Grant Chronicles: Grant's First Visit to "The Queen of American Spas"

Ulysses Grant at the Grand Union Hotel in Saratoga Springs, NY

Yesterday and today mark the anniversary of Ulysses S. Grant's first visit to Saratoga Springs, NY on July 27-28th, 1865. Fresh from the victory at Appomattox Court House and with the Civil War dying down, Grant was still very busy with military matters in Washington. In fact he had to decline an invitation to attend 4th of July celebrations in Saratoga earlier in the month, only making a brief appearance at a flag ceremony in Albany that day before rushing back to Washington to attend to business.

4th of July Flag Presentation Ceremony in Albany, NY 1865

Major William W. Leland  
Union Hall Proprietor 1864-1872

When Grant and his family did finally arrive in Saratoga, after a stop to review cadets at West Point, he was greeted by a grateful and enthusiastic crowd. The war was fresh in everyone's minds as many veterans, including those of the local 77th New York Infantry had just recently arrived home. Grant's first order of business was something he would practice the rest of his life, avoiding 1000 handshakes by ducking into his hotel room. Grant, his family and staff were given a decorated suite of apartments at the Congress Hall. William W. Leland, a former Commissary Officer on Grant's staff and proprietor of the Union Hall (Hotel) ( later Grand Union Hotel) had offered to entertain the General at his resort during his brief visit to the "Queen of American Spas". Saratoga, long known for it's healing mineral waters, at the time of Grant's visit, boasted a new racetrack and casino and was seeing a rush of new visitors.   

Visitors to Congress Spring, Saratoga ca.1865-70
 (*Note: "Keep Off The Grass" signs!)

Morrissey's Gambling House (Later Canfield Casino) 1871

The Leland family were no strangers to the hotel business. They owned numerous hotels around the country, including other places Grant visited such as Long Branch, NJ and San Francisco, CA.  Their attention at the time of Grant's visit however was pouring money into the Union Hall in Saratoga, attempting to make it "the largest, most magnificent and elaborate watering place hotel in the world". 

Union Hall 1864

Grounds of the Union Hotel July 1865

Map of the newly improved Union Hall property, July 1865

At the time of Grant's visit a new Leland Opera House had just been opened at the resort which at 7 acres spanned an entire city block. Grant attended an opening reception at the opera house, decorated in his honor. At one point there was some excitement as Grant and party were leaving an alarm of fire was announced and pandemonium ensued. In a matter of minutes the panic subsided and guests returned to their seats, the whole cause turned out to be a small curtain fire. Resident's were obviously still wary since a large fire had struck Saratoga the year before and destroyed a section of buildings on Broadway. In addition to the Opera, the resort was known to regale their guests with musical performances on the piazzas and fireworks, although the fireworks had been suspended due to fire concerns of the previous year as well.

Leland Opera House 1865

Another depiction of the Leland Opera House 1865

The massive 1000 seat dining hall at Union Hall 1864.

After a meal at the Union Hotel, Major Leland took Grant to Saratoga Lake for an afternoon sail. It provided a slight respit as everywhere Grant went he was inundated by enthusiastic crowds. 

Saratoga Lake Scene 1862

After another performance at the Leland Opera House, Grant and wife Julia were thrown a ball at the Congress Hall, which was decorated in his honor and upon their arrival Julia was given a bouquet by the ladies. Julia seemed to be perfectly at home in the setting and was dressed for the occasion " in lavender silk, with point lace trimmings; hair arranged in curls, with half wreath of natural flowers". Congress Hall ended up succumbing to fire the very next year, but was rebuilt in 1868.

Ball at the Congress Hall 1859

Grant and party snuck out of Saratoga quietly at 7AM on July 29th bound for Boston and the Canadian Maritimes.   

William Leland was apparently not one to suffer libel, in 1870 he severely beat a member of the press with his cane for printing defamatory articles about him. The Leland brothers enjoyed a short period of prosperity, but they had sunk too much into the Union Hotel and had to declare bankruptcy in 1872. William Leland died seven years later at 59 years of age, already in bad health it was reported that he was taken ill after eating unripe cherries while visiting his birthplace in Landgrove, VT. The Grand Union Hotel suffered from a Saratoga that faltered at the turn of the century, finally ending with it's demolition in the early 1950's about 100 years from when it was first constructed. Purely through coincidence a "Grand Union" supermarket was later built on the site.

Dismantling the Grand Union Hotel in the 1950's

It could be said that in 1865 Grant was still fairly new to the world of wealth and extravagance, and in some ways never became fully accustomed to it. The fame and throngs of admirers would be something a shy Grant would have to try to adjust to as well. It would certainly not be the last time he would be greeted with the "red carpet" in his lifetime. Grant visited Saratoga on a few more occasions starting with his first visit as President in 1869, until his final visit in 1885. Grant of course had no way of knowing throughout his visits to Saratoga that a mountaintop looming just beyond the city would one day play host to his final epic struggle, and his name would henceforth be inseparable from the Saratoga area. 

Note: If you are interested in more information on Grant and your in the Saratoga Springs, NY area, stop by Grant Cottage Historic Site. On Wednesday Aug. 19th, 2015 there will be a special presentation entitled "Grant and His Saratoga Connections" free to the public. For more info on this and other programs at the historic site, please visit www.grantcottage.org.

Sources:

Death of Major Leland NY Times Article 8/10/1879

History Lesson: Grant Familiar with Malta, Round Lake Saratogian Article 11/21/2010

The Caning of Wilkes by Major Leland Daily Alta California 3/26/1870

New Rochelle’s Simeon Leland and the Civil War 


The Lelands and American Hotels by Ausustus St. Claire 1877


New York Times Article 7/30/1865


New York Times Article 7/31/1865