Civil War Battles
Custer's Last Stand
Republic of Texas
Civil War Medicine
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General Ulysses S. Grant in the Civil War |
Ulysses S. Grant Quotes |
General Grant's Presidential Campaign Poster |
Grant's Letter to General Hawley |
Ulysses S. Grant's First Inaugural Address |
President Grant's Last Message to Congress |
President Grant's Philadelphia Speech |
Grant's Vindication of Fitz-John Porter |
Grant's Washburne Letter
NATIONAL UNION CLUB, No.
CHESTNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA,
ULYSSES SYDNEY GRANT was born at
Mount Pleasant, Clermont co., Ohio, April 27, 1822. The family removed to Georgetown,
Brown county, Ohio, 1823.
Appointed cadet at West Point, by
Hon. T. L. Harner, 1839.
Graduated June 30, 1843, standing
number twenty-one in a class of thirty-eight members.
Entered on the army roles thn
army rolls as brevet second lieutenant and assigned to Fourth Infantry, on the
Missouri frontier, as a supernumerary. Commissioned September 30th, 1845, second
lieutenant of infantry.
Taylor's army to Mexico
and took part in all the actions from
Palo Alto, May 8, 1846, to
September 23, 1846.
Scott's Army and
took part in the siege of
Assigned as quartermaster of his
regiment April, 1847.
battle of Molino del Rey,
September 8th, 1847, promoted on the field, by General Scott, to first
lieutenant, for distinguished gallantry.
Battle of Chapultepec, September
13, 1847, officially noticed for gallantry by Gen. Worth.
Entered the City of Mexico with
Sent to the Pacific coast at the
close of the war, and assigned to duty in
Oregon, with headquarters at Fort
Dallas. Appointed brevet captain 1850,
of Chepultepec (sic).
Commissioned captain August, 1853.
Resigned July 31, 1854 : spent a
few years in business in St. Louis, and in farming.
Removed to Galena, Illinois, and,
with his father, established there the leather house of Grant & Son, 1859.
Appointed mustering officer and
aid to Governor Yates, of Illinois, at Springfield, April, 1861.
Commissioned colonel of the 21st
Illinois (three years) volunteers, June 15, 1861.
Appointed brigadier-general by
President Lincoln, August. 1861 (commission dated back to May 17), and placed in
command of the district of Cairo.
Occupied Paducah, Kentucky, by a
surprise movement, September 6, 1861.
Defeated Jeff. Thompson at
Greenville, October 16, 1861.
Battle of Belmont, November 7,
Moved up the Tennessee, and, with
Foote's iron-clads, captured Fort Henry, February 6, 1862.
Invested Fort Donelson February
11, and captured it February 16, by the unconditional surrender of the enemy.
Promoted to be major-general of
volunteers, commission dating from the fall of Donelson. Advance against
Corinth, March, 1862. Battle of Pittsburg Landing, April 7 and 8, 1862.
Placed in command of the Army of
the Tennessee, April 13 ; occupied Memphis and Holly Springs in June; made
commander of the department of the Tennessee in July.
Began the campaign against
Vicksburg October 25, 1863; captured the city after a long and bloody winter and
spring campaign, July 4, 1863.
Appointed major-general in the
regular army. Severely injured by being thrown from his horse at New Orleans,
September, 1863 ; three ribs broken.
Appointed to command of the
military division of the Mississippi, October, 1863, and announced headquarters
in the field, arriving at Chattanooga October 23.
Battle of Missionary Ridge and
Mountain, November 24 and 25,
1863, driving Bragg from before Chattanooga.
Appointed and confirmed
lieutenant-general of the army, March 2, 1864.
Arrived at Washington March 8,
1864. Assumed command of all the Union armies, headquarters with the Army of the
Potomac, March 12, 1864.
Crossed the Rapidan May 3, 1864.
May 5, 6 and 7, battles of the
Wilderness. May 11, " I shall fight it out on this line if it takes all summer."
May 29, crossed the Pamunkey.
Crossed the James and placed
Richmond and Petersburg under siege June 14. Constant battles during the summer,
fall and winter.
Began the final campaign of the
war, March 25, 1865.
Battle of Five Forks, March 31
and April 1. Occupation of Richmond, April 2.
Surrender of Lee's army, April 9,
1865, and substantial end of the war.
Appointed General of the Armies
of the United States, July 25, 1866, the grade being created for him.
Secretary of War ad interim, Aug.
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE
UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, August 1st, 1867.
His Excellency Andrew Johnson,
President of the United States:
I take the liberty of addressing
you privately on the subject of the conversation we had this morning, feeling,
as I do, the great danger to the welfare of the country should you carry out the
designs then expressed.
First. On the subject of the
displacement of the Secretary of War. His removal cannot be effected against his
will, without the consent of the Senate. It is but a short time since the United
States Senate was in session, and why not then have asked for his removal, if it
was desired ? It certainly was the intention of the legislative branch of the
Government to place Cabinet ministers beyond the power of Executive removal, and
it is pretty well understood that, so far as Cabinet ministers are affected by
the tenure of office bill, it was intended especially to protect the Secretary
of War, in whom the country felt great confidence. The meaning of this law may
be explained away by an astute lawyer, but common sense and the views of loyal
people will give to it the effect intended by its framers.
Second. On the subject of the
removal of the very able commander of the Fifth Military District, let me ask
you to consider the effect it would have upon the public. He is universally and
deservedly beloved by the people who sustained this Government through its
trials, and feared by those who would still be the enemies of the Government. It
fell to the lot of but few men to do as much against an armed enemy as General
Sheridan did during the rebellion, and it is within the scope of the ability of
but few in this, or any other country, to do what he has.
His civil administration has
given equal satisfaction. He has had difficulties to contend with which no other
district commander has encountered. Almost, if not quite, from the day he was
appointed district commander to the present time, the press has given out that
he was to be removed, and that the Administration was dissatisfied with him.
This has emboldened the opponents to the laws of Congress within his command to
oppose him in every way in their power, and has rendered necessary measures
which otherwise may never have been necessary.
In conclusion, allow me to say as
a friend desiring peace and quiet, the welfare of the whole country, North and
South, that it is. in my opinion, more than the loyal people of the country—I
mean those who supported the Government during the great rebellion—will quietly
submit to ; to see the very man of all others who they have expressed confidence
in removed. I would not have taken the liberty of addressing the Executive of
the United States thus but for the conversation on the subject alluded to in
this letter, and from a sense of duty, and from feeling that I am right in this
With great respect, your obedient
U. S. GRANT, GENERAL.
King & Baird, Printers, No. 607
Sansom Street, Philadelphia.