William A. Crafts, Life of Ulysses S. Grant: His Boyhood, Campaigns, and Services, Military and Civil.

To correct misrepresentations, or counteract the machinations of enemies, Grant never made any effort. Obedient to orders, faithful to his duties, aiming always to serve his country in any capacity, never jealous of his fellow-officers, and never insubordinate, he neither found time nor showed any desire to set himself right before the government or the country, except by his deeds, He did not, like some generals, take pains to keep his “communications with the press” open. He did not divulge his plans to newspaper correspondents, nor boast of what he was going to do or what he had done. He did not encourage toadyism, nor listen to flatterers. He was reserved, and kept his own counsels as far as possible. He was therefore only known by what he accomplished; and because his plans were not known before, it was supposed that his successes were simply accidental, or due to his subordinates.

General Badeau, in his admirable “Military history” of General Grant, says,

It is impossible to understand the early history of the war, without taking it into account that neither the government nor its important commanders gave Grant credit for intellectual ability or military genius.

His other qualities were also rated low. Because he was patient, some thought it impossible to provoke him; and because of his calmness, it was supposed he was stolid. In battle, or in campaigning, he did not seem to care or consider so much what the enemy was, doing, as what he himself meant to do; and this trait,