The matter contained in the succeeding pages was never intended for publication. It represents a short sketch of incidents, and participation in the late war, by the late MAJOR-GENERAL BRYAN GRIMES, and extracts from letters to his wife, written from the camp, and on the fields of battle, and such other matters of record and interest as have seemed to me fit and proper to be inserted therein.
GENERAL GRIMES had for years after the surrender determined to write out his recollections of the war, solely for the benefit, pleasure and curiosity of his children and their posterity, to be read in after years, with no view whatever of their publication, but simply to be kept as a matter of record in his family. He had commenced this work, as shown in his original manuscript, and, as far as executed, it is printed in the following pages.
In his letters to his wife, he gave briefly an account of what almost daily transpired, and being written on those respective days, was fresh in his recollection, and maybe received as strictly authentic. His known integrity and truthfulness will need no corroboration of what he has written or related.
These sketches and incidents demonstrate the character, honor and chivalry - the obligation of duty, and love of country, of a true citizen and a brave soldier. They present a truthful and impartial history, and will be read with interest and gratification by his friends and surviving comrades in war, and with this view they are thus publicly presented.
It will be observed that in one or two places disconnected notes appear, indicating clearly his intention to refer to them at some other time, and to extend more fully their subject matter. I have thought proper to have them printed just as they appear, and as they are written in the original manuscript.