seeing such orders of transfer obeyed promptly. I need this cavalry as I have to
picket forward and to the right strongly, and should have in reserve a pretty large
cavalry force to send on special scouts. My Cavalry is sadly reduced in strength
by sickness, and even with the addition of the other three companies, I doubt if
I shall be able out of the eleven companies of the 4th Illinois Cavalry to get three
hundred men in the saddle." Copies, InNd; DNA, RG 94, Generals' Papers and
Books, William T. Sherman, Letters Sent;
(2) DLC-William T. Sherman. See
Memoirs, I, 385;
Personal Memoirs of Gen. W. T. Sherman (3rd ed., New York,
1890), I, 283.
2. USG probably meant Brig. Gen. Alexander M. McCook, whom he criti-
cized in 1884 as complaining on April 7, 1862, that his troops were too tired to
pursue the enemy. "The Battle of Shiloh," Battles and Leaders of the Civil War,
eds., Robert Underwood Johnson and Clarence Clough Buel (New York, 1887),
I, 479. In a letter of June 21, 1885, USG retracted this charge. Ibid., I, 479n; Memoirs, I, 354n-55n. In this letter, USG also assumed responsibility for the
same criticism in Adam Badeau, Military History of Ulysses S. Grant ( New York,
1868-81), I, 91. There, however, McCook is represented as being joined in his
complaints by Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden.
To Julia Dent Grant
Corinth Miss.
June 12th 1862
DEAR JULIA
It is bright and early (before the morning mail leaves) and
I thought to write you that in a few days, Monday the 16th
probably, I would leave here. I hope to be off on Monday for
Memphis
1 and if so want you to join me there. I will write again
however just before starting and it may be will have arranged to
go after you instead of you coming by yourself. —I would love
most dearly to get away from care for a week or two.
I am very well. This is apparently an exceedingly fine climate
and one to enjoy health in. —Citizens are begining to return to
Corinth and seem to think the Yankees a much less bloody,
revengeful and to be dreaded people, than they had been led to
think.
In my mind there is no question but that this war could be
ended at once if the whole Southern people could express their
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