"Ulysses, when you see Mr. Ralston, tell him I have sent you to buy his horse, and offer him fifty dollars for it. If he will not take that, offer him fifty-five dollars; and rather than you should come away without the horse, you had better give him sixty dollars."

Off started the boy, and in due course of time arrived at Ralston's farm-house. He had carefully studied over in his mind his father's instructions, and of course intended to do as his parent had told him. Mr. Ralston, however, threw him off his balance, by putting the following direct but natural question to him:

"How much did your father tell you to give for him ?" Young Ulysses had always had it impressed upon his mind by his mother, that the truth must be spoken at all times, and therefore he replied:

"Why, father told me to offer you fifty dollars at first; and if that would not do, to give you fifty-five dollars; and rather than come away without the horse I was to pay sixty dollars."

Of course, Ralston could not sell the horse for less than sixty dollars.

"I am sorry for that," returned Grant, "for, on looking at the horse, I have determined not to give more than fifty dollars for it, although father said I might give sixty. You may take fifty if you like, or you may keep the horse."

Ulysses rode the horse home!

Industrious by nature, he nevertheless was strongly prejudiced against working in his father's tannery; and his father, seeing this, wisely gave him a choice of business. The boy expressed a preference for being either a farmer, a down-the-river trader, or for getting a better education than he had hitherto been able to obtain at the schools in his native place. Mr. Grant's circumstances,

however, did not permit of his aiding his son in any of these directions, and finally proposed West Point as offering an opportunity for a free education, at the expense of the government. This exactly suited his son; and, through the friendly offices of Senator Thomas Morris, an appointment to West Point was presented to Ulysses by the Hon. Thomas L. Hamer, then Representative of Grant's own district. The happy recipient, unprepared as he was by a previous course of special study, went to West Point, passed his examination, and commenced his military career, July 1st, 1839. At the Academy he was studious, and, although taking no especial pains to make himself popular, was a general favorite among his comrades. Among them he was

familiarly called "Uncle Sam," from his initials "U. S.,” which, by the way, were thrust upon him accidentally, and in this wise: He had been duly christened Hiram Ulysses, being always called by the latter name, according to his own preference, when he got to be old enough. But Mr. Hamer, when making the nomination for the cadetship at West Point, having a recollection that Mrs. Grant's maiden name was Simpson, got it a little 'mixed," and sent in the name as Ulysses Simpson Grant. The young cadet afterward endeavored to have it set right by the proper authorities, but failed, and has since remained content with it as it is.

66

CHAPTER II.

AT WEST POINT.

WHEN the young cadet entered the West Point Institution, he had to submit to a thorough physical and mental examination, to see whether he was fit to enter upon the life of a soldier, and was possessed of the proper mental talents, to make him competent to be trained as an officer. He passed the examination successfully and was admitted into the fourth class, where his studies consisted of mathematics, English grammar, including etymological and rhetorical exercises, composition, declamation, geography of the United States, French, and the use of small arms. In the camp-for the cadets have to live part of the summer months in tents as if on the field-he ranked as a private of the battalion, and had to submit to all the inconveniences that privates in camp have to suffer.

During the year 1840 he was advanced into the third class of the West Point Academy. Here he ranked as corporal in the cadet battalion, and his studies consisted of higher mathematics, French, drawing, and the duties of a cavalry soldier. In this last study he received practical instruction for sixteen weeks, so as to make him a good horseman. He progressed steadily, but not rapidly. He however did not fall back from any advance he had made, and if he only gained one seat at a time, he held on to that, with the intention of never again going below the cadet sitting next lower in his class.

Cadet Grant, during 1841, entered the second class of

the U.S. Military School at West Point, obtaining with this change the rank of sergeant of cadets. His studies now. were somewhat more laborious; but still Grant persevered, and gradually mastered them. From September, 1841, to June, 1842, he was engaged in the study of natural and experimental philosophy, chemistry, and drawing, and in receiving practical instruction in horsemanship. During the summer months he was again encamped, and was well drilled in both infantry and artillery tactics. He passed out of this class with credit.

During the year 1842, the young soldier passed into the first and concluding class of instruction of the Military Academy. In this class he ranked as a commissioned officer of cadets, and was first put into the position where he could learn how to command a section, troop, or company. This is generally the trying position for the cadet; for, being invested with a little brief authority, he will either use it with credit or abuse it. Grant, while holding this position, set forth all the nobleness of his nature. He was no petty tyrant, nor was he a spy upon the actions of those who for the time were his subordinates. the camp he commanded respect for his position; but out of camp he was still nothing more than a fellowcadet. In this trait of his character, he was always liked by his classmates, and esteemed by those whose class degree was below him.

In

Cadet Grant had now more serious duties to perform, and studies to master. From September, 1842, to June, 1843, he was engaged in acquiring the knowledge of civil and military engineering, and from the 1st day of April to the 15th of May, 1843, he received practical instruction in this branch of the service. While encamped previous to September, 1842, he received some practical lessons in this science, and during the whole classical

year he was engaged either in the study of ethics, constitutional law, international law, or military law, or in perfecting himself in horsemanship. He is now reputed one of the best riders in the service, not being easily thrown. While in this class, he also endeavored to gain a knowledge of the science of mineralogy and geology, and of the Spanish language. He also received instruction in ordnance, gunnery, and cavalry tactics, which are esteemed among the higher branches of military acquirements. He passed through this class with credit, and graduated from the Military Academy on the 30th day of June, 1843, with thirty-eight other classmates, he standing No. 21, or about the middle of the class. He had now acquired a practical knowledge of the use of the rifled musket, the field-piece, mortar, siege, and sea-coast guns, small sword and bayonet, as well as of the construction of field-works, and the fabrication of all munitions and matériel of war.

The school companions of great men are very often mixed up with their after-life, and this statement is more applicable to the West Point cadets who graduate in the same class. Such being the case, it may be a matter of interest to the reader to know who were General Grant's fellow-graduates, and what their relative positions were at the close of the war.

The cadet who graduated first in the class was William Benjamin Franklin, who entered the Topographical Engineer Corps; and having passed through a series of adventures under various commanders was, at the beginning of 1864, the general commanding the Nineteenth Army Corps, in the Department of the Gulf, under General Banks.

The names of the next three graduates do not now appear in the Army List of the United States.