Cairo, Illinois,
November 28th, 1861.
Dear Father:
Your letter asking if Mr. Leathers can be passed South, and
also enclosing two extracts from papers is received. It is entirely out of the
question to pass persons South. We have many Union Men sacrificing their lives
now from exposure as well as battle, in a cause brought about by secession, and
it is necessary for the security of the thousands still exposed that all communication
should be cut off between the two sections.
As to that article in the Hawk Eye it gives me no
uneasiness whatever. The Iowa regiment did its duty fully, and my report gives
it full credit. All who were on the battlefield know where General McClernand
and myself were, and there is no need of resort to the public press for our
vindication. The other extract gives our loss in killed and wounded almost
exactly correct. Our missing however is only three or four over one hundred.
Recent information received through deserters shows that the rebel loss from
killed, wounded, and missing reaches about 2500. One thing is certain, — after
the battle about one third of Columbus was used for hospitals and many were
removed to houses in the country. There were also two steamboat loads sent to
Memphis and the largest hotel in the city taken as a hospital. The city was put
in mourning and all business suspended for a day: and the citizens thrown into
the greatest consternation lest they would be attacked.
I wrote to you two days ago, therefore it is not necessary
to write a long letter.
I believe I told you that Julia had gone to St. Louis. She
will pay you a short visit before returning to Galena.
ULYSSES
SOURCE: Jesse Grant Cramer, Editor, Letters of
Ulysses S. Grant to His Father and His Youngest Sister, 1857-78, p. 72-3
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