Among the national leaders whose names will always hold an honorable
place in American history is Ulysses S. Grant, the simple-hearted man
and capable soldier, to whose patriotism, courage, persistence, and
skill was so largely due the successful termination of the war between
the States, the contest which assured the foundations of the Republic.
We are interested not only in learning what this man did, but in
coming to know, as far as may be practicable, what manner of man he
was. It is all-important in a study of development of character to
have placed within reach the utterances of the man himself. There is
no utterance that can give as faithful a picture of a man's method of
thought and principle of action as the personal letter written, with
no thought of later publication, to those who are near to him.

The publishers deem themselves fortunate, therefore, in being able to
place before the fellow-citizens of General Grant who are appreciative
of the great service rendered by him to the country, and who are
interested also in the personality of the man, a series of letters
written to members of his family or to near friends. These letters,
dating back to the time of his youth, give a clear and trustworthy
impression of the nature of the man and of the development of
character and of force that made possible his all-valuable leadership.

The plan for the publication of these letters had received the cordial
approval of General Grant's son, the late General Frederick D. Grant,
and it is only because of his sudden death, which has brought sorrow
upon a great circle of friends and upon the community at large, that
the publishers are prevented from including with the volume a letter
from the General as the head of the Grant family, giving formal
expression to his personal interest in the undertaking.