Litchfield enquirer., 1865-12-21
AIisfelIallp.
REPORT OF LIEUT.-GENERAL U. s
 GRANT.

| 4sASA OAss O~ - "
 GRANT.
 Headquarters Armies ofthe United States,
 WASHINGTON, D. C.. July 22d, 1865.
 SIR have the honor to submit the follow. ing report of the operations of the armies of the United States from the date of my appoint ment to command the same:
 From an ea,ly period in the rebellion had been impressed with the idea that active and continuous operations of all the troops that could be brought into the field, regardless of seassn and weather, were necessary to speedy termination of the war. Tho resources of the enemy and his numerical strength, were tar in- ferior to ours, bat as an offset to this, we had vast territory, with population hostile to the government, to garrison. and long lines ofriver and railroad communications to protect, to en- able ua to supply the operating armies.
 The armies in the east and west acted inde- pendently and without concert, like balky team, no two ever pulling together, enabling the enemy to use to great advantage his inte- rior lines of communication for transporting troops from east to west, re-enforcing the af- my most vigorously pressed, and to furlough large numbers, during seasons ofinactivity on our part, to go to their homes and do the work of producing, for the support of their armies. It was question whether our numerical strength and resources were not more than bal aneed by these disadvantages and the enemy's superior position. M s-s ~ IA ] From the arst, l was firm in the conviction that no peace could bs had that would be sta ble and conducive to the happiness of the peo- pie, both north and south, until tho military power of the rebellion was entirely broken.
 therefore determined. first, to use the great est number of troops practicable against the armed force of the enemy preventing him l from using the same force at different seasons against first one and then another of our armies, and the possibility of repose for re6tting and producing necessary supplies for carrying on resistance. Second, to hammer continuously against the armed force of the enemy, and his resources, until by mere attrition, if no other way, there should be nothing left to him but an equal submission with the loyal section of our common country to the Constitution and laws of the land.
 These views have been kept constantly in mind. and orders given and campaigns made to carry them out. Whether they might have been better in conception and execution is fol the people, who mourn the loss of friesds fal len, and who have to pay the pecuniary cost, te Isay. All can say is, that what have done has been done conscientiously. to the best Q | my ability, and in what I conceived to be fol the best interests of the whole country.
 1 At the date when this report begins inc situ ation of the contendipg forces was about as fol lows: The Mississippi river was strongly gar risoned by federal troops from St. Louis to it month. The line of the Arkansas vas also helt thus giving us armed possession of all west Q the Mississippi, north of that stream. A fey points in soothsrn Louisiana, not remote fiou tho river, were held by us, together with smal