Ulysses S. Grant

civil war largely concluded on april 9 1865 with the surrender of the last major confederate army by robert e lee to ulysses s grant at appomattox a few scattered battles would continue for the next month but by and large the war was over On April 14, Lincoln would go to Ford's Theatre to see a production of the comedy Our American Cousin.

Newspapers had reported that morning that President Lincoln and Ulysses Grant would be attending the performance to celebrate the union's victory.

The only issue was that neither of them wanted to go.

Since he was known as a fan of the theatre, why Lincoln was reluctant to go that night isn't entirely certain.

And he sat there, completely unaware, while the President of the United States was murdered just feet away from him.

There doesn't appear to be any record of the public blaming Henry for failing to stop Lincoln's assassination, but he blamed himself for it completely.

It likely didn't help that both Ulysses Grant and Lincoln's normal bodyguard had stated in the papers that they would have stopped Booth had they been there.

The Washington, D.C. police officer that had been acting as bodyguard was assigned to fill in for the night, despite having a history of inappropriate behavior, including drinking on the job.

At ten minutes before the hour, the McClellan vote was far ahead, and that party was already exulting, confident of success.

But at five minutes before the final closing of the polls, the Union League of Philadelphia telegraphed ordering 500 votes for Grant, and the sword was his.

Indignant Democrats pronounced this an act of treachery, an ominous dissent spread over the restless crowd, and, for a time, it seemed as if there might be some dangerous demonstration.

Only the general refinement and restraint of the surging, self-respecting crowd prevented an outbreak.

Mrs. McClellan was pitifully disappointed as her vision of the White House grew dim, and after the popular election of Grant and the defeat of McClellan, she indignantly declared that she would not live in such an ungrateful country.

She actually lived abroad for some years, but, like all good Americans, she was happy to return to enjoy the freedom of her own native land.

In the month of February, 1909, I had the pleasure of seeing again, in the Smithsonian Museum at Washington, the veritable sword of that memorable contest which had been presented in April, 1863.

Other swords and equipments of General Grant were preserved in a large glass case.

Secretary of War William Belknap died.

who was a Grant-era official who got hit for corruption.

He was famous for his extravagant parties and elegantly entire first and second wives.

Many questions how he managed such a grand lifestyle on his $8,000 government salary once the trail of evidence starts coming forward.

President Ulysses S.

Grant was not so forgiving He publicly blamed Custer, saying he had disobeyed orders from Terry and was responsible for the deaths of 268 men.

In a newspaper article a few months later, Grant said, I regard Custer's massacre as a sacrifice of troops brought on by Custer himself that was wholly unnecessary.

He further called Custer's rashness unjustifiable.

In response to the criticism, Custer's 34-year-old wife, Elizabeth, also known as Libby, went on a speaking tour to shine up her husband's image.

He was convicted and assigned a laughable one-year suspension.

If you remember the words of President Ulysses S.

Grant from the beginning of our story, you can see here the beginning of his dislike for Custer nearly 10 years earlier.