Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-04-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
How Gen. Grant Got TO West
Point.

From the very interesting sketches of
General Grants carly life, written by the
Generals father, and now being published
by Mr.. Robert Bonner, in the Now York
Ledger, we make the following extract
One day wo were short of hands, and
told him he would have to go into the beam
room ano help me. He had never worked
in the beam room any. The beam room is
so called because in it the hides arc worked
over beams when the flesh and hair are taken
of with knives, after they are taken out OF
the lime-vat. He came along and went to
work, remarking, however Father, this
tanning is not the kind of work like. I'll
work ut il though, if you wish me to. until
am orc eand. twenty; but you may depend
upon it, I'll never work a day at it after
chat l said to him-"No, l don't want
you to work at it now, if you don't like it
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
like2" He replied that he would like to
be farmer; a down-the-river trader; or
get an education.
had no farm except the ono which my
wife inherited, and that was rented out; /
had no idea of letting him be down-the-
river trader had money, but l required
it in my business, for it took capital to carry
! that on, and I could not withdraw enough
| to educate him without crippling my bust
ness thought of West Point; SO / said
to him: "How would you like West Point2
| You know the education is free there, and
the Government supports the cadets" First
rate" said he.
| Immediately wrote TO Mr.. Morris, one OF
our Senators in Congress from Ohio, and
asked him if he knew of any vacancy at
West Point, the appointment to which he
could control. He replied promptly that
there was vacancy from our own Congress.
sional district. This surprised me; for
knew that there had been an appointment
to fill that vacancy a year before. 1t turn.
ed out, however, that the young man who
had been appointed had failed to pass ex'
animation. His father, who was proud
spirited man, kept it q secret and did not
let his son return to the neighborhood, but
placed him at the private military school OF
months at that school tho young man made
another attempt to enter West Point; but
| failed asecond time to pass the examination.
This young man failed, not from want OF
talent, but because lie did not apply himself
! to study. He entered the army as volun.
| teer after the war broke out, and persisted
| in the war; whether at the hand OF the enc
my, or by accident, was never known, his
body having been found in river into
which he had fallen from bridge. Hi.
mother became and remains devoted friend
of Gen. Grant. She has always watched hii
career with the deepest interest.
Our representative in Congress at thai
time was the Hon. Thomas L. Hamer.
wrote right on 10 him, stating that Senator
Morris had informed me that there was I
vacancy, and requesting him TO appoin
Ulysses. My letter reached him on the nigh
OF the Sd OF March ON tho next day, th'
4th, his term Of Office expired. He knew
Ulysses, and was glad to have an opportupi
Which Ia sttsndsd his G nrs.iops % S snno;nssa nj ,s,
90 he made the sppointmsnt ct once.
days delay In the mail that carried my LET
ter would have made some difference in tn
history Of one man, II cot of the country
Ulysses was entiroly unprepsred by any pr,