Sadly, Dr. Massey has continued a long tradition of publishing incorrect information about Grant.

Grant resigned his commission in April 1854 when posted at Fort Humboldt, California. By that time, he had been on the West Coast away from his family, including a son he had never seen, for two years. Grant was short and slight: 5 foot 7 to 8 and, at that time, barely 135 pounds. What little he drank -- and the latter part of his two years on the Pacific was the only time in his life that he drank -- affected him greatly.

His commander at Humboldt was Robert Buchanan, who was described as a martinet. The evidence suggests but is not conclusive that Buchanan gave Grant the choice of standing trial or resigning after finding him a bit tipsy during a pay call. Grant resigned. Heading to White Haven, his in-laws' and wife's farm south of St. Louis, Grant reached New York alone in late June 1854, virtually penniless.

Grant went to Buckner, who was on commissary duty there, for help. The two had been at West Point and in the Mexican War together. Buckner guaranteed Grant's hotel bill and suggested Grant contact his father in Ohio for help. Reluctantly, because the plea was humiliating, Grant complied. Jesse Grant sent money to his son. Grant paid his hotel bill and bought a train ticket to Cincinnati. Rather than going straight there, Grant first went to Sackets Harbor, NY, to collect a debt. Forewarned, the debtor skipped town, and Grant returned to NYC.

From there, Grant went on to his parents' home in Ohio and then to the farm outside St. Louis. When he arrived, his sons, the younger of whom had never seen his father, didn't recognize Grant. His two years in the wilderness, so to speak, was over.