Reference Entry
GRANT TAKES COMMAND OF UNION ARMIES
Two years later, another turning point arrived when Ulysses S. Grant began work in his new role as general-in-chief of all Union armies. Having made his reputation at places like Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga, Grant now carried the rank of lieutenant general, a grade not held since George Washington. From this position he could coordinate the Army of the Potomac in Virginia with campaigns in the West, aiming to pressure Confederate forces on every front at once.
Dated Historical Context
A RECORDED MOMENT IN HISTORY
Grant Takes Command of Union Armies
Two years later, another turning point arrived when Ulysses S. Grant began work in his new role as general-in-chief of all Union armies. Having made his reputation at places like Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga, Grant now carried the rank of lieutenant general, a grade not held since George Washington. From this position he could coordinate the Army of the Potomac in Virginia with campaigns in the West, aiming to pressure Confederate forces on every front at once. Rather than chasing individual victories, he focused on grinding down the enemy’s main armies while denying them time to recover. In practice this meant tying himself closely to the Army of the Potomac while entrusting western campaigns to reliable subordinates. The decision to centralize authority in a commander willing to accept heavy costs in pursuit of a decisive outcome helped set the stage for the weary, brutal final year of the Civil War and ultimately for Union victory.
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