ied me that my letter had been received by the one for whom it was
intended.

"Very soon the whisperings and newspaper gossip showed plainly that
there were jealousies in the Army of the East as well as in the Army
of the Center. Officers were complaining of each other, and some were
charging ill-treatment on the part of the Administration, showing
clearly that there were influences silently at work. About this time I
received a note from Washington requesting me to come to that city. I
prepared for the trip. Bidding good-by to our family, and requesting
Peter not to leave until I should return, I was off, no one but Peter
and my wife holding the secret of my leaving home at this time. When I
arrived at Washington I proceeded to the Executive Mansion, sent in my
name, and was at once admitted. The President met me most cordially, and
asked me to be seated. He wrote a note and sent it out by a messenger,
then turned to me and entered into conversation about the health of our
people, the crops of the country, and the sentiments I found generally
held among the people of the West in reference to the war. I said to him
that among the Union people there was but one sentiment, and that was
that the last man and last dollar must be exhausted, if necessary, to
put down the rebellion. He grasped me by the hand warmly and said:

"'Lyon, my good friend, I am exceedingly glad to know that. I have been
hearing curious stories about your part of Indiana. The Governor of your
State seems to fear trouble from some cause.'

"'My dear Mr. President,' I said, 'do not misunderstand me. I do not
mean to say our people are united; it is only the Union people I had
reference to. There is a strong party in the State who are utterly
opposed to the prosecution of the war, and they are led on by very
strong and influential men.'

"'Yes,' said the President, 'this man Strider is at the head of that
party. He is a smooth-talking fellow--rather an "Oily Gammon," very
shrewd, and hard to catch at any open or overt act. He has a way
of setting others on and keeping out himself. At least, I should so
conclude from what I have seen and know of him.'

"'Yes, Mr. President, you have estimated the man correctly,' was my
reply.

"'Just at this point in the conversation, the Secretary of War came in.
The President was going to introduce me.

"'No introduction is necessary, Mr. President,' said the Secretary;
'this is one of my old neighbors and frien