Head Quarters, Dist. of West Ten.
Memphis, July 11th 1862
BRIG. GEN. A. P. HOVEY
COMD. G U. S. FORCES
MEMPHIS TEN.
GEN.
Having just this moment received a dispatch from Gen. Halleck to report forthwith to his Head Quarters you are directed to assume the command of this city including the troops at Germantown.
If convenient I would be pleased to see you this evening.
I am Gen. very respectfully
your obt. svt.
U. S. GRANT
Maj. Gen. Com
ALS, Hovey Papers, InU. On July 13, 1862, Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck wrote to his wife. "Two messengers were sent to me, one from the President and one from McClellan, inviting me to go to Washington and the President and Secretary of War both telegraphed me to the same effect, but I declined the invitation, knowing that the object was to involve me in the quarrel between Stanton and McClellan. One of the messengers said that I was the only man in the United States who could reconcile the present difficulties. I replied that if that was the case I was probably the only person in the United States who would have nothing to do with these Cabinet quarrels, and that I would not go to Washington if I could help it! When lo and behold, the President issues a mandate making me general-in-chief, and ordering me to Washington to assume command of McClellan and all the other generals of the army! In fact, putting me in General Scott's place. This is certainly a very high compliment, but I doubt very much whether I shall accept the promotion. I fear it may bring me in conflict with McClellan's friends. Everybody who knows me, knows that I have uniformly supported him, and I do not wish to be placed in a false position. Nevertheless, I must obey my orders and shall start for Washington some time next week." The two messengers were Asst. Secretary of War John Tucker and Governor William Sprague of R. I. James Grant Wilson, "Types and Traditions of the Old Army: II. General Halleck—A Memoir," Journal of the Military Service Institution of the United States, XXXVI, cxxxv (May-June, 1905), 556-57. See also Lincoln, Works, V, 308, 312-13; dispatch from Corinth, July 11, 1862, in Missouri Republican, July 17, 1862; telegram of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton to Halleck,
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Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information:
Book title: The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant: April 1 - August 31, 1862.
Volume: 5.
Contributors: John Y. Simon - Editor, Ulysses S. Grant - Author.
Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press.
Place of publication: Carbondale, IL.
Publication year: 1973.
Page number: 206.
This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.
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