Grant was an abject failure in virtually everything he tried except for one thing – war. In that he excelled magnificently. While other Union generals in the east were plagued by over caution, lack of confidence and single-mindedness, or just plain ineptitude, Grant in the west pursued with unyielding doggedness the one goal that a few of the generals and nearly all the politicos in Washington could not understand. His goal was, simply, to whip the enemy, unconditionally. Print signed by Tracy Stivers.