The key to the trammels which bore upon the several generals of the
Army of the Potomac is found in the fears of the inhabitants of the
capital that at the least weakness in its defenders, there would be a
shifting of the two governments, and the Richmond one would replace
that at Washington. [Footnote: This seems unlikely now, but General Lee
and many competent judges clung to the belief that, had his General
Early held his position at Gettysburg, Jefferson Davis, and not Abraham
Lincoln, would have occupied Washington's seat--for a time, anyway! But
IF--the story of the Civil War is studded with "Ifs."] But the navy was
not considered in this relation. Hence, there was a proposition to draw
the rebel forces from the North, by threatening the Southern seaports
with naval attacks, and descents of the tars and marines. A deputation
visited the President with this project. He listened to its unfolding
with his proverbial patient attention, and rejoined:
"This reminds me of the case of a girl out our way, troubled with a
singing in the head. All the remedies having been uselessly tried, a
plain, common horse-sense sort of a fellow (he bowed to the deputation)
was called in.
"'The cure is simple,' he said; 'what is called by sympathy--make a
plaster of psalm tunes and apply to the feet; it will draw the singing
down and out!'"--(Repeated by Frank Carpenter's "Recollections.")
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