Description: Birthplace of U. S. Grant. Ulysses Simpson Grant was born Hiram Ulysses Grant on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio. In 1823, his family moved to Georgetown, Ohio. Grant lived there until he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1839. Grant graduated from West Point in 1843. He ranked twenty-first in a class of thirty-nine students. Grant served under General Zachary Taylor in the Mexican-American War. In the years before the American Civil War, Grant lived much of the time in St. Louis, Missouri, working as a real estate agent and as a farmer. He failed in both of these businesses. Grant also assisted his father in a tannery business. After the Battle of Fort Sumter in April 1861, Grant volunteered for military duty. He first served as colonel of the Twenty-First Illinois Infantry but soon was promoted to the rank of brigadier general due to his previous military experience. In March 1864, President Lincoln promoted Grant to lieutenant general and named him supreme commander of all Union forces. By early June 1864, Grant had surrounded General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at Petersburg, Virginia, and a ten month siege ensued. The Northerners finally drove the Confederates from Petersburg in early April 1865, and The Army of Northern Virginia surrendered on April 9, 1865. n 1868, the Democratic Party chose Horatio Seymour as its presidential candidate. Seymour, a former governor of New York, supported states' rights and opposed equal rights for African Americans with whites. The Republican Party selected Grant, a defender of equal opportunities for African Americans with whites and a supporter of a strong federal government. Grant easily won the Electoral College vote, capturing twenty-six of the thirty-four states. Grant's first term as president was troubled with corruption. Grant remained above the corruption, but some of the U.S. public faulted him for his poor leadership and his inability to control his cabinet. Grant sought reelection in 1872. He won easily, receiving fifty-six percent of the popular vote. Grant promised to end the violence in the South but did little about it during his second term. An economic depression in 1873 further alienated the public from Grant. Due to Grant's declining popularity, the Republican Party nominated Rutherford B. Hayes as president, although Grant had desired to seek a third term. Grant also sought the party's candidacy in 1880, but the Republicans selected James Garfield instead. Grant spent his last years in New York, writing his memoirs. When he was elected president, Grant had resigned his commission in the military. In 1885, the United States Congress reappointed Grant as General of the Army. His salary helped him pay rising bills. He died on July 23, 1885 from throat cancer. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07703
Subjects: Ohio History--Presidents and Politics; Grant, Ulysses S., 1822-1885; Birthplaces; Historic houses
Places: Point Pleasant (Ohio); Clermont County (Ohio)
 

Description: Carte de visite of General Winfield Scott, who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Originally from Petersburg, Virginia, he refused to resign from his position when his home state seceded. Placed in command of the Union Army, he held himself responsible for the loss at Bull Run. By the start of the war, he was old and too overweight to ride a horse. Command was given to McClellan shortly after. While he did not serve much during the Civil War, his career was long and distinguished, having spent nearly 50 years in the US military. Scott served with great distinction in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War, and is considered one of the best, if not the best, general to ever serve the United States. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV200_b03_f33_37
Subjects: Ohio--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Pictorial works; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Military officers--Union; Military Ohio
Places: Ohio; Petersburg (Virginia)
 

Description: Stereograph image of the 27th United States Colored Troops, made up of African American soldiers from Ohio, camped outside of Petersburg, Virginia, ca. 1863-1865 View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL03374
Subjects: United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs; African American soldiers; United States Colored Troops; Military life
Places: Petersburg (Virginia)
 

Description: Illustration of Civil War encampments published in "Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War" by Alfred H. Guernsey. Caption reads: "Union and Confederate Works Southwest of Petersburg. From Signal Station." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04606
Subjects: United States of America; Confederate States of America; Civil War 1861-1865
Places: Petersburg (Virginia)
 

Description: Portrait of Nathaniel Gwynne, Private, Troop H, 13th Ohio Cavalry. Gwynne received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on July 30, 1864, during the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia (Civil War). The honor was issued January 27, 1865. The citation reads: "When about entering upon the charge, this soldier, then but 15 years old, was cautioned not to go in, as he had not been mustered. He indignantly protected and participated in the charge, his left arm being crushed by a shell and amputated soon afterward." This image of Gwynne is included in the book "Deeds of Valor," edited by Walter F. Beyer and O.F. Keydel, published in 1901, 1903, 1906. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05649
Subjects: Gwynne, Nathaniel, 1849-1883; Ohio--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Medal of Honor; United States. Army. Ohio Cavalry Regiment, 13th (1861-1865)
 

Description: The image portrays Nathaniel Gwynne saving his unit's colors on July 30, 1864, during the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia (Civil War). For his bravery Gwynne received the Congressional Medal of Honor on January 27, 1865. He served as a private in Company H, 13th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. His citation reads: "When about entering upon the charge, this soldier, then but 15 years old, was cautioned not to go in, as he had not been mustered. He indignantly protected and participated in the charge, his left arm being crushed by a shell and amputated soon afterward." This image is included in the book "Deeds of Valor," vol. 1, edited by Walter F. Beyer and O.F. Keydel (pub. 1901, 1903, 1906). Drawing signed by Frank Colton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05650
Subjects: Gwynne, Nathaniel, 1849-1883; Ohio History--Military Ohio, United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; United States. Army. Ohio Cavalry Regiment, 13th (1861-1865); Medal of Honor
 

Description: Reproduction of a photograph depicting Civil War general Ulysses S. Grant (seated in center) with his officers at City Point, Virginia, March 1865. Grant's headquarters were located at City Point during the Siege of Petersburg. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04546
Subjects: United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Ohio History--Military Ohio; Grant, Ulysses S., 1822-1885
Places: City Point (Virginia)