Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-31
AN UNwRITTEN CHAPTER.
Mr.. Depew Speaks still Mysteriously of
that Important Event in Gen. Grants

Mr.. Depew Speaks still MysteriouslY of
that Important Event in Gen. Grants
Life.
From the Mean York World.
Mr.. Chauncey NJ. Depew's statement at
the Grant memorial exercises OF the
Chamber Of Commerce on Monday,
that there is connected with the
dead Generals name a chapter of un-
written history of the greatest import to
the republic, has enciteG curiosity. Mr..
close OF the war when, but for Gen.
Grants flrmness, the country might have
again been plunged into civil strife.
81 do not think the time has come for
me to explain just what limited at" said
Mr.. Depew yesterday. "That chapter of
history of the close Of the war
should not be left unrecOrded.
But there are others who have I'M
| doubleday been told the same story.
Some of the intimate friends OF the
General, Mr.. Conkling, Gen. Sharpe, Gen.
Badeau, and others, would be as likely to
know of 1t as myself, who was never, in
any sense, his intimate. | prefer to wait
some time before repeating the story as it
was told to me, but If no one else shall
write it then | will"
Mr.. Depew would give no intimation as
to what the mysterious incident really
was. He was asked if IL involved an ex-
PLANTATION of the question of veracity be-
tween President johnson and Gen. Grant
in connection with the position of Secre-
tary Of War and the proposed removal Of
Stanton.
THAT is not the incident to which re-
fer" WAS the response. at concerns
those troublous times when there was a
change of administration. Had it not
been for Gen. Grants prompt action the
| incident would undoubtedly have been
attended by tragic results Nor, he said,
did the revelation refer to the electoral
/ commission controversy.
When asked how it happened that he
became the repository of a secret of 80 i'm
/ pOrtanG character, Mr.. DepeW related
the following:
Three years or more ago was one of
the guests at private dinner party Gen.
Grant was also present, and we were
/ seated side by side. | had met him fire.
/ quently ut dinner parties and in social
/ way, but our relations had been some
/ what strained because of my attitude to-
wards the third term movement. But on
the occasion referred to he was very
/ friendly. BY the time the cloth was re-
moved and cigars were reached the con-
! versatlon drifted, first from one topic to
another At length he told me the story
.
never been made public. He assigned as a
reason a possibility of bitter controversy
that would be aroused, as many of those
/ who would have been opposed to MIN
were still alive. Nevertheless, he said he
might yet write 1t. We met frequently after
that, but | never referred to the subject
again until during his last illness. Only
short time ago had an extended inter
view with him think, perhaps, one of
the last long talks be had with any
one before his voice failed him.
found him depressed in spirits.
He told me he was doomed. l spoke to
him about his work on the autobiography.
He said ii was practically flushed, and
all that remained to be done was In the
way of revision The General deplored
the fact that his condition would not per
init Of his treating some matters
more thoroughly. l then reminded
him Of the special incident l have spoken
of, and he remembered the CONVEX
sation with me very distinctly. When |
inquired if he had Incorporated the story
in mis- "Reminiscences he answered that
he had not. General l remarked, Il
doubt if there is anything in your book so
interesting az that would prove to be-
Perhaps not he answered and pro-
had been his intention to write Of IL
fully. There were many things be
had left unacc0mplished and others had
been passed over hurriedly. He regretted
that his work had not been more complete
and thorough. AS to this particular
thing, there was no Injunction
OF secrecy imposed, else l would never
have mentioned it in my remarks
yesterday. What surprises me is that
some Of his friends who no doubt have
full knowledge Of it have not told the
story before this. AS | have said, NAV
take it upon myself to write it as he told
it TO me, that is, if the public are curious
concerning It,"