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Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson) (1822-1885) to Stephen A. Hurlbut

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04036 Author/Creator: Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson) (1822-1885) Place Written: Milliken's Bend, Louisiana Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 April 1863 Pagination: 3 p. ; 25.1 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Grant, Commander of the Army and Department of the Tennessee, writes to General Hurlbut, Commander of the 16th Army Corps. Refers to news of Hurlbut's movements brought by General Lee (possibly Albert Lindley Lee). Instructs Hurlbut to coordinate movement with General William Starke Rosecrans. Writes that due to the rising water of the Mississippi River, it will be impossible to move against Vicksburg, Mississippi from Helena or south of Panola, Louisiana. Due to rising water, predicts he will not be able to move for four days. Relates that the Marine Brigade was ordered to cooperate with General Grenville Mellon Dodge in Hamburg, Mississippi. Instructs Hurlbut that as the Marine Brigade passes through Memphis, he should estimate what time they will arrive in Hamburg, and inform Dodge.

Head Quarters, Dept. of the Ten.
Millikin's Bend, La. Apl. 11th 1863,
Maj. Gen. S.A. Hurlbut,
Comd.g 16th Army Corps,
Gen.
The movements spoken of previously in your dispatches and now in your letter of the 7th brought by Gen. Lee, you may make so as to effectively co-operate with Rosecrans and without reference to movements here.
At the present stage of water it is impossible to make any more from Helena or here to go in South of Panola. Your movements will therefore be somewhat independent of anything here. I could be ready to move here in four days but for the stage of water. One foot lower would [2] enable me to keep the wagon road open from here to New Carthage over which to march my troops & Artillery. As it is I fear [struck: that] when the water is let into the Canal, now ready, the water will cover this road.
The Marine Brigade was not directed to report at Memphis but to proceed to Hamburg, in the Ten, and communicate [struck: with] and co-operate with Gen. Dodge. I thought my letter to you explained this. It was my meaning that when this Brigade passed Memphis you could form a better opinion of the time when they would likely reach Hamburg than I could, and inform Gen. Dodge so that he might have some one on the lookout for them.
Very respectfully
[3] U.S. Grant
Maj. Gen.

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
Hurlbut, Stephen Augustus, 1815-1882
Lee, Albert Lindley, 1834-1907
Rosecrans, William S., 1819-1898
Dodge, Grenville Mellen, 1831-1916

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