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to General George B. McClellan in Oho, but he got no appointment until with the help of local Congressman, Elihu Wasburne, he organized a group of state volunteers for the war effort. The Governor of Ohio, Richard Yates, recognizing Grant was a West Point graduate, appointed him Colonel of the 21st Illinois Infantry on June 17, 1861, an undisciplined and rebellious regiment.

On August 7th, Abraham Lincoln promoted Grant to brigadier general of volunteers, largely influenced by his congressional backing. Dubbed by military historian, J.F.C. Fuller, as "the greatest general of his age and one of the greatest strategists of any age," Grant was known for his cool determination in the face of conflict. He fought his first important battle in November of 1861, at the Ohio River town of Paducah, Kentucky. Three months later, aided by gunboats, he captured Fort Henry on the Tennessee River and Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River, which marked the first two Union victories of the War. The "unconditional surrender" of Confederate General Buckner's 14,000 men made Grant a national hero overnight and he was nicknamed "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.

In early April of 1862, the Confederates led by Generals Beauregard and Johnston, sprung a surprise attack on Grant's army at the Battle of Shiloh. Grant refused to retreat and stabilized his line with the grim determination and resolve that was the hallmark of his leadership. With the arrival of reinforcements, he forged a counterattack. Although he turned a serious reverse into a Union victory, it was at the cost of 23,000 casualties, making the battle of Shiloh the bloodiest ever fought in the Unites States up until that time.

The next big challenge was the capture of the Missisippi River and its main fortress, Vicksburg. During the winter of 1862-1863, Grant's attempts to gain access though the region's bayous failed. He then developed one of the most brilliant strategies ever conceived to capture the city. He led his troops across the Missisippi by using US Navy ships and swiftly moved inland. In so doing, he daringly cut himself loose from most of his supply lines, never giving the enemy the opportunity to concentrate their forces. His army swept eastward, capturing Jackson, Missisippi, and thus crippling the rail-line to Vicksburg in July of 1863. He was awarded a major generalcy after this important victory, and was given charge of all of the armies of the West.

The next winter (1864), Grant was given command of all

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