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30 Grant, about whom, at that time, there were many doubts, and against whom there was some complaint.

"Will you go?" Mr. Stanton asked. "Yes," I said. "Very well," he replied. "The ostensible function I shall give you will be that of a special commissioner of the War Department to investigate the pay department in Western armies, but your real duty will be to report to me every day what you see."

On March 12th, Mr. Stanton wrote me the following letter:

My commission read:



The letters of introduction and explanation to the generals were identical:

I at once started for Memphis, going by way of Cairo and Columbus.

I sent my first despatch to the War Department from Columbus, on March 20th.