There are many different qualities that someone would want to have and acquire to be recognized as one of America's leading generals during the Civil War, become American President and be known in United States History. Hiram Ulysses Grant was most recognized as a leader and he possessed many leadership traits. Some of Grant's traits consisted of honesty, strong will, courage, someone who cared for his military brothers and knew how to accomplish something in a caring manner. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Hiram Ulysses Grant, also known as Ulysses S. Grant, was born on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio. He was born to James and Hanna Grant and was the eldest of seven children (three brothers and three sisters). Grant was bullied as a child, called names such as "useless" Odysseus. People did not believe that Odysseus could do anything on his own. As a child, Grant did not want to work with his father in the family tannery because he could not handle the blood. “Ulysses did everything he could to avoid working there. He hated being around damn animal skins. Grant discovered an interest in agriculture; he wanted to know everything. Farming was one of the dreams that Ulysses wanted to realize once he became an adult. He also hoped to become either a river trader or a college-educated man. When Grant was older, he didn't like hunting and everything else. “Even when he was in the army years later and asked to hunt animals for food, Odysseus could not bring himself to shoot an animal.” Two of Odysseus' favorite things were nature and horses. When he was very young, he played with horses and was never found inside. By the age of five, Grant could ride horses like a pro. When the circus came to town, Odysseus volunteered to ride the pony; where he put on a stunning show and the audience loved it. At the age of eight, he bought his first horse from his neighbor for twenty-five dollars. On his tenth birthday he was going on a trip to Cincinnati (which was fifty miles from home) and other cities. He would pick up and take people from his home to these different towns. Odysseus was no stranger to hard work, from a young age his parents made him work for whatever he wanted. His parents gave him free time and during this free time, Odysseus went fishing, ice skating and horseback riding. Grant's father taught him to read from a young age, because at that time few books were intended for children; by the age of six, he was reading adult books. Once Grant completed his education in Ohio, he then went to attend military school at West Point in New York. Ulysses' father made an appointment with West Point without him knowing. Grant's father did this "because Ulysses wanted to go to college, he found a way for the boy to go for free." Through a congressman, Jesse had arranged for his son to get a place at West Point, the famous school for future soldiers. Grant didn't want to go because he didn't want to become a soldier, but eventually his father made him go to West Point. Grant was a cadet for four years on the Hudson. “He didn't make much of an impression on his superiors or classmates, except in riding...Grant did what was asked, and it wasn't particularly good. As the cadets progressed from class to class, theirchiefs became the officers of the academy. Grant was briefly made a sergeant, but a series of demerits reduced him to private. When Grant graduated from West Point, he was commissioned a Brevet Second Lieutenant and assigned to the 4th+ Infantry, located at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. During the Mexican-American War, Grant fought as a quartermaster under General Zachary Taylor. While stationed in Missouri, Grant met Julia Dent, who was the sister of one of his West Point classmates. After the Mexican-American War, he returned to Missouri, where he married Julia in August 1848. The Grants had four children, three boys and one girl. “During the early years of his marriage, Grant was assigned to a series of remote military posts, including some on the West Coast, which kept him separated from his family. » He resigned from the army in 1854. Now with his family in White Haven, Grant tried to farm and start a real estate agency in St. Louis, but failed on both counts. In 1861, the American Civil War broke out and Grant became colonel of the 21st Illinois Volunteers. He trained his men himself and ensured that the soldiers followed the rules. “If an individual or group of soldiers broke the rules, they were punished. Ulysses’ men quickly understood that he was a serious boss.” “Later that summer, President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) named Grant a brigadier general. » Ulysses Grant was appointed general in chief of the Union armies in March 1864. His first two battles or "sieges" took place at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. He led the battles of Shiloh, which took place early in the war. Grant liked to move quickly during battle. He attempted to recapture Vicksburg in May 1863. Vicksburg is located in Mississippi, on the east bank of the Mississippi River, halfway between Memphis and New Orleans. Vicksburg was a key part of the Confederate river defense and was Grant's primary objective in his actions in the West. Grant remained in the West from October 1862 to July 1863. At the Battle of Vicksburg, 29,500 Confederate men surrendered and it was a major physiological disappointment for the Confederate army. The main reason this was such an upset for the Confederate Army was that it occurred shortly after the Army of Northern Virginia's defeat at Gettysburg. With the capture and seizure of Vicksburg, the South was losing ports and had difficulty supplying its troops. Grant's official movement to capture the city began on November 2, just after he created an army of thirty thousand men at Grand Junction, Tennessee. “He moved this army in three columns along the Mississippi River toward Vicksburg, eventually forcing the Confederate army to retreat and surrender.” “By orchestrating a comprehensive national strategy, Lincoln and his general-in-chief, Grant, provided the model for American success in the war.” As Grant liked and wanted to advance quickly and not waste time, he helped the Union Army during the Civil War with this strategy. This ultimately led Robert E. Lee to surrender at the Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. One feature of Ulysses' life that many people are unaware of was his drinking problem. Grant was arrested several times for public drunkenness. Oddly enough, drinking never affected him as a person or as a commander. Grant was just going to do the job that was asked of him and did what he wanted. Once Abraham Lincoln was assassinated (April 14, 1865), Andrew Johnson became president. Ulysses Grant was elected President of the United States of America in 1868. Grant believed in peace and equality. He worked, 1993.