U. S. Grant and the American Military Tradition

A concise biography of Union general and US president Ulysses S. Grant by historian Bruce Catton. The work explores Grant's life and legacy, presenting him as a complicated figure whose accomplishments have often been overlooked. Catton traces Grant's early military service under General Zachary Taylor in the Mexican-American War, followed by his forced resignation due to drinking and subsequent failures as a farmer and salesman. The biography then details his Civil War redemption, as Grant rose from unknown soldier to commanding general of the US Army. Catton covers Grant's major campaigns—Fort Henry, Shiloh, the Siege of Vicksburg, and Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House—which brought him national recognition. The work also examines Grant's presidency, highlighting underrated successes during his two terms. Following Grant's life from his Ohio childhood to his final days in New York, this biography offers a comprehensive account of a significant American military and political figure.