do with recommending except for my own staff. That is now already
full.

If I can do anything in the shape of lending any influence I may
possess in Mr. Nixon's behalf I will be most happy to do so on the
strength of what Mary says in commendation, and should be most happy
if it could so be that our lot would cast us near each other.

I do not know what Julia is going to do. I want her to go to Detroit
and board. She has many pleasant acquaintances there and she would
find good schools for the children.

I have no time for writing and scarcely any for looking over the
telegraphic columns of the newspapers.

My love to all at home.

ULYS.

[In late September, Grant went from Corinth to Jackson, Tennessee, "to
superintend the movements of the troops to whatever point a threatened
attack upon Bolivia might be made." Bolivia was then their most
advanced position on the Mississippi Central Railroad. The troops from
Corinth were brought up in time to repel the threatened movement
without a battle.

Iuka was a town twenty miles east of Corinth. It was entered by
General Price of the Confederate army on September 13th. On the 19th
he was defeated by Generals Rosecrans and Ord. The battle of Corinth
was won October 4th; Van Dorn was the leader of the Confederate
forces, while Rosecrans commanded the Union troops. Grant was now
assured as to the safety of the territory that he had won.

To his sister Mary.]

Jackson, Tenn.,
October 16th, 1862.

DEAR SISTER:

I received your letter by due course of mail and expected before this
to have answered one of your questions in the shape of an official
report; that is the one where you ask me the part I played at the
battle of Iuka. When the reports of subalterns come in I will make my
report which no doubt will be published and will be a full answer to
your question. I had no more to do with troops under General Ord than
I had with those under Rosecrans, but gave the orders to both. The
plan was admirably laid for catching Price and his whole army, but
owing to the nature of the ground, direction of the wind, and General
Rosecrans having been so far behind where he was expected to be on the
morning before the attack, it failed. In the late battles we have
gained such a moral advantage over them however, with Van Dorn and
Lovell added, that I do not know but it may have all been for the
best.

I have written to Julia to come down here to spend a short time. It
will