Publisher Description

Faced with failing health and financial ruin, the Civil War's greatest general and former president wrote his personal memoirs to secure his family's future - and won himself a unique place in American letters. Devoted almost entirely to his life as a soldier, Grant's Memoirs traces the trajectory of his extraordinary career - from West Point cadet to general-in-chief of all Union armies. For their directness and clarity, his writings on war are without rival in American literature, and his autobiography deserves a place among the very best in the genre.

Highlights the life of the Civil War hero and eighteenth president of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, including his childhood in Ohio, his military career, and his eventual retirement and authorship of an autobiography.

Main focus of Grant's writing in his autobiography is on his military career during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. Original edition of Grant's Memoirs was published by Mark Twain shortly after Grant's death.

This volume carries Ulysses S. Grant through a brief period of welcome calm to the storms of the White House. Seemingly resigned to becoming president, Grant detached himself from military routine in Washington, D.C., during the summer of 1868 to tour the Great Plains. He then settled in Galena to escape the clamor of the presidential campaign. Grant reveled in his respite from official duties, writing to his father, "I have enjoyed my summers vacation very much and look forward with dread to my return to Washington." Grant's residence in Galena shielded him from public scrutiny. "Whilst I remain here I shall avoid all engagements to go any place at any stated time. The turn out of people is immense when they hear of my coming." Grant remained in or near his prewar hometown until the election forced him back to Washington. Grant publicly said that he accepted presidential responsibilities "without fear" but privately lacked eagerness for the office. Even before his electoral victory, he wrote disapprovingly of "the Army of office seekers" and "begging letters" from potential appointees. Never enamored with the "pulling and hauling" so much a part of politics, Grant tried to minimize importunities by withholding names of his cabinet selections until after his inauguration and keeping his policy pronouncements spare and noncontroversial. His earnest desire as president was simply to inspire every citizen to work for "a happy Union."

Before he became president of the United States in 1869, Ulysses S. Grant led quite an exciting life. He grew up on a farm in Ohio, went to college at West Point, and joined the U.S. Army. He then fought in the Mexican-American War and later the American Civil War. In fact, by the end of the Civil War, he was the highest ranked general in the Union army. Besides significant information like this, readers of this thought-provoking book will also learn how the military man became involved in politics. Striking images and fact boxes supplement this noteworthy biography.