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Grant: The Man who Won The Civil War
Sam Grant made famous the expression ‘unconditional surrender’, which is how most of his campaigns ended — for his opponents.
A hard-drinking soldier in a hard-drinking army, he led the Union armies to victory, first in the West and then in the East, eventually compelling the main Confederate army under Robert E. Lee to surrender at Appomattox in 1865.
Yet at the beginning of the Civil War no one, least of all the man himself, anticipated that Grant would lead the Union forces to victory.
Ulysses S. Grant was a failure as a pre-war soldier. His subsequent business career was even worse. His emergence as a successful general and eventual promotion to Commander-in-Chief is a stunning example of how a soldier's peacetime career sometimes gives no indication of how he will perform in a major war.
Grant's advance down the Mississippi realized General Scott’s ‘Anaconda’ plan and ultimately cut the Confederacy in half. His capture of Vicksburg, just as Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North was halted at Gettysburg, spelt the end for the Confederacy.
Yet Grant's battles in 1864 cost the Union army dearly and he has never quite shaken off the reputation as a ‘butcher’ who bludgeoned down the Army of Northern Virginia by sheer weight of numbers.
Robin Neillands investigates how and why Grant emerged from pre-war obscurity and whether his ultimate victory was won by brains or brawn.
Robin Neillands is the author of several acclaimed works on the First World War including ‘The Death of Glory’, ‘The Great War Generals on the Western Front’, ‘Attrition: The Great War on the Western Front, 1916’ and ‘The Old Contemptibles’.
Praise for Robin Neillands:
‘One of Britain’s most readable historians’ – Birmingham Post
‘Immensely readable … a blast of fresh air’ – The Spectator
‘Informed and explicit, this is military history at its best’ – Western Daily Press
‘Neilland’s willingness to call a spade a spade will catch the popular imagination. His central argument is hard to fault’ – Literary Review
Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent publisher of digital books.
A hard-drinking soldier in a hard-drinking army, he led the Union armies to victory, first in the West and then in the East, eventually compelling the main Confederate army under Robert E. Lee to surrender at Appomattox in 1865.
Yet at the beginning of the Civil War no one, least of all the man himself, anticipated that Grant would lead the Union forces to victory.
Ulysses S. Grant was a failure as a pre-war soldier. His subsequent business career was even worse. His emergence as a successful general and eventual promotion to Commander-in-Chief is a stunning example of how a soldier's peacetime career sometimes gives no indication of how he will perform in a major war.
Grant's advance down the Mississippi realized General Scott’s ‘Anaconda’ plan and ultimately cut the Confederacy in half. His capture of Vicksburg, just as Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North was halted at Gettysburg, spelt the end for the Confederacy.
Yet Grant's battles in 1864 cost the Union army dearly and he has never quite shaken off the reputation as a ‘butcher’ who bludgeoned down the Army of Northern Virginia by sheer weight of numbers.
Robin Neillands investigates how and why Grant emerged from pre-war obscurity and whether his ultimate victory was won by brains or brawn.
Robin Neillands is the author of several acclaimed works on the First World War including ‘The Death of Glory’, ‘The Great War Generals on the Western Front’, ‘Attrition: The Great War on the Western Front, 1916’ and ‘The Old Contemptibles’.
Praise for Robin Neillands:
‘One of Britain’s most readable historians’ – Birmingham Post
‘Immensely readable … a blast of fresh air’ – The Spectator
‘Informed and explicit, this is military history at its best’ – Western Daily Press
‘Neilland’s willingness to call a spade a spade will catch the popular imagination. His central argument is hard to fault’ – Literary Review
Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent publisher of digital books.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 8, 2004
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About the author
Robin Neillands
44 books18 followersRobin Hunter Neillands was a British writer known for his works on travel and military history. A former Royal Marine who served in Cyprus and the Middle East, he later became a prolific author, publishing under multiple pen names. His military histories, often featuring firsthand accounts from veterans, challenged revisionist narratives, particularly regarding Bernard Montgomery, the Dieppe Raid, and the Allied bombing campaign in World War II. Neillands also authored numerous travel books inspired by his extensive journeys across Europe. His works, both popular and scholarly, earned him a nomination for the Royal United Services Institute’s Military Literature Award.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 13, 2025
NUTSHELL: Brief, but dry. Mostly about military maneuvers and political jockeying. Light on personal characterization.
MORE: Perhaps this book suffered the fate of receiving too-high expectations, as Grant is one of my favorite historical figures. Perhaps I have been spoiled on the narrative drama and characteristic depth of David McCullough and Edmund Morris. Perhaps I’m just in a bad mood - who knows?
For whatever reason I wished I had stayed away from this book, I advise you to do the same. I will search for another, better book on Grant.
MORE: Perhaps this book suffered the fate of receiving too-high expectations, as Grant is one of my favorite historical figures. Perhaps I have been spoiled on the narrative drama and characteristic depth of David McCullough and Edmund Morris. Perhaps I’m just in a bad mood - who knows?
For whatever reason I wished I had stayed away from this book, I advise you to do the same. I will search for another, better book on Grant.
August 31, 2017
I found this book very biased in favor of Grant, excusing his faults while acknowledging them and overglorifying his accomplishments. It was also very dry while simultaneously glossing over so many pertinent details of the war, and the sourcing was not easy to follow to fact check.
December 20, 2018
A short history of the Civil War presented through the career of Grant. Readers who want to learn about the military course of the war in a concise way will enjoy this well-written book.
I have an interest in Maj-Gen. Henry W. Halleck, a native of my home town so I am always curious about how historians view him. Halleck was Grant's superior until 1864 when he became his subordinate after Grant became general in chief of all the union armies. Many historians have treated Halleck superficially, and unfairly, focusing on his flaws while ignoring the positive contributions he made to the war effort. This author gives a balanced view of Halleck that is satisfying to read.
The author explains cogently how Grant's strategy of simultaneous, coordinated engagement of all the union armies and his focus on destroying the confederate's military capacity to continue the war was, as obvious as it seems to us now, at the time a breakthrough in strategic thinking that resulted in the inevitability of union victory.
I have an interest in Maj-Gen. Henry W. Halleck, a native of my home town so I am always curious about how historians view him. Halleck was Grant's superior until 1864 when he became his subordinate after Grant became general in chief of all the union armies. Many historians have treated Halleck superficially, and unfairly, focusing on his flaws while ignoring the positive contributions he made to the war effort. This author gives a balanced view of Halleck that is satisfying to read.
The author explains cogently how Grant's strategy of simultaneous, coordinated engagement of all the union armies and his focus on destroying the confederate's military capacity to continue the war was, as obvious as it seems to us now, at the time a breakthrough in strategic thinking that resulted in the inevitability of union victory.
February 25, 2021
This very concise recount of the Civil War is told via the career of Ulysses S. Grant. General Grant is put in good light, which is in agreement with several relatively recent historical texts. The inclusion of maps, as other reviewers mentioned, would have been helpful, but since I was reading a Kindle edition, looking battle sites up on the internet was simple and added to my enjoyment of this book. This is not an introductory book about the Civil War nor is it a true overview. It is really biography of a dedicated American during his time of service to our country.
February 2, 2023
I never knew Grant
Grant was a figure who had significant impact on US history. As described in this book he was a focused leader able to identify issues and implement solutions in a manner far superior to his contemporaries. This book addresses the main issues, moves quickly, and leaves the irrelevant behind. I learned who Grant was.
Grant was a figure who had significant impact on US history. As described in this book he was a focused leader able to identify issues and implement solutions in a manner far superior to his contemporaries. This book addresses the main issues, moves quickly, and leaves the irrelevant behind. I learned who Grant was.
April 4, 2023
Outstanding
Extremely well told story of what actions & character traits caused Grant to succeed as a great, perhaps America's finest, general. It is a study in leadership, whether military or in other endeavors. Highly recommended.
study in what leadership
Extremely well told story of what actions & character traits caused Grant to succeed as a great, perhaps America's finest, general. It is a study in leadership, whether military or in other endeavors. Highly recommended.
study in what leadership
September 12, 2017
This book is enjoyable. I would have enjoyed it more if it included maps.
March 20, 2021
Great read
This book lays out the good and the bad of General Grant. It gave me a good idea of his leadership through the civil war!
This book lays out the good and the bad of General Grant. It gave me a good idea of his leadership through the civil war!
August 7, 2023
Interesting
This well written book reveals a lot about Grant the man I never knew before. It reads well and holds the readers interest from start to finish.
This well written book reveals a lot about Grant the man I never knew before. It reads well and holds the readers interest from start to finish.
November 26, 2024
Excellent biography
Gives a fair and just review of Grant as a general. The wish there more as president, and a it more about his life outside of the military
Gives a fair and just review of Grant as a general. The wish there more as president, and a it more about his life outside of the military
February 1, 2016
Cracking read
Downloaded this book just to see what it was like what a amazing book with insight into a war I really new nothing about. Well worth it.
Downloaded this book just to see what it was like what a amazing book with insight into a war I really new nothing about. Well worth it.
February 6, 2016
I enjoyed it BUT
lacks any maps at all so I had refer to other books to follow the narrative. Otherwise a very good short history of Grant's actions during the Civil War.
lacks any maps at all so I had refer to other books to follow the narrative. Otherwise a very good short history of Grant's actions during the Civil War.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews