I also asked for a leave of absence to visit New Orleans, particularly if my suggestion to move against Mobile should be approved.

Both requests were refused.

So far as my experience with General Halleck went it was very much easier for him to refuse a favor than to grant one.

But I did not regard this as a favor.

It was simply in line of duty, though out of my department.
The General-in-chief having decided against me, the depletion of an army, which had won a succession of great victories, commenced, as had been the case the year before after the fall of Corinth when the army was sent where it would do the least good.