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Head Quarters Armies of the United States
City Point, Va, Feb; 20th 1865
Maj. Gen. Sherridan, Winchester Va.
As soon as it is possible to travel I think you will have no difficulty about reaching Lynchburg with a Cavalry force alone. From there you could destroy the railroad and Canal in every direction as to be of no further use to the rebellion this coming Spring or, I believe, during the existence of the rebellion. Sufficient Cavalry should be left behind to look after Mosby’s gang. From Lynchburg, if information you might get there would justify it, you could strike South, heading the streams in Virginia to the Westward of Danville, and push in and join Sherman. This additional raid with one now about starting from East Tennessee under Stoneman numbering four or five thousand Cavalry, one from Vicksburg numbering seven or eight thousand Cavalry, one from East Port Miss ten thousand Cavy. and Canby from Mobile Bay with about thirty eight thousand mixed troops, the three latter pushing for Tuscaloosa, Selma & Montgomery, and Sherman with a large army eating out the vitals of South Carolina, is all that will be wanted to leave nothing for the Rebellion to stand upon. I would advise you to overcome great obsticles to accomplish this. Charleston was evacuated on Tuesday last.
U. S. Grant
Lt. Gen.
Citation: Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), autograph letter signed to Philip H. Sheridan. City point, Va; 20 February 1865. AMs 358/6