Grant Captain Sam Grant

[James N.]

Although I've posted a review of this in the Book & Movie thread, I want to bring it to the attention of those who frequent this particular forum - it is simply the best account of the early life and career of Grant that I've ever read, and all his devotees here who have never read it owe it to themselves to do so. Although it must depend heavily on Grant's own memoirs - which I admit I've never read - as well as those of his wife, Julia - which I have in part - there is SO much more here that illuminates their and their families' lives. For my full review: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/captain-sam-grant-by-lloyd-lewis.159173/

 

[Cavalry Charger]

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Although I've posted a review of this in the Book & Movie thread, I want to bring it to the attention of those who frequent this particular forum - it is simply the best account of the early life and career of Grant that I've ever read, and all his devotees here who have never read it owe it to themselves to do so. Although it must depend heavily on Grant's own memoirs - which I admit I've never read - as well as those of his wife, Julia - which I have in part - there is SO much more here that illuminates their and their families' lives. For my full review: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/captain-sam-grant-by-lloyd-lewis.159173/

Thanks for adding James N. I've never heard of this one, so I'm going to pop by the thread you have linked to find out more about it

 

[Canadian]

View attachment 312524

Although I've posted a review of this in the Book & Movie thread, I want to bring it to the attention of those who frequent this particular forum - it is simply the best account of the early life and career of Grant that I've ever read, and all his devotees here who have never read it owe it to themselves to do so. Although it must depend heavily on Grant's own memoirs - which I admit I've never read - as well as those of his wife, Julia - which I have in part - there is SO much more here that illuminates their and their families' lives. For my full review: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/captain-sam-grant-by-lloyd-lewis.159173/

I just got a copy of this book and am looking forward to reading it.

 

[James N.]

Thanks for adding James N. I've never heard of this one, so I'm going to pop by the thread you have linked to find out more about it

I just got a copy of this book and am looking forward to reading it.

I'll briefly add that among the information we learn that:
Jesse Grant wasn't the monster he's sometimes represented as - far from it; he positively doted on his son Ulysses.
Among Jesse's friends as a young man were a family named Brown who had a teenaged son named John - THAT John Brown!
Although mainly active in local politics, Jesse was an important man within the Whig party.
Grant was a superb horseman, a regular Horse Whisperer from a very young age who often broke wild and unruly mounts.
Although generally quiet and reserved like his mother Hannah, Ulysses made friends easily once he was comfortable around them.
During the Mexican War Grant was entrusted with responsibilities far above his rank and station.
For a time during the inter-war years he was a very active member of a temperance society who swore off all liquor.
Early on during the secession crisis Grant became a leader in Galena preparations for war as a respected member of society.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

I just got a copy of this book and am looking forward to reading it.

Wow! I'm starting to feel like I'm out of the loop ... hopefully you can add more thoughts after you've read it

Among Jesse's friends as a young man were a family named Brown who had a teenaged son named John - THAT John Brown!

Now this is one that I was aware of, in fact I believe Jesse Grant lived with John Brown's family for a time as a boy/young man due to his own unfortunate family circumstances. I am often surprised this part of the Grant family history doesn't gain more traction when you consider the notoriety of John Brown.

Grant was a superb horseman, a regular Horse Whisperer from a very young age who often broke wild and unruly mounts.

I was really happy to see they included commentary on his horsemanship at the unveiling of his statue at West Point and made that part of the focus of the ceremony

 

[James N.]

… I was really happy to see they included commentary on his horsemanship at the unveiling of his statue at West Point and made that part of the focus of the ceremony

It seems he was famous for his skill while at the Academy and fractious horses were often entrusted to him to break or "gentle." To have been singled out as he was at his graduation to put on a display of horsemanship was a remarkable honor. The book recounts many stories of the undersized child Ulysses and his feats training and using horses.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

View attachment 312524

Although I've posted a review of this in the Book & Movie thread, I want to bring it to the attention of those who frequent this particular forum - it is simply the best account of the early life and career of Grant that I've ever read, and all his devotees here who have never read it owe it to themselves to do so. Although it must depend heavily on Grant's own memoirs - which I admit I've never read - as well as those of his wife, Julia - which I have in part - there is SO much more here that illuminates their and their families' lives. For my full review: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/captain-sam-grant-by-lloyd-lewis.159173/

Sounds like an interesting read. Don't feel bad that you haven't read Grant's memoirs, I've had a copy for a year or two now and still haven't got to it, personally I blame the my stack of "need to read" books continually getting larger.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

Sounds like an interesting read. Don't feel bad that you haven't read Grant's memoirs, I've had a copy for a year or two now and still haven't got to it, personally I blame the my stack of "need to read" books continually getting larger.

I'm in the same boat ... at least with the 'need to read' stack. I think you'll enjoy Grant's memoirs when you get to them.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I'm in the same boat ... at least with the 'need to read' stack. I think you'll enjoy Grant's memoirs when you get to them.

Its liable to be quite a while, I have some books I'm reading related to a very important project, plus a "trade" book or two related to that very important project. After that I still have "With Santa Anna in Texas" to finish, two Confederate memoirs loaned to me by a friend some months back, (I know one of them is "I Rode with Stonewall"), an appointment to re-read for the first time in ages "Destruction and Reconstruction" and maaaybe I can get to Grant's memoirs.

I've wanted to read Grant's book for quite a while though.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Missed the review. Ordering a copy for my 87 year old mother, Grant's biggest fan. She has a copy of his memoirs I'm afraid to touch in case I do something awful to it- been in her family for awhile. She still picks it up sometimes.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

Missed the review. Ordering a copy for my 87 year old mother, Grant's biggest fan. She has a copy of his memoirs I'm afraid to touch in case I do something awful to it- been in her family for awhile. She still picks it up sometimes.

Maybe she can tell you what she thinks when she's read it and you can tell us JPK!

 

[KansasFreestater]

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Although I've posted a review of this in the Book & Movie thread, I want to bring it to the attention of those who frequent this particular forum - it is simply the best account of the early life and career of Grant that I've ever read, and all his devotees here who have never read it owe it to themselves to do so. Although it must depend heavily on Grant's own memoirs - which I admit I've never read - as well as those of his wife, Julia - which I have in part - there is SO much more here that illuminates their and their families' lives. For my full review: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/captain-sam-grant-by-lloyd-lewis.159173/

Ah, yes, but if only Lewis could write like Bruce Catton! I agree that Lewis's book is the definitive one on Grant's early life, but the two following volumes in the trilogy, written by Catton, absolutely dazzled me -- as Catton always does.

Don't misunderstand me: Lewis is a wonderful writer compared to most; it's just that Catton is in a league of his own. I highly recommend Lewis's book, and it is a must if you are to really get the most out of books 2 and 3 in the Grant trilogy.

 

[jackt62]

Another Grant book! Looks like it covers some earlier parts of his life, so it might be an interesting addition to his biography.