Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-04-01


the great part he was destined to play in the
worlds history. He cut, it is said, a poor figure
as q farmer, his father was better tanner than
he and as business man he did not distin-
guish himself His firmness of purpose and
stubborn will, which constituted an important
element in his military success, formed a
noticeable trait of his character as boy. Grant
was OF Scotch descent, though little is known
OF the family beyond his grandfather. This
worthy gentleman settled in Westmore1and
county, Pennsylvania, in 1904, where the
father of Ulysses was born. Subsequently he
emigrated to Ohio, which was then the far
west. Here he died penniless, leaving seven
children to battle with the world. The father
Of Ulysses, one Of these seven children, was
then but eleven years Of age. At the age OF
sixteen he was apprenticed to a halfbrother in
Maysville, KY. to learn the tanners trade AT
ter serving out his time he settled in Ravenna,
Portage Co., Ohio, and there married Hannah
Simpson, who had emigrated from his native
county in Pennsylvania. Ulysses, the first
child. was born April 27th, 1922. His father
was poor, and as soon as Ulysses was able to
age Of eight, it is said, he was taught to drive
team, and at ten was accustomed to drive one
from Georgetown, Ohio-to which place his
father had removed-to Cincinnati, q distance
OF forty miles, and bring back load. He was
Injured in his boyhood years to hard toll, and
his education was necessarily neglected. His
moral training, however, received careful
attention from his mother, strict Methodist,
who trained the child to respect the truths OF
religion and practise its Virtues. He grew
up truthful, upright and industrious. Between
driving team and helping his father in the
lanyard, the boy grew up to be a broad
securing for him the advantages of an educa-
t1on, and being unable to give it himself, re-
solved to get him
ENTERED AT WEST POINT,
especially as young Ulysses had a taste for mill.
tary life. He applied to the member of Con-
gress from his district, Mr. Norris for the ap-
pointment, but Mr.. Morris had already given
the appointment he controlled to another per-
son. Mr.. Hamer, Representative from another
district, however, had a vacancy at his disposal,
and, to the great Joy of Ulysses, conferred the
appointments upon him: Mr.. Hamer got the
Idea that Ulysses middle name was Simpson,
ana when he sent on young Grants name, sent
II as Ulysses >. Grant. 1t was so entered on the
register at West Point, and has so remained.
name; He entered the academy at West We Point
IN 1889, when he was seventeen years of age.
He did not, 1t is said, have sufficient prepara.
their studies. He entered upon the work before
him, however, with great perseverance and
indomitable courage. He perfected him
impossible to unseat him. In the second year
he was made sergeant of battalion. In the last
year he was promoted to the position Of officer
uated honorably, standing No. 21 in a class of
3s. There was nothing in his life as a cadet
that gave promise of a brilliant future. His
manner, 1t Is said, gave one the impression that
he was indolent. He was rather a favorite from
his easy, good-natured disposition, and suffered
very little annoyance: 1t is said, however, that
with all his apparent Incidence, or indifference,
he was compelled to be a hard student, in order
to maintain his standing among his classmates,
most of whom entered the academy with
greater advantages. Upon leaving the academy,
being breyetted as q second lieutenant in the
fourth regiment Of Infantry, hejoined it in Mis-
souri,, and In the following. year went with his
regiment to the Red river in Louisiana.
THE MEXICAN WAR.
Upon the outbreak of the hostilities between
this country and Mexico, Grants regiment was
one of those which went under Gen. Taylor to
Texas to guard the frontier at Corpus Christi,
received his commission as full second lieu
tenant. He received his first lesson in actual
warfare on the plains of Palo Alto and subse.
9uently ;e saw much active service in the war.
Vera Cruz. After the capitulation of Vera Cruz,
Scott marched his army to the interior. Grant
and acted also as star oeer o. to nis his
At the battle Of MolinO del Rey, Grant so dis
tinguished himself by his cool courage, that he
was promoted on the spot to first lieutenant,
but this promotion was not confirmed by Cor,
gress: At the battle of Chepultepec, which fol-
lowed, Grant still further distinguished himself
impregnable redoubt, which swept the advanc-
ing American column, with whitening fire.
His gallant conduct on that day was mentioned
in the report of Major Lee, commanding the
notice of Gen. Garland, who said the young
lieutenant acquitted himself most nobly
tiOn." For his conduct at Chepultepec he was
breveted captain, and soon afterwards his COM
mission as full first lieutenant was received.
From this time until the fall of the city of Mex
leo closed, Grant took part in many en-
gagements and led his men in the thickest of
the fight. At the close of hostilities Grant s
roo frpNa YTy00 IN Dot