Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-21

His Side OF the Controversy About
His Relations 90 General Grants
Literary Ventures

His Side OF the Controversy About
His Relations 90 General Grants
Literary Ventures.
Gen. Adam Badeau has made public a state
ment, several columns In length, OF his relations
TO General Grants literary ventures, defending
himself from the imputations put upon him in the
correspondence recently gwen to the press by
COL Fred Grant. In his communication Badeau
says: ITO communication to General Grant
received reply, still IN my possession, covering
ten or eleven pages OF fooscap, all In the hand
writing OF Colonel Grant, but signed by General
Grant, terminating my connection with the book,
denying statements General Grant had previously
made In writing, descending to details OF false
hood and pettiness OF which the hero OF Appomat-
toA was incapable, and TO which he would never
nave put his signature had he been in health OF
mind and body. i wrote a respectful reply and
ielt his house, and when called afterward, twice
within few weeks was not allowed to see him.
never met him again. and thus ended friend
ship as intimate as has often existed between men,
and as honorable TO both in the separate relations
OF chief and subordinate IL was possible for such
friendship 10 be. have, OF course, never sup
posed that the termination OF this friendship was
the Inc, act OF General Grant This was In May, lss1.
stated in writings which must be in the posses
sion OF General Grants family that have no de-
sire intention or right TO claim the authorship OF
General Grants Memoirs l have never asserted
that furnished original matter for II TO any con-
siderable extent
he constantly and repeatedly requested me to keep
secret even from his family, and have scrupu-
lousy conformed to his desire. In view OF Col.
Grants remarks, however, now propose to make
statement OF my connection with the Memoirs,
still only for Gen. Grants family, such persons
II may be necessary for them or me 10 consult, and
with the hope that Gen. Grants desire for secrecy
may even yet be complied with. In June, 1884,
the editors OF the Century Magazine renewed the
request they had previously made through me that
Gen. Grant would write for their magazine, and
aradrn IN i'm fvUn arfic loo
on any OF his battles which he might select as
themes. After awhile he made the attempt, and
to visit him at Long Branch and showed me his
work. This l revised and showed him how to en-
large the paper; and after good deal OF labor OF
struction whenever chose, and Gen. Grant al
ways accepting my changes, the paper was copied
by Col Grant and taken 10 the editors OF the Cen
waited on Gen. Grant and asked for more matter,
making one or two suggestions in regard TO themes
this visit occurred, and later l revised with him
the subsequent and enlarged article"
WHAT BADEAU SAYS HE DID.
After the contract made with Gen. Grant to
assist In writing the memoirs, Mr.. Badeau con-
tinues: 81 took this rough material to my own
room, and made any changes saw 1t In language
or style. took out whole pages. / transferred
others from one part OF the book to another. l
modified any expressions which disliked or dis
approved, and there was not page In the first
volume, nor one In the second down to the Wilder
ness campaign, which did not contain q dozen
alterations or notifications entirely mine broke
up sentences. / softened or heightened the effect
i corrected the grammar, and all with the knowl-
edge and sanction and by the express and re-
whether what he wrote was good English, and
his slips IN grammar were constant. He had
besides, no idea whatever OF building up
chapter, or a book, or OF treating a theme
50 as TO lead up 10 point or to make
a complete picture or argument. The
book could not have been made what 1t is without
peculiar knowledge OF the theme and the literary
quality. Gen. Grant once said TO Inc: 'Badeau,
know could not do this work without you. /
think could tell a plain story, so that people
would understand what meant; but could not
been invaluable and Indispensable TO me, not only
in veriflcatiOn and revision but in suggestion, and
am very grateful 1 am anxious that the Char
acter Of my relation to his book should be buried
forever In oblivion. ] have never raised the Ques-
ton have said not one word In print about It;
have avoided It altogether, except with my law
yers or my most confidential friends. For this
reason have borne with the delay In the fulfill
ment Of the agreement
IHAvB NOT GONE INTO THE COURTS,
although the contract expressly states that was
to receive Is 900 out ofthe first $50 900 profits and
&, 900 out Of the next $40 600 and Mrs Grant has
paid me penny. Doubtless she has misappre-
hended the facts, or she, as a woman OF honor,
would never have rtSked the diShOnOr to her great
husbands name OF a broken agreement; she would
never have failed to keep his pledged word-a
word given to procure his release from prior
pledge. What ask OF the family is to carry out
this agreement, TO pay me 81, $50, with interest
from the day when they received the first pay
ment, amounting to $4,000 Two hundred and
nifty dollars, have already said, Gen. Grant paid
on the day when he received 81, 900, all he ever
drew In person. He carried OUT the agreement so
far he was able. The fulfillment this written
contract Is better than litigation, which must in
evtaoly divulge 10 ali the world the secrets that
Gen. Grant so carefully hid and which have Sa.
credly endeavored TO withhold"
After the service OF the first papers In the suit Mr.
Badeau continues: although had three sepa-
rate times been told by Col. Grant and his lawyers
70 resort TO the courts, they made me an offer OF
s. 500 for my claim. at FIRST was unwilling to
accept the proposition, but finally consented to
compromise for the sake still OF Gen. Grant and
his honored memory. j stipulated, however, that
the Grants should pay my lawyers fee and this
they consented TO do TO the extent OF $500. But
stipulation that in consideration OF the q, 900
paid d1sciatmed any authorship, Joint author
ship or co-authOrship OF the memoirs This posi-
lively refused TO sign" Badeau closes his letter
with a defense of his action in asking Gen. Grant
Tor new contract and some .
SHARP CRITICISMS OF COL GRANT.
"Gen. Grants letter. which was written by Col
Fred. Grant, do not hesitate to assert could
never have received Gen. Grants sanction had he
been well In body and mind; but drugged dis
eased, and under the influence of his son, he put
his name TO paper unworthy OF his fame full OF
displayed and, worse yet, OF positive and paIpable
faisenood. IL gives me the lie, ON whose veraciUy
his own history depends IL doubts In words the
intimate friend for half lifetime and yet invites
that man Ia be his guest and intimate COM
panion- Worse than the sons OF Noah who
heir TO so great a name endeavOred first to make
MS father guilty OF a w1ckedness OF which he
was incapable and then to make capital for him.
sell out OF the crime he had laid at his fathers