Here is one of those “unique” letters that you only find once in a lifetime!  One of Grants A.D.C.’s Lt. Frank M. Kelley writes from “Genl. Grant’s Head Qrs. Camp at City Point, Va.” on July 28th, 1864.  The letter is written on “Office of Chief Quarter Master” stationary and “Armies Operating Against Richmond, Va.” printed at the top.  The story that Kelley relates in writing his mother is one that you probably won’t find in other books about Grant. 

IT IS A FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF AN ADVENTURE THAT HE

AND GRANT FOUND THEMSELVES TAKING!

                         Here is the transcription:
                                                                                                                                                                    Genl. Grant’s Head Qrs.
                                                                                                                                                                     Camp at City Point, Va.
                                                                                                                                                                                    July 28th, 1864

My Dear Mother,

                    Although you are owing your Son Frank one or two letters, I’ll drop you a few lines
to tell you what a glorious gala day we had yesterday.  I mean by we – our party, which was
made up of a choice few I think.  Genl. Grant, Genl. Ingalls, Col. Comstock, Col. Porter, Capt.
Hudson, A.D.C. to Grant and Capt. Howell Kelley of Ingall’s Staff.  We took about 20 escort
ordering and off we started.  We first took a steamer for Deep Bottom which is about 20 miles
up the James and sent our horses around by land.  After starting and enjoying the breeze very
 much, we noticed another steamboat following us rapidly, and as we had got where it was
“Shelly”, we stopped and waited for the other steamer.  It came alongside and “says” the Capt.
 “I have dispatches for Genl. Grant.”  “All right”, says I.  “Stop her” and her boats both stopped.
  Grant opened the dispatches, read with his usual coolness and finishing said to Rufus, “Which
is the fastest boat?”  “The other one sir”, says Rufus.  “We must get on her”, says Genl. Grant. 
“We changed boats very quick and went up the river kiting.  Rebel works and Malvern Hill
were passed with a sort of indifferent look and our gunboats as we passed were seen to present
to the Comd’r in Chief.  The banks are thickly covered with woods most of the way at the same
 time there had been the night before rebels and batteries along them.  The reason they had left
is contraband.  However, on we went the river growing narrow and bluffs on both sides.  One
hour ride on this boat 20 miles brought us to the Point and Oh! How my eyes stared yet nothing
more than I had seen & participated in before.  A pontoon bridge with cavalry crossing to which
side, is contraband.  A muffled bridge and the troops crossing beyond it up the river was the
Ironclads and monitors not ready for action, but really at it, throwing pills which you would
not dare to look at.  The bridge stopped our boat of course, so we got out and jumped into a row
boat, not very large one.  Wouldn’t the Rebs like to have hit that little boat.  I guess not!  We got
off on the Pontoon Bridge, walked on a neck of land known as Joni’s neck, on which were Cav.
& Artillery passing by.  The soldiers would say “There goes Grant, smoking”, “No it ain’t”, “Yes
 it is”, “Three cheers for Grant” Three & a tiger – soon we met our horses and we mounted and
dashed along the road at a run, then so hot we almost dropped still we went crossed another
 pontoon bridge above – and dashed behind a fort where was Genl. Fosters Hd. Qtrs: “Where is
the Genl.?” “Out on the line” “Any telegrams for me?” “No sir -wire down. Col. so & so”, goes to
Genl. H. “Tell him etc. etc. quick.”  That is the way to do it down here Ma: “Rufus we must see
the front ‘come’”, says Genl. G – We all went out on the very front, and stopped on the line at a
house called “Grovers”.  Here we dismounted, I need not say why?  Just in front of us was the
10th Conn. Vols. skirmishing.  Grant & party & Foster sit on the piazza commenting on the good
shots an artillery made.  I saw one of our shells scatter a group of Rebels finely.  We received
some dispatched form Genl. H. and off we ran to the Pontoon Bridge cross it & run up the neck
of land, cross another and go dashing through a body of 15,000 men and out to the Picket line 
- see the point and go along this line about 5 miles, meet Genl. “H” and says he “I have just
captured 4-20 pound parrots and some prisoners – Good news – what was said then Oh! Oh!
Well! We came down the Bank of the James met on Boat – got on her at 5 PM after going about
all day I got awfully sunburned and dirty and the days work decided questions with the Lt. Genl.
which will decide the question.  It is a critical moment with the enemy and us too. Both sides
risking, planning and now is the moment.  To see our plan points out to me one of success and
brilliant deeds.  I am all right and coming home so about 1st of Sept.  A tickled, satisfied man
with a good end to my military life.  My idea of Grant is splendid & he handles troops by the
50,000 as many do, 10 men – the crisis has come and God grant us the victory.

            My love to all.  Tell Maggie write and tell her that wheat is in a prospering in state of Va.
& ask her how camp chairs are.

                Frank

                                P.S.  I wish you would have the half dozen handkerchiefs ready for me when I come home.

The letter is four pages in easily read ink.  Frank ran out of paper and had to finish cross-writing on half of the first page.  He is so neat and does such a great job, this does not really detract.  We will enclose a copy of Kelley’s photo taken from the Meade collection.  For the collector or “fan” of Grant, this letter is a must!

#S93 - Price $950