All too often he is caricatured as a chronic loser and inept businessman, fond of drinking to excess. As an amateur, civil war historian, i appreciate the authors vivid detail and the historical accuracy of grants accomplishments during the war. Oct 10, 2017 grant is yet another book like last years american ulysses, by ronald c. Was he a brutal general and incompetent president or a brilliant strategist who should be. The civil war rages for most of his book, and grant proves an. He spent more time reading books from the library than his academic texts. Grant wrote his personal memoirs to secure his familys. He was a popular war hero during the civil war, and that aided him during the election.
Grant, the union military genius who won the civil war, and subsequently the twotime president who championed the freedom of the former slave population of the south through his policy of reconstruction. Twenty years after appomattox, the civil war s greatest general fought his last campaign against death and time. Fresh off his victory as commander of the union armies during the civil war, ulysses s. The essential writings, the life and writings of abraham lincoln, p. Grant, and memoirs and selected letters, and more on. They answered questions about grant from moderator james mcpherson, himself a civil war author, and then answered questions from members of the. In this affordably priced unabridged edition, personal memoirs of u. May 08, 2009 the american civil war, as told by general ulysses s grant, who led the union armies to victory over the confederacy. He was an excellent horseman and fought with distinction in the mexican war. Grant was the commanderinchief of the union forces during the climactic late years of the civil war and later served as the 18th president of the united states. He was a heavy drinker who won the civil war by slinging vast numbers of hapless union soldiers at the. Grant will be eagerly welcomed by students of american history and the legions of military enthusiasts and civil war buffs. Grant on december 17, 1862 during the vicksburg campaign, that took place during the american civil war.
Grant 18221885 served as commander in chief of the union army during the civil war, leading the north to victory over the confederacy. Even when clemens, his good friend and cigarsmoking buddy, broached the idea, grant demurred. Grant conducted himself in the field, particularly his personal traits, habits and motivations. In ron chernows grant, an american giants makeover. This author is challenging what we know about ulysses grant. But as president, he struggled to steer the country through a period of financial panic and political corruption. Grant won the civil war but lost the battle with white house job seekers ulysses s. For the 150th anniversary of the civil war, the library of america reissues the memoirs of ulysses s. Despite being a novice, and being a person who usually has a hard time following battle descriptions, grant s writing is so very clear and readable that i was able to follow along. Grant took up the pen at the urging of his friend and editor mark twain, and set down. Grant was one of the most complicated military leaders. I would prefer a book that focus on grants civil war years, his generalship, g as a commander, but appreciate views on books with a. The collection relates to grant s service in the mexican war and civil war, his pre civil war career, and his postwar service as u. Grant was the eighteenth us president in the nations history.
Even among the most grant partial historians theres no denying that ulysses grant and his wife owned slaves prior to the civil war. Grant, the civil war battlefield commanderturnedcommanderinchief fell out of favor with twentieth century historians. In the wake of a scandalridden presidency and sick with cancer, ulysses s. And reversely, are there any real stinkers that should be avioded. Grant later became the 18th president of the united states, serving from 1869 to 1877. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Ulysses simpson grant born hiram ulysses grant was generalinchief of the union army from 1864 to 1869 during the american civil war and the 18th president of the united states from 1869 to 1877. The twovolume set was published by mark twain shortly after grants death. Grant is the first comprehensively annotated edition of grant s memoirs, clarifying the great military leaders thoughts on his life and times through the end of the civil war and offering his invaluable perspective on battlefield decision making.
Ulysses simpson grant, 182285, commander in chief of the union army in the civil war and 18th president 186977 of the united states, b. From the western frontier to the battlefields of vicksburg, chattanooga, franklin, petersburg, and richmond. Grant led the unions victory in the civil war before serving two terms as president. Grant is well known as the commanding general of the union forces during the american civil war, but outside of that little is known about him as a man. The book only briefly discusses grant s childhood and his presidency and instead details his military career, discussing his successes as well as his failures with a straightforward honesty. The modern library civil war bookshelf 5 book bundle. Grant quickly rose up the union ranks, advancing from recruitment officer to brigadier general by august of that year. Yet in his day grant was routinely grouped with george. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Despite being a novice, and being a person who usually has a hard time following battle descriptions, grants writing is so very clear and readable that i was able to follow along. This author is challenging what we know about ulysses. In january 1862 he voiced his concerns about his forces primarily defensive role and received permission from gen.
The ghost that haunts grants memoirs the new york times. Grant wrote his personal memoirs to secure their future, and in doing so won for himself a unique place in american letters. A massive biography of the civil war general and president, who was the single most important figure behind reconstruction. Stricken by cancer as his family faced financial ruin, ulysses s. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the civil war memoirs of ulysses s. Completed just days before his death and hailed by mark twain as the most remarkable work of its kind since the commentaries of julius caesar, this is the nowlegendary autobiography of ulysses simpson grant 18221885, 18th president of the united states and the union general who led the north to victory in the civil war. Grant began his military career as a cadet at the united states military academy at west point in 1839. It was under his command that the civil war was brought to an end with a union victory. Well, you know, i decided to write about grant because i had always wanted to do a book about the civil war and reconstruction. Grant, fulllength portrait, seated at table with books.
Grant was an american soldier and politician who served as the 18th president of the united states from 1869 to 1877. Grant was the great hero of the civil war but lost favor with. This fine volume leaps straight onto the roster of essential reading for anyone even vaguely interested in grant and the civil war. What drove ulysses grant to write about the civil war. Grant, the 18th president of the united states, focused mainly on his military career during the mexicanamerican war and the american civil war. He argued that characteristics such as grants calmness helped bring the civil war to a close. A summary of outbreak of the civil war in s ulysses s. The unlikely friendship of mark twain and ulysses s.
Ron chernow has written a magisterial, but eminently readable, 959page account of the life of ulysses s. Dec 09, 2018 published in 1897, this book by horace porter is a firsthand account of porters time on grants staff during the american civil war. Before his presidency, grant led the union army as commanding general of the united states army in winning the american civil war. Grant, the union military genius who won the civil war, and subsequently the twotime president who championed the freedom of the former slave population of. Ulysses s grant is one of the most important figures to have held the powerful title the president of the united states. American ulysses is a captivating and thorough biography of one of americas greatest and often forgotten heroes. Grant s own memoirs were the very first grant book i read, when i was still very new to civil war study. Dec 03, 2019 grants success as a general during the american civil war had captured the norths attention, and twain reportedly carried a copy of grants infamous letter to confederate general simon.
Grant, civil war hero and twoterm president, had always declined offers to write his memoirs. In 1869, at age 46, grant became the youngest president in u. As a general, grant had led the union to victory during the american civil war. After fighting in the mexicanamerican war, grant left the army, only to rejoin at the outbreak of the civil. Oct 15, 2016 the larger point of whites book, which challenges the reader with detailed dissections of the civil war battles that grants union army fought en route to a bitter triumph, is that grant was. It provides spielberg with another interesting way to explore the civil war, ground he covered in lincoln. In ron chernows grant, an american giants makeover continues. This talk was hosted by kennesaw state universitys civil war center. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. It was a huge bestseller and broke all records in american publishing at the time. The civil war memoirs of ulysses s book by ulysses s. Grant is yet another book like last years american ulysses, by ronald c.
The son of an appalachian ohio tanner, grant entered the united states military academy at. The project gutenberg ebook of personal memoirs of u. Mar 08, 2018 if i were to read one book on grant, which one should i read and why that particlar book. Sheridan, acting under grant s authority carried out the most thorough ravaging of virginia. In fact, ulysses grant is the correct answer to a crafty american history trivia question that asks. Grant won election as the 18th president of the united states in 1868, largely because of his military career. Was he a brutal general and incompetent president or a br. Grant, american general, union army commander during the late years of the american civil war, and 18th president of the united states. Personal memoirs, uncle toms cabin, the red badge of courage, jefferson davis.
Origianl maps illustrate the battles of shiloh, vicksburg, the widlerness, and the surrender at appomattox. The son of an appalachian ohio tanner, grant entered the united states military academy at age 17. He was the 18th resident of the white house and before his political career. Grant after a devastating defeat at cold harbor, va. Additional information about grant is provided with the publication of american ulysses, authored by ronald white, known for his work recounting the civil war. Grant is mostly about grant s military career during the mexicanamerican war and the civil war. Category biography although this book is a biography of ulysses grant, i found it to be one of the best books i have read on the civil war. When american civil war hostilities broke out in april 1861, ulysses s. His life and character by hamlin garland garland was a popular 19th century writer who wrote a onevolume account of grant s life. He systematically destroyed mills, farms, livestock, and crops, driving the inhabitants into exposure and starvation.
The modern library civil war bookshelf 5book bundle. The order expelled of all jews from grant s military district, comprising areas of tennessee. Grant was one of the greatest generals in american history. The civil war general turned president was a reluctant. Grant, harriet beecher stowe, stephen crane, jefferson davis, abraham lincoln 2012. An ailing grant wrote his personal memoirs to secure his familys future. The man who saved the union, ulysses grant in war and peace by h. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of ulysses s. Grant 18221885 became president of the united states in march 1869. In doing so, the civil wars greatest general won himself a unique place in american letters. White that means to correct what used to be the conventional wisdom about grant. He was later elected president in the first election after the civil war. Grant and william tecumseh sherman in a handsome, newly designed case. Adams book living hell the dark side of the civil war.
Published in 1885, this twovolume autobiography by ulysses s. April 27, 1822 july 23, 1885 was an american soldier and politician who served as the 18th president of the united states from 1869 to 1877. The twovolume set was published by mark twain shortly after grant s death. He served two terms and is still remembered for his great work today. Buy a cheap copy of the civil war memoirs of ulysses s book by ulysses s. Military career grant spent his youth in georgetown, ohio, was graduated from west point in 1843, and served creditably in the mexican war. Nov 07, 2019 grants own memoirs were the very first grant book i read, when i was still very new to civil war study. Brands gives a stunning overall view of the war without going into details about each individual battle.
Make offer 1886 personal memoirs of ulysses s grant 2 volumes leather books. Only the outbreak of the civil war and grants eventual command of the union army. Books were scarce in the western reserve during his youth, but he read every. Under his leadership, the union armies marched to victory through the bloody quagmire of the civil war. He didnt need the money and he was not a literary person. The work is further enhanced by the addition of historic photographs by famed civil war photographer mathew brady and others. Ulysses grant 18221885 commanded the victorious union army during the american civil war 18611865 and served as the 18th u. Grant was the most acclaimed union general during the american civil war and was twice elected president. The focus of the book is grants military careerhis service in the mexicanamerican war and. Grant, the 18th president of the united states, focused mainly on his military career during the mexicanamerican war and the american civil war, and completed as he was dying of throat cancer in 1885. New book throws light on civil war general ulysses s. His life and character by hamlin garland garland was a popular 19th century writer who wrote a onevolume account of grants life.