Friday, April 27, 2007

April 27, 1822

U.S. Grant was born.

"No terms, except unconditional and immediate surrender, can be accepted. I propose to move immediately on your works. I am very respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S. GRANT," Grant's Response to Rebel General Buckner's request for an armistice, at the Battle of Fort Donelson, February 16, 1862.

This terse response from the relatively unknown Union General led to U. S. Grant obtaining the now infamous nickname "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.

4 comments:

Ron Simpson said...

Ulysses Simpson Grant. Simpson was his mothers maiden name. I am distantly related to US Grant though her brother.

BostonMaggie said...

Very interesting.

Anonymous said...

Can you imagine the outcry that would echo from Halitosis Hall - Congress - if a US General called for "unconditional surrender" today.
He'd probably be ordered to endure sensitivity training and be subject to lawsuits by the traunatized enemy (or should I say opposing contestants?). And think of the ordeal if the opposition ranks were filled by elements with ADHA, children of single alchoholic parents, or gay. The soap operae would be sudzing for years.

BostonMaggie said...

True. When people whine that the war in Iraq has been going on longer than WWII, I ask if they will let us handle this like WWII. You know, bomb the bad areas like Dresden. Complete defeat before we build them back up.