The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-03


The truest sketch of a mans character
and the most interesting part of his biog-
raphy is that furnished by himself in the
form of letters not written for publication.
The hest biographies are those which con-
sist largely Of such letters, in which the
writer unfolds his thoughts freely and
makes revelations Of character which are
all the more interesting because they are
unprecedented. a new biography of Gen.
Grant by Gen. James G. Wilson affords an
illustration of this. A feature of the work
is the publication of many letters written
burne, member Of Congress from Illinois.
during and after the war. The correspond
ence between Grant and Washburne con-
tinued uninterruptedly from 1851 to 1880.
though the interval between letters was
sometimes long. The friendship between
the two men was honorable to both. WASH
burne was one of the first to recognize
Grants merit and was instrumental in hav-
ing him advanced, and Grant recognized
the service. Some of his letters during the
war contain characteristic passages. After
Grant became a ~brigadier general Wash
burne wrote regarding the appointment of
Rawlins on his staff. In a letter written
from Cairo, Sept 3, 1861, Grant says:
In regard to the appointment of Mr.. Raw
Inns, / never had an idea of withdrawing
it SO long as he felt disposed to accept, no
matter how long his absence. Mr.. RaWlins
was the first one | decided upon for a place
with me, and | very much regret that fam
lily affection has kept him away so long;
VI yn-t NrNyr1I h q va hnnO u Cnnd GnhnnI
Of instruction for him in his new duties;
the future bids fair to try the backbone of
our volunteers.
Two years later writing of Rawlins he
said:
He is better and more favorably known
than probably any other officer in the army
who has filled only staff appointments.
Some men. too many of them, are only
made by their staff appointments, while
others give responsibility to the position.
Rawlins is of the latter class.
Grant was not a %changeable man. He
had made up his mind that Rawlins had
good stuff in him, and he did not propose
to lose sight of him. The result verified his
judgment. In this same letter Grant re-
marked that he had been kept moving
pretty actively from one command to an
other, but he added: $50 long as 1 am of
SCI = " lliC CaIOC "a O0l NO0ihSLS l. w
not object" In thanking Washbdrne for
his services in bringing about his promo
ton, he said: Il pledge myself that, if
equal to the task before me, you shall never
have cause to regret the part you have
taken" In a letter written from Fort Dom
elson Feb. q, 1862, he said:
Or the 18th, 14th and 18th our volunteers
fought a battle that would figure we'll with
many of those fought in Europe, where
large standing armies are maintained. |
feel very grateful to you for having placed
me in the position to have had the honor
of commanding such an army and at such
a time. l only trust that L nave not ana
will not disappoint you.
These expressions show that while Grant
appreciated the favor done by his advance
ment he had no serious misgivings as to
his ability to meet expectations. A little
later, writing from Savannah, Tenn, he
said: "A severe contest may be looked for
in this quarter before many weeks, but of
the result 1 feel no alarm" Grant knew
his army and himself. About this time a
rumor was current that he had surrendered
some slaves captured at Fort Donelson.
Referring to this, he wrote that while he
did not care a straw for what was said
about him individually he did not want his
friends to be misled. He said:
My published order on the occasion shows
that citizens were not permitted TO pass
through our camps to look for their slaves.
There were some six or seven negroes at
Donelson, who represented that they had
been brought from Kentucky to work foF
officers, and had been kept a number of
months without receiving pay. They ex-
pressed great anxiety to get back to their
families. and protested that they were free
man FThaSa LET OF. and none others. L
have studiouSly tried to prevent the run
ming off of negroes from all outside places,
as | have tried to prevent all other maraud-
ing and plundering. So long as l hold a
commission in the army | have no views OF
my own to carry out. WhateTer may ne
the orders of my superiors and law l Will
execute. No man can be efficient as a
commander who sets his own notions above
law and those whom he is sworn to obey:
When Congress enactS anything too odlouS
for me to execute l will resign.
1t was very like Grant to write, 80 long
as hold a commission in the army I have
no views of my own to carry OUT Some
generals of that period were full of views.
In a letter dated Camp near Corinth,
Miss, May IA, 1862" he wrote:
The great number of attacks made upon
me by the press OF the country Is my
desiring to give any contradiction TO them
myself. You have interested yourself so
nllcn as nv Irle1u IldI SilOulu L Say LII
thing it would probably be made use of in
my behalf. l would scorn being my own
defender against such attacks except
through the record which has been kept OF
all my official acts, and which can be eX-
amired at Washington at any time. 10
say Vat / have not been distressed at tneSe
attacks upon me would be false, for L have
a father, mother, wife and children VINO
read them. and are distressed by them, ana
l necessarily share with them in 1t, men,
too, all subject to my orders read tneSe
charges. and it is calculated to weaken their
confidence in me and weaken my
present cause. One thing L will assure you
OF, however, cannot be driven from
rendering the best service within my ability
to suppress the present rebellion, and. When
the rebellion, found me enjoying. Notoriety
has no charms for me, ana could renuer
the same services that | hope it has been
my fortune to render our just cause without
being known in the matter, 1t would De
infinitely preferable to me.
Here is a revelation of,a great man suf-
fering from attacks in the rear while bat
tiing for his country in the front of danger.
The rumors related to his conduct of the
battle of Pittsburg Landing, and his de-
Tense was dignihed and complete. Most of
the letters written during the war related
to military operations and only once or
twice did the writer refer to civil condi-
tons. Writing from V~icksburg, Aug. 80,
1863, he said:
TIE people of the North need not quarrel
over the institution of slavery. What Vice
President Stephens acknowledges the cor
nerstone of the Confederacy is already
knocked out. Slavery is already dead and
cannot be resurrected. 1t would axe a
standing army to maintain slavery in the