promotion; since then the title has not been revived.  By this rank Grant was authorized to command all the armies of the United States.  Mr. Washburne, who introduced the bill into Congress for restoration of the grade of Lieutenant-General, said that Grant wrote to him that he did not ask or deserve anything more in the shape of honors or promotion; that he only desired to hold such an influence over those under his command as to use them to the best advantage to secure a decisive victory.

Grant’s new policy was now to secure co-operative movements of all the armies East and West—­these had heretofore worked independently—­and to have a continuous and concentrated action against the chief armies of the enemy.  His first work was to reorganize the Army of the Potomac, which in April began the campaign against Lee and Richmond.  He accompanied the army in person, having movable headquarters in the field.  From March to May his headquarters were at Culpeper Court-House, Va.  It was shortly after leaving these headquarters that he wrote from the field, May 11, 1864, “I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.”]

The Editor desires to make correction of an error in the reference on page 102 to the rank of Lieutenant-General.  The statement should of course read that the rank of General was conferred upon Washington ... and had later been held by Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan.  The rank of Lieutenant-General has been held not only by Washington, Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan, but also by Schofield, Miles, Young, Chaffee, Bates, and MacArthur.

HEAD-QUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES

Culpeper C.H., Va.,
Apl. 16th, 1864.

DEAR FATHER: 

Your letter enclosing one from young Walker asking for duty on my staff during his suspension is received.  It is the third letter from him on the same subject.  Of course I cannot gratify him.  It would not be proper.  It would be changing punishment into reward.

Julia will start West in a few days and will stop at Covington on her way.  She will remain at the house I purchased from Judge Dent until such time as she can join me more permanently.  It is her particular desire to have Jennie go to St. Louis with her to spend the summer.  I hope she can and will go.

It has rained here almost every day since my arrival.  It is still raining.  Of course I say nothing of when the army moves or how or where.  I am in most excellent health and well pleased with appearances here.  My love to all at home.

ULYSSES.

[City Point was an important strategic point on the James where this river is joined by the Appomattox.  Here General Grant had headquarters until the end of the campaign against Lee.  The campaign against Atlanta under General Sherman lasted from May 6th to September 2d, 1864, when the city was evacuated by Hood.  The loss of Atlanta was a severe blow to the South.]