The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-16
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INTERESTING LETTERS.
GENERAL SHERMAN TO GENERAL GRANT.

Bowman's interesting and compendious
history of SHERMAN and his Cam.
paigns," which will be published by G.
b. Richardson, $40 Broadway, in a few
days, we take the following interesting
letters of Grant and Sherman, on the
appointment of the former to be Lieut.
enant-General. These letters, so char
acteristic of the two men, and so honora
BILE to both, are now first made public
and will be read with great interest.
Col. Bowman writes: ""
On the 4th of March, at Nashville
Major-General Grant received tele
graphic orders to report in person al
Washington. Congress had passed IN
act authorizing the appointment of q
Acknowledgement to command the ar.
mics of the United States, and the Presi.
dent had nominated General Grant fol
the appointment. Before starting on
his journey Grant seized his pen, and in
the very moment of his greatest eleva,
ton, filled with generosity toward those
others, to whose eXertions he modestly
chose to ascribe his own deserved re.
ward, hastily wrote these touching lines:
GENERAL GRANT TO GENERAL SHERMAN
Dear Sherman: The bill reviving
the grade Of acknowledgement in the
army has become u law, and my name
has been sent to the Senate for the
place. l now receive orders to report to
Washington Immediately in person,
which indicates confirmation, or q
likelihood of confirmation. "
l start in the morning to comply with
the order.
Whilst have been eminently success
full in this war, in at least gaining the
confidence of the public, no one feels
more than 1bow much of this success is
| due to the energy, skill and the harmo
NOUS putting forth of that energy an,
skill, of those whome it has been m,
|, good fortune to have occupying subor
dinate positions under me- IH''
There are many officers to whom thes
remarks are applicable to greater G
less degree, pr0portionate to their abilit
as soldiers but what / want il, to eX
press my thanks to you and Mcpherson
as the men to whom, above all others,
feel indebted for whatever have had @
! success.
How far your advice and assistance
have been of help to me, you know
| How far your execution of whatever ha
been given you to do entities you to tn,
reward am receiving, you cannot know
as well as I.
feel all the gratitude this letter woul,
express, giving it the most fiatterin
construction. The word you use in th
plural, intending it to include McPhel
sen also. should write to him, an
will some day, but starting in the morr
ing, l do not know that will find tim
! Just now. ........|
4 U. s. GRANT, Major General.
i GENERAL sHERMAN's REPLY.
Sherman received this letter mes
Memphis, on the 10th of March, and in
mediately replied:
"Dear General IL have your mon
than kind and characteristic letter of th
4th inst. will send a copy to Genera
Mcpherson at once.
You do yourself injustice and us to-
much honor in assigning to us too larg
a share of the merits which have led t,
your high advancement. know yol
approve the friendship have ever pro
fessed to you, and will permit me, a
heretofore, to manifest il on all prOpe
occasions. .. -i1t.l
You are now Washington's l8gitimat
successor, and occupy a position Of al
most dangerous elevation but If yO
can continue, as heretofore, to be yOul
self, simple, honest, and unpretending
you will enjoy through life the respeC
and love of friends and the homage @
millions of human beings, that will
award you large share in securing b
them and their descendants n govern
ment of law and stability. s....
I repeat, you do General Mcpherson
and myself too much honor. At Bel
mont you manifested your traits--neith
Ell of us being near. AT Donelson, also
you illustrated your whole character.
| was not near, and General Mcpherson
in too subordinate a capacity.
Until you had won Donelson, I con
| TESS was always cowed by the terribl,
array Of anarchial elements that presen
ted themselves at every point but tha
admitted ray of light l have followed
! since. .,i+ q
I believe you are as brave, patriotic
and just as the great prototype, Wash
| ington-as unselfish, kind-hearted ant
honest as man should be-but the chic
| characteristic Is the simple faithin sue
cess you have always manifested, which
| l can liken to nothing else than the faitl
| a Christian has in the Saviour.
This faith gave you victory at Shilol
and Vicksburg. Also, when you hav
completed your preparations, you go int
battle without hesitation, as at Chatta
nooga-no doubts-no reserves and
| tell you, it was this that made us &c
with confidence. I knew, wherever
was, that you thought of me, and if I gc
in tight place you would help me OF
| il alive. -f--
My only point of doubt was, in YOU
knowledge of grand strategy, and
books of science and history but, I co,
| fess, your common sense seems to ha,
supplied all these. -
| Now, as to the future. Don't stay !
| Washington. Come West. Take to vol,
self the whole Mississippi Valley L
US make it dead sure-and I tell YOU Il
Atlantic slopes and the Pacific shor
will follow its destiny, os sure as Il
| limbs of a tree live or die with the ma
trunk. We have done much, but st
much remains. Time aud times intil
ence are with us. We could almost q
ford to sit still and let those infIuenc
work. 5s. ~ D-|f- s
Here lies the seat of the coming en-
pire.; and from the West, when our tas
Is done, We will make short work
Charleston and Richmond, and the in
poverished coast of the Atlantic.
Your sincere friend
.I .H w. II. SHERMAN.