CHAPTER XXI.

The Spring Campaign-General Grant at Washington-Scenes in the Hotel-The Levee-The Presentation of the Commission of LieutenantGeneralship-General Grant's Reply-The summit of Honor-He visits the Potomac Army-The Fancy Soldier-The Crisis.

T is now February. Thoughts of the spring campaign fill the minds of President, Cabinet, and generals. No brain is more busy than General Grant's. Expeditions are sent out to ascertain the position and force of the enemy; but no definite, decisive movement is arranged, when General Grant is called to Washington. Taking his little son with him, early in March he set out for the capital.

Soon after his arrival at "Willard's Hotel," he was recognized; and, as he took his seat at the table, the several hundred guests arose, and loudly, warmly cheered him. The ladies waved the white handkerchiefs. Hands were extended, and a scene similar to that at Memphis and St. Louis transpired. Such has always been the hom age of the people to their successful leaders-to the men who wielded victoriously great armies, or power of any

kind. And it is a signal fact, that, with all the horrors of war, military heroes awaken the loudest plaudits, and win the greenest laurels.

At evening occurred the President's levee. The word levee means the time of rising. It was applied to a morning assemblage waiting on a prince. In this country it is used to designate the gatherings at the Executive mansion at night. Whoever wishes to go, is welcome there. The President stands in one of the elegant rooms, to shake hands with the throng passing him, as they march through the halls and apartments. The band plays, and the whole scene is a brilliant exhibition of our republican country and government. At one moment, the Chief Magistrate takes the delicate palm of an aristocratic lady; the next, perhaps, that of a poor neighbor whom she never deigns to notice.

General Grant, on this occasion, fairly eclipsed the President. He was borne along by the human tide, and lifted to a sofa, where he could be seen by them all. Thus, as the moon controls the waters, did the embar rassed General, without effort to do so, attract and govern the strong currents of feeling, sweeping in whatever direction he moved.

Such display was not to his taste. When he left the gay scene, he said to a friend :

"I hope to get away from Washington soon, for I am tired of this show business." "

The day following-March 9th-he was summoned to

a more quiet meeting at the "White House." President Lincoln was there, his Cabinet, General Halleck, and other officials.

General Grant came in, and the President, rising, held in his hand a document creating him Lieutenant-General, and said:

"GENERAL GRANT: The nation's approbation of what you have already done, and its reliance on you for what remains to do in the existing great struggle, is now presented with this commission, constituting you LieutenantGeneral of the Army of the United States.

"With this high honor devolves on you a corresponding responsibility. As the country herein trusts you, so, under God, it will sustain you.

"I scarcely need add, that, with what I here speak for the country, goes my own hearty personal concurrence."

General Grant received the commission from the Presi dent, and made the following modest answer:

"MR. PRESIDENT: I accept this commission with gratitude for the high honor conferred. With the aid of the noble armies who have fought on so many battle fields for our common country, it will be my earnest endeavor not to disappoint your expectations. I feel the full weight of the responsibility now devolving on me. I know that, if it is properly met, it will be due to these armies; and, above all, to the favor of that Providence which leads both nations and men."

The hero-boy has now reached the summit of military honor and power in this country. Less than three years before, he was made colonel of an Illinois regiment; his command has rapidly widened, till it covers the entire field of conflict. And it is well for the youth of our land that the renown was earned by an honest, earnest, upright, and unassuming devotion to his country. He was no "favorite of fortune" beyond that of a favoring Providence blessing a faithful performance of duty.

A few days before-February 22d, the anniversary of Washington's birthday-near General Warren's headquarters, an immense ballroom, erected at no small expense, had been thronged with dancers. I am sure I shall not soon lose the impression the unfinished building made on my mind, when, a few weeks before, I saw it. A ballroom on a battle field! But the ladies from a distance were delighted with the soldierly frolic, and approached General Grant on the subject, expressing the hope there would be another in the Army of the Potomac.

He coolly listened, and then assured them that, if another were attempted, he should stop it by special order. It was no time or place for music and dancing, excepting the martial airs and firm step of the warriors, many of whom were soon to fall in the strife.

The same day the ball came off, the President had issued an order for preparations in every department of the army for an early advance. For this grand action General Grant was ready. It suited his ideas of carrying,

on the war. He soon revealed his purpose to move on Richmond. It was not the capital mainly he wanted, but to crush, or fatally cripple, the well-disciplined, formidable army under the splendid leadership of General Lee, was the serious work he resolved to undertake. Notwithstanding the repeated failures before, the losses and retreats of the noble Army of the Potomac, the victor of the West was willing to try his strength against the accomplished commander of "the flower of Southern chivalry" in the East. But one condition was demanded by him, and grantedthe entire control of the army for one hundred days. That is, for that period the campaign should be his own; he would assume the high responsibility of its success, with no interference from Washington, however well or wisely intended.

This arrangement gave unity of plan and harmony in action. He soon visited the able and gallant General Meade, the hero of Gettysburg, at his headquarters, and inspired new confidence and hope in officers and troops. Strict discipline was enforced. The speculators and hangers-on in the field began to disappear. Fancy soldiering was made contemptible, as it ought to be. A pleasant story related of General Grant illustrates his course in regard to it:

While he was looking over his new field, near Culpep per Court House, his headquarters, in a drizzling rain, attended only by his orderly, a carriage approached him. It was drawn by a pair of fine horses, and attendants escorted it. When near him, the driver reined up, the