Culpepper C. H., Va., April 15, 1864.
. . . The General returned this afternoon from his Annapolis
visit. The railroad guards at one of the stations between this and Washington
were attacked by a party of the enemy, whom they repulsed a few minutes before
the arrival of the train the General was on. So you see his good luck still
sticks to him. I have not yet talked with him of the result of his visit to
Burnside. We have received bad news from the Mississippi Valley, and will
continue to receive just such to cheer us, while timid Generals, who have been
time-serving politicians, are retained in command. I hope soon to see such
changes made as will give at least confidence that all will be done that can be
with the forces given to keep matters quiet on the Mississippi River. I am not
one of those who think it probable that we will be able to give perfect peace
along the banks of that great river until we have entirely defeated the rebel
armies elsewhere. . . .
General Grant's official report of Chattanooga is being
published all over the country, and is receiving the most favorable notice in
all the leading papers. You know I told you it would do much for his
reputation. And you know, too, the manner in which I labored for weeks with
Bowers on that report to make it show the real truths, the plans and
conceptions which matured into the splendid victory of Chattanooga. . . . Enclosed I send you what the New York
Times says of it. The General fully appreciates the services of Bowers and
myself in this matter. He writes his own reports, but they need a great deal of
comparing with orders and much rearranging to make them the complete reports
that are shown in his reports of Vicksburg and Chattanooga. Few men write with
greater terseness that which fills their minds than Grant. . . .
SOURCE: James H. Wilson, The Life of John A. Rawlins,
p. 417-8
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