New-York tribune., 1885-07-24

safety. In April, 1s47. he was made quarter
master Of hts regiment. and wrote hsme
to his father and mother: Il do not mean
You shall ever hear Of my shirk.
ing my duty in battle. My now post Of
quarternaster is considered to afford an officer an
opportunity to be relieved from lighting. but do
not and cannot see 1t in that light. You have al
ways taught that the post Of danger is the post
Of duty" So he went fighting, and at Molino del
Rey September 8, 1S47) was appointed on the
eld first lieutenant for his gallantry But he had
no friends in Congress- and the honor was not con-
irmed to him. Colonel Garland, commanding the
irst brigade at Chepuitepec. referred in his re-
port to Lieutenant Grant. 4th Infantry, who &C
Iuittcd himself most pobly upon several occasions
,nder my own observation He was breveted
aptain for his galantry on that day tSeptember 49,
S47) and soon after. got his delayed commission
% first lieutenant 1t is little curious that
ven In war, where he was afterward to make HIM
elf renowned, Grant, though then about twenty
i've years of age appears to have made no deep I'M
preston upon those about him. Many years alter
ward, when he had become famous. General Scott
aid Of him that he could only remember HIM " in
he Mexican War as young lieutenant OF un-
launted courage but giving no promise of anything
eyond ordinary abilities"
When the Mexican War cndod he returned with
his regiment to Detroit. and was aftcrwaru sta-
toned at Sacketts Harbor While there, 1t Is said
he found an antagonist at chess, to which he was
devoted, who beat him steadily. characteristic
story is told of Grant thathe would stuboorniy IN
sst on keeping up the game until his opponent was
SO tired that his mind would not WORK
freely--and then tho account would be pai'
anced. In 1S4S he married Julia I. Dent
of st. Louis sister of Frederick 7. Deat
fava hrnke ont
soon after his marriage aud the throngs OF emi :
grants to California made the presence OF troops
necessary on THO Pacific coast. Grants regiment
was ordered thither, aud soon after no was sent
with battalion to Fort Dallas, Oregon, lonely
outpost in the wilderness Of tho Northwest Ills
life there was dreary. uneveptful and dispiriting
and the evidence seems to show that nc did not re-
s.t the natural temptations to conviviality so we'll
as he MI ght have done. The prospect for advance
mept in the army was gloomy. The pro-
motions for services during the Mexican
War, many of them obtained through po-
litical influence had filled every vacancy
existing or that likely to occur In July, loo4,
the year after he became captain. he resigned MS
commission-hs resignation. according 70 one re-
port, having been unOffcially requested--
and went 10 ST LOUIS, his wites former bVme neu
which city no settled down on small farm The
obscur1ty and failure. The returns from his farm
were small and he went into the business of selling
wood. cutting it himself hauling 1t from Caronde-
let "a the village was called. into 81. Louis, and
selling it by the cord There were many who, aiier
be became President, we'll remembered the Snort
square figure, felt hat. coarse blouse and trousers
ucked into the boots of the man who once brought
them their firewood. One OF his customers was
Henry T. Blow. who was elected to the AAAlAth
Congress, and went to the White House with his
wife. wondering whether his former wood-deaier
uould remember them, OF would care TO recall hcir
former relations. General Grant said Mrs. Biow'
remember you WELL Do you receect when
used to supply your husband with wood ana PIE
1t myself, and measure it. too. and 60 10 us
office for my pay Those were happy days Tor J
was doing the best could TO support my family.
But he was not successful at it. He added bilcol-
Letting to his other occupations but was too good
natured for dun, believed too easily and accepted
cxcuses too promptly. He was too poor to hire al
Office and lawyer, W. s. Hillyer fafterward on
Grants staff, gave bin the use Of his He
applIed for the position Of Comfy Engineer and
failed 10 got it. He tried auciioneering and made
an experiment in the real estate business The re-
suit was about the same. however. in all his vei
lures Whether because the years spent in
the army had untitled him for business life.
or not the pot did not boil cheerily. II
is pleasant to be able to record the fact. how
ever that he had thrown off one of the shacklcs
of army life. The story IL on record VI his meeting
some old friends in ST Louis who wanted to take
glass or two but he absolutely refused saying that
he drank nothing now.