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Grant Takes Command

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Bruce Catton is arguably the greatest Grant biographer and is largely responsible for changing the negative views about Grant in the 1950's and 60's. Catton wrote several books about USG and this is the third and final part of a grand Grant trilogy begun in 1949 by Lloyd Lewis with "Captain Sam Grant."

Bruce Catton thoroughly understand Ulysses Grant and became his vociferous proponent. He correctly grasped that Grant was the preeminent strategist of the civil war and was also the war's greatest, most innovative and most determined general. Those who errantly believe Grant won with brute force or superior numbers need to read this book. Others who espouse the line that Robert E. Lee was the real genius of the war also need to consult this volume. At its conclusion, you will change your mind and realize that Grant was not only a magnificent soldier, he was also a highly intelligent, humorous and marvelously humane man. He has been unfairly maligned and Catton sets the record straight.

Catton writes with perception about Grant as a father and devoted husband, but the thrust of the book is painting an incise portrait of Grant in the pivotal period 1861-1863 when his greatness was forged. This is a "must have" book for anyone interested in U.S. Grant or the American civil war. There are few, if any, factual errors and the narrative flows smoothly from beginning to end. Highly recommended.

Bruce Catton is the grandmaster of nonfiction books written for the general public about the Civil War as seen from the Union perspective. "Grant Takes Command" is about exactly that--the period just before Grant is appointed as the third Lieutenant-General in the history of the U.S. through the end of the Civil War. This is a fascinating tale, colorful and well-told.

Mr. Catton does a remarkable job explaining General Grant to the reader. He does much to explain Grant's style of leadership, his relationship with others including President Lincoln and General Meade, and how the soldiers in his army (and those in the Confederate Army!) regarded Grant. Catton also discusses Grant's issues as regards drinking, and largely concludes that Grant had conquered this enemy long before he took on the Confederates as the Union's top general.

To me, the most interesting aspect of the book is Catton's excellent analysis as to how Grant finally managed to seize the initiative from Robert E. Lee. After Gettysburg, this was no doubt easier than it had been earlier in the Civil War, but nevertheless it must be remembered that no other Union general had ever really managed to do this prior to Grant, excepting perhaps General Meade at Gettysburg. Incidentally, Catton is relatively complimentary towards Gen. Meade, and points out that so was General Grant.

I found the relationship between Grant and President Lincoln to be particularly insightful. It may be summed up that Lincoln quickly began to have complete and implicit trust in Grant, and was frankly relieved to have some of the burden of the war shifted from his shoulders to Grant. For his part, Grant was loyal and respectful of the President, and was the perfect American general insofar as he thoroughly respected and acknowledged the core American value of ultimate civilian control over the military.

One fascinating anecdote was Mr. Catton's relating of an incident at the Battle of Two Harbors, where Grant proposed to General Lee after the battle, that both sides agree to allow their respective medics onto the battlefield unmolested during a stipulated time, to save life and relieve the horrendous suffering of wounded and dying men lying between nomansland. Grant was indifferent to gaining or losing face, and focused solely on quickly coming to an arrangement in order to get on with the business of relieving the agony of the wounded. Lee, on the other hand, postured for over a day in an effort to make it appear as though Grant were the supplicant approaching Lee the victor. Meanwhile most of the wounded got on with the business of dying, and many lives were perhaps needlessly lost. Candidly, this did nothing to improve my opinion of General Lee, and Catton relates this incident without judgment or rhetoric, allowing the reader to draw his or her own conclusion. He does so largely by quoting the actual letters exchanged by the two generals, so Catton's relating of the event should probably be regarded as uncontroversial. My own conclusion was that my personal estimation of Grant was heightened. I do not, in relating this event, mean to attack General Lee, who is certainly one of the most regarded generals in American history. But it does say something about both men.

Catton has a clear style of writing, and he embellishes his narrative with colorful and relevant anecdotes about each battle and incident from the perspectives of generals, officers, and men alike. This is a great book about a great man during great times. Unforgettable.

Bruce Catton's Grant Takes Command is a wonderful look into the role U.S.G. played in reversing the fortunes of the Union. Operating quite independently in the West, Grant's career was not always in ascendency, but his tenacity in the seige and capture of Vicksburg certainly earned him an opportunity to command at a higher level (though this was not necessarily what he had in mind). That meant a transfer east to the politically charged world of wartime Washington, as well as a 3rd star, placing Grant in the position of General-in-Chief of the Union Armies. How he mastered the assignment that so overwhelmed those who came before him is beautifully retold in this book. In the end, there can be no doubt that the humble General Grant was a man of remarkable political and military judgment, without whom it is almost certain the Confederacy would have prevailed.

The war was virtually over. All that was needed was a leader who could convince Lee that "the sooner the better." Having been called to Washington to become General of the Union Armies, Grant, in spite of rumors meant to lower his esteem in the eyes of Lincoln, was left to focus on the final phase, the defeat of Lee who quit only after every counter of Grant's maneuver of his armies became useless. Sherman had marched to the sea ending at Savannah before turning north. Atlanta was in flames. Attempts to slow Grant's advance by a thust into Kentucky failed. Another, by calvary up the Shennadoah Valley, that had worked before, was countered by Union calvary. Unlike his predecessors, Grant was not one to cave in to Lee's mystique. The "final phase" was a brutal and costly affair with Grant putting Lee constantly on the defensive. Finally, Lee met with Grant at Appomatox decked out in all his military finery. Grant arrived in less than splendid fashion. The meeting was perhaps a bit embarrasing, but between men who had been comrades, if not close associates, in the Mexican American War. Both had graduated from West Point. The terms of surrender were as the President wished, compassionate. It was a touching moment, and may have led to a more satisfactory solution of the conflict had it not been for some unfortunate events, not the least of which was the death of the President so recently re-elected. The books of the trilogy will forever make one wonder and appreciate the significance of the conflict between the peoples of what remains One Nation.

In the weeks before General David Petraeus - widely regarded as the most operationally and strategically brilliant of today's ground generals -- took command of Multi-National Forces - Iraq, a friend told me he was reading Bruce Catton's classic "Grant Takes Command: 1863-1865" about that earlier US general who took charge of a war at its most critical point. I and several others piled on and eagerly devoured this book. Two weeks later, we met to discuss our observations. Mine are below. I would bet you a paycheck that General Petraeus -- himself a formidable scholar as well as distinguished soldier -- has read this book more than once and probably even perused it before assuming his new post. "Grant Takes Command" offers timeless insights into the art of command and remains relevant for several reasons that should resonate today.

I found that several myths about General Grant were just that: myths. The first that Catton debunks is that Grant was not a political general. In one of his first chapters titled "Political Innocent", Catton lays out clearly that Grant understood that the Civil War was an extension of politics, and that certain personnel decisions in his Army would inevitably be affected by this. Thus, Grant's handling of Generals McClernand, Sigel, Butler, and Banks - all of them troublesome, of dubious competence, but politically useful at different times throughout the war -- was at once skillful, politically deft, and necessary. When they had each imploded after their political usefulness had been expended, they were thus easily discarded. To fire them when they were politically useful would have strained civil-military relations.

Grant also believed in the mission completely. This included the elimination of slavery and the re-election of President Lincoln in 1864. This was no small matter in 1863. The democrats had been making overtures to Grant in 1863, and several recent commanders of the Army of the Potomac -- most famously George McClellan -- had leapt into the political arena. Lincoln felt Grant out through mutual friends before appointing him to command the Union armies. For his part, Grant did his own maneuvering to ensure that Lincoln won re-election in 1864. Grant not only gave Lincoln battlefield victories, but also ensured that soldiers of the Army of the Potomac had the opportunity to vote. One of the most skillful uses of "controlling the message" occurred after Cold Harbor and the bloody siege of Petersburg, when Union soldiers might have become demoralized at their high number of casualties. On the eve of the election, Grant ordered 100-gun salutes to celebrate the victories of Generals Sherman and Sheridan down south and out west. Catton points out that these "salutes" brought home to the Union soldiers the aura of the juggernaut of their armies inexorably closing in on the doomed Confederacy. Grant clearly understood the nature of the war he was involved in and took the action he needed to to get the job done.

Grant further understood that a great team of commanders was better than a team of great commanders. Great teamwork always beats great talent. Grant had worked very well with Generals Thomas and Sherman when he commanded out west, but with the exception of Hancock, he did not have as skilled commanders individually in the Army of the Potomac. But Grant did foster good teamwork in his army, and looked for this quality in his selection of key subordinates. In my opinion, this proved to be decisive. Grant kept and provided the required supervision for generals such as Meade and Burnside, but found little use for the self-seeking and overly critical generals such as Hooker and Smith, despite their comptetence. Most important was the relationship Grant fostered with his Commander-in-Chief, President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was much more involved in the military details of the Civil War than his own statements would indicate, and his oft-quoted remark that: "Grant doesn't tell me his plans, and I don't want to know" belies his own political skill at handling his best general and imposing his political will on the battlefield. It was the "marriage" between Lincoln and Grant, more than anything else, that saved the union. Catton's masterful work shows this quite clearly, and thus retains its great relevance for civil and military leaders.

It is often difficult to find good reference books on topics that are greatly controversial. This one is a classic among classics: a deeply researched book, based on excellent factual sources, that is written with talent and reads like excellent fiction.

Catton's writing is based on impeccable research. In many ways he takes advantage of living at the right time, when many of the sources he draws on are now available after having been either difficult to access or simply unknown. He definitely makes the best of it, and combines a tight and interesting writing style with a density of information that simply was not available to those that came before him. The result is an indispensable book, a reference that must be read by those interested in General Grant and in the Civil War.

Grant has been the source of much discussion, during his life and afterwards: his resignation, the painful years in Galena, the war, the two presidencies, his last years and death in poverty. Catton depicts him in his entirety, warts and all. He makes him greatly sympathetic, yet clearly discusses his weaknesses. He succeeds in doing so largely indirectly, as a character of the book rather than its study. As a result, the impressions he conveys are much more impressive, since they are largely derived by the reader from the facts exposed rather than being delivered as opinions by the author. His style is largely narrative, and one ends up reading this book as a fascinating adventure story, whose plot is progressively revealed, yet keeps surprises till the conclusion - however well we know what comes.

This book is a jewel: authentic, well researched, full of facts, yet revealing of a deep humanity and of frailties in the man it follows. It is not often that we can at the same time enjoy the writer, admire the historian, and be fascinated by the topic. If you want to read only one book on Grant (I should say two, because the follow-up, "Grant Moves South", is equally necessary), let it be this one. If you want to read many, make this one the first.

As a avid reader of Civil War material, I have found that a number of people have emerged as immortal from this conflict. Lincoln clearly emerged as a the most tragic figure in American history. Lee has been immortalized by reasons that have been made obvious to the point where I don't need to elaborate. But Grant has always been downgraded in the conflict as a man who just put it together long enough to finish off a job that could have been done years ago. He is considered a beneficiary of overwhelming resources and military advantage - a person who simply didn't screw it up the way the previous Union commanders did: the Barry Switzer of the Civil War. This misconception comes about because of his failed presidency, his simple way of speaking and writing (thus producing nothing of note or of anything possessing generally accepted grace or eloquence), and his historical portrayal as a drunk. This period study of the man goes a long way in debunking that perception, and sheds light on his Western career, a history that escapes most deriders. The book flows well with an engaging narrative that easily moves from event to event, battle to battle. It portrays Grant as a determined and smart man who recognized the failures of his predecessors and the weaknesses of the Confederacy forces, and sought to take advantage. It doesn't gloss over his own failures and weaknesses - it chronicles his miscalculations in the Wilderness, Cold Harbor and other costly Union advances as well as his reluctance to confront his subordinates, leading to occasional sloppy troop management. However it paints them in a light that neither praises or criticizes but allows the reader to understand the circumstances and make his or her own conclusion. Grant's early failures in the east show that defeating the Army of Northern Virginia took more than flinging Union troops at Confederate lines, and Union disasters in battles such as Fredericksburg show that he wasn't the first Union commander to try that strategy. The evolution of his strategy outlined in the book, along with the realities of the shortcomings of his own Army of the Potomac goes a long way in debunking the myth that Grant simply outlasted Lee, and deserves little military credit for doing what couldn't be done in four years prior. A great read that portrays Grant in a better light simply by telling the whole story.

This is a very readable, engaging study of the last two years of the Civil War, in which General Grant is taken from his command in the west, to the "big show" as commander of the Army of the Potomac. He is shown to be a determined, relentless leader willing to fight the war of attrition that ultimately led to the destruction of the Army of Northern Virginia. He proved to be more than a match for General Lee, who was confounded by Grant's steadfast leadership and willingness to stand tough, despite the losses of thousands of men. Grant was a very different kind of leader than his predecessors.

I also liked the way Catton developed the personal side of Grant.

This is a terrific book for those who want a straightforward history of the latter part of the Civil War, without embellishment or political bias.

"Grant Takes Command" is yet another masterpiece by Bruce Catton who, in my humble opinion, is one of the greatest Civil War writers, period.

The title covers several aspects of Grant's career as commander of all US armies:

1. Humble entrance into Washington DC and the resulting celebrations when people found out that he had arrived. Enjoyed reading that narrative - seems to have summed up Grant's modesty.
2. Grant's decision to travel with the Army of the Potomac instead of having to live among the political intrigue of Washington DC.
3. The political intrigue he had to face anyway in the Army of the Potomac.
4. Brief narratives of the Army of the Potomac's various battles - Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Appomattox.
5. Relationship with various officers - Meade, Sheridan, Wilson, Butler, Smith, Sherman, Hancock, etc.
6. Time and correspondence with his beloved wife Julia.
7. Dealing with the complexities of directing numerous and simultaneous campaigns throughout the Confederacy in 1864-1865.
8. Grant's sound grasp of strategy - the Rebel armies, not cities, were to be the ultimate target. As long as the enemy armies are still functioning, it does not matter how much territory you control.

A great narrative and smooth read written by a master storyteller. I and many others miss Catton. Read and enjoy. Highly recommended!

"Grant Takes Command" is the second of two volumes by Bruce Catton on Grant's Civil War service and the third of a trilogy on Grant's military career (beginning with Lloyd Lewis's "Captain Sam Grant"). However, this volume can easily be read by itself. Catton picks up the story in the fall of 1863 with Grant's successful raising of the siege of Chattanooga, following which President Lincoln picks him for a third star and command of all the Union armies.

Grant is the latest in a long line of Union commanders, most of whom have been badly beaten by General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia, and none of whom have been able to bring superior Northern resources effectively to bear on a slowly weakening Confederacy. In fact, as Grant takes command, the war has not yet been won and could still be lost.

Grant will be the commander that Lincoln has long sought. Lincoln's telling exchange with an aide, repeated by Catton, lays out why. Grant is the first general to take the supreme command who will work in harness with Lincoln and in full acceptance of Lincoln's constraints as President of a democracy in the midst of a civil war. Grant is prepared to take full responsibility for the conduct of the missions of the armies, and without setting up an alibi in advance for possible failure. And as it becomes apparent in the course of Catton's absolutely superb narrative, Grant understands the terrible math. Lee and his army are too proficient to be easily beaten; great persistance will be called for. Grant grasps the essential truth that Lee's army is the Confederate center of gravity and the corollary that Lee's requirement to protect Richmond ultimately limits his ability to manuever. Further, Grant is able to cause the Union armies to work at a common design, denying Lee the ability to reinforce Virginia from other theaters of war. The result will be a long, grinding, and exceedingly bloody campaign stretching from 1864 into 1865, as Lee's army is slowly bludgeoned to death.

Catton's narrative does not spare Grant his errors; in the 1864 campaign, Grant underestimates both Lee's abilities as a general and the difficulties of conducting campaigns on such a massive scale. Grant has to learn the job of Army commander in chief on the move; the unnecessary casualties of Cold Harbor and the repeatedly failure to flank Lee out of position in Virginia are proof of the learning curve. But Grant's great gift is his refusal to be deterred from his objective. He pins Lee at Petersburg and uses the Union armies of Sherman and Sheridan, among others, to destroy the Confederacy's ability to make war.

"Grant Takes Command" was first published in 1960, and the details of the history of the Civil War have evolved since then. However, Catton's prose has stood the test of time. This is a truly magnificently told story on an epic scale and a highly recommended treat for the Civil War enthusiast and the casual reader alike.