[Grant has just finished mustering into State service the ten
additional regiments authorized by the Legislature. He then returned
to Galena whence he wrote to Washington, May 24, 1861, to the
adjutant-general, tendering "his services until the close of the war
in such capacity as may be offered." He adds, "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." He never received an answer to this letter; long
after, it was found not properly filed. Grant's own comment is, that
it was probably barely read by the adjutant-general and certainly
could not have been submitted to higher authority.
The day he wrote this letter he returned to Springfield to find that
Governor Yates had already appointed him colonel of one of the
regiments that he himself had recently mustered into the State
service, the 22d Illinois infantry.]
Galena,
May 30th, 1861.