first encounter was evidently somewhat on his guard.
He was prepared to like Lincoln, but he was afraid of mistaken dictation
from him, and determined to discourage it. Also Stanton had advised him
that Lincoln, out of mere good nature, would talk unwisely of any plans
discussed with him. This was probably quite unjust. Stanton, in order
to keep politicians and officers in their places, was accustomed to bite
off the noses of all comers. Lincoln, on the contrary, would talk to all
sorts of people with a readiness which was sometimes astonishing, but
there was a good deal of method in this--he learnt something from these
people all the time--and he certainly had a very great power of keeping
his own counsel when he chose. In any case, when Grant at the end of
April left Washington for the front, he parted with Lincoln on terms of
mutual trust which never afterwards varied. Lincoln in fact, satisfied
as to his general purpose, had been happy to leave him to make his plans
for himself. He wrote to Grant: "Not expecting to see you again before
the spring campaign begins, I wish to express in this way my entire
satisfaction with what you have done up to this time so far as I
understand it. The particulars of your plan I neither know nor seek to
know. You are vigilant and self-reliant, and, pleased with this, I wish
not to obtrude any constraints or restraints upon you. While I am very
anxious that any great disaster or capture of our men in great numbers
shall be avoided, I know these points are less likely to escape your
attention than they would be mine. If there is anything wanting which is
within my power to give, do not fail to let me know it. And now, with a
brave army and a just cause, may God sustain you." Grant replied: "From
my first entrance into the volunteer service of the country to the
present day I have never had cause of complaint--have never expressed or
implied a complaint against the Administration, or the Secretary of War,
for throwing any embarrassment in the way of my vigorously prosecuting
what appeared to me my duty. Indeed, since the promotion which placed me
in command of all the armies, and in view of the great responsibility and
importance of success, I have been astonished at the readiness with which
everything asked for has been yielded, without even an explanation being
asked. Should my success be less than I desire or expect, the least I
can say is, the fault is not with you." At