Page images
PDF
EPUB

Space prevents a description of the several movements of troops in the Southwest. General Grant directed the complicated movements of three armies extending from the Alleghanies to the Mississippi. General Thomas was at Chattanooga threatening Hardee, who had relieved Bragg soon after the battle of Chattanooga. Longstreet was being closely watched by Schofield, who had succeeded Burnside at Knoxville, and Sherman was at Vicksburg preparing for his magnificent raid into Mississippiall received their instructions from General Grant.

Moving from Vicksburg with McPherson's Seventeenth Army Corps, in light marching order, General Sherman drove the rebels out of the State, destroyed the great railway center of Meridian, with the tracks to Quitman, to Lauderdale Springs and to Cuba Station; returning to Vicksburg on the 25th of February, having supported his army upon the rebel stores which he captured, and brought back with his triumphant column 400 prisoners, 5,000 negroes, 1,000 white refugees, and 3,000 animals-all this being accomplished in about one month, during which time his army had marched nearly 400 miles, losing but 170 in killed, wounded and missing.

On January 24 General Grant was suddenly called to St. Louis, to the sick bedside of his eldest son. Arriving unheralded and unannounced, the first intimation the citizens of the city had that the hero of the Western army was among them was on secing on the hotel register the name of "U. S. Grant, Chattanooga." The intelligence of his arrival spread rapidly, and crowds gathered around the hotel to see him. He was at once invited to a public dinner. His reply to this invitation was characteristic:

ST. LOUIS, MO., Jan. 27, 1864.

COLONEL JOHN O'FALLAN, HON. JOHN How,

And Citizens of St. Louis,

GENTLEMEN:-Your highly complimentary invitation "to meet old acquaintances and make new ones," at a dinner to be given by citizens of St. Louis, is just received.

I will state that I have only visited St. Louis on this occasion to see a sick child. Finding, however, that he has passed the crisis of his disease, and is pronounced out of danger by his physicians, I accept the invitation. My stay in this city will be short-probably not beyond the 1st proximo. On to-morrow I shall be engaged. Any other day of my stay here, and any place selected by the citizens of St. Louis, it will be agreeable for me to meet them.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

U. S. GRANT, Major-General U. S. A.

The banquet was sumptuous and elegant in all respects, over 200 guests being present in the spacious hall at the Lindell Hotel. When the toast was given, "Our distinguished guest, Major-General Grant," the band struck up "Hail to the Chief!" General Grant rose and said, "Gentlemen, in response it will be impossible to do more than thank you." During the evening he was serenaded, and the hotel was surrounded by thousands anxious to catch a sight of him, and clamorous for a speech. Stepping out upon the balcony, he was received with cheer upon cheer. Removing his hat amid profound silence, he said: "Gentlemen, I thank you for this honor. I cannot make a speech. It is something I have never done and never intend to do; and I beg you will excuse me." This did not pacify the crowd, and their demands for a speech were only the greater.

Several gentlemen standing near urged him to address the people. One, more enthusiastic than the rest, said, "General, tell them you can fight for thein, but you

cannot talk to them; do tell them that." Calmly turning to the speaker, he said: "Some one else must say that if it is to be said." The immense multitude continuing their shouting, the General leaned over the balcony and said, slowly, deliberately, and firmly: "Gentlemen, making speeches is not my business. I never did it in my life and never will. I thank you, however, for your attendance here." He then bowed and retired.

The bill which had been introduced into Congress the first days of the session, "to revive the grade of Lieutenant General" was passed almost unanimously on the 26th of February, 1864. On March 2d the President nominated General Grant as Lieutenant-General, and on the following day the Senate confirmed the nomination. But two men had ever held this position. In 1798, the country being apprehensive of a war with France, President Adams appointed George Washington "Lieutenant Genral of the armies of the United States." In 1855 General Winfield Scott had the office conferred on him by brevet.

The same day of his confirmation as Lieutenant-General he was ordered to Washington, and started on the following morning, March 4. Before leaving for the East, General Grant wrote the following letter to General Sherman, who was then at Memphis. This letter, with Sherman's answer, which follows, exhibits both these great commanders in a most attractive light:

DEAR SHERMAN,-The bill reviving the grade of LieutenantGeneral has become a law, and my name has been sent to the S.nate for the place. I now receive orders to report to Washington immediately in person, which indicates a confirmation, or a likelihood of confirmation. I start in the morning to comply with the order.

Whilst I have been eminently successful in this war, in at least gaining the confidence of the public, no one feels more than I how

much of this success is due to the energy, skill, and the harmonious putting forth of that energy and skill, of those whom it has been my good fortune to have occupying subordinate positions under me.

There are many officers to whom these remarks are applicable to a greater or less degree, proportionate to their ability as soldiers; but what I want is to express my thanks to you and McPherson, as the men to whom, above all others, I feel indebted for whatever I have had of success.

How far your advice and assistance nave been of help to me, you know. How far your execution of whatever has been given you to do entitles you to the reward I am receiving, you cannot know as well as I.

I feel all the gratitude this letter would express, giving it the most flattering construction. The word you I use in the plural, intending it for McPherson also. I would write to him, and will some day; but, starting in the morning, I do not know that I shall find time just now. Your friend,

U. S. GRANT.

The following is General Sherman's reply:

DEAR GENERAL,-I have your more than kind and characteristic letter of the 4th instant. I will send a copy to General McPherson at once.

You do yourself injustice, and us too much honor, in assigning to us too large a share of the merits which have led to your high advancement. I know you approve the friendship I have ever proffered to you, and will permit me to continue, as heretofore, to manifest it on all proper occasions.

You are now Washington's legitimate successor, and occupy a position of almost dangerous elevation; but if you can continue, as heretofore, to be yourself,-simple, honest and unpretending,-you will enjoy through life the respect and love of friends, and the homage of millions of human beings, who will award you a large share in securing to them and their descendants a government of law and stability.

I repeat, you do General McPherson and myself too much honor. At Belmont you manifested your traits; neither of us being near. At Donelson, also, you illustrated your whole character. I was not near, and General McPherson was in too subordinate a capacity to influence you.

Until you had won Donelson, I confess I was almost cowed by the terrible array of anarchical elements that presented themselves at every point; but that admitted a ray of light I have followed since. I believe you are as brave, patriotic, and just as the great prototype, Washington; as unselfish, kind-hearted, and honest as a man should be: but the chief characteristic is the simple faith in success you have always manifested, which I can liken to nothing else than the faith a Christian has in the Saviour.

This faith gave you the victory at Shiloh and at Vicksburg. Also, when you have completed your best preparations, you go into battle without hesitation, as at Chattanooga-no doubts, no reserves; and I tell you, it was this made us act with confidence. I knew, wherever I was, that you thought of me, and if I got in a tight place, you would help me out, if alive.

My only point of doubt was, in your knowledge of grand strategy and of books of science and history; but, I confess, your commonsense seems to have supplied all these.

Now, as to the future. Don't stay in Washington. Come West; take to yourself the whole Mississippi Valley. Let us make it dead sure, and I tell you, the Atlantic slopes and Pacific shores will follow its destiny, as sure as the limbs of a tree live or die with the main trunk. We have done much, but still much remains. Time, and time's influences are with us. We could almost afford to sit still, and let these influences work.

Here lies the seat of the coming empire; and from the West, when our task is done, we will make short work of Charleston and Richmond, and the impoverished coast of the Atlantic.

Your sincere friend,

W. T. SHERMAN.

On the afternoon of March 8 he reached Washington, and quietly and unrecognized, repaired to Willard's Hotel. While seated at the dining table with his young son by his side, before he had half finished his dinner, a gentleman lately from New Orleans recognized him, and, rising, informed the guests that General Ulysses S. Grant was in the room. Simultaneously, and as by an instinctive impulse, all arose, and a storm of cheers rang through the

« PreviousContinue »