Louis entertained the general in a most magnificent manner. At a
grand banquet given in his honor, at which I sat on his right, he
did not even touch one of the many glasses of wine placed by the
side of his plate. At length I ventured to remark that he had not
tasted his wine. He replied: "I dare not touch it. Sometimes I
can drink freely without any unpleasant effect; at others I cannot
take even a single glass of light wine." A strong man, indeed,
who could thus know and govern his own weakness! In reply to the
toast in his honor, he merely arose and bowed without saying a
word. Then turning to me, he said it was simply impossible for
him to utter a word when on his feet. As is well known, the great
general finally overcame his reserve.

It was very difficult for me to comprehend the political necessity
which compelled Mr. Lincoln to give his official countenance to
such men as Lane and Blunt in Kansas, but such necessity was thought
to exist. I suppose that a great statesman should use in the best
way he can the worst materials as well as the best that are within
his reach, and, if possible, make them all subserve the great
purposes he has to accomplish.

The old department was cut up, the Lane faction in Kansas was given
the man of its choice--General Curtis; Missouri was placed alone
under General Rosecrans--not Butler, as the radicals had asked;
Arkansas, having no voice in the matter, was left under the soldier,
General Steele, then in command there; and I left them all without
regret and with buoyant hopes of more satisfactory service in a
purely military field.

[( 1) By a radical newspaper.]

CHAPTER VII
Condition of the Troops at Knoxville--Effect of the Promotion of
Grant and Sherman--Letter to Senator Henderson--A Visit from General
Sherman--United with his other Armies for the Atlanta Campaign--
Comments on Sherman's "Memoirs"--Faulty Organization of Sherman's
Army--McPherson's Task at Resaca--McPherson's Character--Example of
the Working of a Faulty System.

I arrived at Knoxville, Tennessee, on February 8, 1864, and the
next day relieved General John G. Foster. The troops then about
Knoxville were the Ninth Corps, two divisions of the Twenty-third,
and about one thousand cavalry and two divisions of the Fourth
Corps; the latter belonged to the Department of the Cumberland,
but had been left with General Burnside after the siege of Knoxville
was raised by General Sherman.

The Ni