The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-08
GRANT IN PEACE.
No. \.
Grant and Stanton.

his opposition reconstruction under Grant was
becoming reality, he remembered that he had
etill another weapon in his armory It was in
his power to remove the district commanders
and the Secretary of War-who were now all
diligently engaged in the execution of the law.
A wide difference of opinion had early become
apparent in Johnsons Cabinet. the members of
which were originally appointed by Lincoln, but
had been retained by his successor As soon as
she new President betrayed his antagonism 70
those who had elected him. four OUT Oh
bis seven ministers refused to second wha3
shey considered his apostacy. In duly,
1866 the Postmaster General and the Secretary
of Ehe Interior resigned; and in September they
were followed by the Attorney-general. who,
though Southern man, was unable to approve
the Presidents policy. Three OF those who re-
NAMED supported johnson and became abettors
OF all his devices and designs Seward, the orig
inal Republican leader fell away completely
from his old associates; Weles, bitter Demo
crat before the war, returned to his early allies.
and McCulloch, who had never been prominent
in politics or public life, decided to retain the
place to which he had been elevated on the res
ignation of superior.
But Stanton, the Secretary Of War, the Min
lister who had been most important of all, both
TO Lincoln and the country, who, by his position,
and ability, and energy, and fidelity, had done
more than any other civilian except Lincoln to
serve the state; without whose efforts, indeed,
the state could hardly have been saved-this man
remained in the Cabinet to oppose what he
deemed the dangerous and reasonable projects
of the President.
The relations of Grant and Stanton had been
peculiar. They had never met until after the
battle of Chicamauga, when at Stanton's earn
est desire. Grant was placed in command of the
Western armies. Then an interview Of
day occurred when they travelled together
from Indianapolis to Louisville and discussed
the military situation After Grant be-
came General-in-chief their intercourse was
necessarily constant and confidential, though
even then hardly intimate. In Washington
Grant saw more Of Lincoln than of the Secre-
tary. and his official correspondence with the
government was always addressed to Hal
leck; the Chief of staff of the Army. They
had no personal correspondence, and l
doubt if they exchanged dozen letters in their
lives.
Lincoln gave Grant full liberty in all matters
of strategy, and Stanton never interfered. When
Grant started on the Wilderness campaign both
Of these official superiors assured him that they
had no wish to become acquainted with his plans.
But Stanton, as we'll as the President promised
Grant an absolute support, and he kept his word.
He left nothing undone to uphold the hands of
the general-in-chief He never, indeed, expressed
mn cd fnu lad IN
any especial affection for him, but he
was . stanch ally. The most and, SO
far as / can recoect, the last he ever said
in praise of Grant was in his comments. pub
Ished at the time on the victory at Donelson.
In his Report of the Financial Operations of the
War;" there is not one word commencing Grant.
But he sent him all the men, and arms, and sup
plies he required; he made all the assignments
Of troops and commanders that Grant requested;
he never thwarted one of = plans or interrupted
one Of his movements. There were times when
he probably did not concur with Grant, but he
deliberately subordinated his own opinions to
those Of the soldier on all military points.
Sometimes when Grant was too far away to be
easily reached, Stanton probably by Halleck's
advice, made dispositions or appointments that
Grant did not approve, but if subsequently
Grant wished these steps reversed.
Stanton never objected. During Early's
invasion of Maryland, telegraphic communication
between Washington and City Point was inter
Fupsed for a while. and great confusion and
alarm prevailed at the capital Several move
ments were ordered without Grants knowledge,
all Of which proved abortive In this emergency
Stanton finally appealed To Grant He directed
Dana, then Assistant Secretary of War, to say
to Grant that unless he gave positive directions
and enforced them the result would be ''ieplora
BILE and fatal" When Grant placed Sheridan in
command in the valley he did it knowing that
his own confidence in that officers capacity was
not shared by the government but neither Lin
coin nor Stanton interfered. And all this,
though Stanton was an imperious man. fond of
power used to authority, never doubling his
own judgment in civil affairs But he had made
up his mind to intrust plenary authority to
Grant, and he carried out his intention heartily
and absolutely. Grant fully appreciated this
course.
They had Que little difference at Chattanooga,
when Stanton insisted on controlling the cipher
operator at Grants headquarters; but this was
soon forgotten, and Stanton always directed
Grants telegraphic orders to subordinate COM
manders, to be taken off the wires as they passed
through Washington, so that he might inspect
them. Grant sometimes would have preferred
to withhold the information these dispatches
contained lest it should be made public too
soon; but Stanton was within his rights, and the
subject was never preached in their CORE
epondence or conversation. On every serious
point their harmony was undisturbed.
This is the statement General Grant always
made to me- Until the last year of his life he
expressed and intended my history of his cam
Daigns to be the final authorized expression of
his views. and whatever wrote for that history
was submitted to his inspection. In the winter
of 1879 sent him my account Of his relations