Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant to Congressman Elihu B. Washburne, May 1, 1864

Culpepper C. H., Virginia,

May 1, 1864.

PLEASE permit me to call the attention of Congress, through you, to the fact that the law creating the grade of Lieutenant-General, and fixing the pay and allowances of staff officers serving with the Lieutenant-General, simply revived old laws. Under these his aides, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, receive only the pay and allowances of officers of their grade in the infantry. Under more recent Acts of Congress all other staff officers receive the pay and allowances of cavalry officers. Major-generals commanding army corps have four staff officers with the rank of lieutenant-colonel who receive cavalry pay. It certainly never was contemplated that the staff of a higher grade and command should receive less pay. I hope that Congress will correct this.

SOURCE: James Grant Wilson, Editor, General Grant’s Letters to a Friend 1861-1880, p. 33