no hasty retreating or running
away. Taking into account the object of the expedition the victory was
most complete. It has given me a confidence in the officers and men of
this command, that will enable me to lead them in any future
engagement without fear of the result. General McClernand--(who by the
way acted with great coolness throughout, and proved that he is a
soldier as well as statesman)--and myself each had our horses shot
under us. Most of the field-officers met with the same loss, besides
nearly one third of them being killed or wounded themselves. As nearly
as I can ascertain our loss was about 250 killed, wounded, and
missing.

I write in great haste to get this in the office tonight.

U.S. GRANT.

[Two days after the battle of Belmont, November 9th, General Halleck
supersedes General Fremont in command of the Department of Missouri.
General Grant's command is now changed from the District of
Southeastern Missouri to the District of Cairo and that of the mouths
of the Cumberland and the Tennessee. This is the command he refers to
here as the most important one in the department.]

Cairo, Illinois,
November 27th, 1861.

DEAR FATHER:

Your letter enclosed with a shawl to Julia is just received.

In regard to your stricture about my not writing I think that you have
no cause of complaint. My time is all taken up with public duties.

Your statement of prices at which you proposed furnishing harness was
forwarded to Maj. Allen as soon as received and I directed Lagow, who
received the letter enclosing it, to inform you of the fact. He did so
at once.

I cannot take an active part in securing contracts. If I were not in
the army I should do so, but situated as I am it is necessary both to
my efficiency for the public good and my own reputation that I should
keep clear of Government contracts.

I do not write you about plans, or the necessity of what has been done
or what is doing because I am opposed to publicity in these matters.
Then too you are very much disposed to criticise unfavorably from
information received through the public press, a portion of which I am
sorry to see can look at nothing favorably that does not look to a war
upon slavery. My inclination is to whip the rebellion into submission,
preserving all constitutional rights. If it cannot be whipped in any
other way than through a war against slavery, let it come to that
legitimately. If it is necessary that slavery should f