for Oregon-Homeward Journey and Receptions en Route-Wel- come at Galena-Unparalleled Receptions at Chicago--Speeches at the Receptions of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee-Col. Grant's Galena Residence-In Retirement-The Politicians and Money-makers--Their Schemes-The Nicaraugua Scheme-Mexi- can Railroads--Grant's Sincerity-Influence of Friends-National Republican Convention of 1880--The Candidates and Political Managers-Conkling's Nomination of Grant-The Old Guard-- Nomination of Garfield-Grant's Calm Dignity under Defeat--Sup- port of Garfield-Grant's Visit to Blaine in the Fall of 1884-- Sublime Loyalty to Republicanism-Removal to New York-Fund of $250,000 raised-A Special Partner in Firm of Grant & Ward- The Marine Bank Failure--Borrowing $150,000 from W. H. Van- derbilt-Failure of Grant & Ward-Complete Financial Ruin of General Grant and His Sons-Personal Property Presented to the General Grant's General Health During the War-During his Civil Administration-Exposures, and Irregularities of Travel-Pain- ful Accident Christmas Eve, 1883-Condolence of the Nation-Pri- mary Causes of Present Illness-Early Stages-Senator Hill's Case- Alarming Symptoms-Expressions of Deep Sympathy North and South-The Bulletins-Sweet Joys of a Happy Family-Cancer Un- like Ordinary Disease-History Furnishes no Parallel Case-Prome- theus, the Greek-Words of Sympathy from Public Bodies and Prom- UNIVERSITY CALIFORAL CHAPTER I. U. S. GRANT'S EARLY DAYS. No military man of modern times has accomplished as much, with so little ostentation, as he of whom this narrative is written. From his earliest history until the present time, his deeds, and not his words, have spoken in "trumpet tones" for him. On the eve of any important movement or action it has been his custom to assemble his trusted aids-ask for and listen to their counsels, and, if good, adopt their plans-never forgetting to give credit if successful, and assuming the blame if failure ensued. He was never guilty of petty oppressions to those holding inferior rank, nor did he ever find it necessary or politic to push himself into notoriety, and yet there is no one living who possesses more fame and celebrity, or has received more marked attention from the world at large. Ulysses Simpson Grant was born April 27, 1822, at Point Pleasant, Clermont County, Ohio, a small town on the Ohio River, twenty-five miles above Cincinnati. The Grants are of Scotch descent, and the motto of their clan in Aberdeenshire was, "Stand fast, stand firm, stand sure." Grant inherits from many of his ancestors a love for freedom and a determination to fight for its cause. In 1799, his grandfather, a Pennsylvania farmer, joined the great tide of emigration moving to the Northwest Territory. His great grandfather, Captain Noah Grant, of Windsor, Connecticut, and his brother, Lieutenant Solomon |