Cairo,
September 11th, 1861.
Dear Sister:
Your letter with a short one from Father was received
yesterday, and having a little time I answer it.
The troops under me and the rebel forces are getting so
close together however that I have to watch all points. Since taking command I
have taken possession of the Kentucky bank opposite here, fortified it and
placed four large pieces in position. Have occupied Norfolk, Missouri, and
taken possession of Paducah. My troops are so close to the enemy as to occasionally
exchange shots with the pickets. To-day, or rather last night, sixty or seventy
rebels came upon seventeen of our men and were repulsed with a loss of two men
killed on their side, none hurt on ours. Yesterday there was skirmishing all
day. We had but two wounded however, whilst the loss must have been
considerable on the other.
What future operations will be, of course I don't know. I
could not write about it in advance if I did. The rebel force numerically is
much stronger than ours, but the difference is more than made up by having
truth and justice on our side, whilst on the other they are cheered on by
falsehood and deception. This war however is formidable and 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 to give and at best could use only my influence. I receive letters from
all over the country for such places, but do not answer them. I never asked for
my present position, but now that I have it I intend to perform the duties as
rigidly as I know how without looking out for places for others. I should be
very glad if I had a position within my own gift for Al. but I have not.
My duties are very laborious and have been from the start.
It is a rare thing that I get to bed before two or three o'clock in the morning
and am usually wakened in the morning before getting awake in a natural way.
Now, however, my staff are getting a little in the way of this kind of business
and can help me.
I have been stopped so often already in writing this that I
have forgotten what I was going to write about.
Are you talking of paying Julia a visit? I wrote to you and
father about it several times but have failed to elicit an answer on that
point. I intended to have Julia, Miss and Jess come down here to pay me a visit
but I hardly think it would be prudent at this time. Hearing artillery within a
few miles it might embarrass my movements to have them about. I am afraid they
would make poor soldiers.
Write to me again soon.
Good night.
ULYS.
SOURCE: Jesse Grant Cramer, Editor, Letters of
Ulysses S. Grant to His Father and His Youngest Sister, 1857-78, p. 56-8
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