Culpepper C. H., Va., April 27, 1864.
. . . A few more days and all will be ready for the spring
campaign. General Burnside's corps has reached Washington, and the head of his
column arrived at Fairfax C. H., some distance this side, to-night. General
Sherman has gone forward from Nashville to Chattanooga, not to return till he
has tried with Joe Johnston for the mastery of Georgia. Sigel is in readiness,
and all of Butler's troops but six regiments are up. These forces will move
simultaneously at the appointed time, which will be before you receive this
letter unless other orders than those out are given. So you see we have not
been idle.
Colonel Bowers and myself finished yesterday General Grant's
report of the battle of Belmont. It is a very creditable one and places that
engagement in its true light for transmittal to posterity, so far as could be
known to our side. I have long since learned that an action creditable in
itself can be best presented in the garb of real facts. So whenever you see any
report with which I have had anything whatever to do, depend upon it, the
historian who accepted it as true will most certainly not deceive the searchers
after truth. . . . I entered the service
September 12, 1861. We shall move from here in a day or two. . . .
SOURCE: James H. Wilson, The Life of John A. Rawlins,
p. 425-6
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