Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

[852] jealousy, which I know was impressed upon him by members of his staff, especially by one whom Grant, when President, put in a high position. Here he betrayed his chief by acts implicating him in the whiskey frauds upon the government, which caused him to be removed from his position and indicted upon accusation from the Treasury Department. He is dead now, and I forbear to mention his name.

Upon the representations set forth, Grant obtained my removal from command. With what regret, nay, grief, the blow was received can be better judged than described.

I never sought to be returned to my command or to be given another military place, and have never until now related fully the story of General Grant's injustice.

I did not entertain great harshness of feeling toward Grant on account of my removal by him, because I did not believe that it was really the act of his own mind. I was certain that it was not when he assigned as the only cause, except that the corps commanders of the Army of the Potomac did not like to serve under my command, that he thought the administration of the affairs of my department objectionable, and, as he has elsewhere said, on account of my harshness. Now, as I have once before said, I had no personal administration of my department substantially after I had gone into the field, the 4th of May; and, in addition to my being reported upon favorably by the commissioner, Grant himself officially stated in a paper to go before the President that:

“As an administrative officer General Butler has no superior. In taking charge of a department where there are no great battles to be fought, but a dissatisfied element to control, no one could manage it better than he.”

I knew very well where the pressure came from, and also whence it got its vitality in the mind of Grant. The pressure came from his West Point staff officers, who were trying in every way to have me vilified and abused. Grant had not, theretofore, permitted that to be done, and yielded only under that pressure of ambition for the highest office which has caused so many next in position to murder their chief to attain his place. Such effects of overweening ambition are strung along as guide-posts through the whole history of the governments of the world.