Fort Donelson, Feb. 24th 1862.
DEAR JULIA,
I have just returned
from Clarkesville. Yesterday some
citizens of Nas[h]ville came down there ostensibly to bring surgeons to attend
their wounded at that place but in reality no doubt to get assurances that they
would not be molested. Johns[t]on with
his army of rebels have fallen back about forty miles south from Nashville,1
leaving the river clear to our troops
To-day a Division of Gen. Buells Army reported to me for orders. As they were on Steamers I ordered them
immediately up to Nashville.2
“Secesh” is now about on its last legs in Tennessee. I want to push on as rapidly as possible to
save hard fighting. These terrible
battles are very good things to read about for persons who loose no friends but
I am decidedly in favor of having as little of it as possible. The way to avoid it is to push forward as
vigorously as possible.
Gen. Halleck is
clearly the same way of thinking and with his clear head I think the Congressional
Committee for investigating the Conduct of the war will have nothing to enquire
about in the West.
I am writing you in
great haste a boat being about leaving here.
I will write you often to make up for the very short letters I send.
Give my love to all
at home and write frequently. Tell me
all about the children. I want to see
rascal Jess already. Tell May she must
write to me often. Kiss the Children for
me and the same for yours[elf]
ULYS.
_______________
1 Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
2 See Letter to Brig. Gen. William Nelson,
Feb. 24, 1862.
SOURCE: John Y.
Simon & William M. Ferraro, Editors The
Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 4: January 8-March 31, 1862, p. 284
No comments:
Post a Comment