General Grant 's Personality And Leadership Skills

Imagine walking into the office on a November day and seeing a new commander walk by on the way to his office. He does not exude the military image that is expected from military officers. As talking to co-workers, you hear that this gentleman finished in the lower portion of his West Point class and just a few years ago resigned his commission for a bit instead of being court-martialed for issues associated with his drinking problem. Would you pre-judge this man or wait and see what type of leader he was? The man described is Ulysses S. Grant, General of the Union Army and future President of the United States of America. While General Grant was not a perfect leader, I will argue that General Grant was one of the most visionary and ethical leaders in United States history. Visionary leader. I will discuss how Grant as an ethical leader faced and triumphed over a competing values ethical dilemma and used intellectual courage to change his point of view to help move the country forward after the Civil War. I will also discuss the personal relevance of Grant’s leadership qualities to my leadership abilities.

Ulysses S. Grant was not as well known at the start of the Civil War as Robert E. Lee but proved to be just as valuable during the war. As a soldier, Grant believed, “When in doubt, fight.” And he did fight. He won fame for demanding unconditional (complete) surrender from the Southern commanders he was fighting. In fact, people in the North began saying Grant’s initials, “U.S.,” stood for “Unconditional Surrender.” In battle, Grant was tough and hard. He was not “a retreating man.” Soon Grant was made a general. He became a leading figure of the war in the West. In 1863 he captured the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi. He starved the city into surrender.

Grants skilled and well planned military success in the West boosted his proud reputation, leading ultimately to his appointment as the new and better General - In - Chief of the Union. When Grant’s army captured the mighty Mississippi we were able to cut the supply lines,

Grant and his running mate was Schuyler Colfax. Grant, was born on April 27, 1822 in Point Pleasant, Ohio. His father was Jesse Grant and his mother was Hannah Grant. At age seventeen he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, and after graduation he started serving at army posts in Missouri, Louisiana, and Texas. Grant was stationed at Port Isabel, Texas when the Mexican- American War broke out. During this war Grant learned of war strategies and the importance of food and ammunition in war. In 1848, Grant married Julia Dent, and later resigned from the army in 1854. Seven years passed and at the start of the Civil War Grant reenlisted in the army. He was appointed brigadier general four months after enlisting as colonel of an Illinois volunteer regiment. Grant won many victories for the Union, but the important ones were the capture of Vicksburg and Chattanooga. The capture of Vicksburg gave the Union control over Mississippi which split the Confederacy in half. These two victories secured Grant’s third star, which gave him supreme command of the Union armies, and a position only bestowed previously on one American---George Washington. Through all his successes Grant continue to state that “I have never advocated war except as a means of peace.” On April 9, 1865 Grant accepted Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House ("Ulysses Simpson Grant." Encyclopedia of World Biography).

Another battle had started, known as the battle of Shiloh. This battle was a disaster for Grant. He was criticized throughout the whole battle by about everyone you could think of. For a time throughout that battle he was demoted. The war department luckily gave him his leadership back. Once he was reinstated, the Union wanted to take charge of the Mississippi river so it would be harder on the Confederates to fight. While fighting he got Vicksburg to surrender. They said that he had the most moral boost for the Union. But he also had a severe drinking

Ulysses S. Grant, became one of America’s most significant historical figures during 1841-1880, serving as a leader of the Union army and serving as the President of the United States of America. Ulysses S. Grant served in the Mexican-American war, was a notable horseman, and west point graduate. Ulysses S. Grant continued to be involved with the military at various obscure locations until resigning in 1854. The civil war began in 1861, and Ulysses S. Grant became the a colonel for the 21st Illinois Volunteers. Soon afterward, President Abraham Lincoln, appointed Ulysses S. Grant as the brigadier general of the Union army. Ulysses S. Grant was a very successful leader for the Union army. Ulysses S. Grant secured his first major battle in 1862. Ulysses S. Grant and his forces successfully captured the Fort Donelson. The Confederates wanted to know the conditions of a surrender. Ulysses S. Grant demanded unconditional and immediate surrender of the Confederate troops.

Even though he wasn’t really involved in the fight, he had been a quartermaster, or someone who controlled the movement of supplies. While in this position, he took the opportunity to carefully examine two major generals and their tactics, along with their outcomes, Winfield Scott and Zachary Taylor. It wasn’t until 1861 that he officially began a soldier’s life, at the battle of Fort Donelson. Here, he began as a battlefield commander, and won the Union’s first major victory. This was also the battle that granted him with his nickname - “Unconditional Surrender Grant”. Not only had he done this, but he fought off and reversed an unexpected attack from the Confederate army at one of the bloodiest battles of the war, the Battle of Shiloh. Here, he was in charge of the 21st Illinois regiment, which was made up of volunteers. He had been up against Southern Commanders Albert Sidney Johnston and P.G.T. Beauregard, and the assault took place in the dark at a place referred to as the “Hornet’s Nest”. Grant managed to fight off the forces until reinforcements

A short time later Grant became a general in the Civil War for the Union Army.

In February 1862, forces under General Ulysses S. Grant captured Forts Henry & Donelson. Two months later he defeated a Confederate army at Shiloh, TN. On April 29, Union naval forces captured New Orleans. To the east, Confederate General Braxton Bragg attempted to invade Kentucky, but was repelled at Perryville on October 8. That December he was beaten again at Stones River, TN. Grant now focused his attention on capturing Vicksburg and opening the Mississippi River. After a false start, his troops swept through Mississippi on May 18, 1863.

One well revered expert on the topic, General Antoine-Henri Jomini. He defines generalship in two ways. First Jomini states, “The most essential qualities for a general will always be as follow: - First, a high moral courage, capable of great resolutions; Secondly, A physical courage which takes no account of danger”. This definition speaks to the motivation of the General. The second of Jomini’s definitions speaks to the knowledge and actions. He begins stating, “Two very different things must exist in a man to make him a general: he must know how to arrange a good plan of operations, and how to carry it to a successful termination”. He finishes by stating, “The first of these talents may be a natural gift, but it may also be acquired and developed by study. The second which depends more on individual character, is a personal attribute, and cannot be created by study, although it may be improved”. General Jomini’s views on generalship are widely accepted and were among the teachings Civil War generals, such as Grant and Sheridan, learned from during their tenure at West Point. As such his views on generalship are what will be used to examine General Sheridan’s exploits. In addition to General Jomini’s definition of generalship, there must also be added the importance of results. A general’s job is to fight and win wars. As such, the outcome of an action, whether good or

Grant who was responsible for dividing the South and helping the Union gain control of the Mississippi River, but more importantly was a bold and flexible commander. (Nash, et al., 2007., p. 452) Grant’s strategy was a “campaign of annihilation” that did not rely upon on decisive battle rather destruction of both army and resources and combined with General Sherman’s march that inspired fear and caused destruction showed how the Union had to adapt to the defensive war the South waged, how they had to demoralize the spirit as well as destroy in order to achieve victory, which is a far cry from the slow war of attrition at the start. (Nash, et al., 2007., p.

In March, 1864, Lincoln made Grant the commander-in-chief of Union forces, with the rank of Lieutenant General. Grants strategy of Total War was to advance on the enemy from more than one front. He believed that continual pressure on all fronts would prevent Confederate forces from reinforcing each other. In the east, Grant’s plan was to whittle down the manpower of the Army of Northern Virginia by staging an unrelenting attack. After half a dozen epic battles, Grant’s army besieged the town of Petersburg, pinning Lee’s forced down.

The leader during the Battle of Inchon is easily identified by the success of Gen MacArthur, and his boldness in not letting Operation Chromite ail to persist in an endeavor or undertaking from his peers or even the President. Douglas MacArthur served his county for 52 years, meaning he was not raised in an Army of his generation, but of those of the past. He was trained as a Cadet at the United States Military Academy, West Point. He was first in his class to graduate in 1903. His leadership style compares to that of his father Major General Arthur MacArthur Jr.

In February 1862, forces under Gen. Grant captured Forts Henry & Donelson. Two months later he defeated a Confederate army at Shiloh. Union naval forces captured New Orleans. To the east, Confederate attempted to invade Kentucky, but was repelled at Perryville. He was beaten again at Stones River. Grant now focused his attention on capturing Vicksburg and opening the Mississippi River. After a false start, his troops swept through Mississippi and laid siege to the town in1863.

When Ulysses S. Grant joined the battle he was quickly promoted as general on July 1861. He was well known as the “Unconditional Surrender Grant” for being a Union victory commander. Grant conquered Fort Henry on February 6, 1862 and Fort Donelson on February 11, where he captured 14,000 Confederate