The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-12
GRANT IN PEACE.
nv GENERAL ADAM BADEAU.
NO. XIV.
NO. XIV.
Grant, sherman and johnson.

johnson had been as violent as Stanton in his
censures of Sherman's terms in North Carolina.
General Grant told me at the time that the Pres
ident called Sherman traitor in the presence of
the Cabinet, and he authorized the publication
of the comments of Stanton which called down
on the great soldier the denunciations of the
country he had helped to save But when it be-
came desirable to make use Of Sherman, John
son could assume different tone. He resorted
to every inducement of dattery confidence and
tempting advancement, and offered him in turn
the command of the army, the brevet Of general,
and the position of Secretary of War, so that he
might cope With, supplant or surpass Grant
But Sherman was proof against all his wiies.
Johnson's first attempt to pit the great COM
rades against each other was in the matter of
the mission to Mexico. have already told the
story. but some points belong TO my present
theme. The President ordered Grant to send
for Sherman, who was at ST. Louis but he did
not inform the General-in-chief of the purpose
Of the order This, however, Grant suspected,
and wrote to Sherman to come direct to his
house. There he told his friend of the plot of
the administration to send himself out of the
country and to put Sherman in his place in the
interim. Sherman at once waited on the Presi-
dent and protested against the scheme. He
represented the determination Of Grant not to
leave the country, the needlessness to send him,
and the danger of insisting. Finally he offered
himself to go to Mexico, and was accordingly
substituted for Grant. Beyond all doubt 1t was
the earnestness of his urging, the cogency Of his
suggestions, and, above all, the discovery Of his
loyalty to Grant that changed the purpose of
the President. Sherman, however. like Grant
at the outset, was completely subordinate in his
interviews with the President, and strove to ex-
press no opinions offensive to his superior.
A year after these events the time came for
johnson to report his reasons for the suspension
of Stanton. Sherman was then on duty at
Washington as president of board to revise the
regulations of the army. His relations with
Grant were so intimate that they discussed in
advance the conduct of Grant in case the Senate
should disapprove the action of the President.
On the 18th of January, two days before the
Senate decided Grant told Sherman that he
would not retain the Office of Secretary of War
after the disapproval Of the Senate; and Sher
man urged him to make known this intention
promptly to the President. It was partly be-
cause of this urgency of Sherman that Grant
went the same day TO Johnson to announce his
determination. 1t was also Sherman who first
suggested the name of Governor Cox as a substi-
tute, when Grant should give up the Office. and
Grant urged Sherman to repeat the suggestion
to the President They were thus in complete
accord. Neither. at this iuncture, deemed it
proper that Stanton should return to his Office.
But Stanton resumed his place, and his first
act was to send a message to Grant that the Sec
rotary of War desired to see him. This required
Grant TO leave his own Office, on the opposite
side Of the street. to wait on his superior 1t
nOuncing that Stanton was in his seat, especially
to the man who had treated him with SO much
deficacy few months before. when their posi-.
tons were reversed. Then Grant had gone to
Stanton's house and told him in advance what
he meant to do, and afterward sent him formal
and ghly-complimentsry letter before he
entered upon his functions. Grant now disliked
extremely the behavior of Stanton, and said so
to Sherman, as well as to his own confidential
officers.
The same day Grant and Sherman went to-
peared in the journal which served as Johnson's
mouthpiece accusations of Grants want Of faith,
and he was loath to enter the executive presence
But he put under foot all personal considera-
tions. The position of Stanton was discussed,
and it was suggested that Grant should advise
him to resign. The President maintained that
Stanton's orders were not valid while he held
Office against the will Of the head of the state,
and Grant replied that if the President wished
him to disobsy Stanton, he should give written
order to that effect. This order johnson did not
of disooeying. but was himself unwilling to take
the responsibility of directing the disobedience.
Graz and Sherman now held frequent confer
ences, neither taking any step without the con-
currence Of the other. Sherman, like Grant,
subordinated all personal feeling at this iuncture
to public interests. He forgot any remains of
resentment he may have retained toward Stan
4On, and offered to 60 to him with Grant to dis
cuss the situation; but for some reason the inter
view did not occur. Grant, however, visited
Stanton, intending to recommend him to resign,
but he soon perceived that the advice would be
useless and counseled Sherman not to offer it,
Meanwhile the controversy between Grant and
the President was approaching elimination.
Twice Grant received important orders from
Stanton requiring immediate action, and inclos-
Ing communications from the Treasury that rec
ognized Stanton as-Secretary of War; and yet
the President had verbally instructed him to
disregard Stanton's authority. On the oath of
January Grant formally requested that the Pres
soAo
writing. This was not done, and Grant was
placed in very embarrassing situation. It was
the old device-to make some one else do the
unauthorized work and take the responsibility
by which Johnson was to profit without urnng
his fingers At the same time the imputations
Of Grants bad faith were continued. Finally,
on the 2Sth of January, Grant renewed his re-
nnast for Written Instructions to disohav Stan