Ulysses S. Grant

From the beginning of the war private property had not been taken, either for the use of the army or of individuals, without full compensation.

They were associated with so many disciplined men and professionally educated officers, that when they went into engagements it was with a confidence they would not have felt otherwise.

A better army, man for man, probably never faced an enemy than the one commanded by General Taylor in the earliest two engagements of the Mexican war.

In this same way the City of Mexico could have been approached without any danger of opposition, except in the open field.

It is natural that an important city like Puebla should not have been passed with contempt; it may be natural that the direct road to it should have been taken; but it could have been passed, its evacuation insured and possession acquired…

I know just enough about the Mexican war to approve heartily of most of the generalship, but to differ with a little of it.

The shots from our little gun dropped in upon the enemy and created great confusion.

Texas was to be given up absolutely by Mexico, and New Mexico and California ceded to the United States for a stipulated sum to be afterwards determined.

If he had been successful at Buena Vista his troops would no doubt have made a more stubborn resistance at Cerro Gordo.

His attack on Taylor was disastrous to the Mexican army, but, notwithstanding this, he marched his army to Cerro Gordo, a distance not much short of one thousand miles by the line he had to travel, in time to intrench himself well before…

The battle of Buena Vista was probably very important to the success of General Scott at Cerro Gordo and in his entire campaign from Vera Cruz to the great plains reaching to the City of Mexico.

Property and person were thoroughly protected, and a market was afforded for all the products of the country such as the people had never enjoyed before.

It was the policy of the Commanding General to allow no pillaging, no taking of private property for public or individual use without satisfactory compensation, so that a better market was afforded than the people had ever known before.

At no time during the day could I choose exactly the part of the column I would march with; but after that, I had as tractable a horse as any with the army, and there was none that stood the trip better.

The tobacco when raised could only be sold to the government, and the price to the consumer was limited only by the avarice of the authorities, and the capacity of the people to pay.

I failed utterly at the time and for many years afterward; but the majority accomplished the object of their youthful ambition.

I know its appearance would cause me as much heart-burning as my youthful horse-trade, or the later rebuke for wearing uniform clothes.

Often since a fear has crossed my mind lest that book might turn up yet, and fall into the hands of some malicious person who would publish it.

I reviewed my West Point course of mathematics during the seven months at Jefferson Barracks, and read many valuable historical works, besides an occasional novel.

This I enjoyed beyond any other period of my life.

Mathematics was very easy to me, so that when January came, I passed the examination, taking a good standing in that branch.