The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-13
LETTER FROM GENERAL GRANT TO MS FATHER.
MILLIKES's BEND, La, April II, /

MILLIKES's BEND, La, April II, 1863.
DEAR FATHER-Your letter or the eth OF April has
just this day reached me. hasten to answer your
interrOgations. When left Memphis, with nv past
experience prohibited trade below Helena. Trade
TO that point had previously been opened by the
Treasury Department give no permits to buy cot
ton, and If find any one engaged in the business
cotton for the government have given q few FAINT
lies permission to leave the country and to take with
have been deceived by nun unprincped specast orr"
who have successfully Struggled themselves along
with the army In spite of orders prohibiting them,
and have been compelled to suspend this favor to
persons anxious to get out OF Dixie.
understand that government has adopted some
plan to regulate getting the cotton out OF the
try. do not know what plan they have adopted
but am satisfied that any that can be adopted-ex-
and rule out spectators altoeetherwwili be a bad
one. feel all army followers who are engaged In
specializing of the misfortunes OF their country, and
really aiding the enemy more than they possibly
could do by open treason should he drafted ut once
and put In the first forlorn hope.
move my headquarters TO New Carthage tOm0r-
row. This whole country is under water, except
strips OF land behind the levees along the river and
bayous, and makes operations almost impossible.
struck upon plan which thought would give me
foothod on the east bank OF the Mississippi before
the enemy could o1er any great resistance. But the
difficulty or the last one and half miles next to
Carthage makes 1t so tedious that the enemy cannot
fail to discover my plans. am doing my best and
Consumed bnt It was absolntsv iInnosshie TO avoid
1t. An attack upon the rebel works at any time
since arrived here must inevitably have resulted IN
the loss OF large portion ofmy army n not In an en-
tire defeat. There were but two points Of land,
Haines' Blur and vicksburg ITSELF out OF water at
any place from which troops could march, These
thoroughly fortified. and 1t would be folly to at
tack them as long a. there is prospect Of turning
their position. never expect to have an army
under my command whipped unless 1t Is very badly
whipped and can't help 1t, but nave no idea OF be-
ing driven to do desperate or foolish act by the
howlings OF the press II is painful to me, as mat
ter Of course to the course pursued by some OF
the papers. But there Is no one less disturbed by
them than myself have never sought large com.
m n
Were 1t not for the very natural desire OF proving
myself equal to anything expected Of me- and the
evidence my removal would afford that was not
thought equal to II, would gladly accept less re.
sponsible position. have no desire to be an object
OF envy or jealousy nor to have this war continue
want anu VIII do my part toward II, to put down
the rebellion In the shortest possible time without
expecting or desiring any other recognition than
quiet approval of my course
beg that you will destroy this letter; at least do
not show IL.
lula sud the children are here but will 70 up hI