Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-03-12
GENERAL GRANT.


From the very interesting sketches of
General Grants early life, written by the
Generals father, and now being published
by Mr.. Robert Bonner, in the New York
Ledger, we make the following extract:
One day we were short of hands, and
told him he would have to go into the beam
room and help me. He had never worked
in the beam room any. The beam room is
so called because in II the hides are worked
over beams, when the flesh and hair are
taken off with knives, after they arc taken
out of the lime-vat. He came along and
went to work, remarking, however,
Father, this tanning is moi the kind of
work like. I'll work at it Though, it You
wish me to, until am one-and-iwenty but
you may depend upon it, III never work a
| day at il after that" | said to him" No,
| don't want you TO work at it now, if you
| don't like ii and mean to stick to it. | want
you to be at work at whatever you like and
intend to follow. Now what do you think
you would likc?" lie replied that he would
| like to be farmer; down-the-river trader,
| or get an education.
| had no farm except the one which my
wife Inherited, and that was rented out
had no idea of letting him be u down-the-
river trader; had money, but required il
| in my business, for 1t took capital to carry
that on, and could not withdraw enough
to educate him without crippling my bust
ness. ] thought of West Point so | said
to him, "lIow would you like West Point !?
You know the education is free there, and
the Government supports the cadets
Firsrate,' said he.
Immediately wrote to Mr. Morris, ono Of
our Senators in Congress from Ohio, and
asked him if he knew Of any vacancy ut
West Point, the appointment TO which he
could control. lie replied promptly that
there was a vacancy from our own Congress
sonal district. This surprised me; for
knew that there had been an appointment
to fill that vacancy year before. 1t turned
out, however, that the young man who had
been appointed had failed to pass cxamina-
tion. His father, who was proud-spiritcd
man, kept it secret and did not let his son
return to the neghborhood, but placed him
at the private military school of Capt. Part
ridge. After spending six months ut that
school the young man made another at
tempt to enter West Point; but failed II
second time to pass the examination. This
young man failed, not from want of talent,
but because he did not apply himself To
study. lie entered the army as volunteer
after the war broke out, and perishcd in the
war; whether at the hand of the enemy, or
by accident, was never known, his body
having been found in river into which he
had fallen from bridge. His mother be-
came and remains devoted friend of Gen.
Grant. She has always watched his career
with the deepest interest
Our Representatives in Congress at that
time was the Hon. Thomas ! . llamcr. l
wrote right on to him stating that Senator
Morris had informed me that there was Il
vacancy, and requesting him TO appoint
Ulysses. My letter reached him on the
night of the Sd of March; on the next day,
the 4th, his term of office expired. He knew
Ulysses, and was glad to have an opporiuni-
~ to appoint such boy, after the bad luck
which had attended his previous appoinlee I;
so he made the appointment at once. A
day delay in the mail that carried my letter
would have made some difference in the
history of one man, il not of the country.
Ulysses was entirely unpreparcd by any pre-
vious study, puisued with especial reference
to fitting for West Point, but he got through
the examination and was admitted. lnever
saw him while at West Point, except on the
occasion of one visit, which he made to his
home during the inrlough at tho end of his
second year. 1t was said of him that while
there he was not one who took pains Ia
make himself popular, but that all the boys
liked him. believe he went by the.name ol
"Unce Sam," on account OF his initials,
ssIf G