I would prefer that he should not answer this letter, but merely give it as much or as little weight as it deserves.
Whatever plan of action he may adopt will receive from me the same zealous cooperation and energetic support as though conceived by myself.

I do not believe General Banks will make any serious attack on Port Hudson this spring.

I am, etc., W.T.SHERMAN, Major-General.
This is the letter which some critics have styled a "protest." We never had a council of war at any time during the Vicksburg campaign.

We often met casually, regardless of rank or power, and talked and gossiped of things in general, as officers do and should.

But my letter speaks for itself--it shows my opinions clearly at that stage of the game, and was meant partially to induce General Grant to call on General McClernand for a similar expression of opinion, but, so far as I know, he did not.