Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant · Chapter
XXIII explained
Grant describes his promotion to Major-General of Volunteers after the fall of Fort Donelson, his strategic plans to advance on Nashville and Clarksville, the confusion and lack of communication with General Halleck that led to his temporar
What happens
Grant describes his promotion to Major-General of Volunteers after the fall of Fort Donelson, his strategic plans to advance on Nashville and Clarksville, the confusion and lack of communication with General Halleck that led to his temporary relief from command, and his eventual restoration. He reflects on the lost opportunity to rapidly seize key Confederate positions and praises General C. F. Smith's abilities.
Themes in this chapter
Leadership and Humility
Grant accepts Halleck's preference for C. F. Smith without resentment, stating he would have served faithfully under Smith.
Personal Integrity and Self-Reliance
Grant stands by his decisions to advance on Nashville and Clarksville, and requests to be relieved when he feels unjustly treated.
The Horrors and Cost of War
Grant reflects on the lost opportunity to shorten the war by rapid advances, noting that time allowed the enemy to fortify and prolong the conflict.
The Role of Providence and Fate
Grant remarks 'Providence ruled differently' regarding the missed chance to seize Confederate territory quickly.
Characters to notice
- Ulysses S. Grant
Promoted to Major-General of Volunteers; ordered to turn over command to C. F. Smith; later restored to command.
- Charles F. Smith
Promoted to Major-General; sent to occupy Clarksville; praised by Halleck; placed in command of expedition; died shortly after.
- Henry W. Halleck
Department commander; telegraphed misleading reports about Grant; ordered Grant to turn over command; later exonerated Grant.
- Andrew H. Foote
Flag-officer; formally thanked for victories on the Tennessee and Cumberland.
- George H. Thomas
Mentioned as part of Buell's army advancing on Nashville.
- Abraham Lincoln
President; mentioned in context of Washington's concerns about Grant's actions.
- George B. McClellan
General-in-chief; ordered Grant relieved and investigated based on Halleck's reports.
Key passages
“The news of the fall of Fort Donelson caused great delight all over the North. At the South, particularly in Richmond, the effect was correspondingly depressing.”
The Union victory at Fort Donelson was celebrated across the North, while it deeply demoralized the Confederacy, especially in Richmond.
Grant contrasts the emotional impact of the victory on both sides.
“If one general who would have taken the responsibility had been in command of all the troops west of the Alleghanies, he could have marched to Chattanooga, Corinth, Memphis and Vicksburg with the troops we then had...”
Grant believed that a single, decisive commander could have captured multiple key Confederate cities immediately after Fort Donelson, using the available Union forces.
Grant expresses his strategic view of a missed opportunity for a swift end to the war in the West.
“Thus in less than two weeks after the victory at Donelson, the two leading generals in the army were in correspondence as to what disposition should be made of me, and in less than three weeks I was virtually in arrest and without a command.”
Within two weeks of his greatest victory, Grant found himself the subject of discussions between Halleck and McClellan about his removal, and was soon effectively under arrest.
Grant highlights the irony of his rapid fall from favor after a major success.
“I never knew the truth until General Badeau unearthed the facts in his researches for his history of my campaigns.”
Grant only learned years later, through General Badeau's historical research, that Halleck's own reports had caused his troubles.
Grant reveals that he was unaware of Halleck's duplicity until after the war.
