City Point, Va.
March 19th, 1865.
Dear Father:
I received your two letters announcing the death of Clara.
Although I had known for some time that she was in a decline, yet I was not
expecting to hear of her death at this time. — I have had no heart to write
earlier. Your last letter made me feel very bad. I will not state the 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 up matters about Richmond soon. I am anxious to have Lee hold on where he
is a short time longer so that I can get him in a position where he must lose a
great portion of his army. The rebellion has lost its vitality and if I am not much
mistaken there will be no rebel army of any great dimensions in a few weeks
hence. Any great catastrophe to any one 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 for Belville Simpson. I sent orders last fall for John Simpson to come to
these Head-Quarters to run between here and Washington as a mail messenger, 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 duty wonderfully. I hope it will come soon.
My kindest regards to all at home. I shall expect to make
you a visit the coming summer.
Yours truly,
ULYSSES.
SOURCE: Jesse Grant Cramer, Editor, Letters of
Ulysses S. Grant to His Father and His Youngest Sister, 1857-78, p. 106-7
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