Military and civil life of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant ...

Front matter

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Preface

NO one need explain why he writes about a person whom all admire and love.

As to men, none occupy the place of General Grant in the affections of the people. His name is honorably connected with the highest office in the gift of the American voter. As President he was true to law and order, mindful of great and arduous duties, careful of the momentous trust reposed in him. To know of him as Chief Executive of the Nation will be esteemed a privilege and pleasure by the passing generations.

But the real character, as well as glory, of this illustrious man was military. Had he overshadowed all other Presidents in profound statesmanship, wise diplomacy, and political acumen, the fame thus acquired would have been as Neptune to the Sun in comparison with that which sprang from his military career.

Justly reckoned as the first soldier of the age, if not of the world, the nation is not more moved by admiration of his splendid military qualities than by gratitude for the timeliness of his victories and their saving results. He was a man of God raised up for an emergency. His genius brought victory, and with victory, peace. The noblest tribute that can be paid mortal man is his by universal acclamation.

" He made his foes his friends."

4 PREFACE.

Greatness here grows into grandness. War loses much of its grim visage. Victory hath its charm and value. Appomattox was not a vindictive triumph. The armies, despite differences, were brothers. Grant knew what war meant. It was not child's play, but earnest. He knew also what victory meant. If peace, reconciliation, mutual happiness and contentment, did not follow, victory was vain. Return to the flag, the common brotherhood, was the supreme object. This he achieved along with his grand victory. His conditions of surrender took the sting out of defeat and sent his foes away to their homes rejoicing in the magnanimity of their victor, and even surprised at their alienation from the " Stars and Stripes " and the common Union of States.

As no other General ever made victory so sure, so none ever made it so complete. Smaller men had lost over and over again in the game of battle. Smaller men, in the hour of triumph, would have narrowed conditions, and postponed reconciliation. He made war a terribly earnest thing, and victory as real and substantial. The terms of Alexander, Hannibal, Wallenstein, Napoleon and VonMoltke were never generous. They always involved the selfishness of superiority and conquest, never the humanitarian spirit of unit}* and brotherhood. Herein Grant was greater than any historic hero, brighter than any preceding military star. He handled cohorts that they might win, yet never Avon for the sake of glorying in victor}* but of confirming peace.

Possibly no man ever ended a triumphant military career amid more universal admiration. He shared alike the respecr of friend and foe. A grateful nation showered on him its

PREFACE. 5

highest political honors. He was not forgotten amid final retiracy, though too modest to be obtrusive and too well satisfied to be ambitious. Admirers strove to place him beyond want. In grave political emergency his name spontaneously came to the fore. Wherever he appeared, the public clamored to show their respect. Whatever he said — and it was all too little — was weighed as the words of a seer. Amid financial wreck, through no fault of his own, he had the most unbounded sympathy. In his last hours, when confronting the foe to whom all heroes must strike their colors, amid the pain of a horrible malady, the inner heart of the nation was instinctively drawn to him, and regrets over his suffering and prospective loss were general and profound.

And now that he is dead there is universal mourning. Our greatest and noblest has been taken. Let us learn of him and teach our children. Another, others, might have done so, but he saved us as a people, a government, a solidified nation. He gave us order and law, peace and happiness. Though a larger and more perilous work than that of Washington, it was not unlike his. And as of him, an admiring, loving and grateful people will say : " First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."

My thanks are due to Badeau, Humphreys, Dana, Wilson, Swinton, Young, and the various other army officers and civilians who are recognized as authorities upon the war and the times in which General Grant figured, and whose literary works I have consulted freely.

Chapter I. Parentage — Birth — Education

The Grant name — Scottish clans — Crests and mottoes — Migration to America — - The grandfather in the Revolution — The Father in the West — Birth of Hiram Ulysses Grant — Story of the christening — His boyhood days — Anecdotes showing his disposition and qualities — His skill with horses — His heroism in danger — His ingenuity — Bravery and self-reliance — Did not like tanning — Off to West Point — His name changed by inadvertence — His career as a cadet — Rank in his class — Sketch of his appearance and character by a schoolmate — Completion of his education, 17

Chapter II. In Mexico And On The Frontiers

With his regiment — At St. Louis and New Orleans — With Taylor in Texas — At Palo Alto and Resaca — The bloody fight of Monterey — The army sentiment — ■ At Vera Cruz with Scott — Molino del Rey, and Chapultepec — Capture of Mexico — Peace, and back to New York — Marriage — On the Pacific Coast — From Lieutenant to Captain — Resigns from the army — A farmer — In real estate — A tanner at Galena — As business man and citizen — Traits and disposition — • Analysis of character — The whole man at thirty-nine — Outline of the future General and President, 28

Chapter III. The Rebellion — His First Battles

The Federal soldier and French Emperor — Grants political views — Sumpter and the awakening — The call for volunteers — Grant and his company — Colonel of Illinois Twenty-first — Off to Missouri — From Colonel to Brigadier — At Cairo — Capture of Paducah — Battle of Pilot Knob — Toward Columbus — Belmont and victory — The retreat — Effect of the battle — The Confederate lines — Its wings and centre — What Grant saw — The situation before Donelson, .... 45

Chapter IV. Fort Henry And Fort Donelson

The Departments — Grant at Cairo — The move on Fort Henry — Capture of the Fort — Looking to Donelson — Marching on the stronghold — Foote and the Gunboats — Location and description of the Fort — Investment — Beginning the attack — Grant's motive and orders — Battle with the boats — They are driven back — Hard battle of land forces — Repulse and confusion — Grant restores order — Orders another attack — Brilliant charge on the left — A foothold in the enemy's lines — Heavy work along the whole line — The wonderful Council of War — Floyd's and Pillow's escape — Buckner proposes surrender — Grant's " unconditional " terms — Final surrender — The men and trophies — Grant's magnanimity — Halleck's treatment — Made Major General — Effect of the victory — Grant a Hero — A rejoicing country, 57

Chapter V. Shiloh And After

Donelson and the South — European sentiment — Grant's guiding principles — Opinion of General Scott — The territorial loss — Grant and Sherman — Other victories for Union arms — National rejoicing — Grant's forward movement — His visit to Nashville — Halleck's enmity — The correspondence — Grant's disgrace and vindication — Smith at Pittsburg Landing — The new Confederate line — Its significance — Grant in command at Savannah — He consolidates the armies — Description of Pittsburg Landing and Shiloh — Buell's slow march — The Confederates at Corinth — They mass for attack — Disposition of Grant's forces — The battle of Shiloh begins — The first day's fighting — The Federals recede — Their new lines — Terrific fighting — Second day's battle — The Confederates retire — Lost ground gained — Confederate retreat to Corinth — The victory complete — Effect of the victory — Change of sentiment, 79

Chapter VI. Corinth And Iuka

Halleck and Grant — Reorganization — The three army corps — Grant snubbed and humiliated — The abuse heaped on him — His reply to a correspondent — Halleck's loss of time — A digging and shoveling campaign — Slow progress toward Corinth — Results of Shiloh lost — The Confederates strengthen Corinth — And play a trick on Halleck — Cornith an empty capture — Further waste of time — The army of 120,000 men divided up — Buell off to Chattanooga — Halleck to Washington — Grant's army reduced — Forced to defend a wide section against

CONTENTS.

odds — His plan of operations — Kept constantly on the alert by Van Dorn — Battle of Iuka — Getting ready at Corinth — Strategic disposition of his forces — Wisdom of his work on the fortifications — Van Dorn's attack on Corinth — The two days' fight — Confederate defeat — The losses and pursuit — West Tennessee out of danger — Grant's congratulatory order — His modesty and the misrepresentations — Character as an officer, 101

Chapter VII. Preparing For Vicksburg

Importance of the Mississippi Valley — Meaning of Grant's victories — Object of the respective armies — Opening of the Mississippi — Farragut and his fleet — Defences of Vicksburg — Combined Federal fleets — The canals — Bombardment by mortar flotilla and gunboats — Running past the batteries — Failure of the seventy days' siege — Grant's new plan of attack — He moves from Grand Junction toward Grenada — Sherman goes to mouth of Yazoo — Pemberton falls back to Grenada — New arrangement of forces — Grant's communications cut at Holly Springs — Forced to retreat Northward — Sherman's Yazoo enterprise — He fails to get a foothold — Grant's determination — He organizes a third expedition against Vicksburg — Takes command in person — At Milliken's Bend and Young's Point — Trying expedients — Failure of the different plans — He sees what must be done — His persistency and originality, in

Chapter VIII. Siege And Capture Of Vicksburg

Vicksburg — Situation and fortifications — Department of Tennessee — The army at Young's Point and Milliken's Bend — Grant's move to the south of Vicksburg — Meets with disfavor among his officers — The movement begins — To New Carthage and Perkins — Grierson's cavalry raid — Porter running the Vicksburg batteries — Naval attack on Grand Gulf — Its failure — Grant crosses the Mississippi with his army — Lands on East side at Bruinsburg — Gets a foothold on Mississippi soil — Sherman's diversion at Hayne's Bluff — Grant's quick march inland — Battle of Port Gibson — Abandonment of Grand Gulf — Manceuvers to keep Pemberton and Johnston apart — Johnston driven from Jackson — Pemberton beaten at Champion Hills — Battle of Black River Bridge — Pemberton's retreat upon Vicksburg — Grant's investment of the place — His danger from Johnston — Grant's right reaches the Yazoo — Capture of Hayne's Bluff — Communication opened with the upper Mississippi — Sherman's opinion of the campaign — Grant assaults the enemy's entrenchments — They prove too strong for capture — A second and more general assault — Porter co-operates with the fleet — ■ The terrible fire — A second failure — Regular siege operations begun — The approaches — Closing and pushing the lines — Mining and countermining — Johnston in the rear — Pemberton offers terms — Grant sends his terms — Final agreement — Surrender — Prisoners and munitions — Grant takes possession — Sherrnan drives Johnston — What Vicksburg meant — Grant's honors — His vindication —Character and historic position, , 128

Chapter IX. From Vicksburg To Chattanooga

Thoughts of Mobile — At New Orleans — Armies of the Mississippi Valley — Aid for Rosecrans — Chickamauga — Grant at Louisville — What was wanted — A new department — Grant given charge — Fears for Rosecrans — Grant assumes command — Rosecrans displaced — Thomas takes his command — Off for Chattanooga- Description of the place — The Federal situation — His move for supplies — Flanking the Confederates — The rear movement — A battle and its results — Opening communications — Effect on the army — Chagrin of the Confederates — Chattanooga saved — Concentrating his forces — Protecting Burnside — Sherman's magnanimity — He reports at Bridgeport — A union of veterans at Chattanooga, 163

Chapter X. Battle Of Chattanooga

Burnside and Knoxville — Grant's idea of his situation — Burnside's danger — Halleck's impressions — Grant's plan of relief — Ord rs to attack — Movements of Howard's corps — Thomas' grand demonstration — Bragg not retreating — Hooker's movement — He captures Lookout — Enemy's retreat — Grant's lines connected — Sherman crosses the Tennessee — Successes among the foot-hills — Ready for the grand battle — Sherman endangers the Confederate right — Bragg concentrates — Stubborn fighting — Hooker appears — Bragg further weakens his centre — Grant sees his chance — The splendid charge — Capture of the enemy's rifle-pits — Scaling the heights — Reaching the summits— Capture of men and batteries — Bragg's retreat — Grant's ardor leads him into the fray — Sheridan's pursuit — Night scenes — Trophies — A force sent to Burnside — Losses — Magnitude of the victoiy — Effects on the country and armies — Grant's wonderful generalship — United Departments — Destiny foreshadowed, 176

CHAPTER XL

CHATTANOOGA TO WASHINGTON.

Burnside and Longstreet — Knoxville attacked — Effect of Chattanooga on Longstreet — His retreat — Congratulations for successes — A medal to Grant — Busy with other plans — Feeling Bragg's position — Winter quarters — Perilous trip to Nashville — Sherman at Vicksburg — A winter expedition into Mississippi — Features of the Western campaigns of 1863 — What they proved — A single leader demanded — The Confederate situation — The Federal situation — Bill to revive the grade of

Lieutenant-General — Grant's indifference to the honor — Orders to report at Washington — His Western plans — His characteristic letter to Sherman and McPherson — Sherman's reply — A letter for history — Halleck's congratulations — Introduction to the Cabinet — Commission of Lieutenant-General — Lincoln's speech and Grant's reply — Commander of all the Armies — Headquarters in the field, 200

Chapter XII. Preparing For The Wilderness

War theatre in Virginia — Lee's army the objective — Concentration and Co-operation — Grant reaches the front — Consults with Meade — Westward to Nashville — Sherman's plea — Reorganizes the Departments — Back to Washington — Headquarters at Culpeper — Reorganizes the Army of the Potomac — Retains his old staff — List of all the Departments — Number of troops in each — Their commanders — General plans — A central aim — Specific plans — Butler and the James — Movement of the Potomac army — Criticisms answered — Withdrawal of the Carolina garrisons — Embarrassment on account of Banks — Massacre at Ft. Pillow — Perfection of Grant's plans — The mighty machine ready — Orders to all the armies — Final consultation — Grand movement on May 4th — Notable letter from President Lincoln — Grant's reply — The dawn of battle. . 222

Chapter XIII. The Wilderness

Lee's army — Its location and defences — The Federal army — Its strength, organization and location — Grant's movement — Its object and dangers — Its order — How effected — Its discovery — Confederate designs — Crossing of the Rapidan — A plunge into the Wilderness — Movement of all the armies — Disposition of forces — Lee attacks in the Wilderness — A counter attack — Results of the first day's fighting — What of the morrow ? — Preparations for an early blow — Confederates attack the right — Federals attack on the left — Determined all day fighting — Federal successes — Lee's anxiety to turn the Federal left — Then the right — Forced to retire — Federals hold all their ground — Character of the ground — ■ Cavalry fighting — -Tind of second day's fighting — Results thus far — Lee on the defensive — Losses of both armies — Grant's new plans, 240

Chapter XIV. Spottsylvania

Word from Butler — By the left for Spottsylvania — A brilliant manoeuvre — Splendid marching — Lee gets position — Strongly fortifies — Grant in his front — Sedgwick killed — The battle of Spottsylvania — " We will fight it out on this line if it takes all summer" — Terrific fighting — Heavy losses — Lee's position impregnable — Sigel beaten in the Valley — Butler driven — Grant undismayed — Ready for another move, 259

Chapter XV. The North Anna

By the left again — Lee's policy — A race for the North Anna — Lee deceived — Grant crosses — Warren's fight for position — Hancock over — Burnside cannot cross — Grant's wings separated — Efforts to unite them — Fierce trial of strength — Lee's position too strong — Perilous manoeuvre — Grant recrosses — A rapid swing to the left — Makes for the Pamunkey — Crosses and throws Lee back — Twenty miles from Richmond — A new base of supplies — The situation now — Cavalry dashes — The Totopotomoy region, 2.82

Chapter XVI. Cold Harbor

Grant's cavalry arm — Battle for position — Lee's strategy — Federal advance — Lines of both armies — Brisk skirmishing — Issue joined — Fierce battle of Cold Harbor — Tactics of both generals — Attack on Sheridan — Cold Harbor held — Lee extends his right, Grant his left — Continuous fighting and manceuvreing — Delay of Smith — Grant's disappointment — Attacks Lee's left — Swings his own left — The Chickahominy reached — Wilson's raid — Hunter in the Valley — Battle at the Chickahominy — Richmond's last defences — Criticisms on the battle — Its results, 291

Chapter XVII. Over The James To Petersburg

Grant's plans — His strategy — Vigor of his blows — Tenacity of purpose — More cavalry raids — Crossing the Chickahominy — Feint on Richmond — Over the James — A splendid and successful crossing — Attempt on Petersburg — Delay brings failure to capture — Investment of the place — Siege begun — Magnitude of the operations — Total losses — Condition of the armies, 305

Chapter XVIII. Siege Of Petersburg

Description of Petersburg — Federal lines — Extent of works — Character of operations — Difficulties — Cutting railroads — Extending works — Keeping Lee employed — Strategic movements — Scare at Washington — Early's Northern march — Crosses the Potomac — Threatens the Capital — Defeat and retreat — Sheridan to the rescue — The Valley campaigns — Mining and besieging at Petersburg — The great explosion — Disastrous assaults — Pushing the lines Westward — Beyond the Weldon road — Diversions on Richmond — Capture of Fort Fisher — Wilmington falls — Sherman reaches Goldsboro — Peace propositions — Concentration and co-operation — Grant's lines West of Petersburg — Hard fighting for position — Closing on Lee, 316

CONTEXTS. 13

Chapter XIX. Five Forks And Surrender

Sheridan's cavalry movements — Dinwiddie — Enemy at Five Forks — Break in Lee s lines — Warren in the breach — Sheridan's strategy — The brilliant battle of Five Forks — Victory and huzzas — Grant orders an assault — Attack on whole Petersburg front — Lee's entrenchments give way — Closing on Petersburg — The place doomed — Excitement in Richmond — Flight of Confederate President —Richmond abandoned — Lee gives up Petersburg — His retreat — The pursuit- Desperate race for life — Foiled at every point — Surrounded at Appomattox — Lee's letters — Grant's letters — The surrender — Humanitarian terms — Scenes and incidents — Grant's generosity — Off for Washington, ....... 360

Chapter XX. Nashville And The March To The Sea

Sherman in the West — His army organization — Drives Johnston from Dalton — Campaign to Atlanta — Splendid flank movements — The battles — Death of McPherson — Capture of Atlanta — Johnston's removal — Confederate retreat — - Price in Missouri — Canby's new military division — Hood's invasion of Tennessee — Thomas' campaign — Battles of Nashville — Hood's defeat and retreat — His army broken up — Sherman's " March to the Sea " — Numbers and plans — Capture of Savannah — Of Charleston — Long march northward — Battle of Bentonsville — Enters Goldsboro — Meets Schofield — Holds Johnston at Smithfield — Helps Grant — The situation, 401

Chapter XXI. Peace

Guarantee of peace — The welcome proclamation — Lincoln assassinated — Grant sent for — His own escape — The country's alarm — Johnston's surrender — Sherman's faulty terms — Grant's intercession — Defence of his lieutenant — Selfsacrificing conduct — Other surrenders — Number paroled — End of rebellion — Grant's career thus far — Made a General — Made Secretary of War ad interim — His motives and great work — The President's motives — The embarrassing situation — Grant resigns — His controversy with Johnson — His feeling and vindication — Review of the whole situation, 431

Chapter XXII. Grant's First Administration

The vote and Congresses — The Political outlook — The Stanton affair — Johnson and his party — Johnson and reconstruction — Everything points to Grant — The nomination and campaign — "Let us have Peace" — Tbe inauguration —

The Cabinet — Grant as President — Efforts at reconstruction — His political policy — Financial policy — All the States re-united — The "Public Credit Act" — Foreign policy — Various public measures — His opinions on leading subjects — Review of his statesmanship — His family in the White House, . . . 448

Chapter XXIII

grant's second administration.

The vote and Congresses — Reasons for re-nomination — The Campaign — His election a vindication — Inauguration — Cabinet — Relations with his party — Difficulties of his second administration — His policy — Inflation furore — Leading measures — Historic incidents — Public sentiments — Review of his administrative career, 482

Chapter XXIV. Tour Around The World

The sailing — Ocean voyage — Receptions and ovations in England — Places visited — Speeches and ceremonies — Royal presents — To Belgium — Sights and scenes — Switzerland and Scotland — France and Italy — Egypt and up the Nile — ■ Jerusalem, Constantinople and Rome— Cities of southern Europe — Through Holland and Prussia — With Bismarck and the Prince Imperial — Through Norway and Sweeden — Splendid welcomes — At the Russian Capital — From Poland to Spain — Back to Ireland — Off for India — Through China and Japan — A complete and graphic history of the circuit — The return — Welcome in San Francisco — The receptions everywhere — In private life again — Uses of the trip — A grand school, 498

Chapter XXV. 1880

The Political situations— Grant's name — Object of his friends — The Convention — Garfield's nomination — Grant's attitude — His conduct — Generosity — Vindication — Valuble chapter on a much misunderstood theme, 558

Chapter XXVI. Personal History Memoirs — Reminiscences — Anecdotes

Author's analysis of his character — His growth — Traits of disposition — Personal appearance — Constitution — Originality — Outline of the entire man — Solidity of his fame — Greater the more he is studied — Mrs. Grant — Her constancy and affection — His family — His habits — Beauty of his Home life — His mementoes — Memoirs — Opinions on leading measures — Frequent and familiar talks about great men — Valuable reminiscences by George W. Childs, General Horace Porter, General Beale, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Walt Whitman, Postmaster- General Creswell, and other close friends — Anecdotes — A graphic chapter, 568

Chapter XXVII. The Dying Hero

Misfortune and disease — Nature of the disease — Mental strain — Financial ruin — At death's door — A nation's sympathy — Touching scenes — Rally — At work again — Temporary mastery of disease — Removal to Mt. McGregor — Hope — An heroic fight — Gradual failure — The last battle — The surrender — Grant no more — Death bed scenes — A bereaved family — A nation's sorrow — Muffled bells and solemn drapery, 635

Chapter XXVIII. In State And At The Tomb

Solemn cottage scenes — National emblems of grief — Flags and mourning — Sentiments of the press — Resolutions of sympathy — The Pulpit — President's proclamation — Proclamations by Governors — A national funeral — Choosing a resting place — The pall-bearers — The family funeral — Dr. Newman's sermon — Start from Mt. McGregor — Route to Albany — In state at Albany — Scenes and incidents — To New York — In state at City Hall — Viewing the remains — The national funeral — Imposing closing ceremonies — The cortege — At the tomb — "Dust to dust" — The hero at rest — He sleeps well — InMemoriam, . . 673

LIEUTENANT GRANT, AGED TWENTY-THREE YEARS.

Chapter I. Parentage Birth Education

THE Grant name is associated with the Scottish clans, though it is probably of Norman origin. The clan was powerful in the early days of the Scotch monarchy. John Grant commanded the right wing of the Scotch army at Halidown Hill, in 1333. During the Jacobite troubles the Grants held large possessions in the Strathspey country, and were Protestants and Whigs. Lieutenant-General Francis Grant was buried in Hampshire, England, Dec. 2d, 1781, and his monument bears a burning crest with the motto " Steadfast." In " Fairbain's Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland " are twenty-one different crests of the Grant family. One of them represents a burning hill, with four peaks each surmounted by a flame with the motto " Stand Sure ! Stand Fast ! Craig Ellachie ! " Another Grant had as a crest an oak sprouting and sun shining, with the motto " Wise and Harmless." Others still bore as mottoes " Stabit," "Stand Sure!" "I'll Stand Sure," "Immobile," "Stand Fast Craig Ellachie." These mottoes of the sturdy Grant clansmen are strikingly descriptive of the dominant traits in the character of their illustrious descendant, the subject of this volume.

Matthew Grant came to America in 1630, and settled first in Massachusetts, then at Windsor, Connecticut. In the fifth generation from Matthew was Capt. Noah Grant, the General's Great-grandfather, who fought in the French and Indian wars.

His son, Noah Grant, Jr., was a lieutenant of militia in the battle of Lexington, and subsequently fought throughout the Revolutionary War. He removed to Westmoreland county, Pa., where his son, Jesse Root Grant, was born, January 23 d, 1794.

Jesse R. Grant, whose father moved to the then Northwest in April, 1799, lost his mother when he was eleven

FATHER OF GENERAL GRANT.

years old. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed as a tanner to a half brother in Maysville, Ky. After serving his time he began the tanning business for himself in Ravenna, Portage county, O. Though deprived of early schooling, he was

PARENTAGE BIRTH EDUCATION.

a man of large information. Blessed with a strong constitution, robust body, shrewd and comprehensive judgment, and being honest, frugal, industrious and persevering, he became prosperous and gradually extended his business to various cities and towns in the West. He was a man of strict integrity, a ready speaker and pleasing writer.

At the age of sixty he gave up his business, having ac-

MOTHER OF GENERAL GRANT.

quired a fortune, to his sons Orville and Simpson. He subsequently divided his property equally among his children, reserving enough to support himself and wife. His son Ulysses declined to receive any part of his father's fortune, modestly asserting that he had done nothing toward its accumulation.

Jesse R. Grant was married at Point Pleasant, Ohio, in June, 1 82 1, to Hannah Simpson, daughter of John Simpson, a farmer of Montgomery county, Pa. She was also of Scotch extraction, and was noted for her great steadiness, firmness and strength of character. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Church from girlhood, a faithful and devoted wife, a careful and painstaking mother, and at all times and in all troubles the chief stay and comfort of her family.

It is not strange that the offspring of such parents should be sturdy, virtuous, honest and truthful, and that with opportunity they should develop all the qualities which fit men for the highest places of trust in politics, war or business.

Hiram Ulysses Grant was born on April 27th, 1822, at Point Pleasant, in Clermont county, O. His father relates that soon after his birth a family discussion arose about naming him. His mother proposed Albert, after Albert Gallatin. An aunt proposed Theodore. The grandfather suggested Hiram. The step-grandmother, a student of history, proposed Ulysses. The result was he was christened Hiram Ulysses, and passed his childhood under this name.

The year after, 1823, his father moved to Georgetown, within forty miles of Cincinnati. Here he passed his boyhood, and it was that of one growing up in a comparatively new country. At an early age he began to manifest an independent, self-reliant and venturesome disposition. He was fond of riding and breaking horses, driving teams, and helping at whatever work he was able to do. At six he was a fearless horseman, and at twelve had broken many colts, some of which he used to ride at full speed, standing on their backs like a circus man. His quiet, gentle disposition, yet remarkable firmness, gave him wonderful control of horses.

He was in demand among his neighbors as a trainer of young animals, but he could never be engaged for money. A neighbor had a fine colt which he could not teach to pace. He wanted young Grant to try his hand at teaching him, and was willing to pay handsomely. The boy would not hire himself. So he was engaged to carry a letter to a town some distance away, the colt to be ridden. After he was mounted and had started, the neighbor called out to him, " Please :each that colt to pace." He returned the horse at night a perfect pacer, but having found out that the letter was simply a sham, he could never afterward be persuaded to teach a horse to pace.