The sun., 1908-06-06
Why GRANT LEFT TEE ARMY
RAN FOUL or BUCHANAN, WH0
WAS A MARTINEZ.

Appearing at tho Pay Table slightly
Intoxicated-GO Even with Buchanan
I.ater-His Clash with Gen. Mcclellan.
Secretary Tafts Memorial Day address at
the tomb Of Grant. which started q wave Of
discussion all over the country as to whether
the General was an Incorporate drinker
and as to the truth of the Seoretary's asser-
ton that Gen. Grant resigned from the army
because he had to. has released personal
letter written to William Conant Church,
editor OF the Army and Ndry journal ten
years ago by an officer who was fully con-
versant with Gen. Grants habits and aware
OF the exact reason he retired from the army.
The letter will be printed to-day in the Army
and Na,p Journal.
The writer of the letter met Grant first In
1852 when the future Commander In Chief
was a First Lieutenant and Brevet Captain
In the Fourth Infantry, ordered from New
York IIarbor to the Pacific coast. He had
ample opportunity to observe the thin.
quiet. reticent man. "his kindly and gen.
eroIs feeling for those about HIM and "his
close and strict attention to his duties.' Capt.
Grants energy and common sense were
mighty serviceable to the Government in
transferring the command across the Isthmus.
Later at Vancouver Mr.. Churoh's oorre-
spondent was acquainted with Grants life.
-Of course" the letter says, 4it was we'll
known that Grant drank now and then, but
he was not, as has often been charged. by
any means drunkard. He would perhaps
go on two or three sprees year. but was
always open to reason and when spoken to
on the subject would own up and promise
to stop drinking, which he did
AT this time expeditions for the survey
Of the Northern Pacific Railroad were being
organized and fitted out In both the East
and the West. One of Importance for the
survey of the passes through tho Cascade
range Of mountains as far north as the
forty ninth parallel, was fitted out at
Vancouver barracks and commanded by
Brevet Captain George B. Mcclellan of the
Engineers. You may remember In the
early part Of 1852 how severely Gen. Nc
Celan criticised certain actions Of Gen.
Grant as laid before him by Gen. Halleck
and how unjustly and harshly Gen. Grant
then and always considered he had been
treated in the matter and how many people
there were who wondered at Gen. McClel-
lans course.
Il for one never doubted the reason,
was being fitted out, Grant got on one Of
Mcclellan exceedingly and, in my opinion,
he never forgave Grant for 1t. Notwith-
standing this the necessary transportation
was soon in readiness and the expedition
left Vancouver.
1T was in the year 1854 that Grant re-
signed from the army. The resignation
was brought about in this way: His COM
manding officer was the Major OF the regi-
ment, Brevet Col. X. C. Buchanan. a very
good officer, but martinez and 'sof In his
company was being paid of Gen Grant
was at the pay table slightly under the in
fitIence Of liquor. This coming to the
knowledge Of Col, Buchanan, he gave Grant
the option Of resigning or having charges
preferred against HIM Grant resigned at
once.
"ln my opinion the regiment always
thought that Col. Buchanan was unneces-
sarily harsh and severe In his treatment Of
Capt. Grant; he had known Grant for a long
and in garrison and 1t seemed as though
he might have overlooked this first small
offence at his (Buchanan's) post.
Il believe that Gen. Grant never really
forgave Buchanan for his action toward
him, and it may perhaps be remembered
about 1870, Buchanan had in turn the option
of applying for the retired list or Of going
on the unassigned list. He chose the former.
OF course from 1852 until his death most
all Of Gen. Grants acts were public. and
you arr well acquainted with them All
the world knows of his abilities as warrior
and statesman. In his private life he was
all that he should be-devoted to his family,
true to his friends. He never uttered an
oath nor vulgar or unclean word that l
ever heard Of his chastity was beyond all
question and his modesty beyond compare"
What a martinez Col. Robert Chrystie
Buchanan was is indicated in a story the
army was familiar with years ago. brought
to light again by the Army and Navy Jour
nal On one occasion he refused twice to
receive report from young officer, de-
claring that he was not i'm uniform when
appearing before the august presence.
Finally the officer discovered that he had
omitted to hook up the collar OF his uniform
coat. When this oversight was corrected
he was graciously permitted to report,
having received no intimation meantime
from his superior ms to what was at fault
with his attire,
As to drinking among officers in the civil
war the Army and Ndpy journal adds this
comment to the discussion:
I'VE have good reason to believe from
personal observation that most of the great
soldiers of our civil war drank at times
something stronger than water: otherwise
why should special few OF them have Sc
cured title to superior virtue on the score
OF abstinence? The soldier who COM
manded our army in the East at the time Of
the first battle OF Bull Run drank at times
five bottles of champagne at one sitting, a
fact we state onlthe authority Of President
Hayes and others Of his familiar acquaint-
ance. Yet Gen. Patterson successfully
conducted a large manufacturing business
almost up to the hour Of his death at 90"
Exception is taken to Secretary Taft's
statement that Cen Grant resigned be-
cause he had to. because, in Mr.. Church's
opinion, 1t by no means follows that il
Grants brother officers had been called to
sit in Judgment on him they would have
accepted Col Buchanan's view Of his Of
fence which is regarded as serious only in
proportion as'it disqualifies a man for hold
ing position Of command, which does not
appear to have been the case with Grant.
II "We have more serious objections to make
to the remarks Of Secretary Taft on Decora-
ton Day than those which have been urged
against him in the daily press, the Army and
Navy Journal says we believe that he
utterly failed to understand the significance
Of Grants experience during the war with
Mexico, when he said Of him: He did we'll
Ia the Mexican war, as did other Leutenants.
He manifested as regimental quartermaster
energy and familiarity with his duties
This puts Grants performance in Mexico
on the footing Of that Of the average Lieu
tenant when il was 30 far superior to the
l..