soon established his headquarters at the War Department, and
devoted himself with characteristic energy to the work of discharging
from the military service the great armies of volunteers no longer
needed. Their work as soldiers was gloriously complete. Within a few
months they were once more simple citizens of the Republic, following
the ways of industry and peace. The suddenness of the transformation by
which at the outbreak of hostilities hundreds of thousands of citizens
left their homes and their occupations of peace to become willing
soldiers of the Union and liberty, was paralleled by the alacrity of
their return, the moment the danger was passed, to the stations and the
manner of life they had abandoned.

General Grant was the central figure in the national rejoicing and
pride. The desire to do him honor was universal. But he bore himself
through all with dignity and modesty, avoiding as much as he could,
without seeming inappreciation and disdain, the lavish popular applause
that greeted him on every possible occasion. In July, 1866, Congress
created the grade of general, to which he was at once promoted, thus
attaining a rank never before granted to a soldier of the United States.
His great lieutenant, Sherman, succeeded him in this office, which was
then permitted to lapse, though it was revived later as a special honor
for General Sheridan. In further token of gratitude, some of the
wealthier citizens purchased and presented to Grant a house in
Washington. Resolutions of gratitude, honorary degrees, presents of
value and significance, came to him in abundance. Through it all, he
maintained his reputation as a man of few words, devoid of ostentation,
and with no ambition to court public favor by any act of demagoguism.

But a great and bitter trial confronted him. He had never been a
politician. Now he was caught in a maelstrom of ungenerous and malignant
politics. All his influence and effort had been addressed to promote the
calming of the passions of the war, and a reunion in fact as well as in
form. The President, professing an intention of carrying out the policy
of his predecessor, began a method of reconstructing civil governments
in the States that had seceded which produced great dissatisfaction.
Upon his own initiative, without authority of Congress, he proceeded to
encourage and abet those who were lately in arms against the Union to
make new constitutions for their States, and institute civil
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