Sunday, June 21, 2020

Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant to Congressman Elihu B. Washburne, August 12, 1864


HEADQ'Rs ARMIEs of THE UNITED STATEs,
CITY Point, Va., August 16, 1864.
Hon. E. B. WASHBURNE.

DEAR SIR: I state to all citizens who visit me that all we want now to insure an early restoration of the Union, is a determined unity of sentiment North.

The rebels have now in their ranks their last man. The little boys and old men are guarding prisons, guarding, railroad bridges, and forming a good part of their garrisons for entrenched positions. A man lost by them cannot be replaced. They have robbed alike the cradle and the grave to get their present force. Besides what they lose in frequent skirmishes and battles, they are now losing, from desertions and other causes at least one regiment per day. With this drain upon them the end is not far distant if we will only be true to ourselves. Their only hope now is ina divided North. This might give them reinforcements from Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri, while it would weaken us. With the draft quietly enforced, the enemy would become despondent and would make but little resistance.

I have no doubt but the enemy are exceedingly anxious to hold out until after the Presidential election. They have many hopes from its effects. They hope a counter revolution; they hope the election of a peace candidate; in fact, like Micawber, they hope for something to turn up. Our peace friends, if they expect peace from separation, are much mistaken. be but the beginning of war, with thousands of northern men joining the South, because of our disgrace in o To have “peace on any terms,” the South would demand the restoration of their slaves already freed. They would demand indemnity for losses sustained, and they would demand a treaty which would make the North slave-hunters for the South. They would demand pay or the restoration of over. escaping to the North.

Yours, truly,
U. S. GRANT.

SOURCE: Phineas Camp Headley, The Life and Campaigns of General U. S. Grant, p. 518-9

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