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U. S. CIVIL WAR
PHOTOGRAPHS
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ULYSSES S. GRANT
(Page One of Four)
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230
Ulysses S. Grant
1822 - 1885
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Born at Point Pleasant, Ohio, on 27 April 1822, Ulysses S. Grant attended the
United States Military Academy at West Point, 1839-1843. After graduating he
was promoted to captain while on frontier duty in the Northwest in August 1853.
He resigned from the Army, July 1854 and was generally unsuccessful at farming,
real estate, and clerical activities, from 1854 to 1861.
Many visitors to Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site in Missouri are
surprised to learn that slaves lived and worked on the nineteenth century
farm known as White Haven. During the years 1854 to 1859 Grant lived there
with his wife, Julia, and their children, managing the farm for his
father-in-law, Colonel Dent. At that time no one suspected that Grant would
rise from obscurity to achieve the success he gained during the Civil war.
Joining the army with the start of the Civil War Grant gained national
attention with his victories in 1862 at Forts Henry and
Donelson.
Denver Hotel - Site of Confederate Surrender at Fort Donelson
["No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be
accepted."--Ulysses S. Grant, February 16, 1862, at Fort Donelson]
U.S. Grant's Last Line at Shiloh, April 6, 1862
[Before re-enforcements arrived.]
However, when his poor judgment cost 13,000 casualties at the Battle of
Shiloh,
April 6-7, 1862, the public clamored for Grant's dismissal. Lincoln, refused to
relieve him, claiming, "I can't spare this man--he fights."
Source: Concise Dictionary of American Biography (New York: Charles Scribner's
Sons, 1964)
In July 1863, Grant defeated the Confederate forces at
Vicksburg
to bring the Mississippi River under Union control.
Monument to General U. S. Grant at Vicksburg.
[This Monument stands at the location of Grant's headquarters during the siege
of Vicksburg. His headquarters was initially in a wood frame house, but the
house was dismantled for use by the troops. He then moved his headquarters to a
tent, also at this location.]
As a result of the Vicksburg victory, Grant was appointed major general in the
Regular Army. In December 1863 he received the thanks of Congress and a gold
medal.
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ULYSSES S. GRANT - PAGE 2
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Notes
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