Washington May 3rd/64
Matters remain in about Status quo as it regards the war. Both sides are concentrating their armies in Virginia. No movement of Genl Grants army has yet taken place. But we are waiting to hear of the Crash every day. It is said that the rebel Genl Lee is drawing all the troops he can to Virginia to meet Grant. I esteem the present crisis a most important one, perhaps the most important that has existed since the war began. If Grant succeeds in crushing Lees army the war will be virtualy ended for I think the rebels have staked nearly all they have on this Campaign. Their men are all in the field. They evidently esteem this as their last chance and they are playing a desperate game. We can carry on the war for any length of time that may be necessary to subdue them. The cost of the war is enormous, at least two Millions pr day, that is, it probably takes one Million to pay the legitimate expenses of the Govt (perhaps a little more). The balance is squandered and stolen. Not a very small number of those who have the management of the expenses and the disbursements are knaves and fools. The one have no idea of honesty, the other no idea of economy. But in times of great popular commotion the scum will float on the surface, where the brazen villian and the conceited ass are often found occupying positions of great responsibility. Tomorrow my Brother Newell & wife take Steamer for NY from Alexandria. I am intending to go down there in the morning and see them off. The weather has been quite cool today, too cold to sit without fire in the office or in my room.