Grant and the Civil War

Paper Summary:

The American Civil War had amazing leaders. General Robert E. Lee, for the Confederates, was a gentleman?s gentleman, brilliant tactician, and wonderful human being. On the other hand, General Ulysses Grant, the leader of the Union Army, won decisive battle after battle and made the overall outcome of the War possible. The paper shows that General Grant, who rode his popularity in winning the war to the White House, remains to this day, a much maligned figure. It is true that his presidency, while not plumbing the depths of the presidencies of Warren Harding, William Harrison, or Andrew Johnson, did not set any standards for leadership. The paper shows that what remains hidden and often distorted is the fact that Ulysses Grant left behind a spectacular legacy of martial generalship. This work explores Grant?s role and personality against the backdrop of the Civil War with his achievements and shortcomings.

From the Paper:

"Historically however, Grant has been portrayed more as a caricature than his vast accomplishments merit. Revised history is slowly beginning however, to turn the tide in favor of Grant's numerous qualities. One of the biggest faults brought up against him were that of drinking, with the allusions that his drunkenness were somehow related to the injudiciousness that he displayed on the battle field, especially with the soldiers. Statistically, battles that Grant was involved in resulted in the loss of more Union soldiers in very short periods of time. This earned him the unfair moniker of ?Butcher.? It is true that the Union army's casualties at Shiloh were appalling, but so were Confederate losses. (Wakefield, 1999)"

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