Ulysses S. Grant: Chronic Malaria and the myth of his alcoholism.

This article examines the longstanding controversy over whether Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War general and U.S. President, was an alcoholic, arguing that his illness during key episodes, notably a 1863 trip to Satartia, Mississippi, was due to chronic malaria rather than intoxication. It critiques the reliability of accusations, particularly those by journalist Charles A. Dana, whose later claims of Grant’s drunkenness contrast with earlier reports and are linked to personal and political motives. The article contextualizes Grant’s intermittent binge drinking as distinct from alcoholism and highlights how political enemies, jealous subordinates, and proponents of the "Lost Cause" narrative contributed to the enduring negative portrayal. It concludes that Grant’s health issues were consistent with malaria symptoms common among Civil War soldiers, and that the alcoholic label was largely a product of rumor and biased historical interpretation.