DEAR SIR:

1.

ULYSSES S. GRANT.

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 1885.

In the first draft of his book, Gen. Grant had fixed upon quite a large number of anecdotes which were afterward omitted. Among the number I find the following, for which, as will be seen, he was indebted to President Lincoln.

ALLEN THORNDIKE RICE, ESQ.

Respectfully,

F. D. GRANT.

I.

UST after receiving my commission as lieu

JUST

tenant-general, the President called me aside to speak to me privately. After a brief reference to the military situation, he said he thought he could illustrate what he wanted to say by a story, which he related as follows: "At one time there was a great war among the animals, and one side had great difficulty in getting a commander who had sufficient

tongs he lifted it from the bed of coals, and thrusting it into a tub of water near by, exclaimed with an oath, 'Well, if I can't make anything else of you, I will make a fizzle, anyhow.'

I replied that I was afraid that was about what we had done with the Dutch Gap Canal.

ULYSSES S. GRANT.