t sent, because the
telegraphic reports from Jefferson City showed that it was too late
to do any good; but it was handed to Colonel Broadhead on his return
to show him my wishes in the matter.

Upon my first visit to the President, he repeated to me this
Washburne story, without, however, intimating that he attached much
weight to it. I at once replied by giving him the simple facts
about my conversation with Washburne, and what my true position
was on that question. Mr. Lincoln promptly dismissed the subject
with the words: "I believe you, Schofield; those fellows have been
lying to me again."

Mr. Lincoln undoubtedly referred here to a previous incident which
was related to me by the Hon. James S. Rollins, member of Congress
from Missouri, one of the truest and most truthful men in the world,
as having occurred in his presence. Some men from Missouri had
prevailed upon Mr. Rollins to introduce them to the President, to
whom they wished to represent the condition of affairs in Missouri
as viewed from their standpoint. After listening to their story,
the President opened the little right-hand drawer of his desk, took
out a letter from me, and read it to them. He then said: "_That_
is the truth about the matter; you fellows are lying to me."

Determined to leave no room for doubt in the President's mind, I
telegraphed to St. Louis and got the Broadhead letter; but by the
time it arrived I had become so satisfied of Mr. Lincoln's confidence
that I did not think it worth while to show it to him.

I remained at the capital several weeks, and had full conversations
with the President on public affairs. The political situation was
a perplexing one. The state of parties in the West seemed that of
inextricable confusion, which Mr. Lincoln and his friends were
anxious to unravel, if possible, before the next Presidential
nomination. In Missouri the faction which had been friendly to me
was also a supporter of Mr. Lincoln, while the radicals were opposed
to him. In Kansas, on the contrary, the so-called Lane and Carney
factions, while vying with each other in professions of radicalism,
were divided in the opposite manner. The former supported the
President, but was bitterly hostile to me, while the latter was
friendly to me and opposed to Mr. Lincoln. I frankly told the
President that it was impossible for me to reconcile these differences
--indeed, that I did not believe any general in the army could, as
depa