The New York herald., 1922-04-16


WILSON.
This work contains the fullest account
of Grants very remarkable military
career and it necessarily furnishes the
best possible basis for much of this
article. From these two volumes he
received through the successful man
agement of the publishers four hun
dred and fifty or five hundred thou
sand dollars, sufficient sum in actual
cash to pay his personal debts and to
carry him in comfort until his death
and enabled him to leave his family in
state Of comparative ease.
Civilian Aid-de- Camp
Selected as Autobiographe
Adam Badeau was one of Grants
civilian aids-de-camp, and it was un-
derstood from the first that in addition
to filing his place on the staff he
should become Grants biographer. He
wrote and published four volumes be-
tween 1856 and Grants death, and it
is but just to say that so far as con-
Germs military history the work. al
though somewhat prolix, is highly
creditable and instructive one.. Badeau
was IN author ard literary man by
profession, but also became in due time
a patriotic volunteer who served first
on the staff of Gen. T. w. Sherman
with the Port Royal expedition, then
with him in the army of the
Tennessee and in the Department
of Louisiana for nearly year
TIL he was badly wounded at the
battle of Port Hudson. This was
in 1864 shortly after he had received
orders to report to Gen. Grant for duty
on his staff His qualifications were in
every way such as to specially fit him
as biographer, and it may be truth
fully said that while his volumes are
50 full of detail as to become some
what tiresome they have never been
successfully attacked. While the ten
dency of his narrative is to exaggerate
Grants military foresight and unfail-
ing Judgment, Badeau's volumes held
the field until Grants financial misfor-
tunes forced him to write his own mill
tary life.
In this Grant called Badeau to his
assistance and agreed to give him one
third of his royalties. While this was
supposed to be fair and liberal ar
rangement on both sides. it soon be-
came evident that the great demand
for the work would give Badeau some
thing like s150,000 for his share. When
Grant realized this he notified him that
the contract for the division of the
royalties would have to be reconsid-
cred so as to give Badeau only $4,000.
This was of course great disappoint-
ment to him and led shortly to his re-
tirement from the association. Just
what part of the literary work Badeau
actually did is not known, but it Is
recorded that on the Generals death
Badeau was forced to sue the admin
istrator of the Grant estate and got
judgment for something less than the
amount provided for in the decision
made by the General himself.
A Life Story of Grant
Written Mainly by Wilson
Another book Of Importance relating
to Grants career was published by
Gurdon. Bill & Co. of Springfield,
Mass, in 1858. 1t was by Charles A..
Dana and James H. Wilson. Several
thousands were freely sold throughout
the country and the authors royalties
were fairly divided between Dana and
Wilson according to the understanding
between them. Wilson had served on
Grants staff as Inspector General from
the beginning of the Vicksburg CAM
paign to the end of the Chattanooga
and Knoxville campaigns. and after his
transfer to the East by Grants as
signment he commanded the Third
division Of cavalry in the Army OF
the Potomac under Sheridan for six
months, while Dana acted as "the eyes
Of. the Government" with the rank Of
Major and Assistant Adjutant- General,
unassigned (Which rank would have
provided for his exchange in case Of
capture). While Wilson served to the
end OF the war in command Of troops
Dana represented the War Depart
ment with the armies under Grant
during the progress of active cam
paigns till the close of the war In 1856.
Both were intimate with Grant and
Rawlins and nothing connected with
military affairs was concealed from
either OF them.
Owing to Dana's defective eyesight,
more or less impaired by overwork In
his college days, he could hardly write
his nightly dispatches by camp candle
light, and this fact gave Wilson the
opportunity to serve as his amanu-
ensis. In this way the latter became
closely acquainted with Dana's general
feelings toward the actual operations
Of the Army OF the Tennessee In the
field. From this association Grant.
Rawlins and the leading officers learned
TO thoroughly respect Dana. Nothing