PETER JAMES ADAMS
History Researcher and Writer
Scoundrel or Scapegoat
Orville Babcock.
Trusted by Grant. Vilified by Historians.
Orville Babcock, relied upon by Ulysses S. Grant, yet blamed by politicians and historians for over 150 years for the corruption in Grant's presidency.
Babcock, first served General Grant as an Aide-de-Camp during the Civil War. Then he was appointed by President Grant as his personal secretary once Grant was in the White House.
Did Babcock create the scandals, including The Whisky Ring, that ruined Grant's chance for a third term? Or was he simply following the directions of the leader who saved the Union?
Accompany me as I uncover details historians have ignored, which shaped the characters of these two men. How Grant witnessed President Lincoln's attempt to take over Mexico to shut off an escape route for Southerners during the war. The backgrounds that shaped the behavior of these two men, the relationship they developed that drove their decision-making, to learn whether Babcock was a scoundrel or a scapegoat.
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An American Downton Abbey
My family's history is intertwined with so many events that shaped this country. I began writing this blog to capture some of our stories. As I began turning these stories into a book, Orville took over and demanded his own volume. I plan to return to the rest of our family once Scapegoat or Scoundrel is complete. In the meantime, please enjoy the history of one, not-so-typical, American family.
About My History
I've spent my career researching and writing, as a journalist and a historian.
In my time at Gannett newspapers I strove to accurately report government actions and the unique stories of life in our area.
My history work ranges from the local, helping couples preserve their dream home, to the national, having drafted preservation laws enacted by Congress.
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Scoundrel or Scapegoat is my latest research project, built upon my family's history, but with nationwide importance.