Political Cartoons

Political cartoons from publications such as Harper’s Weekly and Puck offer researchers a variety of illustrated commentary featuring Ulysses S. Grant from the early days of the Civil War to the scandals that rocked his Presidency.

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General Grant's Illness-A Consultation

Thure de Thulstrup

Harper's Weekly cover depicting a dying Grant consulting with four doctors: Dr. Douglas, Dr. Shrady, Dr. Sands, and Dr. Barker. Grant is in a chair wrapped in a blanket and propped up by a pillow.
A Burden he Must Shoulder

Thomas Nast

Harper's Weekly cover of Grant, weighed down by the problems of his administration (including Santo Domingo, the Financial Crisis, the KKK, and many others) as a copperhead snake wraps around his leg and various dogs nip at his heels while wearing the names of newspapers on their collars.
Don't Let us Have any More of this Nonsense. It is a Good Trait to Stand By One's Friends; But-'

Thomas Nast

Harper's Weekly cover of Grant, seated outside of the US Senate, reaching for a newspaper which reads 'Shepherd Rejected by the Senate by an Overwhelming Majority.' On the table is another paper which reads 'Richardson as Judge of Claims.' Lady Liberty admionishes Grant about sticking by his friends too often.
Keeping the Money Where it will Do Most Good: Uncle Sam 'Look out, boys, they say he's a Caesar (seiz-er).'

Thomas Nast

Harper's Weekly cover of Grant, depicted as a Bulldog, is chained to the steps of the Treasury building by the law, a sign above his head reads 'Notice: You can violate the law, the banks may violate the law and will be sustained in doing so, but the President of the United States cannot violate the law-U. S. Grant.' Uncle Sam lounges near the columns as Wall Street Men beg for money holding a sign that reads 'We want to Borrow the U.S. Treasury Reserve ($44,000,000) for the relief of the sufferers of the 'Street.'
Out of the Ruins- 'USG (Chief of US police). 'I am glad to see that you are not seriously hurt. The Houses in this 'Street' have been Shaky and on false Bases for a long Time, and yu've had a very Narrow Escape.''

Thomas Nast

Harper's Weekly cover of Grant, as the Chief of the US Police, rescuing Lady Liberty from the ruins of Wall Street.
Sovereigns, No. 10 'Captain, Tanner, Farmer, General, Imperator.'

Vanity Fair drawing of Grant, seated in a rocking chair, smoking a cigar.
Unconditional Surrender Grant

Thomas Nast

Harper's Weekly drawing (page 745) of Grant accepting a sword labeled 'The Lost Cause' from a confederate soldier as Grant holds an olive branch in his other hand. Grant is surrounded by former Confederates and politicians on the remains of a battlefield.
Returning to Head-Quarters

Grant, in a single horse-drawn carriage, meets a carpet-bagger holding a Post-Office reccomendation. The Carpet-bagger says: 'It's about time you got back, there's been 16,000,000 people wiatin here for you, some's got married, some's gone dead on 'lasses whiskey-John Chinaman, want's to see you, and Spain's goin' to lick us like thunder; Johnny Bull's youngster want to see you about canada: Cuba's cried her eyes out, and the Injuns are raising-whoop out west. I'm the 'Last man' an I'm dead broke, so sign my papers and let me git out of this hole.' Grant replies: 'Don't talk so much, wait 'till I finish this cigar.'
Lieutenant-General Grant's Reception at Galena, Illinois, Auguust 18, 1865

Alexander Simplot

Harper's Weekly drawing of Grant on grand stand in front of large crowd. Sign on footbridge reads: 'Hail to the Chief who in triumph advances' and lists the names of Civil War Battles: Shiloh, Corinth, Richmond, Appomattox, CH, Vicksburg, Chatanooga, and Look-out Mountain.
Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, U.S.A., The Hero of Fort Donelson

Harper's Weekly cover with inaccurate rendering of Grant standing in full dress uniform with long beard. Eager to publish an image of Ulysses S. Grant in the wake of his new-found fame, Harper's Weekly published this rendering mistakenly based on photos of another man, William Grant.
Brigadier-Gen. Burnside, Gen. Robert E. Lee and the USS Minnesota

Brady and Whipple

Harper's Weekly drawings of Generals Burnside and Lee and of the War Steamer 'Minnesota.'