Lieutenant General Grant

Ulysses S. Grant entered the Mexican War as a first lieutenant and emerged as a captain. Having resigned his commission in 1854, Grant reentered the army in 1861 as a colonel. He rose steadily in rank until he commanded all Union land forces. Shown here is Grant's commission as lieutenant general, which was presented to him by President Abraham Lincoln on March 10, 1864. Grant was subject only to Lincoln as commander in chief.