The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-06
GRANT IN TIME OF PEACE.
The Hero of the Armies of the Union in
the Greater Victories of Peace.
Gen. Adam Badeau's RecOllections and Esti-
mate of Gen. Grants Services to the Coun-
try After the Close of the Rebellion.
FIRST PAPER.

FIRST PAPER.
Written for the Indianapolis Journal-Copyrighted
General Grant did his country quite as indis-
pensable and efficient service during the years
Immediately after the Civil War as in the field
Many of those services were unknown tc The
world or to more than very few of the actors
or nearest observers of the time. propose to
tell the story of some of which was personal
witness, Or in regard to which can bear peculiar
testimony. shall treat his relations with the
most prominent persons of the epoch, setting
forth his opinions of them and his feelings
toward them, and lift the veil from events of
Importance to history, to the understanding
of Grants character and influence / PROPOSE
also, to make known some of the circumstances
of his presidency and later career which have
not hitherto been disclosed.
General Grant always knew that contem-
plated writing his political history and approved
the intention. He promised me all the assist
ance he could give in its preparation, and re-
fused his sanction to others who proposed sim
liar task. During his last illness, when 1t be-
came certain that his military memoir would be
widely read, urged him to attempt himself a
political volume, and he consented to do so if
WOuiN oAu 4u0 CudptcEo i INV OnoE VIII
include material that would have formed part of
such a memoir whether it had been written by
himself or had remained my work, supervised
and corrected by General Grant. To this shall
add personal details too delicate to have been
submitted to their subject, or to have been given
to the world during his lifetime.
My relations with General Grant began In
May, 1863 On the 9Th of that month, immedi-
ately after crossing the Mississippi river, in the
Vicksburg campaign, he appl led for me to be or
dered to duty on his staff. He had never seen
me at the time, and made the application on the
recommendation of Gen. j. Fl. Wilson, his in
spector general. l was then captain. serving On
the staff of Gen. T. W.: Sherman; in
Banks's campaign against Port Hudson.
My orders did not reach me until the
9th of May, just as the assault on
Port Hudson was beginning. l was wounded in
that assault, and unable to report to General
Grant in person until the following February.
established his headquarters, after the battle of
Chattanooga.
Our relations at once became more than cor
dial. l was still on crutches, and he gave
desk in his own room at headquarters. threw
open his entire official spondence to me, and
delighted from the first to tell me all the details
of his battles and campaigns The bill creating
the grade of Northumberland was then before
congress- anu l. udQ Cdrr10Q messages TO MIN
presagng it's success. He discussed the subject
freely, told me he felt no anxiety for the promo
tion and would take no step to secure it, but if
it came, he would do his best to fulfill the higher
duties it imposed If otherwise, he would
neither be disappointed nor in any way less de-
voted to the cause.
On the Sd of March he was ordered to Wash
ington. and on the 18th assumed command of
the armies of the United States. He at once as
signed me to duty as military secretary, with
rs -nOIA al 800
manned with him in this capacity till the end of
the war; went through the Wilderness campaign
and the siege OF Petersburg by his side, and was
present at the fall of Petersburg and the sur
render of Lee. During the next four years,
those of the administration of Mr. johnson,
was his confidential secretary and aid -de-camp
! opened all his letters, answered many that
seen by no other man, and necessarily
knew his opinions on most subjects closely
and intimately. Wherever he went at this time
/ accompanied him. In his tour through the
South after the close of the war. 10 his visit to
Canada, his journey over the entire North,
which was one long triumphal procession; his
stay at his little Galena home; during the stormy
days of reconstruction and the struggle between
Congress and the President; at the time of the
removal of Stanton; the impeachment of John
son; the attempt to send General Grant ont of
the country; in the presidential campaign of
1868 down to the preparations for his first ad-
ministration, was constantly in his society and
confidence.
Enjoying these opportunities for knowing the
man, and engaged at the time in writing his
military history, / naturally took to studying
his peculiar characteristics. For long while he
was just as much of an enigma to me as to the
rest of the world The apparent absence of
vanity, of ambition, of pride in his success, of
selfshness was SO complete and unusual in
man who had achieved such success that I
could not at first comprehend him. soon, how.
ever, grew into a profound affection for him,
which, enhanced by my admiration for his
achievements, became the paramount feeling OF
my life. All my object and ambition were to
help build up or illustrate his fame.
He appreciated this regard and, l thought.
returned it with warmth that he did not often
display. He allowed me to say things to him
that few men say to each other, and at last he
permitted mo to see beneath the veil that con-
cealed the mystery from mankind. found him
a man like other men, with feelings as profound
as those of the most passionate, bat with pow
er of concealing them almost without example
His reserve, however, was natural in part. as
we'll as in part the result of intention. At times
there was positive inability to reveal emotion
a sort of inarticulate Observation-Disclosures as
far as possible from stolidity.
He had few affections, but these were intense;
he did not hate many, but he could be implaca-
BILE. he was not what is usually called ambi-
tious, but after he had been long in power he
was not insensible to the sweets OF possession.
and was decidedly averse to relinquishing what
he had enjoyed. He was not vain but he knew
his own qualities. and, though he had the facul
ty OF receiving adulation with a greater appear
ance Of equanimity than any human being
have known, he was not indifferent to the recog
milton of the world or the praises of his friends
He who never betrayed on that imperturbable
countenance that he relished the plaud-
its of the multitude has told me
often with delicious frankness afterward
of the compliments he had received; he who
seemed so careles Of censure or criticism-after
some little attempt at speech Of four or FIVE
lines, has looked around shyly as he sat down,
and whispered: WAS that all right?' the dis
closure is no betrayal of his confidence, now
that his modesty can be no longer panied. It
cannot but make his calm and stalwart nature
ordinary softnesses of humanity. The living,
breathing man is nearer to us than the statue of
stone or unreal demigod. The Grant that l
knew was full of human nature. He had his
Waaknessas but they mada him mora lovahla