Description:

Benjamin H. Grierson
Memphis, TN, April 18, 1864
B.H. Grierson ALS Reporting Poor Condition of the Cavalry After Fort Pillow - w/ Signatures by W.S. Smith, S.A. Hurlbut, and Thomas Vincent
ALS

Benjamin Grierson ALS with signed endorsements by William S. Smith, Stephen A. Hurlbut and Thomas M. Vincent. 4p., 7.75" x 10"; Memphis, Tennessee; April 18, 1864. Tasked with pursuing and intercepting Nathan B. Forrest's cavalry forces after the Battle of Fort Pillow, Grierson writes to Brigadier General Lorenzo Thomas reporting on the condition of the 16th Army Corps Cavalry Division. With endorsement signatures on the fourth page: "Thomas M. Vincent", "S.A. Hurlbut", and "Wm Sooy Smith". With repairs to separations occurring along the folds, otherwise very clean save a few red ink smears on the endorsement page not affecting any signatures. An important letter evidencing the toll Forrest's raids were taking!

From the collection of Larry Berra, son of baseball legend Yogi Berra.

Grierson commanded Union cavalry in West Tennessee and northern Mississippi during April 1864. When news of Battle of Fort Pillow (April 12, 1864) and the movements of Nathan Bedford Forrest reached Union authorities, Grierson was tasked with moving his cavalry to intercept or counter Forrest's raiding force. With this letter, Grierson sends notice that there is both a shortage of experienced troops and horses. He writes:

"I beg leave, through you, to invite the attention of the War Dept. to the condition of the Cavalry under my command.

First — Eight regiments, the oldest & most experienced in the command have re-enlisted as veterans and been sent home on furlough. Two of these, the 3d Michigan & 7th Kansas were sent away in January and should have returned four weeks since. I am unofficially informed that they are in St. Louis awaiting horses, and that the 7th Kansas has been ordered to report to Dept. of the Missouri. The term of furlough of the other six regiments will expire from the st to the 15th of May.

This leaves me an aggregate effective force of about thirty five hundred (3500) effective men, composed mostly of three new an[d] inexperienced regiments and the remnants of the regiments which have been sent home on furlough. Of this force less than two thousand (2000) are available as cavalry, in consequence of the lack of horses, only about fifteen hundred (1500) horses having been furnished to this command during the past ten months. Many of these horses are not effective for a long expedition, in consequence of the exceeding lack of forage.

Second — But for the lack of horses and the non-return of the 3d Michigan and 7th Kansas Cavalry, I should be able to put into the field a mounted force of at least five thousand (5000) men.

I would most respectfully suggest that measures be taken to procure horses for the purpose of mounting this command or that the command be entirely dismounted and schooled in Infantry tactics, as in its present condition it is of more expense to the Government than its efficiency would justify.

As a measure for mounting the command, I would respectfully suggest that a price be set by the government at which horses will be bought, and that the people of the north be required to furnish the requisite number of horses at such prices and to this end that means be used to impress horses unless voluntarily furnished at the prices offered.

I would further suggest that Corps Commanders be empowered to authorize the purchase of horses for their respective commands.

Very Respectfully
Your obt servt
B. H. Grierson
Brig. Genl."

Although ordered to move against Forrest, his operations amounted largely to scattered patrols, reconnaissance, and defensive coverage of railroads and supply lines. Forrest, with a fully mounted and highly mobile force, was able to evade interception and withdraw successfully through West Tennessee and into Mississippi. Grierson's letter shows that this was not due to inactivity or poor leadership, but to the limitations caused by a severe shortage of horses and the temporary absence of his best regiments.

Endorsed on the verso by Major General Hurlbut on April 18 and Brigadier General Smith on May 2, 1864. The letter does not reach the War Department in Washington, D.C. until May 10, at which point it is signed by Thomas Vincent, who in turn forwards it to Henry W. Halleck, Chief of Staff. The sequence of endorsements illustrates both the seriousness of the cavalry shortage and the lag inherent in Civil War command communications.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 10" x 7.75"
  • Medium: ALS

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