Galena IL Visitor Guide, Travel Guide, Galena History Guise. Galena Bus Tour, Galena IL Things To Do. Day Trip to Galena IL.

 Galena Travel Guide. Galena Architecture and History guide. Galena was the home to nine Civil War generals. things To Do in Galena IL. Daily Attractions in Galena Il. Shopping guide in Galena IL.

 

 

 

Foremost among these is Grant, who first came to Galena with his wife Julia in 1860 to work in the family tannery and leather-good shop.

A veteran of the Mexican–American War, Grant was called upon to train a regiment of volunteers raised in Galena when the Civil War broke out in 1861. Through the support of local congressman Elihu B. Washburne, Grant became Galena's first general when promoted by Abraham Lincoln on May 17, 1861. Washburne later served a brief stint as Grant's Secretary of State and then as Minister to France. Victories at Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain prompted Lincoln to promote Grant to lieutenant general on March 3, 1864, giving him command of all Union Armies.