GRANT, Ulysses S. Autograph draft letter signed ("U. S. Grant"), as Lt. General, to Maj. General Henry Halleck, City Point, Va., 9 December 1864. 1 page, 4to, on Head Quarters Army of the United States stationery . FINE. STANDOFF AT NASHVILLE: GRANT SUSPENDS HIS DISMISSAL OF "THE ROCK OF CHICKAMAUGA" TEMPORARILY, "UNTIL IT IS SEEN WHETHER HE WILL DO ANYTHING" A dramatic communication--to be sent in "cipher"--revealing the extent of Grant's exasperation with "the Rock of Chickamauga," George Thomas during the Nashville campaign: "Gen. Thomas has been urged in every way possible to attack the enemy even to the giving the positive order. He did say he thought he would be able to attack on the 7th but did not do so nor has he given a reason for not doing it. I am very unwilling to do injustice to an officer who has done as much good service as Gen. Thomas has, however, and will therefore suspend the order relieving him until it is seen whether he will do anything." Thomas, one of a handful of Virginia-born generals to remain loyal to the U. S. in 1861, fought at Shiloh and Stone River before his famous stand at Chickamauga in 1863. He led the Army of the Cumberland at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and was promoted to Maj. General for his exploits at Franklin and Nashville. In the Atlanta campaign, however, Grant lost patience with what he thought was Thomas's excessive caution or possibly even lingering Southern sympathy. Thomas repeatedly postponed a move against Hood's forces to support Sherman's March to the Sea. After rough fighting at Franklin on 30 November, Thomas dug in at Nashville. Grant ordered him to attack Hood immediately, but Thomas asked more time to prepare for a decisive battle. On 7 December, Grant recommended to Stanton that General Schofield replace Thomas (see Christie's, 4 June 2005, lot 255). On 9 December Grant ordered him relieved, but Thomas said he was now ready to move and Grant--as we see here--decided to relent. But Thomas's command hung by the slimmest of threads. When Thomas still had not moved by the 15th--this time citing poor weather--Grant finally ordered Gen. John Logan to replace him. Grant feared above all that Thomas's delay would allow Hood to get north of the Cumberland River, and force the transfer of Union troops from the east to stop Hood's advance. He decided now he would not even wait for Logan to take over but got on a horse himself to sack Thomas in person and get the troops moving. En route he received word that Thomas had finally launched his long-overdue attack and destroyed Hood's force on 15-16 December.
GRANT, Ulysses S. Autograph draft letter signed ("U. S. Grant"), as Lt. General, to Maj. General Henry Halleck, City Point, Va., 9 December 1864. 1 page, 4to, on Head Quarters Army of the United States stationery . FINE. STANDOFF AT NASHVILLE: GRANT SUSPENDS HIS DISMISSAL OF "THE ROCK OF CHICKAMAUGA" TEMPORARILY, "UNTIL IT IS SEEN WHETHER HE WILL DO ANYTHING" A dramatic communication--to be sent in "cipher"--revealing the extent of Grant's exasperation with "the Rock of Chickamauga," George Thomas during the Nashville campaign: "Gen. Thomas has been urged in every way possible to attack the enemy even to the giving the positive order. He did say he thought he would be able to attack on the 7th but did not do so nor has he given a reason for not doing it. I am very unwilling to do injustice to an officer who has done as much good service as Gen. Thomas has, however, and will therefore suspend the order relieving him until it is seen whether he will do anything." Thomas, one of a handful of Virginia-born generals to remain loyal to the U. S. in 1861, fought at Shiloh and Stone River before his famous stand at Chickamauga in 1863. He led the Army of the Cumberland at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and was promoted to Maj. General for his exploits at Franklin and Nashville. In the Atlanta campaign, however, Grant lost patience with what he thought was Thomas's excessive caution or possibly even lingering Southern sympathy. Thomas repeatedly postponed a move against Hood's forces to support Sherman's March to the Sea. After rough fighting at Franklin on 30 November, Thomas dug in at Nashville. Grant ordered him to attack Hood immediately, but Thomas asked more time to prepare for a decisive battle. On 7 December, Grant recommended to Stanton that General Schofield replace Thomas (see Christie's, 4 June 2005, lot 255). On 9 December Grant ordered him relieved, but Thomas said he was now ready to move and Grant--as we see here--decided to relent. But Thomas's command hung by the slimmest of threads. When Thomas still had not moved by the 15th--this time citing poor weather--Grant finally ordered Gen. John Logan to replace him. Grant feared above all that Thomas's delay would allow Hood to get north of the Cumberland River, and force the transfer of Union troops from the east to stop Hood's advance. He decided now he would not even wait for Logan to take over but got on a horse himself to sack Thomas in person and get the troops moving. En route he received word that Thomas had finally launched his long-overdue attack and destroyed Hood's force on 15-16 December.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
