U. S. Grant

Grant was born to Jessie Root and Hannah Simpson Grant on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio. He was their first son and was known for his unflappable nature even as a baby. He was raised in an Abolishist household and his mother was a devout Methodist. Jessie was known as a boastful, loudmouth, and argumentative man, whereas his mother was extremely reserved, devout, and never spoke a crossword of anyone. Grant by all accounts was far more like his mother and often was in great conflict with his father and his pushy ways. Jessie was a tanner and forced young Ulys to work in his shop. Grant apparently hated the smell and sight of carnage that was housed in his father's shop. He went to his father and begged him to let him do anything other than work there, so Jessie decided to have his son focus on education. By all accounts, Grant was a sensitive young man who did not willing to start fights but hated bullies and would not allow younger kids to beat by the older boys and would often defend the weaker. This carried into his education at United States Military Academy, where he was known to deal with disputes in a fair and just manner between fellow cadets. He was also a keen horseman and had great respect for all animals, and many remarked how he seemed to become one with horses and would often tame the wildest of horses during the Mexican-American war. During that war, Grant worked with and met several of the Southern Generals, and he also fell in love with Mexico and its people. He (unlike several of the others) did not hold the Mexicans in lower respect but was saddened by the great gap between its poor and extremely wealthy. He saw it as being very much akin to the way slaves were treated in the south.
He married Julia Dent in 1848, the daughter of a cantankerous slave holder in Missouri who called himself Colonel Dent despite never servicing in the military. Julia was not known for her beauty but instead for her steadfast love and belief in her husband. This unfortunately colored his view on slavery, and while he did not like the practice, he was okay to allow it to exist in the states that already had it. Julia had a very disconnected view of slave life, believing that the slaves were just like family and loved being in service to them. Despite being married, Grant and Julia lived apart for several years while he was stationed in the frontier of the Oregon Territory. He was very isolated, and the Native population there got along well with the US troops there, making a good deal of money on trade with them. Grant saw the impact of the contact between the two groups and how disease was spreading through the tribe. He felt terrible for the way in which he called 'harmless natives' were being treated by the white settlers. During this period without much to do, without family, and a feeling of helplessness, Grant turned to drink. While the amount he drank was not considered a great deal, a little impacted him greatly. He had made a bad impression on some of the higher ups in the military, and when Grant's drinking caused him to make a mistake, the upper brass used it to force him to retire. There have been several arguments that Grant could have likely beat the charges threatened against him, but apparently he did not want Julia to find out why he was dismissed. He returned to his wife and two young sons in Missouri in 1854 at the age of 32. 

Grant decided to try and be a farmer and work on the land given to his wife. He worked along side the slaves and hired freed blacks to work for him as well, which caused quite a stir among the slave owning elites because that was considered to be beneath a gentleman. To Grant, he didn't see why he wouldn't work along side them and put forth the same effort in 'solving the problem of poverty' for himself and family. Despite of living in poverty, he was given a slave by Julia's Father, he could not own a person, and sought to emancipate the man named William Jones. He was told he could sell Jones for a considerable amount of money and get himself out of debt, but Grant refused and emancipated Jones. After that, Col. Dent never gave Grant any slaves and kept all of Julia's slaves in his name. After the farm failed, Grant reluctantly turned to his over bearing and controlling father for help. He was put to work in one of his father's newest store in Galena, Ill. selling leather goods and accepting hides for processing. He was a terrible salesman and hated dealing directly with customers. He would happily do stock, load heavy hides, and give appraisals for the hides, but interacting with customers was something he resisted doing as much as he possibly could. He would happily discuss politics with people and talk at great lengths about subjects he knew and loved, but he was not one to forcibly  ingratiate himself on others. 
Once the Confederacy was formed and they attacked Fort Sumter, Grant was no longer unclear about where he stood, and he famously said that were now only "There are but two parties now, traitors and patriots and I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter, and I trust, the stronger party." Many state this as the Republican Party (ie "Constitution Originalist "), however, he was not speaking between either party, but those who wish the Union and those who believe they have no right to leave the Union. He was talking about a belief that it was a centralized democracy.  He began to find a way into the Union Army, but sadly it took  some time because of his past and the fact he now looked like a poverty stricken farmer. Thankfully, he got the backing of Congressman Elihu B. Washburne of Illinois and a very close friend of President Elect Abraham Lincoln.

A man who has seen hardships and failures, appears to be coming into his own out on the battlefield. Aggressive, determined, a strong egalitarian streak; he is not like many officers you find on either side of the conflict. He means business and is sometimes blind to the political enemies in his midsts, he is steadfast and ready to save the Union.

Character Location

Fort Donelson

Current Location

Fort Donelson

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Current Location

Fort Donelson

Age

40

Date of Birth

April 27, 1822

Circumstances of Birth

Extremely large baby, (10 lbs.) first child of Jessie and Hannah Grant

Eyes

Dark Gray

Hair

Short pale brown in color. His beard is starting to grow longer.

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Tan, worn from years of business hardships and failure.

Height

5'8"

Weight

135