GeneralsScottandTaylorprovedthemselvessoldiersandpatriotsinthefield，butWashingtonwasfataltoboth。Thiscity，andtheinfluencesthatcentrehere，defeatedeveryarmythathaditsheadquartersherefrom1861to1864，andwouldhaveoverwhelmedGeneralGrantatSpottsylvaniaandPetersburg，hadhenotbeenfortifiedbyastrongreputation，alreadyhard—earned，andbecausenoonethenlivingcovetedtheplace;whereas，intheWest，wemadeprogressfromthestart，becausetherewasnopoliticalcapitalnearenoughtopoisonourminds，andkindleintolifethatcraving，itchingforfamewhichhaskilledmoregoodmenthanbullets。I
havebeenwithGeneralGrantinthemidstofdeathandslaughterwhenthehowlsofpeoplereachedhimafterShiloh;whenmessengerswerespeedingtoandfromhisarmytoWashington，bearingslanders，toinducehisremovalbeforehetookVicksburg;inChattanooga，whenthesoldierswerestealingthecornofthestarvingmulestosatisfytheirownhunger;atNashville，whenhewasorderedtothe\"forlornhope\"tocommandtheArmyofthePotomac，sooftendefeated——andyetIneversawhimmoretroubledthansincehehasbeeninWashington，andbeencompelledtoreadhimselfa\"sneakanddeceiver，\"basedonreportsoffouroftheCabinet，andapparentlywithyourknowledge。Ifthispoliticalatmospherecandisturbtheequanimityofonesoguardedandsoprudentasheis，whatwillbetheresultwithme，socareless，sooutspokenasIam？Therefore，withmyconsent，Washingtonnever。
AstotheSecretaryofWar，hisofficeistwofold。AsaCabinetofficerheshouldnotbetherewithoutyourhearty，cheerfulassent，andIbelievethatisthejudgmentandopinionofeveryfair—mindedman。Astheholderofaciviloffice，havingthesupervisionofmoneysappropriatedbyCongressandofcontractsforarmysupplies，IdothinkCongress，ortheSenatebydelegationfromCongress，hasalawfulrighttobeconsulted。Atallevents，Iwouldnotriskasuitorcontestonthatphaseofthequestion。
ThelawofCongress，ofMarch2，1867，prescribingthemannerinwhichordersandinstructionsrelatingto\"militarymovements\"
shallreachthearmy，givesyouasconstitutionalCommander—in—
Chieftheverypoweryouwanttoexercise，andenablesyoutopreventtheSecretaryfrommakinganysuchordersandinstructions;
andconsequentlyhecannotcontrolthearmy，butislimitedandrestrictedtoadutythatanAuditoroftheTreasurycouldperform。
Youcertainlycanaffordtoawaittheresult。TheExecutivepowerisnotweakened，butratherstrengthened。Surelyheisnotsuchanobstructionaswouldwarrantviolence，orevensshowofforce，whichwouldproducetheveryreactionandclamorthathehopesfortosavehimfromtheabsurdityofholdinganemptyoffice\"forthesafetyofthecountry。\"
ThisissemuchasIoughttosay，andmoretoo，butifitproducestheresultIwillbemorethansatisfied，viz。，thatIbesimplyallowedtoresumemyproperpoetanddutiesinSt。Louis。Withgreatrespect，yourstruly，W。T。SHERMAN，Lieutenant—General。
Onthe1stofFebruary，theboardofwhichIwasthepresidentsubmittedtotheadjutant—generalourdraftofthe\"ArticlesofWarandArmyRegulations，\"condensedtoasmallcompass，theresultofourwarexperience。Buttheydidnotsuitthepowersthatwere，andhaveeversincesleptthesleepthatknowsnowaking，tomakeroomfortheponderousdocumentnowinvogue，whichwillnotstandthestrainofaweek’scampaigninrealwar。
IhurriedbacktoSt。LouistoescapethepoliticalstormIsawbrewing。ThePresidentrepeatedlysaidtomethathewantedmeinWashington，andIasoftenansweredthatnothingcouldtemptmetoliveinthatcenterofintrigueandexcitement;butsooncamethefollowing:
HEADQUARTERSARMYOFTHEUNITEDSTATES，WASHINGTON，February10，1868。
DEARGENERAL:IhavereceivedatlastthePresident’sreplytomylast，letter。HeattemptstosubstantiatehisstatementsbyhisCabinet。InthisviewitisimportantthatIshouldhavealetterfromyou，ifyouarewillingtogiveit，ofwhatIsaidtoyouabouttheeffectofthe\"Tenure—of—OfficeBill，\"andmyobjectingoingtoseethePresidentonSaturdaybeforetheinstallmentofMr。Stanton。WhatoccurredafterthemeetingoftheCabinetontheTuesdayfollowingisnotasubjectundercontroversynow;
therefore，ifyouchoosetowritedownyourrecollection（andI
wouldliketohaveit）onWednesday，whenyouandIcalledonthePresident，andyourconversationwithhimthelasttimeyousawhim，makethataseparatecommunication。
YourordertocomeEastwasreceivedseveraldaysago，butthePresidentwithdrewit，Isupposedtomakesomealteration，butithasnotbeenreturned。
Yourstruly，U。S。GRANT。
[TELEGRAM。]
WASHINGTON，D。C。，February18，1868。
Lieutenant—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，St。Louis。
TheorderisissuedorderingyoutoAtlanticDivision。
U。S。GRANT，General。
[TELEGRAM]
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSOURI，St。Louis，February14，1868。
GeneralU。S。GRANT，Washington，D。C。
YourdispatchisreceivedinformingmethattheorderfortheAtlanticDivisionhasbeenissued，andthatIamassignedtoitscommand。IwasinhopesIhadescapedthedanger，andnowwereI
preparedIshouldresignonthespot，asitrequiresnoforesighttopredictsuchmustbetheinevitableresultintheend。Iwillmakeonemoredesperateeffortbymail，whichpleaseawait。
W。T。SHERMAN，Lieutenant—General。
[TELEGRAM。]
WASHINGTON，February14，1868。
Lieutenant—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，St。Louis。
IthinkitduetoyouthatyourletterofJanuary31SttothePresidentoftheUnitedStatesshouldbepublished，tocorrectmisapprehensioninthepublicmindaboutyourwillingnesstocometoWashington。Itwillnotbepublishedagainstyourwill。
（Sentincipher。）
[TELEGRAM。]
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSOURI，St。Louis，MISSOURI，February14，1868。
GeneralU。S。GRANT，Washington，D。C。
Dispatchofto—dayreceived。PleaseawaitaletterIaddressthisdaythroughyoutothePresident，whichwillinduetimereachthepublic，coveringtheverypointyoumake。
Idon’twanttocometoWashingtonatall。
W。T。SHERMAN，Lieutenant—General。
[TELEGRAM。]
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSOURI，St。Loins，MISSOURI，February14，1868。
Hon。JohnSHERMAN，UnitedStatesSenate，Washington，D。C。
Opposeconfirmationofmyselfasbrevetgeneral，ongroundthatitisunprecedented，andthatitisbetternottoextendthesystemofbrevetsabovemajor—general。IfIcan’tavoidcomingtoWashington，Imayhavetoresign。
W。T。SHERMAN，Lieutenant—General。
HEADQUARTERSOFTHEARMY，WASHINGTON，D。C。，February12，1868。
Thefollowingordersarepublishedfortheinformationandguidanceofallconcerned:
U。S。GRANT，General。
EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，D。C。，February12，1868。
GENERAL:YouwillpleaseissueanordercreatingamilitarydivisiontobestyledtheMilitaryDivisionoftheAtlantic，tobecomposedoftheDepartmentoftheLakes，theDepartmentoftheEast，andtheDepartmentofWashington，tobecommandedbyLieutenant—GeneralW。T。Sherman，withhisheadquartersatWashington。UntilfurtherordersfromthePresident，youwillassignnoofficertothepermanentcommandoftheMilitaryDivisionoftheMissouri。
Respectfullyyours，ANDREWJOHNSON。
GENERALU。S。GRANT，CommandingArmiesofTheUnitedStates，Washington，D。C。
Major—GeneralP。H。Sheridan，theseniorofficerintheMilitaryDivisionoftheMissouri，willtemporarilyperformthedutiesofcommanderoftheMilitaryDivisionoftheMissouriinadditiontohisdutiesofdepartmentcommander。BycommandofGeneralGrant:
E。D。TOWNSEND，AssistantAdjutant—General。
Thisorder，ifcarriedintoeffect，wouldhavegroupedinWashington:
1。ThePresident，constitutionalCommander—in—Chief。
2。TheSecretaryofWar，congressionalCommander—in—Chief。
3。TheGeneraloftheArmiesoftheUnitedStates。
4。TheLieutenant—GeneraloftheArmy。
5。TheCommandingGeneraloftheDepartmentofWashington。
6。Thecommanderofthepost—ofWashington。
AtthatdatethegarrisonofWashingtonwasabrigadeofinfantryandabatteryofartillery。IneverdoubtedMr。Johnson’ssincerityinwishingtobefriendme，butthiswasthebroadestkindofafarce，ormeantmischief。IthereforeappealedtohimbylettertoallowmetoremainwhereIwas，andwhereIcoulddoservice，realservice，andreceivedhismostsatisfactoryanswer。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSOURI，St。Louis，MISSOURI，February14，1868。
GeneralU。S。GRANT，Washington，D。C。
DEARGENERAL:Lastevening，justbeforeleavingmyoffice，I
receivedyournoteofthe10th，andhadintendedansweringitaccordingtoyourrequest;but，afterIgothome，Igotyourdispatchofyesterday，announcingthattheorderIdreadedsomuchwasissued。Ineverfeltsotroubledinmylife。WereitanordertogotoSitka，tothedevil，tobattlewithrebelsorIndians，I
thinkyouwouldnothearawhimperfromme，butitcomesinsuchaquestionableformthat，likeHamlet’sghost，itcurdlesmybloodandmarsmyjudgment。Myfirstthoughtswereofresignation，andI
hadalmostmadeupmymindtoaskDodgeforsomeplaceonthePacificroad，orononeoftheIowaroads，andthenagainvariouscollegesranthroughmymemory，buthardtimesandanexpensivefamilyhavebroughtmebacktostaringthepropositionsquareintheface，andIhavejustwrittenalettertothePresident，whichIherewithtransmitthroughyou，onwhichIwillhangahopeofrespitetillyoutelegraphmeitseffect。Theuncertaintiesaheadaretoogreattowarrantmyincurringtheexpenseofbreakingupmyhouseandfamilyhere，andthereforeinnoeventwillIdothistillIcanbeassuredofsomepermanenceelsewhere。IfitwereatallcertainthatyouwouldacceptthenominationofPresidentinMay，Iwouldtryandkilltheinterveningtime，andthenjudgeofthechances，butIdonotwantyoutorevealyourplanstometillyouchoosetodoso。
IhavetelegraphedtoJohnShermantoopposethenominationwhichthepapersannouncehasbeenmadeofmeforbrevetgeneral。
Ihavethisminutereceivedyourcipherdispatchofto—day，whichI
havejustansweredandsentdowntothetelegraph—office，andtheclerkisjustengagedincopyingmylettertothePresidenttogowiththis。IfthePresidentorhisfriendspretendthatIseektogotoWashington，itwillbefullyrebuttedbylettersIhavewrittentothePresident，toyou，toJohnSherman，toMr。Ewing，andtoMr。Stanbery。YourememberthatinourlasttalkyousuggestedIshouldwriteagaintothePresident。Ithoughtofit，andconcludedmyletterofJanuary31st，alreadydelivered，wasfullandemphatic。Still，IdidwriteagaintoMr。Stanbery，askinghimasafriendtointerposeinmybehalf。Thereareplentyofpeoplewhoknowmywishes，andIwouldavoid，ifpossible，thepublicationofalettersoconfidentialasthatofJanuary31st，inwhichInoticeIalludetothePreaident’spurposeofremovingMr。
Stantonbyforce，afactthatoughtnottobedrawnoutthroughmeifitbepossibletoavoidit。IntheletterherewithIconfinemyselftopurelyprivatematters，andwillnotobjectifitreachesthepublicinanyproperway。Myopinionis，thePresidentthinksMrs。ShermanwouldliketocometoWashingtonbyreasonofherfatherandbrothersbeingthere。Thisistrue，forMrs。ShermanhasanideathatSt。Louisisunhealthyforourchildren，andbecausemoatoftheCatholicsherearetaintedwiththeoldseceshfeeling。ButIknowbetterwhatistoourcommoninterest，andprefertojudgeoftheproprietiesmyself。WhatIdoobjecttoisthefalsepositionIwouldoccupyasbetweenyouandthePresident。
WerethereanactualarmyatornearWashington，Icouldbewithdrawnfromthemostunpleasantattitudeofa\"go—between，\"butthereisnoarmythere，noranymilitarydutieswhichyouwithahostofsubordinatescannotperform。ThereforeIwouldbetherewithnaked，informal，andsinecureduties，andutterlyoutofplace。Thisyouunderstandwellenough，andthearmytoo，butthePresidentandthepoliticians，whoflatterthemselvestheyaresavingthecountry，cannotandwillnotunderstand。Myopinionis，thecountryisdoctoredtodeath，andifPresidentandCongresswouldgotosleeplikeRipVanWinkle，thecountrywouldgoonundernaturalinfluences，andrecoverfarfasterthanundertheirjointandseveraltreatment。ThisdoctrinewouldbeaccountedbyCongress，andbythePresidenttoo，ashightreason，andthereforeIdon’tcareaboutsayingsotoeitherofthem，butIknowyoucanhearanything，andgiveitjustwhatthoughtoractionitmerits。
Excusethislongletter，andtelegraphmetheresultofmylettertothePresidentasearlyasyoucan。Ifheholdsmylettersolongastomakeitimproperformetoawaithisanswer，alsotelegraphme。
Theorder，whenreceived，will，Isuppose，directmeastowhomandhowIamtoturnoverthiscommand，whichshould，inmyjudgment，notbebrokenup，asthethreedepartmentscomposingthedivisionshouldbeunderonehead。
Iexpectmystaff—officerstobemakingformewithinthehourtolearntheirfate，soadvisemeallyoucanasquickaspossible。
Withgreatrespect，yourstruly，W。T。SHERMAN，Lieutenant—General。
TothePresident。
DEARSIR:Itishardformetoconceiveyouwouldpurposelydomeanunkindnessunlessunderthepressureofasenseofpublicduty，orbecauseyoudonotbelievemesincere。Iwasinhopes，sincemylettertoyouofthe31stofJanuary，thatyouhadconcludedtopassoverthatpurposeofyoursexpressedmorethanonceinconversation——toorganizeanewcommandformeintheEast，withheadquartersinWashington;butatelegramfromGeneralGrantofyesterdaysaysthat\"theorderwasissuedorderingyou\"（me）\"toAtlanticDivision\";andthenewspapersofthismorningcontainthesameinformation，withtheadditionthatIhavebeennominatedasbrevetgeneral。IhavetelegraphedmyownbrotherintheSenatetoopposemyconfirmation，onthegroundthatthetwohighergradesinthearmyoughtnottobecomplicatedwithbrevets，andItrustyouwillconceivemymotivesaright。IfIcouldseemywaycleartomaintainmyfamily，Ishouldnothesitateamomenttoresignmypresentcommission，andseeksomebusinesswhereinIwouldbefreefromtheseunhappycomplicationsthatseemtobeclosingaboutme，spiteofmyearnesteffortstoavoidthem;butnecessitytiesmyhands，andImustsubmitwiththebestgraceIcantillImakeotherarrangements。
InWashingtonarealreadytheheadquartersofadepartment，andofthearmyitself，anditishardformetoseewhereinIcanrendermilitaryservicethere。Anystaff—officerwiththerankofmajorcouldsurelyfillanygapleftbetweenthesetwomilitaryofficers;
and，bybeingplacedinWashington，IwillbeuniversallyconstruedasarivaltotheGeneral—in—Chief，apositiondamagingtomeinthehighestdegree。Ourrelationshavealwaysbeenmostconfidentialandfriendly，andif，unhappily，anycloudofdifferencesshouldarisebetweenus，mysenseofpersonaldignityanddutywouldleavemenoalternativebutresignation。ForthisI
amnotyetprepared，butIshallproceedtoarrangeforitasrapidlyaspossible，sothatwhenthetimedoescome（asitsurelywillifthisplaniscarriedintoeffect）Imayactpromptly。
Inasmuchastheorderisnowissued，Icannotexpectafullrevocationofit，butIbegtheprivilegeoftakingpostatNewYork，oranypointyoumaynamewithinthenewmilitarydivisionotherthanWashington。Thisprivilegeisgenerallygrantedtoallmilitarycommanders，andIseenogoodreasonwhyItoomaynotaskforit，andthissimpleconcession，involvingnopublicinterest，willmuchsoftentheblow，which，rightorwrong，IconstrueasoneofthehardestIhavesustainedinalifesomewhatcheckeredwithadversity。Withgreatrespectsyourstruly，W。T。SHERMAN，Lieutenant—General。
WASHINGTON，D。C。，2p。m。，February19，1888。
Lieutenant—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，St。Louis，Missouri:
Ihavejustreceived，withGeneralGrant’sindorsementofreference，yourlettertomeofthefourteenth（14th）inst。
Theordertowhichyoureferwasmadeingoodfaith，andwithaviewtothebestinterestsofthecountryandtheservice;as，however，yourassignmenttoanewmilitarydivisionseemssoobjectionable，youwillretainyourpresentcommand。
ANDREWJOHNSON。
Onthatsame19thofFebruaryheappointedAdjutant，GeneralLorenzoThomastobeSecretaryofWaradintemim，whichfinallyresultedinthearticlesofimpeachmentandtrialofPresidentJohnsonbeforetheSenate。Iwasawitnessonthattrial，butofcoursethelawyerswouldnotallowmetoexpressanyopinionofthePresident’smotivesorintentions，andrestrictedmetothefactssetforthinthearticlesofimpeachment，ofwhichIwasgladtoknownothing。Thefinaltestvoterevealedlessthantwothirds，andthePresidentwasconsequentlyacquitted。Mr。Stantonresigned。GeneralSchofield，previouslynominated，wasconfirmedasSecretaryofWar，thusputtinganendtowhatoughtnevertohavehappenedatall。
INDIANPEACECOMMISSION。
Onthe20thofJuly，1867，PresidentJohnsonapprovedanacttoestablishpeacewithcertainhostileIndiantribes，thefirstsectionofwhichreadsasfollows:\"Beitenacted，etc。，thatthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesbeandisherebyauthorizedtoappointacommissiontoconsistofthree（3）officersofthearmynotbelowtherankofbrigadier—general，who，togetherwithN。G。
Taylor，CommissionerofIndianAffairs，JohnB。Henderson，chairmanoftheCommitteeofIndianAffairsoftheSenate，S。F。
Tappan，andJohnB。Sanborn，shallhavepowerandauthoritytocalltogetherthechiefsandheadmenofsuchbandsortribesofIndiansasarenowwagingwaragainsttheUnitedStates，orcommittingdepredationsonthepeoplethereof，toascertaintheallegedreasonsfortheiractsofhostility，andintheirdiscretion，underthedirectionofthePresident，tomakeandconcludewithsaidbandsortribessuchtreatystipulations，subjecttotheactionoftheSenate，asmayremovealljustcausesofcomplaintontheirpart，andatthesametimeestablishsecurityforpersonandpropertyalongthelinesofrailroadnowbeingconstructedtothePacificandotherthoroughfaresoftraveltotheWesternTerritories，andsuchaswillmostlikelyinsurecivilizationfortheIndians，andpeaceandsafetyforthewhites。\"
ThePresidentnamedasthemilitarymembersLieutenant—GeneralSherman，Brigadier—GeneralsA。H。TerryandW。S。Harney。
Subsequently，toinsureafullattendance，Brigadier—GeneralC。C。
Augurwasaddedtothecommission，andhisnamewillbefoundonmostofthetreaties。ThecommissionersmetatSt。LouisandelectedN。G。Taylor，theCommissionerofIndianAffairs，president;J。B。Sanborn，treasurer;andA。S。H。White，Esq。，ofWashington，D。C。，secretary。Theyear1867wastoofaradvancedtocompletethetaskassignedduringthatseason，anditwasagreedthatasteamboat（St。John’s）shouldbecharteredtoconveythecommissionuptheMissouriRiver，andweadjournedtomeetatOmaha。IntheSt。John’sthecommissionproceededuptheMissouriRiver，holdinginformal\"talks\"withtheSanteesattheiragencyneartheNiobrara，theYanktonnaisatFortThompson，andtheOgallallas，Minneconjous，SansArcs，etc。，atFortSully。FromthispointrunnersweresentouttotheSiouxoccupyingthecountrywestoftheMissouriRiver，tomeetusincouncilattheForksofthePlattethatfall，andtoSittingBull’sbandofoutlawSioux，andtheCrowsontheupperYellowstone，tomeetusinMay，1868，atFortLaramie。WeproceededuptherivertothemouthoftheCheyenneandturnedbacktoOmaha，havingampletimeonthissteamboattodiscussanddeliberateontheproblemssubmittedtoourcharge。
WeallagreedthatthenomadIndiansshouldberemovedfromthevicinityofthetwogreatrailroadstheninrapidconstruction，andbelocalizedononeorotherofthetwogreatreservationssouthofKansasandnorthofNebraska;thatagreementsnottreaties，shouldbemadefortheirliberalmaintenanceastofood，clothing，schools，andfarmingimplementsfortenyears，duringwhichtimewebelievedthattheseIndiansshouldbecomeself—supporting。TothenorthweproposedtoremovethevariousbandsofSioux，withsuchothersascouldbeinducedtolocatenearthem;andtothesouth，ontheIndianTerritoryalreadyestablished，weproposedtoremovetheCheyennes，Arapahoes，Kiowas，Comanches，andsuchothersaswecouldprevailontomovethither。
AtthatdatetheUnionPacificconstructionhadreachedtheRockyMountainsatCheyenne，andtheKansasPacifictoaboutFortWallace。WeheldcouncilwiththeOgallallasattheForksofthePlatte，andarrangedtomeetthemallthenextspring，1868。Inthespringof1868wemettheCrowsincouncilatFortLaramie，theSiouxattheNorthPlatte，theShoshonesorSnakesatFortHall，theNavajosatFortSumner，onthePecos，andtheCheyennesandArapahoesatMedicineLodge。Toaccomplishtheseresultsthecommissiondividedupintocommittees，GeneralAugurgoingtotheShoshones，Mr。TappanandItotheNavajos，andtheremaindertoMedicineLodge。Inthatyearwemadetreatiesorarrangementswithallthetribeswhichbeforehadfollowedthebuffalointheirannualmigrations，andwhichbroughtthemintoconstantconflictwiththewhites。
Mr。TappanandIfounditimpossibletoprevailontheNavajostoremovetotheIndianTerritory，andhadtoconsenttotheirreturntotheirformerhome，restrictedtoalimitedreservationwestofSantaFe，aboutoldFortDefiance，andtheretheycontinueuntothisday，richinthepossessionofherdsofsheepandgoats，withsomecattleandhorses;andtheyhaveremainedatpeaceeversince。
ApartofourgeneralplanwastoorganizethetwogreatreservationsintoregularTerritorialgovernments，withGovernor，Council，courts，andcivilofficers。GeneralHarneywastemporarilyassignedtothatoftheSiouxatthenorth，andGeneralHazentothatoftheKiowas，Comanches，Cheyennes，Arapahoes，etc。，etc。，atthesouth，butthepatronageoftheIndianBureauwastoostrongforus，andthatpartofourlaborfailed。Still，theIndianPeaceCommissionof1867—’68didpreparethewayforthegreatPacificRailroads，which，forbetterorworse，havesettledthefateofthebuffaloandIndianforever。TherehavebeenwarsandconflictssincewiththeseIndiansuptoarecentperiodtoonumerousandcomplicatedintheirdetailformetounravelandrecord，buttheyhavebeenthedyingstrugglesofasingularraceofbravemenfightingagainstdestiny，eachlessandlessviolent，tillnowthewildgameisgone，thewhitestoonumerousandpowerful;sothattheIndianquestionhasbecomeoneofsentimentandcharity，butnotofwar。
Thepeace，or\"Quaker\"policy，ofwhichsomuchhasbeensaid，originatedaboutthus:BytheactofCongress，approvedMarch3，1869，theforty—fiveregimentsofinfantrywerereducedtotwenty—five，andprovisionwasmadeforthe\"musterout\"ofmanyofthesurplusofficers，andforretainingotherstobeabsorbedbytheusualpromotionsandcasualties。Onthe7thofMayofthatyear，byauthorityofanactofCongressapprovedJune30，1834，ninefield—officersandfifty—ninecaptainsandsubalternsweredetachedandorderedtoreporttotheCommissionerofIndianAffairs，toserveasIndiansuperintendentsandagents。Thusbyanoldlawsurplusarmyofficersweremadetodisplacetheusualcivilappointees，undoubtedlyachangeforthebetter，butmostdistastefultomembersofCongress，wholookedtotheseappointmentsaspartoftheirproperpatronage。TheconsequencewasthelawofJuly15，1870，whichvacatedthemilitarycommissionofanyofficerwhoacceptedorexercisedthefunctionsofacivilofficer。IwasthentoldthatcertainpoliticianscalledonPresidentGrant，informinghimthatthislawwaschieflydesignedtopreventhisusingarmyofficersforIndianagents，\"civiloffices，\"whichhebelievedtobebothjudiciousandwise;armyofficers，asarule，beingbetterqualifiedtodealwithIndiansthantheaveragepoliticalappointees。ThePresidentthenquietlyreplied:\"Gentlemen，youhavedefeatedmyplanofIndianmanagement;butyoushallnotsucceedinyourpurpose，forIwilldividetheseappointmentsupamongthereligiouschurches，withwhichyoudarenotcontend。\"Thearmyofficerswereconsequentlyrelievedoftheir\"civiloffices，\"andtheIndianagencieswereapportionedtotheseveralreligiouschurchesinabouttheproportionoftheir——supposedstrength——sometotheQuakers，sometotheMethodists，totheCatholics，Episcopalians，Presbyterians，etc。，etc。——andthusitremainstothepresenttime，thesereligiouscommunitiesselectingtheagentstobeappointedbytheSecretaryoftheInterior。TheQuakers，beingfirstnamed，gavenametothepolicy，anditiscalledthe\"Quaker\"policyto—day。
Meantimerailroadsandsettlementsbyhardy，boldpioneershavemadethecharacterofIndianagentsofsmallconcern，anditmatterslittlewhoarethebeneficiaries。
Aswasclearlyforeseen，GeneralU。S。Grantwasdulynominated，andonthe7thofNovember，1868，waselectedPresidentoftheUnitedStatesforthefouryearsbeginningwithMarch4，1869。
Onthe15thand16thofDecember，1868，thefoursocietiesoftheArmiesoftheCumberland，Tennessee，Ohio，andGeorgia，heldajointreunionatChicago，atwhichwerepresentovertwothousandofthesurvivingofficersandsoldiersofthewar。TheceremoniesconsistedofthejointmeetinginCrosby’smagnificentopera—house，atwhichGeneralGeorgeH。Thomaspresided。GeneralW。W。BelknapwastheoratorfortheArmyoftheTennessee，GeneralCharlesCruftfortheArmyoftheCumberland，GeneralJ。D。CoxfortheArmyoftheOhio，andGeneralWilliamCogswellfortheArmyofGeorgia。
ThebanquetwasheldinthevastChamberofCommerce，atwhichI
presided。GeneralGrant，President—elect，GeneralJ。M。Schofield，SecretaryofWar，GeneralH。W。Slocum，andnearlyeverygeneralofficerofnotewaspresentexceptGeneralSheridan，whoatthemomentwasfightingtheCheyennesinSouthernKansasandtheIndiancountry。
AtthattimewediscussedthearmychangeswhichwouldnecessarilyoccurinthefollowingMarch，anditwasgenerallyunderstoodthatIwastosucceedGeneralGrantasgeneral—in—chief，butastomysuccessor，Meade，Thomas，andSheridanwerecandidates。AndhereI
willremarkthatGeneralGrant，afterwardfamousasthe\"silentman，\"usedtobeverygossipy，andnoonewasevermorefondthanheoftellinganecdotesofourWestPointandearlyarmylife。AttheChicagoreunionhetoldmethatIwouldhavetocometoWashington，thathewantedmetoeffectachangeastothegeneralstaff，whichhehadlongcontemplated，andwhichwasoutlinedinhislettertoMr。StantonofJanuary29，1866，givenhereafter，whichhadbeenrepeatedlypublished，andwaswellknowntothemilitaryworld;thatonbeinginauguratedPresidentonthe4thofMarchhewouldretainGeneralSchofieldashisSecretaryofWaruntilthechangehadbecomehabitual;thatthemoderncustomoftheSecretaryofWargivingmilitaryorderstotheadjutant—generalandotherstaffofficerswaspositivelywrongandshouldbestopped。
SpeakingofGeneralGrant’spersonalcharacteristicsatthatperiodofhislife，Irecallaconversationinhiscarriage，when，ridingdownPennsylvaniaAvenue，he，inquiredofmeinahumorousway，\"Sherman，whatspecialhobbydoyouintendtoadopt？\"Iinquiredwhathemeant，andheexplainedthatallmenhadtheirspecialweaknessorvanity，andthatitwaswisertochooseone’sownthantoleavethenewspaperstoaffixonelessacceptable，andthatforhisparthehadchosenthe\"horse，\"sothatwhenanyouetriedtopumphimhewouldturntheconversationtohis\"horse。\"IansweredthatIwouldsticktothe\"theatreandballs，\"forIwasalwaysfondofseeingyoungpeoplehappy，anddidactuallyacquireareputationfor\"dancing，\"thoughIhadnotattemptedthewaltz，oranythingmorethantheordinarycotillon，sincethewar。
Onthe24thofFebruary，1869，IwassummonedtoWashington，arrivingonthe26th，takingalongmyaides，Lieutenant—ColonelsDaytonandAudenried。
Onthe4thofMarchGeneralGrantwasdulyinauguratedPresidentoftheUnitedStates，andIwasnominatedandconfirmedasGeneraloftheArmy。
Major—GeneralP。H。Sheridanwasatthenametimenominatedandconfirmedaslieutenant—general，withorderstocommandtheMilitaryDivisionoftheMissouri，whichhedid，movingtheheadquartersfromSt。LouistoChicago;andGeneralMeadewasassignedtocommandtheMilitaryDivisionoftheAtlantic，withheadquartersatPhiladelphia。
AtthatmomentGeneralMeadewasinAtlanta，Georgia，commandingtheThirdMilitaryDistrictunderthe\"ReconstructionAct;\"andGeneralThomas，whosepostwasinNashville，wasinWashingtononacourtofinquiryinvestigatingcertainallegationsagainstGeneralA。B。Dyer，ChiefofOrdnance。HeoccupiedtheroomofthesecondfloorinthebuildingonthecornerofHandFifteenthStreets，sincebecomeWormley’sHotel。Iatthetimewasstayingwithmybrother，SenatorSherman，athisresidence，1321KStreet，anditwasmyhabiteachmorningtostopatThomas’sroomonmywaytotheofficeintheWarDepartmenttotellhimthemilitarynews，andtotalkovermattersofcommoninterest。Wehadbeenintimatelyassociatedas\"manandboy\"forthirty—oddyears，andIprofesstohavehadbetteropportunitiestoknowhimthananymanthenliving。
Hisfameasthe\"RockofChickamauga\"wasperfect，andbytheworldatlargehewasconsideredantheembodimentofstrength，calmness，andimperturbability。YetofallmyacquaintancesThomasworriedandfrettedoverwhatheconstruedneglectsoractsoffavoritismmorethananyother。