Campaigning With Grant

[samgrant]

An intimate look at Grant from Chattanooga through Appomattox, well written in 1896. Porter had an eye for detail.
Even the best of Grant biographies cannot match this for it's intimate detail.
Great intro:

""While sitting in my quarters in the little town of Chattanooga, Tennessee, about an hour after nightfall, Friday, October 23, 1863, an orderly brought me a message from General George H. Thomas, Commander of the Army of the Cumberland, on whose staff I was serving, summoning me to headquarters. A storm had been raging for two days,and a chilling rain was still falling. A few minutes' walk brought me to the plain wooden, one-story dwelling occupied by the commander, which was situated on Walnut street, near Fourth, and upon my arrival I found him in the front of the room on the left side of the hall, with three members of his staff and several strange officers. In an arm-chair facing the fireplace was seated a general officer, slight in figure and of medium stature, whose face bore an expression of weariness. He was carelessly dressed, and his uniform coat was unbuttoned and thrown back from his chest. He held a lighted cigar in his mouth, and sat in a stooping posture, with his head bent slightly forward. His clothes were wet, and his trousers and top-boots were spattered with mud. General Thomas approached this officer. and, turning to me and mentioning me by name, said, " I want to present you General Grant." Thereupon the officer seated in the chair, without changing his position, glanced up, extended his arm to its fullest length, shook hands, and said in a low voice, and speaking slowly, "How do you do?" This was my first meeting with the man with whom I was destined afterward to spend so many of the most interesting years of my life.""

Fan of Grant or not, this is the most interesting of any personal portrayals of that general that I have found.

Quite enjoyable, and I highly recommend it.

[gary]

Another vote of endorsement for Porter's book.