A GREAT AMERICAN PRESIDENT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 215, 6 October 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

A GREAT AMERICAN PRESIDENT.

Ulysses Grant.., the eighteenth President of the United States, was born in Ohio on April 27, 1822.and after being educated at West Point he, in 18-14, io'ned the Army. As 2nd Lieutenant ho fought iu Texas in 1845, and took part in the capture of the City of Mexico. He was promoted Captain in 1.853, but next year resigned his commission and settled on a farm near St. Louis. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, ho- was appointed Colonel of the 21st Regiment of Illinois Infantry. He fought in several of the early battles of the war, and in April 1863 twice defeated the enemy before Vicksburg. which lie afterwards besieged. After many assaults the Confederate stronghold surrendered on July 4, 1863, with 31,000 prisoners. Towards the end of the year he drove the .enemy out of Tennessee. In March 1864 Grant was promoted Lieutenant-General, and given the command of all the armies of th? United States. His plan of campaign was to concentrate all the forces into several armies, which should operate simultaneously against the enemy. On May 4 lie fought a three days' battle with General Lee; others on the 10th and 12th, when he captured an entire Confederate division. Thus, ever pursuing the offensive, he drove the enemy within the lines of Richmond, where Lee surrendered his entire army, after a week's hard fighting, on April 9, I860; with the fair.of Richmond th? war was at an end. In 1868 and 1872 he was elected President of the Republic. and among the events of his administration were the guaranteeing of the rights of suffrage, without regard to race, colour, or previous servitude. and the peaceful settlement of the "Alabama"' claims. He became .1 partner in a bank, which in May 1884 suspended payment; and it was discovered that the General had been robbed ■ f all he possessed. In the hope of providing for his family he began his autobiography, which be completed four days before his dealh. He L d complained of a sore throat, which proved to be a cancer at the root of the tongue. In March 1885 Congress restored him to his rank of General which he had lost on accepting the Presidency. He died at Mount McGregor. Saratoga, 011 July 23, 1835, at the age of 63.