Note: Older books often abbreviated words as contractions, and printed them as superscripts; for example, Publi^ns for Publications. This style is used in this text and the ^ symbol represents the beginning of the contraction and superscript. 

LETTERS OF ULYSSES S. GRANT TO HIS FATHER AND HIS YOUNGEST SISTER, 1857-78

Edited by his Nephew

JESSE GRANT CRAMER

With Portraits

1912

PREFACE

There has of late years been a tendency, as a result of the teachingsof certain historical authorities, to minimize the influence of theleadership of the so-called Great Men, and to question the importanceof their work as a factor in shaping the history of the time. Greatevents are referred to as brought about by such general influences as"the spirit of the time" (Goethe's _Zeitgeist_), the "movement ofhumanity, " or "forces of society. " If we accepted the theories of thewriters of this school, we should be forced to the conclusion thatgenerations of men move across the world's stage impelled by forcesentirely outside of themselves; and that as far as the opportunity ofindividual action is concerned, that is for action initiated andcompleted under his own will-power, man might almost as well be asquirrel working in a revolving cage. The squirrel imagines that hemoves the cylinder, but the outsider knows that the movement ispredetermined, and that there is no change of position and no netresult from the exertion. 

A large number of people hold, notwithstanding, to the old-timefeeling expressed, and doubtless exaggerated and over-emphasized, insuch books as Carlyle's _Hero Worship_. They are unwilling, and infact they find it practically impossible, to get away from the beliefthat the thought of the time is directed by the great thinkers, andthat the action of the community is influenced and largely shaped bythe power, whether this be utilized for good or for evil, of the greatmen of action. 

In any case, men will continue to be interested in the personalitiesof the leaders whose names are connected with the great events ofhistory. The citizens of each nation look back with legitimate prideupon the patriotic work of those who have helped to found the state, or to maintain its existence. 

Among the national leaders whose names will always hold an honorableplace in American history is Ulysses S. Grant, the simple-hearted manand capable soldier, to whose patriotism, courage, persistence, andskill was so largely due the successful termination of the war betweenthe States, the contest which assured the foundations of the Republic. We are interested not only in learning what this man did, but incoming to know, as far as may be practicable, what manner of man hewas. It is all-important in a study of development of character tohave placed within reach the utterances of the man himself. There isno utterance that can give as faithful a picture of a man's method ofthought and principle of action as the personal letter written, withno thought of later publication, to those who are near to him. 

The publishers deem themselves fortunate, therefore, in being able toplace before the fellow-citizens of General Grant who are appreciativeof the great service rendered by him to the country, and who areinterested also in the personality of the man, a series of letterswritten to members of his family or to near friends. These letters, dating back to the time of his youth, give a clear and trustworthyimpression of the nature of the man and of the development ofcharacter and of force that made possible his all-valuable leadership. 

The plan for the publication of these letters had received the cordialapproval of General Grant's son, the late General Frederick D. Grant, and it is only because of his sudden death, which has brought sorrowupon a great circle of friends and upon the community at large, thatthe publishers are prevented from including with the volume a letterfrom the General as the head of the Grant family, giving formalexpression to his personal interest in the undertaking. 

This collection of letters will constitute a suitable companion volumeto Grant's _Personal Memoirs_ and to the accepted biographies of theGreat Commander whose memory is honored by his fellow-citizens notonly for the patience, persistence, and skill of the leader of armies, as evidenced in the brilliant campaigns that culminated withVicksburg, Missionary Ridge, and Appomattox, but for the sturdyintegrity of character, modest bearing, and sweetness of nature of thegreat citizen. 

GEO. HAVEN PUTNAM. 

NEW YORK, April 25, 1912. 

ILLUSTRATIONS

ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT (Frontispiece) From a photograph by W. Kurtz, New York. 

JESSE ROOT GRANT, ÆTAT. 69 Father of Ulysses Simpson Grant. From a photograph. 

MRS. HANNAH GRANT Mother of Ulysses Simpson Grant. From a photograph by Landy, taken in Cincinnati. 

FACSIMILE OF A LETTER WRITTEN BY ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT TO HIS FATHER

FACSIMILE OF GENERAL GRANT'S PROCLAMATION TO THE CITIZENS OF PADUCAH

GENERAL ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT From a photograph taken in 1865 by Gutekunst, Philadelphia. 

ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT From a photograph taken during his second term as President. 

Letters of Ulysses S. Grant

[In 1843, at the age of twenty-one, Ulysses S. Grant was graduatedfrom West Point with the rank of brevet second lieutenant. He wasappointed to the 4th Infantry, stationed at Jefferson Barracks nearSt. Louis. In May, 1844, he was ordered to the frontier of Louisianawith the army of observation, while the annexation of Texas waspending. The bill for the annexation of Texas was passed March 1, 1845; the war with Mexico began in April, 1846. Grant was promoted toa first-lieutenancy September, 1847. The Mexican War closed in 1848. Both this war and the Civil War he characterizes in his _Memoirs_ as"unholy. "

Soon after his return from Mexico he was married to Julia Dent. Thenext six years were spent in military duty in Sacketts Harbor, NewYork, Detroit, Michigan, and on the Pacific coast. He was promoted tothe captaincy of a company in 1853; but because of the inadequacy of acaptain's pay, he resigned from the army, July, 1854, and rejoined hiswife and children at St. Louis. In speaking of this period Grant says, "I was now to commence at the age of thirty-two a new struggle for oursupport. "

The first chapter in this new struggle was farming. The followingletter was written to his youngest sister Mary, then sixteen yearsold, afterward Mrs. M. J. Cramer. "Jennie, " afterward Mrs. A. R. Corbin, was the second sister, Virginia. ]

St. Louis, Mo. , August 22nd, 1857. 

DEAR SISTER:

Your letter was received on last Tuesday, the only day in the week onwhich we get mail, and this is the earliest opportunity I have had ofposting a letter. 

I am glad to hear that mother and Jennie intend making us a visit. Iwould advise them to come by the river if they prefer it. Write to mebeforehand about the time you will start, and from Louisville again, what boat you will be on, direct to St. Louis, --not Sappington, P. O. --and I will meet you at the river or Planter's House, or whereveryou direct. 

We are all very well. Julia contemplates visiting St. Charles nextSaturday to spend a few days. She has never been ten miles from home, except to come to the city, since her visit to Covington. 

I have nothing in particular to write about. My hard work is now overfor the season with a fair prospect of being remunerated in everythingbut the wheat. My wheat, which would have produced from four to fivehundred bushels with a good winter, has yielded only seventy-five. Myoats were good, and the corn, if not injured by frost this fall, willbe the best I ever raised. My potato crop bids fair to yield fifteenhundred bushels or more. Sweet potatoes, melons and cabbages are theonly other articles I am raising for market. In fact, the oats andcorn I shall not sell. 

I see I have written a part of this letter as if I intended to directto one, and part as if to the other of you; but you will understandit, so it makes no difference. 

Write to me soon and often. Julia wears black. I had forgotten toanswer that part of your letter. 

Your affectionate Brother, ULYSS. 

P. S. Tell father that I have this moment seen Mr. Ford, just fromSacketts Harbor, who informs me that while there he enquired of Mr. Bagley about my business with Camp, and learns from him that theaccount should be acted upon immediately. Camp is now at Governor'sIsland, N. Y. , and intends sailing soon for Oregon. If he is stopped hemay be induced to disgorge. Tell father to forward the accountimmediately. 

U. 

[White Haven was the name of the Dent homestead near St. Louis. Granthas rented out his own farm, and taken that of his father-in-law. 

Written to his sister Mary. ]

White Haven, March 21st, 1858. 

DEAR SISTER:

Your letter was received one week ago last Tuesday, and I would haveanswered it by the next mail but it so happened that there was not asheet of paper about the house, and as Spring has now set in, I do notleave the farm except in cases of urgent necessity. Father's letter, enclosing Mr. Bagley's relative to the Camp business, was received oneor two weeks earlier, and promptly answered. My reply was long, givinga detailed account of my whole transactions with Camp, and a copy ofwhich Father can have to peruse when he comes along this way next. 

Julia and her children are all well and talk of making you a visitnext fall, --but I hardly think they will go. But if any of you, exceptFather, should visit us this spring, or early summer, Julia says thatFred. May go home with you to spend a few months. She says she wouldbe afraid to let him travel with Father alone; she has an idea that heis so absent-minded that if he were to arrive in Cincinnati at nighthe would be just as apt as not to walk out of the cars and be gone foran hour before he would recollect that he had a child with him. I haveno such fears however. Fred does not read yet, but he will, I think, in a few weeks. We have no school within a mile and a half, and thatis too far to send him in the winter season. I shall commence sendinghim soon however. In the meantime I have no doubt but that he islearning faster at home. Little Ellen is growing very fast, and talksnow quite plainly. Jesse R. Is growing very rapidly, is very healthyand, they say, is the best looking child among the four. I don't thinkhowever there is much difference between them in that respect. 

Emma Dent is talking of visiting her relatives in Ohio and Penn^a thisSummer, and if she does, she will stop a time with you. Any talk ofany of us visiting you, must not stop you from coming to see us. Thewhole family here are fond of planning visits, but poor in theexecution of their plans. It may take two seasons yet before any ofthese visits are made; in the meantime, we are anxious to see all ofyou. For my part I do not know when I shall ever be able to leave homelong enough for a visit. I may possibly be able to go on a flyingvisit next fall. I am anxious to make one more visit home before I getold. 

This Spring has opened finely for farming and I hope to do well; but Ishall wait until the crops are gathered before I make any predictions. I have now three negro men, two hired by the year and one of Mr. Dent's, which, with my own help, I think, will enable me to do myfarming pretty well with assistance in harvest. I have however a largefarm. I shall have about twenty acres of potatoes, twenty of corn, twenty-five of oats, fifty of wheat, twenty-five of meadow, someclover, Hungarian grass and other smaller products, all of whichrequire labor before they are got into market, and the money realizedupon them. You are aware, I believe, that I have rented out my placeand have taken Mr. Dent's. There are about two hundred acres ofploughed land on it and I shall have, in a few weeks, about twohundred and fifty acres of woods pasture fenced up besides. Only oneside of it and a part of another has to be fenced to take the whole ofit in, and the rails are all ready. I must close with the wish thatsome of you would visit us as early as possible. In your letter youask when my note in bank becomes due. The seventeenth of Apl. Is thelast day of grace when it must be paid. 

Give Julia's, the children's, and my love to all at home and writesoon. 

Your Brother

ULYSSES. 

[When a boy Grant suffered severely from fever and ague. This attacknow lasted a year and was probably a factor in determining him to giveup farming. 

To his sister Mary. ]

St. Louis, Mo. , Sept. 7th, 1858. 

DEAR SISTER:

Your letter was received in due time and I should have answered itimmediately, but that I had mailed a letter from Julia to Jennie themorning of the receipt of yours. I thought then to wait for two orthree weeks; by that time there was so much sickness in my family, andFreddy so dangerously ill, that I thought I would not write until hisfate was decided. He was nearly taken from us by the bilious, then bythe typhoid fever; but he is now convalescing. Some seven of thenegroes have been sick. Mrs. Sharp is here on a visit, and she and oneof her children are sick; and Julia and I are both sick with chillsand fever. If I had written to you earlier it would have been whilstFred's case was a doubtful one, and I did not want to distress youwhen it could have done no good to anyone. --I have been thinking ofpaying you a visit this fall, but I now think it extremely doubtfulwhether I shall be able to. Not being able to even attend to my hands, much less work myself, I am getting behindhand, so that I shall haveto stay here and attend to my business. Cannot some of you come andpay us a visit? Jennie has not answered Julia's letter yet. Did shereceive it? I was coming to the city the day it was written to hear apolitical speech, and it was too late to get it in the post office, soI gave it to a young man to put in the next morning. It is for thisreason I asked the question. 

Write to me soon. I hope you have had none of the sickness we havebeen troubled with. 

Your Brother, ULYSSES. 

To MARY F. GRANT, Covington, Ky. 

[Soon after the date of this letter Grant sold at auction his stock, crops, and farming implements, and gave up farming. His father, JesseRoot Grant, had founded a leather store in Galena with the expectationof establishing his three sons in the business, and withdrawing fromall connection with it himself. It is this business opportunity thatis referred to here with characteristic independence, "I should preferyour offer to any one of mere salary that could be offered. " But itwas not until May, 1860, that he went to Galena, nominally as a clerk, in reality as a future partner in the business. ]

St. Louis, Oct. 1st, 1858. 

DEAR FATHER:

I arrived at home on Tuesday evening, and, it being my "chill" day, ofcourse felt very badly. Julia had been much worse during my absence, but had improved again so that I found her about as when I left home. Fred, has improved steadily, and can now hear nearly as well as beforehis sickness. The rest of the family are tolerably well, with theexception of Mr. Dent whose health seems to be about as when I left. Mr. Dent and myself will make a sale this fall and get clear of allthe stock on the place, and then rent out the cleared land and sellabout four hundred acres of the north end of the place. As I explainedto you, this will include my place. I shall plan to go to Covingtontowards Spring, and would prefer your offer to any one of mere salarythat could be offered. I do not want any place for permanentstipulated pay, but want the prospect of one day doing business formyself. There is a pleasure in knowing that one's income dependssomewhat upon his own exertions and business capacity, that cannot befelt when so much and no more is coming in, regardless of the successof the business engaged in or the manner in which it is done. 

Mr. Dent thinks I had better take the boy he has given Julia alongwith me, and let him learn the farrier's business. He is a very smart, active boy, capable of making anything; but this matter I will leaveentirely to you. I can leave him here and get about three dollars permonth for him now, and more as he gets older. Give my love to all athome. 

Yours truly, ULYSSES. 

To J. R. GRANT, ESQ. , Covington, Ky. 

[After giving up farming Grant engaged in the real estate business inSt. Louis, with a Mr. Boggs as partner. The girls referred to are histhree sisters. Simpson is the brother next in age to himself. ]

St. Louis, Mo. , March 12th, 1859. 

DEAR FATHER:

It has now been over a month, I believe, since I wrote to you last, although I expected to have written again the next week. I can hardlytell how the new business I am engaged in, is going to succeed, but Ibelieve it will be something more than a support. If I find anopportunity next week I will send you some of our cards, which, if youwill distribute among such persons as may have business to attend toin the city, such as buying or selling property, collecting eitherrents or other liabilities, it may prove the means of giving usadditional commissions. Mr. Benton was here for some time and used tocall in to see me frequently. Whilst he was here I submitted to himsome property for sale, belonging to a Mr. Tucker. Since Mr. Benton'sdeparture, Mr. Tucker has called several times and wants me to submithis propositions again, and say that if he is disposed to buy, and payconsiderable cash, he will make his prices such as to secure to him agood investment. I enclose with this a list of the property, andprices, as first asked, one third cash, balance one and two years. Please tell Mr. Benton if he feels like making any proposition for anypart of this property to let me know, and I will submit it and givehim an answer. 

We are living now in the lower part of the city full two miles from myoffice. The house is a comfortable little one, just suited to mymeans. We have one spare room, and also a spare bed in the children'sroom, so that we can accommodate any of our friends that are likely tocome to see us. I want two of the girls, or all of them for thatmatter, to come and pay us a long visit soon. 

Julia and the children are well. They will not make a visit toKentucky now. I was anxious to have them go before I rented, but withfour children she could not go without a servant, and she was afraidthat landing so often as she would have to do in free states, shemight have some trouble. Tell one of the girls to write soon. HasSimpson gone South? Are you going to the city to live?

Yours truly, U. S. GRANT. 

To J. R. GRANT, ESQ. , Covington, Ky. 

[Orvil is the youngest brother. The appointment referred to was onefor the position of County Engineer. 

Free-Soilers: "The Whig party had ceased to exist . .. ; the KnowNothing party had taken its place but was on the wane; the Republicanparty was in a chaotic state and had not yet received a name. It hadno existence in the Slave States except at points on the borders nextto Free States. In St. Louis city and county what afterwards becamethe Republican party was known as the Free Soil Democracy. "--_Memoirs_. 

Professorship of mathematics: When Grant left the Military Academy hehad no intention of remaining in the army. He then expected to teachmathematics, and had already applied for such a position at WestPoint. At Jefferson Barracks his chief interest was the study ofhigher mathematics with the view of obtaining a professorship. TheMexican War, however, soon drew him into active military life. 

The real estate venture was unsuccessful; it was a business even thenmuch overcrowded. Necessity, not instability, dictated the variousexperiments. ]

St. Louis, Aug. 20th, 1859. 

DEAR FATHER:

On last Wednesday I received your letter, and on the Monday before onefrom Mr. Burk, from both of which I much regretted to learn ofSimpson's continued ill health. I at once wrote to Orvil, whosearrival at Galena I learned from Burk's letter, to urge Simpson tocome by steamer to St. Louis and spend some time with me, and if itshould prove necessary for anyone to accompany him, I would take himhome. Cannot Jennie and Orvil's wife come this way when they start forGalena? We would like very much to see them. 

I am not over sanguine of getting the appointment mentioned in my lastletter. The Board of Commissioners, who make the appointment, aredivided, --three free soilers to two opposed, --and although friends whoare recommending me are the very first citizens of this place, andmembers of all parties, I fear they will make strictly partynominations for all the offices under their control. As to theprofessorship you speak of, that was filled some time ago. And were itnot, I would stand no earthly chance. The Washington University, wherethe vacancy was to be filled, is one of the best endowed institutionsin the United States, and all the professorships are sought after bypersons whose early advantages were the same as mine, but who havebeen engaged in teaching all their mature years. Quimby, who was thebest mathematician in my class, and who was for several years anassistant at West Point, and for nine years a professor in aninstitution in New York, was an unsuccessful applicant. Theappointment was given to the most distinguished man in his departmentin the country, and an author. His name is Shorano. Since putting inmy application for the appointment of County Engineer, I have learnedthat the place is not likely to be filled before February next. What Ishall do will depend entirely upon what I can get to do. Our presentbusiness is entirely overdone in this city, at least a dozen newhouses having started about the same time I commenced. I do not wantto fly from one thing to another, nor would I, but I am compelled tomake a living from the start for which I am willing to give all mytime and all my energy. 

Julia and the children are well and send love to you. On your way toGalena can you not come by here? Write to me soon. 

ULYSSES. 

[In regard to voting for Buchanan for President, Grant says in his_Memoirs_ that he believed that the election of a Republican Presidentin 1856 would mean the secession of all the slave States andinevitable rebellion. Accordingly, he preferred the success of acandidate whose election would prevent or postpone secession, toseeing the country plunged into a war the end of which no man couldforetell. "With a Democrat elected by the unanimous vote of the SlaveStates, there would be no pretext for secession for four years. I verymuch hoped that the passions of the people would subside in that time, and the catastrophe be averted altogether; if it were not, I believedthe country would be better prepared to receive the shock and toresist it. I therefore voted for James Buchanan for President. "]

St. Louis, Sept. 23d, 1859. 

DEAR FATHER:

I have waited for some time to write you the result of the action ofthe County Commissioners upon the appointment of a County Engineer. The question has at length been settled, and I am sorry to say, adversely to me. The two Democratic Commissioners voted for me, andthe Free Soilers against me. What I shall now go at I have notdetermined, but I hope something before a great while. Next month Iget possession of my own house, when my expenses will be reduced somuch that a very moderate salary will support me. If I could get the$3000 note cashed, which I got as the difference in the exchange ofproperty, I could put up with the proceeds two houses that would payme, at least, $40 per month rent. The note has five years to run, withinterest notes given separately and payable annually. 

We are looking for some of you here next week to go to the fair. Iwrote to Simpson to come down and see me but as I have had no answerfrom him nor from Orvil to a letter written some time before, I do notknow whether he will come or not. I should like very much to have someof you come and see us this fall. Julia and the children are all verywell. Fred and Buck go to school every day. They never think of askingto stay at home. 

You may judge from the result of the action of the CountyCommissioners that I am strongly identified with the Democratic party. Such is not the case. I never voted an out and out Democratic ticketin my life. I voted for Buchanan for President to defeat Fremont, butnot because he was my first choice. In all other elections I haveuniversally selected the candidates that, in my estimation, were thebest fitted for the different offices, and it never happens that suchmen are all arrayed on one side. The strongest friend I had in theBoard of Commissioners is a Free Soiler but opposition between partiesis so strong that he would not vote for any one, no matter howfriendly, unless at least one of his own party would go with him. TheFree Soil party felt themselves bound to provide for one of their ownparty who was defeated for the office of County Engineer; a German whocame to the West as an assistant surveyor upon the public lands, andwho has held an office ever since. 

There is, I believe, but one paying office in the county held by anAmerican, unless you except the office of Sheriff which is held by aFrenchman who speaks broken English, but was born here. 

Write to me soon. Julia and the children join me in sending love toall of you. 

Yours truly, ULYSSES. 

[To his brother Simpson. This letter is a naive expression of afundamental trait in Grant's character, belief in the essentialhonesty of every man. ]

St. Louis, Oct. 24th, 1859. 

DEAR BROTHER:

I have been postponing writing to you hoping to make a return for yourhorse, but as yet I have received nothing for him. About two weeks agoa man spoke to me for him and said that he would try him the next day, and if he suited, give me $100 for him. I have not seen the man since;but one week ago last Saturday he went to the stable and got thehorse, saddle and bridle, since which I have seen neither man norhorse. From this I presume he must like him. The man, I understand, lives in Florisant, about twelve miles from the city. 

My family are all well and living in our own house. It is much morepleasant than where we lived when you were here, and containspractically about as much room. I am still unemployed, but expect tohave a place in the Custom House from the first of next month. My namehas been forwarded for the appointment of Superintendent, which, if Ido not get, will not probably be filled at all. In that case there isa vacant desk which I may get that pays $1200 per annum. The otherwill be worth from $1500 to $1800 and will occupy but little time. 

Remember me to all at home. There is a gentleman here who has lands inSan Antonio de Bexar County, Texas, that would like to get you, shouldyou go there this winter, to look after them. If you go, and willattend to his business, drop me a line and he will furnish me all thepapers, and instructions, to forward to you. 

Yours, U. S. GRANT. 

P. S. The man that has your horse is the owner of a row of six threestory brick houses in this city, and the probabilities are that heintends to give me an order on his agent for the money on the first ofthe month when the rents are paid. At all events I imagine the horseis perfectly safe. 

U. S. G. 

[Grant had given up the real estate business and had come to Galena inMay, 1860, as has been said, nominally as a clerk in his father'sstore, but really as a prospective partner in the business. 

In March, 1861, Lincoln was inaugurated President. The Confederatesproclaimed themselves aliens; South Carolina seceded; other SouthernStates followed; Fort Sumter was fired upon, and President Lincolnissued his first call for troops, 75, 000 volunteers. The quota forIllinois had been fixed at six regiments. Galena immediately raised acompany. Grant declined the captaincy but promised his aid in everyway possible. ]

Galena, April 21st, 1861. 

DEAR FATHER:

We are now in the midst of trying times when every one must be for oragainst his country, and show his colors too, by his every act. Havingbeen educated for such an emergency, at the expense of the Government, I feel that it has upon me superior claims, such claims as no ordinarymotives of self-interest can surmount. I do not wish to act hastily orunadvisedly in the matter, and as there are more than enough torespond to the first call of the President, I have not yet offeredmyself. I have promised, and am giving all the assistance I can inorganizing the company whose services have been accepted from thisplace. I have promised further to go with them to the State capital, and if I can be of service to the Governor in organizing his statetroops to do so. What I ask now is your approval of the course I amtaking, or advice in the matter. A letter written this week will reachme in Springfield. I have not time to write to you but a hasty line, for, though Sunday as it is, we are all busy here. In a few minutes Ishall be engaged in directing tailors in the style and trim of uniformfor our men. 

Whatever may have been my political opinions before, I have but onesentiment now. That is, we have a Government, and laws and a flag, andthey must all be sustained. There are but two parties now, traitorsand patriots and I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter, and Itrust, the stronger party. I do not know but you may be placed in anawkward position, and a dangerous one pecuniarily, but costs cannotnow be counted. My advice would be to leave where you are if you arenot safe with the views you entertain. I would never stultify myopinion for the sake of a little security. 

I will say nothing about our business. Orvil and Lank will keep youposted as to that. 

Write soon and direct as above. 

Yours truly, U. S. GRANT. 

[To his sister Mary. Grant organized and drilled the Galena company, then went with it to Springfield, the State capital, and mustered itinto the State service. Governor Yates then requested him to remainand assist in the adjutant-general's office, because he realized thevalue of Grant's former military experience. Shortly after this theLegislature authorized the State to accept the services of tenadditional regiments. Governor Yates requested Grant to muster thesenew troops into the service. 

The Aunt Rachel mentioned was a sister of Jesse R. Grant, who lived inVirginia. She had a large plantation and owned many slaves, and wasnaturally an ardent secessionist. A heated partisan correspondence wascarried on during this time between the aunt and the niece Clara, Grant's oldest sister. In the letter referred to, the aunt writes, "Ifyou are with the accursed Lincolnites, the ties of consanguinity shallbe forever severed. "]

Springfield, April 29th, 1861. 

DEAR SISTER:

I came to this place several days ago, fully expecting to find aletter here for me from father. As yet I have received none. It was myintention to have returned to Galena last evening, but the Governordetained me, and I presume will want me to remain with him until allthe troops are called into service, or those to be so called, arefully mustered in and completely organized. The enthusiasm throughoutthis state surpasses anything that could have been imagined threeweeks ago. Only six regiments are called for here, while at leastthirty could be promptly raised. The Governor, and all others inauthority, are harassed from morning until night with patriotic men, and such political influence as they can bring, to obtain firstpromises of acceptance of their companies, if there should be anothercall for troops. The eagerness to enter companies that were acceptedby the Governor, was so great that it has been impossible forCommanders of companies to keep their numbers within the limits of thelaw, consequently companies that have arrived here have all had fromten to sixty men more than can be accepted. The Legislature onSaturday last passed a bill providing for the maintenance anddiscipline of these surplus troops for one month, unless soonermustered into service of the United States under a second call. --I amconvinced that if the South knew the entire unanimity of the North forthe Union and maintenance of Law, and how freely men and money areoffered to the cause, they would lay down their arms at once in humblesubmission. There is no disposition to compromise now. Nearly everyone is anxious to see the Government fully tested as to its strength, and see if it is not worth preserving. The conduct of eastern Virginiahas been so abominable through the whole contest that there would be agreat deal of disappointment here if matters should be settled beforeshe is thoroughly punished. This is my feeling, and I believe ituniversal. Great allowance should be made for South Carolinians, forthe last generation have been educated, from their infancy, to lookupon their Government as oppressive and tyrannical and only to beendured till such time as they might have sufficient strength tostrike it down. Virginia, and other border states, have no such excuseand are therefore traitors at heart as well as in act. I should likevery much to see the letter Aunt Rachel wrote Clara! or a copy of it. Can't you send it?

When I left Galena, Julia and the children were very well. Jesse hadbeen very sick for a few days but was getting much better. I have beenvery anxious that you should spend the summer with us. You have nevervisited us and I don't see why you can't. Two of you often traveltogether, and you might do so again, and come out with Clara. I do notlike to urge anything of the kind, lest you should think that Iignored entirely the question of economy, but I do not do so. The factis I have had my doubts whether or not it would not be more prudentfor all of you to lock up and leave, until the present excitementsubsides. If father were younger and Simpson strong and healthy, Iwould not advise such a course. On the contrary, I would like to seeevery Union man in the border slave states remain firm at his post. Every such man is equal to an armed volunteer at this time in defenceof his country. There is very little that I can tell you that you donot get from the papers. Remember me to all at home and write to me atonce, to this place. 

BROTHER ULYSSES. 

[Grant is now assisting in the adjutant-general's office, as requestedby Governor Yates. In connection with the call for troops and theenthusiastic response, he says elsewhere, "There was not a State inthe North of a million inhabitants that would not have furnished theentire number faster than arms would have been supplied to them, if ithad been necessary. "]

GENERAL HEAD-QUARTERS, STATE OF ILLINOIS, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE

Springfield, May 2nd, 1861. 

DEAR FATHER:

Your letter of the 24th inst was received the same evening one I hadwritten to Mary was mailed. I would have answered earlier but for thefact I had just written. 

I am not a volunteer, and indeed could not be, now that I did not gointo the first Company raised in Galena. The call of the President wasso promptly responded to that only those companies that organized atonce, and telegraphed their application to come in, were received. Allother applications were filed, and there are enough of them to furnishIllinois quota if the Army should be raised to 300, 000 men. I amserving on the Governor's staff at present at his request, but supposeI shall not be here long. 

I should have offered myself for the Colonelcy of one of theRegiments, but I find all those places are wanted by politicians whoare up to log-rolling, and I do not care to be under such persons. 

The war feeling is not abating here much, although hostilities appearmore remote than they did a few days ago. Three of the six Regimentsmustered in from this state are now at Cairo, and probably will bereinforced with two others within a few days. 

Galena has several more companies organized but only one of them willbe able to come in under a new call for ten regiments. Chicago hasraised companies enough nearly to fill all the first call. TheNorthern feeling is so fully aroused that they will stop at no expenseof money and men to insure the success of their cause. 

I presume the feeling is just as strong on the other side, but theyare infinitely in the minority in resources. 

I have not heard from Galena since coming down here, but presume allis moving along smoothly. My advice was not to urge collections fromsuch men as we knew to be good, and to make no efforts to sell in thepresent distracted state of our currency. The money will not buyEastern exchange and is liable to become worse; I think that thirtydays from this we shall have specie, and the bills of good foreignbanks to do business on, and then will be the time to collect. 

If Mary writes to me any time next week she may direct here to

ULYSSES. 

[E. B. Washburn was member of Congress representing Galena. Pillow wasa Confederate general. He had served in the Mexican War, where Granthad learned to know him. 

Grant expresses in this letter the opinion that the war will be ofshort duration. Many believed with him that the war would be over inthirty days. He continued to think this until the battle of Shiloh. Hebelieved that there would have been no more battles in the West afterthe capture of Fort Donelson if all the troops in that region had beenunder a single commander who would have followed up that victory. ]

Camp Yates, near Springfield, May 6th, 1861. 

DEAR FATHER:

Your second letter, dated the first of May has just come to hand. Icommenced writing you a letter three or four days ago but wasinterrupted so often that I did not finish it. I wrote one to Marywhich no doubt was duly received, but do not remember whether itanswers your questions or not. 

At the time our first Galena company was raised I did not feel atliberty to engage in hot haste, but took an active interest indrilling them, and imparting all the instruction I could, and at therequest of the members of the company, and of Mr. Washburn, I camehere for the purpose of assisting for a short time in camp, and ofoffering, if necessary, my services for the war. The next two daysafter my arrival it was rainy and muddy so that the troops could notdrill and I concluded to go home. Governor Yates heard it andrequested me to remain. Since that I have been acting in thatcapacity, and for the last few days have been in command of this camp. The last of the six regiments called for from this State, willprobably leave by to-morrow, or the day following, and then I shall berelieved from this command. 

The Legislature of this State provided for the raising of elevenadditional regiments and a battalion of artillery; a portion of thesethe Governor will appoint me to muster into the service of the State, when I presume my services may end. I might have obtained thecolonelcy of a regiment possibly, but I was perfectly sickened at thepolitical wire-pulling for all these commissions, and would not engagein it. I shall be in no ways backward in offering my services when andwhere they are required, but I feel that I have done more now than Icould do serving as a captain under a green colonel, and if this thingcontinues they will want more men at a later day. 

There have been fully 30, 000 more volunteers who have offered theirservices, than can be accepted under the present call, withoutincluding the call made by the State; but I can go back to Galena anddrill the three or four companies there, and render them efficient forany future call. My own opinion is that this war will be but of shortduration. The Administration has acted most prudently and sagaciouslyso far in not bringing on a conflict before it had its forces fullymarshalled. When they do strike, our thoroughly loyal states will befully protected, and a few decisive victories in some of the southernports will send the secession army howling, and the leaders in therebellion will flee the country. All the states will then be loyal fora generation to come. Negroes will depreciate so rapidly in value thatnobody will want to own them, and their masters will be the loudest intheir declamation against the institution from a political andeconomic point of view. The negro will never disturb this countryagain. The worst that is to be apprehended from him is now: he mayrevolt and cause more destruction than any Northern man, except it bethe ultra-abolitionist, wants to see. A Northern army may be requiredin the next ninety days to go South to suppress a negro insurrection. As much as the South have vilified the North, that army would go onsuch a mission and with the purest motives. 

I have just received a letter from Julia. All are well. Julia takes avery sensible view of our present difficulties. She would be sorry tohave me go, but thinks the circumstances may warrant it and will notthrow a single obstacle in the way. 

There is no doubt but the _valiant_ Pillow has been planning an attackon Cairo; but as he will learn that that point is well garrisoned andthat they have their ditch on the outside, filled with water, he willprobably desist. As, however, he would find it necessary to receive awound, on the first discharge of firearms, he would not be aformidable enemy. I do not say he would shoot himself, ah no! I am notso uncharitable as many who served under him in Mexico. I think, however, he might report himself wounded on the receipt of a veryslight scratch, received hastily in any way, and might irritate thesore until he convinced himself that he had been wounded by the enemy. 

Tell Simpson that I hope he will be able to visit us this summer. Ishould like very much to have him stay with us and I want him to makemy house his home. 

Remember me to all. 

ULYSSES. 

[Grant has just finished mustering into State service the tenadditional regiments authorized by the Legislature. He then returnedto Galena whence he wrote to Washington, May 24, 1861, to theadjutant-general, tendering "his services until the close of the warin such capacity as may be offered. " He adds, "I would say in view ofmy present age and length of service, I feel myself competent tocommand a regiment, if the President in his judgment should see fit tointrust one to me. " He never received an answer to this letter; longafter, it was found not properly filed. Grant's own comment is, thatit was probably barely read by the adjutant-general and certainlycould not have been submitted to higher authority. 

The day he wrote this letter he returned to Springfield to find thatGovernor Yates had already appointed him colonel of one of theregiments that he himself had recently mustered into the Stateservice, the 22d Illinois infantry. ]

Galena, May 30th, 1861. 

DEAR FATHER:

I have now been home nearly a week, but return to Springfield to-day. I have tendered my services to the Government and go to-day to makemyself useful, if possible, from this until all our Nationaldifficulties are ended. During the six days I have been at home Ihave felt all the time as if a duty were being neglected that wasparamount to any other duty I ever owed. I have every reason to bewell satisfied with myself for the services already rendered, but tostop now would not do. 

All here are well. Orvil or Lank will write to you in a day or two andtell you how business matters stand. Write to me at Springfield. 

Yours truly, U. S. GRANT. 

[After taking charge of his new regiment, Grant was encamped a shorttime near Springfield. A month was spent in drill and discipline; whenthe time came for the mustering into the national service of those whowere willing to enter, the regiment went in as a body. July 3d he wasordered to Quincy, Mo. While here he was ordered to move againstColonel Tom Harris, a Confederate, who was encamped on a creek withhigh hills on both sides. Grant approached the place with muchuneasiness, expecting to find Harris and his men drawn up ready tomeet him. Instead, they had fled. He realized then that Harris had hadquite as much fear of him as he had had of Harris. This experience wasa valuable lesson to him; remembering it, he never again felttrepidation before encountering an enemy. ]

East Quincy, Mo. , July 13th, 1861. 

DEAR FATHER:

I have just received yours and Mary's letters and really did not knowthat I had been so negligent as not to have written to you before. Idid write from Camp Yates, but since receiving yours remember that Idid not get to finish it at the time, and have neglected it since. Thefact is that since I took command of this regiment I have had no sparetime, and flatter myself, and believe I am sustained in my judgment bymy officers and men, that I have done as much for the improvement andefficiency of this regiment as was ever done for a command in the samelength of time. --You will see that I am in Missouri. Yesterday I wentout as far as Palmyra and stationed my regiment along the railroad forthe protection of the bridges, trestle work, etc. The day before Isent a small command, all I could spare, to relieve Colonel Smith whowas surrounded by secessionists. He effected his relief, however, before they got there. To-morrow I start for Monroe, where I shall fallin with Colonel Palmer and one company of horse and two pieces ofartillery. One regiment and a battalion of infantry will move on toMexico, North Missouri road, and all of us together will try to nabthe notorious Tom Harris with his 1200 secessionists. His men aremounted, and I have but little faith in getting many of them. Thenotorious Jim Green who was let off on his parole of honor but a fewdays ago, has gone towards them with a strong company well armed. Ifhe is caught it will prove bad work for him. 

You no doubt saw from the papers that I started to march across thecountry for Quincy. My men behaved admirably, and the lesson has beena good one for them. They can now go into camp after a day's marchwith as much promptness as veteran troops; they can strike their tentsand be on the march with equal celerity. At the Illinois River, Ireceived a dispatch at eleven o'clock at night that a train of carswould arrive at half past eleven to move my regiment. All the men wereof course asleep, but I had the drum beaten, and in forty minutesevery tent and all the baggage was at the water's edge ready to putaboard the ferry to cross the river. 

I will try to keep you posted from time to time, by writing either toyou or to Mary, of my whereabouts and what I am doing. I hope you willhave only a good account of me and the command under my charge. Iassure you my heart is in the cause I have espoused, and however I mayhave disliked party Republicanism there has never been a day that Iwould not have taken up arms for a Constitutional Administration. 

You ask if I should not like to go in the regular army. I should not. I want to bring my children up to useful employment, and in the armythe chance is poor. There is at least the same objection that you findwhere slavery exists. Fred. Has been with me until yesterday; I senthim home on a boat. 

Yours &c. 

U. S. GRANT. 

[Shortly after the date of the last letter, Grant was ordered toMexico, Mo. General Pope then commanded the district between theMississippi and Missouri Rivers with headquarters at Mexico. Grant wasassigned to command a sub-district embracing the troops of theimmediate neighborhood. In regard to the hospitality which Grantmentions receiving in this secessionist district, we may note that theregiments before his accession to this command had visited houseswithout invitation and had helped themselves to food or had demandedit. Grant at once published orders forbidding soldiers to go intoprivate houses unless invited, or to appropriate private property. ]

Mexico, Mo. , Aug. 3d, 1861. 

DEAR FATHER:

I have written to you once from this place and received no answer, butas Orvil writes to me that you express great anxiety to hear from meoften, I will try to find time to drop you a line twice a month, andoftener when anything of special interest occurs. 

The papers keep you posted as to army movements, and as you arealready in possession of my notions on secession nothing more iswanted on that point. I find here however a different state of feelingfrom what I expected existed in any part of the South. The majority inthis part of the State are secessionists, as we would term them, butdeplore the present state of affairs. They would make almost anysacrifice to have the Union restored, but regard it as dissolved, andnothing is left for them but to choose between two evils. Many, too, seem to be entirely ignorant of the object of present hostilities. Youcannot convince them but that the ultimate object is to extinguishslavery by force. Then, too, they feel that the Southern Confederacywill never consent to give up their State, and as they, the South, arethe strong party, it is prudent to favor them from the start. There isnever a movement of troops made, that the secession journals throughthe country do not give a startling account of their almostannihilation at the hands of the State troops, whilst the facts are, there are no engagements. My regiment has been reported cut to piecesonce that I know of, and I don't know but oftener, whilst a gun hasnot been fired at us. These reports go uncontradicted here and giveconfirmation to the conviction already entertained that one Southronis equal to five Northerners. We believe they are deluded, and knowthat if they are not, we are. 

Since I have been in command of this military district, (two weeks), Ihave received the greatest hospitality and attention from the citizensabout here. I have had every opportunity of conversing with themfreely and learning their sentiments, and although I have confinedmyself strictly to the truth as to what has been the result of thedifferent engagements, the relative strength, the objects of theAdministration, and the North generally, yet I think they don'tbelieve a word. 

I see from the papers that my name has been sent in for BrigadierGeneral. This is certainly very complimentary to me, particularly as Ihave never asked a friend to intercede in my behalf. My onlyacquaintance with men of influence in the State was whilst on duty atSpringfield, and I then saw so much pulling and hauling for favorsthat I determined never to ask for anything, and never have, not evena colonelcy. I wrote a letter to Washington tendering my services, butthen declined Governor Yates' and Mr. Trumbull's endorsement. 

My services with the regiment with which I now am have been highlysatisfactory to me. I took it in a very disorganized, demoralized andinsubordinate condition, and have worked it up to a reputation equalto the best, and, I believe, with the good will of all the officersand all the men. Hearing that I was likely to be promoted, theofficers, with great unanimity, have requested to be attached to mycommand. This I don't want you to read to others for I very muchdislike speaking of myself. 

We are now breaking up camp here gradually. In a few days the last ofus will be on our way for the Missouri River, at what point cannot bedefinitely determined, wood and water being a consideration, as wellas a healthy, fine site for a large encampment. A letter addressed tome at Galena will probably find me there. If I get my promotion Ishall expect to go there for a few days. 

Remember me to all at home and write to me. 

Yours truly, U. S. GRANT. 

[President Lincoln asked the Illinois delegation in Congress torecommend some citizens of the State for the position ofbrigadier-general. They unanimously recommended Grant first on a listof seven. 

Since the date of the last letter he has been promoted to the rank ofbrigadier-general. He was then ordered to Ironton, Mo. , seventy milessouth of St. Louis. 

To his sister Mary. ]

Ironton, Mo. , August 12th, 1861. 

DEAR SISTER:

Your letter directed to me at Mexico, Missouri came to hand yesterdayat this place. 

A glance at the map will show you where I am. When I came here it wasreported that this place was to be attacked by 8000 secessionists, under General Hardee, within a day or two. Now Hardee's force seems tohave reduced, and his distance from here to have increased. Scoutingparties however are constantly seen within a few miles of our pickets. I have here about 3000 volunteers nearly all infantry, but ourposition being strong, and our cause a good one, it would trouble amuch larger force of the enemy to dislodge us. You ask my views aboutthe continuance of the war, and so forth. Well I have changed my mindso much that I don't know what to think. That the rebels will be sobadly whipped by April next that they cannot make a stand anywhere, Idon't doubt. But they are so dogged that there is no telling when theymay be subdued. Send Union troops among them and respect all theirrights, pay for everything you get, and they become desperate andreckless because their state sovereignty is invaded. Troops of theopposite side march through and take everything they want, leaving nopay but scrip, and they become desperate secession partisans becausethey have nothing more to lose. Every change makes them moredesperate. I should like to be sent to Western Virginia, but my lotseems to be cast in this part of the world. 

I wanted to remain in St. Louis a day or two to get some books to readthat might help me in my profession, and have my uniform made. Minehas been a busy life from the beginning, and my new-made friends inIllinois seem to give me great credit. I hope to deserve it, and shallspare no pains on my part to do so. 

It is precious little time I shall have for writing letters, but Ihave subscribed for the _Daily St. Louis Democrat_ to be sent to you, through which you may occasionally hear from me. 

Write to me often even though your letters are not answered. As I toldfather in my last I will try to have you hear from me twice a month ifI have to write you after midnight. 

I told Julia she might go to Covington and board whilst I am away butI don't know but that she had better stay where she is. The people ofGalena have always shown the greatest friendship for me and I wouldprefer keeping my home there. I would like very much though, if youwould go and stay with Julia. 

If I get a uniform and get where I can have my daguerreotype taken, your wish in that respect shall be gratified. 

Your Brother

ULYS. 

[From Ironton, Grant was next ordered to Jefferson City, Mo. , to takecommand there. There were much confusion and lack of discipline here. "There was no system existing as to recruiting and the city was filledwith fugitives. These, driven by guerilla bands to take refuge withthe national troops, were in a deplorable condition. " In a week or twoorder was restored. He was then recalled to St. Louis, to receiveimportant instructions. ]

Jefferson City, Mo. , August 27th, 1861. 

DEAR FATHER:

Your letter requesting me to appoint Mr. Foley on my staff was onlyreceived last Friday night, of course too late to give Mr. Foley theappointment even if I could do so. I remember to have been introducedto Mr. Foley Sr. Several years ago, and if the son is anything likethe impression I then formed of the father, the appointment would beone that I could well congratulate myself upon. I have filled all theplaces on my staff and, I flatter myself, with deserving men: Mr. J. A. Rawlins of Galena is to be my Adjutant General, Mr. Lagow of theregiment I was formerly colonel of, and Mr. Hillyer of St. Louis, aides. They are all able men, from five to ten years younger thanmyself, without military experience but very capable of learning. Ionly have one of them with me yet, and having nothing but raw troops, and but little assistance, it keeps me busy from the time I get up inthe morning until from 12 to 2 o'clock at night, or morning. 

I subscribed for the _Daily Democrat_, a staunch Union paper, for youso that you might hear from me often. 

There is a good deal of alarm felt by the citizens of an early attackupon this place, and if anything of the kind should take place we areill prepared. All the troops are very raw, and about one half of themMissouri Home Guards without discipline. No artillery and but littlecavalry here. 

I do not anticipate an attack here myself, certainly not until we haveattacked the enemy first. A defeat might induce the rebels to followup their success to this point, but that we expect to prevent. Mymeans of information are certainly as good as those of any one else, and I cannot learn that there is an organized body of men North of theOsage River, or any such body moving. There are numerous encampmentsthroughout all the counties bordering on the Missouri River, but theobject seems to be to gather supplies, forces, transportation and soforth, for a fall and winter campaign. 

The country west of here will be left in a starving condition for nextwinter. Families are being driven away in great numbers for theirUnion sentiments, leaving behind farms, crops, stock and all. A sadstate of affairs must exist under the most favorable circumstancesthat can take place. There will be no money in the country, and theentire crop will be carried off together with all stock of any value. 

I am interrupted so often while writing that my letters mustnecessarily be very meagre and disconnected. 

I hope you will let Mary go to Galena when Mother returns home. Shehas never paid us a visit and I would like to have her make a longone. I think it doubtful whether I will go home at all. 

ULYSSES. 

[The special instructions which Grant came from Jefferson City toreceive, assigned him to the command of southeastern Missouri andsouthern Illinois. He was to have temporary headquarters at CapeGirardeau during an expedition ordered for the capture of Colonel JeffThompson, who was disputing with them the possession of southeasternMissouri. This expedition was broken up on account of General Prentissleaving his command at Jackson and returning to St. Louis, offended atbeing placed under a brigadier-general whom he believed to be hisjunior. Grant says Prentiss' action was a great mistake. "He was avery brave and earnest soldier, " he writes long after. "No man in theservice was more sincere in his devotion to the cause for which wewere battling, none more ready to make sacrifices or risk life init. "]

Cape Girardeau, Mo. , August 31st, 1861. 

DEAR FATHER:

Your letter of the 26th is just received. As to the relative rank ofofficers (brigadiers) you are right but in all the rest you arelaboring under an erroneous impression. There has been no move madeaffecting me which has not been complimentary rather than otherwise, though calculated to keep me laboriously employed. I was sent toIronton when the place was weak and threatened with a superior force, and as soon as it was rendered secure I was ordered to JeffersonCity, another point threatened. I was left there but a week whenorders were sent ordering me to this point, putting me in commandof all the forces in S. E. Missouri, South Illinois and everythingthat can operate here. All I fear is that too much may be expectedof me. My duties will absorb my entire attention, and I shall trynot to disappoint the good people of Illinois, who, I learn fromevery quarter, express an enthusiasm for me that was whollyunexpected. --General Prentiss is not a particular favorite as yoususpect, nor is there a prejudice against him. 

I think all the brigadiers are satisfied with the rank assigned themby the President. 

The brigadiers are not all up north as you suspect. I know of but one, Hurlbut, who is there. General McClernand is at Cairo, Prentiss atIronton, and I presume Curtis will be with the command under me. 

General Hunter is at Chicago, but I look upon that as temporary. Ihave not heard of any command being assigned him as yet, and do notknow that he has sufficiently recovered from wounds received in thelate engagements in Virginia to take the field. Hunter will provehimself a fine officer. 

The letters spoken of by you have not all been received. One sent toGalena I got and answered. My promise to write to you every two weekshas been complied with, and however busy I may be I shall continue towrite if it is but a line. 

I am now probably done shifting commands so often, this being thefourth in as many weeks. 

Your suspicions as to my being neglected are entirely unfounded, for Iknow it was the intention to give me a brigade if I had not beenpromoted. Application would have been made to have me assignedarbitrarily as senior colonel from Illinois for the purpose. 

I want to hear from you or Mary often. I sent you the _DailyDemocrat_, thinking that would keep you better posted in this sectionthan I could, and it is a cheap correspondent. 

I wrote to you that I should like to have Mary go out to Galena andstay some time. I do not want Julia to leave Galena, being anxious toretain my residence after the many kindnesses received from the peoplethere. 

I only arrived at this place last night and cannot tell you much aboutthings here. The people however are generally reported to besecessionists. 

ULYS. 

[September 4th, Grant had removed headquarters from Cape Girardeau toCairo, Ill. Hearing that the Confederates were about to seize Paducah, Ky. , he went there immediately, arriving there a few hours before theenemy, who returned to Columbus. Before leaving Grant addressed ashort proclamation to the citizens promising them protection. Troopswere left to guard the city. 

To his sister Mary. ]

Cairo, September 11th, 1861. 

DEAR SISTER:

Your letter with a short one from Father was received yesterday, andhaving a little time I answer it. 

The troops under me and the rebel forces are getting so close togetherhowever that I have to watch all points. Since taking command I havetaken possession of the Kentucky bank opposite here, fortified it andplaced four large pieces in position. Have occupied Norfolk, Missouri, and taken possession of Paducah. My troops are so close to the enemyas to occasionally exchange shots with the pickets. To day, or ratherlast night, sixty or seventy rebels came upon seventeen of our men andwere repulsed with a loss of two men killed on their side, none hurton ours. Yesterday there was skirmishing all day. We had but twowounded however, whilst the loss must have been considerable on theother. 

What future operations will be, of course I don't know. I could notwrite about it in advance if I did. The rebel force numerically ismuch stronger than ours, but the difference is more than made up byhaving truth and justice on our side, whilst on the other they arecheered on by falsehood and deception. This war however is formidableand I regret to say cannot end so soon as I anticipated at first. 

Father asks for a position for Albert Griffith. I have no place togive and at best could use only my influence. I receive letters fromall over the country for such places, but do not answer them. I neverasked for my present position, but now that I have it I intend toperform the duties as rigidly as I know how without looking out forplaces for others. I should be very glad if I had a position within myown gift for Al. But I have not. 

My duties are very laborious and have been from the start. It is arare thing that I get to bed before two or three o'clock in themorning and am usually wakened in the morning before getting awake ina natural way. Now, however, my staff are getting a little in the wayof this kind of business and can help me. 

I have been stopped so often already in writing this that I haveforgotten what I was going to write about. 

Are you talking of paying Julia a visit? I wrote to you and fatherabout it several times but have failed to elicit an answer on thatpoint. I intended to have Julia, Miss and Jess come down here to payme a visit but I hardly think it would be prudent at this time. Hearing artillery within a few miles it might embarrass my movementsto have them about. I am afraid they would make poor soldiers. 

Write to me again soon. 

Good night. 

ULYS. 

[Simpson: the brother next in age to General Grant. To his sisterMary. ]

Cairo, September 25th, 1861. 

DEAR SISTER:

I have just received your last letter, also another written by youabout one month ago, which has followed me around until at length itreached this place. I am very well, but have no news to communicate. 

I had extended my lines nearly half way to Columbus and madereconnoissances frequently to within sight of the rebel camps, but myforce has to be so reduced that it would be imprudent to make anattack now until I am reinforced. 

I hope some day, if I am allowed to retain this command, to give agood account of ourselves. Simpson's death, though looked for for thelast two years, causes me a great deal of sadness. The day I heard ofit, I received a number of letters from Galena. In two or three ofthem his arrival at St. Paul was noted, and it was stated that he wasno better. Our family has been peculiarly blessed up to this time. Butfew families of the same number have gone so many years without theloss of a single member. 

I expect Father here as soon as Orvil returns to Galena. 

BROTHER ULYS. 

[Grant felt sure that Columbus could easily have been taken soon afterthe occupation of Paducah, and had asked more than once to be allowedto move against it. As time went on it was so strongly fortified thatit would have required a large force and a long siege to capture it. General Fremont was in charge of the Department of Missouri. ]

Cairo, October 25th, 1861. 

DEAR SISTER:

Have gone longer this time without writing to you than I intended andhave no good excuse for it. I have received two letters, at least, from you and father since my last, one of which wanted special answer. As I have not that letter before me I may fail to answer some points. 

As to my not taking Columbus there are several reasons for it which Iunderstand perfectly and could make plain to any one else, but do notfeel disposed to commit the reasons to paper. As to the needlessnessof the movements of troops I am a better judge than the newspaperreporters who write about it. My whole administration of affairs seemsto have given entire satisfaction to those who have the right tojudge, and who should have the ability to judge correctly. I find by alittle absence for the few last days (under orders) that my wholecourse has received marked approbation from citizens and soldiers, somuch so that many who are comparative strangers to me are alreadyclaiming for me promotion. This is highly gratifying but I do notthink any promotions should be made for the present. Let service tellwho are the deserving ones and give them the promotion. Father alsowrote about a Mr. Reed. He is now here and will probably be able tosecure a position. I do not want to be importuned for places. I havenone to give and want to be placed under no obligation to any one. Myinfluence no doubt would secure places with those under me, but Ibecome directly responsible for the suitableness of the appointee, andthen there is no telling what moment I may have to put my hand uponthe very person who has conferred the favor, or the one recommended byme. I want always to be in a condition to do my duty withoutpartiality, favor, or affection. --In the matter of making harness Iknow that a very large amount is wanted. Maj. Robert Allen, ChiefQuartermaster for the Western Department, stationed in St. Louis, hasthe letting of a great deal. Father remembers his father well. He is ason of old Irish Jimmy, as he used to be called about Georgetown todistinguish him from the other two Jimmy Allens. He is a friend ofmine also. --This letter has proven so far more one to Father than toyourself, but I direct it to you that you may reply. I write in greathaste having been engaged all the evening in writing orders, and stillhaving more to do. --I send you with this the likeness of myself andstaff. N^o 1 you will have no difficulty in recognizing. N^o 2 isCapt. J. A. Rawlins, A. A. Gen. N^os 3 & 4 Capts. Lagow & Hillyer, Aides-de-Camps, N^o 5 Dr. Simons Medical Director. 

A good looking set aren't they? I expect Julia here the latter part ofnext week. I wish you could come at the same time and stay a week ortwo. I think it would pay you well. Won't you try to come? If it wereat all necessary I would pay the expense myself to have you come. Givemy love to all at home. I think I will send you several more of myphotographs, one for Uncle Samuel, one for Aunt Margaret, one for AuntRachel and one for Mrs. Bailey. 

Your Brother, ULYS. 

[The battle of Belmont is the first event of importance after theoccupation of Paducah. This was the first time the men and officerswere under fire; they behaved like veterans. Here they gained aconfidence in themselves that they did not lose throughout the war. ]

Cairo, November 8th, 1861. 

DEAR FATHER:

It is late at night and I want to get a letter into the mail for youbefore it closes. As I have just finished a very hasty letter to Juliathat contains about what I would write, and having something else todo myself, I will have my clerk copy it. 

Day before yesterday, I left here with about 3000 men in fivesteamers, convoyed by two gun boats, and proceeded down the river towithin twelve miles of Columbus. The next morning the boats weredropped down just out of range of the enemy's batteries and the troopsdebarked. 

During this operation our gun boats exercised the rebels by throwingshells into their camps and batteries. 

When all ready we proceeded about one mile towards Belmont oppositeColumbus; then I formed the troops into line, and ordered twocompanies from each regiment to deploy as skirmishers, and push onthrough the woods and discover the position of the enemy. They hadgone but a little way when they were fired upon, and the _ball_ may besaid to have fairly opened. 

The whole command with the exception of a small reserve, was thendeployed in like manner with the first, and ordered forward. The orderwas obeyed with great alacrity, the men all showing great courage. Ican say with gratification that every Colonel without a singleexception, set an example to his command that inspired a confidencethat will always insure victory when there is the slightestpossibility of gaining one. I feel truly proud to command such men. From here we fought our way from tree to tree through the woods toBelmont, about two and a half miles, the enemy contesting every footof ground. Here the enemy had strengthened their position by fellingthe trees for two or three hundred yards and sharpening the limbs, making a sort of abattis. Our men charged through making the victorycomplete, giving us possession of their camp and garrison equipage, artillery and everything else. 

We got a great many prisoners. The majority however succeeded ingetting aboard their steamer and pushing across the river. 

We burned everything possible and started back, having accomplishedall that we went for and even more. Belmont is entirely covered by thebatteries from Columbus and is worth nothing as a military position. It cannot be held without Columbus. 

The object of the expedition was to prevent the enemy from sending aforce into Missouri to cut off troops I had sent there for a specialpurpose, and to prevent reinforcing Price. 

Besides being well fortified at Columbus their numbers far exceedours, and it would have been folly to have attacked them. We found theConfederates well-armed and brave. On our return, stragglers that hadbeen left in our rear, _now front_, fired into us, and more recrossedthe river and gave us battle for fully a mile and afterwards at theboats when we were embarking. There was no hasty retreating or runningaway. Taking into account the object of the expedition the victory wasmost complete. It has given me a confidence in the officers and men ofthis command, that will enable me to lead them in any futureengagement without fear of the result. General McClernand--(who by theway acted with great coolness throughout, and proved that he is asoldier as well as statesman)--and myself each had our horses shotunder us. Most of the field-officers met with the same loss, besidesnearly one third of them being killed or wounded themselves. As nearlyas I can ascertain our loss was about 250 killed, wounded, andmissing. 

I write in great haste to get this in the office tonight. 

U. S. GRANT. 

[Two days after the battle of Belmont, November 9th, General Hallecksupersedes General Fremont in command of the Department of Missouri. General Grant's command is now changed from the District ofSoutheastern Missouri to the District of Cairo and that of the mouthsof the Cumberland and the Tennessee. This is the command he refers tohere as the most important one in the department. ]

Cairo, Illinois, November 27th, 1861. 

DEAR FATHER:

Your letter enclosed with a shawl to Julia is just received. 

In regard to your stricture about my not writing I think that you haveno cause of complaint. My time is all taken up with public duties. 

Your statement of prices at which you proposed furnishing harness wasforwarded to Maj. Allen as soon as received and I directed Lagow, whoreceived the letter enclosing it, to inform you of the fact. He did soat once. 

I cannot take an active part in securing contracts. If I were not inthe army I should do so, but situated as I am it is necessary both tomy efficiency for the public good and my own reputation that I shouldkeep clear of Government contracts. 

I do not write you about plans, or the necessity of what has been doneor what is doing because I am opposed to publicity in these matters. Then too you are very much disposed to criticise unfavorably frominformation received through the public press, a portion of which I amsorry to see can look at nothing favorably that does not look to a warupon slavery. My inclination is to whip the rebellion into submission, preserving all constitutional rights. If it cannot be whipped in anyother way than through a war against slavery, let it come to thatlegitimately. If it is necessary that slavery should fall that theRepublic may continue its existence, let slavery go. But that portionof the press that advocates the beginning of such a war now, are asgreat enemies to their country as if they were open and avowedsecessionists. [1]

There is a desire upon the part of people who stay securely at home toread in the morning papers, at their breakfast, startling reports ofbattles fought. They cannot understand why troops are kept inactivefor weeks or even months. They do not understand that men have to bedisciplined, arms made, transportation and provisions provided. I amvery tired of the course pursued by a portion of the Union press. 

Julia left last Saturday for St. Louis where she will probably spend acouple of weeks and return here should I still remain. It costsnothing for her to go there, and it may be the last opportunity shewill have of visiting her father. From here she will go to Covington, and spend a week or two before going back to Galena. 

It was my bay horse (cost me $140) that was shot. I also lost thelittle pony, my fine saddle and bridle, and the common one. What Ilost cost about $250. My saddle cloth which was about half the cost ofthe whole, I left at home. 

I try to write home about once in two weeks and think I keep it uppretty well. I wrote to you directly after the battle of Belmont, andLagow and Julia have each written since. 

Give my love to all at home. I am very glad to get letters from homeand will write as often as I can. I am somewhat troubled lest I losemy command here, though I believe my administration has given generalsatisfaction not only to those over me but to all concerned. This isthe most important command within the department however, and willprobably be given to the senior officer next to General Halleckhimself. 

There are not so many brigadier generals in the army as there arebrigades, and as to divisions they are nearly all commanded bybrigadiers. 

Yours, ULYSSES. 

 [Footnote 1: Grant's conviction that the essential purpose of the war was not the abolition of slavery as an end in itself, but the preservation of the Union at all costs was identical with that of Lincoln. This letter can properly be compared with the well-known letter written by Lincoln to Greeley on the third of August, 1862, in which Lincoln says: "My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and it is not either to save or to destroy slavery. " Lincoln understood that the task accepted by him as President as the leader in the contest for national existence made the maintenance of the Union his chief, if not for the time being his only responsibility. He had, however, placed himself on record in many utterances to the effect that if the republic were to be preserved, slavery must be, in the first place, restricted, and finally destroyed. It is probable that in this matter Grant did not go so far as Lincoln. In any case, in common with the President, he devoted himself simply to the duty immediately before him. ]

[The battlefield referred to is Belmont. According to the _Memoirs_, the loss of national troops, killed, wounded, and missing, was 485;that of the Confederates, 642. Number of Union troops engaged was 2500men; that of Confederates, 7000. ]

Cairo, Illinois, November 28th, 1861. 

DEAR FATHER:

Your letter asking if Mr. Leathers can be passed South, and alsoenclosing two extracts from papers is received. 

It is entirely out of the question to pass persons South. We have manyUnion Men sacrificing their lives now from exposure as well as battle, in a cause brought about by secession, and it is necessary for thesecurity of the thousands still exposed that all communication shouldbe cut off between the two sections. 

As to that article in the _Hawk Eye_ it gives me no uneasinesswhatever. The Iowa regiment did its duty fully, and my report gives itfull credit. All who were on the battlefield know where GeneralMcClernand and myself were, and there is no need of resort to thepublic press for our vindication. The other extract gives our loss inkilled and wounded almost exactly correct. Our missing however is onlythree or four over one hundred. Recent information received throughdeserters shows that the rebel loss from killed, wounded, and missingreaches about 2500. One thing is certain, --after the battle about onethird of Columbus was used for hospitals and many were removed tohouses in the country. There were also two steamboat loads sent toMemphis and the largest hotel in the city taken as a hospital. Thecity was put in mourning and all business suspended for a day: and thecitizens thrown into the greatest consternation lest they would beattacked. 

I wrote to you two days ago, therefore it is not necessary to write along letter. 

I believe I told you that Julia had gone to St. Louis. She will payyou a short visit before returning to Galena. 

ULYSSES. 

[General D. C. Buell commanded the Department of the Ohio withheadquarters at Louisville. 

To his sister Mary. ]

Cairo, Dec. 18th, 1861. 

DEAR SISTER:

I have been wanting to write you for some time and am not soindifferent as you would make out. I wish you could be here for a dayor two to see what I have to go through from breakfast until twelve atnight, seven days in the week. I have now just got through with mymail for to-night, and as it is not yet twelve and the mail does notclose until that time, I will devote the remainder of the time inpenning you a few lines. I have no war news to communicate, however. 

Julia and the children have returned from St. Louis. They will notmake you the promised visit whilst I remain here. 

Captain Foley arrived to-day and I showed him all the attention Icould but I regret to say it was not much. He will excuse it however. 

I am sorry you did not come with him. I believe I should have allowedthe children to go back with you. 

I have learned through private sources that an attack has been madeupon Fort Jackson, Louisiana, and that the place has been taken. Thatis to say such is the report in Columbus, but I do not know whether tocredit the report. Something has taken place to call off many of theirtroops. They still have a much larger force than I have. 

Whilst I am writing several Galena gentlemen are in talking. They willremain until the office closes so you must excuse a disconnectedletter. 

I do not now see that the probabilities are so strong that I willlikely be removed. A full disposition seems to have been made of allmy seniors. 

Father seems to be very much inclined to criticise all our generals. It may have been a little inexcusable in General Buell not to allowtroops to stop for a few hours when near their homes. But he shouldrecollect that General Buell was not on the spot to see thecircumstances fully, and he does not know what necessity may haveexisted to have got the troops through by a certain time. 

At your request I send a small batch from my cranium. I doubt whetherit is big enough for the purpose you want it. 

If you will come out here you might spend a few weeks pleasantly and Ihope you will not lose such an opportunity as has just occurred. 

I will close this. My love to all at home. 

ULYS. 

[The great expedition into Kentucky:--Early in January, Grant had beendirected to make a reconnoissance in favor of Brigadier-General Buellwho was confronting the Confederate General Buckner at Bowling Green. One force under General Smith went up the west bank of the Tennesseeto threaten Forts Heiman and Henry. McClernand went into westKentucky, one column threatening Columbus, and another the TennesseeRiver. Grant went with the latter. The object of the expedition wasattained; troops were not sent to reinforce Buckner. Grant was noweager to move against the forts on the Tennessee. This is his errandto St. Louis, to ask permission of General Halleck to move againstthem. He had long been convinced that the true line of operations wasup the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Once these rivers were held bythe Union troops, the Confederates would be forced to evacuateKentucky altogether. But General Halleck opposed the plan. 

To his sister Mary. ]

Cairo, Jan. 23d, 1862. 

DEAR SISTER:

You have seen through the papers notice of my return from the greatexpedition into Kentucky. My orders were such and the force with mealso so small that no attack was allowable. I made good use of thetime however, making a splendid reconnoissance of the country overwhich an army may have to move. I have now a larger force than GeneralScott ever commanded prior to our present difficulties. I do hope itwill be my good fortune to retain so important a command for at leastone battle. I believe there is no portion of our whole army betterprepared to contest a battle than there is within my district, and Iam very much mistaken if I have not got the confidence of officers andmen. This is all important, especially so with new troops. I gotonight to St. Louis to see General Halleck; will be back on Sundaymorning. I expect but little quiet from this on and if you receive butshort, unsatisfactory letters hereafter you need not be surprised. 

Your letter asking me to intercede in behalf of Lieut. Jones wasreceived. I have no one of equal rank now to offer in exchange, unlessit should be some one of Jeff Thompson's command, but if it shouldfall in my power to effect Lieutenant Jones' release, I shall be mosthappy to do so. Write to me giving the first name, where he now is, when taken and under what circumstances. 

I think you may look for Julia and the children about the 1st ofFebruary. 

As I said before the three oldest will be left to go to school. Jessis too small. You will like him the best of any of the children, although he is the worst. I expect he will whip his Aunt Mary thefirst day. Buck, though never really sick, is very delicate. He is thebest child I ever saw and is smart. 

Give my love to all at home. I must close. 

BROTHER ULYS. 

[After repeated requests Grant secured permission, February 1st, toundertake the campaign up the Tennessee. Fort Henry was captured onthe 6th; Fort Donelson, eleven miles away, fell on the 16th. FortDonelson was on high ground, one hundred feet above the CumberlandRiver. It was an important position for the enemy. Generals Floyd andPillow, first and second in command at Port Donelson, escaped duringthe night of the 15th. General Buckner, who was forced to surrenderthe fort, said to Grant that if he, Buckner, had been in command Grantwould never have reached Donelson as easily as he did. Grant answered, "In that case I should not have tried in the way I did; I relied uponPillow to allow me to come up within gunshot of any entrenchments hewas given to hold. " Pillow had been in the Mexican War and he pridedhimself upon that service. Grant speaks of his own service in theMexican War as being invaluable to him as he there came to know allthe men who, later on, held conspicuous positions in both the Northernand Southern armies; he learned to know their strong points and theirweaknesses, and to infer how they would act under given conditions. 

To his sister Mary. ]

Fort Henry, Tenn. , Feb. 9th, 1862. 

DEAR SISTER:

I take my pen in hand "away down in Dixie" to let you know that I amstill alive and well. What the next few days may bring forth, however, I can't tell you. I intend to keep the ball moving as lively aspossible, and have only been detained here from the fact that theTennessee is very high and has been rising ever since we have beenhere, overflowing the back land and making it necessary to bridge itbefore we could move. --Before receiving this you will hear bytelegraph of Fort Donelson being attacked. --Yesterday I went up theTennessee River twenty odd miles, and to-day crossed over near theCumberland River at Fort Donelson. --Our men had a little engagementwith the enemy's pickets, killing five of them, wounding a number, and, expressively speaking, "gobbling up" some twenty-four more. 

If I had your last letter at hand I would answer it. But I have notand therefore write you a very hasty and random letter, simply to letyou know that I believe you still remember me. Whilst writing I amcarrying on a conversation with my Staff and others. 

Julia will be with you in a few days and possibly I may accompany her. This is barely possible, depending upon having full possession of theline from Fort Henry to Fort Donelson, and upon being able to quit fora few days without retarding any contemplated movement. This would notleave me free more than one day however. 

You have no conception of the amount of labor I have to perform. Anarmy of men all helpless, looking to the commanding officer for everysupply. Your plain brother, however, has as yet no reason to feelhimself unequal to the task, and fully believes that he will carry ona successful campaign against our rebel enemy. I do not speakboastfully but utter a presentiment. The scare and fright of therebels up here is beyond conception. Twenty three miles above heresome were drowned in their haste to retreat, thinking us such vandalsthat neither life nor property would be respected. G. J. Pillowcommands at Fort Donelson. I hope to give him a tug before you receivethis. 

U. S. G. 

[After the fall of Fort Donelson Grant was promoted to the grade ofmajor-general. Had this victory been immediately followed up, hebelieved that the entire southwest would have offered littleresistance; and had there been one general who would have taken theresponsibility and been in command of all the troops west of theAlleghanies, the duration of the war would have been far briefer thanit was. 

Corinth was the junction of the two most important railroads in theMississippi Valley. It was the great strategic position in the Westbetween the Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers, and between Nashvilleand Vicksburg. If the Union troops obtained possession of Corinth theConfederates would have no railroad for transportation of armies orsupplies until that running east from Vicksburg was reached. 

The enemy was in force at Corinth, March 17th. He attacked Shiloh, April 6th, was defeated April 7th, and evacuated Corinth May 30th. 

Up to this time, Grant had believed that the rebellion would suddenlycollapse if a decisive victory could be gained. Donelson and Henrywere such victories, but now that the Confederates had collected newarmies and assumed the offensive, he gave up all idea of saving theUnion except by complete conquest. Hitherto, he had protected theproperty of both Federal and Confederate. Now he began a new policy;he consumed everything that could be used to support armies, regardingsupplies within reach of the Confederates as contraband as arms orordnance stores. This policy, he says, exercised a material influencein hastening the end. 

July 11th, Halleck is appointed to the command of all the armies, withheadquarters at Washington. Grant now has his headquarters at Corinthin command of the District of West Tennessee. He is practically adepartment commander. ]

Corinth, Mississippi, August 3d, 1862. 

DEAR FATHER:

Your letter of the 25th of July is just received. I do not rememberreceiving the letters, however, of which you speak. One came from Maryspeaking of the secessionist Holt who was said to be employed in theMemphis post office. I at once wrote to General Sherman who is incommand there about it and he is no doubt turned out before this. 

You must not expect me to write in my own defence nor to permit itfrom any one about me. I know that the feeling of the troops under mycommand is favorable to me and so long as I continue to do my dutyfaithfully it will remain so. Your uneasiness about the influencessurrounding the children here is unnecessary. On the contrary it isgood. They are not running around camp among all sorts of people, butwe are keeping house, on the property of a truly loyal secessionistwho has been furnished free lodging and board at Alton, Illinois; herethe children see nothing but the greatest propriety. 

They will not, however, remain here long. Julia will probably pay herfather a short visit and then go to Galena or Covington in time tohave the children commence school in September. 

I expect General Hitchcock to command the Department of the West. Haveno fears of General Pope or any one junior to me being sent. 

I do not expect nor want the support of the Cincinnati press on myside. Their course has been so remarkable from the beginning thatshould I be endorsed by them I should fear that the public wouldmistrust my patriotism. I am sure that I have but one desire in thiswar, and that is to put down the rebellion. I have no hobby of my ownwith regard to the negro, either to effect his freedom or to continuehis bondage. If Congress pass any law and the President approves, I amwilling to execute it. Laws are certainly as binding on the minorityas the majority. I do not believe even in the discussion of thepropriety of laws and official orders by the army. One enemy at a timeis enough and when he is subdued it will be time enough to settlepersonal differences. 

I do not want to command a department because I believe I can dobetter service in the field. I do not expect to be overslaughed by ajunior and should feel exceedingly mortified should such a thingoccur, but would keep quiet as I have ever done heretofore. 

I have just received a letter from Captain Foley about this same Holtsaid to be in the Memphis post office. You may say that I shall referit to General Sherman with the direction to expel him if it is notalready done. 

Julia and the children are well. I do not expect to remain here longbut when I will go I can't say now. 

U. S. GRANT. 

[In referring to this period, Grant says that it was the most anxioustime of the war when the Army of the Tennessee was guarding theterritory acquired by Corinth and Memphis, and before he wassufficiently reinforced to take the offensive. 

To his sister Mary. ]

Corinth, Mississippi, August 19th, 1862. 

DEAR SISTER:

Julia and the children left here on Saturday last for St. Louis wherethey will remain on a visit until about the last of the month. At theend of that time they must be some place where the children can go toschool. --Mrs. Hillyer has a nice house in the city and is all alonewhilst her husband is on my staff, and it may be that she and Juliawill keep house together. If they do she would be very much pleased tohave you make her a long visit. Julia says that she is satisfied thatthe best place for the children is in Covington. But there are so manyof them that she sometimes feels as if they were not wanted. Theirvisit down here in Dixie was very pleasant and they were very loth toleave. Things however began to look so threatening that I thought itwas best for them to leave. I am now in a situation where it isimpossible for me to do more than to protect my long lines of defence. I have the Mississippi to Memphis, the railroad from Columbus toCorinth, from Jackson to Bolivar, from Corinth to Decatur, and theTennessee and Cumberland rivers to keep open. Guerillas are hoveringaround in every direction, getting whipped every day some place bysome of my command, but keeping us busy. The war is evidently growingoppressive to the Southern people. Their _institution_[2] arebeginning to have ideas of their own; every time an expedition goesout many of them follow in the wake of the army and come into camp. Iam using them as teamsters, hospital attendants, company cooks and soforth, thus saving soldiers to carry the musket. I don't know what isto become of these poor people in the end, but it weakens the enemy totake them from them. If the new levies are sent in soon the rebelswill have a good time getting in their crops this Fall. 

I have abandoned all hope of being able to make a visit home till theclose of the war. A few weeks' recreation would be very gratefulhowever. It is one constant strain now and has been for a year. If Ido get through I think I will take a few months of pure and undefiledrest. I stand it well, however, having gained some fifteen pounds inweight since leaving Cairo. Give my love to all at home. 

ULYS. 

 [Footnote 2: Slaves. ]

[During the two months just past there has been much fighting betweensmall bodies of the opposing armies. ]

Corinth, Mississippi, September 17th, 1862. 

DEAR FATHER:

A letter from you and one from Mary were received some time ago, whichI commenced to answer in a letter addressed to Mary, but beingfrequently interrupted by matters of business it was laid aside forsome days, and finally torn up. I now have all my time taxed. Althoughoccupying a position attracting but little attention at this timethere is probably no garrison more threatened to-day than this. 

I expect to hold it and have never had any other feeling either hereor elsewhere but that of success. I would write you many particularsbut you are so imprudent that I dare not trust you with them; andwhile on this subject let me say a word. I have not an enemy in theworld who has done me so much injury as you in your efforts in mydefence. I require no defenders and for my sake let me alone. I haveheard this from various sources and persons who have returned to thisArmy and did not know that I had parents living near Cincinnati havesaid that they found the best feeling existing towards me in everyplace except there. 

You are constantly denouncing other general officers and the inferencewith people naturally is that you get your impressions from me. Donothing to correct what you have already done but for the future keepquiet on this subject. 

Mary wrote to me about an appointment for Mr. Nixon. I have nothing inthe world to do with any appointments, no power to make and nothing todo with recommending except for my own staff. That is now alreadyfull. 

If I can do anything in the shape of lending any influence I maypossess in Mr. Nixon's behalf I will be most happy to do so on thestrength of what Mary says in commendation, and should be most happyif it could so be that our lot would cast us near each other. 

I do not know what Julia is going to do. I want her to go to Detroitand board. She has many pleasant acquaintances there and she wouldfind good schools for the children. 

I have no time for writing and scarcely any for looking over thetelegraphic columns of the newspapers. 

My love to all at home. 

ULYS. 

[In late September, Grant went from Corinth to Jackson, Tennessee, "tosuperintend the movements of the troops to whatever point a threatenedattack upon Bolivia might be made. " Bolivia was then their mostadvanced position on the Mississippi Central Railroad. The troops fromCorinth were brought up in time to repel the threatened movementwithout a battle. 

Iuka was a town twenty miles east of Corinth. It was entered byGeneral Price of the Confederate army on September 13th. On the 19thhe was defeated by Generals Rosecrans and Ord. The battle of Corinthwas won October 4th; Van Dorn was the leader of the Confederateforces, while Rosecrans commanded the Union troops. Grant was nowassured as to the safety of the territory that he had won. 

To his sister Mary. ]

Jackson, Tenn. , October 16th, 1862. 

DEAR SISTER:

I received your letter by due course of mail and expected before thisto have answered one of your questions in the shape of an officialreport; that is the one where you ask me the part I played at thebattle of Iuka. When the reports of subalterns come in I will make myreport which no doubt will be published and will be a full answer toyour question. I had no more to do with troops under General Ord thanI had with those under Rosecrans, but gave the orders to both. Theplan was admirably laid for catching Price and his whole army, butowing to the nature of the ground, direction of the wind, and GeneralRosecrans having been so far behind where he was expected to be on themorning before the attack, it failed. In the late battles we havegained such a moral advantage over them however, with Van Dorn andLovell added, that I do not know but it may have all been for thebest. 

I have written to Julia to come down here to spend a short time. Itwill probably be but a short time that she can stay, but so long as Iremain here this will be a pleasant place for her. --If the childrenhave not already been sent to Covington I told her to bring them withher. In the last letter I received she said she was about sending themto Covington. 

I believe you have now got it all quiet on the Ohio. I hope it willsoon be so every place else. It does look to me that we now have suchan advantage over the rebels that there should be but little more hardfighting. 

Give my love to all at home. Write often and without expecting eithervery prompt or very long replies. 

ULYS. 

[October 25th, Grant was placed in command of the Department of theTennessee and headquarters were established at Oxford, Miss. Reinforcements continued to come from the North, and by November 2d, he was prepared to take the initiative. This, he said, was a greatrelief after two and a half months of continued defence over a largedistrict where every citizen was an enemy. On November 3d, Grant leftJackson for the campaign against Vicksburg, which did not end untilJuly 4, 1863. 

Vicksburg was very important to the enemy on account of its position. It was the only link connecting the parts of the Confederacy separatedby the Mississippi. While held by the enemy, free navigation of theriver was impossible. During the winter of '62 to '63 there wereexceptionally heavy rains and continuous high water on theMississippi. 

To his sister Mary. ]

Oxford, Mississippi, Dec. 15th, 1862. 

DEAR SISTER:

Yesterday I received a letter from you and the children and one fromUncle Samuel. To day I learned by telegraph that Father is at HollySprings, thirty miles north of here. Julia is there and as I expectthe railroad to be completed to this point by to-morrow I look for themdown. I shall only remain here to-morrow, or next day at farthest; sothat Julia will go immediately back to Holly Springs. It is a pleasantplace and she may as well stay there as elsewhere. 

We are now having wet weather. I have a big army in front of me aswell as bad roads. I shall probably give a good account of myselfhowever notwithstanding all obstacles. My plans are all complete forweeks to come and I hope to have them all work out just as planned. 

For a conscientious person, and I profess to be one, this is a mostslavish life. I may be envied by ambitious persons, but I in turn envythe person who can transact his daily business and retire to a quiethome without a feeling of responsibility for the morrow. Taking mywhole department, there are an immense number of lives staked upon myjudgment and acts. I am extended now like a peninsula into an enemy'scountry, with a large army depending for their daily bread uponkeeping open a line of railroad running one hundred and ninety milesthrough an enemy's country, or, at least, through territory occupiedby a people terribly embittered and hostile to us. With all this Isuffer the mortification of seeing myself attacked right and left bypeople at home professing patriotism and love of country, who neverheard the whistle of a hostile bullet. I pity them and a nationdependent upon such for its existence. I am thankful however that, although such people make a great noise, the masses are not like them. 

To all the other trials that I have to contend against, is added thatof speculators whose patriotism is measured by dollars and cents. Country has no value with them compared with money. To elucidate thiswould take quires of paper. So I will reserve this for an evening'sconversation, if I should be so fortunate as to again get home where Ican have a day to myself. 

Tell the children to learn their lessons, mind their Grandma and begood children. I should like very much to see them. To me they are allobedient and good. I may be partial but they seem to me to be childrento be proud of. 

Remember me to all at home, Your brother

ULYS. 

[Walnut Hills is a little north of Vicksburg. The position ofVicksburg on high bluffs overlooking the river was inaccessible. Afterfive months of exposure and labor Grant at last attained hispreliminary object, getting his troops to the rear of the city. Duringthis time he would not communicate his plans to the public--thismovement to a point below Vicksburg from which to operate. The Northwas much discouraged over the situation; voluntary enlistment ceased. It was important to gain a decisive victory. In January, he assumedcommand himself of the expedition. The siege lasted from May 10th toJuly 4th. Johnston was the commander-in-chief of the Confederateforces and was east of the troops besieging Vicksburg. Pemberton wasin command at Vicksburg. ]

Walnut Hills, Miss. , June 15th, 1863. 

DEAR FATHER:

I have received several letters from Mary and yourself, but as I haveto deal with nineteen-twentieths of those received, have neglected toanswer them. 

All I can say is that I am well. I have the enemy closely hemmed inall round. My position is naturally strong and fortified against anattack from outside. I have been so strongly reinforced that Johnstonwill have to come with a mighty host to drive me away. --I do not lookupon the fall of Vicksburg as in the least doubtful. If, however, Icould have carried the place on the 22nd of last month, I could bythis time have made a campaign that would have made the State ofMississippi almost safe for a solitary horseman to ride over. As itis, the enemy have a large army in it, and the season has so faradvanced that water will be difficult to find for an army marching, besides the dust and heat that must be encountered. The fall ofVicksburg now will only result in the opening of the Mississippi Riverand demoralization of the enemy. I intended more from it. I did mybest, however, and looking back can see no blunder committed. 

ULYSSES. 

[After Vicksburg, Grant began a tour of observation among theimportant parts of his military rule. In October, 1863, the "MilitaryDivision of the Mississippi" was created and Grant given the command. This was composed of the Departments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, andthe Tennessee. Headquarters were established at Nashville, which wasthe most central point from which to communicate with his entiremilitary division. The winter was quiet, preparing for the campaignagainst Atlanta. He says in this letter, "I am not a candidate for anyoffice. " This refers, doubtless, to a proposal that he become acandidate for the Presidency. ]

Nashville, Tenn. , Feby. 20th, 1864. 

DEAR FATHER:

I have received your letter and those accompanying, to wit, Mr. Newton's and I. N. Morris'. I may write to Mr. Newton but it will bedifferent from what he expects. I am not a candidate for any office. All I want is to be left alone to fight this war out; fight all rebelopposition and restore a happy Union in the shortest possible time. You know, or ought to know, that the public prints are not the propermediums through which to let a personal feeling pass. I know that Ifeel that nothing personal to myself could ever induce me to accept apolitical office. 

From your letter you seem to have taken an active feeling, to say theleast, in this matter, that I would like to talk to you about. I couldwrite, but do not want to do so. Why not come down here and see me?

I did tell Julia to make a visit to Cincinnati, Batavia, Bethel andGeorgetown. 

ULYSSES. 

[The rank of Lieutenant-General had been conferred upon Washington in1798 when our relations with France appeared threatening. In 1852, ithad been conferred upon General Scott, by brevet, as a recognition ofhis great services in the Mexican War. The full rank was revivedFebruary 26, 1864, for Grant, who received his commission March 3d. After Grant this rank was held by Sherman and also Sheridan, bypromotion; since then the title has not been revived. By this rankGrant was authorized to command all the armies of the United States. Mr. Washburne, who introduced the bill into Congress for restorationof the grade of Lieutenant-General, said that Grant wrote to him thathe did not ask or deserve anything more in the shape of honors orpromotion; that he only desired to hold such an influence over thoseunder his command as to use them to the best advantage to secure adecisive victory. 

Grant's new policy was now to secure co-operative movements of all thearmies East and West--these had heretofore worked independently--andto have a continuous and concentrated action against the chief armiesof the enemy. His first work was to reorganize the Army of the Potomac, which in April began the campaign against Lee and Richmond. Heaccompanied the army in person, having movable headquarters in thefield. From March to May his headquarters were at Culpeper Court-House, Va. It was shortly after leaving these headquarters that he wrote fromthe field, May 11, 1864, "I propose to fight it out on this line if ittakes all summer. "]

 The Editor desires to make correction of an error in the reference on page 102 to the rank of Lieutenant-General. The statement should of course read that the rank of _General_ was conferred upon Washington . .. And had later been held by Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan. The rank of Lieutenant-General has been held not only by Washington, Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan, but also by Schofield, Miles, Young, Chaffee, Bates, and MacArthur. 

HEAD-QUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES

Culpeper C. H. , Va. , Apl. 16th, 1864. 

DEAR FATHER:

Your letter enclosing one from young Walker asking for duty on my staffduring his suspension is received. It is the third letter from him onthe same subject. Of course I cannot gratify him. It would not beproper. It would be changing punishment into reward. 

Julia will start West in a few days and will stop at Covington on herway. She will remain at the house I purchased from Judge Dent untilsuch time as she can join me more permanently. It is her particulardesire to have Jennie go to St. Louis with her to spend the summer. Ihope she can and will go. 

It has rained here almost every day since my arrival. It is stillraining. Of course I say nothing of when the army moves or how orwhere. I am in most excellent health and well pleased with appearanceshere. My love to all at home. 

ULYSSES. 

[City Point was an important strategic point on the James where thisriver is joined by the Appomattox. Here General Grant had headquartersuntil the end of the campaign against Lee. The campaign against Atlantaunder General Sherman lasted from May 6th to September 2d, 1864, whenthe city was evacuated by Hood. The loss of Atlanta was a severe blowto the South. ]

HEAD-QUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES

City Point, Va. , Sept. 5th, 1864. 

DEAR FATHER:

Your last letter is just received. Before you receive this it isprobable Beverly Simpson will be in service if he comes in at all. Ifhe does enlist, however, after you receive this tell him to ask to beassigned to a regiment now with the Army of the Potomac. If he isalready in service have him write to me and I will assign him to someduty either with me or where it will be equally pleasant for him. 

Your theory about delays, either with Sherman or myself, was notcorrect. Our movements were co-operative but after starting each onehas done all that he felt himself able to do. The country has beendeceived about the size of our armies and also as to the number of theenemy. We have been contending against forces nearly equal to our own, moreover always on the defensive and strongly intrenched. --Richmondwill fall as Atlanta has done and the rebellion will be suppressed inspite of rebel resistance and Northern countenance and support. 

Julia and children are in Philadelphia. If I can get a house there, Iwill make that my home. Julia is very desirous that Jennie should makeher home with us if she will, and if she will not do that, at leastspend the fall and winter with us. 

ULYSSES. 

[Clara was the oldest sister. 

The prophecy as to the end of the war proved true. Petersburg andRichmond were both captured April 3d. Lee surrendered April 9th. By theend of May all the rebel armies had surrendered and the Civil War wasover. ]

HEAD-QUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES

City Point, Va. , March 19th, 1865. 

DEAR FATHER:

I received your two letters announcing the death of Clara. Although Ihad known for some time that she was in a decline, yet I was notexpecting to bear of her death at this time. --I have had no heart towrite earlier. Your last letter made me feel very bad. I will not statethe reason and hope I may be wrong in my judgment of its meaning. 

We are now having fine weather and I think will be able to wind upmatters about Richmond soon. I am anxious to have Lee hold on where heis a short time longer so that I can get him in a position where hemust lose a great portion of his army. The rebellion has lost itsvitality and if I am not much mistaken there will be no rebel army ofany great dimensions in a few weeks hence. Any great catastrophe to anyone of our armies would of course revive the enemy for a short time. But I expect no such thing to happen. 

I do not know what I can do either for Will. Griffith's son or forBelville Simpson. I sent orders last fall for John Simpson to come tothese Head-Quarters to run between here and Washington as a mailmessenger, but he has not come. I hope this service to end now soon. 

I am in excellent health but would enjoy a little respite from dutywonderfully. I hope it will come soon. 

My kindest regards to all at home. I shall expect to make you a visitthe coming summer. 

Yours truly, ULYSSES. 

[On the 7th of January, 1865, a number of the principalcitizens of Philadelphia presented General Grant with ahouse. ]

HEAD-QUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES

Washington, D. C. , May 6th, 1865. 

>DEAR FATHER:

I have ordered a sixty days' furlough for Samuel A. He can bedischarged at any time after his return home. It will take probablythree weeks for my directions to reach him and for him to return. 

I have just returned from Philadelphia leaving Mr. Cramer there. He candescribe our new house to you when he returns. My health is good but Ifind so much to do that I can scarcely keep up with public business, let alone answering all the private letters I receive. My going toPhiladelphia and spending half my time there as I hope to do, will giveme some leisure. I attend to public business there by telegraph andavoid numerous calls taking up much time, or hope to do so. 

My kind regards to all at home. I hope to hear of Mother's entirerecovery soon. 

ULYSSES. 

HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES

Washington, D. C. , Feby. 10th, 1868. 

DEAR FATHER:

The memorandums you left with me relative to bounty due two needypersons in Covington I attended to soon after you left here. The answerof the Paymaster General was that under no circumstances could he takeup claims for bounty out of turn; therefore, it was not satisfactory toyou. I neglected to answer at the time and the matter escaped my memoryuntil now. 

I spoke to Secretary McCulloch about giving Mrs. Porter a clerkship inthe Treasury and he promised me he would do it, but has not yet. Now, Ifancy, I would not have much influence, and if I had, would be verycareful about using it. 

The family are well and send much love to Mother, Jennie and yourself. 

Yours truly, U. S. GRANT. 

[March 4, 1869, General Grant was inaugurated President of the UnitedStates. 

Written to his sister Virginia, Mrs. A. R. Corbin. ]

Long Branch, N. J. , Aug. 21st, 1870. 

DEAR SISTER:

By arrangement of a year's standing Julia and I go to Newport onTuesday morning next, to be gone there, and at West Point, one week. 

But for that we would visit you and Mother this week. I shall go nextweek however and if Julia is not too much fatigued, or too lazy, withher travelling will take her along. You know I never give any onecredit with being fatigued; I always attribute the feeling to anothercause. --I hope you are all well. Give my kindest regards to Mother andMr. Corbin. 

Yours truly, U. S. GRANT. 

[Written to his sister Mary, Mrs. M. J. Cramer. Dr. Cramer was thenUnited States Minister to Denmark. ]

Washington, D. C. , Oct. 26th, 1871. 

DEAR SISTER:

I have been intending to write you for some time; but the moment I getinto my office in the morning it is overwhelmed with visitors, andcontinues so throughout the day. I now write of a rainy evening, afterhaving read the New York papers. --Jennie is with us, has been for somedays. Mr. Corbin also has been with us for a few days but left to-day. Jennie will remain until she becomes homesick which I hope will not besoon. 

I received your letter in which you gave me an extract from Mr. Wolff's. I had no recollection or knowledge of the matter whatever. Thefact is I am followed wherever I go, --at Long Branch as well as here. Isometimes shake off callers, not knowing their business, whom I wouldbe delighted to see. In the case of Mr. Wolff, however, I do not thinkthat I ever knew that he had called. For the first time in my life Ihad arranged to go fishing at sea. To do so it was necessary to engagefishermen, with boat, beforehand. General Porter did not know that Ihad made the arrangement, and probably was not at my house when Ireturned from riding the evening after Mr. W. Called. You will see theexplanation. I will write it to Mr. Wolff. 

Fred. After graduating at West Point accepted a position as assistantcivil engineer, and gave up a good portion of his furlough to go towork at his new profession. He has been in the Rocky Mountains sinceAugust surveying, in pursuit of his new profession, but with leave ofabsence as an army officer. But little or nothing can be done in thewinter by him, and I have therefore got him a leave of absence from hisengineer duties to accompany General Sherman abroad, until the latterpart of April. I expect him to sail about the middle of next month. General Sherman goes on the flag-ship of the European Squadron whichwill land at some of the Atlantic ports, then proceed to theMediterranean touching at points during the early winter on both sidesof the sea, and in the spring, probably in time to attend the Carnivalin Rome, will leave the ship and work across the Continent, in time tobe home at the time I have indicated. I will instruct Fred. To run upto Copenhagen from a convenient point and spend a few days with you. You will find him a well-grown and much improved boy. He is about theheight brother Simpson was and well developed physically. You will bepleased with him I know. 

During the Harvard vacation, next year, I intend that Buck and Jesseshall go to Europe also. It may be that in the short time they willhave to remain abroad they may not be able to get up to see you, but Iknow they will be pleased to do so, and may spare time for thatpurpose. 

I do not know but that I owe Mr. Cramer an apology for not answeringhis letters. All have been received and I have been gratified withthem. But besides being a little negligent I am so constantly pressedthat it is almost impossible for me to get any time to devote toprivate correspondence. 

All send our kindest regards to Mr. Cramer, and love to you and thechildren. 

Yours affectionately, U. S. GRANT. 

P. S. I shall always be delighted to receive letters from you and Mr. Cramer whether I answer them or not. 

EXECUTIVE MANSION

Washington, D. C. , June 2nd, 1872. 

DEAR FATHER:

Hearing from home frequently as I do through persons coming from thereand through occasional letters, I scarcely ever think of writing. Hereafter, however, I will try to write oftener or have Jesse write. The children might all write to you for that matter. We hearoccasionally from Fred. Directly and very often through the papers. Hehas enjoyed his European trip very much and I think will be muchimproved by it. Nellie writes very often; she is a very much betterwriter than either of the boys. Her composition is easy and fluent, andshe writes very correctly. She seems to have made a very goodimpression where she has been. --Buck sails for Europe on the 6th ofJuly. He will travel but little however. He expects to study his thirdyear Harvard course in some quiet German village, and return in Junenext in time for his examinations. In this way he expects to graduateat the same time he would if he did not go abroad. The object is toacquire a speaking knowledge of both the German and French languages, in both of which he is now quite a good scholar. 

I received a letter from Mary a short time since. She said that shewould leave for home about the first of June. You may expect her homeby the twentieth no doubt. 

Julia and Jesse are well and send much love to you and Mother. 

Sincerely yours, U. S. GRANT. 

JESSE R. GRANT, ESQ. , Covington, Ky. 

[To Mrs. A. R. Corbin. ]

Long Branch, N. J. , June 13th, 1872. 

DEAR SISTER:

We got here Tuesday evening and are now pretty well settled. Can we notexpect Mr. Corbin, you, Mary and two children down to spend a few dayswith us as soon as the latter arrives? If Mary does not come now, it isnot probable that she will get East again this summer. You can see justas much of her here as you could at your own house; so I think the bestarrangement will be for you to come immediately here and all spend thetime together at the Branch. I will go up to meet you in the harbor ifinformed in time. 

Yours truly, U. S. GRANT. 

P. S. I learned from a letter from St. Petersburg that Fred. Hurried offto Copenhagen to meet Mary before she left, which was to be the 1st dayof June. I infer from this that she should be here in two or three daysfrom now. 

[To his brother-in-law, Mr. A. R. Corbin. "Nellie" is Mrs. Sartoris. Mr. Borie is Secretary of the Navy. ]

EXECUTIVE MANSION

Washington, D. C. , Oct. 16th, 1872. 

MY DEAR MR. CORBIN:

Your letter of the 14th is just received. Mrs. Grant and I go on to NewYork City on Monday night to meet Nellie and bring her home. It is notprobable that the vessel in which she sailed will reach New York Citybefore Tuesday morning, so that we will be in the city from Mondaymorning until Tuesday night. If Jennie were at home I do not know butwe might go as far as Elizabeth on Saturday and remain over Sunday. --Iam much obliged to you for the offer of your kind offices. Probably itwill be pleasant for you to meet us on Tuesday on the vessel thatbrings Mr. Borie and party home. What arrangement will be made I do notknow; but in all probability a revenue cutter will be put at my serviceand I will be allowed to meet the vessel in the harbor below the city. In that case I would be glad of your company down the bay. 

My family are all very well. 

Yours truly, U. S. GRANT. 

[To his sister, Mrs. Cramer. March 4, 1873, Grant began his second termas President. ]

Long Branch, N. J. , Sept. 9th, 1873. 

DEAR SISTER:

On Monday next I start to take Jesse to school, and then for Pittsburghto attend the meeting of the "Society of the Army of the Cumberland. " Iwill be back about the last of the week. I would like you to make yourvisit while I am at home, and want mother to come with you, as well asJennie and Mr. Corbin. If you have made no arrangements to startearlier suppose you come say on Saturday week and bring the childrenwith you. 

I am just in receipt of a letter from Mr. Corbin, and one from Mr. Clark, asking me to attend the Fair next week. Please say to Mr. Corbin, and Mr. Clark too if you see him, that I had an invitation fromSenator Frelinghuysen to stay with him during the Fair which I had todecline because I shall be absent during the week. The Army of theCumberland was the one commanded by General Thomas. They have theirreunions annually, to all of which I have been invited, but it has sohappened heretofore that I could not attend one of them. As I haveattended one or other of the Army Society meetings almost every year, Ifeel it a duty to attend this one now and have informed them that Iwill be present. 

My kindest regards to all. 

Yours truly, U. S. GRANT. 

MRS. MARY G. CRAMER. 

[To his brother-in-law, Mr. A. R. Corbin, of Elizabeth, N. J. Mr. Dentwas Mrs. Grant's father. ]

EXECUTIVE MANSION

Washington, D. C. , Dec. 16th, 1873. 

MY DEAR MR. CORBIN:

As I telegraphed you Mr. Dent breathed his last at 11. 45 last night. There was nothing during the day or evening to indicate his nearapproach to death more than there has been almost every day for thelast five months. Indeed, and I believe for the first time since ourreturn from Long Branch, he had himself partially dressed yesterday, ate a hearty breakfast, sitting up, and smoked his cigar with apparentrelish. In the evening Mrs. Grant, Fred. And I were out until after 11P. M. , perfectly unconscious that his end was near. On our return wefound his attending physician with him, and he, Mr. Dent, apparently ina quiet slumber. Not many minutes after he ceased to breathe and lifewas gone without a struggle or movement of a limb or muscle. It was aclear case of life worn out purely by time, --no disease, care oranxiety hastening dissolution. 

On Thursday there will be funeral service at the house, by Dr. Tiffany, and at 11. 30 his remains will leave the B. & P. Depot for St. Louis. The funeral there will be on Saturday next; and Mrs. Dent's remainswill be brought up from the farm at the same time, and the two interredin Mr. Dent's lot in Bellefontaine. Dr. Sharp, Mr. Casey, Gen. Dent, Fred. Grant and myself, will accompany them. 

During all the time Mr. Dent has been confined to his room, and at alltimes before when he was in the least unwell since we have been in theWhite House--Dr. Bazil Norris of the army has been most attentive. Ifeel disposed to recognize my appreciation of his attention in someway, and have thought if I could get about such a watch as was made forme at the establishment near Jersey City I would get that. If it is notasking too much of you to enquire I would like you to do so. If it canbe got before Christmas you might order it at once, with the Doctor'smonogram--_from his friend U. S. Grant_--. If it cannot be had by thattime I would not order it until further directed. 

My children will all be at home by Thursday, unless it may be Bucky. The family are well, or as well as could be expected. --We would be veryglad to see you here on Thursday, as an old friend of Mr. Dent, but donot ask that you should undergo the fatigue of the trip unless you feelwell enough to do so. 

Very truly yours, U. S. GRANT. 

EXECUTIVE MANSION

Washington, Nov. 14th, '76. 

MY DEAR MR. CORBIN:

Jennie's and your letter is just received. I shall not be in New York, nor away from Washington, until after the meeting of Congress. But Iwill gladly give you the hour or two you speak of if you come toWashington. If you and Jennie could come this week we could make aspare room without inconvenience. Mrs. Smith--of Washington, Pa. , withher two children--are with us, but they can be put in the room withtheir mother. 

The alarm about the removal of Holden as Collector of Internal Revenuefor the Covington district is premature. There was a _raid_ made uponhim by a person in whom I take no _stoc, _, and a statement made inregard to him which I said--if proved true--would mean that he must goout. But I think that rumor was entirely dispelled. 

My Message is not "blocked out, " nor scarcely thought of. So many otherexciting matters preoccupy my time and thoughts that I do not bothermyself about the other. I shall trust to the inspiration of the momentfor what I shall say. Will be brief, but to the point if I can. 

Yours truly, U. S. GRANT. 

[Grant's second term of office expired March, 1877. ]

EXECUTIVE MANSION

Washington, Dec. 13th, '76. 

MY DEAR MR. CORBIN:

I wish you and Jennie would come down and make us a visit. We now haveroom, and will have until Fred. Returns with his family, which willprobably be a few days before Christmas. --Sometime before my term ofoffice expires I want Mother to make me a visit. If she would like tocome down during the holidays we could make room by sending one of theboys out o' nights. The children will all be at home during that week;possibly the last time we will have them all at home together. At allevents it may be the last opportunity mother may have of seeing themtogether. 

I received your kind letter of the 11th this A. M. This year, owing toelection excitement, department reports only came in a few days beforethe meeting of Congress. When they did come the situation in SouthCarolina was so critical that dispatches were coming to me, or tomembers of my cabinet, and brought from them to me in such rapidsuccession that I do not think I had one single half hour withoutinterruption all the time I was preparing my message. I am sure I didnot have four hours in its preparation all told, exclusive of the timeconsumed in reading the departmental reports. I left out necessarilytopics I should liked to have talked about, but would not mentionwithout being sure I was right. 

My love to all. 

Yours truly, U. S. GRANT. 

[General and Mrs. Grant spent the next two years in a tour around theworld. ]

Chicago, Ill. , April 12th, 1877. 

DEAR MR. CORBIN:

To-morrow evening Mrs. Grant and I start for Washington, Pa. , where wewill spend a few days, then go to Harrisburgh, Washington, D. C. , andtoward the last of the month get around to Elizabeth to spend a fewdays with you before taking our departure for Europe. We have notentirely decided whether to take the American line from Philadelphia orthe Inman line from New York City. Both have tendered pressinginvitations, and both present good accommodations. If we take theformer we will sail on the 9th or 16th of May, if the latter on the19th. 

We had a very pleasant trip West but a little hurried. There is muchcomplaint of dull times but really appearances do not justify it. Kindest regards of Mrs. Grant and myself to Mother and Jennie. 

Yours truly, U. S. GRANT. 

Ragatz, Switzerland, August 13th, '77. 

MY DEAR MR. CRAMER:

Before leaving England I had accepted invitations to visit cities andcountry houses in Scotland--and places in England not yet visited byme--to take up all the month of September and part of October. Ithought there was time for me to visit this interesting country and tomake a run through Denmark, Sweden and Norway and get back to Scotlandin time to keep my engagements. But I have found so much of interesthere, and the modes of conveyance so slow in reaching the points ofgreatest interest, that it is already too late to go even to Denmark, leaving out Norway and Sweden. Already we have spent eight actual daysin carriages in getting from point to point, exclusive of other modesof travel. We have visited most of the lakes and crossed the principalpasses in Switzerland and Northern Italy. It has all been exceedinglyinteresting to me, the greatest regret being that I had not more time. 

I intend yet to visit Denmark, and the countries north of it, butwhether this fall or next season is not yet determined. Probably aboutnext June. I am sorry not to be able to see Mary before she returns toAmerica. I do not expect to return there before next July a year, andpossibly not so early. 

All send love to Mary and the children with kindest regards foryourself. 

Yours truly, U. S. GRANT. 

DR. M. J. CRAMER, United States Minister, Copenhagen, Denmark. 

BRISTOL HOTEL, BURLINGTON GARDENS, LONDON, W. 

Aug. 26, '77. 

MY DEAR MR. CORBIN:

We arrived here from the Continent yesterday, and found awaiting usyour very acceptable letter. On Wednesday we start again to visitScotland where I have had many invitations from both corporations andfrom private gentlemen. We will take about three weeks for this trip, after which we will visit some portions of England not yet visited, andNellie at her home, and get to Paris the latter part of October. Thepapers no doubt will keep you advised of our movements in advance ofanything I could write to go by mail. Our visit has been most agreeablein every particular. People everywhere, both travellers and residents, did all they could to make everything pleasant for us. How long we willremain abroad is not yet determined, but I think for two years yet ifthe means to do so hold out. 

During my visit to the Continent I saw but few American papers so thatI am now somewhat behind in information as to what has been going on inthe United States. All the foreign papers however have been full of thegreat strike which has taken place on our roads. It must have beenserious but probably not so serious as it seemed at a distance. Myjudgment is that it should have been put down with a strong hand and sosummarily as to prevent a like occurrence for a generation. 

We have made a short visit to Nellie at her home. She lives in adelightful part of the country. 

All join me in love to Mother and Jennie as well as yourself. I will beglad to hear from you as often as you may feel like writing. 

Yours truly, U. S. GRANT. 

We met Mrs. Clark and Roberts in Switzerland. It was like being backhome to meet old acquaintances. Except Senator Conkling and some of ourGovernment officials they are the only Americans I have met that I feltI knew very well. Please remember me to Senator Frelinghuysen and suchother friends as you meet. 

A. R. CORBIN, ESQ. , Elizabeth, N. J. 

HOTEL BRISTOL5 PLACE VENDÔME. 

Paris, Oct. 25th, '77. 

MY DEAR MR. CORBIN:

Our trip has been a most agreeable one though the time seems long. Ican scarcely realize that but little more than five months have passedsince we sailed from Philadelphia. But we have received nothing butkindness wherever we have been. In England, as you may have seen, ourreception has been as enthusiastic as anything in the States directlyafter the war. We are now in Paris for the first time. As yet I haveseen but little of it, though enough to know that it is a mostbeautiful city. We shall probably remain here over a month, and thenmake a trip through Spain and Portugal, and up the Mediterranean, in anaval vessel, stopping at all points of interest on both sides. Mrs. Grant finds she has brought too much baggage with her and proposes tosend two or three trunks back, clothing brought from the States, andwants to send them either to Jennie or Mrs. Sharp to keep until ourreturn. If they are sent to you I will advise you when they areshipped. 

We were disappointed in not getting to Copenhagen while Mary was there. But Switzerland was so agreeable, and there were so many points ofinterest to visit that I found it impossible to get there and return toScotland at the time I had promised. It is now very doubtful whether wewill not have to abandon the idea of going there altogether. That willdepend however upon whether we remain over another year. This winter wepropose to go up the Nile, and may keep on east and return by SanFrancisco. But if we return we will stop in Italy until the weatherbegins to get warm in the Spring and then go north through Austria, North Germany, Russia, Sweden, Norway and back by Denmark and Holland, spend the latter part of the summer again in Switzerland, and go eastthe following winter. Jesse will hardly go with us unless we go throughthis winter. He does not wish to leave another year before beginningthe battle of life. 

Give Mrs. Grant's, Jesse's and my love to Mother and Jennie, and Maryif she is with you. 

I keep very little track of political matters at home, knowing fromexperience the trouble a "new hand at the bellows" has. I hope all willbe smooth and satisfactory before my return. I have not yet experiencedany discomfort from lack of employment after sixteen years ofcontinuous care and responsibilities. I may however feel it when I oncesettle down, though I think not. 

Very truly yours, U. S. GRANT. 

P. S. Direct letters to the care of Drexel, Harjes, & Co. , Bankers, Paris, France. 

Paris France, Nov. 27th, '77. 

MY DEAR MR. CRAMER:

I am just in receipt of your letter of the 21st inst. Enclosing onefrom the Portuguese Minister to Denmark recounting the cause of hisbrother-in-law's removal from the diplomatic service. I know Baron deS----, and the Baroness very well and esteem them very highly. Therewas never any difficulty with him and the State Department, or with anyofficial at Washington that I have any recollection of. I am very surethat no cause of complaint could have existed on our part without myknowing it. It would afford me the greatest pleasure to meet the Baronand his wife during my European tour, but I fear I shall not be able todo so. My trip through Spain and Portugal has been put off, or at leastpostponed, for this year. On Saturday we leave here for the South ofFrance, from there to take a naval vessel to visit all points ofinterest on the Mediterranean. We shall probably go up the Nile, andspend the winter in a warm climate, to be ready for our northern tourin the spring. It is barely possible that when we return from up theNile we may go on East, through China and Japan to San Francisco. Butthis is not probable for another year. This will probably be the lastopportunity I shall ever have of visiting Europe, and there is much tosee that I have not seen, and cannot see this winter. 

I hear from home occasionally, but not as often, probably, as you do. All were well by the last advices received two days ago from Orville. 

Please assure your colleague that I have no recollection of other thanthe most pleasant relations between U. S. Officials and the Baron de S. 

With kind regards of Mrs. Grant, Jesse and myself, I am, Very truly, U. S. GRANT. 

Cairo, Egypt, Jan'y 13th, '78. 

MY DEAR MR. CORBIN:

I am in receipt of your letter of December '77 at this remote, buthistorically interesting quarter of the globe. We have been in Cairosince last Tuesday. This is Sunday. I have seen the city verythoroughly; visited the pyramids; the Virgin Mary's tree where she tookshelter some twenty centuries ago; the spring which became sweet frombeing saline, on her quenching her thirst from it, and which remainssweet to this day, --while I was there water was being pumped from it, by ox power, with a revolving wheel, to irrigate the neighboringground--; Heliopolis, the great seat of learning in the days of Moses, and where he was taught, and where the father-in-law of Joseph was ateacher. The tree and the well are at Heliopolis, about six miles fromhere. 

On Tuesday we start up the Nile on a special steamer provided by theKhedive. We expect to go as far as to the first rapids stopping at allthe points of interest on the way. This will probably take three weeks. On our return we expect to go to Suez, thence by Canal to Port Said, and then take our steamer again. From Port Said we will go to Joppa andout to Jerusalem. Returning to Joppa we will go to Beirout, and out toDamascus--possibly diverging to visit Baalbec, thence to Smyrna fromwhich we will visit Ephesus, thence to Constantinople. Returning wewill stop a few days at Athens, thence to old Syracuse on the island ofSicily, then to some convenient point on the Italian coast from whichto reach Rome. We will remain in Rome for several weeks. Should youwrite me any time within six weeks from this directed to the care ofour Minister at Rome, the letter will reach me. 

Altogether we have had a most pleasant visit. Our return to Americaduring this year depends somewhat on circumstances, principally themeans to stay away longer. It is likely this will be the lastopportunity I shall ever have of travelling abroad and I am desirous ofmaking the most of the pleasant opportunity. --Give our love to Mother, Jennie and Mary, and accept my thanks for your kind offers. 

Very truly yours, U. S. GRANT. 

Constantinople, March 5th, '78. 

MY DEAR MR. CRAMER:

On my arrival here I found your letter inquiring especially about thetime I expect to be in Copenhagen. My plan is to be in Sweden by themiddle of June, and after visiting that country and Norway, to returnby way of Copenhagen. It is not likely that I shall be there before thefifth to the tenth of July, and it may be that I shall like thenorthern country so well that my visit to Copenhagen will be postponedeven a month longer. 

We have had a delightful winter. Over a month was spent in Egypt, visiting the old ruins of that country under the most favorablecircumstances. Leaving Cairo we visited Suez and passed through theSuez Canal to Port Said. From the latter place we went to Joppa and outto Jerusalem. Since then we visited Smyrna and Ephesus and are nowhere. The Russians are outside of the city but do not come in. Astranger would not detect from appearances that an enemy was so near. In fact I think the Turks now regard the Russians as about the onlypeople in Europe from whom they can expect anything. 

When you write home give my love to Mother, Mary and children, andJennie. 

I will inform you later, when I know definitely, about the time toexpect me in Copenhagen. 

Very truly yours, U. S. GRANT. 

Rome, Italy, March 29th, '78. 

MY DEAR MR. CORBIN:

Mr. Young, of the New York _Herald_, has been with us from the time wewent on shipboard until we arrived here. His letters published in thepapers are all good, and save me writing descriptive letters. Presumingthat you have read them I will say nothing further than that my wintertravels, in the Mediterranean, on the Nile, and in the Levant generallyhave been the pleasantest of my life. I should enjoy doing it overagain next winter. We have been in Rome eight days. It is a city ofgreat interest. But one should visit it before making the Nile trip. Here you see modern and comparatively insignificant ruins, not datingback many centuries before the beginning of the Christian era. On theNile one sees grand ruins, with the inscriptions as plain and distinctas when they were first made, that antedate Moses by many centuries. 

It was our plan on leaving Suez to go to Florence, Venice, Vienna, Berlin, Dresden, St. Petersburgh, through Sweden, Norway, back toDenmark, through Holland to Paris, reaching the latter place about themiddle of July, and to spend six or eight weeks there to see theExposition and the people that will fill the city. I think now I willchange my plan and go from Venice, by easy stages, to Paris, reachingthere early in May, and make my visit while the weather is pleasant. Iwill then go north in the summer, taking Holland first, Denmark next, and Sweden and Norway in August. I fear from present indications thatMr. Cramer and Mary will not be there. 

It looks to me that unless the North rallies by 1880 the Government willbe in the hands of those who tried so hard fourteen--seventeen--yearsago to destroy it. B---- is evidently paving a way for re-organizing anarmy favorable to such a change. 

I think now we will not return to the States until about a year fromMay. I have no idea where we will live on our return, and if we shouldgo back in the fall we would have to determine the question withoutdelay. We can go back in May and occupy our Long Branch house and haveall summer to prepare for the winter. 

I was getting some little mosaics--specialties of Rome--to-day and Ibought, among other things, what I think a very pretty pin and earringsfor Jennie. I have also got bracelets for Clara Cramer and JennieGrant. If I see an opportunity of sending them home before going myselfI will send them. I have written to Buck to come over and spend hisvacation with us. I can send them with him. 

Give our love to Mother, Jennie, Mary and the children. 

Yours very truly, U. S. GRANT. 

P. S. It is very kind in Mr. Clark, and the gentlemen associated withhim, to send the message you convey from them; but they must recollectthat I had the harness on for sixteen years and feel no inclination towear it again. I sincerely hope that the North will so thoroughly rallyby next election as to bury the last remnant of secession proclivities, and put in the Executive chair a firm and steady hand, free fromUtopian ideas purifying the party electing him out of existence. 

Hotel Liverpool, Paris, May 25th, '78. 

MY DEAR MR. CRAMER:

I am now for the first time able to fix approximately the time of myvisit to Copenhagen. We shall leave here on Saturday, three weeks fromto-day, or on the following Tuesday. We shall stop at The Hague threeor four days. Jesse leaves for home so as to take the steamer of thefourth of June from Liverpool. Our party therefore will consist only ofMrs. Grant with her maid and myself. If your arrangements are made tobe away from Copenhagen at the time mentioned above, I beg that youwill not change your plans. Should you be there, we shall probablyremain over about one week. Should you be away, we shall stop only acouple of days. 

I have not heard directly from Elizabeth for some time; it is probablymy own fault, for Mr. Corbin is very prompt in answering every letter;but Bucky writes regularly every week from New York, so I hearindirectly. When you write home give my love to all of them atElizabeth. 

Very truly yours, U. S. GRANT. 

P. S. I go from Copenhagen directly to Stockholm. I am not personallyacquainted with our present Minister there, though I once appointed himto a South American Mission. 

U. S. G. 

Paris, France, June 3d, '78. 

MY DEAR MR. CRAMER:

Your letter of the 31st of May is just received. I should have writtento you within a day or two to inform you of a slight change of plan, which will bring me into Copenhagen from ten days to two weeks laterthan I wrote you I should be there, even if I had not received yourletter. To save retracing my steps, as I should be obliged to do by theroutes laid out in my last letter, I now intend to go from The Hague toBerlin and visit a few of the German cities before going to Denmark. From Copenhagen I shall go by water to Norway, thence to Sweden, St. Petersburg, Moscow, and to Vienna. 

I shall be very glad indeed to see Mary and the children and hope theymay be back by the time I reach Copenhagen, about from the fifth to thetenth of July. 

Jesse sails from Liverpool to-morrow for home. He has been veryhomesick for some time. 

With best regards of Mrs. Grant and myself, I am, Very truly, U. S. GRANT. 

Hanover, Germany, June 25th, '78. 

MY DEAR MR. CRAMER:

Mrs. Grant and I are now here on our way to the German capital. Weshall probably remain in Berlin until Monday, the first of July. Weshall stop over by the way from Berlin to Copenhagen, particularly atHamburg, so as to reach Copenhagen about the fifth of July. If you willdrop me a line to the Kissenhof Hotel, Berlin, to let me know if Marywill be home at the time designated I shall be obliged. If she is notto be at home I may change my plan and go direct to Sweden, thence toNorway, and return thence by Denmark. 

Mrs. Grant and I are both well and send much love to Mary and thechildren. 

Very truly yours, U. S. GRANT. 

Paris, France. Dec. 10th, '78. 

MY DEAR MR. CRAMER:

Since leaving Copenhagen Mrs. Grant and I have visited every capital inEurope not previously visited by us. 

I can say with great earnestness that no part of our journeyings gaveus more pleasure than that through the Scandinavian countries, and nopublic have impressed me more favorably. If I were going to remain overanother year I should go back to Norway at least and far enough northto see the midnight sun. But we expect to leave Paris about the middleof January, to return to the States by the way of India, China, andJapan. The Secretary of the Navy has been kind enough to invite us togo on a man-of-war which leaves the United States to-day for theChinese squadron, via the Mediterranean and Suez. I first declined butsince cabled my acceptance. This will probably bring us around homeabout next October or November. 

I am sorry to say that I do not get favorable news from Orvil. He doesnot seem to improve. 

Julia joins me in love to Mary and the children and in kindest regardsto yourself. 

I hope you did not forward the stones presented by the Consul. --Juliasays to tell Mary that she got a very rich fur cloak in Paris and hopesshe got one also. Is there anything we can do for you in Paris?

Very truly yours, U. S. GRANT. 

Rangoon, Burma, March 20th, '79. 

MY DEAR MR. CRAMER:

We have now been very well through India and are this far on our way tothe farther East. The weather has been pleasant until within the lastfew days. But now it is becoming very warm, and as we have yet to gothrough the Straits of Malacca near the equator before turning north, we must expect some discomfort. I have been very much pleased withEnglish rule and English hospitality in India. With that rule twohundred and fifty millions of uncivilized people are living at peacewith each other, and are not only drawing their subsistence from thesoil but are exporting a large excess over imports from it. It would bea sad day for the people of India and for the commerce of the world ifthe English should withdraw. We hope to be in Hong Kong by the middleof April, and farther north in China as soon thereafter as possible. When a good climate is reached we shall regulate our further movementsby the reports of weather on seas to be traversed, and climate ofplaces to be visited. At present, however, we expect to reach SanFrancisco about the first half of July. Although homesick to be settleddown I dread getting back. The clamor of the partisan and so-calledindependent press win be such as to make life there unpleasant for atime. 

Mrs. Grant joins me in love to you, Mary, and the children. 

I have to-day written a letter to Mr. Corbin. 

Very truly yours, U. S. GRANT. 

P. S. Julia asks me to add, to tell Mary that the English speak in thehighest terms of the work being done all through this country by themissionaries, especially in an educational way. They say they are doingmuch good. 

[To his niece, Clara Cramer. ]

New York City, Sept. 27th, 1883. 

MY DEAR CLARA:

On my return from the trip over the North Pacific Railroad to thePacific Coast last Friday, I found your excellent and welcome letter, with enclosures. Your aunt was very much pleased with your letter andpoetry as well as with your essay. They all do you great credit, and Ithink you can well sustain yourself as a writer with any young lady ofyour age in this or any other land. 

My trip over the northern route to the Pacific about completes mypersonal observation of every part of our country. I was not preparedto see so rich a country or one so rapidly developing. Across thecontinent where but a few years ago the Indian held undisputed sway, there is now a continuous settlement, and every ten or fifteen miles atown or city, each with spires of the school house and the church. Thesoil for almost the entire distance is as fertile as that of Illinois. I saw your Aunt Jennie yesterday. She is quite well. All my family arewell and join in love to you. I think neither your Aunt nor I will evervisit Europe again. We may, however, change our minds. But we aregetting a little too old to enjoy travelling, and then we have suchpleasant homes for both summer and winter. 

Love to your father and mother. 

Yours truly, U. S. GRANT. 

3 East 66th Street, June 10th, '84. 

DEAR CLARA:

Your letter, with one from your Aunt Jennie, reached me a few dayssince. I regret that I have not more cheerful news to write you than Ihave. Financially the Grant family is ruined for the present, and bythe most stupendous frauds ever perpetrated. But your Aunt Jennie mustnot fret over it. I still have a home and as long as I live she shallenjoy it as a matter of right; at least until she recovers what she haslost. Fred is young, active, honest, and intelligent, and will workwith a vim to recuperate his losses. Of course his first effort will beto repay his aunts. --We go to Long Branch this week. We expected tolive with Fred this summer in Morristown, N. J. But failing to rent ourcottage we will occupy it and Fred will live with us and rent his if hecan. 

All send love to you, your father and mother and Aunt Jennie. 

Yours affectionately, U. S. GRANT. 

[To Mrs. Cramer. General Grant was then writing his _Memoirs_. Dr. Cramer was United States Minister to Switzerland from 1881 to 1885. Simpson is U. S. Grant, son of Orvil Grant. Reference is made to thecustomary resignation of diplomatic officials of the party opposed tothe incoming political party. Cleveland became President in 1885. ]

New York City, Jan'y 13th, 1885. 

DEAR SISTER:

I am just in receipt of Jennie's letter of the 2nd of January. I ambusy on my book which Fred is copying for the press. I hope to have itready for the press by May next. But I may fail in this on account ofweakness. My mouth has been very sore, but not so bad I think as thepapers have made out. But it has been bad enough. The rest of thefamily are all well. 

My advice is that Mr. Cramer does not resign until he is asked to. Simpson I do not suppose will be disturbed in his position. He is verycompetent, and the soul of honor, both qualities wanted in theSub-treasury. 

All send love. 

Yours affectionately, U. S. GRANT. 

PROCLAMATION TO THE CITIZENS OF PADUCAH!

I have come among you, not as an enemy, but as your friend andfellow-citizen, not to injure or annoy you, but to respect the rights, and to defend and enforce the rights of all loyal citizens. An enemy, in rebellion against our common Government, has taken possession of, and planted its guns upon the soil of Kentucky and fired upon our flag. Hickman and Columbus are in his hands. He is moving upon your city. Iam here to defend you against this enemy and to assert and maintain theauthority and sovereignty of your Government and mine. I have nothingto do with opinions. I shall deal only with armed rebellion and itsaiders and abettors. 

You can pursue your usual avocations without fear or hindrance. Thestrong arm of the Government is here to protect its friends, and topunish only its enemies. Whenever it is manifest that you are able todefend yourselves, to maintain the authority of your Government, andprotect the rights of all its loyal citizens, I shall withdraw theforces under my command from your city. 

U. S. GRANT, _Brig-Gen. U. S. A. , Commanding. _

PADUCAH, Sept. 6th, 1861. 

[The following letter is from the secretary of General Grant's aunt, the Aunt Rachel referred to on page twenty-seven. It is included inthis volume as a historical curiosity. ]

Chestnut Hill, Va. , June 5th, 1861. 

MISS GRANT:

I have not often written to "incog. " correspondents, nor should I havethe presumption now to address you, unknown to me (unless byreputation), but that peculiar circumstances have so combined as toinduce the experiment. Your Aunt, Mrs. Tompkins, has been prostrated byillness for many days, and, for a while, closely confined to her couch;thus rendering it at least inconvenient to respond to your elaborateepistle, and, having permitted me the pleasure (?) of its perusal, sherequested me to act as her Amanuensis. In compliance, then, with herdesire I shall proceed "ex abrupto" to discuss the various points youhave presented; hoping you will pardon whatever of presumption thereattaches to me in taking up a gauntlet thrown _not directly_ at my ownfeet. 

First, then, you deplore the deep distress that pervades our land, inanticipation of a conflict such as the civilized world never witnessed, and even the annals of barbarous history scarce re^cd; together withthe inevitable consequence, that, our once (though _many years ago_)happy Union must be _for ever dissolved_. Viewing it from ourstandpoint I unite my voice of lamentation with yours; for it seemstruly a mournful sight to behold, spread out to the gaze of the world, the history of a nation's folly, written in letters of blood. But Ilook at the brighter side of this distorted photograph. With the eye of_faith_ at least I can discern the hand of _Providence_ shifting thescenes. This may seem strange, that a partition wall should be erectedin the Temple of Liberty, once an asylum for an oppressed world. Thatthe "Stars and Stripes"--the (once) badge of freedom, gracing the bosomof every sea--should be riddled from its staff and another substitutedin its stead. Not less strange, however, did thousands of goodEnglishmen deem it, to behold the proud "British Lion" quail before hisfoe of "the wilderness, " and the "Magna Charta" rent in twain. We mustlook upon it then as an exercise of God's retributive justice for ourSins as a people, or, that He designs that He shall ultimately be themore glorified by the separation. In the former case of course I takeit that the _North_ will receive the awful visitation, for althoughoffences must needs come, yet, woe be unto him through whom they come!In the latter condition the South is destined to become what (& indeedfar more than) the whole America _once_ was to the world. ThisGovernment was far too large to prosper well for many years; or atleast comp^d to England (prosper), France and Spain, & Russia itself;but especially should we be divided into 2 great gov's since we have_virtually been so_, as to our domestic institutions, and many of oursocial customs, for many, many years. It is true we did exist manyyears also in commercial and social prosperity, & might have continuedto maintain such a happy condition had not the "green-eyed monster, jealousy, reared his horrid front. " Yes, it was in great part_jealousy_. You yourself have admitted (& rightly) that our greatAncestors were wiser than we. Well when they formed the _OriginalConfed^y_ they were the Rep's[3] of _Slave States_, with _oneexception_. They did not deem it _wrong_ in itself, or they would haveabolished it--at least would not have made the "Fugitive S. Law" _forits protection_. After a while, however, it _did not pay_ to keepSlavery in Northern climates, & it was abolished _instanter_. Why thenwas it that it became such a monstrous crime in their eyes? Wherein wasthe consistency? Partisans became jealous of the wealth & power ofSouthern planters & South^n politicians, elevated to their power_through their wealth_--a thing _unavoidable_ in a Republicangovernment. Thus, through demagogues at the North an animosity wasaroused. It slumbered long in the germ, but being assiduously cherishedfrom year to year it at last budded and bloomed in a clime congenial toits nature, & is now bringing forth its venomous fruit, even to a"hundred fold. " It was the consuming of this pernicious fruit thatbrought death upon our "Body Politic" and produced all our woe. Wouldto God that woe should fall upon none but those who "planted & watered"it! I am perfectly conscious and cognizant of the manner in which thisspirit of enmity has been fostered. I am a _Northern_ by _birth_ and_education_, & can testify to that which I know. I have also been inthe _South_ sufficiently long to _know_ the sentiments of the peoplehere, and how they coincide (or rather disagree) with the _Northernconceptions_ of them. I have spent almost 8 years here--certainly longenough to learn the _character_ of the "peculiar institution" as wellas its _practical workings & effect_ on society. And as I came withsomewhat of prejudice against it, you must be frank enough toacknowledge me a fair judge in the matter. Among the first books putinto my youthful library, was a work called _Charles Ball_, or _TheTrials of a Run-Away Slave_. This was a horrid thing, and formed animpression on my young mind that has only with the utmost _difficulty_been eradicated. I am conscious that its contents are false. About thesame time, & repeatedly, I was taken to witness a panorama of _UncleTom's Cabin_--another book whose leaves have furnished much fuel toinfernal flames. At the same time, & ever since, I have had my earsgrated with the harsh jargon of fanatical tirades against theinstitutions & people of the South. Of course then my mind was_poisoned & prejudiced_. And this has not been _my_ political trainingalone but that of a majority of your youth at the North--_no further_North too than _Penna_. How then is it possible that the North canentertain amicable feelings toward the South? Add to this, what yourightly remark, that the popular mind is continually influenced by theissues of the _Press_--an instrument that has scattered the seeds ofdiscord broadcast over the land. And here you either ignorantly ordesignedly intimate a slander against the South. You say "all papershave free issue at the _North & not_ so at the _South_. " Now do you notknow enough of Southern affairs to see that the South by their _veryConstitution_ cannot admit _incendiary_ documents to be cast into theirmidst--it were suicidal. If the South should publish papers utteringsentiments detrimental to Northern manufactories (_in general_) & infavor of foreign manufac's, how long would the North permit such papersto pass into their territory? Again, just as you say you "wish thatNorth^n. Papers could circulate South, " so also _do I wish_ that Ineed not _bar my doors of nights_. And both our desires could beaccomplished if _all men were honest_. But, first, as I can't expectrobbers to pass by my unbarred treasury, so I can't expect to receiveNorthern papers uncrammed with _incendiary items_. Again, however, theSouth^n papers have _virtually_ no circulation at the North. I haveheard men, reputable for their knowledge & conservatism even, denouncesuch Publi^ns. [4] as "unworthy to be touched. " In the Reading Room ofPrinceton Theo. Seminary there were taken, last winter, 12 weeklypapers, and about 8 periodicals from the South & scarcely 3 of thesewere touched by _any but Southern Students_ during the Session, unlesssome exciting discussion were going on in their columns. Thus much asto newspapers. I confess they have been the cause of many erroneousimpressions on both sides, but the North is no purer from criminationon this score than the South;--one stubborn evidence of this is thenumerical dif. In pop^ln. [5]

You next remark that Abolitionism does not predominate at the North. Iadmit that for many years it _did not_, but lately it has acquired anascendency & is now wielding its baneful influence on the minds of themasses. It is true there are many good people there whose minds are toopure to be tainted by such an almost infidel spirit as pervades thebreasts of Abolitionists; yet the party in power has been elevated bysuch vast majorities of the people, _in that section_, that, to oneinvestigating the matter, it seems the public sentiment at the Northhas greatly changed in the last few years. In such a country as ours--ademocratic one--the masses are governed by a few great leaders; theseleaders, whether in power or not, are still the almost despots who ruleus. Their actions give fruit and coloring to the character of thesections over which they sway their autocratic sceptres. Who then candoubt the Aboli^n propensities of the N. When such men as _Beecher, Greeley, Webb, Phillips, Sumner_, & a host of kindred spirits, are thegiant levers in the machinery of their society? It will not do to saythat these are disregarded by sensible people there, for I know toowell their power for evil. I know that _Dr. Hodge_--a man whom I lovenext to my Father--stated, in his article on "the state of theCountry, " that he did not know of 12 abolitionists "within the circleof his acquaintance. " But the Dr. Was either woefully mistaken or hedidn't consider his _pupils as belonging to that circle_; for to mycertain knowledge there were twice that number within the walls of"Princeton" at the time he made the assertion, and many of theseavowedly such--men who, I was astonished to see, withheld their nameswhen the same Dr. H. Came round with a petition to Congress for "therestoration of the Mis. Comp. " & the repeal of the "Personal LibertyBills. " These young men were embryo Ministers--men whose moralinfluence _must_ be _powerful_ for _good_ or for _evil_. How is it thenyou can assert that the North don't want the extinction of slavery whensuch men as I have mentioned exert every effort to prevent itsextension & not that only, but the _operation_ of the _fugitive S. Law?_ I am aware that you stated the _contrary_ in your letter--thatthe North are ever "rigorous" in its execution; nor am I so ungallantas to doubt your veracity; but I think you have not fully informedyourself on this point, else you would have learned that in scarcely anisolated case has the Master ever recovered his property without beingput to more expense & trouble than the negro was worth; although I amfree to admit, that at the same time it cost the U. S. Gov. An equal ifnot greater Amount. Of course I refer to those negroes who have _notmerely_ crossed the _limits_ of a Slave State, & thus been caught, butgone some distance North. Now the obligation to restore a fugitiveSlave is a _constitu^l. & moral obligation;_ and those laws designed toprevent such restoration are unconst^l & criminal--and worthy of allcondem^n. --and unbecoming the dignity of any Sov^n. State. If people ofany State can't conscientiously submit to the Constitution there areonly 2 courses: they should endeavor to have it peaceably altered, orshould _move out of the Country_. This is the opinion of the mostlearned and liberal men. _They have no right_ to live under theprotec^n. Of a Const^n. & yet _refuse_ to submit to its _stipulations_. True enough, as you say, the North wish _not_ to have the Negroes setfree _in their midst_, to overrun and disturb them--this they declareby their actions, for they take no care for or interest in the poorfree (almost) brutes in their midst;--yet how soon will they be readyto _resist_ you most violently should you attempt to take even one ofthem back, from his then wretched abode, to his former happier place inthe service of a kind Master? "Oh! consistency, thou art a jewel!" Thisthen has been _one_ of the _two great causes_ of the present troubles. The other--the denial of equal rights in the Territories--is still a_greater_, because it involves a principle; the former was more amatter of personal interest. The territories being purchased in common, were the com. Pos. Of North and South. Each had a Const^l right toemigrate thither _with their property_ & demand for it the protection_afforded by_ the Const^n. It became, in course of time, a matter ofdispute whether the South could take their slaves there as _property_. (As a matter of course this arose from _jealousy_--the N. Having nosuch prop, to take. ) This great quest. Was decided, however, by the_Chief Justice_ in the highest Tribunal in the world, in favor of theSouth; viz. That _slaves were property_. I refer to the "Dred Scott"Case. This should have been sufficient, as it came from the highestauthority in the Gov^t. But some parties and people are _neversatisfied_. Full in the face of this high official the Repub^n Partydeclare by their _Platform orators, & Press_, that slavery shall neverenter another foot of territory. Now if the South admit this principlethey acknowledge their inferiority to the North--an act that, even inthe eyes of the North, would not comport with their dignity & honor asan independent & free people. The South being thus _oppressed_ then Iassert they have a right (not to secede, for no such right exists in myconception, as it would be an element _subversive_ of any, & especiallyof a Repub^ln gov. , ) _to revolt_--a right inherent in & beyond thecontrol of all earthly govern^ts. Yes I coincide with the great LordChatham when he says that "_Rebellion_ against _oppression_ is_obedience_ to _God_. " Our Ancestors rebelled against the tyranny ofBritish usurpation, & the Texans revolted against a like despotismexercised by a Mexican Autocrat. Why then are the _Sovereign_ States of_America_ not justifiable in throwing off the yoke or rather resisting_to have put upon them_, the yoke, of Northern Tyranny? To make theargument still clearer, however, as to the Territories, let usillustrate it: Suppose a Repub^n. Congress decides that slavery shan'tbe _protected_ in the _Ter. _ as _prop_. I take my slave thither. Anindictment is brought against me. I am tried and condemned by theterritorial court. I appeal from its decision to the Sup. Court of theU. S. What then? From _analogy_ I conclude that I shall be acquitted, i. E. , recover my property. For one Chief Justice has already decidedthus; and is not his decision final? Here then is an end of the matter;since the Sup. Court is the Sole Arbiter in determining the_Constitutionality_ of any of Congress' acts. 

As to the North not making use of _slanderous epithets_ against theSouth, I know nothing about _your particular section_ of the North, butI do know that when I have been in Penna. & N. J. , I have heard allclasses utter the vilest insinuations against the people of the South_indiscriminately_. Yes, it often seemed as if they could find nolanguage too harsh, no comparison too base, no denunciation too bitterto apply to those whom in their ignorance they deemed their inferiorsin wisdom and sense. Such have I heard from the lips of distinguishedcitizens in all departments & professions of life. Even hoary-headedministers have entered the sacred desk with their MSS. Reeking withfilth from the cesspool of political slander. Dr. Brown, with whom youare doubtless acqu^td, is now in Phila^d. At the Gen. Assem. Of thePres. Ch. He wrote home lately that he never saw a mob that made use ofviler language than did the best of citizens there in their denouncingsof the South. I confess, however, that this is not a _one-sided_affair; for I have heard equally abusive language applied to the Northby the people South. As before, then, let us "strike hands" on thispoint also, for both sections are equally culpable. As to the_strength_ of _individuals_ in the two sections, it must be tested onthe battle-field, and there alone. Our war of words can never decideanything on this point. I should be sorry to admit the men in the Northcould not fight, had they a real enemy to contend against--a war of"_justice, reason_, or _humanity_" to wage. But to arm themselvesagainst their brethren, and in such an unholy cause as that in whichthey are engaged now, I must confess that their true metal can never beexhibited. _One_ man whose heart is in the war can always conquer _two_who are fighting from some _impure motive_. And now let me candidly askyou to as candidly tell me whether or not you _think_ after _seeing_the thing progress thus far, and having, as you say, been, & stillcontinue to be, well-informed as to apper^ns on _both sides_, the Northare engaged in the cause of "Justice. " Admitting that some of them areactuated by pure and lofty motives, do you not acknowledge that the_vast majority_ are _blinded_ by _prejudice, led on_ by a desire for_military fame_, prompted by the _prospect_ of _plunder_, or actuatedby the still more ----? but I refrain--my very pen shudders at thethought of expressing myself further. Yes, I think you must confessthat is the case. I refer, of course, to the Armies of Lincoln _thusfar_ made up. Are they not composed of a _Mercenary horde_, made upgenerally of the lowest rabble of the Country, & thousands of thosethrown out of employment in the manufacturing cities--who have resortedto camp-life for self-sustenance--indeed _their only resource?_ Whetheryou admit this or not, it is emphatically true to a great extent, forthe Northern papers themselves have made such statements as would leadme to believe so, & more, I have correspondents in the North, whoconfirm my suspicions on this score. My own Father who does not justifythe attack on Sumter, yet denounces Lin's army as a set of _Murderers!_He lives in Penna. & this is the opinion of many good citizens there. And now can such men be justified in their present purposes andactivities? If so, upon what principles? We have sh^n. That it is notin accordance with sound reason & the "inexorable logic" of theConstitution, since that noble edifice was attacked in two pointssimultaneously by the Repub^cn party: 1°. By abrogating the FugitiveSlave Law; 2°. By depriving the South of eq^l rights in theTerritories. These are 2 points in which the North has transgressed thelimits of immutable Justice, and nothing which is unjust can be_reasonable_, for, they (Just. & Reas. ) are twin sisters. Moreover, theBible justifies no war but that of self-defence. Then are the Northinvaded? No, nor never will be, by the South, for all they ask is peacewithin their borders. While they hold in one hand the sword ofself-defence, they present the "Olive Branch" with the other; and soGod grant it _may be ever_. 

You lament the inconceivable disasters "inaugurated by the attack onSumter. " True enough they may have been _inaugurated_ by that _act_, but their unconcealed cause lies _far_ back of that, as we have shown. That was only a raising of the curtain, or rather a forcing of it to beraised by the Abolitionists--a beginning of the bloody drama. Whocaused the attack? What meant those _human cargoes_ that approached soclose to its walls the day before the battle? Why did the worthy (?)Lincoln so long deceive the South^rn Commissioners by promise afterpromise not to make war, but to _evacuate_ the fort, & meet them, as asensible Pres. Would have done, in friendly negotiation for peace? S. C. Was right, and acted nobly in the affair, and was as justifiabletherein, as was _Anderson_ in occupying the Fort _before_ he had areason for doing so, declaring by his overt act that the U. S. Forcesunder him were at _enmity_ with S. C. But then you say S. C. Should have_first tried_ Lincoln before determining to secede. I think she sawwith prophetic vision the end from the beginning. She took Lincoln athis word--that itself was oppression & tyranny sufficient to burstasunder the closest ties of Union that could exist in any Country. Yousay we sh^d. Give everything a fair trial. I disagree. If I saw a_serpent_ in my path & it sh^d. Attempt to make battle, or declare itshostility by displaying its horrid fangs, do you think I would coollystand by & give it a fair trial, & test its friendship? I would beimpelled, even had I never seen or heard of such a creature before, tocrush it immediately, & so S. C. Has sensibly said to the Administration"_Serpent, bite a file!_" As to your Eulogium on Lincoln I have notmuch to say. If he pleases you, well enough, you're easily satisfied. _I_ take it that he is a disgrace to the Chair he occupies; and tojudge from his conversations, he is devoid of all sense of refinement &etiquette; to look at his executive powers as displayed thus far, hehad better be _a Bey_ than helmsman of the "Old Ship"; and what of his_efforts_ at speeches? In the language of Logan, "I appeal to any whiteman" to say if they would not be a disgrace to many a "Country'Squire"! And yet such a man elevated to the highest position in thegift of the American people! There was a time when the soundest andmost learned men of the land were made Presidents, now a man's capacityfor the office seems to depend on the meanness of his intellect & the_number of rails he can split in a day_. And so great were his "maul &wedge" propensities that he withheld not his hand from splitting theTree of Liberty. But let us inquire upon which side "_humanity_" standsin this contest. You complain much of several (local) depredationscom^td by South on private _boats_ &c. I ask, in candor, if it was notin retaliation for like outrages com^td by the North. I am certain asto its being so in several cases. The very 1st boat thus ill-treatedwas one belonging to the South on its way down the Miss. & attacked atCairo. To retaliate they determined to attack _North^en boats coming upthe river_. And what have your noble _Ohioans_ done lately & repeatedlywith our _Ka. _ boats at _Gallipolis_? Thrice have they overhauled thesame boat and twice kept every pound of freight on her timbers. Butthis is not all; your _humane Lincoln_ has closed the Southern ports, &is daily _robbing vessels_ on their way in & out of the same. Duringthe last week he stole $150, 000 worth of Southern Tobacco, & thus theprogramme continues. _Very humane indeed!_ Again, he is _no invader!_No indeed! by no means! yet hundreds of Citizens are now fleeing fromWheeling, & other towns invaded, for personal safety. Scarce a daypasses but some one stops here who has thus escaped. If they remain ontheir own soil and round their proper hearthstone the (very) humanedoom of a murderer awaits them! The North don't intend to make invasionat all, yet _4000 F^l_ troops are now in _Parkersburg_, breaking upprinting presses, putting innocent people in jail, and doing other_humane_ acts, "too numerous to mention. " According to my letter fromFather I understand they don't have the first principles of _Civilizedwarfare_--they intend to _hang_ all their prisoners. Oh! _humanity!_HUMANITY!

And now that we have seen that neither Reason, Justice, nor Humanity ison the side of the North, let us look at the subject in the light of_Expediency_, admitting, for the sake of argument the while, that it_were_ right or just to wage the war. And viewing it from thisstandpoint, we ask, what does the North expect to _gain_ by it? Doesthere live a man so lost to reason & common sense as to imagine thatthe Union of the seceded States with the N. S. Can ever be effectedagain? _And if it could be done by force_, how long could a Repub^nGov. Exist as a military despotism? And who would not prefer_banishment_ or _death_ to _such_ a _life?_ What Satisfac^n could theNorth themselves have in such an event? They would live a life ofmisery; provoke the sneers of the civilized world; and draw down upontheir heads the terrible wrath of an offended God. 

But this war will _not_ be permitted _thus to terminate_, the South can_never be conquered_. You yourself know their "_spirit_" too well tobelieve otherwise. Rather than be _subjugated_ they will _die_ a_triple death_. Like their mighty _Henry_ they cry, "Give us liberty orgive us _death!_" And still more _I_ don't think they can be_exterminated. 8, 000, 000_ of people, armed in the holy cause ofself-defence; struggling for their _liberties, honor, interests, &lives_, with a laudable ambition, & an _unyielding perseverance_, are_invincible_ by any force the North can raise to send against them. Besides (to continue the sentiments of Henry), the battle is not to the_strong_ alone, it is to the _vigilant, the active_, the _brave_. Especially so when, as I said before, the forces of Lincoln are notcomposed generally of men of the first rank of Society (except a fewOfficers desirous of Fame), but the "offscouring" & rabble of theland--men who have nothing at stake, not even their own lives we mightsay, since they care so little for anything. So that notwithstandingthe immense number (and here let me remind you of the _disparity_ of_forces_, of which you said so much, at _Sumter_)--"stubborn facts"--ofwhich you speak, the South has nothing to fear. And, moreover, ascertainly as I believe there exists a God of Justice & Mercy, socertainly & conscientiously do I believe He will defend the South fromthe Vandals of the North. Yes, dark as they seem, the clouds of gloomdo not shut out the star of hope, and they are beginning to be spannedby a radiant bow of promise; the fall of _Ellsworth_ & the shatteredwalls of the _once presumed impreg^ble_ Sumter, abundantly testify that_God_ is on their side, and "if the Lord be _for_ them, _who can beagainst_ them?" So I heartily say "God speed" them--they shall have myprayers. --But let us take one more glance at the _expediency_ of thismatter. Are not the North fighting for a Patroclus' grave in thisstruggle? What matters an _abstract banner?_ especially to the _"matterof fact" Yankee?_ And then behold the inconsistency of the North inanother point; they have through their Representatives, for many years, cried "_no more slave_ territory"; and indeed many of them, such asSeward &c. , have declared that slavery _must be abolished_, as bothcan't exist under the _same gov. ;_ yet, _now_ they are _fighting to thedeath_ to _keep_ or _get back slave territory!!!_ "Oh! consistency!"And, _finally_, at this point, will it not cost _myriads_ of _lives &millions_ of _money_ to accomplish their infernal designs, even _could_they do it? And can the North afford this? Even now it is costing_Lincoln's Anarchy_ (for I can't call it _gov. _) _$1, 000, 000_ perday--a _matter_ of _record!_ Suppose then the war sh^d last a year, what then? Union or dis-union? Alas, _farther separation_. Continue itthen two years more. What then? _Ditto & ditto_ it will _be_ should itlast as long as the "_War of the Roses_, " for we have no houses of York& Lancaster to _unite_, sign and settle the dispute by marriage--_one_or _both_ annihilated!--And now I ask how, in the name of Reason, Justice, or Humanity, can you lift up your voice in defence of theNorth when they are the cause of all this accumulating misery?--whenthey have deprived the South of her Consti^tn rights, driven her to thenecessity of a separation, and now raise their arm against her as anenemy, declaring either to subjugate her, to overrun her with theirvandal hordes, or exterminate from her soil every living creature?--&when, "Oh bloodiest picture in the book of time!" they are ready torepeat with a triple vengeance the untold horrors of the SpanishInquisition? They are madly, blindly rushing, they know not where. Theblame of dissolution rests upon her. And the still more awfulresponsibility of a civil war will hang as an everlasting incubus uponher shoulders. Then let her beware ere she "_cross the Rubicon_"--lether "pause long upon its brink. " And shall we all perish by herfratricidal hand? Shall the blood, shed by brother in deadly war withbrother, flow ignominiously through our rivers to the ocean & becarried by its waves to stain the shores of Nations that for long yearshave been centring their fond hopes on America as the _grand ideal_ ofthe gov. They too would some day enjoy? Shall such hopes be blasted assoon as fondly cherished? and now that Italy has trampled upon thetyrannical "Mitre"--torn from her long subdued neck the yoke of Papalbondage--passed from the darkness of superstitious bondage into thelight of religious freedom, shall we sink back to what she was, bycasting ourselves into the whirlpool of civil war? Shall we not onlyput out, but shatter, the lamp of liberty, a lamp whose effulgence wasbeginning to scatter the shades of despotism from off the earth? Shallwe extinguish the brightest star in the constellation of human freedom?The united voices of Humanity, Justice, & Reason answer, _No!_ Thecries of myriad free men living, & of millions yet unborn, rend the airwith a universal negative! and from the vaulted canopy of heaven thereswells back the solemn echo, "_God forbid!_" As if augmented by themournful strain of 10, 000 angels hovering in amazement over theconflicting scene! _Oh! then let the North beware!_

Mrs. Tompkins says that if _you_ can justify your Bro. Ulysses indrawing his sword against those connected by the ties of blood, andeven boast of it, you are at liberty to do so, _but she can not_. Andshould one of those kindred be stricken down by his sword the awfuljudgment of God will be meted out to him, &, if not repented of, thehot thunderbolts of His wrath will blaze round his soul througheternity. On the contrary, if the _vice versa_ should occur, she thinks"those kin" would be justified, because in _self-defence_. As to Mr. _John Marshall's_ being _promoted_ in the army of Lincoln, she thinks_that fact explains itself:_ he spent much of his time _previously_seeking, or at least _expecting, promotion_, & failing in a _laudableway_, --in defence of his own kindred & the home of his bosomcompanion!--he resorted to _Yankeedom_, and sold as it were hisbirthright for a mess of Abolition pottage. This helps confirm my view, that many take positions in Lincoln's Army with the expectation ofmilitary promotion, & the hope of an easy conquest of the South. Oh, how deluded! But as for many of them, "God forgive them, for they _knownot what they do_. "

But I must bring these desultory remarks to a break-off. So, beggingpardon once more for transgressing the limits of formality, and hopingyou may live to see the verification of many of my remarks, I have thepleasure of signing myself

THE SECRETARY OF YOUR AUNT RACHEL

P. S. If you sh^d write again, please use white paper; it almost givesme the "blues" to read your letter. 

 [Footnote 3: Representatives. ]

 [Footnote 4: Publications. ]

 [Footnote 5: Population. ]