Ulysses S Grant Triumph Over Adversity Summary

Ulysses S. Grant: Triumph over Adversity, 1822-1865. By Brooks D. Simpson. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2000. Print.

Brooks D. Simpson is a professor of history and humanities at Arizona State University and the

author of several books on the period of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Simpson was mostly

inspired by his father which made him sure that he could do what he wanted to do. By that, his

father took time out to organize a trip that combined visits to colleges with travels to Civil War

battlefields. Brooks Simpson viewed Ulysses S. Grant as if he was flawless; that never seemed to

do anything wrong and a person who cared for wealth. Matter of fact, Ulysses was of course not

perfect, so he did make mistakes but learned from

He loved his parents, but he never really liked how is father was always

bragging and his mother was reserved. Lesson learned for the future, he would

never leave his children starved for affection. When Grant was leaving for West Point, his

neighbor Mrs. Bailey, was crying and kissed him goodbye. He was both startled and grateful.

"Why Mrs. Bailey,' he responded. 'They didn't cry at our house," (11).

As a child, horses became something of a passion and in his way they seemed to understand

him. "Horses were more honest than people, or so Ulysses seemed to believe, for he gave

himself to them as he never did to his friends. He trusted them, and they responded to him," (5).

Simpson mentions Ulysses's miserable adventure at West point, being a lieutenant in the

Mexican War, sudden resignation from the army in the year 1852, and his part in the Civil War.

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Also, the author shows that even though Ulysses was so determined by failure, lack of

confidence and depression managed to overcome it and became an icon. Ulysses

Rejoined the service in late 1861, when he was offered a position as a

captain in the adjutant general office to group Illinois volunteers. This gave Grant credit the rank

of colonel. Simpson was captivated in making a story of how Ulysses gradually rose in

becoming a commander of the Union armies. Detailing the intriguing and backstabbing that went

on between the civilians and the professional officers to win promotion and block possible

rivalry. Ulysses S. Grant's military career showed bravery, intellect, determination and Simpson

wrote it with sympathy but with historical facts and endurance. Grant actually had no political

ambitions. "He hated to see his name 'associated with politics either as an aspirant for office or as

a partizan," (257). But, planned a campaign that made Robert E. Lee surrender. In one of

Simpson's chapters, making his doubts understandable that any general could achieve that

victory. Grant's military strategy was very simple, it was to find the enemy attack them

immediately them hard and move on. Simpson gives Grant credit for his easy tactics,

coordination, cooperation, steadiness under pressure, and dedication of overcoming