Supposedly when Grant was appointed General of the Armies Lee asked Grant’s old friend Longstreet what he would do. He told Lee, “He will attack, every day with everything he has until it’s over”. He was right.
It’s interesting how some people flourish in war compared to their lives prior.
I strongly recommend the “Gettysburg” trilogy by Newt & Bill Forstchen.
It’s a “what if” the South had won at Gettysburg, & they REALLY get Grant.
Supposedly Grant tried to put Lee at ease during their meeting at Appomattox by talking at length about the war in Mexico where Grant first met Lee. Lee said he vaguely recalled the meeting, but couldn’t remember what Grant looked like.
Lee was already on the fast-track to higher command. Grant was a lowly quartermaster. Well the quartermaster in Grant made him better suited to planning a lengthy campaign. I wouldn’t have wanted to play chess against Grant.
If Lee had accepted Lincoln’s appointment to lead the Union’s armies the War probably would not have lasted a year.