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against army； and man against man； and I know； and you know； and civilians begin to realize the fact； that reconciliation and reconstruction will be easier through and by means of strong； well…equipped； and organized armies than through any species of conventions that can be framed。 The issues are made； and all discussion is out of place and ridiculous。 The section of thirty…pounder Parrott rifles now drilling before my tent is a more convincing argument than the largest Democratic meeting the State of New York can possibly assemble at Albany； and a simple order of the War Department to draft enough men to fill our skeleton regiments would be more convincing as to our national perpetuity than an humble pardon to Jeff。 Davis and all his misled host。
The only government needed or deserved by the States of Louisiana； Arkansas； and Mississippi； now exists in Grant's army。 This needs； simply； enough privates to fill its ranks； all else will follow in due season。 This army has its well…defined code of laws and practice； and can adapt itself to the wants and necessities of a city； the country； the rivers； the sea； indeed to all parts of this land。 It better subserves the interest and policy of the General Government； and the people here prefer it to any weak or servile combination that would at once； from force of habit； revive sad perpetuate local prejudices and passions。 The people of this country have forfeited all right to a voice in the councils of the nation。 They know it and feel it； and in after…years they will be the better citizens from the dear bought experience of the present crisis。 Let them learn now； and learn it well； that good citizens must obey as well as command。 Obedience to law； absoluteyea； even abjectis the lesson that this war； under Providence； will teach the free and enlightened American citizen。 Aa a nation； we shall be the better for it。
I never have apprehended foreign interference in our family quarrel。 Of coarse； governments founded on a different and it may be an antagonistic principle with ours naturally feel a pleasure at our complications； and； it may be； wish our downfall； but in the end England and France will join with us in jubilation at the triumph of constitutional government over faction。 Even now the English manifest this。 I do not profess to understand Napoleon's design in Mexico； and I do not； see that his taking military possession of Mexico concerns us。 We have as much territory now as we want。 The Mexicans have failed in self…government； and it was a question as to what nation she should fall a prey。 That is now solved； and I don't see that we are damaged。 We have the finest part of the North American Continent； all we can people and can take care of； and； if we can suppress rebellion in our own land； and compose the strife generated by it； we shall have enough people； resources； and wealth； if well combined； to defy interference from any and every quarter。
I therefore hope the Government of the United States will continue； as heretofore； to collect； in well…organized armies； the physical strength of the nation； applying it； as heretofore； in asserting the national authority； and in persevering； without relaxation； to the end。 This； whether near or far off； is not for us to say； but； fortunately； we have no choice。 We must succeedno other choice is left us except degradation。 The South must be ruled by us； or she will rule us。 We must conquer them； or ourselves be conquered。 There is no middle course。 They ask； and will have； nothing else； and talk of compromise is bosh； for we know they would even scorn the offer。
I wish the war could have been deferred for twenty years； till the superabundant population of the North could flow in and replace the losses sustained by war； but this could not be； and we are forced to take things as they are。
All therefore I can now venture to advise is to raise the draft to its maximum； fill the present regiments to as large a standard as possible； and push the war； pure and simple。 Great attention should be paid to the discipline of our armies； for on them may be founded the future stability of the Government。
The cost of the war is； of course； to be considered； but finances will adjust themselves to the actual state of affairs； and； even if we would； we could not change the cost。 Indeed； the larger the cost now； the less will it be in the end； for the end must be attained somehow； regardless of loss of life and treasure； and is merely a question of time。
Excuse so long a letter。 With great respect； etc。；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General。
General Halleck； on receipt of this letter； telegraphed me that Mr。 Lincoln had read it carefully； and had instructed him to obtain my consent to have it published。 At the time； I preferred not to be drawn into any newspaper controversy； and so wrote to General Halleck； and the above letter has never been； to my knowledge； published； though Mr。 Lincoln more than once referred to it with marks of approval。
HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS CAMP ON BIG BLACK； September 17； 1863
Brigadier…General J。 A。 RAWLINS； Acting Assistant Adjutant…General； Vicksburg。
DEAR GENERAL： I inclose for your perusal； and for you to read to General Grant such parts as you deem interesting； letters received by me from Prof。 Mahan and General Halleck； with my answers。 After you have read my answer to General Halleck； I beg you to inclose it to its address； and return me the others。
I think Prof。 Mahan's very marked encomium upon the campaign of Vicksburg is so flattering to General Grant； that you may offer to let him keep the letter； if he values such a testimonial。 I have never written a word to General Halleck since my report of last December； after the affair at Chickasaw； except a short letter a few days ago； thanking him for the kind manner of his transmitting to me the appointment of brigadier…general。 I know that in Washington I am incomprehensible； because at the outset of the war I would not go it blind and rush headlong into a war unprepared and with an utter ignorance of its extent and purpose。 I was then construed unsound； and now that I insist on war pure and simple； with no admixture of civil compromises； I am supposed vindictive。 You remember what Polonius said to his son Laertes： 〃Beware of entrance to a quarrel； but； being in； bear it； that the opposed may beware of thee。〃 What is true of the single man； is equally true of a nation。 Our leaders seemed at first to thirst for the quarrel； willing； even anxious； to array against us all possible elements of opposition； and now； being in； they would hasten to quit long before the 〃opposed〃 has received that lesson which he needs。 I would make this war as severe as possible； and show no symptoms of tiring till the South begs for mercy； indeed； I know； and you know； that the end would be reached quicker by such a course than by any seeming yielding on our part。 I don't want our Government to be bothered by patching up local governments； or by trying to reconcile any class of men。 The South has done her worst； and now is the time for us to pile on our blows thick and fast。
Instead of postponing the draft till af