Early Years
• Hiram Ulysses Grant was born on April 27, 1822 in
Point Pleasant, Ohio.
• First child of Jesse Root Grant and Hannah Simpson Grant.
• After he was born the Grant Family moved to
Georgetown, Ohio where he had an uneventful
childhood.
• He did show great aptitude as a horseman in his
youth.
Early Years (Continued)
He became shy and reserved like his mother
rather than being outgoing like his father.
He hated working in father’s tannery business.
During his listing, there was an error with his
name and he was listed as Ulysses S. Grant.
In fear of being rejected by the school, he immediately changed his name.
Military Education
Ulysses Grant earned only average grades at
West Point Military Academy.
His education, prior to West Point, was limited,
therefore he was left as an unexceptional student.
Only exceled in Math, Geology and especially in
horsemanship.
Graduated 21st of 39 in his class and was happy to
out of school.
Military Education (Continued)
After graduation, he was commissioned a Brevet
Second Lieutenant in the 4th infantry.
He planned to resign from the military after his four years of mandatory service.
Military Education (Continued)
After graduating from West Point Military Academy, he was stationed at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, near St. Louis.
Met his future wife, Julia Dent, who was the sister of one of his roommates at West Point.
They became engaged in June 1844, but Ulysses was sent out to fight in the Mexican-American War for 4 years.
He served as a quartermaster, efficiently overseeing the movement of supplies.
After leading a company into combat, he was credited for his bravery under fire.
He soon developed feelings that war is wrong and was only used to expand America’s territory for the spread of slavery.
Early Successes in the
Battles of Western Theatre Battle of Fort Sumpter
The rebellion attack on, April 12, 1861, sparked Ulysses S. Grant’s patriotism.
He volunteered his military services and was initially rejected, but with the help of an Illinois congressman, he was appointed commander of the 21st volunteer regiment.
Using his past war lessons, he found the regiment was ready by September, 1861.
Battle of Fort Sumter
Early Successes in the Battles
of the Western Theatres (Continued)
Fort Henry and Fort Donelson
Kentucky’s fragile neutrality crumbled to pieces in 1861, and Grant and his men took the small town of Paducah, Kentucky at the mouth of the Tennessee River.
In February 1862, in a joint operation with the U.S. Navy, Grant’s volunteer forces applied pressure on Fort Henry and Fort Donelson taking both of them.
Earliest significant Union victories of the American Civil War.
Earned the moniker “Unconditional Surrender Grant”
Early Successes in the Battles
of the Western Theatre (continued)
Battle of Shiloh
Confederate commanders Albert Sidney
Johnston and P.G.T Beauregard led a surprise
attack early in the morning against Grant at a
place called the “Hornet’s Nest.”
Grant somehow held good position despite being
pushed back by the surprise attack.
Reinforcements finally arrived the nest day and
Grant counterattacked on the second day.
Early Successes in the Battles
of the Western Theatre (Continued)
Battle of Shiloh
Was one of the bloodiest battles in the war.
Battle of Shiloh proved to be watershed for
American military and near disaster for Grant.
He was demoted for some time, but he was
reinstated by a war department investigation.
Lincoln supported Grant and his efforts and
President Lincoln appointed him to Major General
of volunteers.
Battle of Shiloh
Early Successes in the Battles
of the Western Theatres (Continued)
Battle of Vicksburg
Union war strategy called for taking control of the
Mississippi River.
In December 1862, Grant moved to take
Vicksburg, a key fortress city of the Confederacy.
Vicksburg took many strategic assaults before the
union victory that came July 4, 1863.
Vicksburg marked both Grant’s greatest
achievement thus far and a moral boost for the Union.
Battle of Vicksburg
Early Successes in the Battles
of the Western Theatre (Continued)
Battle of Chattanooga
Grant took command at Chattanooga,
Tennessee.
From November 22nd to November 25th, Union
forces tracked down confederate troops in
Tennessee at the battles of Lookout Mountain and
Missionary Ridge (a.k.a. Battle of Chattanooga).
Circumstances that brought Grant
to the Eastern Theater
The Eastern Theater was a venue for many Union
campaigns launched by the Union Army of the
Potomac to capture the Confederate capital,
Richmond, Virginia.
Many of these were frustrated by the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia,
commanded by General Robert E. Lee.
Lincoln sought a general who could match Lee’s
boldness.
Lincoln also appointed many Major Generals to
command Principal Eastern Armies.
Circumstances that brought Grant
to the Eastern Theater (Continued)
Union forces were able to capture Richmond,
Virginia, but only after several bloody battle of the
Overland Campaign and a nine month siege
near Petersburg and Richmond.
In March 1864, Ulysses S. Grant was promoted to Lieutenant General and was given command Of
all Union armies.
First objective in Virginia was to maneuver Lee’s
army to a decisive battle.
Second objective was to capture the
Confederate Capital of Richmond, Virginia.
Circumstances that brought Grant
to the Eastern Theater (Continued)
In early May 1864, the Army of the Potomac
crossed the Rapidan River and entered what is
known as the Wilderness of Spotsylvania.
The two day Battle of the Wilderness was
tactically inconclusive, but was very damaging to
both sides.
Grant did not retreat, but he sent his army
southeast.
Grant knew his larger army and base of
manpower in the North could endure the war even though suffering approx. 55,000 casualties.
Battle of the Wilderness
Circumstances that brought Grant
to the Eastern Theater (Continued)
General Lee beat Grant to the crossroads town and established strong defensive positions in the Battle of Spotsylvania.
In a massive assault, on May 12, by II Corps on the “Bloody Angle”, foreshadowed tactics used against trenches in WWI.
Grant again went southeast after disengaging.
Lee had a chance to defeat Grant, but he failed to attack in the necessary way, possibly because of Illness.
Grant, even after rejecting a frontal assault and approving a plan to move around the Confederate left flank, changed his mind and continued to move southeast.
Circumstances that brought Grant
to the Eastern Theater (Continued)
Union cavalry seized the crossroads of Old Cold
Harbor.
Late June 1, two Union corps Cold Harbor and assaulted the Confederate ranks with some
success.
At dawn, on June 3, II and XVIII corps assaulted
the Confederate line but were slaughtered.
Grant lost a total of 12,000 men and he regretted
this battle more than any other.
Northern newspapers frequently referred to him as
“The Butcher” after this battle.
Circumstance that brought Grant
to the Eastern Theater (Continued)
Grant decided to seized Petersburg rather than heading straight for Richmond, because Petersburg contained rail links supplying the Confederate capital.
Both armies prepared for a siege, but in an attempt to break the siege, troops in Ambrose Burnside’s corps mined a tunnel under the Confederate line.
July 30, the explosives were detonated, and created a crater 135 feet in diameter and remains to this day.
About 350 Confederate troops instantly in the blast.
This battle was a confederate victory due to Union poor tactical planning, despite the ingenuity of the plan.
Battle of the Crater
Circumstances that brought Grant
to the Eastern Theater (Continued)
Through the fall and winter, both armies dug
elaborate series of trenches, that soon spanned
more than 30 miles.
Northern public began to feel dread and
dispirited by Petersburg, but the huge success of
Sherman at Atlanta ensured the reelection of
Lincoln.
Circumstances that brought Grant
to the Eastern Theater (Continued)
After the Seize of Petersburg, came the capture of Richmond Virginia.
Union forces wearing down the Confederate troops with the nine month siege.
Robert E. Lee ordered one last all out attack in attempt to break Union defenses. The attack failed and confederates lost about 4,800 men (literally 1/10 of the Confederate army!).
April 2, before daylight, the National Federal Bombardment begins and huge waves of Union troops come from their trenches and begin 18 hours of continuous fighting.
Confederates evacuate Richmond and burn all military stocks, but an unfortunate breeze swept through burning some 50 square blocks of Richmond.
Circumstances that brought Grant
to the Eastern Theater (Continued)
Ulysses S. Grant reached out to Robert E. Lee asking for his surrender, on April 6, 1865, when it became even more clear that the Army of Northern Virginia was dissolving.
After Union victories at Appomattox Station on April 8, 1865, where critical supplies was captured, Robert E. Lee wrote to Ulysses S. Grant saying that he accepts his surrender terms.
He also agreed to meet and sign the surrender treaty at the Appomattox Court house the very next day, April 9, 1865.
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated 5 days after on April 14, 1865.
Grants Leadership Style
Prior to the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant demonstrated very few leadership qualities with mediocre performance as a cadet at West Point Military Academy. He finished at the bottom of his class.
Grant’s early services in the war, particularly the Battles of Shiloh and Vicksburg, proved that he was someone of better quality than, someone with a reputation for drinking.
Grant was the most celebrated American of his time.
With many successes he earned the title “Savior of the Union”.
Grant’s Leadership Style (Continued)
Some people say that he was modest, rough, and
crude with a macho edge.
People who knew him personally say that he was a shy and reserved person that was forgiving.
His intellect always seemed to be more focused
towards military, farming, history, and topography.
Grant’s Leadership Style (Continued)
When U.S. Grant was a general, he only spoke
when he had something important to say.
Everything he said and ordered was very clear and well understood.
He fought fiercely to preserve the roles and
successes of the Union.
He, as a leader, embraced his high sense of duty
and belief in his country.
Grant’s Leadership
Discuss Grant’s Leadership
Styles (Continued)
He had an astounding popularity amongst the
population.
Served two terms in office and was almost nominated to run for a 3rd term even after two
scandal ridden terms.
Became known as “The Old Guard” during his
reelection, because of his policies in radical
reconstruction aligning troops along the southern
state borders.
People and politicians were displeased and revered as an act of militarism.
Grant’s Post War Experiences
Including the Presidency
Was promoted to full general during the war reconstruction and oversaw all military portions of the reconstruction.
He was put in an awkward position during Andrew Johnson’s fight with the Radical Republicans and Impeachment in 1868. Then U.S. Grant was elected.
Became known for appointing people who didn’t have very great character.
His successes include: Pushing the ratification of the 15th amendment, establishing the National Parks Service, and administrative scandals rocked both of his terms.
Didn’t get the chance to serve a 3rd term.
Grant’s Post War Experiences
Including the Presidency (Continued)
Grant’s unsuccessful civilian resumed after his
presidency.
He became a partner of Grant and Ward Financial Firm until his partner, Ferdinand Ward,
embezzled investor’s money and left both Grant
and the firm to go Bankrupt in 1884.
Grant was diagnosed with Cancer of the throat
that same year.
He began to sell short magazine articles about his
life in attempt to make money.
Grant’s Post War Experiences
Including the Presidency (Continued)
He negotiated a contract with his old friend, Mark
Twain, to publish his Memoirs.
Two-volume set sold some 300,000 copies, earning the Grant family nearly $450,000 and the books
also became an American Classic.
Ulysses S. Grant died on July 23,1885 – just as his
Memoirs were being published – at age 63 in his
house in Mount McGregor, New York.
He is buried in New York City.
Grant’s Gravesite
OPCVL Analysis
Origin
Currier & Ives, “The True Issue or ‘That’s What’s the
Matter,’ ” ca. 1864. Huntington Library, Art
Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Purpose
The purpose of this image is to show that when
there is a conflict between two people, two
countries, or two enemies, there is always a “mediator”. The mediator in any conflict is the
person or entity who calms the battle between
the two conflicting subjects and sometimes even
brings unity to the two enemies. The political
cartoon displays a great depiction of a mediator
through the image of Ulysses S. Grant grabbing
hold of the jackets of Abraham Lincoln and
Jefferson Davis, who are trying to tear the U.S. map in half, saying, “We must preserve the Union
at all hazards!”
Value
This political cartoon is very reliable because of its’
depiction of two conflicting people, who
represent their people’s requests and desires, being held “in line” by a mediator who is trying to
relay a message of, “Look at the big picture!”
Limitation
A great limitation to this political cartoon is that it
doesn’t show the views of the people from the
North or the South. It only depicts three people, Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, and Ulysses S.
Grant, and their thoughts of separation and
peace being argued between each other.
Bibliography
Biography.com Editors. “Ulysses S. Grant” biography.com. A&E Television Networks, N.D. Web. 20 September 2015
“Ulysses S. Grant” Thewhitehouse.gov. N.p., N.d. Web. 20 September 2015
“Ulysses S. Grant” history.com. N.p., N.d. Web. 20 September 2015
“Grant’s Life and Career” grantstomb.org. N.p., N.d. Web. 20 September 2015
“Ulysses S. Grant General-In-Chief” civilwar.org. N.p., N.d. Web. 20 September 2015
Waugh, Joan. “Ulysses S. Grant: Life Before the Presidency” millercenter.org. N.p., N.d. Web. 20 September 2015
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/american-civil-war-history/videos/lincoln-the-fall-of-richmond (video)
“Grant and Lee: The Surrender Correspondence at Appomattox” civilwar.org. N.p., N.d. Web. 20 September 2015
Bibliography
“Ulysses S. Grant Leadership Style”
adviseamerica.com. N.p., N.d. Web 20
September 2015
“Southeastern Historian Writes on Grant’s
Leadership Qualities” newswise.com N.p., N.d.
Web. 20 September 2015
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-
war/american-civil-war-history/videos/lincoln-the-
fall-of-richmond (video)
Bibliography
http://www.biography.com/people/ulysses-s-grant-9318285#early-career
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/ulyssessgrant
http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/ulysses-s-grant
http://www.grantstomb.org/grantlife.html
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/ulysses-s-
grant.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/
http://millercenter.org/president/biography/grant-life-before-the-presidency
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/american-civil-war-
history/videos/lincoln-the-fall-of-richmond
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/appomattox-courthouse/appomattox-
court-house-history/surrender.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/
http://www.adviseamerica.com/ulysses-s-grant-leadership-style/
http://www.newswise.com/articles/southeastern-historian-writes-of-grant-s-
leadership-qualities
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/american-civil-war-
history/videos/lincoln-the-fall-of-richmond
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