Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/44

24 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS Ulysses S. The officials at West Point were noti fied by Cadet Grant of the error, but they did not feel authorized to correct it, and it was acquiesced in and became the name by which he was always known. As a student Grant showed the greatest pro ficiency in mathematics, but he gained a fair stand ing in most of his studies, and at cavalry-drill he proved himself the best horseman in his class, and afterward was one of the best in the army. He was graduated in 1843, standing twenty-first in a class of thirty-nine. He was commissioned, on graduation, as a brevet 2d lieutenant, and was at tached to the 4th infantry and assigned to duty at Jefferson barracks, near St. Louis. In May, 1844, he accompanied his regiment to Camp Salubrity, Louisiana. He was commissioned 2d lieutenant in September, 1845. That month he went with his regiment to Corpus Christi (now in Texas) to join the army of occupation, under command of Gen. Zachary Taylor. He participated in the battle of Palo Alto, May 8, 1846; and in that of Resaca de la Palma, May 9, he commanded his company. On August 19 he set out with the army for Monterey, Mexico, which was reached on September 19. He had been ap pointed regimental quartermaster of the 4th infan try, and was placed in charge of the wagons and pack-train on this march. During the assault of