Adam Badeau, Grant in peace: from Appomattox to Mount McGregor, a personal memoir

After the war, however, Stanton assumed all the authority of his office. When every one else was paying court to Grant he showed that he thought the Secretary of War the superior of the General of the Army. He gave Grant orders, as he had a right to do, and always sent for him when he wished to see him officially. This may have nettled Grant a little, as it certainly did some of his personal friends; but it never annoyed him as much as it did others. There was once, indeed, a question almost of authority. Stanton insisted that all orders by the General-in-Chief should be submitted to him before they were issued by the Adjutant-General of the Army. Sometimes he delayed giving the necessary authorization, but when Grant protested in writing the difficulty was obviated. It was an old question, and had arisen in the days of General Scott; it came up again, or something like it, after Grant had ceased to be General of the Army. Grant once had a letter written to the President appealing to him from Stanton's action in the matter, but he tore it up, and there was no rupture or open disagreement.

There was always, however, a sort of personal barrier between them. Grant respected profoundly the services Stanton had rendered the country, and I doubt not the sentiment was reciprocated. But Stanton was harsh and austere in manner, and apparently cared little for the feelings of others. He doubtless had his affections and his intimacies, but Grant was included in neither; and at times the harshness was extended even to him, probably without intent, perhaps unconsciously. But Grant was in reality one of the most sensitive of men. He regarded the feelings of others carefully, and it was always painful to him to inflict pain. Although few supposed so, he felt acutely all the censures and attacks and even the slights of which he was the object. He said nothing, perhaps, when he received them, but there was abundant evidence, which those who were with him closely could detect, that Grant was a thinskinned