both nations and men."

The next day he was assigned to the command of all the armies, with
headquarters in the field. He made a hurried trip to Culpeper Court
House for a conference with General Meade, commanding the Army of the
Potomac; but would not linger in Washington to be praised and feted. He
hastened back to Nashville, where, on the 17th, he issued an order
assuming command of the armies of the United States, announcing that
until further notice, his headquarters would be with the Army of the
Potomac. General Halleck was relieved from duty as general-in-chief; but
was assigned by Grant to duty in Washington, as chief-of-staff of the
army. Sherman was assigned to command the military division of the
Mississippi, which was enlarged, and McPherson took Sherman's place as
commander of the Army of the Tennessee; Thomas remaining in command of
the Army of the Cumberland. On the 23d Grant was again in Washington,
accompanied by his family and his personal staff. On the next day he
took actual command, and immediately reorganized the Army of the Potomac
in three corps,--the Second, Fifth, and Sixth,--commanded by
Major-Generals Hancock, Warren, and Sedgwick; Major-General Meade
retaining the supreme command. The cavalry was consolidated into a corps
under Sheridan. Burnside commanded the Ninth Corps, which for a brief
time acted independently.

This crisis of Grant's life should not be passed over without allusion
to the remarkable letters that passed between Grant and Sherman before
he left Nashville to receive his new commission. Grant wrote to Sherman
as follows:--

"Whilst I have been eminently successful in this war, in at least
gaining the confidence of the public, no one feels more than I do how
much of this success is due to the energy, skill, and the harmonious
putting forth of that energy and skill, of those whom it has been my
good fortune to have occupying subordinate positions under me. There are
many officers to whom these remarks are applicable to a greater or less
degree, proportionate to their ability as soldiers; but what I want is
to express my thanks to you and McPherson as the men to whom, above all
others, I feel indebted for whatever I have had of success. How far your
advice and assistance have been of help to me, you know; how far your
execution of whatever has been given you to do entitles you to the
reward I am receiving you cannot know as well as I. I feel all the
gratitude this letter wo