the winters of 1836-37 and 1838-39, which were spent at schools in Maysville, Ky., and Ripley, Ohio.  In the spring of 1839, at the age of 17, was appointed to a cadetship in the Military Academy at West Point by Thomas L. Hamer, a Member of Congress, and entered the Academy July 1, 1839.  The name given him at birth was Hiram Ulysses, but he was always called by his middle name.  Mr. Hamer, thinking Ulysses his first name, and that his middle name was probably that of his mother’s family, inserted in the official appointment the name of Ulysses S. Grant.  The officials of the Academy were notified by Cadet Grant of the error, but they did not feel authorized to correct it, and it was acquiesced in and became the name by which he was always known.  Graduated from the Academy in 1843, twenty-first in a class of thirty-nine members.  Was attached to the Fourth United States Infantry as brevet second lieutenant July 1, 1843; was appointed second lieutenant, Seventh Infantry, September 30, 1845, and transferred to the Fourth Infantry November 15, 1845.  During the Mexican War (1846-1848) took part with his regiment in active service, and was in all the battles fought by Generals Scott and Taylor except that of Buena Vista.  Was brevetted for gallant conduct at the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, but declined the honor.  At the battle of Monterey distinguished himself by volunteering to run the gantlet and bring ammunition for the troops into the city.  September 8, 1847, was appointed brevet first lieutenant for gallant conduct at Molino del Rey.  Acted as regimental quartermaster April 1, 1847, to July 23, 1848, and from November 17, 1848, to August 5, 1853.  September 13, 1847, was brevetted captain for gallant conduct at the battle of Chapultepec, and on September 16 was appointed first lieutenant.  At San Cosme was mentioned in special orders by his commanders—­regimental, brigade, and division.  After the Mexican War his regiment was sent to Pascagoula, Miss., and afterwards to Sacketts Harbor, N.Y., and Detroit, Mich.  August 22, 1848, married Miss Julia Dent, of St. Louis, Mo.  In 1852 his regiment was sent to the Pacific Coast.  August 5, 1853, was appointed captain.  Resigned July 31, 1854, and went to live on a farm near St. Louis, but in 1858 gave up farming on account of his health, and entered into the real-estate business in St. Louis.  In May, 1860, removed to Galena, Ill., and became a clerk in his father’s store.  In April, 1861, after President Lincoln’s call for troops, presided at a public meeting in Galena, which resulted in the organization of a company of volunteers, which he drilled and accompanied to Springfield, Ill.  Was employed by Governor Yates in the adjutant-general’s office, and appointed mustering officer.  Offered his services to the National Government in a letter written May 24, 1861, but no answer was ever made to it.  June 17, 1861, was appointed colonel of the Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers, and served until