Ulysses S. Grant Memorial is dedicated to the great American commander, to ensure the victory of the North in the Civil War, twice elected president, and died in poverty.

Fate has not been kind to this man. A professional soldier, he did not like the service. The resignation has left because of the craving for alcohol. In civilian life, the future president did not achieve success, he worked in the workshop of ordinary leather, stitch harness horse (horses were his love). Grant's finest hour was the Civil War, he quickly gained a reputation cold-blooded warrior who does not know defeat. At the critical moment, President Lincoln called Grant, entrusted to the command of the armies of the Union. General acted decisively, Southerners were forced to surrender.

Grant was huge popularity, in 1868 he was elected president in 1872 - for a second term. The presidency was marked by economic boom, then recession, the struggle for black civil rights, corruption scandals. At the end of two terms of Grant and his wife Julia went on a world tour. We greeted them with enthusiasm everywhere. But family finances faltered, came poverty, Grant became ill with cancer. Seeing the proximity of the end, I took the memoirs, which were to provide his beloved Julia. General concluded them for a few days before his death in 1885.

The idea was born at the Veterans Memorial Army of Tennessee, a large compound of northerners, who at the time commanded by Grant. The construction of the monument began in 1902 by sculptor Henry Merwin shred and architect Edward Pierce Casey, who won the competition announced by the Congress. The centerpiece of the memorial, located in front of the Capitol, was the five-meter equestrian statue of Grant. General - riding on a favorite horse of Cincinnati, in a simple uniform and hat. Right and left are two expressive sculptural group - the artillery and cavalry, reliefs on the pedestal dedicated infantry. One is struck by the contrast between the intense dynamism of these groups and underlined the general calm figure. We know that Ulysses S. Grant was famous for the striking delay even in the most difficult moments of battle.

The warriors depicted very carefully. To achieve accuracy, shred four years went to the National Guard - studied army gear, practice training, uniforms. To understand the anatomy of the animals took place at the Museum of Natural History course biologists dissected horses.

The equestrian sculpture group of distinguished figures of the fallen horse at full gallop, and the trooper, who was about to die under the hooves. A person dying - Self shred, he sculpted his reflection in the mirror. This work became prophetic: the sculptor died of exhaustion two weeks before the opening of the memorial in 1922.

In the corners of the equestrian monument guarded by four lion lying - symbols of military might. The figures of people and animals looking in a mirror Capitol reflecting pool. After the water surface bronze Grant looks at the Lincoln Memorial - the man who called the general to save the country.