American Ulysses Quotes

“One day during the siege, Grant was observed walking the outer line when he encountered a mule-team driver beating and cursing one of the mules. He ordered the man to stop. The animal’s abuser, seeing a man with a blouse and no sign of rank, turned and began to swear at him. Grant had the man arrested and brought to his headquarters. Only then did the mule driver realize whom he had insulted. The man was ordered to be tied up by his thumbs. When released, the contrite soldier apologized for his language, telling Grant he did not know to whom he was speaking. Grant explained that he had punished the soldier not because of what he’d said to his commanding general: “I could defend myself, but the mule could not.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“I will not hesitate to exhaust the powers thus vested in the Executive…for the purpose of securing to all citizens of the United States the peaceful enjoyment of the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution and laws. —ULYSSES S. GRANT, Proclamation, May 3, 1871”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“After a siege of 293 days, Grant forced the Confederates to abandon Petersburg and Richmond on the same day.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“WITH NO REPLY from Halleck to his October 26 request for a plan of operations, Grant moved forward on his own initiative on November 2. He telegraphed the general in chief that he had “commenced a movement” on Grand Junction, a sought-after prize in West Tennessee that took its name from the intersection of the east–west Memphis and Charleston and the north–south Mississippi Central railroad lines. Grant intended to assemble five divisions there and move south into Mississippi toward Holly Springs and Grenada.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“Grant’s aggressive decision to press forward toward Vicksburg in November 1862, stood in stark contrast with the tentativeness of other major Union commanders. McClellan hesitated after his incomplete victory at Antietam on September 17, allowing Lee to cross back over the Potomac into the safety of Virginia. Buell, following his strategic victory at Perryville on October 8, did not pursue a bloodied Bragg.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“Loyalty to the nation ALL THE TIME. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“All the romance of feeling that men in high places are above personal considerations and act only from motives of pure patriotism, and for the general good of the public has been destroyed. An inside view proves too truly very much the reverse. —ULYSSES S. GRANT to WILLIAM T. SHERMAN, September 18, 1867”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“The convention was noteworthy for the reappearance of Democratic Party politicians from the southern states. The slogan for the convention was, “This is a White Man’s Country; Let White Men Rule.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“In Hudson, John Brown would assert his indictment of slavery to anybody who would listen. Jesse listened.”
― Ronald C. White, Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“Francis M. Cockrell, one of Bowen’s brigade leaders, led his brave men in a drive that pushed the Federals back over the crest of Champion Hill.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“In 1835, five”
― Ronald C. White, Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant