The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-07-23
Unwritten War Page


the war department for eighteen long
days, if my memory serves me right.
This caused a great furore in Wash
ington. Nobody knew what had be-
come of him.
cat that time was commanding
the district of western Tennessee,
with headquarters at Memphis. The
Secretary of War, Mr.. Stanton, order
ed Adjt.-Gen. Thomas to make an in
vestigatfon of General Grants move
ments and ordered Grant himself to
report at Washington to explain his
disappearance. The great controversy
was on.
"A thorough investigation was made
and Grant not only was sustained by
Mr.. Lincoln, but received the COM
mand of the armies of the United
States, with the rank of lieutenant
general-the first officer of that rank
in the country.
Conferred as to Acceptance.
General Grant came to Memphis
after receiving the offer from Wash
ington and passed day with me dis
cussing the advisability of his ac-
cepting the proposition. He told me
what political influences had affected
the commanding generals of the army
of the Potomac and said that he did
not feel like leaving the army that
he had served so long to go to Wash
ington, where many prominent gen
erals had been slaughtered by the
politicians He had no friends or
enemies, he said, at that time, but
undoubtedly WOULD be compelled to
meet the same difficulties which had
broken the hearts of other generals
who had preceded him.
q repeated to him Mr.. Lincoln's
own words with regard to his being "a
great comforter This seemed to
please the general. I also told him
that if he would go to Washington,
simply walk in and pay his respects
to Mr. Stanton, tn secretary of war,
say nothing to any person as to his
future movements, but go straight to
the white house and send in his card
to Mr.. Lincoln, all would come out
right
"'Tell him. l said, that you thank
him for the honor conferred upon you,
but that for fear that a political fight
will follow and the fact of your hav-
ing no friends to look after your own
interests make you hesitate; that you
would ask in the event of a contro-
versy of any character that you be per-
mitted to lay the matter before him
personally before any move should be
made. With that understanding I
told him to take the position, accom-
panying his acceptance with positive
statement to the president as to the
successful outcome of the war. All
of which was done.
And the Rest is History.
'Mr. Lincoln acquiesced and Gen.
Grant accepted the position. He not
only led the armies successfully, but
brought the war to a successful ter
mination.
General Grant had only been COM
mander in chief, however, about three
months when he expected contro-
versy between him and the secretary
of war as to Grants movements of
his armies in the field broke out, and
he was called again to Washington
by Secretary Stanton. Arrived there
the general said: Mr.. Secretary, wen
go right to the white house and lay
this matter before the president.
We'll, they went. Both made state
ments and Mr.. Lincoln listened at
tentively. After hearing both sides
he turned to Stanton and said:
Stanton, you and have been fight.
ing this war long enough and we've
made a failure Of it. guess Wen let
Grant have his own way and see what
he can do
THAT remark closed the war"