ULYSSES S. GRANT (1) // Let's Talk History
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
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Born April 27, 1822, Hiram Ulysses Grant, as he was named, grew up in Georgetown, Ohio. His childhood was, he recalled, an "uneventful" one. He went to school, did chores, ice skated, fished, and rode horses, like other children on the American frontier. Grant's father, Jesse Root Grant, owned a tannery, but his son hated the horrible stench and the filth of the family business. From a very young age, Hiram showed a remarkable talent for working with horses. His father allowed him to earn his keep by plowing, driving teams to haul wood, and performing other chores.
Jesse Grant realized early on that Hiram would never make it as a businessman. In 1839 Jesse sent the boy to the United States Military Academy at West Point, ignoring the fact that the small, skinny 17-year-old did not want to go. Upon his arrival at West Point, Grant discovered that there was no one by his name listed as a new cadet. But there was a U. S. Grant on the list. Rather than risk refusal, young Grant changed his name on the spot. Ulysses S. Grant was born.
U. S. Grant showed little promise at West Point. Although relatively well educated, he studied little. He stood out in mathematics and horsemanship, which had always been his best subjects, as well as in art. He earned his lowest marks in French. Ulysses graduated 21st out of 39 cadets in his class. Like many graduates, he planned to resign from the military after serving his tour of duty.
After graduation, Grant was stationed in St. Louis, Missouri. There, he visited a West Point roommate, Frederick Dent. Soon, Grant began courting Julia Dent, Fred's sister. The two quickly fell in love. In 1844 Julia accepted Ulysses' marriage proposal. But before they could marry, Ulysses went off to war for the first time.
In later years, Grant wrote that the Mexican War was "one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation." Officially, he served as a quartermaster, efficiently controlling the movement of supplies. But he also saw action, and showed bravery under fire. Grant also took the opportunity to study generals Winfield Scott and Zachary Taylor carefully, learning from their successes and their failures.
For a time after the war, Grant, his wife, and their firstborn son, Fred, enjoyed happiness. But in 1852, when Ulysses was transferred to Fort Vancouver in what is now Washington State, trouble began. He missed Julia and their two young sons, one of which he had never seen. Grant lost money in business ventures. He grew despondent and began to drink. A transfer to a post in California did little to raise his spirits. On April 11, 1854, Grant resigned from the Army.
Ulysses moved with his family to Missouri, and began to farm land given to him by Julia's father. Grant called the farm Hardscrabble, a name that fit. He built a modest house there, planted potatoes, corn, and oats, and struggled to survive. By 1857, after several bad years, the farm had failed. Grant moved to St. Louis, where he failed at several pursuits. Ulysses then moved his family to Galena, Illinois, where he took a job as a clerk in his father's leather goods shop.
More to come when we talk about the rest of Grant's life in a future video!
Something I read upon Grant was about his wife, Julia and her eye. If you look at pictures of her, you can notice her left(?) eye is a bit off. Well, that naturally made Julia not like it very much. She apparently was critical towards herself. Saying she doesn't have the great features women tend to have, but Grant loved her still.
Well, Julia was interested in surgery for her eyes. She was close to leaving for Philadelphia or Pennsylvania for the surgery, but Grant left her a note saying:
"Dear Julia,
I don’t want to have your eyes fooled with. They are all right as they are. They look just as they did the very first time I ever saw them - the same eyes I looked into when I fell in love with you - the same eyes that looked up into mine and told me that my love was returned…"
Well long story short, she never got surgery.
There's a quote made by Theodore Roosevelt: "George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S Grant. Are the three greatest American heroes".
One out of there isn't bad.
Trump isn’t there so it’s inaccurate 😞
#1 Lincoln
#2 Grant
#3 Washington
@@billybob2329 technically, Grant also owned slaves? What does slavery have to do with the topic anyway? Besides, Washington actually freed his slaves (breaking the law in the process), which is a major positive compared to others at the time. You shouldn’t base presidents on whether they owned slaves or not, or else the first 16 or so presidents would all be the worst.
Edit: not all of them, I don’t believe Adam’s ever owned slaves.
@@ThePillowGamer I actually learned something new, I did not know Washington let his slaves go, but I did not base them on slavery, and I’m just a fan of civil war era, but I have to put Washington on there, he made the nation, and beat the British
I’ve always felt really close with Grant, not just as a historical figure, but as a man. His problem with alcohol and the nature of his drinking problem is very, very close to my own lived experience, and because he was able to eventually overcome that, he gives me some hope.
Yeah, he's actually been a pretty inspiring figure for me recently
The fact that the history channel made a show about history for once in probably over a decade is pleasant surprise. Side note when vloggging mentioned the book he listened to I gotta say that book was great. Very detailed, imo very accurate, and I highly recommend it
I totally agree with your reactions. I came to know about Grant only very recently and have only a very cursory knowledge of the intricacies of the Civil War but I have become not only a huge admirer but also cannot help being moved by his story. I am English and yet reading his story I feel this unusual extra dimension to him that is separate from his battlefield achievements and the fact that he became President. His personal struggles seem daunting and ever present and yet his quiet fortitude and dignity are ever present too. He seems ever modest and yet you sense also something very melancholic. I am in awe of his totally implausible rise from selling wood on the streets to head the entire Union Army. I am fascinated by his quiet relentless focus on victory under sttessful conditions that are unimaginable. His calm magnanimity at the end of the war is inspiring. I am in awe of his extraordinary literary ability that flowed under the most stressful of circumstances and required a strength of character that is unfathomable.
I suspect that after reading Chernow's book that others feel similar feelings of being both impressed and moved. I cannot say this about a Wellington or Nelson. Impressed by their brilliance and valour certainly. But moved?
Hats off to this magnificent human being whose character is truly as inspirational as his achievements.
I'm not an expert on the Duke of Wellington or Lord Nelson - but I recognize them as towering figures in British history. So, for you to mention Ulysses Grant in their company makes me swell with pride for the man. And the only thing pride ever got me is as trouble....
Still, thank you for your comments on Grant. Certainly, none of the three were perfect - yet they have left powerful legacies.
Interesting, I will have to read up on grant. Nice stream.
My one real knowledge of him was when he met Lee at Appomattox, and his main concern was had Lee's troops food and he ensured that the CSA troops had rations.
That was humane and showed a general who like Lincoln wanted to unite the USA again.
I got a copy of Grant’s memoir years ago. I was hooked for life!! The more you read, the more I was convinced that Grant should have been on the stone in S. Dakota with Washington
I agree I read his memoirs and numerous bios. I ended up getting his original publications from 1888. He'd my favorite American
A movie about Grant hasn’t been made mainly because of the hit pieces about him written by the southerners he defeated even though he was considerably generous to them.
I try not to be a bandwagon guy, but in recent years, I've learned from videos and articles that Ulysses Grant was not the derelict individual I'd had presented to me all my life. So, at this point, he also stands as the individual I've most changed my opinion of.
I've recently seen clips from the 2020 miniseries that have revived my interest in the man. The most recent clip was a scene where a former subordinate on a horse recognized the retired captain on foot leading a mule and asked what he was doing: "Solving the problem of poverty," was Grant's response. I never guessed that Grant could be so quick-witted and ironic.
Awhile back, I'd seen videos asserting that Grant was at least equal to Robert E. Lee as a military commander - with the implication that Grant may have been better. I also felt that Grant was the beneficiary of access to greater resources supplied by the Union - and as you said, he was able to bludgeon his opposition. But I began to question that assumption.
You mentioned him being ahead of his time in his thinking and I think what hooked me on changing my mind about the man was reports of the strong convictions he held.
I learned that he thought the U.S. was bullying Mexico in the Mexican-American War although he did his duty. I also learned that he was a fervent abolitionist holding a deep antipathy toward slavery. I didn't know.
It's also been suggested that his strong loyalties blinded him to individuals who turned out to be corrupt and he remained an honorable man.
And in high school, I learned about his race to finish his memoirs to support his family after his imminent death from cancer. It was a sad story - yet one of courage and success.
Final point: I recently learned that Grant was posthumously promoted to five-star rank following George Washington to honor him as one of America's great military leaders. I think it was recognition long overdue.
Thank you for your review an for this platform to express my admiration for a man long dismissed as a drunk and the head of a corrupt administration.
I have visited his home in Galena numerous times. He had a bath tub there, which in the day was a luxurary item. The whole familiy would wash in the same water, starting with him first, then the sons, then the girls and Julia. The guides always pointed out that the story of (Don't throw the baby out with the bath water) originated there. Probably folk lore, but who knows.
If you haven't read it, I would recommend reading his 'Personal Memoirs'. Excellent until the last quarter when he was dying. Anyway, the chapter where he describes the training of mules is hilarious. An excellent writer. He loved Mexico.
I agree with my Opinion on Grant has changed. I’d say my opinion has changed on George Meade while I tried to make a case for him not really getting the proper credit he wasn’t easy to work but he seemed like a nice guy. James Longstreet as well
what can you tell us about the friendship of US grant and Mark Twain?....bet most people don't know they were friends
I'll cover that in the next one. That's at the end of his life.
To completely understand U. S. Grant, I highly reccomend reading Ulysses Underground: The Unexplored Roots of U.S. Grant and the Underground Railtoad. By G. L. Corum You will get a great perspective of his upbringing surrounding him and his involvement in the Undsrground Railroad.
Grant was close friends with James Longstreet and Simon Bolivar Buckner.
I think similar to the French Revolution that the people who run the United States* very quickly balked at the radicality with which slavery was tackled during the civil war.
They went along with it at the time because those measures were necessary to preserve the state they relied on to protect their interests. A split United States would have been a much lesser force in world politics and therefore so would they. However, most of them would not have wanted to fight a war over slavery and would certainly regret that it came to this.
More importantly, it set a dangerous precedent: what if other political movements rise up to demand the rights theoretically granted by the Constitution or other laws? What if they take inspiration from the abolitionists and pursue their goals with the same relentless vigor? That would not do.
And I think this has led to a good degree of backpedaling from wartime unionism in the halls of power, as well as from radical republicanism. In practice this probably meant conceding some points to the pro-confederate (I won‘t say neoconfederate) stance, in which Grant obviously features as a chief villain. Consequently historians that criticize Grant or the Union cause and wartime Republicanism are given more room than their arguments would justify.
*politicians and business leaders
You must have enjoyed the Ken Burns documentary of The Civil War.
Read about H Norman Schwarzkopf....Fantastic American
You should finish the Ulysses S Grant story!
A fan of Grant myself. Where's your part 2?
I found myself hating Nobunaga Oda for japan. The more I learned about him, the more I LOVED him. His policies. His insight. His negotiation and delegation skills. He was always the bad guy in many videogames.
Can we talk about the fact that Grant kicked all the Jews out of their homes when he was an officer because he thought they were putting the price of cotton to high? Or no we shouldn't talk about that?
Like you, it was Chernow's biography of Grant that made me see him in a whole new light.
Always found him to be an interesting character. But I let the unfavorable "common knowledge" view of him guide my thinking for most of my life. No doubt, and Chernow touches on this point in his book, Grant's reputation was intentionally denigrated throughout the 20th century by lost-causers. After reading Chernow's book, Grant is easily one of my favorite figures in American history.
Unconditional Surrender when he went after the Klan. And the fact that he was willing to use the power of the federal government to protect Black rights during Reconstruction is arguably his greatest accomplishment, and has lessons for us today.
Ulysses S. Grant is the greatest American of all time. He had his own flaws but his impact is felt to this day! Grant is the only person whom I read about more than anyone else!
Where do you rank Washington? I got Washington as number 1 and Grant number 2
@@jamesmiller5331 I have to clarify first I'm not American, I just happen to be a fan of history, particularly the civil war. To answer your question, I have to rank him as #3 behind Grant #1 and Lincoln #2. I think I may have had a different answer had I been born in the US.
@@blaugranisto maybe, maybe not. Your opinion is as valid as anyone's because today's USA is much different than the USA that Betty whip then and even though I live in the USA now I cannot fully imagine what it was to live in their time anymore than you can.
Thank you for sharing
You know nothing of American history if you put Grant that high
@@Legendary_UA you have to consider the fact that a lot of people have a lot of emotional investment in the Civil War, so I can see Grant being on a lot of their lists.
But you also have to consider that he basically made Seek and Destroy our military Doctrine. That's a pretty big deal.
The fact that there even is a United States today could be attributed to General Grant. Yes it could be argued that the Confederacy was doomed after Gettysburg and Vicksburg back-to-back but the fact that Grant was so merciful when he brought General Lee to the table it might have prevented and extremely ugly time after the war which could have led to tension going on to this very day although it was not perfect, Jim Crow has led to a lot of tension even today (but that really just proves that if the issues expanded Beyond Jim Crow and two among the white population we could and absolutely would be dealing with the after-effects today, as we are already).
I know he was pushing a Lincoln policy with that decision but it was his army at the table with the opposing Commanding General and he could have made a lot of different decisions at that table especially when he became president himself.
For all of that I can definitely see why he is ranked that high on people's list. I have Washington as number one myself because there may not have even been a country to have a civil war if not for Washington.
Cheers 🍻
Lifelong student of history (undergrad degree as well), with some emphasis on military history. Read Grant's memoir many years ago. Somewhere along the line I came to the conclusion that Grant was a brilliant General and more competent than any other in the Civil War. The kicker for me was the Jackson-Vicksburg campaign, which demonstrated real genius. I think probably the entries I read in the Encyclopedia of Military History (Dupuy & Dupuy - first published in the early 1980s) on Grant probably influenced my opinion more than any other. I'm somewhat pleased with the current views of Grant in the history academy, which are seeping into the consciousness of lay people everywhere.
I've long had a deep appreciation for Grant, though I can't think of one particular book being the cause. When people question my interest in the ACW I tell them it's not the events- you can read them and know them- but the people, who continue to fascinate. And the two most interesting people, Lincoln and Grant, are the most enigmatic. You can read everything they have been recorded as saying, and every eyewitness encounter, and everything they wrote, and still not know them.
I actually heard Grant's own Autobiography, and had a pretty similar reaction.
You need to read Julia’s biography too. It’s a hoot. It makes Grant more human and puts flesh on his bones
I think if grant had better people around him during his presidency he would be remembered a lot better then he is.
It wasn’t really him that did the corruption but his administration is one of the most corrupt in history all because of how trusting he was.
The man was a good man maybe to good he tried everything he could to do very well.
Also if I remember right Lee told his compatriots that if Grant joins the union our cause is lost
Ulysses “Sam” Grant, is a personal hero of mine. He was a dynamic character who always in his heart wanted to do what was right. He wasn’t perfect he was still human. He helped keep our country together and suffered in the service of our nation his entire life. It pains me that people call him a drunk, as it was merely just the way the other officers in competition with him talked of him to harm his character. I’m glad you found him to be an impressive person as well.
Grant has always been one of my favorite historical figures. My dad loved to talk about him, and he was my dad’s namesake (middle name Grant).
Napoleon. The way people talk is he was like alex the great. Truth is napoleon tactic work when one side is using them and the other isnt. He took over a drag racer of an army that had gone under many reforms going back to the monarchy after the bas defeats of the 7 years war while the rest of europe was racing a dump truck. Thr allies after some year caught up enough. He left a stranded army in egypt. Destroyed armies in russia, germany, France and waterloo. He also had the issues with Spain and Portugal. Any single battle, he could win. Campaigns, not so much.
Not entirely true, Napoleon was great at campaigns. Most of his major losses occurred because of things outside of his control. In Egypt his troops were weak from the heat and disease, plus admiral Nelson sunk his fleet, trapped him, and destroyed his supply line, meaning his men now had food troubles as well. That wasn't really his fault as he can't control the navy, the weather, or disease. His failures in Spain and Russia were because he didn't know how each country was going to fight. He thought that the Spanish people would've been happy because he removed their unpopular king, but instead they fought a guerilla war, something that no commander can really successfully combat. However, when he was in Spain he won many battles and drove their forces back, but had to leave for Russia. As for Russia, He didn't know the Russians strategy of scorched earth and expected them to give up once he took Moscow as any other European country would. Had it been any other country he would've won this. He was unaware of the danger he was in until far too late. This one was still his fault but probably not too unreasonable of a move if you were in his position. In the war of the 6th coalition he had basically all of Europe against him and he was still winning wherever he went. Wherever he was he won, wherever he wasn't his marshals were losing, meaning if his marshals had been better he still could've possibly won even with all of Europe against him. He may have even defeated the two army's going for Paris had it not been for Talleyrand who let the allies in before he could get behind their flanks. In Waterloo he could've won if his marshals didn't miscommunicate his orders and allow the British and Prussians to regroup. He also would've won if it hadn't rained. Because it rained he has to wait a few hours for the ground to dry so that he could March up the hill, which gave the Prussians time to come in on and hit his flank. He was great at campaigns, he mostly suffered from misfortune, miscommunication, his marshals not being Napoleon, and not having the hindsight of a 2021 historian.
You should read American Ulysses, I actually like it better then chernow's biography
George Washington. I didn't think much of him being a General gentleman. His losses in Manhattan made me like Lee more.
But who else can lose that much and still hold an army together.
With that said i look up to Theodore roosevelt. Who else can travel the world. Fight asthma, become a boxer. Stand up for what he believed and prepare us for WW1
TR is definitely a person I can see a lot of people looking up to for sure.
The funny thing is i probably wouldn't get along with him. Not like grant or Sherman
Im just finding out much of a legend Grant really is. Probably the first president who wouldnt be cancelled by todays standards.
The butcher Grant thing is a convenient and simple story.
Almost always when you look deeper into any historical event or person, the convenient simple stories "everybody knows" go up in smoke.
I read Grant memoir and his character has shown through in his courage and his devotion to his family especially his wife. How many men would be devoted today with a wife with a crossed- eyes? And not want them fixed? Lincoln was ecstatic to have Grant and made his life easier at a time he desperately needed it.
That bit about Grant being as cool as they come reminds me a bit of Joffre in the early days of the First World War. Now, apparently it would take significant amounts of liquor to relax Joffre towards the end of his time leading the French, but by all accounts he was freakishly calm during the Great Retreat and First Marne .
Very good video. Grant's exploits are worthy of not just a movie, but a series of movies. Starting with back story leading to Mexican War for the first movie. The second movie would be the Civil War including The Battle of Belmont which I believe shaped him further for success. The third would be his presidency.
From one of my favorite Civil War Historians come this quote about Grant.
Shelby Foote:
"Grant the general had many qualities but he had a thing that's very necessary for a great general. He had what they call "four o'clock in the morning courage." You could wake him up at four o'clock in the morning and tell him they had just turned his right flank and he would be as cool as a cucumber. Grant, after that first night in the Wilderness, went to his tent, broke down, and cried very hard. Some of the staff members said they'd never seen a man so unstrung. Well, he didn't cry until the battle was over, and he wasn't crying when it began again the next day. It just shows you the tension that he lived with without letting it affect him... Grant, he's wonderful."
One further thing that can be said of Grant vs McClellan was McClellan would be loath to move the army even after a victory and fight where Grant was not afraid to put his army forward into motion, even after a defeat. The former dispirited the men while the latter motivated the men to fight harder.
Grant is seen as a drunken sod, a lout, a butcher because the Southern Democrats have been re-writing history since they lost the Civil War they started and blame on the North saying they started it.
Never have I doubted Grant as a General. Growing up in Southern Florida I heard Grant was the worst President. I still hear The South will rise again. Southerners that still hold to this are still trying to re-write history. The States Rights issue and many others were debunked. Read the Articles of Succession for each state and the issue of slavery is repeated multiple times in each, "To preserve the peculiar institution of slavery." You should do a video on the Articles of Succession.
It was in later years through reading about what Grant did as president that changed my mind. He defeated the KKK which had become a terrorist organization. That reason and the fact that he kicked the ANV's butt, bringing the once great army to it's knees and surrender are a couple of reasons the South hated (some still hate) Grant. I'm convinced that Grant was a good president.
There is so much more to 'HUG' than people know. He is one of my favorite generals in history and has become one of my top presidents.
As an aside to this, General Robert E. Lee was the executor of his father in law's will. When George Washington Parke Custis died in 1857 he order Lee as executor to manumit some 200 slaves of Romancoke and Arlington Plantations in Virginia. Lee completed the manumiting of the slaved in December of 1862.
The history of Romancoke is a very interesting history and so is the history of the founder Lt Col. William Claiborne. I estimate that he could be my 11th Great Grandfather.
ulysses s grant is one of the best tacticians history has ever seen(alongside with his partner; General Sherman), I'm currently studying American civil war and he is one of the most fascinating historical figures I've studied, he was a family man, an excellent tactician and what actually fascinates me about him is that he was a good man this trait caused him much trouble specially during his presidency but still he continued the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and did admirably as a president. I think he is extremely underrated specially among the students of history... P.S.:considering his unusual personality traits he might have had ADHD or ASD or both considering the high rate of comorbidity between these two disorders.
What are those personality trait you talk of?
Richard Nixon
Was told he was an evil right wing extremist, and that’s not a fair characterization at all
I just recently got that biography of grant from my grandfather and I am more exited now more exited about reading it than I was before
Aside from Grant, which similar to you feel more admiration the more I learn from him, it would have to be W. Wilson… granted is impossible to cover everything, but my HH history books certainly glossed over most of his ‘other’ accomplishments and views🤦🏻♂️
Not a *completely* changed opinion, but I'm warming up to Julius Caesar lately. A politician, yes; ruthless, probably; but I'm giving weight to the thought that he was trying to serve the Republic as best he could (even though he also definitely profited from it).
Even his Civil War record has been overlooked. He was a military genius. Just look at the Vicksburg campaign. Not to mention he never lost a campaign and 3 separate Confederate Armies unconditionally surrendered to him. Cold Harbour was his only real mistake which he regretted for the rest of his life.
Compared to him Lee was nothing more than a very talented regional warlord Commander who completely exhausted his army in 18 months.
The lost cause narrative made us forget all of this. But what says the most about him is compared to every other general officer in that war is no one on either side had anything truly bad to say about the man and he was revered by many on both sides. Not to mention simply look at what Frederick Douglass has to say about the man.
As a Texan I without a doubt in my heart, can truly say, thank God for General Grant! He saved this nation.
Read Geoffrey Perret's biography. Will enlighten you more. It was the first real positive Grant Bio
Somebody who I used to think was a hero and then really switched my mind on was Winston Churchill after learning about what he did in India it completely shifted my opinion on the guy I used to think that he was a great man who tried his best to save people who are being genocided in Europe but when you look at what he did in Bengal you'll realize that he was just a hypocrite who is doing a lot of what Hitler and Stalin were doing but still criticizing them for doing it when he was doing the same thing
To answer your question - Nikola Tesla!! Is truly another completely misunderstood and under appreciated historical figure. Once you realize all that he accomplished and what he tried to accomplish throughout his life. I highly recommend doing some serious research about his life and story. It changed my life, not just my opinion of who he was as a person.
When I first got into the American Civil War I was all in for it for the stories about the Irish Brigade and I saw the rebels just as the opponents (was like 13 at the time) but I heard about how good the Southern Generals preformed sometimes and went to look it up trough the years. Right now, 6 years later, my vieuw on the more popular southern generals has comletely changed. Having listened to lectures about Lee and especialy Stonewall Jackson changed how I vieuwed them. And I say especially Jackson because at the time I heard about him first I thought how badass must someone be to be called Stonewall. Then I read up about his life and such and man, he got even more respect from me. Longstreet as well.
Btw I have been writing a short story about the battle of Gettysburg, I'd love it if i could send it to you one day but right now I have exams in College so I can't work on the story.
And I love your work
Yes a movie about Grant in his early days and the Mexican War would be awesome. Just hope they don't cast Phoenix.
That's exactly how I felt as the 3 part series began explaining his entire life. Particularly I'm moved by the fact he would do anything to feed his family. Such as when he was selling firewood, and ran into a man under his command during the US Mexican War. Additionally he would work the fields alongside his one slave. His neighbors would ridicule this fact, and I was moved that he just gave his slave free papers. He couldve enriched himself out of poverty, but he did the right thing. He wasn't a fan of slavery that's very evident his wife came from that background. Everyone knows he was asked to resign his commission due to consumption, but I was unaware he was asked to be apart of the Union Army by a family friend. He was sure they wouldnt accept him, but his friend who gave him a second chance to command was this nations greatest miracles. This man lived in poverty, was humiliated working with his father, and wouldnt have considered serving in the capicity he soon was given the opportunity. He came back in a lower rank, and earned his spot by being promoted time and time again. Then Shiloh and what he endured without reinforcements kept that Northern Army intact. Theres so many things I learned that had never been taught, and he is one of my heroes too. Nobody has a story quite as stunning as Grant. He rose from nothing only to fail time and time again. Until his friend asked him to command. Once he was on the Battlefield he showed he was more than a match. Knowing so many of the Confederates was a blessing that people should know more about along with the suffering Grant endured. Asked to resign his commission then given that second chance he fulfilled his destiny. He wasnt a President he was a Soldier
You should visit fort humboldt Ulysses S Grant was station there in the 1850s
Pubulis Cornelius Scipio Africanus and Grant
As well thank you for showing me the light on Grant and the series as well
Your reaction to Chernow’s biography of Grant is the same as mine to Bruce Catton’d two volumes Grant biography.
I recommend to read his memoirs and the book Grant and Sherman a friendship that won the war .
Where is part 2?
I came to Grant like you after reading Chernow's book on Hamilton i read his book on Grant and found Grant to be my Hero as a General and then as a President.
I do t know about fantastic the reacting portions are terrible
Grant, Sherman, George Thomas, Phil Sheridan and George Sears Greene are my Civil War top 5.
Wait is no one going to talk about the amount of criticism Chernow's Hamilton book got him? I thought his biography was completely worthless based on some historian's reactions but maybe I am wrong? The main criticism I have heard of Chernow is he uses real sources but cherry picks them to fit his own narrative, tying non sequiturs together. Not saying this isnt a way to make a boring story interesting, but it seems to be the wrong approach on actual history... I know the Hamilton fans will come at me, but like... Why take someone else's history instead of real history? Am I off or?
I'd be curious to know what specific history Chernow is supposed to have misrepresented. I found it pretty accurate.
Oh shucks. I found it!! I'm gunna love watching this later after the episodes
I am mistaken - I was thinking this was a review of the Grant series I found on Amazon, the image is a still image from it. Dear VTH, if/when you read this would you be able to look at the first of 3 and consider giving it a review. I saw so many odd battle moments and I would like to see your take. I can send a link if you request it. Thank you for all your work
I became a Grant convert studying Reconstruction and his efforts deconstructing the KKK and other anti-black organizations during that time. I took a dive into his papers and since have read Cattons bio of him, Jean Edward Smiths, then read Chernows basically to make sure he gets it right. Grant is my favorite American because hes just a real guy, from humble background, with everyday faults like all of us. Such a great story
I found Ulysses Grant's Memoirs in a Nautical Book store on Cape Cod 20 years ago. It's an original edition.
I had seen multiple quotes and references to this book , as I read other Civil War books.
I realized that it was a Book that I just had to find. It was $6.95... one of the best investments I ever made! Thanks VLOG!🇺🇸🎩🇺🇸🎩🇺🇸
US Grant is fascinating both as a General and as President. I don't think the North could have won without US Grant. He had the advantage of starting out far from Washington DC which allowed him to learn how to fight the Civil War and to win. It did not hurt that he essentially absorbed the actions of Generals Taylor and Scott during the Mexican War and used many of the same tactics in the Civil War. As President, his presidency was the first at the start of the US becoming a great power. The US had grown up during the Civil War and Grant's Presidency was the transition point from the old US to a growing dynamic country of factories and farms. Many of his decisions as President laid the groundwork for the future of the United States all the way up to our own time. A truly remarkable man.
Just added Chernow’s audio book to my Audible wish list after watching this. It’s 48 hours long! Lol. It’s up next in my queue. I’m fortunate to live about 30 minutes from “Grant’s Farm” or “Hardscrabble” as it was called here in St. Louis. I think about the horse rides he took from Jefferson barracks to visit his friend Lt. Dent then of course Julia. Have also been to Galena, IL a few times.
Henry VIII for me. With only basic and false knowledge i was lead to believe in my younger years that Henry was a horrible king, who was sadistic and had all his wives killed because of his fickle nature.
But in learning about him you come to realize that he was a much more complicated man. In some cases worse than the monster portrayed but in other cases a fascinating, friendly, smart and talented man. History really is intriguing. You may hear a sentence and peg the whole man, but with another sentence the peg is turned upside down.
It was said that my ancestor, John A. Logan, didn't care for Grant. I'm not sure why though. I know going into the war Logan was racist and almost considered being on the Confederate side. Maybe that had to do with it somewhat. Logan completely changed his views during the war after seeing how poor the slaves were being treated. He was a changed man. That being said, not everyone is going to like everyone. I'm 8 months late, but I enjoyed the video!
Gotta love a guy who didn‘t want to join the Army and in fact was constantly looking for a way out, but then when there is suddenly a war about slavery, about abolishing the most evil institution in the world, where winning really will make the world a much better place; not only does Grant go to fight in it, he becomes the most important military leader of the abolitionist cause.
Extremely based.
I don't see a follow-up to this video. I would love to see one. I too read Chernow's Grant and continually advocate for a musical about him. The single most impressive thing about Grant was that under Johnson and during his Presidency he was really the only one who not only advocated but fought for full equal rights for Blacks, in particular the rights to vote and hold office, effectively eradicating the KKK in the process. The other thing about the Mexican war was his abilities as a quartermaster and his focus on supplies, supplies, supplies. A case could be made that his tactical genius lay _behind_ the lines on both sides.
GE. Blessings. I have enjoyed absorbing your enthusiasm towards your avocation. You mentioned your interest in family tree investigation. If true, pls respond so I may pursue. Regardless, Blessings to you & yours.
I think some of the soviet generals. My views on them have changed much in the same way as my view on Grant changed. I used to think they just mindlessly sent walls of troops at the Germans but that's just not true.
Hannibal. Growing up I was taught that Hannibal was reckless and paled in comparison to Scipio. But learning about his Italian campaign( lake trasimene, cannae, etc) completely changed my opinion of him
I will add this about Chernow. He tries to rehabilitate everyone he writes about and even does so bending the facts towards them. I would read multiple biographies about him. You can see if you Google where he exaggerates the facts about Grant. He did the same thing in Hamilton when he said he went off to be by himself in shame and realty he was cooking the books.
Would you please comment (contrast/compare) Chernow's biographay to Grant's own memoirs? Preference?
In the "for what it's worth" category, my author recommendation would be Noah Andre Trudeau. Have yet to be disappointed in any of his tomes.
Thank you for starting your vlog endeavor. Most interesting.
Hulu has an awesome miniseries about Grant that was released after this initial reaction video. I think we’d all love to see a reaction video- probably a multipart reaction.
Edit: correction- not on Hulu. Available on Prime Video. Also it’s called “Grant”.
Perhaps completely predictable, but the more I learn about Gaius Julius Caesar the more I'm amazed at what he accomplished given the circumstances. His achievements in various battles leave me floored (The battle of Alesia is a good example), and while it's likely he exaggerated the enemy numbers and losses, while under reporting his own, it seems historians generally agree that he didn't skew them to the degree that they would trivialize his achievements. It would be too easy to start a tangent on all the things I find oddly inspiring more than 2000 years later about him, so I'll leave it at that.
Regarding Grant, I'm Canadian, as such I don't know much about the American Civil war other than that it happened, the Union won, and slavery was effectively abolished in the United States. I do love history though, so I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on what seems to have been a very well written biography.
An ancestor of mine is Thomas Lyon Hamer. He help put Grant through west point. And accomplished many things.
I really wish ppl knew who Thomas Lyon Hamer was.
Maybe you could do a video on him in the future?? Thanks for the videos love em 💯
I went to Grant Farm today and I saw that his family owned White Haven. First thing I thought was there were slaves here.
Well, now I'm here. Thanks for the info!
When I was reading about Grant, one thing that struck me as interesting was how in so many ways his step father could have been disappointed with his daughter's choice in men and yet Grant ended up as President of the United States, and I believe his father-in-law may have lived with them in the White House.
One of the problems is that Grant is often compared to Robert E Lee. Lee among many other accolades is one of the very few men to complete 4 years at the USMA at West Point without receiving a single demerit.
My opinions of the Civil war generals has changed for almost all of them.
When I read Grant's biography as a youth I thought the same thing that they should make a movie about him in the Mexican War.
Gettysburg Area High School graduate here. I love that town so much.
I couldn’t agree more. After the history channel show about him came out it really got me interested in Grant. I am currently reading his Memoirs. Super good read!
I listened to this book recently, and I cant agree more with you on how great of a man he was.
Thanks for the honesty with which you tell this story in your own journey of learning about Grant. I just bought the Ron Chernow book on Grant from Audible. Can't wait to begin listening to it.
You won’t regret it. Fantastic book and a fascinating story.
I think as you after my reading grant by Ron Chernow. I wish I had read it sooner than I did, what an incredible life.
Went to Gettysburg myself and came away with a book about Grant and Reconstruction. Wow! It blew my head off and I've been an admirer of him eversince. He's atleast the greatest American of the 19th Century
... Lincoln?
EXCELLENT
McClellan was brilliant? hah!
He was brilliant intellectually. He was a terrible field commander and a narcissist.
Can you react to Johnny hortan sink the Bismark please
No. He's a butcher. His generalship was "we can lose 20k and get 20k tomorrow and he cant, attack again"
One of the worst
On doing a mini-study of Grant I have come to respect him more. On the other hand, I did a mini-study on Daniel Sickles, and went from thinking he was a quirky, fun, and, interesting person to someone, I would rather hope never to meet. Though, he was certainly able to charm people.
Also Grant's been one of my favorite presidents since he helped fight that giant spider in the wild wild west
Michael bisping