In this first episode of "Grant," we meet the young Ulysses H. Grant, whose name is inexplicably changed to Ulysses S. Grant when he arrives at West Point. Jokes are made about "Useless" Grant, and, following his undistinguished period of training, he is a complete failure at civilian life.
A point made in the film was that because Grant had reached a destitute state and was struggling at selling cords of wood to support his family, he developed a special kind of personal resilience not known in the pampered lives of the other Civil War generals.
While he had shown sparks of courage in the Mexican-American War at Monterey on September 23, 1846, Grant was a non-descript quartermaster in the war. Later, he was especially incensed at the idea of secession, which he believed was an act of treason. Thus, Grant had nothing but contempt for the disaffected Southern generals and politicians. At the start of the Civil War, Grant seized the moment when he first was given command of a small militia in Illinois. Once he had the opportunity to lead men, he never looked back in his tenacity.
Grant first made his name with the capture of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson near the Kentucky-Tennessee border, opening the Union army to an invasion of the South through the Cumberland River. His nickname "Unconditional Surrender" Grant says it all: he would be ruthless in his prosecution of the Confederacy.
The focus of the later part of the episode is on the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee starting on April 6, 1862. The battle began with a surprise attack of the Confederates. While outnumbered and outmaneuvered, Grant refused to retreat. His first reaction when receiving the news of the attack was to calmly say, "Gentlemen, the ball is in motion." His ability to stay calm in the heat of a battle was one of his strengths as a military leader. Despite the bloodbath and overwhelming casualties at Shiloh, he ordered his troops to stand their ground until reserves arrived. Grant in effect wore out the Confederate army.
The program closes on the note that the Ulysses S. Grant at Shiloh had conceived a far different strategy than Union tacticians like George McClellan. Historian Allen C. Guelzo noted the unique partnership of Grant and the ruthless William Tecumseh Sherman. The Grant-Sherman philosophy was simply "saving the union by complete conquest."
A point made in the film was that because Grant had reached a destitute state and was struggling at selling cords of wood to support his family, he developed a special kind of personal resilience not known in the pampered lives of the other Civil War generals.
While he had shown sparks of courage in the Mexican-American War at Monterey on September 23, 1846, Grant was a non-descript quartermaster in the war. Later, he was especially incensed at the idea of secession, which he believed was an act of treason. Thus, Grant had nothing but contempt for the disaffected Southern generals and politicians. At the start of the Civil War, Grant seized the moment when he first was given command of a small militia in Illinois. Once he had the opportunity to lead men, he never looked back in his tenacity.
Grant first made his name with the capture of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson near the Kentucky-Tennessee border, opening the Union army to an invasion of the South through the Cumberland River. His nickname "Unconditional Surrender" Grant says it all: he would be ruthless in his prosecution of the Confederacy.
The focus of the later part of the episode is on the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee starting on April 6, 1862. The battle began with a surprise attack of the Confederates. While outnumbered and outmaneuvered, Grant refused to retreat. His first reaction when receiving the news of the attack was to calmly say, "Gentlemen, the ball is in motion." His ability to stay calm in the heat of a battle was one of his strengths as a military leader. Despite the bloodbath and overwhelming casualties at Shiloh, he ordered his troops to stand their ground until reserves arrived. Grant in effect wore out the Confederate army.
The program closes on the note that the Ulysses S. Grant at Shiloh had conceived a far different strategy than Union tacticians like George McClellan. Historian Allen C. Guelzo noted the unique partnership of Grant and the ruthless William Tecumseh Sherman. The Grant-Sherman philosophy was simply "saving the union by complete conquest."
