Background
Frederic Tracy Dent was born on December 17, 1820 in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. He was the son of Frederick F. and Ellen (Wrenshall) Dent, and a classmate of General Grant, who married his sister, Julia Dent.
Frederic Tracy Dent was born on December 17, 1820 in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. He was the son of Frederick F. and Ellen (Wrenshall) Dent, and a classmate of General Grant, who married his sister, Julia Dent.
Dent was graduated from the United States Military Academy, July 1, 1843.
Promoted brevet second lieutenant of the 6th Infantry, Dent served on frontier duty at Fort Towson, Indian Territory, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and through the Mexican War, taking part in the siege of Vera Cruz, the capture of San Antonio, and the battles of Contreras, Churubusco, and Molino del Rey.
In the last of these battles he was severely wounded. After the Mexican War he served on the Pacific Railroad Survey, in the removal of the Seminole Indians, and at various frontier posts.
During the Civil War he served in command of a regiment in the Army of the Potomac, and as a member of the military commission for the trial of state prisoners. Upon the appointment of Gen. Grant as lieutenant-general, he was selected by his brother-in-law as one of his aides-de-camp, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He served on the staff of Gen. Grant during the Richmond campaign, and upon the fall of the city of Richmond he was made its military governor, and later commanded the garrison of Washington.
He was appointed brigadier-general, United States Volunteers, April 5, 1865, and was mustered out of the volunteer service April 30, 1866.
On May 3, 1866, he was again appointed aide-de-camp to Gen. Grant, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and in July of the same year was promoted colonel. When Gen. Grant became president, Dent accompanied him to the White House as military secretary, and remained in this capacity until May 1873 when he was assigned to the command of Fort Trumbull, Connecticut.
He was brevetted first lieutenant and captain at the battles of Contreras, Churubusco, and Molino del Rey in the Mexican War, and in the Civil War received the brevets of lieutenant-colonel, colonel, and brigadier-general, for his services.
He was retired from active service as colonel of the 16th Artillery, December 1, 1883, upon his own application, after more than forty years of service.
While Dent was not a brilliant soldier, and owed much to his relationship to Gen. Grant, he was a brave and chivalrous man, kindly, and of unfailing courtesy, who did his duty zealously and well.
He was of medium size, pleasant address, and amiable manners.
