Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

General Jackson was a hard student. At West-Point his lessons were learned only after the utmost mental labor, and few there considered him a bright scholar. He graduated, however, far above many whose tasks had been more easily learned and who it was thought would distance him in the contest for the prize at examination.

When he was a Professor at the Virginia Military Institute he was a martinet in the performance of his duties, and the pupils were led to regard him as a most unreasonable and exacting stickler for useless military etiquette and ceremony. He once continued to wear a thick woolen uniform late in the summer, and when asked by the professors why he did so, replied that he had seen an order prescribing that dress, but none had been exhibited to him directing it to be changed.

[ocr errors]
[graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small]

L

ULYSSES S. GRANT.

IEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT was born at Point Pleasant, Clermont Co., Ohio, April twenty-seventh, 1822. His ancestors were Scotch. His early education was obtained at a seminary at Maysville, Kentucky. Through the influence of friends he was appointed cadet at the Military Academy at West-Point in 1839; he being then but seventeen years of age. Progressing steadily in his studies, and graduating with honor, he entered the United States army July first, 1843, as brevet second lieutenant of infantry. He was assigned to the Fourth regiment, then on duty in Missouri and the Indian territory, remaining there until his regiment was ordered to Texas. At Corpus Christi he received his full commission as second lieutenant of the Seventh infantry, bearing date September thirtieth, 1845. His regiment joined the army under General Taylor, and participated in the battles of Palo Alto, May sixth, and Resaca de la Palma, May ninth, 1846. Grant had, however, been detached and rejoined the Fourth regiment the previous November. With this corps he participated in the operations of General Taylor along the Rio Grande and in the battle of Monterey, September twenty-third, 1846. Previous to the surrender of Vera Cruz, the Fourth regiment was transferred to the command of General Scott. Lieutenant Grant took part in the siege of that stronghold and advanced with the victorious army to the city of the Montezumas. He was holding a staff appointment as quartermaster at that time, but was actively engaged in the battle of Molino del Rey, behaving with such gallantry that he was awarded by Congress the brevet of first lieutenant, which he declined. He subsequently was promoted to the full rank of first lieutenant to date from September sixteenth, 1847. At the battle of Chapultepec, September thirteenth, 1847, with his command, he joined Captain Horace Brooks, of the Second artillery, and by a united movement carried a strong field-work, thus completely turning the enemy's right. For his conduct on this occasion he received honorable mention in the official dispatches of General Worth, and was rewarded with the brevet rank of captain, to date from the battle, which brevet was confirmed during January, 1850.

After the close of the war with Mexico, Captain Grant was stationed in NewYork State, with his regiment, which was divided among the forts and defences of the northern frontier and Michigan. In 1852, his corps was sent to the

Pacific coast, and the battalion to which Captain Grant belonged was stationed at Fort Dallas, Oregon. While here he received the full commission of captain, dating from August, 1853. On the thirty-first of July, 1854, he resigned his commission in the army and took up his residence in St. Louis, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1859, when he married and removed to Galena, Ill., at which place he united in partnership with his father in the tanning business.

When the rebellion broke out General Grant offered his services to Governor Yates, of Illinois, who appointed him an aid on his staff, and mustering officer of the State volunteers. He retained this position until June fifteenth, 1861, when desiring active service, he was appointed colonel of the Twenty-first Illinois volunteers. This regiment was sent into Missouri, and formed part of General Hurlbut's force, was subsequently stationed at Mexico, Mo., where it was incorporated with General Pope's troops, and, during the early part of August 1861, garrisoned Pilot Knob, and afterward Marble Creek, Mo. August twentythird he was appointed by the President Brigadier-General of volunteers, with rank from May seventeenth, 1861. General Grant was then placed in command of the post at Cairo, where he was afterwards joined by McClernand's brigade. His department then included the Missouri shore of the Mississippi from Cape Girardeau to New-Madrid. Kentucky, at this time, was supposed to be neutral, and its Governor was anxious that its soil should not be invaded by the troops of either combatants. The rebels, however, perceiving the importance of Columbus in a military view, seized upon that point and garrisoned Belmont opposite. General Grant at once determined to occupy Paducah, at the mouth of the Tennessee River, and successfully accomplished his object on the sixth of September. In answer to a protest from the Governor of Kentucky, Grant called his attention to the occupation of Columbus by the rebels as the provocation for his course. He subsequently occupied Smithland at the mouth of the Cumberland River, and thus blockaded the entrance to those important streams, and gained valuable bases for future operations. On the seventh of November General Grant made a movement upon Belmont, Mo., for the purpose of dislodging the rebel troops who had fortified that position, and was successful. The object having been accomplished, he proceeded to withdraw his forces. Large numbers of his command, however, were so busily engaged in reaping the spoils of victory, that reënforcements of the enemy landed and accelerated the departure to such an extent that the closing scenes had the appearance of a rout, and as such were considered by the Southern leaders. General Grant, however, retired safely, and, under all the circumstances, the battle of Belmont was a victory.

After Fremont's supersedure by General Halleck, Grant's department was extended, and embraced the southern part of Illinois, that part of Kentucky west

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »