The fact is, Hiram s. Grant was NOT a drunk. He was seen taking a drink while in the depths of depression (before the war) and his enemies spread that lie. You cant blame him for the war dragging on. For one thing, Robert E. Lee was by far the best soldier on either side. So, who did Lincoln send to oppose Lee? That asshole McLellan, along with other useless officers. Grant took Vicksburg, a nearly impossible feat, and, it was all over for the rebels from that day on. after Vicksburg, he was sent to fight Lee and the rest is history. As for Britain losing the war of independence, there were many factors at work there. It was not popular back home, suppy lines were impossibly long, they were fighting on the enemys field, and, she was stretched too thin at the time. The revolution was just one of the fights she was in. Last, but, not least, they were fighting old world style against snipers in the woods. Very similar to what we were up against in Viet Nam.