War Fighting: The Case of Ulysses S. Grant

This article argues that American military professionals must focus on war fighting in publishing about military history to bring their unique military perspectives to the study of war. Most writing on military publishing offers general encouragement without providing focus to military writers. This article uses the historical example of American professional military writing and teaching from the American Civil War to World War II about General Ulysses S. Grant to demonstrate the value of analyses focusing on war fighting, especially relative to popular and academic histories of Grant’s military leadership. This study’s conclusions will assist future US military writers and publishers as they invigorate professional military writing.