Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885 to Henry W. Halleck

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04357 Author/Creator: Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885 Place Written: City Point, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: January 18, 1865 Pagination: 3 p. : Height: 25.2 cm, Width: 19.8 cm Order a Copy

Ulysses S. Grant writes to Major General Henry W. Halleck in Washington, D.C. concerning Confederate General Pierre G. T. Beauregard's trip west to gather General John B. Hood's army in order to bring them against Union General William T. Sherman. Thinks that if this is true, Selma and Montgomery, Alabama will be reached easily. Does not believe that General George Henry Thomas will get there in time stating that he is "too ponderous in his preparations and equipments to move through a country rapidly enough to live off of it." Explains that he only wants to defend what they already have in west of the Mississippi River but would like General Edward Canby to make a "Winter Campaign" in order to capture Mobile first, then Montgomery, Selma, "and the destruction of all roads, machine shops and stores the main object." Orders that Canby be given Cavalry horses to start the campaign. Concludes by stating, "Thomas must make a campaign or spare his surplus troops."

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
Halleck, Henry Wager, 1815-1872
Canby, Edward Richard Sprigg, 1817-1873
Hood, John Bell, 1831-1879
Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893
Thomas, George Henry, 1816-1870
Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources