Reconstruction+Elections+4



Grant fought to win control of the Mississippi Valley. In February 1862 he took Fort Henry and attacked Fort Donelson. When the Confederate commander asked for terms, Grant replied back, "No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted." Now the Confederates surrendered, and President Lincoln promoted Grant to major general of volunteers. Grant fought one of the bloddiest battles in the West. Shiloh; in April. This battle came out less well. Grants next major objective was to win Vicksburg the key city of Mississippi. This was to cut the confederacy into two.This worked, with the loss of Pemberton's army, the confederacy was cut into two. This win made Grant General-in-Chief of the Union armies in March 1864. Grant directed Sherman to drive through the South, while he stayed with with the Army of the Potomac, take down Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House. Grant allowed himself to be seen with two speculators, Jay Gould and James Fisk. When he realized what they're plan was to corner the market in gold, he got the Secratary of Treasury to sell enough gold to ruin their plans. Though, that plan already went through buisness. Grant was attacked by Liberal Republican reformers, during his campaign for re-election in 1872. Grant allowed Radical Reconstruction to run its course in the South, leading it at times with military force. Grant re-tired as president and became a partner in a finacial firm. Then this went bankrupt. Around this time is when he found out he had cancer in the throat. In 1872 Grant was re-elected, at the Republican convention at Philadelphia in June 1872. Then at this time the nominated Horace Greeley as their presidential candidate. Greeley is democratic, Although, Grant is a republican.