American Ulysses

 

• Author R.C. White
• Title: American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant
• Published: 2016
• Trivia: #20BooksOfSummer
• Trivia: New York Times best seller

 

Introduction:

1. The book is a biography so the structure is what you would expect.
2. What you don’t expect is White’s ability to show Grant in 3- dimensions.
3. Husband – military strategic genius – pragmatic president.

 

• Family life in Ohio
• Military study at West Point
• Love affair with ‘my dear Julia’ Dent
• Mexican-American War
• Civil War
• 18th president of United States
• Retirement (30 month trip around the world)
• Writing memoirs in collaboration with Mark Twain.

 

Why did I read this book?

My main purpose was to learn why Grant was so successful in the Civil War?

1. I followed the chapters about the battles at Belmont, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson
2. Shiloh, Iuka, Vicksburg, Chattanooga and Richmond.
3. I used google maps and wikipedia to form an image of the battlefield.
4. It was a fascinating read.
5. Grant would scout the landscape to discover IF he could use it to his advantage.
6. His emphasis was on:
7. strategy: siege – classic…surround and just wait.
8. (broke out of siege in Chattanooga; set up 12 mi siege line around Vicksburg)
9. speed: delay only accrues credit for the defender (regroup/resupply)
10. break the cracker line: (supply lines food and ammunitions)
11. create diversions, cut telegraph lines, smash RR tracks and bridges
12. Be alert: scurrying rabbits and squirrels indicated to the ‘pickets’ that
13. enemy infantry were creeping closer through the brush.
14. broad battlefield: keep enemy guessing where Grant would strike (Vicksburg)

 

What were some  dangers that Grant tried to avoid?

1. Over confidence of troops after newspapers predict an easy victory at Shiloh.
2. Miscommunication and mud:
3. …terrain can delay messages and arrival of reserve troops.
4. Intelligence:
5. …danger of believing all deserters who bring news of enemy positions and size.
6. Inflated egos of commanders (McClernand was Grant’s nemesis)
7. Don’t ever leave HQ without assigning a second in command.
8. Teach soldiers to live off land and stretch 2 days rations over 7 days!

 

Why was Grant such a great Civil War general?

1. He was  always calm and decisive.
2. He molded army and navy forces into one team.
3. He listened and asked questions.
4. He did not micromanage (trusted commanders).
5. He seldom engaged in criticism after a battle.
6. He avoid unnecessary insult to brave soldiers (surrender Gen Lee Appomattox)
7. Whenever playing defense
8. ……Grant always planned to go on offense, plan B.

 

Last thoughts:

1. When I finished this book last night
2. …and read about Grant’s final campaign (death)
3. I felt I lost a friend.
4. This was the most moving biography I’ve read in a long time.
5. Personally, parts 1-3  were the best (youth, West Point, Civil War).
6. Parts 4-6 (Reconstruction,  18th President, World tour) were less interesting.
7. What a great general
8. …. he won the Civil War and impressed us with his humility.
9. #MustRead