Crucible of commmand : Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee -- the war they fought, the peace they forged

They met in person only four times, yet these two men - Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee - determined the outcome of America's most divisive war and cast larger-than-life shadows over their reunited nation. They came from vastly different backgrounds: Lee from a distinguished family of waning fortunes; Grant, a young man on the make in a new America. Differing circumstances colored their outlooks on life: Lee, the melancholy realist; Grant, the incurable optimist. Then came the Civil War that made them both commanders of armies, leaders of men, and heroes to the multitudes of Americans then and since who rightfully place them in the pantheon of our greatest soldiers. Forged in battle as generals, these two otherwise very different men became almost indistinguishable in their instincts, attributes, attitudes, and skills in command. Each the subject of innumerable biographies, Generals Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee have never before been paired as they are here. Exploring their personalities, their characters, their ethical and moral compasses, and their political and military worlds, William C. Davis, one of America's preeminent historians, uses substantial, newly discovered evidence on both men to find surprising similarities between them, as well as new insights and unique interpretations on how their lives prepared them for the war they fought and influenced how they fought it. Crucible of Command is both a gripping narrative of the final year of the war and a fresh, revealing portrait of these two great commanders as they took each other's measure across the battlefield with the aid of millions of men. Read more... Abstract: A dual biography and a fresh approach to the always compelling subject of these two iconic leaders--how they fashioned a distinctly American war, and a lasting peace, that fundamentally changed our nation Read more... They Met In Person Only Four Times, Yet These Two Men - Ulysses S. Grant And Robert E. Lee - Determined The Outcome Of America's Most Divisive War And Cast Larger-than-life Shadows Over Their Reunited Nation. They Came From Vastly Different Backgrounds: Lee From A Distinguished Family Of Waning Fortunes; Grant, A Young Man On The Make In A New America. Differing Circumstances Colored Their Outlooks On Life: Lee, The Melancholy Realist; Grant, The Incurable Optimist. Then Came The Civil War That Made Them Both Commanders Of Armies, Leaders Of Men, And Heroes To The Multitudes Of Americans Then And Since Who Rightfully Place Them In The Pantheon Of Our Greatest Soldiers. Forged In Battle As Generals, These Two Otherwise Very Different Men Became Almost Indistinguishable In Their Instincts, Attributes, Attitudes, And Skills In Command. Each The Subject Of Innumerable Biographies, Generals Ulysses S. Grant And Robert E. Lee Have Never Before Been Paired As They Are Here. Exploring Their Personalities, Their Characters, Their Ethical And Moral Compasses, And Their Political And Military Worlds, William C. Davis, One Of America's Preeminent Historians, Uses Substantial, Newly Discovered Evidence On Both Men To Find Surprising Similarities Between Them, As Well As New Insights And Unique Interpretations On How Their Lives Prepared Them For The War They Fought And Influenced How They Fought It. Crucible Of Command Is Both A Gripping Narrative Of The Final Year Of The War And A Fresh, Revealing Portrait Of These Two Great Commanders As They Took Each Other's Measure Across The Battlefield With The Aid Of Millions Of Men. Icons -- Sons And Fathers -- School Of The Soldier -- Fighting On The Same Side -- Times Of Trial -- A Crisis Made For Them -- What Has Become Of Gen. Lee?, Who Is General Grant? -- Lee Frustrated And Grant Victorious -- Shiloh And Sevens -- Lee Victorious And Grant Frustrated -- What Have We To Live For If Not Victories? -- Two Rivers To Cross -- July 1863 -- Hints Of The Inevitable -- If Defeated Nothing Will Be Left Us To Live For -- A Mere Question Of Time -- Meeting Again -- Grant And Lee In 1868 -- The Last Meeting. William C. Davis. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 593-607) And Index. A dual biography of two iconic leaders: how they fought a bloody, brutal war then forged a lasting peace that fundamentally changed our nation. They met in person only four times, yet these two men determined the outcome of the Civil War and cast competing styles for the reunited nation. Each the subject of innumerable biographies, Generals Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee have never before been paired as they are here. Exploring their personalities, their character, and their ethical, moral, political, and military worlds, William C. Davis finds surprising similarities between the two men as well as new perspectives on how their lives prepared them for the war they fought and influenced how they fought it. Davis reveals Lee's sense of failure before the war, Grant's optimism during disaster, and the sophisticated social and political instincts that each had when waging a war between democracies