At the outbreak of the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant was working at this father's leather shop in Illinois. He was appointed by the Illinois governor as the commander of a local militia, but soon rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the Civil War. Grant's aggressive and bold tactics were a major reason why the Union Army was able to defeat the Confederates. His campaigns in the Mississippi River valley were legendary and crucial to Union victory. In 1862, Grant led his forces to victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in Tennessee. At Fort Donelson, Grant earned the nickname "Unconditional Surrender Grant".