Comparing Lee and Grant in the Civil War

A Comparison of Two Generals in the American Civil War

In 1860, questionably the world's greatest nation was entrenched in the American Civil War. The war separated the country between the North (Union) and South (Confederate). The war lasted five extremely long years, and by 1865 the Confederate armies were really beaten. Out of this awful war though, roughly 600,000 men died and there grew a greater sense of patriotism that we know of today, something that cannot be compared (Burns, 1990). The Civil War is broken down differently by many historians, but most see the main factor as slavery and the motivation as economic, but the outcome was an identity that was united by our nation. While it may be true that the Civil War marks the firsts in several ways, it was not unlike any other war. To say that it was different from any war before it ignores similarities in American war tradition and strategy. This essay will compare two Generals that lead the North and South, General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union, and General Robert E. Lee of the Confederacy. These General’s defined how the war was fought with their contributions as leaders, but more importantly, it was sacrifice they, and their men put in that defined America.

Where Lee and Grant Got Their Start

Robert E. Lee was born into an affluent family in Virginia’s southern society on January 19, 1807, where his father was a leader in the Revolutionary War and his mother was the daughter of one of the wealthiest Virginia families on record (Long, 1886). He was known as an excellent student and in his studies and military training while West Point. As a matter of fact, he graduated near the top of his class in 1829, and went on to be an officer in the Engineering Corps of the United States Army (Long, 1886). He quickly made himself known for designing and building roads, fortifications, and expanding land areas into waterways. He was also immediately recognized for his natural talents by his superiors...