The subject of a change to relieve the President was
discussed in Cabinet and Seward produced the order which he had prepared. There
was no dissent as to the necessity of some action. Various matters were
submitted by different members. I presented, at the request of Judge Wayne, the
subject of paying debts in the Rebel States, and all thought none that were due
prior to the War should, for the present at least, be considered.
Stanton submitted a number of not material questions, yet
possessed of some little interest. Before the meeting closed, the subject of
army movements on the Plains came up, and Stanton said there were three columns
of twenty-two thousand troops moving into the Indian country, with a view to an
Indian campaign. Inquiry as to the origin and authority of such a movement
elicited nothing from the Secretary of War. He said he knew nothing on the
subject. He had been told there was such a movement, and Meigs had informed him
it was true. Grant had been written to for information, but Grant was away and
he knew not when he should have a reply. The expenses of this movement could
not, he said, be less than fifty millions of dollars. But he knew nothing about
it.
All manifested surprise. The President, however, made, I
observed, no inquiry or any comment. Whether this was intentional reticence, or
the result of physical weariness or debility,—for he was far from well, I could
not determine. I thought it alarming that there should be such an imposing demonstration
on the part of the military, and the Administration, or executive officer of
the War Department, ignorant in regard to it. If so, it is to his discredit; if
not true, it is no less so. The only apology or excuse would be that the
President had ordered this through General Grant, or assented to it at least.
But this would be a slight upon the Secretary of War to which he would not
possibly submit.
Following up this subject, Governor Dennison inquired of
Stanton in relation to the recent general order dividing the country into
eighteen military departments and assigning a multitude of generals to them.
The question was mildly, pertinently, and appropriately put, but Stanton evinced
intense feeling and acrimony. He said the Postmaster-General must address his
inquiries to General Grant respecting that order, and he had no doubt General
Grant would have been glad to have had Dennison's advice and direction on the
subject. For his part he had not undertaken to instruct or advise General
Grant.
There was a sneer and insolence in the manner, more
offensive even than the words. I was on the point of inquiring if the civil
administration of the government could not be informed on so important a
subject, when Speed, who evidently saw there was feeling, hastened to introduce
another topic. I was glad he did so, yet this state of things cannot endure.
I fell in with Dennison, or he with me, when taking my usual
walk, and we at once got on to the subject of Stanton's insolent replies
to-day. Dennison was, with reason, irritated. Said he had forborne to reply or
pursue the subject because his temper was excited and there would have been a
scene. He says he has known Stanton well for twenty-five years; that he is a
charlatan and that he wanted D. to make a sharp reply on Grant in order that he
might report it to that officer and thus create a difference.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon
Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864
— December 31, 1866, p. 354-6
