Ulysses "Sam" Grant

[timewalker]

On the Fort Henry thread, we have been having some lively speculation about why Hirum Ulysses aka Ulysses Simpson Grant was known as "Sam."

While we're at it, why was John Bell Hood also known as "Sam"?

And why was James Longstreet known as "Pete"?

Your answers or speculations welcome.

From the Fort Henry thread:

Timewalker: "I know his given name was Hiram Ulysses, but he generally went by H. Ulysses or 'Lyss. When he was given his appointment to West Point it was in the name of Ulysses Simpson Grant, Simpson being his mother's maiden name. He tried to register as Ulysses H. Grant (wanting to avoid the initials H.U.G. for obvious reasons) but they would only register him based on the name on his appointment - Ulysses S. Grant so thus it became."

ole: "My take is that he was never actually addressed as Hiram. Most called him Ulie, his father called him "useless."

This is logical speculation I've read: The congressman who made the appointment was aware only that his name was Ulysses. When he wrote the appointment, he assumed that the middle name must be Simpson, as the contemporary practice was to use the mother's maiden name as a middle name.

And there might be some merit that the initials "HUG" on the foot-locker might have some deleterious effect had something to do with Grant's decision to not object to the change of his actual name.

But we still have no idea why he was called Sam."

[M E Wolf]

Dear Timewalker,

I can only remember as long as I went to school from Kindergarden through--the nickname "Sam" came from his initials "U. S. Grant." The "Uncle Sam" was already a way of talking - Governmental - so the classmates called him (Grant) Sam.

As far as General John Bell "Sam" Hood, in West Point, "Sam" was given as a nick name by fellow cadets. He was also known as "Old Wooden Head."

The only recollection of the nick "Old Pete" or "Old Gloomy Pete" as a nickname for General James Longstreet, was due to his facial character--it looked sad. I suppose a Bassett hound has sad look to them facial wise. Old Pete was also a nickname given by his fellow cadets at West Point. This is re-confirmed by widow Helen Longstreet in an article about General Longstreet's order to General Pickett at Gettysburg. In this article:
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive...CF&oref=slogin
Mrs. Longstreet relates that General Lee was the Commanding General that wanted this charge given through General Longstreet. Longstreet was against the Charge and new it would be fruitless and massive loss of life. He couldn't agree with the order so he did a non-verbal acknowledgment to attack, when asked by General Pickett. He could only nod.
Mrs. Longstreet further states--that it should not be known as Pickett's Charge, as Pickett wasn't the commander who ordered it--Longstreet ordered the charge, under Lee's direction and planning, from what I gathered from the article.

Perhaps in Hood's case- "Sam" was a compliment as much as a nick name.

Just some thoughts.

M. E. Wolf

[elektratig]

Hiram Ulysses Grant became Ulysses Hiram Grant became Ulysses S. Grant became "Sam" Grant.

I've posted the details here:

http://elektratig.blogspot.com/2008/...n-of-name.html

One minor point. Wikipedia states that Congressman Hamer filled out the West Point application "Ulysses Simpson Grant." This may be incorrect. Brooks Simpson indicates that Hamer filled out the application "Ulysses S. Grant." Presumably Hamer assumed that Grant's middle name was Simpson (his mother's maiden name), but he apparently did not write out the entire name, using only the initial.

[ole]

Thanks, ET, we can count on you for a definitive answer and thus spare us the fun of speculating for pages. :-)

ole

[gary]

So Grant became Sam Grant because he didn't want to be known as "Huggy?"

[timewalker]

So, we now have the story of Sam Grant.

What about "Pete" Longstreet and "Sam" Hood?

[larry_cockerham]

Originally Posted by gary

So Grant became Sam Grant because he didn't want to be known as "Huggy?"

That would be reason enough for me. I've wrestled with 'chubby' for years.

[elektratig]

As for Longstreet, Jeffry D. Wert, General James Longstreet: The Confederacy's Most Controversial Soldier (p. 22), says only that, "Young James, whom the family called Peter or Pete . . .." He does not say why. At all events, unlike Ulysses, he apparently acquired the name as a child, long before he entered West Point.

[elektratig]

I've never run into anything about the origin of "Sam" Hood. The site below, which I don't vouch for, says that "It [was] at West Point that Hood acquired the nickname of 'Sam,' the origin of which is not known." The site seems pretty obsessed with Hood, however, so if they don't know, I'm not sure who does.

http://www.johnbellhood.org/bio-03.htm

[timewalker]

Thanks for the info. Great blog, by the way.