Mr. Chesnut says he is very glad he went to town. Everything
in Charleston is so much more satisfactory than it is reported. Troops are in
good spirits. It will take a lot of iron-clads to take that city.
Isaac Hayne said at dinner yesterday that both Beauregard
and the President had a great opinion of Mr. Chesnut's natural ability for
strategy and military evolution. Hon. Mr. Barnwell concurred; that is, Mr.
Barnwell had been told so by the President. “Then why did not the President
offer me something better than an aideship?” “I heard he offered to make you a
general last year, and you said you could not go over other men's shoulders
until you had earned promotion. You are too hard to please.” “No, not exactly
that, I was only offered a colonelcy, and Mr. Barnwell persuaded me to stick to
the Senate; then he wanted my place, and between the two stools I fell to the
ground.”
My Molly will forget Lige and her babies, too. I asked her
who sent me that beautiful bouquet I found on my center-table. “I give it to
you. ’Twas give to me.” And Molly was all wriggle, giggle, blush.
SOURCE: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin
and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 163-4
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