Lincoln's fondness for Grant's whiskey

During the Civil War, the story made the rounds that the real reason then-Lieutenant Grant out in Oregon Territory had resigned his army commission back in the 1850’s wasn’t loneliness for his family as he claimed but rather the prospect of a court-martial for drunkenness.

Of course, a story like that has remarkable staying power. At about that same time Edmund Stanton, the Secretary of War, told Lincoln pretty much the same thing, namely, that there were reports from the field that General Grant was overly fond of whiskey.

Lincoln was far from convinced, and replied, “Find out what kind of whiskey he is drinking.”

“Why is that, Mr. President?”

“Because I want to send a case of it to my other generals.”