{UAH} How did Gen. Grant become such a great general considering his lack of interest in his military training?

William T. Sherman probably hit the nail on the head.

"I am a damned sight smarter man than Grant. I know more about military history, strategy, and grand tactics than he does. I know more about supply, administration, and everything else than he does. I'll tell you where he beats me though and where he beats the world. He doesn't give a damn about what the enemy does out of his sight, but it scares me like hell."

In other words, unlike the other generals, Grant was always capable of focusing on the problem at hand rather than creating imaginary problems and trying to find imaginary solutions for them. He would merely prepare as well as he could and, when he found the enemy, he was excellent at dealing with conditions on the field. Grant was not one to second guess his actions or make excuses. He also had a bias in favour of attacking and against retreating. Sherman had been with Grant since Shiloh when they had this exchange after a disastrous first day of battle:

John Rawlins later indicated that Buell came to Grant while he was at the landing and asked what preparations he had made for withdrawing. "I have not yet despaired of whipping them, general," Grant replied. Although Buell later denied it, the mentality fits each of the actors. More believable were the accounts of Grant's own officers. "Shall I make preparations for a retreat?" Lt. Col. James McPherson asked Grant. "Retreat? No!" Grant responded, "I propose to attack at daylight, and whip them."

In particular, Sherman was man enough to admit he was thinking in terms of retreat. He came to Grant under his tree in the rain with the idea of broaching the subject, as "the only thing just then possible, as it seemed to me, was to put the river between us and the enemy and recuperate." At the last minute he became embarrassed and blurted out, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" A determined Grant, his mind already made up, responded, "Yes, lick 'em to-morrow, though."

Robert E. Lee recalled after soundly thrashing Grant in their first encounter that the next day, Grant attacked again. At that point, he knew he was in trouble.

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