Grant - by Ron Chernow

[tredhed2]

900+ pages, HC, Penguin Press, NY 2017

 

Chernow is the author of Washington and Alexander Hamilton, among his other books. This book is heavily end noted, has quite a few photographs, and is as good a psychological study of US Grant as it is a history of the US. Readers will get the feeling that they know Grant personally, and half the time, I expected to see him walk into the room after I was done reading for the day. Yes, it took me a few days to finish, as I can't read for hours and hours any more.

 

Chernow goes into great detail as to Grant's relationship with his parents, with his friends, and with his fellow officers. We all know that Grant was remarkably naïve and gullible throughout his life. As a result, he got the short end of the stick way too many times in his life. I don't believe he was personally corrupt, by the extant standards of his life time, but we would all take a dim view now of some of his practices.

 

There are many details as to how Grant planned his ops in the Civil War, how he conducted himself at all times, and his shortcomings. His battle planning was a foundation for his later political though process.

 

What I found to be interesting and confusing were the problems that occurred during Reconstruction in the South following the American Civil War. On the one hand, the orchestrated terror inflicted on the freed slaves was staggering. There had to be ex-Confederate soldiers involved. Too many home-grown White defense units, semi-military in structure, some units with artillery and cavalry. Yet, Grant was so friendly with so many ex-Confederates, during and after Reconstruction, some of whom had to have been involved in the actions that took literally thousands of ex-slave lives.

 

Another interesting note, at least to me, is how things do not change much. Some of the actions, some of the characters, some of the character's actions are not too far removed from the political stage of today. Many parallels in people and their character appeared to me for Grant's Army service, his presidency, and his life in retirement - but especially some of the political animals. Politicians of the 1860s-70s were not too different from those of today. Readers also get an entirely different look at Robert E. Lee.

 

The book goes into great detail as to his accomplishments that many of us either didn't know, didn't know in their entirety, or forgot. He started the National Park Service, and he was president when Yellowstone became our first national park. He signed off on it. He diversified the hiring practices then in place of civil service, appointing thousands of women, freed slaves to federal jobs. Grant had a strong sense of humor, and there are examples plenty. The author does not gloss over Grant's drinking problems, but I doubt he would remain in today's Army with the extent of his problems.

 

All in all, a good read, and recommended for CW buffs, those interested in history, or biographies.

 

 

 

 

[gunbarrel]

<<Readers also get an entirely different look at Robert E. Lee>>

 

How so? I may get this book. It sounds very interesting.

 

Thank you!

 

GB

[son of a Jungleer]

On a related note: Go to C-Span Q&A on the web. There's a good episode there of Brian Lamb interviewing Ron Chernow on this book. Cool, behind the scenes look at what's involved in the research etc...