Let Us Have Peace: Ulysses S. Grant and the Politics of War and Reconstruction, 1861-1868

Most high school history classes skip over Reconstruction completely, leaving a gap normally filled by myth perpetuated by charlatans with a political agenda. Bruce Catton's completion of the Grant biography Lloyd Lewis began ended at the close of the Civil War. Most people who read about Grant never read about Grant between the Civil War and his presidency, and they assume Grant knew nothing about politics when he entered the White House in 1869. This book counters that misinterpretation. Simpson shows us clearly that Grant understood politics. He kept himself informed on political issues for most of his life, and as a general officer deftly treaded through several political minefields throughout the war. After the war he became even more involved in politics with his resistance of Andrew Johnson's attempts to make him a political pawn and his growing dismay over Johnson's mishandling of Reconstruction policy. Simpson shows an understanding of Grant's attitudes toward African-Americans that Grant's previous biographer, William S. McFeely sorely lacked. He brings to light Grant's attempts to protect the freedmen from violence and the efforts to resubjugate them by white Southerners and how Johnson moved to thwart Grant's efforts. This is an important contribution that fills a gap in understanding that many have.

As a person with some knowledge of the Civil War and Reconstruction, I found LET US HAVE PEACE extremely well written, very readable and highly informative. However, I do not believe that it is for the casual reader. The book deals with a very specific time and a very specific subject: Grant's transition from general to president. The author shows Grant's involvement in Recontruction and the peace process before the end of the war and during the Johnson administration. For example, I was unaware that Grant was secretary of war after the removal of Stanton and his role in the controvery over the Tenure in Office Act. The book gives an interesting view of Grant's role in the impeachment of President Johnson and shows the interworking of the relationship between Grant and other generals, espcially William T. Sherman. I found the chapter on the rise of Grant as a presidential candidate extremely interesting contradicitng the general consensu that he was an shoe in for the nomination. The epilogue which is historiographic in nature was very helpful in terms of putting Simpson's thesis in context. Once again, for the student who already has knowledge of the cast of characters and the interworkings of the politics of Reconstruction, this is a must read. It was also refreshing to read a book on Grant that avoids references to his drinking. As I recall there are three references in the entire book and they are well placed and put in proper context.