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

[367] which decided that Sherman should be retired from the command of the army at the age of sixty-four, though Sherman's friends, and many, or rather all, who were simply grateful for his transcendent services, strove earnestly for his retention. But Logan prevailed. It was a bitter revenge to set aside so eminent a man, his old commander, in the prime of his powers, and in the face of the world, as punishment for a few hasty words of ill-judged criticism. I talked with Grant more than once on this subject; he differed entirely with Logan, and although he considered Sherman's language injudicious, he was still more earnest in condemning Logan's course.

So, too, Logan was unrelenting in his pursuit of Fitz John Porter. He came nearer quarreling with Grant on this point than at any other stage of their long intimacy. I happened to be in Washington a day or two after Grant's first letter in behalf of Porter was made public, and Logan spoke to me very bitterly on the subject; more harshly indeed than I ever cared to repeat to Grant, though doubtless what was said was meant for repetition. But I did not wish to be the means of creating a rupture, and merely told Grant that Logan felt very sore. Each maintained what he thought the proper course, and after a while Logan's asperity, at least towards Grant, was softened, though he never ceased to condemn Grant's action. But their relations were hardly interrupted, and finally became as warm again as ever. On Grant's side there had never, indeed, been any coolness, nor perhaps is coolness the word for Logan's feeling; it was heat; heat towards Porter, that boiled over even on Grant. There was also a time while Grant was President, when a difference arose between them that threatened to provoke antagonism, but this was no difference of principle, it was personal purely; and when the occasion passed, the temper of each was appeased, and they became better friends than ever.

Grant, indeed, was very grateful to Logan, for his political as well as military services. In the final effort for a ‘third ’