American dash was, in military matters as in others, opposed to the
engineering schemes dear to the scientific officers fresh from West
Point Academy. Among their projects was the Dutch Gap Canal at City
Point. When Grant, as his lieutenant-general, was conducted by the
President to see the forces and their positions, the guide made known
his opinion of the undertaking in his frank manner, consonant with the
new commander's bluntness.
"Grant, do you know what this reminds me of? In the outskirts of our
Springfield, there was a blacksmith of an ingenious turn, who could
make something of pretty nigh anything in his line. But he got hold of
a bit of iron one day that he attempted to make into a corn-knife, but
the stuff would not hold an edge, so he reasoned it would be a
claw-hammer; but that would be a loss of overplus, and he tried to make
an ax-head. That did not come out to a five-pounder; and, getting
disgusted, he blew up the fire to a white heat around the metal mass,
when, yanking it out with his tongs, he flung it into the water-tub
hard by, and cried out:
"'Well, if I can't make anything of you, I'll make a fizzle anyhow!'
"Well, general, I am afeared that that's what we'll make of the Dutch
Gap Canal."
* * * * *
"FORGET OVER A GRAVE!"
When the _Chronicle_, of Washington, had the noble courage to speak
well of "Stonewall" Jackson, accidentally shot, as a brave soldier,
however mistaken as an American, Lincoln wrote to the editor:
"I honor you for your generosity to one who, though contending against
us in a guilty cause, was nevertheless a gallant man. Let us forget his
sins over a fresh-made grave."
* * * * *