew him
intimately at both Warren and Ga
lena: also senator and past comman-
der-in-chief OF the Grand Army.
william Warner: George II. Peck.
general attorney OF the Santa re
railroad. and many others with
whom I have conversed deny the
stories he was drunkard and
yaR. Had he been so depraved ms
some seem TO have II. would the
citizens Of Galena at the first war
meeting have made him chairman
OF the important meeting that was
10 outline their stand In the war?
Early In April. 1861. Governor
Yates called him to assist In the mo-
Obligation of Illinois troops. and he
found Capt. Grant so efficient In his
line he appointed him colonel OF
the 2ist Illinois volunteer infantry. |
n regiment raised In and around the
city Of Springfield.
At this point the politicians were |
to control the appoint
Col. Grant denied their re-
quests and this created hatred to-
ward Col. Grant. From that time on |
a despicable species OF propaganda
was started. telling about Grant
being a drunkard and that he was
not fit to command. and when he
demanded the Unconditional sur |
render" at Fort Donelson and Vicks-
burg he was denounced as a tyrant. |
and that his demand upon the south
ern army was heathenish and dis
ruptive OF any future settlement OF
the war.
While Gen. Grant was besieging
and Immediately follow
ing its surrender, invective, calumny
and anathema were hurled at his
name. So intense was this propa-
ganda that a delegation Of emil.
nent divines were sent from New
York to Washington to demand the
dismissal Of Gen. Grant for drunk.
snness. The thousands Of soldiers
who were serving under Gen. Grant
It that time denounced this class Of
propaganda as a lie. They had
fought with him, camped and
by his side and were
to speak for Gen. Grant.
When the delegation of ministers
mad stated their case. President Lin
colin asked them II "they knew
where Grant got his whisky" they
we're incensed and asked the presi-
lent why he asked them that ques-
lion. Lincoln replied: IF could find
out would have some Of the same
brand issued to some of my other
for that is fighting whisky
Ind gets results" President Lin
,oln did not say this without knowl-
,dge Of Gen. Grant, he had sent his
assistant secretary Of war, Charles
Dana, to investigate and he knew
Gen. Grant was not a drunkard.
l trust these infamous stories !
bout Gen. Grants character may
lease to be told, now that our ma
ion has erected the greatest monu-