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| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | North Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 48 |
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This afternoon, I found this letter from Grant to Halleck, dated June 5. It is from the Official Records, Series 1, vol. 36, part 1, page 11:
“...My idea from the start has been to beat Lee’s army, if possible, north of Richmond, then, after destroying his lines of communication north of the James River to transfer the army to the south side and besiege Lee in Richmond, to follow him south if he should retreat. I now find, after more than thirty days trial, that the enemy deems it of the first importance to run no risk with the armies they how have.... Without a greater sacrifice of human life than I am willing to make, all cannot be accomplished that I had designed outside the city.
Grant also used these same lines in his official report written on July 22.