butIreasonedwithhim，thatthisnotewasofficial，andmustbecredited，andIofferedtorenewtheassaultatoncewithnewtroops。HesaidhewouldinstantlyridedownthelinetoMcClernand’sfront，andifIdidnotreceiveorderstothecontrary，by3o’clockp。m。，Imighttryitagain。Mower’sfreshbrigadewasbroughtupundercover，andsomechangesweremadeinGilesSmith’sbrigade;and，punctuallyat3p。m。，hearingheavyfiringdownalongthelinetomyleft，Iorderedthesecondassault。Itwasarepetitionofthefirst，equallyunsuccessfulandbloody。ItalsotranspiredthatthesamethinghadoccurredwithGeneralMcPherson，wholostinthissecondassaultsomemostvaluableofficersandmen，withoutadequateresult;andthatGeneralMcClernand，insteadofhavingtakenanysinglepointoftherebelmainparapet，hadonlytakenoneortwosmalloutlyinglunettesopentotherear，wherehismenwereatthemercyoftherebelsbehindtheirmainparapet，andmostofthemwereactuallythuscaptured。Thisaffaircausedgreatfeelingwithus，andseverecriticismsonGeneralMcClernand，whichledfinallytohisremovalfromthecommandoftheThirteenthCorps，towhichGeneralOrdsucceeded。Theimmediatecause，however，ofGeneralMcClernand’sremovalwasthepublicationofasortofcongratulatoryorderaddressedtohistroops，firstpublishedinSt。Louis，inwhichheclaimedthathehadactuallysucceededinmakingalodgmentinVicksburg，buthadlostit，owingtothefactthatMcPhersonandShermandidnotfulfilltheirpartsofthegeneralplanofattack。Thiswassimplyuntrue。ThetwoseveralassaultsmadeMay22d，onthelinesofVicksburg，hadfailed，byreasonofthegreatstrengthofthepositionandthedeterminedfightingofitsgarrison。IhavesinceseenthepositionatSevastopol，andwithouthesitationIdeclarethatatVicksburgtohavebeenthemoredifficultofthetwo。
Thereafterourproceedingswereallinthenatureofasiege。
GeneralGrantdrewmoretroopsfromMemphis，toprolongourgenerallinetotheleft，soascompletelytoinvesttheplaceonitsland—side，whilethenavyheldtheriverbothaboveandbelow。
GeneralMower’sbrigadeofTuttle’sdivisionwasalsosentacrosstherivertothepeninsula，sothatbyMay31stVicksburgwascompletelybeleaguered。Goodroadswereconstructedfromourcampstotheseverallanding—placesontheYazooRiver，towhichpointsourboatsbroughtusamplesupplies;sothatwewereinasplendidconditionforasiege，whileourenemywasshutupinaclosefort，withalargecivilpopulationofmen，women，andchildrentofeed，inadditiontohiscombatantforce。Ifwecouldpreventsallies，orrelieffromtheoutside，thefateofthegarrisonofVicksburgwasmerelyaquestionoftime。
Ihadmyheadquarterscampcloseuptotheworks，nearthecentreofmycorps，andGeneralGranthadhisbivouacbehindaravinetomyrear。WeestimatedPemberton’swholeforceinVicksburgatthirtythousandmen，anditwaswellknownthattherebelGeneralJosephE。JohnstonwasengagedincollectinganotherstrongforceneartheBigBlack，withtheintentiontoattackourrear，andthustoaffordPembertonanopportunitytoescapewithhismen。EventhentheabilityofGeneralJohnstonwasrecognized，andGeneralGranttoldmethathewasabouttheonlygeneralonthatsidewhomhefeared。Eachcorpskeptstrongpicketswelltotherear;but，astherumorsofJohnston’saccumulatingforcereachedus，GeneralGrantconcludedtotakestrongermeasures。HehadreceivedfromtheNorthGeneralJ。G。Parker’scorps（Ninth），whichhadbeenpostedatHaines’sBluff;then，detailingonedivisionfromeachofthethreecorpsd’armeeinvestingVicksburg，heorderedmetogoout，takeageneralcommandofall，andtocounteractanymovementonthepartofGeneralJohnstontorelieveVicksburg。I
reconnoitredthewholecountry，fromHaines’sBlufftotherailroadbridge，andpostedthetroopsthus:
Parke’stwodivisionsfromHaines’sBluffouttotheBentonorridgeroad;Tuttle’sdivision，ofmycorps，joiningonandextendingtoaplantationcalledYoung’s，overlookingBearCreekvalley，whichemptiesintotheBigBlackaboveMessinger’sFerry;
thenMcArthursdivision，ofMcPherson’scorps，tookuptheline，andreachedtoOsterhaus’sdivisionofMcClernand’scorps，whichheldastrongfortifiedpositionattherailroad—crossingoftheBigBlackRiver。Iwasofopinionthat，ifJohnstonshouldcrosstheBigBlack，hecouldbythefavorablenatureofthecountrybeheldinchecktillaconcentrationcouldbeeffectedbyusatthepointthreatened。Fromthebestinformationwecouldgather，GeneralJohnstonhadaboutthirtyorfortythousandmen。ItookpostnearaplantationofoneTrible，nearMarkham’s，andfrequentlyreconnoitredthewholeline，andcouldseetheenemyengagedinlikemanner，ontheeastaideofBigBlack;butheneverattemptedactuallytocrossover，exceptwithsomecavalry，justaboveBearCreek，whichwaseasilydrivenback。IwastherefromJune20thtothe4thofJuly。Inasmalllog—housenearMarkham’swasthefamilyofMr。Klein，whosewifewasthedaughterofMrs。
Day，ofNewOrleans，whointurnwasthesisterofJudgeT。W。
Bartley，mybrother—in—law。Iusedfrequentlytodropinandtakeamealwiththem，andMrs。Kleinwasgenerallyknownasthegeneral’scousin，whichdoubtlesssavedherandherfamilyfrommolestation，toocommononthepartofourmen。
Oneday，asIwasridingthelinenearafarmknownasParsonFog’s，IheardthatthefamilyofaMr。Wilkinson，ofNewOrleans，was\"refugeeing\"atahousenearby。Irodeup，inquired，andfoundtwoyounggirlsofthatname，whosaidtheywerethechildrenofGeneralWilkinson，ofLouisiana，andthattheirbrotherhadbeenattheMilitarySchoolatAlexandria。Inquiringfortheirmother，IwastoldshewasspendingthedayatParsonFox’s。Asthishousewasonmyroute，Irodethere，wentthroughalargegateintotheyard，followedbymystaffandescort，andfoundquiteanumberofladiessittingontheporch。IrodeupandinquiredifthatwereParsonFox’s。Theparson，afine—looking，venerableoldman，rose，andsaidthathewasParsonFox。ItheninquiredforMrs。
Wilkinson，whenanelderlyladyansweredthatshewastheperson。
IaskedherifshewerefromPlaquemineParish，Louisiana，andshesaidshewas。ItheninquiredifshehadasonwhohadbeenacadetatAlexandriawhenGeneralShermanwassuperintendent，andsheansweredyes。Ithenannouncedmyself，inquiredaftertheboy，andshesaidhewasinsideofVicksburg，anartillerylieutenant。
Ithenaskedaboutherhusband，whomIhadknown，whensheburstintotears，andcriedoutinagony，\"YoukilledhimatBullRun，wherehewasfightingforhiscountry！\"IdisclaimedkillinganybodyatBullRun;butallthewomenpresent（nearlyadozen）
burstintoloudlamentations，whichmadeitmostuncomfortableforme，andIrodeaway。Onthe3dofJuly，asIsatatmybivouacbytheroad—sidenearTrible’s，Isawapoor，miserablehorse，carryingalady，andledbyalittlenegroboy，comingacrossacotton—fieldtowardme;astheyapproachedIrecognizedpoorMrs。
Wilkinson，andhelpedhertodismount。Iinquiredwhathadbroughthertomeinthatstyle，andsheansweredthatsheknewVicksburg，wasgoingtosurrender，andshewantedtogorightawaytoseeherboy。Ihadatelegraph—wiretoGeneralGrant’sheadquarters，andhadheardthatthereweresymptomsofsurrender，butasyetnothingdefinite。Itriedtoconsoleanddissuadeher，butshewasresolved，andIcouldnothelpgivingheralettertoGeneralGrant，explainingtohimwhoshewas，andaskinghimtogivehertheearliestopportunitytoseeherson。Thedistancewasfullytwentymiles，butoffshestarted，andIafterwardlearnedthatmyletterhadenabledhertoseeherson，whohadescapedunharmed。
LaterinthedayIgotbytelegraphGeneralGrant’snoticeofthenegotiationsforsurrender;and，byhisdirections，gavegeneralorderstomytroopstobereadyatamoment’snoticetocrosstheBigBlack，andgoforJoeJohnston。
Thenextday（July4，1863）Vicksburgsurrendered，andordersweregivenforatonceattackingGeneralJohnston。TheThirteenthCorps（GeneralOrd）wasorderedtomarchrapidly，andcrosstheBigBlackattherailroad—bridge;theFifteenthbyMesainger’s，andtheNinth（GeneralParker）byBirdsong’sFerry—alltoconvergeonBolton。MycorpscrossedtheBigBlackduringthe5thand6thofJuly，andmarchedforBolton，wherewecameinwithGeneralOrd’stroops;buttheNinthCorpswasdelayedincrossingatBirdsong’s。JohnstonhadreceivedtimelynoticeofPemberton’ssurrender，andwasinfullretreatforJackson。Onthe8thallourtroopsreachedtheneighborhoodofClinton，theweatherfearfullyhot，andwaterscarce。Johnstonhadmarchedrapidly，andinretreatinghadcausedcattle，hogs，andsheep，tobedrivenintothepondsofwater，andthereshotdown;sothatwehadtohaultheirdeadandstinkingcarcassesouttousethewater。Onthel0thofJulywehaddriventherebelarmyintoJackson，whereitturnedatbaybehindtheintrenchments，whichhadbeenenlargedandstrengthenedsinceourformervisitinMay。WeclosedourlinesaboutJackson;mycorps（Fifteenth）heldthecentre，extendingfromtheClintontotheRaymondroad;Ord’s（Thirteenth）ontheright，reachingPearlRiverbelowthetown;andParker’s（Ninth）theleft，abovethetown。
Onthe11thwepressedclosein，andshelledthetownfromeverydirection。OneofOrdsbrigades（Lauman’s）gottooclose，andwasveryroughlyhandledanddrivenbackindisorder。GeneralOrdaccusedthecommander（GeneralLauman）ofhavingdisregardedhisorders，andattributedtohimpersonallythedisasterandheavylossofmen。Herequestedhisrelief，whichIgranted，andGeneralLaumanwenttotherear，andneverregainedhisdivision。Hediedafterthewar，inIowa，muchrespected，asbeforethattimehehadbeenuniversallyesteemedamostgallantandexcellentofficer。
Theweatherwasfearfullyhot，butwecontinuedtopressthesiegedayandnight，usingourartilleryprettyfreely;andonthemorningofJuly17ththeplacewasfoundevacuated。GeneralSteele’sdivisionwassentinpursuitasfarasBrandon（fourteenmiles），butGeneralJohnstonhadcarriedhisarmysafelyoff，andpursuitinthathotweatherwouldhavebeenfataltomycommand。
ReportingthefacttoGeneralGrant，heorderedmetoreturn，tosendGeneralParkes’scorpstoHaines’sBluff，GeneralOrd’sbacktoVicksburg，andheconsentedthatIshouldencampmywholecorpsneartheBigBlack，prettymuchonthesamegroundwehadoccupiedbeforethemovement，andwiththeprospectofaperiodofrestfortheremainderofthesummer。Wereachedourcampsonthe27thofJuly。
Meantime，adivisionoftroops，commandedbyBrigadier—GeneralW。
SooySmith，hadbeenaddedtomycorps。GeneralSmithappliedforandreceivedasick—leaveonthe20thofJuly;Brigadier—GeneralHughEwingwasassignedtoitscommand;andfromthattimeitconstitutedtheFourthDivisionoftheFifteenthArmyCorps。
PortHudsonhadsurrenderedtoGeneralBanksonthe8thofJuly（anecessaryconsequenceofthefallofVicksburg），andthusterminatedprobablythemostimportantenterpriseofthecivilwar—
—therecoveryofthecompletecontroloftheMississippiRiver，fromitssourcetoitsmouth——or，inthelanguageofMr。Lincoln，theMississippiwent\"unvexedtothesea。\"
Iputmyfourdivisionsintohandsome，cleancamps，lookingtohealthandcomfortalone，andhadmyheadquartersinabeautifulgrovenearthehouseofthatsameParsonFoxwhereIhadfoundthecrowdofweepingrebelwomenwaitingforthefateoftheirfriendsinVicksburg。
ThelosssustainedbytheFifteenthCorpsintheassaultofMay19th，atVicksburg，wasmostlyconfinedtothebattalionoftheThirteenthRegulars，whosecommandingofficer，CaptainWashington，wasmortallywounded，andafterwarddiedinthehandsoftheenemy，whichbattalionlostseventy—sevenmenoutofthetwohundredandfiftyengaged;theEighty—thirdIndiana（ColonelSpooner），andtheOneHundredandTwentyseventhIllinois（Lieutenant—ColonelEldridge），theaggregatebeingabouttwohundred。
Intheassaultsofthe22d，thelossintheFifteenthCorpswasaboutsixhundred。
IntheattackonJackson，Mississippi，duringthe11th—16thofJuly，GeneralOrdreportedthelossintheThirteenthArmyCorpssevenhundredandsixty—two，ofwhichfivehundredandthirty—threewereconfinedtoLauman’sdivision;GeneralParkesreported，intheNinthCorps，thirty—sevenkilled，twohundredandfifty—eightwounded，andthirty—threemissing:total，threehundredandtwenty—eight。IntheFifteenthCorpsthelosswasless;sothat，intheaggregate，thelossasreportedbymeatthetimewaslessthanathousandmen，whilewetookthatnumberaloneofprisoners。
InGeneralGrant’sentirearmybeforeVicksburg，composedoftheNinth，partoftheSixteenth，andthewholeoftheThirteenth;
Fifteenth，andSeventeenthCorps，theaggregateloss，asstatedbyBadeau，was:
Killed:……1243
Wounded:……7095
Missing:……535
Total:……8873
WhereastheConfederateloss，asstatedbythesameauthor，SurrenderedatVicksburg……32000
CapturedatChampionHills……3000
CapturedatBigBlackBridge……2000
CapturedatPortGibson……2000
CapturedwithLoring……4000
Killedandwounded……10000
Stragglers……3000
Total……56000
Besideswhich，\"alargeamountofpublicproperty，consistingofrailroads，locomotives，cars，steamers，cotton，guns，muskets，ammunition，etc。，etc。，wascapturedinVicksburg。\"
ThevalueofthecaptureofVicksburg，however，wasnotmeasuredbythelistofprisoners，guns，andsmall—arms，butbythefactthatitspossessionsecuredthenavigationofthegreatcentralriverofthecontinent，bisectedfatallytheSouthernConfederacy，andsetthearmieswhichhadbeenusedinitsconquestfreeforotherpurposes;anditsohappenedthattheeventcoincidedastotimewithanothergreatvictorywhichcrownedourarmsfaraway，atGettysburg，Pennsylvania。Thatwasadefensivebattle，whereasourswasoffensiveinthehighestacceptationoftheterm，andthetwo，occurringatthesamemomentoftime，shouldhaveendedthewar;buttherebelleadersweremad，andseemeddeterminedthattheirpeopleshoulddrinkoftheverylowestdregsofthecupofwar，whichtheythemselveshadprepared。
ThecampaignofVicksburg，initsconceptionandexecution，belongedexclusivelytoGeneralGrant，notonlyinthegreatwhole，butinthethousandsofitsdetails。Istillretainmanyofhislettersandnotes，allinhisownhandwriting，prescribingtheroutesofmarchfordivisionsanddetachments，specifyingeventheamountoffoodandtoolstobecarriedalong。Manypersonsgavehisadjutantgeneral，Rawlins，thecreditforthesethings，buttheywereinerror;fornocommandinggeneralofanarmyevergavemoreofhispersonalattentiontodetails，orwrotesomanyofhisownorders，reports，andletters，asGeneralGrant。HissuccessatVicksburgjustlygavehimgreatfameathomeandabroad。ThePresidentconferredonhimtherankofmajor—generalintheregulararmy，thehighestgradethenexistingbylaw;andGeneralMcPhersonandIsharedinhissuccessbyreceivingsimilarcommissionsasbrigadier—generalsintheregulararmy。
ButoursuccessatVicksburgproducedotherresultsnotsofavorabletoourcause——ageneralrelaxationofeffort，anddesiretoescapetheharddrudgeryofcamp:officerssoughtleavesofabsencetovisittheirhomes，andsoldiersobtainedfurloughsanddischargesonthemostslenderpretexts;eventheGeneralGovernmentseemedtorelaxinitseffortstoreplenishourrankswithnewmen，ortoenforcethedraft，andthepoliticianswerepressingtheirschemestoreorganizeorpatchupsomeformofcivilgovernment，asfastasthearmiesgainedpartialpossessionoftheStates。
Inordertoillustratethispeculiarphaseofourcivilwar，Igiveatthisplacecopiesofcertainletterswhichhavenothereto。
forebeenpublished:
[Private。]
WASHINGTON，Augustt29，1868。
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，Vicksburg，MississippiMyDEARGENERAL:ThequestionofreconstructioninLouisiana，Mississippi，andArkansas，willsooncomeupfordecisionoftheGovernment，andnotonlythelengthofthewar，butourultimateandcompletesuccess，willdependuponitsdecision。Itisadifficultmatter，butIbelieveitcanbesuccessfullysolved，ifthePresidentwillconsultopinionsofcoolanddiscreetmen，whoarecapableoflookingatitinallitsbearingsandeffects。I
thinkheisdisposedtoreceivetheadviceofourgeneralswhohavebeenintheseStates，andknowmuchmoreoftheirconditionthangassypoliticiansinCongress。GeneralBankshaswrittenprettyfully，onthesubject。IwrotetoGeneralGrant，immediately，afterthefallofVicksburg，forhisviewsinregardtoMississippi，buthehasnotyetanswered。
IwishyouwouldconsultwithGrant，McPherson，andothersofcool，goodjudgment，andwritemeyourviewsfully，asImaywishtousethemwiththePresident。Youhadbetterwritemeunofficially，andthenyourletterwillnotbeputonfile，andcannothereafterbeusedagainstyou。YouhavebeeninWashingtonenoughtoknowhoweverythingamanwritesorsaysispickedupbyhisenemiesandmisconstrued。Withkindwishesforyourfurthersuccess，Iamyourstruly，H。W。HALLECK
[PrivateandConfidential。]
HEADQUARTERS，FIFTEENTHARMYCORPS，CAMPONBIGBLACK，MISSISSIPPI，September171863
H。W。HALLECK，Commander—in—Chief，Washington，D。C。
DEARGENERAL:IhavereceivedyourletterofAugust29th，andwithpleasureconfidetoyoufullymythoughtsontheimportantmattersyousuggest，withabsoluteconfidencethatyouwillusewhatisvaluable，andrejecttheuselessorsuperfluous。
ThatpartofthecontinentofNorthAmericaknownasLouisiana，Mississippi，andArkansas，isinmyjudgmentthekeytothewholeinterior。ThevalleyoftheMississippiisAmerica，and，althoughrailroadshavechangedtheeconomyofintercommunication，yetthewater—channelsstillmarkthelinesoffertileland，andaffordcheapcarriagetotheheavyproductsofit。
TheinhabitantsofthecountryontheMonongahela，theIllinois，theMinnesota，theYellowstone，andOsage，areasdirectlyconcernedinthesecurityoftheLowerMississippiasarethosewhodwellonitsverybanksinLouisiana;andnowthatthenationhasrecovereditspossession，thisgenerationofmenwillmakeafearfulmistakeiftheyagaincommititschargetoapeopleliabletomisusetheirposition，andassert，aswasrecentlydone，that，becausetheydweltonthebanksofthismightystream，theyhadarighttocontrolitsnavigation。
Iwoulddeemitveryunwiseatthistime，orforyearstocome，torevivetheStategovernmentsofLouisiana，etc。，ortoinstituteinthisquarteranycivilgovernmentinwhichthelocalpeoplehavemuchtosay。Theyhadagovernmentsomildandpaternalthattheygraduallyforgottheyhadanyatall，savewhattheythemselvescontrolled;theyassertedanabsoluterighttoseizepublicmoneys，forts，arms，andeventoshutupthenaturalavenuesoftravelandcommerce。Theychosewar——theyignoredanddeniedalltheobligationsofthesolemncontractofgovernmentandappealedtoforce。
Weacceptedtheissue，andnowtheybegintorealizethatwarisatwo—edgedsword，anditmaybethatmanyoftheinhabitantscryforpeace。Iknowthemwell，andtheveryimpulsesoftheirnature;
andtodealwiththeinhabitantsofthatpartoftheSouthwhichbordersonthegreatriver，wemustrecognizetheclassesintowhichtheyhavedividedthemselvesFirst。Thelargeplanters，owninglands，slaves，andallkindsofpersonalproperty。Theseare，onthewhole，therulingclass。
Theyareeducated，wealthy，andeasilyapproached。Insomedistrictstheyarebitterasgall，andhavegivenupslaves，plantations，andall，servinginthearmiesoftheConfederacy;
whereas，inothers，theyareconservative。Nonedareadmitafriendshipforus，thoughtheysayfreelythattheywereattheoutsetopposedtowaranddisunion。Iknowwecanmanagethisclass，butonlybyaction。Argumentisexhausted，andwordshavelosttheirusualmeaning。Nothingbutthelogicofeventstouchestheirunderstanding;but，oflate，thishasworkedawonderfulchange。IfourcountrywerelikeEurope，crowdedwithpeople，I
wouldsayitwouldbeeasiertoreplacethisclassthantoreconstructit，subordinatetothepolicyofthenation;but，asthisisnotthecase，itisbettertoallowtheplanters，withindividualexceptions，graduallytorecovertheirplantations，tohireanyspeciesoflabor，andtoadaptthemselvestotheneworderofthings。Still，theirfriendshipandassistancetoreconstructorderoutofthepresentruincannotbedependedon。Theywatchtheoperationsofourarmies，andhopestillforaSouthernConfederacythatwillrestoretothemtheslavesandprivilegeswhichtheyfeelareotherwiselostforever。Inmyjudgment，wehavetwomorebattlestowinbeforeweshouldevenbotherourmindswiththeideaofrestoringcivilorder——viz。，onenearMeridian，inNovember，andonenearShreveport，inFebruaryandMarchnext，whenRedRiverisnavigablebyourgunboats。Whenthesearedone，then，andnotuntilthen，willtheplantersofLouisiana，Arkansas，andMississippi，submit。Slaveryisalreadygone，and，tocultivatetheland，negroorotherlabormustbehired。This，ofitself，isavastrevolution，andtimemustbeaffordedtoallowmentoadjusttheirmindsandhabitstothisneworderofthings。Acivilgovernmentoftherepresentativetypeworldsuitthisclassfarlessthanapuremilitaryrole，readilyadaptingitselftoactualoccurrences，andabletoenforceitslawsandorderspromptlyandemphatically。
Second。Thesmallerfarmers，mechanics，merchants，andlaborers。
Thisclasswillprobablynumberthree—quartersofthewhole;have，infact，norealinterestintheestablishmentofaSouthernConfederacy，andhavebeenledordrivenintowaronthefalsetheorythattheyweretobebenefitedsomehow——theyknewnothow。
Theyareessentiallytiredofthewar，andwouldslinkbackhomeiftheycould。ThesearetherealtiersetatoftheSouth，andarehardlyworthyathought;fortheyswervetoandfroaccordingtoeventswhichtheydonotcomprehendorattempttoshape。Whenthetimeforreconstructioncomes，theywillwanttheoldpoliticalsystemofcaucuses，Legislatures，etc。，toamusethemandmakethembelievetheyarerealsovereigns;butinallthingstheywillfollowblindlytheleadoftheplanters。TheSouthernpoliticians，whounderstandthisclass，usethemastheFrenchdotheirmasses——
seeminglyconsulttheirprejudices，whiletheymaketheirordersandenforcethem。Weshoulddothesame。
Third。TheUnionmenoftheSouth。ImustconfessIhavelittlerespectforthisclass。Theyallowedaclamoroussetofdemagoguestomuzzleanddrivethemasapackofcurs。Afraidofshadows，theysubmittamelytosquadsofdragoons，andpermitthem，withoutamurmur，toburntheircotton，taketheirhorses，corn，andeverything;and，whenwereachthem，theyarefullofcomplaintsifourmentakeafewfence—railsforfire，orcorntofeedourhorses。
Theygiveusnoassistanceorinformation，andareloudestintheircomplaintsatthesmallestexcessesofoursoldiers。Theirsons，horses，arms，andeverythinguseful，areinthearmyagainstus，andtheystayathome，claimingalltheexemptionsofpeacefulcitizens。Iaccountthemasnothinginthisgreatgameofwar。
Fourth。TheyoungbloodsoftheSouth:sonsofplanters，lawyersabouttowns，goodbilliard—playersandsportsmen，menwhoneverdidworkandneverwill。Warsuitsthem，andtherascalsarebrave，fineriders，boldtorashness，anddangeroussubjectsineverysense。Theycarenotasouforniggers，land，oranything。TheyhateYankeesperse，anddon’tbothertheirbrainsaboutthepast，present，orfuture。Aslongastheyhavegoodhorses，plentyofforage，andanopencountry，theyarehappy。Thisisalargerclassthanmostmensuppose，andtheyarethemostdangeroussetofmenthatthiswarhasturnedlooseupontheworld。Theyaresplendidriders，first—rateshots，andutterlyreckless。Stewart，JohnMorgan，Forrest，andJackson，arethetypesandleadersofthisclass。Thesemenmustallbekilledoremployedbyusbeforewecanhopeforpeace。Theyhavenopropertyorfuture，andthereforecannotbeinfluencedbyanything，exceptpersonalconsiderations。Ihavetwobrigadesofthesefellowsinmyfront，commandedbyCosby，oftheoldarmy，andWhitfield，ofTexas。
StephenD。Leeisincommandofthewhole。Ihavefrequentinterviewswiththeirofficers，agoodunderstandingwiththem，andaminclinedtothink，whentheresourcesoftheircountryareexhausted，wemustemploythem。Theyarethebestcavalryintheworld，butitwilltaxMr。Chase’sgeniusforfinancetosupplythemwithhorses。Atpresenthorsescostthemnothing;fortheytakewheretheyfind，anddon’tbothertheirbrainsastowhoistopayforthem;thesamemaybesaidofthecornfields，whichhave，astheybelieve，beencultivatedbyagood—naturedpeoplefortheirspecialbenefit。Weproposetosharewiththemthefreeuseofthesecornfields，plantedbywillinghands，thatwillnevergatherthecrops。
NowthatIhavesketchedthepeoplewhoinhabitthedistrictofcountryunderconsideration，Iwillproceedtodiscussthefuture。
Acivilgovernmentnow，foranypartofit，wouldbesimplyridiculous。Thepeopleworldnotregardit，andeventhemilitarycommandersoftheantagonisticpartieswouldtreatitlightly。
Governorsworldbesimplypetitionersformilitaryassistance，toprotectsupposedfriendlyinterests，andmilitarycommanderswouldrefusetodisperseandweakentheirarmiesformilitaryreasons。
Jealousieswouldarisebetweenthetwoconflictingpowers，and，insteadofcontributingtotheendofthewar，wouldactuallydeferit。Therefore，IcontendthattheinterestsoftheUnitedStates，andoftherealpartiesconcerned，demandthecontinuanceofthesimplemilitaryrole，tillafteralltheorganizedarmiesoftheSoutharedispersed，conquered，andsubjugated。
ThepeopleofallthisregionarerepresentedintheArmyofVirginia，atCharleston，Mobile，andChattanooga。Theyhavesonsandrelationsineachoftherebelarmies，andnaturallyareinterestedintheirfate。Thoughweholdmilitarypossessionofthekey—pointsoftheircountry，stilltheycontend，andnaturally，thatshouldLeesucceedinVirginia，orBraggatChattanooga，achangewilloccurherealso。WecannotforthisreasonattempttoreconstructpartsoftheSouthasweconquerit，tillallideaoftheestablishmentofaSouthernConfederacyisabandoned。Weshouldavailourselvesofthepresentlulltosecurethestrategicalpointsthatwillgiveusanadvantageinthefuturemilitarymovements，andweshouldtreattheideaofcivilgovernmentasoneinwhichweasanationhaveaminororsubordinateinterest。Theopportunityisgoodtoimpressonthepopulationthetruththattheyaremoreinterestedincivilgovernmentthanweare;andthat，toenjoytheprotectionoflaws，theymostnotbepassiveobserversofevents，butmustaidandsustaintheconstitutedauthoritiesinenforcingthelaws;theymustnotonlysubmitthemselves，butshouldpaytheirshareoftaxes，andrenderpersonalserviceswhencalledon。
Itseemstome，incontemplatingthehistoryofthepasttwoyears，thatallthepeopleofourcountry，North，South，East，andWest，havebeenundergoingasalutarypoliticalschooling，learninglessonswhichmighthavebeenacquiredfromtheexperienceofotherpeople;butwehadallbecomesowiseinourownconceitthatweworldonlylearnbyactualexperienceofourown。Thepeopleevenofsmallandunimportantlocalities，NorthaswellasSouth，hadreasonedthemselvesintothebeliefthattheiropinionsweresuperiortotheaggregatedinterestofthewholenation。Halfourterritorialnationrebelled，onadoctrineofsecessionthattheythemselvesnowscout;andarealnumericalmajorityactuallybelievedthatalittleStatewasendowedwithsuchsovereigntythatitcoulddefeatthepolicyofthegreatwhole。Ithinkthepresentwarhasexplodedthatnotion，andwerethiswartoceasenow，theexperiencegained，thoughdear，wouldbeworththeexpense。
Anothergreatandimportantnaturaltruthisstillincontest，andcanonlybesolvedbywar。Numericalmajoritiesbyvotehavebeenourgreatarbiter。Heretoforeallmenhavecheerfullysubmittedtoitinquestionsleftopen，butnumericalmajoritiesarenotnecessarilyphysicalmajorities。TheSouth，thoughnumericallyinferior，contendtheycanwhiptheNorthernsuperiorityofnumbers，andthereforebynaturallawtheycontendthattheyarenotboundtosubmit。Thisissueistheonlyrealone，andinmyjudgmentallelseshouldbedeferredtoit。Waralonecandecideit，anditistheonlyquestionnowleftforusasapeopletodecide。CanwewhiptheSouth？Ifwecan，ournumericalmajorityhasboththenaturalandconstitutionalrighttogovernthem。Ifwecannotwhipthem，theycontendforthenaturalrighttoselecttheirowngovernment，andtheyhavetheargument。Ourarmiesmustprevailovertheirs;ourofficers，marshals，andcourts，mustpenetrateintotheinnermostrecessesoftheirland，beforewehavethenaturalrighttodemandtheirsubmission。
Iwouldbanishallminorquestions，assertthebroaddoctrinethatasanationtheUnitedStateshastheright，andalsothephysicalpower，topenetratetoeverypartofournationaldomain，andthatwewilldoit——thatwewilldoitinourowntimeandinourownway;thatitmakesnodifferencewhetheritbeinoneyear，ortwo，orten，ortwenty;thatwewillremoveanddestroyeveryobstacle，ifneedbe，takeeverylife，everyacreofland，everyparticleofproperty，everythingthattousseemsproper;thatwewillnotceasetilltheendisattained;thatallwhodonotaidusareenemies，andthatwewillnotaccounttothemforouracts。IfthepeopleoftheSouthoppose，theydosoattheirperil;andiftheystandby，merelookers—oninthisdomestictragedy，theyhavenorighttoimmunity，protection，orshareinthefinalresults。
Ievenbelieveandcontendfurtherthat，intheNorth，everymemberofthenationisboundbybothnaturalandconstitutionallawto\"maintainanddefendtheGovernmentagainstallitsenemiesandopposerswhomsoever。\"Iftheyfailtodoittheyarederelict，andcanbepunished，ordeprivedofalladvantagesarisingfromthelaborsofthosewhodo。Ifanyman，NorthorSouth，withholdshisshareoftaxes，orhisphysicalassistanceinthis，thecrisisofourhistory，heshouldbedeprivedofallvoiceinthefutureelectionsofthiscountry，andmightbebanished，orreducedtotheconditionofameredenizenoftheland。
Warisuponus，nonecandenyit。ItisnotthechoiceoftheGovernmentoftheUnitedStates，butofafaction;theGovernmentwasforcedtoaccepttheissue，ortosubmittoadegradationfatalanddisgracefultoalltheinhabitants。Inacceptingwar，itshouldbe\"pureandsimple\"asappliedtothebelligerents。I
wouldkeepitso，tillalltracesofthewarareeffaced;tillthosewhoappealedtoitaresickandtiredofit，andcometotheemblemofournation，andsueforpeace。Iwouldnotcoaxthem，orevenmeetthemhalf—way，butmakethemsosickofwarthatgenerationswouldpassawaybeforetheywouldagainappealtoit。
IknowwhatIsaywhenIrepeatthattheinsurgentsoftheSouthsneeratallovertureslookingtotheirinterests。TheyscornthealliancewiththeCopperheads;theytellmetomyfacethattheyrespectGrant，McPherson，andourbraveassociateswhofightmanfullyandwellforaprinciple，butdespisetheCopperheadsandsneaksattheNorth，whoprofessfriendshipfortheSouthandoppositiontothewar，asmerecoversfortheirknaveryandpoltroonery。