[193]
Smith to Washington, mysteriously.
Down pounces Butler on City Point.
Long confab with General Grant.
Back comes Smith comfortably and is confronted by an order to “proceed at once to New York and await further orders!”
Thus did Smith the Bald try the Macchiavelli against Butler the cross-eyed, and got floored at the first round!
“Why did he do so?”
asked Butler, with the easy air of a strong man. “I had no military ambition; he might have had all that.
I have more important things in view!”
Speaking of Butler's visit, he had sent him an aide without consulting him, and Benjamin thought it a good chance to hit Halleck over the aide's head.
“Aide-de-camp, sir! Ordered on my Staff, sir!
I'm sure I do not know what you are to do. I have really nothing for you. All the positions are filled.
Now there is General Halleck, what has he to do?
At a moment when every true man is laboring to his utmost, when the days ought to be forty hours long, General Halleck is translating French books at nine cents a page; and, sir, if you should put those nine cents in a box and shake them up, you would form a clear idea of General Halleck's soul!”
July 22, 1864
I had one of the most amusing excursions that I have had during the campaign — really quite a picnic.
Colonel de Chanal, Rosy, and myself made the party.
The distance to Butler's Headquarters, whither we were bound, is about eight miles, and the road all the way was either through the woods or shaded by trees, and the dust had not yet had time to show its head after the rain.
It was a new part of the country to me and very interesting.
We struck the Appomattox at the Point of Rocks, where the river appears double by reason of a long, swampy island in the middle.
