NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW. No. CCCCLXXXVIII. JULY, 1897. GENERAL GRANT'S LETTERS TO A FRIEND, 1862-1880. WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY GENERAL JAMES GRANT WILSON. Perhaps no person unconnected with the army contributed in so great a degree to General Grant's success in the Civil War as the Hon. Elihu B. Washburne, to whom the following extremely interesting letters, and parts of letters, were addressed by the illustrious soldier during a period of eighteen years. These letters now appear in print for the first time. They are certainly of great historical value, and reveal in a very interesting way some of the strongest and most admirable traits of General Grant's character, and his views upon men and affairs in the United States and in some of the countries which he visited in the course of his tour around the world. His remarks upon the character and result of British rule in India, and upon the progressive spirit of the Japanese people, will be read with special interest. Mr. Washburne (1816-1887) was the member of Congress from Galena, Ill., where Grant was employed at the beginning of the war. The two men first met at that time; they immediately became friends, and during the great struggle Washburne was the constant supporter and sturdy defender of the Silent Commander, who would never defend himself from the shameful charges that were frequently made against his private character, and also as a soldier. When Grant became President he appointed Mr. Washburne his Secretary of State, but after occupying that high office for a few weeks, he was sent as the American representative to France. He filled that position with pre-eminent ability and signal distinction, publishing after his return to the United States a valuable and interesting work in two octavo volumes entitled Recollections of a Minister to France, 1869-1877. VOL. CLXV.-NO. 488. 1 JAS. GRANT WILSON. Copyright, 1897, by THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY. All rights reserved. |