The famous general known for his role in the American Civil War is Ulysses S. Grant. As a Union general, Grant played a crucial role in leading Union forces to several significant victories, most notably at the Battle of Vicksburg in 1863, which turned the tide of the war in the North's favor. He was later appointed General-in-Chief of the Union Army and oversaw military operations that ultimately led to the Confederacy's surrender in 1865. Following the war, Grant was elected as the 18th President of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877, during which he focused on Reconstruction and civil rights for formerly enslaved people.