employment he could give him unless it was some clerical work in the office, such as arranging and copying orders, ruling blanks for reports, etc. The Captain replied that for the present he was willing to make himself useful in any way, and began his work at once. The next day he rented a furnished room, and asked me to occupy it with him. I consented, and we roomed together, in the mean time taking our meals at the Chinnery Hotel, on the opposite side of the street, until he left Springfield, some ten days later. Captain Grant said little about the work he was doing at the State House, but I noticed he was not in the best of spirits. The fourth day after our arrival at Springfield, I had occasion to call upon the Adjutant-General, and asked for Captain Grant. I was shown to a small, poorly lighted and scantily furnished room, used as a sort of ante-room to that of the Adjutant-General, where I saw the Captain sitting and writing at a small table. Upon my asking him how he was getting along, he looked up with an expression of disgust, and said, "I am going back to the store tonight. I am of no use here. You have boys in your company who can do this work." I begged him not to be hasty, and said that something better would undoubtedly turn up, etc. We discussed the matter further in the evening; and he decided to remain a few days longer.

On the organization of the Twelfth Regiment, the last of the six regiments allotted to the State under the seventy-five-thousand call, to which my company had been assigned, I suggested to the company officers that Captain Grant was a suitable man for the colonelcy of the regiment; and the suggestion was favorably received. A prominent and influential politician of the State, who had aspirations for the place, strenuously opposed Grant's election, on the ground that an officer who had been compelled to leave the army on account of his habits was not a safe man to be intrusted with

the command of a regiment. I found it impossible to overcome the objection, and Grant's name was dropped. When the election took place, Captain John McArthur, afterward brevet major-general of volunteers,

was

elected over his only competitor, Captain J. D. Webster, subsequently brigadier-general and chief of artillery on General Grant's staff. I was chosen lieutenant-colonel without opposition.

On the 3d of May, Captain John Pope of the regular army, who had mustered into the State service for three months the six regiments just organized, and who at the same time had commanded Camp Yates, became a candidate for the position of brigadier-general to command the six Illinois regiments, with Colonel Ben. M. Prentiss of the Tenth Illinois as his competitor, the field and company officers voting for the candidates. Colonel Prentiss was elected, when Captain Pope at once took his departure. The next day Captain Grant was ordered by the Governor to take command of Camp Yates. The camp having suffered from neglect for some days, the new commandant at once set himself to work to restore order and discipline, which he accomplished in an incredibly short time. On the 8th he was appointed by the Governor mustering officer on his staff, to muster into the State service for thirty days the ten regiments being raised under an act of the Legislature, then in extra session, to be held in readiness until called for by the General Government. He immediately went to Mattoon to assist in organizing the Seventh Congressional District Regiment, and then proceeded to Belleville. Finding but few companies of the regiment to be raised in that Congressional District on the ground, he went to St. Louis to consult with his old army friend, Captain Lyon, commanding the St. Louis Arsenal, as to the possibility of getting some appointment in the volunteer service of Missouri. He arrived at St. Louis the morning of the 10th of May, and on reaching the Arsenal found all the

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troops, regulars and volunteers, under arms and about to move on Camp Jackson, a Rebel camp of instruction. in the vicinity of St. Louis. The camp was captured and broken up, and all its officers and men were made prisoners. Captain Grant was a witness of the exciting events of that day. After consulting with Captain Lyon, with Colonel Frank Blair, who commanded a regiment of volunteers, and with some of the prominent and influential Union citizens whom he had known when a resident of that city, it was evident to him that nothing could be obtained in Missouri, and he started back to Springfield. On his way he stopped at Caseyville, — a village six miles east of St. Louis on the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, -- to visit his Galena friends in the Twelfth Regiment, which had been stationed there, and was held in readiness to move to St. Louis in case of necessity. Colonel McArthur, having been disabled by a fall that dislocated his right arm, was at his home in Chicago, and I was in command of the regiment. Captain Grant came to my headquarters the morning of the 11th, and was my guest during his stay. He was depressed in spirits, and seemed to feel keenly his lack of success in obtaining some suitable appointment in the volunteer service. During his visit he more than once alluded to the singular fact that an educated military man who had seen service could not get a position in the volunteer army, when civilians without military education or experience could easily obtain them. He conversed freely about raw volunteer troops, and the best method of managing them to insure speedy efficiency. The writer feels that if he succeeded in bringing his regiment to a high standard of drill, discipline, and efficiency, during the two and a half years he commanded it, his success was due largely to the sensible hints and valuable suggestions of his friend and guest during these two memorable days. When alluding to the care and labor required, and the responsibility involved in the successful management of

a regiment of volunteers, Grant said, "I don't believe I am conceited, but I think I could command a regiment of volunteers well; at least, I would like to try it." Little did I then know, and evidently little did he himself know, the latent power that lay in that great brain, and what his almost unerring judgment and indomitable will could achieve, as was soon afterward demonstrated. /

Later in the war, not a few men boasted that even at that early time they recognized the wonderful military genius of the man. This is questionable; but if there was a man in the country who more than any other at that time came near discerning and appreciating the transcendent ability of this then almost unknown soldier, that man was his old friend and townsman, the Hon. E. B. Washburne.

When alluding at this time to his army friend, Captain George B. McClellan, who a short time before had been placed in charge of the organization of the volunteer troops of the State of Ohio, Grant said, "Of the many officers of the regular army who are coming up and receiving appointments in the volunteer service, I look upon Captain George B. McClellan as one of the brightest, and I think he is sure to make his mark in this war." Whatever differences of opinion may have existed, or may now exist, as to the fighting qualities of this distinguished officer, all agree that as an organizer, tactician, and strategist, he had few if any equals; that he was a man of extraordinary and brilliant parts; and that when in command of the Army of the Potomac he had the respect, confidence, and love of his officers and men to a remarkable degree.

After leaving Caseyville, Captain Grant returned to Springfield, and on the 15th went to Mattoon to muster into the State service the regiment raised in the Seventh Congressional District. On the 16th he proceeded to Anna, and mustered into the State service for thirty days another regiment, after which he returned to Springfield.

Ascertaining that there was no further work for him as mustering officer, he left for his home at Galena. He was restless, and felt humiliated that he should be compelled to remain inactive when the country so greatly needed the services of educated and experienced military men. Unable longer to endure this inaction, he left for Ohio, to ascertain what he could do in his native State. He stopped at Cincinnati to see his friend General McClellan, who had recently been appointed major-general of volunteers, from whom he thought he might possibly receive a staff appointment, but found he had left for Washington, to be absent some time. He then went to Covington, Ky., to visit his mother at the Grant homestead. It was evident that nothing could be obtained in Ohio, and he reluctantly returned to Galena. As a last resort, he wrote the following letter to the AdjutantGeneral of the United States Army, offering his services. to the General Government.

Colonel LORENZO THOMAS,

GALENA, ILL., May 24, 1861.

Adjutant-General, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.

SIR, Having served for fifteen years in the regular army, including four years at West Point, and feeling it the duty of every man who has been educated at the government expense to offer his services for the support of that Government, I have the honor very respectfully to tender my services until the close of the war in such capacity as may be offered. I would say in view of my present age and length of service, I feel myself competent to command a regiment, if the President in his judgment should see fit to intrust me with one.

Since the first call of the President I have been serving on the staff of the Governor of this State, rendering such aid as I could in the organization of our State militia, and am still engaged in that capacity. A letter addressed to me at Springfield will reach me. I am very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

U. S. GRANT.