Ulysesse S. Grant and His Time in the Civil War

Before Grant even became general a lot had happened to get the war started such as taking over other various pieces of lands and even loses some battles but when grant came in it was the beginning of a legacy, he is part of what made it easier for us to win this battle that took a lot longer than either side thought it would, a lot of people see grant as a hero for the war which was very true if you look at all we accomplished with him at our side.

As the Civil War reached its peak, Grant sought to win control of the Mississippi Valley. In February 1862, he took Fort Donelson in Tennessee, which was the first Union victory of strategic importance. When the Confederate commander asked for terms, Grant replied, "No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted." The Confederates surrendered, and President Lincoln promoted Grant to major general of volunteers in 1863.

As the fierce battles of the Civil War continued, some began to question General Grant's military leadership. At Shiloh, Grant fought one of the bloodiest battles in the West. Some called for him to be replaced. President Lincoln defended Grant by saying, "I can't spare this man ÐŽX he fights."

For his next major objective, Grant maneuvered and fought skillfully to win Vicksburg, the key city on the Mississippi, and thus cut the Confederacy in two. This was the culmination of one of the most brilliant military campaigns of the war. With the loss of Pemberton's army and this vital stronghold on the Mississippi, the Confederacy was effectively split in half. Grant's successes in the West boosted his reputation, leading ultimately to his appointment as General-in-Chief of the Union armies. Then he broke the Confederate hold on Chattanooga.

Grant was finally appointed General-in-Chief in March 1864. Grant directed Sherman to drive through the South while he went after General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. After the Overland campaign in the spring of 1864, City Point, Virginia, served as General Grant's Headquarters of the Armies of the United States. From City Point, Grant directed the movements of the various Union troops across the country.