Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-04-06
GIANTS MELC1Es.
Gen. Badeau Denouneos the Course Pursued by
Col. Fred Grant

Ten badeau DenGUness the Course Pursued by 4
Col Fred Grant
The New York Sun publishes Gen. /
Adam Badeau's version of the eontro-
versy which has arisen between himself /
and Gen. Grants family in regard to
the claim Badeau makes for oompensa-
ton for services to Gen. Grant in the /
preparation of his Personal Memoirs.
The statement is addressed to "The |
American Public" and fills several col |
ums of the Sun. Badeau defends his /
position and is severe In his structures |
on the course pursued by Col. Fred !
Grant In the matter. He tells how
much time and hard, unrelenting labor
he gave to the work and how his own
book, on which he had spent sixteen
years, was injured by the success of
that of Gen. Grant, which he was at
so many pains to perfect. Il did not
write the original matter, said he;
aud in that sense did not compose the
book. The thoughts were Gen. Grants
and in most cases his original draft of
language, but Suggested much. told
him when to insert descriptions of
scenes, where to place an account of a
character, how to elaborate the picture
of battle, etc. I discussed his state
ments and the advisability of his ex-
pressiOns of opinion, and often per
suaded him to change the one or modi-
fy the other. broke up the sentences.
I softened or heightened the eff
feet. 1 corrected the grammar, and all
with the sanction of Gen. Grant. I
sought to preserve his simplicity and
correctness and even ruggedness of
language, never to betray my own
share in the work He had no idea of
building up a chapter or a book or of
treating a theme so as to lead up to
point or to make complete picture of
argument. But the book could not
have been made what it is without me.
| There was no one else who had both
| my peculiar knowledge of the theme
and literary quality; There was no
one else whom he would have allowed
! to do what I did. But he knew how I
| loved him and how devoted I was to
his fame and he trusted all to me.
! would not have told what am writ
/ 4LB uOW II IL udu uOB BOGu SAUOEJou
! from me by the imputatiOns referred to
/ by his son" Badeau claims the letter
/ of dismissal was in the handwriting of
/ Fred Grant, with the exception of the
! signature.
Badeau says the original agreement
was that he should receive $1,000 out
/ of the profits if they reached $50, GOO,
but this agreement was based on the
| idea that he would be occupied only
three months, whereas he was occupied
nearly year. Gen. Grant always re-
cOgnized his services fully, but Col.
Grant seemed afraid his connection
with the work would hurt its sale and
! when Gen. Badeau asked for a new
| agreement in consideration for his more
| extensive services than at first cOntem.
plated, Col. Grant wrote the letter
which has been published, severely con
demning Gen. Badeau, aspersing his
character, Diminishing him, ETC., and gOt
| Gen. Grant to sign it. Gen. BadeaU
says Gen. Grant was at this time il
such a state from disease and drugs
as not to be responsible for the tone 0.
the letter, which was wholly unworthy
of and unlike him. It is essentially
letter of Col Grant. Gen. BadeaJ
says Col. Grant is responsible for the
ventilation of this whole matter, for /
he had paid what Gen. Grant agreed tC
pay the world would never have heard
of it. But he insisted on false state
ment that Badeau had nothing to dc
with the memoirs, and to this BadeaJ
could not consent.