saying that both the army and the government
needed a dictator. Of course, it is not for this, but in spite of it,
that I have given you the command. Only those generals who gain
successes can set up dictators. What I now ask of you is military
success, and I will risk the dictatorship."

General Fry, who was Provost-Marshal of the War Department and received
daily instructions from the President in regard to the draft for
troops, which was one of the most embarrassing and perplexing questions
that arose during the war, illustrates this peculiar trait by an
anecdote. He says:

"Upon one occasion the Governor of a State came to my office bristling
with complaints in relation to the number of troops required from his
State, the details of drafting the men, and the plan of compulsory
service in general. I found it impossible to satisfy his demands, and
accompanied him to the Secretary of War's office, whence, after a
stormy interview with Stanton, he went alone to press his ultimatum
upon the highest authority. After I had waited anxiously for some
hours, expecting important orders or decisions from the President, or
at least a summons to the White House for explanation, the Governor
returned, and said, with a pleasant smile, that he was going home by
the next train, and merely dropping in _en route_ to say good-by.
Neither the business he came upon nor his interview with the President
was alluded to.

"As soon as I could see Lincoln I said: 'Mr. President, I am very
anxious to learn how you disposed of Governor ----. He went to your
office from the War Department in a towering rage. I suppose you found
it necessary to make large concessions to him, as he returned from you
entirely satisfied.'

"'Oh no,' he replied, 'I did not concede anything. You know how that
Illinois farmer managed the big log that lay in the middle of the
field? To the inquiries of his neighbors, one Sunday, he announced
that he had got rid of the big log. "Got rid of it!" said they. "How
did you do it? It was too big to haul out, too knotty to split, and
too wet and soggy to burn; what did you do?" "Well, now, boys,"
replied the farmer, "if you won't divulge the secret, I'll tell you how
I got rid of it. I _plowed around_ it." Now,' said Lincoln, 'don't
tell anybody, but that's the way I got rid of Governor ----. I _plowed
around_ him, but it took me three mortal hours to do it, and I was
afraid every moment he'd see what I w