On the Trail of Grant and Lee

The narrative follows the intertwined lives of Grant and Lee from ancestral backgrounds and early military schooling through frontier and Mexican War service to their contrasting commands during the Civil War, examining campaigns such as Shiloh, Antietam, Vicksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and Petersburg and culminating in surrender and reconstruction. It compares their temperaments, leadership styles, strategic choices and fortunes in battle, drawing on official records and contemporary accounts. The final chapters survey the veterans' postwar careers and public roles. Throughout the text the author seeks a balanced, non‑partisan account that highlights shared qualities of character while tracing tactical decisions and their larger consequences for the nation.