Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-07-29
IT LIVES IN HISTORY.
Grants Name Craven on the Scroll
of Immortality,
Along With the Names of Washing
ton and Lincoln.
Sketch of the Career of Americas Great
est General.
Interesting Anecdotes of the Soldier,
President and Citizen.


ton to the highest place IN the gift of
the American peoples
Ulysses S. Grant was born April 81,
1852, at Point Pleasant, Clermont County,
Q. He was of Scotch descent. At the age
of IL he entered the Military Academy at
West Point, where he graduated in 1S49,
receiving the rank OF brevet second lieuten-
ant. He was assigned to the Fourth In
fantry, took part in all the battles of the
Mexican war, save that of Btena Vista, and
was brevetted twice for bravery. In 1S4S
he married Miss Julia Dent, the daughter of
leading merchant OF ST. Louis, and IN
1854 he resigned his commission in the
army, having served eleven years and at
tanned the rank OF captain. He then en-
gagged IN farming near st. Louis, but not
meeting with adequateeuccess he entered the
leather trade with his father at Galena,
Ill, in 1890. When the civil war
broke out he was 80 years of age
and as yet entirely unknown topublic men.
When, however, President Lincoln's first
call for troops was made, april 10, 1861
he was found four days afterward, drilling
a company of volunteers at Galena. After
having offered his services TO the adiutant-
general of the army, without receiving any
reply, the governor OF Illinois employed
him IN the organization Ofvolunteer troops.
In brief space of time he was appointed
colonel Of the Twenty first Illinois Infantry.
He took command OF the regiment in June,
and in August he was commissioned brig
adler-general OF volunteers, on the recon-
mendation of the congressman from Illinois,
with none of whom he had the slight
est personal acquaintance. On Sep
TENDER l he assumed command of
the district OF Southeastern Missouri and
on the 9th he, without orders, seized Padu-
cab, commanding the navigation of the Ten
nessee and Ohio Rivers. Early in Novem-
Der he was ordered to make demonstra-
ton in the direction OF Belmont, about Is
miles below Cairo, his headquarters, which
movement he effected with great skill and
bravery, landing at Belmont and breaking
up the enemy's camp, with fearful odds
against him. In February he moved up the
Tennessee against Fort Henry in coniunc-
ton with naval force, but the fort was
silenced by the gunboats before the troops
arrived. He now, and without orders,
moved upon Fort Donaldson, and
with a force of $4,000 men laid
siege to garrison of p 900. After three
days of hard fighting, he carried the works
by assault and captured a great number Of
prisoners, small arms and cannon. This
was the first great success of the national
troops IN the war, its results being of tire
mendouS Importance. Grant was now
made major-general of volunteers, and was
placed in command OF the district of West
nessee and encamped with $4,000 men on
itswest bank, near Pittsburg Landing, watt
ing the arrival OF Gen. Buell. with 1000
additional troops. On the 9th Of April
however the Confederates, under Gen.
Beauregard, came out from Corinth so, 900
strong, and, while 5, 900 of his men were be-
yond supporting distance, set upon him
with overwhelming numbers in the
hope Of crushing him before Buell. arrived.
Both armies fought bravely but the Union
forces, although suffering terribly, held their
ground until the arrival of Buell. turned the
tide in their favor. The Union loss was
1927 and that of the Confederates TO-
GIT. Two days afterward Gen. Halleck az
rived at the front and took command Of
the army, Grant remaining at the head of
the right wing and reserves. In July, Hal
leck being made general-in-chief Grant sue
ceeded him in the command of the Depart
ment Of the Tennessee; and September 10,
fought the battle Of Iuka, which was only
an incomplete victory, owing to the failure
of Gen. Rosecrans to carry out his orders.
Immediately after the victory of Corinth,
in October, IN which the Confederates lost
largely, Grant proposed to the general-in-
chief the capture Of Vicksburg. Having re-
ceivedno answer, he, on November 2, COM
menced a movement into the interior of
Mississippi While threatening Vicksburgin
the rear with 10000 men, Sherman was
dispatched along the Mississippi River with
1000 to attack it IN front. This whole
movement failed, however. and mainly
from the fact that Grants principal base of
supplies was surrendered by Col. Murphy,
who was, in consequence, dismissed from
the army. In January, 1868, Grant took
command in person Of all the troops in the
Mississippi Valley. and took up position
at a point opposite Vicksburg. He
soon laid siege to the city, which
with $4,000 prisoners was surren-
dered to him July 4, 1868. He
was now promoted to the rank OF major
general in the regular army and was APP
pointed to the command OF the military
Evision of the Mississippi Upon this he
sencentrated his forces for the defense Of
Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge and
Lookout Mountain were carried on Noyem-
Der "a and %. In consequence of all these
brilliant exploits Congress ordered gold
medal for him and presented the thanks of
the nation to both him and the army. On
March IT, 1864, he became commander-in-
chief Of the armies of the United States and
announced that his headquarters
would be with the army OF the Potomac,
In the field. With nearly TOO, 900
men he at once planned two cam
paigns-one under his own command
against Richmond, defended by Gen. Robert
Z. Lee, and the other Gen w. L. Sherman,
against Atlanta, defended by Gen. j ohnson.
He began the movement against Richmond
May s, With an aggregate force OF 14O,OO
men, and attempted to place himself be-
tween the Confederate capital and the Con-
federate army; but Lee foiled the mastery
attempt in a skillful MANNER by taking the
offensive and precipitating, with advantage
to the Confederate arms a seriess OF
battles. After the partial success
at Spottsyvania he forwarded to the
government the dispatch closing with the
memorable words, II propose to fight it
out on this line if it takes all summer
His losses In the campaign from Nav to
June Id were 81, 561. Lees losses were
about 80 900. Grant now began the ,ieee
OF Petersburg, which ended after the victory
at Five Forks in April, 1866, when Rich
mond was evacuated and when Lee. fol
lowed by Grant, was forced to surrender
his army at Appomattox Courthouse At
the close of the war Gen. Grant fixed his
headquarters at Washington, and on July
%. 1866, was commissioned general OF
the United States army. a rank created