Quotes of American History: Ulysses S. Grant on Unconditional Surrender
Quote Quota Man, December 7 2012
"No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted." - Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the commanding general of the Union Army who forced Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. In addition to this ultimate success, he won several other campaigns as a general in the Civil War and later served as President between 1869 and 1877.
He gained the nickname of "Unconditional Surrender" Grant in 1862 for his response to Confederate overtures at the Battle of Fort Donelson, quoted above. Eventually the Confederate garrison did surrender there, giving the Union their first major victory of the war. This was the first episode of many that enhanced the reputation of General Grant as he ascended to Lieutenant General of the Union Army.
Completed in the final year of his life, General Grant's memoirs are widely considered to be one of the finest books about the Civil War to ever be written.
