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Lee's Service with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Ulysses S. Grant planned only a brief army career. However, not long after his graduation from West Point, his remarkable talents for organization and delegation began to emerge. The young lieutenant found army duty to his liking. Grant served first in Missouri, then Louisiana, and soon found himself a participant in the Mexican War. After duty in Detroit and Sackets Harbor, he would be transferred to the Pacific Northwest. Isolated from his wife and young children, Grant quit the army in 1854 and returned to his family in Missouri.

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Grant's First Deployments: Missouri, Louisiana, and Texas (1843–46)

"Mexico has appropriated four millions of dollars for the re-conquering of Texas, and we are to remain here to preserve neutrality between the United States and the belligerent parties."

—Ulysses S. Grant, Camp Salubrity, Louisiana, to Julia Dent, 28 July 1844

 Grant in 1843

Palo Alto
Grant's Service in the Mexican War (1846–48)

"There is no great sport in having bullets flying about one in evry direction but I find they have less horror when among them than when in anticipation."

—Ulysses S. Grant to Julia Dent, 11 May 1846


Detroit, Michigan (1849–50)

"I find Detroit very dull. . . . I have nothing atal to do here. I have no company and consequently do not go on Guard or to Drills."

—Ulysses S. Grant, Detroit, to Julia Dent, 27 April 1849

 View of the City of Detroit

Sackets Harbor, N.Y.
Sackets Harbor, New York (1851–52)

"I am highly delighted with Sacket's Harbor and only hope that we may remain here for a long time to come. . . . We all amuse ourselves by riding over the country fishing, sailing &c."

—Ulysses S. Grant, Sackets Harbor, N.Y., to Julia Dent, 29 June 1851


The Northwest:
Oregon and California (1852–54)

"I have not been a quarter of a mile from my room for about one week . . . . I am enjoying good health but growing more lazy evry day for want of something to do."

—Ulysses S. Grant, Fort Humboldt, California, to Mrs. Grant, 25 March 1853

 Map showing Fort Humboldt

Mrs. Grant with children

"I sometimes get so anxious to see you, and our little boys, that I am almost tempted to resign …. Whenever I get to thinking upon the subject however poverty, poverty, begins to stare me in the face. . . . "

—Ulysses S. Grant, Fort Humboldt, California, to Mrs. Grant, 6 March 1854


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Images: Lieutenant Grant, Age 21, 1885 (Virginia Historical Society); Battle of Palo Alto [1846], 1848 (New-York Historical Society); View of the City of Detroit, 1834 (New-York Historical Society); South East View of Sackett's Harbour, 1815 (New-York Historical Society); Julia Grant with Sons Buck and Fred, c. 1854 (Collection of Keya Morgan, New York City)

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