essee, which included portions of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi. In August 1862, Ulysses S. Grant became the commander of the Army of the Tennessee, giving him control over the department.
In December 1862, Jesse Grant and the Mack brothers signed a contract under which Jesse promised to use his influence with his son to obtain a special permit allowing the Macks to trade with the Confederacy. In return, the Macks promised to provide the money and to share one-fourth of their profits from the trade with Jesse. That same month, Jesse attempted to fulfill his part of the bargain, writing and visiting his son. One of the Macks also reportedly visited the general, trying to obtain the permit. Ulysses Grant, however, refused to sign a permit and the Macks withdrew from the agreement. Jesse Grant subsequently sued them for breech of contract, but lost in court.
The episode did not end there, however, for Ulysses Grant was enraged at the conduct of the Macks and (particularly) his father. General Grant, along w
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