Question of the Week: When would you want to interview Grant?
If you could conduct a 1-hour interview of Ulysses Grant, when would you want to go back to do the interview? Early 1861? 1863 near Vicksburg? 1864 in Virginia? While president? After he retired? Some other time?
I would prefer to interview US Grant immediately after the war with Mexico (1848) in order to discover his thoughts immediately after the conflict rather than decades later in his memoir, because “memory” is key to every account.
May 21, 1864, at the famous Council of War photographed by O’ Sullivan. We’ve got the video, I’d like to get the audio, and, btw, maybe I could squeeze into one of the photo’s for posterity.
First I’d swear to secrecy not to reveal anything for 163 years so my subject could trust me and hopefully be candid. Tell ya more details next year 😉
0. What kind of tobacco do you prefer? [trying to break the ice with a non-military question] Have you any plan to quit smoking after the war?
1. What’s up with the map? What were you and Meade pointing at?
2. Do you think you can get across the North Anna before Lee can occupy it?
3. If you get across the Chickahominy River, do you think the campaign will become a seige?
4. With all the captured enemy soldiers, are both sides treating prisoners fairly?
5. Will the war be over before the election?
I’m not going to ask him, “With all the numerical and material and professional leadership advantages you have, why haven’t you taken Richmond yet?”
I may be mistaken, I think it was General Humphreys who wrote, in Campaigning With Grant, that the only way they could get him to talk about his previous victories was to make a mistake in recounting them, he would then correct their mistake and expound.
Well heck, there’s no time like the present. If I could interview him ‘back then’, why can’t I interview him now?
Yes – with AI you should be able to have a fine interview with Grant.
The night after the first day’s fighting at Shiloh – though I very much doubt he would have the time for an interview at that time!
I am answering this on behalf of my wife. Shortly after the meeting at McLean’s House with Lee at Appomattox.
His thoughts on the key people in the 45th Illinois Infantry as he knew many of the key commanders, officers, and a few enlisted men, prior to the war.
I would like to interview Grant as he was meeting with Lee, when he visited the White House to talk with him. Further to that, I’d like to interview Lee after the meeting regarding his astonishment and dismay with Grant’s lack of intellectual ability.