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When he was promoted General-in-Chief, it was clear that the North was on course to win - subject to Lincoln getting re-elected in 1864, which in turn depended on Grant's military successes.

But the price would be horrendous. Grant immediately ended prisoner-exchange, knowing that the Confederates would not be able to replace their losses. And then he settled down to a war of attrition that greatly demoralised the North.

His own important achievement in keeping Lee pinned down in a defensive campaign he couldn't win did not look impressive to the civilians whose sons were being slaughtered or kept in appalling conditions in the prison-camps.

He was just lucky that Sherman, Sheridan and Farragut made better headlines (clearing Georgia and the Shenandoah, and liberating the port of Mobile) just in the nick of time for the election.

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14y ago

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