The Collected Library, Including Americana and Early Photography

General Eisenhower discussing Ulysses S. Grant

"It never seemed possible to me...that a man who was so constantly under the influence of liquor could have pursued a single course so steadfastly..."

Washington, D.C. November 12, 1946. One sheet, 10 1/2 x 8 in. (254 x 203 mm.) Typed letter signed by General Dwight D. Eisenhower to William E. Brooks. In part: "...Many years ago I read Grant's report to the Secretary of War... The first several paragraphs of that report impressed me mightily - in them the Commander traced out his general idea or his general plan for the defeat of the Confederacy at the moment he was called upon to assume charge of the Northern armies. I think people frequently lose sight of the importance of this broad scheme which lies behind every move the Commander makes. As a consequence we see people-sometimes highly informed critics- attempting to separate one battle or one point of a campaign from the whole and in doing so they get it completely our of focus. Ever since I read that report my respect for Grant has been high, in spite of many bitter criticisms that I have read both of his military ability and his personal habits...It never seemed possible to me...that a man who was constantly under the influence of liquor could have pursued a single course so steadfastly, could have accepted frequent failures of subordinates without losing his own equilibrium, could have made numbers of close decisions which involved a nice balance between risk and advantage, and could have maintained the respect of such men as Sherman, Sheridan, Meade, and above all, President Lincoln..." Creasing form old folds. Copy of this letter in the Papers of Dwight D. Eisenhower, at the Library of Congress.

Wonderful letter by General Dwight D. Eisenhower discussing fellow general turned President, Ulysses. S. Grant.

Eisenhower was a long-time admirer of Grant, having studied Union campaigns while a student at West Point, and by his own admission here, that appreciation developed further through his command of the United States Army during World War II.

In an interview with Walter Cronkite almost twenty years after this letter, Eisenhower again defended Grant's reputation saying, "I think Ulysses S. Grant is vastly underrated as a man and as a general. I know people think this and that about his drinking habits, which I think have been exaggerated way out of line. The fact is, he never demanded more men or material from the war department, he took over an army that had a long history of retreating and losing. That army had no confidence in their fighting ability and Grant came in as a real outsider. He had so many disadvantages going into the 1864 campaign, now 100 years ago. But he met every test and rose to the occasion unlike I’ve ever seen in American history. He was a very tough yet very fair man and a great soldier. He’s not been given his due..."