Beauregard's Request to Grant at Shiloh

Ole Miss

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I have heard about Beauregard's request of Grant to allow selected parties of his army to be allowed inside the Federal lines to attend to the dead after the battle. Yet, I have never read it or Grant's reply so I thought I might post them for others perusal.
Regards
David

Headquarters Army of the Mississippi,
Monterey, April 8, 1862.
Sir : At the close of the conflict of yesterday, my forces being exhausted by the extraordinary length of time during which they were engaged with yours on that and the preceding day, and it being apparent that you had received and were still receiving re-enforcements, I felt it my duty to withdraw my troops from the immediate scene of conflict.
Under these circumstances, in accordance with usages of war, I shall transmit this under a flag of truce, to ask permission to send a mounted party to the battle-field of Shiloh for the purpose of giving decent interment to my dead.
Certain gentlemen wishing to avail themselves of this opportunity to remove the remains of their sons and friends, I must request for them the privilege of accompanying the burialparty, and in this connection I deem it proper to say I am asking only what I have extended to your own countrymen under similar circumstances.
Respectfully, general, your obedient servant,
G. T. BEAUREGARD,
General, Commanding
 
Beauregard's letter contains an example of the pro-typical Southeran Gentleman attitutde at tthat time
Regards
David

Certain gentlemen wishing to avail themselves of this opportunity to remove the remains of their sons and friends, I must request for them the privilege of accompanying the burialparty, and in this connection I deem it proper to say I am asking only what I have extended to your own countrymen under similar circumstances.
 
Grant's response was matter of fact and short. He stated all bodies had been interred yet that was not completely true.
Regards
David

Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, U. S. A.,
Commanding U. S. Forces near Pittsburg, Tenn.
Headquarters Army in the Field,
Pittsburg, April 9,1862.
Your dispatch of yesterday is just received. Owing to the warmth of the weather I deemed it advisable to have all the dead of both parties buried immediately. Heavy details were made for this purpose, and now it is accomplished. There cannot, therefore, be any necessity of admitting within our lines the parties you desire to send on the grounds asked.
I shall always be glad to extend any courtesy consistent with duty, and especially so when dictated by humanity.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Major-General, Commanding.
General G. T. Beauregard,
Comdg. Confederate Army of the Mississippi, Monterey, Tenn.
 
Beauregard's letter contains an example of the pro-typical Southeran Gentleman attitutde at tthat time
Regards
David

Certain gentlemen wishing to avail themselves of this opportunity to remove the remains of their sons and friends, I must request for them the privilege of accompanying the burialparty, and in this connection I deem it proper to say I am asking only what I have extended to your own countrymen under similar circumstances.
He wrote with a flare not seen in this time
 

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