President Ulysses S. Grant
Record of the Week for the Week of July 4, 2021
The General Land Office wishes you a happy Independence Day! This Record of the Week is a military warrant issued to none other than President and Union Army General, Ulysses S. Grant.
Military Warrant issued to Ulysses S. Grant
From 1775 to 1855, the United States granted bounty-land warrants for military service, primarily to encourage volunteer enlistments, but also to reward veterans for service during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and a variety of Indian wars and other military actions during the 1850s. Early warrants could only be used in military districts, principally in Ohio and several other public land states in the former Northwest Territory.
Eventually, Congress expanded eligibility to include service in the Regular Army and the Navy, as well as volunteer militias. Bounty-land warrant files can contain supporting documents such as statements and signatures of witnesses. Bounty-land warrants generally do not contain as much personal information as would be found in pensions. The government ceased issuing bounty-land warrants after 1855.
According to this warrant issued September 1, 1853, Grant's service in the Mexican War earned him 160 acres of land in Michigan.
Grant was given the land highlighted in yellow: the northeast quarter of Section 20 in Township 59 North, Range 29 West in the Michigan-Toledo Strip Principal Meridian. To see several more military warrants awarded to veterans of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Mexican War, view our Memorial Day 2019 ROTW Story Map.
