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

[63] feelings of those whom he cared for. I was not converted so soon as he to the belief that harsh measures were necessary in the treatment of the South; and he was always willing to listen to the opinions of those about him on important affairs. I recollect discussing the situation with several other officers in his presence, and maintaining my views with fervor though they were contrary to his own. The controversy became excited, and Grant himself took part. At last he exclaimed: ‘Why, Badeau, I believe you are a Copperhead.’ I felt the blood mount to my forehead at the taunt, so unusual from him, and could hardly speak for a moment. Then I stammered that I thought my past might have saved me that reproach, at least from the head of the army. But the words were only half spoken when he interrupted, and retracted what he had said, with tones and glances that repaid me for all the pain he had inflicted. All that day he took care in a hundred little ways to do me kindnesses and to show that he was striving to make amends. For this stubborn, silent soldier was as considerate for the sensitiveness of a friend as ever he was anxious for the welfare of the State or for victory over a rebellious enemy.

General Sherman to General Badeau.

headquarters Army of the United States, Washington, D. C., Feb. 12, 1882.

dear Badeau,—. . . I rather like the idea of your preparing a History of Reconstruction; only it seems to me that it will be a tight squeeze to get all the essential facts into a small volume of the size of Scribner. It will be better to collect the materials and allow the size to result from them. Reconstruction was a corollary of the war, and forms a continuation of the subject-matter of your past work, and it so happens that your Hero in war was Leader in the Reconstruction. So I see no reason why it should not form a fourth volume.¹

In whatever you may undertake you have my best wishes.

Truly your friend,

W. T. Sherman.