Surely it must have been “Take Your Son to Work Day” that compelled General Ulysses S. Grant to bring his oldest son, Frederick Dent Grant (1850 – 1912), to the 1863 siege of Vicksburg – or at least that was our conclusion after we read this interesting interview with the man. Published shortly after his death, Fred Grant (who also grew to become an Army General) recalled those days he spent with the Federal Army as a thirteen year-old boy, witnessing much of war’s cruelty which he quite often took in his stride. He had a unique, privileged position during the battle and was able to roam where ever he pleased:
“Young as I was, my camp life was of such nature, I saw much of the hardships, the self-denials, the sufferings and labors of both privates and officers, that my proudest moments are when I am recalling my associating with the old warriors of the Eastern and Western armies, the veteran comrades of my father.”
Click here to read further about the siege of the 1863 Vicksburg.
Read an article about how Victorian fashion saved a life during the Civil War.
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