Attention paid him will be duly appreciated by the country he has served so faithfully and efficiently.
"U.

S.GRANT." Word of my intended trip was cabled to Europe in the ordinary press despatches, and our Minister to France, Mr.Elihu B.Washburn, being an intimate friend of mine, and thinking that I might wish to attach myself to the French army, did me the favor to take preliminary steps for securing the necessary authority.

He went so far as to broach the subject to the French Minister of War, but in view of the informality of the request, and an unmistakable unwillingness to grant it being manifested, Mr.Washburn pursued the matter no further.

I did not learn of this kindly interest in my behalf till after the capitulation of Paris, when Mr.Washburn told me what he had done of his own motion.

Of course I thanked him gratefully, but even had he succeeded in getting the permission he sought I should not have accompanied the French army.
I sailed from New York July 27, one of my aides-de-camp, General James W.Forsyth, going with me.