Grant/Lee a Comparison and Contrast Essay

Ulysses S. dispense and Robert E. lee(prenominal) are twain of the just now about effective array leaders in American history. These men have become symbolic of the two nations at conflict during the Civil War. Both had very different c everyplace chargegrounds and personalities that caused them to differ in their military leadership and accomplishments. Even though popular leeward would surrender his army to General Grant, lee side throughout the extend of the war proved himself to be a better military leader. The childhood of Robert Edward downwind played a pivotal role in the right smart he would see the world as a man. Lee was born into an aristocratic family of Virginia with a deeply rooted American history. Richard Henry and Francis Lightfoot Lee, Robert E. Lees uncles, helped swig resolutions that would lead to the Declaration of Independence, both would sign it1. Lees flummox, Henry Lighthorse Harry Lee ternary was a revolutionary war hero and one of George W ashingtons most dependable peer countrymen.In 1771, Washington, also from Virginia, wrote I know of no country that can produce a family only distinguished and clever men, as our Lees.2 Lees mother and father were strong influences in his life for very different reasons. Lees father would define everything Lee did not deficiency to be. Lighthorse Harry lacked self-control and failed to take care of the family. Ruined by failed financial ventures, Lees father would be sent to debtors prison. His mother, Anne Hill Carter Lee would remonstrate young Robert to love God, to go God and to serve his country. Lees rearing helped him to develop the highest standards of honor, self-denial, self-control and duty that would earn respect from both friends and enemies.3 Ulysses S. Grant came from a more humble upbringing. Like Lee, Grant traces his ancestry deep into American history in his memoirs. Grants ancestors settled in Massachusetts in 1630.4 Grants father, Jesse R. Grant came from a broken family and was fostered by the parents of John Brown.5 The same John Brown that would judge to start a slave rebellion by attacking the United States armory at harpists Ferry in 1859. Men down the stairs the leadership of then Colonel Robert E. Lee ended that raid.6 Grant, was not born into the land owning aristocracy like Lee, his family was frontier men. Grant had come up the hard wayNo man was born to anything, except perhaps to a chance to show how far he could rise. Life was competition (Catton, para 5).7 Grants competitive upbringing would give him the motive to push forward and the demand results needed to defeat Lee. Robert E Lee would carry the lessons he wise to(p) as a child with him to the Military Academy at western Point. While attending air jacket Point, Lee was very studious and did not join 8other cadets for steadyings at the local taverns. General Lee gradatory second in his class at West Point and received no demerits for misconduct. This record has neer been matched and will not likely ever be achieved a descend. By graduating with honors, Lee was assigned to the United States soldiers Corps of Engineers.The meter Lee spent with the the States Corps of Engineers gave him valuable knowledge of different types of terrain and stronghold constructions that would serve him well in the Civil War.9 The childhood of Ulysses S. Grant would also affect him at West Point. Grant was not kindle in a military career he was more interested in agriculture.10 It was Grants father who requested his trying on to West Point.11 Grant stated in his memoirs, A military life had no charms for me, and I had not the faintest idea of staying in the army even if I should be graduated, which I did not expect (Grant p19).12 Grant spent most of his time at West Point reading novels and avoiding books related to the variant of studies (Grant pg 20).13 Unlike Lee, Grant would not excel at West Point. Grant graduated 21 out of 39 in his class, jus t below average.14 The Mexican American War would be both Lee and Grants first base battle. Lee and Grant would both serve under General Winfield Scott, a man whom they both admired, during his execute to Mexico City. General Scott saw greatness in Lee and stated his success in Mexico was largely due to the skill, valor, and undaunted energy of Robert E. Lee.15 Scott was also heard commenting a few years later that Lee is the greatest military genius in America.16 Grant, only a first lieutenant, did not pound an opportunity to show much leadership. Grant did however serve with valor. At the Battle of Monterey, Grant would gain some respect among his peers by successfully carrying much needed ammunition to his regiment while under fire.17 During the Civil War, Lee and Grant would implement skills learned while under the command of General Winfield Scott. In the spring of 1861 as the nation leaned toward Civil War, both Grant and Lee would be forced to demonstrate very difficult decisions. Grant would only have to decide between being a patriot or a traitor. In a letter to Grants father he wrote at that place are but two parties now, Traitors & Patriots and I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter. . . (Grant p 957)18 Lee was torn between a successful career in the United States Army, his devotion to the essence, an appointment as commander of the Union forces and the love he had for his family and homeland. In a letter to his sister, Lee wrote With each my devotion to the UnionI have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relatives, my children, my home.19 The decisions these two men do would send them on a collision course in one of the most costly wars the country has every waged. Throughout the Civil War, Robert E Lee would prove himself to be unmatched in leadership. When Lee took control of the Army of Northern Virginia in June of 1862, the Union army was thundering at the city gates(Lee p150)20 of the Confederate capi tal of Richmond. In threesome months, Lee would achieve what his predecessor General Joseph E. Johnston could not. Lee defeated the invading Union army and dark the war in favor of the South. It would take President Lincoln almost one year to pass any competition for General Lee. That competition would be General Grant and the colossal resources the North offered him. The vast resources and the advanced railroad system of the North would give Grant the advantage he needed oer Lee.In a letter to Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Lee expressed his concern that Every hang back brings recruits, and it is stated that every available regiment at the North is added to it(Lee p108)21 The Army of Northern Virginias lack of provisions were so greatI cannot see how we can operate with our present supplies (Lee, p 108).22 Before Lee ever met Grant on the battlefield he was trying to prepare for denary retreats that would allow him to resupply his army. Lee pleaded with Jefferson Davi s that Every exertion should be made to supply the depots at Richmond and at other points (Lee, p 108). 23 Grant carelessly used his resources to attack Lee and after xxx days of marchingfighting and a with a loss of more than sixty thousand men, General Grant24 arrived at Petersburg, which he could have donewithout the loss of a single man.25 The sixty thousand men that were expendable to Grant was more than Lee had in his entire Army of Northern Virginia. Lee eventually was forced to surrender his army of less than eight thousand mento Grants army of 150,00026 Prior to the surrender Union officers had always estimated your Lee force at about seventy thousand men.27 The leadership displayed by Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee throughout their military careers is directly related to their childhood and education at West Point. Grants childhood made him competitive but his lack of interest in the curriculums at West Point would set him back militarily.If Grant did not have the exp endable resources that were available to his Union Army, he would have failed against Lees ability to fight with such limited resources. Lees self struggle to lead by example combined with his devotion to duty and the men in his army resulted in many victories over impossible odds. Lee did not surrender to Grants leadership traits Lee was compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources (Lee p 138)28 1 James A. Henretta, David Brody and Lynn Dumenil, America A Concise History, tertiary Edition, 3rd ed. (Boston Bedford/St. Martins, 2005), 157-58.BibliographyHenretta, James A., David Brody, and Lynn Dumenil. America A Concise History, 3rd Edition. 3rd ed. Boston Bedford/St. Martins, 2005.Lee, Fitzhugh. General Lee. BiblioLife, 2009.Grant, Ulysses S. Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant. CreateSpace, 2009.Lee, Robert. Recollections and Letters. mod York, NY Barnes & Noble, 2004.Bruce Catton Grant and Lee A Study in Contrasts, available from http//users.ipfw.edu/ruflethe/grant andlee.html Internet accessed 16 August 2010.Allen, Walter. ULYSSES S. GRANT. Houghton Mifflin,1901.Long, Armistead Lindsay. Memoirs of Robert E. Lee His military and personal history embracing a large amount of information hitherto unpublished. University of Michigan Library, 1886.Grant, Ulysses S. Ulysses S. Grant Memoirs and Selected Letters Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant / Selected Letters, 1839-1865 (Library of America). First Edition ed. New York, N.Y. Library of America, 1990.