Comparison of grant and lee
Introduction of a Comparison of Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee
Grant and Lee: the titans of the American Civil War. It's difficult to compare their merits, because
prejudice enters into the equation, rendering judgments that are tainted with passion. The cult of personality
that has enveloped Lee frequently obfuscate his more mortal qualities. Such veneration Grant experienced in
his own lifetime (in abundance) but his 20th century reputation is not of the caliber of Lee's. His checkered
Presidency and perceived "slovenly demeanor" have contributed to a lack of appreciation of his soldierly
qualities or greatness as a man.
A curious phenomenon is that the Confederates of the Civil War generation were virtually
unanimous in their praise and admiration of Grant. It's unfortunate that present day sympathizers
of the old South have not followed their forefathers’ example. The writings of Jefferson Davis, Lee,
Longstreet, Alexander Stephens, John B. Gordon and dozens of other Southern leaders reveal unqualified
praise for General Grant.
Robert E. Lee, specifically, spoke in glowing terms about his adversary. He was particularly
grateful for the generous treatment he had received at Appomattox and that Grant threatened to resign his
commission in the Army if Andrew Johnson continued to persecute Lee. In May of 1865, Lee spoke openly of
his feelings on this issue: "As to my own fate, I know not what is in store for me. I believe the politicians in
Washington are bent on the most extreme measures, and if they have their way will stop at no humiliation
they can heap on me. My sole reliance is on General Grant. I have faith in his honor and his integrity as a
soldier, and do not believe he will permit the terms of my surrender of the parole given me, to be violated."
Joe Johnston, who happened to be Grant's personal favorite among the Confederate generals,
related his own opinion of this incident: "Lee was correct in trusting General Grant, because at that time,
Stanton and President Johnson were intending to put Lee under arrest. But Grant declared to Johnson that if
any Federal official molested Lee, then he would surrender his commission in the United States army. I have
always felt that General Grant should be entitled to the gratitude of all Confederate soldiers for this act."
Attorney General James Speed knew personally of Grant's involvement in saving Lee from the
disgrace of imprisonment. Speed was convinced that it was Grant alone who saved Lee from this ignominious
fate, and a fate that Johnson passionately wished to enforce. Speed recalled, "Grant expressed his unalterable
determination that the terms he had written at Appomattox not be violated. He said, "That is the way
General Lee and I understood it at the time, and I will be drawn and quartered before they shall be violated."
The sequel was that the power and popularity of General Grant thwarted the jealous and vindictive President
Johnson. There was never again any talk of imprisoning Robert E. Lee.
The issue of Appomattox was one, which Grant discussed only reluctantly. Even his youngest son
stated that his father never talked about the incident with his children. On one celebrated occasion when
Grant was President, a "foolish and silly person" began pestering the General about his final campaign in the
Civil War. The gentleman said that any man of ordinary capacity could have easily forced Lee to surrender
and that the culminating victory at Appomattox was "not a particularly noteworthy event."
Grant listened to these remarks and slowly rolled his cigar from one side of his mouth to the other
and quietly replied, " I have heard of these criticisms before, and there is only one answer that I wish to
make. General Lee surrendered to me. He did not surrender to any other Union General, although I believe
there were several efforts made in that direction before I assumed command of the armies in Virginia."
Grant assisted Lee in more covert ways in the late 1860's. In 1869, it was suggested by merabers of
Congress that the rotunda of the Capitol include a massive painting representing Lee surrendering to Grant.
The Congressmen visited Grant and told them of the proposal, expecting the president-elect to be amenable
to the suggestion. Instead, the usual calm and unruffled Grant became markedly agitated. "No, gentlemen,"
Grant said, "it won't do. No power on earth will make me agree to your proposal. I will not humiliate
General Lee or our Southern frienRAB in depicting their humiliation and then celebrating the event in the
nation's capitol." This immediately ended any discussion of the painting.
It's a pity that some unreconstructed Southerners are unacquainted with Lee's admiration for
Grant or the sacrifices Grant made for Lee when Andrew Johnson clamored for the Virginian's
imprisonment. On his deatrabroaded, Ulysses S. Grant wrote, "I would like to see truthful history written," and
that sentiment is as true today as it was a hundred years ago.
Introduction of a Comparison of Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee
Grant and Lee: the titans of the American Civil War. It's difficult to compare their merits, because
prejudice enters into the equation, rendering judgments that are tainted with passion. The cult of personality
that has enveloped Lee frequently obfuscate his more mortal qualities. Such veneration Grant experienced in
his own lifetime (in abundance) but his 20th century reputation is not of the caliber of Lee's. His checkered
Presidency and perceived "slovenly demeanor" have contributed to a lack of appreciation of his soldierly
qualities or greatness as a man.
A curious phenomenon is that the Confederates of the Civil War generation were virtually
unanimous in their praise and admiration of Grant. It's unfortunate that present day sympathizers
of the old South have not followed their forefathers’ example. The writings of Jefferson Davis, Lee,
Longstreet, Alexander Stephens, John B. Gordon and dozens of other Southern leaders reveal unqualified
praise for General Grant.
Robert E. Lee, specifically, spoke in glowing terms about his adversary. He was particularly
grateful for the generous treatment he had received at Appomattox and that Grant threatened to resign his
commission in the Army if Andrew Johnson continued to persecute Lee. In May of 1865, Lee spoke openly of
his feelings on this issue: "As to my own fate, I know not what is in store for me. I believe the politicians in
Washington are bent on the most extreme measures, and if they have their way will stop at no humiliation
they can heap on me. My sole reliance is on General Grant. I have faith in his honor and his integrity as a
soldier, and do not believe he will permit the terms of my surrender of the parole given me, to be violated."
Joe Johnston, who happened to be Grant's personal favorite among the Confederate generals,
related his own opinion of this incident: "Lee was correct in trusting General Grant, because at that time,
Stanton and President Johnson were intending to put Lee under arrest. But Grant declared to Johnson that if
any Federal official molested Lee, then he would surrender his commission in the United States army. I have
always felt that General Grant should be entitled to the gratitude of all Confederate soldiers for this act."
Attorney General James Speed knew personally of Grant's involvement in saving Lee from the
disgrace of imprisonment. Speed was convinced that it was Grant alone who saved Lee from this ignominious
fate, and a fate that Johnson passionately wished to enforce. Speed recalled, "Grant expressed his unalterable
determination that the terms he had written at Appomattox not be violated. He said, "That is the way
General Lee and I understood it at the time, and I will be drawn and quartered before they shall be violated."
The sequel was that the power and popularity of General Grant thwarted the jealous and vindictive President
Johnson. There was never again any talk of imprisoning Robert E. Lee.
The issue of Appomattox was one, which Grant discussed only reluctantly. Even his youngest son
stated that his father never talked about the incident with his children. On one celebrated occasion when
Grant was President, a "foolish and silly person" began pestering the General about his final campaign in the
Civil War. The gentleman said that any man of ordinary capacity could have easily forced Lee to surrender
and that the culminating victory at Appomattox was "not a particularly noteworthy event."
Grant listened to these remarks and slowly rolled his cigar from one side of his mouth to the other
and quietly replied, " I have heard of these criticisms before, and there is only one answer that I wish to
make. General Lee surrendered to me. He did not surrender to any other Union General, although I believe
there were several efforts made in that direction before I assumed command of the armies in Virginia."
Grant assisted Lee in more covert ways in the late 1860's. In 1869, it was suggested by merabers of
Congress that the rotunda of the Capitol include a massive painting representing Lee surrendering to Grant.
The Congressmen visited Grant and told them of the proposal, expecting the president-elect to be amenable
to the suggestion. Instead, the usual calm and unruffled Grant became markedly agitated. "No, gentlemen,"
Grant said, "it won't do. No power on earth will make me agree to your proposal. I will not humiliate
General Lee or our Southern frienRAB in depicting their humiliation and then celebrating the event in the
nation's capitol." This immediately ended any discussion of the painting.
It's a pity that some unreconstructed Southerners are unacquainted with Lee's admiration for
Grant or the sacrifices Grant made for Lee when Andrew Johnson clamored for the Virginian's
imprisonment. On his deatrabroaded, Ulysses S. Grant wrote, "I would like to see truthful history written," and
that sentiment is as true today as it was a hundred years ago.