as one of the chief persecutors by William McFeely in his 1981 biography of Ulysses S. Grant, quoted as saying to his father, then President, that "no damned nigger will ever graduate from West Point," recent scholarship has raised questions about McFeely's sources. The evidence McFeely employs to assert Grant's racism comes from an entirely separate hazing incident in 1870 involving a number of white cadets that Smith was never involved with. In a January 1871 investigation of the hazing, Grant testified to the Committee on Military Affairs that he was aware of the prank, that he supported it, and that he did nothing to stop it. McFeely conflates Grant's testimony from this case with the separate court martial cases against Smith to make it look like he was aware of and supported Smith's harassment. In actuality, Grant never testified in Smith's cases, nor did he admit to playing any role in his harassment. In addition, the inflammatory racism cited by McFeely was described by a witness who was not present at the meeting. Smith was later discharged after failing an unconventional private examination by Professor Peter Michie. While Grant denied being a leader of the cadets who hazed Smith for being an African American, there is evidence to suggest he actively participated. Smith died of tuberculosis in 1876 and was granted a posthumous commission in the United States Army in 1997. Early military career Upon graduating from West Point, Grant was assigned to the 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment. He took a leave of absence to work with the Union Pacific Railroad as a civil engineer. Late in 1871, he was aide-de-camp to General William Tecumseh Sherman in Europe. He rejoined the 4th Cavalry in Texas in 1872. In 1873, he was assigned to the staff of General Philip Sheridan and promoted to lieutenant colonel. He was on a Yellowstone Expedition and was with George Armstrong Custer during the Black Hills expedition. His daughter Julia was born on June 6, 1876. Grant received leave to travel to Washington, D.C. for her birth. In 1877, he took a leave of absence to accompany his father on a trip around the world. In 1878, Grant was in the Bannock War and was in the fight against Victorio in New Mexico. Civilian career Frederick Grant resigned from the U.S. Army in 1881, and assisted his father in preparing the latter's memoirs. During this