GRANT

[LincolnMan]

Since he got a ticket for speeding on his horse, just think what he could have done in a car...

Laurie: Grant received as speeding ticket for driving too fast in a carriage while a young officer in the U.S. Army stationed in Detroit. It was Mayor of Detroit Zachariah Chandler who had him ticketed. Many years later Chandler served in the Cabinet of President Grant, interestingly enough.

[Linda Anderson]

The New York Times Disunion series has an article dated 9/4/2013 titled, "General Grant Takes a Spill."

"As the pre-eminent Civil War historian James McPherson has noted, 'Most of the numerous stories about Grant’s drunkenness at one time or another during the war are false.'”

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/201...pill/?_r=0

[Hess1865]

Thanks for the good article Linda!!
Actually, Lincoln never said "find out what kind of whiskey he drinks and send my other generals a case".
He did say "I can't spare this man-he fights!"
Grant was da man......

[J. Beckert]

Very nice piece, Linda. It's nice to see historical exaggerations addressed and corrected.

[LincolnMan]

Thanks for the good article Linda!!
Actually, Lincoln never said "find out what kind of whiskey he drinks and send my other generals a case".
He did say "I can't spare this man-he fights!"
Grant was da man......

I always wished Lincoln had said it!

[Hess1865]

Thanks for the good article Linda!!
Actually, Lincoln never said "find out what kind of whiskey he drinks and send my other generals a case".
He did say "I can't spare this man-he fights!"
Grant was da man......

I always wished Lincoln had said it!

Yeah-it IS a great line!!!

[LincolnMan]

Don't know if any of you are watchers of AMC's TV series Hell On Wheels-but last night's episode featured post-war U.S. Grant-drinking and admitting he was a "drunk"-the myth continues!

[Sally]

In my reading over the last several years, I have developed more appreciation for Grant. Closer inspection of the historical record does seem to indicate that the stories of his excessive drinking have been exagerrated. As I understand it, his documented episodes of drunkeness were not brought on by a huge amount of alcohol, but rather by his inability to process it like other men who were drinking every bit (and more) than he. And it is also often pointed out that he only took to drink when he was lonely for his family.

I like this quote from the article:

"Grant was also a great writer, as anyone who has read his autobiography can attest. It is hard, perhaps impossible, to be a great writer if you’re stupid. There is a certain irony in the fact that Grant was a better writer–a better historian, in fact–than virtually all of the historians who have assailed his supposed intellectual shortcomings. One wonders whether they had the wit to notice."

[LincolnMan]

Grant's Personal Memoirs has been highly regarded by the public and critics alike. He was a very good writer. In fact, Mark Twain called the work a "literary masterpiece." No small endorsement, I would say.

[Rogerm]

I agree that General Grant was a very good writer. However, Mark Twain's opinion was not completely unbiased. He was, afterall, the publisher of Grant's Personal Memoirs.

[LincolnMan]

I agree that General Grant was a very good writer. However, Mark Twain's opinion was not completely unbiased. He was, afterall, the publisher of Grant's Personal Memoirs.

You're right, of course. He was also an ex-Confederate!

[Hess1865]

Grant had planned on writing some wartime reminisces for (I think) Century magazine.
They essentially were going to pay him 'chump change' for his articles.
Grant, being broke and also being a proud man, was all set to do it until he ran into Twain.
Twain was outraged about what Grant was being paid, and urged him to withdraw.
He then urged and helped advise Grant about writing his own autobiography, which the General did, finishing it just days before his untimely passing in 1885.
The book was a smash hit, and put Grant's family back on their feet.
Mrs. US Grant received a royalty check of over $250,000, a record at that time, for sales of her husband's book.
The Memoirs Of US Grant is an American classic and has remained in print since it came out nearly 130 years ago.

[LincolnMan]

Grant had planned on writing some wartime reminisces for (I think) Century magazine.
They essentially were going to pay him 'chump change' for his articles.
Grant, being broke and also being a proud man, was all set to do it until he ran into Twain.
Twain was outraged about what Grant was being paid, and urged him to withdraw.
He then urged and helped advise Grant about writing his own autobiography, which the General did, finishing it just days before his untimely passing in 1885.
The book was a smash hit, and put Grant's family back on their feet.
Mrs. US Grant received a royalty check of over $250,000, a record at that time, for sales of her husband's book.
The Memoirs Of US Grant is an American classic and has remained in print since it came out nearly 130 years ago.

Nice account of the backstory. Thank you!

[J. Beckert]

I don't know if it was Grant, but I was told a famous Civil War General ordered his meat well done for the rest of his life after the war because he could no longer stand the sight of blood. Does anyone know who that was?

[Hess1865]

I don't know if it was Grant, but I was told a famous Civil War General ordered his meat well done for the rest of his life after the war because he could no longer stand the sight of blood. Does anyone know who that was?

Yes it was Grant, but he had the dislike of seeing bloody (rare) meat long before the war.
I have a friend like that-his dislike of seeing ANY juice from his meat has him get all his steaks burnt almost to a charcoal crisp!
Such a waste of good meat.....