“Remember the Civil War? The north got its ass kicked until Lincoln had the “stones” to keep Grant in command. A drunk, but a drunk who won battles and eventually a war. For my money Ronnie was the last President with real “stones.”
It wasn’t that Grant won battle it was that he didn’t stop pursuing the South’s army after victory or even a defeat. It was just constantly rolling campaign that continue all the way till the end of Appomattox. General Meade won Gettysburg but was fired for not pursuing General Lee. General McClellan was fired for not pursuing Lee. In short Grant wasn’t afraid to fight even if it meant losing a tactical battle. He knew it would contribute to his overall strategy of weakening the enemy.
Meade was never fired. He stayed the commander of the Army of the Potomac until the end of the war. Grant specifically kept him on after being made Commander of the entire Union forces.