William A. Crafts, Life of Ulysses S. Grant: His Boyhood, Campaigns, and Services, Military and Civil.

[44] and complaint were utterly undeserved. But though Grant was thereby placed under a cloud for a time, and seemed likely to be superseded in his command of active operations, he made no complaint, but showed that subordination which he knew was essential to the service, and manifested his readiness to do all in his power for the good of the cause, and to carry out the orders of his superior. “I have done my very best to obey orders,” he wrote, “and to carry out the interests of the service. If my course is not satisfactory, remove me at once. I do not wish in any way to impede the success of our arms.” Unselfish and patriotic, he had no thought for himself, but only for the cause. Finding that he was misrepresented by secret enemies, and still censured, he repeatedly asked to be relieved from duty until he could be placed right in the estimation of those higher in authority. But Halleck at last perceived that the country could not spare so true and subordinate an officer, and wrote to him, “Instead of relieving you, I wish you, as soon as your new army is in the field, to assume the immediate command, and lead it on to new victories.” This was enough, and Grant at once showed his readiness, in spite of all calumnies, to “give every effort to the success of the cause.” Halleck also made explanations to the War Department, which relieved Grant from the censure to which his (Halleck's) previous despatches had given rise.

Grant was thus justified by his own acts, as well as by the judgment of all true soldiers, on the only occasion when his conduct was called in question at Washington; though his unselfish patriotism was subjected to yet further trials by his immediate superior. He had