APR - JUN

	APRIL WITH JULIA AND ULYSSES
	In April of 1844, Julia and Ulysses were courting in the winding, romantic pathways of the White Haven estate. Because they were together, no love letters were exchanged between the young couple, this month. In April of 1845, the shy Lieutenant returned to White Haven, from his army camp in Louisiana, to make a bold declaration of his love for Julia. He had not found the courage to ask her father for her hand, until then. Ulysses’ first love letter written to Julia in April, was written a few weeks before his first battle. Encamped across the Rio Grande from the fortified city of Matamoras, Mexico, Ulysses described the Mexican defenses and the probablities of war. Then, he speaks from the heart, about his desires: Camp Near Matamoras Tex. April 20^th 1846 “At all events I shall try to get a leave of absence as soon as there ceases to be a probability of difficulties, and then my Dear Julia may I hope to claim you as my partner for life.” Ulysses’ next love letter written in the month of April, was penned after the young officer had survived many bloody battles. He was no longer the raw young officer, innocent of war, but a seasoned veteran and now, quartermaster to his regiment, learning the intricacies of keeping the army supplied with food, a skill which would someday lead him to destroy the army of Robert E. Lee in the Civil War, by cutting them off from their food supply. Still, though Ulysses is learning the hard facts of war, his heart is full of sentimental feelings for Julia, and wistful hopes of spending a birthday with her. He was born on April 27, 1822. Camp at Vera Cruz Mex. April 3d 1847 “Do you recollect Dearest about six months ago I told you that another Birth day certainly would not roll round before I would be with you. Well here it is near the time and I have not started yet.” Ulysses is ecstatic upon receiving a letter from his beloved. “I rec’d one of the sweetest letters from you about ten days ago!” Then, Ulysses pines for Julia and pens one of his most poetic sentiments. “Julia ain’t it a hard case that this Mexican War should keep me two long years as it has done from seeing one that I love so much. But time only strengthens and proves the reality of their being such a thing as love.” After taking the Mexican stronghold of the Castle of Perote, Ulysses expresses his unbearable frustration at not being able to unite with Julia. Castle of Perote Mexico April 24^th 1847 Just think Julia it is now three long years that we have been engaged. Do you think I could endure another years separation loving you as I do now and believing my love returned? At least commission and all will go in less time or I will be permitted to see the one I have loved so much for three long years. My Dearest don’t you think a soldier’s life a hard one! But after a storm there must be a calm. This war must end some time and the army scattered to occupy different places and I will be satisfied with any place wher I can have you with me.” Ulysses’ hopes of Julia’s devotion foreshadow their future together on the world stage, as her presence with him in his army camps became imperative to the Union winning the Civil War. Their only hope as commander, Ulysses S. Grant, fell apart and drank if Julia was not with him. “Would you be willing to go with me to some out-of-the-way post Dearest? But I know you would for you have said so so often.” Ulysses and Julia shared a rapturous reunion in the summer of 1848, and were wed at her father’s townhouse in St. Louis, in the sultry evening of August 22, 1848. After a steamboat honeymoon, and four months of idyllic travels to meet his friends and family, Julia and Ulysses set up housekeeping in a small army barracks quarters in Sackets Harbor, New York. But in the spring of the following year, Julia traveled back home to White Haven. Ulysses’ regiment was transferred to Detroit, Michigan. There, he rented a “neat little house,” their first actual house as newlyweds, and waited for his beloved to return to him. You can tell from these next words, that Captain Ulysses S. Grant was “disgruntled in Detroit.” Detroit Michigan April 27^th 1849 “This you know is my Birth day and I doubt if you will think of it once.” The reason for his discontent is plain from these next words: “I find Detroit very dull as yet but I hope that it will appear better when I get better acquainted and you know dearest without you no place, or home, can be very pleasant to me.” The young Captain and his lover still share their dreams of each other. “I know that you have thought of me very often. I have dreamed of you several times since we parted.” There were five words crossed out in between these two sentences. Since these sentences were both very amorous, one can only conclude the missing words were amorous, as well. Someone crossed them out, and it was not Ulysses. It remains a mystery, as does the question, what became of Julia’s love letters? Not one of them survived, from the early days of their courtship, through-out their married life, all the way through the end of the Civil War. Since not one letter of hers survived, I have concluded that Julia herself destroyed her own love letters, and censored some of his. She knew how significant his letters would be to history, but she sought to keep some intimacies hidden. They probably made her blush. In another section of this web site, “The Mystery of Julia’s Love Letters,” I will take you through the journey I made to the conclusion that it was Julia herself that destroyed her own love letters. Ulysses and Julia’s most disastrous separation, was definitely the two years he spent away from her, when stationed on the Pacific Coast. This next and final letter, written in April, was not a love letter written to Julia, but it might as well has been. It is Ulysses’ resignation from the army, so he could return home to Julia, and her love. Fort Humboldt Humboldt Bay, Cal. April 11^th, 1854 Col. I very respectfully tender my resignation of my commission as an officer of the Army, and request that it may take effect from the 31^st July next. I am Col. Very respectfully Your Obt. Svt. U.S. Grant Capt. 4^th Inf.y To Col. S. Cooper Adj. Gen. U.S.A. Washington D.C. Ulysses S. Grant had risen to the position of Captain in the 4^th Infantry—through bloody battles and exhausting marches—through heat and bugs and illness—surviving gunfire and bayonet charges, where others did not. But he was brought down by his love for a woman—his wife.
	MAY WITH JULIA AND ULYSSES
	The month of May provided a romantic backdrop for Ulysses’ marriage proposal to Julia. Learning that his army regiment was leaving for Louisiana, and probably, for war with Mexico, Ulysses realized he was in love with Julia, and became overwhelmed with the urgency to marry her. He was visiting his parents in Ohio when the news came to him of his transfer away from Julia. He returned to Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, and asked for a leave of absence before joining his regiment on the frontier of Louisiana. With his leave of absence granted, Ulysses jumped on his horse, not even taking time to pack a bag, and he galloped full speed ahead toward White Haven. The Gravois Creek, a normally placid stream, had to be crossed to reach his beloved. But that night, it had been raining heavily, and when he reached the creek on horseback, he found it had turned into a raging torrent. In one of his most fateful decisions, Ulysses struck into the stream, anyway, and almost drowned, so great was his desire to reach Julia, and tell her of his love. He somehow made it to the other side of the creek, and road on to White Haven, where he arrived, soaking wet. A few days later, he mustered up his courage and proposed to Julia on the way to a friend’s wedding. He had maneuvered her into a carriage, alone, by offering his saddle horse to Julia’s brother in exchange for the buggy. It was probably Ulysses’ most successful horse trade! Approaching a bridge, they found it full to overflowing. Julia feared the creek was too dangerous to breast, but Ulysses insisted he would see them safely across. This bridge indeed became a bridge for them--a bridge to a new world of passion and romance. It was on the other side of this bridge, in the month of May, that Ulysses declared his love, and begged Miss Julia to marry him. Swept away by his ardor, Miss Julia confessed her love for him, and the happy young couple probably kissed for the first time. They reluctantly parted a week later, secretly engaged, Ulysses joining his regiment at Camp Salubrity, Louisiana, and Julia promising to wait for him. The following May, in 1845, Ulysses obtained a leave of absence and returned to White Haven to ask Julia’s father for permission to marry her. Julia’s father, the cantankerous Colonel Dent, disapproved of the match. He was a Southern plantation owner, and Ulysses was a Yankee! And he was a very poor Yankee, at that. Still, worn down by the young soldier’s sincerity and resolve, Colonel Dent gave Ulysses permission for them to correspond. If, in a few years time, they still shared the same feelings for each other, they could marry. Colonel Dent, like Robert E. Lee in the future, thought time could wear our Ulysses’ determination. They were both wrong. Ulysses had cornered Colonel Dent just as he was about to leave on a trip to the East Coast. This left Ulysses and Julia alone, without the disapproving eye of her father, to drink up the remaining days of his leave on the secluded woodland trails of White Haven. “It was May, and the country was beautiful,” Julia recalled in her memoirs. Following his romantic sojourn with Julia, Ulysses returned to Camp Salubrity, and penned these words, probably with a sigh: Camp Salubrity Near Nachitoches La. Tuesday, May 6^th 1846 “I shall always look back at my short visit to Mo. as the most pleasant part of my life.” The life of a soldier awaiting war, was whiled away mostly in gossiping and daydreaming. Lieutenant Ulysses moved from Camp Salubrity to New Orleans Barracks, then on to the windswept beach of Corpus Christi, Texas. His next letter written in the month of May, was his last ever written before going into battle. For this reason, I include the whole letter: Point Isabel Texas May 3d 1846 My Dear Julia I wrote you a long letter in answer to your last sweet letter a few days ago and intended to bring it with me to this place but when we started I left in such a hurry that I forgot it. I gave you a long account of our difficulties in it and as I now have but a few minuets to write I will send you the other letter as soon as I get back. At present I can only give you what has happened without any of the circumstances. Col. Cross has been killed by the Mexicans. Cap.t Thornton with three other officers and about fifty Dragoons fell in with a camp of some two thousand Mexicans and of course was taken. One officer and six or seven men were killed and four wounded all the others were taken prisoners. Lt. Porter with twelve men were attacked by a large number of Mexicans and Mr. Porter and one man was killed the rest escaped.--Gen. Taylor left Matamoras with about two thousand troops for this place on the 1^st of May intending to give the Mexicans a fight if we fall in with them. We marched nearly all night the first night and you may depend My Dear Julia that we were all very much fatigued. We start again at 1 o’clock to-day and will probably have an engagement. We understand that there is several thousand encamped not far from this place. There was about six hundred troops left in our Fort opposite Matamoras and the presumption is they have been attacked, for we have heard the sound of Artillery from that direction ever since day light this morning. As soon as this is over I will write to you again, that is if I am one of the fortunate individuals who escape. Dont fear for me My Dear Julia for this is only the active part of our business. It is just what we come here for and the sooner it begins the sooner it will end and probably be the means of my seeing my dear Dear Julia soon. You don’t know how anxious I am to see you again Julia. Another year certainly cannot roll around before that happy event. I must now bring my letter to a close. I wish I had time to write a much longer one. Give my love to all at White Haven. Write to me soon Julia. Your Most devoted U.S. Grant 4^th Inf.y The above letter always makes me feel like crying. It was his final letter written to Julia while an innocent young man, innocent of war, innocent of death, innocent of his destiny as slayer of men and savior of his country. Ulysses’ next letter was written following his first battles, at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, on the border of Texas and Mexico. After a vivid description of the battles, in which you can feel Ulysses’ adrenalin pumping as he describes whizzing bullets and deadly cannon fire, Ulysses assures his love: Head Quarters Mexican Army May 11^th 1846 “In the thickest of it I thought of Julia.” Following the two first battles of the Mexican War, Ulysses’ regiment crossed the Rio Grande to occupy the Mexican city of Matamoras. The Americans had now become the “Army of Invasion.” Still, Ulysses’ thoughts are on Julia, and his love for her. Matamoras Mexico May 24^th 1846 “Wherever I am I shall continue to write to my Dear Julia very often and hope that the day is not far distant when I shall hold that little hand again in mine.” Having survived battle, he still worries that her parents may not give their consent to his deepest desires. “My Dearest Julia does your Pa or Ma ever speak of our engagement, or do they think that time and distance can make us forget each other?” “I feel as if I shall never be contented until I can see you again my Dear Julia, and I hope it will be never to leave you again for so long a time.” “P.S. The two Flowers you sent me come safe but when I opened your letter the wind blew them away and I could not find them. Before I seal this I will pick a wild flower off of the Bank of the Rio Grande and send you.” The image of the strong young soldier wandering around in the desert, searching for lost flower petals, is touching and pathetic. It shows how sentimental was Ulysses S. Grant. He is also tantalized by the romantic dreams they share with each other: “My Dear Julia do you ever see me anymore in your dreams? how much I wish you could see me in reality!” Following two years of bloody battles, and the surrender of Mexico City to the American Army, Ulysses and his regiment are stationed in the peaceful village of Tacubaya. But here, he confronts a demon more difficult for him than bullets: loneliness. With no battles to distract him, Ulysses admits he is lonely. Yet, he goes a long time without hearing from his lover. Finally, a letter arrives, and by his response, the young couple appear to be having a tiff through the mail. Tacubaya Mexico May 7^th 1848 “I have not received a letter from you for two months or more until two days ago, but when one did come it was most welcom.” “What must I think of you, just think two long months without hearing from one that I love so much. Well I do not blame you so long as you don’t forget me and love me as you say you do.” By the time Ulysses penned his next love letter in the month of May, the lovers seemed to have recovered from their squabbling, and made up. They now look forward to being in each other’s arms again, soon. The Mexican Army has surrendered, and so, hopes Ulysses, will his dear, dear Julia. Tacubaya Mexico May 22^nd 1848 “So my dear Julia I think by July at farthest I shall be able to claim some of the kisses that you have sent me in your letters.” “I am happy at the idea of geting away from Mexico at last because I will be able to see my dear dear Julia again and I hope not to separate.” Julia and Ulysses were reunited at last, and finally wed on August 22, 1848. They dreamily spent their honeymoon on a steamboat, then, he showed off his new bride to friends and family in Ohio. Their first newlywed home was in a tiny army barracks in Sackets Harbor, New York. That spring, Julia returned home to White Haven for a visit, and during her absence, Ulysses was transferred to Detroit, Michigan. Here, he rented their first house. He put much care into fixing up their new love-nest, and awaiting her return. Love letters are still their means of sharing passion and pleasure, when not together. Detroit Michigan May 20^th 1849 “My Dearest Julia “I received your long sweet letter by yesterdays Mail and you know with what pleasure I read it.” This is one of my favorite quotes, as if shows just how much Ulysses enjoys his new bride’s constant fussing over him. He survived battle after battle in the Mexican war, but she is worried he might get his feet wet! “Don’t be allarmed about my fishing--I will take good care of myself and not get my feet wet as you fear.” Coming as he did from an undemonstrative family, Julia’s wifely attention must have tasted sweet. Ulysses likes to tease Julia about the ladies, since she so obviously can trust him. “I have not become acquainted with many of the people of Detroit yet and have not visited any of the young ladies. You know I told you that I would be quite a gallant while you are absent, but as I see no one that I like half as well as my own dear Julia I have given up the notion.” The urgency in this next letter, written six days later, shows how much he misses her. Detroit Michigan May 26^th 1849 “My Dear Dear Julia I write to you for the last time until it happens that we are again separated, which I sincerely hope will never take place. I know now how dearly I love you, and will never give my consent to your making another long visit without me, unless it should be absolutely necessary.” A major mystery in the romance of Julia and Ulysses S. Grant, has just been solved! On my journey to understanding their romance, this was one of my most exciting discoveries. It has often been said that Ulysses did not write to Julia on her next visit home to White Haven, which was when she left him to have their first baby in the bosom of her family. It has been suggested by some authors that Ulysses was angry at Julia for leaving him at this time, and he expressed that anger by not writing her, since no letters from Ulysses to Julia exist during this time period. But in studying his love letters written from Detroit, I discovered this gem: a reference to Julia not receiving letters written by him to her, when she was at White Haven, having his baby! The following line proves that he did indeed write to her, because “the last time you left me” was the time in question: Detroit Michigan Wednesday 28^th May 1851 “I hope dearest Julia you have not been as unfortunate about getting letters this time as you was the last time you left me.” Hooray! I knew Ulysses was too much of a gentleman, not to have written to his beloved when she was away having his baby. I was so happy to find the above quote, which proves his constant devotion. From his marriage proposal in May, 1844, through his first battle and through their early newlywed days, May was a month that revealed a romance much like springtime: ever blossoming anew.
	JUNE WITH JULIA AND ULYSSES
	Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant wrote his very first love letter to Julia in the month of June. He wrote it in the hot pine woods of Camp Salibrity, near Natchitoches, Louisiana. He had just returned from proposing marriage to his “dear dear Julia,” and to his great joy, she had accepted. He must have been in heaven, re-living the ecstasy of their first kiss. Camp Salubrity Near Nachitoches Louisiana June 4^th 1844 “My Dear Julia I have at length arrived here with the most pleasing recollections of the short leave of absence which prevented my accompanying my Regiment; and as well, with the consequences of the leave.” Funny, his first sentence ever written to his lover contains so many military references. The military was in his blood as much as she. Since this is his very first love letter, he is quite shy about expressing his love. Here you can practically feel him saying, “hint, hint!” as he hints around about love in his shy way: “.I know the climate &c. (&c. meaning much more than what procedes it) about St. Louis suits me well...” Obviously the “&c.” around St. Louis that suited him, was Julia! In his farewell lines in his very first love letter, Ulysses finds his own unique way of avoiding talking about love, but hoping his beloved will understand: “Julia! I cannot express the regrets that I feel at having to leave Jeff. Bks. at the time that I did. I was just learning how to enjoy the place and the Society, at least a part of it. Blank_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ Read these blank lines just as I intend them and they will express more than words. That was twenty-three blank lines! Ulysses had a lot of feelings he did not know how to express. Two years later, in the month of June, it is an entirely different story. After corresponding with his beloved from the hot pine woods of Camp Salubrity, the heavy July heat of New Orleans Army Barracks and a year on the lonely windswept beach of Corpus Christi, Texas, Ulysses’ ardor has intensified and found honest expression in his love letters, at last. Julia’s letters are obviously very passionate, as well. Camp at Matamoras Mexico June 5^th 1846 “You don’t know how proud and how happy it made me feel to hear you say that willingly you would share my tent, or my prison if I should be taken prisoner.” Camp at Matamoras Mexico June 10^th 1846 “You say in your letter I must not grow tired of hearing you say how much you love me! Indeed dear Julia nothing you can say sounds sweeter.” “When I lay down I think of Julia until I fall asleep hoping that before I wake I may see her in my dreams.”

APRIL WITH JULIA AND ULYSSES