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CHAPTER IV.

THE CIVIL WAR-MADE A BRIGADIER GENERAL.

Captain Grant was residing at Galena on the 12th of April, 1861. The "first shot" at Fort Sumter moved him to the utmost depths of his being, and his loyal spirit was roused to its utmost intensity. He said to a friend: The government educated me for the army. What I am, I owe to my country. I have served her through one war, and, live or die, will serve her through this." Going into the streets of Galena he found no difficulty in raising a company of volunteers; he tendered his and their services to the Governor of the State of Illinois. His zeal and straightforward manner so impressed Governor Yates that he at once made him Adjutant-General of the State. His famil iarity with military regulations and the routine of military life enabled him to render efficient service in organizing the several camps that were being formed at different points. It was owing to his zeal and indomitable labors as mustering officer that Illinois was enabled to turn out so many men as she did at the early stages of the war. One of the Illinois regiments having a vacant colonelcy, the position was offered to and at once accepted by Grant, his commission dating from June 15, 1861.

The following letter by General Grant to his father-inlaw, Frederick Dent, then of St. Louis, is of special interest. It shows General Grant's loyalty and unwavering devotion to

the Union. This letter was first published on April 13, 1885, just twenty-four years after the surrender of Fort Sumter

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Extracts from an editorial in the N. Y. Tribune of April 14, 1885, commenting on this letter, are also given:

MR. F. DENT

GALENA, April 19, 1861.

Dear Sir:-I have but very little time to write, but, as in these exciting times we are very anxious to hear from you, and know of no other way but by writing first to you, I must make time.

We get but little news by telegraph from St. Louis, but from all other points of the country we are hearing all the time. The times are indeed startling, but now is the time, particularly in the border slave States, for men to prove their love of country. I know it is hard for men to apparently work with the Republican party, but now

all party distinctions should be lost sight of, and every true patriot be for maintaining the integrity of the glorious old Stars and Stripes, the Constitution and the Union. The North is responding to the President's call in such a manner that the Rebels may truly quake. I tell you, there is no mistaking the feelings of the people. The Government can call into the field not only 75,000 troops, but ten or twenty times 75,000 if it should be necessary, and find the means of maintaining them, too.

It is all a mistake about the Northern pocket being so sensitive. In times like the present, no people are more ready to give their own time, or of their abundant means. No impartial man can conceal from himself the fact that in all these troubles the Southerners have been the aggressors and the Administration has stood purely on the defensive, more on the defensive than she would have dared to have done but for her consciousness of strength and the certainty of right prevailing in the end. The news to-day is that Virginia has gone out of the Union. But for the influence she will have on the other border slave States, this is not much to be regretted. Her position, or rather that of Eastern Virginia, has been more reprehensible from the beginning than that of South Carolina. She should be made to bear a heavy portion of the burden of the war for her guilt.

In all this I can but see the doom of slavery. The North does not want, nor will they want, to interfere with the institution; but they will refuse for all time to give it protection unless the South shall return soon to their allegiance; and then, too, this disturbance will give such an impetus to the production of their staple, cotton, in other parts of the world that they can never recover the control of the market again for that commodity. This will reduce the value of the negroes so much that they will never be worth fighting over again.

I have just received a letter from Fred (Frederick Dent, Jr.) He breathes forth the most patriotic sentiments. He is for the old flag as long as there is a Union of two States fighting under its banner, and when they dissolve, he will go it alone. This is not his language, but it is the idea, not so well expressed as he expresses it.

Julia and the children are well, and join me in love to you all. I forgot to mention that Fred has another heir, with some novel name that I have forgotten. Yours truly, U. S. GRANT.

The Tribune says:

"It is a peculiarly important and timely contribution to history. It

was written by a Democrat to a Democrat, at a time when Demo cratic Governors in border States were insultingly replying to the President's proclamation, and refusing troops for what they called "an abolition war," or "the coercion of sister States." The language of the Mugwumps of that day may be profitably contrasted with the private letter of the true patriot, who little dreamed then how large was to be his part in the suppression of the rebellion.

"This letter comes in time to correct many impressions as to the career of the great soldier and ex-President. It has been commonly thought that he entered the service as a soldier rather than as a patriot, with not very clearly defined political opinions, but with a clear idea that it was his duty as a soldier to defend the flag of his country, and that his political convictions were mainly formed by intercourse with others, and by the progress of events in later life. His letter of 1861, on the contrary, proves that he had most clearly-defined convictions in regard to the question of slavery, the right and wrong of the struggle, and the aggressive spirit of the slave power, even before he had offered his services to his country. He was mentally a larger and broader man, prior to the war, than the Nation has been prone to suppose, and it is easy to see how, beginning to “work with the Republican party," only as a matter of duty, he soon found its convictions wholly in accord with his own. Shortly after this letter was written, he began that active life which has resulted so grandly for his country and so gloriously for himself."

Captain Grant at once joined his regiment, then organizing at Mattoon, Illinois. Attending personally to their drill and equipment, he soon raised the regiment to a state of discipline rarely attained in the volunteer service. Soon after, Colonel Grant and his regiment were removed across the Mississippi River into Missouri, and formed part of the guard of the Hannibal and Hudson Railroad line, extending across the State from the Mississippi River to St. Joseph on the Missouri. On the 31st of July Colonel Grant was placed in command of the troops at Mexico, Missouri. His force at this time was attached to General Pope's command. There were various movements made by Colonel Grant's regiment of local importance, such as fortifying and garri

soning Pilot Knob, Ironton and Marble Creek. These movements occupied most of the time until the latter part of August, 1861, at which time he was detached from his regimental command and promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General of volunteers, his commission dating from May 17, 1861, being placed in command of the important post at Cairo, Illinois.

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