Beschreibung:

GRANT, ULYSSES S., Lt. General. Autograph letter signed ("U.S. Grant Maj. Gen") to Major General J.A. Hurlbut, "Head Quarters...Before Vicksburg," 9 March 1863. 2 1/2 pages, 4to. GRANT PLANS THE HISTORIC "GRIERSON RAID" OF THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN An important military letter in which Grant spells out his strategy for what became one of the most important cavalry raids of the war. Grierson's 16-day, 600-mile raid into central Mississippi was intended as a diversionary tactic, while Grant's main infantry force crossed the Mississippi south of Vicksburg. Grant tells Hurlbut that he is sending Col. William Henry Dickey (Commander Cavalry Division) with verbal instructions to have "the available Cavalry put in as good condition as possible in the next few weeks for heavy service. My plan is to have the Cavalry from your command cooperate with the Cavalry it is contemplated to start from some point on the Yazoo [River], either Yazoo City or Liverpool. The object will be to have your Cavalry move southward...in as large a force as possible, destroying the bridge over the Tallahatchie, thence move east...so as to head Black River or strike it where it can be crossed. The larger portion of the Cavalry to move from about Yalobusha river...as if to threaten the Mobile road but in reality to cover a move of a select portion of the Cavalry which will go South and attempt to cut the rail-road East of Jackson. Washburn will move Eastward and cut the Miss. Central road where it crosses the Big Black. "It is hoped by these moves of large forces of Cavalry to cover the smaller party sufficiently to ensure their success in reaching the road East of Jackson....No vehicles should be taken along except ambulances and they should have an extra pair of horses each. The troops should be instructed to keep well together and let marauding alone for once and thereby better secure success. I regret that the expedition you had fitted out was not permitted to go. The weather however has been so intolerably bad ever since that it might have failed. I look upon Grierson as being much better qualified to command this expedition than either [Albert L.] Lee or [Henry R.] Mizner. I do not dictate however who shall be sent. The date when the expedition should start will depend on movements here. You will be informed of the exact time for them to start...." In the end, the success of Grierson's raid surprised even Grant. Grierson's force of some 1,700 men left LaGrange (near Memphis) on April 17, and struck deep within Confederate-held territory, destroying railroads, burning supplies and skirmishing whenever rebel garrisons were encountered. The Confederate regional commander, Pemberton, was thoroughly confused by these manoeuvers which were, in effect, the first tactical use of the rapid cavalry raid which became so important in Grant's strategy in later campaigns of the war. "The raid ws of great importance, Grant wrote in his Memoirs , for Grierson had attracted the attention of the enemy from the main movement against Vicksburg" ( Personal Memoirs , Library of America edn., p.326). See D. Alexander Brown, Grierson's Raid , University of Illinois Press, 1954. Provenance : Elsie O. and Philip D. Sang Foundation (sale, Sotheby's, 4 December 1981, lot 1132).