by Marcus Brooks

Created on: August 03, 2007

The life of Ulysses S. Grant could be described in two words; reluctance and acceptance. He was born on April 27, 1822 in Point Pleasant, Ohio. At seventeen years-old, Grant proved to be an excellent mathematician. He had enrolled in Georgetown and also Presbyterian Academy. However, his hard-to-please father sought best to enlist his reluctant son America's West Point Military Academy.

Grant was an expert horseman and kept his math skills high as well. He rose through the soldiers' ranks quickly, reaching the rank of colonel before leaving for duty in the Southwest. Like his peers, General Zachary Taylor and Colonel Robert E. Lee, Grant had cut his teeth in the Mexican War(1846-1848). His military prowess showed an ability to inspire men to fight. He distinguished himself in several battles and skirmishes. He accepted his promotions with reluctance. He wasn't ready to be only known for leading men to kill and die. His personal feelings about war would be further tested in 1861.

When the Confederate forces bombed Fort Sumter, America's Civil War had begun. Grant attained a brigridare general rank and commanded an Union army west of the Mississippi. He fought two hot fights at Belmont and Mills Creek; defeating two Rebel armies. And then, came Shiloh in 1862.

Major General Ulysses S. Grant had gotten his first taste of bloodletting. Over 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers were killed, wounded or missing. In another two years, Grant would lead over 60,000 more Union soldiers to death or disability. Battles such as, Chicksaw Bluffs, Champion's Hill, Vicksburg, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor and The Crater labeled him as "The Butcher". Grant and Confederate general, Robert E. Lee battled toe-to-toe using their armies and human pawns. His war of attrition did secure an Union victory and saved the United States from permanent separation. In 1869, Grant fought a personal civil war.

After defeating Klux Klux Klan advocate, Andrew Johnson for the presidency, Grant had designed to implement the Reconstruction era in America. The South wouldn't budge. Innocent Negroes were being lynched by the thousands. Tens of thousands black families' were forced to leave from firebombings, beatings, whippings and death threats. Economic organizations had denied Negroes opportunities to receive financial assistance, employment, loans or any income. Many impoverished families were made to live as sharecroppers. Sharecroppers lived on the land and harvest the crops for their tenant(master)for little or no pay. Negroes had high illiteracy rates and no chance at achieving anything in the South. In addition, the Klu Klux Klan, White Citizens Councils and the Red Rifles terrorized any blacks and freedmen(Northern)sympathizers helping them.

President Grant ordered the Federal army to invade and occupy southern states. He instituted the Klan Acts of 1874 and 1877. He declared the racist organization as "outlaws". Black militiamen took great pleasure their personal vendettas on Klan members. However, it was too little and too late. Grant didn't run for a third term and throat cancer killed him in 1885. He wasn't able to enjoy the similar success in politics and business as he had done in battle. Grant was a soldier at his best and at his worst. But, he was reluctant to have been one throughout.

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