Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant · Chapter
Chapter XXVII explained
Grant describes the challenges of occupying Confederate territory, including the demoralizing effect of cotton trading, the need to protect supply lines, and the difficulties of coordinating with Buell's campaign against Chattanooga.
What happens
Grant describes the challenges of occupying Confederate territory, including the demoralizing effect of cotton trading, the need to protect supply lines, and the difficulties of coordinating with Buell's campaign against Chattanooga. He recounts skirmishes near Bolivar and Medon, the surrender of Clarksville by Colonel Rodney Mason, and his interactions with General Sheridan. Grant also discusses his policy of not arresting civilians, his response to complaints about the occupation of a Memphis church and the confiscation of debts, and his assumption of command after Halleck's departure.
Themes in this chapter
The Horrors and Cost of War
Grant recounts skirmishes with significant casualties, including 179 enemy dead buried after one engagement, and the use of houses as hospitals.
Personal Integrity and Self-Reliance
Grant describes his refusal to arrest civilians without cause, his sympathy for Colonel Mason's weakness, and his insistence on protecting the church from disloyal sermons.
National Union and Constitutional Crisis
The chapter highlights the challenges of occupying Confederate territory, including dealing with Confederate laws confiscating debts and the need to maintain Union authority.
Characters to notice
- Ulysses S. Grant
Narrator and commander of the District of West Tennessee; describes his command decisions, interactions with subordinates, and policy on civilian arrests.
- Philip H. Sheridan
Met by Grant at Corinth; Sheridan was eager to join Buell but Grant initially expressed surprise and nettled by his desire to leave.
- Henry W. Halleck
Appointed general-in-chief and ordered to Washington; uncommunicative with Grant before departing.
- Don Carlos Buell
Commanding the Army of the Ohio; Grant sent reinforcements to him and discusses Buell's march toward Chattanooga.
- Braxton Bragg
Confederate commander who superseded Beauregard; moved his army to Chattanooga while Grant was on the defensive.
- John A. McClernand
Not directly mentioned in excerpts; omitted as no clear presence.
- Abraham Lincoln
Not directly mentioned in excerpts; omitted as no clear presence.
Key passages
“Men who had enlisted to fight the battles of their country did not like to be engaged in protecting a traffic which went to the support of an enemy they had to fight, and the profits of which went to men who shared none of their dangers.”
Soldiers resented guarding cotton trade that funded the enemy and enriched civilians who avoided combat.
Grant explains the demoralizing effect of cotton trading on his troops.
“I do not recollect having arrested and confined a citizen (not a soldier) during the entire rebellion.”
Grant states he never personally ordered the arrest of a civilian throughout the war.
Grant emphasizes his lenient policy toward civilians.
“I deemed it better that a few guilty men should escape than that a great many innocent ones should suffer.”
Grant preferred letting some guilty go free rather than risk punishing the innocent.
Grant justifies his reluctance to arrest civilians.
