A black and white photo of an older, bearded man wearing a gray military uniform with three stars on his collar

The rise of Ulysses S. Grant is probably one of the most unlikely stories of the Civil War. A West Point graduate, he fought with distinction in the U.S. - Mexican War. However, he resigned from the army in 1853 instead of facing formal charges for drunkenness. When the Civil War broke out, he volunteered to help train soldiers but soon found himself in command. In the Western theater of the War, Grant quickly proved himself a dogged and fierce fighter. He won major victories for the Union at Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga before Lincoln called him East to be the commander of the entire Union army and fight Lee directly.

When Lincoln was criticized for his selection of Grant, his simple response was, "I like him, he fights." His battlefield successes made Grant an American hero. His very initials, "U.S.," seemed to signify the Union, both standing for United States and Unconditional Surrender. He was easily elected President in 1868, though he did not make nearly as good a president as he did a general.

Interactive exercise. Assistance may be required. Click on the three qualities that defined Grant as a leader:

Sources of images used for this section as they appear, top to bottom:

Ulysses S. Grant from West Point to Appomattox, Wikimedia
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Library of Congress
Ulysses S. Grant and his Generals on Horseback, Library of Congress
Lieut. Genl. Ulysses S. Grant: General in Chief of the armies of the United States, Library of Congress