The lives of Ulysses S. Grant, and Schuyler Colfax

Preface

An author's first book must necessarily be defective, especially if that book be written about events in which hundreds of thousands of persons were actors. In this volume I have aimed to do justice only to two characters. If, therefore, soldiers and statesmen, who may chance to read it, do not find their own names recorded, or a full account of the events with which they were connected given, let them remember I am not writing of them and of the events, only so far as they relate to Grant and Colfax.

It is always difficult to write of a man who is still living, for, whether it be to censure or praise him, the writer must feel more or less embarrassed. Remembering Lossing's motto, that " he who writes the truth should write all of it," I have endeavored to gather, from every possible source, such information concerning the illustrious General Grant as would be of interest to the reader; and I desire, in advance, to give credit to Mr. Larke, Abbott, Badeau, Reid, General Rawlins, and others, for such matter as I have used from their books, letters, and papers. A number of officers, who served with General Grant in Mexico and Oregon, and several of his personal friends, have been good enough to write me much that is interesting ; and to them, one and all, I beg leave, in this public manner, to return my sincere thanks.

A careful investigation of all the facts connected with the life of General Grant will convince any impartial person that he is really a great man. Reason as we may on his career, provo

(vii)

Vlll PREFACE.

that at but few times he has shown any marked evidence of genius, praise his subordinates as we will, still he stands the first soldier of his country, unique, remarkable, peculiar, the study of a nation. Here we behold a man silent, modest, unambitious, by his great talents in times of public danger, heaping benefactions ou his country, until the nation, proud, grateful, unanimous, showers upon him all its honors, and raises him to an office which it has to create in order that the office may be worthy of the man. He, the poor son of a tanner, unpretending, without friends or influence, until his deeds had won both, unused to the world, rises, not suddenly, but step by step, in spite of the machinations of enemies and jealousies of men of lesser talents, to the head of our armies, and there, uudazzled by his eminence, unspoiled by his honors, strong and self-poised, exhibits new talents, and maintains himself with so great credit that his fellow-citizens lay at his feet the crown of the republic and beg him to wear it, not to honor him, but to honor them.

Before he was forty-three years of age he had participated in two great wars, captured five hundred guns, more than one hundred thousand prisoners, a quarter of a million of small arms, redeemed from rebel rule over fifty thousand square miles of territory, re-opened to the commerce of the world the mightiest river on the globe, and stubbornly pursued his path to victory, despite of all obstacles. Since then, he has crushed out the rebellion in the East, reestablished the authority of the Union over a territory larger than France, taken two hundred battle-flags, scores of canon, thousands upon thousands of prisoners, and hundreds of thousands of small arms, and then modestly returned to the capital of the nation, to disband his army of a million of men, lay his sword at the feet of the Congress of the people, and wait their pleasure whether he should fill a high station or become an humble private citizen. The world furnishes few such examples of greatness and humility, and our country only one other — that of George Washington.

Will any reasonable man say all these events in the life of Grant are the result of accident or mere good luck? Surely to

PREFACE. ix

assert that would be as foolish as unjust, and subject the person to the jeers and contempt of the world. His acts are the result of great wisdom and talents, and not the caprice of fortune. Consider his tribulations at Shiloh, his toils at Vicksburg, his battles of the Wilderness, his siege of Petersburg and capture of Lee, his conduct in the difficult Cabinet position forced upon him by the President, and, lastly, his measures during the impeachment excitement. When our President was bursting with rage; when the War Minister was hedged about with bayonets; when the country was trembling from center to circumference with excitement ; when the Executive and the Congress seemed about to call out under arms their respective partisans and inaugurate another civil war, to whom did the people look with confidence and hope? Ulysses Grant, and none other. Unmoved by the tempest of passion raging over the land, conscious of his own strength and ability to control the storm, he sat calmly and serenely in his head-quarters, now receiving anxious inquiries from the President's friends, and anon receiving a delegation of grave but excited Senators, assuring all, nay, convincing all that the republic was safe. Was this accident, or greatness? If not greatness, why did not some other man of the hundred great men in the capital calm the elements and give confidence to the country? If an accident, it was such a one as retrieved the misfortunes of Shiloh, stormed the fortresses of Vicksburg, pushed Lee from the Wilderness, and finally broke his sword at Five Forks.

Some men are born great, others have greatness thrust upon them, while others again wring greatness from the world. To the latter class emphatically belongs Ulysses Grant ; and yet it may with truth be said that he belongs to the second class, for, being as modest as he was great, he claimed nothing for his services, and honors and greatness had to be thrust upon him. I am nobody's puffer. I do not say these things of Grant to bring him out for the Presidency, for to commend him to the American people would be like recommending Alexander, or Csesar, or Napoleon, to historians as subjects worthy of their

X PREFACE.

consideration. I do not say them for the purpose of currying favor with Grant, or for any selfish or improper reason, but I utter them because I believe them to be true, because I think Grant a great and good man, because I admire him as a soldier and statesman, and feel grateful to him for reestablishing the Union of these States, and thus preserving for me and my children the Government which the fathers founded. What Washington established, he, with his mighty sword, has preserved; and hereafter the names of Washington and Grant will stand side by side, and, in marble and brass, fill every niche of our country's fame to the latest posterity.

Of the other person named in this volume, I need only say that he has been in the civil department of the Government what General Grant has been in the military — as eminent in legislation as he in war. A young man of brilliant talents, an eminent statesman, the purity of whose public and private character has made his name a word of honor throughout the land, he of all men is fittest to be associated in high honor and power with the illustrious hero of the age. Bespeaking for my work the liberal treatment of critics, with serious misgivings I launch it upon the public, conscious that it is not without defects.

THE AUTHOR.

Lexington, Ky., July 1st, 1868.

Chapter I. Grant's Ancestors — His Parents Where And When He Was Born

ANECDOTES OF GRANT HIS FIRST PISTOL-SHOT— HE GOES TO SCHOOL AT

GEORGETOWN WHAT HE SAID TO HIS TEACHER THE BUMBLE-BEE

FIGHTER GRANT BUYS A HORSE OF FARMER RALSTON— HE THRASHES

HIS COUSIN JOHN FOR CALLING WASHINGTON A REBEL MORE ANECDOTES

ABOUT GRANT HE SWIMS WHITE OAK CREEK IN A WAGON HOW HE

FLANKED THE LOGS — MR. HAMER GETS HIM AN APPOINTMENT TO WEST POINT HIS ENTREE INTO THAT INSTITUTION.

Chapter II

GRANT AS A CADET AT WEST POINT — HIS PROGRESS IN THE CLASSES — HE

GRADUATES NO. 21 IN A CLASS OF THIRTY-NINE WHO GRADUATED IN

GRANT'S CLASS, AND WHAT BECAME OF THEM WHAT GRANT LOOKED

LIKE WHEN HE LEFT WEST POINT ANECDOTE OF THE HERO HE FALLS

IN LOVE WITH MISS JULIA DENT IS ORDERED OFF TO MEXICO PARTICI- PATES* IN THE BATTLES OF PALO ALTO AND RESACA DE LA PALMA IS

APPOINTED QUARTERMASTER DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF AT CIIEPULTE-

PEG W HAT THE OFFICIAL REPORTS SAY OF HIM — HIS OLD COMRADES IN

MEXICO, AND WHAT BECAME OF THEM — RETURNS FROM THE MEXICAN WAR AND MARRIES. (11)

12 CONTENTS.

Chapter III. Grant And Chandler Grant Is Stationed At Detroit And Sacketts

HARBOR GOES TO CALIFORNIA AND THENCE TO OREGON — GARRISON LIFE

ON THE FRONTIER — HE IS APPOINTED A FULL CAPTAIN RESIGNS FROM

THE ARMY AND RETURNS TO ST. LOUIS BECOMES A FARMER — SKETCHES

OF GRANT IN CIVIL LIFE GOES INTO THE REAL ESTATE AND AUCTION- EERING BUSINESS MOVES TO GALENA, ILLINOIS — RAISES A COMPANY FOR

THE WAR IS APPOINTED COLONEL OF THE TWENTY-FIRST ILLINOIS

INFANTRY.

Chapter IV

GRANT AS A COLONEL IS ASSIGNED TO COMMAND OF A BRIGADE IS AP- POINTED BRIGADIER-GENERAL, AND ASSIGNED TO COMMAND AT CAIRO

GRANT'S ENEMIES HE CUTS THE NEUTRALITY KNOT IN KENTUCKY

CAPTURE OF PADUCAH THE BATTLE OF BELMONT WHY THAT BATTLE

WAS FOUGHT THE EXPEDITION INTO KENTUCKY PREPARATIONS TO

ATTACK FORT HENRY FALL OF FORT HENRY — PREPARATIONS TO ATTACK

FORT DONELSON CAPTURE OF FORT DONELSON REJOICING OF THE PEO- PLE GRANT PROMOTED BY THE PRESIDENT TO MAJOR-GENERAL NEW

DISTRICT CREATED FOR HIM HE GETS UNDER A CLOUD IS RELIEVED

FROM HIS DISGRACE PREPARATIONS FOR THE BATTE OF SHILOH.

CHAPTER Y.

GRANT RECEIVES A HANDSOME PRESENT GRANT AT SAVANNAH GENERAL

C. F. SMITH AND GRANT — COMPOSITION OF THE TWO ARMIES THE BAT- TLE-FIELD OF SHILOH — POSITION OF THE TROOPS A. S. JOHNSTON'S

ADDRESS TO HIS SOLDIERS SKIRMISHING BEFORE THE BATTLE THE

BATTLE CONDUCT OF LEWIS WALLACE AND NELSON BUELL ARRIVES

ON THE FIELD WHAT HE SAID TO GRANT THE SECOND DAY'S BATTLE

GRANT AND THE FIRST OHIO REGIMENT THE NEW YORK HERALD'S

ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE — REJOICING OVER THE NEWS COMPLIMENTARY

ORDER TO GRANT AND BUELL — GRANT'S CONDUCT IN THE BATTLE.

CONTENTS. 13

Chapter VI

halleck assumes command of the army — grants enemies again busy

wasiiburn's defense of him — advance on corinth — digging and

ditching letters from a union soldier — elliots raid pursuit

of the enemy from corinth grants position he is placed in

command of the district of tennessee — halleck succeeds m'clellan — grant and the rebels — grant and the newspapers — how he treated guerrillas price's raid advance on iuka the battle defeat and escape of the rebels — battle of corinth defeat and retreat of the rebels grant's congratulatory order

to his army mr. lincoln's dispatch.

Chapter VII. Character Of Grant Halleck And Grant Compared — Opening Of The

MISSISSIPPI ADVANCE TO GRAND JUNCTION COLONEL LEE's RAID —

GRANT'S ADMINISTRATIVE ABILITY HE ESTABLISHES CONTRABAND CAMPS

— SEVERITY OF HIS DISCIPLINE — THE COTTON TRADE — ANECDOTE OF

GRANT — GRANT AND THE JEWS HE REDUCES THE BAGGAGE OF HIS

ARMY — ADVANCE ON VICKSBURG SURRENDER OF HOLLY SPRINGS

GRANT FALLS BACK ORGANIZATION OF HIS ARMY SHERMAN'S EXPEDI- TION AGAINST VICKSBURG REPULSE OF SHERMAN FULL ACCOUNT OF

THE FIRST ATTACK ON VICKSBURG CAPTURE OF ARKANSAS TOST GRANT

DETERMINED TO CAPTURE VICKSBURG HIS TELEGRAM TO HALLECK.

Chapter VIII. The President's Emancipation Proclamation Grant Enforces The

POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT YOUNG'S POINT THE WILLIAMS CANAL

ROUNDABOUT BAYOU EXPEDITION MOON LAKE — YAZOO PASS EXPEDI- TION ADMIRAL FARRAGUT — ADMIRAL PORTER M'cLERNAND's MARCH —

RUNNING THE BATTERIES — GRIERSON AND HATCIl's RAID — BATTLE OF

PORT GIBSON GRANT'S FIGHTING APPEARANCE EVACUATION OF GRAND

GULF — PERPLEXING SITUATION OF GRANT — HIS PLANS DISAPPROVED BY

THE PRESIDENT AND HALLECK PEMBERTON AND JOHNSTON MARCH

AGAINST HIM BATTLE OF RAYMOND ADVANCE ON JACKSON PRELIMI- NARY MOVEMENTS — GRANT LEADS THE ADVANCE IN PERSON AND ON FOOT.

CONTENTS.

Chapter IX. Pemberton Deceived By Grant — Defeat Of Johnston — Capture Of

JACKSON DESTRUCTION OF REBEL PROPERTY JOHNSTON DECEIVED BY

GRANT MEETING OF SHERMAN, GRANT AND M'PHERSON AT THE STATE

CAPITAL ADVANCE ON PEMBERTON BATTLE OF CHAMPION HILLS DE- TAILS OF THE BATTLE RETREAT OF PEMBERTON — SHERMAN'S OPINION

OF THE CAMPAIGN GRANT'S REPLY FIRST ASSAULT ON VICKSBURG

DETAILS OF THE ACTION — THE NAVAL OPERATIONS ON THE RIVER — COM- MUNICATION WITH GRANT ESTABLISHED — HAINES' BLUFF SEIZED FOR A NEW BASE — PREPARATIONS FOR THE SIEGE.

Chapter X

SECOND ATTACK ON VICKSBURG FULL ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE — MISUN- DERSTANDING BETWEEN GRANT AND m'cLERNAND — POSITION OF THE

ARMY PEMBERTON'S ADDRESS SHERMAN'S EXPEDITION THE MINES

AT VICKSBURG TERRIFIC EXPLOSION OF A MINE FIGHT IN THE CRA- TER — PEMBERTON GIVES UP THE GHOST HIS LETTERS TO GRANT THEIR

INTERVIEW GRANT'S LETTERS TO PEMBERTON SURRENDER OF THE

REBEL GARRISON ADVANCE OF THE UNION TROOPS INTO VICKSBURG

GRANT AT PEMBERTON'S HEAD-QUARTERS IMPORTANCE OF THE SURREN- DER OF VICKSBURG LINCOLN'S LETTER TO GRANT.

Chapter XI

PREPARATIONS TO ATTACK JOHNSTON — SURRENDER OF PORT HUDSON — IN- VESTMENT OF JACKSON JEFF. DAVIS' LIBRARY JOHNSTON'S ADDRESS

TO HIS ARMY RETREAT OF THE REBELS GRANT AND THE REBEL

MAJOR HIS TREATMENT OF SUBORDINATE OFFICERS FRIENDSHIP BE- TWEEN GRANT AND SHERMAN MRS. GRANT VISITS HER HUSBAND

ANECDOTE OF MRS. GRANT GRANT AND HIS SOLDIERS ADMINISTRATIVE

ABILITY OF GRANT HONORS TO GRANT AT MEMPHIS REVIEW AT FEW

ORLEANS — TERRIBLE ACCIDENT TO GRANT HE IS APPOINTED TO A NEW

COMMAND YISITS LOUISVILLE HIS NEW ARMY AND GENERALS BRAGG'S

FORCES — THE CHATTANOOGA CAMPAIGN.

CONTENTS. 15

CHAPTER XII. CHATTANOOGA — THE UNION ARMY — THE REBEL ARMY — BRAGG's BLUNDER

WHAT JEFF DAVIS SAID HOOKER'S BATTLE ON THE 28TH OF OCTOBER

BURNSIDE SHUT UP IN KNOXVILLE HOOKER'S BATTLE ABOVE THE

CLOUDS — FULL ACCOUNT OF SHERMAN'S ADVANCE — THRILLING BATTLE SCENES GENERAL GRANT IN BATTLE DEFEAT OF BRAGG GRANT'S PUR- SUIT FIGHT AT RINGGOLD HEROIC CONDUCT OF GRANT WHAT HIS

STAFF OFFICERS SAY OF HIM SHERMAN REACHES KNOXVILLE DEFEAT

AND RETREAT OF LONGSTREET END OF THE CHATTANOOGA CAMPAIGN — '

CONGRATULATIONS AND REJOICING.

Chapter XIII

GRANT'S VICTORIES — VOTE OF THANKS BY CONGRESS — BILL TO REVIVE THE

GRADE OF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL A MEDAL GIVEN HIM — APPOINTED

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL AND ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE ARMY — HONORS TO GENERAL GRANT — HE RECEIVES VALUABLE PRESENTS — THE OLD SOI-

DIER'S GIFT GRANT VISITS NASHVILLE AND KNOXVILLE CROSSES THE

CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS ON HORSEBACK HIS RECEPTION AT LEXINGTON,

KENTUCKY — VISIT TO LOUISVILLE HONORS AT MEMPHIS A GRAND DIN- NER SERENADE TO GRANT, AND HIS SPEECHES GRANT LEAVES THE

WEST HIS LETTER TO SHERMAN, AND SHERMANS REPLY HIS VISIT TO

WASHINGTON THE PRESIDENT PRESENTS HIM HIS COMMISSION AS LIEU- TENANT-GENERAL.

Chapter XIV

GRANT IN HIS NEW COMMAND THE REBEL CHIEFTAIN LEE GRANT'S COM- BINATIONS ALL READY TO ADVANCE BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS

GALLANTRY OF CRAWFORD — DEATH OF WADSWORTH HANCOCKS FIGHT- ING DEATH OF SEDGWICK BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE

CAPTURE OF A REBEL DIVISION AND TWO REBEL GENERALS BURNSIDES

BATTLES — FORWARD ALONG THE WHOLE LINE ANECDOTES OF GRANT

BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR ORDER OF BATTLE— TERRIBLE FIGHTING —

CROSSING THE JAMES — ASSAULTS ON PETERSBURG— INVESTMENT OF THE CITY THE SIEGE BEGUN PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S 1 ETTER TO GRANT

grant's REPLY.

1 6 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XV. 8igel relieved hunter in the valley battle on north river

brilliant success of hunter his defeat near lynchburg — sheridan at deep bottom — he marches to within twelve miles of richmond — colonel pleasants' mine — the explosion — success of

the mine failure of the troops fighting in the crater early's

advance on washington gregg's attack on the weldon railroad heavy fighting sheridan in the valley — battle of ope-

quan defeat of sheridan's forces by early sheridan's ride

he regains the battle grant s praise of sheridan — the president's letter to him he is made a major-general in the regular

army — Sherman's march to the sea.

Chapter XVI

THE SITUATION BEGINNING OF THE END ANECDOTES OF GRANT SHER- IDAN LOOSE AGAIN INTERVIEW BETWEEN LINCOLN, GRANT, MEADE,

SHERIDAN, AND SHERMAN ADVANCE OF THE FIFTH CORPS SHERIDAN

AT FIVE FORKS CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG ADVANCE OF THE ARMY

THE FIGHTING FALL OF RICHMOND THE REBEL RAMS BLOWN UP — COR- RESPONDENCE BETWEEN GRANT AND LEE — SHERIDAN AT THE APPOMAT- TOX INTERVIEW BETWEEN GRANT AND LEE TERMS OF SURRENDER

PROPOSED LEE SURRENDERS HIS ARMY SCENES OF THE SURRENDER

FORM OF PAROLE — NUMBER OF PRISONERS TAKEN BY GRANT SHERMAN'S

MOVEMENTS THE END — THE MARCH HOMEWARD REVIEW AT WASHING- TON — GRANT TAKES LEAVE OF HIS ARMY — -GRANT AT HOME.

Chapter XVII. The Grade Of General Grant Commissioned A General His Personal

APPEARANCE, HABITS, MANNERS, CONDUCT, AND DRESS GRANT IN BATTLE

• — HIS MILITARY FAME HIS KINDNESS OF HEART DEATH OF COLONEL

O'MEARA A PLEASANT LETTER — THE OLD SOLDIER AND GRANT ANEC- DOTE OF STANTON AND LINCOLN GRANT'S RELIANCE UPON DIVINE PROVI- DENCE HIS TREATMENT OF SUBORDINATE OFFICERS WHAT HE SAID OF

SHERMAN, THOMAS, SHERIDAN, AND OTHERS ANECDOTE OF GRANT HIS

JUSTICE — A CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

CONTEXTS. 1 7

Chapter XVIII

SOLDIERS AND SAILORS' NATIONAL CONVENTION AT CHICAGO THE PROCES- SION — THE EAGLE " OLD ABE " THE HALL — THE SCENES — CONVENTION- CALLED TO ORDER — GOVERNOR FAIRCHILD TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN — HIS

SPEECH — THE COMMITTEES — GOVERNOR HAWLEY's SPEECH REMARKS OF

GENERALS SICKLES, HALSTEAD, AND OTHERS — PERMANENT ORGANIZATION GENERAL LOGAN'S REMARKS GRANT* S FATHER HIS SPEECH — AD- DRESSES BY GENERAL COCHRANE, MAJOR HAGGERTY, AND o'CONNER— COLONEL STOKES, OF TENNESSEE THE RESOLUTIONS — GRANT UNANI- MOUSLY NOMINATED BY HIS COMRADES FOR PRESIDENT — GREAT ENTHU- SIASM — THE LARGEST DELEGATED CONVENTION EVER ASSEMBLED — AD- JOURNMENT OF THE CONVENTION.

Chapter XIX. National Republican Convention At Chicago General Schurtz Made

TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN HIS SPEECH PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION

— THE COMMITTEES— PERMANENT ORGANIZATION SPEECH OF GOVERNOR

HAWLEY— SOLDIERS RECEIVED ELOQUENT SPEECH BY GOVERNOR FAIR- CHILD — SECOND DAY'S PROCEEDINGS THE PLATFORM — ADDITIONAL RES- OLUTIONS — logan's speech — general grant unanimously nominated — THE VOTE BY STATES — THE ANNOUNCEMENT WILD SCENES IN

THE CONVENTION THE EFFECT OF THE NOMINATION UPON THE PEOPLE

NOMINATION OF A VICE-PRESIDENT.

Chapter XX

HOW GENERAL GRANT RECEIVED THE NEWS OF HIS NOMINATION — THE EN- THUSIASM IN WASHINGTON PROCESSIONS — ADDRESS TO GENERAL GRANT

BY GOVERNOR BOUTWELL — GRANTS REPLY RECEPTION OF THE SOL- DIERS* AND SAILORS' COMMITTEE — PRESENTATION BY COLONEL ALLBMAN

GRANTS REPLY RECEPTION AT GRANTS RESIDENCE IN THE EYENINO

— PRESENTATION OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION'S RESOLU- TIONS BY GOVERNOR HAWLEY — ABLE SPEECH BY HAWLEY — GENERAL GRANT'S REPLY — GRANT FORMALLY ACCEPTS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINA- TION — CONCL US ION

SCHUYLER COLFAX.

Chapter I. Birth And Parentage Of Colfax Death Of His Father Poverty And

EARLY STRUGGLES OF THE FAMILY — HIS EDUCATION AND HABITS — HIS MOTHER MARRIES MR. MATTHEWS — SCHUYLER A CLERK — THEY REMOVE TO INDIANA COLFAX DRIVES A WAGON ACROSS MICHIGAN — HIS STEP- FATHER SETTLES AT NEW CARLISLE — COLFAX A CLERK AGAIN — THE

"STORE AND POST-OFFICE" YOUNG COLFAX AS AN ORACLE — HIS FIRST

ACQUAINTANCE WITH HON. JOHN D. DEFREES A FRIEND IN NEED GOES

TO SOUTH BEND — READS LAW — IS DEPUTY COUNTY AUDITOR THE MOOT

LEGISLATURE — WRITES FOR THE NEWSPAPERS — IS APPOINTED SENATE REPORTER — ESTABLISHES TnE VALLEY REGISTER, AND BECOMES AN EDI- TOR — HIS POVERTY AND STRUGGLES SUCCEEDS AT LAST HIS POPULARITY

WITH THE PEOPLE HELPS TO FRAME THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIANA —

OPPOSITION TO THE BLACK LAWS IS NOMINATED FOR CONGRESS — HIS

DEFEAT IS A DELEGATE TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTIONS OF 1S4S AND

1852, AND VOTES FOR TAYLOR AND SCOTT HIS POLITICS— PURITY OF

HIS CHARACTER IS RENOMINATED AND TRIUMPHANTLY ELECTED TO CON- GRESS — BEGINS HIS LEGISLATIVE CAREER.

Chapter II. Colfax As An Odd-fellow — His Entrance Into Congress — Supports

BANKS FOR THE SPEAKERSHIP — HTS FIRST SPEECH IN CONGRESS IS A

MEMBER OF IMPORTANT COMMITTEES — ENTERS THE PRESIDENTIAL CAM- PAIGN OF 1856 — IS RE-ELECTED TO CONGRESS — HIS IMMENSE POPULARITY

IS ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE XXXVIII CONGRESS — SUPPORTS THE WAR

— MR. COLFAX'S VIEWS ON THE NATIONAL ENTEEPEISES — HE 8UPPOBTS

20 CONTEXTS.

LINCOLN— MB. LINCOLN'S FRIENDSHIP FOR HIM— COLFAX ON THE STUMP

IS AGAIN RE-ELECTED TO CONGRESS — RE-ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE

XXXIX CONGRESS HIS POPULARITY IN THE HOUSE THE BEST SPEAKER

SINCE CLAY— REMARKABLE ABILITY OF MR. COLFAX AS A PRESIDING OFFICER.

Chapter III

PERSONAL MANNERS OF MR. COLFAX WHY THE WOMEN LIKE HIM HIS

WIFB — MR . COLFAX AT HOME — HIS RECEPTIONS — WHY THEY ARE POPU- LAR COLFAX AND HIS MOTHER A GOOD SON GRANT AND COLFAX

EARLY STRUGGLES AND POYERTY OF COLFAX— SUPPER TO HIM BY THE PRESS OF WASHINGTON — HIS REMARKS— COLFAX AS A POLITICIAN— HIS TALENTS — GRANT SAFE FROM ASSASSINATION IF COLFAX IS VICE-PRESI-

DENT COLFAXS SPEECHES HIS PIETY COLFAX AT SOUTH BEND — WHAT

HIS NEIGHBORS THINK OF HIM A TEMPERANCE MAN — HIS LIBERALITY

AND SUPPORT OF GOOD CAUSES — PERSONAL APPEARANCE — ANECDOTE

COLFAX IN HIS OFFICE HIS RECORD.

Chapter IV. The Chicago Convention Nominations For Vice-president Mr

PIERCE'S SPEECH -MR. CLAFLINS SPEECH HON. HENRY LANE'S SPEECH

SPEECH OF MR. CUTCHESON — REMARKS OF FRED. IIASSAUREK, CARL

SCHUETZ, JUDGE JONES, ALEXANDER M'CLURE, AND OTHERS HONS. BEN.

WADE, COLFAX, WILSON, FENTON, HAMLIN, HARLIN, CURTIN, POMEROY

SPEED, CRESWELL, AND EELLEY NOMINATED FOR VICE-PRESIDENT FIRST

BALLOT SECOND BALLOT — THIRD BALLOT FOURTH BALLOT FIFTH

BALLOT — COLFAX DECLARED THE UNANIMOUS NOMINEE OF THE CONVEN- TION — THE ENTHUSIASM ADJOURNMENT.

Chapter V

HOW MR. COLFAX RECEIVED HIS NOMINATION GREETINGS FROM HIS

BROTHER MEMBERS THE CROWD AT THE CAPITOL SERENADE TO MR.

COLFAX REPRESENTATIVE PIKe's REMARKS — MR. COLFAX'S SPEECH

RECEPTION OF THE SOLDIEli's COMMITTEE — THE SPEECHES — RKCEPTION

OF THE REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE — SPEECH OF GOVERNOR HAWLEY REPLY

OF SPEAKER COLFAX — HIS FORMAL LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE GENERAL

REMARKS — THE END.

LIFE OF ULYSSES S. GRANT.

LIFE OF GBANT. 23

Chapter I. Grant's Ancestors His Parents Where And When He Was Born

ANECDOTES OF GRANT HIS FIRST PISTOL-SHOT — HE GOES TO SCHOOL AT

GEORGETOWN WHAT HE SAID TO HIS TEACHER THE BUMBLE-BEE

FIGHTER — GRANT BUYS A HORSE OF FARMER RALSTON — HE THRASHES

HIS COUSIN JOHN FOR CALLING WASHINGTON A REBEL MORE ANECDOTES

ABOUT GRANT — HE SWIMS WHITE OAK CREEK IN A WAGON — HOW HE FLANKED THE LOGS — MR. HAMER GETS HIM AN APPOINTMENT TO WEST POINT HIS ENTREE INTO THAT INSTITUTION.

Ulysses S. Grant was born on the banks of the Ohio, about twenty-five miles above Cincinnati, at the village of Point Pleasant, in the county of Clermont, on the 27th day of April, 1822. In this country it is of little consequence who a man's ancestors were, or whether, in fact, he had any at all; but as a matter of gratification to the curious, it may be recorded that Grant's great grandfather, Noah Grant, commanded a company of white and black men, in 1756, and fell at the battle of White Plains, as also did his brother, Solomon Grant. The General's grandfather was a lieutenant under Washington, and fought from the beginning to the close of the Revolutionary War. The father of General Grant was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, January 23, 1794, and is still living at Covington, Kentucky. He learned the tanning business with his half-brother, at Maysville, Kentucky, and in 1820 settled at Point Pleasant, Ohio, where he set up his trade, and soon afterward married Miss Hannah Simpson, the mother of General Grant, who is still living.

Grant had five brothers and sisters. One brother and one sister, both single, died of consumption during the late war; Df the others, a brother lives in Chicago, another in Galena, and the younger sister at Covington, with her father. Many stories are told of the precociousness of Ulysses, and his father thinks Grant was a great little boy; indeed, he would be a poor father if he did not~but remembering the fate of our bee- fighter, we hesitate about relating these anecdotes. Reid is responsible for the following :

"The absence of fear was always a characteristic of Ulysses. When two years of age, while Mr. Grant was carrying Ulysses in his arms through the village on a public occasion, a young man wished to try the effect of a pistol report on the child; Mr. Grant consented, saying, 'The boy never saw a pistol or gun before in his life.'

"The baby hand was put on the lock, and the tiny finger curled around the trigger and pressed upon it until the hammer fell, and the charge exploded with a loud report. Ulysses hardly stirred, but delighted with the loud noise the powder had made, pushed the pistol away, and, clapping his hands, cried, 'fick again; fick again.' A bystander said, 'That boy will make a general some day, he neither winked nor dodged.' None will question but that the prediction has been verified ; and this man, if living, can safely claim precedence over Mr. "Washburn e in having discovered the military talents of General Grant."

While Grant was still a lad, his parents, who were then living at Georgetown, in Brown County, Ohio, sent him to the village school, and from all we can learn, the future conqueror was considered a dull boy ; but Larke tells the following anecdote of him during this period:

" One day Grant was puzzling his brains over a sum in arithmetic, when the teacher came along, and seeing his perplexed look, said to him, kindly :

"'Well, Ulysses, can't you master it?'

" ' Can't !' returned Grant, ' what does that mean?'

"'Why, why, when we can't do a thing, we say we can't," replied the teacher. The class had been studying definitions, and Grant took up his dictionary, and after looking through it for some time, said, 'I can't find it; there is no such word in my book.' The teacher was so struck with the boy's reply, that he commended him for it, and wound up by saying, 'You are quite right, Ulysses, and if, in the future struggles of your life, any one asserts that you can't do a thing that you have set your mind to do, and which is lawful and right, tell them, as you have me to-day, that there is no such word in your dictionary.' It is said, that Grant never forgot the lesson of his instructor, and that his reply to Pemberton and Lee, was only his old answer to his teacher, in another form."

Abbott tells the following story about Grant: "When Ulysses was twelve years old his father sent him to a neighboring farmer to buy a horse which he had been bargaining for. Before Ulysses started, his father said to him :

" 'You can tell Mr. Ralston that T have sent you to buy the horse, and that I will give him $50 for it. If he will not take that, you may offer him $55, and rather than come away without him, give Mr. Ralston $60 for the horse.'

"Ulysses, getting the matter right in his mind, set out, but on arriving at Mr. Ralston's, his plans for bartering were knocked out of balance by Mr. Ralston asking him directly, ' How much did your father say you might give for the horse ?'

" Grant's mother had told him he must never tell a lie, and believing it would be wrong to prevaricate in this case, he replied :

'"Father told me to offer you $50; if that would not do, to give you $55, and that he would be willing to give $60 rather than not get the horse.' 'Well,' replied farmer tr

Ralston, 'I can not sell the horse for less than sixty dollars/ *I am sorry for that,' was the rejoinder of young Grant, ' for since I have seen the horse, although father said I might, I have determined not to give more than $50 for him.'

" Mr. Ralston took the fifty dollars and Grant rode the horse home."

Mr. Grant had a brother who had settled in Canada, and as there was no school in the neighborhood, he sent his son John over to Georgetown to board with his uncle and go to school with Ulysses. The Canadian youth was strongly tinctured with British prejudices, and one day the conversation turned upon Washington, when John denounced the father of his country as "a rebel who had fought against his king."

Ulysses had been taught by his mother to revere the character of Washington, and was indignant at the irreverent language of his cousin. The boys soon came to blows, and after pulling hair and pummeling each other for some time, Jack came off with a bloody nose and Ulysses with a black eye. On reaching home, Mrs. Grant desired to have her boy punished for fighting, and called in his father, but after hearing the case, the old gentleman said, "Wife, I tell thee the boy must not be whipped, he has done nothing but stand up for his country, and no boy should be punished for fighting in defense of his native land, and Washington."

Years after this, when the boys had grown to be men, they met in Canada, and John said to Ulysses, " Do you remember the thrashing you gave me for calling Washington a rebel?"

"Yes," replied Ulysses, "and you can get a fight out of me again, John, on that question."

Grant's father tells us, that in his early boyhood, Ulysses manifested the same fondness for horses that is still characteristic of him. He was always sure to go to the circuses that came around, and invariably volunteered to ride the vicious mule — sometime succeeding, despite the animal's tricks, to the no small amusement of the spectators and annoyance of the showman. He imitated the circus men, riding the horses to water, standing on their backs, and thus became a proficient horseman long before he entered West Point.

Young Grant was fond of driving horses, and frequently hauled loads of passengers from Georgetown to the neighboring villages and back. He would always rather drive team than work in the tannery of his father, and from the first seemed determined never to be a tanner.

Grant was a brave lad, and early manifested an indomitable will. His father relates the following anecdote of him :

"One day Ulysses was coming from Augusta, Ky., to Georgetown, with some young ladies in his wagon. It had been raining, and the water in the Ohio had backed into the tributary streams. Grant's route lay across White Oak Creek, and, not knowing the depth of the water, he drove in, when the wagon went down and the horses commenced swimming. The young ladies were terribly frightened, and commenced screaming, thinking they would surely all be drowned; but Grant, with great presence of mind, steered his horses toward the opposite bank, saying, coolly, ' Keep still, girls ; I will take you through safe.' Ulysses was only about thirteen years old when this happened."