Grant and Lee

One good thing that can be said about Grant was that he was the best the Union had to offer. McClellan was an elitist more concerned with appearances than winning a war and unable to pursue an advantage when it stared him in the face (Antietam). Burnside was a fool, forcing the Union army to cross the Rappahonnack river in the face of withering Confederate cannon, fixed positions and deep mud at Fredricksburg. Union forces were slaughtered and forced to retreat. Meade was lucky at Gettysburg as Lee, without his 'eyes' (calvary) because of Jeb Stuart's ill advised foray, had stumbled into battle before he was ready (some of his units went into the city looking for shoes for Confederate soldiers and accidently engaged Union forces, thus alerting them to Lee's presence and allowing them to fortify the hill which gave them the high ground). Lee probably should not have pushed forth the attack in such a situation (as Longstreet warned him), but he was intent on finally destroying the Union army that had so far eluded him after his earlier victory at Fredricksburg, and also on approaching Washington DC so that perhaps Lincoln would sue for peace (which Lincoln would never had done).

Grant's 'talent' was that he was the only Union general Lincoln had who was willing to pursue Lee to the end-despite the horrendous casualties (as Ishkabbible has said) it caused. The South had limited reserves and supplies, the Union had the industrial power, control of the coastlines and an nearly inexhaustible amount of men. The South's only hope, recognition from Britain as a nation, was not forthcoming.