Book Review “GRANT” by Mitchell Yockelson

               Mr. Yockelson relates the story of Ulysses Grant by focusing on his family life, his business failures, and his military life.

               Jesse Grant, Ulysses’ father, had a great concern about his son. How was Ulysses going to make his living? The main thing that interested Ulysses was horses. Jesse submitted an application to the United States Military Academy on behalf of his son.

               Ulysses really didn’t care for the school. At one point, when there was talk of discontinuing the academy, Grant’s saw himself eventually becoming a professor of mathematics. But the Academy did continue.

               After Grant graduated, his first posting was in St. Louis. A West point friend lived in the area. The friend had a sister, Julia. The way he courted her was interesting.

               Grant got sent to the southwest during the Mexican War. After the war ended, Grant resigned his commission and sought work in various civilian jobs. He and Julia married. He struggled to make a living for his growing family.

               Abraham Lincoln entered office in 1861. April 10, Fort Sumter was fired upon by the Confederate Army. Two days later, Grant heard a speech by a local lawyer in his then hometown of Galena, Illinois. The attorney relayed his belief that the circumstances of the attack on Ft. Sumter was beyond politics. Rather it was a question of nation or no nation. Grant decided he needed to go back into the Army.

I found this book interesting in the fact that, contrary to the way history has portrayed him, he learned to stay away from alcohol. Just this one fact makes me want to be sure I am not judging people I meet.

                Mr. Yockelson enlightens me as to how horrible the Civil War actually was. The subject matter and the way the author presented it kept me reading and coming back for more.

               The information was presented in chronological fashion, giving details of each the battles in which Grant’s men fought.

I recommend this book to anyone who has any of the following interests: Civil War, Life of Presidents, and 19th Century living, also Military History.

I received this book free from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, throught Book Sneeze for an unbiased honest review.