Anecdotes of the Civil War in the United States

Preface

. Without desiring to lay any claim to that fondness for story-telling commonly attributed to garrulous old people, the author has very naturally often enjoyed the pleasure which the narration of incidents, some of them now known, perhaps, to no other person living, has seemed to afford his friends. The opinion, repeatedly urged on such occasions, that he ought to preserve in authentic shape some of these historical anecdotes, has at length induced him to reduce to form such as he made notes of at the time, or can now recall with accuracy. If they fall short of the expectations formed of one who was known to have filled positions of high responsibility in military councils during the most critical period of our country's existence, or fail to reveal some of the hidden reasons for certain measures, and the secret history of certain events, which he may be supposed to know, it must be attributed partly to his conviction that in some matters the information confided to him was intended never to be made known ; and partly to the fact that, while his advice and experience were always submitted

PREFACE.

. to the higher powers when called for, he abstained from seeking knowledge which it was dangerous to the success of critical enterprises to have disseminated more than was absolutely necessary, content with understanding enough to insure an efficient execution of the authority intrusted to him. Now that the lapse of time has softened the memories of the great conflict, and, beneath the kindly intercourse daily becoming cemented between North and South, the whole country is rapidly growing in prosperity, wealth, and power, the acts of men who were violently assailed in the hour of heated strife can and ought to be viewed with justice and kindness. Especially is this so in regard to those who are now far enough beyond the reach of criticism — in the unknown world. It is the author's hope that nothing may be found in these papers contrary to that spirit of national charity. City or Washington, D. C, June, 1883. PASS 1 CONTENTS.

Chapter II. General

SCOTl's LOYALTY. Tribute of Hon. W. M. Meredith and others — Rumored resignation — Virginia's bid for his services — Testimony of Senator Douglas — " Always a Union man " — Parting with Governor Morehead — Renewed oath — " Views " — Southern estimate of them ... 3 CHAPTER in. DEFENSE OF WASHINGTON. Floyd's policy — Plan to capture Fort Moultrie — C. P. Stone — Regulars and volunteers — J. S. Wadsworth — An old fogy — Assignment of officers to guard public buildings — General Sanford — His grand review 9

General McClellan — Discipline of volunteers — Scott's choice for general-in-chief — His complaint against McClellan — McClellan succeeds Scott — His tribute to Scott — Halleck succeeds McClellan — An order bewitched 60

Chapter XVIII. Ball's Bluff

— RED RIVER. Object of demonstration on Leesburg — Rigorous treatment of General Stone — The secret history — Colonel Raymond Lee — General Stone at Red River — Colonel Bailey's engineering — Capture and recovery of his vote of thanks TO CONTENTS. PAGE

Generous spirit of Burnside and Lincoln — Plain language to Hooker — Swapping horses while crossing a river ...... 85

Chapter XXII. President Lincoln

A cavalry rifle — The nervous traveler and the donkey — " There is a man in there ! " 89

Quakers — Isaac's mode of warfare — A woman in man's clothes A kind Southern woman— A secret society — " Knights of the Golden Circle " — Grenfel — Release of Confederate prisoners — A Southern clergyman— Greetings from the North— Chaplains— Bounty-jumpers— I. C— V. R 92

Magic effect — A perverse eagle 122

Chapter XXX. Ad Interim

Mr. Stanton's suspension — Not sustained — General L. Thomas appointed ad interim — Mr. Stanton resists — Colloquy — A lawyer's ruse — " Stand firm ! " — Neutral ground — Another ad interim — A new Secretary 124

A pleasure-trip — The programme — Fac-simile of Anderson's dispatch — The flag-raising — Festivities — News of the President's death . CONTENTS. XI PAGE

Chapter XXXIX. The Funeral Of President Lincoln

Unparalleled grief — Guard of honor — Funeral-train — Lying in state — Mottoes and floral tributes — Imposing demonstrations — The veteran Scott — " Come home " — At the tomb — A long farewell . . 220

Chapter XL. The Grand Reviews

A vast camp — War-worn veterans — The Bummer Brigade — Final discharge 244