The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-09-15

In our telegraphic dispatches yesterday ap.
reared some extracts from letter written by
Major General Grant to his father from Milli-
kep's Bend La, during the Vicksburg cam
paign, by which the recent Democratic asper-
alton on Grant that he allowed his father
permit to trade in cotton is very effectually
disposed of. As the remainder of the letter is
interesting and eminently characteristic, we
lay 1T before our readers. At the time it was
written Grant knew well that there was a
fierce fire OF criticism and fault. in his
rear. Congressman and newspaper writers
hal plans Of campaigns much better than his,
and they were loud, in complaint of his reu-
cence and in apprehension of the future But
the General kept steadily on, quietly doing his
best, nd "full OF hope of complete success
He knew that time would vlnd'cate MS acton,
and he preferred to be the victim OF censure
rather than lose his army by any act OF rash
ness We call special attention to the para
graphs in his letter which we have italicized
They express the secret of the Generals won
derful success, and the just ground of the con-
tidence reposed in him. He is bound to do
what is expected OF him and to prove that he
can do it. That is what the country wants
just now in President The following is the
portion of the letter not included in the tele-
graphic report:
move my headquarters to New Carthage
tomorrow. The whole country is under wa
| ter, except strips OF land behind the levees,
along the rivers and bayous, and makes opera
tions almost impossible. struck upon plan
| which thought would give me foothold on
the east bank of the Mississippi before the en-
| off, n n
difficulty of the last one and half miles next
to Carthagr makes it so tedious that the enemy
| cannot tail to discover my plans / am doing
my best and am iull of hope fCr complete sue.
CESS. Time has been consumed, but it was
absolutely impossible to avoid it. An attack
upon the rebel works at any time
since / arrived here must inevitably have
resulted IN the loss of large portion Of
| my army, II not in an entire defeat
There were but two points Of land, Haines
Bluff and Vlcksburg itself, out OF water at any
| place from which troops could march. These
are thoroughly fortified, and it would be Jolly
to attack them as long as there is a prospect O
turning their position. 1 neverexpect to have
an army under my command whipped unless
| it is very badly whipped and n't.help it, bu
| l have no idea of being driven to do a desperate
or foolish act by the howlings of the press. 1
| is painful to ME, as a matter of course, to SEE
| the course pursued by some of the papers,
| But there is 40 one less disturbed by then
| imam mySeit. nave never sought a large
| command, aid have ne ambitious ends to ac
complish. We're it not for the yery natural de
sire of proving myself equal to anything e1
| pected of me, and the evidence mig renloUd
ioould afford that ,ods not thought equal to ii
,ooutd gladly accepta less responsible position
Ihaue no desire to be an object of e,sry or jeaI
oassy, nor to haze this aodr continue want
and aoiu do my part tolodrd it. to put doaon tn
rebellion in the shortest possible time, Wittou
expecting or desiring any other reco0nitio,
than quiet approval of mig course
beg that you will destroy this letter; a
| least do not show it. ~ 2
Julia and the children are here, but will q
| up by the first good boat. / sent for her I,
come down and get instructions about somt
business L want attended to, and see no i'm
mediate prospect of attending to myself.
| ULYSSES