and a whole group of virtues. Sir Isaac Newton said, that his success was due, not to genius, but to "continued application"; and that has been true of successful men in all departments of work. It was certainly true of Grant at West Point. He learned the great business of his life there. The ability to lead a million men, and to plan and execute mighty campaigns, had its origin there. True, the first two years of the war gave him experience, which proved a higher education to him; but that would never have been without the four years of APPLICATION at West Point

IX.

ON THE WAR PATH.

GRANT was graduated at West Point in June, 1843, receiving ninety days' furlough, according to the custom, which time he spent at home with his friends in Ohio. He was appointed brevet second lieutenant in the Fourth Infantry, stationed at "Jefferson Barracks," near St. Louis. To that post he repaired, after having had a particularly good time with relatives and friends for ninety days.

Here began his real army life. At that time, the army of the United States numbered but seven thousand five hundred men, scattered over the country, to garrison forts and to protect settlers on the frontier from the depredations of Indians. "Jefferson Barracks" was designed to protect the scattered whites from the violence of savages. Of course, soldiers had little to do in time of peace. It was a dull, monotonous, lazy life, especially when barracks were far away from civilization.

"Jefferson Barracks" being near the city of St. Louis, the soldiers found congenial society and pleasures in that town. Grant found additional enjoyment, also, in the family of Col. Frederick Dent, who lived four miles from the "Barracks." Grant was in the twenty-second year of his age, and there was a daughter in this estimable

family three years younger. She was accomplished and beautiful, the most attractive young lady he had ever seen; that is, if results are an index. The city of St. Louis had no attractions for him so long as the Dent family was accessible. To be a doorkeeper in the latter was preferable to the tents of wickedness which abounded in the city. Very fortunate for Grant that affairs took this turn; for not a few soldiers were led into evil ways by the temptations of the city. On the other hand, Grant was led up, up, up, by the love of the Dent household. He had never manifested the slightest sensibility to the charms of girlhood; but he was here led up gradually to the high plane of true love; and his affection was reciprocated. The young couple struck up a bargain, somewhat to the annoyance of the parents, who could not discover large promise in the future of a young second lieutenant in the "Jefferson Barracks."

"You know nothing about his history," her mother said to her infatuated daughter. "He is really a stranger to you."

"But he is a graduate of West Point," the daughter replied. "If he was an unprincipled, good-for-nothing young man, he could not have taken a diploma there; and certainly he appears to be a worthy young man."

"I grant that his appearance is that of a steady, honest young man," responded Mrs. D.; "but appearances are often misleading. It is better to wait and learn facts."

Her father felt as deeply upon the subject, and, possibly, more than the mother, had been hoping that his daughter would marry greatness or a fortune. He could discover neither of these in store for her if she married an unknown army officer.

"Wait, Julia, and not take up with a man who is not your equal," he said. "You can do better; and you

are young yet.

Do not take a step for which you will

be sorry all your life-time."

Opposition availed nothing. It it said that "love will

go where it is sent," and it did in this case; and it not only went, but it stayed. The engagement was consummated and confirmed. The two lovers determined to wait for each other, whether the time might be long or short.

Grant had been at "Jefferson Barracks" nearly two years when he received a furlough, and started for his home in Ohio. On the same day that he reached home, he was notified by letter that his regiment was ordered to Red River. Stopping with his parents but one day, he returned to Missouri, bade his betrothed good-bye, and moved with his regiment towards the war-cloud. War with Mexico was imminent-an unjust war on the part of the United States, because it was waged in the interest of slavery; but the army had to obey orders, right or wrong. Hostilities were delayed, however, and the regiment was encamped nearly a year at Ecore, on the Red River; then moved, and for a time rendezvoused near New Orleans, where the colonel of the regiment made himself obnoxious by drunkenness. Sometimes the police of that city arrested him, and locked him up. At one time, Grant went to search for him, and found him in the police court, awaiting his call for trial for "drunkenness and disorderly conduct." Grant took a seat by his side; and before the case was reached, he heard the tramp of soldiers in the street, and very soon the command,

"Halt! Ground arms!"

The young lieutenant hurried to the door, where he found a squad of his own company.

66

'Boys, what does this mean?" he inquired.

"Well," answered the corporal, "we heard the colonel had got into an ugly scrape with those rascally police, so I have brought up a squad to prove an alibi.”

"It is too late; you may march back," answered Grant, laughing.

At Corpus Christi, subsequently, General Taylor became so thoroughly tried with this dissolute colonel that he said to him,

"You have my permission to resign."

"That is not practicable," answered the colonel, who had partially recovered from a debauch; "I have spent all my property, and have no other means to live by. Military life is the only one I am acquainted with, and I am too old to learn any other."

"You are not too old to be decent, and not disgrace your uniform; but we shall see about that," replied General Taylor.

The colonel was removed; but in view of his long service, President Polk reinstated him.

But war was enevitable; and Grant fought the first battle of his life at Palo Alto, where the tall grass of the prairie was set on fire by burning wads, and, under cover of the smoke, Grant's regiment and Ringgold's battery flanked the enemy on his left, and forced him to change his line of battle. It was a new experience to Grant, to see comrades falling at his side. Captain Page had his lower jaw shot off by a cannon ball. The head of another soldier near by was blown off. A bayonet was thrust into the mouth of another, and it pierced through the neck and came out on the other side, and he was left for dead on the field; but, strange to say, he entirely recovered.

Another battle was fought on the following day at Resaca de la Palma. Captain McCall, with Grant and