Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-07-31
biographical Sketch.


Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant was
born on April q, 1S.!2, at Point Pleasant, Cler-
mont County, Ohio. 1t seems that the only
marked traits of his character he exhibi. ed
In early boyhood were energy, industry, Will.
His educational advantages, Mt this period,
were those of the common, country school
no more.
In the year 1899, at the age of seventeen,
he entered the United States Military Acad-
emy at West Point, from which he graduated
on the 3Oth day of January, 1S43 During his
stay at this institution he manifested that
untiring industry, close application and un-
conguerable will which distinguished his
boyhood, and which have constituted so con-
spicuous an element of his military charac-
ter. 1t appears, however. that he was never
regarded as genius; and the grade he susc
twcnty-one in class of about forty-two-
| would not Indicate extraordinary advance
remarked by those who conducted him
| through his academic course, as IL has been
| by those who have observed his military
career, that he never lost an inch of the
ground gained at each successive step in his
progress. At his graduation it is said he
possessed practical knowledge OF the use
of the riled musket, the field piece, mortar,
siege and sea-const guns, small sword and
bayonet, rs well as the construction of field
works and the fabrication of all munitions
and mdterfet of war"
| At the close of his academic course, he
| entered the United States regular army as q
Brevet Second Lieutenant of infantry. AT
| this time the United States being at peace
with all nations, Grant was attached as a
| Supernumerary Lieutenant to the Fourth In
| fantry, then stationed on the frontier in Mis-.
souri, and Missouri Territory, and engaged
| In keeping down the Indian tribes that at
| that time were very troublesome to the early
settlers of that region. Here Grant had not
been many months when he was ordered,
with his regiment to join the army of Gen
| eral Taylor in Texas. Soon after this Corpus
| Christi, an important port on the Texan
| shore, was taken possession of by the Amer
| lean army as n base of operations against
the Mexicans, between whom and the United
States disputes respecting certain imaginary
boundary lines were fast ripening into war;
| and 1t was here that Grant received his COM
| mission as Second Lieutenant of Infantry:
This commission dated from the 30th day OF
| he participated in the battle of Palo Alto,
and although not noticed In the official re-
| having displayed great gallantry. He was
| likewise engaged In the subsequent brilliant
operations of General ylor along the banks
OF tho Rio Grande. On the 23d of Septem-
| ber, 1S48, he took part with, great credit to
| himself, In the splendid affair at Monterey.
| 1t is a noteworthy fact that although Grant s
| was highly meritorous he remained in the
| back ground claiming no honors or promo
| tions, but quietly biding his time.
After the formal declaration OF war by the
United States against Mexico, he was trans
ferred to the command OF General Scott and
subsequently March 20. 1870 participated
In the siege OF Vera Cruz immediaieiy ts ar
master of his regiment, which Office he re-
tained throughout the Mexican campaign.
| He was, however, honored with the appoint
ment, on the field, of First Lieutenant, to
| date from the Sth of September, 1S47, for
gallant and distinguished voluntary services
OF Molino del Ray. Congress afterwards
wished to confirm the appointment Ms mere
brevet, but Grant refused 10 accept 1t under
such circumstances.
ON the 18th of September 1s4T he was
| made Brevet Captain of the regular army
| for gallant conduct at the battle of Chepnl-
.G..l.I ftan NJ.
| ing day. On the 10th of November, 1S4T, he
was commissioned First Lieutenant In the
fourth regiment OF regular infantry, still re-
| tanning his breyet rank OF Captain,
| At the close of the Mexican war, Grant,
upon the distribution of his regiment in com
pnnles and sections among the various
| northern frontier defences, along the bord.
or of the States of Michigan and New York,
| took command of his company in one of
these defences. His regiment having been
afterwards consolidated and ordered 10 the
Department of the Pacific, Grant with his
| own and some other companies, was sent
into Oregon TO Fort Dallas He received his
August. 1853, and was, shortly afterwards,
attached to tho Department of the West;
but, not regarding military SO favorably to
nection with the United States army on the
3lst day of July, 1854, after. which he resided
near the oity of 81 Louis, Mo, until the year
| 1859. Here he resided on n small farm, occu
pying himself In winter by hauling wood to
| the Carondelet market, and during the sum
mer IN h0 COllcctlon OF ueDts, TOT Wnlch iut
ter business, II Is said, he had little capacity
In the year 1859, he embarked in the leather
trade with his father. the firm opening busi
ness in the city of Galena, i'll. Grant con
tinued In the leather business, driving 9
prosperous trade, up to the breaking out OF
the Rebellion IN 1851. when he OF. red hi,
services to his country, upon the first call
for volunteers and was appointed by. Coy.
ernor Yates as Commander-in. Chief of the Ill
nos forces and mastering offcer OF lllinoii
volunteers. Desiring active service In thu
neld. he resigned his appointment as muster
the Twenty.iirst regiment Of Illinois v9lun
teers, with commission dating from Junt
l5. 1851. In August, 1851, Colonel Grant wa'
promoted TO the rank Of Brigadior OF yolun
teers, his commission dating from May II
1891.
Shortly after this he was appointed com
mandant of the post ut Cairo-which post
included the Missouri shore OF the Missis
slppi River, from Cape Girardeau to New
Madrid, and the opposite shore 70 the pon
Of land on which Cairo stands. This position
Grant iilled with great ability. checkmatinl
by his adroit marenyering, the efforts of III,
Kentucky. and onnduotlng those successful
ospedtlpns sgalnpt ForlA Henry and ponel