What strategy did General Grant ultimately adopt to achieve victory for the Union, and why did he do so? Why was his strategy criticized?

General Grant ultimately adopted a strategy of total war to achieve victory for the Union. This strategy involved relentless and aggressive attacks on the Confederate forces, as well as targeting the South's infrastructure and civilian population. Grant believed that by taking the fight directly to the Confederacy and disrupting their ability to wage war, he could bring about a quicker end to the conflict.

He chose this strategy because he recognized that the Confederacy's will to fight was deeply entrenched, and that a more traditional approach of limited warfare would only prolong the war and result in more casualties. By taking a more aggressive stance, Grant aimed to break the will of the Confederate army and its supporters, ultimately bringing about a swifter end to the war.

However, his strategy was heavily criticized at the time and continues to be debated by historians. Critics argued that his tactics were too brutal and resulted in unnecessary suffering for both soldiers and civilians. Additionally, some questioned the morality of targeting civilian infrastructure and populations. Despite these criticisms, Grant's strategy ultimately proved successful in bringing about the defeat of the Confederacy and the end of the Civil War.