Ulysses Simpson Grant
Ulysses Simpson Grant was the general that Abraham Lincoln was looking for. He always followed his gut, in times of stress he never showed his worry to his army, and always did what he thought would best benefit the Union. He was courageous, and always seemed to know what to do. Though during the war sometimes he was high and low in popularity based on the results of recent wars.
He was skilled at what he did, and always looked long-term. His tactic would be to just fight, fight fight, because he knew that no matter how many deaths his army lost, the South could lose less, and not be able to replace them do to a lack of population. One man once said, "No general could do what he did because of accident or luck or preponderance of numbers and weapons. He was a success because he was a complete general and a complete character." He also goes on to say that he was one of the best generals of all the Civil War, and how he was one of the first modern generals, while Lee was old-fashioned. Another man said that Grant was necessary to bring the war to an end: "...his positive qualities, his power to wield force to the bitter end, much entitle him to rank high as a commanding general." Other men had said many other great things about the general. He was modest, sensitive, and sympathetic. He ignored criticism as well as advice. He always complimented and helped. He was a leader, and a great one.
He was considered by many stubborn, but by others he was persistent. He never easily changed his ideas, which was, had he not been so skilled, a complete route to failure. But he didn't, having had prior military experience in the Mexican-American War. In battle, he knew where he belonged. He knew he didn't belong during the actual fighting, that he was better at giving orders. Though he was promoted only twice during the Civil War, he did reach the level of "general" in 1866.
He was skilled at what he did, and always looked long-term. His tactic would be to just fight, fight fight, because he knew that no matter how many deaths his army lost, the South could lose less, and not be able to replace them do to a lack of population. One man once said, "No general could do what he did because of accident or luck or preponderance of numbers and weapons. He was a success because he was a complete general and a complete character." He also goes on to say that he was one of the best generals of all the Civil War, and how he was one of the first modern generals, while Lee was old-fashioned. Another man said that Grant was necessary to bring the war to an end: "...his positive qualities, his power to wield force to the bitter end, much entitle him to rank high as a commanding general." Other men had said many other great things about the general. He was modest, sensitive, and sympathetic. He ignored criticism as well as advice. He always complimented and helped. He was a leader, and a great one.
He was considered by many stubborn, but by others he was persistent. He never easily changed his ideas, which was, had he not been so skilled, a complete route to failure. But he didn't, having had prior military experience in the Mexican-American War. In battle, he knew where he belonged. He knew he didn't belong during the actual fighting, that he was better at giving orders. Though he was promoted only twice during the Civil War, he did reach the level of "general" in 1866.
Grant was the one whom Lincoln had been looking for 3 years throughout the war. General Grant was overly kind and generous, which made him the victim of many crimes throughout his life, though they were never his fault. He had supposedly "failed" as a civilian, but was a great man when he was in charge.
Sometimes when in charge, and leading positions were vacant because the officers died, or they had deserted or something of the like, Grant would use members of his staff, whom he was well acquainted with, as well as who understood him, to replace the open position. He would rather use these people because they knew him best, knew what Grant would have done, and spoke with him often.
Grant was a quiet man when not directing or ordering. An example of this was during the evenings. When one of the soldiers, notorious for being profane. started cursing, Grant would "good-naturedly remonstrate with his chief of staff for using too vigorous and sulphurous language," as one observer described this common incident of Grant and Rawlins. Rawlins would stop, but soon forget the orders and continue with his vulgar language. Grant would just pretend not to hear him. This scene would be described as "family-like," because Grant would be the father giving orders, with his sons who followed him, yet wouldn't always remember the rules and continue to break them. This gave Grant some stability while away from home; this did to most soldiers as well. Being away from families often brought depression.
Grant chose his staff by replacing ones whom he had observed were not the best, and keeping those who were. By the end of the war, his staff was full of officers, brigadiers, and even generals, as well as trained specialists and those who fully participated in his rather strategic battle planning. The general may have made the final descisions, but
Sometimes when in charge, and leading positions were vacant because the officers died, or they had deserted or something of the like, Grant would use members of his staff, whom he was well acquainted with, as well as who understood him, to replace the open position. He would rather use these people because they knew him best, knew what Grant would have done, and spoke with him often.
Grant was a quiet man when not directing or ordering. An example of this was during the evenings. When one of the soldiers, notorious for being profane. started cursing, Grant would "good-naturedly remonstrate with his chief of staff for using too vigorous and sulphurous language," as one observer described this common incident of Grant and Rawlins. Rawlins would stop, but soon forget the orders and continue with his vulgar language. Grant would just pretend not to hear him. This scene would be described as "family-like," because Grant would be the father giving orders, with his sons who followed him, yet wouldn't always remember the rules and continue to break them. This gave Grant some stability while away from home; this did to most soldiers as well. Being away from families often brought depression.
Grant chose his staff by replacing ones whom he had observed were not the best, and keeping those who were. By the end of the war, his staff was full of officers, brigadiers, and even generals, as well as trained specialists and those who fully participated in his rather strategic battle planning. The general may have made the final descisions, but