Grant: Leadership Lessons

I hated history in school, trying to memorize names and dates. But I love learning about it now. Buy this book on Amazon.

At 100 pages into this 600-page biography, I learned that Ulysses S. Grant resigned from the army in 1854, was dirt poor and barely able to provide for his family for 7 years, and almost wasn’t allowed back in to the military.

At 200 pages in, I learned that he almost resigned again after leading his army to 3 important victories in the span of 2 months in 1862. (General Sherman talked him into staying.)

Amazing to think of how history could have been so different if a few decisions would have gone another way.

Grant was credited with 17 victories west of the Appalachian mountains, before being promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed as head of the US Army in 1864. In his victories in the west, he noted that warfare is about momentum. Other Union generals failed because of: too much reckless action and not enough preparation, or endless preparation and not enough action, or their focus on show and regalia. As a former quartermaster (in the Mexican War), he understand the value of supply and preparation. But he also knew the value of movement. (And Grant’s willingness and eagerness to fight was a key reason Lincoln kept him around and kept promoting him.)

Grant also approached his responsibilities with humility. When he arrived to a hotel in D.C. to receive his promotion, he was dressed in drab and dirty traveling clothes. He didn’t complain when the hotel clerk offered him a simple room. The clerk only learned who he was when Grant signed for his room (which prompted the clerk to upgrade Grant to the best room in the establishment; Grant was unmoved).

After his promotion to the chief of the armies, he had a plan to move 100,000+ soldiers in Virginia (against Lee) and 100,000+ soldiers against Johnston further south. Grant explained to President Lincoln that all the armies could contribute to victory simply by advancing, even if they won no battles. “There should be no recuperation on the part of the rebels, no rest from attack.”

He was confident, but knew that he wasn’t guaranteed victories. For example, though he sent an army from West Virginia under Brigadier General George Crook, he did not “calculate on very great results” that they would be successful.

will add more here . .