1862 was a difficult year for Ulysses Grant. The widespread perception of his performing poorly at Shiloh, Iuka, Corinth and Holly Springs caused him to spend much of the year under a cloud of doubt about his personal and military fitness to command. Grant and his family turned to Elihu Washburne for support and Washburne provided it.
In a speech defending Grant after Shiloh in the House of Representatives on May 2, 1862 Washburne said, "“There is no more temperate man in the army than General Grant. He never indulges in the use of intoxicating liquors at all.”
This was a statement Washburne knew wasn't true as John Rawlins had informed him in an earlier letter that “ a gentleman made [Grant] a present of a box of Champagne wine, and on one or two occasions he drank a glass of this with his friends…”
[Congressional Globe May 2, 1862; PUSG Vol IV p116-117]
The bolded statement accuses Washburne of lying for Grant. This is n0t true. Here is the full letter Rawlins sent to Washburne, and it is clear that both Washburne and Rawlins make a distinction between an occasional social or medicinal drink and the "indulging" in liquor to the point of intoxication:
"Yours of the 21st is at hand. I was no less astounded at the contents of your note than you must have been at the information, reported to you. I thank you for the confidence manifested by you in the frank manner of your inquiry—I feel that you of all other men had the right, as you would feel it your duty to investigate the charge. I know how much you have done for Genl. Grant and how jealous you are of his good name, and assure you it is appreciated by not only Genl Grant but by all his friends.
I will answer your inquiry fully and frankly, but first I would say unequivocally and emphatically that the statement, that 'Genl. Grant is drinking very hard' is utterly untrue and could have originated only in malice. When I came to Cairo, Genl Grant was as he is today, a strictly total abstinence man, and I have been informed by those who knew him well, that such has been his habit for the last five or six years. A few days after I came here a gentleman made him a present of a box of champagne wine, on one or two occasions he drank a glass of this with his friends but on neither occasion did he drink enough to in any manner affect him. About this time General Grant was somewhat dispeptic and his Physician advised him to drink two glasses of ale or beer a day. He followed this prescription for about one or two (2) weeks (never exceeding the two glasses per day), and then being satisfied it did him no good he resumed his total abstinence habits, until some three or four weeks after the Battle of Belmont, while he was rooming at the St. Charles Hotel, Col. Taylor of Chicago, Mr Dubois Auditor of State and other friends were visiting Cairo, & he was induced out of compliment to them to drink with them on several occasions but in no instance did he drink enough to manifest it, to any one who did not see him drink. About this time Mr. Osborne President ofthe 111 C. R. R. Co. our mutual friend J. M. Douglas and several of their friends made a visit to Cairo and gave dinner (or lunch) on the cars, to which the General and I were invited with others; champagne, was part ofthe fare. Sitting near the Genl. I noticed he did not drink more than half a glass.
The fact of his drinking at all was remarked, simply because of his usual total abstinence. But no man can say that at anytime since I have been with him has he drank liquor enough to in the slightest unfit him for business, or make it manifest in his words or action. At the times I have referred to he continuing probably a week or ten days, he may have taken an occasional drink with those gentlemen and others visiting Cairo at that time, but never in a single instance to excess and at the end of that period he voluntarily stated he should not during the continuance of the war again taste liquor of any kind, and for the past three or four weeks, though to my knowledge frequently importuned on visits of friends he has not tasted any kind of liquor.
Ever since I have been with Genl. Grant he has sent his reports in his own hand writing to Saint Louis daily when there was matter to report, and never less than three times a week and during the period above referred to, he did not at all relax this habit. If there is any man in the service who has discharged his duties faithfully & fearlessly who has ever been at his post, and guarded the interest confided to him with the utmost vigilance, Genl. Grant has done it. Not only his reports, but all his orders of an important character are written by himself, and I venture here, the statement, 'there is not an officer in the Army who discharges the duties of his command, so nearly without the intervention of aides, or Assistants as does General Grant.
Some ten or twelve days ago an article was published in the Chicago Tribune, charging frauds on the Quarter Masters Department here, in the purchase of lumber at Chicago. Genl. Grant immediately sent Capt. W. S. Hillyer a member of his staff to Chicago, with instructions to thoroughly investigate & report the facts. That report and a large mass of testimony, substantiating the charge had been forward to St. Louis when orders came from Washington to investigate the charge. The investigation had already been made. Thus time and again has he been able to send back the same answer when orders were received from St Louis in reference to the affairs of this District.
I am satisfied from the confidence and consideration you have manifested in me that my statement is sufficient for you but should the subject be mooted by other parties you can refer them to Col. J. D. Webster colonel of the 1st Illinois artillery. General Grants Chief of Staff, a man who is well known in Chicago as a man of unquestionable habits, a man who has been a counsellor of the General through this campaign, who was with him at and all through the Battle of Belmont, who has seen him daily and has every opportunity to know his habits. I would further refer them to Genl. Van Rensalear, who specially sent to inspect the ttoops, and investigate the condition of this District by Major Genl. McClellan, and Genl's. Sturgiss and Sweeny who were sent here by Major Genl. Halleck for the same purpose. These gentlemen after a full and thorough investigation returned to Saint Louis some two weeks ago.
I know not what report they made; but this I do know; that a few days after their return an order arrived from St Louis creating the District of Cairo a District including SouthEast Missouri Southern Illinois and all of Kentucky west of the Cumberland, a District nearly twice as large as General Grants former command, and General Grant was assigned to the command. I would refer them to Flag Officer A. H. Foote, of the U. S. Mississippi Naval Fleet, a man " whose actions and judgment are regulated by the strictest New England standard, a strict and faithful member of the Congregational Church; & who for months has had personal as well as official intercourse with the General.
If you could look into Genl Grants countenance at this moment, you would want no ether assurance of his sobriety. He is in perfect health, and his eye and intellect are as clear and active as can be. That General Grant has enemies no one could doubt, who knows how much effort he has made to guard against & ferret out frauds in his District, but I do net believe there is a single Colonel or Brig Genl. in his command who does not desire his promotion, or at least to see him the Commanding General of a large division of the Array, in its advance down the Mississippi when that movement is made. Some weeks ago one of those irresponsible rumors was set afloat, that Genl. Grant was to be removed from the command of the District and there was a universal protest expressed against it by both officers & men.
I have one thing more to say and I have done, this already long letter. No one can feel a greater interest in General Grant than I do; I regard his interest as my interest, all that concerns his reputation concerns me; I love him as I love a father, I respect him because I have studied him well, and the more I know him the more I respect & love him. Knowing the truth, I am willing to trust my hopes of the future upon his bravery & temperate habits; Have no fears General Grant by bad habits or conduct will never disgrace himself or you, whom he knows & feels to be his best and warmest friend (& from conversations I have frequently had with him) whose unrequested kindness toward him he will never forget and hopes some time to be able to repay.
But I say to you frankly and I pledge you my word for it, that should General Grant at any time become a intemperate man or an habitual drunkard, I will notify you immediately, will ask t0 be removed from duty on his staff (kind as he has been to me) or resign my commission. For while there are times when I would gladly throw the mantle of charity over the faults of friends, at this time and from a man in his position I would rather tear the mantle off and expose the deformity. Having made a full statement ef all the facts within my knowledge and being in a position to know them all & I trust done justice to the character of him whom you and I are equally interested in I remain your Friend"