Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-12-28
GEN. GRANTS REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF u. S. I
nnrnmhnr lS lSGh

December Is, 1860. J
His Exccllcncy, Andrew johnson, Prcsi-
dent of the United States
STR;-ln reply to your note of the 10th
inst, requesting report from me, giving
such information as | may be possessed Of
coming within the scope of the Inquiries
made by the Senate Of the United States
III their resolution, on the 10Th inst, |
have the honor to submit the following,
with your approval, and also that of the
! Hon. Secretary Of War;
| left Washington City on the 9th of
last month for the purpose of making tour
Of inspection throughout some of the South
orn States lately in rebellion, and to sec
what changes We're necessary in the dispo-
slton Of the military forces of the country,
how these forces could be reduced and ex-
pcnscs curialed, &c, and to learn as far as
possible the feelings and intentions of the
citizens Of those States towards the General
! Government
The State of Virginia being so accessible
to Washington city, and information from
this quarter, therefore, being readily oh.
tanned, FASTENED through the State with.
out convcrsing or meeting with its citizens.
In Raleigh, n. c., spent one day in
Charleston, s, C., two days; Savannah and
Augusta, Georgia, each one day. Both in
travelling and whilst stopping, saw much
and convcrSed freely with citizens of those
States as well as with officers of the army
who have been stationed among them. -
The following are the conclusions come to
by me-
am satisfied that the mass of the think
ing men Of the South accept the present
situation of affairs in good faith. The qucs-
tlOns which have hitherto divided the sen
. a..I l..... L.. 4.
Slavery and State Rights, or the right of a
State to sccedc from the Union-they re-
gard AS having been settled forever by the
highest tribunal Chat of anns) that men
can resort to. | was pleased to learn from
the leading men whom met that they not
only accepted the decision arrived at as fl.
nal but now the smoke of battle has cleared
away, and time has been given for reflection,
that this decision has been fortunate one
for the whole country, they receiving the
like benefits from it with those who opposed
them in the field and in council. -Four
years of war, during which the law was ex-
ccutcd only at the point of the bayonet
throughout the States in rebellion, have
left the people possible in condition not
to yield that ready obedience to the civil au.
| thouty, the American people have general
! ly hcen in the habit of yielding. This
would render the presence of small carri-
sons throughout those States necessary,
until such time as labor returns to its prop
sr channel and civil authority is fully eS.
tablishod. | did not meet any one, either
those hold places under government or cit.
izenS of the Southern States, who thought
| it practicable to draw the military from the
South at present. White aud black mu.
! tually require the protection of the general
Goyernmcnt There is such universal nc,
quiescencc in the authority of the genera
Government throughout portions of the
country visited by mo that the mere pres
encc of a military force without regard tc
numbers, Is sufficient to maintain order
, The good of the country requires that 1
, force be kept in the interior where thcr,
are many freedmen. Elsewhere in South
| era States than at forts upon the sea coast
I, no force is necessary, They should all b,
white troops. The reasons for this are oh
! yious. Without mentioning many of them
the presence of black troops. lately slaves
dem0ralizcs labor, both by their advice an,
furnishing in their camps resort for tn
freedmen for any distance around. Whit
F, troops generally excite no opposition, an
!, therefore a small number eau maintain ol
. der in given district. Colored troop
must be kept in bodies sufficient TO dcien
themselves. IL is no, tho thinking ms