Grant The Forgotten Hero

by Charles Henry Vessey

  GRANT

  The Forgotten Hero

  Charles Henry Vessey

  Copyright © 1994 by Charles Henry Vessey

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  ISBN 0-653-56081

  Printed in the United States of America.

  Frontispiece: Photograph by Matthew Brady, Courtesy of the National Archives

  Maps by Hal Jespersen, www.posix.com/CW.

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to Jesus Christ in whom all things are possible.

  PREFACE

  This book was written to restore to all Americans the memory of one of her greatest heroes. Castigated by some; immortalized by few; and forgotten by most.

  Table of Contents

  DEDICATION

  PREFACE

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  INTRODUCTION

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  NOTES

  BIBLIOGRAPHY

  INTRODUCTION

  The general rode along nursing the worst headache of his life. The country in these parts had been relatively unscathed and he hoped to keep it that way. He was travelling the Farmville Road intent on reaching Sheridan's front and hoping to hear from Lee. About eight miles east of Appomattox Court House, Lieutenant Charles Pease of Meade's staff overtook him with the much-awaited response from Lee. Grant read the dispatch and his headache immediately vanished. He dismounted and quickly penned his response.

  Grant promptly set off at a trot for Appomattox Court House and the most important interview of his life.

  As he and his staff made for this rendezvous with destiny, Grant’s mind wandered back; back to a time before the war; before fame; before destiny took control.

  CHAPTER ONE

  "I had not the moral courage to halt"

  April 11, 1861 - November 7, 1861

  Outbreak of the War

  On April 11, 1861, the secessionists fired upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. On April 15, Fort Sumter fell and towns throughout the North were stunned. President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers for ninety days.

  Town meetings were held across the country and the little town of Galena, Illinois was no exception. The country united, there were no distinctions, "all were union men."1 At the Galena court house on the evening of April 16, 1861, Ulysses S. Grant witnessed many speeches expressing support for the country and the union, but none more passionate than one by John A. Rawlins, a lawyer acquaintance of his. This speech made Grant’s blood boil and cemented for Rawlins a permanent place in Grant's heart. Grant was not ostentatious and was no public speaker, but Rawlins touched a patriotic chord few men ever could. He expressed everything Grant was thinking but could not put into words. On his way home after the meeting, Grant simply told his brother, Orvil, "I think I ought to go into the service."2

  Galena knew little about Ulysses S. Grant except that he was new in town and worked in his father's store. The one fact they did know was that he had been in the regular army. Regular soldiers were a scarce commodity, so on the evening of Thursday, April 18, Congressman Washburne, who hailed from Galena, suggested that Captain Grant be made chairman of the meeting for raising recruits.

  Grant, embarrassed by the attention, nevertheless presided during the many patriotic speeches and the following recruitment. Galena would furnish one company. Grant declined the company command but offered his help if the need should arise.

  Grant was not ready to rejoin the army. He needed to make arrangements with his father for the continued operation of the store, but more than that, Grant felt a higher obligation. He had benefited from a government furnished education and felt the need, as always, to repay the people.

  From this day forward, as John Rawlins later recalled, "He dropped a stoop shouldered way of walking, and set his hat forward on his forehead in a careless fashion."3

  With a renewed sense of purpose for his life, Grant sought a higher rank where his knowledge of organization could be put to use. When Grant set out to do something, it usually got done. (A sad fact the Confederacy was later to discover.) The state governors would require help transforming their recruits into soldiers, but here Grant found himself wanting. He had never politicked for a job in the Army and could not bring himself to do so now. No, if advancement was to occur it would have to offer itself.

  As he walked home from the meeting with Congressman Washburne, Grant stated that he knew the Governor of Ohio and would offer his services to him. Washburne asked him why he did not ask Illinois Governor Yates for a commission. Grant replied that he did not know Yates, but did know Governor Dennison of Ohio from when he was a lad. Washburne responded that Grant should serve Illinois and that he would ask Yates to commission Grant.

  On Friday, April 26, 1861, Grant found himself in Springfield, Illinois at the request of the governor. As foreseen by Grant, the governor was in dire need of someone to organize the hordes of soldiers converging on the capital. Yates heeded the advice of people suggesting Grant was able and eager to lend his services. The scene Grant found in Springfield was perfectly reprehensible. He wrote to his father that he was "sickened at the political wire-pulling for all these commissions, and would not engage in it."4 As he recalled later in life, Grant felt that he never solicited a job from anyone; everything had been bestowed upon him by a grateful country. His eagerness to repay the country for their kindness was never far from his mind.

  True to his word, Congressman Washburne introduced Grant to Governor Yates on April 28, 1861. To their great chagrin, Governor Yates had no positions available to offer Grant at that time, but the legislature was about to pass legislation authorizing the formation of ten additional regiments. Yates directed Grant to the Adjutant General (Colonel Mather), who might have a position for him. Always trying to be helpful, Grant decided to stay a few days longer. Grant would not stoop to the political shenanigans required to obtain high rank, but he hoped to make himself useful in the organization of the incoming troops.

  As it turned out, Grant busied himself performing clerical work. On Thursday, May 2, Grant wrote his father stating: "I should have offered myself for the Colonelcy of one of the Regiments, but I find all those places are wanted by politicians who are up to log-rolling, and I do not care to be under such persons."5 He felt for sure he could be of no further assistance and would be back in Galena before long.

  But the waiting was about to pay off. John Pope, an old army acquaintance of Grant's, left in a huff after not being elected Brigadier General on May 4th. That day, the governor named Grant to succeed Pope as commander of Camp Yates. On May 8th, Grant was appointed Mustering Officer to manage the newly arrived regiments. While still a civilian, he was now performing a military function and was called "Colonel." "He heard men say he should have one, but he would not budge unless the thing came as a call wholly unsolicited and uncontrived."6

  With Lincoln's call for three year men, Grant was ordered to take charge of mustering in regiments from every part of the state. By May 22nd, Grant's work was completed and no commission had been offered. Taking leave from Springfield, he went home to Galena. From there Grant tried another tack. He decided to write the Adjutant-General of the Army.

  Galena, Illinois,

  May 24, 1861

  Col. L. Thomas

&n
bsp; Adjt. Gen. U.S.A.

  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 everyone who has been educated at the Government expense to offer their 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 one to me.

  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, Illinois, will reach me.

  I am very respectfully,

  Your obt. svt.

  U. S. GRANT 7

  Grant returned to Springfield to wait for a response. Finding nothing to do, he decided to seek a position on General McClellan's staff in Cincinnati. He had been reading about McClellan's success in the papers. Combining two trips into one, he decided to visit his parents in Covington, Kentucky, which coincidentally was directly across the river from Cincinnati. Certainly McClellan would help him. He had known Grant in Mexico and at Fort Vancouver on the west coast.

  So the first week of June, 1861, Grant received leave from Governor Yates to visit his parents. Arriving in Covington, he visited McClellan's headquarters twice, but to no avail. McClellan was said to be out both times and never acknowledged Grant's call. After a week, Grant departed for Springfield depressed, but told his father he planned to stop in Indiana to visit another old army acquaintance, Joe Reynolds. Perhaps Reynolds would have something available there.

  During Grant's absence from Springfield, a friend from Galena, W. T. Burke had a conversation with the governor concerning Grant. This conversation spoke volumes about Grant's character. According to Lloyd Lewis, in his book Captain Sam Grant, the conversation went like this. Governor Yates asked Burke, “What kind of a man is this Grant? He has been educated at West Point and says he wants to go into the army; several regiments have offered to elect him colonel, but he says No, and declines to be a candidate. What does he want?" "You see Governor," said Burke, "Grant has only served in the regular Army, where they have no elections, but officers are promoted according to seniority. Whatever place you want him for, just appoint him without consulting him at all beforehand, and you will find he will accept whatever he is appointed to."8 So, Yates telegraphed Grant in Covington, Kentucky, offering him command of the Seventh District Regiment, the 21st Illinois. Unfortunately, Grant had already gone on to Indiana. It was not until his return to Springfield that he was informed about the offer from Governor Yates. On June 15, 1861, Grant accepted the governor's offer. Two weeks later, another offer arrived for the colonelcy of an Ohio regiment from Governor Dennison, but Grant would not renege on his commitment. He stayed with his new Illinois regiment.

  On June 16th, Grant took command in his own characteristic style. As Lieutenant J. W. Wham later remembered, "Grant walked into the adjutant's tent, saying he guessed he'd take command."9 This regiment had a reputation as being exceptionally unruly, but within days of Grant's "regular army punishment" discipline was restored. 10

  While Grant was visiting Kentucky and Ohio, President Lincoln had issued his second call for 300,000 troops for three years service or the duration of the war. About the time he had instilled discipline into his regiment, it was time for the men to decide if they were going to stay or go back home.

  Knowing Grant worried how many in his regiment would elect to stay; friends of his introduced him to two Illinois Congressmen, both Democrats, who might inspire the men. These two gentlemen were John McClernand and John Logan. Grant gave his consent and both men gave stirring patriotic addresses to his regiment on June 28th. The speeches successfully inspired 603 men to volunteer, almost 100%. These speeches breathed fire into Grant as John Rawlins had back in Galena at the outbreak of the war, but when Logan finished and introduced Grant to the men, all Grant could muster was "Men go to your quarters."11

  On July 3, 1861, the 21st Illinois was ordered to Quincy, Illinois in preparation for a move into Missouri. The war was about to begin for Ulysses S. Grant.

  Grant marched his regiment to Quincy in preparation for movements to follow. Near Naples, Illinois he received a change of orders ordering his unit to Ironton, Missouri. While awaiting transportation, news arrived of another Illinois regiment being surrounded by rebels near Palmyra, Missouri. With this change of events, the 21st was ordered to proceed as quickly as possible to their relief. They boarded rail cars and were in Quincy within a few hours.

  Too Scared to Stop

  Upon reaching Quincy, Grant began to sensing trepidation. In his memoirs, he spoke of these feelings. "My sensations as we approached what I supposed might be a field of battle were anything but agreeable. I had been in all the engagements in Mexico that it was possible for one person to be in; but not in command."12 Hardly the uttering of a gory killer as some authors have described him. Grant's fears were allayed as the besieged regiment came traipsing into town.

  On July 11th, he and his men crossed the Mississippi River into Missouri and proceeded to Palmyra. There they remained until relieved by the 19th Illinois. From Palmyra, Grant moved to Salt River where he was primarily occupied guarding railroads and bridges. While at Salt River, he was ordered to move against the Confederate guerilla, Tom Harris. Harris was encamped at the town of Florida, Missouri some 25 miles from Salt River. He spent several days preparing the regiment to move with increasing confidence, but once the movement commenced he again began to feel uneasy. As the regiment moved through the countryside, they found every house vacated. Harris was supposedly camped in a valley near a creek. Grant described the incident best. "As we approached the brow of the hill from which it was expected we could see Harris' camp, and possibly find his men ready formed to meet us, my heart kept getting higher and higher until it felt to me as though it was in my throat. I would have given anything then to have been back in Illinois, but I had not the moral courage to halt and consider what to do; I kept right on. When we reached a point from which the valley below was in full view I halted. The place where Harris had been encamped a few days before was still there and the marks of a recent encampment were plainly visible, but the troops were gone. My heart resumed its place. It occurred to me at once that Harris had been as much afraid of me as I had been of him. This was a view of the question I had never taken before; but it was one I never forgot afterwards."13

  Many critics have opined that Grant was a "killer", a "butcher", one who hammered his opponent, a general who only won because of the North's legions of men, or was completely devoid of original thought. What the above passage portrays is a man possessing ordinary human frailties. Instead of taking Grant for his true self, they built up this image of someone altogether impervious to human feelings. Grant's character has been demonstrated many times over by the so called "loyalists" to be exactly the way he was. This passage reflects a man who is shy, modest, humble and scared. If he unconcerned about his men, why would he have shown any reluctance to go into battle. After all, he had seen action in all but one of the Mexican War's battles. One other line in that passage rings true to his character. "I kept right on."14 Even though this stolid warrior was scared to death, he demonstrated a firm sense of inner strength. Ulysses was simple, direct, confident, and was guided by deeply held beliefs of what was right and wrong. He knew his cause was just.

  The 21st Illinois spent the remainder of July near Mexico, Missouri where General John Pope, in command of the district, had his headquarters. While, Grant was located in Mexico he was given command of a sub-district commanding three regiments of infantry and a section of artillery. It was here on August 5th, that Grant was appointed Brigadier-General of Volunteers. A letter to his father dated August 3rd
offered another insight into Grant's character. In this letter, Grant attempted a wry swipe of humor at his father's expense. Old Jesse Grant had previously come to the conclusion that Grant would never amount to anything. Grant wrote: "I see from the papers that my name has been sent in for Brigadier Gen.! This is certainly very complimentary to me particularly as I have never asked a friend to intercede in my behalf.....Hearing that I was likely to be promoted the officers, with great unanimity, have requested to be attached to my command. This I dont want you to read to others for I very much dislike speaking of myself."15 Once again historians have painted Grant as self-serving when he wrote his memoirs, conveniently forgetting details, but using that train of thought, little excuse can be found for this example of his reticence. Indeed, one could hardly foretell that he would be writing his memoirs a quarter of a century later.

  The 9th of August, the Senate confirmed his promotion with a retroactive date of May 17, 1861. Elihu B. Washburne, the Illinois Congressman from Galena, was the person who recommended Grant to the President, but it cannot be said that Grant was being self-serving by seeking promotion through political wire pulling for Grant hardly knew the man. Washburne was the man Grant had met earlier in the year after the fall of Fort Sumter. He was the same man who recommended Grant to Governor Yates for a colonelcy. Washburne surely felt that he was helping a constituent as any congressman would do finding himself in the same situation. There is no way Washburne could have foreseen he was actually aiding in the promotion of one of America's greatest heroes.