U.S. Grant Letter to Elihu Washburne-- Part 1: "My Going Could Do No Possible Good"

From the August 21, 2013, Galena (Ill) Gazette from the Papers of Ulysses Grant. Letter dated August 30, 1863, to Congressman Elihu Washburne from Galena. Today's date 150 years ago.

Ever since the fall of Vicksburg, Mississippi, to Union forces led by General Grant, his name had been constantly mentioned as being a likely choice to command the Union Army in the east.

Grant wrote, "My going could do no possible good. They have there able officers who have been brought up with that army and to import a commander to place over them certainly could produce no good...I can do more with the Army of the Tennessee (in the west)."

--Old Secesh