Ulysses Simpson Grant, 1822
Early schooling
Fond of horses
167. A Poor Boy Becomes a Great Man.Ulysses Simpson Grant was born in 1822, in Ohio, at a place called Point Pleasant. When he was a year old hisparents removed to Georgetown, Ohio, and there a few years later he attended school. He was taught little besides reading, writing, and arithmetic. As he grew up he helped his father and mother by hauling wood, plowing, and doing other useful work. He did not like the leather business, his father's occupation, but he found great pleasure in farm work because he was very fond of horses.
He liked to travel
Young Grant liked to travel. When the news came that he had been appointed a cadet at the United States Military Academy, he was glad because of the journey to West Point but not because of any other opportunities it offered. He did not like West Point, and studied only to please his father.
THE BIRTHPLACE OF GENERAL GRANT, POINT PLEASANT, OHIO
THE BIRTHPLACE OF GENERAL GRANT, POINT PLEASANT, OHIO
THE BIRTHPLACE OF GENERAL GRANT, POINT PLEASANT, OHIO
Fights under General Taylor
Resigns and returns home
After his graduation Grant fought in the Mexican War as lieutenant under General Taylor and later under General Scott. After peace was restored he served in California as a captain, but very soon resigned, and when the Civil War broke out in 1861 he was working as a clerk in his father's store at Galena, Illinois.
ULYSSES S. GRANTFrom a photograph taken in 1866 by F. Gutekunst, Philadelphia
ULYSSES S. GRANTFrom a photograph taken in 1866 by F. Gutekunst, Philadelphia
ULYSSES S. GRANT
From a photograph taken in 1866 by F. Gutekunst, Philadelphia
Grant goes to Springfield
His promotions
168. A Great General.When Lincoln's call for seventy-five thousand men startled the country, Grant was made chairman of a meeting at Galena called to raise a company of soldiers. He then went to Springfield,where the governor set him to work drilling soldiers and getting them ready for the war. After a time he became colonel of a regiment. A further promotion followed which made him a brigadier-general in command of several regiments. Later still he rose to be major-general, in command of an army.
Early in the war it was seen that in order to conquer the Confederacy it must be split in two by gaining possession of the Mississippi River. As a part of the great campaign with this end in view, we find Brigadier-General Grant directing the attacks on Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. These places were less than ten miles apart, in western Tennessee.
Captures Forts Henry and Donelson
With the help of Commodore Foote and his gunboats, Grant easily captured Fort Henry. To take Fort Donelson was not so easy. The Confederates tried to break through the right wing of Grant's army. After hard fighting they were driven back, and General Buckner asked what terms Grant would give if they surrendered. To this General Grant replied that he would consider "no terms but an unconditional and immediate surrender ... I propose to move immediately upon your works." This answer has become famous.
Confederates fall back
Grant moves against Vicksburg
The surrender of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson forcedthe Confederates to move back their line of defense. After winning the two days' battle at Pittsburg Landing, General Grant turned his attention to the Mississippi River. As long as the Mississippi remained open to the southern forces, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas could send food supplies to the Confederates on the east side of the river. This General Grant wanted to stop, so, early in 1863, he moved southward to take Vicksburg. He beat the Confederates in the field and drove them into Vicksburg. The siege of the city lasted seven weeks. No one could slip in or out. Meat and bread grew scarce. The houses were knocked to pieces by cannon balls, and people found shelter in cellars and caves.
THE BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING, TENNESSEE
THE BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING, TENNESSEE
THE BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING, TENNESSEE
The surrender
On the Fourth of July, 1863, Vicksburg, with Pemberton's army of more than thirty thousand men, surrendered. There was great happiness throughout the North. President Lincoln sent a message of thanks to General Grant, and Congress voted that he be given a medal.
SCENE OF GRANT'S CAMPAIGNS IN THE WEST
SCENE OF GRANT'S CAMPAIGNS IN THE WEST
SCENE OF GRANT'S CAMPAIGNS IN THE WEST
Gettysburg on the same day
During this campaign in the lower Mississippi countrya large Confederate army had marched north from Virginia, across Maryland into Pennsylvania. This army, under General Robert E. Lee, had won its way as far as Gettysburg. Here, at the end of a great three days' battle, the Confederates were decisively beaten; this defeat came on July 3, and on the very next day came the news that far-away Vicksburg had surrendered to Grant. After defeating the Confederates at Murfreesboro, General Rosecrans was in turn defeated at Chickamauga, and then cooped up in the town of Chattanooga by General Bragg. General Grant was sent to rescue the Union army, which he did in the battles of Lookout Mountain, led by Hooker, and Missionary Ridge, led by Sherman.
Lieutenant-general
169. Great Commander of the Union Armies.President Lincoln saw that General Grant was a great soldier. He sent for him to come to Washington and made him lieutenant-general in command of all the armies of the United States.
The "Wilderness"
Grant took command at once. His first great object was to capture Lee's army. The shortest way to Lee's army lay through the "Wilderness," a part of the country lying south of the upper part of the Rapidan, in Virginia, and covered with a thick forest of tangled underbrush. The route was dangerous. But into the "Wilderness" Grant plunged with his great army. General Lee was there with his troops. The fighting began. For a month it was almost constant charging, back and forth, and there were long lists of dead and wounded. Grant moved his army southward and nearer Richmond. Lee met him in the bloody battles of Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor.
Petersburg taken
Then Grant crossed the James River, south of Richmond, and began the attack on Petersburg. This place was taken in the spring of 1865.
Richmond given up
General Lee told the Confederate president, Jefferson Davis, that he could hold Richmond no longer. He tried to get his army away, but the men were weak from hard fighting, and Sheridan, with his cavalry, was too quick for him.
Lee surrenders at Appomattox
General Grant wrote to General Lee suggesting that he surrender, and thus prevent the loss of more lives. Lee agreed, and the papers were signed April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House. No more generous terms were ever given than those granted to Lee and his men.
After the war was over General Grant served for atime in the cabinet of President Johnson, who had become president at Lincoln's death.
THE GRANT MONUMENT, RIVERSIDE PARK, NEW YORK
THE GRANT MONUMENT, RIVERSIDE PARK, NEW YORK
THE GRANT MONUMENT, RIVERSIDE PARK, NEW YORK
Grant elected president
170. President of the United States.In 1868 Grant was elected President of the United States. He was elected again in 1872. Late in life he made a tour of the world, and everywhere was received with great honor.
Dies in 1885
He died July 23, 1885, at Mount McGregor, near Saratoga, New York. His body rests in Riverside Park, New York City, where a magnificent monument has been built to his memory.