Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-10-02
From the N. Y. Tribune.
Letter from Gen. Grant.

luc ioiioMiuS lcttOI HAS DScu piuCcu
in our hands by gentleman who fur
nishes it from collection of autographs.
1t was written by Major-General Grant,
TO his father, from Milliken's Bend, Ia,
during the Vicksburg campaign. We
print it just as it is, word for word. We
have no hesitation in saying that more
remarkable document, and one that re-
fleets more credit upon the illustrious
writer, has not before been given to the
American people.
MILLIKEN's BEND, La, |
April 81, 1868. !
DEAR FATHER: Your letter of the 7th
of April has just this day reached me.
| hasten to answer your interrogations.
When left Memphis, with my past ex-
perience, l prohibited trade below Hele-
ma. Trade to that point had previously
been opened by the Treasury Depart
ment. l give no permits to buy cotton,
and if find any one engaged in the bus
mess | send them out of the Department
and seize their cotton for the Govern
ment. / have given few families per-
mission to leave the country and take
with them so far as Memphis their cot
ton. In doing this have been deceived
by unprincipled spectators, who have
successfully smuggled themselves along
with the army in spite of orders prohib-
iting them, and have been compelled to
suspend this favor to persons anxious to
get out of Dixie.
1 understand that Government has
adopted some plan to regulate getting
the cotton out of the country. do not
know what plan they have adopted, but
am satisfied that any that can be adopt
ed, except for Government to take the
cotton themselves, and rule out specula-
tors altogether, will be bad one. l feel
all army followers who are engaged
in speculating off the misfortunes of
their country, are really aiding the enc
my more than they possibly could do by
open treason, should be drafted at once
and put in the first forlorn hope.
move my headquarters to New Car
thage tomorrow. 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 l thought
would give me foothold ON the east
bank of the Mississippi before the enemy
could offer any great resistance. But the
difficulty of the last one and half mile:
| next to Carthage makes it SO tedious thai
the enemy cannot fail to discover my
| plans. l am doing my best, and am ful
of hope for complete success. Time ha
been consumed, but it was absolutely i'm
possible to avoid it. An attack upon tn
rebel works at any time since / arrives
here must inevitably have resulted in tn
loss of large portion of my army, if nc
in an entire defeat. There were but tw
points of land, Haines Bluff and Wick:
burg itself, out of water at any plac
from which troops could march. Thes
are thoroughly fortified, and it would b
folly to attack them as long as there
prospect of turning their position.
never expect to have an army under m
command whipped unless it is very badl
whipped and can't help it, but | have n
idea of being driven to do desperate {
foolish act by the howlings of the pres
1t is painful to me, as q matter Of cours
to see the course pursued by some of IL
= papers. But there is no one less distur
= ed by them than myself. have new
/ sought large command, and have l
, ambitious ends to accomplish. Were
8 not for the very natural desire of pro
J. ing myself equal to anything expected
e me, and the evidence my removal Won
afford that was not thought equal to
IS would gladly accept less responsih
a position. / have no desire to be an o
l. ject of envy or jealousy, nor to have til
v war continue. / want, and will do n
r part toward it, to put down the rebelli'
4 in the shortest possible time, without
st pecting or desiring any other recogniti'
D. than quiet approval of my course.
m beg that you will destroy this lett
rs at least, do not show it.
" Julia and the children are here, b