General Grant and his campaigns

Front matter

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The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant

Introduction

The best introduction to this volume that can be written, is to state that the subject of it is but fortyone years of age ; has participated in two great wars ; has captured during the present struggle five hundred guns, one hundred thousand prisoners, and a quarter of a million of small arms ; has redeemed from rebel rule over fifty thousand square miles of territory ; has reopened to the commerce of the world the mightiest highway on the globe ; has stubbornly pursued his settled path in spite of all obstacles, and has never been beaten. All this has been realized not with any desire to gain glory for himself, but for the sole and patriotic purpose of securing the restoration of the Union. Modestly and quietly he moved along, almost unknown until the capture of Fort Donelson, and even now but few are fully acquainted with all that he has acconi-

4 I3STTE0DTJCTI0N.

plished for the honor of his country. If a work should be written at all of any man, while living, no apology is needed for the present book. The author has had special opportunities of watching the career of General Grant during the wThole war, and is thus enabled to give something of the history of one of the most successful military men of modern times.

J. K. L.

LIST OF CONTENTS.

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Introduction 3

Chapter I. — G-rant's Early Days

Birth and birth-place — Name, and how he obtained it — "Where he was educated — "What is the meaning of Can't?" — The horse trade — He fights to defend the name of Washington 13

Chapter ' II. — At West Point.

When admitted and by whose influence — Advancing through the classes — What he learned each year — His graduation — His classmates— Pertinacity of character — " Company Grant" 2.0

Chapter III. — Enters the Army

Mexican War — Brevet Second-Lieutenant of Infantry — Employed on the Missouri frontier — Ordered to Texas — Fully commissioned — Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma — Bio Grande — Monterey — Vera Cruz — Molino del Rey — Chapultepec — Brevet First-Lieutenant— -Mentioned in official reports — Regimental companions. . . 30

Chapter IT. — Subsequent Services and Resignation.

Civil life— Oregon— Captain — Resigns the United States Service — Farmer and cord-wood dealer — Engages in the leather trade — Knows more of tanning leather than of politics — Value of good leather 41

Chapter V. — The Rebellion. — Grant Volunteers and becomes a Brigadier-General

Staff and mustering officer in Illinois — Energy — Colonel of the 21st Illinois Volunteers — Services in Missouri — Brigadier-General of Volunteers — Comparative table of Generals appointed on the same day, and how employed on January 1, 1864 45

Chapter VI. — Post and District Commander. — Belmont

Commander at Cairo — Forces increased — Value of Cairo — Occupation of Paducah and Smithland, Kentucky — Proclamation — Unpretending style of dress — Constantly smoking — Correspondence with General Polk — Victory at Fredericktown — Belmont — Bravery of his troops — Letter to his father— His appreciation of his command — Care for the wounded , . 45

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Chapter YII. — District of Cairo. — Grand Reconnoissance.

District extended — Assumes command — Composition of staff — Forces further increased — Issues an order against picket-shooting— Spies to be looked after — Reconnoissance in force into "Western Kentucky — Manning the gunboats 59

Chapter VIII. — Forts Henry and Donelson. — Value op the Feint

His command brigaded — The start — Advance upon and occupation of Fort Henry — Treatment of prisoners — Commander of three divisions — Movement upon Fort Donelson — Investment and battles— Rebel sorties — Correspondence with General Buckner — An ''unconditional surrender" demanded — "I propose to move immediately upon your works" — Victory — " The Union flag floats over Fort Donelson" — Value of the victory — Major-General of Volunteers — General Halleck's announcement of the success — A spirited incident 66

Chapter IX. — District op "West Tennessee

A new district formed — General Grant in command — Congratulatory order for recent victories — Clarksville taken — Martial law in Tennessee — Marauding and plunder prohibited — Advance up the Tennessee River — Sword presentation — Expeditionary movements— The rebel commanders opposed to Grant — The Mississippi blockade 79

Chapter X. — Pittsburg Landing or Shiloh

Positions of the belligerent forces — General A. S. Johnston's address to his command — The commanding officers of both armies — Preliminary skirmishing — Rebel plans — "The first day's struggle"— Bravery of General Grant — Driven back but not defeated — Re -enforcements — " The second day's battle" — The result, Victory— The news received in New York — Excitement throughout the North — Thanks of the War Department — Salute of one hundred guns — General Grant wounded — Correspondence with General Beauregard — Reconnoissance — Evidences of a hasty retreat of the rebels — General Halleck at Pittsburg Landing — His thanks to General Grant. 86

Chapter XI. — Movement and Siege op Corinth

Preliminary movements — Three armies combined — The "Grand Army of the Tennessee" — How composed — Outcry against General Grant — Mr. Washburne defends him in Congress — General Halleck retains him, and appoints him second in command — He superintends the movements in the field — Gradual evacuation of Corinth — Approach of the parallels — Advance of the whole army with General Grant at the head — Occupation of Corinth — Interesting details — Pursuit of the enemy 91

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Chapter XII. — The Department of "West Tennessee. — Memphis

His command further increased — Difficulty with regard to Memphis — Stringent orders — Guerilla warfare — Aiding the rebels — General Grant strikes at the root of the evil — The negroes put to useful employment — The Act of Congress obeyed — Confiscation not wholesale plunder — Skulkers to be drafted — Quiet restored. Ill

Chapter XIII. — Itjka — Corinth and the Hatchie

Approach of the rebels — Battle of Iuka — His combinations — The result — Change of head-quarters and why — Rebel advance upon Corinth — Disposition of his forces — Attack upon Corinth — The repulse — The rebels brought between two fires — Grant's strategy — Victory — The President's congratulations 120

Chapter XIV. — Department of the Tennessee. — Discipline. — Trade

The new command — Reorganization of the forces — The army to move light — Cavalry expeditions — Head-quarters removed to La Grange, Tennessee — Discipline — Marauding to be severely punished, and how — Departmental staff — Contraband camp established— A regiment assessed to pay for plundering — Trade regulations— Punishment for violation of the same — Why General Grant would not appoint traders 132

Chapter XV. — Advance into Mississippi. — A Retrospect. The previous efforts to take Vicksburg and their failures 146

Chapter XVI. — Grant's First Movements towards Vicksburg

The expedition by way of Delta, Mississippi — Its success — Advance to and occupation of Holly Springs — Arrival at Oxford, moving towards Jackson, Mississippi — Surrender of Holly Springs — The result — The guilty party — Brave defence of other posts — Investigation — punishment and reward 151

Dash of the cavalry — Feints — The Southern Railroad destroyed — Immense destruction of rebel government property — Arrival at Baton Rouge — General Grant's report 204

Chapter XXVIII. — Other Preliminary Movements. — Attack upon Grand Gulf

Affair at Nanconnah — General Banks's movements from Baton Rouge — The army at Hard Times — Naval attack upon Grand Gulf— Running the batteries , 210

Chapter XXIX. — The Landing at Bruinsburg and Advance. Marching light — The bivouac — Rapid movements — The march. ... 212

Chapter XXX. — The Battle of Thompson's Hill or Port Gibson. — The Evacuation of Grand Gulf

Skirmishing — The fight — General Grant on the field — The enemy driven — The pursuit — General Grant occupies Grand Gulf — His entire disregard of danger 216

CONTEXTS.

Chapter XXXI. — Outside Operations

Corwyn's cavalry expedition — Sherman's feint on the Yazoo — General Banks to co-operate. / 223

Chapter XXXII. — The Advance towards Jackson. — Battle op Raymond

Ilawkinson's Ferry. — Feint towards Warrenton — Alarm in Jackson— Governor Potter's proclamation — Order of advance — The march — " I shall communicate with Grand Gulf no more" — Battle near and occupation of Raymond 227

Chapter XXIII. — The Capture and Occupation of Jackson.

Clinton occupied — Movement upon the city by two routes — The contest outside the city — At Jackson — Destruction of rebel government property — Interesting details 236

CHAPTER XXXIV.— The Advance Renewed.— Champion's Hill

Important information gained — Prompt advance — Concentric movements— Battle of Champion's Hill — General Grant on the field — Rebel official acknowledgments of defeat 243

Chapter XXXV. — Battle of Big Black River

General Sherman's flank movement — General Grant personally looks after the pontoon train — The contest on the banks of the Big Black — The rebels' admirable position 248

Chapter XXXVI. — Approaching Vicksburg. — Investment. — First Assault

Communication opened with the Yazoo River — The advance upon the rebel strong-hold— The first assault — Admiral Porter's co-operation— TheHnited Service . 252

Chapter ' XXXVII. — The Second Assault upon Vicksburg.

Why this assault was made — A decisive order — The signal — The advance — Determination of the troops — Heavy rebel fire — The charge — The repulse — Interesting details — Admiral Porter's report— General McClernand's objectionable order — General Grant's decisive action — His army first, his friend afterwards — The rebel General Pemberton's determination to hold Vicksburg 260

Chapter XXXVIII.— The Siege of Vicksburg

The rebel works nearly invested — A leak discovered — Valuable information gained — Threatened in the rear — Preparations to resist the threat — General Blair's expedition — The sappers and miners at work — Reenforcements — General Sherman's expedition— The rebels' " faith in the Lord and Joe Johnston'' — The

latter taken care of 275

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Chapter XXXIX. — The Explosion of the Mine

The mine — How worked — The powder deposited — Details of the firing and explosion — The scene — The dash at the breach — Another decisive order 281

Chapter XL. — The Surrender of Vicksburg

The city spared, and why — The approaching parallels — The rebels desire a capitulation — The meeting of the commanding Generals — The terms " Unconditional Surrender" — Suspension of hostilities— Magnanimous conduct to the besieged — The garrison allowed to march out with the honors of war 290

Chapter XL I. — Occupation of Vicksburg. — The Losses.

The entrance of the Union Army into Vicksburg — Condition of the • city — The rebel losses — Comparative statement of casualties — General Halleck's report of the campaign — His opinion of General Grant — The President's autograph letter of thanks. — His joke upon Grant's whiskey — Port Hudson — Its fall necessitated by the capitulation of Vicksburg. 302

Chapter XLII. — The Pursuit of Johnston. — Second Capture of the City of Jackson

General Sherman's preparations — The pursuit commenced — Joe Johnston's appeal — Jackson invested on three sides — Details of the advance — Evacuation of the city by the rebels and occupation by the Union troops 317

Chapter XLIII. — At Vicksburg, but not Idle

The Yazoo City expedition — The Red River and Natches expedition— The Mississippi Valley campaign ended 326

Chapter XLIV.— His Success made Sure. — His Department Secured.— Care for the Soldiers

Mrs. General Grant — Sword presentation — Major-General of the Regular Army — Furloughs for the troops — The contrabands — Trade — Letter to Secretary Chase — An overcharging steamboatman made to disgorge — Guerillas to be severely dealt with Negro camps v. 331

Chapter XLV. — Visit to Memphis and New Orleans

The dinner at Memphis — The toasts — " De Soto, Fulton, Grant" — He visits other districts — Arrival at New Orleans — Review at Carrolton — Thrown from his horse and seriously injured — The result 341

Chapter XLVI. — An Enlarged Command. — Military Division of

the Mississippi.

General Grant looks after the pay of his soldiers — Jurisdiction of the district of Vicksburg — Badge of honor for the troops — Concentra-

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tion at Chattanooga — The rebels resisting the advance of re-enforcements— Meeting between General <*' ant and Secretary Stanton— Arrival at Louisville — Assumes command — His immense responsibility— Position of affairs 349

Chapter XLVII. — Active Movements. — Lookout Yalley

Sad condition of the troops at Chattanooga — General Grant effects a change — Lookout Valley occupied — Communications re-opened — Rebel chagrin — Incidents 360

Chapter XLVIIL — Longstreet's Advance upon Knoxville.

General Grant's quiet demeanor — Deals with raiding parties through their friends — Arrival of Sherman's forces at Chattanooga— Longstreet's flank movement — The rebels allowed to advance, and why — General Grant's plans 371

Chapter XL EX. — The Battles before Chattanooga. — First Day.

General "Wood's reconnoissance — An advance — The rebels think it a review until too late — Orchard Knob taken — Gallantry of the troops 376

Chapter L. — The Second Day. — Lookout Mountain.

General Hooker's movements on the right — A new specimen of tactics. — The mountain taken — General Grant's modest dispatch.. 380

Chapter . LI. — Third Day. — Tunnel Hill. — Mission Ridge.

Sherman's terrific assaults — Details of the contest — Yalue of the struggle — Granger's grand attack in the centre — The advance through the valley of death — The heights gained — The rebels in full retreat — Granger's compliment..:^ order — Incidents 390

Chapter LII. — Retrospect of i.'" Three Days' Battles.

General Meigs's semi-official dispatch — The 'fory — General Grant's bravery — "Another victory added to the hapter of 'Unconditional surrender Grant.' " 409

Chapter LIII. — The Pursuit. — Fight * Ringgold.

The rebels closely followed up- — The affair at Chicka lauga Depot — Immense destruction of rebel stores — The conto r at Ringgold— Occupation of the Gaps — Rebels retreat to Dali * t — General Bragg's dispatch 413

Chapter LIV. — Knoxville Relieved.

General Grant's splendid strategy developed — He first defeats Bragg and then turns upon Longstreet — President Lincoln's proclamation of thanksgiving for victory — His dispatch of thanks to General Grant — General Halleck's report of the campaign — Rebel fears of Grant's movements — Congratulatory order to the troops — What had been accomplished in a short time — General Grant as he appeared during the campaign — Incidents 420

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Chapter LV. — Honors to General Grant. — Thanks of Congress.

— Gold Medal.

The Hon. E. B. "Washburne's resolutions — Thanks of Congress — A gold medal to be presented to General Grant — " Public resolution No. 1" — The medal — Honorary member of missionary societies— Nominated for President — Thanks of State Legislatures — Presentations 430

Chapter LVI. — Lieutenant-General.— Congressional Nominations.

The grade of Lieutenant-General to be revived — General Grant nominated for the position — Exciting debate in Congress — Speeches of the Hon. Messrs. Farnsworth and Washburne — The nomination approved by one hundred and seventeen votes 431

Chapter LYII. — Preparing for a New Campaign.

General Grant submits a plan of action — Resolution to raise one mhlion of men to be placed under his command — Forethought on behalf of repentant rebels — Orders under the confiscation act — The property of loyal persons — Care for his troops 443

Chapter LYHT. — Personally Inspects his Grand Department.

His departure from Chattanooga — Arrival at Nashville — Yisit to Knoxville — Dangerous and unpleasant trip to Louisville by way of Cumberland Gap — Reception at Lexington — Railroad communication opened with Chattanooga — The rear of his lines perfectly safe 449

Chapter LIX. — At St. Louis. — Public Dinner.

His quiet and modest arrival in that city — Invitations to a public dinner and reply — The reception — General Grant's speeches — Honorary member of the Western Sanitary Commission 455

Chapter LX. — His Personal Appearance and Character.

In battle and at liome — Kindness of heart — Abnegation of self — • Appreciation of others — Modesty 463

Appendix

Battle of Fredericktown — Battle of Belmont, Mo. — Capture of Fort Henry, Tenn. — Cspture of Fort Donelson — General Grant's Official Report — Battle of Pittsburg Landing and Major-General Grant — Capitulation of Yicksburg.

GENERAL GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS.

Chapter I

grant's early days.

l$o military man of modern times has accomplished as much, with so little noise, as he of whom this narrative is written. From his earliest history down to the present time, his works and not his words have always spoken for him. Whenever he intended to do any thing of importance he would ask for, and listen to, the counsels of others, and, if good, adopt their plans, giving them the credit, if successful, and taking the blame upon himself if failure should ensue. He was never guilty of petty oppressions — such as many in office practise, to show they possess a power, which, in point of fact, they never know how to wield — nor did he ever find it necessary or politic to push himself into notoriety. And yet there is no one living who possesses more fame and celebrity.

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant,* of the United States

* The second initial of General Grant's name has thus been accounted for, on the authority of General William T. Sherman, who is a warm admirer of that officer. He is reported to have stated that General Grant's baptismal name was Hiram Ulysses, and he bore that appellation until he was appointed a cadet at West Point. General Hamer, who regular army, the victorious commander of the principal portion of the Union forces in the West, and hero of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga, was born at Mount Pleasant, better known as Point Pleasant,* Clermont county, in the State of Ohio, on the 27th day of April, 1822. Point Pleasant is a post village of the county, and is situated on the Ohio River, about twenty-five miles above Cincinnati. Clermont county is in the southwestern part of the State of Ohio, and has an area of four hundred and sixty-two square miles, or 295,680 acres. The Ohio River forms the county boundary on the southwest, and the Little Miami River runs along its western lines. The land of the county is well drained by the east fork of the Little Miami River, into which the creeks mostly run. The surface of the country is of a rolling character, and is quite hilly in the vicinity of the Ohio River. The soil generally is of a rich nature, and the surface rock is formed of the

nominated him for the cadet-ship, by some means got his name mixed up with that of his brother. He -was, therefore, appointed as "Ulysses Sydney Grant," and that name, once so recorded on the books of the Military Academy, could not be changed. He was baptized into the military school as U. S. Grant, and he has ever since been thus designated. * This fact has been disputed by several of the newspapers of Scotland, Great Britain. One journal, the Montrose Standard, asserts that General Grant is a native of Kirriemuir, in that county ; that his father had once been grieve on Kinordine, then farmer of Ballhall, and latterly a manufacturer in Kirriemuir. It further states that young Grant, having a military spirit, disdained the humble life of his father, and entered the British army as a private in the Life Guards. But finding the road to fame could not be travelled with ease on the horse of one belonging to the ranks, he deserted, and left for parts unknown, which, as the Standard asserts, has turned out to be America. The reader will see the fallacy of this assertion as he pursues the course of our narrative ; it being only necessary to state in this note that no private is admitted into the ranks of the British Life Guards that is under six feet in height, or less than eighteen years of age.

blue limestone. A railroad now passes along its northern border, some distance from Grant's birthplace ; but at the time when that general entered upon his career, the iron tramway was entirely unknown in that region of country. During the year 1823, his parents, who were Scotch settlers, found it necessary to change their residence, and removed to Georgetown, a post village of Pleasant township, and capital of Brown county, Ohio. This village is situated in the midst of a rich farming district, and is located at about seven miles from the Ohio River. Here young Grant spent his early days, and obtained the rudiments of his education at the ordinary village school. While at school the embryo conqueror did not betray any remarkable talent for learning — that is, he was not considered a "brilliant lad." He was slow in acquiring knowledge ; but such was his determination, that he would never give up his task until he had mastered it, and, when once impressed upon his mind, he seemed never to forget what he had learned. On one occasion he had a difficult piece of work placed before him by his teacher, and it seemed to puzzle poor Grant's brains more than any of his preceding studies.

"You can't master that task," remarked one of his schoolfellows.

" Can't ?" returned Grant, " what does that mean ?" " Well, it means that — that you can't, there." Grant took up the old dictionary that was in constant use in the school, and searched through it ; but could not find the word. It seemed to puzzle him, as to its definition, far more than his task had done. At last he determined to go to his teacher, to whom he made the following remarks :

" What is the meaning of can't ? The word is not in the dictionary."

16 GE2JEKAL GKANT

The teacher explained its origin, and how it came to be corrupted by abbreviation ; and then, wishing to improve the opportunity to impress it on the young scholar's mind, he called all his school around him, and told his pupils the anecdote. He then wound up by saying : " If, in the struggles through life, any person should assert that ' you can't' do any thing that you had set your mind upon accomplishing, let your reply be, if the work be a good and lawful one, ' The word ccuiH is not in the dictionary.' "

Grant conquered his studies, and never forgot the incident. In after years he often replied to those who would assert that he would fail in accomplishing his object, that " the word can't is not in the dictionary," and pertinaciously would he pursue that object until he had brought it down.

While Grant was at school, his companions used to tell a story about a horse trade that he was once engaged in. It appears that when he was about twelve years of age, his father sent him to purchase a horse of a farmer, named Ralston, who resided some short distance in the country. The elder Grant wanted the horse, but still desired to get it as cheaply as possible. Before starting, the old gentleman impressed upon young Grant's mind that fact in these words :

" Ulysses, when you see Mr. Ralston, tell him I have sent you to buy his horse, and offer him fifty dollars for it. If he will not take that, offer him fifty-five dollars, and rather than you should come away without the horse, you had better give him sixty dollars."

Off started the boy, and in due course of time arrived at Ralston' s farm-house. He had carefully studied over in his mind his father's instructions, and of course intended to do as his parent had told him. Mr. Ralston, however, threw him off his balance, by putting the following direct, but natural question to him :

" How much did your father tell you to give for him ?"

Young Ulysses had always had it impressed upon his mind by his mother, that the truth must be spoken at all times, and therefore he replied :

" Why, father told me to offer you fifty dollars at first ; and if that would not do, to give you fifty-five dollars ; and rather than come away without the horse I was to pay sixty dollars."

Of course, Ralston could not sell the horse for less than sixty dollars.

" I am sorry for that," returned Grant, " for, on looking at the horse, I have determined not to give more than fifty dollars for it, although father said I might give sixty. You may take fifty if you like, or you may keep the horse."

Ulysses rode the horse home.

Young Grant had been brought up to revere and esteem the character of Washington as the redeemer of his country, and so great an impression did the teachings of his friends have upon him, that, even as a boy, he would never allow that name or memory to be insulted in his presence.

It so happened that the brother of General Grant's father had settled in Canada, and was impressed with that strong British antipathy to the Government of the United States, so characteristic of the people of that province. Notwithstanding this fact, the Canadian Grant did not object to send his son John to the same school where young Ulysses was studying, so that he might be able to gain a better education than he could at that time obtain in Canada.

John had been brought up with the same feelings as his parents, and it was very natural for him occasionally to loosen his tongue in a disparaging manner upon American affairs, to the praise and glory of the " old country." While it was confined to remarks about Great Britain, young

Grant would listen, and argue all in good part ; but, onone occasion the following conversation ensued, after one of their debates on the merits of the two styles of government, the love of country, and duty to rulers.

"Ulysses," said John, "you talk a great deal about Washington. He was nothing better than a rebel. He fought against his king."

" Now, look here, Jack," returned Grant, quickly, " you must stop that, or I will give you a thrashing. Mother says I must not fight, but must forgive my enemies. You may abuse me as much as you please ; but if you abuse "Washington, I'll off coat and let into you, if you were ten times my cousin, and then mother may afterwards whip me as much as she likes."

Jack was determined not to give way in his assertion, and Grant was as firm in his defence of his country's idol, until, at last, from words, they came to hard blows.

During the contest, Jack got the worst of it, but still Grant did not escape scot free — his face betraying evidences of the struggle — and when he reached his home his mother cried out :

" So, young man, you have been fighting, notwithstanding all I have said to you about it !"

Ulysses explained the whole of the circumstances of the case in a straightforward manner, without either addition or detraction. The good and worthy matron, with the determination that her son should respect her admonitions, began making preparations to give young Ulysses the promised castigation, when her husband interfered to prevent the boy being flogged :

" I tell thee what it is, wife," said the old gentleman, " the boy does not deserve to be punished. He has only stood up for his country, and he, that, as a boy, will stand up and fight in defence of the honor and integrity of the name of Washington, will rise, if God spares his life, to be a man and a Christian too." *

* Many years after this little contre-temps the cousins met in Canada, and suddenly Jack, then a fine-looking man, broke out with :

i( I say, U. S., do you remember the trashing you gave me at school for calling Washington a rebel ?"

" Yes," replied Grant, laughing, " and I will do it again under the same circumstances."

Chapter II. At West Point

The ordinary education of common schools may fit out youth for the general routine duties of life ; but higher institutions are necessary to complete the studies of those who intend to employ themselves in after-life in the pursuits of war, science, art, or literature. Young Grant, having betrayed evidences of his desire to become a soldier, obtained an admission into the United States Military Academy at "West Point, through the influence of the late General Thomas L. Hamer, then a member of Congress, from his native State of Ohio. He entered the institution as a cadet, during the year 1839, at the age of seventeen years, and steadily progressed in his studies, especially in the science of mathematics. His progress was of the slow and sure kind, holding firmly onto all he acquired, but having nothing of that dashing brilliancy which is thought so much of by collegiates. He did not, like many, only study to pass the examiner, and then forget what he had learned. Even if his seat was below those of some others in his classes, at the end of each year it would be found that his education was of a far more solid and substantial nature than that of several of his class-mates who stood higher in grades.

When the young cadet entered the West Point Institution, he had to submit to a thorough physical and mental examination,to see whether he was fit to enter upon the life of a soldier, and was possessed of the proper mental talents, to make him competent to be trained as an officer. He passed the examination successfully and was admitted into the fourth class, where his studies consisted of mathematics, English grammar, including etymological and rhetorical exercises, composition, declamation, geography of the United States, French, and the use of small arms. In the camp, for the cadets have to live part of the summer months in tents as if on the field, he ranked as a private of the battalion, and had to submit to all the inconveniences that privates in camp have to suffer.

During the year 1840 he was advanced into the third class of the West Point Academy. Here he ranked as corporal in the cadet battalion, and his studies consisted of higher mathematics, French, drawing, and the duties of a cavalry soldier. In this last study he received practical instruction for sixteen weeks, so as to make him a good horseman. He progressed steadily, but not rapidly. He however did not fall back from any advance he had made, and if he only gained one seat at a time, he held on to that, with the intention of never again going below the cadet sitting next lower in his class.