Did you know between 400 and 750 women served incognito as soldiers during the Civil War? Find out why and how they passed as men in combat, during the Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society’s presentation, on Sunday, February 8, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. CGH Medical Center’s Ryberg Auditorium, 100 E. LeFevre Road, Sterling, IL, is the venue. Betty Carlson Kay will be featured as an enlistee.
On Sunday afternoon, January 18, Morrison, IL, hosted a third United States President, when Ulysses S. Grant spoke to a large gathering at the Annual Meeting of Morrison Historical Society. They spilled out of Heritage Hall at Morrison United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway, eager to hear about the shared saga of President Grant and his wife, Julia Dent Grant.
Their interpreters, Scott and Peggy Whitney, Winnebago, IL, took the audience on parallel journeys from Grant’s boyhood, to their marriage, through Civil War battles, into the White House, and beyond.
Grant was born in Ohio, the oldest son of a tanner. “I loved any activity involving horses.” At age eight he told his father he wanted to buy a colt; the price was $25. Father instructed Ulysses how to negotiate the deal, by first offering $20, then $22.50, and–if necessary–$25, and sent the lad to make his case. He did, by explaining the complete strategy to the farmer, and returned with the $25 colt. “Father said I had no business sense at all!”
At 17, Ulysses was told by his father that he had an appointment to West Point Military Academy in West Point, NY. “I thought I would teach math at college, but the Mexican War changed my plans.” It changed his life. Assigned to the infantry in St. Louis, MO, Grant visited a friend’s family in the South and met Julia Dent. Both enjoyed painting and riding horses Psyche and Fashion. They became engaged. Then Grant left and fought four years under Generals Zachary Taylor (Old Rough and Ready) and Winfield Scott (Old Fuss and Feathers.) The couple married in 1848, within a month after he returned from battle.
The Whitneys explained their trials during and after the Civil War. The Grants had been invited to join President and Mrs. Lincoln for an evening at Ford’s Theater in April 1865, but they chose to visit their children instead.
Mrs. Grant “loved living in the Executive Mansion.” She had it cleaned, inside and out, and painted. New floors, windows, and chandeliers were installed. She hired an Italian chef and opened the parlor to public tea on Tuesday afternoons. The grounds had been used as a park, but Julia Grant asked that a fence be erected around the yard. Daughter Nelly was the first President’s child to be married in the East Room.
President Grant set up the Reservation System, because he feared Native Americans would be annihilated. “Better to become farmers and ranchers, than be exterminated,” he said.
In August 1865, the Grants returned to Galena, IL, and were gifted with a furnished home from the townspeople. It remains open to visitors.
After the program the Whitneys posed at Morrison’s Heritage Museum, 202 E. Lincolnway, Morrison.
