Lincoln Photograph from 1860 - Illinois Bicentennial Celebration

[David Lockmiller]

I had made up my mind today that I would not make any more posts about Grant until I had finished reading Volume 1 of the "Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant" which had been given to me by a neighbor up the street as a gift a long time ago (she had only Volume 1 and did not know what happened to Volume 2). Recently, I decided to begin reading this book volume from the beginning. Hence, the previous posts that I made about Grant were made on a different thread.

But since Grant began his Civil War military career in Illinois, I think that I shall make my posts about Grant here as I find them and believe them to be perhaps worthy of interest to others on this "Lincoln" website. Otherwise, these observations of note made by Grant may well dissipate in time and mind and thus be lost also to others that may well have had an interest.

This morning I was looking for the place to renew my readings and opened the book at random in the front part of the book. I began by reading as follows on page 59:

One morning about daylight I happened to be awake, and, hearing the discharge of a rifle not far off, I looked out to ascertain where the sound came from. I observed a couple of clusters of men near by, and learned afterwards that "it was nothing; only a couple of gentlemen deciding a difference of opinion with rifles, at twenty paces." I do not remember if either was killed, or even hurt, but no doubt the question of difference was settled satisfactorily, and "honorably," in the estimation of the parties engaged. I do not believe I ever would have the courage to fight a duel. If any man should wrong me to the extent of my being willing to kill him, I would not be willing to give him the choice of weapons with which it should be done, and of the time, place and distance separating us, when I executed him. If I should do another such a wrong as to justify him in killing me, I would make any reasonable atonement within my power, if convinced of the wrong done. I place my opposition to duelling on higher grounds than any here stated. No doubt a majority of the duels fought have been for want of moral courage on the part of those engaged to decline.