"Money of the Civil War" is one of the major exhibits in the
Money Museum. Therefore, it is only fitting that one of the first
displays visitors see is that of Ulysses S. Grant. Grant is primarily known
for being the General of the Union Forces and leading troops
to a victory over Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate
Army.
Grant began his military career by graduating from West Point
Military Academy. During the Mexican-American War, Grant carefully studied
under Gen. Zachary Taylor and Gen. Winfield Scott. It was in the
Mexican-American War that Grant distinguished himself and was
promoted twice for bravery. In the years following the war, he
relocated frequently. During this time, he began to develop a
drinking problem. With the possibility of being punished for his
heavy drinking, Grant resigned from the Army in 1854.
When the Civil War began, Grant volunteered and was assigned to
command the 21st Illinois volunteer regiment. Grant's
victories along the Mississippi quickly gained him fame. Some
of his most well-known victories included the battles of Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chattanooga and his Overland campaign. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln promoted Grant to
commander of all Union Armies. On April 9, 1865, General Lee
surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia;
essentially ending the Civil War.
Grant was assigned to oversee the post-war reconstruction. In
1868 Grant was elected the 18th President of the United
States at age 46. At the time, he was the youngest
president ever elected. Grant had some success as
president. However, his two terms were marked heavily by
corruption from those in his administration. Overall, his
presidency is deemed by a majority of historians as
unsuccessful.
Even with the issues he had as president, many people still had
a favorable view of Grant. History will always remember him
first as a great war general. Military historian J.F.C Fuller
described Grant as, "the greatest general of his age and one of the
greatest strategists of any age." Grant has been honored for his
accomplishments with his portrait being placed on the
1922 commemorative Grant half dollar and, since 1913,
on the $50 bill. Recently, there have been attempts to
remove Grant's portrait and replace it with a
portrait of former President Ronald Reagan. Before Grant's
death in 1885, he wrote his autobiography "Personal Memoirs," which, published by Mark
Twain, became extremely popular and now is considered a
historic piece of american literature.
(1922 Commemorative Grant Half Dollar)
($50 Bill Featuring Former President Ulysses S.
Grant)
To learn more about Ulysses S. Grant and others historic figures
in the Civil War, visit the Money Museum at 818 N. Cascade
Ave. in Colorado Springs, Colo.
