What factors it difficult for Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation even though he was personally against slavery? The frontier boy who did not like to hunt became the great soldier. Below are some comments by historians and contemporaries regarding Grant's military acumen. Then came the Civil War, and everything changed. A popular 1870s medallion depicted George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Ulysses S. Grant as the three great leaders of the nation. As a leader, he understood the age he fought in and the men he led in a way few could match. The glamour of position doesn’t matter as much as energy, passion and empathy. Set the right example, being a leader. “He sat on the ground and talked with the boys with less reserve than many a little puppy of a lieutenant, ” wrote an Illinois soldier. Finding the profession most suitable to your talents and most aligned with your purpose might be the biggest factor impacting your success as a leader. He always would speak of the good in a man rather than the evil, and if he had to speak of the bad qualities in a man, he would close his remarks with the mention of his good points, or excuses why he did not have them.”. Addressing General Sherman, Grant said “whilst I have been eminently successful in this war…what I want is to express my thanks to you and McPherson as the men to whom, above all others, I feel indebted for whatever I have had of success.”, 10. A popular 1870s medallion depicted George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Ulysses S. Grant as the three great leaders of the nation. General Grant may perhaps be considered the first true “world leader” and was viewed by most people abroad as, “The Hero of Freedom” or “The King of America.” The feeling people had about Grant can be summed up best by the words of Lord Provost on Sep. 13, 1877 in front of 50 thousand people, “Grant had proved himself the Wellington of America . Ulysses S. Grant (1822 - 1885) was born in Ohio into Tanning/Farming family. “If I am wrong we shall soon find out, and can do the other thing, but not to decide wastes both time and money and may ruin everything.”, 4. Grant’s relentless attacks eventually wore down the tactically superior but outnumbered Confederate commander. This first appeared in The Daily Signal here. It was for Grant. I believe Grant was an exceptional person and leader. Grant the World Leader. Failure is part of the process. In my biography, “American Ulysses,” I bring into conversation elements of Grant overlooked or undervalued. His mission was to capture the Confederate General Thomas A. Harris who commanded twelve hundred men. One day he strolled about in full view of Confederate marksmen as enemy bullets raised the dust around him. Eaton said this about Grant: “He went on to say that when it had been made clear that the Negro, as an independent laborer…could do these things well, it would be very useful to put a musket in his hands and make a soldier of him, and if he fought well, eventually put the ballot in his hand and make a citizen of him. Grant’s biographer Ron Chernow describes the scene: Grant described his first whiff of fright as his heart “kept getting higher and higher until it felt to me as though it was in my throat. When the heat of battle was on, Grant could remain calm and his thinking remained lucid. Grant was a natural leader with the temperament, intellect and disposition to lead men into battle. There was rising tension as Grant and his men approached a small hill where they suspected Harris and his army awaited them in the creek bed on the other side. (Deseret Book product description) Despite being morally opposed to the war, he fought with distinction and innovation in the US-Mexico wars, for example by bombarding Mexican positions from a church tower. When Grant asked Lee if the terms were satisfactory, Lee said “Yes, I am bound to be satisfied with anything you offer. Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant are known as the two great generals of the Civil War. OK, so who is really buried in Grant’s tomb? Grant was a master listener and communicator. Others might describe her as plain, but to Ulysses she was beautiful in ways that counted—in her gentleness, warmth, and joy. Go back to your command and try to think what we are going to do ourselves, instead of what Lee is going to do.” He wanted to eliminate the defeatist mentality that had seeped into his officers, and get them thinking confidently about winning the war. 3. Even with the scandals that tainted his second term, he retained enormous popularity with the American people and probably would have been elected to a third term in 1876 if he had chosen to run. The principle of reciprocity is not governed by self-interest. Jul 14, 2017 Andrew Knighton, Guest Author The foremost Union commander of the American Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant led his nation’s armies to a victory that united the fractured union. Never Blame Others. In his eulogy, President George W. Bush also recognized his father's … His personality is a palette not unlike the rich colors he learned to paint with at West Point. A few years after the war ended, Ike became President of Columbia University in New York City. “My heart resumed its place. Although Grant could have raised a considerable sum of money if he had sold the slave, he promptly freed him. In a story of transformation, Grant moved in the next seven years from clerk at his father’s leather goods store in Galena, Illinois, to commander of all the Union armies, and finally to being president of the United States. U.S. Grant was one of the greatest leaders the United States of America has ever had during a time of war. I believe Grant was an exceptional person and leader. Grant always maintained the equality and dignity of black Americans. He resigned commission in 1854 to be with his wife, but was no good at farming and joined the family tanning business. Although a good judge of character in the military, Grant sometimes failed in politics to appreciate the motives and morals of those he invited into his administration. To do this he had to project into the mind of his adversary and predict how they were going to react. Eisenhower had good organizational abilities, leadership skills, strong character traits, and a likeable personality. Grant was able to mitigate this weakness namely through the help of his wife, Julia, and his good friend John Rawlins. Coach Grant Leadership Was Firm . When discussing Lee with his men he said, “some of you always seem to think he is suddenly going to turn a double somersault and land on our rear and both of our flanks at the same time. 7. His quiet strength energized the soldiers who served with him. At the end of his life, Grant wrote one of the finest memoirs in American letters, which modern presidents invariably refer to when they write their own. It is not easy to be a leader especially when the team is always losing. One of Grant’s officers, Ely Parker, made the following observation: “General Grant had a wonderful power of drawing information from others in conversation without being aware that they were imparting it. Here is the deal – great leaders don’t care if they are likable; they lead! . These movements would surprise the enemy and put them in a compromising position. For decades after his death in 1885, Ulysses S. Grant suffered a reputation as one of the nation’s worst presidents, consistently ranking in the bottom 10 in polls of historians. We can fumble around a lot trying to find solutions for a problem at our current state of thinking, but sometimes it means that the whole organization has to change its perspective to overcome a present challenge. Lincoln commented: “The great thing about Grant is his perfect coolness and consistency of purpose…he is not easily excited and he has the grit of a bulldog.”. In a famous dispatch to Lincoln during the war he wrote; “Should my success be less than I desire…the least I can say is, the fault is not with you.” This is a far cry from the previous Union Generals who were always complaining to Lincoln they didn’t have enough troops or supplies, and every defeat was attributed to some problem or scapegoat in Washington. 12. Focus on What You Can Control. A lesser leader might have given in to the personal need to exact vengeance and humiliate his enemy – Grant was above all that. 6. Everyone notices Grant’s strangely nonchalant demeanor in a war zone. Grant understood that it was his men, the entire Army of the Potomac that was working together to hold their position. He always believed that slavery was a moral evil. He went to West Point in 1839, but with no military ambition. Grant was always railing against this tendency. Lionized as the general who saved the Union, Grant was celebrated in his lifetime as the “hero of Appomattox,” the warrior who offered magnanimous peace terms to Gen. Robert E. Lee. It’s one of the old standbys of Civil War mythology: General Ulysses S. Grant was a leader with no regard whatsoever for human life who managed to defeat Robert E. Lee only by means of brute force, incurring extremely high Union casualties. After being discharged from the Army, Grant was living in what many would consider poverty and was struggling to provide for his family. The first striking attribute about Grant was his low-key management style, which is the polar opposite of the textbook definition of an alpha leader. Pulitzer Prize–winning Grant biographer William S. McFeely declared, “I am convinced that Ulysses Grant had no organic, artistic, or intellectual specialness.” Describing Grant’s midlife crisis: “The only problem was that until he was nearly 40, no job he liked had come his way—and so he became a general and president because he could find nothing better to do.”. 2. So what was distinct about his leadership? Grant was not an inspirational leader. It is more than I expected.” Lee went on to say, ” This will have the best possible effect upon the men. As he thought about retirement, Ike fondly remembered the time he and Mamie spent at Camp Colt, … His memory of facts was good, and for faces remarkable. Never before in those early and bewildering days had I heard the problem of the future of the Negro attacked so vigorously and with such humanity combined with practical good sense.”. Listen to Others and Be Respectful. In 1860, with the election of Lincoln, the Southern states seceded. His capacity for self-improvement and willingness to confront his mistakes won over leaders such as Hamilton Fish, his eminent secretary of state. And for the next seven years he struggled to make a living for himself, his wife, and his four children, mostly on his pro-slavery father-in-law’s property outside St. Louis. Even his champions often wind up dwelling on his perceived flaws, as when President Trump saluted Grant’s military acumen but noted contemporaries generally saw him as a man with a “drinking problem,” an “alcoholic.” If you’re interested in learning about Grant and the Civil War, I highly recommend Grant by Ron Chernow. As I dug deeper, I discovered his intellectual journey was filled with surprises, detours, questions, and insights. Devoid of style and charisma, he did not capture the hearts and imaginations of his soldiers. Grant was raised in an abolitionist family. This biography by Bryant S. Hinckley highlights the life of this great leader and is sure to be a cherished addition to any library. 2. Ulysses S. Grant, the Civil War battlefield commander-turned-commander-in-chief fell out of favor with twentieth century historians. After growing up on the Ohio frontier, young Ulysses was accepted at West Point, from which he graduated in 1843. I would have given anything then to have been back in Illinois, but I had not the moral courage to halt.” To his relieved astonishment, Grant discovered that Harris and his men had absconded in response to his approach. It became one of his most famous lines from the Civil War. The great and good Lincoln, … Although he was renowned at the time of his death in 1885, it was not long before Grant began to fall from favor. He was endeared to them, however, by the uncanny power of his battlefield successes and by his total lack of condescension. Historians writing under the influence of the Southern “Lost Cause” theory of the war lifted up Robert E. Lee and the Confederacy in “the War of Northern Aggression.”. During the Civil War, even many Northern soldiers and officers, although they were against slavery, harbored racists views. Being able to inspire your team … Ulysses S. Grant is considered one of the great commanders in history and one of the worst US presidents. He would take the time to listen to his staff officers and soldiers. A maxim declares: “Good writers are invariably good readers.” What did Grant read? Their young love, more than they initially understood, would be tested by families who vigorously defended opposite sides of the slavery question. May 10, 200210:49 AM The Good Man theory of history has supplanted the Great Man theory, and the latest beneficiary is President Ulysses S. Grant. As the Civil War was reaching its inevitable finality, Grant was worried that a humiliated South would retreat to Guerilla warfare, and the eventual reunification of North and South would take much longer than necessary. Grant emerges from them with his career as a soldier untarnished and with posterity’s verdict on his presidency revised. A great supporter of the transcontinental railroads, Grant oversaw the completion of the one running from Sacramento, California, to Omaha, Nebraska, in 1869 in his first year in office. Grant starte… However, many historians consider him to be one of the worst Presidents in history. Coolness under Pressure. Ulysses S Grant (1869-1877) was a war hero. He possessed the trait he most admired, what he regularly called “moral courage.”. At times, this belief was challenged, yet he always chose the more virtuous path. After all, he wasn’t holding the line by himself. However, despite these towering strengths, he had one weakness that constantly threatened to ruin his career – alcohol. 1. He also understood the value of logistics and supplies. Early on I became convinced I could not understand Ulysses’ story without understanding Julia’s story. 9. Becoming a great leader implies working hard as there is a long road ahead of you – but the rewards are even greater. He could be decisive yet understated, strong but gentle. What traits did they exhibit? Grant’s biographer Ron Chernow: Before Grant became chief general, the Union’s military effort had been fragmented and disjointed, deprived of a single supervisory mind to govern the whole enterprise. He was not an eloquent speaker like Lincoln nor a fiery personality like Theodore Roosevelt; his leadership was of a different kind. He could tell a story that often ended with self-deprecating humor. What personality traits make a good leader? Grant was not some protected General who never interacted with his men. He was an excellent example of dedication and determination. Grant was not just twice as successful or three times as successful as a military leader compared to a business leader, he was a thousand times more successful. If there was a mistake or things didn’t go well, Grant always took responsibility. He surrounded himself with people who understood his weakness, and vigilantly protected him by ensuring he was rarely in situations that would be tempting. At another point in the war, when Grant was lauded for his success, he attempted to deflect attention and give credit to his commanding officers. In my biography of Abraham Lincoln, I wrote of Grant, the decorated Civil War general, but I now confess: I did not fully know the man. Having endured humiliation through the failure of his civilian life, he understood the power of offering help when one needs it the most. No. Grant could look beyond the current battle or campaign, and devise a strategy to win a decisive victory in an entire theater of war. Grant was not just twice as successful or three times as successful as a military leader compared to a business leader, he was a thousand times more successful. Obviously, I was dealing with no incompetent, but a man capable of handling large issues. You only have to look to Congress, Senate and to POTUS to see … Coach Grant realized they have been losing recently not winning any match. Now he mapped out an overarching design that encompassed all Union Armies. “Eastern and Western armies were fighting independent battles, working together like a balky team where no two ever pull together,” Grant recalled. It will be gratifying and will do much toward conciliating our people.”. Sean P. Murray is an author, speaker and consultant in the areas of leadership development and talent management. Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant; April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) was the 18th president of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877.As president, Grant was an effective civil rights executive who worked with the Radical Republicans during Reconstruction to protect African Americans, created the Justice Department, and reestablish the public credit.Promoted lieutenant-general, in 1864, Grant led … 2019 Copyright RealTime Performance, Inc. People didn’t understand alcoholism back then. 4. In the early years of the Civil War, General Lee scored a string of Confederate victories and he took on a mystique of invulnerability. The breadth of his reading, beginning with the long list of novelists he read at West Point, hints at a story of his imaginative depth yet to be told. Grant’s rise to fame has always remained something of a mystery. It was only after the head Coach Grant Taylor received a new revelation or perspective about the football game that he managed to bring them to another level. He would emerge as a master of the psychology of war, intuitive about enemy weakness. Elected president twice, he would be the only president of the United States to serve two consecutive terms between Lincoln and Woodrow Wilson. Grant said a humble narcissist, someone that can pair grandiosity with a dedication to self-improvement, can actually be a very effective leader. That’s a trick question. Don’t Hide Behind Uniforms or Titles, Just Be Yourself. So, in a gesture of goodwill, Grant did not ask for draconian terms of surrender that may have humiliated General Lee and his officers. In their retelling, Grant became the “butcher” who supposedly countenanced the merciless slaughter of his soldiers to overwhelm by sheer numbers the courageous Southern army. Grant. A newspaper reporter who did not recognize him shouted; “Stoop down, down, damn you!” Grant did not flinch. Henceforth he would project himself into opponents’ minds and comprehend their fears and anxieties instead of blowing them up into all-powerful bugaboos, giving him courage when others quailed. While composing a dispatch to President Lincoln, he wrote: “I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes me all summer.” Then in a simple yet bold move he struck the word “me” from the message, and completely transformed it from a personal note to a powerful rallying cry. During the Civil War, Grant found himself dug in at a position, and he was resolved to stand his ground and not retreat. He was already looking beyond the war, and making decisions that were in the best interest of the future of his country. Adam Grant’s research revealed that in … © Copyright 2021 Center for the National Interest All Rights Reserved. He assumed leadership more than he asserted it. Scriptural wisdom demands that a good leader first become a good servant, because the way up points down. 3. Magnanimity in Victory. Integrity. Because his wife came from a slave-holding family, his father-in-law gifted him a slave, presumably to help him provide for his family. 2. Decisiveness. Through Ulysses S. Grant’s leadership our country was saved from falling apart. He never placed money or fame above his own integrity. The Honourable and Loyal. Grant’s act of generosity was also part of his strategic thinking. The same man who decisively and strategically lead over a million soldiers through a brutal Civil War, was unable to manage his brother’s leather goods store in Galena, IL in civilian life. Like his namesake, the Greek hero Ulysses, his contemporaries came to know him as a tragic hero who had failed again and again before he succeeded. And he never relied on his rank or uniform to command the respect of others. A leader doesn’t … In his memoirs Grant tells the story of the first time he personally led his regiment into combat. Context matters. He subsequently served with honors in the Mexican War and then returned to marry Julia Dent, who accompanied him to his assignments in New York and Michigan over the next several years. Learn more at RealTime Performance. I believe Grant was an exceptional person and leader. Along with his great adversary, Robert E. Lee, his fame as a military figure was secure. Overall, Grant's intentions were honorable, and he made efforts that few had attempted before him, especially in the areas of African American rights, Native American policy, and civil service reform. Whatever glory came to Grant was not sought. Chernow relates the following story: Grant never assumed military airs and talked casually with his men, as if he were a peer. Forced to leave her behind when he was posted to the Oregon Territory and California between 1852 and 1854, he grew so heartsick that he resigned his commission. And he certainly didn’t dress for success: Instead, Grant wore a mostly unadorned blue coat and black hat throughout much of the war. A corollary of the Lost Cause legend is … All Ulysses’ friends observed his “devotion” to the woman he called “my dear Julia.” She became his anchor in the furor of many storms. Grant and his wife, Julia, are … When Ulysses S. Grant died in 1885, his reputation as a General was forever etched into the pantheon of great American military leaders. Join my mailing list and be updated when I publish new articles. He placed John Eaton in charge of developing a policy toward the many freed slaves who were flocking to Grant’s Army. Throughout his life, President Grant faced challenges and conquered them. Grant wrote to Eaton a lengthy list of contributions blacks could make toward the Union Army, including building bridges, chopping wood, and working in the kitchens and hospitals. require(["mojo/signup-forms/Loader"], function(L) { L.start({"baseUrl":"mc.us3.list-manage.com","uuid":"85e591776eb368f52d76fd784","lid":"a9f80023fe"}) }). 1. For Grant, it wasn’t the uniform that made the general. Harvard Business Review recently did a survey of 51,000 leaders and found that if you weren’t likable you only had a 1/2000 chance of being considered a good leader. Finding the profession most suitable to your talents and most aligned with your purpose might be the biggest factor impacting your success as a leader. Alcohol abuse was attributed mainly to insufficient will power. Grant understood that making a wrong decision was bad, but often delaying the decision altogether was much worse. Ulysses S. Grant, the Union hero of the Civil War, was elected in 1868, the last U.S. president to have been a slave owner. 5. If you are trying to be likable then you are actually being influenced by others and not leading. Lincoln was frustrated by most of the Union Generals, but not Grant. A popular 1870s medallion depicted George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Ulysses S. Grant as the three great leaders of the nation. When Grant is remembered, he is too often described as a simple man of action, not of ideas. Friends at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site near St. Louis tell me most visitors arrive with little knowledge of Grant—but leave with deep appreciation. Grant's rise in political popularity among Republicans was based on his Union military service during the Civil War, his successful generalship that defeated Robert E. Lee, and his break from President Andrew Johnson over the Tenure of Office Act, when Grant returned the War Office back to Edwin Stanton. 11. 1. At Appomattox Courthouse, where Lee surrendered to Grant, Lee was wearing a shiny new uniform with accompanying sword and polished boots while Grant famously showed up in well-worn uniform, tattered gloves and muddy boots. Instead he was gracious and offered Confederate Soldiers the right to return home to care for their families, and officers were allowed to keep their side arms and horses. His friendship with William Tecumseh Sherman seemed to outsiders like a pairing of opposites. Give Credit Away. Grant loved his wife, Julia, his four children, horses, the theater, his Missouri farm, painting, travel, Mexico, and novels. These personal qualities enabled him to lead armies from different countries to victory in Europe.
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