During the civil war, the South had Robert E. Lee leading its armies right from the very beginning. However, President Lincoln did not find a general who could succeed for the North until he found Ulysses S. Grant. Lincoln tried and rejected six generals before he found US Grant. Although these generals possessed leadership skills and military know-how, most had no skill at winning battles. Grant was a quiet, average, humble 39-year-old from West Point whose persistence and strength of character enabled him to get the job done.
In the Eastern Theatre of War, the union were continually on the losing side and made little progress. Only U.S Grant is making significant progress and delivering major victories in the Western Theatre. In 1864, Lincoln finally finds U.S Grant and congress gives him the rank of lieutenant General (3 Star) last held by George Washington himself. The war will end quickly in a year after U.S Grant's appointment, as the General of all Union armies.
"And while Lincoln set the course, it was Grant who sailed the ship."
