[To his sister Mary. Grant organized and drilled the Galena company,
then went with it to Springfield, the State capital, and mustered it
into the State service. Governor Yates then requested him to remain
and assist in the adjutant-general's office, because he realized the
value of Grant's former military experience. Shortly after this the
Legislature authorized the State to accept the services of ten
additional regiments. Governor Yates requested Grant to muster these
new troops into the service.
The Aunt Rachel mentioned was a sister of Jesse R. Grant, who lived in
Virginia. She had a large plantation and owned many slaves, and was
naturally an ardent secessionist. A heated partisan correspondence was
carried on during this time between the aunt and the niece Clara,
Grant's oldest sister. In the letter referred to, the aunt writes, "If
you are with the accursed Lincolnites, the ties of consanguinity shall
be forever severed."]
Springfield,
April 29th, 1861.