A quick search online tells me nothing further about the matchbox that was once General Grant’s. And this story about it seems to have been forgotten.
The article below was originally published in 1895.
Grant’s Lost Matchbox
Made of Two Empty Shells and has a History that Nobody Knows
A matchbox that money couldn’t buy is in the possession of Policeman Gould of San Francisco. The matchbox is not worth, intrinsically, any more than the thousands to be found in any large jewelry store, but its owner will never part with it if he can help it. It was given to him by the late General U.S. Grant.
When the ex-President visited the Pacific coast in 1879, he had for his bodyguard Officer Gould, who attended the distinguished visitor faithfully. One night, after a trip over the city in a carriage, Officer Gould found on the seat of the carriage a matchbox made out of two rifle shells. Five ordinary matches were in the case, which was made on the principle of a telescope, one shell fitting over the other. Both shells shells had been exploded, as the dent of the firing pin was plainly visible. The larger shell bore the mark “F. 88. No. 12” on the end, while the smaller one, which acted as the cap, was unmarked. The matchbox measured two and a half inches when closed.
Gould knew that the unique matchbox must be the property of General Grant, and hastened after him to return it. The General was in his room by the time Gould reached his apartments. The orderly carried a message into the room, and in a few minutes the General appeared.
Officer Gould held out the match safe and told the General that he had found it in the carriage.
General Grant looked at it in silence for a minute, and in his kindly manner, said: “You may keep it. Some day you may learn the history of the shells from which I have made this matchbox. Goodnight.”
The General turned on his heel and entered his rooms without another word. Officer Gould has never learned the history of the shells, but he treasures the souvenir just as much.
Source: Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.), 25 Oct. 1895.
