sold U.S. Grant Accepts His First Appointment As General

The Civil War was Grant’s second military career, and the first one was not particularly noteworthy. He graduated low in his class at West Point – 21st out of 39 – in 1841. During the Mexican War, he saw some action but spent most of his time as regimental quartermaster of an infantry unit; and bounced around in various assignments in New York, Michigan, California, and Oregon after the war. Finally, amid rumors of heavy drinking and warnings of possible disciplinary action, he resigned his captain’s commission to pursue a civilian business life on July 31, 1854. When the Civil War commenced, Grant unsuccessfully offered his services to the War Department and to General General George B. McClellan in Ohio, who turned him down. He served temporarily as an aide and mustering officer for Illinois Governor Richard Yates, who eventually gave him command of the 7th Illinois Regiment, which later became the 21st Illinois Volunteers. On June 17, 1861, Grant was commissioned a colonel in the volunteers. He marched his unit to north-central Missouri to guard the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad and search for rebel activity. He remained a colonel until August 7, 1861.   

In Chapter 19 of his Memoirs, Grant recounted that he was stationed in Mexico, Missouri, when he learned that President Lincoln had asked the Illinois congressional delegation for recommendations for brigadier general and that his name was at the top on their list. Shortly thereafter, due largely to the influence of his advocate, the influential Illinois Congressman Elihu B. Washburne, his appointment was announced. His commission was issued as Brigadier General of Volunteers on August 7, 1861, dating from May 17, 1861. Grant related that, shortly after his promotion, he was ordered to Ironton, Missouri, in southeast Missouri. His command at Ironton lasted from August 7 to August 17, 1861. Ten days after going to Ironton, he was replaced by another general and started for St. Louis, from where he was ordered to Jefferson City, Missouri. Grant found the situation there in chaos, with Rebel supporters open and vocal. He was in command at Jefferson City from August 17 to August 28, 1861, and had some success in calming the turbulance. Grant recounted that he was then relieved by Colonel Jefferson C. Davis and ordered to report to St. Louis, without delay, to see the Union commander in Missouri, General John C. Fremont. Upon arrival Fremont told him that he had been selected to spearhead the Union movement down the Mississippi Valley, with the goals of splitting the Confederacy in two and securing Union control of the Mississippi waterway. Thus Grant, who five months earlier had been a store clerk, without fighting a battle or acting in a major command position, had become the designated point man for one of the great strategic movements of the Civil War. His selection for this post ranks with George Marshall’s choice of Dwight D. Eisenhower to lead Allied forces in Europe in World War II. Grant quickly reported to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to begin that work, arriving there on August 30.   

Autograph Endorsement Signed, “Jefferson City, Missouri, August 25, 1861, Brig. Gen. U.S. Grant, accepting appointment April 7 61.” The U.S.V. below his signature stands for United States Volunteers. This unique piece was sold by Charles Hamilton’s gallery in New York four decades ago, and has not been on the autograph market since then. It proclaims itself his holograph docket on his retained copy of his letter accepting his first generalship.   

Grant’s first taste of leadership of an army in battle occurred at Belmont on November 7, 1861. Shiloh would follow, and then his successful campaign to take Vicksburg gained the goals he had set out to achieve. This path would lead him to take command as the Union Army’s general in chief and ultimately to the White House.