US Grant Bicentennial Junior Ranger - Part 2: Early Military Life and Marriage

Soldiers stand at attention and being inspected by an officer on horseback at Fort Humboldt in the early 1800s Library of Congress

Biography Part 2 - Early Military Life and Marriage

Ulysses graduated from West Point in 1843. The army assigned him to the 4th U.S. Infantry regiment. They went to Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis, Missouri, for military training. Ulysses' roommate at West Point had been Fred Dent. Fred had grown up at a plantation called White Haven. /historic colorized photo of house/ It was near Jefferson Barracks. The Dent family invited Ulysses to visit their home. During a visit in February 1844 he met one of Fred's sisters, Julia Dent Grant. The two fell in love and became engaged. They were married in 1848 in St. Louis.

From 1848 to 1852 Julia Grant went with her husband as he moved from one army post to the next. During this time, the Grant’s first-born child, Fred, was born. Being with his family was very important to Ulysses. Unfortunately, in 1852, the army assigned him to a faraway post. The journey was too difficult for Julia and baby Fred, so they stayed at White Haven in St. Louis.

Ulysses missed his family and wrote them letters. He learned about the birth of his second son, Ulysses Jr, while he was away. Finally, in 1854 he left the army. He moved back to St. Louis to be with his family. He became a farmer. Ulysses and Julia’s last two children were born while they were living at White Haven. They were named Nellie and Jesse. Ulysses loved his family and enjoyed playing with them at home.

The Grant family lived with Julia’s father, Colonel Dent. Also living on the property were as many as 30 enslaved African Americans owned by Dent. The enslaved people at White Haven took care of all the household jobs such as cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Many of them were women and children. The young, enslaved men worked in the fields on the 850-acre plantation. The enslaved people were not able to leave White Haven. They were not free. They were considered to be the property of their owner. Ulysses was the owner of an enslaved man named William Jones. We do not know much about William except that Ulysses freed him in 1859.

At times some of the enslaved African American men owned by Julia’s father worked with Ulysses. They plowed, sowed, and harvested the crops. They grew wheat, oats, potatoes and corn. They also took care of fruit orchards and vegetable gardens.Ulysses took fruit, vegetables and eggs from the farm into St. Louis markets to sell. Farming was difficult for Ulysses and other farmers living in the area. Farming didn’t provide Ulysses with enough money for his family. In 1859 he decided to stop farming and find another job.

Use the audio player below to listen to this passage.

US Grant Biography - Early Military and Marriage

Audio recording of the short biography of Ulysses S. Grant for Junior Rangers

EARLY MILITARY LIFE AND MARRIAGE Ulysses graduated from West Point in 1843. The army assigned him to the 4th U.S. Infantry regiment. They went to Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis, Missouri, for military training. Ulysses' roommate at West Point had been Fred Dent. Fred had grown up at a plantation called White Haven. /historic colorized photo of house/ It was near Jefferson Barracks. The Dent family invited Ulysses to visit their home. During a visit in February 1844 he met one of Fred's sisters, Julia Dent Grant. The two fell in love and became engaged. They were married in 1848 in St. Louis.
From 1848 to 1852 Julia Grant went with her husband as he moved from one army post to the next. During this time, the Grant’s first-born child, Fred, was born. Being with his family was very important to Ulysses. Unfortunately, in 1852, the army assigned him to a faraway post. The journey was too difficult for Julia and baby Fred, so they stayed at White Haven in St. Louis. Ulysses missed his family and wrote them letters. He learned about the birth of his second son, Ulysses Jr, while he was away.
Finally, in 1854 he left the army. He moved back to St. Louis to be with his family. He became a farmer. Ulysses and Julia’s last two children were born while they were living at White Haven. /early photo of the whole Grant family/ They were named Nellie and Jesse. Ulysses loved his family and enjoyed playing with them at home.
The Grant family lived with Julia’s father, Colonel Dent. Also living on the property were as many as 30 enslaved African Americans owned by Dent. The enslaved people at White Haven took care of all the household jobs such as cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Many of them were women and children. The young, enslaved men worked in the fields on the 850-acre plantation. The enslaved people were not able to leave White Haven. They were not free. They were considered to be the property of their owner. Ulysses was the owner of an enslaved man named William Jones. We do not know much about William except that Ulysses freed him in 1859.
At times some of the enslaved African American men owned by Julia’s father worked with Ulysses. They plowed, sowed, and harvested the crops. They grew wheat, oats, potatoes and corn. They also took care of fruit orchards and vegetable gardens. Ulysses took fruit, vegetables and eggs from the farm into St. Louis markets to sell. Farming was difficult for Ulysses and other farmers living in the area. Farming didn’t provide Ulysses with enough money for his family. In 1859 he decided to stop farming and find another job.

Letter written by Grant to Julia while stationed at Fort Humboldt. NPS/ULSG

Activity - A Letter to Home

While Ulysses was stationed in California and Oregon territory with the Army, he wrote many letters to Julia, telling her how much he missed her. Grant was homesick and wanted to be with his family in St. Louis. Read the quote below. What does Ulysses write that tells you how he feels about being separated from his family?
“You do not know how forsaken I feel here! The place is good enough but I have interests at others which I cannot help thinking about day and night.Then, I feel again as if I had been separated from you and Fred long enough and as to Ulys, I have never seen him. He must by this time be talking about as Fred did when I saw him last.”

– Ulysses S. Grant

Try to answer the following questions:

• Have you ever been away from people that you love or care about?
• How did being apart make you feel?
• How do you think Ulysses S. Grant felt being away from Julia and his sons for TWO years?

Writing was very important to Ulysses. Imagine that you are hundreds of miles from your family like Ulysses was. What would you tell them? Fill in the blanks to write a letter to your parents.

Dear ______________,

It is ______________ here. I have been very busy doing ___________________ .I miss ___________ and I hope that ___________ .
Love always, _______________

Part of a series of articles titled
Ulysses S. Grant Virtual Bicentennial Junior Ranger Activity Book.

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US Grant Bicentennial Junior Ranger - Part 1: Grant's Early Life

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US Grant Bicentennial Junior Ranger - Part 3: The Civil War

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