What are some facts about Ulysses S. Grant?

Answer 1

18th presedent, had 4 kids, was a general of the union

Interesting Facts:

President Grant's real name was Hiram Ulysses Grant, but he didn't want the initials H.U.G. on his belongings. The S. was made up at West Point and he liked the initials U.S.

He was riding his racing horse one day in downtown Washington, D.C., when a police officer gave him a ticket for speeding. The officer didn't realize that he was a president and fined him $20.

First president to have both parents alive when taking office.

First presidential candidate to have a female opponent.

His favorite breakfast was cucumbers soaked in vinegar.

On August 28, 1848, Grant married Julia Dent from St. Louis, whose family held slaves. Grant himself owned a slave named William Jones, acquired from his father-in-law. At a time when he could have desperately used the money from the sale of Jones, Grant signed a document that gave him his freedom.

At the beginning of the Civil War, Grant was working in his father's leather store in Galena, Illinois. The rise from clerk to General of the Armies, to President of the United States in seven years, was an unprecedented feat of accomplishment.

On casting his first vote for president in 1856, Grant, the future republican president, voted for James Buchanan, a democrat. His explanation being that "I didn't know him and voted against Fremont because I did know him."

Grant's life in Galena was not as drab and poverty stricken as reported. He and his family lived in a seven-room house high on a hill in the best neighborhood in town. Julia had a servant, and did none of the housework herself.

Ironically, although Grant had fifteen years in the regular military, his initial offer to serve in the Civil War was overlooked by the War Department. His letter was not found until after

the war was over.

Grant was very thin during the war, weighing only one hundred and thirty-five pounds. He was a very sparse eater. He abhorred red meat of any kind, and the sight of blood made him ill. Consequently, he insisted on his meat being cooked on the verge of being charred. He would not eat any kind of fowl, but was fond of pork and beans, fruit, and buckwheat

cakes.

Grant was tone deaf and could not recognize any of the light airs of the time; military music was especially annoying to him.

Reticence has long been associated with Ulysses Grant. Although he was an avid listener, in the relaxed company of friends, he could actually be a raconteur.

Throughout his life General Grant had a superstition of retracing his steps. Throughout the war, this superstition turned into an asset in leading troops in battle.

In the heat of battle, when his staff officers were full of anxiety, Grant calmly smoked his cigar and never lost his composure. His nerves of steel were a wonder to all around him. He

could write dispatches while shells burst around him and never flinch.

Since boyhood, General Grant had an aversion to any kind of profanity, noting that it was a waste of time. No off color stories were allowed to be told in his presence.

Grant did not believe in holding formal councils of war. He felt that they "divided a responsibility that would at times prevent a unity of action." He listened to the advice of his staff, and then, upon reflection, made the final decision himself. No one knew of his decision until it was put into effect.

During his lifetime General Grant suffered intense migraine headaches which were sometimes reported as bouts of drunkenness.

Before the Battle of Fort Donelson, Grant was a light smoker. During the battle a reporter spotted him holding an unlit cigar given him by Admiral Foote, and soon ten thousand cigars were sent to him in camp. Although giving away as many as he could, he started the habit of cigar smoking that became one of his trademarks.

During the War, General Grant wrote most of his own dispatches. His style was clear and concise and no one ever had to be told twice what his wishes were.

During the Civil War, his unnecessary frontal assaults, especially in Virginia, caused heavy casualties for his troops. He was roundly criticized for these and even Mary Todd Lincoln called him a butcher.

Ulysses Grant was a devoted family man and had his family with him whenever he could during the War. His oldest son Fred was with his father often. During the Battle of Black River Bridge, thirteen year old Fred was wounded when a musket ball struck him in the left thigh.

On the day Lincoln was assassinated, Grant's wife Julia was stalked by John Wilkes Booth. If the general had accepted the invitation to go to Ford's Theater with the presidential party, there may have been a double tragedy. They went instead to Burlington, New Jersey, to see

their children.

Major Events While in Office:

• Reconstruction

• Transcontinental Railroad Completed (1869)

• Black Friday Scandal involving James Fisk and Jay Gould (1869)

• Fifteenth Amendment Ratified (1870)

• Credit Mobilier Scandal (1872)

• Panic of 1873

• Whiskey Ring Scandal (1875)

• Belknap Bribery Scandal (1876)

• Battle of Little Bighorn (1876)

States Entering Union While in Office:

• Colorado (1876)

•

Answer 2

18th presedent, had 4 kids, was a general of the union

Interesting Facts:

President Grant's real name was Hiram Ulysses Grant, but he didn't want the initials H.U.G. on his belongings. The S. was made up at West Point and he liked the initials U.S.

He was riding his racing horse one day in downtown Washington, D.C., when a police officer gave him a ticket for speeding. The officer didn't realize that he was a president and fined him $20.

First president to have both parents alive when taking office.

First presidential candidate to have a female opponent.

His favorite breakfast was cucumbers soaked in vinegar.

On August 28, 1848, Grant married Julia Dent from St. Louis, whose family held slaves. Grant himself owned a slave named William Jones, acquired from his father-in-law. At a time when he could have desperately used the money from the sale of Jones, Grant signed a document that gave him his freedom.

At the beginning of the Civil War, Grant was working in his father's leather store in Galena, Illinois. The rise from clerk to General of the Armies, to President of the United States in seven years, was an unprecedented feat of accomplishment.

On casting his first vote for president in 1856, Grant, the future republican president, voted for James Buchanan, a democrat. His explanation being that "I didn't know him and voted against Fremont because I did know him."

Grant's life in Galena was not as drab and poverty stricken as reported. He and his family lived in a seven-room house high on a hill in the best neighborhood in town. Julia had a servant, and did none of the housework herself.

Ironically, although Grant had fifteen years in the regular military, his initial offer to serve in the Civil War was overlooked by the War Department. His letter was not found until after

the war was over.

Grant was very thin during the war, weighing only one hundred and thirty-five pounds. He was a very sparse eater. He abhorred red meat of any kind, and the sight of blood made him ill. Consequently, he insisted on his meat being cooked on the verge of being charred. He would not eat any kind of fowl, but was fond of pork and beans, fruit, and buckwheat

cakes.

Grant was tone deaf and could not recognize any of the light airs of the time; military music was especially annoying to him.

Reticence has long been associated with Ulysses Grant. Although he was an avid listener, in the relaxed company of friends, he could actually be a raconteur.

Throughout his life General Grant had a superstition of retracing his steps. Throughout the war, this superstition turned into an asset in leading troops in battle.

In the heat of battle, when his staff officers were full of anxiety, Grant calmly smoked his cigar and never lost his composure. His nerves of steel were a wonder to all around him. He

could write dispatches while shells burst around him and never flinch.

Since boyhood, General Grant had an aversion to any kind of profanity, noting that it was a waste of time. No off color stories were allowed to be told in his presence.

Grant did not believe in holding formal councils of war. He felt that they "divided a responsibility that would at times prevent a unity of action." He listened to the advice of his staff, and then, upon reflection, made the final decision himself. No one knew of his decision until it was put into effect.

During his lifetime General Grant suffered intense migraine headaches which were sometimes reported as bouts of drunkenness.

Before the Battle of Fort Donelson, Grant was a light smoker. During the battle a reporter spotted him holding an unlit cigar given him by Admiral Foote, and soon ten thousand cigars were sent to him in camp. Although giving away as many as he could, he started the habit of cigar smoking that became one of his trademarks.

During the War, General Grant wrote most of his own dispatches. His style was clear and concise and no one ever had to be told twice what his wishes were.

During the Civil War, his unnecessary frontal assaults, especially in Virginia, caused heavy casualties for his troops. He was roundly criticized for these and even Mary Todd Lincoln called him a butcher.

Ulysses Grant was a devoted family man and had his family with him whenever he could during the War. His oldest son Fred was with his father often. During the Battle of Black River Bridge, thirteen year old Fred was wounded when a musket ball struck him in the left thigh.

On the day Lincoln was assassinated, Grant's wife Julia was stalked by John Wilkes Booth. If the general had accepted the invitation to go to Ford's Theater with the presidential party, there may have been a double tragedy. They went instead to Burlington, New Jersey, to see

their children.

Major Events While in Office:

• Reconstruction

• Transcontinental Railroad Completed (1869)

• Black Friday Scandal involving James Fisk and Jay Gould (1869)

• Fifteenth Amendment Ratified (1870)

• Credit Mobilier Scandal (1872)

• Panic of 1873

• Whiskey Ring Scandal (1875)

• Belknap Bribery Scandal (1876)

• Battle of Little Bighorn (1876)

States Entering Union While in Office:

• Colorado (1876)

•