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Head-Quarters Armies of the United States,

City Point, Va. Sept. 5^th 1864

Dear Father,

Your last letter is just received. Before you receive this it is probable Beverly Simpson will be in service if he comes in at all. If he does enlist however after you receive this tell him to ask to be assigned to a regiment now with the Army of the Potomac. If he is already in service have him write to me and I will assign him to some duty either with me or where it will be equally pleasant for him.

Your theory about delay either with Sherman or myself was not correct. Our movements were cooper-ative but after starting each have done all that we felt ourselves able to do. The country has been deceived about the size of out Armies and also as to the number of the enemy. We have been contending against nearly equal forces to our own and they always on the defensive and strongly in-trenched. Richmond will fall as Atlanta has done and the rebellion will be suppressed in spite of rebel resistance and Northern countenance and support.

Julia & children are in Philadelphia. If I can get a house there I will make that my home. Julia is very desirous that Jennie make her home with us if she will and if she will not do that at least spend the Fall and Winter with us.

Ulysses.

Citation:  Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), autograph letter signed to Jesse Root Grant. City Point, Va, 5 September 1864. AMs 357/29

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City Point Va. Aug. 26^th / 64

Maj. Gen. Meade, Copy to Gen. Ord.

You are authorized at all times until further orders to assume command and direct the movement of all troops operating against Petersburg South of the Appomattox.

U. S. Grant

Lt. Gen.

Citation: Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), autograph letter signed to George G. Meade. City Point, Va., 26 August 1864. AMs 357/28

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City Point Va. Aug. 21^st / 64 10. am

Maj. Gen. Meade,

Your dispatch of 9.30 pm. just received. I sent you a dispatch in cipher from which you will use when received that I do not expect offensive operations tomorrow except in care of a success in Butler’s front making it practicable. If we can retain hold of the rail-road it will be a great advantage. Has much of the rail-road been destroyed? After the men get well rested it will be well to support the Cavalry with a division of Infantry to destroy as much of the road as we can if an advantage is not gained in the mean time making it unnecessary. If Butler does not succeed in the morning he will relieve the 18^th Corps from the lines leaving it loose. With that as a reserve our lines will be strong.

U. S. Grant

Lt. Gen.

Citation: Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), autograph letter signed to George G. Meade. City Point, Va.,21 August [18]64. AMs 357/25.

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City Point, Va. Aug 19^th 8 P.M. 1864

Maj. Gen. Hancock

I have no information of the withdrawal of any troops from the North side of the river further than I telegraphed you to-day and then proved to be Cavalry and in less numbers probably than a Division. I do not think it advisable to assault unless you feel satisfied that you will gain a decided advantage. I want now principally the enemy so occupied that he cannot send off any of his forces and attacks made only when he leaves a weak place or when he can be surprised. From your description I hardly think it advisable to let Gen. Miles attack in the morning but you are a better judge of this matter than I am. Exercise your own judgment.

U.S. Grant

Lt. Gen.

Citation: Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885.ALS, 1864 Aug. 19, City Point, Va., to Winfield Scott Hancock.AMs 475/18

Sent 8.10 p.m.

City Point Va. July 27^th 1864

Maj. Gen. Meade,

The enemy only commenced about two hours ago reinforcing Richmond from Petersburg. 29 carloads of troops have been seen to pass the junction within that time. This will make any surprise on Richmond impossible and may prevent our cavalry reaching the railroad. I will have this dispatch repeated to Gen. Hancock and let him do what he can in the morning in the way of turning the enemy and driving him from his present position. After that he will be best able to determine whether it will be well to push further.

U. S. Grant

Citation: Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), autograph letter signed to George G. Meade. City Point, Va; 27 July 1864. AMs 354/17

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Head Quarters Armies of the United States

City Point Va July 16^th 4.40 pm 1864

Maj. Gen. Halleck, Washington,

There can be no use in Wright following the enemy with the latter a day ahead after he has passed entirely beyond (south of) all our communications. I want if possible to get the 6^th & 19^th Corps here to use them before the enemy can get early back. With Hunter in the Shenandoah Valley and always behind the enemy and Washington forces enough can always be had to check an invasion until reinforcements can go from here. This does not prevent Hunter from following the enemy even to Gordonsville & Charlottesville if he can do it with his own force and such other improvised troops as he can get. But he should be cautious not to allow himself squeezed out to one side so as to make it necessary to fall back into Western Va. to save his army. If he does have to fall back it should be in front of the enemy and with his force always between the latter and the main crossing of the Potomac. I do not think there is now any further danger of an attempt to invade Maryland. The position of the enemy in the West and here is such as to demand all the force they can get to them. This last attempt brought to the field so many troops that they cannot conceive the possibility of succeeding in capturing any important point with a force of 30 or even 50,000 men whilst the main Union army is within thirty hours of the capitol. As soon as the rebel Army is known to have passed Hunter’s forces recall Wright and send him back here with all dispatch and also send the 19^th Corps. If the enemy have any notion of returning the fact will be developed before Wright can start back.

U.S. Grant Lt. Gen.

Citation;Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), autograph letter signed to Henry W. Halleck. City Point, Va., 16 July 1864. AMs 357/24

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City Point July 8^th / 64

Maj. Gen. Meade,

Col. Comstock is going out this evening and will explain to you my idea. If the approaches are made it will be with the view of ultimately making an assault on the enemy’s lines, but I have always hoped to go through in Butler’s front so as to carry the North bank of Swift Creek. This however cannot be done until the 19^th Corps arrives without giving up to much ground that we have already fought for. This would make no difference except in case of fail-ure to get through to Swift Creek. The advantages of commencing our regular approach on your front now would simply be that we would be that far advanced if we were compelled at last to advance in that way, and it would tend to divert the enemy from the proposed advance in Butler’s front. We ought by all means to cut the Weldon road so as to make it useless to the enemy. I think Wright’s two divisions should take the place of Hancock’s Corps and the latter should suport support the cavalry whilst it destroys the road down as far as Hicksford. The preparation for this I think should be make at once so as to start from your left by the night of the 10^th.

U. S. Grant

Lt. Gen.

Citation: Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), autograph letter signed to George G. Meade. City Point, Va., 8 July [18]64. AMs 357/23

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Head Quarters, Mil.Div. of the Miss.

Nashville Ten. Feb., 26^th 1864

Gen. J. E. Johnston,

Comd.g C. S. Forces, Northern Ga,

General,

I have learned, do not know as to the reliability of my information, that J. T. Stancil, Jesse Grear & Robt. Waits, soldiers belonging to the 3^rd West Tennessee Cavalry, U. S. Service, are now confined at Atlanta Ga. Charged with belonging to the C. S. Army.

I would state that these men have been for a long time in the Federal Army and are entitled to the same treatment as other prisoners of War. Of course I would claim no right to retaliate for the punishment of deserters who had actually been mustered into the Confederate Army and afterwards deserted and joined ours. But I cannot agree that any wholesale conscription act can cover as deserters persons who escape into our lines and join our service to avoid such conscription. Further, I would claim that persons who have been personally notified to report at a certain place by a certain time for muster, and afterward escaped to our service before obeying such summonses would be entitled to the protection of Government against trial or rather I should say punishment as deserters, if afterwards captured.

I believe General an examination into the case herein referred to will show that they have never been sworn into the Confederate Army; that their services to the Government entitles them to the protection of that Government.

Believing fully that you are disposed to be governed by the laws of war, justice and humanity, I subscribe myself,

Very respectfully,

Your obt. svt.

U. S. Grant

Maj. Gen. U. S. A.

Citation: Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), autograph letter to Joseph E. Johnston. Nashville, 26 February 1864. AMs 357/22

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Nashville Ten.

Feb. 20^th 1864

Dear Father,

I have received your letter and those accompanying; to wit. Mr. Newton’s and I. N. Morris’. I may write to Mr. Newton but it will be differently from what he expects. I am not a candidate for any office. All I want is to be left alone to fight this war out, fight all rebel rebel opposition and restore a happy union, in the shortest possible time. You know, or ought to know, that the publick prints are not the proper mediums through which to let a personal feeling pass. I know that I feel that nothing personal to myself could ever induce me to accept a political office.

From your letter you seem to have taken an active feeling, to say the least, in this matter that I would like to talk to you about. I could write but do not want to do so. Why not come down here and see me?

I did tell Julia to make a visit to Cincinnati, Batavia, Bethel and Georgetown.

Ulysses,

Citation: Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), autograph letter signed to Jesse Root Grant. Nashville, 20 February 1864. AMs 357/16