Ulysses S. Grant's Leadership Qualities

A general must be brave enough to risk defeat in order to be victorious. Ulysses S. Grant, General-in-Chief of the Union army, consistently proved this philosophy to be true throughout the Civil War. Grant was controversially appointed by President Abraham Lincoln. Most officials believed that Grant was an unstable and unreliable officer, but Lincoln countered these claims by stating that Grant would “fight” until the end, no matter what. Grant had a unique but effective leadership style admired by Lincoln and those who served under him. Grant had several distinct abilities that made him a unique general: staying composed in the heat of battle, giving his full attention to every task, effectively communicating complex plans to his subordinates,

While many previous renowned generals shared the same qualities as Grant, his invaluable skill of being unphased by danger was rare. Those who came into contact with Grant were in awe of Grant’s inner calm. Upon reflecting on first-hand accounts from Grant’s subordinates about his composure in battle, historian Stephen Goode shared his admiration for this quality: “How many men in the heat of battle or anticipating that heat could remain so calm and collected?” (Goode 330). Goode acknowledges that Grant consistently demonstrated a sense of peace that is normally unobtainable in war. In a war full of young, inexperienced men, it was an incredible advantage to have a calm general. General Grant was confident in his strategy and more importantly, in the abilities of his men. This confidence allowed him to think coherently and logically under fire. Although there were many officials that doubted his effectiveness at the beginning of the war due to his drinking problem, Grant proved that he could stay emotionally stable in the midst of battle. If he had not been calm, it would have been quite challenging to focus on his many

Grant could visualize the terrain he had seen in person or on a map and flawlessly communicate its features to others. Even outside of war, it can be difficult to express an idea to a group of people and have each person interpret it in the way it was intended. One officer that served under Grant during the war commended this ability to draft plans in difficult circumstances, “There is one striking feature of Grant's orders; no matter how hurriedly he may write them on the field, no one ever has the slightest doubt as to their meaning" (Stickney). This demonstrates that not only did he have the intellect to devise complex strategies, but he could communicate them comprehensibly. Grant did not say anything more than was necessary, making his plans direct and concise. It was important to have strategies that could be read quickly while still communicating the urgency and details of the situation. These easily understood and effective strategies were a huge factor in the ultimate victory for the