[Getsmart64]

Grant was a ruthless military commander....as far as American Military commanders...Grant won more battles by losing more men than his enemy....the enemy was out manned and out gunned and still inflicted more causalities...many Northerners wanted Grant strung up from the nearest tree....he wasted many of lives when he didn't need to....eventually the South would have had to succumb to the North due to economics...

[MagnumRancid]

Interesting observation, but I think Grant is too readily dammed. He, like Lincoln, understood that the Confederacy did on not need to "win" the war. If they went long enough without "losing" they could achieve most of their objectives. He understood that the Union needed to "win" decisively and win as soon as possible. The jury may still be our on whether the sacrifice was justified.