The New York herald., 1868-05-22
SKETCHES OF THE CANDIDATES..
General Ulysses 8. Grant.


Ohio April 27, 1922 and has consequently lust com
pleted his orty-sixth year. His father, Jesse r..
Grant, by trade tanner, is native of Westmore
land county, Pennsylvania, though the family is Of
Connecticut antecedents and radiates from one OF
the upper counties Of that State BY some genealo
gists the lineage OF the General has been traced to
the ancient Scottish Gregory de Grant, but this lacks
authorization and is most likely fanciful. It was
not until young Grant was seventeen years of age
that he began to manifest q strong leaning to pro-
fessona life. Previous TO that time his educational
advantages having been limited he had gathered little
more than what is ordinarily termed a common
school education. He was appointed to West Point
Military Academy through the influence Of Senator
Thomas Morris, Of Ohio, and was admitted to that
institution July l, 1885, The class was composed OF
about one hundred, only thrty-nine Of whom grad
uated. At West Point the young cadet manifested
far more aptitude for ,demonstrative mathematics
than FOR the nicer and more abstruse problems of
speculative philosophy. He graduated in the middle
OF his class (No. 2 June 30, 1843, and after
erevettsd second con lieutenant becoming member Of
Infantry. Under date Of September 80, 1s45 Grant
was promoted to the rank Of first lieutenant and
famous battles of Pac Alto, Resaca de
last the Fourth regiment (and Grant with itj was
transferred to the command Of General Scott and
reported to that officer at Vera Cruz taking part in
the brilliant campaign from Vera Cruz to the city OF
Mexico. During this campaign he was twice
brevetted for gallant services the last breYet rank
ing him as brevet captain for meritorious services
on the memorable date OF September 13, lS47--one
OF the most brilliant days OF Scott's record as
military leader 1t was for gallant services in assist
ing to carry strong field work on the Mexican
right that Congress- sometimes little tardy in the
recognition of merit awarded him in January, 1855
the rank OF brevet captain In the regular army III
1852 Grants regiment was ordered to Oregon ana
that officer was promoted TO the fun rank Of
mand OF a military station four hundred miles in
the interior OF California, he resigned his
% a ST. Louis having been married. aha al @ Gate ms
little more than three years. Having remained for
SIX years In st. Louis he removed to Galena, H., in
1852 and entered his fathers leather and saddlery
store as q business assistant. At the boom of the
first gun at Fort Sumter Grant threw down the pen
OF the accountant and betOok himself q second time
to the sword, being of the first in the State of
Illinois to organize company and report TO Spring
Held, where soon after he was appointed Adjutant
General and mastering officer OF the Illinois State
troops. In the middle Of June 1861, he ap-
pointed by Governor Yates to the commander the
mel, and IN the summer OF the same year was pro-
NOTED to q brgadier generalship and assigned by
whence dates his second military record. Occupying
Paducah Kentucky, he arrested the transportation OF
supplies to the Confederates via the Tennessee and
Cumberland rivers moving soon after on Belmont,
whence he was driven after desperate fight. In
February 1862 Grant led the land forces against Fort
Henry Out was forestalled by Commodore Foote'S
gunboatsl and thence moved on Fort Doneson,
which was taken after q short, but vigorous siege
from February I3 to 49, 1862 on which last date he
won, through his lacOnic correspondence with Gen.
era Buckner, the famous SobriQuet Of UnconditiOn-
al Surrender Grant. Here he was created a Major
General Of volunteers, dating from February 49, 1852
The remainder OF his military career Is TOO recent and
familiar TO need particular discussion. Shiloh,
year; the Department OF Tennessee upon the
ordering OF General Halleck to Washington;
the famous battles OF Iuka and COrnth under his
direction; the redemption of Northern Mississippi;
the long and difficult seige Of vicksburg, entered in
triumph and with fresh cigar July 4 1868; the Mill
tary Division OF the Mississippi, with headquarters
In the field and its list Of brilliant victories; the
supreme command OF the forces of the United States,
with the rank Of Lieutenant General; the crossing of
the Rapidan and the fierce prolonged campaign,
with Grant and Lee as its Titans; the surrender of
the te te n enS OF @ sne var the T1mp9 m tour Of
dd fnterfn,-a phrase now famous in political his
t0ry-al these are too familiar for particular mention.
the military and opens the political campaigns OF
General Grant The Old fame buried, the new re-
mains to be won In field Of st more subtle tactics.
Hon. Schuyler Colfnx.
The Hon. Schuyler ColfaX, republican candidate
for Vice President IL native Of Hackensack, NJ j.,
was born March 23 1923, and is now forty-fve years
OF age. Having received merely common school
education ana being thrown upon his own re-
sources, he served brief apprenticeship as prin-
ter in this city, and removed TO the West In 1885,
settling in the State Of Indiana an enterprising boy
of thirteen, with fame and fortune to carve out OF
wilderness. In the year 1S44 being then twenty-one
years OF age, the youthful pioneer journalist began
the publication OF the South Bend Register West
ern weekly, which he edited with an ability which
madehim distinguished in the West. The Register
acquired very large circulation and was devoted to
the interests OF the Old whig party. Advancing in
popularity with his advance I'm years I'm ls1s he was
selected as delegate to the Whig National Conven.
uon sne once OF secretary TO which he filed during
.NN nf
age. Two years later, in 1850, and at the are of
twenty-scven, he became member Of the Indiana
Consutuuonai Convention, and again, in 1852, reap
peared IN national politics delegate to the Whig
National Convention for that year. OF this body as
OF its predecessor, Cofax was elected secretary
participating in the nomination of General Scott
then IN the zenith OF his fame. as candidate for the
h, hraes,uehcy Oh tne united states This nomination
party and Its subsequent dissolution the young poll
uclan followed the motion OF the political current of
the times and finally became identified with the re-
publican party In the incpiency OF which, in 1884
he was elected to MI the seat OF Representative In
Congress for the Ninth district OF Indiana and al
the age OF thirtyone therefore the Indiana editor
appeared as member OF the Thirtyfourth Congress.
Adherlng TO the tenets OF his political creed aud
repuOncon OF the straitest sect, Mr.. Colfax soon
rose TO the rank OF one OF the acknowledged leaders
OF the party. and, making every use OF his influence
prooaby did more TO advance the cause OF republi.
cansm IN the state OF Indiana than any other single
man In the West. In the Fremont campaign in 1854
WIZ, m .,o slnge exception OF the Harrison campaign
IN 1910, PROBABLY the most romantic and hoty con-
tested IN our political history Mr. Colfax was ardent
anu inueiatlpable, stumped his own state with re-
markabe thoroughness for the republican nominee
and found time as well to be present at numerous
gatherings In other parts OF the country Since his
nrst election In 1854, Mr.. Colfax has retained his
seat In Congress az a Representative from Indiana
and mas, consequently. been Identified with nearly
every republican measure for the past fourteen years
having been regularly returned by his constituents
at every intervening election. Sharing with Thad
stevens the honors OF party leadership In Congress
thoush somewhat overshadowed 10y that political
D. lhOgenes-his popularity in Congress- has been per.
hl ps, even more cordial than that OF the Pepnsyl.
vsnia radical. During two terms he was the ap-
pol nteu heaa on the Committee Post OfIlces and
tiaiih OF ms course In that capacity; and at the
extras esson OF Congress after the breaking out OF
the rel eiilon, ne was prominently identified with
every WA II measure, and, In many cases Introduces
them. IN the fall OF 1858, Mr.. Colfax was elected
standing ,' turbulence OF the period presided with
sufficient gn lce and dignity to be the recipient of
unanimous vote OF thanks for his impartialitv In
iooo, nS .autae v,aoosiosy upon iresluent