War-dated ALS signed “U. S. Grant, Brig. Gen Com.,” three pages on two sheets, 7.75 x 10, August 25, 1861. Letter, written from Jefferson City, Missouri, to Captain Speed Butler, the acting Adjutant General. In full: “The instructions of Gen. Fremont relative to the seisure [sic] of the Banks at Lexington & Liberty have been communicated to Col. Marshall who was under marching orders at the time the instructions were received. It is not possible to spare men for the expedition to Paris without leaving this place too much exposed. With regard to the Home Guards I should like to have some instructions. I have not been able to learn head nor tail about them with all my efforts. I know there are many of them, some mounted, others with teams and some without arms, teams or saddle horses.
I would recommend that some officer be sent here with special instructions as to how they are to be organized & received & who will have no other duty to attend to until this is performed. The party sent out by me to the neighborhood of where the Cars were fired into on Tuesday have returned. Their report has not yet been received but may be in time to accompany this. A few persons have been arrested who are suspected of having been engaged in the firing. I have no reliable information as to the movements of McCulloch’s forces but there is a current rumor that he is moving towards this point.
From a spy who came in yesterday I learn that companies are being organized in all the Counties West of here. Some of these bands are acquiring considerable proportions. Many troops have crossed the Missouri river, from the North, within the last two weeks and are joining forces on this side. If I had sufficient force here all that could be stopped.” Docketing on the reverse of the second sheet, in an unknown hand, reads: “Jefferson City Aug. 24. Grant Brig Genl US reports that he received and communicated to Col. Marshall Maj. Genl Fremont’s instructions relative to the Banks at Lexington. It is not possible to spare men without leaving Jeff. City too much exposed. Recommends that an officer be sent there to receive and organize Home Guards.” Intersecting folds, a few small tape repairs, scattered toning, and thin strip of reinforcement along a single edge to each page, as it is believed they were formally attached, otherwise fine condition.
At the time of this militarily important correspondence, written just four months into the Civil War, Missouri was a state divided with two governors—one Union and the other pro-South. Just five days before Grant composed this offered correspondence, the Confederate Congress had considered an act concerning the admittance of Missouri into the Confederacy. It was from this two-sided environment that Grant wrote. Concerned about the safety of the capital, Grant eventually requested that an artillery company instead be sent to the city of nearby Paris—part of Fremont’s original orders. His mention of being unable “to learn head nor tail” about the Home Guards—Missourians loyal to the United States—was because they were spread out across the state in areas threatened by Confederate troops. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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