INTRODUCTION. (HIS volume was undertaken at the solicitation of the THIS publishers, who wished a life of General Grant for the people. As an apology for errors and inadvertencies, I feel at liberty to say that circumstances have constrained me to write it with a hurried pen. The pages have been sent to the printer as fast as written; and, as they were electrotyped as fast as printed, I was prevented from revising them fully in proof-sheets. There is no authority for the youth and childhood of Grant but his father: the son never consents to indulge in reminiscence respecting his early years, and uniformly refers biographers to the record for his career during manhood. In regard to the Mexican War, I have been favored with some material by Hon. Mr. Washburne, who has also furnished me with data respecting Grant's life on the frontiers. In the campaigns from Belmont to Chattanooga, I have followed, upon all disputable points, the authority of Gen. Adam Badeau, in his "Military History of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant." I have frequently in the text expressed my obligations to the careful researches of this gentleman; and I repeat my acknowledgments in this introduction. The telegrams, despatches, letters, of Gen. Grant, which 6 have been for the first time given to the public by this accomplished historian, I have freely used; because I have regarded them as Gen. Grant's own commentaries upon his own campaigns, written, like Cæsar's, in the field. In the Wilderness campaign I have relied upon manuscript reports, which were furnished me at headquarters, when I was investigating a question of legislation, by authority of the House of Representatives. I have also to express my acknowledgments to Charles J. Hoadly, Esq., of the State Library, for genealogical material; to Hon. J. Hammond Trumbull, Curator of the Watkinson Library, for facilitating my researches; to William N. Matson, Esq., for daily encouragement and aid; and to three steadfast assistants (whom I am only permitted to indicate), I am immeasurably indebted for lightening my labors and expediting my volume. I make no professions to acquaintance with military science. I can only see such system and methods in battles. and campaigns, and of course can only describe such, as a civilian, who has only studied war in history, biography, and in Jomini's analysis of the campaigns of Napoleon and Frederick, may be permitted to discern. A full detail of all the military movements of Grant was incompatible with the limits of my volume; and I have selected for full description those which best served to illustrate his character as a general. I have, moreover, attempted to avoid cumulative illustration. In the chapter devoted to "Administrative Experience," my authority has been the official reports. HARTFORD, April 28, 1868. CONTENTS. West Point.-Martial Life. - Course of Study.- Recreation. - Grant's Monterey from the Heights.-Forts Teneria and Diablo. - Surrender - 31 Advance. Mexico from the Cordilleras.. -Description of Mexican Battles confined to the General Operations in which Grant was engaged. -Two Plans of Attack upon Mexico. Organization. — Grant's Division-Master. Grant on the San An- tonio Causeway. - What Garland's Division see. Charge on San Antonio. - Operations of Twiggs. Pierce and Shields. - Repulse of the Assailants. Another Charge. - - - - The Eighth Infantry capture the tête de pont.-Duncan's Battery - Stormers on the Right seize the Salient. Churubusco taken. - Demoralization and Retreat of the Enemy. Pursuit. - Headquarters at Tacubaya. - Attempt at Armistice. - Before Molino del Rey.- Casa Mata assigned to Garland's Brigade. Assault.-The Enemy's Batteries cap- tured. Hand-to-hand Fight in the Molino. - Casa Mata blown up. -Reconnoissance of the Southern Avenues of Mexico. - Batteries Tactics. Science of Command. - Genius. - Lord Chatham. - Grant's Marriage. His Wife. - Torpor upon Military Posts. - Detroit.-Life in Detroit. - Grant in Society. His Powers of Con- versation. Gen. McPherson's Opinion. -"No Orator."- His duties of Quartermaster. - Influence of Duties on his Character. - Birth of his Children. The Fourth Infantry ordered to Oregon. - at Benicia. At Vancouver. - Description of. - Life at Vancouver. -Hudson's Bay Company.-Purpose for which they are sent ac- Second Year. - Habitudes of Mind. - Commission as Captain. Ordered to Humboldt Bay. - Resignation. - Farmer at St. Louis. Collector at St. Louis.-Leather-Dealer at Galena.- Contrasted with other Civilians who were also Laborers. - Distin- Purpose of the Chapter.- Sir Arthur Wellesley. - Grant hears of the Bombardment of Sumter. - Exclamation thereupon. - Retrospect. Grant drills a Company.-Presents himself to Gov. Yates. - Narra- tive of Gov. Yates. Appointed Colonel of Twenty-first Illinois Infantry. Marches it to Missouri. — Arrives at Mexico.- Commis- sioned Brigadier-General of Volunteers. Assumes Command of the District of South-east Missouri.—Topographical Features. — Politi- cal Status. Grant at Cairo. -Seizes Paducah. Urges Frémont to seize Columbus and Hickman. - Polk occupies them. - Grant re- strained by Frémont. - Demonstrates against Columbus. - Encoun- ters the Enemy at Belmont.-Demonstration converted into an At- tack. Officers with him. - Volunteers under Fire. - Scene of the Fight.-Enemy re-enforced.. Grant makes his Way out. His Coolness. Second Charge. — Withdraws to the Transports. — Criti - - - - -- New Field of Operations. - Frémont superseded by Halleck. Change --- - |