Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

[160] out towards Georgetown as far as the locality where the house of the British Minister now is. There he took me to certain sheds, which looked like market sheds. They were long, low buildings, and, as it appeared by looking though the cracks, were dimly lighted. He took me to the farther end of one of them, and there, looking through a small aperture which I reached by standing upon a keg, I saw from seventy-five to one hundred men drilling with arms, and I heard the commands of the school of the soldier, such as are given in military drill.

I stepped down and said: “Well, what is all this about?”

“We are getting ready for the 4th of march,” said he.

“Drilling a company of the district militia to escort Lincoln?”

“Yes,” said he with a laugh, “they may escort Lincoln, but I guess not in the direction of the White House.”

I looked at him and said: “You are not in earnest.”

“Never more in earnest in my life. We don't intend to have the black Republican----(I don't remember the offensive term) inaugurated to rule over us here in Washington.”

I walked along in silence for a short time, and then said: “Let me adjure you to be very careful in what you are doing. That would be treason and war, which will level Washington with the dust if it is undertaken.”

“Oh,” he said, “there will be no trouble about it.” And having neared the street that he should turn down to reach his home, we shook hands and parted.

I saw him once afterwards, but it was in the Old Capitol Prison.

I looked for other indications of the temper of the people in Washington. I talked with some of the ladies, and they were out-spoken as to what would happen to Lincoln if he ever came to the capital.

Decorative Motif.