Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant Volume 2/2

The narrative centers on Ulysses S. Grant's rise from a tanner's son to a prominent Union general during the Civil War. Initially reluctant to attend West Point, he nevertheless graduated and quickly advanced through the ranks due to his decisive victories, including the capture of Fort Donelson with his famous demand for unconditional surrender. Despite a setback at the Battle of Shiloh, his tenacity earned him President Lincoln's support. Grant's strategic brilliance culminated in the crucial victory at Vicksburg, which significantly weakened the Confederacy.