The year 1863 was black-lettered in the North by disaster. General
Hooker had been badly beaten by General Lee. The Confederate advance
into Pennsylvania shook the strongest faith in the triumph of the
Federal arms, and the victory of Gettysburg was attained at a bloody
cost. The draft riots in New York excited a fear that the discontent
with the colossal strife was deep-rooted. General Thomas, at
Chickamauga, saved the Union Army from destruction, but the call for
300,000 three-years' men denoted that the end was not even glimpsed.
Nevertheless, this latter feat of arms gladdened tremulous Washington,
and among the exploits was cited to the President the desperate
victualing of General Thomas' exhausted troops by General Garfield. He
performed a dangerous ride from Rosencrantz to the beleagured victor
and brought him craved-for provisions.
"How is it," inquired President Lincoln of an officer, courier of the
details, "that Garfield did in two weeks what would have taken one of
your _West Pointers_ two months to accomplish?"
The recollection was perfectly well understood by the regular, who
thought the amateur commander "meddled too much" with the operations of
the field.
"Because he was not educated at West Point," was the reply, but half in
jest.
"No, that was not the reason," corrected the questioner; "it was
because, when a boy, he had to work for a living."
He rewarded "the purveyor-general" with the rank of major-general.
* * * * *
"HOLD ON AND CHAW!"
While in July, 1863, General Grant was held at Vicksburg by the siege
which he successfully prosecuted, the New York draft riots broke out.
Without knowing from experience that a riot, however portentous, must
cease when the mob are drunk or spent, the inevitable contingencies, in
his alarm General Halleck, at Washington, begged General Grant to send
reenforcements, that he might not weaken the capital defenses to any
extent. The commander of the West declined and referred to the
President. General Horace Porter was on Grant's staff and saw his
smiles as he read the despatch from headquarters.
"The President has more nerve than any of his advisers," observed he to
his officers, for Lincoln did not agree with his Cabinet, as to the
revolution in the rear; and the message was sent by the staff:
"I have seen your despatch, expressing your unwillingness to break your
hold. Neither am I willing. Hold on with a bulldog grip, and _chaw_ and
choke as much as possible!"
* * * * *