The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-24
General Grants Life and Services-Eis Ill
ness and Death.


ness and Death.
General Grants great grandfather was a cap
tain, and his grandfather a soldier in our early
wars. The former was killed at the battle OF
White Plains, in 1896, and the latter did good
service in the Revolution. Jesse H. 'r"n'' HIS
father, was born in Westmore!and county, Pa,
in 1894 In 1905 his father died, and jesse then
eleven years Of age, was apprentlced to tanner
The family removed to Maysville, Ky, and
afterwards settled at Point Pleasant C!ermont
county, 0.
Grants mother was Hannah Simpson, the
daughter of John Simpson. She was born in
Montgomery county, Pa, but removed
with her father and family to
Cermont county, O., in 1918, where, in June,
1921 she married Jesse r. Grant On the 9th
of April, 1922, their first child, known to the
world as Ulysses Simpson Grant, was born in q
small onestory cottage, still standing on the
banks of the Ohio The boy was christened
Hiram Ulysses but when he was appointed to
West Point his application was made in the
name Of Ulysses S. Grant, the congressman
making the application evidently confusing his
name with that of a younger brother named
Simpson, in honor Of the mother An effort was
made to have the mistake rectifed at the acad-
envy, but it failed, his warrant being made out
for Ulysses Sidney Grant, which name he &C
cepted, only changing the Sidney to Simpson.
A comrade for two years at West Point writes
of his life there:
81 remember him as a plain, common-sense
straightforward youth; quiet, calm, thoughtful
and unaggressive; stunning notoriety; quite
contented, while others were grumbling; taking
to his military duties in business-llke manner;
not prominent man in the corps, but respected
by ALL and very popular with his friends. His
sobruuet Of Uncle Sam" was given to him
then, where every good fellow has a nickname
from these very qualities; indeed, he was very
uncleike sort of youth. He was an excellent
horseman, and his picture rises before as
write, in the old torn coat riding jackets bad
not then been issuedl, absolescent leather gig
top, loose riding pantaloons with spurs buckled
over them, going with his clanking saber to the
drill-hall. He exhibited but little enthusiasm in
anything. His best standing was in the mathe
NAUTICAL branches and their application to tao
ties and military engineering"
Grant left West Point as brevet second
lieutenant in the Fourth Infantry, and joined
his regiment, July l, 1913, at Jefferson Barracks,
near ST Louis In the summer of 1914 the regi
ment was transferred to Natchitoches, La. and
in 1915 to Corpus Christi, to watch the Mexican
army, then concentrating on the frontier Grant
was made full second-lieutenant in the Seventh
Regiment, on the 30th of September 1915. But
he had formed an attachment for the Fourth,
and applied to remain in it. This was granted
by the War Department. He first saw active
NJ "a
1876 and participated in the bloody battle OF
Monterey, Sept %, 1876 HIS regiment was
soon after called away from General Taylor's
command, to join General Scott in his splendid
campaign from Vera Cruz to Mexico He was
at the siege and capture of Vera Cruz, March %
1916 and on April l, preparatory to the ad
vance, he was appointed regimental quartermas
ter post which he held during the remainder
of the war; though personally participating in
every engagement possible. At MOlino del Rey
Sept. s, 1847, he was distinguished and was
brevetted first lieutenant for his services This
brevet, however, owing to the fact of his becom
ing full frst-lieutenant by the casualties OF
that battle, he declined At Chapultepec he re
ceived the brevet of captain 'for gallant and
meritorious conduct" awarded in 1870, but no
confirmed until 1850
At the close of the Mexican war the Fourth
Regiment was sent to New York, and afterwards
TO Detroit and Sacketts Harbor In August
l648, he married Miss Dent, sister
to his classmate, Frederick J. Dent,
who resided in ST. Louis. In 1856
Grant went with the regiment to Oregon, ani
was afterwards ordered to Fort Dallas, where hi
saw some service against the Indians. Aftel
two years absence from his family, and with bu
little prospect of promotion at that time, Gran
having been promoted to a full captaincy il
August 1853, he resigned his commission July 81
1854 As private citizen he began life as
small farmer and dealer in wood near st. Louis
at which he made precarious living. He is
also said to have served as auctioneer, though
his customary reticence is against it. In 1861
he entered into partnership with his father, who
had been prosperous in the tanning business, il
new leather store in Galena, Ill
1t may easily be conceived how the treachcry
OF Southern leaders, the secession of South Car
olina and the bombardment of Fort Sumter
affected Grant. A decided Democrat before the
war, he had, in his limited sphere. been in favor
of concedng to the South all its rights, and even
more; but when the struggle actually began
his patriotism and military ardor were aroused
together AS a patriot, he was determined
to support his government and uphold the
flag and as q soldier, he saw opening
before him career of distinction for which he
had been educated, and in which already he had
III s. me degree distinguished himself. In April
he raised company. and in May rendered his
services to Governor Yates. He was soon after
appointed mastering officer of the State, and
not long after that was commissioned colonel Of
the Twenty first Illinois Volunteers, three
months men. They subsequently enlisted. ow
ing to their confidence in him, for three Years
service He took command of the regiment al
Springfield, H. and superintendent their drill
and. not long after. he marched them IN defanl