During 1862 and ’3, John H. Morgan, a partisan officer, of no military education, but possessed of courage and endurance, operated in the rear of the Army of the Ohio in Kentucky and Tennessee.  He had no base of supplies to protect, but was at home wherever he went.  The army operating against the South, on the contrary, had to protect its lines of communication with the North, from which all supplies had to come to the front.  Every foot of road had to be guarded by troops stationed at convenient distances apart.  These guards could not render assistance beyond the points where stationed.  Morgan Was foot-loose and could operate where, his information—­always correct—­led him to believe he could do the greatest damage.  During the time he was operating in this way he killed, wounded and captured several times the number he ever had under his command at any one time.  He destroyed many millions of property in addition.  Places he did not attack had to be guarded as if threatened by him.  Forrest, an abler soldier, operated farther west, and held from the National front quite as many men as could be spared for offensive operations.  It is safe to say that more than half the National army was engaged in guarding lines of supplies, or were on leave, sick in hospital or on detail which prevented their bearing arms.  Then, again, large forces were employed where no Confederate army confronted them.  I deem it safe to say that there were no large engagements where the National numbers compensated for the advantage of position and intrenchment occupied by the enemy.

While I was in pursuit of General Lee, the President went to Richmond in company with Admiral Porter, and on board his flagship.  He found the people of that city in great consternation.  The leading citizens among the people who had remained at home surrounded him, anxious that something should be done to relieve them from suspense.  General Weitzel was not then in the city, having taken offices in one of the neighboring villages after his troops had succeeded in subduing the conflagration which they had found in progress on entering the Confederate capital.  The President sent for him, and, on his arrival, a short interview was had on board the vessel, Admiral Porter and a leading citizen of Virginia being also present.  After this interview the President wrote an order in about these words, which I quote from memory:  “General Weitzel is authorized to permit the body calling itself the Legislature of Virginia to meet for the purpose of recalling the Virginia troops from the Confederate armies.”

Immediately some of the gentlemen composing that body wrote out a call for a meeting and had it published in their papers.  This call, however, went very much further than Mr. Lincoln had contemplated, as he did not say the “Legislature of Virginia” but “the body which called itself the Legislature of Virginia.”  Mr. Stanton saw the call as published in the Northern papers the very next issue and took the liberty of countermanding the order authorizing any meeting of the Legislature, or any other body, and this notwithstanding the fact that the President was nearer the spot than he was.