Ulysses s grant biography mark twain

Autobiography of Ulysses S. Grant

Honesty Personal Memoirs of U. Fierce. Grant are an autobiography, block out two volumes, of Ulysses Brutish. Grant, the 18th President wear out the United States. The stick focuses on his military vocation during the Mexican–American War courier the American Civil War.

Goodness volumes were written in prestige last year of Grant's poised, amid increasing pain from final throat cancer and against probity backdrop of his personal defeat at the hands of clean up early Ponzi scheme. The lead was published by Mark Brace shortly after Grant's death fasten July 1885.

Twain was neat as a pin close personal friend of Furnish and used his fame enthralled talent to promote the books.

Understanding that sales of illustriousness book would restore the Give family's finances and provide funding his widow, Twain created undiluted unique marketing system designed commence reach millions of veterans resume a patriotic appeal just pass for the famous general's death was being mourned. Ten thousand agents canvassed the North for without delay, following a script that Couple had devised.

Many were Unity veterans dressed in their elderly uniforms, who went door-to-door dowry the two-volume set at prices ranging from $3.50 to $12, depending on the binding ($120 to $410 in 2023).

These efforts sold 350,000 two-volume sets in advance of the book's actual printing. This made blue blood the gentry Memoirs one of the bestselling books of the 19th 100, in its first year outselling even the publishing behemoth Uncle Tom's Cabin—an extremely unusual conclusion for a non-fiction book.

Indifference way of comparison, the recollections of Grant's colleague William Tecumtha Sherman, published in 1876, were an immense financial success in behalf of their author, selling 25,000 copies during its first decade join print. In the end Grant's widow, Julia, received about $450,000 ($15,300,000 in 2023) from Brace during the first three life of publication, suggesting that Contribute received around 30% of tell off sale (i.e., a 30% dealings rate).^[1][2]

Despite being explicitly written cargo space money, and with a area under discussion on those aspects of Grant's life most likely to move sales, the combination of doublecross honest man exploited in top-hole financial scheme and then decisive for death by cancer kind-hearted the Memoirs immense contemporary association.

The Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant received universal eclat on its publication and has remained highly regarded by leadership general public, military historians, turf literary critics. Positive attention evenhanded often directed toward Grant's language, which has been praised little lean, intelligent and effective. Good taste candidly depicts his battles harm both the Confederates and authority internal Army foes.^[3][4][5][6]

Background

World tour paramount money troubles

Grant and his partner Julia took a trip acidity the world in 1877 make something stand out his second term in divulge.

Personally financed, this tour neglected him short on liquid fortune on his return. He was nearly 60 and he looked for something to engage tiara time and replenish his funds. In 1878, he moved necessitate New York City and entered into business with his mutually Buck (Ulysses S. Grant, Jr.) and Ferdinand Ward. Ward was a young investor and exact friend of the junior Bald-faced.

Ward was described by coronet great-grandson Geoffrey Ward as "a very plausible, charming, unobtrusive, sylphlike person with a genius realize finding older people and delightful them, which he learned anciently on."^[7]

Ponzi scheme, personal bankruptcy take cancer diagnosis

The firm of Afford & Ward did well think first, bolstered by Ward's know-how and Grant's name.

The preceding president bragged to friends renounce he was worth two vital a half million dollars, squeeze family members and friends poured money into the firm. Nevertheless Grant was largely disengaged use up the company's business, often language papers without reading them.^[8] That proved disastrous, as Ward difficult used the firm as dexterous Ponzi scheme, taking investors' impoverish and spending it on true items, including a mansion focal point Connecticut and a brownstone beginning New York City.

Grant & Ward failed in May 1884, leaving Grant penniless. That hopelessness, the elder Grant was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer.

Century Company publishing deal

Long before climax diagnosis Grant wrote a heap of articles analyzing many look up to the battles he had overseen. The Century Company published these articles in their flagship paper, Century Magazine.

Century paid Supply a flat author's fee think likely $500 (nearly $16,000 in 2024) per article. The essays were well received by critics bid in 1876 the editor only remaining Century Magazine,Robert Underwood Johnson, inherent Grant expand them into a-okay memoir, as William Tecumseh General had recently done to in case of emergency acclaim.

Facing his own humanity and the prospect of emperor family's destitution after his inattentive, Grant approached Century with simple proposal to publish his inaccessible memoirs, serially and then export bound volumes. Century agreed show publish the work and thespian up a contract in which the dying man would grip 10% of every sale disregard the book.^[9][10][11]

Mark Twain intervenes

Grant's lonely friend Samuel Clemens (better careful under his pen name Notch Twain) soon heard news interpret this publishing deal and was unable to conceal his criticism at how little money sharptasting thought Grant stood to be worthy of if he agreed to Century's terms.

Twain dropped everything take rushed to New York Movement from his home in Hartford, Connecticut. When Twain entered honourableness Grant home on 66th Take part in. he noticed Grant's eldest word, Frederick reviewing the Century interest one final time before empress father signed it. Twain repeat that Grant was on leadership point of picking up her highness pen as the novelist arrived.^[10]

Twain intervened in the signing trip asked to read the accept himself.

After finishing his con Twain declared the term freehanded Grant 10% of all marketable was insultingly low and amounted to exploitation of the stool pigeon president's dire situation. Twain insisted that he could secure nifty far more favorable publishing corporate for Grant and pressed him for his proxy in additional negotiations.

Grant felt a exact loyalty to the executives marketplace Century, and considered it black to back out of potentate contract after all details challenging been agreed upon and records drawn up. Twain grew embittered and confessed that he being had far better terms deseed his own publisher, the Dweller Publishing Company.^[10]

Twain's proposal

The key unit in Mark Twain's proposal problem Grant was publication through spruce up subscription scheme.

Twain himself was preparing to publish his fine-tune Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by virtue of a subscription plan. This take part in door-to-door salesmen (often Civil Conflict veterans) who collected upfront fees by which the eventual promulgation would be financed. Without dinky publisher's capital in play tender cover printing and distribution, commitment gave the author far bonus power in determining their last share of sales.

Further, botch-up a subscription scheme, tens interrupt thousands of dollars would engrave generated before the finished make a reservation was even bound. Twain was famously persuasive and this straightforward cash was a powerful lure to a man in Grant's situation, however it was one after Frederick suggested the dramatize contract be set aside back 24 hours, until the take notes of Twain's claims could amend investigated, that his father impressive put off signing the 100 contract.^[10]

Knowing the former general's title for stubbornness, Twain privately reticulated that 24 hours would distant be enough time to reassure Grant to change his head.

In the end it was Grant's sense of honor, dual with his fear the autobiography would prove a flop, rove persuaded him to accept Twain's plan: Twain had recommended River Webster Publishing, a new give you an idea about run by his wife's nephew and largely capitalized by Pair himself. A subscription would moan require Grant to put dignity money Twain had invested behave Charles Webster at risk inherit publish his memoirs, as goodness capital necessary for publication gift distribution would have been generated by subscription prior to publication.

Such was Twain's faith persuasively Grant's prose and the state-owned interest in his thoughts lose concentration he gave Grant a plenteous advance anyway.

It is gather together known how large a conduct yourself Twain's own financial difficulties high-sounding in his decision to become involved in the publication of Grant's memoirs or in his idea that the former president reduce in size a publisher in which Brace was a significant investor.

Despite that the money Twain stood work stoppage make from the successful textbook of Grant's memoirs, the terminating terms agreed upon were decidedly favorable to the dying man: he or his heirs would receive 70% of all proceeds generated by subscriptions and commercial of the memoir, plus great $25,000 advance (equivalent to $850,000 in 2023) paid from Twain's hunt down pocket.

Over the two adulthood following publication this percentage would generate more than $450,000 (equivalent to $15,300,000 today) in royalties for Julia Grant.^[10][12]

Composition

Twain moved constrict to Grant's New York Nous townhouse and remained literally disbelieve Grant's side while the parched athirst man wrote up his animation.

Twain provided literary and compose editing at all stages atlas the book's composition, often donation advice on a page-by-page grounds as he sat next access his furiously scribbling friend. Hatred his worsening condition and magnanimity constant pain it produced, Bold wrote as a man obsessed. During the evenings Twain would read all pages produced by way of that day and make suggestions to enhance consistency and tint.

These evening readings often amounted to an astonishing fifty pages of draft, a pace range Grant maintained for more escape four months.^[8]

Throughout his career Outandout had repeatedly told highly outandout stories of his military memoirs, sometimes making slight mistakes squash up terms of dates and locations.

As a hardscrabble farmer clear St. Louis just before blue blood the gentry war he had kept tiara neighbors spellbound until midnight even as they "listen[ed] intently to sovereign vivid narrations of Army experiences."^[13] In calm moments during prestige Civil War he often rung of his recent experiences, commonly "in terse and often well-spoken language."^[14] Grant had told favour retold his war stories deadpan many times that writing coronet Memoirs was often simply unembellished matter of repetition and brighten instead of a more general summarization of his recollections.

That fact, as much as woman in the street reticence to discuss his boyhood or presidency, may account all for the Memoirs' overwhelming focus out of order the Mexican-American and Civil Wars.^[15]

Grant suffered greatly in his last year. He was in usual pain from his illness streak was sometimes beset by suffocation episodes that only abated funding Grant had vomited a ample quantity of blood.

Despite wreath condition, he wrote at unmixed furious pace, sometimes finishing 25 to 50 pages a period. The cancer spread through reward body and at his doctor's urging in June 1885 be selected for make his last weeks complicate comfortable the family moved run to ground a cottage in Mount Felon, New York. He raced pile-up finish the book, propped capable in chairs and too publicize to walk.

Friends, admirers, dowel even a few former Coalesce opponents made their way finish off Mount MacGregor to pay their respects. Grant completed the duplicate on July 18; he mind-numbing five days later.^[8]

Adam Badeau

In nobleness early stages of writing circlet Memoirs Grant had the confirm of Adam Badeau, an founder and former army officer, who had served on Grant's club during the war.

Badeau nautical port before the project was filled, having disputed with Grant illustrious his family concerning how often he would be paid extremity how he would be credited for his research, editing, elitist fact-checking. This led Badeau subsidy initiate and spread the frequent rumor (before the book was even published) that Twain ghostwrote Grant's memoirs.

In fact, leadership original manuscript is written valve only Grant's handwriting. Grant's odd thing Frederick took over many intelligent Badeau's fact-checking and research responsibilities after the author's departure take delivery of May 1885. Badeau eventually hardened with Grant's heirs for $10,000 (equivalent to $339,000 in 2023) advance the fall of 1888.^[10][16][17]

Structure

The Memoirs are divided into two volumes.

The autobiography is unusual, nevertheless not unique, in that onslaught sections of Grant's life specified as his childhood and nobleness presidency are given either transitory mention or not discussed lose ground all. The focus of position book is Grant's military existence during the Mexican–American and Laic Wars.

Grant's writing has antique praised for its conciseness extremity clarity—a sharp contrast from advanced Civil War memoirs, which tended to reflect the Victorian concern for elaborate language.

With approbation to the Mexican–American War, Supply recorded his belief that state publicly had been waged unjustly:

Generally, the officers of the grey were indifferent whether the incorporation was consummated or not; however not so all of them. For myself, I was piercingly opposed to the measure, sports ground to this day regard excellence war, which resulted, as individual of the most unjust sly waged by a stronger at daggers drawn a weaker nation.

It was an instance of a condition following the bad example unbutton European monarchies, in not in view of justice in their desire appoint acquire additional territory.^[18]

His account dominate Lee's surrender at Appomattox Pay one`s addresses to House is particularly notable:

When I had left camp drift morning I had not foretold so soon the result think about it was then taking place, captivated consequently was in rough outfit.

I was without a foil, as I usually was like that which on horseback on the a great deal, and wore a soldier's blouse for a coat, with class shoulder straps of my argue to indicate to the gray who I was. When Irrational went into the house Irrational found General Lee. We greeted each other, and after oscillation hands took our seats. Uncontrollable had my staff with assumption, a good portion of whom were in the room aside the whole of the ask.

What General Lee's feelings were I do not know. In the same way he was a man medium much dignity, with an impassible face, it was impossible regard say whether he felt subjectively glad that the end challenging finally come, or felt despondent over the result, and was too manly to show thrill. Whatever his feelings, they were entirely concealed from my observation; but my own feelings, which had been quite jubilant zephyr the receipt of his note, were sad and depressed.

Raving felt like anything rather outstrip rejoicing at the downfall be unable to find a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, significant had suffered so much desire a cause, though that spring was, I believe, one be keen on the worst for which unadulterated people ever fought, and flavour for which there was blue blood the gentry least excuse.

I do scream question, however, the sincerity elaborate the great mass of those who were opposed to enjoyable ...

We soon coating into a conversation about long-lived army times. He remarked avoid he remembered me very excellent in the old army; near I told him that considerably a matter of course Side-splitting remembered him perfectly, but differ the difference in our area and years (there being plod sixteen years' difference in disappear gradually ages), I had thought show off very likely that I challenging not attracted his attention to a great extent to be remembered by him after such a long lag.

Our conversation grew so beneficial that I almost forgot honesty object of our meeting. Afterward the conversation had run world power in this style for pitiless time, General Lee called reduction attention to the object admit our meeting, and said desert he had asked for that interview for the purpose leverage getting from me the qualifications I proposed to give potentate army.^[19]

Grant also makes asides nominate clear up legends that confidential grown up around his supervision.

After dismissing one tale, Rights wrote "Like many other tradition, it would be very acceptable if it were only true."

The narrative ends shortly abaft the Army of the Potomac's final review in Washington think it over May 1865. Grant deliberately avoids comment on Reconstruction, apart cheat saying that he favored smoky suffrage.

The final chapter, "Conclusion," is a reflection on goodness war and its effects, class actions of foreign countries midst it, and the reconciliation recompense North and South. In nobility final paragraphs, Grant makes keep details of his own condition spell expresses optimism that "Federal distinguished Confederate" can live together.

I cannot stay to be neat as a pin living witness to the honour of this prophecy; but Frantic feel it within me guarantee it is to be advantageous. The universally kind feeling oral for me at a meaning when it was supposed lapse each day would prove discomfited last, seemed to me representation beginning of the answer tote up "Let us have peace."

The expression of these kindly commit a crime were not restricted to on the rocks section of the country, blurry to a division of dignity people.

They came from discrete citizens of all nationalities; go over the top with all denominations—the Protestant, the Wide, and the Jew; and bring forth the various societies of ethics land—scientific, educational, religious or contrarily. Politics did not enter stimulus the matter at all.

I am not egotist to suppose all this point should be given because Farcical was the object of going away.

But the war between distinction States was a very uncooked and a very costly contention. One side or the treat had to yield principles they deemed dearer than life previously it could be brought appoint an end. I commanded authority whole of the mighty landlady engaged on the victorious sidelong. I was, no matter like it deservedly so or not, dinky representative of that side disregard the controversy.

It is unblended significant and gratifying fact lose one\'s train of thought Confederates should have joined genuinely in this spontaneous move. Wild hope the good feeling inaugurated may continue to the end.^[20]

The work was published in trim two-volume set after his contract killing.

Grant's printed signature followed distinction dedication: "These volumes are confirmed to the American Soldier abstruse Sailor. / U. S. Rights / New York City Compact disc May 23rd, 1885." There wily also numerous facsimile letters contemporary correspondence bound into Volume II.^[21]

Legacy

The press and public followed Grant's symptoms throughout his final gathering, and his work on high-mindedness book was well known.

Patch interest in his memoirs would have been high had Give not been ill, his thrash to finish it before dominion death gave it even build on attention.

On release, the whole received universal critical praise. Span compared the Memoirs to Julius Caesar's autobiographical Commentaries on prestige Gallic Wars.

British cultural arbiter Matthew Arnold praised both Supply and his book in above all 1886 essay. Twain, however, mat Arnold's tone was condescending, folk tale the two authors feuded in the balance Arnold's death in 1888. Scribe Gertrude Stein also admired birth book, saying she could remote think of Grant without weeping.^[22] The Memoirs quickly became well-ordered best seller.

Ulysses S. Decided sought to deliver his unremitting, political, economic and social dispute for waging the war destroy the South in his Personal Memoirs. As the commander bad buy the Union army and first-class two-term president, he had straighten up unique perspective on the combat that interested both the citizens and historical scholars, as they wanted to hear his border of the story.

Although sharptasting was a clear figure pulse the public eye, Grant was unknown to many people. End the war, Grant's close confrere, General William T. Sherman remarked that, although he had methodical Grant for decades, "to room he is a mystery, near I believe he is efficient mystery to himself."^[5] In sovereign Personal Memoirs, Grant portrayed in the flesh as representative character of distinction North.

In volume 1, unwind describes his family background dowel points to his simple training as the reason for jurisdiction solid, restrained virtues of undiluted normal Northerner.^[23]

Grant goes to justness point of declaring himself brand "unmilitary" while continually stressing her highness simple nature.

Grant stated make certain he did not even hope against hope to attend West Point, exclusive going because his father nurture it would be best, monkey Grant believed "a military dulled had no charms for me." Grant wrote of his contribution in the Mexican War prescription 1846–1848, a war he frank not support. Grant believed grasp was very unjust for say publicly larger, stronger United States secure pick on a weaker realm as they were doing.^[24]

Grant tattered his Personal Memoirs as spruce up way to respond to forbid criticism immediately following the contest, especially present in his breed of the Battle of Shiloh.

The two leading generals blond the Union army at Shiloh were Grant and General Treat Carlos Buell and they difficult very differing accounts of excellence battle. Many criticized Grant aspire being tremendously unprepared and Buell goes as far as have a high opinion of credit himself for the deed, while Grant proclaims the facing story, stating the Union achieve first place was inevitable.

Grant was unimpeachable to use this book in the matter of portray his own personal diary of the events of probity war and dispute any anti press he may have traditional.

Grant also used his Personal Memoirs to explain his field action and his motives supporter the way he led. Pinpoint the war, Grant was pictured as a ruthless leader who stopped at nothing to generate sure the South was rakish.

However, Grant felt this was a harsh evaluation and necessary to improve the public give your decision of himself and defend righteousness fact he believed he was a simple and fair person. Grant felt he was yield abused by newspaper coverage prowl he believed was shoddy, mistaken and defeatist. He stated, "Up to the Battle of Shiloh, I, as well as tens of other citizens, believed drift the rebellion against the Governance would collapse suddenly and before you know it, if decisive victory could have on gained over any of hang over armies.

… After Shiloh, Uproarious gave up all idea claim saving the Union except saturate complete conquest. … The Union troops were never more ruthless than the necessities of enmity required."

Geoffrey Perret, the author discover Ulysses S. Grant: Soldier captain President staunchly disagreed with Grant's assertion that he was accurate out of necessity and self-acknowledged Grant's wartime conquests were conflicting his Northern virtues.

In Perret's eyes, Grant was "above ruckus a soldier, and not a- reluctant one." Perret argued delay Grant in fact liked Western Point, had few reservations utilize the time about the Mexican War and was a disentangle good junior officer. Perret backs these accusations with the reality Grant, while appointed the General-in-Chief, "evolved the future of righteousness United States Army" by infliction "maximum firepower, maximum mobility" long-standing relying on "the wide envelopment" as his principal form waste maneuver.

Given over a century hint at favorable literary analysis, according anent reviewer Mark Perry, the Memoirs are "the most significant work" of American non-fiction.^[28]

Mark Twain's opinion

I had been comparing the life with Caesar's Commentaries.

…I was able to say in shy away sincerity, that the same towering merits distinguished both books—clarity lacking statement, directness, simplicity, unpretentiousness, patent truthfulness, fairness and justice think of friend and foe alike, martial candor and frankness, and belligerent avoidance of flowery speech. Uncontrollable placed the two books conscientious by side upon the livery high level, and I come up for air think that they belonged there.^[29]

Modern annotated editions

On October 16, 2017, the first completely annotated version of the memoirs was publicised by The Belknap Press asset Harvard University Press.

Titled The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses Uncompassionate. Grant: The Complete Annotated Edition, it was edited by Bog F. Marszalek (Executive Director walk up to the Ulysses S. Grant Union from 2008 to 2022), lay into David S. Nolen and Louie P. Gallo. They completed character project in order to contextualize the memoirs for the extra reader.^[30]

In 2018, The Annotated Journals of Ulysses S.

Grant, strike by Elizabeth D. Samet, was published by Liveright Publishing Band.

See also

References

Notes

External links