asked that he be appointed a deputy to serve the process. In a few minutes the door was broken down, and the contumacious creditor was brought to terms. Had the business of dealing with warlike clients been sufficient to occupy his time, Grant would have been a brilliant success as a tanner's clerk.

CHAPTER V.

FIRST EXPERIENCES AS AN OFFICER OF VOLUN

TEERS.

JULY AND AUGUST, 1861.

URING the winter of 1860-61, in the interval between the nomination and the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, Grant spent much of the time in travelling on business in the Northwest. The question of war or of peace was then being discussed at every crossroad and in every country tavern. As an ex-captain of the Regular Army, who had served in Mexico, Grant was supposed to speak with authority on this subject; and in the towns where he stopped his opinion was eagerly sought by the residents who came to his tavern at night to question him. Captain Grant was fortunately well informed on public questions. His leisure had been largely occupied in reading. He was an eager devourer of newspapers, and was a close observer. He believed that war would result from the election of Mr. Lincoln; but he accepted the opinion current at the time, that it would be a

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ninety-days' affair. The storm that had been gathering for twenty-five years, since the agitation of the question of slavery became active in 1835, burst in full fury on the country when South Carolina defied the authority of the United States by firing on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbour, April 12, 1861.

President Lincoln's proclamation calling for 75,ooo militia for three months' service followed three days later. A second call was made May 3, 1861, and Illinois was preparing to furnish her quota. The dead walls of Galena were covered with posters, asking the citizens to meet at the Court-House in the evening; and men of every class, dropping their party distinctions, assembled to unite in demanding that this insult to the national flag should be promptly avenged. The modest ex-captain of infantry was dragged from his obscurity, and compelled to preside over the crowded meeting; though it was only with much embarrassment, and by the help of considerable prompting, that he was able to announce the purpose of the gathering, saying, in an almost inaudible voice:

"I thank you for honouring me with the position of Chairman of this meeting. You know the purpose for which we are assembled. We are needed to help preserve the Union. What is your pleasure?"

Two Democrats-one the Postmaster of the town, the other, John A. Rawlins, a young lawyer of Galena-were the principal speakers. E. B. Washburne, to whose friendship Grant was afterwards so

much indebted, came in during the meeting, and also spoke. It would appear, from statements which he made afterward, that his confidence in Grant as a soldier was in inverse ratio to his respect for him as a presiding officer.

The meeting resulted in a resolution to support the Government, and in a call for volunteers for the two companies which Galena was expected to furnish. They were promptly raised, and the officers. and non-commissioned officers elected. If he had consented, Grant would have received the appointment of Captain. He declined out of consideration for some one else who desired the command; but he promptly put his military experience at the service. of the volunteers, and abandoned the leather business to devote his entire time to organising and drilling them. He directed the ladies of Galena in the patriotic work of preparing uniforms for the troops, and instructed the tailors in cutting the cloth, which the ladies made into military garments. Finally he accompanied the volunteers to Springfield, whither they went to be mustered into the service of the State.

A young merchant of Galena, who afterwards became a distinguished officer of our Army, was making an awkward attempt, one day in the early winter of 1861, to drill his company of militia. They were drawn up in a street of Galena in front of a leatherstore. Hidden behind the soldiers was a little man seated on a packing-box. Some movement of the line brought him into view; and it suddenly occurred to the militia officer that this was Captain

Grant, whose service in the Regular Army should have taught him how to drill. The ex-regular was asked to take charge of the company, and a sword was handed to him. He buckled it on and took his position in front of the men. As he drew his blade from its scabbard, and it flashed in the sunlight, his whole nature seemed transformed, and to his fellowtownsmen was revealed the fact that here was a man who understood the business of war.

When the Governor of Illinois, Richard Yates, was suddenly called upon to officer and equip a large body of troops, he could find no one who understood even the simplest routine of military service. Colonels could not drill their regiments, and captains were ignorant of the simplest company movements. Asking a member of his staff, who had been appointed for the ornamental purposes of peace, whether he knew anything about organising troops, he was answered, "No." In response to a request for information concerning some one better instructed, the officer called attention to Captain Grant, formerly of the Regular Army, and a West Point graduate, whom he had known in Galena. As to his capacity he had no knowledge. He at least understood military drill, army regulations, and the routine of the service.

While stopping in a hotel at Springfield, the Governor, hearing a fellow-guest accosted by that name, introduced himself, and asked the Captain to call at the Executive office the following morning.

When Grant appeared at the Governor's office, he was engaged at a salary of three dollars a day to