Rosecrans's Attacks on Grant Over Badeau's Biography

The malicious disposition and bad, biting temper of General Rosecrans long since earned for him an unenviable reputation, but he never occupied a worse attitude before the country than he did in Congress, on [...] when snapping at the heels of General Grant, and objecting to his being put on the retired list of the Army on the ground that the conqueror of Lee deserves no reward for his services to the country.

General Grant was himself the author of Badeau's Life of Grant. General Rosecrans can say this, but he can make no intelligent man believe it. If there is a quality in General Grant's character more decided and better known than others, it is his willingness to accept responsibility for his words and acts. He is no more capable of writing a life of himself and publishing it in the name of another author than he is of flying to the moon, or than Rosecrans is of justly appreciating any man who has surpassed him in fame and honor.

General Badeau was General Grant's military secretary. He had access to the headquarters correspondence. He says in his preface that he has verified facts by means of General Grant's recollections, as well as by those of Sherman, Sheridan, and many other officers; but he declares that the opinions he has expressed were not submitted to General Grant, and that for them he (Badeau) was alone responsible. No mortal but Rosecrans could complain because General Grant furnished Badeau information upon historical points, information certain to be candid and truthful, whether always absolutely accurate or not.