Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-29
GRANT AND STANTON.
stanton and the Proposed
supersedure OF Gen. Grant-HOw
President Johnson Inferfered.

"A
SuperseduFe OF Gen. Grant-HOw
President Johnson Interfered.
Correspondence of the New York Herald.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-As the period
approaches when new Cabinet must be
formed the plotting and scheming, mining
and countermining increase to such an
extent that much leaks out, and gives
the public an occasional glimpse Of the
manner IN which the wires are worked.
few days ago the country was treated
to chapter in the secret history of the
past, in connection with the military
services of Gen. Grant, exposing facts
not generally known as to who were and
who were not friendly TO the rising chief.
Although many of the statements made
therein were erroneous and some were
exaggerated, the main point Of the dis
closure cannot be denied, that from the
time Fort DOnelson was captured up to
the surrender of Vicksburg, Stanton,
Halleck & Co. were maneuYring to de-
pose Gen. Grant from the command
OF the army and consign him to one
OF the darkest corners in obscurity. This
object was sought to be obtained IN the
consideration Of the armies under Grant
and Banks either at Yickburg or Port
Hudson. Mr.. Stanton has not only
denied the assertion that the order direc-
ting Banks to relieve Grant was issued
by or through him, but would have it
understood that at no time during the
period mentioned, or since, has he har-
bored unfriendly feelings towards Gen.
Grant. In connection with this subject
| may mention q few occurrences of a
later period which may serve to furnish
additional light In the summer Of 1866
Mr.. Stanton felt not only an indisposition
to assist Gen. Grant in his duties Of com
handing the army, but did much to en-
barrass him. He regarded Gen. Grant
as opposed to the great work of Radical
reconstruction and spoke Of his report
on affairs at the South as an attempt
at whitewShing. Mr.. Stanton at this
time issued an order that information in
relation to matters appertaining to the
army should be given directly to no Off
Ger OF person who should apply for it, but
that all such communications to any Of
the bureaus or officers in the War De-
partment, together with the replies,
should first be submitted TO him. This
order was construed by many .subordi~
mates as not referring to Gen. Grant, and
they continued to correspond directly
with him but Mr.. Stanton insisted on
strict enforcement OF the order, and thus
caused great annoyance to Grant in the
transaction OF his. duties When the
General sought information from any of
the bureaus he was referred to the Sec
rotary Of War, and at times the official |
endorsements were quito insulting to the
commander Of the army. The effect Of !
this order was SO humiliating to Gen.
Grant that he thought seriously Of res
signing, and he Eelt the indignily so keen
ly that lac was frequently observed by
his friends to look quite detected. At
this time the President and Gen. Grant |
were on the most friendly terms, and |
although the President was entirely
ignorant OF the existence Of the order in |
question, Grants mOdesty was so great |
that he never mentioned the matter to |
MIR. johnson. The subject was first |
brought to the notice Of the President |
while on the trip to Chicago to attend
the dedication Of the Douglas monument. !
Gen. Grant and one of the officers who |
accompanied the President were sitting
in the smoking car, and the General was |
enjoying his cigar while relating some Of |
his trials as Commander Of the army.
Among those trials he mentioned the |
order issued by the Secretary Of War. /
The officer having never heard of such |
an order, asked>Grant whether he had |
spoken TO the President about it, and he |
answered that he had not; but he had |
made up his mind that if the obnoxious
order was not soon reSCinded he would be |
compelled to resign. The officer asked |
him whether he had any objection to the |
matter being mentioned to the President, |
and he replied that he had no objection. !
The officer went immediately into the |
Presidents car and informed Mr.. John |
son of the facts in connection with Mr.. |
StantOn's order and it's effect. The Pres
ident was greatly astonished and said |
that Immediately after his return to |
Washington he would see the Secretary |
and have the ercountermanded. When |
luAOl VI Whdb lhC ACoihCnl llatd
Gen. Grant thanked the officer very cor |
daily and requested him to see that the
promise did not escape the Presidents
mind. At the first Cabinet meeting, after |!
the close of the Chicago trip, the Presi~
dent called the attention Of Stanton to
the order, and directed him to rescind il by |
order Of the President, so that Gen.
Grant would be able TO obtain any infor-
nation he wished by direct application TO |
officers of the War Department bureaus. |
Mr.. Stanton complied with these instruc>
tons to certain extent. He sent for |
Gen. Grant, and said: General, / find |
an order. in force forbidding information |
to be given TO any person until my plea
sure shall be known. am sorry it has |
been so woIded. 1t must have caused |
you much annoyance, and | will counter
mand it at once" Gen. Grant was under |
the impression that Stanton made this
dmende honorable Of his own free will,
and gave him the credit until recently,
when it came 10 his knowledge that the
order was rescinded only by direction of