The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-18
GENERAL GRANTS CHARACTER.
Another Letter Illustrative Of the Generals
Firmness and Self-Reliance.

In the North American Review, for October
is printed the following letter. written by Gen.
Grant to his father and furnished by Col. F. D.
Grant:
MILL1KEN's BEND, La, April 21, 1868.
Dear Father-Your letter of the 7th of April
has just this day reached me. / hasten to
answer your nterrogations. When l left
trade below Helena. Trade at that point had
been previously opened by the Treasury Depart
ment. gave no permits to buy cotton, and if
hnd any one engaged in the business, l shall
send them out of the department and seize their
cotton for the government have given a few
families permission to leave the country and to
take with them, as far as Memphis, their cotton
In doing this have been deceived by unprinci-
pied spectators, who have successfully smuggled
themselves along with the armv in spite of
orders prohibiting them, and have been com
pelled to suspend this favor to persons anxious
to get out of Dixie.
understand that the government has adopted
some plan to regulate getting cotton out of the
country. l do not know what plan they have
adopted, but am satisfied that any that can be
adopted, except for the government to take the
cotton themselves and rule out spectators
altogether, will be bad one. l feel all
army followers who are engaged in speculating
of of the misfortunes of their country are really
aiding the enemy more than they could possibly
do by treason should be drafted at once and
put in the first folorn hope.
morrow. 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 I thought would
give me footing on the east bank of the Missis-
sippi before the enemy could offer any great re-
sistance. But the difficulty Of the last one and
half mile next to Carthage makes it so tedious
that the enemy cannot fail to discover my plans
! am doing my best and am full of hope for COM
piete success. 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 loss of a
large portion of my army, if not in an entire
defeat There were but two points of land
Haynes Bluff and Vicksburg itself-out of water
at any place from which troops could march
These are thoroughly fortified, and it would be
folly to attack them as long as there is pros
expect to have an army under my
command whipped, unless it is very
badly whipped and can't help it, but 1 have no
idea of being driven to desperate or foolish act
me, as matter Of course, to see the course
pursued by some of the papers. But there is no
one less disturbed by them than myself. have
never SOUGHT large command, ard have no
ambitious ends to accomplish. Were it not for
the very natural desire of proving myself equal
to anything expected of me, and the evidence
my removal would afford that l was not thought
equal 10 it, would gladly accept less respon
sible position. have no desire to be an object
of envy or jealousy, nor have this war continue.
] want to put down the rebellion in the shortest
possible time. and will do my part toward it
without expecting or desiring any other recogni-
tion than quiet approval of my course.
bee that you will destroy this letter. at least
do not show 1t.
Julia and the children are here and will 90 up
by the first good boat. | sent for her to come
down and get some instructions about some bust
ness | want attended to, and see no immediate
prospect of attending to myself ULYSSES.