Mrs. Grant’s Donation
Rusty Williams, over at My Old Confederate Home blog, makes a great find: President Grant’s widow, Julia Dent Grant, made a $25 donation to the Confederate Soldier’s Home in Austin. Sure enough, the Galveston Daily News of March 15, 1889, confirms:
Aiding the Confederate Home
New York, March 14 — Secretary Oliver Downing of the New York Citizen’s committee, to aid the National Confederate Soldier’s home at Austin, Tex., has received a letter from General Alfred Pleasanton containing money. Another letter from Mrs. Grant incloses [sic.] a check for $25. The letter is as follows:
Oliver Downing, Secretary, Etc. — Dear Sir: General Grant’s kindly feelings toward the southern people, though they were once his enemies, is Mrs. Grant’s reasons for sending the inclosed check. She wishes you success in your efforts.
Fred D. Grant, for Mrs. Grant
Dead Confederates, A Civil War Era Blog 
Beautiful blog, Andy!
I’ll be hanging out here more.
I’m just back from Grants’ (Ulysses S.’s and Julia D.’s) tomb — a great visit for a new CW buff. Gray kepis sold side by side with the blue ones.
Blue, gray — it’s all green, dude. . . .
More seriously, you’ll enjoy U. S. Grant: American Hero, American Myth by Joan Waugh. The first half is a biography, and the second (better) half is a discussion of his legacy in our collective memory, especially the construction of the tomb.
Thanks!