Grant started the Civil War at his house, as a retired Captain who was in the audience of

John Rawlins, as Rawlins said "I have favored every honorable compromise, but the day

for compromise has passed. Only one course is left. We will stand by the flag of our

country and appeal to the god of battle." Grant was stirred by this speech and went

looking for volunteers. He assembled a hundred men and he was immediately chosen to be

Captain. Grant saw that the Union needed experienced officers, and saw that

inexperienced men were getting ranks as Colonel, Major, and Captain. He was able to

attain a group of unruly men nick named "Governor Yates Hellion".

In ten days, Grant turned his unruly band of men into a Disciplined Fighting Corps. He

took his regiment on its first march to Quincy, Illinois, on the Mississippi River, from there

they marched to Cairo, where the Ohio River flowed into the Mississippi. The Mississippi

was a major artery that carried goods to and from the nations heartland. He came to the

conclusion that whoever controlled the Mississippi would eventually win the war.

On August 7, 1861, Grant received word that he had been commis

himself was injured. Several of Grants troops reported that the Confederate forces had

enough rations to last them three days. Grant saw it differently, he told his men, "Only

rank of major general. It was promptly confirmed.

him to be supreme commander of the West. But Lincoln, having carefully reviewed the

Richmond. Lee made one last attempt to break through to the south to join Johnston, but

Grant and Foote made their way to Fort Donelson. Grants men were outnumbered, and

enemy and kept Kentucky from being overrun by the south.

well within the original Confederate lines. By morning, a white flag fluttered over the fort.

hold a weapon, Lee was forced to surrender.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Donelson Grants, Wilderness Grant, Rawlins September, West Lincoln, Rawlins Rawlins, Mississippi Mississippi, Simon Buckner, Johnston Grant, James River, Fort Henry, fort henry, days grant, civil war, 1861 grant, john rawlins, confederate forces, grant plan,
Approximate Word count = 860
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)