I wrote Julia,

Culpepper C. H. Va.

Apl. 30th 1864.

Dear Julia,
This is the last time I shall write to you—this month. We are not yet off as you see. I am growing impatient to be off but must wait completion of preparations. I have not a word to write you except to let you know that I am well. You are no doubt enjoying your visit very much but do you not think it would be better for you to be with the children? You can write me long letters telling me where you have been, who seen &c. &c.—Have you heard from the children lately? I wrote to Louisa Boggs to insist on the children writing me a joint letter every week.
Remember me to Col. & Mrs. Hillyer.  Kisses for Jess and you.
Ulys.

 

The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 10, p 377

I wrote to Gen. Halleck to give him the general outline of the upcoming operations in Virginia.

[CONFIDENTIAL.] HDQRS. ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,

Culpeper Court- House, Va., April 29, 1864.

Major- General HALLECK,

Chief of Staff of the Army:

GENERAL: If General Gillmore reaches Fort Monroe in time, and if four of the ironclads promised by the Navy are also there, our advance will commence on the 4th of May.

General Butler will operate on the south side of James River, Richmond being his objective point. I will move against Lee’s army, attempting to turn him by one flank or the other. Should Lee fall back within his fortifications at Richmond, either before or after gibing battle, I will form a junction with Butler, and the two forces will draw supplies from the James River. My own notions about our line of march are entirely made up, but as circumstances beyond my control may change them, I will only state that my effort will be to bring Butler’s and Meade’s forces together.

The army will start with fifteen days’ supplies; all the country affords will be gathered as we go along. This will no doubt enable us to go twenty or twenty- five days without further supplies, unless we should be forced to keep in the country between Rapidan and the Chickahominy, in which vase supplies might be required by way of the York or the Rappahannock Rivers. To provide for this contingency I would like to have about 1,000.000 rations and 200,000 forage rations afloat, to be sent wherever it may prove they will be required. The late call for one hundred days’ men ought to give us all the old troops in the Northern States for the field. I think full 2,000 of those in the West ought to be got to Nashville as soon as possible. Probably it would be as well to assemble all the balance of the re- enforcements for the West at Cairo. Those that come to the East I think should come to Washington, unless movements of the enemy yet to develop should require them elsewhere. With all our reserves at two or three points you will know what to do with them when they come to be needed in the field.

If the enemy fall back, it is probable General Butler will want all the force that can be sent to him. I have instructed him, however, to keep you constantly advised of his own movements and those of the enemy so far as he can.

General Burnside will not leave him present position between Bull Run and the Rappahannock until the 5th of May. By that time the troops to occupy the Blockhouses, with their rations, should be out. If they cannot be sent from Washington, I will have to require General Burnside to furnish the detail from his corps. When we get once established on the James River there will be no further necessity of occupying the road south of Bull Run. I do not know as it will be necessary to go so far south as that. In this matter, your opportunity of knowing what is required being far superior to mine, I will leave it entirely to you.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant- General.

 

The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 10, p 370-2

O.R., I, xxxiii, p 1017-8

It has become apparent that the troops currently under Gen. Banks will not be able to participate in the upcoming offensive.  I wrote Gen. Halleck,

CULPEPER, VA., April 29, 1864-10.30 a. m.

Major General H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff:

On due reflection I do not see that anything can be done this spring with troops west of the Mississippi, except on that side. I think, therefore, it will be better to put the whole of that territory into once military division, under some good officer, and let him work out of present difficulties without reference to previous instructions. All instructions that have been given been given with the view of getting as may of these troops east of the Mississippi as possible.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

He replied,

WASHINGTON, April 29, 1864-2.30 p. m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT, Culpeper, Va.:

Your telegram of 10.30 a. m. has been received and submitted to the Secretary of War. You do not name any officer for the trans-Mississippi command. Did you propose to leave Banks in the general command, or only of his present department, or to supersede him entirely? I will immediately write to you confidentially the difficulties in the may of removing General Banks, as I understand them.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General, Chief of Staff.

I responded,

CULPEPER, VA., April 29, 1864-6 p. m.

Major General H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff:

Of the four department commanders west of the Mississippi I would far prefer General Steele to take the general charge, but he cannot be spared from his special command; there is no one to fully take his place. I would leave General Banks in command of his department, but order him to his headquarters in New Orleans. If you could go in person and take charge of the trans-Mississippi division until it is relieved from its present dilemma, and then place a commander over it or let it return to separate departments, as now, leaving General Canby temporarily in your place, I believe it would be the best that can be done. I am well of the importance of your remaining where you are at this time, and the only question is which of the two duties is the most important. If a commander must be taken from out there to take general charge I would give it to General Steele, giving General Reynolds his place.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

 

The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 10, p 368-70

O.R., I, xxxiv, part 3, p 331

Now that spring has arrived, I feel comfortable in setting a date to begin the Army of the Potomac’s move against Lee.  We will start on May 4th.  I wrote Gen. Butler to inform him of this date so that he can begin his move up the James River that night.

CULPEPER COURT- HOUSE, VA., April 28, 1864.

Major- General BUTLER,

Commanding Department of Virginia and North Carolina:

If no unforeseen accident prevents, I will move from here on Wednesday, the 4th of May. Start your forces on the night of the 4th, so as to be as far up the James River as you can get by daylight the morning of the 5th, and push from that time with all your might for the accomplishment of the object before you. Should anything transpire to delay my movement I will telegraph. Acknowledge the receipt of this by telegraph. Everything possible is now being done to accumulate a force in Washington from the Northern States, ready to re- enforce any weak points. I will instruct General Halleck to send them to you should the enemy fall behind his fortifications in Richmond. You will therefore keep the headquarters at Washington advised of every move of the enemy so far as you know them.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant- General.

 

The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 10, p 364

O.R., I, xxxiii, p 1009

I wrote Gen. Halleck,

CULPEPER COURT-HOUSE, VA., April 28, 1864-11 p. m.

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

Chief of Staff:

General Banks’ dispatch of the 17th received. I do not see that better orders can be given than those a few days ago. If General Banks has not advanced on Shreveport and beaten the enemy then Steele will be exposed to a superior force as to make it necessary to re-enforce him. I would order in this event A. J. Smith’s whole force to General Steele. General Banks, by his failure, has absorbed 10,000 veteran troops that should now be with General Sherman and 30,000 of his own that would have been moving toward Mobile, and this without accomplishing any good result.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

 

The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 10, p 363-4

O.R., I, xxxiv, part 3, p 316

I wrote Julia,

Culpepper C. H. Va.
Apl. 27th 1864
Dear Julia,
This is my forty second birth day. Getting old am I not?—I received a very short letter from you this evening scratched off in a very great hurry as if you had something much more pleasing if not more important to do than to write to me. I’ll excuse you though. It only gratifying a little desire to appear angry that I am indulging in. Your letter enclosed three horseshoes from Mrs. McDowell which I will wear—in my pocket—for the purposes named i e to keep off witches. I am still very well. Dont know exactly the day when I will start or whether Lee will come here before I am ready to move. Would not tell you if I did know. Give my kindest regards to Col. and Mrs. Hillyer. Kisses for yourself and Jess. I sent $1100 to J. R. Jones to day in liquidation of my indebtedness.

Good night
Ulys.

 

The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 10, p 362-3

I wrote Gen. Halleck,

CULPEPER, VA., April 27, 1864-1.30 p.m.

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

Chief of Staff:

There are rumors brought in by deserters that Longstreet, re-enforced by Beauregard’s troops, will move down the Shenandoah Valley. Should they do so, throw all the force as necessary. If such a movement is commenced by the enemy after we start from here I will follow him with force enough to prevent his return south.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

 

I also forwarded this info to Gen. Sigel.

CULPEPER, April 27, 1864-1.30 p.m.

Major-General SIGEL, Cumberland, Md.:

There are indications and rumors of an intention on the part of the enemy to move a force down the Shenandoah Valley. Use every effort to get information as far up in that direction as you can, and report everything you learn.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

 

The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 10, p 361-2

O.R., I, xxxiii, p 992, 997

I received a response from Gen. Halleck to my telegram requesting the removal of Gen. Banks.

WASHINGTON, April 26, 1864-2.15 p. m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT,

Culpeper, Va.:

Your telegram of the 22nd, asking for the removal of General Banks, was submitted to the President, who replied that he must await further information before he could act in the matter. General Steele was at Camden on the 20th, and was informed of General Banks’s disaster. An order to him to return to Little Rock would probably reach him in five or six days. One to General Banks would not reach him in less than two or three weeks. This would cause a conflict in your proposed instructions to these officers, if Banks should have advanced on Shreveport, for Steel would then have returned to Little Rock. Would it not be better to send the instructions contained in your telegram to Banks, and a copy of them to General Steele, with orders to communicate with Banks or has successor in command, and to carry out the spirit of your instructions as in his judgment the condition of affairs at the time would require? I omitted to state that Admiral Porter says the failure of Banks’ expedition and the withdrawal of our forces from Red River will result in the loss of nearly all of Louisiana and a part of Arkansas, where there is already a pretty strong Union sentiment. If General Banks is withdrawn from the field General Franklin will be the senior officer left.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General, Chief of Staff.

I replied,

CULPEPER, VA., April 26, 1864.

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

Chief of Staff:

The way you propose to communicate orders to General Steele and General Banks will be better than as I directed. General Franklin is an able officer, but has been so mixed up with misfortune that I would not select him for a large separate command, but he is so much better than General Banks that I will feel safer with him commanding midst danger than the latter. I submit this, however, to the President and Secretary of War, whether the change shall be made. I am in hopes the whole problem will be solved before orders reach.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

 

The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 10, p 356

O.R., I, xxxiv, part 3, p 293-4

Apparently I have been the winner of a contest to receive an ornate sword. At a fair in New York, each donor of one dollar could cast a vote for either myself or Gen. McClellan, the winner to receive the sword. Julia was in New York and cast her vote for Gen. McClellan, but it was not sufficient. I wrote her,

To Julia Dent Grant
Culpepper April 24th/64
Dear Julia,
I see by the papers you are having a good time in New York. Hope you will enjoy it. But don’t forget Jess and lose him in the streets in all the excitement. New York is a big place and you might not find him.—A telegraph dispatch announces that the sword has been voted to me! I am rather sorry for it, or rather regret that my name has been mixed up in such a contest. I could not help it however and therefore have nothing to blame myself for in the matter.
The weather has been very fine here for a few days and dried the roads up so as to make them quite passable. It has commenced raining again however, and is now raining so hard, that it will take a week to bring them back to what they were this afternoon.
Remember me kindly to Col. and Mrs. Hillyer and the children. Kisses for yourself and children. Jess. I rather expected a letter from you this evening, but none came. I will write to the children to-morrow evening. Don’t forget to send me any letters you receive from them. I know they must be anxious to see you back.
Ulys.

 

The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 10, p 350

The Personal Memoirs of Julia Dent Grant, p 130

I have received two letters from soldiers serving under Gen. Banks that have spoken in the harshest terms of his inadequacy as a commander.  I have also been forwarded by Gen. Sherman a letter from Adm. Porter that is very critical of the conduct of the Red River campaign.  I understand that Banks is very important politically, but this cannot continue.  I wrote Gen. Halleck,

CULPEPER COURT-HOUSE, VA., April 25, 1864-8 p. m.

Major General H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff:

A. J. Smith will have to stay with General Banks until the gun-boats are out of their difficulty. General Banks ought to be ordered to New Orleans and have all further execution on Red River in other hands. I have just received two private letters, one from New Orleans, and one (anonymous) from the Thirteenth Corps, giving deplorable accounts of General Banks’ mismanagement. His own report and these letters clearly show all his disasters to be attributable to his incompetency. Send troops for General Sherman where he wants them.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

 

The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 10, p 351

O.R., I, xxxiv, part 3, p 279