How did he do that? I think Sherman, Thomas, and Cranby had something to do with most of the rest of the war. Grant did not capture the most important in City in the Confederacy, New Orleans, that was the U.S. Navy. How did he do up the Red River and the Trans Mississippi?...oh wait he didn't. Who captured Texas?
But still Van Dorn, one of the most inept generals in the Confederacy whipped Grant. Forcing Grant to RETREAT out of the State of Mississippi.
A lot of myth surrounds Grant and how innovative he was, he was not. Some of his most notible military traits can be traced back to other officers, like Halleck. Grant was aggressive and took chances but he was a blunt force mover, nothing fancy. Grant only fought two major field engagement in the West and that was Shilo (lost the first day bad) and Champion's Hill. Vicksburg and Forts Donelson and Henry were sieges with large support by the Navy. Lee has more victories in open field battles than Grant. Lee's battlefield victories are more impressive than Grant. Lee was always outnumbered and the underdog, yet he either won most of his battles, tied, or was able to escape his superior foe. Grant never faced a foe larger or more powerful than he, and had the rolls been reversed between he and Lee, Grant never would have won a battle. Where was General Grant at Iuka?
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David Upton