Ulysses S. Grant

Seminar paper from the year 2003 in the subject History - America, grade: 2,5 (B), University of Cologne (History Seminar, Cologne), course: United States History, 1830-77, language: English, abstract: "What General Lee's feelings were I do not know. As he was a man of muchdignity, with an impassable face, it was impossible to say whether he feltinwardly glad that the end had finally come, or felt sad over the result, and wastoo manly to show it. Whatever his feelings, they were entirely concealed frommy observation; but my own feelings, which had been quite jubilant on thereceipt of his letter, were sad and depressed. I felt like anything rather thanrejoicing at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, and hadsuffered so much for a cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worstfor which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least excuse. Ido not question, however, the sincerity of the great mass of those who wereopposed to us."1Down-hearted, but joyous about victory, maybe even more about a cruelcivilwar finally finding its end and respect for his enemy, even if he condemnsthe cause they fought for, are just a few characteristics already beeing revealedto us. The Man writing this, is Ulysses Hiram Grant, one, if not the mostfamous general of the northern troops throughout the american civil war. Thecircumstances surrounding these few sentences written above, describe amoment of major importance for the war, because they represent the downfall,the final collapsing of the confederate resistance and the defeat of another greatlegend of war,"General E. Lee", at Appomattox in April 9, 1865.Grant obviously is on the peak of success, beeing a national hero, a highlydecorated general and only 4 years after the war, candidating and winning thepresidential elections. But considering how his career started it was hard toforesee such a splendid development. A resigned Military Officer, incapable asan entrepreneur, and with a tendency of excessive enjoyment of alcoholics,turned into a War-Hero within 4 Years.Born to Jesse Root and Hannah Simpson Grant in Point Pleasant, ClermontCounty, Ohio, on April 27, 1822, he moved along with his family toGeorgetown, Brown County, Ohio in 1823. He attended the MaysvilleSeminary in Maysville, Kentucky From 1836-1837 and the PresbyterianAcademy in Ripley Ohio From 1838-1839. [...]
1 Grant, Ulysses S.: Ulysses Grant Memoirs, Chapter 67.