Details
GRANT, ULYSSES S., General. Autograph letter signed ("U.S. Grant Maj. Gen") to Colonel William Hoffman, Com[missar]y of Prisoners, "Head Quarters, Dept. of the Tenn.," Vicksburg, Mississippi, 29 August 1862. 1 1/2 page, 4to.
FROM OCCUPIED VICKSBURG, GRANT URGES THE RELEASE OF A YOUNG CONFEDERATE
"Enclosed herewith please find a letter to me from Mrs. Bowie relative to the release of Andrew Routh, now held as a prisoner of War. Mr. Routh, the Grandfather, is an old gentleman of great respectability and has been a firm Union man throughout all our difficulties. He was anxious to get his grandson out of the Southern Army and made every effort to do so either by getting his discharge or furnishing a substitute, but failed. He succeeded, however in obtaining for him a furlough for two or three months and it was whilst in such a furlough that he was arrested.
"In view of the loyalty of old Mr. Routh , and the losses he has sustained at the hands of our forces, I would urgently recommend that his grandson, Andrew Routh, be discharged on taking the oath not to take arms again against the Federal Government...."
In the wake of 4 July triumph at Vicksburg, Grant and his army consolidated their hold on the Mississippi and surrounding regions, prior to the opening of the Chattanooga campaign. The young Confederate who is the subject of the present letter was arrested in his hometown, possibly one of the Mississippi towns occupied by the Union forces.
FROM OCCUPIED VICKSBURG, GRANT URGES THE RELEASE OF A YOUNG CONFEDERATE
"Enclosed herewith please find a letter to me from Mrs. Bowie relative to the release of Andrew Routh, now held as a prisoner of War. Mr. Routh, the Grandfather, is an old gentleman of great respectability and has been a firm Union man throughout all our difficulties. He was anxious to get his grandson out of the Southern Army and made every effort to do so either by getting his discharge or furnishing a substitute, but failed. He succeeded, however in obtaining for him a furlough for two or three months and it was whilst in such a furlough that he was arrested.
"In view of the loyalty of old Mr. Routh , and the losses he has sustained at the hands of our forces, I would urgently recommend that his grandson, Andrew Routh, be discharged on taking the oath not to take arms again against the Federal Government...."
In the wake of 4 July triumph at Vicksburg, Grant and his army consolidated their hold on the Mississippi and surrounding regions, prior to the opening of the Chattanooga campaign. The young Confederate who is the subject of the present letter was arrested in his hometown, possibly one of the Mississippi towns occupied by the Union forces.