JANUARY 29, 1868.
As requested in this communication, General Grant is instructed in writing not to obey any order from the War Department assumed to be issued by the direction of the President unless such order is known by the General Commanding the armies of the United States to have been authorized by the Executive.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
General Grant to the President.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES,
Washington, January 30, 1868.
His Excellency A. JOHNSON,
President of the United States.
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the return of my note of the 24th instant,[49] with your indorsement thereon, that I am not to obey any order from the War Department assumed to be issued by the direction of the President unless such order is known by me to have been authorized by the Executive, and in reply thereto to say that I am informed by the Secretary of War that he has not received from the Executive any order or instructions limiting or impairing his authority to issue orders to the Army, as has heretofore been his practice under the law and the customs of the Department. While this authority to the War Department is not countermanded it will be satisfactory evidence to me that any orders issued from the War Department by direction of the President are authorized by the Executive.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U.S. GRANT, General.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY UNITED STATES,
January 30, 1868.