With the signing of the treaty of peace, Grant came home on furlough,
and in August, 1848, was married to Julia Dent. He took his wife to
his father's home, and was made much of by his admiring townsmen. His
father was inordinately proud of "my Ulysses," now a captain and cited
for gallantry in action. In the darker days that were to follow, he
looked back to this time as the very pinnacle of his son's greatness.
That there _were_ darker days, and many of them, must be chronicled in
any true sketch of Ulysses S. Grant. He was to taste the very dregs of
humiliation and despair. He was to see these same admiring friends
turn from him one by one, with a sneer, or reproachful shake of the
head.
For days of peace were at hand--long days of barrack routine and
enforced idleness. To Captain Grant these days coming after the
excitement of Mexico were at first welcome, then speedily grew tedious.
He had always hated the humdrum life of the drill ground. Now he was
shifted, after a few months, to a camp at San Francisco. The distance
was so great, travelling as they did by way of the Isthmus of Panama
(this was long before the railroads), that he could not take his wife
with him. His slender pay also would not admit of it.
Life in all the army camps was free and easy.
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