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I have not been able to believe I was in danger of rejection.
I, of course, expected opposition, and that it would be violent and malignant, being based on falsehood and personal hostility; but I did not suppose it would be formidable in numbers, and I have been relying on the truth, my record, and the fact that I was sustained by the Administration and Grant.
I have, I know, some friends in the Senate, but they are few in number, being only such as I have accidentally met in the few visits I have paid to Washington.
The Military Committee reported favorably on my nomination, but it is a rule of the Senate, when acting on nominations, to lay aside any name as soon as objection is made, so as to avoid discussion until they get through the list of those names to whom there is no objection offered.
One man can thus postpone action in any case, and I take it this is all that has yet been done with me. Undoubtedly, when my name came up, either Mr. Wilkinson, of Minnesota, or Anthony, of Rhode Island, has objected, and under the rule I was laid aside.
I expect to meet the opposition of the Tribune and Independent clique, then all such as can be influenced by——,——,——, ——and others, each one of whom, of course, has some friends.
Whether they can concentrate enough votes to defeat me, remains to be seen.
Grant is now in Washington.
He promised to see Wilson, the Chairman of the Military Committee (who is friendly), and write a letter, to be read in the Senate, urging my confirmation.1 One difficulty I have to contend with is that those who are disposed to hit the President, Secretary or Grant, think they are doing so in hitting me. The nomination is, after all, only a compliment, and of no real practical value, as it will not deprive me of my superior rank in the volunteer service or my present command, the largest in the field.
It is, nevertheless, mortifying to have a compliment thus detracted from.
There is very little going on here.
We have had a violent storm of rain.
Grant is still away, and I have heard nothing from Markoe Bache, so that I am ignorant of what turn affairs are taking in Washington.
I received a letter yesterday from Cram, enclosing me one from a correspondent in Washington, who advises him (Cram) that
