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w is the time for us to pile on our blows thick and fast。
Instead of postponing the draft till after the elections； we ought now to have our ranks full of drafted men； and； at best； if they come at all； they will reach us when we should be in motion。
I think General Halleck would like to have the honest； candid opinions of all of us； viz。； Grant； McPherson； and Sherman。 I have given mine； and would prefer； of course； that it should coincide with the others。 Still； no matter what my opinion may be； I can easily adapt my conduct to the plane of others； and am only too happy when I find theirs better； than mine。
If no trouble； please show Halleck's letter to McPherson； and ask him to write also。 I know his regiments are like mine （mere squads）； and need filling up。 Yours truly；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General。
CHAPTER XIV。
CHATTANOOGA AND KNOXVILLE。
JULY TO DECEMBER； 1863。
After the fall of Vicksburg； and its corollary； Port Hudson； the Mississippi River was wholly in the possession of the Union forces； and formed a perfect line of separation in the territories of our opponents。 Thenceforth； they could not cross it save by stealth； and the military affairs on its west bank became unimportant。 Grant's army had seemingly completed its share of the work of war； and lay； as it were； idle for a time。 In person General Grant went to New Orleans to confer with General Banks； and his victorious army was somewhat dispersed。 Parke's corps （Ninth） returned to Kentucky； and afterward formed part of the Army of the Ohio； under General Burnside； Ord's corps （Thirteenth） was sent down to Natchez； and gradually drifted to New Orleans and Texas； McPhersons （Seventeenth） remained in and near Vicksburg； Hurlbut's （Sixteenth） was at Memphis； and mine （Fifteenth） was encamped along the Big Black； about twenty miles east of Vicksburg。 This corps was composed of four divisions： Steele's （the First） was posted at and near the railroad…bridge； Blair's （the Second）； next in order； near Parson Fox's； the Third Division （Tuttle's） was on the ridge about the head of Bear Creek； and the Fourth （Ewing's） was at Messinger's Ford。 My own headquarters were in tents in a fine grove of old oaks near Parson Fox's house； and the battalion of the Thirteenth Regulars was the headquarters guard。
All the camps were arranged for health； comfort； rest； and drill。 It being midsummer； we did not expect any change till the autumn months； and accordingly made ourselves as comfortable as possible。 There was a short railroad in operation from Vicksburg to the bridge across the Big Black； whence supplies in abundance were hauled to our respective camps。 With a knowledge of this fact Mrs。 Sherman came down from Ohio with Minnie； Lizzie； Willie； and Tom； to pay us a visit in our camp at Parson Fog's。 Willie was then nine years old； was well advanced for his years； and took the most intense interest in the affairs of the army。 He was a great favorite with the soldiers； and used to ride with me on horseback in the numerous drills and reviews of the time。 He then had the promise of as long a life as any of my children； and displayed more interest in the war than any of them。 He was called a 〃sergeant〃 in the regular battalion； learned the manual of arms； and regularly attended the parade and guard…mounting of the Thirteenth； back of my camp。 We made frequent visits to Vicksburg； and always stopped with General McPherson； who had a large house； and boarded with a family （Mrs。 Edwards'a） in which were several interesting young ladies。 General Grant occupied another house （Mrs。 Lum's） in Vicksburg during that summer； and also had his family with him。 The time passed very agreeably； diversified only by little events of not much significance； among which I will recount only one。
While； we occupied the west bank of the Big Black； the east bank was watched by a rebel cavalry…division； commanded by General Armstrong。 He had four brigades； commanded by Generals Whitfield； Stark； Cosby； and Wirt Adams。 Quite frequently they communicated with us by flags of truce on trivial matters； and we reciprocated； merely to observe them。 One day a flag of truce； borne by a Captain B。。。。； of Louisville； Kentucky； escorted by about twenty…five men； was reported at Messinger's Ferry； and I sent orders to let them come right into my tent。 This brought them through the camps of the Fourth Division； and part of the Second； and as they drew up in front of my tent； I invited Captain B。。。。 and another officer with him （a major from Mobile） to dismount； to enter my tent； and to make themselves at home。 Their escort was sent to join mine； with orders to furnish them forage and every thing they wanted。 B。。。。 had brought a sealed letter for General Grant at Vicksburg； which was dispatched to him。 In the evening we had a good supper； with wine and cigars； and； as we sat talking； B。。。。 spoke of his father and mother； in Louisville； got leave to write them a long letter without its being read by any one； and then we talked about the war。 He said： 〃What is the use of your persevering？ It is simply impossible to subdue eight millions of people；〃 asserting that 〃the feeling in the South had become so embittered that a reconciliation was impossible。〃 I answered that； 〃sitting as we then were； we appeared very comfortable； and surely there was no trouble in our becoming friends。〃 〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃that is very true of us； but we are gentlemen of education； and can easily adapt ourselves to any condition of things； but this would not apply equally well to the common people； or to the common soldiers。〃 I took him out to the camp…fires behind the tent； and there were the men of his escort and mine mingled together； drinking their coffee； and happy as soldiers always seem。 I asked B。。。。 what he thought of that； and he admitted that I had the best of the argument。 Before I dismissed this flag of truce； his companion consulted me confidentially as to what disposition he ought to make of his family； then in Mobile； and I frankly gave him the best advice I could。
While we were thus lying idle in camp on the big Black； the Army of the Cumberland； under General Rosecrans； was moving against Bragg at Chattanooga； and the Army of the Ohio； General Burnside； was marching toward East Tennessee。 General Rosecrans was so confident of success that he somewhat scattered his command； seemingly to surround and capture Bragg in Chattanooga； but the latter； reenforced from Virginia； drew out of Chattanooga； concentrated his army at Lafayette； and at Chickamauga fell on Rosecrans； defeated him； and drove him into Chattanooga。 The whole country seemed paralyzed by this unhappy event； and the authorities in Washington were thoroughly stampeded。 From the East the Eleventh Corps （Slocum）； and the Twelfth Corps （Howard）； were sent by rail to Nashville； and forward under command of General Hooker； orders were also sent to General Grant； by Halleck； to send what reenforcements he could spare immediately toward Chattanooga。
Bragg had completely driven Rosecrans's army into Chattanooga； the latter was in actual danger of starvation； and the railroad to his rear seemed inadequate to his