Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-07-03
Gen. Grants Explanations.

We find in the newspapers the follow
ing letter from General Grants Chief OF
Staff to L. N. Dembitz, Esq, OF Louisville
Kentucky, explanatory of the famous or
der expelIing ,heiiIebrews from the lines
of the army:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY UNITED STATES, !
WASHINGTON, May 6, 1868. !
Sir-Your letter relating TO tho order
OF General G rant. dated Oxford, Miss
issippi, December H. 1862, expelling } ews
as class, from his department, is before
me. You are doubtless aware that Geper-
al Grant has never, either by himself or
through the aid of friends, attempted TO
defend any military order which the emer.
gepcies of the service seemed at the time
to require. However, as my name is at
tached to il as Assistant Adjutant Gener.
al, il may not be improper to state that at
and previous to its date our military affairs
were in a most critical condition, and i'm
portant movements were Transporting. Gen.
eral Sherman was collecting forces ut
Memphis and Helena. General Grant
was moving steadily against Pemberton, at
Grenada, keeping up appearances OF i'm
mediate attack, to divert bis attention from
Sherman; and in cooperation with Grant,
Dodge was moving south from Corinth.
The success of Grants plans depended on
keeping the enemy in ignorance Of his
real purpose, namely, the surprise and
capture Of Vicksburg by sherman; and il
was therefore of the utmost importance
that every avenue Of information to the
enemy should be closed.
The most stringent orders had previ-
ously been published forbidding persons
going or coming through our lines, limit.
ing traders to certain boundaries, aud pro-
hibiting the passage Of coin South, or the
payment Of il for Southern products.
Persistent violations Of these orders by
persons principally of the Jewish race,
were the subjects of constant reports by
many of General Grants subordinates,
some Of whom had even issued orders ex-
polling them from the lines, but which
General Grant bad promptly revoked. Re-
ports OF the same. character were also re-
ceived from other than military sources.
~ tcuSths Oh thC cNChiuk VI DcccWocf
18th, 1862, (the date Of the order,) the
mail brought from Washington large
number Of complaints, officially referred
to him by the General.inchief Of the army,
against, this class of persons, for violations
OF the above ntioned orders. The Gen.
eral felt, after reading them, that some
Immediate action was demanded Of him.
lie realized to its full extent the critical
condition of military affairs, aud judged.
whether wisely or unwisely, that to meet
the exigepcy action must be immediate,
thorough, and in form not to be evaded.
The order you refer to was the result. 1t
was written and lelegrapbed to his subor-
dinates, without revision, leaving all per-
sons not justly amenable to its terms to
be relieved on their individual applica-
ton.
The idea that it was issued on account
of the religion of the Jews can not be ser.
iously entertained by any one who knows
the Generals steadfast adherence to the
principles Of American liberty aud relig
ious federation.
Very respectfully, your obedieht ser.
want. se.r john a RAwLISs,
To Lewis n. Dembitz, Esq, Louisville,
Ky.