wever,
before they got there. To-morrow I start for Monroe, where I shall fall
in with Colonel Palmer and one company of horse and two pieces of
artillery. One regiment and a battalion of infantry will move on to
Mexico, North Missouri road, and all of us together will try to nab
the notorious Tom Harris with his 1200 secessionists. His men are
mounted, and I have but little faith in getting many of them. The
notorious Jim Green who was let off on his parole of honor but a few
days ago, has gone towards them with a strong company well armed. If
he is caught it will prove bad work for him.

You no doubt saw from the papers that I started to march across the
country for Quincy. My men behaved admirably, and the lesson has been
a good one for them. They can now go into camp after a day's march
with as much promptness as veteran troops; they can strike their tents
and be on the march with equal celerity. At the Illinois River, I
received a dispatch at eleven o'clock at night that a train of cars
would arrive at half past eleven to move my regiment. All the men were
of course asleep, but I had the drum beaten, and in forty minutes
every tent and all the baggage was at the water's edge ready to put
aboard the ferry to cross the river.

I will try to keep you posted from time to time, by writing either to
you or to Mary, of my whereabouts and what I am doing. I hope you will
have only a good account of me and the command under my charge. I
assure you my heart is in the cause I have espoused, and however I may
have disliked party Republicanism there has never been a day that I
would not have taken up arms for a Constitutional Administration.

You ask if I should not like to go in the regular army. I should not.
I want to bring my children up to useful employment, and in the army
the chance is poor. There is at least the same objection that you find
where slavery exists. Fred. has been with me until yesterday; I sent
him home on a boat.

Yours &c.

U.S. GRANT.

[Shortly after the date of the last letter, Grant was ordered to
Mexico, Mo. General Pope then commanded the district between the
Mississippi and Missouri Rivers with headquarters at Mexico. Grant was
assigned to command a sub-district embracing the troops of the
immediate neighborhood. In regard to the hospitality which Grant
mentions receiving in this secessionist district, we may note that the
regiments before his accession to this command had visited hou