Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Fortieth Congress

General Sheridan to General Grant

Office United States Military Telegraph, War Department, Washington, D. C, December 11, 1866.

General: I have the honor to notify you of my return from the Rio Grande frontier. I have the honor to report affairs there in very good condition. On the 28th of November General Sedgwick demanded and obtained the surrender of the city of Matamoras from General Canales, occupying it with about 100 men. On the 30th he received my orders disapproving his action, and withdrew his men to our side of the river.

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General Sedgwick’s action was without authority, and in violation of written instructions as to manner in which the grievances of American citizens in Mat amoras should be redressed. I have relieved him from his command, in obedience to orders from the Secretary of War, and placed him in arrest, subject to further orders from the President. Matamoras passed into the hands of Escobedo on the 30th of November, and a better condition of affairs now exists on the Rio Grande frontier than has for the last 18 months. A detailed report will be forwarded by to-morrow’s mail.

P. H. SHERIDAN, Major General.

General U. S. Grant, Washington.

New Orleans, December 10, 1866.

Official:

GEORGE K. LEET, Assistant Adjutant General.