a gathering; very many that are not usually seen at receptions were attracted thither, I presume, from the fact that General Grant was expected to be there.  He came about half-past nine.  I was near the centre of the reception-room, when a stir and buzz attracted attention, and it was whispered that General Grant had arrived.  The room was not full, the crowd having passed through to the East Room.  I saw some men in uniform standing at the entrance, and one of them, a short, brown, dark-haired man, was talking with the President.  There was hesitation, a degree of awkwardness, in the General.  Soon word was passed around—­’Mr. Seward, General Grant is here,’ and Seward, who was just behind me, hurried and took the General by the hand and led him to Mrs. Lincoln, near whom I was standing.  The crowd gathered around the circle rapidly, and it being intimated that it would be necessary the throng should pass on, Seward took the General’s arm and went with him to the East Room.  There was clapping of hands in the next room as he passed through, and all in the East Room joined in it as he entered.”

The next day at noon the General waited on the President to receive his commission.  The interview took place in the Cabinet room.  There were present, besides the members of the Cabinet, General Halleck, a member of Congress, two of General Grant’s staff-officers, his eldest son, Frederick D. Grant, and the President’s private secretary.  The ceremony was simple, the President saying, as he proffered the papers:  “The nation’s appreciation of what you have done, and its reliance upon you for what remains to be done in the existing great struggle, are now presented with this commission, constituting you Lieutenant-General in the Army of the United States.  With this high honor devolves upon you also a corresponding responsibility.  As the country herein trusts you, so, under God, it will sustain you.  I scarcely need to add that with what I here speak for the nation goes my own hearty personal concurrence.”  The General responded briefly, promising to “accept the commission with gratitude for the high honor conferred.  With the aid of the noble armies that have fought on so many fields for our common country, it will be my earnest endeavor not to disappoint your expectations.  I feel the full weight of the responsibilities now devolving on me, and I know that if they are met it will be due to those armies, and above all to the favor of that Providence which leads both nations and men.”

Before assuming personal command of the Army of the Potomac, as he had determined to do, General Grant found it necessary to return once more to the West.  In his parting interview with Lincoln, he was urged to remain to dinner the next day and meet a brilliant party whom the lady of the White House had invited to do him special honor.  The General answered, apologetically:  “Mrs. Lincoln must excuse me.  I must be in Tennessee at a given time.”  “But we can’t excuse you,” said the