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Ulysses S. Grant

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Ulysses S. Grant 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.
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