THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION.

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in military authority as to the success of the expedition. The President andGeneral McClellan were both approached, and the President was frequentlywarned that the vessels were unfit for sea, and that the expedition would bea total failure. Great anxiety was manifested to know its destination, hutthe secret had been well kept at Washington and at our headquarters. AsMr. Lincoln afterward told me, one public man was very importunate, and,in fact, almost demanded that the President should tell him where we weregoing. Finally, the President said to him, “Now, I will tell you in great con-fidence where they are going, if you will promise not to speak of it to anyone.” The promise was given, and Mr. Lincoln said, “Well, now,my friend,the expedition is going to sea! ” The inquirer left him without receiving anyfurther information. In this jocular manner Mr. Lincoln was in the habit ofthrowing off the cares of state; and it often occurs to me that hut for thathabit he would have broken down under the great weight of public responsi-bility which rested upon him from the first day of the war to the terminationof his noble life. In my opinion, no man has ever lived who could havegone through that struggle as he did. At no period of his life, I believe, washis heart ever stirred with a feeling of enmity or resentment against any one.He was actuated by the simple desire and determination to maintain theauthority of the Government at all hazards.

On the night of the 11th the signal for sailing was given, and very soonthe fleet was under way. My headquarters were on board a large steamer,the George Peabody ; but, with two or three of my staff-officers, I took for myheadquarters during the voyage a small propeller called the Picket , in realitythe smallest vessel in the fleet. I was moved to do this because of the greatcriticism which had been made as to the unseaworthiness of the vessels ofthe fleet, and because of a desire to show my faith in their adaptability to theservice. Their weaknesses were known to me, but they were the best thatcould be procured, and it was necessary that the service should be performedeven at the risk of losing life by shipwreck. The weather was threatening,but I did not foresee the storm by which we were afterward overtaken. Atthat time we had no weather signal reports; but, in any event, the sailingwould not have been delayed, because the orders to proceed to our work wereimperative. It was, of course, learned by all, after reaching the sea, that thedestination of the fleet was Hatteras Inlet.

Just before midnight the Picket weighed anchor, and we were soon at sea,and it was not long before the little vessel was called upon to test her sea-going ability. On rounding Cape Hatteras we met a very strong breeze, andthe little vessel got into the trough of the sea. It seemed for a time as if shewould surely be swamped; but by skillful management the captain broughther head-to, after which she behaved better. We passed a most uncomfortablenight. Everything on the deck that was not lashed was swept overboard ;and the men, furniture, and crockery below decks were thrown about in amost promiscuous manner. The breeze died away toward morning, soonafter which a heavy fog arose, which continued the greater part of the day.The ocean’s swell kept one in constant thought that the little vessel was in