Among those generals--amateurs, like the President, themselves--who
disapproved of any leniency in discipline, was Major-general Benjamin
F. Butler. He wrote to his commander-in-chief so impudent an epistle as
the annexed:
"MR. PRESIDENT: I pray you not to interfere with the court-martial of
this army. (_His_, of course--his skill was discoursed upon by General
Grant, who said that Butler had "corked himself up.") You will destroy
all discipline among the soldiers."
But in the teeth of this embargo, moved by the entreaties of an old
father whose son was under death sentence by this despot, he said:
"Butler or no Butler, here goes!" and, seizing his pen, wrote that the
soldier in prison was not to be shot until further orders.
The affected parent eagerly took the precious paper, but his jaw fell
on seeing the text: he had looked for a full pardon. But the comforter
hastened to explain:
"Well, my old friend, I see that you are not very well acquainted with
me. If your son never looks upon death till further orders from me to
shoot him, he will live to be a great deal older than Methuselah."
* * * * *
"THE DISCONTENTED ... ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED--"
In 1856, Mr. Lincoln had figured prominently in the Fremont-Dayton
presidential campaign, and ever since he had been partial to the
"Pathfinder," though he clearly saw that he would be a rival for the
chair at Washington--his long-cherished ambition. He gave, at the
outset of the war, the most important military command, that of the
Mountain, or Western Department, to Fremont. The latter attempted to
"steal his thunder" by issuing a forerunner of the Emancipation Act,
and was removed; but Lincoln reinstated him till he had to repeat the
removal. He was repaid by the incorrigible marplot setting up as
candidate for the chief magistracy after it was settled that the
retiring officer should be reelected. Nevertheless, the competitor's
party was so small that, in allusion to it, Lincoln read from "Samuel,"
Book I:
"And every one who was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and
every one who was discontented, gathered themselves unto him, and he
became captain over them, and there were with him about four hundred
men!"
* * * * *
"NOT MUCH OF A HEAD, BUT HIS ONLY ONE!"
Although the life of a soldier sleeping on post was at stake, the
pleader wished to forbear on finding that the supreme decider, the
President, meant to make a personal matter of it. He suspended the
execution while looking into it. But it was objected that this was a
burden not intended to impose.
"Never mind," Lincoln answered. "This soldier's life is as valuable to
him as any person's in the land. It reminds me of the old Scotch
woman's saying about her laird going to be beheaded for participation
in a Jacobite rebellion:
"'It waur na mickle of a head, but it is the only head the puir body
ha' got.'"--(Assured, in substance, by L. E. Chittenden.)
* * * * *
"GI'E US A GOOD CONCEIT!"
A place-hunter hastened to his old acquaintance, Lincoln, when he was
seated, of course, to secure a trough. But he aimed high--in contrast
to Lincoln's adage that a novice should aim low! The least he named was
the berth of master of the mint.
"Good gracious!" ejaculated the chief. "Why did he not ask to be
secretary of the treasury and have done with it?" Reflecting, he
observed: "Well, now, I never thought that lank had anything more than
average ability when we were youngsters together. But, then, I suppose,
he thought the same thing about me, and yet--here I am!"
* * * * *