ask for Federal troops to restore order. The officers in
question requested me to be present at their interview with General
Canby, who also invited me, and I witnessed the conclusion. So, from the
Charleston Convention to this point, I shared the fortunes of the
Confederacy, and can say, as Grattan did of Irish freedom, that I "sat
by its cradle and followed its hearse."

For some weeks after my return to New Orleans, I had various occasions
to see General Canby on matters connected with the surrender, and recall
no instance in which he did not conform to my wishes. Narrow perhaps in
his view, and harsh in discharge of duty, he was just, upright, and
honorable, and it was with regret that I learned of his murder by a band
of Modoc savages.

CHAPTER XIV.

CRITICISMS AND REFLECTIONS.

The military collapse of the South was sudden and unexpected to the
world without, but by no means so to some within. I happen to know that
one or two of our ablest and most trusted generals concurred with me in
opinion that the failure at Gettysburg and the fall of Vicksburg in
July, 1863, should have taught the Confederate Government and people the
necessity of estimating the chances for defeat; but soldiers in the
field can not give utterance to such opinions unless expressly solicited
by the civil head of their government, and even then are liable to
misconstruction.

Of many of the important battles of the civil war I have written, and
desire to dwell somewhat on Shiloh, but will first say a few words about
Gettysburg, because of recent publications there-anent.

Some facts concerning this battle are established beyond dispute. In the
first day's fighting a part of Lee's army defeated a part of Meade's.
Intending to continue the contest on that field, a commander not smitten
by idiocy would desire to concentrate and push the advantage gained by
previous success and its resultant _morale_. But, instead of attacking
at dawn, Lee's attack was postponed until afternoon of the following
day, in consequence of the absence of Longstreet's corps. Federal
official reports show that some of Meade's corps reached him on the
second day, several hours after sunrise, and one or two late in the
afternoon. It is positively asserted by many officers present, and of
high rank and character, that Longstreet was nearer to Lee on the first
day than Meade's reenforcing corps to their chief, and even nearer than
a division of Ewell's corps, w