Was U.S. Grant a "butcher"?

[J. Rodriguez]

This question has probably been asked on this website already, but was Grant really at fault for all the slaughter during the Overland campaign and the prolonged brutal trench warfare during the Petersburg/Richmond campaign? Is there anything he could have done differently?

 

[Tom Hughes]

I guess you can say it comes with the territory. Grant had to do what he did to achieve his ultimate goal.
Lee did the same thing. Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg is the first thing that comes to mind.

 

[Dead Parrott]

This question has probably been asked on this website already, but was Grant really at fault for all the slaughter during the Overland campaign and the prolonged brutal trench warfare during the Petersburg/Richmond campaign? Is there anything he could have done differently?

Yes, there are always ways that any accomplishment could have been done better.

After every accomplishment, there are always folks who claim they (or their favorite) would have done it in half the time with a quarter of the casualties.

… after the actual accomplishment is done, of course.

Monday Morning quarterbacks always win the Super Bowl, but never earn the actual ring.

There are several very good threads on this question: I'm sure folks will be happy to direct you to them. Enjoy!