Description:

Grant Ulysses 1822 - 1885 Ulysses Grant apologizes for his inability to attend a meeting of the "Albany Grant Club,"citing a visit with his former comrade-in-arms Philip Henry Sheridan.

Autograph Letter Signed, "U.S. Grant," 2 pages, 5" x 8", New York, January 30, 1882 to "A[ndrew]. S[loan] Draper, Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements for the Albany Grant Club. Typical folds, else fine condition.

"I regret very much that I cannot be with your club at its annual supper to-morrow evening. But, as stated in my former letter äóî dictatedäóî I have company visiting me that I cannot induce to accompany me nor am I willing to leave. The company is a gentleman and soldier who I know you would like to honor äóî Gen. Sheridan äóî and who would like to partake with me your hospitalities, but who can not on this occasion as he must leave the city on Thursday morning, and has other engagements for the intervening time. Wishing you all a good time at your annual meeting, and that you may all live to enjoy many more of them."

Sheridan, then a Lieutenant-General, had been the guest of Grant for several days while visiting New York in January 1882. He departed to New York for Washington later in the week (New York Herald, January 28, 1882, 6; Ibid, February 4, 1882, 3). The following year, Sheridan would assume command of the United States Army upon the retirement of Philip Henry Sheridan.

The meeting of the "Grant Club of Albany," a meeting of "Stalwart" Republicans led by Roscoe Conkling, was a politicized event - likely offering an additional reason for Grant declining the invitation. Two years earlier, Conkling had successfully engineered a push to have Grant obtain the 1880 Republican nomination - and Grant was initially enthusiastic at the prospect. But the prospect of a third (although non-consecutive) term spooked many within the G.O.P., and Grant had formidable foes within the party - especially James G. Blaine, who fearful that he would not carry the general election if nominated, on the eve of the Republican National Convention in Chicago in May 1880, Grant instructed Conkling and his allies to withdraw his name from consideration. Grant's instructions were ignored. Despite his own misgivings, Grant led the balloting for thirty-five rounds, with Blaine running a close second. Finally, on the thirty-sixth ballot, Blaine, seeing no path to the nomination, but determined to see Grant defeated, threw his support behind James A. Garfield who won the nomination with 399 votes to 306 for Grant. Interestingly enough, Grant's prime supporter, Roscoe Conkling, also declined the invitation of the club, where the assembled members partook "of an undue quantity of fluid inspiration." (Boston Journal, February 11, 1882, 2). Another hostile paper mockingly satirized New York Republican boss Thomas C. Platt's inability to attend, "that he would rather 'be one of the glorious 306 at Chicago." (Augusta [Georgia] Chronicle, February 11, 1882, 2). Grant, quite wisely, decided to avoid additional ridicule and savaging by the press and retain his dignity.

Published in The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant: October 1, 1880 - December 31, 1882.

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