Grant US Grant

[Patrick H]

"What General Lee's feelings were I do not know. As he was a man of much dignity, with an impassible 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." Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant

Yeah, "tedious alcoholic rantings."

Cash, I am not sure how to interpret your post. Your closing sentence can be read literally (in which you express the opinion that they really are tedious alcoholic rantings), or it can be interpreted as a sarcastic statement (in which you express the opinion that they are anything BUT the first option). Please explain.

 

[jgoodguy]

and what Is the more accurate word?

As moderator.
Yes let it go.
Thank you

 

[Specster]

Another flame war over Grant waiting to break out. We've been here before.

You are aware that it doesn't say much for the fighting qualities of Confederate generals and men to say that they lost to a man who was drunk all the time. Grant drunk looks better than McClellan sober.

When I was in para military college, naval, there was one engineering professor who we all respected because he knew his stuff. When we hit port, he would get hammered - blind drunk. Yet, that did not define him 354 of 365 days a year. Some cadets took delight in pointing out that he got blind drunk. At the end of the day, we were all more educated because he was one of our best professors.

I dont think Grant should be maligned because he occasionally went on a bing. When it mattered, the General was generally there.

 

[John Hartwell]

Cash, I am not sure how to interpret your post. Your closing sentence can be read literally (in which you express the opinion that they really are tedious alcoholic rantings), or it can be interpreted as a sarcastic statement (in which you express the opinion that they are anything BUT the first option). Please explain.

I think we need a new smiley, like,

']

[/URL] Unsubtle, but effective.

 

[jgoodguy]

When I was in para military college, naval, there was one engineering professor who we all respected because he knew his stuff. When we hit port, he would get hammered - blind drunk. Yet, that did not define him 354 of 365 days a year. Some cadets took delight in pointing out that he got blind drunk. At the end of the day, we were all more educated because he was one of our best professors.

I dont think Grant should be maligned because he occasionally went on a bing. When it mattered, the General was generally there.

I personally don't hold it against Grant that Lee surrendered to him or Pemberton and Buckner.

 

[cash]

Cash, I am not sure how to interpret your post. Your closing sentence can be read literally (in which you express the opinion that they really are tedious alcoholic rantings), or it can be interpreted as a sarcastic statement (in which you express the opinion that they are anything BUT the first option). Please explain.

The second interpretation is the correct one.

 

[Lost Cause]

I personally don't hold it against Grant that Lee surrendered to him or Pemberton and Buckner.

Lesser Union commanders prolonged the war, eventually costing more lives.

 

[jgoodguy]

Lesser Union commanders prolonged the war, eventually costing more lives.

Some were incompetent others believed in a more humane war.

 

[Patrick H]

The second interpretation is the correct one.

Great. Thanks for clarifying!

 

[hanna260]

Sorry to drag up an old thread but in case the OP or anyone else is wondering- since this thread seemed to have become more about his memoirs- here are some other threads I found about Grant.

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/about-grant.106616/

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/sam-grant-great-good-fair-your-opinion.23225/

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/us-grant-a-really-nasty-petty-jealous-back-stabber.96324/

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/grant-or-lee.74698/

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/u-s-grant.24904/

 

[hanna260]

Oh, and here's some-more. It's probably overload, but hey, this guy was important, right?

http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/ulysses-s-grant-the-myth-of-his-drinking.74218/#post-829217

http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/but-for-the-grace-of-sherman-goes-grant.106941/#post-1000205

And about probably one of his most controversial days- http://civilwartalk.com/threads/gra...day-of-december-17-1862-more-paradoxes.98851/

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/was-grant-a-tactician.106817/

 

[hanna260]

I suppose I should give an answer too. I think he's confusing for a lot of people- then and now. He didn't have the charisma of a Robert E. Lee, the hard-bitten flamboyance of a William Tecumseh Sherman, the religious fervor of a Stonewall Jackson, the pure audacity and hard-drive of a Phil Sheridan or Nathan Bedford Forrest, and surely not the passion for life that JEB Stuart exuded so well. I tend to agree that he was simply a man who did whatever task he had to do uncomplainingly to the best of his capabilities.

But I feel we sometimes forget and need people like Grant to remind us, that those are the people-when given the time and the motive- who will quietly change the world.

 

[peteanddelmar]

But I feel we sometimes forget and need people like Grant to remind us, that those are the people-when given the time and the motive- who will quietly change the world.

Second case of great member post wording that I have read tonight! Well said.

 

[hanna260]

OP, when you have the chance, did those links help? Were they relevant or useful?

 

[rhettbutler1865]

Well, I am well into Grant's memoirs now (a few very late nights), and my opinion of him has done a 180 degree turn for the better! Thanks to this group--(But I hope I'm not opening myself up to another hail of lead-lol)...

 

[ole]

Some were incompetent others believed in a more humane war.

I had this cat. Bok Twong. He was Siamese and he didn't act like a normal cat. A normal cat will, when braced, posture and puff up. Not Bok.

Got to meet, once, a yellow tom that puffed up. Yellow fur flew. Was no ritual followed. He just went in there and tore up that poor cat.

Is there a lesson here?

 

[hanna260]

Well, I am well into Grant's memoirs now (a few very late nights), and my opinion of him has done a 180 degree turn for the better! Thanks to this group--(But I hope I'm not opening myself up to another hail of lead-lol)...

Neat. I've definitely noticed through my days of lurking that there's a lot of respect for Grant on this forum and plenty of people willing to go to bat for him when the "drunk butcher" rumbles start around.

 

[hanna260]

I had this cat. Bok Twong. He was Siamese and he didn't act like a normal cat. A normal cat will, when braced, posture and puff up. Not Bok.

Got to meet, once, a yellow tom that puffed up. Yellow fur flew. Was no ritual followed. He just went in there and tore up that poor cat.

Is there a lesson here?

Ole, you always say things in the most eloquent way (yes, yes I'm new but I've lurked). Is it just natural talent? Years of practice?

 

[ole]

Ole, you always say things in the most eloquent way (yes, yes I'm new but I've lurked). Is it just natural talent? Years of practice?

Hanna, I'm an old fart and have been posting forever. I've seen it all at least twice. I've been thinking about not seeing it all thrice, but there is always something new. Not as many as there were in the old days, but now and then, something new.

But you are new and the new is what I most appreciate. (I'm not alone in that.)

But the compliment is most appreciated. I do what I have to do, but eloquent is not something of of which I've been accused. Sonof a beach kinda covers it.

 

[jgoodguy]

I had this cat. Bok Twong. He was Siamese and he didn't act like a normal cat. A normal cat will, when braced, posture and puff up. Not Bok.

Got to meet, once, a yellow tom that puffed up. Yellow fur flew. Was no ritual followed. He just went in there and tore up that poor cat.

Is there a lesson here?

Don't know, but as a teen my family had a scrawny female seal point Siamese. One day a terrific multiple cat fight erupted on drive way. When I got to the drive way, it was empty except for her, but the trees were filled with big tom cats waiting for her to leave.