CHAPTER VI.

RECOLLECTIONS OF ROUSSEAU.

Strategic _versus_ fighting Generals.--Strategy always an Excuse for military Failures.--Four fighting Generals compared.--Rousseau naturally a Leader of Men.--His early Career.--He Acts as "the Member from Louisville, Kentucky," in the Indiana Senate.--Always in the Minority and always Popular.--Adventures in Kentucky as a criminal Lawyer.--Success as a special Pleader.--Startling Adventure in Defense of four Negroes charged with Murder.--Election to the Kentucky State Senate.--The true Story of Kentucky Neutrality.--Simon Bolivar Buckner and his Schemes.--How they were frustrated by Rousseau.--Denunciation of Neutrality.--Forcing an Issue.--Division of the State Guard into two rival Organizations.--Defection of the "Lexington Chasseurs."--How Rousseau obtained Authority to raise Troops for the United States Service.--Opposition of the neutral Union Men to his Scheme.--How he overcame their Objections.--Himself and Troops exiled.--Singular Scenes in the neutral State.--Recruiting for both Armies in the same City.--Sad Divisions created in Families. --A Rebel and Union Praying-match.--The News of the Bull Run Disaster in Louisville.--The Secessionists take Possession of the City.--A Riot instantaneously quelled.--A Peace Meeting turned to a War Gathering.--Rousseau's Parade through Louisville.--Buckner's traitorous Scheme, and what was to have been effected by it.--Attempt to seize the City.--Rousseau saves it from Capture.--A neutral Editor's History of Neutrality.--Popularity of Rousseau with his People.--His military Career.--Great Daring at Perryville.--Incidents of that Battle.--Admiration of his Men for Rousseau.--New Mode of taking Care of Prisoners.--Sherman's Idea of Rousseau's Raid to the Rear of Hood's Army.--Return to political Life.--His Crusade against Slavery.--Intimacy between Rousseau and Sherman.--Personal Appearance of Rousseau 193