Beschreibung:

CIVIL WAR]. SHERMAN, William Tecumseh, Major General. Autograph letter signed ("W. T. Sherman Maj. Gen. Commanding"), TO GENERAL E.O.C. ORD, Jackson [Mississippi], 18 July 1863. 1 page, 4to, integral blank, browned, two strong horizontal creases, small nick at left-hand edge. IN THE WAKE OF VICTORY AT VICKSBURG: "GENERAL GRANT EVIDENTLY WANTS ME TO PUSH AFTER JOHNSTON" An interesting letter dated two weeks after the Union Army's hard-won victory at Vicksburg after a long seige. A Confederate force under Joseph E. Johnston had moved to Jackson to attack the Union rear, but when Johnston received news of the Vicksburg surrender he fortified his 36,000-man force in Jackson. Sherman, in command of three Corps (including Ord's XIII Corps) pursued Johnston and partially surrounded Jackson on the 9th, beginning seige operations which lasted until the night of the 16th, when the poorly supplied Johnston withdrew his men across the Pearl River. On the 17th, the day before this letter, Sherman pursued Johnston for some 12 miles, then called off the pursuit. Here, he prepares to defend his actions to his superior, General Grant: "As explanatory of the reasons for not pursuing and pushing Johnston's retreating force I am desirous you should reduce to writing the substance of what you said to me yesterday, touching the physical condition of your Corps. The telegraph is repaired back to Vicksburg, and Genl. Grant evidently wants me to push after Johnston. Keep your men well in camp & be prepared to move but report to me the reason if any why the 13th Army Corps is unable to push further into the Interior." Sherman and his three Corps were ordered back to Vicksburg; despite Sherman's concern, Grant did not feel the pursuit had been broken off too soon (see Grant, Memoirs , Lib. of American edn., pp.387-388).