He sat opposite the impeccably dressed Lee, in plain clothes and muddy boots. His overall appearance did little to suggest that he was the highest ranking general in the union army. How such an unlikely hero attained this position then managed to outmaneuver the most talented general of both armies, is a question worthy of investigation. Ulysses Simpson Grant’s rise through the ranks of the union army was nothing short of remarkable. The following pages will reveal how Grant achieved that ascent, as well as providing a glimpse into Grant’s character, and war philosophy.

The onset of the war found Grant working as a clerk in his father’s leather shop. Some viewed him as a failure, although it is apparent that Grant never saw himself in that light. A West Point graduate and Mexican War veteran, he entered the union volunteers a colonel. By a political fluke he was promoted to brigadier general, of which his father gave him some practical advice, “Be careful, Ulysses, you’re a general now: it’s a good job, don’t lose it”(Foote, Vol 1 196).

Grant gained notoriety in the western theatre, where most of the fighting was waged for control of arteries of commerce,

Grant’s seventh plan of attack on Vicksburg proved successful. After a six-week siege, 30,000 confederates surrendered on July 4th, 1863. The Mississippi was now controlled by the union, and Grant was promoted to major general of the regular army (Grant, Encarta)

Again, Grant tried to force Lee’s army out in the open where he was confident he could defeat them. He tried to get between Lee and Richmond, and again, as if reading Grant’s mind, Lee beat him to Cold Harbor. Here, behind earthen works, the confederates slaughtered the on-rushing union soldiers. Grant later stated that “I always regretted that last assault at Cold Harbor was ever made”(Grant, Memoirs).

Grant’s plan was simple. Sherman would go after Johnston’s army as he moved from west to east and in effect, cutting the confederacy in half. Grant would go with the Army of the Potomac as they pursued Lee’s Army of Virginia. He would face an adversary like none he had ever faced. Robert E. Lee had become a legend in the north, as well as the south. Veteran northern soldiers wondered aloud what “Bobby” Lee would do to their new general from the west.

At Shiloh, the union army was attacked while it was spread out too thin. Grant commanded one-third of his army known as the Army of Tennessee. Though it was viewed a Union victory, the federals suffered more casualties than the three previous American Wars combined. Of the 24,000 casualties, many were Grant’s (Foote, Vol.1 350). Halleck blamed Grant for poor generalship, and personally took command of the army. Grant retained his position in name only. Rumors surfaced tied to Grant’s past, that he had been drunk and negligent. Halleck never totally trusted Grant, finding him to be rash in judgment. Grant grew impatient. He was a man of action, and Halleck had put a leash around his neck. He considered resigning, but an old friend, General Sherman convinced him otherwise. Pressure was amounting in Washington to take action against Grant. Lincoln quickly put an end to this, stating that he could not be spared, because “he fights”(Grant, Encarta). After Shiloh, Gran!

Some topics in this essay:
Shiloh Gran, Courthouse Grant, Potomac Longstreet, Foote Vol1, Mexican War, Finally Grant, War Grant, Simpson Grant’s, Fort Donelson, Surrender” Grant, lee’s army, cold harbor, fort donelson, union army, grant encarta, army grant, “unconditional surrender” grant, supreme commander, union soldiers, encarta shiloh, lee beat, union soldiers grant, wilderness cold harbor, victory fort donelson,