me over here, and we will fix
it right away." I bade the President adieu, and started at once
for St. Louis, to turn over my command and proceed to my new field
of duty.

I saw Mr. Lincoln only once after that time. That was when, just
a year later, I was passing through Washington with the Twenty-
third Corps, and called merely to pay my respects. The President
greeted me with the words: "Well, Schofield, I have n't heard
anything against you for a year." Apparently, the great trouble
to him with which I had been so closely connected, if not the cause,
was uppermost in his mind.

With Mr. Lincoln I had no personal acquaintance, having met him
but once, previous to the visit above described. But in assigning
me to the command in Missouri he had, contrary to the usual custom,
written for me his own instructions, thus inviting my fullest
confidence. I had availed myself of this to tell him everything
without reserve, and he appeared never to doubt the exact truth of
my statements.

ANECDOTE OF GENERAL GRANT

My personal acquaintance with General Grant was equally limited--
we having met but once, and for only a moment. He knew me only by
reputation. I never had any conversation or correspondence with
him on the subject, but presume he knew something about the trouble
I was in, had not forgotten the aid I sent him at Vicksburg, and
believed I would do what was right to the best of my ability. I
have had abundant reasons for believing that he never felt disappointed
in his trust and confidence.

General Halleck knew me much better, having been my immediate
commander in Missouri in 1861 and 1862. Although on one or two
occasions he seemed a little harsh in respect to unimportant matters,
he was uniformly kind, considerate, and unwavering in his personal
and official support.

The Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, expressed his confidence and
approval; said he was opposed to any change; that it was the
President's affair, with which he had nothing to do. I got the
impression that he regarded the whole scheme as a political one,
in which he took no interest, and with which he felt no sympathy.

In St. Louis I met General Grant, who was then so soon to be assigned
to the command of "all the armies of the United States," and for
the first time really became acquainted with him. We were together
much of the time for several days and nights. The citizens of St.