Hon. John Sherman, United States Senate, Washington, D. C.

Oppose confirmation of myself as brevet general, on ground that it is unprecedented, and that it is better not to extend the system of brevets above major-general.  If I can’t avoid coming to Washington, I may have to resign.

W. T. Sherman, Lieutenant-General.

Headquarters of the army,
Washington, D. C., February 12, 1868.

The following orders are published for the information and guidance of all concerned: 

U. S. Grant, General.

Executive mansion,
Washington, D. C., February 12, 1868.

General:  You will please issue an order creating a military division to be styled the Military Division of the Atlantic, to be composed of the Department of the Lakes, the Department of the East, and the Department of Washington, to be commanded by Lieutenant-General W. T. Sherman, with his headquarters at Washington.  Until further orders from the President, you will assign no officer to the permanent command of the Military Division of the Missouri.

Respectfully yours,

Andrew Johnson.

General U. S. Grant,
Commanding Armies of The United States, Washington, D. C.

Major-General P. H. Sheridan, the senior officer in the Military Division of the Missouri, will temporarily perform the duties of commander of the Military Division of the Missouri in addition to his duties of department commander.  By command of General Grant: 

E. D. Townsend, Assistant Adjutant-General.

This order, if carried into effect, would have grouped in
Washington: 

1.  The President, constitutional Commander-in-Chief.

2.  The Secretary of War, congressional Commander-in-Chief.

3.  The General of the Armies of the United States.

4.  The Lieutenant-General of the Army.

5.  The Commanding General of the Department of Washington.

6.  The commander of the post-of Washington.

At that date the garrison of Washington was a brigade of infantry and a battery of artillery.  I never doubted Mr. Johnson’s sincerity in wishing to befriend me, but this was the broadest kind of a farce, or meant mischief.  I therefore appealed to him by letter to allow me to remain where I was, and where I could do service, real service, and received his most satisfactory answer.

Headquarters military division of the Missouri,
St. Louis, Missouri, February 14, 1868.

General U. S. Grant, Washington, D. C.