| Show I First Nominated for the Presidency A private in the 7th Maine regiment residing re-siding in this city tells how Grant was first nominated for the presidency It I was down in Virginia during the war The Second corps to which the 17th was I attached was marching from Cold Harbor I to Richmond and one morning when I about ten miles out of Richmond a halt i was madefor breakfast near an old church I Some of the soldiers entered the church out of curiosity and the first thing that met their gaze was the inscription in I charcoal upon the dead white wall hack I of the pulpit It read Ulysses S Grant may he be hung drawn and quartet ed I This of course incensed the soldiers who I had learned to idolize their commander j and they set about getting their revenge by burning the church to the ground They j would undoubtedly have carried their i I threat into execution had not one I of the men not so hotblooded aa the i rest approached the wall and discovered I beneath the first another inscription that i i was not distinguishable from the rear I end of the church This second inscrip I tion read as follows Hung with the laurels of victory drawn in the chariot of peace and quartered in the AVhite House at Washington The discovery had an electrical effect and the feeling of deep anger gave place to expressions of rejoicing rejoic-ing while the building rang with the cheers of the bluecoats The name of this church was St James a plain white structure standing close to the highway The incident related above will be recalled I i re-called by a iarge majority of the boys I who went out in the old 17th and are now living Biddeford Me Journal I |
