Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-04-16
GENERAL GRANT.
Life and Public Services of the most
Distinguished American Citi-
zen of To-Day.
His Record as a Soldier i'm Mexico
A Capable and Brave Officer
His Military Renown.
The Story of the Campaign that Gull
minated in the Surrender of
Lee of Appomattox.
BIOGRAPHICAL.

cestor was Matthew Grant, who came
over in the ship Mary and John, and
landed at Dorchester. Mass, in $780,
He came from England. but the family
tradition is that he was Scotchman.
Matthew went to Connecticut, and there
the family remained for six genera
tions, contributing good soldiers to the
colonial wars and to the war Of inde-
pendence. Capt. Noah Grant, the gene
rails grandfather, marched with the
first party that left Connecticut to
avenge the slaughter at Lexington.
Capt. Grant settled in Westmoreland
county. Pa, after the war, and there,
in 1894, his son, Jesse r. Grant, the
father of Gen. Grant, was born. The
latter's mother was a Hannah Simpson,
daughter of John Simpson, of Mont
gomery county, in the same State In
1878 she removed with her fathers
family to Clermont county, Ohio.
where, in June, 1921, she was married
to Mr.. Grant, who had removed to that
State some years before, and was then
engaged in the tannery business. In
1928, the year after their first child was
born, the young couple removed to
Georgetown, the capital of Brown
county, the county adjoining to the
eastward the one in which they had
resided. Here Ulysses obtained his
early education, and although. as we
are told, he was not noted during his
years of schooling for any ''smarlness"
beyond that usually possessed by boys
of his age, he early cyinced that
logged determination and perseyer-
ance for which he was so remarkable
in after life
When he was IL years of age, at the
suggestion of his father, he deter
mined if possible to enter West Point.
He has himself recounted the accident
by which he discovered that an appoint
mcnt was to be vacant, and the ruse
by which he obtained Il congressman
pledge to appoint him in contingency
which seemed to the congressman I'M
likely to arise. Heentered the military
academy July /, 1889, with class of
about one hundred, and while there did
not seem to be particularly attracted
by speculative philosophy, but was re-
markably fond of the more solid and
concrete forms of demonstrative ma
thematics and of all experimental ex-
ercises. He was the only one who had
not studied the course at least one
year, and many of them had received
collegiate education. Only thirty-nine
of the members graduated.
Grants strong points were mathe-
mates, in which he stood No. 10, and
engineering, No. 16.
Prof. Coppee, who was Grants class
mate, says: ''The honor of being his
comrade for two years at the academy
enables me to speak more intelligently,
perhaps, than those of the new school,,
who have invented the most absurd
stories to illustrate his cadet life. | re-
member him as a plain, common sense,
straightforward youth; quiet, rather of
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES order;
stunning notoriety; quite contented,
while others were grumbling; taking
to his military duties in very bust
ness-like manner; not prominent man
IN the corps, but respected by all, and
very popular with his friends. His So
briquet of Uncle Sam was given TO
him there, where every good fellow has
nickname, from these very qualities,
indeed, he was a very uncle sort of
youth. He was then and always an
excellent horseman, and his picture
rises before me as | write, in the old
torn coat, obsolescent leather gig-top,
loose riding pantaloons. with spurs
buckled over them, going with his
elanking saber to the old hall. He ex-
hibited but little enthusiasm in any
thing; his best standing was in the ma
thematical branches, and their appli-
cation to tactics and military engineer
ing" Grant graduated with respecta-.
bic credit, June SO, lS43. He is said
to have been the best rider in his class,
but not remarkable otherwise.
IN MEXICO.
AT his graduation no second lieuten-
ancy was vacant, and Grant therefore
received brevet commission as second
lieutenant in the 4th regiment of regu-
lar infantry, then stationed in Missouri,
with its headquarters at Jefferson bar
racks, near st. Louis the officers and
men of which were engaged in the dan
gerous task of protecting the settlers
and emigrants from the depredations of
hostile Indians, then residing in that
section of the country. In 1913 the
troubles with Mexico required military
force at Corpus Christi, and Gen. Tay-
Tor moved thither, Grants regiment
forming part of his command. In the
ensuing year the impending war open
ed, and, having been honored with n
full lieutcnancy, Grant participated in
his first battle ut Palo Alto.
All accounts agree that he was cool
and brave, and he at once secured the
respect of his men ard the confidence
of his superiors. At Resaca de Ia Pal
ma he again demonstrated his courage
in the presence of danger, and also at
the desperate action at Monterey. AT
ter that engagement his regiment was
transferred to the army of Gen. Win
field Scott, and took part in every bat
tie between Vera Cruz and the City of
Mexico.
After the battle of Moline del Rey,
Grant was breyeted first lieutenant for
his daring and capacity. AT the Storm
ing of Chapultepec, which Immediately
followed, he commanded small party
of infantry that made a gallant dash at
the left flank of the enemy, by reason
of which the first barrier on that field
was carried. For this exploit he was
breveted captain and complimented in
the dispatches During the entire war
be fought in fourteen actions, and in
nearly every instance received some
flattering encomium from his immediate
commanders. When the war closed
his reputation as fearless and intelli-
gent officer was as enviable as it APP
pears to have been deserved.
After short period of station life at
Detroit and Sackett's Harbor, Mich, he
married in 1913 Miss Julia L. Dent,
daughter of prominent st. Louis
merchant and sister of one of his West
Point classmates He and his young
wife resided until 1852 at Sackett's Har-
Dor in camp life. In 1852 he was sent
with his regiment to Oregon.
The journey to Oregon was by way of
the isthmus, and Admiral Schenck, who
commanded the transport ship. has re-
called his impressions of the young sub
altern.
In 1885," said the admiral, Il took
a regiment on my ship from New York
to the isthmus. Maj. Bonneville, whose
exploits and adventurous trip through
the Rocky mountains was afterward re-
lated by Washington Irving, was in
command of the regiment. and Lieut..
Grant was acting as quartermaster.
For the first week or so out | did not
have much to say to Grant. He was
then a quiet. administrative man, and
tool Incl 4hn.. oil