El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-14
BY MADISON c. PETERS

mer and reminded him of his promise
and Hamer made good by appointing
him. Just at this time Mr.. Hamer and
Grants father were at enmity, over a
political discussion, and this and other
reasons made it very unlikely that Ha-
mer would appoint Grant, but Grants
ruse in securing Hamer's promise waived
all these and they were always there
after firm friends
Grant was christened Hiram Ulysses.
His mothers name was Simpson and Ha-
mer in filling the application for the ca
detship put down Ulysses Simpson Grant
and Grant forever afterward used that
name.
Not Brilliant as Student.
At West Point, Grant did not distin-
guish himself as a brilliant student. de
eNcelled. however, in Craftsmanship. He
graduated number q in his class. He
entered service in the Mexican war as q
second lieutenant, he did not distinguish
himself, but the long tOilsome marches,
the fierce fighting and the splendid
strategy Of Gen. Scott played important
parts in. Grants training Tor future ser
vice.
After the proclamation of peace,
Grant returned home in August. 1913,
and married Miss Julia Dent of st.
Louis. After a short service in the
army in different sections of the coUn-
try, and during which time he had
reached q captaincv, feeling that the
eight years service required by the gov
eminent had now been rendered. and that
he had paid for his education by his ser
vices. he decided to leave the army and
seek activities in another field.
Takes Small Farm.
He took a small farm near St. Louis.
and spent a good deal of his time in
hauling wood TO the city. He tried in
vain to add to his income by becoming a
collector of debts for others. He was
anxious and ambitious TO succeed, but a
lang series Of failures were recorded
against him, so his father took him to
Galena. and the business was changed TO
Grant i Son, leather Dealers and
Capt. Grant commenced again the old
business Of handling hides This seemed
to him to be his life work, but suddenly
there was a call to arms. He was ready
at once to respond to the call OF duty. He
organized a company of volunteers. and
offered his services TO his country. but
the adjUtant general never acknowledged
the letter. He was willing to serve his
country IN any capacity. Eminent civil
lans were offering themselves as com
manders, and there seemed to be no
An Imprinted Story.
[ was told recently in GEORGETOWN.
the story never. printed. that at this per
lod Grant came TO that town and called
on few OF his fathers friends to raise
money enough to buy an outfit to bake
bareback, as he had a contract to SUD
ply the army. A friend discouraged him
and insisted that he must be a soldier.
his name was now r,rocav4o1 h.
friend TO governor Yates. His military
education and experience in the Mexican
war was emphasized. and the governor
commissioned him as adiutant and set
MN TO work to assist the governor In
arranging the quota for the state. A
little later the governor received a re-
quest from the president to send on two
names for the position of brigadier gen
eraL and proposed to Grant To send his
Grant declined the offer. preferring. he
SAID, TO earn his promotion
Is Made Colonel
having completed the work required to
meet the first call of the state for troops. /
Grant was commissioned colonel of the
1Wenty-fIrst regiment. and only got
TINS JOB because It's own colonel could
not manage the men Below medium
height and of shabby appearance the
new colonel made a poor impression on
the regiment. but now he was in the
army Of the Union and the force of his
character began TO show itself. He had
offered his services to the general gov
eminent, but no attention was paid to
the offer.
He had tried to get on the staff of
Mcclellan, but failed Having heard of
the y, Iatters appointment as major general /
OF ONO volunteers. he modestlv thought.
as an old army friend. he MIGHT offar /
MN position on his staff. so he went
to Cincinnati to see Mcclellan. He called [
on him twice, but finding him out both /
times, and seeing q crowd of applicants /
around his headquarters he became dis |
couraged and returned home.
Had Grant obtained an interview with /
Mcclellan, ne might have received the |
coveted appointment, shared that COM I
msndeTs fortune and fate. and so have /