For myself, I was bitterly opposed to the measure, and to this day regard the war, which resulted, as one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation. Generally, the officers of the army were indifferent whether the annexation was consummated or not but not so all of them. With regard to the Mexican–American War, Grant recorded his belief that it had been waged unjustly: Grant's writing has been praised for its conciseness and clarity-a sharp contrast from contemporary Civil War memoirs, which tended to reflect the Victorian fondness for elaborate language. The focus of the book is Grant's military career-his service in the Mexican–American War and the Civil War. The autobiography is unusual but not unique in that large sections of Grant's life (most notably, his childhood and his presidency) are given brief mention or not discussed at all. The Memoirs are divided into two volumes. Grant finished the manuscript on July 18 he died five days later. Friends, admirers, and even a few former Confederate opponents made their way to Mount MacGregor to pay their respects. He worked at finishing the book, propped up on chairs and too weak to walk. The cancer spread through his body, so in June 1885 the family moved to a cottage in Mount MacGregor, New York, to make him more comfortable. Despite his condition, he wrote at a furious pace, sometimes finishing 25 to 50 pages a day. He was in constant pain from his illness and sometimes had the feeling that he was choking. Grant suffered greatly in his final year. Badeau eventually settled with Grant's heirs for $10,000 (equivalent to $300,000 in 2021). Badeau left before the project was complete, having disputed with Grant and his family concerning how much he would be paid and how he would be credited for his research, editing, and fact-checking. In the early stages of his work, he had the assistance of Adam Badeau, an author who had served on his staff during the war. Facing his mortality, Grant struck a publishing deal with his friend Mark Twain for his memoirs, hoping that they would provide for his family after his death. That fall, the elder Grant was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer. Grant & Ward failed in May 1884, leaving Grant penniless. This proved disastrous, as Ward had used the firm as a Ponzi scheme, taking investors' money and spending it on personal items, including a mansion in Connecticut and a brownstone in New York City. But Grant was largely disengaged from the company's business, often signing papers without reading them. The former president bragged to friends that he was worth two and a half million dollars, and family members and friends poured money into the firm. The firm of Grant & Ward did well at first, bolstered by Ward's skills and Grant's name. He candidly depicts his battles against both the external Confederates and his internal Army foes.
He portrayed himself in the persona of the honorable Western hero, whose strength lies in his honesty and straightforwardness. Positive attention is often directed toward Grant's prose, which has been praised as shrewd, intelligent, and effective. Grant has been highly regarded by the general public, military historians, and literary critics. In the end, Grant's widow, Julia, received about $450,000 ($13,571,670 in 2021), suggesting a gross royalty before expenses of about 30%.
Each copy contained what looked like a handwritten note from Grant himself. They sold 350,000 two-volume sets at prices from $3.50 to $12, depending on the binding (roughly $110 to $360 in 2021). Ten thousand agents canvassed the North, following a script that Twain had devised many were veterans who dressed in their old uniforms. Twain created a unique marketing system designed to reach millions of veterans with a patriotic appeal just as Grant's death was being mourned. The two-volume set was published by Mark Twain shortly after Grant's death. Grant, the 18th President of the United States, focused mainly on his military career during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War, and completed as he was dying of throat cancer in 1885. McGregor, New York, 1885, working on his memoirs
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