Lessons from Ulysses S. Grant & William T. Sherman's mistakes
This are just a few lessons that I've gathered from history. I will add more as I go. Sam and Cump are very inspiring leaders you know :)
When Ulys tried to obtain a colonelcy at the start of the war, he was knocked back: "Who the hell is this man in a ratty gray overcoat and carpetbag? He doesn't look like a military man to me. Gtfo."
Lesson no 1: Dress nice you'll improve your prospects onehundredfold (at least at the start, when you're a nobody)
Whenever Ulys's enemies wanted to undermine him, they brought out the same report of his drunkenness over and over and OVER again.
Lesson no 2: Don't get drunk in front of a ranking officer. It doesn't matter if you stay as "sober as a deacon" for the rest of your life, the blow to your reputation will linger with you forever.
Ulys was amazingly nice and trusting. Nice and trusting is not always compatible with business or politics. Ulys wouldn't collect debts or if he did, he wouldn't take interest, and made nothing. Later on in his Presidency, he was too nice to his Cabinet members and let them run amok, screwing up the country.
Lesson no 3: Don't be *too* nice.
When starting the Vicksburg campaign, Ulys decided to work with Admiral Porter. Porter reckoned Ulys would be just another arrogant West Pointer, and spiffed up for the meeting. He was surprised when Grant appeared in a brown coat and gray trousers, and acting perfectly unpresemptuously and kindly, explaining his strategy in a logical manner.
Lesson no 4: Be humble and treat your subordinates like equals.
When Sherman negotiated the surrender of the Confederates with Johnston, he was so elated that he gave overly-generous terms. This came back to bite him in the ass when Andrew Johnson and Edwin Stanton started yelling "TREASON!" and the terms had to be redone. (Grant hotly defended his friend, though)
Lesson no 5: Don't get cocky just because you won.
Cump had a big mouth. He didn't care about freely broadcasting his (disgustingly) racist opinions. Which wasn't a good idea when the Lincoln administration was pushing the policy of emancipation, and, oh, also happened to be the people who decided who got promoted or not.
Lesson no 6: It is wise to maintain good relations with your civil employers, even if it means keeping your mouth shut!
Other lessons/morals/advice/tips from Uly and Cump:
Don't underestimate the enemy's ability to take initiative!
(Grant @ Belmont, Fort Donelson, Pittsburgh Landing/Shiloh)
Don't overestimate the enemy's strength to the point of paralysing you with fear!
(Sherman in Kentucky campaign)
It is imperative to get accurate intelligence!
(Sherman in Kentucky campaign, Pittsburgh Landing/Shiloh)
Sometimes luck just prevails over skill.
(The fortuitous charge at the centre of Missionary Ridge)
"It is decisiveness and energy in action that always accomplishes great results, & strikes terror to the heart of the foe, it is this and not the conception of great schemes that makes military genius."
(Rawlins on Grant's implementation of the Cracker Line strategy at Chattanooga)
"[I]n war anything is better than indecision. We must decide. If I am wrong, we shall soon find it out, and can do the other thing. But not to decide wastes both time and money, and may ruin everything."
(Grant quote saying the same as above. Actions > Words.)
Be gracious and kind to your enemies, especially in your victory and their defeat. This may work to spread disillusion among their side.
(Grant paroling 30,000 soldiers @ Vicksburg)
Surround yourself with good friends and weed out the bad.
(e.g. Rawlins (good), Dana (good), Sherman (good), McClernand (bad), Lagow (bad))
Being humble can go a long way.
(Sherman waiving seniority over Grant; Grant when... well, just Grant in general.)
Keep the newspaper reporters at bay. Or sue them for slander/libel.
(19th century reporters were worse than Rita Skeeter. They could reduce grown generals to crying girls.)
Don't bring your family down to camp, as much as you miss them.
(Death of Willy Sherman at Vicksburg)
Sometimes being a forgettable, nondescript, mysterious man can work to your advantage.
(This gives Grant's military strategy an element of unpredictability vs General Lee!)
Kindness and common sense does have the potential to get you in a higher place than any book smarts, charisma, athleticism, or talent.
(Ulysses S. Grant)
Banking is a sucky profession.
(But I didn't need Cump to teach me that).
You don't like the laws and constitution of your country? Too bad. Like it or GTFO.
(Cumpy's overarching philosophy)
Teach your kids right, or they'll be racist little shits.
(Fred Dent Grant)
When Ulys tried to obtain a colonelcy at the start of the war, he was knocked back: "Who the hell is this man in a ratty gray overcoat and carpetbag? He doesn't look like a military man to me. Gtfo."
Lesson no 1: Dress nice you'll improve your prospects onehundredfold (at least at the start, when you're a nobody)
Whenever Ulys's enemies wanted to undermine him, they brought out the same report of his drunkenness over and over and OVER again.
Lesson no 2: Don't get drunk in front of a ranking officer. It doesn't matter if you stay as "sober as a deacon" for the rest of your life, the blow to your reputation will linger with you forever.
Ulys was amazingly nice and trusting. Nice and trusting is not always compatible with business or politics. Ulys wouldn't collect debts or if he did, he wouldn't take interest, and made nothing. Later on in his Presidency, he was too nice to his Cabinet members and let them run amok, screwing up the country.
Lesson no 3: Don't be *too* nice.
When starting the Vicksburg campaign, Ulys decided to work with Admiral Porter. Porter reckoned Ulys would be just another arrogant West Pointer, and spiffed up for the meeting. He was surprised when Grant appeared in a brown coat and gray trousers, and acting perfectly unpresemptuously and kindly, explaining his strategy in a logical manner.
Lesson no 4: Be humble and treat your subordinates like equals.
When Sherman negotiated the surrender of the Confederates with Johnston, he was so elated that he gave overly-generous terms. This came back to bite him in the ass when Andrew Johnson and Edwin Stanton started yelling "TREASON!" and the terms had to be redone. (Grant hotly defended his friend, though)
Lesson no 5: Don't get cocky just because you won.
Cump had a big mouth. He didn't care about freely broadcasting his (disgustingly) racist opinions. Which wasn't a good idea when the Lincoln administration was pushing the policy of emancipation, and, oh, also happened to be the people who decided who got promoted or not.
Lesson no 6: It is wise to maintain good relations with your civil employers, even if it means keeping your mouth shut!
Other lessons/morals/advice/tips from Uly and Cump:
Don't underestimate the enemy's ability to take initiative!
(Grant @ Belmont, Fort Donelson, Pittsburgh Landing/Shiloh)
Don't overestimate the enemy's strength to the point of paralysing you with fear!
(Sherman in Kentucky campaign)
It is imperative to get accurate intelligence!
(Sherman in Kentucky campaign, Pittsburgh Landing/Shiloh)
Sometimes luck just prevails over skill.
(The fortuitous charge at the centre of Missionary Ridge)
"It is decisiveness and energy in action that always accomplishes great results, & strikes terror to the heart of the foe, it is this and not the conception of great schemes that makes military genius."
(Rawlins on Grant's implementation of the Cracker Line strategy at Chattanooga)
"[I]n war anything is better than indecision. We must decide. If I am wrong, we shall soon find it out, and can do the other thing. But not to decide wastes both time and money, and may ruin everything."
(Grant quote saying the same as above. Actions > Words.)
Be gracious and kind to your enemies, especially in your victory and their defeat. This may work to spread disillusion among their side.
(Grant paroling 30,000 soldiers @ Vicksburg)
Surround yourself with good friends and weed out the bad.
(e.g. Rawlins (good), Dana (good), Sherman (good), McClernand (bad), Lagow (bad))
Being humble can go a long way.
(Sherman waiving seniority over Grant; Grant when... well, just Grant in general.)
Keep the newspaper reporters at bay. Or sue them for slander/libel.
(19th century reporters were worse than Rita Skeeter. They could reduce grown generals to crying girls.)
Don't bring your family down to camp, as much as you miss them.
(Death of Willy Sherman at Vicksburg)
Sometimes being a forgettable, nondescript, mysterious man can work to your advantage.
(This gives Grant's military strategy an element of unpredictability vs General Lee!)
Kindness and common sense does have the potential to get you in a higher place than any book smarts, charisma, athleticism, or talent.
(Ulysses S. Grant)
Banking is a sucky profession.
(But I didn't need Cump to teach me that).
You don't like the laws and constitution of your country? Too bad. Like it or GTFO.
(Cumpy's overarching philosophy)
Teach your kids right, or they'll be racist little shits.
(Fred Dent Grant)