St. Louis County, Missouri, for the office of engineer. The paper was signed by General Joseph J. Reynolds and several other prominent citizens, who have since figured in the war, both North and South. The Commissioners failed to see material in the taciturn ex-captain for civil engineer of the county, or were pledged to some political favorite, and rejected the application. Providentially, a better opening for business now presented itself to his persevering spirit.

During 1859, Grant entered into partnership with his father, in the leather trade, and opened business in the city of Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois. This city is located on the Fevre River, about six miles above the point where it falls into the Mississippi, of which it is properly an arm. The city is built upon a bluff, with the streets rising one above the other, and communicating by means of flights of steps. Large portions of the States of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota are tributary to this town, and consequently it is a place of considerable trade.

The house of Grant & Son soon became a very prosperous concern, and, at the time of the outbreak of the rebellion, presented one of the best business prospects of any house in Galena. The younger Grant devoted himself to his business, and, after a short time, the recommendation of a piece of leather by the firm of Grant & Son was a sure guarantee of its good quality.

It seemed that the retired Captain had at last settled down to a profitable and permanent business, promising him the rich reward of commercial industry and integrity.

In the autumn of 1860, a lawyer of the same State, equally upright and patriotic, was called to the highest position of honor and responsibility in the nation's gift.

The election of Abraham Lincoln fired the long cherished hate of the South to the working North, and ripened into action the sleepless purpose of politicians, to defend and extend American slavery at the cost of the Union.

Then came the thunder of hostile cannon pointed at the Star of the West, bearing supplies for the garrison of Fort Sumter, quickly followed by the storm of shot and shell upon the fortress itself.

GRANT OFFERS HIS SERVICES TO THE STATE.

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This declaration of war by the seceding States, at whose head was fiery South Carolina, went over the land with mournful and awakening effect. The pleasant dream of security, amid the aggressions and threats of the slaveholders, vanished suddenly and forever.

The call of the President for seventy-five thousand men, to meet the uprising rebellion, reached Galena. Captain Grant entered his store one morning, to read the telegram of Sumter's fall. Walking round the counter on which lay his coat, he drew it on, remarking: "Uncle Sam educated me for the army, and, although I have served faithfully through one war, I feel that I am still a little in debt for my education, and I am ready and willing to discharge the obligation." He then said: "I am

for the war, to put down this wicked rebellion."

With this spirit of self-sacrifice and high resolve, the merchant abandoned his store, and went into the street, consulted with some of his fellow-citizens, and soon raised a company of volunteers. With these he marched to Springfield, and tendered their services to Governor Yates. The patriotic Executive of Illinois has since given a very interesting account of the Captain's entrance upon the arena of national conflict, in his message to the Legislature of 1863 :

"In April, 1861, he tendered his personal services to me, saying, that he had been the recipient of a military education at West Point, and that now, when the country was involved in a war for its preservation and safety, he thought it his duty to offer his services in defense of the Union, and that he would esteem it a privilege to be assigned to any position where he could be useful.' The plain, straightforward demeanor of the man, and the modesty and earnestness which characterized his offer of assistance, at once awakened a lively interest in him, and impressed me with a desire to secure his counsel for the benefit of volunteer organizations then forming for Government service. At first I assigned him a desk in the Executive office; and his familiarity with military organization and regulations made him an invaluable assistant in my own and the office of the Adjutant-General. Soon his

admirable qualities as a military commander became apparent, and I assigned him to command of the camps of organization at Camp Yates,' Springfield, 'Camp Grant,' Mattoon, and Camp Douglas,' at Anna, Union County, at which the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twenty-first Regiments of Illinois volunteers, raised under the call of the President of the 15th of April, and under the 'Ten Regiment Bill,' of the extraordinary session of the Legislature convened April 23, 1861, were rendezvoused. His employment had special reference to the organization and muster of these forces-the first six into the United States, and the last three into the State, service. This was accomplished about the 10th of May, 1861, at which time he left the State for a brief period, on a visit to his father, at Covington, Kentucky.

I

"The Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois volunteers, raised in Macon, Cumberland, Piatt, Douglas, Moultrie, Edgar, Clay, Clark, Crawford, and Jasper Counties, for thirty days' State service, organized at the camp at Mattoon, preparatory to three years' service for the Government, had become very much demoralized under the thirty days' experiment, and doubts arose in relation to their acceptance for a longer period. I was much perplexed to find an efficient and experienced officer to take command of the regiment, and take it into the three years' service. ordered the regiment to Camp Yates, and after consulting Hon. Jesse K. Dubois, who had many friends in the regiment, and Colonel John S. Loomis, Assistant AdjutantGeneral, who was at the time in charge of the AdjutantGeneral's office and on terms of personal intimacy with Grant, I decided to offer the command to him, and accordingly telegraphed Captain Grant, at Covington, Kentucky, tendering him the colonelcy. He immediately reported, accepting the commission, taking rank as colonel of that regiment from the 15th of June, 1861. Thirty days previous to that time, the regiment numbered over one thousand men; but in consequence of laxity in discipline of the first commanding officer, and other discouraging obstacles connected with the acceptance of troops at that time, but

COLONEL GRANT AND HIS REGIMENT.

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six hundred and three men were found willing to enter the three years' service. In less than ten days Colonel Grant filled the regiment to the maximum standard, and brought it to a state of discipline seldom attained in the Volunteer service in so short a time. His was the only regiment that left the camp of organization on foot. He marched from Springfield to the Illinois River; but, in an emergency requiring troops to operate against Missouri rebels, the regiment was transported by rail to Quincy, and Colonel Grant was assigned to command for the protection of the Quincy and Palmyra, and Hannibal and St. Josephs Railroads. He soon distinguished himself as a regimental commander in the field, and his claims for increased rank were recognized by his friends in Springfield, and his promotion insisted upon, before his merits and services were fairly understood at Washington. His promotion was made upon the ground of his military education, fifteen years' services as a lieutenant and captain in the regular army (during which time he was distinguished in the Mexican war), his great success in organizing and disciplining his regiment, and for his energetic and vigorous prosecution of the campaign in North Missouri, and the earnestness with which he entered into the great work of waging war against the traitorous enemies of his country.”

The spirit of this loyal governor, who had the honor of introducing the retiring Grant to his field of national service and renown, is finely shown in an extract from a letter written by him to a citizen of Oskaloosa, whose Union flag a copperhead had cut down, and who inquired what he should do with the insult:

"You say that the pole which floated the Stars and Stripes on the Fourth of July was cut down by secessionists, and that, at a pic-nic which you are to have, it is threatened that the flag shall be taken down; and you ask me whether you would be justified in defending the flag with fire-arms. I am astonished at this question, as much as if you were to ask me whether you would have a right to defend your property against robbers, or your life against murderers! You ask me what you shall do? I reply, Do not raise the American flag

merely to provoke your secession neighbors; do not be on the aggressive; but whenever you raise it on your own soil, or on the public property of the State or county, or at any public celebration, from honest love to the flag and patriotic devotion to the country which it symbolizes, and any traitor dares to lay his unhallowed hand upon it to tear it down, shoot him as you would a dog, and I will pardon you for the offense."

Meanwhile, the President had sent to Governor Yates the order for two new names to be placed on the roll of brigadier-generals. The adjutant, with characteristic modesty, declined the offer of the Executive to nominate him, because he was comparatively unknown, and the honor should be given to another, who had already won distinction.

Several regiments were soon lying along the railway connecting the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, within the District of North Missouri and the Department of General Pope. But there was no general to command these troops, and it became necessary to select a man for the command. Although the youngest colonel on the ground, Grant was chosen, and became acting brigadiergeneral of the forces, at a place called Mexico, on the North Missouri Railroad, July 31st, 1861.

Eight days later, he was commissioned to fill the command which the unanimous vote of his associates in arms had conferred upon him, dating back to May 17th of the same year. It is interesting to glance at the list of generals appointed when he was, and then write opposite their names their history in 1864.

Samuel P. Heintzelman. Not in active field service.

William B. Franklin....Commanding Nineteenth Army Corps.

William T. Sherman....Commanding a Department under General Grant. Charles P. Stone.... . Chief of Staff to General Banks.

Don Carlos Buell.......Not in active field service.

Thomas W. Sherman... Temporarily invalided.

James Oakes....

Not in service.

John Pope....

.Commanding Department of the Northwest.