Memoirs of General Sherman, vol 2 | Page 8

Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Military Division of
the Mississippi.
GENERAL: It is my design, if the enemy keep quiet and allow me to
take the initiative in the spring campaign, to work all parts of the army
together, and somewhat toward a common centre. For your information
I now write you my programme, as at present determined upon.
I have sent orders to Banks, by private messenger, to finish up his
present expedition against Shreveport with all dispatch; to turn over the
defense of Red River to General Steels and the navy, and to return your
troops to you, and his own to New Orleans; to abandon all of Texas,

except the Rio Grande, and to hold that with not to exceed four
thousand men; to reduce the number of troops on the Mississippi to the
lowest number necessary to hold it, and to collect from his command
not less than twenty-five thousand men. To this I will add five thousand
from Missouri. With this force he is to commence operations against
Mobile as soon as he can. It will be impossible for him to commence
too early.
Gillmore joins Butler with ten thousand men, and the two operate
against Richmond from the south aide of James River. This will give
Butler thirty-three thousand men to operate with, W. F. Smith
commanding the right wing of his forces, and Gillmore the left wing. I
will stay with the Army of the Potomac, increased by Burnside's corps
of not less than twenty-five thousand effective men, and operate
directly against Lee's army, wherever it may be found.
Sigel collects all his available force in two columns, one, under Ord
and Averill, to start from Beverly, Virginia, and the other, under Crook,
to start from Charleston, on the Kanawha, to move against the Virginia
& Tennessee Railroad.
Crook will have all cavalry, and will endeavor to get in about Saltville,
and move east from there to join Ord. His force will be all cavalry,
while Ord will have from ten to twelve thousand men of all arms.
You I propose to move against Johnston's army, to break it up, and to
get into the interior of the enemy's country as far as you can, inflicting
all the damage you can against their war resources.
I do not propose to lay down for you a plan of campaign, but simply to
lay down the work it is desirable to have done, and leave you free to
execute it in your own way. Submit to me, however, as early as you can,
your plan of operations.
As stated, Banks is ordered to commence operations as soon as he can.
Gillmore is ordered to report at Fortress Monroe by the 18th inst., or as
soon thereafter as practicable. Sigel is concentrating now. None will
move from their places of rendezvous until I direct, except Banks. I
want to be ready to move by the 25th inst., if possible; but all I can now
direct is that you get ready as soon as possible. I know you will have
difficulties to encounter in getting through the mountains to where
supplies are abundant, but I believe you will accomplish it.
From the expedition from the Department of West Virginia I do not

calculate on very great results; but it is the only way I can take troops
from there. With the long line of railroad Sigel has to protect, he can
spare no troops, except to move directly to his front. In this way he
must get through to inflict great damage on the enemy, or the enemy
must detach from one of his armies a large force to prevent it. In other
words, if Sigel can't skin himself, he can hold a leg while some one else
skins.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, April 10, 1864
Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, Commander-in-Chief, Washington,
D.
DEAR GENERAL: Your two letters of April 4th are now before me,
and afford me infinite satisfaction. That we are now all to act on a
common plan, converging on a common centre, looks like enlightened
war.
Like yourself, you take the biggest load, and from me you shall have
thorough and hearty cooperation. I will not let side issues draw me off
from your main plans in which I am to knock Jos. Johnston, and to do
as much damage to the resources of the enemy as possible. I have
heretofore written to General Rawlins and to Colonel Comstock (of
your staff) somewhat of the method in which I propose to act. I have
seen all my army, corps, and division commanders, and have signified
only to the former, viz., Schofield, Thomas, and McPherson, our
general plans, which