Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant · Concept
Leadership and Humility
Grant contrasts his own plain, unassuming style with more flamboyant commanders, highlighting how calm decision-making, lack of pretense, and respect for subordinates were key to his success.
Grant contrasts his own plain, unassuming style with more flamboyant commanders, highlighting how calm decision-making, lack of pretense, and respect for subordinates were key to his success.
General Taylor is depicted as a modest, unpretentious leader who valued duty over display, contrasting with the uniform-conscious General Worth.
Grant contrasts the effective but politically motivated leadership of Scott and Taylor with the self-aggrandizing style of General Worth, who exhausted his troops unnecessarily.
Contrasts Scott's careful planning and delegation with Taylor's casual style, and highlights Scott's reliance on engineers.
Grant reflects on the fallibility of even great generals like Scott and Taylor, and the importance of learning from experience.
Characters
Chapters
- VII The Mexican War—The Battle of Palo Alto—The Battle of Resaca De La Palma—Army of Invasion—General Taylor—Movement on Camargo
- Political Intrigue—Buena Vista—Movement Against Vera Cruz—Siege and Capture of Vera Cruz
- March to Jalapa—Battle of Cerro Gordo—Perote—Puebla—Scott and Taylor
- XII
- Appointed Colonel of the 21st Illinois—Personnel of the Regiment—General Logan—March to Missouri—Movement Against Harris at Florida, Mo.—General Pope in Command—Stationed at Mexico, Mo.
- Commissioned Brigadier-General — Command at Ironton, Mo. — Jefferson City — Cape Girardeau — General Prentiss — Seizure of Paducah — Headquarters at Cairo
- General Fremont in Command—Movement Against Belmont—Battle of Belmont—A Narrow Escape—After the Battle
- General Halleck in Command—Commanding the District of Cairo—Movement on Fort Henry—Capture of Fort Henry
