New-York tribune., 1885-07-24
HIS BOYHOOD.

As a boy he showed courage. resolution ana lead
ership, but little intellectual promise. He led the
boys III their games When he was twelve
years old, he sent by his fathef
with wagon to spot In the WOODS
where the men were telling timber The
men were to load tho logs on the wagon, and he
was to drive it home be found the logs but no men
He noticed fallen tree with an upward incline. and
unhitchinp his horses, he harnessed them to log,
and hauled it up the tree until 1t projected ABOVE
the height of the wagon. He hauled up several an
this way. aud then backed the wagon underneath
them The logs were then hauled off on to the wagon
Tn this way he loaded all of them on his wagon and
then calmly drove home "Why. my son. where
are the men Z" inquired the father. II don't know,
and don't care. i got the load without them.
His fondness for horses, which became proverbiai'
was shown early IN life. When ho was not quite
seyen wears old he one day took out OF the stable
three-year-old colt that mad never been worked,
harnessed him, drove him off to tho woods for
load of wood, ETC., and drove him back In triumph
with only single line When be wns IL years
old his father sent him to Louisville to get
deposition needed in a law suit, and when he was
ten years old he was accustomed to drive from
Georgetown. where the family then lived. to Gin
cinuati forty miles, and bring back
load-showing that he early displayed qualities
of self reliance and practical sense. he got the
ordinary education Of the frontier-to school IN
winter and at work in summer His parents were
door, and could not give him any higher learning.
Tho idea of West Point oadetship suggested
Itself, and it was finally obtained when be was
seventeen years of age through the help OF a
friendly member Of Congress.
At West Point he lived monotonous life--about
which some picturesque stories have been In
yeuted-and he did not distinguish himself except
"a the best rider in his class, and holding re-
spectable rank in spite of deficient preparation.
He stood In some awe of the examination, but
oassed finding himself one of a class of hundred
These included many who afterward distinguished
themselves in the civil war on both sides Among
those who followed the old flag were w. B Frank
lin. /. T, Quimby, j. j. Reynolds, O. q. Augur, X.
INGALLS, and H. NJ. Judah. Among these who
fought for the Confederacy were K 5. RIPLEY, " u.
French, +. Gardaer who surrendered FORT HUDSON
TO General Banks. and E. b. Holloway by
q curious accident Grants name was changed on
sntering the academy. 1t was originally Hiram
Tlvsses. and his mother continued to call him
Hiram till she died, in 1888 but Congressman
Hamer got the impression that tho name was
Iuvsses s.: it was SO entered and so had to remain
His mothers name had been Simpson. He got the
oickn Inc Uncle Sam" at West Point from MI
initials. which in latter life stood also 1o
"IJnited States" and unconditional Sur
render,n when he had become popular hero
"He was very uncle-like sort OF youni
man, said one of his comrades Quiet. good-nat
uled. careless in his appearance. little indoien
perhaps. he did not distinguish himself as stu
dent, except in mathematics He wrote 10 h'
father: %" don't expect to make very last progress
but shall try to hold on to what get, IL was
however, something Of an achievement 10 keep ~
with his class, so many Of whom were better edu
catad. and when he was graduated No. 21 In elias
at thirty-eight he had done better than very many
for many had been dropped back for deficiencies
Thsre was no second lientenancy vacant. and
had to lie content with commission as breve
sscond lieutenant. He was first assigned to the 4t
Infantry and ia September, 1s4o. he was trans
ferred to the 9TH Infantry with the full rank
second lieutenant.