While the Union struggled for the first half of the war on the Eastern front, it had much more success out West. New Orleans fell early as did the state of Tennessee. From near total obscurity,Interactive popup. Assistance may be required. Ulysses S. Grant emerged as an exceptional commander. His victory in the brutal battle at Shiloh (a word which ironically means "peace") caught the attention of Abraham Lincoln. Along the way, Grant formed a tight relationship withInteractive popup. Assistance may be required. General William Tecumseh Sherman.

Once Grant captured the Mississippi town of Vicksburg in 1863, the final major turning point of the war, Lincoln knew he had the general he had been looking for. Shortly afterwards, Grant was called eastward to fight Lee. Sherman was left in charge of the armies in the west with orders to be merciless to the enemy, ushering in true "total war."

Click on the text inside the images of Grant and Sherman below.