airs. I have
been acting all the time under their instructions, and I believe
with their entire approval. They are generally understood to be
men whose opinions on military matters are entitled to respect.
I cannot do more or better than refer the Senate to them.

"One thing is certain: I shall not be influenced one grain in the
discharge of my duty by any questions as to what action the Senate
may take on my nomination. . . . If the Senate is not satisfied as
to my past services, why not wait until they can know more? I am
tired enough of this suspense, but still am perfectly willing to
wait. In fact, I have become, in spite of myself, very indifferent
on the subject. I am pretty thoroughly convinced that a major-
general's commission is not worth half the trouble I and my friends
have had about mine, and I feel very little inclination to trouble
them, or even myself, any more about it.

"The Senate has its duty to perform in this matter, as well as
myself and my superior officers. If senators are not willing to
act upon the concurrent testimony of all my superior officers as
to what services I have rendered, I shall not condescend to humbug
them into the belief that I have done something which I really have
not.

"You ask me what are the prospects of putting down the rebellion.
I answer unhesitatingly that when the management of military matters
is left to military men, the rebellion will be put down very quickly,
and not before. I regard it as having been fully demonstrated that
neither the Senate, nor the House of Representatives, nor the
newspapers, nor the people of the United States, nor even all of
them together, can command an army. I rather think if you let
Grant alone, and let him have his own way, he will end the war this
year. At all events, the next ninety days will show whether he
will or not.

"I find this letter is both too long and too ill-natured. I feel
too much as if I would like to 'whip somebody anyhow,' so I will
stop where I am. Let me hear from you again soon.

"Yours very truly,
"J. M. Schofield.
"Hon. J. B. Henderson,
"U. S. Senate, Washington, D. C."

Of course I knew the advice of my friend Senator Henderson was not
intended to be taken seriously, but only as expressing his view,
much the same as my own, of the then existing situation in the
Senate. But it gave me, all the same, the opportunity I wanted to
give his brother senators, through him, "a piece of my