but finally checked the enemy handsomely, and continued our return march, fighting at the rear and on both flanks, repulsing all attacks and moving in perfect order.  And so my movement was not a failure, except that I did not reach Meridian as intended, for the reason stated, and for many more which it is not necessary for me to detail here.  On the other hand, it was a very decided success, inflicting a terrible destruction of supplies of every kind, and a heavy loss of men upon the enemy.  You should have so reported it in the beginning.  You should so amend your report, and “Memoirs” now.  This, and no less than this, is due from one soldier to another.  It is due to the exalted position which you occupy, and, above all, it is due to that truthfulness in history which you claim to revere.  If you desire it, I will endeavor to visit you, and in a friendly manner “fight our battles o’er again,” and endeavor to convince you that you have always been mistaken as to the manner in which my part in the “Meridian campaign” was performed.  But I will never rest until the wrong statements regarding it are fully and fairly corrected.  Yours truly,

WILLIAM SOOY SMITH

Headquarters army of the united states
St. Louis, Missouri, July 11, 1875.

General J. D. Webster, Chicago, Illinois

Dear general:  General W. Sooy Smith feels aggrieved and wronged by my account of his part in the Meridian campaign, in my “Memoirs,” pages 394, 395, and properly appeals to me for correction.  I have offered to modify any words or form of expression that he may point out, but he asks me to completely change the whole that concerns him.  This, of course, I will not do, as his part was material to the whole, and cannot be omitted or materially altered without changing the remainder, for his failure to reach Meridian by February 10th was the reason for other movements distant from him.  I now offer him, what seems to me fair and liberal, that we submit the points at issue to you as arbitrator.  You are familiar with the ground, the coincident history, and most, if not all, the parties.

I propose to supply you with

1.  Copy of my orders placing all the cavalry under General Smith’s orders (with returns).

2.  My letter of instructions to him of January 27th.

3.  My official report of the campaign, dated Vicksburg, March 7, 1864.

4.  General W. Sooy Smith’s report of his operations, dated Nashville, Tennessee, March 4, 1864.

After reading these, I further propose that you address us questions which we will answer in writing, when you are to make us a concise, written decision, which I will have published in close connection with the subject in controversy.  If General Smith will show you my letter to him of this date, and also deliver this with his written assent, I will promptly furnish you the above documents, and also procure from the official files a return of the cavalry force available at and near Memphis on the date of my orders, viz., January 27, 1864.