Robert E. Lee to Andrew Johnson, June 13, 1865

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, June 13, 1865.

HIS EXCELLENCY ANDREW JOHNSON,

President of the United States.

SIR: Being excluded from the provisions of amnesty and pardon contained in the proclamation of the 29th ult., I hereby apply for the benefits and full restoration of all rights and privileges extended to those included in its terms. I graduated at the Military Academy at West Point in June, 1829; resigned from the United States Army, April, 1861; was a general in the Confederate Army, and included in the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, April 9, 1865. I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 384

Robert E. Lee to Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant, June 13, 1865

RICHMOND, June 13, 1865.

Lieut. Gen. U.S. GRANT,

Commanding Armies of the United States:

GENERAL: Upon reading the President's proclamation of the 29th ultimo, I came to Richmond to ascertain what was proper or required of me to do, when I learned that with others I was to be indicted for treason by the grand jury at Norfolk. I had supposed that the officers and men of the Army of Northern Virginia were, by the terms of their surrender, protected by the United States Government from molestation so long as they conformed to its conditions. I am ready to meet any charges that may be preferred against me. I do not wish to avoid trial, but if I am correct as to the protection granted by my parole, and am not to be prosecuted, I desire to comply with the provisions of the President's proclamation, and therefore inclose the required application, which I request in that event may be acted on.*

I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,

 R. E. LEE.

_______________

* The application was forwarded by General Grant to the President – See last paragraph of Grant to Lee, June 20, p. 1287

SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 46, Part 3 (Serial No. 97), p. 1275-6; John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 384

Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant to Robert E. Lee, June 20, 1865

HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,

Washington, June 20, 1865.

General R. E. LEE,

Richmond, Va.:

Your communications of date of the 13th instant, stating the steps you had taken after reading the President's proclamation of the 29th ultimo, with a view of complying with its provisions when you learned that, with others, you were to be indicted for treason by the grand jury at Norfolk; that you had supposed the officers and men of the Army of Northern Virginia were by the terms of their surrender protected by the United States Government from molestation so long as they conformed to its conditions; that you were ready to meet any charges that might be preferred against you, and did not wish to avoid trial, but that if you were correct as to the protection granted by your parole, and were not to be prosecuted, you desired to avail yourself of the President's amnesty proclamation, and inclosing an application therefor, with the request that in that event it be acted on, has been received and forwarded to the Secretary of War, with the following opinion indorsed thereon by me:

In my opinion the officers and men paroled at Appomattox Court-House, and since, upon the same terms given to Lee, cannot be tried for treason so long as they observe the terms of their parole. This is my understanding. Good faith, as well as true policy, dictates that we should observe the conditions of that convention. Bad faith on the part of the Government, or a construction of that convention subjecting the officers to trial for treason, would produce a feeling of insecurity in the minds of all the paroled officers and men. If so disposed they might even regard such an infraction of terms by the Government as an entire release from all obligations on their part. I will state further that the terms granted by me met with the hearty approval of the President at the time, and of the country generally. The action of Judge Underwood, in Norfolk, has already had an injurious effect, and I would ask that he be ordered to quash all indictments found against paroled prisoners of war, and to desist from the farther prosecution of them.

This opinion, I am informed, is substantially the same as that entertained by the Government. I have forwarded your application for amnesty and pardon to the President, with the following indorsement thereon:

Respectfully forwarded through the Secretary of War to the President, with the earnest recommendation that this application of General R. E. Lee for amnesty and pardon may be granted him. The oath of allegiance required by recent order of the President to accompany applications does not accompany this for the reason, as I am informed by General Ord, the order requiring it had not reached Richmond when this was forwarded.

 U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 46, Part 3 (Serial No. 97), p. 1286-7

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, July 15, 1863

A train of provisions and ammunition arrived from Vicksburg this morning. Late in the afternoon they finished loading the wagons with the provisions and ammunition for Jackson, and our regiment was ordered to accompany them. We started late and after marching six miles stopped for the night. We received orders to keep a sharp lookout for the rebels' cavalry, as they had crossed the Pearl river and had captured and burned a part of the train just ahead of ours.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 129

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Brigadier-General Nathan Kimball, June 4, 1863

NEAR VICKSBURG, MISS., June 4, 1863.

Brig. Gen. NATHAN KIMBALL, Commanding Advance Forces:

I have just received information that a portion of Johnston's force has gone into Yazoo City. In penetrating north, therefore, the cavalry going in advance will be in danger of having their rear cut off by this force closing in behind them.

The position of the enemy and his numbers must be well ascertained before going much beyond Mechanicsburg. I do not want to run any great risk of having any portion of the army cut off or defeated. If, therefore, your judgment is against reaching Big Black River Bridge with security, and getting back again, you need not attempt it.

Major Marsh, of the Second Illinois Cavalry, who bears this, has been ordered to the front to relieve Colonel Bush, of the same regiment, who will return to his army corps.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 384

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Brigadier-General Nathan Kimball, June 3, 1863

NEAR VICKSBURG, MISS., June 3, 1863.

Brig. Gen. NATHAN KIMBALL,

Commanding Third Division, Sixteenth Army Corps:

You will proceed with your command* to Satartia, on the Yazoo River, thence to Mechanicsburg, 3 miles distant. You will find General Mower there with one brigade, and a force of 1,200 cavalry in addition. Being the senior officer, you will have command of the whole force.

Instructions have been given for a movement to destroy Black River bridge, on the Mississippi Central Railroad. General Mower will inform you of the instructions given.

The object of placing troops at Mechanicsburg is to watch the movements of the enemy, who are said to be collecting a large force in the vicinity of Canton.

With your cavalry you will watch all the ferries over Big Black, north of Bridgeport. Obstruct all roads leading west from the river, not wanted by yourself, in every way possible. Collect all the forage, cattle, and provisions you can, and destroy what you cannot bring away. It is important that the country be left so that it cannot subsist an army passing over it. Wagons, horses, and mules should be taken from the citizens to keep them from being used with the Southern Army. All negroes coming into your lines send to Haynes' Bluff, unless their services are required with your command. One gunboat and one transport, besides the commissary boat, should be kept at Satartia at all times.

The chief quartermaster at Chickasaw Bayou Landing, and ordnance officer at same place, will supply everything required for your command from their respective departments. It is desirable that all possible information should be acquired of the movements of the enemy, and sent promptly to these headquarters.

You are, therefore, authorized to employ spies, and send orders on the chief quartermaster, Lieutenant-Colonel Bingham, to be approved at these headquarters, for payment.

U.S. GRANT.

_______________

* Troops from the Third and Sixth Divisions, Sixteenth Army Corps.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 379

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Brigadier-General Joseph A. Mower, June 2, 1863

NEAR VICKSBURG) MISS., June 2, 1863.

Brig. Gen. JOSEPH A. MOWER,

Commanding Advance Forces:

Move your brigade, together with all the cavalry assigned to your command, to Mechanicsburg. Take with you the commissary boat and one other boat, which the chief quartermaster is directed to send up to you to-day. Admiral Porter has been requested to send the gunboats now at Haynes' Bluff up with you. These, with the steamers, will probably be able to carry your infantry to Satartia; if not, let the transport steamer make additional trips until your troops are all up. The cavalry, artillery, and such land transportation as you want with you can be moved up by the bottom road. Keep the extra steamer with you to use in case of need.

When your troops are posted at Mechanicsburg, keep the cavalry actively employed in watching the movements of the enemy. Should a large force get to your rear, move to Satartia, and, with your transports, move to the west bank of the Yazoo, from which withdraw to Haynes' Bluff by land and water, as best you can. Whilst stationed in the advance, obstruct all the roads leading to the Big Black River in every way you can. Destroy or bring in for your own use all the forage, provisions, and transportation you can reach.

In a few days I will be able to send an entire division, or move to re-enforce you, when I think you will be able to make excursions up through the rich Yazoo bottoms, and keep me well informed of all information collected.

 U.S. GRANT.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 375

47th Ohio Infantry

Organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, and mustered in August 13, 1861. Ordered to Clarksburg, W. Va., August 27; thence moved to Weston August 29. Attached to McCook's Brigade, Kanawha District, West Virginia, to October, 1861. 1st Brigade, Kanawha Division, West Virginia, to March, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Kanawha Division, West Virginia, to May, 1862. 3rd Brigade, Kanawha Division, West Virginia, to August, 1862. District of the Kanawha, West Virginia, Dept. of the Ohio, to December, 1862. Ewing's Brigade, Kanawha Division, West Virginia, to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 15th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to October, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 15th Army Corps, to June, 1865. Dept. of Arkansas to August, 1865.

SERVICE. – Battle of Carnifex Ferry, W. Va., September 10, 1861. Advance to Camp Lookout and Big Sewell Mountain September 24-26. Retreat to Camp Anderson October 6-9. Operations in the Kanawha Valley and New River Region October 19-November 16. Moved to Gauley Bridge December 6, and duty there till April 23, 1862. Expedition to Lewisburg April 23-May 10. Moved to Meadow Bluff May 29. Expedition to Salt Sulphur Springs June 22-25. Duty there till August. Moved to Gauley Bridge, thence to Summerville September 3. Campaign in the Kanawha Valley September 6-16. Retreat to Gauley Bridge September 10. Cotton Hill, Loop Creek and Armstrong's Creek September 11. Charleston September 12. Duty at Point Pleasant and in the Kanawha Valley till December. Ordered to Louisville, Ky., December 30; thence to Memphis, Tenn., and to Young's Point, La., January 21, 1863. Expedition to Rolling Fork via Muddy, Steele's and Black Bayous and Deer Creek March 14-27. Demonstrations on Haines and Drumgould's Bluffs April 29-May 2. Moved to Join army in rear of Vicksburg, Miss., May 2-14 via Richmond and Grand Gulf. Siege of Vicksburg May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 4-10. Siege of Jackson, Miss., July 10-17. At Camp Sherman, Big Black, till September 26. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., thence march to Chattanooga September 26-November 21. Operations on Memphis & Charleston Railroad in Alabama October 20-29. Bear Creek, Tuscumbia, October 27. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Tunnel Hill November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Pursuit to Graysville November 26-27. March to relief of Knoxville November 28-December 8. Return to Bellefonte, Ala., thence moved to Larkins' Landing, Ala. Reconnoissance to Rome January 25-February 5, 1864. Reenlisted March 8. Veterans on furlough March 18-May 3. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May to September. Demonstrations on Resaca May 8-13. Near Resaca May 13. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Advance on Dallas May 18-25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Ruff's Mills July 3-4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Battle of Atlanta July 22. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3. Turkeytown and Gadsden Road October 25. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Fort McAllister December 13. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Cannon's Bridge, South Edisto River, S. C., February 8. North Edisto River February 12-13. Columbia February 15-17. Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 20-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 30. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June; thence to Little Rock, Ark., and duty there till August. Mustered out August 11, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 80 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 136 Enlisted men by disease. Total 219.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1518-9

Madison Reyburn, Private, Co. I, 11th Iowa Infantry

Shiloh National Cemetery

Colonel Thomas Kilby Smith to Eliza Walter Smith, September 13, 1862

CAMP ON HERNANDO ROAD, NEAR MEMPHIS,

Sept. 13, 1862.

MY DEAR MOTHER:

I have just returned from a long march — an expedition made by our entire brigade with four hundred cavalry and an eight-gun battery, for the purpose of destroying certain important railroad bridges and tressel work, and with the hope of drawing Breckinridge and his forces into a battle. We had considerable skirmishing with guerilla bands, killed ten that we know of, probably more, wounded quite a number, and brought in some eighty or ninety prisoners. We passed through the town or city, as they would call it here, of Hernando; encamped there two nights. We took much property, horses, mules, etc.; but one man killed and a few wounded.

For the past four days, I have spent twenty hours out of each twenty-four in the saddle, and for the past week have not had my coat, boots, or spurs off till this morning.

We are informed since my return that Stanton has resigned and has been succeeded by Halleck. I had hopes of Stanton and that he would recollect me. I shall have to wait now a good while; volunteer colonels will have to stand back for West Point lieutenants. I am in receipt of two New York papers, Herald and Times, for which I am much obliged. There is a good deal of excitement in Memphis at this time. The whole Southwest is ablaze.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 238

Major General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, May 15, 1863

CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA., May 15, 1863.

I received to-day your letter of the 12th instant, advising me of George's¹ arrival at home, which relieved me greatly, although I only yesterday learned of his being sick and having gone to Washington. In utter ignorance of his being sick, and supposing him with his regiment, I saw Hooker and got the order issued assigning him to duty on my staff. It was only my accidentally meeting Lieutenant Furness,² of George's regiment, on Stoneman's staff, who first told me George had been very sick on the expedition, but that he was better, and that he (Furness) had seen George and Benoni Lockwood both in the cars on their way to Washington.

I have been very much worried to-day by very extraordinary conduct on the part of Governor Curtin. He came to see me, and in the familiarity of private conversation, after expressing himself very much depressed, drew out of me opinions such as I have written to you about General Hooker, in which I stated my disappointment at the caution and prudence exhibited by General Hooker at the critical moment of the battle; at his assuming the defensive, when I thought the offensive ought to have been assumed; and at the withdrawal of the army, to which I was opposed. This opinion was expressed privately, as one gentleman would speak to another; was never intended for the injury of General Hooker, or for any other purpose than simply to make known my views. Imagine, then, my surprise when General Hooker, who has just returned from Washington, sent for me, and said that General Cadwalader had told him that Governor Curtin had reported in Washington that he (General Hooker) had entirely lost the confidence of the army, and that both Generals Reynolds and Meade had lost all confidence in him. Of course, I told Hooker that Governor Curtin had no warrant for using my name in this manner. I then repeated to Hooker what I had said to Governor Curtin, and told him that he knew that I had differed with him in judgment on the points above stated, and that he had no right to complain of my expressing my views to others, which he was aware I had expressed to him at the time the events were occurring. To this Hooker assented and expressed himself satisfied with my statement.

____________

¹ Son of General Meade, taken sick with the measles while on Stoneman's cavalry raid, and having to ford a deep river, the rash was driven in, making him ill, necessitating his being sent home.

² Frank Furness, of Philadelphia.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 375-6

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, July 14, 1863

We lay here in bivouac at Black river bridge all day, and we are glad for the chance to rest and clean our clothes. The cars from Vicksburg can run only to the river, since the bridge is burned and the railroad track is torn up for five miles east of the river. A train load of provisions came out from Vicksburg today, and a part of the provisions and ammunition have been loaded upon wagons and started with an escort for Jackson.¹

___________

¹ The men generally dreaded this kind of service, for it was exceedingly dangerous. Then, too, much of the journey had to be made on the run — but it is a soldier's business to obey orders and do the best he can. — A. G. D.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 129

46th Ohio Infantry

Organized at Worthington, Ohio, October 16, 1861, to January 28, 1862. At Camp Chase, Ohio, till February 18, 1862. Ordered to Paducah, Ky., February 18. Attached to District of Paducah, Ky., to March, 1862. 1st Brigade, 5th Division, Army of the Tennessee, to May, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 5th Division, Army Tennessee, to July, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 5th Division, District of Memphis, Tenn., to November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 5th Division, Right Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, November, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, District of Memphis, Tenn., 13th Army Corps, to December, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 17th Army Corps, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps, to July, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 16th Army Corps, to September, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division. 15th Army Corps, to July, 1865.

SERVICE. – Moved to Savannah, Tenn., March 6-10, 1862. Expedition to Yellow Creek, Miss., and occupation of Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 14-17. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Duty at Pittsburg Landing till April 27. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. March to Memphis, Tenn., via La-Grange, Grand Junction and Holly Springs June 1-July 2. Guard duty along Memphis & Charleston Railroad and provost duty at Memphis, Tenn., till November. Affair at Randolph September 25. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign. Operations on the Mississippi Central Railroad November, 1862, to January 10, 1863. Guard duty along Memphis & Charleston Railroad, and scout duty in Northern Mississippi till June 8. Ordered to Vicksburg, Miss., June 8. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., June 11-July 4. Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 4-10. Bolton's Ferry July 4-6. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. Camp at Big Black till September 25. Moved to Memphis, thence march to Chattanooga, Tenn., September 25-November 20. Operations on Memphis & Charleston Railroad in Alabama October 20-29. Paint Rock, Ala., November 20. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Tunnel Hill November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Pursuit to Graysville November 26-27. March to relief of Knoxville, Tenn., November 28-December 8. Duty at Scottsboro, Ala., December 31, 1863, to May 1, 1864. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1-September 8. Demonstrations on Resaca May 8-13. Near Resaca May 13. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Advance on Dallas May 18-25. Operations on line of-Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Chattahoochie River July 6-17. Battle of Atlanta July 22. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Ezra Chapel, Hood's 2nd Sortie, July 28. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3. Rome October 17. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Griswoldsville November 22. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Reconnoissance to Salkehatchie River, S.C., January 25. Salkehatchie Swamp February 2-5. South Edisto River February 9. North Edisto River February 11-12. Congaree and Savannah Creeks February 15. Columbia February 16-17. Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 20-21. Mill Creek March 22. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 20. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June, and duty there till July. Mustered out July 22, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 10 Officers and 124 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 7 Officers and 149 Enlisted men by disease. Total 290.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1518

Deaths of Prominent Men

Rev. George Bethune, D. D., of Brooklyn N. Y., died at Florence Italy, on the 28th ult., aged 58.  Dr. B. was a prominent minster of the Reformed Dutch Church, and was a poet and author of great merit.  Rev. Dr. Thomas Macauley, formerly a prominent Presbyterian minister died in New York city, on Sunday last, aged 85.  Charles J. Ingersoll, a prominent Democratic politician of Philadelphia, died in that city on the 14th inst. at the advanced age of eighty.  He was son of Jared Ingersoll, the Federalist candidate for Vice President in 1812, and again from 1841 to 1849.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, May 22, 1862, p. 2

Hugh T. Reid, Hoyt Sherman, W. F. Coolbaugh, and Lucius H. Langworthy . . .

. . . of Iowa, are among the proposed corporators in the Pacific Railroad bill now before Congress.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, May 22, 1862, p. 2

Colonel Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, September 13, 1862

CAMP ON HERNANDO ROAD, NEAR MEMPHIS,

Sept. 13, 1862.

MY DEAR WIFE:

I have just returned from an expedition into Mississippi made by our brigade, upon forced marches every day. We have had some skirmishing with guerilla bands, have killed ten, wounded a large number, and taken nearly an hundred prisoners, with mules, horses, and other property. I rode many miles for the past four days, have been almost constantly in the saddle, day and night. I find your very affectionate letter of the 3d inst. and the beautiful poem you have written about the battle. I will reply to your letter at length to-morrow; now have just time to acknowledge its receipt and say I am well, for you are doubtless worried at not hearing from me. There is a good deal of excitement about Memphis. We are expecting reinforcements. I have changed my camp some four miles from where my last letter was dated. The locality is a better one.

Do not suppose I am troubled about military matters; your letter goes to show an anxiety about me in that regard. If I cannot have a brigade of my own, I had rather be brigaded under Morgan L. Smith than any other man I know of, though he is a terribly strict disciplinarian. The brigade has a great reputation for drill, marching and fighting qualities, and is really the crack brigade of the Southwestern army.

I have unlimited confidence in Sherman, who is a great man and a great general; therefore I am as well situated as one can hope to be in the volunteer service. It is only in the regular army where officers can hope for comfort or relief from the thousand vexations and annoyances consequent to a lack of thorough discipline.

Your lines are very beautiful; one or two lines not to be excelled. I wish we could collect all you have written. Do you know where a copy can be had of the lines to your grandmother?

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 237

Major General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, May 13, 1863

May 13, 1863.

I have not been a great deal at headquarters, being occupied with my command, particularly writing my official report. I have completed this and gotten it off my hands, which is a great relief. There is much talking in the army, but I doubt very much whether Hooker is in any danger of losing his command. The Government seems to be satisfied with him, judging from the tone of those papers known to be connected with it.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 375

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Monday, July 13, 1863

We left this morning at 3 o'clock on our return trip via Black river bridge, with a train of two hundred and fifty empty wagons. We took with us sixty-one prisoners, giving them the first free ride they have had for some time. We all rode on the wagons, standing, and in order to keep from falling out when the teams made a lurch, we removed the canvas covers so as to hold to the bows. The road was lined the whole way with troops going to reinforce General Sherman. The day was cloudy, and we were thankful, as it kept the deep dust from rising somewhat. We reached the bridge at dark and went into bivouac. I was on a detail to guard the prisoners during the night. The paroled prisoners are all being sent out of Vicksburg to their homes. They are a hard-looking set of men.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 128-9

45th Ohio Infantry

Organized at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, August 19, 1862. Ordered to Cynthiana, Ky., August 19; thence moved to Covington. Ky., and Defence of Cincinnati, Ohio, against threatened attack by Kirby Smith. Attached to 3rd Division, Army of Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio. September and October, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of Kentucky, to January, 1863. District of Central Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 23rd Army Corps, Dept. of the Ohio, to July, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, to August, 1863. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, to October, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, to December, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division Cavalry Corps, Dept. of the Ohio, to April, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 23rd Army Corps, to June, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 23rd Army Corps, June, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to June, 1865.

SERVICE. – Duty at Lexington, Ky., October, 1862, to January, 1863. Moved to Danville, Ky., January 25, and duty there till March. Operations in Central Kentucky against Cluke's forces February 18-March 5. Regiment mounted at Danville and Brigaded with 7th Ohio and 10th Kentucky Cavalry. Operations against Pegram March 22-April 1. Action at Dutton's Hill, near Somerset, March 30. Expedition to Monticello and operations in Southeastern Kentucky April 26-May 12. Monticello May 1. Skirmishes about Monticello April 28-May 2. Waitsborough June 6. Monticello and Rocky Gap June 9. West Farm June 9. Operations against Morgan July 2-26. Columbia July 3. Buffington Island, Ohio. July 19. Cheshire and Coal Hill July 20. Operations in Eastern Kentucky against Scott's forces July 25-August 6. Burnside's Campaign in East Tennessee August 16-October 17. Winter's Gap August 31. Near Sweetwater September 6. Athens, Calhoun and Charleston September 25. Near Philadelphia October 15. Philadelphia October 20. Jones' Hill October 26-27. Knoxville Campaign November 4-December 23. Marysville November 14. Rockford November 14. Stock Creek November 15. Holston River November 15. Near Knoxville November 16. Skirmishes about Kingston November 16-23. Siege of Knoxville November 17-December 5. Skirmishes at and near Bean's Station December 9-15. Russellsville December 10. Bean's Station December 10-14-15. Rutledge December 16. Blain's Cross Roads December 16-19. Operations about Dandridge January 26-28, 1864. Near Fair Garden January 27. At Cumberland Gap till February 8. At Mt. Sterling, Ky., till April 6, when dismounted. March to Knoxville, thence moved to Cleveland, Tenn., April 6-May 5. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May to September. Demonstrations on Dalton May 9-13. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Advance on Dallas May 18-25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountains June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Muddy Creek June 17. Noyes' Creek June 19. Kolb's Farm June 23. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Ruff's Station July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3. Moved to Pulaski, Tenn., Nashville Campaign, November-December. Columbia, Duck River, November 24-27. Battle of Franklin November 30. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28. Moved to Huntsville, Ala., and duty there till March, 1865. Operations in East Tennessee March 15-April 22. At Nashville, Tenn., till June. Mustered out June 12, 1865. Recruits transferred to 51st Ohio Infantry.

Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 58 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 275 Enlisted men by disease. Total 339.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1517-8

Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant to General Robert E. Lee, April 7, 1865 – 5 p.m.

HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,

April 7, 1865 – 5 p.m.

General R. E. LEE,

Commanding C. S. Army:

GENERAL: The result of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further effusion of blood by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the C. S. Army known as the Army ofNorthern Virginia.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 U. S. GRANT,

 Lieutenant-General, Commanding Armies of the United States.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 46, Part 3 (Serial No. 97), p. 619