Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-10-07
Grants Opinion of Hancock.

CuIc.Go, Oct. Z. The Inter-Ocean to-
morrow will publish the following interview
with General Grant, respecting the interview
with DIR. e. n. Fowler, published in this
mornings Cincinnati Gazette: ''The re-
ported interview" said General Grant.
'though in most respects correct, contains
also many mistakes and makes me say things
In n way not int nded and makes me use SON
language did not employ. The facts are
these:
Dr Fowler called mt nv house in company
with Mr.. Cramb TO pay his respects, and the
conversation turned upon politics. talked
freely. without shspecting for moment that
the conversation was ever To be published.
Some time later DIR. Fowler. on whose mind
the conversation had made an impression,
wrote to me saying that he desired to publish
it il | did not object. | replied. saying |
would rather this would not be done until
one of our speakers who had the same facts
and was verifying them from the files of the
War Department had made them public !;
that as he was preparing the facts carefully
it would hardly be fair Ia anticipate him.
That might imply permission to DIR. Fowler
to publish his report Of the conversation.
when the speaker alluded to had made his
speech. | have not noticed that he has yet
made it, but he probably has or DIR. Fowler
would not have pablished this article.
Reportcr-Wherein is the statement of Dr.
Fowler incorrect, General?
Gen. Grant-It is inaccurate in many re-
spects. He reports me, for instance, as fol-
lows: "Down to 1864 he (Iancock) seemed
like a man salbtious to do lis duty as an
officer; bus in "a, when Mcclellan was
nominated. Hancock received one vote and
that greatly excited and changed him. He
Ill, .k.l Al. H. 4 Ill -
crazed him. Before that we got on we'll: af-
ter that he would hardly speak to me. Twas
working to enforce the laws of Congress and
he was working for the Presidency. Per-
haps he thought 1 did not praise him enough,
but anyway, he hardly spoke to me-" said
substantially up to "a that I didn't suppose
Hancock had thought of the Presidency, but
at the democratic; convention of that year he
got votes, not one vote rs Dr. Fowler has it,
which makes me imply that he got the sup
port of but one delegate and from that time
he had Presidential bee in his bonnet
When met him afterward his smile was Sc
broad that you could almost see il when his
back was turned. do not know that I said
he thought I did not praise him enough
though possibly that may he the fact Han
cock is man who likes to hear himsel,
praised, and sometimes complained that he
W rs utt Sh'uku.
Reportcr-tIow about his promotions?
Gen. Grant, stated to DIR. Fowler that
Hancock was promoted to be Brigadiei
and Major General in the regular army on
my Recommendation. l recommended him
and Sheridan at the same time. Hancock.
appointment was made at once, but Sheridan
was DELAYED for some time. One of Han
cocks promotions made after the war
and think it was after the Chicago conven-
ton that he was n,adc Brigadier General
When recommended him for Major Gener.
al he had been very cold toward me, and had
not spoken to me for long time. never
knew what was the matter unless he thought
had not consulted him in making his as
signments TO duty. When promoted. howev.
er, he wrote manly letter to me, in which
he said substantially that he believed he was
entirely indebted to me for it, though he had
beeh mistaken. He was made Major Gen.
eral when was made a General.