The Unexpected Pallbearers At Ulysses S. Grant's Funeral

Ulysses S. Grant led the Union Army to victory over the Confederacy during the American Civil War. So how did two Confederate generals end up being pallbearers at his funeral?

#Funeral #Ulysses #Pallbearers

[marycopeland]

Once upon a time men had honor, decency, and respect for character in others, even if views did not agree.

[MrAschiff]

Many of the generals in the Civil War came from the same military schools, so it's not surprising that they would have this type of respect.

[jameshepburn]

Americans have much to appreciate in how both Grant and Lee handled the surrender at Appomattox. Civil wars have ended a lot worse, some have never really ended at all. To this day there’s many years and even centuries of enmity, bitterness, and conflict still from such endless civil wars. Lee had the honor and great foresight to forbid his men from scattering and continuing a never healing guerrilla war. Grant likewise allowed Confederates to rejoin the U.S.A. under honorable terms and without humiliation. Both deserve our gratitude.

[fightingbear]

Grant was an honourable husband, while sick with cancer, he wrote the memoirs to support his wife. This is one of the most selfless things that I have ever read about. He really loved his wife.

[JohnDavies-cnro]

I like Lincoln's comment, when refusing to get rid of Grant, who was disliked by some other senior officers. "I need him. HE fights!"

[m_hub]

we need someone like Grant now
RIP Good Sir

[tomjones]

I am a former teacher and I had a student in one of my classes back in the late 80's. His last name was Buckner. One day I asked him if he was related to the Confederate general Simon Bolivar Buckner and he said, , " I dunno". Well, he came back to my class the next day all excited and said, , , GUESS WHAT!! I AM!. The reason I asked him was of course his last name but, , , , he looked JUST LIKE his relative Simon Bolivar Buckner!! General Buckner, if you've ever seen his picture had a very square jaw and my student had the same feature! I was amazed to say the least! lol, , ,

[brandonarmienti]

The more I learn about Ulysses S. Grant, the more I admire and idolize this man. He was truly a great general and a great human being.

[MrDan]

Confederate Gen. Joe Johnston also appeared at William T Sherman's funeral. As the story goes, he refused to wear a hat despite the chilly weather and remarked that if their places were switched, Sherman wouldn't wear a hat, either.

[Comdesron]

I didn't know about this impressed even more with Grant ....

[djbriggs]

This was a time when men truly practiced honor. It was taught in our culture and in the military academies. We have totally lost that as we have become hyper-individualistic.

[gmanette]

First time hearing this. It's a lesson to be learned.
Thanks much

[jodywho]

May he rest in peace. Thank you sir for preserving the country💙💜💚

[dmmchugh]

The conduct of General Ulysses S. Grant and General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox set the tone for the reunification of the country. President Lincoln had stated that if the South surrendered, they would be welcomed back as brothers. And so at the surrender, the 2 generals shook hands after the "paperwork" was done and that was it. According to Ken Burns' marvelous series, "The Civil War", General Grant allowed the southern army to keep their horses (as it was planting time back home). And Grant asked Lee if his men needed rations. Lee replied that he no longer knew the size of his army, but he believed all his men were hungry. Whereupon Grant gave Lee 30000 (I believe) food rations for his army. Then the generals parted ways, but it was the beginning of the reunification of the country. Such an immortal moment in history between two great generals on behalf of our country.

[cedricgist]

Thanks for this short piece recognizing a man I had little regard for until the last decade.

In high school, I learned that Grant's presidency was connected with corruption and scandal. Per, "The Peter Principle, " he had risen to his level of incompetence - and the nation suffered for it. To this day, I have not read a full biography of the man - yet, over the years my esteem for him has grown.

I learned he was against American imperialism during the Mexican-American War. He did his duty, but the impression I got is that he saw us bullying and exploiting a weaker nation on a pretense.

I learned that he had a deep-seated antipathy toward slavery and some regard for blacks as people meriting respect. He had a hard life as a civilian and resumed his calling as a military man at the outbreak of the Civil War.

I thought Grant was successful because he had the plentiful resources of Northern men and materiel. I've learned that his tactical genius rivaled that of Robert E. Lee's - and Grant may have been the better general after all.

I've learned that he was loyal to his friends like Sherman, Sheridan, and Buckner. I learned that another Confederate general, James Longstreet, was probably closer than Buckner as a friend. Maybe Grant's loyalty blinded him to the machinations of his political friends.

In high school, I also learned that Grant contracted cancer and raced to finish his memoirs before his passing to gain security for his family. That seemed so sad, even for a man with a tarnished reputation. But his reputation really wasn't tarnished as your video indicates.

There is a statue of Ulysses S. Grant in military garb outside the City Hall of St. Louis, Missouri. When I returned to the city from my undistinguished military service, I didn't much care for the tribute paid the man in that sculpture.

These many decades later, I am grateful we had a leader like Grant who soldiered with the greatest of them and didn't bury his enemies' noses in their defeat. Turns out, Grant was a great man. Thank you.

[peterterry]

Grant was a distant cousin of mine so his life was always of interest to me. He was a great gentleman, general and author. Not a great president, but not the worst. His character was the best part of his legacy.

[Novideos]

Gen Ulysses S Grant one of America’s brightest and best. His character shines out in the way he handled and treated his enemies and people who had views that differed from his and the writing of his memoirs while he was dying from throat cancer to financially secure his family and loved ones. A true hero is more ways than one.

[johnlansing]

He fought like a lion against his enemies then cried like a father over the lost sons of both sides .

[whippet]

So proud President Grant's library is at my almamater Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS.

[yeayea]

Once upon a time there were real, honorable men.