Grant The Artist (war, greatest, generals, Lincoln)
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I have found Ulysses Grant to be a difficult historical figure in terms of gaining a full understanding of his talents. Some of the things he wrote and said were impressively insightful, at other times he comes across as Bobo the Simpleminded.
One thing I have learned is that it is an error to embrace the image often associated with Grant, that of being an unimaginative plodder whose chief virtue was tenacity. Many still believe that he finished last in his class at West Point, but in fact he was 21st out of 39. While there, he indulged in his hobby as a painter, completing many works, nine of which have survived. Some samples:
Smears against Grant are mostly "sour grapes" comments from former confederates, Southern apologists and their offspring. Grant defeated every confederate he faced and it still stings 150 years later.
Grant's memoirs are rightly considered a classic, and he wrote them while he was dying of cancer.
Sales of the books allowed his family to recover from financial ruin.
To me, despite his not too successful presidency, he is one of the greatest Americans.
Last edited by USC1986; 11-25-2019 at 06:38 AM..
Reason: punctuation
Grant is often vilified by both sides. He was a product of the times and had to deal with difficult, complex issues of a growing US, pre and post Civil War.
He deeply admired Lincoln, and touchingly showed so at his funeral, in his characteristically restrained way.
He was a case of a man whose traits made for a great general but poor politician.
ETA: I’m not surprised he painted and sketched, and well. In some respects, he always struck me as having an introspective, sensitive, artist’s soul. Wouldn’t surprise me if he also suffered from bouts of depression so characteristic of many of the highly intelligent - including, I suspect, Sherman.
Smears against Grant are mostly "sour grapes" comments from former confederates, Southern apologists and their offspring. Grant defeated every confederate he faced and it still stings 150 years later.
I don't think most of the Grant criticism has to do with Civil War generalship.. it's more about all the (subordinate) corruption within his presidency. And Grant admitted to/recognized his errors in 'judgement' regarding that..
I don't think most of the Grant criticism has to do with Civil War generalship.. it's more about all the (subordinate) corruption within his presidency. And Grant admitted to/recognized his errors in 'judgement' regarding that..
Incidentally, his paintings are pretty good.
His loyalty to those he respected, trusted, or cared for served him well as a general, but also made him vulnerable to rampant corrupt patronage and nepotism in his presidency.
The landscape painting is in fairly standard style for the period, but the sketch of the horse evokes hints of later period Cezanne.
In some respects, he always struck me as having an introspective, sensitive, artist’s soul. Wouldn’t surprise me if he also suffered from bouts of depression so characteristic of many of the highly intelligent - including, I suspect, Sherman.
Grant was famous for always showing a calm, low key demeanor regardless of what might be happening. Sherman was much more mercurial, given to highs and lows.
Grant was primarily a family man, he deeply cherished his wife and children. The Grants had a very happy marriage.
Grant's memoirs are rightly considered a classic, and he wrote them while he was dying of cancer.
Sales of the books allowed his family to recover from financial ruin.
To me, despite his not too successful presidency, he is one of the greatest Americans.
Well he had a lot of help from Mark Twain. He wrote his memoirs to provide for his wife after he died. Mark Twain contacted him, and offered to help him. He apparently gave him a great deal of help.
Twain admired Grant.
Last edited by mensaguy; 11-28-2019 at 02:27 PM..
Reason: Fixed quote tag. Spelling counts.
Well he had a lot of help from Mark Twain. He wrote his memoirs to provide for his wife after he died. Mark Twain contacted him, and offered to help him. He apparently gave him a great deal of help.
Twain admired Grant.
I don't know about Twain offering any help writing the memoirs, but he did agree to publish the work to make sure Julia Grant received the income from the books (I believe it was two volumes).
Grant was famous for always showing a calm, low key demeanor regardless of what might be happening. Sherman was much more mercurial, given to highs and lows.
Sherman seemed much more of a black and white thinker, which may have allowed him to successfully implement his total war strategy in his March to the Sea.
They both probably suffered chronic depression throughout their lives. May have contributed to Grant’s reputation as a problem drinker.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grandstander
Grant was primarily a family man, he deeply cherished his wife and children. The Grants had a very happy marriage.
Were he not so devoted to his wife on April 15, 1865, Lincoln may have survived.
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