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The Memoirs of General Ulysses S. Grant, Part 1.
The Memoirs of General Ulysses Simpson Grant, Part 1
libreka classics – These are classics of literary history, reissued and made available to a wide audience.
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libreka classics – These are classics of literary history, reissued and made available to a wide audience.
Immerse yourself in well-known and popular titles!
- GenresPresidents
136 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2012
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90 people want to read
About the author
Ulysses S. Grant
229 books132 followersUlysses Simpson Grant, originally Hiram Ulysses Grant, in Civil War victoriously campaigned at Vicksburg from 1862 to 1863, and, made commander in chief of the Army in 1864, accepted the surrender of Robert Edward Lee, general, at Appomattox in 1865; widespread graft and corruption marred his two-term presidency, the eighteenth of the United States, from 1869 to 1877.
Robert Edward Lee surrendered to Ulysses Simpson Grant at Appomattox in 1865.
Robert Edward Lee, Confederate general, surrendered to Ulysses Simpson Grant, Union general, at the hamlet of Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865 to end effectively the Civil War.
The son of an Appalachian tanner of Ohio, Ulysses Simpson Grant of America entered the military academy at 17 years of age in 1839. The academy graduated him in 1843. In 1846, three years afterward, Grant served as a lieutenant in the Mexican War under Winfield Scott and Zachary Taylor. The conflict concluded in 1848.
Grant abruptly resigned in 1854. After struggling through the succeeding years as a real estate agent, a laborer, and a county engineer, Grant decided to join the northern effort.
Abraham Lincoln appointed Grant to brigadier of volunteers in 1861; he in 1862 claimed the first major capture of fort Henry and fort Donelson in Tennessee. A Confederate attack at the battle of Shiloh surprised him, who emerged, but the severe casualties prompted a public outcry. Following many long initial setbacks and his rescue of the besieged at Chattanooga, however, Grant subsequently established his reputation as most aggression and success to Lincoln. Named lieutenant in 1864, Grant implemented a coordinated strategy of simultaneous attacks, aimed at destroying ability of economy to sustain forces of the south. He mounted a successful attrition against his Confederate opponents to courthouse in 1865.
After Andrew Jackson, four decades earlier, people elected duly popular Grant as a Republican in 1868 and re-elected him in 1872 as the first to serve fully. Grant signed and enforced congressional rights legislation to lead Reconstruction.
Grant built a powerful, patronage-based Republican Party in the south and strained relations between the north and former Confederates. Sometimes, nepotism produced scandal of his Administration; people coined the neologism to describe his politics.
Grant left office in 1877 and embarked upon a two-year world tour. Unsuccessful in winning the nomination for a third in 1880, left destitute by a fraudulent investor, and near the brink of death, Grant wrote his Memoirs, which were enormously successful among veterans, the public, and critics. However, in 1884, Grant learned that he was suffering from terminal throat cancer and, two days after completing his writing, he died at the age of 63. Historians typically rank Grant in the lowest quartile for his tolerance, but in recent years his reputation has improved among some scholars impressed by his support for rights for African Americans.
Robert Edward Lee surrendered to Ulysses Simpson Grant at Appomattox in 1865.
Robert Edward Lee, Confederate general, surrendered to Ulysses Simpson Grant, Union general, at the hamlet of Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865 to end effectively the Civil War.
The son of an Appalachian tanner of Ohio, Ulysses Simpson Grant of America entered the military academy at 17 years of age in 1839. The academy graduated him in 1843. In 1846, three years afterward, Grant served as a lieutenant in the Mexican War under Winfield Scott and Zachary Taylor. The conflict concluded in 1848.
Grant abruptly resigned in 1854. After struggling through the succeeding years as a real estate agent, a laborer, and a county engineer, Grant decided to join the northern effort.
Abraham Lincoln appointed Grant to brigadier of volunteers in 1861; he in 1862 claimed the first major capture of fort Henry and fort Donelson in Tennessee. A Confederate attack at the battle of Shiloh surprised him, who emerged, but the severe casualties prompted a public outcry. Following many long initial setbacks and his rescue of the besieged at Chattanooga, however, Grant subsequently established his reputation as most aggression and success to Lincoln. Named lieutenant in 1864, Grant implemented a coordinated strategy of simultaneous attacks, aimed at destroying ability of economy to sustain forces of the south. He mounted a successful attrition against his Confederate opponents to courthouse in 1865.
After Andrew Jackson, four decades earlier, people elected duly popular Grant as a Republican in 1868 and re-elected him in 1872 as the first to serve fully. Grant signed and enforced congressional rights legislation to lead Reconstruction.
Grant built a powerful, patronage-based Republican Party in the south and strained relations between the north and former Confederates. Sometimes, nepotism produced scandal of his Administration; people coined the neologism to describe his politics.
Grant left office in 1877 and embarked upon a two-year world tour. Unsuccessful in winning the nomination for a third in 1880, left destitute by a fraudulent investor, and near the brink of death, Grant wrote his Memoirs, which were enormously successful among veterans, the public, and critics. However, in 1884, Grant learned that he was suffering from terminal throat cancer and, two days after completing his writing, he died at the age of 63. Historians typically rank Grant in the lowest quartile for his tolerance, but in recent years his reputation has improved among some scholars impressed by his support for rights for African Americans.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 3, 2017
Rather than review all 6 parts individually, I'll summarize here.
Grant's memoirs cover his life through the Civil War, but only passingly mention his presidency in its conclusion. Notably, he was dying of cancer, and the last three parts of the book definitely feel a little more rushed than the first three.
Nevertheless, this book is very enjoyable. Grant has a fairly modern way about him, both in his writing style as well as his views, some of which might still be considered progressive, or at least moderate, today.
One interesting facet I found was that Grant details his experiences but never really reflects on how he has grown from past events, but merely details whether he feels he was justified or if he made a mistake. This might be due to his rushing as his life wound down, but might also be because he was simply a gifted military leader. I was definitely impressed at his grasp of the big picture throughout the book, explaining his deviation from what might be considered sound military practices, such as establishing a base of supplies, because he knew that undue delay might push the restless Northern populace toward a peace settlement. He also seems to fairly distribute praise and criticism to soldiers on both sides of the conflict as he saw necessary, and while he complained about the Southern press' knack for propaganda I never felt that this was a similar tool of a given viewpoint.
I'll finish this with a few anecdotes of how funny Grant can be in his memoirs. In one battle in the Mexican War he mentions that they were taking fire from an unidentified direction that he could not identify, so he gave the order to take cover, "an order which did not need enforcing." He also detailed his encounter with Governor Johnson, explaining that he had so much to say that he (Grant) "was in torture while he was delivering it, fearing something would be expected from me in response."
Granted, Mark Twain edited the book, so much of these positive attributes might belong to him. Still, this book is worth reading, regardless of who is more responsible for the positive nuances of the writing.
Grant's memoirs cover his life through the Civil War, but only passingly mention his presidency in its conclusion. Notably, he was dying of cancer, and the last three parts of the book definitely feel a little more rushed than the first three.
Nevertheless, this book is very enjoyable. Grant has a fairly modern way about him, both in his writing style as well as his views, some of which might still be considered progressive, or at least moderate, today.
One interesting facet I found was that Grant details his experiences but never really reflects on how he has grown from past events, but merely details whether he feels he was justified or if he made a mistake. This might be due to his rushing as his life wound down, but might also be because he was simply a gifted military leader. I was definitely impressed at his grasp of the big picture throughout the book, explaining his deviation from what might be considered sound military practices, such as establishing a base of supplies, because he knew that undue delay might push the restless Northern populace toward a peace settlement. He also seems to fairly distribute praise and criticism to soldiers on both sides of the conflict as he saw necessary, and while he complained about the Southern press' knack for propaganda I never felt that this was a similar tool of a given viewpoint.
I'll finish this with a few anecdotes of how funny Grant can be in his memoirs. In one battle in the Mexican War he mentions that they were taking fire from an unidentified direction that he could not identify, so he gave the order to take cover, "an order which did not need enforcing." He also detailed his encounter with Governor Johnson, explaining that he had so much to say that he (Grant) "was in torture while he was delivering it, fearing something would be expected from me in response."
Granted, Mark Twain edited the book, so much of these positive attributes might belong to him. Still, this book is worth reading, regardless of who is more responsible for the positive nuances of the writing.
May 11, 2024
Real American Hero!
Grant's memoirs tell the story of a real American Hero and his fight to save the Union from traitors and slaveholders. It's a pity his prediction that one day all Americans would recognize the twin errors of slavery and secession didn't hold up. At the very least the real story should be told.
Grant's memoirs tell the story of a real American Hero and his fight to save the Union from traitors and slaveholders. It's a pity his prediction that one day all Americans would recognize the twin errors of slavery and secession didn't hold up. At the very least the real story should be told.
April 23, 2020
Grant writes in a clear, charming, plainspoken style that is entertaining and illuminating.
This slim first volume starts in childhood and ends at the victory of the Mexican-American War. His honesty and self-criticism are endearing. He admits to not being a very good student; he liked to read novels for pleasure, he never really wanted to attend West Point, but he excelled at and enjoyed mathematics and hoped to be a math professor until fate intervened.
As a warrior-president, his attitudes toward combat are fascinating. He was personally very opposed to the Mexican-American War, which he saw as a blatant land grab motivated by slave-owning interests:
For myself, I was bitterly opposed to the measure, and to this day regard the war, which resulted, as one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation. It was an instance of a republic following the bad example of European monarchies, in not considering justice in their desire to acquire additional territory.
The occupation, separation and annexation were, from the inception of the movement to its final consummation, a conspiracy to acquire territory out of which slave states might be formed for the American Union.
The Southern rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican war. Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our punishment in the most sanguinary and expensive war of modern times.
He writes about how politics and the military are in conflict. I suppose it shouldn't surprise a modern reader to read about how political ambitions can thwart military strategies, but Grant writes about how Washington deliberately . A Democratic president and party didn't want as successful Whig general to come home and run for office.
The last section gets a little dry as we get a lot of troop movements and siege details, but Grant's style still makes this recommended reading.
This slim first volume starts in childhood and ends at the victory of the Mexican-American War. His honesty and self-criticism are endearing. He admits to not being a very good student; he liked to read novels for pleasure, he never really wanted to attend West Point, but he excelled at and enjoyed mathematics and hoped to be a math professor until fate intervened.
As a warrior-president, his attitudes toward combat are fascinating. He was personally very opposed to the Mexican-American War, which he saw as a blatant land grab motivated by slave-owning interests:
For myself, I was bitterly opposed to the measure, and to this day regard the war, which resulted, as one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation. It was an instance of a republic following the bad example of European monarchies, in not considering justice in their desire to acquire additional territory.
The occupation, separation and annexation were, from the inception of the movement to its final consummation, a conspiracy to acquire territory out of which slave states might be formed for the American Union.
The Southern rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican war. Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our punishment in the most sanguinary and expensive war of modern times.
He writes about how politics and the military are in conflict. I suppose it shouldn't surprise a modern reader to read about how political ambitions can thwart military strategies, but Grant writes about how Washington deliberately . A Democratic president and party didn't want as successful Whig general to come home and run for office.
The last section gets a little dry as we get a lot of troop movements and siege details, but Grant's style still makes this recommended reading.
Read
April 21, 2021This was an insightful look into the early years of Grant's life. Special emphasis is given to his family heritage, young life, and his time in the war against Mexico. What was surprisingly light on detail was his time stationed in Humboldt, his farming attempts while living near his in-laws, and his frustrated attempts to gain a colonel's commission at the beginning of the war. Admittedly, these periods encompass some dark periods of Grant's life, so it should not be surprising that he would skim over them. Still, this is a great read, and it's amazingly well-written for a first - and only - draft.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews