Page images
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

COPYRIGHT, 1880,

BY LEE AND SHEPARD.

All rights reserved.

AN INTRODUCTORY WORD.

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

A LIFE of Grant tells us, that, when a boy twelve years of age, he was driving in Kentucky a pair of horses attached to a light wagon in which were two young women. In crossing White Oak Creek, the back-water of the Ohio had so swollen the stream, that the party found itself afloat in the middle of the flood. The women became alarmed, and shouted vigorously for assistance.

The boy, in perfect self-possession, said, "Keep quiet: I'll take you through safe."

He did so; and from that time on he was conspicuous for coolness, judgment, and signal readiness in emergency.

The first battle of significance fought in the great American civil conflict, of sufficient importance to change public opinion here and elsewhere, was won by him when thirty-nine years of age.

This victory, following as it did a prolonged season of almost uninterrupted disaster to our arms, introduced to the world this principal hero of the war of the Rebel

3

« PreviousContinue »