The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant (1886)

The complete personal memoirs of the 18th President of the United States and chief Union General during the American Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant. Volume I begins with a brief introduction of Grant’s ancestry and boyhood and ends with Vicksburg.
Volume II begins with Chattanooga and ends with the Grand Review in Washington D.C. at the end of the Civil War.

Memoirs are a military history of the Mexican-American War and the Civil War from Grant’s perspective as a West Point graduate and military officer.

Excellent and so readable ( )

5497. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, by Ulysses S. Grant (read 4 Sep 2017) I have intended to read this work for over 20 years and finally have done so. It is full of interesting material, including an account of Grant's life before he went to West Point and quite a detailed account of his time in the Mexican War and a brief account of his time out of the Army when he was a clerk in Galena. When the Civil War broke out Grant returned to the Army and by ability rather than political pull advanced in position. One gets the idea that he was indeed an able officer--I know, he wrote the book--but the fact of his successes cannot be denied. Some of the account of military action is deathly dull but the account of much and of Grant's opinions is full of interest. The book does not cover anything of Grant's life after 1865, though he does mention that he was president. I for one am glad he was on the right side in 1861 and stood by his country and opposed the people who were trying to destroy the nation and preserve slavery, He is unequivocal in saying that slavery was the cause of he Civil War and is not fooled by the claim that the South was resisting aggression. The South wanted slavery to be secure and feared that slavery would be restricted by Lincoln and so, despite the Constitution eleven, states seceded. There can be no doubt about that. ( )

There are several sections that are great, such as the account of Grant's meeting Lee at Appomattox. I also like Grant's assessment of the USA's motives in the war with Mexico. Unfortunately, personal anecdotes are rather few and far between. The rather straightforward listing of battles and flanking movements gets a little monotonous. That said, I did read both volumes and feel like I learned quite a bit. The North was really fortunate to have Grant (and Sherman) in the right place at the right time. Lincoln certainly appreciated them too. ( )

I'd like to like this interesting book, but the style is just too much to take. Maybe I'll come back to it. ( )