CONCERNING THE DISTINGUISHED OFFICER WHO BUILT THE FORTS.
I HAVE thought it no more than right, my son, to present you with a
pleasant, but very exact picture of the distinguished officer of
engineers, to whose skill we are indebted for the forts that more
than once saved Washington. I do this out of respect to the truth of
history, and from an apprehension that there are others, perhaps,
higher in rank, who may lay claim to the honor, at some future day.
I have also presented you with a more extended and complete portrait
of him in the frontispiece of this work. He appears here in his
usually calm, meditative mood, with his pipe and Professor Mahan's
last great work on fortifications. He is, I must tell you, my son, a
man of large brain, and generous nature, fond of his joke, and very
fertile in the art of rearing earthworks. In figure he is
Falstaffian, and when on his rounds among the fortifications wears
immense canvas-legged boots, and a hat with a high crown and
extremely broad brim. Indeed, his figure is what may be called
formidable, and there would be no mistaking him were you to meet him
on the road. And, notwithstanding his peaceable disposition, and his
scrupulous regard for the rights of others, the farmers round about
Washington regard him with fear and trembling. In short, my son, his
approach near a farm house is sure to send all the children
scampering with fear. And even the curs and other domestic animals,
seem to have an instinctive knowledge that his visits portend no
good to their master's domicil. It is curious to see those domestic
animals how they bark and snap, and then shrink away at his
approach, uttering signs of their dislike. In truth, my son, he has
a bad reputation among these worthy farmers, whose farms he quietly
takes possession of, and then indulges in his favorite amusement of
building forts on them. In this way many an honest farmer has
suddenly found himself dispossessed of his property, and his means
of getting an honest living; thereby bringing great distress on his
family. To remonstrate would be useless. He must submit to the fate
of war, and look to Heaven for redress. Now it is by no means
pleasant for a quietly-disposed farmer to have his home turned
suddenly into a fortress, and his acres made a camping ground for
soldiers, who are not the most desirable guests, even under the best
of circumstances. But the farmer lays all his sorrows at the door of
our distinguished engineer, forgetting that he is only carrying out
the orders of his superiors. Thus it was that he got a bad
reputation, just as General Gilmore got a bad reputation with the
people of Charleston, and South Carolina generally, for throwing
shells into their city.
While, then, our distinguished engineer progressed in his work of
building forts, with a view to saving the city, the people of the
North, and the people of the great West, seeing that war was upon us
in all its stern reality, were much agitated as to what was best to
be done. They were a peaceable, prospering people, and much attached
to the Government that had conferred so many blessings on them. But
the fire of their patriotism had already been kindled; and they went
wisely to work adding fuel to it. The trumpet of war had sounded
over the land, their gallant militiamen came together, boldly and
earnestly. And these they sent to Washington, by regiments, to quiet
the fears of the people, and save the nation.
Now these gallant militiamen were very full of courage, and their
courage increased as their numbers multiplied in the capital, and
they sent word to Mr. Beauregard and his men that they would be out
there soon and thrash him out of Manassas. Some of these gallant men
came for thirty days, others for ninety, our wise rulers being
satisfied in their own mind that the latter number of days would be
quite enough to finish up the small job of putting down the
rebellion. These militiamen wore gay and many-colored uniforms, and
had the fat of the land for rations. They were the nation's favored
guests, and every man was set down for a gentleman and a hero, who
would as soon shed his blood for his country as eat his breakfast.
And these gallant militiamen were organized into a grand army, so
full of pomp and circumstance, that we were sure the enemy would run
away as soon as he saw it coming. But in order to make the thing
safe beyond peradventure, we gave the command of this grand army to
General McDowell, a man of solid parts, a gentleman, and a
soldier. Our wise political rulers at that time held to the idea
that a gentleman who had seen service must be a great general. Hence
it was that General McDowell, being a gentleman and a scholar, and
ready enough to square his political sentiments with the predominant
ideas, was accepted as just the soldier who would lead our gallant
militiamen to victory, and never think of running from the enemy.
Indeed, according to our military politicians, we were to get no end
of glory through General McDowell's success. And Mr. Beauregard was
to be driven back to his master, bag and baggage.