Year: 1868

UIhnI anu hhNUnBSs


A CORRESPONDENT of the Hartford Post
at Washington, reports an interview with
General Rawlings, chief of Grants staff
The following is the principal part of the
conversation:


"I was born few miles from Galena,
said General Rawlings, "and moved in
there when l was in my twenties. Soon
after entering the bar, got by some luck
or good word, the law business for the
leather and hardware store of Jesse Grant
1t was large, fine store, built deep, with
only place below for sizing the skins,
which were tanned at Covington, Ken.
lucky. l don't know how General Grants
father got into business at Galena, but
there was Mrs. Lee living there, half
sister to General Grants mother, and her
house was next door to mine.


Her favorite topic of conversation was
Capt Grant, or Ulysses, as she generally
called him, who was represented to me aS
the flower of the flock lie had been in
the army, at West Point, in Mexico, and
Mrs. Lee represented that he had made a
particularly handsome figure on horse
back. l had quite a curiosity at least to
see this member of the family; for, up our
way, we had great idea of Mexican. war
soldier, the extent of our heroes being pri-
vate soldiers of that war. l was sixteen
when it broke out, and was almost crazy
to get permission to enlist"


"Welll General, did Grant come at
astY"


eyes; saw him under these favorable
anticipations few days after he came.
had previously seen all his brothers, and
not one of them but was q sagacious,
business man. l looked cautiously at
Grant, and under his simplicity saw the
marks of power given him by nature and
command. He was not tanner at Galena,
but clerk, sat on the store counter and
related incidents of Mexico, country that
seemed to have stirred him with enthu-
slasm by its beauty and resources, and he
holds the same regard for it still. got to
know General Grant slowly and respect
fully, and it was not till after the begin
ming of the war that found out that he
had any specific liking for me-"


"Well, General, l see you are coughing.
l will ask the rest another timer


! am talking too much, but I'll finish.
The war matter grew before Grant had
become half acquainted in Galena. He
was not an arguer on politics, but he had
been an old line WSig and cast vote in
1856 for Buchanan. was q Douglas
Democrat and took the stump there.
Grant told me that he had a great admira-
ton for Lincoln. He had read as they
were made the speeches between Lincoln
and Douglas, and said it was nice ques-
ton to say who got the best of the argu-
ment We counted on him as Douglas
Democrat, though all his brothers were
Republicans. Some time during the cam
paign John L. Smith, soldier of the
Mexican war, burst upon the town with a
magnificent display of Wide-Awakes,
whom he had drilled secretly. This NOR
titled our side good deal and we resolv-
ed to get up similar organization. We
thought we would elect Captain Grant
the marshal of it, or in his stead, should
he decline, John Maltby, afterward Brig
adler General.


al was one of the committee to call on
Grant. He said he was beginning busi.
ness, and should have to decline entering
into politics. We therefore chose Maltby.
Grant went on with his store, selling har
ness, saddlery and hardware, and got into
the firm at last Lincoln was elected
Grant said from that time that the South
would fight. l could not bring my mind
to contemplate this, but the Captain seem
ed to be positive, and from that day began
to speak oftener of his military education,
his debt therefor to the country, and to
talk with me upon the capacities of the
North to raise troops. About that time
he wrote letter, so expressing himself
to man in Missouri and this letter Albert
d. Richardson, unknown to Grant, found
out and inserted in his book. When Sum-
ter was attacked we all looked to Grant,
Smith and Maltby. The former went to
orly NJ kaA &c
recruiting meetings, and we three, with
Rowley, afterward on the staff, went to
Galena and Hanover and raised that COM
pany for three months service. Sixty.two
men out of eighty odd afterward enlisted
for the war.


ain this season 1 saw new energies in
Grant. A larger career had opened be-
fore him. He dropped a stoop-shouldered
way he had of walking, and set his hat
forward on his forehead in less careless
fashion. And yet he never seemed to have
an ambition above regimental rank, and
all his talk with me was upon the best
place in a regiment that should try for.
He became a carpet bagger then, and l
saw him as he left Galena with his traps
in hand.


"Rawlings,' he cried, 'if l see any
thing that will suit you III send you
wordp


"Do, Captain


at took my sick wife eastward soon af-
terward, and saw in the New York Til
buRe that Grant had been made Brigadier
General, and also found letter forwarded
from him, saying; Rawlings, I am en-
titled to Captain and A. A. G.; guess
you had better come on and take it." l
therefore withdrew from regiment that
was raising, and, doubtful of my capacity
to be independently useful, so inexperi-
enced, Joined Grant at Cairo.


Z" He had an office in the great bank
there, and / was amazed at the quiet,
prompt way in which he handled his null
titudes Of letters, acquisitions and papers,
sitting behind the cashiers window hole,
with a waste basket under him, and or
derlies to dispatch business as he did it.


"Beyond my friendship for Grant, I
felt that l was going to be attached to a
man equal to the enlarging situation.
And an I have remained with him ever