The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-08
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT

not studied the course at least one year,
and many Of them had received a collie
eiate education. Only thirty-nine of the
number graduated, he graduating in the
middle Of that number, June 80, 1S43,
and was soon after attached to the Fourth
regiment of United States infantry, as
brevet second lieutenant The regiment
was then stationed at Jefferson barracks,
near St. Louis.
In the summer of 1874 the Fourth reg
iment was removed to Natchitcches, La
and in 1845 to Corpus Christi, where
Lieutenant General Grant was promoted
to first lieutenant on the 3oth of Sep
TENDER. He served under Gen. Taylor,
and participated in the battles of Palo
Alto, Resaca DE- la Palma, and Monterey,
and with Gen. Scott from Vera Cruz to
the City of Mexico. He was twice bre-
vetted for gallant service, receiving the
rank of brevet captain for meritorious
conduct on the 18th of September, 1847,
at the storming of Chepultepec, which
was confirmed in January, 1866.
After the conclusion of the war, the
Fourth infantry returned to the Atlantic
States, with headquarters at Detroit and
Sackett's Harbor. Grant was retained as
quartermaster of the regiment. Soon after
his return fom Mexico, Lieutenant Grant
married Miss Dent, of St. Louis, Mo.
In 1852, the Fourth infantry was ordered
to Oregon, where Grant was promoted to
full captain in the regular army, and as
signed to company stationed four hun
dred 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
Galena, ILL.,, and entered his fathers leather
and saddlery store. When the first news
of the storming of Sumter was received, he
remarked to his family that the govern
ment had educated him for the army, and
its claims upon him were paramount to any
others. He directed the raising, organic
ing and drilling of company, and went
with it to Springfield, where he mustered
it into service. Soon after he was ap-
pointed adjutant general and mastering
officer for state troops.
About the middle of June Capt. Grant
visited his fathers family at Oovington,
Kentucky, and while there Governor Yates
appointed him colonel of the Twenty-frst
Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. This
regiment was three months men. They
said that with Grant for commander they
would re-eniist for three years, which
nearly thousand of them did. Colonel
Grant took the regiment and drilled it for
four weeks, when he was ordered to move
to the field. He marched his men one
hundred miles in six days. and then put
them on train for the remainder of the
way to northern Missouri. Several regi-
ments were in that part of the State at the
time, but no generals, and although Grant
was the youngest colonel he was requested
to assume command. On the 9th of
August he was commissioned brigadier-
general and ordered to Ironton, in south
Missouri, where an attack was threatened
by the forces of Jeff. Thompson. He soon
put the place in a state of defense, and
was then ordered to Jefferson City, which
was also threatened with an attack. Re-
naming there about ten days he was again
ordered to the south part of the State and
put in command of district composed Of
southern Missouri and southern Illinois,
with headquarters at Cairo. On arriving
at that place he found that the rebels had
possession of Columbus, eighteen miles be-
low, and were coming in large force to oc :.
cupy Paducah, Kentucky. He immedi-
ately loaded several steamers with troops
and arrived there in time before the rebels
could get possession, and thus saved the
place, which be put in command Of Gen.
Smith, and turned bis attention to Colum-
bus. Before, however, being ready to
move on the works at that point the gov
eminent called for five regiments of his
troops, which left him without sufficient
force to successfully assail them. About
the first Of November he was ordered by
Fremont to make demonstration on Bel
mont. The object was to prevent the reb-
els from reinforcing Price or jeff. Thomp-
son. Grant however, was not responsible
for the attack except as to the time and
manner oft. In making it he only obey
ed his superior officer.
In few days after, Gen. Grant took
possession of Paducah, at the mouth of
the Tennessee river. September 6, 1861,
he occupied Smithland, at the mouth of
the Cumberland, and garrisoned both pla-
ces. By these timely and judicious move
ments he blockaded these rivers and OPEN
ed two important bases for future opera
TONS Having secured his rear from sur
prise by proper disposition of forces, on
tie Sd of February he started on his ex-
vpedition. In three days thereafter he oc-
cupied Fort Henry, on the Tennessee, the
enemy having abandoned it on his ap-
proach. Garrisoning that fort, he moved
his army toward Fort Donelson, fifteen
miles distant on the Cumberland river,
which was strongly manned and fortified,
containing 10000 troops under the COM
mand of Buckner, Floyd, and Pillow, a
force nearly equal to his own. This he
commenced investing on the 18th of Feb
ruary, assaulting on the 18th, and eontin-
uing his assaults on the 14th and 18th
On the night of the latter day he secured
all the commanding positions around the
rebel works. This was soon discovered,
when Gen. Floyd, with his brigade, beat
hasty retreat. Pillow also escaped, leav-
ing Buckner alone in command. On the
morning of the 18th, that officer sent q
note to Gen. Grant, proposing an armis-
tice and to appoint commissioners to
agree upon terms of capitulation. Grant
instantly replied, "No terms other than
unconstitutional ond ;mmadiata snrron1ar