what i want and what the people want is generals who will fight battles and win victories. grant is my man, and i am his the rest of the war. [ knock on door ] [ door opens ] [ birds chirping ] >> come to say goodbye? >> to everybody's amazement -- i think even grant's -- he turns out to be a very natural writer. and what he publishes is still regarded as the best military memoir in american history. it takes grant a while to write it, and he will only live a month after he finishes it. >> "unconditional surrender." i could live for 300 years and never come up with a more perfect slogan. ♪ >> unconditional surrender. i know now why they hated it so.