Chapter 18: why I was relieved from command.
- Grant requests Butler's removal -- succeeded by Ord -- turning over the Department accounts -- not permitted to publish report on Fort Fisher expedition -- Grant's expressed reasons for the removal duly considered -- influence of Grant's staff officers -- the imprisonment of Chaplain Hudson -- punishing Insubordinate officers -- Taxing local dealers for the benefit of the government -- half a million dollars raised -- how it was expended -- the matter of “arbitrary arrests” considered -- real reason for removal: regular Army influence coupled with political jealousy -- Grant was deceived, and he acknowledged it after the War -- “Bottled up ” -- Grant withdraws the expression -- his regrets and his tribute to Butler's ability -- something about one Badeau -- West Point and its claim to all military wisdom -- Grant did not get enough West Point to hurt him -- Halleck's efforts to get Butler removed -- Halleck's characteristics described -- West Point Intriguers among the Confederates -- after Gettysburg Lee offers to resign in Mahone's favor -- Butler's farewell to his troops
Ireturned to my command on the 16th of November, and there found an order from General Grant which put me in command of the Armies of the Potomac and James, as it informed me of his absence and enclosed an order to General Meade.1 General Grant had for a considerable time been impressed with the belief — in which I did not share — that Lee intended to abandon Petersburg with his main army and go down to join Johnston against Sherman; and he feared very much that Sherman might be overwhelmed if Lee was not instantly pursued by the Army of the Potomac, leaving the Army of the James to take care of Petersburg. But no such event happened. Everything of the official correspondence in relation to the current movements of the Army of the James went on without any intimation to me of any change of our official relations, and without any information as to any comment by Grant upon my report of the operations against Fort Fisher. I noticed nothing, except, perhaps, a want of cordiality in his manner. But on the 8th of January, about noon, I received, through the hands of Colonel Babcock, a crony of W. F. Smith, and a member of Grant's staff, who I had always known was bitterly opposed to me, a sealed envelope containing the following orders:--
