Weekly national intelligencer., 1864-03-24


Bailey to pass an examination and advised him TO write
10 the then Representative, Hon. Thomas L. Hamer on
The subject Mr. Grant did and ssiu 10 his
application. Who knows but there was plovdence IA
the failure Of Cadet Bailey in order to make room for his
now ilustrious successor
On the Ist of July IS39 Grant entered the Academy
in class Of about bundred, and while at West Point
did to be particularly attracted by speculative
philosophy, but remarkably fond of the solid
and forms of demOnstratiye mathematics aud of
all experimental exercises He the only that had
BOT studied the at least year, and many of
them had received collegiate educatons Only thirty nine
Of the number graduated he graduating in the middle Of
that number June 30th 843 and after attached
to the Fourth Regiment of United States Infantry
Brevet Second Lieutenant. The regiment was then
stationed at Jefferson Barracks St Louis. In tho
same class find the names of fifteen others who are
now Generals in the Union and Rebel armies,
In the summer of 1914 the Fourth Regiment was re-
moved to Nachoches Louisiana and in lS45 to Corpus
Christi where Lieut. Gen. Grant promoted to first
lieutenant the 30th Of September He served under
Gen Taylor and participated in the battles of Pao Alto
Ressca dc la Palma and Monterey, and with Gen Scott
from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico. He twice
brevetted for gallant services receiving the rank of breet
captain for mertorous conduct the 18th of September
1847 at the stormiDg of Chepultepec. He in all of
Taylors and Scotts battles that It possible for
man to be in, and eulogized by his commanding Off
GERS, may be by reference to their reports and
that OF the Secretary of War. '
| Gen Worth highly complmanted Lieut.. Grant 10 his
report. Major Francis Lee, commanding the Fourth In
anry in his report says Second Lieut. Grant behaved
with distinguished galantry the 18th and 18th" Bre
vet Col John Garland commanding the first brigade at
Chapultepec, says " must not omit t. call attention to
Lieut. Grant Fourth Infantry, who acquitted himself most
nobly upon several under my observation
In the memorable engagement Grant assisted Capt
Horace Brooks Second Infantry to carry strong field
work, and turn the enemy's right For these merorious
services Congress awarded him brevet captalncy IN the
regular army, which was confirmed in January 1850
After the conclusion Of the the Fourth Infantry
returned to the Atlantic States with headquarters at De-
toit and Sacketts Harbor. Grant retained quar-
| termastsr of the regiment t e
Soon after his return from Mexico Lieut. Grant married
Miss Dent of ST. Louis, (Mo) lady of refinement and
elegant manners.
In 1852 the Fourth Infantry was ordered to Oregon,
where Grant promoted to full captain in the regular
army and assigned to company stationed four hundred
miles in the interior of California. After two years
separation from his family he resigned and came home,
settling in st Louis county, (Mo but in 1859 removed
to Gaena Illinois, aud entered his fathers leather and
saddlery store
When the first news Of the sorming of Sumter
ceived sounding like alarm bell the Republic, he
remarked to his family that the Government had educated
him for the army aud its claims upon him paramount
to any Others He directed the raising organizing and
drilling company and went with to Springfield where
he mustered it into service, Soon after he appointed
Adutant General and mastering officer for State troops
About the middle of June Capt Grant visited his fathers
family at CovngtOn, Kentucky, and while there Governor
Yates appointed him Colonel of the Twentyfrst Regiment
Illinois Volunteer Infantry. This regiment three
months They said that with Grant for commander
they would enlist for three years, which nearly thou
sand Of them did Col Grant took the regiment and drilled
il for four weeks when he was ordered the
field He marched his men hundred miles in days,
then put them train for the remainder of the way to
northern Missouri. Several regiments in that part
of the State at the time but Generals, and although
Grant the youngest Colonel he requested to
sume command. On the 9th Of August he was commits
stoned Brgadsr Geueral aud ordered Ironon in south
Missouri where an attack threatened by the forces
under JEFF. Thompson He put the place 10 state
of defence, and then ordered to Jefferson City which
was also threatened with attack Remaining there
about ten days he again ordered to the south part
the State and put command Of district composed of
southeast Missouri and southern IRo with hea quarters
at Cairo On arriving at that place he found hs the rebels
had possession of Columbus, eighteen miles below, and
coming large force occupy Paducah Kentucky
He Immediately loaded several steamers with troops and
arrived there in time before the rebels could get
and thus saved the place which he put command Of Gen
Smith, aud turned his attention 10 Columbus Before
however being ready TO mDVs the works at that point
the Government called for FIVE regiments Of his trops
which left him without sufficient fnrce to successfully asss
them. About the frat Of November be ordered by
Fremont to make demonstration on Belmont. The OBJ
ject to prevent the rebels from reinforcing Pcs
JEFF Thompson. Grant, however, WAS not responsible
for the attack except to the time and o it Ia
making it he only obeyed his superior officer.
In few days afer Gen. Grant took possession Of Pa
ducah at the mouth of The ennessre river September
g. 1861 he occupied Sthlsnd at the mouth of the Cum
berand, and garrisoned both places BY these timely
and udcIous movements he blnckaded those rivers aud
opened two important bases for future operations.
Now it that he started upon that splendid
which has conferred such impershable glory upon his
name Having secured his from surprise by proper
disposition of forces the 81 of February he started
his expedition In three days thereafter he occupied Ort
Henry on the Tennessee, the enemy having abandoned it
on bis approach Garrsonng that fort he moved his army
towards Fort Donesop, fifteen miles distant the Cum.
berland river, which strongly manned and fortified
containing twenty housand troops under the command OF
Buckner, Floyd, aud Pillow, force nearly equal TO his
own This he commenced investing on the 18th February
and assaung the 18th, continuing his assaults the
4h and 18TH On the night Of the latter day be secured
all the commanding positions around the rebel works.
This discovered when Gen Floyd with his bri-
gade, beat hasty retreat Pillow also escaped, leaving
Bnckner alone in command. Ga the morning Of the 18th
that officer seut note to Cen Grant proposing
tce and to appoint comiso agree upon terms
captulaon. Grant instantly replied, No terms other
than unconditional aud Immediate surrender be
cepted propose u mme datey upon your works"
The mortified Buckner answered he compelled " to
accept the ungcnerous aud unchvarous terms!' The
spondence between the csptor and captured
ceedng rich and racy brief is and illustrates Grant
Fort Donelson had repused the navy, attack by
Yater and such the strength 0f its works that Gen
Grsnt only captured it after three days Of hard fighting
in which he lost in killed ii6 wounded 7J, prisoners
l50n all 800 lie took Ia 600 prisoners, 5000 horses
AZ cannon, 20 600 small arms aud large amount OF army
stores Gen Buckner alsO fell into hi, hands prisoner
This the most dcsvr battle that had been fought up
to that time and tn ied the heart of the nation with joy
As reward for his services at Fort DoDelson Grant
was promoted to Major General Of Volunteers The
effect OF his victory to brerk up the basis Of rebel
operations the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers and
redeem Kentucky from rebel rule. On the 20th Of Feb.
ruary ClaksVile fell into the hands Of the Union forces
and the 23d Of the month Nashville. Both places
have sine been held by our troops
The battle Of PIttsburg Landing, Shiloh, fought
April 9th and 7th followed Here Gen. Grant closely
pressed and brought out his great military powers The
rebel army having left Cornth, under the command Of
nhnstn ,T Iba.