re: On this day in 1866, Ulysses S. Grant became the first 4-star general in U.S. Army history

Winning meant different things to each side. The north wanted to maintain the union where the south was wanting to separate. That meant the north had to invade. The general consensus amongst the northern population was to not fight. Had Lee utilized trench warfare like many of his advisors were suggesting, they could have prolonged the war a few more years and made Lincoln pull out. The invasions on NY, and offensive strategy on open battle fields from Lee was terrible.