, 1865-10-17
"A LEAF OF HISTORY.


The following two historical letters are IA,
ken from the advance sheets Of Colonel Bow.
| mans history of fisherman and bis Cam.
paigns," shortly to be published by c. B.
Richardson, Of New York. Colonel Bowman
writes:
GENERAL GRANT 70 GENERAL SHERMAN.
On the 9Th of March, 1864, ut Nashville.
| Major General Grant received telegraph Or
ders to report tn person at Washingtou. Con-
gress had passed m act authorizing the ap.
polntmeut of a Lieutenant General to con-
mand the armies OF the United States, and
the President had nominated General Grant
| !or Inc appointment. Before starting on his
Journey, Grant seized hfs pen, and IN the very
generosity toward those others, to whose tx
erttons he modestly chose to ascribe his own
deserved reward, hastily wrote these touch
"DEAh SHERMAN: The bill revlylng The
grade Of Lieutenant General In tie nrn,S hna
become law, md my name has been sent ia
the Senate for the place. 1 now rcceiTe or.
ders to report to Washington immediately in
person, which indicates q confirmation. or
likelihood Of confirmation.
order.
"Whllst have been enfuently successful In
this war, tn at least gaining the confidence OF
the public, no one feels more than I how
much of this success Is due to the energy,
skill, and the harmonious putting forth Of
TINT energy and skill, OF those whom 1t
has been my good fortune to hare occupying
subordinate positions under me.
"Thcre are many officers to whom these
remarks are applicable, to a greater or less
degree, proportiouate to their ability u SOL
dicrs; but what I want Is to express my
thanks to you mud McPhersou, IS the men
to whom, above all Others, I feel indebted tor
whatever hare had of success,
''How far your advicc and assistance have
been Of help to me, you know. How far your
execution Of whatever has been given you to
do entities you to the reward am receiving,
yon cannot know as well as /.
II feel all the gratitude this letter would
express, giving II the most dattering con-
1.-THE word you nse in the plural, lnteu-
dlngit Tor MCPHERSON ALSO. Ishould write to
him, and will some day, but starting in the
morning, do not know that l will lind time
just now. Your friend,
GENERAL sHERMAS's REPLY.
Sherman received this letter near Memphis
On the 10Th Of March, aud immediately re-
piled:
'.DEAn GENERAL: have :yonr more than
kind and characteristic letter Of the 4tl
instant. will send copy to General Nc
Phesson at once.
''You do yourself Injustice and Us too much
honor IN asalCnlng to us too large Share Of
the merits which have led to. your high nd
Eancement. know you approve the friend
ship hare ever protessed to you, and will
permit me to continue, Us heretofore, to
manifest It on all proper occasions.
"You arc now Nashlngton's legitimate sue
cessor, aud occupy position Of almost dan
gerous elevation but II yon can continue, Us
heretofore to be yourself, simple, honest and
unt1rcfenfffnr For will cninr f1rcunh 1{ft, $}n
respect and love Of friends nnd the homage
Of millions OF human beings, that will awaTd
Jon large share In securing to them and
their descendants government Of Law and
stability.
II repeat, you do Gen. Mcphcrsou and nv.
self too much honor. at Belmont you maui
tested your traits-nelthcr: Of Us being near.
At Doueloo0, also, you Illustrated your whole
character. was not near, and Gen. Nc
Phcrson IN too subordinate capacity to In
ducncc you.
tUntil you bad won Donc1son, confess I
was almost cowed by tho terrible array OF
anarchscal elements that presented them
selves at every point but that admitted ray
Of light I hare followed since.
II believe you are as brave, patriotic and
unselt1sh; Kind hearted and houest as q nan
should be-but tho chief characteristic Is the
simple faith IN success you have always mani
tested, which can uken to nothing else than
the faith q Christian has In the Savior.
"Thls faith Eare you victory ut shtlol, and
Vicksburg. Also, when you have completed
your preparations, you 60 into battle without
hesitation, as at Chattanooga donbts, no
reserves; and / tell you, 1t was this that
made rs act with confidence. knew, where
ever was, that you thought Of me, aud If
Il alive.
my only point Of doubt was, In your
knowledge ofgrand strategy, and Of books Of
Rrionno, and history ; but, confess, your
common sense seems to hare supplied all
these.
"Now as to the future; Don't stay in
Wellington; come West; take to yourself
TIE Whole Mississippi Valley. Let Us make
1t dead sure, and tell you the Atlantic slopes
md the Pactc shores will follow It's destiny
~ suxo 10 tie lin,bs Of a tree live or die with
Lie main trunk We have done much, but
still much renlains- Time n1d times intlu-
ences nrc with u.. We could almost
nt!ord to sit still und let these influences
work.
Here lies the seat of tho coming empire
md from tho West, when our task Is done,
we will make short work Of Charleston and |
Richmond, and tho Impoverished coast Of the |
Atlantic. Your sincere fricut.'s