Did Ulysses S. Grant want to punish the South after the Cicil war or reunite the country?

Ulysses S. Grant primarily aimed to reunite the country after the Civil War rather than punish the South. He believed in a policy of reconciliation and sought to promote healing between the North and South. Grant's administration focused on civil rights for freedmen and the integration of Southern states back into the Union, reflecting his desire for a unified nation rather than retribution. However, he did support measures to protect the rights of African Americans, which sometimes led to tensions with Southern leaders.