Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Part 6. — Text and Context

Strategic Coordination Across Theaters

Grant's narrative emphasizes the interconnectedness of Union operations. He describes sending the chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac to Sherman, and details instructions to General Banks for the Red River expedition, stressing that troops must be returned "at the time specified by General Sherman, even if it led to the abandonment of the main object." The excerpts show Grant balancing multiple fronts: he notes that the enemy had concentrated forces under Lee and Johnston, and that his own role was to "exercise general supervision of the movements of all our armies." This high-level perspective is reinforced by his remark that specific written instructions were unnecessary because he had "talked over with him the plans of the campaign." Readers should note how Grant presents himself as a coordinator rather than a field commander, delegating execution to Sherman and Meade while maintaining overall direction.

The Mechanics of Command

Grant's prose is notably devoid of dramatic flourishes when describing pivotal events. In the chapter on the capture of Petersburg, he records meeting President Lincoln in the captured city without embellishment. The surrender negotiations at Appomattox are presented through correspondence with Lee and a straightforward account of the interview at McLean's house. Grant includes the facsimile of the terms of surrender as a document, treating it as a matter of record. This documentary approach extends to his inclusion of maps and illustrations, such as the etching of McLean's house. Readers should observe how Grant's understated style contrasts with the magnitude of the events—he lets the facts speak, rarely pausing for reflection or emotion.

Assessments of Fellow Commanders

In the later chapters, Grant offers brief evaluations of other generals. He provides an "estimate of General Canby" and discusses "General Thomas's qualities." These assessments are concise and professional, focusing on competence and reliability rather than personal anecdotes. For instance, he characterizes Thomas's qualities in a single chapter, and similarly evaluates different corps commanders in the final chapter. The tone is judicious, avoiding praise or criticism beyond what is necessary for a military record. This section of the memoirs functions almost as an after-action report, cataloging who performed well and why. Readers interested in Grant's judgment of his contemporaries will find these passages revealing, though they are brief and embedded within the larger narrative of the war's conclusion.

The War's End and Aftermath

The final chapters cover the surrender of Johnston to Sherman, the capture of Mobile, Wilson's expedition, and the capture of Jefferson Davis. Grant also includes the grand review in Washington and an anecdote about Lincoln. The conclusion offers a summary of the war's outcome, but the excerpts show that Grant maintains his characteristic restraint even when discussing Lincoln's assassination—he records it as a fact without extended commentary. The volume ends with an appendix and maps, reinforcing the documentary nature of the work. Readers should note that Grant's focus remains on military operations and command decisions; personal reflections are minimal. This makes the memoirs a valuable primary source for understanding the strategic thinking of the Union's commanding general, but less revealing of his inner life.

Grant's Part 6 is best read as a commander's report rather than a memoir in the modern sense. The narrative moves swiftly from one campaign to the next, with little attention to atmosphere or individual soldiers' experiences. Readers should pay attention to the dates and locations Grant specifies, as they provide a chronological framework for the final months of the war. The inclusion of maps and facsimiles of documents like the surrender terms enhances the volume's utility as a reference. For those seeking to understand how Grant managed the Union's final offensives, this section offers direct insight into his decision-making process and his relationships with key subordinates.

Grant writes of battles won through quiet endurance, and I often think how the war was also won abroad, in chancelleries and quiet rooms. His memoir rests beside Great Britain and the American Civil War — Key Ideas to Explore like two old friends who never met, yet shared the same long patience. Both speak of waiting and watching, until the right hour finally arrived.