He had said to me upon his return in triumph to Washington after the famous Illinois campaign of 1868: "Lincoln is a good man; in fact, a great man, and by far the ablest debater I have ever met," and now the newcomer began to verify this opinion both in his private conversation and in his public attitude.
II I had been an undoubting Union boy.

Neither then nor afterward could I be fairly classified as a Secessionist.

Circumstance rather than conviction or predilection threw me into the Confederate service, and, being in, I went through with it.
The secession leaders I held in distrust; especially Yancey, Mason, Slidell, Benjamin and Iverson, Jefferson Davis and Isham G.Harris were not favorites of mine.

Later along I came into familiar association with most of them, and relations were established which may be described as confidential and affectionate.

Lamar and I were brought together oddly enough in 1869 by Carl Schurz, and thenceforward we were the most devoted friends.