The way he took hold of that
regiment and licked it into shape opened the eyes of Governor Yates and
his staff. In two months it was the best drilled regiment in the
State; and when President Lincoln wrote to the Governor asking
suggestions for promotions, Grant's name headed the list. He was made
a Brigadier-General.
The story of the Civil War and Grant's great part therein belong to a
longer chronicle than this. Step by step this stern, quiet soldier
fought his way up, winning his country's battles and his own as well.
In the full tide of war he found himself--and better still his country
discovered him. He was never after to prove recreant to his trust.
"We will fight it out along this line if it takes all summer," is one
of his typical remarks, and one most often quoted. It was toward the
last of the hard-fought war, when the Southern forces under Lee were
doing their utmost to fend off the inevitable. Grant, now the
commanding General of the Union forces, was still putting into practise
the quiet, bull-dog qualities that had led his armies to victory.
Then came the final dramatic scene at the historic surrender at
Appomattox. Lee had come to discuss terms with him, and now stood
awaiting his arrival, erect, courtly, handsome--the typical Southern
gentleman that he was.
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