Major-General Grant :

WASHINGTON, D. C., October 8, 1862.

I congratulate you and all concerned in your recent battles and victories. How does it all sum up? I especially regret the death of General Hackleman, and am very anxious to know the condition of General Oglesby, who is an intimate personal friend.

A. LINCOLN

This despatch was followed by another, which will be a curious relic in the future archives of the civil war, and of the country. If you live, my young reader, to mature manhood, you will hear it referred to as such. Up to the date of it, and afterward, the Government, and the people generally, supposed we were fighting to get the States back just as they were before the conflict-slavery and all. But God had determined it should not be so. Here is the message:

EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 1862.

Major-General GRANT, Governor JOHNSON, and all having Military, Naval, and Civil Authority under the United States within the State of Tennessee:

The bearer of this, Thomas R. Smith, a citizen of Tennessee, goes to that State, seeking to have such of the people thereof as desire to avoid the unsatisfactory prospect before them, and to have peace again upon the old terms under the Constitution of the United States, to manifest such desire by elections of members to the Congress of the United States particularly, and perhaps a Legislature, State officers, and a United States senator friendly to their object. I shall be glad for you and each of you to aid him, and all others acting for this object, as much as possible. * Of course, the men

elected should be gentlemen of character, willing to swear support to the Constitution as of old, and known to be above reasonable suspicion of duplicity.

Yours, very respectfully,

A. LINCOLN. ·

Even children smile already at the talk then, of 'peace again upon the old terms under the Constitution." The good, honest President had much to learn of the true character of the war, and the will of the King of kings in regard to the struggle then scarcely begun, in its connection with slavery, the bitter cause of the war.

CHAPTER XII.

A larger Field, and bolder Plans-Getting Ready-Skirmishes-CottonNegroes-Jews-Speculators-Grant's Sense of Honor-Vicksburg and the Mississippi-Farragut's Fleet-The Bombardment-Failure-A worthless Canal-The Noble Logan-Holly Springs Surrenders to the Rebels-Amusing Scenes.

OW steady the progress of our hero in military fame! Each success has opened the field for a greater one. Cairo, Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, and now "On to Vicksburg!"

each attended with a still wider theatre of operations, are the marvellous strides of the conqueror, during a period of less than a year, in the march of destiny. A new and broader department, and more daring designs, open before him. He took command of the Department of Tennessee, which extended into Mississippi as far as Vicksburg, October 25th, 1862. He mapped it out in the following order:

The First Division will constitute the "District of Memphis," Major-General W. T. Sherman commanding; the Second Division, the "District of Jackson," com

manded by Major-General S. A. Hurlbut; the Third Division, the "District of Corinth," Brigadier-General C. S. Hamilton commanding; the Fourth Division, the "District of Columbus," commanded by Brigadier-General T. A. Davies.

In every noble and difficult achievement for men or boys, there is first the hard, quiet work of preparation, to do. From the very last of October till late in November, General Grant had just this less exciting and unappreciated toil, before attempting the gigantic enterprise of taking Vicksburg. The vast machinery of a moving army-wagons, tents, stores, hospital shelter--he determined to reduce to the smallest possible amount. Even the officers' baggage must be limited to "blankets, one small valise or carpet bag, and a moderate mess kit," or eating apparatus.

The last of October, Colonel Lee, of General Grant's army, with a body of cavalry, dashed down to Ripley, Miss., took it, held it for a day, captured prisoners, and returned to Grand Junction. This town is east of La Grange, between Corinth and Memphis; to which, two days later, the Commanding General removed his headquarters. The movement deceived the rebels, who went to fortifying near Ripley, because Lee had been there.

This cavalry officer made another grand reconnoissance with two divisions of infantry and artillery, and part of a cavalry division, toward Hudsonville. He met the rebels, fought, conquered, and, besides killing sixteen,

took one hundred and thirty-four prisoners, with horses and arms. General Grant was highly gratified, and recommended Colonel Lee earnestly for promotion. He became, afterward, brigadier-general.

By the expedition, he found that General Lovell was at Holly Springs; Price, with twelve thousand men, seven miles below; about twenty miles farther toward the Gulf, thirteen thousand more were encamped.

General Grant was a just and gentlemanly officer. These qualities were visible in all his conduct. He won from friends and foes the homage of true virtue-of honor and integrity above a mean military ambition, or mercenary use of office and its opportunities to get money.

No reasonable complaint was disregarded, though it came from rebels. When the old farmers made bitter charges against the reconnoitring parties, because their fields, larders, and barns were pillaged, he ordered strict watchfulness by officers, and the arrest of offenders.

He overlooked no interest. แ 'King Cotton" had become lawful plunder. If seized south of Jackson, he was directed to be sent there; if seized north, to Columbus, Ky., in care of the quartermasters. Not only so, but the dark-skinned laborers, by whose unrequited toil he flourished, and who had fled from their masters to our lines, were to be cared for; and General Grant was the very man to do it. He established a camp at Grand Junction, under Chaplain Eaton, where food, raiment, medical attendance, and work in "picking, ginning, and baling all cotton outstanding in the fields," was to be provided.