HDQRS. MILITARY
DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
In the Field, Camp
near Finley Hospital,
Washington, May 28,
1865 — 7 a.m.
[General GRANT:]
DEAR GENERAL: I got your letter late last evening, and
hastened down to see General Augur, but he was not in, when I saw his officer
of the day and provost-marshal, and asked them as a favor to me to arrest and
imprison any officer or man belonging to my command who transgressed any
orders, rules, or regulations of the place, more especially for acts of
drunkenness, noise, or rowdyism. I also went around to your office, but you
were not there, but I saw Colonel Bowers, and told him what I had done. I was
on the streets until midnight, and assure you I never saw more order and quiet
prevailing. I had also, during yesterday, ridden all through the camps and
observed no signs of riot and drunkenness, and believe I may assure you that
there is no danger whatever that the men we know so well, and have trusted so
often, will be guilty of any acts of public impropriety. The affair at
Willard's Hotel was a small affair, arising from a heated discussion between a
few officers in liquor, late at night, and unobserved save by the few who were
up late. I will see that no officers presume to misbehave because of the
unfortunate difference between the Secretary of War and myself. Of that
difference I can only say that every officer and man regarded the Secretary's
budget in the papers of April 24, the telegram of General Halleck indorsed by
himself in those of the 28th, and the perfect storm of accusation which
followed, and which he took no pains to correct, as a personal insult to me. I
have not yet seen a man, soldier or civilian, but takes the same view of it,
and I could not maintain my authority over troops if I tamely submitted to
personal insult, but it is none the less wrong for officers to adopt the
quarrel, and I will take strong measures to prevent it. I hope the good men of
the command will have a few days in which to visit the Capitol and public
grounds, to satisfy the natural curiosity, and then if the presence of so large
a body of men so near Washington is deemed unpleasant I would suggest that the
armies be dissolved, and all matters of discharge be imposed on the corps
commanders, who have the lawful power in the premises, and during the period of
pay and discharge and consolidation, these corps might be scattered, say one to
Bladensburg (Twentieth), one to Relay House (Fourteenth), one to Monocacy
(Fifteenth), and one to Frederick (Seventeenth). I would much prefer this to
sending them back to the south bank of the Potomac, where they are crowded in
with other troops, and have only choice of inferior ground for camps. I thank
you for leaving the matter of orders to my management, and I will put myself
and command perfectly on an understanding with General Augur and his garrison,
and assure you that nothing offensive shall occur of any importance. Such
little things as a tipsy soldier occasionally cannot be helped, but even that shall
be punished according to “local orders.”
With great respect,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General,
Commanding,
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
47, Part 3 (Serial No. 100), p. 581-2
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