Memorias Ulysses S. Grant: 1ª Parte. La Guerra de México

by Ulysses S. Grant

Las memorias del general más famoso de la Guerra de Secesión americana (1861-1865) tuvieron en Ulysses S. Grant a su principal protagonista, un alumno de la mítica academia militar de West Point que alcanzaría las más altas cotas de prestigio como soldado y posteriormente como político al llegar a ser el 18º Presidente de los EEUU. Una figura destacadísima para una gran parte de la ciudadanía norteamericana y para la historia de los Estados Unidos de América en su conjunto. Un hombre con sus fortalezas y sus debilidades transcritas sobre el papel en estas extraordinarias memorias. En esta inicial publicación se abarcará sus primeros años de andadura, desde su nacimiento hasta la parte dedicada a la guerra de México (1846-1848), que será el eje central de la misma. Posteriormente la editorial HRM ediciones publicará dos volúmenes adicionales en la cual la Guerra de Secesión será la gran protagonista.

Genres: History, Audiobook

208 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

About the author

Ulysses Simpson Grant, originally Hiram Ulysses Grant, in Civil War victoriously campaigned at Vicksburg from 1862 to 1863, and, made commander in chief of the Army in 1864, accepted the surrender of Robert Edward Lee, general, at Appomattox in 1865; widespread graft and corruption marred his two-term presidency, the eighteenth of the United States, from 1869 to 1877.

Robert Edward Lee surrendered to Ulysses Simpson Grant at Appomattox in 1865.

Robert Edward Lee, Confederate general, surrendered to Ulysses Simpson Grant, Union general, at the hamlet of Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865 to end effectively the Civil War.


The son of an Appalachian tanner of Ohio, Ulysses Simpson Grant of America entered the military academy at 17 years of age in 1839. The academy graduated him in 1843. In 1846, three years afterward, Grant served as a lieutenant in the Mexican War under Winfield Scott and Zachary Taylor. The conflict concluded in 1848.

Grant abruptly resigned in 1854. After struggling through the succeeding years as a real estate agent, a laborer, and a county engineer, Grant decided to join the northern effort.

Abraham Lincoln appointed Grant to brigadier of volunteers in 1861; he in 1862 claimed the first major capture of fort Henry and fort Donelson in Tennessee. A Confederate attack at the battle of Shiloh surprised him, who emerged, but the severe casualties prompted a public outcry. Following many long initial setbacks and his rescue of the besieged at Chattanooga, however, Grant subsequently established his reputation as most aggression and success to Lincoln. Named lieutenant in 1864, Grant implemented a coordinated strategy of simultaneous attacks, aimed at destroying ability of economy to sustain forces of the south. He mounted a successful attrition against his Confederate opponents to courthouse in 1865.

After Andrew Jackson, four decades earlier, people elected duly popular Grant as a Republican in 1868 and re-elected him in 1872 as the first to serve fully. Grant signed and enforced congressional rights legislation to lead Reconstruction.
Grant built a powerful, patronage-based Republican Party in the south and strained relations between the north and former Confederates. Sometimes, nepotism produced scandal of his Administration; people coined the neologism to describe his politics.

Grant left office in 1877 and embarked upon a two-year world tour. Unsuccessful in winning the nomination for a third in 1880, left destitute by a fraudulent investor, and near the brink of death, Grant wrote his Memoirs, which were enormously successful among veterans, the public, and critics. However, in 1884, Grant learned that he was suffering from terminal throat cancer and, two days after completing his writing, he died at the age of 63. Historians typically rank Grant in the lowest quartile for his tolerance, but in recent years his reputation has improved among some scholars impressed by his support for rights for African Americans.

Reviews

[Jose Luis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ulysses S. Grant, alumno de la mítica academia militar de West Point y posteriormente como político al ser el 18º Presidente de los EEUU. Se decidió a escribir sus memorias debido a sus deudas en los finales de su vida, fallecería apenas una semana después de terminar dichas memorias, su editor fue el famoso escritor Mark Twain, quien fue la persona que convenció al general Ulysses S. Grant a decidirse a escribir sus memorias.

Esta primera parte inicia con un breve descripción de sus ancestros y su infancia, su juventud en el ejército, la invasión a México y termina en 1861.

Me interesaba este libro respecto a lo que pudiera relatar sobre la guerra EEUU-México pero las memorias acerca de la guerra no son a detalle como lo imaginaba, es muy propio al hablar y se expresa correctamente, no hay mucho que se pueda obtener nuevo de las memorias de Ulysses.
Hay un par de comentarios de la guerra del más fuerte al débil y cuanto lo deploraba al compararlo con las monarquías europeas y que EEUU realizaba lo mismo que decía evitar.

Hace otro comentario sin entrar a detalle sobre "los desertores" que era el batallón de San Patricio cuando participaron en la batalla de Churubusco.

Nos comenta de las batallas que participó y parte de su estadía después de terminada la guerra y la espera por salir de México.

Siempre es lo mas respetuoso e imparcial con los comentarios sin demeritar a los generales Taylor y Scott y en cambio los alaba por sus decisiones. Una cosa que para mi fue nueva es al relatar las negociaciones del tratado de paz menciona que el general Scott obligó a permanecer al señor Trist aún cuando se le ordenó regresar a Washington ya que casi se había alcanzado un acuerdo.

Recomiendo el libro como cultura general aunque no como indispensable para conocer el conflicto EEUU-México pero si el interés es la guerra de Secesión entonces si es recomendable.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this years ago as one of those Kindle editions based on a physical book. So many errors, I really didn't enjoy it. Now, I am taking it in as the Unabridged Audiobook from Recorded Books narrated by Peter Johnson. This is much better! It is interesting to consider Grant's considered opinion about the unjustified war again Mexico to wrest away Texas and more as well as the legality of slavery as the instigation of the Civil War.

sage and timely observation:

Experience proves that the man who obstructs a war in which his nation is engaged, no matter whether right or wrong, occupies no enviable place in life or history. Better for him, individually, to advocate "war, pestilence, and famine," than to act as obstructionist to a war already begun.

But my later experience has taught me two lessons: first, that things are seen plainer after the events have occurred; second, that the most confident critics are generally those who know the least about the matter criticised.

I still think native-born citizens of the United States should have as much protection, as many privileges in their native country, as those who voluntarily select it for a home. But all secret, oath-bound political parties are dangerous to any nation, no matter how pure or how patriotic the motives and principles which first bring them together. No political party can or ought to exist when one of its corner-stones is opposition to freedom of thought and to the right to worship God "according to the dictate of one's own conscience," or according to the creed of any religious denomination whatever.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listening to U.S. Grant's memoirs makes me wish he had written more books before he died. His style is elegant but unpretentious and his descriptions of troop movements and the varied terrain over which they marched and camped and fought bring the listener right along with the Union army. Although at times his descriptions of troop movements can get a bit tedious, he always eventually livens up the narrative with a battle or well placed, humorous comment. The final result for me of listening to Grant's memoirs is a feeling that Ulysses is the kind of guy you'd want to get a beer with, to use a modern qualification. He seems relatable, reasonable, and balances an acknowledgement of his abilities with a credible modesty and understanding of the importance of circumstance and ultimately of chance in the final outcome of something as big and variegated as a battle or a war. His tone comes across as forthright and honest, refreshing qualities in a memoir written by a politician. Maybe that's why he was so much more successful as a general than as a president.

[John Yarbrough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clear and insightful into a life. I definitely want to read or listen to Part II. He offers keen insight in this volume to the Mexican War and his specific role.