Ulysses S. Grant was actually born, Hiram Ulysses Grant, in 1822. His name was accidently changed when he was accepted at West Point after a mistake by his Congressman, Thomas Hamer. After graduation, Grant was posted to the 4th Infantry, and served in the Mexican War, serving as a regimental quartermaster. Nevertheless, he led a company in combat under Zachary Taylor in northern Mexico. At the end of the war, he was transferred to the Winfield Scott's army operating from the West Coast. On July 31, 1854, he resigned his captaincy amid rumors of heavy drinking and warnings of possible disciplinary action.

He was working in his fathers store when the Civil War broke out and he offered his services to the War Department but could not gain an appointment. He organized volunteers from Illinois and on April 24, 1861, ten days after the fall of Fort Sumpter, Captain Grant arrived in Springfield Illinois with a company of men he had raised. The governor appointed him a colonel and by August he was a brigadier general of the volunteers.

In this new role Grant secured the first major union victory of the war, capturing Forts Henry and Donelson in Tennessee. At the Battle of Shiloh he was surprised by a violent Confederate attack, but refused to surrender and after reinforcements arrived, he counterattacked and gained another victory. In spite of the victory, he lost over 23,000 men in the battle and almost resigned after criticism from his commander, Henry Halleck. His friend, William T. Sherman convinced him to stay and he returned to his position of commander of the Army of the Tennessee.

He waged a relentless and lengthy campaign to capture Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1862-1863. The victory effectively split the Confederacy in two and with the Union victory at Gettysburg the previous day, became the turning point in the war.

Grant's willingness to fight, and his ability to win, impressed President Lincoln who was tired of ineffectual generals. He promoted Grant to lieutenant general on March 2, 1864, and on March 12, Grant became general-in-chief of all the armies of the United States. He became a four star general in 1866, the first since Washington.

Grant served two terms as President from March 4, 1869 to March 3, 1877. His presidency was plagued with scandals and his war-time leadership skills seemed to evaporate and his administrative skills were never strong. In 1869 and 1871, Grant signed bills promoting voting rights and prosecuting Klan leaders. The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, establishing voting rights, was ratified in 1870. He died in 1885, days after finishing his memoirs, which were published by Mark Twain.

Medium : 1 negative : glass, wet collodion

Created/Published : Between 1860 and 1870

Creator : Mathew Brady, photographer, 1823-1896

Forms part of the Brady Civil War Photographic Collection housed in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress

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Product #: genusgrant