A little background: John McClernand, a “political general” from Illinois, proposed to Secretary of War Stanton on October 10 that he should be given troops from Grant’s Army of the Tennessee to undertake an expedition on Vicksburg. Grant was aware only that there was some maneuvering going on, but McClernand undoubtedly knew that he would want to lead such an expedition himself, and the two had no love lost between them. Grant was already proposing his own move on Vicksburg to Henry Halleck, while McClernand was going over Halleck’s head. Here we see some continuing correspondence between Stanton and McClernand as the Secretary of War backs his plan, even as Halleck was ordering all Illinois troops to report to Grant.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL., October 28, 1862.
E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:SIR: At 11.30 o’clock a . m. to-day General Ketchum resigned his functions here to me. I have seen Governor Yates. He says two regiments-the One hundred and eleventh, Colonel James S. Martin; the One hundred and third, Colonel A. C. Babcock-will leave to-day or to-morrow; that another-the Ninety-fifth, Colonel L. S. Church-will probably leave to-morrow, all for Columbus, Ky., and that another-a German regiment, the Eighty-second, Colonel Frederick Hecker-will start immediately to Washington.
JOHN A. McCLERNARD,
Major-General.***********************************************************
WAR DEPARTMENT,
October 28, 1862.
Major-General McCLERNAND, Springfield, Ill.:Your telegram was received, and gratifies me. Everything is favorable here for your expedition. I want to know your address so as to communicate by mail facts that will gratify and encourage you. I hope you will exert yourself diligently so as to be on foot without delay.
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.