Camp Yates, near
Springfield,
May 6th. 1861.
Dear Father:
Your second letter, dated the first of May has just come to
hand. I commenced writing you a letter three or four days ago but was
interrupted so often that I did not finish it. I wrote one to Mary which no
doubt was duly received, but do not remember whether it answers your questions
or not.
At the time our first Galena company was raised I did not
feel at liberty to engage in hot haste, but took an active interest in drilling
them, and imparting all the instruction I could, and at the request of the
members of the company, and of Mr. Washburn, I came here for the purpose of
assisting for a short time in camp, and of offering, if necessary, my services
for the war. The next two days after my arrival it was rainy and muddy so that
the troops could not drill and I concluded to go home. Governor Yates heard it
and requested me to remain. Since that I have been acting in that capacity, and
for the last few days have been in command of this camp. The last of the six
regiments called for from this State, will probably leave by tomorrow, or the
day following, and then I shall be relieved from this command.
The Legislature of this State provided for the raising of
eleven additional regiments and a battalion of artillery; a portion of these
the Governor will appoint me to muster into the service of the State, when I
presume my services may end. I might have obtained the colonelcy of a regiment
possibly, but I was perfectly sickened at the political wire-pulling for all
these commissions, and would not engage in it. I shall be in no ways backward
in offering my services when and where they are required, but I feel that I
have done more now than I could do serving as a captain under a green colonel,
and if this thing continues they will want more men at a later day.
There have been fully 30,000 more volunteers who have
offered their services, than can be accepted under the
present call, without including the call made by the State; but I can go
back to Galena and drill the three or four companies there, and render them efficient
for any future call. My own opinion is that this war will be but of short duration.
The Administration has acted most prudently and sagaciously so far in not
bringing on a conflict before it had its forces fully marshalled. When they do strike, our thoroughly loyal
states will be fully protected, and a few decisive victories in some of the
southern ports will send the secession army howling, and the leaders in the
rebellion will flee the country. All the states will then be loyal for a
generation to come. Negroes will depreciate so rapidly in value that nobody
will want to own them, and their masters will be the loudest in their
declamation against the institution from a political and economic point of
view. The negro will never disturb this country again. The worst that is to be
apprehended from him is now: he may revolt and cause more destruction than any
Northern man, except it be the ultra-abolitionist, wants to see. A Northern
army may be required in the next ninety days to go South to suppress a negro
insurrection. As much as the South have vilified the North, that army would go
on such a mission and with the purest motives.
I have just received a letter from Julia. All are well.
Julia takes a very sensible view of our present difficulties. She would be
sorry to have me go, but thinks the circumstances may warrant it and will not
throw a single obstacle in the way.
There is no doubt but the valiant Pillow has been
planning an attack on Cairo; but as he will learn that that point is well
garrisoned and that they have their ditch on the outside, filled with water, he
will probably desist. As, however, he would find it necessary to receive a
wound, on the first discharge of firearms, he would not be a formidable enemy.
I do not say he would shoot himself, ah no! I am not so uncharitable as many
who served under him in Mexico. I think, however, he might report himself
wounded on the receipt of a very slight scratch, received hastily in any way,
and might irritate the sore until he convinced himself that he had been wounded
by the enemy.
Tell Simpson that I hope he will be able to visit us this
summer. I should like very much to have him stay with us and I want him to make
my house his home.
Remember me to all.
ULYSSES.
SOURCE: Jesse Grant Cramer, Editor, Letters of
Ulysses S. Grant to His Father and His Youngest Sister, 1857-78, p. 34-7
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