Ulysses S. Grant played a major role in the northern states winning the Civil War. Grant was General of the Union Army during the Civil War, and he was a quite successful General. It was because of General Grant and his men that General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia finally surrendered at the Appomattox Court House.
With the start of the Civil War in 1861 Ulysses S. Grant jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the Union Army. The first commanding post that he had was Colonel of the 21st Illinois Infantry. He was successful enough at being a Colonel that he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in July of 1861, and then was promoted again in September of the same year to being in command of the Southeast District …show more content…
Grant and his men dug trenches and tunnels around the town for weeks and finally set off explosive barrels of black powder under the towns defenses. “Finally, on July 3, the town’s Confederate commander, Lt. Gen. John Pemberton, sent word he was ready to surrender his outnumbered garrison and the town in which the citizens had been reduced to eating dogs and cats—reportedly, even rats—because of the siege.” (3) Once Vicksburg surrendered it truly showed people that Grant was a man that could get things done. Grant used his superior leadership skills and military smarts to eventually overtake a fortified city. “In this remarkable letter, President Abraham Lincoln congratulates General Grant for an important victory -- the capture of Vicksburg, Mississippi, on July 4, 1863. Lincoln differed with Grant about how to handle the campaign, but when Grant pursued his own strategy successfully, Lincoln frankly admitted that Grant was right.” (4) This letter truly shows how much the President respected General Grant, and he would not have that respect if he was not proving to be a great …show more content…
Lee and the North Virginia Army to come to terms of surrender. Grant and his men took a different approach to fighting this war. While many other forces of the Union were more focused on taking over towns and forts, Grant was focused on chasing down General Robert E. Lee. The Civil War finally came closer to ending when Grant had chased down the Confederate troops to Appomattox Courthouse. It was here that Robert E. Lee finally surrendered in 1865. In the weeks leading up to Lee’s surrender General Grant wrote this in a letter; “I am anxious to have Lee hold on where he is a short time longer so that I can get him in a position where he must lose a great portion of his army. The rebellion has lost its vitality and if I am not much mistaken there will be no rebel army of any great dimensions in a few weeks hence.” (6) In writing this letter General Grant shows that he was confident in his abilities and that he was sure that he was close to winning the War. Grant knew that Lee and the Confederates could not hold out much longer and would be forced to surrender, proving that Grant had taken the right course of action as a
With the start of the Civil War in 1861 Ulysses S. Grant jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the Union Army. The first commanding post that he had was Colonel of the 21st Illinois Infantry. He was successful enough at being a Colonel that he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in July of 1861, and then was promoted again in September of the same year to being in command of the Southeast District …show more content…
Grant and his men dug trenches and tunnels around the town for weeks and finally set off explosive barrels of black powder under the towns defenses. “Finally, on July 3, the town’s Confederate commander, Lt. Gen. John Pemberton, sent word he was ready to surrender his outnumbered garrison and the town in which the citizens had been reduced to eating dogs and cats—reportedly, even rats—because of the siege.” (3) Once Vicksburg surrendered it truly showed people that Grant was a man that could get things done. Grant used his superior leadership skills and military smarts to eventually overtake a fortified city. “In this remarkable letter, President Abraham Lincoln congratulates General Grant for an important victory -- the capture of Vicksburg, Mississippi, on July 4, 1863. Lincoln differed with Grant about how to handle the campaign, but when Grant pursued his own strategy successfully, Lincoln frankly admitted that Grant was right.” (4) This letter truly shows how much the President respected General Grant, and he would not have that respect if he was not proving to be a great …show more content…
Lee and the North Virginia Army to come to terms of surrender. Grant and his men took a different approach to fighting this war. While many other forces of the Union were more focused on taking over towns and forts, Grant was focused on chasing down General Robert E. Lee. The Civil War finally came closer to ending when Grant had chased down the Confederate troops to Appomattox Courthouse. It was here that Robert E. Lee finally surrendered in 1865. In the weeks leading up to Lee’s surrender General Grant wrote this in a letter; “I am anxious to have Lee hold on where he is a short time longer so that I can get him in a position where he must lose a great portion of his army. The rebellion has lost its vitality and if I am not much mistaken there will be no rebel army of any great dimensions in a few weeks hence.” (6) In writing this letter General Grant shows that he was confident in his abilities and that he was sure that he was close to winning the War. Grant knew that Lee and the Confederates could not hold out much longer and would be forced to surrender, proving that Grant had taken the right course of action as a