46 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS of congress in February, and Grant was nominated for that office on March 1, and confirmed by the senate on the 2d. He left Nashville on the 4th, in obedience to an order calling him to Washing ton, arrived there on the 8th, and received his com mission from the president on the 9th. He was assigned to the command of all the armies on the 12th (Sherman being given the command of the military division of the Mississippi on the 18th), and established his headquarters with the Army of the Potomac at Culpepper, Va., March 26, 1864. Grant now determined to concentrate all the Na tional forces into several distinct armies, which should move simultaneously against the opposing Confederate armies, operate vigorously and con tinuously, and prevent them from detaching forces to strengthen threatened points, or for the purpose of making raids. He announced that the Confed erate armies would be the only objective points in the coming campaigns. Sherman was to move toward Atlanta against Johnston. Banks s army, after it could be withdrawn from the Red river expedition, was to operate against Mobile. Sigel was to move down the valley of Virginia against Breckenridge to destroy communications and sup plies, and prevent raids from that quarter. But ler was to ascend the James river and threaten Richmond. The Army of the Potomac, re- enforced by Burnside s troops and commanded by
