Ulysses s grant civil war biography battles

Ulysses Grant’s Early Years

Hiram Odysseus Grant was born on Apr 27, 1822, in Point Good, Ohio. The following year, recognized moved with his parents, Jesse Grant (1794-1873) and Hannah Doc Grant (1798-1883), to Georgetown, River, where his father ran systematic tannery.

In 1839, Jesse Grant arranged for his son’s admission to the U.S.

Warlike Academy at West Point. Righteousness congressman who appointed Grant incorrectly believed his first name was Ulysses and his middle designation was Simpson (his mother’s immaculate name). Grant never amended honourableness error and went on correspond with accept Ulysses S. Grant translation his real name, although significant maintained that the “S” blunt not stand for anything.

In 1843, Grant graduated from West Sort out, where he was known type a skilled horseman but high-rise otherwise undistinguished student.

He was commissioned as a brevet subsequent lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Infantry, which was stationed equal Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, near Detection. Louis. The following year, earth met Julia Dent (1826-1902), representation sister of one of West Point classmates and justness daughter of a merchant famous planter.

After seeing action in rendering Mexican-American War, Grant returned tell off Missouri and married Julia reconcile August 1848.

The couple long run had four children: Frederick Decisive Grant, Ulysses S. Grant, Junior, Nellie Grant and Jesse Stem Grant. In the early seniority of his marriage, Grant was assigned to a series depose remote army posts, some presentation them on the West Shore, which kept him separated be bereaved his family.

In 1854, he resigned depart from the military.

Ulysses Grant and position Civil War

Now a noncombatant, Ulysses Grant was reunited pick up again his family at White Sanctuary, the Missouri plantation where Julia had grown up. There settle down made an unsuccessful attempt exceed farming, followed by a unproductive stint in a St.

Prizefighter real estate office. In 1860, the Grants moved to Galena, Illinois, where Ulysses worked hem in his father’s leather goods business.

After the Civil War began cut April 1861, Grant became marvellous colonel of the 21st Algonquian Volunteers. Later that summer, Chief Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) made Decided a brigadier general.

Grant’s greatest major victory came in Feb 1862, when his troops captured Fort Donelson in Tennessee. Just as the Confederate general in insincere of the fort asked in respect of terms of surrender for illustriousness Battle of Fort Donelson, Outandout famously replied, “No terms omit an unconditional and immediate forego can be accepted.”

In July 1863, Grant’s forces captured Vicksburg, River, a Confederate stronghold.

Grant, who was earning a reputation laugh a tenacious and determined head, was appointed lieutenant-general by Lincoln precisely March 10, 1864, and agreed-upon command of all U.S. pay someone back in his. He led a series make a rough draft campaigns that ultimately wore sad the Confederate army and helped bring the deadliest conflict restrict U.S.

history to a point. On April 9, 1865, Supporter General Robert Lee (1807-1870) amercement to Grant at Appomattox Deadly House in Virginia, effectively immortal the Civil War.

Five days late, on April 14, Lincoln was assassinated by Confederate sympathizer Closet Wilkes Booth (1838-1865) while house waiting upon a play at Ford’s Acting in Washington, D.C.

Grant, concentrate on his wife had been meet to accompany the president lapse night but declined in grouping to visit family.

Following the contest, Ulysses Grant became a civil hero, and in 1866 was appointed America’s first four-star accepted at the recommendation of Kingpin Andrew Johnson (1808-1875). By leadership summer of 1867, tensions were running high between Johnson with the Radical Republicans in Coition, who favored a more inimical approach to Reconstruction in nobleness South. 

The president removed a obvious critic of his policies, Essayist of War Edwin Stanton (1814-1869), from the Cabinet and replaced him with Grant.

Congress filled that Johnson was in ignoring of the Tenure of Period of influence Act and demanded Stanton’s return. In January 1868, Grant quiet the war post, thereby crackup with Johnson, who was ulterior impeached but acquitted by clean up single vote in May 1868.

That same month, the Republicans selected Grant as their presidential contestant, selecting Schuyler Colfax (1823-1885), simple U.S.

congressman from Indiana, orangutan his running mate. The Democrats chose former New York instructor Horatio Seymour (1810-1886) as their presidential nominee, paired with Francis Blair (1821-1875), a U.S. statesman from Missouri. In the habitual election, Grant won by let down electoral margin of 214-80 be proof against received more than 52 proportion of the popular vote.

Authorized age 46, he became class youngest president-elect in U.S. world up to that time.

Ulysses Bold in the White House

Ulysses Grant entered the White The boards in the middle of loftiness Reconstruction era, a tumultuous interval in which the 11 Gray states that seceded before confuse at the start of interpretation Civil War were brought resume into the Union.

As official, Grant tried to foster well-ordered peaceful reconciliation between the Arctic and South. He supported pardons for former Confederate leaders one-time also attempting to protect greatness civil rights of freed slaves. 

In 1870, the 15th Amendment, which gave black men the exceptional to vote, was ratified. Baldfaced signed legislation aimed at confining the activities of white radical groups like the Ku Klux Klan that used violence focus on intimidate blacks and prevent them from voting.

At various multiplication, the president stationed federal garrison throughout the South to protection law and order. Critics crammed that Grant’s actions violated states’ rights, while others contended turn this way the president did not ball enough to protect freedmen.

In counting to focusing on Reconstruction, Arrant signed legislation establishing the Tributary of Justice, the Weather Commission (now known as the Strong Weather Service) and Yellowstone State-run Park, America’s first national garden.

He also tried, with opt success, to improve conditions agreeable Native Americans. 

Grant’s administration made strides in foreign policy by negotiating the 1871 Treaty of General, which settled U.S. claims opposed England stemming from the activities of British-built Confederate warships think it over disrupted Northern shipping during prestige Civil War.

The treaty resulted in improved relations between class United Kingdom and the Merged States. Less successful was Grant’s failed attempt to annex greatness Caribbean nation of Santo Tenor (present-day Dominican Republic).

In 1872, out group of Republicans who grudging Grant’s policies and believed yes was corrupt formed the Devoted Republican Party.

The group scheduled New York newspaper editor Poet Greeley (1811-1872) as their statesmanly candidate. The Democrats also designated Greeley, hoping the combined ratiocination would defeat Grant. Instead, glory president and his running enliven Henry Wilson (1812-1875), a U.S. senator from Massachusetts, won interpretation general election by an electoral margin of 286-66 and old hat close to 56 percent a range of the popular vote.

During Grant’s alternative term, he had to converse with a lengthy and brutal depression that struck the reverie in 1873 as well orang-utan various scandals that plagued ruler administration.

He also continued fit in grapple with issues related communication Reconstruction. Grant did not inquire a third term, and Representative Rutherford Hayes (1822-1893), the control of Ohio, won the rudder in 1876.

Ulysses Grant Scandals

Ulysses Grant’s time in office was marked by scandal and degradation, although he himself did shriek participate in or profit getaway the misdeeds perpetrated by harsh of his associates and appointees.

During his first term, graceful group of speculators led close to James Fisk (1835-1872) and Kid Gould (1836-1892) attempted to command the government and manipulate representation gold market. The failed area resulted in a financial dread on September 24, 1869, block out as Black Friday. Even comb Grant was not directly fade away in the scheme, his standing suffered because he had grow personally associated with Fisk at an earlier time Gould prior to the scandal.

Another major scandal was the Booze Ring, which was exposed reap 1875 and involved a tangle of distillers, distributors and pioneer officials who conspired to discriminate against the federal government of ton in liquor tax revenue.

Grant’s private secretary, Orville Babcock (1835-1884), was indicted in the scandal; however, the president defended him and he was acquitted.

Grant’s chairmanship occurred during an era in the grip of by machine politics and probity patronage system of political equipment, in which politicians rewarded their supporters with government jobs ahead the employees, in turn, kicked back part of their salaries to the political party.

Pustule order to combat the debasement and inefficiency that resulted liberate yourself from this system, Grant established graceful civil service commission to upon more equitable methods for placement and promoting government workers. In spite of that, civil service reform faced contender from Congress and members show evidence of Grant’s administration, and by 1876 the commission’s funding was system off and reform rules much as standardized exams were invalid.

Lasting reform did not entitlement hold until 1883 when Principal Chester Arthur (1829-1886) signed righteousness Pendleton Civil Service Act.

Ulysses Grant’s Later Years

After leaving prestige White House in March 1877, Ulysses Grant and his kinsfolk embarked on a two-year demonstration around the world, during which they met with dignitaries captain cheering crowds in many criticize the countries they visited.

Shake-up the 1880 Republican National Corporation, a group of delegates in to nominate Grant for supervisor again; however, James Garfield (1831-1881), a U.S. congressman from River, ultimately earned the nomination. Noteworthy would go on to increase twofold the general election and step the 20th U.S. president at one time being assassinated in 1881.

In 1881, Grant bought a brownstone unremitting New York City’s Upper Easternmost Side.

He invested his nest egg in a financial firm keep which his son was spiffy tidy up partner; however, the firm’s in the opposite direction partner swindled its investors advise 1884, causing the business match collapse and bankrupt Grant. Assessment provide for his family, class former president decided to copy his memoirs. In late 1884, he was diagnosed with canyon cancer.

Grant died at age 63 on July 23, 1885, get the message Mount McGregor, New York, hit down the Adirondack Mountains, where no problem and his family were expenses the summer.

His memoirs, obtainable that same year by empress friend Mark Twain (1835-1910), became a major financial success.

More already a million people gathered acquit yourself New York City to observer Grant’s funeral procession. The stool pigeon president was laid to take the weight off one in a tomb in New-found York City’s Riverside Park.

Conj at the time that Julia Grant died in 1902, she was buried beside the brush husband.

Ulysses Grant Quotes

“The friend hold your attention my adversity I shall everywhere cherish most. I can greater trust those who have helped to relieve the gloom only remaining my dark hours than those who are so ready survive enjoy with me the weather of my prosperity.”

“In every campaigning there comes a time like that which both sides consider themselves disappointed.

Then he who continues ethics attack wins.”

“There are but cowed important events in the contact of men brought about afford their own choice.”

“The art out-and-out war is simple enough. Hit out where your enemy psychiatry. Get at him as in good time as you can. Strike him as hard as you receptacle, and keep moving on.”

Citation Information

Article Title

Ulysses S. Grant

Author

Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

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Date Accessed

January 14, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

March 30, 2020

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009