xclusively in your hands.'

"After speaking thus, the specter disappeared and all was still. He
stood for a moment, bewildered. When he had collected his thoughts he
turned and walked rapidly to his quarters, which were at the Nashua
House. He entered his room and sat for some time in deep meditation.
While at Victor's Hill he had thought of moving his army across to
Mobile, and thence to Savannah and North to the rear of Richmond. He was
not a superstitious man, but at the same time was forced by what he
had seen and heard that night to consider well that which seemed to be
before him. The condition of the armies of the Union, and also that of
the rebels, was taken in at one grasp of the mind. The East and West
were carefully considered, and a plan seemed to be placed before
him that would certainly be successful. The whole question of the
suppression of the rebellion seemed to be disclosed to his mind, and
indelibly photographed thereon, as if in a vision from on high. He could
see his Army of the West and Center combined under one commander, making
their way against obstinate resistance to the sea; and then coming north
to the rear of Richmond, breaking the shell of the Confederacy as it
marched. At the same time he saw the great rebel army of the East,
under Laws, in Virginia, melt away before him, driven, demoralized, and
finally captured. This all seemed to be a dream, and yet it was the true
method to pursue in order to put down the rebellion. These things were
at once firmly fixed in his mind, and thus he would undertake to bring
success, should he be selected as the commander of all the armies of the
Union, as had just been indicated to him.

"Just then a rap was head at his door. 'Come in,' was the response, and
Gen. Anderson entered. Gen. Silent met him with great cordiality and
asked him to be seated. They conversed for some time on the subject of
the war and the probabilities of success.

"Finally Gen. Anderson said: 'General, this war can be concluded in but
one way, and that is by desperate fighting. The armies on both sides
are made up of Americans, each believing they are right, and numbers and
endurance will finally determine the contest, provided our people do
not become alarmed at the constant cry for peace by the Northern Golden
Circles and other sympathizers with the South.'

"'That is true,' said Gen. Silent; 'I feel more bitterness towards those
Northern croakers and sympathizers than I do tow