Lt. Col. Robert C. Buchanan fined Grant wine bottles for Grant's late returns from White Haven.[44] Commanded by Colonel Stephen W. Kearny, the barracks was the nation's largest military base in the West.[45] Grant was happy with his new commander but looked forward to the end of his military service and a possible teaching career.[46]

Marriage and family
In Missouri, Grant visited Dent's family and became engaged to Dent's sister, Julia, in 1844.[46] Four years later on August 22, 1848, they were married at Julia's home in St. Louis. Grant's abolitionist father disapproved of the Dents' owning slaves, and neither of Grant's parents attended the wedding.[47] Grant was flanked by three fellow West Point graduates, all dressed in their blue uniforms, including Longstreet, Julia's cousin.[48][h] At the end of the month, Julia was warmly received by Grant's family in Bethel, Ohio.[51] They had four children: Frederick, Ulysses Jr. ("Buck"), Ellen ("Nellie"), and Jesse.[52] After the wedding, Grant obtained a two-month extension to his leave and returned to St. Louis when he decided, with a wife to support, that he would remain in the army.