The Civil War: Grant Vs. Lee

The Civil War brought about many things, such as revolution, justice, and tragedy, but it also birthed two truly great minds of their time. These individuals were Abraham Lincoln and Nathan Bedford Forrest. One led the North as president of the United States, while the other was a Lieutenant General of the Confederate Army. While both were brilliant and truly outstanding amongst their peers, one man truly outshined the other in regards to a stronger and more efficient leadership. While Lincoln faced more success in a national sense, Nathan Bedford Forrest clearly possessed more respected authority and was a stronger overall leader than Abraham Lincoln. Forrest’s methods may have been unorthodox and downright immoral, but at the end of the day he was feared by the Union and revered by the South. This is the true mark of a great leader. They should be respected by their followers and hated by their enemies. While the South ultimately lost the Civil War, the legacy of Forrest as a remarkable leader lived on, as he was immortalized in history and respected amongst his community.

No matter how much something can differ some characteristics are shared. As strange as it sounds it’s very true, both Grant and Lee are two different yet similar people. As these two fights for what they believe in, though their beliefs are different they share some qualities. Ulysses S. Grant wanted the nation to expand and look forward towards the future. Robert E. Lee thought that an old aristocratic way of life was the better choice and that it can survive and dominant in American life.

“Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts,” written by Bruce Catton compares and contrasts the characteristics and lives of two leaders of the Civil War. Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, two very strong and very different generals, met on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House in Virginia to bring to a close the Civil War. By this time, America had become a country that was starting over with the simple core belief in equal rights for everyone.

Ulysses S. Grant had a big part in the Civil War because he was the leader of the Union’s army and soon would become president. Ulysses S. Grant was born Hiram Ulysses Grant on April 27, 1822 in Point Pleasant, Ohio. His named was soon changed because of a writing error on his first day at the United States Military Academy. He was the commander and chief of the Union and lead the army against the confederacy. He was chosen by Lincoln of all his victories like the battles at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga.

There has been much debate as to whether the Civil War could have been avoided or not. The Evansville Daily Journal argues that the Civil War was inevitable, but Alexander Stephens disagrees and proposes that the war could have been avoided. Stephen’s argument is superior to the Evansville Daily Journal one because it objectively talks about the recent changes in the United States, explains the different views between the North and South, and tries to convince people that a war is not necessary.

Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee met on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. Both of these men were bringing a stop to the Civil War. The way Grant and Lee led their army were different from each other. Lee was a nobleman who fought hard for his Confederate men. Lee became a symbol for which his men were willing to die for. On the other hand, Grant grew up the hard way through the toughness beyond the mountains. Catton says “ These frontier men were the precise opposites of the tidewater aristocrats”. Grant and Lee represented two different sides of the so called American life. Though having different personalities and beliefs, both Grant and Lee are actually quite similar. They are tremendous fighters who only want one thing--to

The American Civil War has become a point of controversy and argument when discussing key events in shaping America. The arguments that arise when discussing the war tend to focus on whether the Confederate was constitutionally justified in seceding, or whether the North had the right to prevent the secession. However, when discussing the America Civil War and the idea of separation, it is important to be mindful that separation did not simply end at the state level. Letters written by Jesse Rolston, Jr. and Jedediah Hotchkiss portray two significantly different attitudes toward the war, despite the fact that the writers both fought for the Confederate States and give accounts of the same battle, one of which ended in the Confederate’s favor. When examining the documents, both writers express different viewpoints on life on and off the battlefield. This significant difference represents a division amongst the Confederate army.

In the spring of 1861 as the nation leaned toward Civil War, both Grant and Lee would be forced to make very difficult decisions. Grant would only have to decide between being a patriot or a traitor. In a letter to Grant’s father he wrote: “There are but two parties now, Traitors & Patriots and I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter. . . (Grant p 957)"18 Lee was torn between a successful career in the United States Army, his devotion to the Union, an appointment as commander of the Union forces and the love he had for his family and homeland. In a letter to his sister, Lee wrote: “ With all my devotion to the Union…I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand

By the end of the Civil War, much of the country thought of General Robert E. Lee and General Ulysses S. Grant as personal heroes. Despite the outcome of the war, both the Union and the Confederates looked towards their leader with admiration. Both men were viewed as spectacular fighters, who were smart and strategic during the war. However, despite similarities between the two Civil War generals their differences in background experiences, personality traits, and personal underlying aspirations made them not only opposites of each other but the perfect champion for the people they were chosen to lead.

Robert E. Lee was Abraham Lincoln’s First choice to be the general of the Union army during the civil war. Lee responded to Lincoln’s request by saying the he hates slavery and he hates succession but he won’t fight against his home state of Virginia. Lincoln’s goal for the civil war wasn’t originally to free all of the slaves it was instead to try and keep the Union together.

After the Civil War most people saw Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant as heroes. Both men symbolize the two forces which fought in the Civil War (“Lee and Grant”, 1). Even though both men were brilliant generals, Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1865 and was also defeated at Gettysburg, one of the most known battles in 1863. After the Civil War, Lee went on to become president of Washington College, and Grant, president of the United States (“Robert E.Lee” and “Ulysses S. Grant”, 1). Lee and Grant were similar in their leadership styles, but also diverse in terms of military strategies.

While both Lee and Grant were two daring, resourceful, and leaders during the Civil war, they're opposing upbringing in beliefs results in similarities and differences between the two generals. To start off, their upbringing is vastly different. Lee was brought up with the ways of chivalry and knighthood. In contrast, Grant was brought up the modern age of steel and machinery. In addition, Robert E. Lee fought for a society that could endure anything but change, while in contrast, fought because everything he lived by was tied to growth, expansion and a constantly rising horizon. However, they also have some similarities. For example, both generals have been described as " the perfect champion for his cause, drawing both his strengths and

“They were two strong men, these oddly different generals, and they represented the strengths of two conflicting currents that, through them, had come into final collision (Catton).” Everyone has differences. Yet, everyone has similarities. Such two men were Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant, two great generals during the American Civil War. From early on, it was obvious that Lee and Grant were as unlike as anyone could imagine. Their backgrounds, values, and ambitions were precisely the opposite. However, despite their distinctive contrasts, they both had the courage and perseverance that distinguished them from the rest of the people of the United States.

In 1861, a horrific war began. Nobody had any idea that this war would become the deadliest war in American history. It wasn’t a regular war, it was a civil war opposing the Union in the North and the Confederate States in the South.. The Civil War cost many people’s lives on the battlefield and beyond. In addition it cost an extreme amount of money for the nation which possibly could have been avoided if the war had turned to happen a little differently.

During the times of Civil War, there were many Commanding Generals that came along. But two stand out amongst all, Ulysses S. Grant of United States of America and Robert E. Lee of Confederate States of America. Both men had formally fought, not along side of each other, in the Mexican-American War. At one point Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant worked together in the Mexican-American War. They both gained a war time experience, Grant as a quartermaster and Lee as an engineer who positioned troops and artillery during their participation in the Scott’s march from the coastal town of Vera Cruz to Mexico City. Both men were vastly different with different styles and background who not only won the affection of their men but respect of