Ulysses S. Grant, a pivotal figure in American history, served as the 18th President of the United States and played a crucial role in the Civil War as a commanding general. His journey from a humble upbringing to the highest office in the land is both inspiring and complex. Throughout his life, Grant faced numerous challenges and triumphs that shaped his character and legacy. This article explores the key elements of Grant's life, his military career, presidency, and the impact he had on the nation.
Who Was Ulysses S. Grant?
Ulysses S. Grant was entrusted with the command of all U.S. armies in 1864 and relentlessly pursued the enemy during the Civil War. In 1869, at age 46, Grant became the youngest president in U.S. history. Though Grant was highly scrupulous, his administration was tainted with scandal. After leaving the presidency, he commissioned Mark Twain to publish his best-selling memoirs.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: Hiram Ulysses Grant
BORN: April 27, 1822
DIED: July 23, 1885
BIRTHPLACE: Point Pleasant, Ohio
SPOUSE: Julia Dent (1848-1885)
CHILDREN: Frederick, Ulysses Jr., Ellen, Jesse
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Taurus
Early Years
Grant was born Hiram Ulysses Grant on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio, near the mouth of the Big Indian Creek at the Ohio River. He was the first son of Jesse Root Grant, a tanner and businessman, and Hannah Simpson Grant. A year after Grant was born, his family moved to Georgetown, Ohio, and had what he described as an "uneventful" childhood. He did, however, show great aptitude as a horseman in his youth.
Shy and reserved, Grant took after his mother rather than his outgoing father. He hated the idea of working in his father's tannery business—a fact that his father begrudgingly acknowledged. At 17, his father arranged for him to enter the United States Military Academy at West Point. Grant didn't excel at West Point, earning average grades and receiving several demerits. He graduated 21st out of 39 and planned to resign after serving his mandatory four years of duty.
Origins of “U.S.” Grant Nickname
His famous moniker, "U.S. Grant," came after he joined the military. Grant was born Hiram Ulysses and went by Ulysses as a child. When he arrived at West Point, he was surprised to learn there was no H.U. Grant on the roll call but a U.S. Grant due to a clerical error. Not wanting to make a fuss, Grant agreed to the name change but later joked that the “S” in his name stood for nothing.
Wife and Family
After graduation from West Point, Lieutenant Grant was stationed in St. Louis, Missouri, where he met his future wife, Julia Dent. Grant proposed marriage in 1844, but both families were unhappy with the match. Their engagement was initially kept secret, but they eventually received permission to marry. Their plans were interrupted by the Mexican-American War, leading to a nearly four-year separation. They wed in 1848 and had four children: Frederick, Ulysses Jr., Ellen, and Jesse.
The Grants were a close couple, and their frequent separations affected them both, particularly Ulysses, whose loneliness likely exacerbated his drinking. Julia often visited him during the Civil War, and when Grant became president, she became a popular first lady, hosting social receptions and advising him.
Early Military Career
During the Mexican-American War, Grant served as a quartermaster, efficiently overseeing the movement of supplies. He closely observed military tactics and leadership skills. After leading a company into combat, Grant was credited for his bravery but developed strong feelings that the war was wrong and was being waged only to increase America’s territory for slavery.
In 1852, he was sent to Fort Vancouver in Washington State. He missed his family and became involved in several failed business ventures. Grant began to drink, which dogged him throughout his military career. Many of these episodes occurred when he was isolated from his family and bored.
Ulysses S. Grant and Slavery
Grant’s involvement with slavery was complicated. Raised by an abolitionist father, he personally disliked slavery but married the daughter of a slave-holding plantation owner. In the late 1850s, he was transferred ownership of an enslaved man, William Jones, whom he freed in 1859 despite financial difficulties. Grant supported Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and ensured the care of newly freed formerly enslaved people.
American Civil War
On April 12, 1861, Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, prompting Grant's patriotism and volunteer military service. With the help of an Illinois congressman, he was appointed a colonel and took command of the 21st Illinois volunteer regiment. Grant applied lessons from the Mexican-American War and had the regiment combat-ready by September 1861.
During the fall of 1861, Grant and his volunteers took Paducah, Kentucky. In February 1862, he applied pressure on Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, earning the nickname "Unconditional Surrender Grant" after significant Union victories.
Battle of Shiloh
In April 1862, Grant's army entered Tennessee for what would become the Battle of Shiloh. Confederate commanders led a surprise attack against Grant's forces. The battle proved to be a watershed moment for the American military, and despite heavy criticism for high casualties, Grant was reinstated after an investigation.
Vicksburg Siege
The Union war strategy aimed to control the Mississippi River. In December 1862, Grant attempted to take Vicksburg but faced setbacks. After several assaults, he settled into a long siege, and Vicksburg surrendered on July 4, 1863. Grant's achievement marked a significant morale boost for the Union.
Battle for Chattanooga
In January 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, freeing enslaved peoples in Confederate states. Grant took command at Chattanooga in October 1863, leading Union forces to victory at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, forcing Confederate troops to retreat.
Union Victory
Grant believed that destroying the Confederate armies was more important than capturing territory. In March 1864, he was named lieutenant general of the U.S. Army and took command of all U.S. armies. He relentlessly pursued Lee's Army of Northern Virginia until Lee's surrender on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the Civil War.
Presidency
After the war, Grant oversaw military Reconstruction and was elected the 18th president in 1868. His administration achieved significant milestones, including the ratification of the 15th Amendment and the establishment of the first Civil Service Commission. However, it faced numerous scandals and a prolonged economic depression.
Final Years and Death
After leaving the White House, Grant faced financial difficulties and learned he had throat cancer. He began writing his memoirs, which became a classic work of American literature. Grant died on July 23, 1885, and was buried in Grant’s Tomb, the largest mausoleum in North America.
Quotes
- “Whatever may have been my political opinions before, I have but one sentiment now. That is, we have a government, and laws and a flag and they must all be sustained.”
- “I have never advocated war except as a means of peace.”
- “[My] failures have been errors of judgment, not of intent.”
- “No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted.”
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