A General Who Will Fight: The Leadership of Ulysses S. Grant

About this book

Prior to his service in the Civil War Ulysses S. Grant exhibited few characteristics indicating that he would be an extraordinary leader. His performance as a cadet was mediocre and he finished in the bottom half of his class at West Point. However during his early service in the Civil War most notably at the battles of Shiloh and Vicksburg Grant proved that he possessed an uncommon drive. When it was most crucial Grant demonstrated his integrity determination and tactical skill by taking control of the Union troops and leading his forces to victory. A General Who Will Fight is a detailed study of leadership that explores Grants rise from undisciplined cadet to commanding general of the United States Army. Some experts have attributed Grants success to superior manpower and technology to the help he received from other Union armies or even to a ruthless willingness to sacrifice his own men. Harry S. Laver however refutes these arguments and reveals that the only viable explanation for Grants success lies in his leadership skill professional competence and unshakable resolve. Much more than a book on military strat-egy this innovative volume examines the decision-making process that enabled Grant both to excel as an unquestioned commander and to win.