虽然他不是经常被认为是一个伟大的总统,尤利西斯·s·格兰特以他的方式传递的故事,他的早期生活和参与内战。文本从一个相当简短的讨论他的出生,童年和早期教育。从那里,他把读者从西点军校生活在加州的墨西哥战争希洛维克斯堡的反对,最终投降。在写他的回忆录中,格兰特树立一个好的标准的依赖文件,他写的信件和官方报道在战争期间,还有一些研究人员的帮助。迄今为止,格兰特的可以说是最著名的,博学的,受人尊敬的总统回忆录。(从技术上说,它只是短暂的一个完整的总统回忆录,在格兰特去世前写他的任期)。大多数人认为这个故事围绕格兰特的回忆录的写作是一样好的故事回忆录本身。
用他自己的话说,在的主题写一本回忆录,格兰特是“决心永远不会这么做。”But, because a failed business venture left Grant in dire financial straights, he was forced to reconsider. "The Century," a publication that was presenting a series on the Civil War, asked Grant to write a few articles (for which he would be paid) about the various battles in which he participated. The article request quickly turned into an offer of a book deal. One of Grant's friends, who was a writer himself, heard about the book deal and informed Grant that the proposed financial arrangement wasn't what it could be. The author and friend -- a man named Samuel Clemens (we know him best as马克吐温)——最近已经开始他自己的出版社和他的侄子,查尔斯·l·韦伯斯特。能够做一个更好的工作机会,韦伯斯特和克莱门斯将格兰特远离“世纪”。In the end, over 300,000 copies of Grant's memoir were sold, providing Grant's family with the financial security he was hoping for and then some. Reportedly, Grant's widow was paid a record sum in royalties for that time, eventually receiving in excess of $400,000.