General Felix Salm. 103 



had villas. I had seen rny friends very often during my stay 

 in Washington, and not liking to remain alone in the hotel, and 

 my sister being absent in Alabama, I accepted their offer to 

 remove to their house in Georgetown, and on my arrival in 

 Washington the Colonel was waiting for me at the depot. I 

 found a letter from General Fry, who had gone to Charleston, 

 which was very disagreeable, as I wanted his assistance in the 

 War Department. Governor Yates was, however, still in 

 Washington, and on calling on him, on the loth of April, I 

 heard good news ; General Thomas had informed him that he 

 /lad recommended Felix for promotion. 



Now I was full of hope, and mijht have allowed myself 

 some rest, waiting patiently : but urged by some unaccomitable ' 

 dread, and fearing that some untoward event might snatch out 

 of my hands the palm of victory, I could not rest, and wrote 

 at once to Senator Yates, who answered that he would see 

 Stanton on the 12th of April. I called on the Senator on 

 Thursday, the 13th of April, and was never happier in my Hfe, 

 for Yates delivered into my hands the commission of general 

 for Felix, signed by Stanton ! How proud I felt when I sent a 

 despatch to Bridgeport addressed to General Felix Salm ! 



When I returned with my good news to Georgetown, I turned 

 Mrs. Corvin's house topsy-turvy, and they took part in my 

 happiness, Corvin brewed in the evening some nice punch, 

 and we drank the health of the dear new general. 



Yes, I felt extremely happy and proud. He had given me 

 his name and made me a princess, but notwithstanding his 

 name and rank he would have failed after his first start, and 

 remained a colonel without a regiment, involved as he was in 

 the fate of poor Blenker. All his merit would have availed 

 him little against the rancour of Stanton. I procured for him 

 the command of the 8th, and raised for him the 68th Regi- 

 ment ; now he had become a general through my exertions. 



I must remind the reader once more that I am writing my 

 personal experience, and not history. I must suppose a general 

 knowledge of the American war, as even a slight sketch takes 

 up too much space. I therefore shall merely touch on the 

 great events which happened in the last half ot 1865 in the 

 East, which led to the conclusion ol the war. 



The successes in the West, especially the capture of Vicks- 

 burg and the victories near Chattanooga, had made General 



