CSSLibraryGuides: Ulysses S. Grant Information Center: His Tragic Death

General Grant's Last Battle -- Incidents, Events, and Reflections

The following are links to a variety of materials on the last days of General Grant's Life, his completion of the memoirs and the activities of his family. He died on July 23, 1885 at age 63 at Mt. McGregor, New York.

Events of the Seventeen Days Following Grant's Death
A chronology from his death to his funeral in New York City.
Grant and Religion
What was Grant's attitude toward religion during his lifetime and at the hour of his death? Essay by Dr. Marie Kelsey, creator of this website.

The Dying Hero
Detailed and vivid chapter from Military and Civil Life of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, by James P. Boyd, copyright 1885.
General Grant's Last Battle
From the Schenectady Gazette, July 15, 1972.
War and Peace of Mind for Ulysses S. Grant
Online article from the Smithsonian, January 16, 2013 about the last years of Grant's life.
The Last Victory of General Grant
Review of Charles B. Flood's book Grant's Final Victory: Ulysses S. Grant's Heroic Last Year. Informative about Grant's last days.
Bedside Angels, by Ben Kemp, Operations Manager at the Grant Cottage
Site coordinator at the Grant Cottage blogs about Grant's nurse and valet, Henry McSweeny and Harrison Terrell, and the compassionate, professional care they bestowed upon Grant.
Ulysses S. Grant Finishes His Book
From Things Have Changed Blogspot, August 12, 2015
Grant's Choices for Burial
A difficult subject that had to be faced by his family.
Fred, Jesse and Horace Porter go to New York, July 27, 1885 to Select Grant's Final Resting Place
From the book The Life and Public Services of General Grant, by William Ralston Balch.

Looking Upon the Body
Many details of the activities at the cottage following Grant's death including criticism of the embalmer and the lightning strike on the electrical wires coming into the cottage. Julia views Grant's body. From the New York Times, July 31, 1885.

A Necessary Undertaking, by Ben Kemp, Operations Manager at the Grant Cottage
Details of the preparation of Grant's body.
A New Light on Old Flowers, by Ben Kemp, Operations Director at the Grant Cottage,
An historical floral expert analyzes the floral tributes still on view at the Cottage.

What Jefferson Davis Told Intrusive Journalists When Grant was Dying
Gen'l Grant's Early Life
Recollections of James M. Sanderson, from the New York Times, July 30, 1885.
Chronological List of NYT Articles About Grant's Struggles in 1885

Grant's Family at Mt. McGregor

From Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Grant's Last Ride in the Bath Chair, July 20, 1855

Grant's Death Bed

Visitors

Grant's Physicians - Dr. Shrady and Dr. Elliott

General Grant's Last Days, by George F. Shrady, one of Grant's physicians
Part 1
General Grant's Last Days
Part 2
General Grant's Last Days
Part 3
General Grant's Last Days
Part 4
General Grant's Last Days
Part 5
Surgical and Pathological Aspects of General Grant's Case, by Dr. George F. Shrady
From The Medical Record, Vol. 28, August 1, 1885, p. 121-124.
Microscopical Examination of Specimens Removed from General Grant's Throat, by Dr. George R. Elliott
From the Medical Record, Vol. 27, March 14, 1885, p. 289-290.
Dr. Shrady Recalls General Grant, Part 1
From the Saturday Evening Post, February 16th and 23, 1901.
Dr Shrady Recalls General Grant, Part 2
From the Saturday Evening Post, February 16th and 23rd, 1901.
Dr. Shrady Recalls General Grant, Part 3
From the Saturday Evening Post, February 16th and 23rd, 1901.
Dr. Shrady Recalls General Grant, Part 4
From the Saturday Evening Post, February 16th and 23rd, 1901.

Ferdinand Ward and Ulysses S. Grant

Grant and Ward Debacle, Clear, Dramatic and Very Sad
From Moody's Magazine, vol. 8, no. 6, December 1909, p. 451-455. In Hathitrust.

General Grant As I Knew Him, by Ferdinand Ward
From The New York Herald, December 19, 1909, Magazine Section. The introduction is astoundingly pro-Ward. The ensuing article by Ward himself is self-serving beyond belief as he asserts Grant remained his friend through all the stress and trouble until his death in 1885. Ward then relates numerous anecdotes about himself and Grant, the veracity of which is questionable. Written 19 years after Ward was released from prison.
General Grant An Easy Prey for the Wolves of Finance, by Ferdinand Ward - Illustration Only
From the New York Herald, December 26, 1909 Sunday Magazine Section. This is only page 1 which has a good quality reproduction of the illustrations accompanying the article.
General Grant An Easy Prey for the Wolves of Finance, by Ferdinand Ward
From the New York Herald, December 26, 1909 Sunday Magazine Section. Ward relates numerous incidents of Grant being duped by finance schemers. He asserts that Vanderbilt requested that Grant hand over his military mementoes when the $150,000 loan disappeared in the Grant and Ward failure. This is so far from the truth that one must question the veracity of the rest of the article. Concerning the financial schemes Ward says Grant was involved in, one should consult Grant's papers and other sources for verification purposes.

Marine Bank Cause of Crash, by Ferdinand Ward
From the New York Herald, January 2, 1910 Sunday Magazine Section. Ward denies he was wholly responsible for the "failure" of the Marine Bank and had he been left "unhampered" he would have made a great success of the venture. The article is heavy on discussion of finance issues, Ward's great burden, and his innocence with regard to duping Grant.
Grant Was the Only One to Give Aid, by Ferdinand Ward
From the New York Herald, January 9, 1910 Sunday Magazine Section. Grant contributed to the failure of Grant and Ward through risky ventures urged by his alleged friends. Ward relates the warnings he delivered to Grant against these pitfalls. Among all people affected by the failure, Grant was the only one to offer aid to Ward. Even after the catastrophic nature of the situation became clear to Grant, he had a face-to-face talk with Ward, urging him to be brave. Again, one must be very skeptical of Wards assertions.
General Grant's Dinner to President Diaz, by Ferdinand Ward
From the New York Herald, January 16, 1910, Sunday Magazine. Brief mention of this grand dinner at which Ward was asked to make a speech, much to his humiliation. More recollections of how great a businessman he (Ward) was and how the Grants bestowed many gifts upon him. A description of the gifts the Grants received on their world tour is included. Obsequious and self-serving article and the last in this series by the sociopath Ward

History of the Grant Cottage -- Where Grant Died on July 23, 1885

Slideshow on the History of Mount McGregor
By Staff from the Grant Cottage.

Pamphlet Part 1, by Oliver Clarke, first caretaker of the Grant Cottage
Cottage where Grant died at Mt. McGregor, New York Adirondack Mountains.
Pamphlet, Part 2, by Oliver Clarke, first caretaker of the Grant Cottage
Document by Martha Clarke, second caretaker of the Grant Cottage
Material transcribed by the author of this website from a written document by Martha Clarke that was in storage on the second floor of the Grant Cottage.

Martha Clarke and Her Adopted Daughter, Suye Narita at the Cottage
"The Stalwart Ladies of Grant Cottage," by Melissa Trombley-Prosch, Grant Cottage Site Historian.
Saving Grant Cottage, by Steve Trimm
Please consider purchasing this book.

Historical Marker Database. Marker at the Eastern Outlook.
Grant's last view of the valley. The site and the scene.
Grant Sites -- U. S. Grant Cottage
See more information about the Grant Cottage at this link.

On the Porch at the Cottage

Grant's Personal Memoirs

The Publisher of Grant's Personal Memoirs -- Charles Webster
Blog posting by Ben Kemp about Mark Twain's nephew-in-law.

Grant's Memoirs - an Op-Ed November 3, 2023
Grant was modest and never perceived himself as a hero.

Harrison Terrell, Grant's Black Assistant at Mt McGregor

Harrison Terrell Article from the Indianapolis Journal
May 3, 1903. Enlarge the print size in Adobe Acrobat reader.
Harrison Terrell Article
From the Washington Times, April 26, 1903. Enlarge this pdf document and it's fairly readable.
About Harrison Terrell from Various Sources

The Funerals

New York City, August 8, 1885

July 31, 1885, New York Times Report on Preparations for Grant's Funeral
Description of Grant's Funeral in New York City
From the New York Times, August 9, 1885

Planning for the New York Funeral, from Life and Public Services of General Grant, by William Ralston Balch.
July 27, 1885. Fred, Jesse, and Horace Porter travel to New York City and join Mayor Grace in a tour of potential sites for Grant's final resting place. P. 571-577 concern the tour and ultimate decision made by Julia.
Weekly Ohio State Journal Annual, 1886
The most detailed and dramatic description of Grant's final months I have ever seen. The family, the doctors, the days at Mt. McGregor, tributes in newspapers around the country, notes of condolence to Grant family, and both funerals are all included. A real treasure for anyone interested in Grant's last days.
Detailed Account of Grant's Last Days and Funerals from Life and Personal Memories of U. S. Grant, by R. A. Fenton, 1886.
Pages 158 to 268 contain a highly detailed account of Grant's last days at Mt. McGregor and the activities and ceremonies following his death. With illustrations.
Grant's Funeral Procession
From the funeral memorial book "Seven-Mile Funeral Cortege, Genl. Grant." 20 minute video.

Dedication of Grant's Tomb in 1897
Chapter from The History of Our Country, by Edward S. Ellis, 1899.

Articles by Frank W. Mack, 25 Years After Grant's Death

Grant's Last Days, by Frank W. Mack
From the Saturday Evening Post, February 26, 1910.
Grant, the Death Watch, by Frank W. Mack
From the Saturday Evening Post, February 12, 1910.

Ulysses S. Grant Information Center: His Tragic Death

Grant's Final Illness and Death

Chronology of the Last Five Years of Grant's Life

With much narrative and several links.

Reflections on Grant's Tomb by Ulysses Grant Dietz

Grant's great-great grandson (Fred's lineage) reflects on the historically shifting attitudes toward Grant and his Tomb during its 100+ years in Riverside Park.

Events of the Seventeen Days Following Grant's Death