war for the purpose of liberating
the slaves and killing their masters. This they believe, and any amount
of reasoning cannot convince them to the contrary. It seems to be enough
for them to know that they are _Virginians_; upon this, and this alone,
they live and have their being. They are by far the most wretched and
degraded people in America,--I had almost said in the world. The women,
if possible, are worse than the men; they go dressed in a loose, uncouth
manner, barefooted and bareheaded; their principal occupation is chewing
tobacco and plundering Union troops by getting ten prices for their
eggs, butter, and corn bread. And these are the people our children--and
their fathers before them--have been taught to regard as the true
_chivalry_ of America! The people of the United States are beginning to
see that Virginia and her sons have been greatly over-estimated. That
Virginia has produced true and great men, no one will deny. There are a
few such still within her borders; but, taking her as a whole, the
picture I have drawn is a true one.

By my soldiering experience I learned some things which it would have
been impossible to learn had I never 'gone for a soger.' First, I
ascertained--shall I say from my _personal_ experience?--that a man
dressed in soldier-clothes can stand twice as much bad liquor as one
clothed in the garb of a citizen. Secondly, that to be a good soldier a
man should be able to go at least forty-eight hours without eating,
drinking, or sleeping, and then endure guard-duty all night in a
drenching rain, without grumbling or fault-finding. Thirdly, I _think_ I
have discovered that the martial road to glory '_is a hard road to
travel_.'

* * * * *

A CABINET SESSION.

_The President: Secretaries Seward, Chase, Bates, Smith, Blair and
Welles. Enter Mr. Stanton._

_Mr. Lincoln._ Gentlemen, I officially present Mr. Stanton!

[_Mr. Stanton, bowing with graceful dignity, seats himself at the
table._]

_Mr. Seward (breaking the momentary pause in his jocular way)._
Remember, Mr. Secretary of War, you are now in the old chair of Floyd
and Davis: and sit thee down as if on nettles.

_Mr. Chase._ Aye; but out of the 'nettle danger' pluck thou 'the flower
safety.'

_Mr. Stanton (with emphasis)._ Believe me, I appreciate not so much the
honor as the responsibilities of my new position. I claim a good omen,
for, as I turned just now towards the gate, a little b