Part I: Fort Humboldt to Galena (1854-1860). For Humboldt -- Julia -- Going home -- Jesse Root Grant -- White Haven -- The enslaved community at White Haven -- Failure in St. Louis -- Part II: Galena to Shiloh (1860-1862). Galena -- Colonel Grant -- The Battle of Belmont -- Fort Donelson -- Unconditional surrender -- Shiloh -- Part III: Shiloh to Washington, DC (1862-1864). Shiloh and its aftermath -- Jesse, Ulysses, and general orders no. 11 -- Vicksburg -- Freedom -- Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant

Bringing to life the American West during a crucial time in our nation's history, this original, thought-provoking look at the general-in-chief of the U.S. Army in 1864 documents his gradual realization that Emancipation was the only possible outcome of the war that would be consistent with America's founding values and future prosperity