Epic Battles: Union Command

Ulysses S. Grant: Ulysses Simpson Grant, or more accurately Hiram Ulysses Grant (he was registered incorrectly at West Point) was a total failure. He failed in several business ventures; when president his administration was rocked by scandals; he lost most of his wealth after the war in further failed ventures and only gained back some funds by publishing his memoirs. Grant – the failure. However, there was one enterprise at which Grant excelled – War! Grant had served in the Mexican War but then left the army to pursue a career in business. When war came in 1861 he promptly rejoined offering his services to the cause of Union. Initially serving as a brigade commander in 1862 he was promoted to major general and secured Kentucky and most of Tennessee for the Union. At Shiloh in 1862 he was surprised by Johnston’s Confederates but, completely unfazed by the initial setbacks, launched a counter-attack and won the battle. In July 1863 Grant outmanoeuvred and defeated the Confederate forc