Grant Ulysses S

Grant, Ulysses S. (1822-1885), an American General, and President of the United States of America, was born at Point Pleasant, Ohio. From 1839-43 he was at the United States Military Academy, and afterwards served in the Mexican War. For a considerable period he was employed in a tannery at Galena, Illinois, but the Civil War of 1861 called him from retirement, and he was made Colonel of the 21st Illinois Infantry. He then became Brigadier-Genered, and Commander of the district, and fought several battles. At the decisive battle of Shiloh (1862) General Johnston was killed, and in 1863 Grant took Vicksburg. In 1865 he was Commander-in-chief, and at the head of the army of the Potomac, in conjunction with his subordinate generals at the head of other armies, he concentrated his forces upon Richmond, the fall of which ended the war. In 1868 and again in 1872 he was elected President of the United, States. There was even a movement for his nomination for a third term, but the plan was abandoned as being contrary to the spirit of the Constitution. Unfortunately he was not careful to check corruption in his subordinates, and there were serious scandals while he was President, though he was not personally implicated. In 1884 a reverse of fortune caused him to undertake a history of the war, and in spite of a fatal and painful illness, which he bore with great fortitude, he accomplished his task.