The last thing he wanted to be was a soldier? He was a West Point graduate! You don't go to West Point UNLESS you want to be a soldier (a leader, but still a soldier), and in most cases, people go to West Point because they are passionate about becoming a soldier, so I don't know where you would get that the last thing he wanted to be was a soldier.
It's in his memoirs. He went on his own dad's orders.
In fact he wanted to be around horses more than anything else. West point also offered him the opportunity to travel which he also wanted to do. From his writing you get obedience and expediency, not excitement. Based off the book, I get he had a staunch hatred of war.
Here i got my copy out right here:
"During this vacation my father received a letter from the honorable Thomas Morris, then united states senator from Ohio. When He read it he said to me, 'Ulysses, I believe you are going to receive the appointment.' 'What appointment?' I inquired. 'To west point; I have applied for it. ' ' But I won't go, ' I said. He said he thought i would, ( and I thought so too, if he did. I really had no objection to going to west point, except that I had a very exalted idea of the acquirements necessary to get through. I did not believe I possessed them, and could not bear the idea of failing. "
So granted I stand corrected. He didn't hate to go... but he did not rejoice the fact either. He went on obedience to his father and for expedient reasons.
The last thing he wanted to be was a soldier? He was a West Point graduate! You don't go to West Point UNLESS you want to be a soldier (a leader, but still a soldier), and in most cases, people go to West Point because they are passionate about becoming a soldier, so I don't know where you would get that the last thing he wanted to be was a soldier.
It's in his memoirs. He went on his own dad's orders.
In fact he wanted to be around horses more than anything else. West point also offered him the opportunity to travel which he also wanted to do. From his writing you get obedience and expediency, not excitement. Based off the book, I get he had a staunch hatred of war. Here i got my copy out right here:
Volume 1 Chapter 2 page 14 (may vary depending on edition)
"During this vacation my father received a letter from the honorable Thomas Morris, then united states senator from Ohio. When He read it he said to me, 'Ulysses, I believe you are going to receive the appointment.' 'What appointment?' I inquired. 'To west point; I have applied for it. ' ' But I won't go, ' I said. He said he thought i would, ( and I thought so too, if he did. I really had no objection to going to west point, except that I had a very exalted idea of the acquirements necessary to get through. I did not believe I possessed them, and could not bear the idea of failing. "
So granted I stand corrected. He didn't hate to go... but he did not rejoice the fact either. He went on obedience to his father and for expedient reasons.
More like The last thing he wanted was to be the General of the North.