Just Days After His Appointment, Ulysses S. Grant Orders His First General’s Uniform

In an unpublished letter, he insists on the “best”, while strictly adhering to “Army regulations”

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An extraordinary memento of the start of Grant’s rise to prominence, a rise that would take him to the highest command and the White House

The Civil War was Grant’s second military career, and the first one was not particularly noteworthy. He graduated low in his class at West Point – 21st...

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Just Days After His Appointment, Ulysses S. Grant Orders His First General’s Uniform

In an unpublished letter, he insists on the “best”, while strictly adhering to “Army regulations”

An extraordinary memento of the start of Grant’s rise to prominence, a rise that would take him to the highest command and the White House

The Civil War was Grant’s second military career, and the first one was not particularly noteworthy. He graduated low in his class at West Point – 21st out of 39 – in 1841. During the Mexican War, he saw some action but spent most of his time as regimental quartermaster of an infantry unit; and bounced around in various assignments in New York, Michigan, California, and Oregon after the war. Finally, amid rumors of heavy drinking and warnings of possible disciplinary action, he resigned his captain’s commission to pursue a civilian business life on July 31, 1854. When the Civil War commenced, Grant unsuccessfully offered his services to the War Department and to General George B. McClellan in Ohio, who turned him down. He served temporarily as an aide and mustering officer for Illinois Governor Richard Yates, who eventually gave him command of the 7th Illinois Regiment, which later became the 21st Illinois Volunteers. On June 17, 1861, Grant was commissioned a colonel in the volunteers. He marched his unit to north-central Missouri to guard the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad and search for rebel activity. He remained a colonel until August 7, 1861. While in the Illinois service he resumed his friendship with Brigadier General John Pope. As Grant wrote, “Pope was stationed at Springfield, as United States mustering officer, all the time I was in the State service. He was a native of Illinois and well acquainted with most of the prominent men in the State. I was a carpet-bagger and knew but few of them…I had been three years at West Point with Pope and had served with him a short time during the Mexican war, under General Taylor. I saw a good deal of him during my service with the State. On one occasion he said to me that I ought to go into the United States service. I told him I intended to do so if there was a war. He spoke of his acquaintance with the public men of the State, and said he could get them to recommend me for a position and that he would do all he could for me…”

In Chapter 19 of his Memoirs, Grant recounted that he was stationed in Missouri when he learned to his surprise that President Lincoln had asked the Illinois congressional delegation for recommendations for brigadier general, and that his name was at the top on their list. Shortly thereafter, due largely to the influence of his advocate, the influential Illinois Congressman Elihu B. Washburne, his appointment was announced. His commission was issued as Brigadier General of Volunteers on August 7, 1861, and he set about naming an aide-de-camp to head his staff. As he wrote, “I also wanted to take one man from my new home, Galena. The canvass in the Presidential campaign the fall before had brought out a young lawyer by the name of John A. Rawlins, who proved himself one of the ablest speakers in the State. He was also a candidate for elector on the Douglas ticket. When Sumter was fired upon and the integrity of the Union threatened, there was no man more ready to serve his country than he. I wrote at once asking him to accept the position…” Rawlins was a loyal friend and confidant to Grant throughout the Civil War, and served as Secretary of War during Grant’s presidency.

Grant later related that, immediately after his promotion, he was ordered to Ironton in southeast Missouri. His command at Ironton lasted ten days – from August 7 to August 17, 1861. Then he was replaced by another general and went to St. Louis to see the Union commander there, General John C. Fremont, to stress that he wanted a more significant command. In that city for just a few days, he was ordered to Jefferson City, Missouri, arriving on August 21. Grant found the situation there in chaos, with Rebel supporters open and vocal. He was in command at Jefferson City from August 17 to August 28, 1861, and had some success in calming the turbulence. Grant recounted that he was then relieved by Colonel Jefferson C. Davis and ordered to return to St. Louis, without delay, to see Fremont. Upon arrival Fremont told him that he had been selected to spearhead the Union movement down the Mississippi Valley, with the goals of splitting the Confederacy in two and securing Union control of the Mississippi waterway.

Thus Grant, who five months earlier had been a store clerk, without fighting a battle or acting in a major command position, had become the designated point man for one of the great strategic movements of the Civil War. His selection for this post ranks with George Marshall’s unexpected choice of Dwight D. Eisenhower to lead Allied forces in Europe in World War II (passing over almost 400 other senior officers to reach Ike). Grant quickly reported to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to begin that work, arriving there on August 30.

Autograph letter signed, St. Louis, Mo., August 19, 1861, to Richardson & Co., ordering his first general’s uniform, and showing a glimpse of his personality by insisting on quality while strictly adhering to Army regulations. “Enclosed I send you draft for $100 and measure for clothing for myself & Aide-de-Camp. To the measurement I will add that my height (Brigadier) is 5 ft. 8 in; that of Aide-de-Camp is 6 ft. 1 in. I want you to send us coats, pants & two buff vests each, sword, sword knots, sashes & caps according to Army regulations. Send to the care of Charles Ford, Agent United States Express Company, St. Louis, MO. to be forwarded to wherever I may be, balance of charges to be collected on delivery. I want you to send the best article, and strictly uniform according to our respective positions, and as soon as possible. U.S. Grant, Brig. Gen. USA.” He adds a P.S.: “I have been recommended to you by Brig. Pope with whom I have served a good many years at West Point & in the Army, and shall be happy to recommend you to the officers under my command if satisfaction is given.” A notation across the front indicates that the letter was answered on August 23, and the recipient’s docket reads “Brig. Gen. U.S. Grant, St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 19, 1861”.

This is an extraordinary memento of the very start of Grant’s rise to prominence, a rise that would take him to the highest command and the White House.

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