Evening star., 1885-07-23

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GEN. GRANTS BIRTHPLACE.
There was little in the boyhood or early
career of Ulysses Grant that gave evidence of
the great part he was destined to play in the
worlds history. He cut, it is said poor fil ure
as farmer, his father was better tanner than
he, and as a 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 q
noticeable trait Of his character as a boy. Grant
was of Scotch descent, though little is known
of the family beyond his grandfather. This
worthy gentleman settled in Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania in 1874, where the
father of Ulysses 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 halftrother in
Maysville. KY, to learn the tanners trade. At
ter serving out his time he settled in Ravenna,
Portage county. Ohio, and there married Han
nah Simpson, who had emigrated from his
first child, was born April 27th, 1922 His
father was poor, and as soon as Ulysses was
able to help him he was put to work. At the
early 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, a
distance OF forty miles, and bring back a load.
He was Injured in his boyhood years to hard
toll, and his education was necessarily ne
elected. His moral training, however, re-
ceived careful training from his mother, a
strict Methodist, who trained the child to re-
spect the truths of religion and practice its vir-
tues, He grew UP truthful, upright and indus
trious. Between driving a team and helping
his father in the lanyard, the boy grew up to
be broad-shouldered youth. The father de-
education, and being unable TO give it himself,
resolved to get him
ENTERED AT WEST POINT.
especially as young Ulysses had a taste for mil
itary life. He applied to the member of Con-
gress rom--hss 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 vacancy at his dis
posal, and, to the great JOY of Ulysses conferred
the appointment upon him. Mr.. Hamer got
the ide;, that Ulysses middle name was Simp-
sent it as Ulysses S. Grant. It was so entered
on the register at West Point, and has so re-
manned. In this way Gen. Grant acquired his
middle name. He entered the academy at
West Point in 1889, when he was seventeen
years of age. He did not, it is said, have
of his class in all their studies He entered
upon the work before him, however, with great
perseverance and indomitabie courage. He per-
fected himselfin horsemanship so it was almost
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. 2I in a class of
thirty-eight. There was nothing in his life as a
cadet that gave promise of brilliant future
lis manner, it is said, gave one the impression
that he was indolent. He was rather a favorite,
from his easy, good-natured disposition, and
ever, that with all his apparent indolence or
indifference, he was compelled to be a hard
in order to maintain his standing
among his classmates, most of. whom entered
the academy with greater advantages. Upon
leaving tie ac.,'iemS, being hrevetted as u sec
ond lieutenant l.. tn" fourth regiment Of fnfan-
try, ne Joined it in Mi,souri, and in the follow
ing year went with his regiment to the Red
river i'll Louisiana.
THE MEXICAN WAR.
Upon the outbreak of the hostilties 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 full second lieuten-
ant. He received his first lesson in actual war;
fare on the plains of Palo Alto, and subse-
9nentiy saw much active service in the war
His resiment Joined Gen. SCOTS forces before
Vera Cruz. After the capitulation of Vera Cruz
Scott marched his army to the interior. Grant
was appointed Quartermaster of his regiment.
and acted also us staff officer to his general
At the battle of MolinO del Rey Grant so dis
tinsuished himself by his cool courage that he
was promoted on the spot to first lieutenant
but this promotion was not confirmed by Con-
gress. At the battle of Chepultepec which fol-
lowed, Grant sti!l further distinguished himself
by aiding to drive the enemy from an almost
impregnable redoubt, which swept the ad-
yancing American column with u witherins
fire. His gallant conduct on that day was
mentioned in the report of Major Lee. com
maEding the 4th infantry, and also attracted
the notice OF Gen. Garland, who said the young
several occasions, under my own observation
For his conduct at Chepu ltepec he was breyeted
captain, and soon afterwards his commission as
full first lieutenant was received. From this
time until the fall OF the City of Mexico closed,
Grant took part in many engagements and led
his men in the thickest OF the fight, At the
close OF 0OStllltleS Grants regime SoDf to
Detroit.
Soon afterwards, on the 22d Of August, 1s4s,
merchant of St Louis After q short furlough
he rejoined his regiment at Sackett's Harbor,
New York: Soon afterwards Grants regiment
was sent to California, and Grant was subse-
quentiy sent with q battalion to Fort Dallas
Oregon Tiring OF the dull routine of military
little chance that then offered of preferment or
promotion, Grant in 1854 resigned his com
mission OF captain, which he had received in
farm near st. Louis, belonging to his wife's
father.. Grants military life, and fifteen years
Of Of military service, had entirely unified him
to have prospered much. He eked out his
small income from his crops by hauling
1t by the cord. He added also to his EN-,
poyments that of collector, but appears to
have been poor hand at dunning. Having
county surveyor, to which he aspired, Grant
moved his Increasing farnily into St. Louis.
mere ne IalleO 10 nnd any remunerative en-
ployment He formed q copartnership with q
man named Boggs under the firm name OF
Grant Boggs, but this business did not pros
per. His father having at this time offered to
take him into partnership Grant removed with
his family to Galena, where he went into busi-
ness @ with his father as dealer in leather. The
nrm was moderately prosperous and Grant con-
tinued In the business until
THE CIVIL WAR
broke out, and he was called to the held where
he won fame, which, In the widest fancies of
his youth, he could never have anticipated.
After the news of the tall Of Fort Sumter came
he wrote TO the adjutant general offering his
services, but received no answer. He tried sub
sequentiy to get an appointment on the staff OF
Mcclellan, who had been appointed major gen.
er;i Of the Ohio volunteers, but failed to get an
interview with Mcclellan, who was besleged by
applicants. Gov. Yates, OF Illinois, hearing OF
Grant, put him on his staff as adjutant to assaDS
him In managing the quota OF the state. He a.
quilted himselfsO we'll In this service that GcS.
Yates proposed to send his name on to President
Lincoln for appointment as brigadier general.
Hut Grant declined this, saying he preferred to
earn his promotion. He accepted the col0neicy
ofthe 2lst regimentand was assigned to Pope 81
department of northern Missouri, and went to
guard the Hannibal and St.Joseph railroad. On
the 9Th OF August, 1861, he received his ap-
continent as brigadier general. A sketch OF hi
military career from this time forward involves
history Of nearly all OF the great operattons0f Of