67th Tigers
Captain
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2006
I was going to PM this to @Saphroneth but thought it would make an interesting thread.
In the book "Lincoln's Generals" (amazon link) the collator of the Grant papers, John Y. Simon, wrote an article about the 31st July 1864 meeting between Grant and Lincoln.
As a background, on 16th July Sherman received two telegraphic messages, one from Grant and one from Halleck, thus:
"Major-General SHERMAN:
The attempted invasion of Maryland having failed to give the enemy a firm foothold North, they are now returning, with possibly 25,000 troops. All the men they have here, beyond those sufficient to hold their strong fortifications, will be an element of weakness to eat up their supplies. It is not improbable, therefore, that you will find in the next fortnight re-enforcements in your front to the number indicated above. I advise, therefore, that if you get to Atlanta you set about destroying the railroads as far to the east and south of you as possible. Collect all the stores of the country for your own use, and select a point that you can hold until help can be had. I shall make a desperate effort to get a position here which will hold the enemy without the necessity of so many men. If successful, I can detach from here for other enterprises, looking as much to your assistance as anything else.
U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." - Lt Gen US Grant to Maj Gen WT Sherman, 16th July 1864
"Entre nous. I fear Grant has made a fatal mistake in putting himself south of James River. He cannot now reach Richmond without taking Petersburg, which is strongly fortified, crossing the Appomattox and recrossing the James. Moreover, by placing his army south of Richmond he opens the capital and the whole North to rebel raids. Lee can at any time detach 30,000 or 40,000 men without our knowing it till we are actually threatened. I hope we may yet have full success, but I find that many of Grant's general officers think the campaign already a failure. Perseverance, however, may compensate for all errors and overcome all obstacles. So mote it be. " - Maj Gen Henry Halleck to Maj Gen WT Sherman, 16th July 1864
Incredibly (as Castel pointed out in Decision in the West, ca. pg 359) this is Grant admitting failure to Sherman, and Halleck telling Sherman Grant has failed. Grant proposes to essentially go completely defensive and detach forces to Sherman. He is unconcerned with the Shenandoah valley, and that's the crux of the issue. He ignores Early completely.
On 30th July the Battle of the Crater was fought. Lincoln has already decided to meet with Lincoln and on that same day boards USS Baltimore to travel down to Fort Monroe. Lincoln meets with Grant at 1000 hrs on the 31st, and at 1500 hrs the Baltimore is heading back to Washington.
Simon's paper is the only examination of what probably happened at this meeting which Grant refused to acknowledge even happened in later life. This refusal to acknowledge tells us that it was not a pleasant meeting for Grant. Essentially Lincoln had let Grant run free for three months, and now Grant had not produced the results and Lincoln reimposed himself on his errant general. Grant was ordered to make major detachments from Richmond to the Valley, and 2 divisions of the Cavalry Corps, the whole of the 6th Corps and 2 divisions of 19th Corps Grant had already summoned from the Gulf for Richmond were went to Washington.
The Crater was the last serious attempt to break the rebel fortifications until the beginning of April 1865. Some movements attempting to probe the enemy flanks were undertaken, but nothing serious. In April '65 the catalyst for Grant returning to action seems to be the return of Sheridan with the cavalry and 6th Corps.
When discussing Petersburg it is perhaps worth noting that by July it was considered a failure, and only when the Federal army was able to reconcentrate eight months later did the serious attempt to take Richmond resume.
In the book "Lincoln's Generals" (amazon link) the collator of the Grant papers, John Y. Simon, wrote an article about the 31st July 1864 meeting between Grant and Lincoln.
As a background, on 16th July Sherman received two telegraphic messages, one from Grant and one from Halleck, thus:
"Major-General SHERMAN:
The attempted invasion of Maryland having failed to give the enemy a firm foothold North, they are now returning, with possibly 25,000 troops. All the men they have here, beyond those sufficient to hold their strong fortifications, will be an element of weakness to eat up their supplies. It is not improbable, therefore, that you will find in the next fortnight re-enforcements in your front to the number indicated above. I advise, therefore, that if you get to Atlanta you set about destroying the railroads as far to the east and south of you as possible. Collect all the stores of the country for your own use, and select a point that you can hold until help can be had. I shall make a desperate effort to get a position here which will hold the enemy without the necessity of so many men. If successful, I can detach from here for other enterprises, looking as much to your assistance as anything else.
U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." - Lt Gen US Grant to Maj Gen WT Sherman, 16th July 1864
"Entre nous. I fear Grant has made a fatal mistake in putting himself south of James River. He cannot now reach Richmond without taking Petersburg, which is strongly fortified, crossing the Appomattox and recrossing the James. Moreover, by placing his army south of Richmond he opens the capital and the whole North to rebel raids. Lee can at any time detach 30,000 or 40,000 men without our knowing it till we are actually threatened. I hope we may yet have full success, but I find that many of Grant's general officers think the campaign already a failure. Perseverance, however, may compensate for all errors and overcome all obstacles. So mote it be. " - Maj Gen Henry Halleck to Maj Gen WT Sherman, 16th July 1864
Incredibly (as Castel pointed out in Decision in the West, ca. pg 359) this is Grant admitting failure to Sherman, and Halleck telling Sherman Grant has failed. Grant proposes to essentially go completely defensive and detach forces to Sherman. He is unconcerned with the Shenandoah valley, and that's the crux of the issue. He ignores Early completely.
On 30th July the Battle of the Crater was fought. Lincoln has already decided to meet with Lincoln and on that same day boards USS Baltimore to travel down to Fort Monroe. Lincoln meets with Grant at 1000 hrs on the 31st, and at 1500 hrs the Baltimore is heading back to Washington.
Simon's paper is the only examination of what probably happened at this meeting which Grant refused to acknowledge even happened in later life. This refusal to acknowledge tells us that it was not a pleasant meeting for Grant. Essentially Lincoln had let Grant run free for three months, and now Grant had not produced the results and Lincoln reimposed himself on his errant general. Grant was ordered to make major detachments from Richmond to the Valley, and 2 divisions of the Cavalry Corps, the whole of the 6th Corps and 2 divisions of 19th Corps Grant had already summoned from the Gulf for Richmond were went to Washington.
The Crater was the last serious attempt to break the rebel fortifications until the beginning of April 1865. Some movements attempting to probe the enemy flanks were undertaken, but nothing serious. In April '65 the catalyst for Grant returning to action seems to be the return of Sheridan with the cavalry and 6th Corps.
When discussing Petersburg it is perhaps worth noting that by July it was considered a failure, and only when the Federal army was able to reconcentrate eight months later did the serious attempt to take Richmond resume.