and of commanding
presence. His head of white, shocky, stiff hair led his soldiers
to dub him the "Gray Eagle." He had much military learning, and
had fought in many of the bloodiest battles of the war, notably at
the second Bull Run under Pope. He had seen service also in the
Mexican War. Notwithstanding his excessive impetuosity, he was a
just, generous, kind-hearted man, and possessed the confidence of
his troops to a high degree. He incurred the ill-will of Secretary
of War Stanton, and, regarding himself as unjustly treated, more
than reciprocated the Secretary's dislike. He ardently admired
President Lincoln, and only criticised him for delay in emancipating
the slaves. He believed the slaves of those in rebellion should
have been given their freedom from the beginning of the war. He
was so bitterly hostile to slavery and to individual Secessionists,
and so radical in his methods, that Jefferson Davis, by proclamation,
excepted him and his officers from being treated, if captured, as
prisoners of war. He was charged with making assessments on
inhabitants and of requiring them to take an oath to support the
Constitution and the Union. He also had the distinction of being
mentioned by Davis in a Message to the Confederate Congress, January
12, 1863. There was much correspondence between the opposing
authorities on the subject of his mode of conducting the war,( 2)
and it seems General Halleck disavowed and condemned Milroy's
alleged acts. Much charged against Milroy was false, though it
was true he believed in prosecuting the war with an iron hand. He
regarded the Confederate soldier in the field with more favor than
the Confederate stay-at-home who acted as a spy, or who, as a
guerilla, engaged in shooting from ambush passing soldiers or
teamsters and cutting telegraph wires. He did require certain
influential persons who resided within his lines to take an oath
of allegiance to the United States and to West Virginia or to
forfeit all right to the protection of his division. Further than
this he did not go.

At New Creek I first met G. P. Cluseret, a French soldier of fortune,
but recently appointed a Brigadier-General. He held a command
under Milroy in the Cheat Mountain Division. He assumed much
military and other learning, was imperious and overbearing by
nature, spoke English imperfectly, and did not seem to desire to
get in touch with volunteers. With him I had my only personal
difficulty