no reserves; and I tell you it was this which made us act with confidence.

My only point of doubt was in your knowledge of grand strategy, and of books of science and of history; but I confess, your common sense seems to have supplied all these.

Now, as to the future. Don't stay in Washington. Come West. Take to yourself the whole Mississippi Valley. Let us make it dead sure; and I tell you the Atlantic slopes and Pacific shores will follow its destiny as surely as the limbs of a tree live or die with the main trunk. We have done much; but still much remains. Time and time's influence are with us. We could almost afford to sit still, and let these influences work.

Here lies the seat of the coming empire; and from the West, when our task is done, we will make short work of Charleston and Richmond and the impoverished coast of the Atlantic.

Your sincere friend,

W. T. SHERMAN.

The appointment of Gen. Grant touched the heart of the whole nation; and, although he travelled rapidly, wherever the people heard of his coming they thronged to the railway stations, and ratified and indorsed the action of the government by cordial greetings and tumultuous cheers.

On arriving at Washington, he went to Willard's Hotel, and soon after walked quietly into the dining-room with his son, without escort or staff, wearing a blue coat which had evidently seen service. He had been there some time unnoticed, when he was recognized by a gentlemen who had seen him in New Orleans. He announced that Lieut.-Gen. Grant was present; and the whole company, ladies and gentlemen, at once rose to their feet, and greeted him with welcoming applause. The homage was spontaneous and hearty.

In the evening, he attended the usual levee of the President. He walked into the reception-room unannounced, but was immediately recognized and cordially received by Mr. Lincoln. The east room adjoining was, as usual on such occasions, crowded with members of Congress and their families, officers of the army and navy, and distinguished strangers in Washington.

As soon as Gen. Grant entered, and his presence became known, the enthusiasm was very great. The company crowded around him; and he was finally compelled to mount a sofa, where he was saluted with cheer upon cheer. But it was apparent that it was not wholly pleasant to the general to be the object of such marked attention. He afterwards escorted Mrs. Lincoln through the rooms, and retired. He remarked to a friend before leaving, "This is the warmest campaign I have had during the war. I must get away from Washington soon. I do not fancy this show-business."

At one o'clock the next day, Gen. Grant was formally received by the President in the Executive Chamber, and presented with his commission as Lieutenant-General. There were present all the members of the cabinet, Gen. Halleck, one or two other gentlemen, and Gen. Grant's son.

President Lincoln rose from his chair, and said,

"GENERAL GRANT, The nation's approbation of what you have already done, and its reliance on you for what remains to do, in the existing great struggle, is now presented, with this commission constituting you Lieutenant-General of the Army of the United States. With this high honor devolves on you a corresponding responsibility. As the country here intrusts you, so, under God, it will sustain you. I scarcely need add, that with what I here speak for the nation goes my own hearty personal concurrence."

Gen. Grant, receiving the commission, replied,

"MR. PRESIDENT, I accept this commission with gratitude for the high honor conferred. With the aid of the noble armies who have fought on so many fields for our common country, it will be my earnest endeavor not to disappoint your expectations. I feel the full weight of the responsibility now devolving upon me. I know, that, if it is properly met, it will be due to these armies, and, above all, to the favor of that Providence which leads both nations and men."

Gen. Grant was then presented to the members of the cabinet. That evening he had a That evening he had a long consultation with Gen. Halleck on military affairs, and the next morning, in company with Gen. Meade, visited the Army of the Potomac. It was evident to all, that the new Lieutenant-General was not disposed to spend much time over ceremonials at Washington.

CHAPTER XXV.

RE-ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY.

THE ADVANCE.

THE

HE weeks of March and April were passed in respring organizing the army and preparing for the spring campaign. Gen. Halleck was made chief of staff, and stationed at Washington. Gen. Sherman was put in command of the West. Gen. Meade remained in immediate command of the Army of the Potomac, with whom Gen. Grant established his headquarters in the field.

The number of the army corps was reduced to three; and Major-Generals Hancock, Warren, and Sedgwick were in command. The cavalry, with ten thousand sabres, was under the command of Gen. Sheridan. Gen. Banks was to open a campaign in Louisiana ; Gen. Sherman was to commence operations in Northern Georgia; while Gen. Steele was to move against Sterling Price in Arkansas, and Gen. Butler was to threaten Richmond from Bermuda Hundred. Thus it will be perceived that Gen. Grant's combinations covered a theatre of war whose magnitude has been seldom equalled. But he addressed himself to the vast undertaking with his wonted energy, calmness, and perseverance. "Success was a duty."

The topography of Virginia was remarkable. The

whole State was little less than a vast fortress for the rebels, manned by the most splendid of the Southern armies, and commanded by the ablest of the rebel generals.

Its bastions were mountains, its trenches were valleys, its moats were rivers, its embrasures were mountain-gorges. Its natural features offered in every direction the most formidable obstacles to our advance, and, at the same time, were easily defended.

Richmond was one hundred and seventeen miles from Washington on the James River, and ordinarily contained a population of sixty thousand. Beauregard and the engineers of the rebel army had exhausted their skill and resources upon its fortifications, until it had become one of the strongest citadels in the world. Culpeper Court House, ten miles north of the Rapidan and seventy-five miles south of Washington, was the headquarters of Gen. Grant. Lee with his veterans was at Orange Court House, ten miles, south of the Rapidan. The two armies were twenty miles distant from each other.

Grant now issued the death-warrant of the Rebellion in giving orders for a general advance of the army.