Grant's opinion of Cadwallader Washburn:Agreed that his combat record was not notable. All his actions up to that point were cavalry raid type things with little combat. But saying "He didn't know anything about waging a war, and was nothing but an administrator" is too much.
Of course Hurlbut would complain -- he was replaced in Memphis by Washburn becuase he hadnt dealt with Forrest and then Forest embarrassed Washburn too.
Grant's situation by early April 1863 had lots of people grumbling. For example Sherman proposed to Grant that they retreat to Memphis and start over. So Cad wasnt some isolated voice when he expressed concern. When Cad wrote "All Grant's schemes have failed. He knows that he has got to do something or off goes his head." he was saying what was a pretty standard, not wrong, statement of the situation. When Cad wrote "My impression is that he intends to attack in front." his impression/prediction was wrong; but Grant had actually given that impression to people -- saying he was considering doing that. Whether he actually thought about it or was just engaged in spreading false-intel becuase he knew it would leak is another story. When Cad wrote "Grant is a good fighter." I dont think his prediction was wrong. When Cad wrote "The fleet has backed out of the Yazoo Pass. That should have been an overwhelming success, and I am mortified and humiliated at its miscarriage" he was not wrong -- Yazoo Pass expedition did not go well. And when Cad wrote "I hear that he says he has a plan of his own which is yet to be tried in which he has great confidence." he was also not wrong.
As I see it, the main problem with Cad's letter is that he was writing this stuff from Memphis based on second hand info about what was going on down river and he had just arrived in Memphis from Helena with orders to assume command of cavalry but was clashing with Hurlbut (then in charge in Memphis) over his role
CITY POINT, VA., February 4, 1865--5 p. m.
(Received 7. 30 p. m.)
Major General H. W. HALLECK,
Chief of Staff:
If General Washburn is not placed in command of West Tennessee I want him to come on to take command at Norfolk. He is one of the best administrative officers we have, and will effectually stop supplies being sent through our lines to the enemy wherever he is. We want such a man at each of the above places.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.