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； being a Virginian； was drawn； like all others of his kind； into the vortex of the rebellion by the events of 1861； which broke up colleges and every thing at the South。 Natchez； at this time； was in my command； and was held by a strong division； commanded by Brigadier…General J。 W。 Davidson。 In the Diana we stopped at Natchez； and I made a hasty inspection of the place。 I sent for Boyd； who was in good health； but quite dirty； and begged me to take him out of prison； and to effect his exchange。 I receipted for him； took him along with me to New Orleans； offered him money； which he declined； allowed him to go free in the city； and obtained from General Banks a promise to effect his exchange； which was afterward done。 Boyd is now my legitimate successor in Louisiana； viz。； President of the Louisiana University； which is the present title of what had been the Seminary of Learning。 After the war was over； Boyd went back to Alexandria； reorganized the old institution； which I visited in 1866 but the building was burnt down by an accident or by an incendiary about 1868； and the institution was then removed to Baton Rouge； where it now is； under its new title of the University of Louisiana。
We reached New Orleans on the 2d of March。 I found General Banks； with his wife and daughter； living in a good house； and he explained to me fully the position and strength of his troops； and his plans of action for the approaching campaign。 I dined with him； and； rough as I wasjust out of the woodsattended； that night； a very pleasant party at the house of a lady； whose name I cannot recall； but who is now the wife of Captain Arnold； Fifth United States Artillery。 At this party were also Mr。 and Mrs。 Frank Howe。 I found New Orleans mach changed since I had been familiar with it in 1853 and in 1860…'61。 It was full of officers and soldiers。 Among the former were General T。 W。 Sherman； who had lost a leg at Port Hudson； and General Charles P： Stone； whom I knew so well in California； and who is now in the Egyptian service as chief of staff。 The bulk of General Banks's army was about Opelousas； under command of General Franklin； ready to move on Alexandria。 General Banks seemed to be all ready； but intended to delay his departure a few days to assist in the inauguration of a civil government for Louisiana； under Governor Hahn。 In Lafayette Square I saw the arrangements of scaffolding for the fireworks and benches for the audience。 General Banks urged me to remain over the 4th of March； to participate in the ceremonies； which he explained would include the performance of the 〃Anvil Chorus〃 by all the bands of his army； and during the performance the church…bells were to be rung； and cannons were to be fired by electricity。 I regarded all such ceremonies as out of place at a time when it seemed to me every hour and every minute were due to the war。 General Banks's movement； however； contemplated my sending a force of ten thousand men in boats up Red River from Vicksburg； and that a junction should occur at Alexandria by March 17th。 I therefore had no time to wait for the grand pageant of the 4th of March； but took my departure from New Orleans in the Diana the evening of March 3d。
On the next day； March 4th； I wrote to General Banks a letter； which was extremely minute in conveying to him how far I felt authorized to go under my orders from General Grant。 At that time General Grant commanded the Military Division of the Mississippi； embracing my own Department of the Tennessee and that of General Steele in Arkansas； but not that of General Banks in Louisiana。 General Banks was acting on his own powers； or under the instructions of General Halleck in Washington； and our； assistance to him was designed as a loan of ten thousand men for a period of thirty days。 The instructions of March 6th to General A。 J。 Smith； who commanded this detachment； were full and explicit on this point。 The Diana reached Vicksburg on the 6th； where I found that the expeditionary army had come in from Canton。 One division of five thousand men was made up out of Hurlbut's command； and placed under Brigadier…General T。 Kilby Smith； and a similar division was made out of McPherson's and Hurlbut's troops； and placed under Brigadier…General Joseph A。 Mower； the whole commanded by Brigadier…General A。 J。 Smith。 General Hurlbut； with the rest of his command； returned to Memphis； and General McPherson remained at Vicksburg。 General A。 J。 Smith's command was in due season embarked； and proceeded to Red River； which it ascended； convoyed by Admiral Porter's fleet。 General Mower's division was landed near the outlet of the Atchafalaya； marched up by land and captured the fort below Alexandria known as Fort De Russy； and the whole fleet then proceeded up to Alexandria； reaching it on the day appointed； viz。； March 17th； where it waited for the arrival of General Banks； who； however； did not come till some days after。 These two divisions participated in the whole of General Banks's unfortunate Red River expedition； and were delayed so long up Red River； and subsequently on the Mississippi； that they did not share with their comrades the successes and glories of the Atlanta campaign； for which I had designed them； and； indeed； they； did not join our army till jest in time to assist General George H。 Thomas to defeat General Hood before Nashville； on the 15th and 16th of December； 1864。
General Grant's letter of instructions； which was brought me by General Butterfield； who had followed me to New Orleans； enjoined on me； after concluding with General Banks the details for his Red River expedition； to make all necessary arrangements for furloughing the men entitled to that privilege； and to hurry back to the army at Huntsville； Alabama。 I accordingly gave the necessary orders to General McPherson； at Vicksburg； and continued up the river toward Memphis。 On our way we met Captain Badeau； of General Grant's staff； bearing the following letter； of March 4th； which I answered on the 10th； and sent the answer by General Butterfield； who had accompanied me up from New Orleans。 Copies of both were also sent to General McPherson； at Vicksburg：
＇Private。＇
NASHVILLE； TENNESEE； March 4； 1864
DEAR SHERMAN： The bill reviving the grade of lieutenant…general in the army has become a law； and my name has been sent to the Senate for the place。
I now receive orders to report at Washington immediately； in person； which indicates either a confirmation or a likelihood of confirmation。 I start in the morning to comply with the order； but I shall say very distinctly on my arrival there that I shall accept no appointment which will require me to make that city my headquarters。 This； however； is not what I started out to write about。
While I have been eminently successful in this war； in at least gaining the confidence of the public； no one feels more than I how much of this success is due to the energy； skill； and the harmonious putting forth of that energy and skill； of those whom it has been my good fortune to have occupying subordinate positions under me。
There are many officers to whom these remarks are applicable to a greater or less degree； proportionate