Today marks the 198th anniversary of General Ulysses S. Grant’s birthday. In honor of Grant’s birthday the following article was originally published in the Nebraska State Journal on his seventy-sixth anniversary, April 28, 1898.
General Thayer Gives Splendid Oration on His Friend
The seventy-sixth anniversary of the birth of General Grant, was fittingly observed at the Lincoln Normal yesterday. The orator of the occasion was Gen. John M. Thayer, who spoke at length with regard to Grant’s military life. General Thayer formed the acquaintance of General Grant early in the war and from that time until Grant’s death the two men were warm friends. On account of this General Thayer was able to speak of Grant as but few men living are able to do. The address was listened to with profound interest by the students. On account of the peculiarly great value of the historical matter presented, a great many took copious notes.
The exercises were opened by several selections of the Lincoln Normal orchestra. General Thayer said that soon after the beginning of the war, he in command of the First Nebraska regiment was ordered to St. Louis where he reported to General Fremont. Soon after this he was ordered to proceed to Pilot Knob, where he met Grant for the first time. Following this was a vivid description of General Grant’s personal appearance, his calm temperament, his modesty and his unostentatious disposition were clearly illustrated. Before many days had passed General Grant was ordered to return to St. Louis. He was accompanied by General Thayer. While there General Grant secured a leave of absence to go to Galena. While there he secured the aid necessary for him to be assigned the command at Cairo. This was the turning point in Grant’s life. Had he not gone to Cairo it is probably that he would have been assigned to duties in Missouri and would not have risen to the rank he afterwards held. Not many weeks after General Thayer left Grant in St. Louis, he was ordered with his regiment to report to Grant at Cairo.
General Thayer’s account of the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson was of intense interest. In the capture of Fort Donelson on the second day of the night, the First Nebraska with two other regiments which completed the command that General Thayer then had bore the brunt of the fight. After this brilliant victory, Grant was deprived of his command. This was an act of very great injustice to him. His character was vilified and through the reports sent out by General Halleck, an effort was made to induce the people of the north to believe that Grant was not fit to command an army. At this point General Thayer spoke of the charge that Grant was a drinking man. This charge was denied forcibly. General Thayer gave a number of instances where Grant firmly but courteously refused to drink liquor.
After the battle of Fort Donelson, Gen. F. Smith was placed in command of the union army, but just before the battle of Shiloh, General Smith died. Grant was again placed in command of the army. The battle of Shiloh was described by General Thayer as being one of the greatest battles of history. Grant said it was the greatest battle he ever fought. Had the union army been defeated here, the confederate army would have marched north across the Ohio. Not many can tell what the result of the war had been had Sidney A. Johnston been able to accomplish this. After this battle another effort was made to deprive Grant of the power and influence that he had so justly earned, but these efforts like those that preceded them failed.
Concluding General Thayer described with great vividness, some of the leading features of the Vicksburg campaign. He said that had it not been for shrewdness on Grant’s part, General Halleck would have frustrated the final move that resulted in the capture of Vicksburg.
After the close of the Vicksburg campaign, General Thayer was sent to Washington where he had a long interview with President Lincoln. The description given of Lincoln’s personal appearance and the insight that was given into his remarkable personality, formed on of the most interesting portions of the address.
In closing, General Thayer talked in a most eloquent and touching manner of closing days of the great commander. The impression that he left of Grant’s character will not be effaced from the memory of those who were privileged to be his listeners. General Thayer talked with much of his old time vigor and enthusiasm. His thorough familiarity with his subject, and his love for Grant united in making his address memorable.
At the close of the exercises an informal reception was tendered to the speaker, who received many compliments from his delighted hearers.
The History Channel will premier Grant, a three-night miniseries starting May 25, 2020. The miniseries is based on the book Grant by Ron Chernow and sets out to “chronicle the life of one of the most complex and underappreciated generals and presidents in U.S. history.”