Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson) (1822-1885) to Henry Stewart Hewit
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00364 Author/Creator: Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson) (1822-1885) Place Written: City Point, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 August 1864 Pagination: 3 p. : envelope ; 20.5 x 25.3 cm. Order a Copy
Grant, commander-in-chief of the United States Army, writes to Hewit (sometimes Hewitt), a surgeon and medical director on his staff. Agrees to help Hewit's son secure an appointment to West Point Military Academy for the following year. Grant speaks of his great respect for Sherman, McPherson and the Atlanta campaign. States that the campaign Hewit has been engaged in "is a remarkable, and to this point, most successful one. Sherman is one of the very few men, if not the only man, who could have conducted it. I have always felt in Sherman and McPherson a confidence that I could put in but few men. They have been free from personal ambition at the expense of others. They have been truly zealous in the performance of their duties and truly great in their intelligence and military skill." Written on Head Quarters, Armies of the United States stationery.
William Tecumseh Sherman conducted his Atlanta campaign from May to September 1864. During this campaign, James B. McPherson's Army of the Tennessee was part of Sherman's Military Division of the Mississippi.
City Pt. Va. Aug. 10th 1864
Dear Sir.
Your letter of the 12th of July is before me. It will afford me great pleasure to aid you in securing an appointment to West Point for your men when the time comes. The appointment for 165 will not be until March next.
The campaign you have been engaged in is a [2] remarkable, and to this point, most resourceful one. Sherman is one of the very few men, if not the only man, who could have conducted it. I have always felt [struck: for] in Sherman and Mc Pherson a confidence that I could find in but few men. They have been far from personal ambition at the experience of others. They have been truly zealous in [3] the performance of their duties and truly great in their intelligence and military skill.
My hearty wishes for your success in life sir, and I subscribe myself your Friend
U. S. Grant
Lt. Gn.
[envelope]
Surg. H. S. Hewitt
Med. Director Army of [illegible]
Near Atlanta
Ga
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