What Military Mastermind's Name Isn't Shrouded In Myths?

Ulysses S. Grant: a name forever to be synonymous with America. Largely responsible for the Union's victory in the Civil War, it's difficult to imagine where the US would be without his military prowess. As a man of quiet reserve and modesty, he was an easy target for political opponents who eagerly smeared his name in the mud with their lies, some of which continue to tarnish his reputation today. Although he was hardly a perfect man, corruption and alcoholism were truly not his style. Let's set the record straight on Ulysses S. Grant by going over some of the facts and misconceptions surrounding his name. 

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1. His Real First Name Wasn't Ulysses

His real name was Hiram Ulysses Grant. He was named Ulysses S. Grant due to a clerical error at his military college, West Point. Needless to say, it stuck.

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2. He Served In The Mexican War

Ulysses S. Grant served as a junior officer in the Mexican War despite criticizing it as immoral and expansionist. He shadowed General Winfield Scott, who inspired his later military leadership. 

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3. He Was A Civil War Hero

Ulysses S. Grant was undeniably a civil war hero. He was a top general whose strategic leadership unified the Union's armies and eventually brought Robert E. Lee to surrender. 

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4. Mark Twain Was A Close Friend

The boisterous and witty writer, Twain, and the reserved military leader, Grant, formed an unlikely friendship after Twain gave a speech at a dinner honoring Grant in 1879. Twain encouraged Grant to write his memoirs at the end of his life to save him from bankruptcy and oversaw the publication of them. 

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5. He Was Financially Ruined Late In Life

Grant faced serious financial struggles late in his life because he got bamboozled by a trusted friend, Ferdinand Ward. He and Ward were partners in a brokerage firm and Ward falsely claimed to have inside connections which would give Grant and his other investors high returns in what ended up being essentially a Ponzi scheme. 

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6. He Was Elected Twice For President

After the war, Grant had two terms in the Oval Office as the 18th president of the US. During his time in power, his primary focus was reconstruction after the war, civil rights, and improving relations with Native Americans. He ran for president a third time but was unsuccessful.

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7. He Hated Bloodshed

Despite being a military general, Grant wasn't a violent man. His time on the battlefield made him painfully aware of the horrifying human cost of war and he avoided casualties wherever possible. 

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8. He Didn't Initially Want To Be A Soldier

Grant didn't originally aspire to a career in the military, but his father arranged for him to attend West Point, seeing it as a path to free education and a stable future. He found himself to be well-suited to military life and grew fond of it. 

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9. He Was Reserved

Ulysses S. Grant was famously reserved. He had a quiet demeanor and was cool under pressure. He wasn't one to toot his own horn and he suffered silently. 

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10. He Was An Exceptional Horseman

Grant was known for his natural talent as a horseback rider. He was able to tame even the most unwieldy creatures and even won a high jump record at West Point, clearing a six-foot-tall bar atop a fierce and powerful horse called York. 

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Now that we've covered the facts, let's go over the myths surrounding Ulysses S. Grant, as any legend is bound to have some. 

1. He Was An Alcoholic

Grant was known to binge drink on occasion, but the notion that he was an alcoholic was a falsification. His political opponents labeled him a "drunk" as a smear tactic, but there's no evidence to suggest that he ever drank on duty.

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2. He Was An Ineffective President

Grant's second term coincided with a severe economic depression, the Panic of 1873, for which he was a scapegoat. He was also blamed for much of the violence against African Americans at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan during this time, despite enacting and enforcing civil rights laws. His more hands-off and quiet approach to government compared to some of his predecessors was seen as a weakness, but he was doing a lot behind the scenes.

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3. He Was Corrupt

Grant's presidency was marred by corruption, most notably the Whiskey Ring Scandal which saw government officials embezzling tax revenue from whiskey sales. Despite not being involved in any of them, his name was tarnished by these scandals. 

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4. He Was A Poor Public Speaker

While it's true that Grant lacked the flowery eloquence of other prominent speakers of his time, he was an effective communicator who was good at rallying support. Although he was modest and reserved, he was a pragmatic and strong leader and could get his message across in a clear and direct manner.

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5. He Owned Slaves His Whole Life

It's easy to assume that everyone of that era owned slaves as it was more or less "the norm," but in Grant's case, this isn't accurate. He only owned one enslaved person whom he purchased from his father-in-law, but he freed him nine years later before the start of the war, despite having the option of selling him. 

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6. He Wasn't Smart

While it's true that Grant didn't have a strong academic background, that doesn't mean he wasn't intelligent. He was a quick-thinking problem solver, remarkable strategist, and strong communicator. 

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7. He Was A Butcher On The Battlefield

While the end of the war did result in heavy casualties, Grant didn't win through attrition. His strategy was based on coordinated offenses and relentless pursuit of Confederate forces. He avoided unnecessary bloodshed wherever possible. 

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8. His Presidency Was A Failure

Grant's job as president was to pick up the pieces and mend the nation following its bloody Civil War. This was a huge challenge, and he wasn't able to complete all the jobs he set out to do, but his enforcement of civil rights policies, westward expansion and conservation initiatives, and efforts to mend relations with the Native Americans should be celebrated. 

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9. He Was The Sole Reason The Union Army Won The War

While Grant was a brilliant general who played an integral part in the Union's victory over the South, he didn't do it alone. Abraham Lincoln's leadership, the industrial capacity of the Northern US, and other key military figures like Philip Sheridan and William T. Sherman were also crucial parts. 

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10. He Went Bankrupt Because He Was Gullible 

Although his money got tied up in a Ponzi scheme, it wasn't because he was exceptionally naive or gullible. He entrusted his friend and his son to help him handle his fortune, and Ward came highly recommended by people Grant knew and trusted.

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