. The martial tread of hundreds of
volunteer generals, just disbanded, resounded in the streets. Gorged
with loot, they spent it as lavishly as Morgan's buccaneers after the
sack of Panama. Their women sat at meat or walked the highways,
resplendent in jewels, spoil of Southern matrons. The camp-followers of
the army were here in high carnival, and in character and numbers
rivaled the attendants of Xerxes. Courtesans swarmed everywhere, about
the inns, around the Capitol, in the antechambers of the "White House,"
and were brokers for the transaction of all business. Of a tolerant
disposition and with a wide experience of earthly wickedness, I did not
feel called upon to cry aloud against these enormities, remembering the
fate of Faithful; but I had some doubts concerning divine justice; for
why were the "cities of the Plain" overthrown and this place suffered to
exist?

The officers of the army on duty at Washington were very civil to me,
especially General Grant, whom I had known prior to and during the
Mexican war, as a modest, amiable, but by no means promising lieutenant
in a marching regiment. He came frequently to see me, was full of
kindness, and anxious to promote my wishes. His action in preventing
violation of the terms of surrender, and a subsequent report that he
made of the condition of the South--a report not at all pleasing to the
radicals--endeared him to all Southern men. Indeed, he was in a position
to play a role second only to that of Washington, who founded the
republic; for he had the power to restore it. His bearing and conduct at
this time were admirable, modest and generous; and I talked much with
him of the noble and beneficent work before him. While his heart seemed
to respond, he declared his ignorance of and distaste for politics and
politicians, with which and whom he intended to have nothing to do, but
confine himself to his duties of commander-in-chief of the army. Yet he
expressed a desire for the speedy restoration of good feeling between
the sections, and an intention to advance it in all proper ways. We
shall see when and under what influences he adopted other views.

The President put me off from day to day, receiving me to talk about
Southern affairs, but declining to give an answer to my requests. I
found that he always postponed action, and was of an obstinate,
suspicious temper. Like a badger, one had to dig him out of his hole;
and he was ever in one except when on the hustings