would be just the place for his son, so in 1839 a chance came and H. U. Grant, as he then wrote his name, set out for West Point. The man who got the post for him wrote "U. S.", with the moth-er's name of Simp-son in mind, and so the name was left U. S., though the young ca-det told of the slip.
Young Grant got a good name while at West Point, and made strong friends who were his till the day of his death. He was just and true and did right at all times. He did not talk much but he was fond of good fun. He did not swear, and did not like low jokes, but kept a pure mind and a clear head.
At the end of his four years course at West Point, Grant was sent to Tex-as to join Gen. Z. Tay-lor, in 1843, and drive out the Mex-i-cans. He took part in fights at Pa-lo Al-to, Re-sa-ca, Mon-te-rey, the siege of Ve-ra Cruz, and more. At Mo-li-na del Rey he was so brave that he was made lieu-ten-ant, and at Cha-pul-te-pec he was made cap-tain. The fights went on till they took the cit-y of Mex-i-co by storm in 1847.
The next year Grant wed Miss Ju-lia Dent, who came, as did the wife of Jes-se Grant, from folks of means and worth. In 1854 U. S. Grant left the troops and went to live with his wife and babes near St. Lou-is. Much hard work came to them then, and hard times as well.
When Sum-ter had been fired on, Grant took up arms once more, got men to join the ranks, and gave much time to drill them. At the end of five weeks Capt. Grant was made Col-o-nel Grant, and sent off, at the head of the "Twenty First Il-li-nois," to the seat of war.
Ma-jor Gen. Fre-mont had charge of all the troops in
