major-general and was then in the vicinity of Covington, Kentucky,
where Grant had gone to visit his parents. But McClellan either
would not or could not see him. Indeed, he had about reached the
conclusion that his quest was hopeless, when he happened to meet a
friend who offered to tell the Governor of Ohio that he wished to
reenter the army, with the result that before long he was tendered
the colonelcy of an Ohio regiment. In the meantime, however, he
had unexpectedly received a telegram from the Governor of Illinois,
appointing him to the command of the 21st Illinois regiment, and
this he had instantly accepted. Had he known the exact circumstances
under which this post was offered him, perhaps he might not have
acted so promptly, but he knew enough to make him aware that the
appointment was not altogether complimentary and it is quite likely
that he would have accepted it in any event.

The facts were, however, that the Colonel of the 21st Regiment had
proved to be an ignorant and bombastic adventurer, who had appeared
before his troops clothed in a ridiculous costume and armed like
a pirate king, and there was such dissatisfaction among both the
officers and men that a new commander was urgently demanded. Of
this Grant already knew something, but he was not advised that
the regiment had become so utterly demoralized by its incompetent
leader that it was nothing less than a dangerous and unruly mob,
of which the Governor could not induce any self-respecting officer
to take charge. He had, indeed, offered the command to at least
half a dozen other men before he tendered it to Grant, and he must
have been intensely relieved to receive his prompt acceptance.

The new Colonel did not wait to procure a new uniform before reporting
for duty, but, hastening to the Fair Grounds close to Springfield