U.S. Grant from April 15 -26, 1865

[L Verge]

Where's Kees when I need him?

I've been on bed rest at home for five days, and boy, is that boring!! It has given me plenty of time to think of history things, however. One question that has popped into my head is:

WHAT WAS GEN. GRANT DOING FROM THE TIME HE ARRIVED BACK IN D.C. AFTER THE ASSASSINATION UNTIL BOOTH WAS CAPTURED AND KILLED?

Maybe I missed a chapter or two along the way, but the next mention I have seen about him related to the assassination is when he appeared at the beginning of the trial. Any record to show that he participated in directing the search for Booth and others?

I have the impression that that aspect was handled by Stanton's people and those in charge of the Military Districts of D.C. and Maryland. Was the General allowed to go back to New Jersey to be with his wife and children?

I have said before on this forum that I am an admirer of Grant, but I have never read a complete biography on him -- and have absolutely no intentions of doing so! Y'all will have to edumacate me in an abbreviated manner.

[PaigeBooth]

Laurie, I looked online and could not find anything stating exactly what Grant was doing from the time he arrived in DC until Booth's death. Apparently, however, a rumor was going around on April 23rd saying Grant was heading south. Julia Grant was upset by this rumor and wrote a letter you can read here: http://www.raabcollection.com/ulysses-s-...incoln-mrs

Not sure how reputable this information is.????

[L Verge]

(11-20-2014 05:11 PM)PaigeBooth Wrote:  Laurie, I looked online and could not find anything stating exactly what Grant was doing from the time he arrived in DC until Booth's death. Apparently, however, a rumor was going around on April 23rd saying Grant was heading south. Julia Grant was upset by this rumor and wrote a letter you can read here: http://www.raabcollection.com/ulysses-s-...incoln-mrs

Not sure how reputable this information is.????

Thank you, Paige! While Grant did not head south, this letter certainly shows the fear for his life that Mrs. Grant was going through. It does seem strange that the General wasn't getting word to his wife about what he was doing.

I can sympathize with Julia's fears. My father was assigned to an ammo dump in Korea during that war. One day, my mother heard on the news that a dump had blown up in the same area where Dad was. She did not hear from him for two weeks and panic reigned supreme.

He finally wrote that it was the dump "on the other side of the mountain," but that they had all been so busy cleaning up and retrieving bodies that no one could send out communications. My mother held up by reminding herself that a chaplain wasn't knocking on our door either...

[Linda Anderson]

According to Grant by Jean Edward Smith, on April 14th, "the Grants arrived at Broad Street station [Philadelphia] about midnight and went directly to Bloodgood's Hotel, where a telegraph messenger was waiting."

After reading the telegraph that stated that the President, Secretary Seward and Seward's son Frederick were assassinated, "Grant escorted Julia across the Delaware River to Burlington and then returned to Washington without escort or bodyguard...Not knowing the extent of the conspiracy, he fired off a telegram to General Ord in Richmond instructing him to incarcerate any member of the old Confederate city council who had not taken the oath of allegiance to the United States. 'Also, arrest all paroled officers and surgeons until they can be sent beyond our lines, unless they take the oath of allegiance. Extreme rigor will have to be observed whilst assassination remains the order of the day with the Rebels.'
"Ord kept his head. He admired the general in chief but he realized that Grant was overreacting. There was no complicity in Richmond, and Ord said so. 'Lee and his staff are in town among the paroled prisoners. Should I arrest them?' Ord said to do so would reopen war...
"Ord's message hit Grant like a splash of cold water. 'On reflection, I withdraw my dispatch,' he wired back. Ord was told to handle the situation as he thought best...
"For the next two days Grant busied himself with arrangements for Lincoln's funeral...
"Following the funeral Grant returned to his office to organize the final mop-up of Confederate resistance...Grant's concern was North Carolina, where Joseph E. Johnston's army was still in the field...
"On April 21, Major Henry Hitchcock, Sherman's aide, arrived at Grant's office with a copy of the agreement Sherman had made with Johnston... Despite his earlier disclaimer, Sherman had proposed a general peace settlement. Rather than surrender in the field, Confederate troops were to march to their respective state capitals, deposit their weapons in state arsenals, and disband. Rebel state leaders and legislators would take the oath of allegiance, whereupon the existing state governments would be restored to the Union with full authority. Courts would be reopened, and all Southerners would regain full political and property rights 'as defined by the Constitution and the states, respectively.' This provision, it could be argued, would have provided for the perpetuation of slavery."

When Grant read the memorandum to his cabinet, "President Johnson and Stanton were especially bitter in their condemnation, impugning Sherman's motives and suggesting that his action smacked of treason."

Grant went on a secret mission to North Carolina "...because he did not wish to embarrass Sherman any more than he had to. He arrived unannounced at Uncle Billy's Raleigh headquarters the morning of April 24th, informed his friend why the agreement with Johnston would not do, and told him to negotiate a new accord based on the terms Lee received at Appomattox...Sherman met again with Johnston, and on April 26 concluded a new agreement identical to the terms Grant had given Lee."

[Anita]

Laurie, hope you're feeling better.

Great info Linda. To see a chronology by day for Grant April 15-26 go here http://www.usgrantlibrary.org/about/chronology.asp
It adds a few details to what you describe above.

[Linda Anderson]

(11-20-2014 09:20 PM)Anita Wrote:  Laurie, hope you're feeling better.

Great info Linda. To see a chronology by day for Grant April 15-26 go here http://www.usgrantlibrary.org/about/chronology.asp
It adds a few details to what you describe above.

Fantastic website. Thanks, Anita!

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[RJNorton]

Anita, I second Linda. That is a great website. Thanks for posting the link!

[L Verge]

Thank you, Linda and Anita, for edumacating me on a man that I admire - but know very little about! Is that disingenuous?

[loetar44]

(11-19-2014 02:16 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Where's Kees when I need him?

I just read your post, was pretty busy and my time was limited the last two weeks, so maybe you thought I vanished. But, I’m here, healthy and sound. Hope you are feeling better Laurie! Sorry not responding sooner....

Your question about Ulysses Grant is an intriguing and fascinating one. What did he do after arriving back in D.C.? What I know is that after the assassination he was back in D.C. arriving there by train from Burlington at 1 pm and checked in at his hotel. He immediately started with a directing order to Gen. Ord to arrest certain CSA officials in Richmond.

The following day (Sunday, April 16) he wrote to his wife Julia the following: “I got back here about 1 pm yesterday and was called immediately into the presence of our new President, who had already been qualified, and the Cabinet. I telegraphed you from Baltimore and told Beckwith [telegraph and cipher officer to Grant; he was nicknamed "Grant's shadow" by other staff officers] to do the same thing from here”. So Grant informed his wife of his safe arrival. He further wrote: “You no doubt received the dispatches. All seems very quiet here. There is but little doubt but that the plot contemplated the distruction (sic.) of more than the President and Sec. of State. I think now however it has expended itself and there is but little to fear. For the present I shall occupy a room in the office which is well guarded and will be occupied by Bowers [Colonel Bowers was Grant’s assistant Adjutant-General) and probably two or three others. I shall only go to the Hotel twice a day for my meals and will stay indoors of evenings.” He also informed his wife that he had to stay in D.C. for several days, maybe until Saturday (April 22), but if he could return sooner he certainly would do so. He wrote: “The change which has come upon the country so suddenly will make it necessary for me to remain in the City for several days yet. Gen. Halleck will go to Richmond to command there and Ord to Charleston. Other changes which will have to be made, and the apparent feeling that I should remain here until everything gets into working order under the new regime will probably detain me here until next Saturday.” Grant also hoped that his wife was safe in Philadelphia, when he did go home: “I hope you will be in your house in Phila when I do go home. The inconvenience of getting from the Phila depot to Burlington is about equal to the balance of the trip.”

On Friday April 21 Grant left D.C.at midnight, not to go home, to his wife, but he was sent by President Johnson to North Carolina to oversee resumption of hostilities. Again he had written to Julia, on April 20. “I had made up my mind to go home last night, but the Sec. of War wanted me to hold on here yet for a day or two. About the time, or before, I would have started I received a dispatch from Ft. Monroe stating that a messenger with very important dispatches from Gen. Sherman was on his way up. I would have been compelled to await these. The bearer of dispatches has not yet arrived.” Further he wrote: “I will go home as soon as I can but this time will not be able to remain long. It looks as if I never to have any rest. I can scarsely get to my meals without being followed up by dispatches that require instant attention. I hope this condition of things will change soon however.” Grant also said: “I have had but one letter from you since you got home. Expect one to-day and hope to hear that you are preparing to move to Phila”.

On April 22 (on his way to North C.), Grant is in Fort Monroe (instructing Gen. Halleck to send Sheridan to North C.) and on April 23 he is at Beaufort, North C. On April 24 he conferred with Sherman at Raleigh, North C. On April 26 Grant approved Sherman's second surrender agreement with Johnston. On Saturday April 29 Grant is back in D.C. and informed Julia that he is preparing to go home. At noon that day he telegraphed to Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck”: "Gen. Sheridan need not accompany his Cavalry across the Country but may return here by water with his Staff so soon as he sees his Cavalry started.” From his H.Q in D.C. Grant also directed (April 30) that special precautions had be taken to prevent Jefferson Davis from escaping.

On Monday May 1, late in the evening, Grant travelled to his wife in Burlington and together they went to their Philadelphia home, were they arrived on May 3. After Lincoln’s burial at Springfield (May 4) Grant is back in D.C. On May 9 he wrote to Julia that he could not leave Washington for Philadelphia. “I find a great deal to do here and will yet for a few weeks….”, he earlier wrote (May 7).

[L Verge]

Thanks for this lesson. It appears that Genl. Grant concentrated on his military duties and not on the search for the assassin.

Also, thanks for the get well wishes from you and also others who have emailed me. One of these days, I will pay attention to my body and not push my luck. Bed rest and meds have me feeling much better.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Glad you are better, Laurie, and you haven't vanished, Kees! Thanks for adding this great info. In the table of contents of "Ulysses S. Grant: Memoirs and Selected Letters", I found listed the following letters written by Grant during these days:
To Julia Dent Grant, April 16, 1865
To Edward O. C. Ord, April 17, 1865
To William T. Sherman, April 21, 1865
To Julia Dent Grant, April 21, 1865
To Julia Dent Grant, April 25, 1865

...but couldn't make up any of them. Just for the better overview when all is together - this is from Anita's fantastic link:
- April 14: Grant left Washington to visit his children at Burlington, N.J., declining an invitation to attend Ford's Theatre that evening with the Lincolns.
- April 15: Ulysses S. Grant learned of Lincoln's assassination and left Burlington at 6:00 A.M. to return to Washington, arriving at 1:00 P.M. Late in the afternoon he directed Ord to arrest certain C.S.A. officials in Richmond, suspending the order during the evening.
- April 16: Grant decided to send Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck to command at Richmond.
- April 17: Grant ordered Canby to prepare for a campaign in Tex. and directed Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas to withdraw the bulk of US forces from east Tenn.
- April 19: Grant instructed Ord about the treatment of paroled C.S.A. prisoners at Richmond.
- April 21: Grant learned of the extent of Sherman's accord and recommended to Stanton that a cabinet meeting be called. Johnson disapproved the agreement and directed Grant to go to N.C. to oversee resumption of hostilities. Grant left Washington at midnight.
- April 22: Grant stopped briefly at Fort Monroe to instruct Halleck to send Sheridan's cav. toward N.C.
- April 23: Grant at Beaufort, N.C.
- April 24: Grant reached Raleigh, N.C, and conferred with Sherman.
- April 26: Grant approved Sherman's second surrender agreement with Johnston containing the same terms granted to Lee.
- April 29: Grant at Washington returning from his trip to N.C. He informed Julia Dent Grant that their home in Philadelphia was ready for occupancy.

[loetar44]

(11-24-2014 07:41 PM)L Verge Wrote:  It appears that Genl. Grant concentrated on his military duties and not on the search for the assassin.

There was shortly after the death of Lincoln a lot more to do than to search for the assassin(s) and to unravel a plot. Yes, the war came to an end, but was certainly not over. It was in April / May 1865 Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant who was in Washington attempting to put a definitive end to it. Two sizable Confederate armies surrendered during May 1865: one under Lieutenant General Richard Taylor, commanding the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana, the other under Lieutenant General Edmund Kirby Smith, commanding the Trans-Mississippi Department. Jefferson Davis was captured (and the remnants of his government). In May President Johnson issued an amnesty proclamation and Grant joined in all the sentiments, believing that amnesty for Robert E. Lee "would have the best possible effect towards restoring good feeling and peace in the South." That was also his responsibility. And don’t forget that Grant as overall commander faced the problems of mustering out the volunteer forces and reorganizing the regular army for peacetime duties. However, he needed to retain troops in the South to maintain order and to protect the rights of freedmen. And he sent a large military force to the Mexican border to put pressure on the government of Emperor Maximilian, installed as a puppet of Napoleon III of France, who wanted to build an empire in North America. And there was still an Indian frontier. Grant had too much major military responsibilities, he simply had no time to go “hunting assassins”. His job as overall commander was a herculean job.

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(11-24-2014 09:27 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Glad you are better, Laurie, and you haven't vanished, Kees! Thanks for adding this great info. In the table of contents of "Ulysses S. Grant: Memoirs and Selected Letters", I found listed the following letters written by Grant during these days:
To Julia Dent Grant, April 16, 1865
To Edward O. C. Ord, April 17, 1865
To William T. Sherman, April 21, 1865
To Julia Dent Grant, April 21, 1865
To Julia Dent Grant, April 25, 1865.

Eva, as a matter of fact Grant wrote in the period April 15 – May 1 al lot more letters: 40 in total , all concerning military matters. He wrote to his Ltn. Generals Halleck, Ord, Sheridan, Pope, Canby, Thomas, Meade, Hancock, Augur, Wallace, Sherman, Dana and Reynolds. He wrote to Mr. Ford, Mr. Hudson and Secretary Stanton (4 times) and he wrote to his wife, not 3 times, but 5 times: on April 16, 20, 21, 25 and 29. If you want to read the letters to Julia, I’ve uploaded a transcript of those 5 letters to my box cloud, just click:

https://app.box.com/s/oe7tnllmm3wtcz0hknto

BTW: On April 29, 1865, George H. Stuart, from Philadelphia, wrote to Julia Dent Grant. "It gives me great pleasure to inform you that after unlooked for delays, the dwelling presented to your honored husband on the 2nd January last, is now ready for your occupancy. The Committee will be most happy to have you take possession of the house No 2009 Chestnut St on Monday next May 1st, or on such other day as may be most convenient. We shall be pleased to have you communicate to Mr Knight the bearer of this note at what time you propose leaving for our City." When Grant left Washington D.C on May 1, he went via Burlington to Philadelphia and was from May 2 until May 5 at this Philadelphia home.

If you want to read all letters Grant wrote from 1887 (31 volumes !)until his death in 1895 you can visit the Mississippi State University site and download digital versions at:

http://libguides.css.edu/usgrant/home/usgrant/research

You can also download here the complete chronology. I think it's the same as in Anita's link.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Kees, I am speechless, you are fantastic! Thank you!