New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-26
SUPPLEMENT.
PAGES 8 TO a..
GRANT IN PEACE.
ny GENERAL ADAM BADEAU.
THE HUSBAND AND FATHER.

child werc with him, anu this was typical OF All
knew of him. 1t is hard for me to think OF nm
apart from his family. all through the war MIS-
Grant visited him whenever he remained LOT
while in = town, and even in the held enc oiten
shared his tent or cabin when the armies were not
engaged in active operations. In 1877 wrote I'd
him asking foI information in regard TO her visits
to aid in my history of his campaigns, and he an
swersd from Paris:
whom Mrs. Grant visited me at city PORT she went
sss sSwsveT soon arer ny % sarnston after
thort vis arrange for tho chilrens scnoolng emu
snsnpa,s Of two snort visits to until Less
surrcnder aud retur- to the national Capital Mrs
Cslrcat Cornth. next at Jackson Tenn, tnrn
g. Memphis where el, Ssr rnnns Che ycssSurs
batteries, and at vieksburg after the surrender shs
again visited Nc nj nashville
venture to add what wrote after this IN my
history it was submitted to General Grant and
read to bis wife and approved by BOTH Indeed,
every line in my history read by him before 1t
finally went to the printer and had his sanction as
completely as any portion of hs more =" fersonal
Memoirsn With this knowledge the following
passage has peculiar significance. 1t is what he
w:s willing should be said TO the world
Tho wife Of the Commandsriu Chief had often spenta
rev weeks with him In oamp or siege OF wnsn no was
quxrtered in captured town. AZ MsmI MS sioxs"us
again in ront of petersburg His children, visited
tho eldest only fourteen years Oh age al tls tune
1861 he youngest seven and the man VINO directed
the drstiuies Of srInies aud unatsrabe in his
decisions when be believed them right who orderca inc
shrinking through the Wilderness campaign. was as
bland and playful with aus wife and children rs the
the simplicity ane genteness Of his nanrs came OUT IN
this companlonsnp he nad oeen m.rrca % ~ ,n
somesrio relations while like true woman the wife
sse from petty proud of his success nut
never rencbing Der proper sphere exercising az
Aux p.apsa tHfQ IN ne
annoy or disturb
have no word to withdraw from this picture
now. 1t was written ten years ago, and have
spent many hours in close companionship with Its
subjects since in still greater intimacy with each
than had thon enjoyed l saw them afterward
in ali the pageantry of their European tour. L
accompanied them to palaces and arranged their
invitations and their travels waA with them In
America annie the aspirations after third term IN
the defeat of those desires, and in the retirement
TO comparative privacy / was their frequent guest
both at Long Branch and in New-York. Mrs
Grant said TO me more than once that the General
wished me to consider his house one OF my homes
went to them in the first distress after the failure
of Grant & Ward and spent seven mouths under
.heir roof in the last year OF General Grants
existence, when the terrible shock OF the cancer
ssme during the prolonged suspense. and whom we
all thought that the end had arrived; so that at
wears was a illness as close and intimate, when
all the ireumstances are considered, that life
aver knew; and | venture-l trust without in
delcacy. for General Grants private life is mat
ter of importance to man kind venture to testify
There is nothing that the survivor will be unwill-
ing to disclose that l nee shrink to reveal
No more beautiful domestic life can ever be known
General Grants regard for his wife was constant,
tender true; the worthy love of a worthy nature
trustfuL absolute, unceasng; in great things and
small anxious for the happiness OF its object. He
would do anything to crafty his wife in her
merest fancy or most momentary vhm; while in
imuortaut affairs, repeat, Mrs Grant did not
overstep the line which both perceived. though
,os.;blv neither ever indicated it to the other.
She did not strive TO effect or change her hiis-
bands judgment in matters OF strategy or pub
Gc noIicv. She never dreamed OF influencing
mis- military decisions or his political ones. except
IN regard to individuals.
Like all omen she was full OF personal feeiing'
but it was feeling about and for her husband. Ii
abe wanted q man deposed OF supported, it was
because she believed him true or false to Grant
and her instincts were sometimes nearer right thsD
his Judgment She, of course, may have erred but
her native was pure In personal matters, up TO a
certain point her influence was undoubtedly great;
Int after the point reached. even IN personal
matters, Grant was imEOvable. Mrs. Grant wanted
the position of many persons changed, whether Tor
hetter or worse and many things done. which she
VAS unable to accomplish There came times when
the General distrusted her Judgment, thought her
preiudices or partiaties affected her. and then ne
did not Weld. at least ever to do injustice. He
NAV sometimes have grained her by advancing
man whom she favored higher than he would
otherwise have done. but he also supported others
whom, he believed that Mrs. Grant unjustiy dis
.pproved. He would not overthrow man in whom
he trusted, though there were OCCASIONS won II
would have been better for him had she succeeded.
In greater than personal matters she always
s,mnlv urged hum to follow his own Judgment and
conscience. knew of one or two instances when
politicai or other important Influences were
brough. to bear, and almost warped his Judgment
and she simply but strongly advised MN TO DO
what he thought right, and perhaps induced him to
do il; though he as little rs any man, DeheVe'
seauirvd such induccment.
Mr. Grant shared m any of her husbands secrets
lint not ALL and never those of others which were
,n.an. for him alone. he moro than once spoke to
me of matters which he said he had not discioscd
In her He used to say. to tease her, that after his
frat election to the Presidency he had to got up in
ths night and examine the waistcoat he had put
,ndsr mis- pillow lest she should have Uncovered
she st of his CO that he kept in the pocket But
fhis as only TO tease he had AZ much confidence
in his wife as any man that ever lived. In aesr1y
from her. who was indeed my faithful friend he
read TO Dor every page of my history that used to
,end him in advance. and many time mas ne
wr;ttep that she commended lines about which he
would only say" they are 90 personal that can
make no comment" She shared his interest IN my
Vork aud his approval of its character.
In tine first years of my intercourse with Grant
vas greatly impressed with this influence OF his
w;fe and that impression deepeDed until the last.
Nobodv can und estand his character or career who
fails TO appreciate this; no one who did not know
him Intimately can ever say how much Mrs. Grant
Lained him how she comforted HIM. and enabled
him TO perform his task, which without that help
and solace | sometimes thought might never nave
been performed. She deserved Of the country al
TIE honor ana Difference it ever paid her, and all
ths comforts IL ever bestowed She soothed hiW