Culpepper C. H., Va., March 27, 1864.
. . . Yesterday Mrs. Grant called upon Mrs. Lincoln
accompanied by Colonels Badeau and Duff of General Grant's staff. She was
received with great cordiality. Her stay was short and in this manifestation of
good sense Colonel Badeau says she will without doubt make friends in
Washington. Her inexperience is excusable in her simplicity of manner. In this
she is not dissimilarly situated from her illustrious husband . . . He will be back to-morrow.
By the way as I have seen it alluded to though incorrectly
in some of the papers, that "U. S." are not the real initials of
General Grant's name. In order to put you in possession of the facts, I will
tell you his original Christian name and how it came to be changed to what it
is now. He was christened “Hiram Ulysses,” and by that name he was recognized
and known until his appointment to West Point. He was, however, usually called
Ulysses and had a brother named Simpson, hence when his father made application
to the Honorable Mr. Hamer, representative in Congress, from the district in
which the family then resided, he simply asked Mr. Hamer to have his son Ulysses
appointed to West Point. Mr. Hamer being somewhat acquainted with the family,
got the names of the General and his brother Simpson confused, and gave in the
name of his appointee as Ulysses S. Grant, which the General on going to West
Point sought to get corrected, but for some cause his application for the
correction of the name was not attended to and he graduated and received his
commission as Ulysses S. Grant. By that name and the initials U. S. he has ever
since been known and called. Thus you have what few persons know, the correct
version of the change of the General's Christian name. This is in no manner
whatever confidential, and you are at liberty to speak of it when and where you
think it of interest to your company . .
. I had the General night before last give me the statement in detail, as I
have here written it to you . . .
I am still improving; have a good appetite, and a sound
sleep every afternoon. I don't know what it is makes me sleepy, but sleepy I
am. Every afternoon, immediately after dinner I get so sleepy I can hardly keep
awake if I would, and as the doctor says it is a good sign in my case, and that
sleep will do me good, I yield most cheerfully to the soothing invitation. I
begin to feel my real self, more than ever since you became acquainted with me.
My hopes and purposes of life are higher and brighter than ever before, and why
should they not be? . . .
SOURCE: James H. Wilson, The Life of John A. Rawlins,
p. 406-7
No comments:
Post a Comment