Nils Urban 
Ulysses S. Grant 

Seminar paper from the year 2003 in the subject History – America, grade: 2, 5 (B), University of Cologne (History Seminar, Cologne), course: United States History, 1830-77, language: English, abstract: „What General Lee’s feelings were I do not know. As he was a man of much
dignity, with an impassable face, it was impossible to say whether he felt
inwardly glad that the end had finally come, or felt sad over the result, and was
too manly to show it. Whatever his feelings, they were entirely concealed from
my observation; but my own feelings, which had been quite jubilant on the
receipt of his letter, were sad and depressed. I felt like anything rather than
rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, and had
suffered so much for a cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst
for which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least excuse. I
do not question, however, the sincerity of the great mass of those who were
opposed to us.”1
Down-hearted, but joyous about victory, maybe even more about a cruel
civilwar finally finding its end and respect for his enemy, even if he condemns
the cause they fought for, are just a few characteristics already beeing revealed
to us. The Man writing this, is Ulysses Hiram Grant, one, if not the most
famous general of the northern troops throughout the american civil war. The
circumstances surrounding these few sentences written above, describe a
moment of major importance for the war, because they represent the downfall,
the final collapsing of the confederate resistance and the defeat of another great
legend of war, ”General E. Lee”, at Appomattox in April 9, 1865.
Grant obviously is on the peak of success, beeing a national hero, a highly
decorated general and only 4 years after the war, candidating and winning the
presidential elections. But considering how his career started it was hard to
foresee such a splendid development. A resigned Military Officer, incapable as
an entrepreneur, and with a tendency of excessive enjoyment of alcoholics,
turned into a War-Hero within 4 Years.
Born to Jesse Root and Hannah Simpson Grant in Point Pleasant, Clermont
County, Ohio, on April 27, 1822, he moved along with his family to
Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio in 1823. He attended the Maysville
Seminary in Maysville, Kentucky From 1836-1837 and the Presbyterian
Academy in Ripley Ohio From 1838-1839. […]

1 Grant, Ulysses S.: Ulysses Grant Memoirs, Chapter 67.