When General Grant was ready to begin active operations with the Army of the Potomac, he sent forward all available men from Washington.  Secretary Stanton, anxious about the safety of the city, said to Grant one day:  “General, I suppose you have left us enough men to strongly garrison the forts?” “No, I can’t do that,” was Grant’s quiet answer.  “Why not?  Why not?” repeated the Secretary nervously.  “Because I have already sent the men to the front.”  Said the Secretary, still more nervously:  “That won’t do.  It’s contrary to my plans.  I cannot allow it.  I will order the men back.”  To this Grant returned with quiet determination:  “I shall need the men there, and you cannot order them back.”  “Why not?  Why not?” cried the Secretary.  “I believe that I rank the Secretary in this matter,” remarked Grant.  “Very well, we will see the President about that,” responded the Secretary sharply.  “I will have to take you to the President.”  “That is right.  The President ranks us both.”  So they went to the President; and the Secretary, turning to General Grant, said, “Now, General, state your case.”  But the General calmly replied, “I have no case to state.  I am satisfied as it is.”  This threw the burden of statement on Secretary Stanton, and was excellent strategy.  Meanwhile, General Grant had the men.  When the Secretary had concluded, Lincoln crossed his legs, rested his elbow on his knee, and said in his quaint way and with a twinkle in his eye:  “Now, Mr. Secretary, you know we have been trying to manage this army for nearly three years, and you know we haven’t done much with it.  We sent over the mountains and brought Mr. Grant, as Mrs. Grant calls him, to manage it for us; and now I guess we’d better let Mr. Grant have his own way.”  And Mr. Grant had it.

The favorable opinion which Lincoln held of Grant was strongly reciprocated.  A short time before the former’s death, Grant said:  “I regard Lincoln as one of the greatest of men.  He is unquestionably the greatest man I have ever encountered.  The more I see of him and exchange views with him, the more he impresses me.  I admire his courage, and respect the firmness he always displays.  Many think from the gentleness of his character that he has a yielding nature; but while he has the courage to change his mind when convinced that he is wrong, he has all the tenacity of purpose which could be desired in a great statesman.  His quickness of perception often astonishes me.  Long before the statement of a complicated question is finished, his mind will grasp the main points, and he will seem to comprehend the whole subject better than the person who is stating it.  He will take rank in history alongside of Washington.”

CHAPTER XXVII