GRANT, Ulysses S. (1822-1885), President. Autograph letter signed ("U.S. Grant") as Lieutenant General TO MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS (1816-1870, "The Rock of Chickamauga") in Nashville; Washington, D.C., 23 November 1864. 2 pages, 8vo, part of envelope panel in Grant's hand pasted to integral blank, slightly browned. AN ALABAMA UNION MAN. A letter of unusual content. Grant asks Thomas to help an Alabaman who wishes to smuggle Southerners loyal to the United States through Union lines: "The bearer of this, Mr. Gins, is a Union citizen of Ala. to whom I have furnished a pass to come and go at pleasure over our roads and rivers within your Command. Mr. G. is very earnest in his desire to bring back to the Union all he can of his Southern brethren and especially those of his own State. The principle object he has in view in traveling back and forth is to forward this object. I would be pleased if you would extend to him a pass to travel back and forth on our Army Gunboats plying below Bridgeport, and give him all the facilities you can consistently for carrying out the object of his Mission."