Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/182

 170 Southern Historical Society Papers.

him, so we now know, as ideally equipped for the great busi- ness of war.

Thus he came to Richmond in May of '6i, eager to give proof, in a cause he held most righteous, of "'the mettle of his pasture," and almost at once (oh! malicious fortune!) was as- signed duty in Richmond, as aide-de-camp to President Davis, with the rank of colonel of cavalry.

Had the assignment lasted but a single year, it had been hard enough to a young soldier, who had inherited the old fighting Eerseker blood, and who, though modest, was yet but mortal, and could be conscious of his fitness to share with kinsmen and classmates the glories of that immortal army that was destined to write its name so often in the very "Temple of Victory."

He had looked for command in the field, but "Dis aliter visum," and Mr. Davis saw fit to retain him at the seat of government during the whole of those four eventful years. We do not know positively that the silent young aide ever uttered one word of formal complaint.

His habitual reticence was never pierced, save, perhaps, by one, and that one his father.

But is it not all easy to divine by those who know the temper of his breed?

Consider, again, what it must have meant to him to attend day by day confidential conferences at the Executive Mansion, while those, knit to him by blood or youthful friendships, were yonder "at the front," winning high rank and dazzling a world with deeds.

For the rank he cared no whit ; for we have Mr. Davis's ex- plicit statement that he repeatedly offered him promotion (long before he finally consented to accept it), and that he as steadily refused it. "The only obstacle to be overcome," writes Mr. Davis, "was his own objection to receiving promotion. With a refined delicacy, he shrank from the idea of superseding men who had been actually serving in the field."

It was said at the time, and is still constantly repeated, that he spoke to his father on the subject, requesting most earnestly