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Kerbey. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.tableright { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: 0%; +} + +.table2 { + margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 0%; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + +.lgfonta {font-size: 150%;} +.lgfontb {font-size: 200%;} +.lgfontc {font-size: 300%;} + +.smfonta {font-size: 75%} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.padbase {padding-bottom: 3em;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +.greeting {margin-left: 5%} + +.sig {margin-right: 10%; text-align: right;} + +.tdr {text-align: right; vertical-align: top;} +.tdl {text-align: left; vertical-align: top;} + +.tdind {text-align: right; padding-right: 2em; text-indent: -2em;} + +.tbb {border-bottom: 1px black solid;} +.tbt {border-top: 1px black solid;} +.tbr {border-right: 1px black solid;} + +ins {text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 1px dashed #dcdcdc;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Spy, by Joseph Kerby + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy Spy + A substantially true record of secret service during the + war of the rebellion, a correct account of events witnessed + by a soldier + +Author: Joseph Kerby + +Release Date: November 16, 2010 [EBook #34344] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SPY *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Sharon Verougstraete, Joseph +Cooper and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 513px;"> +<img src="images/icover.jpg" width="513" height="600" alt="Cover" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div><a name="Front" id="Front"></a></div> +<div class="figcenter padbase" style="width: 387px;"> +<img src="images/i002.jpg" width="387" height="600" alt=""IF YOU ARE AROUND HERE WHEN WE BEGIN THE JOB, +YOU WILL FIND OUT ALL ABOUT THAT."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"IF YOU ARE AROUND HERE WHEN WE BEGIN THE JOB, +YOU WILL FIND OUT ALL ABOUT THAT."</span> +</div> + + + +<h1><span class="smcap">The Boy Spy</span><br /><br /></h1> +<p class="center"> +A SUBSTANTIALLY TRUE RECORD OF SECRET SERVICE DURING THE WAR<br /> +OF THE REBELLION. A CORRECT ACCOUNT OF EVENTS<br /> +WITNESSED BY A SOLDIER ATTACHED TO<br /> +HEADQUARTERS<br /> +<br /> +THE ONLY PRACTICAL HISTORY OF WAR TELEGRAPHERS IN THE FIELD—A<br /> +FULL ACCOUNT OF THE MYSTERIES OF <a name="signaling" id="signaling"></a><ins title="Original has SIGNALLING">SIGNALING</ins> BY FLAGS,<br /> +TORCHES, AND ROCKETS—THRILLING SCENES OF<br /> +BATTLES, CAPTURES AND ESCAPES<br /> +<br /> +BY +<br /> +</p> +<h2>MAJOR J. O. KERBEY</h2> +<p class="center"> +<br /> +CHICAGO.<br /> +M. A. DONOHUE & CO.<br /> +407-429 <span class="smcap">Dearborn St.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="center"> +COPYRIGHT BY<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">J. O. Kerbey</span>.<br /> +<br /> +1887-88-89-90.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>The following unpretending narrative of some of the actual +experiences of a boy in the War of the Rebellion is fraternally +dedicated to my comrades of the G. A. R.</p> + +<p>Part of these adventures were recorded in the press of the +country at the time of their occurrence, and more recently, in +detached and crude form, in different papers.</p> + +<p>Through the kindly interest of many friends, and especially +that of my relative and comrade, Col. J. H. Madden, of Danville, +Illinois, the revised and collated Story is now offered to the public +and corrected from the original notes and MSS.</p> + +<p> +Yours in F. C. & L.,<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Author.</span></p> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<p>[Transcriber's Note: Chapter XVIII was duplicated in the text. The Table +of Contents has been changed to reflect the chapter numbers given in the text.]</p> + +<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="4" cellpadding="4" summary ="Contents"> +<tr> + <td align="left">CHAPTER.</td> + <td></td> + <td align="right"> PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">I. </td> + <td align="left">Introductory</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">II. </td> + <td align="left">On Duty as a Spy at the Rebel Capital, Montgomery, Alabama—Living + in same Hotel with Jeff Davis and His Cabinet—Conspirators + from Washington Interviewed—Bounty Offered by Confederates before a Gun Was Fired—Fort + Sumter and Fort Pickens</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">III. </td> + <td align="left">Pensacola, Florida—In Rebel Lines—Fort Pickens—Admiral + Porter and the Navy</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">IV. </td> + <td align="left">Crossing the Bay to Fort Pickens, etc.</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_38">38</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">V. </td> + <td align="left">Rebel Newspapers—On Admiral Porter's Ship</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">VI. </td> + <td align="left">Admiral Porter Saves the Boy's Life—Interview with the + Rebel Flag-of-Truce Officers, Who Claim Him for a Victim—Scenes + on Board a Man-of-War—Return Home by Sea—Reception + in New York—Telegraph Acquaintances—New + York Papers Record the Adventure in Full Page</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">VII. </td> + <td align="left">Reporting to the Secretary of War, at Washington—Ordered + on Another Scout to Virginia—In Patterson's Army, + in Virginia, before the Battle of Bull Run</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_80">80</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">VIII. </td> + <td align="left">A Night's Scout in Johnston's Army—Rebel Signals—Visitors + from the Union Army Headquarters Report to + Rebel Headquarters—General J. E. Johnston's Escape to + Beauregard Reported to General Patterson—Fitz-John + Porter Responsible for the First Battle of Bull Run, as He + Was Cashiered for That of the Second Bull Run—An Important + Contribution to the War History of the Time—The + Story since Confirmed by the <i>Century</i> Historians of + Lincoln, Secretaries Nicolay and Hay</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">IX. </td> + <td align="left">Reporting to General Bank's Headquarters for Duty—The + Life of Jeff Davis Threatened—Captured at Harper's + Ferry—Interesting Personal Letters Corroborating the + Supposed Death of the "Boy Spy"</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">X. </td> + <td align="left">At Beauregard's Headquarters—On Duty at Manassas</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XI. </td> + <td align="left">Important Documents Intercepted at Manassas, which Established + the Fact that the Rebel Army had no Intention, and + Were not Able to Advance after Manassas—The Rebel Army + Demoralized by Success, and Twenty-five Per Cent. Absent + from Epidemic—On the Field after the Battle—Observation + Inside Rebel Camps—Talking with Richmond by + Wire—Captured by Rebel Picket in Sight of the Signal + Lights at Georgetown College</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_134">134</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XII. </td> + <td align="left">Another Escape, etc.</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_154">154</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XIII. </td> + <td align="left">One More Escape—"Yanking" the Telegraph Wires—"On + to Richmond!"—A Close Shave</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XIV. </td> + <td align="left">On to Richmond—A Night of Terror—A Ghastly Find + in the Woods—Attacked by Bloodhounds—Other Miraculous + Escapes—First Visit to Fredericksburg—A Collection + Taken up in a Church in Virginia for the "Boy Spy"—Arrives + in Richmond</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_178">178</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XV. </td> + <td align="left">Sick In Richmond—Concealed by a Colored Boy and Unable + to Move—An Original Cipher Letter Sent Through + the Blockade to Washington that Tells the Whole Story in + a Few Words—Meeting with Maryland Refugees—The + "Boy Spy" Serenaded—"Maryland, My Maryland"—Jeff + Davis' Office and Home—A Visit to Union Prisoners at + Libby Prison, etc.</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XVI. </td> + <td align="left">Richmond—Hollywood—Jeff Davis—<a name="breck" id="breck"></a><ins title="Original has Breckenridge">Breckinridge</ins>—Extra + Billy Smith—Mayor, Governor, etc.</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_214">214</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XVII. </td> + <td align="left">Richmond—A Close Shave</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_227">227</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XVIII. </td> + <td align="left">Richmond on an Autumn Morning—A Group of Good Looking + Soldiers—Jeff Davis Passes By—The Battle of Ball's + Bluff—Richmond Newspapers</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_238">238</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XVIII. </td> + <td align="left">A Narrow Escape—Recognized by Texas Friends at a Richmond + Theatre—Personnel of the Maryland Battery—Refugees + from Ireland—Camp Lee, near Richmond—Our + Captain—Lieutenant Claiborne, of Mississippi—Our Section + Drills—Horses for Our Use in Town and Adjoining + County—Visits of Ladies—Capitola—Popularity of Refugees—The + Entertainment for Marylanders—Tableau—Jeff + Davis Strikes the Chains from the Enslaved Maryland Beauty</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_245">245</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XIX. </td> + <td align="left">Richmond, Fall 1861—Daily Visits to the War Office, Mechanics + Hall—Evenings Devoted to Visits in Town—Mixed + up with Maryland Ladies—Fort Pickens Opens Fire on + Pensacola Batteries—General Winder, of Maryland—Jeff + Davis Inaugurated President—Shake Hands with Jeff Davis</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_261">261</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XX. </td> + <td align="left">One Sunday in Richmond—Jeff Davis' and General Lee's + Homes and Church—Recognized at Libby Prison—Visit + to Texas Camp—A "Difficulty" Renewed—Thrilling + Experience—A Night in Richmond with Texas Boys</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_272">272</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XXI. </td> + <td align="left">Maryland "Refugees"—Coercing into the Union in East + Tennessee "Refugees"—Parson Brownlow Interviewed—A + Happy Experience with Maggie Craig—The Battle of + Mill Spring—First Union Victory as Seen from Inside the + Rebel Army</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_293">293</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XXII. </td> + <td align="left">Cruelty of General Ledbetter—Another Narrow Escape—Ordered + to Cumberland Gap—A Wearisome Journey—Arrived + at the Gap—The Stolen Letter—Alone in the Darkness—The + North Star—Day Dawn</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_314">314</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XXIII. </td> + <td align="left">Return Home from Cumberland Gap—Meeting with Parson + Brownlow on His Trip to Washington</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_339">339</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XXIV. </td> + <td align="left">Arrival at Washington—Meets Hon. John Covode—J. W. + Forney and Senators—Testimony Before Committee on the + Conduct of the War—Remarkable Interviews with Secretary + Stanton—A Visit to Mr. Lincoln, at Washington—The + Telegraph Corps—Again Ordered to the Front, at Fredericksburg, Virginia</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_356">356</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XXV. </td> + <td align="left">Geno—Fredericksburg—A Chapter of War History not in + <i>The Century</i> Papers</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_377">377</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XXVI. </td> + <td align="left">A Scout to Richmond Develops Important Information—No + Force in Front of McDowell to Prevent his Co-operating + with McClellan—The Secretary of War Responsible for the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span>Failure of the Peninsula Campaign—Our Spy as a War + Correspondent Antagonizes the War Department by Criticism + in the Papers—Is Arrested on a Technicality and Sent + a Special Prisoner to Old Capitol by the Secretary of War's Orders</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_396">396</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XXVII. </td> + <td align="left">Old Capitol Prison—Belle Boyd, the Rebel Spy, a Companion + and Friend—A Disguised English Duke—Interesting + Scenes and Experiences in this Famous State Prison—Planning + to Escape Disguised as a Contraband—Released on + Parole by Order of the Secretary of War</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_412">412</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XXVIII. </td> + <td align="left">Fired Out of Old Capitol Prison—"Don't Come Here + Again!"—My Friend the Jew Sutler—Out in a New Rig—At + the Canterbury Theatre</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_431">431</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XXIX. </td> + <td align="left">Life at Headquarters Army of Potomac—Some Startling + Revelations as to the "True Inwardness," not to say Cussedness, + of Our High Union Officials—Interesting Descriptions + of Family Life at Headquarters—"Signals"—Ciphers—Again + Volunteering for Secret Service Inside the Rebel + Army—A Remarkable Statement about Burnside and + Hooker—Introduction to General Meade—A Night on the + Rappahannock Interviewing Rebel Pickets</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_451">451</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XXX. </td> + <td align="left">Conspiracies among Union Generals and Northern Politicians—The + Defense of that Unappreciated Army, the + Cavalry—Hooker and Dead Cavalrymen—Stoneman's Celebrated + Raid to Richmond Truthfully Described, and Its + Failure to Capture Richmond Accounted for—A Chapter + on the "Secret Service" not Referred to in Official Reports + or Current War History</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_480">480</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XXXI. </td> + <td align="left">Farewell to Fredericksburg—General Pleasonton—Cavalry + Fighting at Brandy and Aldie—Looking after Stuart's + Rebel Cavalry—A Couple of Close Calls—Chased by + Mosby's Guerrillas—With Custer in Frederick, Md., the + Day before the Battle, Flirting with the Girls</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_510">510</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XXXII. </td> + <td align="left">Sent to Find General Buford—A Hasty Ride—The Battle + of Gettysburg—Cemetery Ridge—General Doubleday—General + Hancock—The Second Day of the Battle</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_519">519</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XXXIII. </td> + <td align="left">Closing Chapter</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_548">548</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + +<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" summary ="Illustrations"> + +<tr> + <td></td> + <td align="right">PAGE.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"If You are around Here when We Begin the Job, You Will Find out + all about That."</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Front"><i>Frontispiece.</i></a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">A Close Call at Gettysburg</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_537">537</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"Ah! Sketching, Are You?"</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_66">66</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">An Interview with Parson Brownlow</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_304">304</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"Are You Union, or Confederate?"</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_338">338</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"Bill, Ain't He the Fellow?"</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_282">282</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">Cavalry Picket on the Rappahannock</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_473">473</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"Colonel Mosby's Soldiers, I Reckon, Sir?"</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_516">516</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">Cumberland Gap—This Was Enough for Me</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_329">329</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">Geno Was Not only the Prettiest, but the Sweetest Girl I ever Saw</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_381">381</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"Get Up Here, You Damned Old Traitor."</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_316">316</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"Halt!"</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">He seemed to have Forgotten all about Dressing Himself</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_359">359</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">I'd Cut Him and Feed the Pieces to the Sharks</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">I had Stepped onto the Decaying Body of—<i>a Man!</i></td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">In an Instant He Put the Point of His Sword against My Breast</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_347">347</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">In Old Capitol Prison—Disguised as a Contraband</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_427">427</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">In Old Capitol Prison—I Admit that I Broke Down Completely</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_413">413</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">I Was Being "Toted" Back to the Rebel Army</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_158">158</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">I Whispered to Him as I Went Past: "Norfolk is Taken."</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_223">223</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">I "Yanked," or by a Dexterous "Twist of the Wrist," I Was Able to + Break the Wire</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_170">170</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">Landing Kerslop over the Side onto the Ground</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">Miss Mamie Wells Ministering to the Wounded [Transcriber's + Note: This illustration is not found in the text.]</td> + <td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#Page_400">400</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">On a Scout to Richmond</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_396">396</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">Recognized by Texans at Richmond Theatre</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_248">248</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">Refusing in Her very Decided Manner to Walk under "That Flag"</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_383">383</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">Tail Piece—To the Boy Spy</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_556">556</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">Tapping the Telegraph Wire—"Are the Yanks in Fredericksburg?"</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_493">493</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"Thank God, I'm Safe among my Friends."</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">The Sergeant kindly Gave Him the Steel</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_441">441</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"To Father: I am Safe; Are All Well at Home?"</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_352">352</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">We hastily Dressed and Ran Back from the Bank</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">You always Say <i>Down</i> Here, and That You're Going to go up Home</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_197">197</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></div> +<h2>THE BOY SPY.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>INTRODUCTORY.</h3> + + +<p>A successful scout, or spy, is like a great poet in one respect: +he is born, not made—subject to the requisition of the military +genius of the time.</p> + +<p>That I was not born to be hanged is a self-evident proposition. +Whether I was a successful scout or not, the reader of these pages +must determine.</p> + +<p>It was my good fortune to have first seen the light under the +shadow of one of the spurs of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the +beautiful Cumberland Valley, in the State of Pennsylvania, near +Mason and Dixon's line.</p> + +<p>This same locality is distinguished as the birthplace of President +James Buchanan, and also that of Thomas A. Scott, President +of the Pennsylvania Railroad and its system, under whom I served. +Mr. Scott used to say he had leased this position for ninety-nine +years with twice the salary of the president of the United States.</p> + +<p>My grandfather, who had been an officer in the Royal Navy, of +Great Britain, served in the same ships with Lord Nelson, had +after the manner of his class kept a record of his remarkable and +thrilling services in the British Navy during the wars of that period.</p> + +<p>The discovery of this, grandfather's diary—amongst other war +papers—after his death, I may say, here, accounts in a manner for +the spirit of adventure in my disposition. I come by it naturally, +and following the precedent, submit this unpretending narrative, as +another grandfather's diary.</p> + +<p>It appears that during the embargo declared during the war +between the United States and England in 1812, my grandfather +was caught ashore, as it were, in America.</p> + +<p>His brother, George, was in the service of the East India Company, +as a judge advocate, and lived on the Island of Ceylon at that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +time. Desiring to reach this brother, by getting a vessel at New +Orleans, he started to walk overland, through a hostile country, to +the headwaters of the Ohio and Mississippi Valley at Pittsburgh, +where he could get a canoe or boat.</p> + +<p>It is a singular coincidence that this young English officer, in +his scouting through an enemy's country, traversed substantially +the very same ground—Winchester, Va., Harper's Ferry, <a name="fred1" id="fred1"></a><ins title="Original has Fredericksburgh">Fredericksburg</ins>, +etc.—that I, his youthful grandson, tramped over as a +scout in another war half a century later.</p> + +<p>It was while on this journey that he was taken sick, and during +a long illness he was nursed back to life by my grandmother, whom +he subsequently married, and there located as an American citizen.</p> + +<p>He became the school-master of the community, and in course +of time, Thomas A. Scott was one of his brightest but most troublesome +scholars.</p> + +<p>In the process of this evolution, I became a messenger boy and +student of telegraphy in the office of Colonel Thos. A. Scott, who +was then superintendent of railways at Pittsburgh.</p> + +<p>In the same office, as a private clerk and telegrapher, was Mr. +Andrew Carnegie, now widely known as a capitalist.</p> + +<p>"Andy," as this distinguished philanthropist was then familiarly +known, and myself were "boys together," and the reader is +permitted to refer to him for—as he recently assured me, in his +laughing and hearty manner—that he would give me a good endorsement, +as one of his wild boys.</p> + +<p>Under Mr. Andrew Carnegie's instruction I soon became a proficient +operator, and when but a boy very easily read a telegraph +instrument by sound, which in those days was considered an extraordinary +acquirement. Through Mr. Scott's kindly interest in myself, +I had been promoted rapidly in railway work, and before leaving +Pittsburgh was chief or division operator. This gave me very +large responsibilities, for a boy of my age, as the road then had but +one track, and close watch had to be kept of the various trains moving +in the same or opposite directions. It became a habit of Colonel +Scott, on receiving news of any accident to a train or bridge along +the road, to have an engine fired up and be off at once, with me along +provided with a pocket instrument and a little coil of copper wire. +It seems now to me that such trips usually began at night.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>Arrived at the place of wreck, I would at once shin up a telegraph +pole, get the wire down, cut it, and establish a "field station" +at once, the nearest rail fence and a convenient bowlder furnishing +desk and office seat, where I worked while Colonel Scott remained +in charge of the work. He was thus at once put in direct communication +with every train and station on the road, and in as full +personal control as if in his comfortable Pittsburgh office. Such +work perfected me in field-telegraphing. At times, when a burned +or broken bridge or a wrecked train delayed traffic, trains would +accumulate at the point, and the noises of escaping steam +from the engines, the progressing work, and the babel of voices about +me, made it utterly impossible to hear any sound from my little +magnet, or pocket instrument. I then discovered, by sheer necessity, +that I could read the messages coming, by watching the movement +of the armature of the magnet. The vibrations of a telegraph +armature are so slight as to be scarcely perceptible to +the naked eye, yet a break, or the separating of the points +of contact, are necessary to make the proper signals. Further +experiences developed the phenomena that when sound and sight +failed I could read still by the sense of feeling, by holding my +finger-tips gently against the armature and noting its pulsations. I +thus became by practice not only proficient, but expert in telegraphy. +Telegraphers know, though the general public may not, +that messages can be sent by touching together the ends of a cut +telegraph wire, and can be received by holding the ends to the +tongue. My tongue, however, has always been too sensitive to take +that kind of "subtle fluid."</p> + +<p>Telegraphers have many methods of secret communication with +each other: rattling teaspoons or tapping knives and forks at the +table, or the apparently aimless "Devil's tattoo" of the fingers on +the table or armchair are common methods, and I have heard of +one in a tight corner who <i>winked</i> out a message appealing for help. +It might be well to avoid playing poker at a table where two telegraphers +are chums, for it is possible that one might learn when to +stay in a little longer for the raise and make a pot a little bigger.</p> + +<p>When Colonel Thos. A. Scott became Assistant Secretary of War +he called into his service the railroaders and telegraphers whom he +knew would be serviceable and faithful to the government. I record<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +here the statement that the first to reach Washington upon Secretary +Cameron's call, was Mr. Scott and his Pennsylvania railroaders and +telegraphers, who rebuilt and operated the destroyed Baltimore & +Ohio railways and telegraphs, that enabled the first troops to reach +the Capitol.</p> + +<p>It was on account of my supposed qualification as a telegrapher +that I was subsequently detailed to enter the rebel lines and intercept +their telegraphic communication at their headquarters.</p> + +<p>On one occasion, mentioned further on in this narrative, I was +lounging near the old wooden shanty near General Beauregard's +headquarters at Manassas Junction. I easily read important dispatches +to and from Richmond and elsewhere, and repeated the +operation hour after hour, several days and nights. It was unfortunately +the case, however, that I then had no means of rapid communication +with Washington to transmit the information gained, +although in later years of the war it would have been easy, as I was +then a signal officer in the Army of the Potomac, and might have +utilized some retired tree-top and signaled over the heads of the +enemy to our own lines. This is rather anticipating my story, and, +as Uncle Rufus Hatch once said, when I was acting as his private +secretary, and he would become a little mixed in dictating letters +to me, "We must preserve the sequence."</p> + +<p>It is more than likely that I was too young in those days to +properly appreciate the advantages of the rapid advancement I had +gained in position and salary, especially as the latter enabled me to +make a fool of myself; and here comes in my "first love story," +which I tell, because it had much to do with the adventures of which +this narrative treats.</p> + +<p> +"I loved a maid,<br /> +And she was wondrous fair to see,"<br /> +</p> + +<p>and I will designate her as No. 1, to distinguish this from numerous +other such affairs—on both sides of the lines. This affair, which +served to further train me for the duties that lay before me, resulted +in a visit, during the winter before the war broke out, to Western +Texas, where a wealthy bachelor uncle had a well-stocked plantation, +between San Antonio and Austin. There I became associated with +the young sons of the best Texas families, and acquired the ability<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>—I +had nearly written agility—to ride a bucking broncho and become +an expert shot with a Colt's revolver.</p> + +<p>My experience as a rather fresh young Pennsylvania boy among +the young Southern hot-bloods would make too long a chapter here, +but suffice it to say that a youthful tendency to give my opinion on +political questions, without regard to probable consequences, kept +me in constant hot water after President Lincoln's election.</p> + +<p>Among the young men with whom I associated, through my uncle's +standing and influence, was a grandson of the famous Colonel +Davy Crockett, with whom I became involved in a difficulty, and, +greatly to the astonishment of the "boys," I promptly accepted his +challenge to a pistol fight. Some of our older and more sensible +friends quickly put an end to the affair. When my uncle (who was +absent at Austin at the time) returned, he furnished me with a +pocketful of gold double-eagles and shipped me off by stage to Galveston, +whence I crossed the Gulf to New Orleans and came up the +Mississippi to my home.</p> + +<p>Immediately preceding the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, following +closely upon my return from Texas, I came on to Washington +City. The purpose of this visit being solely a desire to gratify an +aroused curiosity, by witnessing the sights and incidents consequent +upon the impending change of the administration, about which +there was much interest and excitement. As I had plenty of time, +but not much money, to spend, I looked about for a cheap hotel, +and was directed to the St. Charles, which was then, as now, located +on the corner of Third and Pennsylvania avenues. Here I became +domiciled, for the time being, and it so happened that I was seated +at the same table in the hotel with Senator Andy Johnson, of Tennessee, +who was living there, and perhaps through this accidental +circumstance it came about that I was so soon to be engaged in the +government's service.</p> + +<p>Mr. Johnson, it will be remembered, had obtained some distinction +by his vigorous defense of the Union, in the Senate, at a time +when nearly all the rest of the Southern Senators were either openly +or secretly plotting treason. In my youthful enthusiasm for the +cause of the Union, which had become strengthened by the Southern +associations of the preceding months, I naturally gave to Mr. +Johnson my earliest admiration and sympathy. One day, while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +walking up Pennsylvania avenue, I was surprised to see standing +in front of Brown's, now the Metropolitan Hotel, a certain gentleman, +earnestly engaged in conversation with Senator Wigfall, whom +I had known in Texas as one of the prominent State officials under +the then existing administration of Governor Sam. Houston. This +gentleman, whose name I withhold, because he is living to-day and +is well-known throughout Texas, was also at that time a business +associate and a personal friend of the Texas uncle before referred to.</p> + +<p>I was pleasantly recognized, and at once introduced to Senator +Wigfall as the "nephew of my uncle." Mr. Wigfall's dogmatic manner +impressed me unfavorably, being so unlike that of Mr. Johnson.</p> + +<p>I spent a great many evenings at Brown's Hotel, in the rooms +of my Texas friend, where were congregated every night, and late +into the mornings, too, nearly all of the Texas people who were at +that time in the city. In this way, without seeking their confidence, +I became a silent and attentive listener to the many schemes and +plans that were brewing for the overthrow of the government.</p> + +<p>Among the frequent visitors were Wigfall and Hon. John C. +Breckinridge, of Kentucky, both of whom are now dead; but there +are yet among the living certain distinguished Congressmen, at +present in Washington, who were of that treasonable gang, who +will not, I apprehend, deny the truth of the facts I here state.</p> + +<p>This gentleman's mission in Washington, as I learned incidentally +during his interviews with Senator Wigfall and others, was to +secure the passage through Congress of some appropriation bill of +a special character, for the benefit of Texas, which, if I rightly +remember, referred to lands or school funds, the object being to +secure the benefit of the act before that State should pass the +secession ordinance. It was understood and admitted during these +talks of the plotting traitors that Texas should, as a matter of course, +secede, but they must first take with them all they could obtain +from the general government, the delay in passing the ordinance being +caused only by the desire to first secure this money, which this agent +had been sent here to press through Wigfall and others in Congress, +and upon the advices of their success being reported to Texas, the +act of secession would promptly follow this twin robbery and conspiracy.</p> + +<p>I happened to be present, in the crowded gallery of the Senate,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +when Senator Wigfall, of Texas, during a speech in reply to Johnson, +in an indirect and insinuating way, while glancing significantly +toward Senator Johnson, quoted the celebrated words of +Marmion: "Lord Angus, thou has lied." This incident being discussed +at our table one day, at which Senator Johnson occupied the +post of honor, I took a favorable opportunity to intimate to him +that I was in possession of facts that would show Mr. Wigfall to be +not only a traitor, but that he was then scheming to first rob the +government he had sworn to protect, and afterward intended to +destroy, and in my boyish way suggested that the Senator should +hurl the epithets back at him.</p> + +<p>I did not for a moment consider that I was betraying any confidence +in thus telling of the traitorous schemes to which I had been +an unwilling listener.</p> + +<p>Mr. Johnson seemed to be impressed with my statements, and for +a while lost interest in his dinner. In his free and kindly way he was +easily able to "draw me out" to his entire satisfaction, and secured +from me the story with the necessary "authorities and references." As +he rose from the table he walked around to my seat, shaking my hand +cordially, while he invited me to his room for a further conference.</p> + +<p>After that day, while I remained in Washington City, during the +time preceding the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, and for some weeks +following, I became a welcome visitor at the Senator's room, oscillating +between the headquarters of the rebel conspirators at Brown's and the +private rooms of the leader of the Union cause, and thus was begun +my first secret-service work.</p> + +<p>I had brought with me to Washington some letters from Mr. +Scott and other railroad friends, and also enjoyed through this connection +a personal acquaintance with "Old Glory to God," as the +Hon. John Covode was called during the war. This name originated +from a telegram which Mr. Covode wrote to a friend, in which +he intended to convey the intelligence of a great Union victory; +but in the excitement of his big, honest, loyal heart over a Union +success, which in the early days was a rarity, he neglected to mention +the important fact of the victory, and the telegram as received +in Philadelphia simply read:</p> + +<p> +"<span class="smcap">To John W. Forney</span>:<br /> + * * * * "Glory to God. +"<span class="smcap">John Covode.</span>"<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<p>He spelled God with a little g, Philadelphia with an F, but he +got there just the same.</p> + +<p>My days in the Capitol at that time were usually spent in the +gallery of the Senate, where were to be seen and heard the great +leaders on both sides. Some of the Southern Senators were making +their farewell speeches, the words of which I, in my youthful innocence, +tried vainly to reconcile with their action, as well as with +the proceedings of a peace Congress, which was being held at Willard's +old hall on F street.</p> + +<p>The evenings of these days I devoted to the observation of the +operations of the Southern conspirators at the hotel, and watched +with concern the preparations for the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, +who had secretly arrived in the city.</p> + +<p>In the course of my amateur work among the Southern leaders, +it so happened that Mr. Covode and Senator Johnson had been brought +together, and they became mutually interested in my services.</p> + +<p>One day Mr. Covode said to me: "See here, young feller, you +might do some good for the government in this way. I've talked +with Johnson about you, and he says he'll help to get you fixed up +by the War Department."</p> + +<p>When I expressed a willingness to do anything, the old man +said, in his blunt, outspoken way:</p> + +<p>"Hold on now till I tell you about this thing first." Then proceeding +to explain in his homely, honest words:</p> + +<p>"There is a lot of money appropriated for secret service, and if +you get onto that your pay will be mighty good; but," he added, +"it's damned dangerous; for as sure as them fellers ketch you once +they will hang you, that's sure as your born."</p> + +<p>When I observed that I wasn't born to be hanged, he said further, +as he fumbled over some papers in his hand:</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that either, because Scott writes me a letter +here that says, 'you are smart enough, but you have,'" reading +from the letter to refresh his memory, "'unbounded but not well +directed energy'." Which I didn't know whether to consider complimentary +or otherwise.</p> + +<p>It was arranged that we should visit the Secretary of War together, +to consult in regard to this future service. We called on +General Cameron, the Secretary, one morning, to whom I was intro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>duced +by Mr. Covode, who explained to the Secretary in a few words, +in an undertone, what he deemed to be my qualifications and +advantages for employment in the secret service.</p> + +<p>There were no civil-service rules in force at that time. The Secretary's +office was crowded with persons waiting an opportunity to +present to him their claims. After looking around the room, the +Secretary suggested that, as this was a matter he would like to +talk over when he was not so busy, we had better call again.</p> + +<p>In a few days afterward I went alone to the old War Department +Building, where I stood about for an hour or two, watching the crowd +of office-seekers, anxious to serve their country under the new administration, +but without getting an opportunity to get anywhere +near the Secretary's door.</p> + +<p>This same operation became with me a daily duty for quite a +while. One morning I went earlier than usual, and met the Secretary +as he passed along the corridor to his office, and bluntly accosted +him, handing him some letters. I followed him into the room, and +stood by the altar, or desk, with a couple of other penitents who +were on the anxious bench, while he put on his spectacles and +began to read the papers I had handed him. Turning to me, he said: +"Now I'm too busy to attend to this matter. I intend to do something +in this direction, but I've not had a chance to look it up; suppose you +come—" Here I interrupted him and said: "I'd like to go down to +Montgomery and see what's going on there." This seemed to open +a way out of a difficulty for the Secretary, and he at once said:</p> + +<p>"That's all right; you just do that, and let's see what you can +do, and I'll fix your matter up with Covode." Then turning to his +desk he wrote something on the back of one of my papers in a handwriting +which, to say the least, was mighty peculiar; something +which I have never been able to decipher; it was, however, an +endorsement from the Secretary of War.</p> + +<p>When I showed the Secretary's penmanship to Mr. Scott, suggesting +to him that I thought it was a request for him to furnish me +with passes to Montgomery, Alabama, and return, Scott appreciated +the joke, and promptly furnished me the necessary documents, saying, +laughingly: "You needn't be afraid to carry that paper along +with you anywhere; there isn't anybody that will be able to call it +an incendiary document."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>I transferred myself at once to the field of my observations from +the United States Capital at Washington to that of the Confederate +States of America, then forming at Montgomery, Alabama, traveling +via Louisville, stopping a day to see the wonders of the Mammoth +Cave; thence, via Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Augusta, +Georgia, arriving late one night in Montgomery.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>ON DUTY AS A SPY AT THE REBEL CAPITAL, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA—LIVING +IN SAME HOTEL WITH JEFF DAVIS AND HIS CABINET—CONSPIRATORS +FROM WASHINGTON INTERVIEWED—BOUNTY +OFFERED BY CONFEDERATES BEFORE A GUN WAS FIRED—FORT +SUMTER AND FORT PICKENS.</h3> + + +<p>I was quartered at the Exchange Hotel, which was the headquarters +and home of the leading men of the new government then +gathering from all parts of the South. Here I spent some days in +pretty close companionship with these gentlemen, taking notes in a +general way, and endeavoring to learn all I could in regard to their +plans.</p> + +<p>I had learned, while skirmishing about Washington, to know at +sight nearly all of the prominent people who were active in this +movement, and perhaps the fact that I had been somewhat accustomed +to being in their society, and being quite youthful gave me an +assurance that enabled me to go about among them in a free and +open way, without exciting any suspicion.</p> + +<p>There were among the guests, a recent arrival from Washington +City, a gentleman of some apparent prominence, as I judged from +the amount of attention he was receiving.</p> + +<p>I made it a point to look closely after him, and soon gathered +the information that he had been a trusted employé of the Government, +and at the same time had been secretly furnishing the rebel +leaders, for some months, with information of the government's +plans. He was at this time the bearer of important papers to the +rebel government. This gentleman's name, which has escaped my +memory in these twenty-five years, was placed upon record in the +War Department at the time.</p> + +<p>Jeff Davis, who had been chosen President, and had but recently +come from his Mississippi home to Montgomery, attended by a committee +of distinguished Southerners, who had been deputed to notify +him of his election, lived at the same hotel, where I saw him frequently +every day.</p> + +<p>There were also to be seen in the hotel office, in the corridors, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +the barbers' shops, and even in the bar-room, groups of animated, +earnest, intensely earnest men, discussing the great "impending +conflict."</p> + +<p>I walked about the streets of the Confederate Capital with perfect +freedom, visiting any place of interest that I could find. +Throughout the city there was not much in the way of enthusiasm; +indeed, the fact that was particularly noticeable then was the +apparent difference in this respect between the people at the hotel +and the citizens.</p> + +<p>Of course there were meetings and speeches, with the usual +brass-band accompaniment every evening, while, during the day, +an occasional parade up and down the principal streets of the town, +headed by the martial fife and drum, which were always played with +delight and a great deal of energy by the colored boys.</p> + +<p>There was an absence of enthusiasm and excitement among the +common people, which was a disappointment to those who had +expected so much.</p> + +<p>The existence of an historical fact, which I have never seen +printed, is, that before a gun had been fired by either party, there +were posted on the walls of the Confederate Capital large handbills +offering a "bounty" to recruits to their army.</p> + +<p>In my walks about town my attention was attracted by a bill, +posted on a fence, bearing in large letters the heading,</p> + +<p class="center"> +BOUNTY.<br /> +</p> + +<p>The word was at that time something entirely new to me, and as +I was out in search of information, I walked up closer to learn its +meaning, and was surprised at the information, as well as the advice +the advertisement contained, which was to the effect that certain +moneys would be paid all those who would enlist in a certain Alabama +regiment.</p> + +<p>Lest there should be a disposition to challenge the correctness of +this somewhat remarkable statement, I will mention now that this +fact was reported to the War Department, and a copy of this bounty +advertisement was also embodied in a letter that was intended to be +a description of the scenes at Montgomery, in April, 1861, during +the firing on Sumter, which I wrote at the time and mailed secretly +in the Montgomery Postoffice, addressed to Robert McKnight, then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +the editor of the Pittsburgh <i>Chronicle</i>, to which I, with an apprehension +of a possible Rebel censorship, neglected to attach my name. +Mr. McKnight, the next time I saw him, laughingly asked me if I +hadn't sent him such a letter, saying he had printed it, with comments, +at the time, which, as nearly as I can remember, was between +April 18th and 20th, 1861.</p> + +<p>This was probably among the first letters published from a "war +correspondent," written from the actual seat of war.</p> + +<p>Mr. Davis occupied a suite of rooms at the Exchange, on the left of +the first corridor, and there were always congregated about his door +groups of men, while others were constantly going and coming from +his rooms.</p> + +<p>I was a constant attendant about this door, and witnessed the +many warm greetings of welcome that were so cordially extended +to each new arrival as they reported to headquarters.</p> + +<p>It seemed odd to hear those people talk about the "President," +but of course I had to meekly listen to their immense conceit about +their "government," as well as their expressions of contempt and +hatred for that to which but a short time before, when they had +the control, they were so devotedly attached.</p> + +<p>In the same room with myself was a young fellow who had been +at the school at West Point, from which he had resigned to enter the +rebel service. He kept constantly talking to me about "My State," +and the "plebians" of the North, but, as he was able to furnish me +with some points, we became quite congenial friends and talked +together, after going to bed, sometimes until long after midnight. +I was, of course, when necessity or policy demanded it, one of the +original secessionists.</p> + +<p>The attention of everybody both North and South was being +directed to Fort Sumter, and a good deal of the war-talk we +heard about the Rebel headquarters was in regard to that.</p> + +<p>This young fellow and I planned to go together to Charleston +to see the ball open there, and, with this object in view, he set about +to learn something of the plans of the "President," which kindness +I duly appreciated.</p> + +<p>One day, while lounging about the hotel corridors, I learned +from a conversation between a group of highly exuberant Southern +gentlemen, which was being hilariously carried on, that President<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +Davis and his advisers had that day issued the necessary orders, or +authority to General Beauregard, to commence firing on the Union +flag at Fort Sumter the following day.</p> + +<p>These gentlemen, none of whose names I remember, excepting +Wm. L. Yancey, were so intent upon their success in thus "precipitating" +the rebellion, that they took no notice of the innocent boy +who was apparently so intent at that moment upon some interesting +item in the paper, but I quietly gathered in all they had to say to +each other, and at the first opportunity set about planning to make +use of this information; but here I experienced, at the beginning of +my career as a spy, the same unfortunate conditions that had so +often baffled me and interfered with my success in the months and +years following.</p> + +<p>Though reckless and almost foolish in my boyish adventures, I +was sufficiently cautious and discreet to know that a telegram conveying +this news would not be permitted to go over the wires from +Montgomery to Washington, and to have filed such a message +would have subjected me to serious embarrassments.</p> + +<p>There being no cipher facilities arranged so early in the war, I +was left entirely without resource, though I did entertain a project +of going to a neighboring town and from there arrange to manipulate +the key myself, and in this manner try to give the information, but +I was forced to abandon this scheme on learning, which I did by +hanging about the dingy little Montgomery telegraph office, that all +their communications were relayed or repeated once or twice +either at Augusta or Chattanooga and Charleston before reaching +the North.</p> + +<p>I did the next best thing, however, hastily writing a letter to +Washington, which I stealthily dropped into the postoffice, hurrying +away lest the clerk should discover who had dropped a letter +addressed to a foreign government without payment of additional +postage.</p> + +<p>Of those yet living who were witnesses of the "Great uprising +of the North," after the fall of Fort Sumter, none are likely ever +to forget the scenes which followed so quickly upon this first attempt +of the Southern fire-eaters to "precipitate the Cotton States into +the rebellion."</p> + +<p>Solitary and alone I held my little indignation meeting in Mont<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>gomery, +the capital of the rebel government, where I was at the +time, if not a stranger in a strange land, at least an enemy in a +foreign country. When the news of Fort Sumter's fall reached +Montgomery it was bulletined "that every vestige of the hateful +enemy has been gloriously driven from the soil of the pioneer Palmetto +State," and I recall, with distinctness, that the universal comment +then was: "We will next clean them out in the same way +from Florida," etc.</p> + +<p>I felt that, in having failed to get this information to Washington +in advance, I had neglected a great opportunity to do the government +an important service, but in this I was mistaken, as events +subsequently proved that the authorities at Washington were powerless +to prevent the bombardment that was anticipated.</p> + +<p>There was no person among that people to whom I dare talk, +for fear of betraying myself by giving vent to my feelings, so I +walked wildly up and down the one main street of Montgomery in +a manner that at any other time would have been considered eccentric, +but, as everybody was wild that day, my actions were not +noticed. Feeling that I must blow off steam some way or I should +bust, I continued my walk out on the railroad track beyond the outskirts +of the town, in the direction of Charleston. During my walk +I met an old "Uncle," whom, from the color of his skin, I knew to +be a true friend of the government, and into the wide-awake ears +of this old man I poured a wild, incendiary harangue about what +would surely happen to this people. This was not a very sensible +thing to do, either, at that time, but I just had to say something to +somebody, and this was my only chance. After having thus exhausted +my high pressure on the poor old man, who must have thought me +crazy, I discovered that my legs were "exhausted," too, and turned +my face wearily back toward the city.</p> + +<p>That night there were serenades and speeches, with the regular +brass-band accompaniment impromptu processions up and down +the main street, headed by the fife-and-drum music of the colored +"boys," as all the "likely" colored men were called down South at +that time, even if they were forty years old.</p> + +<p>I had seen Jeff Davis once during the day, while in his room +surrounded by a crowd of enthusiastic friends, and, though I did +not have occasion to speak to "the President," I was close enough<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +to him on the day he gave the command to fire Sumter, to have +killed him on the spot, and I was about wild and crazy enough at +the time to have made the attempt without once considering the +consequences to myself, if there had occurred at the instant any +immediate provocation.</p> + +<p>Mr. Davis' manner and appearance always impressed me with +a feeling of kindness and even admiration. In the years following +it became my fate to have been near his person in disguise, frequently +while in Richmond, and I could at any time then have +ended his career by sacrificing my own life, if the exigencies of the +government had in my imagination required it.</p> + +<p>I took note of the fact that a great deal was being said about +what they would do next, at Fort Pickens, in Pensacola Harbor. +To this point I directed my attention, determined that another +such an affair as this at Charleston should not escape me.</p> + +<p>One night, shortly after I had reached Montgomery, when my +West Point companion and I had retired for the night, but were +yet talking over the great future of the South, as we did every +night, he almost paralyzed me by saying, "Well, stranger, you talk +all right, of course, but do you know that you remind me mightily +of the fellows at the Point, who are all the time meddling about the +affairs of our Southern States." Fortunately for me, perhaps, the +room was dark at the time, which enabled me the better to hide the +embarrassment that daylight must have shown in my face and +manner. After recovering my breath a little, I put on an indignant +air and demanded a repetition of the remark. This served to +allay any suspicions that he may have been entertaining, for the +young fellow, in his gentlemanly and courteous manner, was at once +profuse in his explanations, which gave me the time to collect my +thoughts. I told him that I was the nephew of an English gentleman, +who lived away off in Western Texas, who owned any quantity +of cattle and niggers; I was then on my way, from school at the +North, to my Texas home, tarrying at Montgomery, <i>en route</i>, to +meet some friends. This was more than satisfactory to the young +man, who seemed to take especial pleasure after this in introducing +me to any friends that we would come across while together so constantly +in Montgomery.</p> + +<p>This mother tongue "provincialism" was one of the greatest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +difficulties that I encountered in these Southern excursions, though +at the time of which I am now writing strangers were not scrutinized +so closely as became the rule soon after, when martial law was +everywhere in operation, and provost-marshals were exceedingly +numerous. I had endeavored to bridle my tongue as far as possible. +My plan to quiet this apprehension was to play the "refugee" from +Maryland, "my Maryland," or else, if the circumstances and surroundings +were better adapted to it, I was an English sympathizer +who had but recently arrived in the country. The Maryland racket +was, however, the most popular, and it was also the easiest worked, +because I had another uncle living in Baltimore, whom I had frequently +visited, and, as has been stated, I was born almost on the +Maryland line of English stock.</p> + +<p>While in Montgomery it did not seem necessary to hang about +the telegraph offices to obtain information. I availed myself however +of this "facility" to learn something more definite about the +programme they had laid out for Fort Pickens, in Pensacola Harbor, +to which, after the fall of Fort Sumter, the attention of both +the North and the South was being directed.</p> + +<p>The "Government at Washington" which was at this time cut off +from any communication with its officers at Pickens except by sea, +had, after the manner of Major Anderson at Sumter, secretly +withdrawn their little handful of troops, who were under the command +of Lieutenant Slemmer, a native of Pennsylvania, step by step, as +they were pressed by the arrival each day of detachments of quite fresh +militia from the sovereign State of Florida, to Fort Barrancas first, +then to Fort McRae, on the mainland, and from thence to Pickens, +which is located on the extreme point of Santa Rosa Island, on the +opposite side of the bay or harbor from Forts McRae and Barrancas.</p> + +<p>I was able to learn from the general character of its extensive +telegraph correspondence, which was being carried on over the wires, +that President Lincoln had in some way expressed, in the hearing +of the secret agents of the rebel government (who were in Washington +and in constant communication with the conspirators at +Montgomery) an earnest desire to reinforce Fort Pickens, with a view +to holding possession of that one point in the "Cotton State" that +had seceded from the Union; and the Navy Department at Washington, +especially desiring to control the harbor and navy yards located<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +there, had, if I remember aright, already dispatched by water a small +fleet to their aid, but which would require a week or ten days to reach +Pensacola, they having to go around by the ocean to Key West and +up the Gulf of Mexico, doubling the entire Peninsula of Florida.</p> + +<p>As I had left Washington some time before, and had not had any +communication with the North while in <a name="montg" id="montg"></a><ins title="Original has Mongomery">Montgomery</ins>, all this +information was derived entirely through Rebel sources, and more +particularly by the noisy tongue of a telegraph sounder, which +talked loud enough for me to hear whenever I chose to get within +sound of its brazen voice.</p> + +<p>I was exceedingly anxious to get back North, that I might take +some active part in the coming struggle, but fate decreed otherwise; +and, instead of getting out of this tight place, it was my destiny to +have been led still deeper into the mire. I was within a day's +travel of the beleaguered little garrison at Fort Pickens, with a positive +knowledge that the government was coming to their assistance, +and also the information that at the same time the Rebel government +had some designs upon them, the exact nature of which I +could not ascertain.</p> + +<p>In this emergency, while I do not believe that I felt it a duty, I +am sure that I did think it would be a good thing for the fellows +at Pickens to be informed of the intentions of <i>both</i> the governments +toward them, and as I could not then communicate with +Secretary Cameron, at Washington, I concluded to take the matter +in my own hands, and find out, if possible, just what was proposed, +and endeavor to communicate with Secretary Cameron.</p> + +<p>By giving close attention to the guests at the hotel, who were +mostly officials of the newly made government, I ascertained by +mere accident that a certain gentleman was at that moment getting +ready to leave the hotel for the boat, on his way to Pensacola as a +bearer of dispatches or as a commissioner—there were lots of commissioners +in those early days—to settle the status of affairs at that +point. This circumstance decided my actions at once, and as I had +seen enough of Montgomery, and was besides becoming a little uneasy +about my status there, I concluded to accompany this commissioner +and, if possible, anticipate him in bearing my own dispatch to Lieutenant +Slemmer, so I shadowed the ambassador closely and walked +up the gang plank at the same time he did; as I remember very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +well the plank was very springy and the ambassador of Jeff Davis +and the secret agent of the Secretary of War kept step, and marked +time on the gang plank, both bound for the same destination but +on widely different errands.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>PENSACOLA, FLORIDA—IN REBEL LINES—FORT PICKENS—ADMIRAL +PORTER AND THE NAVY.</h3> + + +<p>The sail down the Alabama river from Montgomery to Mobile +was most agreeable.</p> + +<p>I do not now recollect any incident of the trip worthy of mention. +I did not, of course, obtrude myself upon our ambassador's +dignity, knowing that as long as the boat kept going he was not +liable to escape from me.</p> + +<p>There were some ladies aboard, and to these the gallant captain of +the boat introduced his distinguished passenger, and among them they +made up a card party, which occupied their attention long after I +had gone to my room to sleep and dream of my home and "the +girls I left behind me."</p> + +<p>I became quite homesick that night, and would very much +rather have been aboard a steamboat on the Mississippi river headed +up stream than penned up in this queer-looking craft, loaded with +rebels, which was carrying me, I imagined as I half slept, down to +perdition.</p> + +<p>There was a steam music machine on the boat somewhere, called +a calliope, which made the night and day both hideous.</p> + +<p>They played "Home, Sweet Home," among other selections, but +even to my feelings, at that time, the musical expression was not +exactly such as would bring tears to one's eyes.</p> + +<p>The machine, however, served to rouse the lazy colored people +all along the high banks of the river, who flocked to the shores like +a lot of crows.</p> + +<p>We reached Mobile in due time, and my dignitary and his "confidential +companion," as I might be permitted to term myself, may +be found properly registered in the books of the Battle House at +Mobile, some time in the latter part of April, 1861.</p> + +<p>I will mention how, also, that an account of this trip and its +object was written on the blank letter-heads of this hotel, addressed +in a careless handwriting to Mr. J. Covode, Washington, D. C., +unsigned by myself, and secretly dropped into the postoffice at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +Mobile. I imagined that Mobile being a large city and having +several routes of communication with the North, my letter might, +by some possibility, get through, and, strange to relate, <i>it did</i>, and +was subsequently quoted by Mr. Covode in the Committee on the +Conduct of War.</p> + +<p>I lost sight of my "traveling companion" while in Mobile. You +know it would not have been either polite or discreet to have +pressed my company too closely on an official character like this, so +it happened that he left the hotel without consulting me, and I +supposing, of course, that he had left for Pensacola, made my +arrangements to follow. To reach Pensacola there was a big river +or bay to cross from Mobile. When I got aboard the little boat, the +first thing I did, of course, was to look quietly about for "my +man." He was not aboard, as I found after the boat had gotten out +into the stream, when it was too late to turn back.</p> + +<p>An old stage coach or hack was at that time the only conveyance +to Pensacola, except by water. The thing was piled full of humanity +inside and out—young and old men, who were fair representations +of the different types of the Southern character, all of whom were +bent on visiting the next battle-scene—then a point of great interest +in the South since the curtain had been rung down at Sumter.</p> + +<p>They were all "feeling mighty good," too, as they say down +there; every blessed fellow seemed to be provided with an individual +flask, and during the dreadfully tiresome drag of the old coach +across the sandy and sometimes swampy roads of that part of Florida +and Alabama our party became quite hilarious.</p> + +<p>Among them was a prominent official of one of the rebel military +companies, then located about Pensacola, who was quite disgusted +at the tardiness of their "Government" in not moving at +once on Fort Pickens. He and a fat old gentleman, who was more +conservative, and defended the authorities, discussed the military +situation at length during the trip; and as both had been over the +ground at Pensacola, and were somewhat familiar with the situation, +they unintentionally gave me in advance some interesting points to +look up when we should reach there. Among other things, they +talked about a "masked battery" of ten-inch Columbiads. Now, I +didn't know at that time what a "masked battery" could be, and +had no idea that ten-inch Columbiads meant big cannon that would +throw a ball that measured ten inches in diameter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>I had formed a plan of procedure in advance, which was to pretend, +as at Montgomery, to be the nephew of an Englishman, on +my way from school in the North to my Texas home, and was just +stopping over at Pensacola to gratify my desire to see the "Yankees +cleaned out" there. I had been carefully advised early in this +undertaking not to attempt to gather information by asking questions, +but, as a rule, to let others do the talking, and to listen and +confirm by observation, if possible. This was good advice, volunteered +by a discreet old man, who had bid me good-by at Washington +some weeks back; and that beautiful spring evening, as I was +being driven right into the camps of the rebel army, accompanied +by men who were the first real soldiers I had seen, I recalled with a +distinctness almost painful the words of caution and advice which +at that time I had scarcely heeded.</p> + +<p>When the old hack reached Pensacola all were somewhat toned +down, and after a hearty supper and a hasty look around the outside +of the dirty little tavern at which we stopped, I went to bed, +to sleep, perhaps to dream of home and friends two thousand miles +away. The distance seemed to be increased ten-fold by the knowledge +that the entire territory between me and home was encompassed +by a howling mob that would be only too glad to tear me to +pieces, as a stray dog among a pack of bloodhounds, while the other +path was the boundless ocean.</p> + +<p>The soldiers who in the early days were not so well disciplined +as in after years, took possession of the hotel, at least all the down stairs +part of it, where there was liquor and eatables, and kept up +such a terrific row that sleep was almost impossible. Early next +morning I was out of my cot, and before breakfast I took a walk +around the place.</p> + +<p>The town of Pensacola is situated on the low, sandy mainland, on +the bay, and lies some distance from the navy yard, or that portion +of Pensacola which is occupied by the government for the +Forts Barrancas and McRae. This government reservation is +quite extensive, including the beautiful bay, navy yard and grounds, +with officers' quarters, and shell roads on the beach for some distance +beyond the yard; on the further extremity were built Forts +Barrancas and McRae, which were at this time in possession of the +rebel soldiers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lieutenant Slemmer a short time previously moved his little force +of regulars across the bay to Fort Pickens, which was on a spit or +spur of Santa Rosa Island, almost immediately opposite, but I think +about four miles distant.</p> + +<p>This sombre old Fort Pickens is built upon about as desolate +and isolated a spot as will be found anywhere on the coast from +Maine to Texas, but viewed as it was by me that morning, from +the camps of the rebels, standing behind their great masked batteries, +in which were the immense ten-inch Columbiads, I felt from +the bottom of my soul that I never saw anything so beautiful as +the old walls of the fort, on which the Stars and Stripes were +defiantly floating in the breeze, right in the face of their big guns, +and in spite of all the big blustering talk I had listened to for so +many days.</p> + +<p>How glad I was to see that flag there. I felt as if I could just +jump and yell with delight and then fly right over the bay, to get +under its folds once more. I had not seen the flag since leaving +Washington, and had heard of its surrender at Sumter in the +hateful words of the Rebels. I am not able to describe the feelings +which came over me at this time, and after a lapse of twenty-five +years, while I am writing about it, the same feelings come over me. +Only those who have witnessed the picture of the Stars and Stripes +floating over a fortress, viewed from the standpoint of an enemy's +camp, can properly appreciate its beauty. All my homesickness and +forebodings of evil vanished at the sight, and with redoubled +energy I determined to discover and thwart any schemes that +might be brewing in the Rebel camp to bring down that beautiful +emblem. I became apprehensive lest I might be too late, and fearful +that these immense Columbiads, if once they belched forth their +ten-inch shells, would soon batter down the walls, and I determined +that the presence of this masked battery must be made known to the +Commandant at the Fort. It was upon this battery that the Rebels +depended for success, as they had said it was erected secretly, and the +big guns were mounted at night. Fort Pickens had not been built +to resist an attack from the rear, as none such had ever been contemplated; +and the Rebel officers knowing the weakness of this inside +of the Fort, had erected their masked battery of great guns to play +upon that particular point. They were all positive, too, that Lieu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>tenant +Slemmer and his men were in total ignorance of the existence +of this battery, which was correct, as subsequently demonstrated.</p> + +<p>I became so much interested in the exciting and strange surroundings, +in the very midst of which I found myself one morning at +Pensacola, that I had almost forgotten about our commissioner, who +must have left Mobile by way of the gulf in one of the old boats +that plied between the two cities. Anyway, I had no further use for +him now, as everything was right before my eyes, and I saw at once +that they meant war.</p> + +<p>It was understood, in a general way of course, that all these great +preparations opposite Fort Pickens was for the purpose of driving +off the "invaders" and capturing the old fort. That afternoon, +after having tramped about over the sandy beach until I was thoroughly +fatigued, I sat down in the rear of some earthworks that +were being constructed under the directions of some of their officers. +After waiting for a favorable opportunity, I ventured to ask one of +them if there wasn't enough big cannon already mounted to bombard +that fort over there, pointing toward Pickens. To which +he replied curtly, "If you are around here when we begin the job +you will find out all about that." I did not press the inquiry further +just then, but I kept my eyes and ears open, and made good use of +my legs as well, and tramped about through that miserable, sandy, +dirty camp till I became too tired to go further.</p> + +<p>The navy yard proper, which included the well-kept grounds +around the officers' quarters, about which were growing in beautiful +luxuriance the same tropical plants of that section, was between, or +in rear of, the rebel batteries and the town of Pensacola.</p> + +<p>In my walks about the camps I strutted boldly through the open +gates, before which stood an armed sentry, and walked leisurely +about the beautiful grounds. I took occasion to try to talk to an old +invalid sailor who had been left at the hospital at that point by some +man-of-war. The conversation was not exactly of such a character +as would invite one to prolong a visit in the place, as all I could get +out from him was "Just mind what I tell ye, now, youngster, will +you? The Yaller Jack is bound to clean out this whole damn place +before very long; you better go home, and stay there, too." After this +pleasant conversation he hobbled off, without waiting for any further +remarks from me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was a telegraph office at Pensacola, which I visited. I +learned of a dispatch making some inquiry of the officials about the +probability of "reducing" the fort. I didn't exactly understand +then what was meant by "reducing" a fort, and imagined for a +while that it referred in some way to cutting down its proportions. +On inquiry, however, I gathered its true import, and learned also, +by way of illustrations from the lips of a Rebel officer, that "now +that Columbiad battery, which is masked, and has been built at +night without the knowledge of the enemy, is the machine that is +going to do the 'reducing,' or, if you like it better, demolishing of the +fort, because," said he, as he became enthusiastic, "that battery +is so planted that it is out of range of any guns there are at the fort, +and it will work on the rear or weak side of the old fort, too."</p> + +<p>This conversation was held at the "tavern" during the evening, +after this blatant officer had refreshed himself after the day's work. +I ascertained that he had been an officer in the United States Army, +and was of course familiar with the exact condition of the affairs at +the Fort.</p> + +<p>Each day, as soon as I had had breakfast, I would start out on my +long walks down past the navy yard, through and beyond the +rebel earthworks. There was not a single cannon pointed toward +the fort or the ships, which were lying out beyond, that I did not +personally inspect.</p> + +<p>I made a careful mental inventory of everything, and had the +names of the regiments, and each officer commanding them, carefully +stowed away in my memory, with the expectation, in some way +not yet quite clear, of sending the full details across that bay to the +United States commander at Pickens. That I was not suspected +at all, is probably due to the fact that at this same time visitors +were of daily occurrence—ladies and gentlemen came like excursion +parties from Mobile and other convenient points, as everybody +expected there would be just such scenes as had been witnessed at +Charleston a few days previous.</p> + +<p>The earthworks, as will be understood, extended for quite a +long distance on the beach and were intended also to oppose the +entrance of hostile ships to the harbor, it being well understood +that the fort could only receive their heavy supplies at the regular +landing, or pier, which, as before stated, was on the inside of the bay<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +or the weak wall of the fort. Any light supplies, as well as men +and ammunition, must necessarily be landed through the surf, on the +outside of Santa Rosa Island.</p> + +<p>Fort McRae was an entirely round, turret-shaped old work, situated +at the extreme outer point. Next to it, and some distance +inside, was Fort Barrancas, while all along the beach—in suitable +locations—were "sand batteries" and the great masked battery.</p> + +<p>Here I saw for the first time piles of sand-bags laying one above +the other, in tiers, like they now handle car-loads of wheat in California—wicker +baskets filled with sand, which we used to see in the +school-book pictures of the war with Mexico.</p> + +<p>No persons were allowed to approach the masked battery, the +existence of which was ingeniously concealed from view by a dense +growth, or thicket, something like sage-bush, that had not been disturbed +by the excavations.</p> + +<p>Sentries were placed some distance from this, who warned all +visitors to pass some distance to the rear, from which a good view could +be had of the entire work. To better conceal this terrible battery, +squads of soldiers were employed, diligently engaged in mounting +guns on another little battery in full view of the officers at Pickens.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Slemmer told me, when I saw him a few days after +this, that he had kept an officer on the lookout continually, and +saw all this work, and though they suspected that larger guns would +be put into use, they had failed to discover any signs of them.</p> + +<p>I had formed an acquaintance with a young officer, I think of +an Alabama company, in whose company I had visited some points +that were not easily accessible to strangers. In this way, I got +inside of "bomb proofs" and magazines, and went through Fort +<a name="mcrae" id="mcrae"></a><ins title="Original has McRea">McRae</ins>, which was then being used as a guard-house or prison.</p> + +<p>With my newly-found friend, I went in bathing in the evenings, +and was introduced by him to others, who had the privilege of +using the boats, and we frequently took short sails about the bay, +but always back of the navy yard, or between that and the town. +Looking toward Pickens we could see at any and all times the solitary +sentinel on the ramparts, and occasionally some signs of life +about the "barn door" that faced toward us. The number of vessels +outside was being increased by new arrivals occasionally, when +some excitement would be created by the firing of salutes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + +<p>One of the queer things, and that which seemed to interest +the officers as well as every soldier in sight, was the display of +signal flags at the fort, which would be answered by the appearance +of a string of bright little flags from the men-of-war, +which were constantly dancing up and down on the swell, while +at anchor a couple of miles outside. Even the colored boys +and cooks would, at the appearance of this phenomena, neglect +their fires and spoil a dinner perhaps, to watch, with an interest +that became contagious, the operation of this signaling. +Many of them thought, no doubt, that this was an indication of +the commencement of hostilities, and anxiously hoped to hear a +gun next.</p> + +<p>There was some apprehension among the officers that one of the +men-of-war might run past the batteries at night and destroy the +navy yard and town.</p> + +<p>If there had been a signal officer on the ramparts of Fort +Pickens with a good glass, advised of my presence on the sandbank +(with my subsequent familiarity with army signaling), it +would have been not only possible, but entirely practicable, for me +to have signaled by the mere movement of my arms, or perhaps +fingers, the information that was so important that they should +have. These additional war facilities did not come into use for a +year after, when the necessity arose for it.</p> + +<p>There was loading with lumber at the pier at Pensacola a large +three-masted English sailing vessel to put to sea, some arrangement +having been made with the authorities on both sides to permit her +to go out. I had been figuring on a plan to get a letter over to the +Fort secretly. It did not at first occur to me that it would be +possible to cross myself with safety, and knowing that in passing +out, this ship would have to run in close by Fort Pickens, I set about +to mature a plan to make use of this opportunity, and with this +object in view I spent some time aboard the ship trying to make +the acquaintance of someone.</p> + +<p>But I found this to be too uncertain, and too slow besides. The +infernal Englishmen were openly hostile to the government. It +was my daily custom to sit on a sandbank right in the rear of my +Rebel officers' camp, and, while not otherwise occupied, I would +gaze by the hour toward that little band in the grim-looking old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +prison of a fort, and wish and plan and pray that I could in some +way have but one minute's talk with Lieutenant Slemmer.</p> + +<p>I felt that I must get word to him at any cost. I could not risk +swimming, on account of the numerous sharks in the water, which +were more to be feared than the harbor boats that patrolled up and +down between the two forces.</p> + +<p>There were at <a name="pensa" id="pensa"></a><ins title="Original has Pansacola">Pensacola</ins>, as at all such places, small boats for hire +to fishing and pleasure parties. I concluded that by hiring one of +these boats for a few days' fishing, with a colored boatman to accompany +me, while ostensibly spending the day in sight of the guard-boats +fishing—innocently fishing for suckers—to disarm any suspicion, +I might have an opportunity, when it became dark, to crowd +toward the opposite shore of Santa Rosa Island, some distance from +Fort Pickens; and once on the island I could, under cover of night, +steal down the shore to the Fort, and communicate with the officers, +and, still under cover of the darkness, return to the mainland and +make tracks through the swamps towards Mobile or New Orleans.</p> + +<p>In carrying out this plan, it was essential that I should find a +colored boatman to pilot and row me out on the bay, on whom I +might safely trust my return and escape from the place. By way +of reconnoitering, or practice, I hired such a boat for a couple of +hours' pleasure, taking a companion with me, and in this way I +looked over the ground—or, rather, water—and concluded that the +scheme was feasible, and determined to put it into execution as soon +as possible.</p> + +<p>In anticipation of this sudden departure, I made a final visit to +the camp of some of the friends, with whom I had become acquainted, +that night, to say good-by. In this way my Montgomery commissioner's +errand was accidentally brought to view. While talking +about leaving, one of the officers said, "You should wait a day or +two and see the fun;" and when I expressed a doubt as to the early +commencement of the ball, he continued, "Oh, but there is a bearer +of dispatches here from Montgomery, who says those Texas troops +have been ordered here, and as soon as they get here from New +Orleans the plan is for us all to go over on the island, away back, +and, after the Columbiads have battered down the walls, we're going +to walk right into the Fort."</p> + +<p>Here it was, then: the masked battery was to open the door and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +the troops were to approach from the island, and this must succeed, +as the officers in the Fort certainly had no expectation of this sort of +an attack from the rear, and could not resist it.</p> + +<p>The men must be prevented from landing on the island; I must +go over that night to post them, and I got there.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>CROSSING THE BAY TO FORT PICKENS, ETC.</h3> + + +<p>Strategy was another of the new military terms which I had +heard used a great deal by these Rebel officers during their conversations +among themselves and with their daily visitors and admirers. +The general subject of conversation was in reference to the plans to +"reduce" Fort Pickens, which persisted so defiantly in hoisting in +their faces at every sunrise the Stars and Stripes, and which was +only lowered at sunset with a salute from the guns of the Fort and +the ships, to be again floated as surely as the sun rose the next +morning and the guns boomed out on the morning air their good +morning salute.</p> + +<p>This daily flaunting of the flag had became quite as irritating to +these fellows as the red flag to a bull, every one of whom seemed to me +to be impatient to take some sort of steps individually to at once end +the war then and there and get home. In all their talks, to which I +was an attentive listener during the several days that I spent in +their camps, I do not now recall a single expression of doubt from +any of them as to their final success in capturing the fort. With +them it was only a question of time. The criticism or demonstration +which seemed to be most general among citizens as well as the +military was, that the tardiness or delay in ordering the assault, +upon the part of the Montgomery officials, was "outrageous." But +now that they had a knowledge of the recent arrival of the "Commissioner"—whose +title was changed on his arrival at the seat of +war to that of "General" and "Bearer of Dispatches"—all hands +seemed more happy and contented.</p> + +<p>It was well understood among the higher officers there that the +plan of the authorities was, secretly, or under cover of night, to make +a lodgement on the Island by the use of the shipping they had in +the harbor, and, once securely established there, the masked battery +would open upon the weak or unprotected side of the Fort, and open +a breach through which the Rebel troops would be able to rush in +and capture the little garrison, and "haul down the flag." I had +obtained full information of the enemy's plans.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>As I had so closely followed the course of events from Montgomery; +had personally visited every fort and battery; had become +familiar with the number and location of the troops, as well as with +the character and calibre of every gun that was pointed at the flag +on Pickens; and had, beside this—which was more important—secured +valuable information as to the proposed surprise of that +little garrison.</p> + +<p>My only desire was to get this information to our commander at +Fort Pickens, for their own and the country's good, coupled with a +strong inclination to defeat these bombastic rebels. I had no thought +of myself whatever, and did not, in my reckless enthusiasm, stop for +a moment to consider that, in attempting to run the gauntlet of the +harbor boats and the shore sentinels on both sides, I was risking my +life as a spy. While I do not remember to have been inspired with +any feelings of the "lofty patriotism," I am surely conscious of +the fact that my motives were certainly unselfish and disinterested. +That there was no mercenary motive, may be inferred from the +simple fact that I have not in these twenty-five years ever claimed +or received anything from the government in the way of pecuniary +reward for this trip.</p> + +<p>I began at once to make practical application of the strategy, +about which I had heard so much in the enemy's camp, and which +Mr. Lossing, the historian, says: "As an artifice or scheme for +deceiving the enemy in war, is regarded as honorable, and which is +seldom if ever applied without the aid of the scout or spy's service."</p> + +<p>A reference to a map of the northwestern part of Florida will, +at a glance, indicate the relative positions of the Rebel and Union +forces with far greater distinctness than I am able to describe, +though, after an absence of twenty-five years, every point is as +firmly impressed on my mind as if it were but a week since I saw it +all, and I venture the assertion that, if permitted to revisit the scenes +in Florida, I could locate with exactness the ground occupied by +every battery at that time.</p> + +<p>Of course it was out of the question to have attempted to cross +the bay to Fort Pickens anyway near the batteries, or in proximity +to the navy yard, because that portion of the water lying within +range of the guns was being very closely "outlooked" all the time, +both by the sentinels and officers with their glasses at each of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +Forts. They had nothing else to do, so put in the long hours scrutinizing +everything that made an appearance on the water. This part +of the bay was also constantly patrolled by a number of guard or +harbor boats, which were quite swift, well manned, and armed with +what I think they called swivel guns, placed in the bow of the boat—a +piece of artillery that may be best described as a cross between a +Chesapeake bay duck gun and a howitzer.</p> + +<p>I think, too, there were torpedoes placed in the channel, which +they did not want disturbed by anything smaller than a United +States man-of-war, if any such should venture to run past their batteries. +I was not apprehensive of becoming mixed up with any of +these myself, because my route would necessarily be some distance +away.</p> + +<p>The ships-of-war, which were anchored outside the harbor, had +been detected by the Rebel guard boats in their attempts to run their +small muffled gigs, as they called them, close to the shore batteries +on dark nights. On several occasions these nighthawks came so +close to each other in their patrols that the whispered voices of each +could be heard over the water. This naval outpost, or picket duty +on the water, was conducted pretty much the same as is the usage +on a dark night in the woods—both sides being too much scared to +move or speak lest the other should get the first shot, and mutually +rejoiced when the sound died away in the distance.</p> + +<p>The ships outside were being manœuvered or changed every day. +Sometimes quite a fleet would be in sight, and the next morning +half of them had disappeared. It was understood, of course, that, +in attacking the fort, the men-of-war would at once come to the +assistance of its garrison with their guns, but, if a battery could be +placed on the island, the ships could be driven out of range of supporting +distance, and, beside this, a storm would necessitate their all +getting out to sea, so their assistance would be quite conditional.</p> + +<p>This is why the government and naval officers especially desired +not only to retain Fort Pickens, but as well to silence the Rebel batteries +opposite, and to secure and retain that most excellent harbor +and navy yard on the gulf, so convenient for future operations +against Mobile and New Orleans.</p> + +<p>My only hope was to cross to the Island, some six or eight miles +above the Fort (Pickens) and nearly opposite the town of Pensa<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>cola, +whence, under cover of the night, I might crawl down the +shore on the opposite side to the Fort. This scheme necessitated a +good bit of boating, as it would be necessary to double the route so +as to get back before daylight. In looking about for a boat, and a +colored oarsman whom I could control or depend upon to get me +over and back, and then keep quiet until I could get away toward +New Orleans or Mobile, I selected a black young fellow of about +my own age, and in whose good-natured countenance I thought I +could discover a willingness to do anything he was told. From this +chap I engaged a boat for a day's fishing, it being well understood +at the time that no boats of any kind were permitted to be out after +dark. I had, however, taken particular pains to let it be known at +the boat-house, where the boats were usually kept, that myself and +a friend, who was well known there as a rebel above suspicion, were +going together to take a boat for a lark, and they should not be at +all uneasy if we tied up for the night some place above town. I +had, of course, no intention of taking my friend along, and this +was just a little bit of "strategy" to deceive the enemy.</p> + +<p>I had, in the hearing of a number of his comrades, directed the +boatman to prepare enough bait and other little requirements for +this trip to last us until late into the night. He was a jolly, good-natured, +bare-footed, ragged fellow, the blackest I could find, and +was tickled all to pieces with the taffy and little bit of money he +got in advance, as well as with a prospect for something extra, if he +should be detained very late that night.</p> + +<p>In an apparently indifferent way I also took occasion to mention +at the house where I had been boarding, that I was obliged to leave +for Texas, and made all my preparations accordingly, but proposed +to have first a day's fishing in company with some friend, and might +possibly spend the night with them. I didn't have any baggage to +bother about, having merely stopped off while <i>en route</i> to Texas.</p> + +<p>When I got into that little boat that day, I doubt not that I +looked as if I were desperately intent on having a day's fun and was +fully equipped for handling any quantity of fish. I had taken off +my coat—the weather in Florida at that season being quite warm +and pleasant—and as I sat in the stern sheets of the little boat, +with a steering oar in my hand, dressed only in a collarless shirt, +pants and shoes, with a greyish slouch hat tipped back on my head,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +I have no doubt that my appearance was at least sufficiently careless +or indifferent to disarm any apprehensions that might rise as to the +real object of the trip.</p> + +<p>It was necessary, in starting, to explain that my "companion" +was detained, but would join us at a friend's house some distance +above the town later in the afternoon, in the direction of which I as +steersman pointed the bow of the boat, as we pulled out from the +shore, bearing purposely in a direction leading farthest from the +Island and the Fort.</p> + +<p>My recollection is, that it is about four miles across the bay +to the Island and six or eight miles down the bay to the outside +point on which Fort Pickens is located. With the exception of this +garrison, Santa Rosa may, in the language of the school-books, be +called an uninhabited island. At the present time, however, Geronimo +and his band of murdering Apache Indians are, with their +military guard, the only inhabitants of the desolate place, and they +are prisoners.</p> + +<p>When we had gotten out from shore a good distance, we stopped +for a while, just to try our luck, but as it was not a satisfactory +location, after a little delay, we moved further off, when we would +again drop our little anchor, to go through the same motions and +move out, just a little bit, almost imperceptibly to those on shore +each time.</p> + +<p>Of course, my colored boy had no idea but that I really meant +this fishing excursion for sport. He was full of fun and really +enjoyed himself very much. I was uneasy, and imagined that everybody +on shore had conspired to watch our little boat, which was +drifting about aimlessly on the tide, a mile or so out from the rebel +shore. On account of this apprehension, I was more careful to so +direct our movements that suspicion would be disarmed, and, as far +as practicable, I kept the bow of the boat pointed in the direction of +Pensacola, actually backing out into the stream, when the tide +would naturally keep us out.</p> + +<p>My object was to keep up this sort of an appearance all afternoon, +and then toward dusk (as I had told the oarsman) we would +land further up, where my friend was visiting, and where I had +agreed to meet him.</p> + +<p>A race over the bay to Fort Pickens with a Rebel harbor boat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +was out of the question, even with a mile of a start, because they +were not only quite fast and well manned, but their little cannon +were entirely "too sudden" and could soon overtake us.</p> + +<p>Did we catch any fish? will be asked. No, this is not a fish +story, and I was myself too intent upon watching the movements of +all the little boats along shore to pay much attention to the fish; in +this case I was the sucker myself, that was hunting a hole in the +meshes of the net that I might escape.</p> + +<p>I had put the latest New York <i>Herald</i> in my coat pocket +during the morning; this I got out and, as I sat in the stern sheets, I +pretended in a careless way to become interested while the colored +boy did the fishing. Along in the evening, about sundown, I saw +with some alarm one of the little tug-boats come puffing around +from the navy yard, and it seemed in my imagination that they +were bearing directly toward us, as we were then far enough from +the shore to have excited suspicion. To be prepared, I directed the +boy to take the oars and we made a movement as if intending to +return.</p> + +<p>The tug came within hailing distance and, without shutting off +their noisy steam-exhaust, hallooed something which I inferred was +the patrol officer's notice that it was time to tie up. They passed on +in to the pier at Pensacola, while we in the deepening twilight, +while seemingly headed toward shore, were silently drifting with the +tide further and further away.</p> + +<p>Being in the stern, with a steering oar in my hand, the colored +boy at the oars, with his face toward me and his back to the bow, +he did not discover for quite a while through the now almost darkness +that we were moving out to sea instead of going in to shore, +as I had pretended. When he did get the bearings through his +sluggish brain, he seemed all at once to have become awakened to a +sense of the greatest fear. He stopped rowing abruptly and, looking +about him in every direction, his eyes seemed to become almost wild +with fright, showing a good deal of white through the darkness +that seemed now to have come down upon us all at once; he said, +huskily, as he attempted to turn the boat around with one oar: +"Good Lawd, it's dark, and all niggers got to be in doors 'fore this. +Ise gwine home, boss." When I tried to laugh him out of his terror, +and explained that I had told his master at the pier that I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +going to keep him out late, it did not satisfy him. He insisted on +going straight back over the course I had been leading all day. The +poor slave said: "Boss, it's de law, any nigger caught out at night +gets thirty-nine lashes; and if dese soger-masters knowed I was over +on this side, dey kill me, suah."</p> + +<p>We were then probably a mile off the Island shore—the darkness +and distance had concealed us from the rebel shore, and I must not, +<i>would</i> not return then. I tried every way to prevail upon this poor +ignorant slave to keep on rowing; that I would steer him to "my +friend's house," which, in my mind's eye, had been Fort Pickens, +but he wouldn't have it so; he knew, he said, "there wasn't +nobody's house up on dat shore."</p> + +<p>Under the circumstances, what could I do? He had the oars in +his hands but wouldn't use them, while I, with my steering-oar, was +helpless. I was within but a little distance of the shore that I had +looked upon so often and so wistfully from the rebel side, yet this +fellow could prevent my reaching it; and in attempting to force +him to do my bidding I risked making a disturbance which would +speedily bring the guard-boats to the spot. I do not claim that it +was a brave act at all, but, realizing at the time that I must take command +of the boat, I quietly reached for a stilletto, or dirk knife, +which I had bought in anticipation of having to use or show as a +quiet sort of weapon where any noises were to be avoided. With +this bright steel blade pointing at the now terrified darkey, I ordered +him to row, and if he dared take a hand off the oar I'd cut him and +feed the pieces to the sharks in the bay.</p> + +<p>I don't know what I should have done if he had resisted, but I +think that at the moment I would have become a murderer, +and, if necessary, have used not only the knife, but also the pistol, +which I had by me.</p> + +<p>Seeing my determination, and especially the knife, the "contraband" +laid back on his oars and pulled for the shore lustily, looking +neither to the right nor the left, but keeping both his white eyes +riveted on my dagger and pistol.</p> + +<p>I comforted him a little, because, you see, I'd got to get back, and +it was necessary that he should keep still until I got away. I knew he +would do this, because it would certainly have been punishment for +himself to have admitted that he had been over to the Yankees.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 398px;"> +<img src="images/i044.jpg" width="398" height="600" alt="I'D CUT HIM AND FEED THE PIECES TO THE SHARKS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">I'D CUT HIM AND FEED THE PIECES TO THE SHARKS.</span> +</div> + +<p>Now that I had committed an overt act in this attempt to +reach the enemy, the die was cast for me, and I must carry it +through. Imagine for a moment my feelings when the boy stopped +rowing suddenly and, craning his neck over to the water in a listening +attitude, said, huskily, "Boss, dats dem; dats de boat."</p> + +<p>Great heavens, we were yet a long distance out from the Island, +having been gradually working down instead of going directly over. +My first impulse was to row madly for the shore, but the darkey knew +better than I, when he said, "Best keep still, and don't talk, boss." +Listening again, I could hear the voices distinctly, and it seemed to +me through the darkness that they were right upon us; we floated +quietly as a log in the water for a few terrible moments of suspense, +I took off my shoes and stockings and prepared to jump overboard +and swim for the shore, if we came to close quarters. If they captured +me I'd be hung, while the slave's life was safe, because he +was valued at about $1,800.</p> + +<p>Resuming his oar, the boy said, "That's at the navy yard." "Why," +I said, "are we near the navy yard?" "No, boss; but you can hear +people talkin' a mighty long ways at night; we niggers is used to +hearin' 'em; we git chased in every night." After this scare I +"hugged" the shore pretty close; it seemed to me then to have +been a long ways down that sandy beach, because of the suspense and +uncertainty, perhaps. We stole along quietly, not knowing but +that some trap might have been set along the Island to catch any +contrabands who might want to run off from their masters, and +again I did not know but what the rebels themselves might have a +guard out there; and if I did see any persons, how was I to be sure +that they were friends from Fort Pickens.</p> + +<p>There are some sensations that can better be imagined than +described. To add to my discomfort on that most eventful night +in my life, I witnessed for the first time the strange, weird phenomenon +of the phosphorescent water, which is, I believe, quite common +in the South. To me, at this time, it had almost a supernatural +appearance.</p> + +<p>While gliding along smoothly between life and death, my nerves +strung to the utmost tension, suddenly I noticed that the oars, as +they were lifted from the water, were covered with a strange gleam +and that the water into which I was drifting had turned to molten<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +lead, without flame; and as we went along now quite rapidly, there was +left in our wake a long, winding, wiggling, fiery serpent which, to +my heated imagination, seemed to be a machination of the devil and +his imps to illuminate our path for the benefit of his friends—the +rebels.</p> + +<p>If a picture could be made of this scene, which, I may say, was +dramatic, it should represent our dingy little boat moving along a +desolate shore in the darkness and solitude of a midnight in Florida; +the black oarsman, with open mouth, the whites of his eyes showing +most conspicuously, as he twisted his head around to look over the +water in the direction of the Rebels. I sat in the stern of the boat, +dressed in a slouch hat and open shirt, steering-oar in hand, looking +back and around in a puzzled way at the glimmering will-o'the-wisp +trail in our wake. The distant background would show +the grim walls of Fort Pickens, with a few vessels riding at anchor +beyond.</p> + +<p>On the other side would be the outlines of the Rebel batteries, +with their sentries, while on the water, the guard or harbor boats.</p> + +<p>My colored boatman, however, did not pay any attention to this +play of light about our boat; grimly he dipped and lifted the oars, +the blades covered with a peculiar yellowish light, while the water, +as it dropped back into the sea, splashed and sparkled as I had seen +molten metal in the molds of the foundries at home. In reply to +my hushed expression of surprise, the boatman said: "O, dat ain't +nothin'; it's the fire out of some of dem big guns, I'se lookin' aftah."</p> + +<p>We silently crept along in this halo of light, during which time +I took the opportunity to explain to my boatman that I was a +Yankee soldier, going to the Fort to see my friends. The moment +that fellow was assured of my true character his whole nature +seemed changed, and, instead of the cowering, terrified slave, unwillingly +doing the bidding of a master, he became a wide-awake, energetic +friend, most anxious to do me all the service possible. I have +forgotten the faithful boy's name, but I hope some day to revisit +these scenes and shall look up his history.</p> + +<p>Great Scott! While we were talking in this way, we were startled +by the sound of oars regularly beating in a muffled way, and which +we knew to our horror were coming in our direction. Could it be +possible that we were to be baffled at last? The boy shifted his oars<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +one by one into the boat, laid his head over the water for a moment, +when he whispered, "Dats a barge." I did not know what a "barge" +was, while he explained that the sounds of rowing we were hearing +came from a large, regular crew of disciplined boatmen in a big +boat called a barge.</p> + +<p>I judged that we could not be far from Pickens, but how could +I tell whether the approaching boat contained our friends or our +enemies. We all knew that the boats of both parties were engaged +in prowling about every dark night. I had heard, while in the +Rebel camps, that it was the only diversion they had, and volunteers +for each night's adventure were numerous.</p> + +<p>We kept "hugging the Island" pretty tight, and, as the sounds +grew closer and more distinct as they came nearer and nearer, I +again prepared to jump overboard and swim for the island.</p> + +<p>As they came closer, I heard the suppressed voices, and was able +to catch something like an order addressed to "Coxswain," which +was the only word I could make out—that was enough, however. +I knew that a coxswain was only to be found in an armed boat, and, +of course, I believed they must be from the navy yard.</p> + +<p>I slipped off my shoes and quietly dropped over the side of the +boat into the water, being mighty careful, too, that the boat should +be between me and the sounds, which were now quite distinct.</p> + +<p>The boatman laid down in the bottom of the boat while I held on +by both hands and paddled or towed it toward shore. Suddenly, as +if a curtain had been raised, the barge, like a picture on the screen +of a magic lantern, appeared and faded away, thank the Lord, some +distance out from us, and the crew were rowing silently but swiftly +in the direction from which we had just come.</p> + +<p>I crawled back into the boat, my extremities dripping, and with +reckless determination ordered the fellow to row right straight +ahead. I was sick of this miserable agony of suspense and would +end it, even if we ran into a man-of-war.</p> + +<p>The boatman expressed the opinion that the boat from which +we had been concealing ourselves was from the Fort, or belonged to +the shipping outside, and I afterward learned that he was correct.</p> + +<p>When we got a little further down the island shore, voices were +again heard, this time from the land. Now I was sure we were all +right, but I kept along quietly and smoothly until we were in sight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +of the old fort. I could now see objects moving about on the +ground near the fort. We crept up still closer, and seeing a group of +three persons standing together, a little ways back from the water, +I rose to my feet and was about to hail them when we heard oars +again from the outside.</p> + +<p>I sat down again and begged the poor fellow to row for his life, +which he did with a hearty good will; we then passed, without a +challenge, a sentinel on the beach, and actually rode right up to the +guard on the pier of the fort, and myself called their attention to +our little boat.</p> + +<p>A sergeant, who was within hearing, quickly ran up to the water's +edge and roughly called a "halt," demanding to know our business; +to which I replied: "I want to see Lieutenant Slemmer." +We drew in shore; the sergeant took hold of the bow-string of our +boat, and directed a soldier near by to call the officer of the guard, +which was done in the most approved West Point style. All the +same, however, I had gotten through their lines without a challenge, +and if I had been bent on torpedo or dynamite business, it would +have been possible that night to have surprised the garrison.</p> + +<p>While waiting there, the old sergeant, who seemed to be very +much incensed at my cheekiness, in running by his sentries, plied +us with questions.</p> + +<p>Pretty soon we were landed on the pier, and then I stood right +under the gloomy shadow of the walls of Fort Pickens, talking with +a young officer in the uniform of the United States service, and +wearing the red sash of the officer of the day.</p> + +<p>This young officer, whose name I have forgotten, received me +cordially, and ordered the sergeant to take good care of my boatman. +My idea had been, all along, to communicate with Lieutenant +Slemmer, whom we had heard of in connection with the occupation +of the Fort, and probably, also, because I had heard he was a Pennsylvanian, +I imagined I should feel more freedom with him.</p> + +<p>The officer of the day, to whom I expressed a desire to see Lieutenant +Slemmer, said: "Certainly, sir, certainly. Will you please +give me your name?" I merely said: "I am from Pennsylvania, +and am going back soon, and wanted to tell him some news." The +officer swung himself around and called to another sergeant "to +make this gentleman as comfortable as possible till I return," which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +was a polite way of saying "don't let that fellow get away till I get +back." He disappeared inside the cave-like entrance to the Fort.</p> + +<p>Very soon two officers came out, to whom I was politely introduced +as a young man from the other side to see Lieutenant Slemmer—the +officer of the day explaining to me that Lieutenant Slemmer +would be out just as soon as he could dress.</p> + +<p>It was late at night, and they had all been sleeping in peace and +security inside the Fort, while I was getting down the bay. During +this interim it will be noted that not one of these officers had +asked me a question. Though their curiosity was no doubt excited, +they were all gentlemanly enough to believe that my business was of +a private character with Lieutenant Slemmer alone.</p> + +<p>It appears that the Fort had been reinforced, probably about the +time that the attempt was made to reinforce Sumter, and at this +time Lieutenant Slemmer was not in command at Pickens.</p> + +<p>During the wait and while we were talking about the war +prospects, I incidentally mentioned something about Sumter's fall; +this was news, sad news to the little group of officers, and for a +moment seemed to stagger them. When one of them expressed a +mild doubt, thinking my information was from rebel sources, the +other said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, it's true; it couldn't be otherwise." When I gave +them about the date, they all recalled an unusual commotion and +firing of salutes by the rebels over the bay, which they did not +understand at the time, and this news explained.</p> + +<p>It soon became known in the fort that they had a visitor with +great news, and every blessed officer must have gotten out of bed to +come outside and see me. I wondered at the time why I wasn't +invited inside, though I could not have been more courteously +treated than I was. It was quite a long time before Lieutenant +Slemmer made an appearance, and when he approached me and +was introduced by the officer of the day with "This is Lieutenant +Slemmer," I looked up in surprise to see a tall, slim man, wearing +glasses and looking for all the world like a Presbyterian preacher. +He was the most distant, dignified fellow in the lot, and my first +impressions were not at all favorable.</p> + +<p>However, I briefly explained my business, and told him of the +masked batteries and the proposed attack from the island. Without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +a word of thanks, or even a reply, he turned and told one of the +officers, who had stood aside to permit us to talk privately, to call +Captain Clitz; and while he was doing this Mr. Slemmer stood by me +with his arms folded—the only words he spoke were: "Oh, that's it."</p> + +<p>Soon Captain Clitz, who was a large, rather portly officer, approached, +in company with my officer, and, without waiting for an +introduction, he walked up to me with his hand out, smilingly saying, +"Ah, how do you do?" and, turning to Slemmer, he said, "Mr. +Slemmer, I'm very glad your friend called to see us."</p> + +<p>There was a long, earnest talk on the wharf that night, which +was listened to and participated in by all the group of officers. Lieutenant +Slemmer—after Captain Clitz's greeting—said: "This is +Captain Clitz, the commander here now." And to him all my communications +were directed.</p> + +<p>I was, of course, questioned and cross-questioned in regard to +every point of detail which could be of interest to them, and I believe +I was able to satisfy them on every point.</p> + +<p>I had understood, and believed it true, that General Winfield +Scott had joined the rebels, and when I mentioned this among the +other items of news, my young officer of the day spoke up quickly, +saying: "Oh, no, I can't believe that. General Scott may be dead, +but he is not a traitor."</p> + +<p>In comparison with Lieutenant Slemmer's dignified bearing, +Captain Clitz's kindness and cordiality to me that night will ever be +remembered with feelings of profound gratitude. While I was thus +talking to the officers, the sergeant and his detail of men were busily +engaged in questioning my colored boy, and from him they learned +the story of our trip.</p> + +<p>The sergeant was brought to task roundly, by the officer of the +day, for the failure of his sentinel up on the beach to halt our boat +before getting so close to the pier. His explanation was that they +saw us but supposed it was the boat belonging to the garrison.</p> + +<p>How long I should have been detained on that old pier, under +the shadow of the walls of the fort, entertaining those officers, is +uncertain, had I not had before me, like a spectre, the remembrance +of the rebel sentries and guard-boats, that I must again run through +to get back in safety. One of the officers very kindly proposed that +they would man one of their boats and convey us as far up the beach<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +as they could go, and thereby relieve us of the tiresome pull on the oars. +While this was being arranged, I gave to Lieutenant Slemmer a +more detailed account of the honors that were being paid to him in +the North, in connection with Major Anderson, for his bravery in +saving Pickens. And I also told him about the attentions which +were being showered upon his wife, who, it seems, had been permitted +to pass through the Rebel lines to her home in the North +soon after his moving into Fort Pickens.</p> + +<p>To Mrs. Slemmer, it seems, was due some of the credit and glory +of this movement.</p> + +<p>After receiving from Captain Clitz his hearty acknowledgment, +and a farewell shake-hands from all the officers, I got aboard the +well-manned barge for a return voyage, our little boat being towed +in the rear.</p> + +<p>Getting into the boat seemed to bring to mind the shipping outside, +and I incidentally asked if any of their boats might be going +to Mobile soon, thinking that would save me the dangerous jaunt +over the swamps. I had no fears but that I should land all right at +Pensacola, but I did feel some apprehension about my boy being +able to avert the questions that I knew he would be asked on his +return.</p> + +<p>Captain Clitz spoke up from the end of the pier, "There are +no boats likely to go to Mobile, but one of the transports will return +to New York soon; would you prefer to go that way?"</p> + +<p>After a little explanation, it was settled that I should take the +ship home, and my colored boy went back alone—at that time they +were not taking care of contrabands—and I was rowed out to the +shipping, and that night slept sweetly in a hammock on board Captain +Porter's ship, the Powhattan.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>REBEL NEWSPAPERS—ON ADMIRAL PORTER'S SHIP.</h3> + + +<p>While numerous newspaper attacks were being printed in the +chivalrous press of the South concerning a defenseless boy who had +succeeded, unaided and alone, in thwarting their plans to compel +the surrender of Fort Pickens, I, in blissful ignorance of it all, was +quietly experiencing the daily routine life aboard the blockading +war ship, which was anchored in full view of the Rebel batteries +through which I had been scouting but a few days previously.</p> + +<p>I was, of course, something new and fresh on board the ship, +and the way those chaps went for me was peculiar.</p> + +<p>Did you ever try to get into a hammock? I mean a <i>real</i> hammock—one +of those made out of canvas cloth, which, rolled up—or +slung, I think they call it—looks like a big pudding.</p> + +<p>I was put in charge of one of the petty officers, as they call them +aboard a ship, who correspond to the non-commissioned officers +of the army. My particular guardian was, I believe, the ship-chandler, +an old salt who had charge of a little den of a room, +somewhere between decks, which was crammed full of lamps or +candles.</p> + +<p>They were crowded with men and officers aboard the Powhattan +at that time, so I had to turn in with this mess. I was given a hammock—a +nice, clean lot of bedding was bundled up inside; it had a +number painted on it, to which my attention was carefully called; +then I was shown the corresponding number on deck where that +particular hammock fitted in like a chink in a log-house, and +where, I was told, it had to be placed at a certain "bell," or when +the boatswain would sing out a certain call.</p> + +<p>When the time came to go for the hammocks the first night, I +followed my leader, shouldered the bag, and marched down in line +with the rest. I found afterward the most difficult thing to learn +about the navy is to get <i>into</i> a hammock, stretched above your head, +and the next difficult thing is to stay in it, while the third trouble +is to get out of it without lighting on your head.</p> + +<p>My old guardian was busy somewhere with his lights, and when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +the signal came to turn in, every man of that immense crowd seemed +to disappear, like so many prairie dogs into their holes, leaving me +standing alone on the deck under my hammock. Then the petty +officer, in his deep, bass voice, said something to me about clearing +that deck. I made a jump for the thing, and hung half way across +it, as if I were in a swing, able to get neither one way or the other—the +hammock would move every time I'd move. Lots of bare heads +were sticking out over the hammocks, offering advice of all sorts; +one chap proposed to give me a leg, which I gratefully accepted, +when he lifted me so quickly that I toppled over the other side of the +hammock on to the floor, where I lay saying my evening prayers, +while the whole lot of crows in the roosts above laughed at my predicament. +The show was beginning to create so much noise down +below that the fellow with the big voice was compelled to interfere +and put a stop to it, which he did by ordering one of the men to +hold my horse while I got aboard.</p> + +<p>He kindly explained to me the <i>modus operandi</i> of getting into a +slung hammock, which was, as we used to say in tactics, in one time +and three motions; first, grab the thing in a certain way with two +hands, put one foot in first, and then deftly lift the body up and +drop in; once there, the difficulty was not over, as it required +some practice to keep balanced while asleep, especially to a landsman +like myself. I was cautioned to part my hair in the middle, +and lie there as stiff as a corpse.</p> + +<p>It was great fun for the sailors of that mess. In the morning, +after a fair night's rest, I was awakened by the man-of-war's reveille, +and literally tumbled out of the hammock, landing on all fours on +deck, for the thing was as hard to get out of as it was to get into. +But now the sailors, who had so much fun at my expense the night +before, showed the greatest kindness and did what they could to +teach me to strap or lash it up, and I was ready to take up my bed +and walk with the rest of them, and stored it away while it did +not yet seem to be daylight.</p> + +<p>I was invited to the best mess for breakfast, which I was able to +enjoy very much, and I spent the greater portion of the day on the +big wheel-house of the ship, pointing out to the officers the location +of the different batteries in the rebel line. The officers were +quite courteous and kind, and, as may be imagined, listened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +with the greatest eagerness to the news which I was able to give +them. The New York <i>Herald</i>, which was the only thing in the +shape of "papers" that I had brought with me, was eagerly read, +the officers almost quarreling for its possession. It was finally +settled by their cutting it up and dividing the pieces around.</p> + +<p>The Powhattan was one of the largest vessels of the old-fashioned +side-wheel class, and at that time was literally bristling with her +armour, having been hurriedly fitted out at Brooklyn Navy Yard +at about the same time the other vessels sailed to the intended relief +of Sumter.</p> + +<p>An old salt gave me his account of their trip out, which, as +nearly as I can recollect, was something like this:</p> + +<p>"We had just returned from a cruise, ye know, to China, and +wanted to stay home a bit, because the Engineer Board condemned +one of our boilers as dangerous, so, of course, no one aboard thought +of going to sea again in her. Well, by thunder, one night they sent +a draft of men aboard, and the next morning we were steaming out +somewhere—we all thought to some other yard.</p> + +<p>"The officers had what they called sealed orders, not to be opened +till we were outside, don't you know. That black-whiskered chap"—pointing +with his thumb toward Captain Porter's cabin—"was +aboard, and we all thought he was our sky pilot, as he was dressed +just like a parson or chaplain; but when we got out, and the orders +were opened, he had changed his black duds, and, by gad, he took +us in tow, just like a pirate king, and fetched us all down to this +blasted hole to die of Yaller Jack.</p> + +<p>"On the voyage down, every man of us was worked to death; day +and night, all hands were going, unpacking boxes of arms that had +been smuggled aboard, and them brass things you see back of the +purser's 'cow-house'"—as he called the wheel-house—"we boxed up +like dead men in coffins. Well, some of the men swore we were +turned pirates; and a lot more of us was dead sure we were going +out as a privateer for Jeff Davis. You see the sealed orders was to +Captain Porter, and he had just come aboard at night, and they say +he came right over from Washington City that same day, and, of +course, he knew what was up, but no one else did.</p> + +<p>"We found out, though, after that. The plan for us was to run +down and go right straight ahead into the harbor, past the Fort and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +them Rebel Batteries. If we was inside once, we could drive them +off and get the navy yard, you know, and they couldn't get onto the +Island, don't you know. Well, when we got near Pensacola, what +did they do but begin to burn some soft English coal, what was +stored aboard, so's to make a black smoke, don't you see, and make +them Rebels believe we were an Englishman going to Pensacola. +Well, Porter was on hand, you bet, and every other fellow was on +hand, too, and we were going to run right straight by the derned +Batteries, without stopping or showing our colors; but the 'Old Man,' +as we termed the admiral, or Senior Officer Alden, who had preceded +us, as soon as we came up signaled to drop anchor; and the Lord only +knows how long we will stay, if that condemned boiler don't bust.</p> + +<p>"The old black-whiskered parson was mad, because he didn't get +to go ahead, and he mopes in his den all the time, just like a bear +with a sore head, cross at us all, as if we was to blame."</p> + +<p>Rear-Admiral David D. Porter was, at that time, ranking as a +lieutenant in the navy, though he had been selected specially by +Mr. Lincoln to command the Powhattan on this relief expedition. +As I saw him daily aboard his ship, he appeared, to my eyes, to be a +hearty, blustering, handsome naval officer, in the prime of life, +wearing a full, black beard, which, with his sharp eyes and commanding +presence, impressed me with the idea that the old tar had +suggested, as being a model pirate chief.</p> + +<p>Those who have not been aboard a man-of-war while in commission +and engaged in actual sea service, and have formed their +impressions from casual visits to a ship in port, would scarcely +realize the changed condition of affairs. The captain is a little +king, with absolute power, and lives in great style, all by himself, +in his beautiful den of a cabin, at the extreme aft-end of the ship. +He <i>never</i> comes forward, I believe, and walks only on one side of +the deck. I think he doesn't permit anyone to approach his highness, +except through the regular channels.</p> + +<p>He may be a good fellow ashore and will eat and drink with you +at the hotel bars, like any ordinary bit of humanity; but dear me, +aboard his ship he is a holy terror.</p> + +<p>Not being an enlisted man myself, and only a sort of a refugee +aboard ship, wholly unacquainted with the new order of things, I +was constantly doing something or other that interfered with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +rules, and, as a consequence, was an object of disgust to the minor +officers and, I suspect, a source of amusement to a great many +others.</p> + +<p>Naval officers, I understand, never like to have a civilian aboard +their ships, probably because they are not amenable to the strict +discipline, and another reason is, that a common landsman does not +pay that homage and respect to their rank that is exacted of the +seaman.</p> + +<p>As I was promenading up and down the deck the first morning, +an officer, whom I was told was Lieutenant Perry, the executive officer, +sent one of the smartly-dressed marines to me, who approached +pleasantly and said:</p> + +<p>"The executive officer directs that you will please walk on the +port side of the deck." Well, I looked at my feet, then at the +grinning marine, and asked him what was the matter. I didn't +know there was such a thing as a port side of a deck; but he +explained that the one little place where I had been taking my +morning air was reserved exclusively for the captain of the ship.</p> + +<p>The captain sent his orderly to escort me to his presence in his +cabin; the marine was, of course, all fixed up with his natty uniform, +white-crossed belts, and little sword, and as we approached the lion's +den, he knocked as if he were afraid somebody might hear him, and +when a gruff voice within sang out "Come!" he stiffened up as +if he had heard an order to "present"; then swinging open the +door, swung around briskly and saluted; and before he could say his +little speech, the captain spoke up:</p> + +<p>"That will do, Orderly," when he went through the same motions +as when we entered, and left me alone with the bear.</p> + +<p>The captain astonished me by reaching for my hand, and, gently +pushing me over to a huge sofa, sat down beside me, and began to +talk in a most cordial manner about my adventure at Montgomery +and Pensacola, which lasted quite a little while, and ended with an +invitation to take something, which I was forced to decline.</p> + +<p>My interview with the captain seemed to have a wonderful +influence not only on the minds, but over the actions as well, +of the petty officers and sailors, who had been guying me so +mercilessly every hour of my stay among them. I was at once +treated with the utmost consideration by everybody on board, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +it appeared to me that every old salt, who wore a piping whistle at +the end of a white cord about his neck, was anxious to talk with me +in confidence.</p> + +<p>To excite the curiosity of a lot of old sailors aboard ship is like +bringing a swarm of mosquitoes about one's head; and the way I +was pestered with questions and cross-questions, as well as all sorts +of surmises and hints, would distract any one, excepting, perhaps, +the well-seasoned and tanned hides of their own kind.</p> + +<p>Captain Porter is the only man on board the ship to whom +I told my story, though questioned in a gentlemanly manner by the +other officers. I was able to hold and keep my own counsel from +them all. I was to them a refugee, and that was all the satisfaction +any of them got from me, except that in a general way I was free +to tell anybody all I knew about the Rebel batteries and forces; but +why I had gone to Pickens was explained only to Captain Porter, +who believed my story, from the interview with Secretary of War +Cameron down to getting aboard his ship. Though I had nothing +whatever to show as proof, having brought with me to the ship only +the rather scanty clothing I wore, having almost stripped myself in +anticipation of a swim for life while crossing the bay.</p> + +<p>Right here I may mention that my family preserves with the +greatest care a sailor shirt, on which is an elaborately embroidered +star in colors, in each corner of the broad silk collar, also a pair of +white duck sailor trousers. These useful as well as beautiful articles +were presented to me by some of the men aboard ship, for which +present, I have often thought since, I must have been indebted to +Captain Porter's influence, as the articles are of such value that the +old fellow who stowed them in my hammock would scarcely have +parted with them without some remuneration.</p> + +<p>The needlework on these articles was all done aboard ship by +the stiffened and well-hardened fingers of an old sailor, and I do not +exaggerate in saying, for rare and delicate workmanship, they are +not excelled by anything I have seen in the same line since.</p> + +<p>The monotony of life aboard ship was relieved somewhat by the +every-day drill of the marines, under command of Lieutenant +Broome, whose name I remember distinctly, as being associated in +my mind with "a new broom," he always looked so sleek and nice +in his fresh uniform. The sailors were also drilled at the big guns,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +fore and aft, which they would pull and haul about for hours at a +time under the commands of some officer.</p> + +<p>One day Captain Porter astonished the Rebels, as well as our own +officers, by a mock naval battle. At a certain hour and upon a +given signal, all hands were called to quarters unexpectedly, Captain +Porter appearing on the bridge with an immense big brass +trumpet in his hands, through which he bellowed out something +which everybody but me seemed to understand. Men went up the +rigging like a lot of monkeys in trees; others yanked out the big +cutlasses. At the command, "Repel boarders!" they would climb up +the sides of the ship and cut and slash their invisible enemies at a +dreadful rate. Then suddenly an order came to load the guns; and +in an instant almost, men whom I had not seen popped up out of +the holds and handed to others, who had evidently been expecting +them, cartridges, which were rammed into the big mouths of the +cannons; then all stood still as death—but for an instant only—when +the brass trumpet belched out something about a "Broadside," and—Great +Scott! it makes me tremble while I write about it—every gun +on that big ship, great and small, went off at the same time, and +almost lifted the ship out of the water.</p> + +<p>They kept firing and loading in this way for quite a little while, +Captain Porter, during this time, standing quietly and unconcernedly +on the bridge, with his watch in one hand and the trumpet in +the other. When he was ready, another order was fired through his +telephone, and the firing ceased as suddenly as it had begun.</p> + +<p>During all this hubbub, when every fellow had a place to go and +stay, I was jumping around from one place to another, like a hen +on a hot griddle, trying to find some spot where I might not be +in anybody's way. When the firing ceased, the ship was rolling +about and, as we were encompassed by the smoke, it seemed as if we +were sailing in a cloud in mid air.</p> + +<p>Captain Porter, from his position on the bridge, began at once +to catechize the different officers, precisely as a school-master would +a class, asking each in turn, as he pointed to him:</p> + +<p>"How many rounds, Mr. Broome?" And if the answer was +not satisfactory, an explanation was demanded. I remember that +the assistant engineer's position was at the little brass pieces, elevated +abaft the wheel-house, and their work was not at all satisfac<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>tory +to Captain Porter, who did not hesitate to so express himself, +much to the disgust of the engineers and the amusement of the +other officers.</p> + +<p>When the cloud of smoke lifted and we could see over the water, +we found all the other ships of the squadron watching us, while the +ramparts of Fort Pickens was to be seen crowded with men, no doubt +wondering what was up. They, no doubt, supposed the ship's magazine +was afire. The Rebel Batteries were black with men, who +imagined, of course, that the ship was fighting some of their own +craft.</p> + +<p>It appeared afterward that this trick of Captain Porter's came +very near bringing on a conflict with the Rebs, as they prepared to +open their batteries on the fort. If the drill had continued a little +longer it would have resulted in bringing about a genuine fight. +Perhaps this is what Captain Porter desired.</p> + +<p>There was some influence that fretted him very much at the +time, which I have never heard explained. It was well known that +he was most eager for the fight to begin.</p> + +<p>Early one bright morning our lookout spluttered out something, +to which the officer on deck at the time—who was Lieutenant +Queen, at present commandant at the Washington Navy Yard, and +to whom I was talking at that instant—startled me by singing in +my ear:</p> + +<p>"Where away?"</p> + +<p>The fellow above said something about two points on our port +bow.</p> + +<p>Mr. Queen left me abruptly to report to the captain, who soon +appeared on deck. I climbed up to a good place from which to +look out, and gazed in the direction in which Mr. Queen and the +captain were pointing, but failed to see anything myself.</p> + +<p>Orders were issued to prepare a little boat that was attached to +the Powhattan, as a sort of dispatch boat, and an officer, whose +name was Brown—a fat, jolly young man whom Captain Porter +seemed to think highly of—was put in charge.</p> + +<p>This little craft hoisted sail and went dancing about on the +water like a sea-bird. By this time two steamers were in sight, +approaching us.</p> + +<p>Who they were and what they were after was just what everybody<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +wanted to know; the old sailors, who are always croakers, had any +quantity of ridiculous stories about their errand and our rapidly +approaching fate.</p> + +<p>Signals went up on Fort Pickens, and I discovered, <i>first</i>, that +signals were being made from the Rebel Batteries, in rear of their +Forts, and reported the fact, the circumstance awaking in Captain +Porter a lively interest.</p> + +<p>Tho little sea-bird, with Mr. Brown, went out toward the approaching +ships, as if to meet them; orders were given by somebody, I +suppose, but I failed to hear them, to weigh anchor, which was +quietly done; then, instead of the ships halting to communicate with +Mr. Brown's signals, they went nearer to the Rebel Batteries, while +the black smoke poured out of the chimneys, and the paddle-wheels +whirled around.</p> + +<p>All at once I jumped two feet high, because a gun behind me +went off. Still the wheels went round and round, and the water +was foaming in their wake. All hands and eyes were on the ship in +the lead, when boom went another gun; and there is where I saw the +first hostile gun fired. There was a splash in the water some distance +this side of the ship, but in her front, then another splash on +the same line further on; this was the first shot across her bow, and +it had the immediate effect of stopping those paddle-wheels as suddenly +as if she had been hit in the belly.</p> + +<p>She "hove too"—there was a long confab with the captain of +the boat, which turned out to be ships from Mobile bound to Pensacola +with supplies—appealed from Porter to the old admiral, and +the end of it all was, the two boats loaded with supplies and probably +ammunition, were not permitted to go on past the Fort inside the +bay to Pensacola, as Captain Porter decidedly protested against it, +and they were escorted back to Mobile.</p> + +<p>They were not war ships, and at that time some of our officers had +peculiar ideas of the rights of Rebels: as, for instance, the refusal to +allow my colored boy, Friday, to remain at the Fort because he was +property, etc.</p> + +<p>In our mess I think there were four of as jolly, good-hearted tars +as may be found in any navy, who vied with each other in their +efforts to make my stay with them as comfortable as possible. I +presume my popularity was increased a little bit, from the fact that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +I really couldn't swallow the gill of grog, nor use tobacco, that was +issued to every one who wanted it, and my portion was scrupulously +drawn and assigned to our mess.</p> + +<p>I was here first introduced to sea biscuit, which you know is the +naval term of S. O. B. Every old soldier will know the meaning of +those cabalistic letters.</p> + +<p>One fellow, who was so droll that he kept the mess in a roar all +the time, insisted that some of the sea biscuit then being issued by +the commissary had been left over from the Revolutionary War. +They were really as hard as a board; it was often as good as a show +to watch the antics of Jack trying to weld them, like iron, at the +galley range, or to put them under the rollers of the big cannon for +a chuck stone.</p> + +<p>The pickled pork he declared was alive with worms, and insisted +upon taking me up the main mast, to prove to me that great chunks +of it were able to crawl up the polished mast to the fore-top. While +eating our grub (as they call it), when the cook had prepared a particularly +nice dish of scouce (I think that's the way it's spelled), +Jack would pretend to be so hungry that he and another chum +would get on all fours and squeal for all the world like a lot of hogs +in a pen.</p> + +<p>Every day there would be signals exchanged between our ship +and the others, or with Fort Pickens, and occasionally boats from +the other vessels would come to our side bringing officers to visit our +officers.</p> + +<p>For some days my daily life was spent in this way. I began to +imagine, from some of the yarns that I was compelled to overhear +from the sailors at night, that something was going wrong with me; +nothing had been intimated to me directly by any of the officers, +who were uniformly courteous, excepting, perhaps, Lieutenant +Perry, the executive officer who had general charge of everything. +On another occasion he had picked me up sharply for daring to +handle a marine glass that I saw on the bridge one day and elevated +toward the Rebels.</p> + +<p>The sailors, who, of course went with the boats to the fort as +oarsmen, must have brought back some exaggerated stories about +me, judging from their actions and talk. If any of those who +may read my story have ever been compelled to listen to old sailors'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +or old soldiers' stories and croakings, they will be able to sympathize +with me in my misery. I can think of no comparison that will +approach so near my conception of the situation as that of being +caged in an insane asylum with a crowd of cranky old lunatics, and +being compelled to hear all they have to say without being able to +escape from the horror.</p> + +<p>This Lieutenant Perry was, I believe, a nephew of Commodore +Perry, of Lake Erie fame, and perhaps a very capable officer, +though I do not recall having heard his name during the war, which +followed so closely. He was evidently prejudiced against me from +the first day, probably because I declined to be interviewed by +him.</p> + +<p>One day I was surprised by having him call me aside and commencing +a conversation about the war, during which I expressed +some decided opinions about the earnestness and sincerity of the +Rebels. And I probably gave vent to my disgust at the permitting +my colored boy to be sent back to slavery and possibly punishment.</p> + +<p>A short time after this I was invited to the captain's cabin. On +entering, I found Mr. Perry and the captain in consultation. After +a pleasant greeting, Captain Porter said:</p> + +<p>"We have just learned that the Rebels have a lot of big guns at +Montgomery which they are to send to Pensacola." When he got +this far, I interrupted him to say, "That is hardly correct, as I had +been in Montgomery, and they had no guns of any kind there." +Perry spoke up and said they meant Mobile. Porter continued, +smilingly: "Yes, it's Mobile, of course. Well, we want to spike +those guns right there." Not for a moment thinking they were +putting up a job on me, I looked anxiously in Porter's face for a +clue to his meaning, in thus talking to me. Looking me squarely +in the eye, he said:</p> + +<p>"Now the government pays handsomely for this service," patting +his pants pockets to make some keys rattle. Still I did not like the +appearance of things, and perhaps too abruptly interrupted to say:</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know; but the Rebels aren't going to let any one do +that."</p> + +<p>Then ensued a long confab, in which Lieutenant Perry did most +of the talking.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>Captain Porter finally said to me, with a peculiar look:</p> + +<p>"Now I have some little file-shaped things, just made for that +purpose; all a man has to do is to quietly drop one of these into the +vent, and they don't even know it's there, till they want to fire the +gun."</p> + +<p>This looked plausible, and I began to feel as if I'd like to try +that simple little trick, but I told him candidly that I couldn't +undertake it; that they would surely hang me, if caught; and that +it wouldn't be well for me to run the risk just then.</p> + +<p>"Oh," says Perry, "we will man a boat and land you on the beach +ten miles from Pensacola."</p> + +<p>"Yes," spoke up Captain Porter, "we will put you ashore any +place you want to go."</p> + +<p>Without a moment's thought, except a desire to do any service for +my country, I said to them, "All right, I'll go."</p> + +<p>I knew nothing whatever at this time of the demands that were +being made by the rebel authorities upon the Fort to have me surrendered +on a civil process, and on the same general principles that +had induced the Fort officers to return the colored boy, was being +brought to bear in my case. It seems the officers of the Fort got +rid of the knotty point by informing the Rebel flag-of-truce boat +that I was out of their control, and in the hands of the naval authorities.</p> + +<p>Application had been made to the flag-ship of the squadron, that +being the proper headquarters, but it seems that in some way Captain +Porter's instructions were direct and more recent than had been +received by the admiral, whose name, if I remember aright, was +Adams or Alden; but of this I am not positive. However, there was +some sort of a conflict of authority between Porter and the Admiral, +and not altogether a cordial feeling between them, as there were no +visits or courtesies being exchanged between them, as was customary +in such situations.</p> + +<p>I had myself seen from the deck of the Powhattan a little tug-boat +bobbing out to the Admiral's ship, but had no idea, of course, +that I was being the subject of negotiations, which were being carried +on by the opposing forces through their flags-of-truce.</p> + +<p>The Admiral, who had desired the ships from Mobile to pass in +unmolested, was quite indifferent to my fate, and did not deign to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +communicate with Mr. Porter or myself. No doubt if I had been +aboard his ship instead of Admiral Porter's, the true story of this +episode would never have been written; as I should have been surrendered, +as a matter of <i>courtesy</i> to the Rebels, who would have +further extended the courtesy—at the end of a rope.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>ADMIRAL PORTER SAVES THE BOY'S LIFE—INTERVIEW WITH THE +REBEL FLAG-OF-TRUCE OFFICERS, WHO CLAIM HIM FOR A +VICTIM—SCENES ON BOARD A MAN-OF-WAR—RETURN HOME +BY SEA—RECEPTION IN NEW YORK—TELEGRAPH ACQUAINTANCES—NEW +YORK PAPERS RECORD THE ADVENTURE IN FULL +PAGE.</h3> + + +<p>It will be seen that the Admiral was willing that I should be surrendered, +and my life hung for several days in a balance, which, +thank God, was held by Captain Porter.</p> + +<p>Perry, knowing of these negotiations, was himself convinced +that I was a Rebel Spy, whom they wanted to get back, and had kept +a close watch on my actions; and, I presume, had set half the ship's +crew to pick me up on any little circumstance which would serve to +confirm his suspicions that I was in the service of the rebellion.</p> + +<p>One day I was sitting on the "back stairs," or on the platform +of the gangway aft the wheel-house, and, as the vessel had swung +round, I could, from my location, see right over the water to the +rebel lines. My position happened to be somewhat secluded, and I +had in my hands a scrap of an old New York <i>Ledger</i>, that one of +the tars had loaned me. I saw that I was being watched by Perry, +who was in quiet consultation with the officer of the deck. A +marine with a loaded musket had been ordered to look sharp that I +did not fly over to the Rebs, I suppose.</p> + +<p>While in this situation the thought burst upon me that I was a +prisoner, suspected by my own friends of being a spy in their +camp.</p> + +<p>The interview that I had had in the cabin, with Captain Porter +and Lieutenant Perry, the proposed trip to Mobile, with a dozen +other little incidents, rushed through my brain at once, but I was +comforted by the thought that the War Department would acknowledge +my services. After this feeling had passed away from my +mind to some extent, I recalled with bitterness some of Lieutenant +Perry's actions and talks with me. Carelessly glancing around to +see that he was still on deck, I wrote on the margin of that old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +paper some words that expressed, in language more emphatic than +politic, the opinion I entertained of a certain officer, and whose +conduct I should take care would be reported to the ears of the +Navy Department. Before I had finished, a hand was laid on my +shoulder; another reached down and snatched the paper from my +hand; the young officer, whom I had seen talking to Perry but a +few moments previously, said:</p> + +<p>"Ah, sketching, are you?" as he took the paper and handed it +to Mr. Perry, who was at his back, and he read with a flushed face +the ugly comments on his brutality to a boy prisoner, who had done +more for his country in one night than he would accomplish in his +life-time.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 391px;"> +<img src="images/i067.jpg" width="391" height="600" alt=""AH! SKETCHING, ARE YOU?"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"AH! SKETCHING, ARE YOU?"</span> +</div> + +<p>For a boy, this was a pretty sharp trick, if it were not very discreet. +Mr. Perry roughly said, as I put my hands in my pockets +and looked at him defiantly:</p> + +<p>"Take your hands out of your pockets when you talk to an +officer, damn you!" "Go forward, sir!" "Don't you come aft +again!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Perry, as the executive officer, had the control and management +of almost every detail aboard ship; and, of course, after his +ridiculous failure to catch me mapping, or sketching, which had become +known all over the ship, he entertained for me more positive +and open dislike than ever, so that I was henceforth, practically, his +prisoner. I had enjoyed full liberty to go about everywhere as I +pleased, heretofore, and lounged or lay about in the warm sun most +of the time up by the wheel-house; but now I understood that, by +his arbitrary orders, I was not to be allowed to go aft; which I +interpreted to mean confinement to the forecastle.</p> + +<p>This was not so pleasant for me, as I could have no communication +with the officers, and lost the opportunity of seeing the marine +drill, which was a daily performance, that seemed to relieve the +monotony of our every-day life, which was indeed becoming quite +tiresome to me.</p> + +<p>However, I consoled myself with the reflection that I should soon +be able to get away to my home in the North. There had been a +transport in the squadron unloading supplies, which I had been given +to understand would take me off on her return to New York. I +watched with eager interest the unloading of this transport, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +had to be tediously and drudgingly performed by the use of lighters +and pulleys over the ship's side;—the rebs objected, you know, to our +forces using the Fort's piers, which was within range of their guns, +though it will be recalled that our Admiral did not prevent their +ships going into the harbor to unload their supplies.</p> + +<p>I think it must have been some of Billy Wilson's Zouaves, or +their supplies, that were being unloaded. You will remember that +about this time that regiment of the roughs and toughs of New +York City had been sent down there, where they were permitted +to encamp on the Island, between the fires of the two forces; being +natural enemies of both, communication with them was necessarily +limited.</p> + +<p>Early one morning, one of the petty officers shook me out of +the hammock, saying:</p> + +<p>"Bundle up quickly, to go aboard the transport."</p> + +<p>If I didn't get out of the hammock that morning very gracefully, +it was because it was done suddenly. The man who called +me stood by, as he said, to help me get ready, as the ship was to +sail at daylight. I had no bag for my luggage, which consisted only +of the gifts of the fine sailor suit, mentioned heretofore, and what +I wore on my person, so we were not long in getting ready.</p> + +<p>Hurrying up on deck, I went to the gangway aft, where the little +gig, as they call the little boat, was bobbing up and down on the +swell, as the waves beat against the ship's side. The sailor standing +in the bow, holding on to the steps, or rope balustrade, helped me to +make the little jump into the boat, which I felt was dancing with +delight because it was to take me off that old ship.</p> + +<p>As I passed to the rear seat, each old tar had a kind word of +good-by for me, and I believe that I promised every one of them to +go and see their friends and sweethearts when I should get home. +We waited awhile for an officer who was getting the captain's mail +ready. Soon Lieutenant Queen came down the steps and scrambled +to a seat beside me, saying, pleasantly:</p> + +<p>"Well, my boy, I wish I were going with you this morning."</p> + +<p>He gave the order to let go and soon we were bouncing over the +water toward the transport, which was smoking and hissing away at a +great rate some distance from our ship but nearer the shore. When +we pulled alongside I braced myself for the climb up her side, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +Lieutenant Queen should give the signal. He had gone aboard +ahead and delayed sometime; presently he appeared at the ship's +side and began to descend to our boat again; I thought his manner +a little queer, as I watched him with astonishment; once in the boat, +he was about to give the order to pull off, when the captain of the +transport hailed him and said:</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, but don't you forget to tell Porter it's not my +fault."</p> + +<p>After a little further talk in an undertone, Mr. Queen told the +coxswain to go ahead, and then turning to me said:</p> + +<p>"There's some mistake, they say they can't take you, they +have no room."</p> + +<p>My feelings may be imagined—they can not be described. I was +so disappointed that I was literally struck dumb, and could not +speak a word on our return to the ship, and was led aboard by +the good-hearted old sailors as if I had just been rescued from a +watery grave.</p> + +<p>Going to our ship's side, I looked over the water in the early +grey of the morning and saw the transport, on which I had built +my every hope of home, slowly but surely steaming away toward +home, and I still on the ship <i>and a prisoner</i>. How long I stood +there I do not know; probably until the fast-sailing transport had +almost gotten out of my dimmed sight. I cried, of course I did, +like a big baby, and on board a man-of-war, too; and being too +proud to show it, I kept my face resolutely set toward the receding +ship that was going home without me.</p> + +<p>I didn't even have such a thing as a handkerchief to dry those +tears, bitter tears, which <i>would</i> run down my cheeks and drop into +the sea below me.</p> + +<p>Mr. Queen, who had reported his trip to Captain Porter, hunted +me up to say that "the captain would see that I was taken care of +and sent home all right."</p> + +<p>Speaking in his kindly, sympathetic manner, seemed to renew +my emotion, and turning my wet cheeks to him I said, I fear somewhat +harshly, "I'll never again undertake anything that would get +me aboard a naval officer's ship."</p> + +<p>He laughed good-naturedly, while he told me of his many disappointments +in not getting home from foreign countries, as he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +planned, while in the naval service. He said also that Captain Porter +was mad about it, because some one seemed determined to interfere +with everything or anything he wanted to accomplish, but he +would fix me all right next time, and, pointing to another transport, +he said:</p> + +<p>"You will go on that ship in a few days."</p> + +<p>Some of the talks and hints which the old sailors had been +firing at me for days about a Rebel Spy, sent aboard to fire their +magazine, or to signal to the Rebels any attempt to run inside, and +which I had taken at the time as sailors' yarns, were now vividly +recalled to my mind. These things, coupled with the recent interview +between Porter, Perry and myself, in which I had been +entrapped into an agreement to return through their lines to spike +some guns, all came upon me with a sickening sensation.</p> + +<p>I had been led by the talk of Perry, against my own judgment, +and doubting the feasibility of his plans, to agree that I should put +ashore alone, in a dismal swamp in Florida, ten miles from everything +living but alligators and snakes, in the dark of midnight, to +find my way across to Mobile to spike some guns.</p> + +<p>Because I was willing to <i>do anything</i> for the benefit of the +Union cause, not having a single thought of fear or danger to +myself, this disposition had been twisted and tortured by Mr. +Perry, a United States officer, into a virtual acknowledgment on +my part that I was a Rebel and was anxious to return to their camps.</p> + +<p>I do not believe that Captain Porter agreed with Perry in this +conclusion.</p> + +<p>If the object of these Rebels in their negotiation was to throw +discredit on my reports of their operations and plans—which they +knew I could correctly give—they succeeded only in the sense that I +was personally discredited. The officers at the Fort were grateful +and glad to receive my information. I know they were benefited by +and acted upon it; but the poor spy who enabled them to save their +Fort, or at least prevent disaster, was ignored. The officers, no +doubt, took great credit to themselves in their official reports.</p> + +<p>I may be allowed to say right here that the spy's work, though +often most dangerous and important, is always thankless. That was +my experience at the outset of my career, but (unfortunately for me +perhaps) did not deter me from continuing in the same service.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> + +<p>I made up my mind to one thing, however; I stuck to it, and I +was never caught on board a man-of-war again, but confined my +operations to solid ground, where I could have more room and freedom, +and be my own executive officer.</p> + +<p>The next day on board the ship was Sunday, and an eventful one +to me. As is customary aboard a man-of-war, it was inspection day. +All soldiers and sailors know what a Sunday inspection is, so I need +not describe it.</p> + +<p>At a certain hour I was invited aft, with the drove of a crew—to +"Meetin'," as the sailor said. All hands were congregated about the +deck according to a drill, which all understood, at a certain moment +the officer of the deck stepped to the captain's door and, after saluting +in the proper manner, invited the parson to the pulpit.</p> + +<p>Captain Porter in full regimentals marched out in grand style, +taking up his position, and gravely opened a book from which he +read some prayers as effectively as a clergyman, after which there +were orders read, and a dismissal for a general holiday—relief from +drill and routine work for the balance of the day.</p> + +<p>This was the first time I had been permitted to look at the captain +since my disappointment, and I most eagerly scanned his face +for some indication of his feeling toward me; once or twice I caught +his eye, but I found little comfort there. He was a fierce-looking +fellow, and particularly so when fixed up in his Sunday toggery.</p> + +<p>The other ships of the squadron, as well as the fort and the Rebels, +seemed to be putting on their best attire and were feeling comfortable +in their Sunday dress.</p> + +<p>Inside the harbor, the Rebels seemed to be enjoying Sunday +excursions with their little boats; the officers on the ships and the +fort were exchanging friendly visits.</p> + +<p>I had, as a special Sunday privilege, I suppose, been told to +resume the freedom of the ship as at first, and was lounging in my +haunt above, where I could see all about us.</p> + +<p>Along some time in the afternoon I noticed a little steam-tug +steam out past Fort Pickens, puffing and dancing along in the direction +of the admiral's flag-ship. The striking peculiarity about the +little boat was, that at her bow she floated a white flag, not larger +than a bathing towel, while on the rear staff were flaunted the Rebel +colors.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>My curiosity having been greatly excited by the sailors' talks of +flags-of-truce to the fort, in which I was in some unknown way +connected by them, I watched with intense interest every movement +this little craft made; she came on, dancing along between the shore +and the squadron until the flag-ship was almost abreast of her, then +suddenly turning, the fluttering white flag pointed directly to the +admiral's ship, and was lost to my sight behind her great sides.</p> + +<p>Others on board were watching this also, and I could see that +the glances of the men would turn significantly from the little truce +boat to me.</p> + +<p>Mr. Queen had gone off visiting, but Mr. Perry was on hand, +sullen and disagreeable.</p> + +<p>They stopped so long aboard the Admiral's ship that one of the +younger officers ventured to say to me in a side whisper, feeling +perhaps that I needed some comfort: "Oh, they are just over for +a Sunday visit to the Admiral," and then walked briskly away from +me as if afraid of being seen by Perry talking to the Rebel Spy.</p> + +<p>He had scarcely turned away from me when, on looking in the +direction of the flag-ship, I saw the white flag come bobbing out +from under the stern of the big ship. Were they going back to their +Rebel camps? <i>No!</i> they were bearing straight down on us, while +they were waving adieus to the officers, who were looking over the +bulwarks of the ship they had just quitted.</p> + +<p><i>Great God!</i> my heart sank within me at the thought that they +were after me again, and the old Admiral had sent them to Captain +Porter, with orders to give me up.</p> + +<p>I reckon I turned pale. I know that I felt that I would die in +the water beneath me before I would return with them to the Rebel +lines. I was a boy of strong impulse, and, if I must say it myself, +I was not afraid of death; but I determined in the instant I stood +there watching that boat come toward us so saucily that I would +die rather than return with them.</p> + +<p>The slightest provocation at that time would have made me leap +overboard. Luckily for me, the young officer who had spoken to +me but a few moments previously, ran rapidly up the few steps +and called me quickly to him, saying:</p> + +<p>"Captain wants you in his cabin, right away."</p> + +<p>I nervously followed him, and as he opened the cabin door I stepped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +inside and saw Captain Porter in the act of buckling on his sword +belt; his face was strangely flushed, and, as he adjusted his sword +into its proper position at his side, and buttoned up his coat, turned +sharply on me, saying, as he shook his head significantly:</p> + +<p>"Young fellow, that boat is coming after you; do you know +that?"</p> + +<p>I don't know just what I did reply, I was so stunned for a moment, +but the gallant, glorious old loyal son of the navy put the +answer into my head.</p> + +<p>"You claim our protection, don't you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do. I'll go overboard Captain, but I'll not return to the +Rebel lines."</p> + +<p>"You don't need to. You have claimed my protection; you are a +boy away from home and among enemies; you are in my charge."</p> + +<p>I tried to thank him, but he stopped me abruptly, saying:</p> + +<p>"Never mind; you claim our protection, and, by God, you shall +have it."</p> + +<p>With this he glared out of his little window like a wild beast in a +cage, and I backed out of his presence with a heart overflowing with +thankfulness and gratitude, rejoiced that I had found one officer +who would use his authority to protect American citizens; who +sought the good of the country and the protection of our flag.</p> + +<p>I went back to my perch just in time to see the white flag run +under our bow, and, looking down over the ship's side, I could see +the tug was filled with Rebel officers.</p> + +<p>The officer of the deck received them courteously, and, after +reporting to Mr. Perry, they were invited aboard. Mr. Perry was +most affable and pleasant with them, as were, in fact, all the officers, +and the Rebels themselves seemed to be as jolly as if they were out +for a frolic. There was nothing in their manner or bearing toward +each other that would lead anyone to infer there was any prospect +of a war.</p> + +<p>After the preliminary courtesies had been exchanged, a couple +of them went into the captain's Cabin; what occurred there I never +learned; the interview, however, was a mighty short one; the Rebel +emissaries came out and without any further parley got aboard their +flag-of-truce boat and steered for their sand-banks.</p> + +<p>I have a recollection of reading in our school histories an account<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +of one of our naval officers, while in an Austrian port, giving some +such protection to a naturalized citizen of the United States, and +great credit attached to this act; perhaps, I am prejudiced, but I +doubt very much if that officer did as grand and heroic an act as +that of Captain Porter in protecting a boy from the shabby, cowardly +attempt of traitors in arms against his flag, aided by the more contemptible +conduct of our own officers who were his superiors.</p> + +<p>It required the nerve which subsequent events showed Captain +Porter to possess, and his name and deeds are everywhere recognized +while that of his superior, the Admiral, has been lost.</p> + +<p>During the ten days I was anchored off Fort Pickens on board +the man-of-war Powhattan my enforced sojourn may be likened to +that of a "fish out of water."</p> + +<p>In compelling an ignorant slave boatman to row me over the bay +in the cover of the night to Fort Pickens with this valuable information, +I was, according to law, as it was interpreted technically, +guilty of a threat or attempt to kill. This, with the fact that the +slave, like the boat and oar, was "property," added robbery to the +indictment prepared against me.</p> + +<p>But as the slave had been so heartlessly and almost cruelly sent +back to his little boat, there was in fact no robbery, and all that +could have been claimed was the intention or intent to kill, etc. I +did not understand then, and have not since been able to learn, +sufficient law to properly satisfy myself on this question, but the +facts are as has been stated here.</p> + +<p>On his return to the Rebels, the colored boy, no doubt, gave these +officials an exaggerated story of his experience with the bold highwayman, +or freebooter, in his boat on the bay, thinking in this way +to obtain for himself some immunity from the terrible punishment +that awaited all slaves who were caught out at night, which would +be more especially severe at such a time and under such circumstances +as had just happened to him.</p> + +<p>The Rebel officers, of course, when they heard the dreadful story +from the lips of my boatman, at once began looking up the details +of the recent visit of the Texan among them, and readily gathered +sufficient data from my week's companionship and intercourse in their +midst to justify the conviction that I was a dangerous fellow, and had +gone over to the Yankees, knowing their hand and game too well.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is probable that the object of the flags-of-truce was, primarily, +to create in the minds of our officers an impression that I was +unworthy and undeserving of belief. Before leaving Washington I +had, while in consultation with an official of the War Department, +been given to understand that, as a matter of policy, it would be +more to my credit to obtain information and report directly to the +War Department; and I was cautioned <i>not to acknowledge to any +person</i>—friend or foe—that I was on a secret errand. I had not, +during my brief stay at the fort, mentioned to any of the officers +the fact that I was visiting in the service of the War Department, +and had only informed Captain Porter of my hasty interview with +the Secretary, admitting to him that the present service was purely +voluntary, but that I expected to be regularly engaged on my return +home. I had no papers of any kind in my possession, and even if +I had brought along with me the Secretary of War's endorsement +on my application, no person would have been able to have read the +Secretary's peculiar chirography.</p> + +<p>Some of our officers, in April, 1861, were inclined to accept the +Rebels' interpretation of the laws, and those at Pickens were, I fear, +disposed, as a matter of mere courtesy to surrender on their demand +my person a victim of their unholy vengeance. At that time Ben +Butler, Fremont, or General Banks, had not had the opportunity to +lay down the law of the nation to the Rebels in arms against its +authority; but, luckily for me, I was aboard the ship commanded by +Captain D. D. Porter, and though I had in my uncertainty of mind +for several days "been like Mahomet's coffin, suspended between +the earth and sky," I did not at the time these negotiations were +pending know that my life was hanging by so slender a thread, or, +more properly speaking, that I was liable to be suspended by numerous +threads woven together in the more substantial form of a rope.</p> + +<p>Captain Porter's interview, however, satisfied me at the time, +but when I witnessed with what cordiality and heartiness the Rebel +officers were being received aboard our ship, my mind was puzzled, +and I recall now a feeling of uncertainty or misgiving.</p> + +<p>In a day or so after Captain Porter's reception and emphatic +rejection of whatever propositions the Rebel officers accompanying +the truce boat had made to him, in regard to giving into their hands +for trial the Yankee Spy, I bid Captain Porter and his ship a hearty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +and thankful farewell, and the curtain was rung down on my Pinafore +experiences.</p> + +<p>The side-wheel transport steamer Philadelphia being ready to +return to the North, a day preceding her sailing I was placed aboard +of her as a dead-head passenger for New York.</p> + +<p>There were quite a number of passengers aboard, among them +Lieutenant Slemmer and one other artillery officer, whose name I +have forgotten, who were going home for the benefit of their health; +also a number of mechanics who had been employed about some +repairs on the Fort.</p> + +<p>As seen from the deck of the transport, as we weighed anchor +and pointed her prow homeward-bound, I thought the sloop-of-war +Powhattan, with her companion ship, the Brooklyn, with their +port-holes and big guns and men aloft, to give us a parting salute, +was one of the most beautiful sights imaginable. How much better +pleased I was with the view from this standpoint than I had been +with the sailing and saluting of the transport which had sailed a +few days previous, under just such circumstances (except that I +wasn't aboard of her on my way home).</p> + +<p>Our captain had taken aboard some field-pieces of heavy artillery +which had not yet been stowed below. While we were yet in +that portion of the gulf where the water was comparatively so +smooth, and the weather so fine, our civilian captain amused himself +by calling on all hands to assist in mounting one of these guns +on its field carriage, in the bow of his old transport, while he entertained +himself and the ship's company with great stories of the +danger from the newly-fledged privateers that Jeff Davis so +promptly issued his letters of reprisal for.</p> + +<p>We steamed along smoothly and slowly enough for a day or two +without any adventure. I have often wondered since what would +have been the effect on the old ship if that captain had taken a +crazy notion to have fired one of those big field-pieces.</p> + +<p>When we reached Tortugas, or Fort Jefferson—which I believe +is the name of the immense affair which seems to rise straight out +of the water—there was considerable saluting and signaling with +the flags on the Fort as we approached the anchorage.</p> + +<p>We stayed at Tortugas part of two days, storing away the guns, +and I do think they were two of the most intolerably hot days that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +I have ever felt. As we lay at anchor, and when the sun was highest, +it was necessary to spread over the ship's deck the large canvas +awning, which the sailors said was to prevent the pitch calking +from melting out and to avoid "warping the ship."</p> + +<p>Here I went ashore, if going inside an immense Fort can be +called shore—there certainly was no freedom about it—but it was a +great relief to one's legs to be able to stand and walk about on the +ground once more, even though it was inside of great walls, and the +only persons to be seen were the men of the garrison, their officers +and a few families.</p> + +<p>During our voyage—after leaving Key West—our Fort Pickens +officers, Lieutenant Slemmer and his companion, had kept close to +their rooms—probably they were too sick to make an appearance—but +when the ship got into the bay, and as we ran up the river to +the anchorage, Mr. Slemmer's sick companion made his appearance +dressed up in full regimentals. As he sat on top of the pilot-house +with our captain, with his mantle thrown back over his shoulder, +and showing the brilliant red lining of the artillery uniform, he +looked to me then as if he were expecting to be received as a hero.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Slemmer, on the other hand, modest and retiring, +did not show himself at all; and, as soon as he got ashore, he scurried +off to Pennsylvania to meet his wife, who had previously been +highly honored and entertained after her return North through the +rebel lines.</p> + +<p>Your humble servant was not long in getting on solid ground, +and, in company with a Spanish exile from Cuba, we drove at once +to the Astor House. Here was lying in state, in their heavily +draped parlor, the body of Colonel Ellsworth, the funeral cortege +being on the way from Washington City to the burial place, somewhere +east of New York.</p> + +<p>It is not for me, in this narrative, to attempt anything like a +description of the exciting times I was permitted to witness in New +York City that Sunday. Those who have followed me in this effort +to picture my solitary and lonely adventures, away off in Florida, +when my attempts, voluntarily, to do something for my country, +and for the people who were then so terribly in earnest at home, +will appreciate my feelings of joy and happiness, over being once +more among friends—and such great, hearty, fighting friends, too, +as everybody seemed to be at that time.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>The first thing I did was to go to a telegraph office; and, climbing +up four or five flights of stairs, I found Mr. Porter in charge of +the operating room, as chief operator and manager; and although +I had never met him personally, I was well acquainted by wire, having +often worked with him at the other end of a 300 mile wire.</p> + +<p>Introducing myself, and briefly explaining my arrival from +Florida, and a desire to announce myself to friends at the other end +of his wire, he astonished me by at once saying:</p> + +<p>"Why, bless me, is this <i>you?</i> There's been lots of talking over +this wire about you lately."</p> + +<p>Then he related at length all he had seen and heard of my +career through the newspapers during all the time I was a helpless +prisoner aboard the Powhattan.</p> + +<p>He had, as you may imagine, a great deal of news for me about +myself, as reported by the Southern press and extensively copied in +the North.</p> + +<p>I was soon put in communication over the wire with a brother +operator near my own home; and, strange as it may appear to those +who are not familiar with the humors of the telegraph, an operator's +"touch," even though a thousand miles distant, like the sound +of a familiar voice, is recognized by some peculiarity that attaches +to the operator's style.</p> + +<p>My old friend at the other end of the wire, on hearing my +"sending" at the New York end, told me afterward, that on that +quiet Sunday morning, when all alone in his office, he had been reading +at that very moment a newspaper account of my adventures, in +which it was made to appear that our officers had, in reply to the +demand of the rebels, informed them, that they—the Union officers—were +going to hang this spy themselves; and while he was yet +thinking that as between the two, there was no hope of my escape, +his attention was called to the signal for his office to receive a message. +Hastily answering to "G. A.," or the telegrapher's go ahead, +he pulled out a pencil to note down the message. The first words +the brass tongue of the instrument sounded to his startled ears were:</p> + +<p>"I am O. K."—this was my telegraphic signal—"Who are you?"</p> + +<p>He said he knew as quickly as the words "I am," were sounded, +that it was me at the key; but, in his present state of mind, could +not resist the feeling that he was about to communicate with a spirit,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +or the ghost of his friend, but, as the sounder became silent, or +paused for a reply, he recovered himself, and answered nervously +that he was my old friend Gilson.</p> + +<p>Then we had a long, confidential talk in whispers, as it were, +over the long wire, in which much that I have tried to relate in +these pages was briefly gone over, while I was, in turn, informed of +all that had been done and said during my absence.</p> + +<p>Word was sent to my father and to my sweethearts and all my +friends. As I rose to leave the office, and turned to thank my old +fraternal companion for his kindness and courtesy, in giving me +this opportunity to at once converse with my home, he suggested +to me that, as I had been so grossly misrepresented, I ought to see the +New York papers and have my story properly given to the world.</p> + +<p>At his request, I agreed to meet him at the office in the evening, +when he would take me to the different offices of newspapers with +which he, as manager of the Associated Press, had friendly relations, +and introduce me to the editors.</p> + +<p>Leaving Mr. Porter, I found my way next to Rev. Henry Ward +Beecher's Church, in Brooklyn, as being one of the necessary things +to do in New York on a Sunday morning. Here I got a back seat, +in a crowded gallery, and, as I had not yet gotten over the tumbling +and rolling sensations experienced aboard our old tub of a ship, as +I sat there and tried to ogle the pretty girls in the choir over Mr. +Beecher's pulpit, the whole church persisted in rocking and rolling, +precisely as the ship had been doing for a week.</p> + +<p>The rest of the day I put in sending notes and messages to +Washington, and to friends whom I had left at home, but many of +whom, I now learned, were out in the army, at different points.</p> + +<p>In the evening, I met my friend according to appointment, and +together we called at the New York <i>Herald</i> office, where I was +pleasantly welcomed as a "fruitful subject," and the shrewd city +editor pumped me thoroughly dry before he let me out of that +chair by his desk.</p> + +<p>From there we went to the New York <i>Tribune</i>, where the same +procedure was gone through but at somewhat greater length. The +next morning, which, if I remember rightly, was May 28th, 1861, +these two New York papers printed with bold head-lines a full +account of my recent adventure.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> + +<p>The <i>Tribune</i>, I think, published one of their war maps, in +which was located the different Rebel batteries, but in such a mixed-up +way that I was unable to understand it myself.</p> + +<p>However, it satisfied the people, and for a single day I was a +greater hero in New York than Lieutenant Slemmer.</p> + +<p>Luckily for me, perhaps, I was anxious to get back home to see +my number one girl, and got out of the city before I could be wholly +spoiled.</p> + +<p>When I got over to Philadelphia, where I had some old railroad +friends, upon whom I called for passes home, I was also quite a big +fellow among my former railroad associates, and the passes were +furnished without a question as to my claims or rights. Fortunately, +I survived it all.</p> + +<p>I reckon I should have first reported to the War Department, at +Washington, but at that particular time I was much more concerned +about what No. 1 would think of it all, than I was for +the opinion of the War Department, so I first reported to her, and +the first words I heard were:</p> + +<p>"Why, I thought you were hung!"</p> + +<p>What a deadener that was! The word <i>hung</i> fell from her lips +into my heart like the dull, sickening thud of the dropping victim +from the scaffold. But this isn't to be a love story, so I must pass +over some of the most interesting little events in the career I am +trying to describe, although they supply the motive for many of +the acts and incidents which to all my friends seemed queer.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>REPORTING TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR, AT WASHINGTON—ORDERED +ON ANOTHER SCOUT TO VIRGINIA—IN PATTERSON'S +ARMY, IN VIRGINIA, BEFORE THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN.</h3> + + +<p>I was having such a pleasant time at my home and among my +young friends, that I took no thought of reporting to the officials +of the War Department, at Washington. One day we were advised +by the papers that Senator Andy Johnson, the famous Unionist +of Tennessee, would pass through our town on his way to the Capital. +This was about the time of the outbreak of the reign of terror +in East Tennessee, and the sturdy Senator, with many others of +the same fearless build, had been forced to flee for his life. But +while he was a hunted fugitive when south of the Ohio River, his +progress through the loyal States to Washington was a right royal +one.</p> + +<p>As will be recalled, Mr. Johnson had been my first friend in +Washington, and it was through my association with himself and +Mr. Covode that I had entered the service.</p> + +<p>When the train rolled up to the station, I was the first to board +the car, and, in my rather boyish way, pushed unceremoniously +through the crowd to where the Senator was holding an impromptu +reception. He greeted me very kindly by a hearty shake, as he +bade me sit down by him, and as soon as he found an opportunity, +in his half-laughing, fatherly way, began to catechize the boy.</p> + +<p>As I have previously said, up to the meeting with the Senator, I +had been entirely neglectful of my proper duty of reporting to the +War Department a formal account of my movements since leaving +Washington. I assumed that, in a general way, the newspaper +comments, which were quite flattering in the North, would be +sufficient.</p> + +<p>This fact, with the frank confession that I really felt myself +under greater obligations to a little girl, and was more willing to do +her bidding than that of the Secretary of War, explains another of +my many mistakes during the war.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>When I told Senator Johnson that I had not heard from the War +Department since leaving Washington in March—it was early in +June now—he said at once:</p> + +<p>"Why, you had better come right along with me to Washington. +You ought to be there now."</p> + +<p>Just then the train began to move off; a friend standing near +me who had heard the Senator's suggestion, emphatically seconded +it, by saying:</p> + +<p>"Go on; now is your chance; you might be too late if you wait +here longer."</p> + +<p>I had no opportunity to say good-by to my folks, my friends, +or my sweetheart; but went off as impulsively as before on a scouting +campaign that, in effect, lasted until the close of the war.</p> + +<p>During that night's railroad ride over the Alleghany Mountains, +as I sat alongside Mr. Johnson, as we sped along the Juniata, I told +him my story. The Senator was an attentive listener, and, before +going to sleep, directed that I should at once put myself in communication +with the War Department, and refer the secretary to +himself and Mr. Covode.</p> + +<p>In those days I did not consider a berth in a sleeping-car a necessary +condition for a night's ride, but found an empty seat, curled my +five feet six and-a-half inches of body into three and-a-half feet of +space, and slept the sound sleep of youth, while the train rapidly +rolled through the darkness toward the sunrise and daylight.</p> + +<p>On my arrival in Washington, I went directly to the Seventh +Avenue Hotel, located at the northeast corner of Seventh and +Pennsylvania avenues and Market space. This was Mr. Covode's +quarters when in the city.</p> + +<p>The clerk directed me to the parlor, where Mr. Covode was at +that moment receiving a delegation.</p> + +<p>Recognizing me at once, he collared me as a school-master would +a truant boy whom he had caught unexpectedly. I was pleasantly +hauled across the room and introduced to Mr. John W. Forney, as +a "young man from our own State who had been down amongst +the Rebels, and they couldn't catch him; and if they had, he +wouldn't be here now.—Ha! ha!"</p> + +<p>I found myself quite well known in Washington wherever introduced +by Mr. Covode and his friends. It will be remembered that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +Mr. Forney was then a prominent newspaper man, and no doubt he +found in the boy, who had just returned from a trip through Rebel +armies, quite an interesting news source for his papers.</p> + +<p>I had been compelled to go over my story so much that I really +became quite surfeited with the whole business, and was glad +enough when evening came, that I could go off alone and have a +nice little time around the corner at the "Canterberry." Every old +soldier who spent a day or night in Washington will laugh when he +reads anything about the "Canterberry." I confess that for a time +I became so greatly interested in the famous bouffe singer, Julia +Mortimer, that I had nearly forgotten No. 1, and was becoming quite +indifferent in regard to my appointment or business with the War +Department.</p> + +<p>I found that it was about as difficult as before I left the city for +Montgomery to obtain a private hearing with the Secretary.</p> + +<p>Upon the suggestion of these friends, who had interested themselves +in me, I was advised to make my application personally to +the Secretary of War for a commission in the regular army; all +agreed that this would be about the proper thing to do, it being +understood that, in case I should secure this, which would be a permanency, +that I could, of course, be detailed in the customary way, +on special staff duty, in the field, where there would be opportunity +for me to make some use of the information I had obtained of the +Southern country and their armies.</p> + +<p>With this object in view, I called at the War Department one day +in company with Mr. Covode.</p> + +<p>Mr. Cameron was, as usual, very busy. There were a great +many persons waiting their turn for an audience. Mr. Covode was +admitted out of the regular order, because he, being a Congressman, +had stated to the attendants, in his positive way, that his business +was most urgent, and that he <i>must</i> see the Secretary. Mr. Cameron +received us at first rather gruffly, when he learned that the +object of this visit was to secure an office; but, upon being reminded +of a former appeal and promise, and my recent services being brought +to his attention in Mr. Covode's glowing style, the Secretary turned +to me laughing, in his quiet way, and said:</p> + +<p>"Well, there's no doubt but that you have the pluck necessary +for the army."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then turning to Mr. Covode, abruptly interrupting him, as if +to ask a question:</p> + +<p>"We would like to find out just now what the Rebel Johnston is +doing down in front of Pennsylvania."</p> + +<p>Covode was ready to change the subject, and follow the Secretary's +lead, and at once spoke for me:</p> + +<p>"Well, here's the boy to find out all about it."</p> + +<p>He didn't seem to think it necessary to consult me about the +matter at all. Mr. Cameron, looking at me quizzically, said:</p> + +<p>"I will have you in mind, and get you <i>something</i> as soon as I +can find a suitable place."</p> + +<p>Then turning about, as the attendant brought in a message from +another urgent Congressman, he said, in an authoritative manner:</p> + +<p>"Covode, you go to Army Headquarters and tell them I sent +you there with this young man. They can use him to advantage, +perhaps. I will see you again."</p> + +<p>I wasn't exactly satisfied with this outlook. I had thought that +I was through with the spy business, and had no desire to undertake +any more lonely and isolated trips through the enemy's +country.</p> + +<p>Since my return I had found that nearly all the young fellows of +my acquaintance were either in the army, or about to enter it, and I +had naturally imbibed the military fever which prevailed at this +time. I reckon every one of us expected, as a matter of course, to +become colonels or generals in short order, for gallant service in +front of the enemy, so it was not at all to my liking that I was +being steered in the direction of the rear of the Rebel lines again.</p> + +<p>In my case, it was a doubly-dangerous undertaking, as I had so +recently been well advertised all over the South in their papers, and +was, of course, liable to be recognized and hung as a spy if I should +be captured any place in their lines. As I walked with Mr. Covode +from the old War Department Building I said something to +him about my misgivings, but in his hearty way he assured me by +saying: "Oh, this isn't going to last long." And then in a confidential +manner he said: "Old Simon wants to find out something; +you just go ahead and do as he wants you to, and it will be all +right."</p> + +<p>When we reached Army Headquarters we encountered a sentry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +on duty at the door—a soldier of the regular army, who did not +show Mr. Covode any particular attention, not recognizing a Congressman +in his rough exterior. After some dilly-dallying we were +admitted to the presence of a military-looking fellow whose name +I can not recall. Mr. Covode introduced himself, and presented +me as being sent by the Secretary of War. This announcement at +once seemed to put the officer in a better humor with himself and +his callers. Mr. Covode brusquely stated his business; the officer +attentively listened and sharply eyed me while Mr. Covode went +through with his story about my services at Pensacola.</p> + +<p>"Does the Secretary want to procure any information as to +General Patterson's movements?"</p> + +<p>(It will be remembered that at this time General Patterson was +being urged by the War Department to make a demonstration on +Johnston, to prevent him reinforcing Beauregard at Manassas.)</p> + +<p>Mr. Covode answered: "We want all the information we can get +from all quarters, and he can get it too."</p> + +<p>The officer said, smilingly: "Oh yes, of course; the young man +is in the secret service of the War Department."</p> + +<p>Returning to the Secretary's office for some written authority to +present to General Patterson, we were directed by Mr. Cameron to +one of the clerks, who, after a short private conversation between Mr. +Covode and Mr. Cameron, was authorized to prepare a note of +introduction. As he handed the official envelope to me, he took +occasion to observe, in a very pleasant way:</p> + +<p>"I would suggest that this young man should not permit any +persons to become acquainted with his business; the department +prefers to hear from their special agents in confidence, and <i>not +through the newspapers</i>." This hint given in this pleasant manner, +I did not forget in following months or years.</p> + +<p>To my friend and tutelar saint, Mr. Covode, I again expressed +my doubts about any secret service, after returning from our brief +interview with Mr. Secretary-of-War Cameron and the official at +Army Headquarters. Mr. Covode apparently agreed with my conclusions, +saying, as he reached for the official-looking letter which +the War Department clerk had given me, and that I hesitatingly +held in my hand: "Lets see that letter."</p> + +<p>Putting on his old-fashioned round-eyed spectacles, he read half<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +aloud, in his deliberate way, as if studying out some hidden +meaning:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"This will introduce to you Mr. O. K., a young man who has +gained some personal knowledge of the plans of the Rebels, and who, +I hope, may be of service to you in the same direction, etc.</p> + +<p> +(Signed), +"<span class="smcap">Simon Cameron</span>, <i>Secretary of War</i>."<br /> +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>He read it over a second time, and then looking at me, as if he +had suddenly solved a problem said: "Didn't he tell you to report +<i>direct</i> to the War Department?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I remembered that I was advised to report to the War +Department first and not to the newspapers.</p> + +<p>"Well," says Mr. Covode, "that's all right; you go up there and +find Patterson and present that letter, and he will give you authority +to go wherever you please, and you let us know here what's +going on."</p> + +<p>When I left the old man, I ventured a word as to my prospects +for a commission in the regular army, to which he gave the usual +answer: "Oh, that's all right," and added—</p> + +<p>"Come and see me to-morrow and I'll give you some more letters +to some friends in Patterson's army."</p> + +<p>After a restless night, I was early at Mr. Covode's room receiving +a pleasant good-morning. He said in a confidential whisper, but +which was loud enough for any person to have heard had we not +been alone in the room:</p> + +<p>"I saw some of those people last night, and it is all right." That +wasn't very great encouragement to be sure, but, he added with a +significant wink, "You go up there at once and find out all you can, +and report <i>to me</i> what's going on, particularly if there are any Rebels +going to attack Patterson's army," and he added, again with +emphasis, "Report to me here, quick as you can."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but this letter is to report to General Patterson."</p> + +<p>"That's all right; you are to report direct to the War Department, +too."</p> + +<p>I began to feel considerably mixed up by these contradictory +instructions, but all the satisfaction I could get from Mr. C. was—"That's +all right," to which he added, as I was leaving, "You +tell me all you can find out, and I'll make it all right at the War +Department."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>As this letter had been prepared and signed by a clerk in the +War Department, the penmanship was, of course, in the regulation +copper-plate style, wholly unlike the former endorsement that I had +received in Mr. Cameron's own handwriting.</p> + +<p>Though Patterson's army was in the neighborhood of Harper's +Ferry and Williamsport, Maryland, about fifty miles distant in a +direct route from Washington, I concluded that, with such a recommendation +in my possession, the furthest way round might be the +nearest way home; I would not risk the capture of that note by +taking a short cut, so I made a safe detour, going due north to Baltimore +and <a name="harris" id="harris"></a><ins title="Original has Harrisburgh">Harrisburg</ins>, Pa., distant over a hundred miles; thence +I came back southwest through the beautiful Cumberland Valley +to Chambersburg and Hagerstown, about seventy-five or eighty +miles more ground.</p> + +<p>Here I was almost literally dumped from the car into the midst +of General Patterson's army—a lively host of the gallant and patriotic +boys who had rushed to arms at the first call of President Lincoln +for the three-months men.</p> + +<p>There have been books upon books published giving the history +of this campaign, any one of which probably contains a more satisfactory +description of the camp-life of those days than I would be able +to give here. This effort is necessarily a personal, and, to some extent +a private history only, of the campaigns of an individual scout, but +I may be indulged in the hope that some of the old boys, who will +take the trouble to follow me in these wanderings, may have been +among those who were in camp near Hagerstown along in June and +July, 1861. With what tenacity the mind clings to the remembrance +of those early days of the great war.</p> + +<p>I recall, as if it were but yesterday, this first hunt through the +different camps for "Headquarters."</p> + +<p>Jolly soldiers were to be found everywhere, either walking about +the roads in hilarious squads, or assembled in groups under the shade +of trees by the roadside, or perhaps crowding the porches and occupying +all the chairs in the neighboring houses. In after years, when +provost-marshals and camp-guards were established, the sky-larking +was not so common, and the crowds, then, were usually to be seen +only around some spring or well of water.</p> + +<p>I recall now with amusement how ignorant some of the three-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>month +boys of '61 were about their own army-headquarters. Many +to whom I applied for information about the location of headquarters, +referred me severally, to their own colonels, while one +young officer, I remember, pointed to a mounted officer just riding +past as the "General's Assistant."</p> + +<p>I tramped through miles of dust that hot afternoon before I +could get onto General Patterson's track, and, when I finally discovered +headquarters, I learned that the General with some of his aides +were attending a dinner-party in the town and could not be seen +before the next day.</p> + +<p>I did not deliver my letter of introduction to the officer, who I +thought at the time rather impudently demanded to know my business +with the General, but merely told him that I should call again +to see the General.</p> + +<p>Having tried to perform a duty, and attended to business first, +I set about enjoying the holiday which it seemed to me the boys were +having all around. How like a circus it all seemed; some of the +scenes then enacted might be compared to that of a country fair, +at which there was being held, as an additional attraction to the +country people, a militia muster or a prize drill, such as we see now +when the State troops assemble one week in summer for their annual +camp and drill. There was so much free and easy mixture of +civilians and ladies with the soldiers—especially the officers—all +were being constantly stirred up by the bands, that seemed to break +forth in melody from every grove. There was, of course, the dust on +the roads; the processions of thirsty crowds to and from the springs +or wells; it all seems now like an immense picnic. Dear me, what +bass drums there were in General Patterson's army; wasn't there +one to each company? The old-fashioned bass drum, too, as big as +a barn door, and noisy in proportion, and to which was usually +assigned the biggest fellow in the company the duty of beating on +both sides.</p> + +<p>A Rebel officer once told me that they were able to estimate the +strength of McDowell's army before Manassas by the beating of bass +drums at parades each evening.</p> + +<p>Along about sundown the usual preparations were made in all +the camps for the dress parade—the great feature of the day—which +was being witnessed by hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of ladies,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +old men, and children, who would drive out from the town and surrounding +country for miles to witness it, to the delight of the soldiers. +What a beautiful sight, in June, 1861, was a full regiment +of 1,000 freshly-uniformed, healthy, fresh men in line on dress parade, +with their gayly-attired officers (staff and line), going through +the "retreat" with fine musical accompaniment. How smart the +adjutant was, and what a tremendous fellow the drum-major! On +Sunday evenings, at this parade, the chaplain took a hand in the +drill, making a prayer, while the long line of the full regiment +stood at "parade rest," uncovered, with heads bowed, their little +fatigue caps being placed on the muzzle of the gun; the band played +"Old Hundred," and perhaps a chorus of a thousand male voices +sung the soul-thrilling melody of the grand old tune, which is +sung in Heaven. So it was in front of Hagerstown in June or July, +1861.</p> + +<p>It was the fortune of war for me to be with the Army of the +Potomac again before Hagerstown in July, 1863—a week after the +battle of Gettysburg. But—ah, yes—the conditions were sadly +changed; scarcely a brigade of that army could muster then as +many men as were in each regiment in 1861. There were no visitors +in camp; not a lady was to be seen, except, perhaps, the hospital +attendants, and the music was confined to the tiresome routine of +the "Reveille," "Tattoo" and "Taps."</p> + +<p>My first day in General Patterson's army was so full of new and +soul-stirring sensations, as compared with the same experiences in +the rebel lines, that I was all in a ferment, and forgot about being +tired, hungry and worn out, until the evening parades were all over, +and the soldiers began to prepare their camp suppers.</p> + +<p>While trudging wearily back to the town, some miles distant, to +find some supper and a bed, I had the opportunity to reflect seriously +in my own mind over the work that I had undertaken.</p> + +<p>I wondered to myself if there were not Rebel spies in our army +there. It occurred to me at once that there were no obstacles for +them to overcome—the entire camp was free; everybody was welcomed +indiscriminately to the camp by the good-hearted soldiers; +and officers were only too eager to talk with every caller about all +they knew of the plans and strength of their own army. This, notwithstanding +we were then encamped in Maryland, among a peo<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>ple +who, if not openly hostile to our cause, were generally in sympathy +with the secessionists, whose army was within fighting distance +and communication with their headquarters was only a question +of an hour or so.</p> + +<p>Our officers and soldiers had certainly taken Hagerstown, Md., +as I found to my disgust when I reached the hotel after dark, finding +every bed and every corner of the old tavern was literally in +possessions of our forces, though, through the kindly interest of a +citizen, I was luckily provided with half a bed in a private house. +Of course I slept well, except that I was disturbed by a horrid nightmare. +I had somehow been transformed into a big brass drum, +which a brawny fellow insisted upon pounding upon my stomach, +which probably hadn't succeeded in digesting the cold supper.</p> + +<p>The first thing next morning was to try and find General Patterson. +My experience of the previous day enabled me to steer in a +straight course this time, so I was not long in getting to headquarters; +but seeing General Patterson was not such an easy matter. His +staff officers volunteered to attend to business for their General, but +I wouldn't, of course, allow <i>any</i> person to learn the character of my +business. It was only after I had written a note, stating that I had +a letter from the Secretary of War which I desired to present personally, +that I was permitted to approach the Commander.</p> + +<p>I need not describe the old Philadelphia militia General. He +had, as is well-known, achieved some distinction during the Mexican +War, and since that had enjoyed a life of leisure in his native +city, where he had, by means of his wealth and accomplishments, +become connected with the aristocratic families of the Quaker +City. He was, besides, a patron of the military and the clubs; and +being so favorably endorsed by prominent people of the State, he +was selected to command the troops of Pennsylvania, then operating +against General Joe Johnston of the rebel army.</p> + +<p>After some further delay, I was admitted to the presence of the +old general, who, I imagined, was surprised at my youthful appearance +and wondered that I had the temerity to beard such a grim +old soldier as himself in his den.</p> + +<p>There were several other officers present, and also two gentlemen +in civilian's dress, one of whom was quite an elderly-looking gentleman +while his companion was a young fellow, whose appearance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +struck me at once as being that of a Southerner. While General +Patterson read my note of introduction from the Secretary of War, +I embraced the opportunity to more closely observe the visitors, +who were being entertained so pleasantly by the officers.</p> + +<p>I quickly gathered from the conversation that the elderly gentleman +was applying to our officers for some protection from our own +soldiers, for his property. He probably owned some cherry trees in +the neighborhood of the camp, or, perhaps, it may have been that +the soldiers insisted on using some of the water from an overflowing +spring somewhere on his ground. Whatever it was, he was +receiving from the staff officers quite emphatic assurances that he +should receive all the protection he wanted, and, moreover, the men +guilty of trespassing on his ground should be severely punished. +The young fellow whom I assumed to be the son had nothing to +say.</p> + +<p>After General Patterson had finished reading the note, he +turned, and, after looking me all over, through his glasses, as if I +was some kind of a curiosity who stood meekly and innocently +before him, said: "Why, take a seat." Then, turning to one of +his aides, he said something in an undertone as he handed him the +letter. The aide, after reading it carefully, stepped up to me and +pleasantly but coolly invited me outside, when he said: "The General +requests that you will come to his quarters this evening."</p> + +<p>This wasn't exactly satisfactory to me, but I was glad enough to +get from the presence of the General's visitors, because I was apprehensive +that something might be said in their hearing that would +identify me as a scout.</p> + +<p>My visit to General Patterson occurred about the time that +General Joe Johnston was manœuvering in his front, with the object +of getting away from him to reinforce Beauregard at Manassas, in +anticipation of the impending battle there. Our Washington officials +were uneasy as to the outcome of this movement, and had been +almost daily urging General Patterson to make some demonstration +in front of Johnston that would prevent his leaving for Manassas.</p> + +<p>Though I did not know it at the time, I have since learned that +the War Department, at Washington, while they would not employ +scouts themselves over the head of the Commander of the department, +yet were willing enough to avail themselves of the informa<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>tion +of the scout who could make his reports in an unofficial +manner, through Mr. Covode, without compromising the courtesy +or etiquette of the War Office.</p> + +<p>The whole country seemed to be alive with soldiers, all in a +jolly good humor, nicely dressed, well fed. Their camps were +models of tent life.</p> + +<p>There did not seem to me to be any preparation whatever for +marching to meet the enemy.</p> + +<p>There was an immense amount of talk about what they intended +to do. General Patterson's army did move, of course; but—Well, to +go on with my story: I was most anxious to do something great myself, +being so filled with military ardor by the bass drums; perhaps the +probability of the war being closed before I should have the pleasure +of participating in a real fight with guns, was more constantly +before my mind than any other danger.</p> + +<p>It seemed a long wait until evening, when I could again see +General Patterson, and unfold to him a plan I had formulated, to +go inside the Rebel lines that very night, and before morning find +out, from a visit to General Johnston's army, what he was likely to +do. In my youthful ardor I hoped I could return to General Patterson +before breakfast time, that he might have the fight that same +day before dinner.</p> + +<p>These were the wild feelings that were swelling in my breast +when I approached headquarters to meet General Patterson's appointment. +I walked boldly up to a group of officers who were +loafing around headquarters; a sentry challenged me; nothing +daunted, I pointed to one of the group—the same officer who had +directed me to call—and asked to see him.</p> + +<p>My running into the sentry had made some little commotion, +which served to call the attention of the officer, who recognized me +and ordered the guard to allow me to pass. Meeting me half way, +we walked to one side. I believe this officer was Fitz-John Porter, +who was then Chief-of-staff—I am not positive; anyway, I was courteously +received, and, after being seated, was put through a course +of cross-examination as to my recent experience in the South, pretty +much—as I now recall it—after the manner of a witness in his own +defense.</p> + +<p>Being satisfied that General Patterson had referred the whole sub<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>ject +to this officer for his action, I told him briefly and pointedly +that I was willing and ready to undertake the service I proposed, +and believed that it was possible to ascertain the movements, and +perhaps the plans of General Johnston; that I could at least gather +from their telegraph communications to Richmond and Manassas +the purport of any instructions which were, of course, being sent to +Johnston in that way over the wires. I was perfectly willing, for +the good of the cause, to undertake the dangerous service of getting +back through the lines with the information.</p> + +<p>Whatever may have been thought of the feasibility or propriety +of this project, Mr. Porter could scarcely have doubted my motive, +but he apparently looked upon me as a youthful enthusiast, or, as +we term it nowadays, a crank. He said:</p> + +<p>"The General is not disposed to make much use of the service +of scouts; he thinks it altogether unnecessary in this instance."</p> + +<p>If Fitz-John Porter had dashed a bucket of cold water in my +face, it would not at the time have had a more chilling effect than +his few hard words he uttered in this contemptible manner.</p> + +<p>My proposition was not visionary, but entirely practical, and I +venture now the opinion that had the service been accepted in the +proper spirit it is possible that the despised spy might have brought +to his shiftless headquarters some reliable information of Johnston's +proposed movement to Manassas, which might have prevented his +escape, and thus have turned the tide of battle at Bull Run, which +followed soon after the interview.</p> + +<p>It is likely that the headquarters of the army were a little over-sensitive +on account of the well-known or the imagined interference +or meddling of the Washington authorities with their military prerogatives. +It has been fully explained in the "Century" history, +(since this story was first told) that General Scott, through the proper +channels, had been for days urging General Patterson to look +carefully after Johnston, and to prevent at all hazards his junction +with Beauregard.</p> + +<p>The urgency of the Washington officials, taken in connection +with the letter I brought from the Secretary and Mr. Covode, may +perhaps have caused them to infer that they were considered +neglectful and needed some prompting and investigation; perhaps +it may have been thought that I had been sent out as a spy in their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +own camps. Any way, I was not a willing party to any such schemes; +my only object and desire was to accomplish something for the benefit +of the cause, and in this I had not a thought of myself.</p> + +<p>Returning sorrowfully and with my heart laden with disappointment +to my bed, I pondered long before sleeping as to my proper +course. The longer I considered all the circumstances connected +with my being sent up there, I realized more clearly the real meaning +of Covode's words:</p> + +<p>"Old Simon wants to find out something; you go ahead," and +the repeated hints to report "direct," came back to me with a +greater significance than when uttered by Mr. Covode in Washington.</p> + +<p>My humiliating reception at headquarters had deeply affected +my rather sensitive feelings on the spy question. I had decided in +my own mind to return to Washington at once; but after reflection, +while on my bed, there was a revulsion of feeling from humiliation +to anger; and, after taking all things into consideration, I +decided for myself, without consulting any one, that I should, on +my own responsibility and without aid from our own officers, pass +through our lines, enter the rebel lines, ascertain their plans, and +go direct via Manassas to Washington, and report <i>personally</i> to the +Secretary of War.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>A NIGHT'S SCOUT IN JOHNSTON'S ARMY—REBEL SIGNALS—VISITORS +FROM THE UNION ARMY HEADQUARTERS REPORT TO REBEL +HEADQUARTERS—GENERAL J. E. JOHNSTON'S ESCAPE TO BEAUREGARD +REPORTED TO GENERAL PATTERSON—FITZ-JOHN PORTER +RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN, AS HE WAS +CASHIERED FOR THAT OF THE SECOND BULL RUN—AN IMPORTANT +CONTRIBUTION TO THE WAR HISTORY OF THE TIME—THE +STORY SINCE CONFIRMED BY THE "CENTURY" HISTORIANS OF +LINCOLN, SECRETARIES NICOLAY AND HAY.</h3> + + +<p>In the morning I mailed a hastily-written note to Mr. Covode +relating briefly the result of the interview with General Patterson's +principal aide, and stating further that I would return to Washington +via the Rebel lines at Manassas, and report "direct" on my +arrival.</p> + +<p>I hunted up in one of the regiments a former acquaintance, who +had some knowledge of my Fort Pickens adventures through the +papers. As our talk naturally turned in this channel, he expressed +a lively desire to engage with me in any further undertakings of +this character, and, before we parted, it was mutually agreed that, if +the arrangements could be made, we should travel together as +scouts.</p> + +<p>I told my chum of my intention of going to Washington via +Winchester and Manassas, and suggested that he secure permission +from his colonel to go part of the way along; that he might return +with any important information that we should gather, while I +should go on through to Washington. It was agreed that he should +be granted a leave of absence for a certain time, but he was cautioned +by all his friends not to follow my lead, as it would surely +result in his getting hanged. The warnings served only to increase +his anxiety to get started on a real adventure.</p> + +<p>As we could not get authority from our officers to go outside of +our lines, it was necessary that we should run the gauntlet of both +the picket-lines; our own were in sight and could probably be easily<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +managed, but we did not know anything whatever about the +other.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 391px;"> +<img src="images/i097.jpg" width="391" height="600" alt="WE HASTILY DRESSED AND RAN BACK FROM THE BANK." title="" /> +<span class="caption">WE HASTILY DRESSED AND RAN BACK FROM THE BANK.</span> +</div> + +<p>I proposed that we should make the crossing of the river early +in the evening under pretence of bathing, swim to the other side of +the river with our clothes concealed in bushes held above the water. +We were to assume the character of Baltimore refugees desirous of +entering the rebel army. With this plan matured, and all the little +minor points agreed upon between us in case of capture or separation, +we were both eager for the night to come, that we might start +upon the journey.</p> + +<p>We both studied the Virginia landscape carefully during all of +daylight, and when evening began to draw its shadows around +the hills and trees our hearts beat quicker, in anticipation of the +forthcoming adventure.</p> + +<p>After sundown we joined a crowd who had permission to bathe. +There were, probably, a dozen or more in the crowd. We quickly +undressed; scarcely speaking a word to each other, we joined in a +general way in the sport and antics that soldiers love so much to +indulge in when off duty.</p> + +<p>My wardrobe was done up in as small a bundle as was possible, +and while the others were fully immersed in their sport, I slipped +both bundles further down the shore; my friend watching the +movement from among the crowd. At a hint from me he swam +down the stream and, quickly picking up the two bundles in the +darkness that had now come upon us, safely towed them to the +other shore, where he waited for me. I joined him as soon as possible, +without being missed; we hastily dressed and ran back from +the bank into the bushes to finish our toilets, and take an observation +and both laughing at our success in escaping from our friends.</p> + +<p>We thought it best to avoid the public roads after passing our +pickets, so kept to the fields and woods, we cautiously moving along, +stopping every now and then to listen and peer through the darkness +for some signs of life. We crossed field after field and passed +through strips of woods that seemed to be miles in extent, carefully +avoiding all houses in our path.</p> + +<p>The tramp became lonesome and tiresome—our nerves were at +the highest tension, as we expected at every step to meet with +something, we didn't know exactly what. Without a sign of any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span>thing +alive except the crickets and frogs, we finally became indifferent +and careless, having about concluded in our own minds that +the rebels had left that part of Virginia. One fact was certainly +established early in the scout, there were no signs of an enemy in +General Patterson's immediate front that night, and probably there +had not been any regular force near him for several days; yet every +soldier in our army was positive that the woods right in front of +them where we had been tramping were full of rebels. General +Patterson's official reports will show that he entertained this erroneous +opinion; yet he had no desire to avail himself of the service of +scouts.</p> + +<p>Becoming convinced that we should not meet with any opposition, +we became bolder the further we went, and at last took the public +road, trotted along leisurely without much attempt at concealment +for some distance; we had almost became disgusted, not meeting +with any fun, when we stumbled right into a barricade, which had +been placed across the public highway by the rebels. Luckily for +the two foolish scouts, the enemy was not there to secure the game +that had blundered into their trap.</p> + +<p>It is doubtful if it had ever been occupied at all, being probably +placed in that position as a blind. This blockade, however, would +have answered the purpose of obstructing, for awhile at least, a cavalry +raid, or charge. Most likely it had been placed there to protect +a retreating army.</p> + +<p>It did not have the effect of stopping us, however, and we moved +on further south. As we emerged from a deep wood, we were at +last rewarded by seeing a light on the top of the hill beyond, but +yet some distance to the side of the road; we made this out to be a +light in the window of some farmhouse, but my comrade, who was +a farmer boy, suggested that it wasn't the right thing for a farmhouse +to be lighted up that way at midnight.</p> + +<p>Looking at it from our uncertain standpoint, we concluded to +approach it cautiously and see if there were anybody stirring around +about the light.</p> + +<p>Climbing over the fence into the field, we approached that light +by the cautious, engineering tactics, using a zigzag stake-and-rider +fence for our sap. For the first time that night we felt for our +pistols, which were the only weapons we had. The oppressive<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +silence was broken by my farmer comrade's voice startling me by a +husky.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet we'll find the dogs at home, anyway."</p> + +<p>We crawled up that fence in single line, heads and bodies bent, +something after the style of pictures of Indians about to attack a +pioneer's log house. Stealthily we moved along, pausing every +moment or two to listen and look about. We had some dispute as +to which of us should take the advance. I reasoned with my friend +that he was the better countryman, and more familiar with stake-and-rider +fences and dogs than I; that it was his place to go ahead; +but he wouldn't have it that way, insisting that I was the captain +and must lead; so I reluctantly went ahead, insisting that he should +follow his leader close enough to be touched. While talking in +hushed voices, I stepped abruptly right onto something soft and +round, which jumped up as suddenly as if I had loosed a spring, +and with an unearthly snort and grunt began to scamper off. I was +so startled, and became so nervous from the suddenness of the encounter, +that I must have jumped around as quickly as an automaton +pulled by a string—my comrade being close to me, as directed. I +had by my quick turn knocked my head square against his with such +force that we were both stunned. It was only an old hog that we +had roused from the innocent sleep of the country, which, at any +other time, would have been awfully funny, but we were both too +badly hurt to laugh, and too much scared to swear out loud.</p> + +<p>This one hog started up some others, the whole herd scampering +over the fields snorting, which in turn routed out the dogs from +the house, that came tearing out toward the sounds. Luckily +enough, there was a picket or garden fence between us and the +house, which the dogs didn't get over, and, before they got around +it, their attention was drawn away from our location toward the +hogs that were still running away from us. While my companion +and I were comparing notes we were further startled by hearing +a sound of voices, which were apparently coming from the same +direction we had just passed over. Now we were in for it. There +were dogs in front of us, hogs to the side of us, and voices to the +rear of us.</p> + +<p>The lights at the house had disappeared suddenly when the +dogs began their uproar—there was nothing to be seen except the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +outlines of the grove surrounding the house. While breathlessly +considering what would be the next best move, the sound of voices +was again heard, seemingly closer this time. Straining every faculty, +I imagined that I could also distinguish footsteps; that there were +more than one person was evident from the conversation; but +whether they were colored boys, returning from a night out, or +white men and enemies who, like ourselves, were on a scout, armed +and liable to go off at half-cock on the slightest provocation, was +the one thing we would have given anything to have found out.</p> + +<p>We couldn't run, as our retreat was cut off, and, if we moved at +all, we were likely to start up the pack of infernal dogs, so we did +the only thing possible under the circumstances—kept still.</p> + +<p>The footsteps came on up the road, the voices getting closer. +We made out that there were three persons, all talking earnestly +together. If they had discovered us we would probably have carried +out the Maryland refugee plan, and have joined them and have +escaped detection. <i>But what if they should be our own men?</i></p> + +<p>I imagine that I can hear better with my hat off, so putting my head +close to the ground, and in such a position that I could see over the +lower fence rail, I waited with beating heart the coming footsteps. +It was soon evident that they were talking about the light in the +house that had disappeared, and I soon learned from the voices and +the language used that they were not colored men. As the trio +came nearer, one voice said:</p> + +<p>"Well, we'd better wait right here."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's all safe enough; let's go on!"</p> + +<p>"But," said the first speaker, "they said not to come to the +house at night, unless there was a candle light in that far-corner +window."</p> + +<p>The third, who had not yet spoken, was nearest me, and +was looking into the field right over where I lay. I thought that +through the darkness, to which our eyes had become accustomed, +that I recognized a face and form that I had met some place, but +was not able to clearly distinguish.</p> + +<p>While there had been nothing said to indicate their errand, it +became pretty clear from these words that they were enemies, as +there was apparently an understanding about the light in the +window.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p>Was it possible that there were other men from the house skirmishing +around in the darkness to our rear, and aided with guns +and those dogs, would they run us down?</p> + +<p>The third person, stepping a little in advance of the others, said: +"Get back to the fence; there's somebody up on the road."</p> + +<p>They scattered, and in a moment more suppressed voices were +heard coming from an opposite direction, or <i>down</i> the road.</p> + +<p>We were between two enemies, but, fortunately, for us, on the +opposite side and behind a big fence crouching in some elderberry +bushes. My companion, as still as a log, was probably, like myself, +so badly scared that he couldn't trust his voice to whisper a +thought.</p> + +<p>Two men—one in his shirt-sleeves, and the other in rebel uniform, +which I so well recognized, as the same old grey I had been +familiar with at Pensacola and Montgomery, came cautiously down +the road. As they were almost directly opposite me, one of the three +who had come <i>up</i> the hill, accosted them familiarly:</p> + +<p>"Helloa, Billy; you like to scairt us to death. I thought the +Yankees had put you and your light out sure."</p> + +<p>At once there was mutual hand-shaking, laughter and general +hilarity, that served to draw attention away from ourselves and the +dogs. The man in his shirt-sleeves explained that he had kept his +light in the window all right, until a little while previously, when +the dogs scared up something, and he took it down, until he was +sure everything was all right.</p> + +<p>So here was a signal station, and a rendezvous. I took courage +when the party began to move off toward the house, and, as they +passed my loophole, <i>I discovered, to my astonishment, that one of +the three who had come up the road was none other than the young +man I had seen in General Patterson's headquarters</i>, accompanying +the old gentleman, and both of whom were so cordially entertained +by our General's staff. Here he was, a <i>direct</i> messenger from headquarters +of our army, meeting, by a concerted signal, a Rebel officer +in the enemy's country.</p> + +<p>That was news, sure enough; and they had hardly gotten out of +sight before I shocked my torpid friend as I, with an emphasis he +did not understand, told him that we must both skin back to our +army headquarters <i>at once</i>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + +<p>I wouldn't leave him to return alone with such important information, +but together we would go direct to General Patterson's +presence, and tell him that there were no Rebels confronting him; +that the enemy had positive and direct information of his position +and probable plans.</p> + +<p> +"The best laid plans of mice and men, gang aft agley."<br /> +</p> + +<p>As previously indicated, I had intended to go straight through +the rebel armies to Manassas, and so on to Washington via General +McDowell's army and the Long Bridge. In pursuance of this plan, +we had cleverly escaped from our own pickets during the early +hours of the night, successfully tramped miles into the Rebels' country +without meeting a challenge—eluding any pickets or outlooks +the rebels may have had out, by a careful avoidance of all the roads +or other usual routes of travel. But I had no intention of putting +myself any closer to the fellow whom I had met the day previously +at General Patterson's headquarters, and whom I had just discovered +to be a Rebel spy, in communication with the man in the rebel uniform, +and the farmer in his shirt-sleeves. Had I tried the Maryland +refugee dodge on this gathering of scouts, who were familiar with +all the border, he would have recalled having seen me at General +Patterson's headquarters, and an explanation would have been embarrassing.</p> + +<p>Luckily for the two scouts, who were lying in the bushes +within sound of their voices, there was such an exuberance of good +feeling among themselves over their meeting, after the little scare, +that it had the effect of putting the entire party off their guard +for the moment. No attention was paid to the antics of the dogs, +which were whining and nosing around, uncomfortably close to our +hiding-place in the fence-corner. The farmer, growing impatient +at their noises, which interfered with the conversation, greatly to +our relief, drove them back toward the house.</p> + +<p>The only enemy we had expected to find were the rebel soldiers +in gray uniform, with muskets in their hands, standing on guard. +We had not calculated on their,</p> + +<p> +"Letting slip the dogs of war,"<br /> +</p> + +<p>or else we might have provided ourselves with a few poisoned dog<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +buttons; of course, we couldn't use our pistols on the dogs, as that +would jeopardize our lives; the report would arouse the country +and locate us; so, like Lear,</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Mine enemy's dog,<br /> +Though he had hit me, should have stood that night<br /> +Against my fire."<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>The five men and the—I don't know how many dogs—had +scarcely gotten out of sight when my comrade and I energetically +started on the back track. I am ready to admit that we ran, that +we ran fast, even though we didn't see where we were going, in the +dark; and I confess that I was in the lead, but my comrade kept +up with me pretty well. We ran over the soft, grassy fields in +the direction from whence we had come, for a long time without +either of us speaking a word. When nearly out of breath and +exhausted we let up a little, to get our second wind for the final run, +if any more miserable dogs should get onto our scent.</p> + +<p>"Say," gasped my comrade, breathing hard, "I think you cut +my head open when you jumped onto me, when that hog scared +you; it's all bloody, ain't it?"</p> + +<p>I didn't stop long enough then to examine his head; I was in too +much of a hurry, and, besides, it was too dark to distinguish blood. +I replied to him rather testily, perhaps, as I didn't quite relish the +reminder of being scared by a sleeping hog.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't scared at all—just merely <i>startled</i>—and if you hadn't +been holding onto my coat tails so closely, you wouldn't have been +hurt."</p> + +<p>"Oh, hell! didn't you tell me to keep close to you?" he retorted, +savagely, as he rubbed his head, and looked at the moist hand to see +if he could distinguish the color of blood.</p> + +<p>"And you wouldn't go ahead, either, unless I was right on top +of you, and, if I did get behind a little, you stopped for me to catch +up."</p> + +<p>I forged on ahead sullenly, too mad to continue the conversation +further, except to say, petulantly:</p> + +<p>"I believe I am bleeding at the temple myself, from having +bumped your thick head so hard when I turned round to caution +you not to tramp on that hog."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>But my companion was in too bad a humor—we both were—to +laugh over the ridiculous mishap, which I am sure was as painful to +myself as to him. We trudged along in the dark in sulky silence +for some distance further, each nursing his sore head in wrath.</p> + +<p>I ventured the suggestion, by way of a compromise to my cross +companion, that if he had taken the lead in our approach to the +house, as I had earnestly urged upon him, I might have been in as +bad a fix as himself. To this offer of a compromise he curtly +replied:</p> + +<p>"No; I wouldn't have tried to jump out of my skin, just +because I had kicked a sleeping sow in a fence-corner." He had +scarcely finished speaking when he stumbled square across the back +of an old cow, that was quietly lying in the grass chewing her cud; +but cows, you know, are not so sudden in their movements as hogs, +when they are startled out of their sleep. This one, anyway, didn't +make any unearthly noise or snorts, nor attempt to jump up and +run off, but lay still, quietly chewing away, apparently perfectly +unconcerned.</p> + +<p>I believe she would have allowed a whole army to have crawled +over her without disturbing her repose, but the incident served to +put us both in a laughing humor. I concluded, however, that I'd +had enough experience with the hogs and cows of Virginia, while we +were trying to navigate the fields, and I would take to the highway +and risk the short cut back.</p> + +<p>The night was dark, very dark, having become more so than +when we were on the way out. Clouds had obscured almost every +star, and, to make it still worse, we heard at times distant thunder. +"The lowering elements scowled o'er the already darkened landscape," +compelling us to almost grope our way along the old country +road; but, luckily for us, we were now on the broad, well-traveled +country road between two lines of fence, which served to keep us in +the right course, as we cautiously felt our way with outstretched +hands, and eyes peering into the darkness ahead, fearing every +moment to come in contact with <i>something</i> that would give us +another "start."</p> + +<p>To the sounds of the thunder, which were not now so remote, +were added occasional flashes of lightning; these, had I been at home +in a comfortable bed, would probably have only produced the agree<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span>able +influence of lulling me into the enjoyment of a more snug +sleep, but out there, on that road that night, the effect was quite +different on both of us.</p> + +<p>We were yet a long way from our camp—how far we had no +means of knowing, as our route into Virginia had been somewhat +circuitous, on account of the necessary avoidance of all the roads.</p> + +<p>Pretty soon the big drops began to fall over us; the lightning +flashes were more vivid and frequent; the thunder seemed to be all +around us; then it rained in earnest, an old-fashioned, Virginia, +summer-night's rain, wetting the two miserable scouts to the skin +in a little while. It was no use to look for shelter, and we both resolutely +made up our minds to grin and bear it; pulling our hats +down and shrugging up our shoulders, we sullenly tramped along that +Virginia highway, two as forlorn-looking objects as may be +imagined.</p> + +<p>In this frame of mind we stumbled right into another road +obstruction. We had come upon it in this raging storm from the +rear, and found the place vacant. We captured the fort, which we +could see from the now frequent flashes of lightning was simply a +slight mound of earth thrown across and extending some distance +to each side of the road, in the form of a rifle pit; embrasures were +made for cannon, and through one of these peered a log, or stick +of wood, shaped like an iron cannon, the rear end or breech of +which was supported on a saw-horse platform of crossed sticks. On +the crest of their "works" were placed some fence rails, while in +front, and some little distance down, some trees had been felled +over the road, their branches being stripped of the leaves to answer +the purpose of an abatis. In the darkness, we were unable to +discover any signs of the place having ever been occupied by the +rebel forces.</p> + +<p>My companion recklessly began striking matches, which he had +been able to keep in a dry place on his person, but, luckily for us, +perhaps, had there been any one set to watch the place, and who +might be only seeking a temporary shelter from the storm, his +attempts to illuminate were frustrated by the gusts of wind and +rain, which blew the light out as quickly as it was born.</p> + +<p>Tired, wet, hungry and disgusted with ourselves, we sat down +there in the enemy's camp to rest—if sitting on a log in a blind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>ing +rain-storm for an hour may be called resting—but we could do +nothing else; the night was too dreadfully dark, and the wind and +rain too blustering to allow us to safely travel on the winding roads, +which lead through long strips of woods that seemed to paint everything, +if possible, with a deeper gloom; beside this, we had discovered, +by the lightning flashes, that the road in our front was blockaded +by fallen trees, and the thought occurred to us that on this +road there might be some Rebel guards seeking protection from the +storm in some sheltered places.</p> + +<p>My companion was so utterly discomfited and dejected that he +refused positively to move a step further, saying:</p> + +<p>"I'm going to stay right here till somebody comes and takes me +away. I don't care whether it's Rebels or not."</p> + +<p>So we held the fort, he finally succeeding in lighting up a little +fire against and under an old log that had covered some little twigs +from the storm.</p> + +<p>"There's no danger of anybody coming out here to-night to see +our fire, or bother us," said my comrade. "Nobody would be as +foolish as we are, to be caught out to-night."</p> + +<p>If we had been surprised in that condition, it's probable enough +we could easily have palmed off the Maryland refugee story, and +have obtained credit for our self-sacrificing devotion, in trying to +overcome such dreary difficulties in getting into the Confederate +lines.</p> + +<p>I reasoned that this would be all right for him, if I were only +sure of not running across the chap who had seen me at General +Patterson's headquarters while I was presenting a letter from the +Secretary of War proposing the spy service. My companion, who +had not so much to risk, continued growling:</p> + +<p>"Why, if we should get to the river, or run across some of our +pickets in this darkness, they'd be sure to go off at half-cock, and +shoot us before we had a chance to say beans."</p> + +<p>This was a convincing argument with me. We were still +between two fires. I agreed to wait for more light. I was anxious, +however, that our officers should have the information we had +obtained—that General Joseph E. Johnston's army <i>was not</i> in General +Patterson's front, and the dreadful masked batteries, which +were so much feared by our generals, were merely bush fortresses,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +thrown across the roads, or laid out shrewdly to deceive our officers. +There were no soldiers and no cannon near them; and, moreover, +the enemy was in communication <i>direct with General Patterson's +headquarters</i>, as we could prove, and probably knew all his plans, +while he was wholly ignorant of the probable escape of Johnston's +whole force.</p> + +<p>As I sat there, like a disconsolate toad, on that log, in the pelting +rain, I pondered these things in my mind, until I became so +nervous that I could scarcely keep still. Every moment was valuable. +I determined to start again as soon as the rain would let up +a little. But the elements seemed to be against us; it not only +rained, but it poured, for the balance of the night, making the +daylight later than usual.</p> + +<p>My companion became sleepy and dreadfully stupid, and was +apparently lost to all fear for his own safety. My time was pretty +much occupied in trying to keep our little bit of fire from going out. +Before I was fully aware of it, the grey daylight was mixing with +the black, which was beginning to thin out as the rain slackened +off somewhat. I soon began to distinguish objects in the landscape +short distances away. A large farmhouse situated only a short distance +to our rear was revealed, but being off the road, as is the +custom in that country, we had passed it in our tramp along the +road during the night.</p> + +<p>If there were any guard at all for that place, they were probably +comfortably housed there while the storm raged without, but they +would probably be aroused bright and early in the morning, to look +after their wooden guns. I kept my eyes strained toward this house +for some sign of life, but not seeing anything, not even smoke +from the chimneys, nor a dog in the yard, I turned wearily for a +lookout in the direction of our own country, to try and discover, +if possible, how far we were yet from our friends.</p> + +<p>The rain had now ceased. My comrade, leaning against a log, +was sleeping out loud; he didn't present a particularly attractive +appearance, either; though a handsome young fellow, with black +hair and eyes, and a fine form, he certainly was not a sleeping beauty; +but, lying against a smoky old log, his eyes closed, but a capacious +mouth hung wide enough open to have answered for the mouth of +a cannon, the whole side of his face smeared with blood, that had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +oozed from the head, after the concussion over the hog, while the +other half of his handsome face, being next to the smoky fire, over +which he had been nodding in his sleep, was begrimed with the +smoke and ashes that had adhered to his wet skin; the wet, dripping +clothes were, of course, clinging to his manly form in anything +but an attractive style. I felt that if I were nearly as ugly as +he, the appearance of two such objects would be sufficient to frighten +off anybody that might approach us, and I took renewed courage +from this fact.</p> + +<p>I turned from the contemplation of this ludicrous scene to again +take an observation. In the direction of our lines this time I thought +I discovered something moving along the edge of the wood. I was +about to conclude that I had been mistaken, when I was startled by +the appearance of two men, standing together some distance below, +apparently talking earnestly, as one of them pointed up the road +toward our Fort.</p> + +<p>I was in a condition of mind and body to be chilled by anything at +that time, and imagined that we had been discovered and were being +surrounded to prevent our escape. Running back to my partner, I +roughly shook him up, saying we had to move quickly. The stupid +fellow, opening one eye, refused to stir. Giving him another good +shake, I again repeated the warning. He slowly realized his position, +and stared wildly about.</p> + +<p>I dragged him over to where he might see the two men who were +standing down the road, and endeavored to point out the danger; +apparently not yet fully awake, he coolly crawled up on the felled +tree, which was lying across the road, as if to get a better look at +them, before I could pull him down. We were in for a run or a +fight sure. I suppose my freely-expressed indignation at his absurd +conduct had the effect of rousing him from his lethargy, as he +seemed suddenly to come to his senses and was now ready to move +off quickly enough.</p> + +<p>To be caught by the Rebels attempting to go toward our line +would put us in a bad plight. The men whom we had seen had +disappeared at this ugly apparition on the log as suddenly as if the +ground had opened and swallowed them up; whether they would +come on up, or go for reinforcements, we didn't know.</p> + +<p>We evacuated that fort, our line of retreat being in a course<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +bearing toward our own lines, and leading us further from the two +men.</p> + +<p>We scampered through the wet underbrush and grass of the +woods, every step being a slosh to the shoe-tops, while every bush +dashed against our already well-soaked clothes all the water it had +gathered in its leaves and branches from the rain of the night.</p> + +<p>Early morning is the safest time for a scout to do his traveling, +and we went straight along unimpeded, save by the wet undergrowth, +and the disagreeable necessity of clambering over slimy old +logs and fences, reaching the place where our pickets should have +been while it was yet quite early. Here we made a mistake. Instead +of attempting to pass back through our lines, as we had escaped out +in the early evening previous, we thought that, being so tired, and +wet, hungry, and so generally used-up, we might just as well approach +boldly and surrender to our own pickets, knowing that we +should be all right when once within our lines and our story of +Johnston's retreat was told.</p> + +<p>My companion being a member of a regiment that had performed +picket duty, had some practical experience with the boys, +and was, in consequence, quite uncertain as to the manner in +which our flag-of-truce would be received by the men on guard; +he said that, while on that duty himself, his instructions were to +"fire at anything he saw moving, no matter what it was," and +he was apprehensive the members of his own regiment would +immediately bang away at us if we made an appearance out there.</p> + +<p>"But, we will show them a flag-of-truce."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's nothing; there's some fellows in my company crazy +to shoot at something, and they don't know a white from a black +flag."</p> + +<p>As it was daylight, there was no other way to get in, except by +laying over in the woods till night, and this we couldn't think of +doing in our miserable condition; beside this, we were hungry.</p> + +<p>Feeling it to be a duty to risk even a fire from our own green +pickets, to get in quickly with our information for General Patterson, +I concluded to try the flag-of-truce project. Looking carefully +about to see that we were not liable to an attack in the rear while +making this advance, I picked up a stick in the woods, and tied to +it, in the form of a flag, an exceedingly dirty, white handkerchief,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +and, after all was ready, with my hat in one hand, the flag well +advanced in the other, I started out to make the communication, +my comrade keeping close to me, there being no danger of tramping +on a hog in broad daylight.</p> + +<p>We had scarcely gotten out of the woods when I began waving +the old handkerchief so wildly that the stick broke in two, dropping +the flag on the ground. I grabbed up the remnant, nervously, for fear +they might fire, and again waved it as we moved forward. We saw +a commotion among our men—one or two blue coats were running +around, as if to report the phenomenon that appeared before them. +Walking ahead more rapidly, as we gained confidence from their not +shooting at us, we were soon within hailing distance, and walked +into their line nervously, and watched a half-dozen fellows clutching +muskets which we knew were loaded, and might go off. Suddenly +we were surrounded by all the guard who were not on post, +who were anxious to see some real live, repentant rebels come into +the Union again. That army had not yet seen a Rebel.</p> + +<p>What a sorry looking couple we were to be sure. Dirty faces, +and bloody heads, smoked about the eyes in a manner to make us +ludicrous indeed, our clothes wet, dripping wet; and clinging to our +bodies in rags, our tramp through the bushes having almost torn +them off us.</p> + +<p>The boys were cooking their early camp breakfast; through their +kindness we each had some coffee and bread. I am a coffee-drinker +now, and am, perhaps, a little cranky on the subject. I buy the best +coffee, and have tried every patent coffee-pot that has ever been +brought out, but I have not yet been able to find as delicious a cup of +the beverage as was given me in a quart tin cup, with brown sugar +and no cream, on the banks of the Potomac, in July, 1861.</p> + +<p>While we were enjoying the hospitality of the boys, all of whom +were greatly amused at our absurd appearance, and interested in +our night's adventure, which my companion could not resist the +temptation of exaggerating to his friends, the officer of the guard +had reported his catch to his colonel, who peremptorily ordered us +into his presence. Without allowing us an opportunity to wash or +clean up, we were marched, like two prisoners, between two files of +soldiers with fixed bayonets, through several camps, amid the laughter +and jeers of the crowds which were attracted by the odd show.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> + +<p>Approaching the Pennsylvania-Dutch Colonel's tent, we were +ordered, in a rough, dogmatic way, to make an explanation of our +being in the enemy's lines. I was offended at the rude manner of +the officer, and my feelings had been sorely wounded by being +marched in this humiliating way through his camp; being resentful, +I spunkily informed the Colonel that I should not report or explain +anything to him; that my report would be to <i>his superior +only</i>—General Patterson.</p> + +<p>A crowd had gathered about us, whom the arrogant Colonel had +proposed to entertain by an exhibition of his authority and our discomfiture, +and my speech so angered him that he was ready to run +me through with his sword. He swore in Pennsylvania-Dutch, and +again demanded my explanation, which I firmly declined to give.</p> + +<p>He was too angry to appeal to my comrade, but, in high military +dudgeon, ordered us both to the guard-house, saying to the officer +who had brought us there:</p> + +<p>"Those two men had been on a drunk, and had been fighting +each other, as any fool could see from their black eyes and bloody +noses—put them both in the guard-house;" and he did.</p> + +<p>There we remained nearly all that day, denied, by the stupidity +and offended dignity of the Colonel, the permission I begged of +being allowed to communicate with General Patterson.</p> + +<p>I presume he sincerely believed we had been off on a regular +jamboree <i>en tare</i> during the night, but it was a terribly rough joke +on me, and the second time during the first four months of the war +that I had been held a prisoner by our own officers while engaged +in the performance of an exceedingly dangerous duty for the benefit +of the Union cause. I again resolved, in my own mind, more +firmly than before, that I should never again undertake any secret +service.</p> + +<p>My interview with General Patterson's Chief-of-staff—Fitz-John +Porter—on presentation of my note of introduction from the Secretary +of War, had been so unsatisfactory, that I naturally felt some +misgivings as to the outcome of a second attempt in the same direction, +particularly as this trip had not been authorized, but was, in +fact, carried out independently and almost in opposition to the +expressed disapproval of headquarters.</p> + +<p>I felt, too, that being escorted to the General's presence, between<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +two soldiers from a guard-house, without the opportunity to repair +my dress and appearance, would not help the doubting and disdainful +Chief-of-staff to a more favorable opinion of myself; and the +recommendation the Dutch Colonel would be sure to send along +with me would not be likely to create in the minds of the General's +advisers a flattering opinion as to the reliability of our story.</p> + +<p>I could get no satisfaction from the officers in charge at the +guard-house as to our ultimate disposition. In reply to my appeals +to be permitted to report to headquarters in person, I was directed +to state my case in writing, and it would be forwarded through the +regular channels. I knew very well that this circumlocution meant +delay—that in this case delays would be dangerous, as any papers +filed would have to be inspected by the officer of the guard, the +captain, colonel, brigadier and major general, probably requiring a +day at each of these headquarters before it would reach the Assistant-adjutant-general +at headquarters.</p> + +<p>Beside, I had no intention of submitting my special business to +an inspection by every officer in camp before it should reach the +proper authority, and so informed the officer who had been sent by +the Colonel to obtain from me information as to my business with +the General.</p> + +<p>My comrade had been separated from me early in the day, and +sent to his own company in arrest and disgrace; he had probably +told his story to his own officers, who, knowing something of the +young man, believed him, and in this way my case, which promised +to be a lonely imprisonment for some days, was more speedily +brought to the General's notice.</p> + +<p>The young officer who had been sent to gather from me the +account of our trip seemed to be favorably impressed by my urgent +prayer to be permitted to report to General Patterson, and kindly +offered to do all he could to gratify my desire. It was a long time, +however, before I was able to hear from anybody outside of the sentry, +who stood guard over me with a loaded musket.</p> + +<p>During all those anxiously waiting hours, when I lay in the +guard-house, Rebel General J. E. Johnston was rapidly getting further +away, or at least making himself more secure with fewer +troops in his present position, and I was brutally denied the privilege +of informing our headquarters of the facts we had obtained,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +after a night of hard work, danger and misery combined. At last, +about 4 <span class="smcap">P. M.</span>, I was notified to accompany my young officer to +headquarters, to report. The young gentleman courteously granted +me the privilege of washing and dressing myself up in the best way +I could—he generously aiding me by the tender of a collar, brushes, +etc. After a long walk, which was quite tiresome after the exercise +of the night previous in the rain, we reached headquarters, +where I was met at once by General Porter, who politely enough +heard my story through, questioning me closely as to several points +in a manner which, I augured, showed some interest in the work +we had undertaken.</p> + +<p>With a simple word of thanks he was ready to dismiss me, and +the subject, as a matter of no consequence, when I ventured to ask +his opinion as to the value of our researches.</p> + +<p>"Well," he replied, "as I told you previously, the General does +not place any reliance upon information of this character; we have +had conflicting reports, and do not rely upon it."</p> + +<p>"But," I said, "it is undoubtedly true that there are no rebels +near us."</p> + +<p>"But we have <i>reliable</i> information to the contrary, and more +recent than yours."</p> + +<p>This was indeed a stunner. How could it be. I was positive +there had been no enemy near during the night, and mildly suggested +that, if there were any Rebels there, they had come while I +was confined in the Dutch Colonel's guard-house.</p> + +<p>Porter merely laughed in a patronizing way, as he dismissed me, +saying:</p> + +<p>"You can make that report to Washington; it won't do here. +We know all about Johnston."</p> + +<p>"Well, one thing is sure, Johnston knows all about you, too."</p> + +<p>I left headquarters in a frame of mind closely allied to frenzy. +I was beginning to think that I must be crazy, because the general +headquarter's atmosphere and style seemed to have about it an air +of authority that could not be disputed; and when Porter said he +had information, <i>reliable and more recent</i> than I had tried to give +I began to feel that he <i>must</i> be right, and we all wrong.</p> + +<p>Walking off, dejectedly, but again free to go as I pleased, I +hunted up my companion of the night before, to offer any assistance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +in my power to secure his release from confinement. I found his +company, and had a general consultation with him, in the presence +of some line officers, in which it was agreed that our report of the +situation was generally believed throughout the army; but, said my +comrade:</p> + +<p>"There were two other fellows out last night, and they came +back right after we did, and reported that they had found a big Fort +on top of a hill; that there were camp fires blazing all around it, and +six men jumped up on the works and chased them two miles."</p> + +<p>It flashed upon me in a moment, and I said, laughingly:</p> + +<p>"Why they must be the two fellows we saw while in the Fort, +and that you scared off when you got up on that log."</p> + +<p>After a further comparison of notes, it was agreed by all that +this was the more <i>reliable</i> and recent information General Porter +had obtained. Our little smoky fire had been magnified into a +hundred rebel camp fires, and the blunder of my comrade in +mounting the parapet had turned to our benefit, in frightening off +two of our own scouts. We were not aware, however, that we had +chased them through the wet woods—it being our purpose and intent +to run away from them; and we believed we were going in an opposite +direction all the time.</p> + +<p>I was abundantly satisfied with the night and day's experience; +and leaving my friend to make any further explanations to General +Porter, or headquarters, I availed myself of the opportunity to take +an evening train, which carried me to Chambersburg, where among +relatives and friends I was able to replenish my scanty wardrobe.</p> + +<p>The following Sunday, First Bull Run was <i>fought</i> and <i>lost</i>.</p> + +<p>There have been many reasons given the public, officially and +otherwise, in explanation of this disaster, one of which has not +been officially mentioned, and is in brief—that General Patterson, +through his Chief-of-staff, persistently declined to avail himself of +information concerning Johnston's movements, that had been voluntarily +obtained, after some hardships, by a scout, who had been +endorsed to him by the Secretary of War as being reliable and trustworthy.</p> + +<p>I have not seen General Fitz-John Porter since July, 1861, that +I know of. We all know he was a gallant soldier, whom I should +honor as a native of my own state; but, without questioning his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +loyalty, I venture the opinion that General Patterson (who was 69 +years old at that time) was by his (Porter's) influence or over-caution +prevented from pressing General Johnston, as he had been +ordered; and is, therefore, indirectly, responsible for Johnston's +timely reinforcement of Beauregard, which made the rebel victory +possible.</p> + +<p>And I believe the same over-caution or influence was brought to +bear on General McClellan at the critical hour at Antietam, and +prevented his following up the victory at that time.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>REPORTING TO GENERAL BANKS' HEADQUARTERS FOR DUTY—THE +LIFE OF JEFF DAVIS THREATENED—CAPTURED AT HARPER'S +FERRY—INTERESTING PERSONAL LETTERS CORROBORATING THE +SUPPOSED DEATH OF THE "BOY SPY."</h3> + + +<p>The Sunday of July, 1861 (21st), on which the first battle of +Bull Run was being fought, found me quietly recruiting from the +tiresome adventure in Virginia in the quiet little hamlet of Pennsylvania, +in which I was born, situated at the foot of the Cove +Mountain, almost within hearing of the cannon.</p> + +<p>I had gathered from General Porter's manner as well as from +his words, while talking to me only a day previous, that a battle +was not imminent, and this opinion was seemingly confirmed by +my own observations both in the Rebel country and while coming +through General Patterson's army. There were, to my mind, no +signs of a movement among our forces; the two armies were too far +apart to be quarrelsome; our headquarters presented an appearance +of satisfied security.</p> + +<p>In our obscure village there were no telegraphs in those days, +the mail facilities being limited to a daily trip of the relic or remnant +of the old Bedford stage-coach, which rambled into town on +the Monday evening following, and brought us the first intelligence +of a battle—and a defeat which was being magnified every mile the +old stage traveled into a terrible disaster.</p> + +<p>This startling news spread about the village like wild-fire, +reached me at the tea-table, and, to my untrained, impulsive disposition, +had pretty much such an effect as the lighting the fuse +of a sky-rocket. I went off like a sky-rocket—disappeared in the +darkness that night, lost to the sight of my friends for months. +The rocket hovered over the rebel hosts so long that I was almost +forgotten in the excitement of the time. I came back as suddenly +as I had left, like the stick from the rocket that drops down from +above.</p> + +<p>It is the purpose to tell in this chapter, for the first time, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +secret story of those months in Rebeldom, which has remained a +mystery even to my family for twenty-five years. I had never +intended to print these experiences, but hoped that I might find +time, when I should grow older, to prepare for my children only, a +memorandum of the trip.</p> + +<p>An hour after the receipt of the news, I was <i>en route</i> for the +nearest railroad station, at Chambersburg, my first impression +being that, as the rebels were victorious, they would, as a matter of +course, move right on to Washington City and drive the Union +officials off.</p> + +<p>Entertaining this feeling, my first impulse was to get somewhere +in their rear. I felt in my heart that <i>something</i> must be done to +prevent Beauregard and Jeff Davis from driving us all out of the +country, and I was frenzied enough at that time, by the excitement +that was everywhere prevailing—overcoming the reason and judgment +of the most conservative as well as the mercurial temperament—that, +if an opportunity had presented itself, I might have +been foolish enough to have attempted an assassination of Jeff Davis, +sincerely believing, in my youthful enthusiasm and indiscretion, +that such an act would serve to defeat their plans. That I entertained +seriously and determinedly such a chimerical scheme will probably +be surprising to those of my acquaintances now, but the confession +will serve in a manner to explain some of my movements, which, at +the time, puzzled even my best friends, who generously accounted +for my queer actions by the indulgent—if not complimentary—reflection +that I was a "reckless and adventuresome boy."</p> + +<p>The same night I reached Chambersburg, and the next morning +took the first train for Hagerstown, Maryland, where I learned there +that Harper's Ferry was headquarters; and, as there were no public +conveyances leading in that direction, in my eagerness to reach +there I decided to walk ahead the same day.</p> + +<p>I tramped out through the same neighborhoods in which our +camps had been located only a few days before, finding them nearly +all deserted, and in the evening reached a farmhouse on South +Mountain, where, tired and sleepy after the fatigue and excitement +of the day, I begged for shelter for the night, and was put to sleep +in the garret with a son of the farmer, whom I found was in sympathy +with the rebels.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> + +<p>Early the following morning I was again on foot, climbing the +dusty mountain road. It was a long, tiresome walk, and, as I met +with no signs of troops, I began to fear that I had gotten off the +right road; toward evening my path led me through a valley or +ravine, emerging from which I was suddenly brought into view of +the river and hills about Point of Rocks, or perhaps it may have +been near Sandy Hook. Here I found plenty of soldiers, who were +dotted around the hills so thickly.</p> + +<p>I had expected to report in person to General Fitz-John Porter, +to gather further from him some advice as to the <i>reliability</i> of his +more <i>recent</i> information about Johnston's escape. I learned that +General Patterson had been relieved. General N. P. Banks was in +command, and had his headquarters in a tent on a little plateau +above, but convenient to the railroad track and the river, from +which he could look into the Virginia hills, which were within rifle-shot +of his tent.</p> + +<p>I had no letter of introduction to General Banks, but, presuming +upon my previous services, boldly ventured into his presence +unannounced, except by the unarmed soldier who stood as an +orderly outside of his tent.</p> + +<p>I was invited into the tent, where I found the General had been +lounging or dozing on his camp bed. Rising, as I entered, he apologized +for the unkempt appearance of his quarters, shaking hands +cordially as he invited me to a seat on a camp-stool.</p> + +<p>Then sitting in front of me, looking straight into my eyes, I +told him briefly my past experience with Patterson and Porter. He +listened attentively and commented, in his affable way, on the disaster, +and expressed, in a way that was most comforting to me, his +belief that it would all end right anyway.</p> + +<p>I explained to General Banks my supposed qualifications as a +scout, being able to read the enemy's telegraphs, which immediately +impressed him as quite an important feature, as it would enable me +to procure reliable news from the highest sources of all information.</p> + +<p>I again volunteered to enter the enemy's lines in the guise of a +Maryland refugee and, if possible, attach myself to headquarters of +Rebels at Manassas, or where there were telegraph instruments, without, +of course, disclosing my knowledge of the mysterious art.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>The General thankfully accepted my proposal, and seemed eager +that the service should be undertaken at once. His words to me, +uttered in that deep but pleasant voice so familiar to American +people: "Well, now, I am right glad you have come to see me, +sir."</p> + +<p>After a moment's reflection, he continued: "I have no definite +instructions now. I beg that you will be kind enough to come +and see me in the morning again; in the meantime I will try and +arrange a plan."</p> + +<p>I presume the General desired—very properly—to make some +inquiries as to my loyalty and past service. As I prepared to leave, +he again took my hand, and in a kindly manner, which impressed +me so pleasantly that I shall never forget it, as he bowed me out of +his tent. "I am very glad too have met you, sir."</p> + +<p>How different from the reception I received from General Patterson +and his Chief-of-Staff. The balance of the evening I put in +pleasantly enough after this agreeable reception in visiting the +different camps in the neighborhood and in peering through the +twilight over the Potomac toward the Virginia side, endeavoring to +find a hole somewhere in the hills that I might get through safely.</p> + +<p>After the tiresome tramp on the dusty Maryland Pike, on that +terrible hot July day, I was glad enough when night came to accept +the supper and lodging that were offered—for a consideration—in +an old half-stone and half-frame house, situated close by the river +bank.</p> + +<p>The crowd of men who were gathered about the old house were +dressing for dinner, or supper, out in the yard; using an old stump +for a toilet stand and the lye soap (which had been manufactured +by some sort of process through the barrel of ashes that stood on a +sloping bench close by), and, throwing my hat and coat on the limb +of a gooseberry bush, I plunged into the water, like the rest; but I +reckon they all thought I was putting on airs when I declined to +use the one towel that had served for all, using instead a dirty +pocket handkerchief on my face.</p> + +<p>The next morning I was out bright and early. Unfortunately +for me, but perhaps better for the story, I was just too late to see +the General, who had ridden off but a few minutes before I reached +his headquarters on a general tour of inspection through the army.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +The orderly did not know when he would return, or, if he did, was +not disposed to tell a stranger of his intentions; but, it was intimated +that I should hardly be able to see him at headquarters again +during the day.</p> + +<p>As I turned to walk away, undecided as to the next step I should +have to take, an officer observed in a jocular way: "You might +see the General up there," as he pointed to the highest peak of the +hill. He imagined that the unforbidding appearance of this height +would deter me from an attempt at climbing it, but the hint was +sufficient. I at once made up my mind, excelsior like, to crawl over +the rocks and blackberry bushes to the very top of the mountain +to find the General, and, if he were not there, I should at least have +the satisfaction of being able to see all over the country without +walking any further.</p> + +<p>From the top of Maryland heights, while sitting alone a short +distance in the rear of one of our masked batteries, the guns of +which were pointed over the river so as to cover the broad plateau +above the old town, I looked in vain for some appearance of rebels +on the other side of the river. There was not to my eye, which I +flattered myself was pretty good and educated to the sight of rebels, +any appearance of life, either on the valley side or on the opposite +mountain, which were quite heavily wooded.</p> + +<p>I formed from that point of observation a plan to cross the river +and climb up on the other hill or mountain, thinking, perhaps, I +might have a more satisfactory outlook from that point.</p> + +<p>Not finding the General, I retraced my steps down the mountain +in the direction of the town of Harper's Ferry.</p> + +<p>There was at that time a temporary railroad bridge over the +Potomac, over which I was able to pass the guard on pretence of +being a railroader. Once in the village, I looked about for an +opportunity to get over the Shenandoah river, which was yet between +me and the big hill I desired to climb.</p> + +<p>I had fully determined in my own mind, after the experience +with the running mate or companion of the former adventure, that +I should not attach myself to anyone or permit any association in +future movements, but the pleasure of meeting with a pleasant +friend overcame my resolution, and about the first thing I did after +becoming well acquainted was to propose that we should together go<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +over the Shenandoah and climb that big hill, to try if we couldn't +"see something" by daylight. My newly found chum eagerly +assented to the proposal, and, as I have previously said, for me to +decide was to act, in those days.</p> + +<p>It was expected that we should be able to return before dark, +and I hoped in an indefinite way that I might be able to bring back +to General Banks, when I should see him in the evening, some +information that would impress him with the idea that I was competent +to undertake and to carry out the plan of going through our +own and the enemy's lines to Washington.</p> + +<p>In my first talk with General Banks, to whom I was an entire +stranger, he had made a remark about a decision to issue no authority +to go outside of his lines, to which I had replied that I did not +ask any passes; that, if he wanted to avail himself of the service, I +should be able to get outside ours and inside the Rebels' lines, and +did not want to carry any paper passes.</p> + +<p>My chum and I followed the same tactics in crossing the Shenandoah +that we had practiced in crossing the Potomac on the former +occasion. With an apparent intention of bathing we found a good +place to "go in," as we boys used to say about swimming time; +undressing in a careless way, we were soon splashing about in the +shallow water in sight of our pickets. It was a hot, sunny July +day, and at our bathing place the sun poured down upon that portion +of our bare skin that was exposed above the water his fiercest +rays. This fact served as a pretext to ask the guard's permission +to cross over to the shade on the other side. The permission was +reluctantly obtained.</p> + +<p>Bundling up our clothes we waded over the slippery rocks, in +sight of our picket on the shore. Once well over the river, which +is neither deep nor wide, we puttered about the other shore long +enough to allow any one who had felt disposed to watch our movements +to become satisfied that we were only out for a little fun. +During all this time, however, we had slowly, almost imperceptibly, +moved further and further away; and, upon reaching a portion of +the bank almost covered with willows and undergrowth, we silently +stole away from the water, and, like a pair of guilty boys escaping +from an orchard, we ran as fast as possible through the under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>growth +along the side of a road which led up a little stream that +emptied into the river.</p> + +<p>We were again in Virginia, but this time in daylight; and, +hastily putting on our clothes, I, for the first time, took note of the +unfortunate circumstance that my comrade's clothes were all of the +regulation blue of the Union army, which would be difficult to +reconcile with our stereotyped story of being Maryland refugees, in +case we should be captured.</p> + +<p>We satisfied our fears on this point by the hasty conceit that +we were not going to be caught on this trip, as we only proposed to +climb to the top of the big hill.</p> + +<p>Ascending Bolivar or London Heights is like climbing up the +others, and has been well described. When we reached the summit, +we found a clearing of a couple of acres which had the appearance +of having been very recently occupied, and the discovery of the +ashes and blackened places on the rocks where camp-fires had been—we +knew not how recently—burning served to make us the least +bit nervous. We were disappointed in the expected view of the rebel +armies, as the heavy growth of trees in that direction wholly +obstructed the view; but we were rewarded with a most satisfactory +observation of our own troops and camps on the Maryland side of +the river.</p> + +<p>Satisfied with having scaled the mountain, and a little bit +uneasy, we soon began our descent, taking a different course from +that we had followed in coming up.</p> + +<p>When we had about reached the road that leads along the water +at the base of the heights, my chum startled me by grabbing frantically +at my leg as I was about to climb over the fence into the road, +shrieking, like a scared girl: "There's a man." And before I had +time to look in the direction indicated, he continued, excitedly: +"Great Scott! there's a whole lot of them."</p> + +<p>He started to run back as fast as his legs would carry him, leaving +me almost pinned to the fence with astonishment.</p> + +<p>His movement had the immediate effect of causing a half-dozen +armed men to rush suddenly from their ambush, straight down the +road toward us.</p> + +<p>My companion, in grabbing me by the leg as a fierce dog would +a tramp getting over the fence, for the moment so startled me that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +I lost my head, and, thinking something was coming at us from +behind, I jumped over the fence toward the danger while he ran +off on the other side.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 388px;"> +<img src="images/i127.jpg" width="388" height="600" alt=""THANK GOD, I'M SAFE AMONG MY FRIENDS."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"THANK GOD, I'M SAFE AMONG MY FRIENDS."</span> +</div> + +<p>On finding myself confronted by three Rebels in uniform, two +of whom had guns, the third, being an officer, gesticulated in a +threatening, inelegant sort of style with the hand in which he carelessly +held a cocked revolver; I at once walked toward them and, +with a suddenly assumed air of relief, said:</p> + +<p>"Thank God, I am safe among my friends."</p> + +<p>This vehement observation rather nonplussed the officer, who, +seeing that I was unarmed, walked up to me and accepted my outstretched +hand in a dazed sort of way. He hurriedly directed the +men to follow my entreating comrade, saying, as they ran down the +road:</p> + +<p>"Remember, now, you are not to fire unless you meet a lot."</p> + +<p>I was rejoiced to hear this, and at once told the officer that my +comrade, like myself, had intended to come into their army, but +he was scared and ran because he thought they were our own scouts.</p> + +<p>"Are you both Yankee soldiers?"</p> + +<p>I repulsed the base insinuation with scorn, and told him we were +both dying to join the Rebel Army.</p> + +<p>"But that fellow has on the blue uniform."</p> + +<p>Sure enough, I had forgotten all about that, but told him that +was no difference—that half the men in Banks' Army were only waiting +a favorable chance to come over and join them. The officer, +who was a conceited fellow, who had been placed in charge of the +pickets or cavalry scouts on this outpost for the day, eagerly swallowed +this stuff. It will be remembered that at this time—only a +week after their victory at Bull Run—the Rebels were prepared to +believe almost anything reported to them from our side and were, +of course, somewhat lax in their scrutiny of refugees, who were +actually going over the line daily to unite their fortunes with those +of the South, whom they were sure after the first battle must be victorious.</p> + +<p>We had quite a pleasant talk as we stood together by the +roadside awaiting the result of the chase of my comrade. It was +explained by the officer that their instructions were not to fire +except in certain emergencies; the object of their being there was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +to quietly observe the operations of the Yankees from their points +of lookout on the heights, from which a full view of everything +transpiring on our side was to be had.</p> + +<p>This was an item of news from the Rebel officer which I should +like General Banks to have been advised of. He further astonished +me by saying:</p> + +<p>"We have been watching you two fellows all the afternoon; we +saw you cross the river, and when you came up the hill our men up +there came in and reported that you were two scouts, and could +be captured, so I was sent down here to gather you in."</p> + +<p>I was able to force what I am afraid was rather a sickly laugh +at this exhibition of our "prowess," and, as a further earnest of +our good intentions, I volunteered to accompany the officer down +the road, with a view of meeting my running comrade and signaling +him it would be all right to come in.</p> + +<p>Accepting this service, we walked rapidly together in the direction +taken by the two men with guns, but as all three had stopped +to hear my story, my chum had probably been making good time +along <i>his</i> side of the fence, which, with the undergrowth, had +served to keep him out of sight, and had stretched the distance +between him and the Rebels, but, as the river was still to ford, I +feared, for my own safety, that he might yet be captured.</p> + +<p>We had not gone far when we met the two men returning alone. +To the eager questioning of the officer the foremost one replied:</p> + +<p>"We been down to the river and he ain't thar." The second +Rebel joining in, said: "That fellow's in the woods, sure—he never +went to the river."</p> + +<p>After a little consultation, in which I took part, it was decided +to wait and watch till he should come out of his hole. With a view +to making myself more solid with the officer, I volunteered to assist +in the hunt by proposing to call loudly on my friend to come out of +his hiding place and join us. The proposition was, in a courteous +manner, conditionally accepted, the officer being fearful that any +loud calls might be heard by the Yankee's outposts and endanger +their secluded outlooks, advised that I should be moderate in my +outcry. Climbing up on the fence and putting both hands to my +mouth to form the trumpet boys use when hallooing to their playmates, +I sang out as loudly as I could, "H-e-l-l-o-o-a, B-o-b!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + +<p>All eagerly listened for the echo in reply, but I, fearful that he +might answer, continued in the next breath:</p> + +<p>"All right," and as I forced a little choking cough, to disguise +and smother the words, like the robber in Fra Diavalo, "Come +on!"</p> + +<p>All waited quietly for an answer, but only the echo "on" came +back. Bob was too far off to have heard my voice, and I realized +I had been left alone in the hands of the Rebels. I was a prisoner.</p> + +<p>There is among some old letters that my sister has religiously +preserved—one from a stranger, signed with Bob's correct name and +address, describing in feeling terms our adventure, and my capture, +bewailing my sad fate, and tendering his heartfelt sympathy, pretty +much in the same form of letters from comrades in the field, which +became frequent in the families of the North and South announcing +the death or capture of sons and brothers, in which it is stated +that, as my companion heard shots after he left me, and he supposed, +of course, I had been killed. I may as well state that this +letter was written by Mr. C. W. Hoffman, who is now a resident +of Latrobe, Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p>Comrade Hoffman served subsequently with distinction as a +scout, being detailed as one of a party to approach Fort Sumter +previous to the attack made there.</p> + +<p>A pleasant renewal of the old war acquaintance has recently +been brought about. I give herewith a recent letter from Mr. +Hoffman:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap" >Latrobe, Penn.</span>, March 29, 1887.<br /> +<br /></p> +<p><span class="smcap">J. O. Kerbey.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><i>Dear Old Friend:</i> I often thought of you. I learned your present address +from your brother at Wilmore. What are you doing? Let us hear from you. +I am the fellow that run away from you on the mountains, in Virginia, in +August, 1861. I went on quite a distance that day. I slept on that mountain +all night. The next day I returned to the hotel at Sandy Hook. I had quite +a time of it: I saw several Rebel cavalrymen, but I always made it a point to +keep out of their way, as I had the blue pants and blouse on. Those fellows +made their headquarters next to where you made the inquiries at the old +woman's log house. It was a wonder they did not take me a prisoner, as at +times I wandered out in the country very barely. Wasn't there a Rebel camp +near Leesburg, or was that the name of the town near that mountain? I suppose +it is about eight miles from Harper's Ferry. I could hear drums beating +plainly—I was not far from the town. I had quite a time of it when I returned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +to Sandy Hook—I was arrested as a spy, was thrown into the guard house, but +finally got out all right. I was a scout and had papers to show to that effect, +but never did much at it. Hoping to hear from you.</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours truly, <span class="smcap">C. W. Hoffman.</span><br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>As a further evidence of the correctness of my narrative, and +with a view of adding interest to the story, I publish herewith a +private letter from my brother, Spencer, who was at that time in +the Military Telegraph Service. My aunt Ruth, to whom it was +addressed, and who was a mother to us both, passed many sleepless +nights on account of my wanderings, has recently resurrected some +interesting testimonials.</p> + +<blockquote> +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="tableright" summary="Camp Union letter"> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><span class="smcap">Camp Union, near Bladensburgh, Md.</span>,</td> + <td class="tbt tbr"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr tdind">September 9th, 1861.</td> + <td class="tbr tbb"> </td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p><i>Dear Aunt:</i> By some unaccountable reason your letter was delayed. It +was handed me by an "orderly" this evening. I presume it's beyond the possibility +of a doubt that poor Joe was killed at Sandy Hook. My grief can +better be imagined than described. None but those who have suffered the +severing of ties of a loving brother's affection can form an idea of my heart's +affliction. My dear sisters, how deeply and sincerely I sympathize with them +in the deplorable loss of an ambitious brother. That letter must have almost +broken Hatty's heart. It must have been a violent shock to father, but why +should I so write and rouse within all of you the bitter renewal of your grief? +We have for our support, that brother Joe fell nobly in the cause of his country, +lamented by an affectionate and loving family, relatives and friends. It is +to be hoped that when the keen sensibilities of our passions begin to subside +that these considerations will give us comfort. I pray that the Almighty may +give us (particularly father) fortitude to bear this severest of strokes, is the +earnest wish of a</p> + +<p class="right"> +Brother in affliction, <span class="smcap">Spencer</span>.<br /> +</p></blockquote><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>AT BEAUREGARD'S HEADQUARTERS—ON DUTY AT MANASSAS.</h3> + + +<p>I didn't report to General Banks <i>that</i> night—circumstances +entirely beyond my control prevented me from doing so. I was, by +the "fortunes of war," or my own carelessness, denied the privilege +of proving to the General that I was "smart" enough to get +through his own lines and back again from the enemy's country +without the use of passes from his headquarters. If this should +reach the eye of General Banks, he will, for the first time, read my +official report of the scout, which I had proposed to him in July, +1861, and will, I am sure, in his courteous manner, accept, even at +this late date, this apology or explanation for my failure to keep +my engagement with him.</p> + +<p>Luckily for me, at that particular time I did not have in my +possession any passes from General Banks, or letter of introduction +from the Secretary of War, endorsing me as a competent spy. +These I had left with General Patterson a few days previously.</p> + +<p>Leaving the two soldiers to further look after the road, in hope +of enticing my friend in—not that they were so anxious for the +person of a prisoner—but, as they said, it was important no one +should escape to report the fact that a station for observation was +being maintained on the heights.</p> + +<p>Alongside of my officer I walked for quite a long distance, talking +in a general way upon the subject which was then uppermost in +everybody's mind—<i>i. e.</i>, the recent battle of Bull Run. For good +reasons, I heartily agreed with his absurd conclusions. I knew full +well the importance of creating upon his mind the impression that +I was a <i>bona fide</i> refugee, and with the instinctive shrewdness +partly born of my former experience I was successful in fully satisfying +the officer that the Southern army had secured another +hearty supporter, or zealous recruit. It was scarcely possible to +undo the thing at that time, as the whole South were wild in their +enthusiasm after Bull Run, and to this fact I may partially ascribe +my escape from detection and execution.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> + +<p>The only fear that I entertained was, that I might meet either with +some Maryland refugees who might cross-question me too closely, or +perhaps I might again encounter the Rebel Spy I had met at General +Patterson's headquarters; or, worst of all, that some of those +Pensacola troops, or Texas acquaintances, might have been transferred +to Beauregard's army, and would recognize me.</p> + +<p>A captive is always an object of curiosity. I must expect to be +gazed upon, stared at, and scrutinized wherever I should be taken.</p> + +<p>I might explain away any objections that would offer to the refugee +story, as there was no evidence existing that I had recently +acted the part of a scout; but the Fort Pickens episode could not +be so explained. The mere discovery of my identity meant a speedy +hanging, without the form of a court-martial.</p> + +<p>I believe I have not yet tried to describe my personal appearance +at that time.</p> + +<p>I had, from a mere lad, been wearing my hair long, combed +back of my ears; despite the jeering remarks of my companions, +my "back hair" reached my shoulders, where, truth compels me +to admit, it lay in better curls than Buffalo Bill's, Texas Jack's, or, +more recently, that of "Jack Crawford," the cow-boy scout.</p> + +<p>Probably my long hair was in part accepted by the rebels as an +evidence that I naturally belonged to the South, where the style +was more common than in the North. It will be remembered, too, +in extenuation of my fancy, that I had spent the previous winter in +Texas, the climate of which is favorable to the growth of hair on +the cow-boys.</p> + +<p>My dress, at the time of our surprise, consisted simply and only +of a fine, colored, traveling shirt with open rolling collar, red loose +necktie, dark trousers, and a coat of the same, topped off by a +small, soft, slouch hat; of course, I had shoes which were pretty well +worn, and my feet had become quite sore from so much walking. +This was not a very complete wardrobe out of which to fashion a +costume for a disguise.</p> + +<p>My face had become very much sun-burned, and, in bathing, +while exposed to the hot sun, my shoulders had become blistered, so +that the flannel or cloth overshirt peeled the skin off in a most +uncomfortable way.</p> + +<p>Reaching the advance of the Rebel outposts, which were located<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +at an old house—half farm and half tavern—situated on the bank of +the little stream at the ford or point where the highway or pike +crossed which led to Manassas, we found assembled quite a number +of Rebel cavalry soldiers, who were entertaining in their exuberant, +self-satisfied way, quite a crowd of civilians who had been attracted +to the place.</p> + +<p>Into this group of eager, inquisitive Rebels I was, to their surprise, +introduced as a "prisoner who wanted to join our army."</p> + +<p>It may be surmised that I had, with as great eagerness as themselves, +anxiously glanced among the faces, that were all turned +towards us as we approached, to discover if among them were any +whom I had ever seen before.</p> + +<p>Providence, on this occasion at least, was not "on the side of +the heaviest battalion," but with the solitary "refugee," who +breathed a sigh of relief upon failing to discover one familiar face.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately for my peace of mind, there were among the +civilian visitors to these soldiers one of those pompous Virginian +'Squires of middle age who, though attired in a fancy grey uniform +coat and civilian's pants and hat, was not, I was informed, really in +their service. The patronizing manner peculiar to this class of +gentlemen was, by reason of his age, indulged by the young officer +in command, who permitted him to dictate, like a country 'squire, +the manner in which the "culprit" should be disposed of.</p> + +<p>It was arranged by my captors, through this meddlesome old +'Squire's influence, that I should be escorted to General Beauregard +as a prisoner, leaving for him or his officers to decide upon the +advisability of accepting my story and services.</p> + +<p>The pompous old Virginia militia Colonel was merely gratifying +his own selfish vanity by securing me as his prey, proposed to take +me in his buggy direct to the General, whom he wished to communicate +with personally.</p> + +<p>"How is it that your companion in the uniform ran away on +the approach of our troops?" said the old wind-bag, addressing me +in a manner so haughty that I immediately resented it, and replied +in a tone that some of the bystanders rather enjoyed:</p> + +<p>"Oh, he was one of the Bull Run fellows; I am not responsible +for him."</p> + +<p>I did not relish the idea of going into General Beauregard's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +presence in this old Colonel's charge, lest he might, in trying to +magnify his own importance, so represent my capture as to create +in the minds of the officers at headquarters a suspicion or doubt as +to my motive.</p> + +<p>The young officer was convinced that I was O. K., and to him I +privately expressed the wish that he would not report me an unwilling +prisoner, or that I had tried to escape, assuring him that if such +had been my intention I could easily have accomplished it. He +agreed with me, and, at my further request, actually gave me, privately, +a little note to present in my own defense, if I should +need it.</p> + +<p>So it came about that I shared the hospitality of the Virginia +gentleman's buggy, as we drove along the road that evening <i>en +route</i> to General Beauregard's headquarters with a pleasant note of +introduction from a Rebel officer in my pocket, in which was recited +his belief that I had voluntarily entered the lines as a refugee.</p> + +<p>We spent the night in that vicinity, at some neighbor's farmhouse.</p> + +<p>When the old gentleman and I were again alone on the road, I +began to work on his patriotism a little, but it was not exactly a +success. His manner was not congenial at all. He had with him +a fine English repeating rifle, which he placed between us, with the +butt resting on the floor of the buggy, and, as we drove along that +day, I had it in my mind for the first time in my life to commit a +murder.</p> + +<p>As we were slowly ascending one of the mountains, I remarked +to the Colonel that I believed I'd walk up the mountain, stretch my +legs, and relieve the horse for awhile, when he glanced at me and, +with a hateful, overbearing sneer on his face, said:</p> + +<p>"You wont get out of this buggy until I put you into General +Beauregard's hands."</p> + +<p>I felt a wicked sensation dart through me that I had never before +experienced, and instinctively my own eyes rested on the gun; the +Colonel saw my face, and reached for his gun not a moment too +soon; my self-possession came to me, and I merely said:</p> + +<p>"You're not driving a nigger now."</p> + +<p>I still had my loaded pistol concealed in a belt under my clothes. +I had acquired while in Texas the Southern accomplishment of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +learning its use, and was expert and quick enough to have put its +contents in the blatant old fool's ear, and would probably have +done so had I not been restrained by the fear that the report would +bring about us a crowd of Rebels.</p> + +<p>For an hour after this incident we drove along in sullen silence. +I felt in my soul that I was being driven like a condemned criminal +to the gallows, and this old Colonel was merely my hangman, whom +I ought to shoot like a rat.</p> + +<p>After cool reflection I concluded that, with the officer's note in +my possession, I would be able to counteract any unfavorable impressions +he might try to make. I had not attempted to commit any +act in Virginia that he could prove which would operate against +me. The only matter I had to fear was the discovery of my identity +as the person who had played the spy in Florida; but as that +was many hundred miles away, I felt that I was comparatively safe.</p> + +<p>Beside this, I wanted most earnestly to see General Beauregard +myself, and to visit his army at Manassas, and pretended that I was +glad to have the use of the old man's buggy, instead of having to +trudge along on foot.</p> + +<p>The approach to the outskirts of the Rebel army was evident +from the frequent appearance of men in gray clothes, who were +apparently straggling along the road bound to their homes. A great +many of them seemed to have formed the conclusion that, having +whipped the Yankees at Bull Run, the war was over, or, if it wasn't, +it ought to be, and they could return to their homes in peace, at +least until wanted again.</p> + +<p>At certain points along the highway, such as bridges, toll-gates +and cross-roads, we were halted by guards, who, like the stragglers, +were quite communicative to our Colonel, and were of the general +opinion that there was no longer any necessity for any particular +stringency in enforcing orders, as the war would soon be over; we +were, in consequence, permitted to drive ahead without delay.</p> + +<p>My old Colonel had taken occasion at several points to call attention +to his "prisoner" in a patronizing way. I was pleased and +encouraged to note that the air of importance with which the old +man attempted to surround himself did not evoke the laudation +that he expected.</p> + +<p>As we drove up to a house by the roadside to water the horse,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +I mildly suggested that I should like an opportunity to wash some +of the dust and perspiration from my face and brush up a little before +being presented to the General. My guardian angel, probably thinking +it would serve his purpose better to show me up in as unfavorable +an appearance as possible, bluntly refused to accord me this +privilege, saying, as he drove off:</p> + +<p>"I'm in a hurry to get there, as I don't want to have you on my +hands all night."</p> + +<p>We were now close to the railroad tracks, along side of which +were numerous camps, or those that had been abandoned for more +comfortable location out toward the front. I need not tell old soldiers +how uncomfortable and desolate the rear or outskirts of an +army are, especially in the miserable country about Manassas.</p> + +<p>The roads were crowded with all sorts of vehicles, from artillery +and ammunition wagons, driven by colored boys and guarded by +frisky black-horse cavalrymen, to the two-wheeled carts run by decrepit +old colored people who were peddling "truck" for the benefit +of their Virginia-Yankee owners, whom, by the way, the real Southern +people from the South said at that time were worse than any +other sort of Yankee.</p> + +<p>Of course the road was dusty—Virginia roads are either dusty or +muddy, and, being so much crowded, our progress became a little +slow. As we drove along through that Rebel army that evening, I +am sure there was not a face in all the crowd that I did not eagerly +scan, in nervous anticipation of meeting some one who might recognize +me. When the old man was told we were off the road to headquarters, +I felt as much annoyed as himself at the delay in reaching +General Beauregard's headquarters.</p> + +<p>I observed particularly an entire absence of anything that looked +like preparations for an advance. Of this I became more satisfied +the further on we got, both from the appearance of men traveling +to the rear and from the careless appearance of the troops toward +the front.</p> + +<p>Artillery was parked in shady places; the horses were not corralled +close to the guns; in fact, everything was very much in the +same disordered condition that I had observed in our army.</p> + +<p>About an hour before sundown we reached Beauregard's headquarters. +As we drove up to the fence the old man hailed a col<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>ored +boy, and bade him tie his horse; then, turning to me with a +smile of relief, he said:</p> + +<p>"Here we are; get out!"</p> + +<p>I obeyed with an alacrity that caused him to stare at me in wonder, +as he stretched his sleepy legs and got out after me, walking +beside me with his gun in hand until suddenly halted by a sentry +on guard, to whom my Virginian said:</p> + +<p>"I want to see General Beauregard," and proceeded to walk +ahead, as if he was a privileged character, but the sentry called +down the old fool's dignity by peremptorily ordering him to "halt," +as he brought his gun to a carry. There were some sharp words +spoken, but the guard understood his business, and gave the old +man his first lesson in military etiquette, that no doubt lasted for +all the war. An officer near by, who had been attracted by the +slight rumpus, approached the sentry, who properly saluted him, +and, in answer to the officer's questions, began to give an account of +the trouble, but had barely begun to speak when the old farmer, +swelling like a turkey-gobbler, ignoring the soldier, and endeavoring +to talk over the head of the officer, in a loud voice said: "I +want to see General Beauregard <i>at once</i>, and I'll have this fellow +punished for insulting a gentleman."</p> + +<p>The officer, who was a gentleman, mildly suggested that the man +had been only doing his duty and obeying orders, but my friend's +choler was up and, refusing all explanations, demanded an immediate +interview with the General.</p> + +<p>The officer now began to get mad and, in a commanding tone, +inquired: "What is your business, sir, with the General?" to which +the old gentleman replied: "I will explain my business when I see +the General."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, you will have to give me your name and the nature +of your business, and I will advise you as to the General's pleasure."</p> + +<p>"My name, sir, is Colonel ——, of Virginia, by gad; and my +business is to turn over a prisoner whom we caught prowling in our +county, sir; there he stands, right there, sir."</p> + +<p>Turning to look at me, the officer said to the Colonel: "Well, +you should escort your prisoner to the provost-marshal. General +Beauregard is not entertaining prisoners."</p> + +<p>After a few more passages at arms it was settled that I should be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +left in charge of the guard while the <i>Colonel</i> and the <i>General</i> had +an interview.</p> + +<p>While he was telling <i>his</i> story to General Beauregard, which, I +suspect, referred more to the "insult" to himself than to my +dangerous character, the officer, who had returned to me, politely +said something about "old fools." I agreed with him, and took occasion +to add my mite of experience with the old fool, and saying that +I had merely come from a patriotic impulse from my own home to do +something for <i>the country</i>, but had been treated with so much +indignity by this old man I was sorry I had left home.</p> + +<p>In his state of mind my interpretation of the story had a most +agreeable effect, which was further strengthened by the note from +the officer who had captured me. As soon as he read this, turning to +me, he politely asked to be excused, as he returned to the General +who was being bored to death by my Colonel.</p> + +<p>In a moment more General Beauregard and my Colonel made an +appearance, the latter still talking earnestly. The General was +bare-headed, his coat unbuttoned, and presented to my vision the +appearance of a pleasant Jewish gentleman. He looked at me +while the old gas-bag was exhausting itself, but did not speak a word +either to me or the Colonel until my young officer spoke up and +said:</p> + +<p>"I think, General, I had better relieve this gentleman of the +responsibility of the care of the young Marylander," at the same +time handing to the General the note I had given him.</p> + +<p>General Beauregard again looked at me as he finished reading +it, and, turning to the officer, said:</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, that will do."</p> + +<p>And bidding the Colonel a good evening, as he excused himself, +walked off.</p> + +<p>It must not be thought that the Virginia Colonel believed, or +for an instant suspected my true character; <i>his</i> only object was to +secure some attention for himself by pressing me upon the General +personally; and his own egotism defeated his purpose, to my very +great relief.</p> + +<p>The Colonel being thus summarily disposed of, the officer, who +introduced himself to me as an aide to General Beauregard, began +to apologize for my ungracious reception in the Southern Army.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>I told him my desire was to connect myself with some of the +Baltimore refugees, and I was informed that I should have the +opportunity soon; but at that time I think there were no distinct +Maryland organizations in their Army. When I suggested that, as +I was without money, I must work to earn a living, I meekly +observed that being a railroader at home I should like an opportunity +to be employed somewhere in that capacity, as I should be able +to do justice to myself and my employers better there than elsewhere +until I could be able to unite with the army.</p> + +<p>"Just the thing; we need experienced men on the roads here +now as much as we require soldiers," and, turning to an orderly, he +directed him to accompany me to a certain official who had charge +of the railroad transportation with the <i>request from General Beauregard +that his services be availed</i> of, as he is an experienced railroad +man.</p> + +<p>It was after dark when I became finally located, and, singular as +it may seem, I was that night an occupant of a couch in the railroad +depot, <i>within sound of the telegraph instruments operating +between Manassas and Richmond</i>, and this by <i>express</i> authority of +<i>General Beauregard</i>, instead of being a prisoner in a guard-house +waiting for execution.</p> + +<p>I have been careful to give all the details of this day at perhaps +tedious length, not that it was interesting, but because of the bearing +on the subsequent events, which I believe are as remarkable as +anything yet recorded in the secret service of the war.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS INTERCEPTED AT MANASSAS, WHICH ESTABLISHED +THE FACT THAT THE REBEL ARMY HAD NO INTENTION, +AND WERE NOT ABLE TO ADVANCE AFTER MANASSAS—THE +REBEL ARMY DEMORALIZED BY SUCCESS, AND TWENTY-FIVE PER +CENT. ABSENT FROM EPIDEMIC—ON THE FIELD AFTER THE BATTLE—OBSERVATION +INSIDE REBEL CAMPS—TALKING WITH RICHMOND +BY WIRE—CAPTURED BY REBEL PICKET IN SIGHT OF +THE SIGNAL LIGHTS AT GEORGETOWN COLLEGE.</h3> + + +<p>I was always particularly careful to conceal from every one with +whom I was in contact when scouting that I was an expert telegrapher. +As such I was able, without any apparent effort at listening +on my part, or in any way indicating by my manner that I was +paying any attention to the monotonous clicking of the instruments, +to interpret every word or signal that they gave out.</p> + +<p>I had studied this part carefully, realizing fully that upon my +successful concealment of this accomplishment everything depended.</p> + +<p>I now found myself—through a train of events that seemed +almost providential—in exactly the position inside the Rebel armies +from which I could best accomplish the objects that I had set out to +undertake when I first presented the Secretary's letter to General +Patterson and General Porter.</p> + +<p>I might have been there before the battle, if Fitz-John Porter +had not delayed me. A few days after, I was at the old shanty of a +railroad depot from which the trains and telegraph communication +were had with Richmond, Gordonsville, and the Valley; the armies +of Generals Beauregard and Johnston were encamped some distance +in advance of this point, but my situation was exactly suited to my +purpose, which was to intercept communication over the wire to +and from Richmond between the Rebel Government and their Generals +in the field. I might learn more by sitting still or loafing +around listlessly in one day at that point than could be accomplished +by a week's tramp through every camp of the Rebel Army.</p> + +<p>When I reached the railway station, in charge of one of General<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +Beauregard's orderlies, it was quite dark. The gentlemanly Rebel +soldier, at the direction of the staff officer, escorted me thither +from headquarters, politely presented me to the agent or officer in +charge, as a "Maryland refugee, whom General Beauregard had +sent to him to make use of until such time as he could join with +some other Marylanders, who were to come in soon." I was also +further recommended as having been connected with railroads in +the North, and, continuing, he said:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wilmore" (I had assumed my mother's maiden name) +"is willing to undertake any work you may have for him."</p> + +<p>"Yes," I spoke up; "I shall be obliged for any employment +that will enable me to even earn my rations until I can meet with +some friends, whom I expect."</p> + +<p>I was cordially received and hospitably entertained as one of +the exiled refugees from "Maryland, my Maryland;" in fact, I +became somewhat embarrassed by the generous attentions that the +attachés about the place were disposed to give me, on account of my +being a youthful exile from home.</p> + +<p>The station-house was an old frame structure, such as one sees +on second-class railways in a new country. One portion was +assigned to the offices, in which were crowded together the ticket-sellers, +the agent, clerks, and the three telegraph operators. There +had not, of course, entered into the plans of the builder of the +road and station-houses any calculations for the increased facilities +demanded by the presence of a large army at that point, and, necessarily, +everything was exceedingly cramped and crowded, which +uncomfortable fact served all the better for my purposes.</p> + +<p>There was a squad of Rebel soldiers detailed at the depot for the +protection of property and to guard the employés. The measly +old shanty was more correctly termed a "depot" than are some of +those elegant railroad structures which have recently been erected +over the country, which, properly speaking, are "stations," even if +located at a city terminus—a depot being correctly defined as a +storehouse, or base of supplies for an army.</p> + +<p>This depot, like all the country stations, had a broad platform +around two sides of it. At the rear of the office portion was a +window looking out on this platform. Inside of the office, against +the wall, immediately under this window, was an old deal table or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +shelf, on which was placed two complete sets of Morse instruments, +while scattered about over this desk in a telegraphic style was a lot of +paper neatly done up in clips, an old inkstand, half a dozen pens, +short pieces of lead pencils, while behind the instruments a meerschaum +pipe nestled in a cigar box half filled with tobacco. There +were a couple of glass insulators for paper weights, and an immense +six-inch glass jar, or battery cup, which the operators used for a +drinking cup.</p> + +<p>The fact that this cup had recently composed part of his battery +and contained a strong solution of nitric acid, did not, that I ever +noticed, deter the thirsty telegrapher from taking a long swig out +of it after "Jimmy," the little messenger, should bring it in full +of water fresh from the spring.</p> + +<p>The wires, covered with woven thread, were leading down the +sides of the window, under the table, where they were taken up in +an inexplicable net, and drawn through gimlet holes in the desk, +and curled into their proper place in the instruments.</p> + +<p>One of these instruments communicated with all the railroad +stations on toward Gordonsville and the valley; the other was the +direct line of communication with Richmond, and as this machine +did most of the business, its voice, or tone, was permitted to sound +the loudest, and partially drowned the other; but if an operator's +educated ear detected the signal for attention from the railroad instrument, +he could, by a mere twitch of the finger, accord it the +prominent place, until its wants were attended to.</p> + +<p>All the telegraph operators engaged there were clever gentlemen, +who were, of course, as full of the Southern enthusiasm as +were their soldiers, and to the end gave to their cause that zeal and +devotion, protecting, as far as lay in their power, the important +secrets and confidences which necessarily passed through their +hands, without a single instance of betrayal of the trust.</p> + +<p>Like the telegraph corps of the Union army, they served without +rank, and for small pay, and no hope of achieving for themselves +any of the glory of war. To-day the army telegraphers are +not even accorded the privilege granted enlisted men and teamsters. +Their names are, unfortunately, not enrolled among those of the +"Grand Army."</p> + +<p>Of course, I cultivated the friendship of the boys; I flattered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +myself that I knew some of their vulnerable points and was able to +approach them in the proper way.</p> + +<p>What operator has not been "made sick" by the stereotyped +observation of visitors, who so often observe, with a superior air, +perhaps, while he is showing his girl the telegraph office for the +first time, while questioning the courteous and long-suffering operator +as to the never ending "curiosities of the telegraph?"</p> + +<p>"I once began to learn to telegraph, and knew the alphabet, +and could write ever so many words, but I gave it up."</p> + +<p>Too bad they all give it up. I've heard the remark in my time +on an average of about once a week for twenty-five years, from +educated men, too, and have been just that often made sick at the +stomach. Any school boy can learn the alphabet from his book on +philosophy; so he can learn the alphabet of the Greek, but it +requires close application for months to make a mere "operator," +and it usually takes years to make a telegrapher, while those who +have studied the art and science of electricity longest say they know +the least of its wonderful possibilities.</p> + +<p>The very first act on my part was to question in this way the +operator who was on duty the next morning. I had proposed to +the station-master to sweep out for him, and endeavored, in a general +way, to make myself a man of all work about the place, so +that I might be allowed to remain there instead of being put on +the road as a brakeman.</p> + +<p>With a broom in my hand, I observed to the operator, who was +at that moment leaning over and peering under his desk cleaning +his local battery, or rather bossing an old negro who was down on +his knees trying to do this work for him: "I came near being an +operator once."</p> + +<p>I had not time to say that I had learned the alphabet when the +young man straightened himself up and pleasantly observed: "The +<i>hell</i> you did."</p> + +<p>I turned my back and began sweeping vigorously, and, if the +young man had seen my face, it would have shown a suppressed +laugh instead of anger.</p> + +<p>That remark fixed him. I know that he for one would never +suspect me of being an operator. As the old colored uncle was not +doing his work properly at the local, I volunteered to help; and,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +taking hold of the wires, I handled them in a clumsy way that was +amusing to myself, and, under his direction, for my willingness to +aid, I was told that I should have the nasty job of cleaning battery +every day after that.</p> + +<p>The first day passed without anything of especial interest occurring +until about sundown, when a message which I had not heard +was received for "headquarters."</p> + +<p>It was the duty of one of the mounted orderlies to deliver all +messages, but at that time there did not happen to be any orderly +about, and, noting their hunt for one, I volunteered to perform the +duty and on foot. My services were accepted without question, +and I became the bearer of a dispatch to the Rebel headquarters.</p> + +<p>The operator placed in my hands an enveloped message for an +officer whose name I have forgotten, but it was addressed to the +"Headquarters of the Army," remarking, as he carelessly handed it +to me: "It's an important message from Richmond and must be +answered right away, or I should let it lie over until one of those +orderlies got back, because it's an awful long walk from here."</p> + +<p>Anxious to get the important paper in my hands, I did not think +or care for that at all, and told him with an earnestness that I could +hardly suppress that I'd rather walk a little than lay around there +idle so much, especially as I hoped by getting out to be able to meet +some of my Maryland friends in the camps. They all looked upon +my proposal as being prompted by my zeal or my "willingness" to +be of any service possible to the cause generally and the telegraph +people personally.</p> + +<p>The Rebel armies had been advanced somewhat during the few +days. We all know how difficult it is to find a certain regiment or +brigade which we had left perhaps in a snug camp in a well-known +location only the day previous, rigged up and beautifully laid out +and decorated as if they intended to make it a winter quarters, but +had been suddenly ordered during the night, perhaps, to some distant +point on a picket detail or wagon guard. These sudden +changes in the camps and of the headquarters to a straggling cavalryman +or infantryman seem to alter the entire topography of the +country in one day, and is very confusing to anyone.</p> + +<p>I concluded, however, to take the general course which had been +indicated, and to depend on further inquiries as I went along.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + +<p>With this important dispatch in my pocket, my curiosity burning +with an intense desire to learn its contents, I started off +briskly, determining in my usual reckless manner that, if it should +turn out to be important, that I'd deliver it to <i>our</i> headquarters, +instead of to the Rebel's, that night. It did not in those days occur +to me very often that there might be obstacles in my path. I presume +that I felt if there were that, as a matter of course, I should +be able to overcome or crush any attempted interference with my +plans.</p> + +<p>I had not gone far when I was startled out of my reverie by a +"helloa," from the rear. Looking around in a frightened way, as if +I had been detected in the very act of opening the envelope, as the +subject was in my mind, I saw trotting up after me a neatly-dressed +soldier on horseback, whom I recognized on a closer +approach as one of the orderlies detailed for duty at the railroad +station.</p> + +<p>His laughing question assured me that I was not to be arrested, +and, recovering myself, I was able to receive him calmly and pleasantly, +as he said:</p> + +<p>"I got back shortly after you had left, and they sent me out to +relieve you. I'll take that dispatch out; why, it's five miles almost; +we're much obliged to you, though."</p> + +<p>I rather reluctantly handed over the envelope, which, perhaps +luckily for me, had not been tampered with; the natty orderly +slipped it under his belt and, after a few more pleasant words, rode +off.</p> + +<p>In a disappointed mood I retraced my steps to the telegraph station, +walking along at a much more leisurely gait than when starting +out. I had the leisure to think over my future operation, and +before I had returned to the office, had about resolved in my +own mind that there was not any use in longer staying about there. +But, remembering my experience at Fort Pickens and in Patterson's +army in getting into our own lines from that of the enemy, my +mission in both cases being misunderstood and my object mistrusted +by our own officers, because I had only my own word to support my +reports, I fully determined that, without regard to the risk of carrying +papers, I should not again return to our lines without taking +with me some documentary or other proof to sustain my obser<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span>vations. +I had thought, while in possession of the official dispatch, +what a pleasant gratification it would be to my old friend Covode to +be able to show him an intercepted dispatch from Richmond to the +commander of the Rebel armies in the field; and as the thought of +this performance dwelt in my brain as I walked along, I formed a +hasty plan, which I believed I could mature and carry into effect—of +securing from the files or papers in the telegraph office a number +of copies of the most important dispatches, either in the handwriting +of Generals Joseph E. Johnston or Beauregard, addressed to +Richmond, or at least signed by them officially.</p> + +<p>At the particular time during which I was at this point, it +seemed to me that the burden of the wires was the messages of +inquiry for the sick and wounded, mixed up with florid dispatches of +congratulation, coupled almost always with expressions of the great +possibilities of the South.</p> + +<p>There were but few official messages of any importance that I +was able to hear; those carried to and fro by the orderlies, and to +which I gave my personal attention in a quiet way, would turn out +to be generally some Quartermaster's or Commissaries' orders or +requisitions, and I became nervous and tired over the strain or +tension I had been obliged to maintain in order to overhear the instruments +in the midst of the confusion always existing about the +place.</p> + +<p>As the telegraph table was jammed up tightly against the board +wall of the house, under the window, it became my favorite place +for loafing when outside of the office. I could sit on the board +platform and, with my back against the boards under the window +distinctly hear every word that went over the wires, the thin partition +between my head and the inside answered as a sounding-board, +really helping to convey the signals by vibration.</p> + +<p>If the reader is anxious to try an experiment, let him place an +ear against even a thick wall and allow some person with a penknife +handle to tap or knock ever so softly, but quickly and sharply, in +imitation of a telegraph instrument's click, and you will be astonished +at the distinctness with which the wall will carry the sound +like a telegraph wire.</p> + +<p>There was always about the place a lot of idle loafers—Rebel +soldiers off duty, who naturally gravitated toward the railroad<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +stations, where the little stores or sutlers were usually to be found, +dealing out commissary whisky and tobacco.</p> + +<p>Every day, and for every train, there would be crowds of sickly-looking +soldiers at the station in care of friends, who were taking +them to the trains for their homes. Dear me! I recall it as if it +were but yesterday, how the hundreds of poor fellows looked as +they were helped aboard the crowded cars by their poor old fathers, +or perhaps younger brothers. I always associate in my mind a sick +Rebel, with his big eyes and sallow face, with a resemblance to a crazy +tramp one sees sometimes nowadays, injured while stealing a ride on +a freight train, gazing at everything in a stupid sort of way, clothed +in a pair of butternut pants and coat, and big gray blanket over his +shoulders even in that August sun. I saw lots of them go away from +Manassas that I felt sure would never return to trouble us. They +were not all sick, not by any means; some of the chaps that gathered +about our place were about as lively and fractious as one meets +at an Irish picnic.</p> + +<p>One evening while sitting in my favorite place under the window, +apparently dozing, but wide enough wake to take in every +sound of the instrument which I knew emanated from the fingers +of the operator at Richmond, my quick ear caught a message +addressed to a prominent official. As it was being spelled out +rapidly, promising something rich in the way of news development, +I was eagerly straining every nerve and sense to catch +every word of it. The instrument had ticked out the name and +address, which had first attracted my attention, and I had read—"We +have information from Washington that Banks—" when +some big fellow among the crowd on the platform, of course +not knowing of my intense earnestness at that moment, began a +jig-dance on the board platform; and as his boots were at least +number nine, and he weighed 200 pounds, of course the vibrations +from that source smothered the other sounds. So intent and +eagerly had I fixed myself on catching that message, and was so +absorbed in my purpose, that, when the fellow made his first jump, +I impulsively cried out: "Keep still a minute."</p> + +<p>This was a dead "give away," or would have been to any person +who had known anything of the telegraph business and my recent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +connection with the place; but, quickly recovering myself, I said, +"All right; I thought the operator was calling me."</p> + +<p>He went on with his dancing but I lost the message.</p> + +<p>I afterward carelessly walked inside and tried, without exciting +any suspicion, to ascertain what the information about Banks +amounted to. I was not successful at the time, but kept the matter +in my mind constantly during the evening, and the more I thought +about it the more eager I became to know its purport.</p> + +<p>I was satisfied fully, from personal observation, that there was no +thought of an advance on Washington. I could see from the number +of leaves of absence, and the great crowds of soldiers leaving by +every train, that no forward movement was then contemplated. +Besides this, I had heard on the wire message after message of an +official character from quartermasters, commissaries and others +interested in the movement of an army, of sufficient character to +satisfy me of any projected advance. I decided to go to Washington +and report thus much.</p> + +<p>It had been arranged that, as Beauregard (or Johnston) had +advanced his line to near Fairfax Court House, the telegraph office +would be moved the next day, so as to be more convenient.</p> + +<p>Late in the night, when the only one on duty in the office was +the operator with a guard or sentry outside, I lay on the floor of +the office affecting sound sleep, but wide-awake. Knowing that it +was the last opportunity to get hold of any papers, I became anxious +and almost desperate. A long message had been sent to "S. Cooper, +Adjutant-General, Richmond," giving a full and detailed account +of an epidemic that had apparently broken out in the army. The +dispatch was important I knew, from the fact of its being addressed +to S. Cooper, who I knew was Adjutant-General for Jeff Davis, and +was, I think, signed by Dr. Cartright. It was quite long; the +only part of it which I distinctly remember was the astonishing +statement that twenty-five per cent., or one-fourth, of the Rebel +Army were sick or unable to do any active duty on account of this +epidemic of dysentery or diarrh[oe]a. This was an important admission +in an official form, and I decided that it was the message in +writing that I must carry with me to Washington. I observed +carefully where the operator placed the original copy after it had +been sent.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was his duty to have remained there all night, prepared to +receive or send communications that might chance to come, but we +all know how soundly the night-owls can sleep while on duty, and I +knew, or hoped, that this young fellow would soon take his chance +and drop asleep, when I could abstract that Cooper message from +his files.</p> + +<p>I did not have to wait for him to sleep; he did better than that +for me; he went out of the office and left me inside alone, and I, +moving vigorously, with one eye watched his every movement; he +further favored me by turning all his lights down before leaving. I +inferred that his purpose (as all was quiet on the wire) was to go to +his bunk and take a regular sleep like a Christian and a white man, +and not like a common soldier. I heard his footsteps on the long +platform grow fainter and further off, and then the sound disappeared +as he jumped onto solid ground. Now was my chance to +get that message.</p> + +<p>Realizing that it might be my only opportunity, I quickly determined +to take the risk of his returning soon and, perchance, missing +the message from his file—it being conspicuous because of its +bulky appearance. I silently stole up to the desk and slipped the +big piece of paper from his hook and put it—not in my pocket, not +by a good deal—but I carelessly laid it "aside," where I would be +able to reach it, and where the operator could find it if he should +return and take a notion to hunt it up.</p> + +<p>Pleased with my success, and emboldened by the continued +absence of the operator, I thought of looking further for a copy of +the message about "Banks" that I had heard come over the wires +that afternoon, but abandoned it, remembering that, as it was a +received message from Richmond, that probably there was no copy +of it retained in the office and the original had been delivered.</p> + +<p>Everything seemed to become oppressively as still and quiet as +death outside—the office was dark; the instrument only ticked an +occasional "call" from "Rd;" but as the operator was not there to +answer the "call" the "Rd" operator no doubt thought him +asleep, and with that feeling of fraternity and consideration for +which the craft are noted, the man at "Rd" undoubtedly turned +in himself. It's probable the feeble call was merely a desire to +assure himself that the man at the other end was drowsy and ready<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +to go to sleep. I understood all their little tricks. I had been there +myself often, and, as I lay on that floor, I fully sympathized with +the boys.</p> + +<p>Feeling that it was to be almost my last hour in the telegraph +service of the Rebels at Manassas, I became bold and reckless +enough at my success, and the hope of getting away soon, to undertake +a very foolish piece of business.</p> + +<p>In the darkness, which comes just before daylight (when I +should leave), I learned the Cooper message. At the same moment, +almost involuntarily, I placed my hand on the "key" of the telegraph +instrument and softly called, "Rd-Rd-Rd," several times; there +was no answer to my first feeble call. The operator was probably +asleep. I was turning away, abandoning the attempt, when I was +thrilled through and through by the click of the instrument answering +in a slow, sleepy way, "I-I-I," which is the affirmative signal +in answer to a call for attention to receive a message. Glaring +about wildly in the darkness in search of the voice of the Rebel +spectre I had aroused, and who was speaking to me from Richmond, +I took hold of the key and said, in nervous haste and desperation:</p> + +<p>"What was that message you sent about Banks?"</p> + +<p>There was a moment's silence. "Rd" did not seem to comprehend, +and made the telegraphic signal for interrogation (?) or +repeat. I said more deliberately:</p> + +<p>"That message about Banks—is there anything important?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; why, you sent the answer to that."</p> + +<p>"I forgot it."</p> + +<p>"Yes," he answered; that "a Confederate Company could take +care of Banks."</p> + +<p>"O. K., O. K."</p> + +<p>I had just laid down when footsteps were heard advancing +toward the office door, and, in another moment, to my great relief, +not the operator, but the colored servant or porter, tumbled in for +an hour's sleep before it was time to sweep and clean up the office +preparatory to the coming day's work. There was no more sleep +for me. I was wide-awake to the importance of getting away from +there as soon as possible. With the intent of throwing everybody +off their guard, or to avoid any suspicion that might possibly attach +to my sudden departure, I had made up, and had been careful to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +tell all the listeners I could get the day previous, that I was going +out to Fairfax C. H. to find some friends whom I had understood +were in camp there, and I might be away all day and night. Also, +that I was tired of civil life about the railroad and anxious to +enter the army, and would do so if I found my friends.</p> + +<p>I knew that the operator who had been on duty, or supposed to +have been on duty that night, would be relieved by the regular day +man in the morning, so, of course, the man coming on duty would +not be likely to know anything about the night messages, or to miss +any messages that he himself had not sent. I therefore took the +last opportunity to collect from the files of the office several interesting +"documents," which I knew would be valuable souvenirs +to show my friends when I should get back to Washington.</p> + +<p>Early in the morning I secured a note from the Superintendent +requesting a pass through the army for myself, to enable me to look +up a friend. With a few further words of good-by to one or two companions, +with whom I had been so singularly associated for a few +days, I left the place, with the expectation of being able to reach +Washington the same night.</p> + +<p>The distance was but twenty miles, I think, to Alexandria. My +plan was, during the daytime to travel openly under protection of my +pass, in a course leading to the front. From the best outlook that I +could reach, I hoped to place myself convenient to some unguarded +point, through which I could escape from the Rebels, and in safety +reach our own lines under cover of the darkness. It was not a particularly +dangerous undertaking at that time, because the Rebels—officers +and soldiers—whatever may be said to the contrary, were +demoralized, and had become quite careless and almost indifferent +to their surroundings.</p> + +<p>I was now going into the very heart of the Rebel army. I think +that I saw all that was to be seen in a day's scout. They had, what I +thought at the time, an awful lot of cannon; and cavalrymen in bright +gray uniforms were flying about everywhere, mounted on their own +fine horses, and stirring up a dust in such a way as to impress me with +the idea that the woods were full of horsemen. The infantry camps +were, for the most part, pleasantly located; in fact, everything looked +brighter from the midst of the army than it had from its rear; but +there was everywhere present—along the roads, or in the yards of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +convenient houses—the same groups of sick-looking soldiers and +officers, who were probably awaiting their turn to get home to die.</p> + +<p>There were numerous fortifications, earthworks and masked +batteries to be seen, and when I got on to the battlefield of Bull +Run what a disgusting smell filled the air; the very atmosphere +seemed to be thick and heavy with the odor of half-buried and half-burned +horses and mules, the bones of which were to be seen in many +places covered with carrion crows, which would fly off making their +ugly noises as they hovered about in a way to make the heart sick. +You all know how we used to "bury" the dead artillery and cavalry +horses, by simply piling a few fence-rails over the bodies and then +setting fire to the pile, and then ride off and leave the coals of the +fire baking the carcass. Whew! the smell of those half-burned old +horses sticks in my nostrils even after twenty-five years.</p> + +<p>I have not much to say of the many poor fellows whose toes +were to be seen above ground; and now and then a piece of blue +cloth showed through the thin covering of earth, and one hand laid +above the grave, from which the fingers had been actually rotted or +eaten off. It's an ugly subject to write or think about now, and I +dismiss it from my mind with the same feeling of disgust and sickness +that I experienced that day I walked along the fields and fences +in August, 1861. Under the pretence of looking for a sick comrade, +whom I pretended might have died at one of the hospitals +or private houses in that direction, I moved about unmolested. +There were plenty of civilian visitors beside myself, who were readily +granted the privilege of going over the battlefield; their army friends +were glad of an opportunity to escort them, so it was not thought +at all out of the way for me to be prowling about there alone in +search of a sick or perhaps a dead friend. In this way I got beyond +the battlefield without any trouble, and along the railroad toward +the station from which a road leads up to Fairfax Court House. +Here I began to encounter some difficulties in the way of guards and +sentries which were placed about the railroad bridges and at the +cross-roads. Their purpose was, as a general thing, I imagined, to +prevent their own soldiers from roaming or straggling about too +much.</p> + +<p>I knew that the railroad track would lead me in the most direct +route to Alexandria, and soon to our army on that line; but I under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span>stood, +also, that it would be more carefully patrolled and guarded +than were the country roads; and for this reason I preferred the +woods in which to make my final dash for liberty, and the Union, +and home.</p> + +<p>The critical moments in a scout's experience come just at this +point—after successfully passing beyond one line and <i>before</i> reaching +the other; then occurs the time when capture means his sure +detection, either as a deserter or a spy, with its terrible punishment; +and it is extremely difficult to tell from appearances whether those +you meet or see are the friends you hope to find or the enemies +you desire to leave behind.</p> + +<p>I had traveled openly and boldly all day through the Rebel Army, +carrying inside the lining of my cap the official papers I wished to +get through. I had placed them in my hat because I calculated that, +in case of a pursuit and probable capture, I might be able accidentally +to "lose" the hat in a way that would not attract any particular +attention, and a search of the regulation place for a spy to carry +papers—in the shoes—would reveal nothing to implicate me. Night +and darkness was rapidly coming on, yet I continued boldly to advance +right along to the front, and, in the gloaming, I reached a little +house setting back from the road, where I applied for supper and +lodging. There were several soldiers about the yard, and officers +were inside the house, as I judged from seeing their horses tied in +the barnyard. An old bushwhacking proprietor, to whom I +addressed myself, said that he couldn't keep me, as these officers +had engaged the only accommodations he had. Turning to the officers +I explained in a plausible manner that I had been hunting all +day for a sick comrade, who had been left at a private house; that +I was unable to find him—his name and regiment I was then able +to furnish, knowing very well from their distance back, where I had +located them, these men would not detect me—and as I was too tired +and sick to go back that night, I must rest till morning, and so I +would take a bed in the barn. I showed my request for a pass, +across the face of which I had carefully endorsed in bold handwriting, +in red ink, before leaving the office, the official words, +"Approved, R. Chisholm, A. D. C."</p> + +<p>That was a clear case of forgery, but "All's fair in love or war," +and "desperate cases require desperate remedies."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> + +<p>The officers were of that kind who are easily impressed by an +endorsement, especially if it is written across the face of the papers +in red ink; and without any further question I was invited to sit +down while a warm supper was being prepared for them.</p> + +<p>I gathered from their conversation that the Rebel outposts were +still some distance beyond. Though their own regiment was on this +picket duty, their presence in the house was explained by the sickness +of the younger of the two officers, the older having brought +him in off the picket-line. There were also in addition to this line +of pickets, a cavalry detachment that were supposed to be constantly +moving up and down the roads in front of or between the +two armies. So I was still a long way from our lines, and had yet +some serious obstacles to overcome.</p> + +<p>It wasn't exactly a pleasant evening for me, although I was so +near home again. I lay there in that hay-loft or horse-shed, planning +for the last dash for liberty; I knew that I must not attempt +to move out of the barn until everybody was sound asleep; I had +also some fear of a couple of dogs, that I'd seen running about the +house rousing the folks when I should stir; I realized that I had +a serious night's tramp ahead of me; my path must necessarily lead +me over the fields and through the woods in tiresome detours that +would be necessary in avoiding the road. For this reason I was +anxious to make an early start from the barn; and just as soon +as everything became quiet I silently groped my way out of the +loft and slid myself down on the manure pile; crouched a moment +to nervously listen and learn if the way was clear, and not hearing +a sound of life, I started off cautiously on the last quarter-stretch +of my night run for "liberty or death."</p> + +<p>Keeping to the fields and woods, but in sight of the fence along +the road as a guide, for some distance without meeting anyone or +the hearing of a sound except the crickets and frogs, I became more +emboldened and climbed over the fence into the road, striking out +at a lively gait down a long hill. At the bottom of this hill, or +rather in the valley between two hills, flowed a little stream which +was spanned by one of those old-fashioned stone bridges. When I +came close I discovered that a sentry was standing on it. I thought +it was a picket; I could discern a moving object that looked to me +through the darkness sufficiently like a soldier and his gun, to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +cause me to get back over the fence and make rapid tracks through +the field to his flank. Almost exhausted, I found myself on the +bank of the same little stream at a point where there was neither +bridge or pickets.</p> + +<p>I had learned enough about the military way of doing things to +understand that, topographically, this little stream of water probably +represented the Rebel picket-line, and I surmised that if I were +able successfully to pass this point, that I should meet with no +further danger from the infantry, and that cavalry could easily be +avoided by keeping away from the roads, as I could travel over the +routes where the horses could not be used.</p> + +<p>I waded right in fearlessly; there was but little water running, +but, oh dear! there was lots of mud concealed under the little bit +of water, and when I pulled out, on the other side, I had gained +several pounds in weight which had to be carried along up the next +hill by a pair of legs already nearly exhausted. I got over that +hill and passed down into another valley, and had, as before, become +so emboldened by not meeting with anything in my path to relieve +myself of the extra labor of climbing fences and crawling over logs, +as well as scratching through briar bushes and tramping ploughed +fields, I again took to the road.</p> + +<p>All that day and most of the night I had now been going +steadily in one direction, as I believed toward our lines, which I +had figured could not be more than twenty miles distant from my +starting point in the morning. Feeling that I could not be far +from rest and glorious relief from the dreadful strain or suspense +in which I had placed myself since leaving the barn, I recklessly +pushed along the open road. Up to that point I could have +retreated and saved myself, but now that I had gotten outside of the +lines, no explanation would answer, if I were captured.</p> + +<p>I was so fully satisfied that I was outside the Rebel lines and +became so exhilarated with the feeling that came over me upon the +thought that the next soldier I should meet would be our own boys +in blue, that I started up the hill at a brisk dog-trot, feeling almost +as fresh as when starting out in the morning.</p> + +<p>This road was through a strip of dense pine woods. You all +know how dismally dark the path seems which leads through a +deep and dark, lonely wood on a cloudy night. I felt, as I forged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +along, like the ostrich with her head in the sand, that, as "I could +see nobody, nobody could see me," and was feeling comfortable +enough, notwithstanding the dreary loneliness of the time and place, +to have whistled Yankee Doodle, even although I was not out of the +woods.</p> + +<p>I wasn't afraid of the Black-Horse Cavalry in that darkness and +gloom, because I knew very well that afoot I could easily hear the +approach of horses along the road in time to get out of the way by +running to the adjacent dark woods. In my mind I planned my +forthcoming interview with the surprised officers of our army, +whom I would soon meet face to face.</p> + +<p>It's a rule or law that scouts or spies must report direct to the +General commanding, and not talk to anyone else. I was going to +do better than this, and report to the President and Secretary of +War, and show the evidence that I carried—that there were twenty-five +per cent. of the Rebel Army sick with this epidemic, while +probably another twenty-five per cent. were absent on sick leave or +straggling, and no advance was possible, while an attack by Banks +on their rear would demoralize them all badly.</p> + +<p>"Halt!"</p> + +<p>That's the word I heard come from the darkness and interrupted +my plans, which shot through me as if it were uttered by a ghost +or spirit from another world, and put me in a tremor of dismay. +The voice came from the side of the road, and <i>from behind</i>. I was +so taken by surprise that I could not at the instant see the object +that spoke like a deathknell this dreadful word.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 388px;"> +<img src="images/i150.jpg" width="388" height="600" alt=""HALT!"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"HALT!"</span> +</div> + +<p>In another instant a <i>soldier in a blue uniform</i> appeared, pointing +his gun at me, as he said "Stand there!" Then calling to a +comrade, who had evidently been asleep, as he did not immediately +answer, I recovered my voice sufficiently to say to the soldier in the +blue blouse:</p> + +<p>"You scared me half to death, until I saw your uniform."</p> + +<p>He replied to my observation:</p> + +<p>"Yes; where did you come from?"</p> + +<p>I had not yet seen his face distinctly, but his voice and dialect at +once aroused my doubts, and again put me on my guard, and I said:</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you all about it when your officer comes," and I braced +for a run.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + +<p>In another moment the rattling of a saber was heard, coming +from the direction of the woods, and, peering through the darkness +into the grove, I was able to distinguish the outlines of a house.</p> + +<p>When the officer with his rattling scabbard got up to us I was +almost paralyzed to see him dressed in the grey uniform of a Confederate +cavalry officer. Addressing me courteously, he said:</p> + +<p>"What in the name of all that's good brings you out on this road +on such a dark night, disturbing our sleep?"</p> + +<p>He laughed, as if he thought it a good joke on himself; it was +only a trifling little laugh, but it gave me some encouragement.</p> + +<p>"Why, I have been hunting the house where a sick friend of +mine was left after the battle, and, being unable to find him, I went +to sleep in a barn, but I couldn't stand that sort of a rest, so I got +out and started back home, and I <i>guess</i> I'm lost."</p> + +<p>"I <i>guess</i> you are."</p> + +<p>The use of this word nearly gave me away.</p> + +<p>"What regiment was your friend in?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know for sure, but think it's a Maryland company. I +knew him in Texas, but we were both from Maryland, and maybe +he went with some Texas acquaintances."</p> + +<p>"Well, my friend, this is rather a singular place and time to be +found hunting a sick friend."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know; but, as I tell you, I am lost in the darkness, and +must have taken the wrong road when I left the barn. I will show +you my passes."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you have passes, have you? Come into the house and we +will make a light; we can't make a light out here because we are +right on the line."</p> + +<p>As we turned to leave, the sentry or guard who had halted me +whispered or spoke in a low tone to the officer. I suspected that he +was telling him that I had expressed my relief at seeing his blue +uniform. The officer merely nodded assent, as he invited me to +walk alongside of him into the house.</p> + +<p>I took occasion to say to him that when I saw the blue coat I +was sure that I had been caught by a Yankee soldier, and expressed +my great pleasure at having met such courteous Southern gentlemen.</p> + +<p>"Well, you came very near going into the Yankees' hands; why<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +their cavalry come out here every day, and were away inside of this +point to-day, but they generally go back at night, and we come out +to spend the night on the road."</p> + +<p>Then stopping in his walk he turned and, after peering through +the trees, he pointed to a couple of dimly flickering lights and +said: "Those lights are in Georgetown College."</p> + +<p>Great God! I was so near and yet so far; and as I looked at the +lights I was almost overcome with emotion to think that I had so +nearly succeeded and was now a prisoner in the sight of home and +friends; that I had, in fact, passed the last picket and had been +halted from the rear, but realizing that I must, under the trying +circumstances, keep a stiff upper lip, I might yet get free.</p> + +<p>My surprise at hearing the lights pointed out as Georgetown +College was so great that I must have expressed in some way my +feelings, as the officer looked at me quizzically. I ventured to +express myself in some way about being so near the Yankees, as I +thought I was nearer Fairfax, in a manner which probably implied +a doubt as to the lights being so close at Georgetown, when he +spoke up:</p> + +<p>"I know they are, because, you see, I was a demonstrator of +anatomy and a tutor at that college, and we all know about it." +And as a further proof of his assertion he incidentally observed: +"If you are around this country in daylight you can see the Capitol +from some elevated points."</p> + +<p>In the silence and gloom that had settled down over me, like a +cold, heavy, wet blanket, we walked together to the house.</p> + +<p>Along the fence and hitched to the posts were several horses, +already saddled and bridled for sudden use, while in the porch of +the house were stretched in sleep the forms of two or three men in +gray uniform, with their belts and spurs buckled on.</p> + +<p>Inside the house a tallow candle was found, and by its dim light, +the Confederate officer scanned my pass, and then, turning, gave me +a most searching look by the light of the candle, as he said: "This +pass is all right for the inside of our lines."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said I quickly, "I don't want any pass anywhere else. +I'm glad that I found you here, or I'd have gone into the Yankees' +hands, sure."</p> + +<p>While talking to the sentry, when waiting for the officer to come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +up to us, I had not thought it necessary to attempt to destroy or +"lose" the papers in my old hat, as I supposed him to be the Union +picket; and, since the officer had joined us, there had been no +opportunity to do anything with him, without exciting suspicion, +which was the one thing to be avoided at that time.</p> + +<p>When we went into the house I had, of course, taken off my hat, +and as I sat there under the scrutiny of that fellow's black eyes and +sharp cross-examination, I held my hat in my hand, and everytime +my fingers would touch or feel the presence of the paper in the hat +I was conscious of a little flush of guilt and apprehension, which +happily the tallow candle did not expose.</p> + +<p>The officer, at my request, hospitably accepted the suggestion +that I be permitted to stay there under their protection until daylight, +when I could return to "our army," supplementing the +arrangement by the kind observation:</p> + +<p>"We will see you back safely."</p> + +<p>Then rousing one of the sleeping soldiers, whom he called aside +and gave some private directions as to my care and keeping, he +courteously told me to make myself comfortable, and apologized for +the accommodations.</p> + +<p>I was a prisoner, and I knew full well that to be escorted back +through the Rebel armies with this officer's report that I had been +"found at their outposts going in the direction of the enemy," +would excite a suspicion that would be sure to set on foot a closer +examination, and this would result in my certain detection; because +the first thing they would do would be to show my forged endorsement +from General Beauregard's Chief-of-Staff for his further +endorsement; and I could not, of course, stand an examination into +my immediate antecedents, nor explain my statements, and this +would also discover my operations in the telegraph office.</p> + +<p>As I lay down alongside of the armed Rebel trooper for a rest, I +resolved that, come what might, I should not go back a prisoner—that +it would be preferable to be shot trying to escape rather than +to be hanged as a spy.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>ANOTHER ESCAPE, ETC.</h3> + + +<p>As I lay me down to sleep on the front porch of the little old +house, close beside an armed Rebel soldier, and not very distant +from two other aroused troopers, I realized in a manner that I can +not describe that I was not only a prisoner, but that I was most +likely suspected of being a spy who had been captured in the very +act of escaping from their own into their enemy's lines. I felt all +the worse from the reflection that my unfortunate predicament +resulted solely from a want of caution or discretion; that had I been +content to suffer more patiently the delays and annoyances which +were necessarily to be encountered while tramping in the darkness +through the fields and briar bushes in avoiding the highways, I +might have passed the danger line a moment later, to have reached +our own lines safely enough a little later in the night. I had +actually passed all the Rebel pickets, both of infantry and cavalry. I +learned from the talk of the men into whose hands I had run myself, +that they were merely a detached scouting party, who were at that +particular point at night, as I surmised, to receive communications +from their friends who were inside our lines during the daytime.</p> + +<p>This arrangement was for the accommodation and convenience +of <i>their</i> spies in our army—enabling them to come out to this rendezvous +under cover of the night to deliver their mail or supply +information.</p> + +<p>I gathered these facts from the big fellow who had me in charge, +who, it was courteously observed by the officer, "would make me as +comfortable as possible," after the manner of a jailor the night +before a hanging.</p> + +<p>The outpost was not only a branch postoffice for the Rebel couriers, +but there was a previously-arranged system of signals with some +one at the college, by which any important advances or other movement +of our forces could have been quickly announced, and that +would have been well understood by the party stationed there to +observe this.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + +<p>As I have said, I fully determined in my own mind not to go back +to the Rebel headquarters as a suspected spy. The forged endorsement, +or request for a pass, which I had voluntarily relinquished to +the Rebel officer, while it seemed to allay any suspicions that might +have been aroused in his mind, had the opposite effect with me.</p> + +<p>It was the one little piece of paper out of my hands that was sure +to be closely scrutinized by the officers. It would supply documentary +evidence not only of my guilt as a spy, but of forging a Rebel +General's endorsement.</p> + +<p>I had not yet seen any chance to make away with the other +dreadful death warrant, in the form of the stolen telegram that was +concealed under the lining of my hat.</p> + +<p>While passing into the house from the road I might have thrown +my hat down, but I knew they would hunt it up for me, and, in +handling it, be sure to discover the concealed papers. I could not +get them out of the hat, even in the dark, without attracting attention +that might result in an exposure; and, besides all this, I knew +full well that any pieces of white paper, if torn into ever so small +fragments and scattered on the ground, would be sure to attract +notice and be gathered up at daylight. I was suspected, and, as +such, every action and movement was being closely scrutinized and +noted. My only hope was to delay the exposure that must eventually +come; that I must keep still and trust to luck for escape; or, +if an opportunity offered me, while pretending to sleep, I could eat +and swallow the papers.</p> + +<p>The horses of the troopers were already bridled and saddled +and hitched to the fence-post. It occurred to me, in my despair +upon seeing this, that, if I could only succeed in throwing these +people off their guard for a moment, I might find an opportunity +to seize one of their own horses, upon which I could ride defiantly +and wildly down the road into the darkness, trusting to night and +the horse to carry me beyond reach of their pursuit.</p> + +<p>These were only a few of the many thoughts that rushed +through my brain that night, as I lay there on the porch, so near +home and friends on one side, and so close to death and the gallows +on the other. It is said that a drowning person will think of the +events of a life-time in one short moment. I had <i>hours</i> of agony +that night that can never, never be described.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + +<p>As I lay there looking up into the sky, perhaps for the last time, +I thought I'd soon have an opportunity of finding out whether there +were other worlds than ours. I was, indeed, going to that bourne +from which no traveler ever returns.</p> + +<p>The clouds, which had darkened the sky a little in the early part +of the evening, were now slowly rolling by. I lay as still as death +for an hour perhaps, watching the movements of the clouds; and +thinking of my friends at home.</p> + +<p>I wondered what each and every one was doing at that particular +time, and imagined that most of my youthful associates were having +a happy evening somewhere, while I, poor fool, was lying out on a +Virginia porch in this dreadful fix, without a friend to counsel or +advise with, while I might just as well have been at home and happy +with the rest of them. If they thought of me at all, it probably +was as a prisoner still about Harper's Ferry; but I would never, +perhaps, have the satisfaction of knowing that my work in the Rebel +camps had been understood. While cogitating in this frame of +mind the moon began to show through the breaking clouds, and, +as suddenly as if a face had appeared to my vision, the Southern +moon looked straight down on my face, flooding the porch for a +moment with a stream of mellow light.</p> + +<p>I was lying partly on my side at the time, my head resting on +my arm for a pillow, as was my habit; my hat, which yet contained +the tell-tale papers, was under my face. I was almost startled from +my reverie, as if by an apparition, and, looking around hastily, I +saw standing, like an equestrian statue, on the road the mounted +sentry, while along side of me, but to my back, was <i>seated</i> another +fellow apparently wide-awake, who looked wonderingly at me as I +raised my head so suddenly. I was closely guarded, and my heart +sank within me as I again dropped my head to my favorite position +on my pillowing arm.</p> + +<p>The moon still shone clear, and as I looked with heavy, moist, +downcast eye, I became suddenly thrilled through my whole being +on discovering by the light of that indulgent old moon that right +alongside of my hat was an open knot-hole in the floor of the +porch.</p> + +<p>I'm not a spiritualist or even a believer in the supernatural, but +I must assert, upon my conviction, that some unseen influence must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +have directed and placed that ray of moonlight at that particular time, +for the express purpose of enabling me to safely deposit the tell-tale +papers. If it had not been for the timely rift in the clouds, I +would never have discovered the little opening in the floor. Another +fact which confirms me in my theory of the supernatural influence +is, that, immediately after I had been so strangely shown the place +of concealment, the light faded as suddenly as it had appeared, +and for some time afterward the surroundings became obscure in +the darkness.</p> + +<p>There may have been, but I don't think there was, another hole +in that porch floor, and this one was quite insignificant.</p> + +<p>In the darkness I could barely insert my two fingers into the +opening, as Mercutio says in the play:—"No, 'tis not as deep as a +well, nor so wide as a church door: but 'tis enough, 'twill serve."</p> + +<p>I don't think a hunted rat or fox was ever more grateful for a +hole than I was for this; it was my only chance to get rid of the +papers unobserved, and I at once took the hint from the sky and +began silently to finger them out of my hat.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, they were quite bulky; the official paper which +had given a tabulated statement of the epidemic and absence +of twenty-five per cent. of the Confederate Army, was on foolscap +paper, which <i>would</i> rattle everytime it was moved; but by turning +or scraping my shoes on the boards every time I touched the +papers deadened the sound, I was enabled, after a good deal of nervous +twitching, to get them into a roll sufficiently small to poke +down the hole. That's what I thought; but when I attempted to +drop them the wad wouldn't fit; and, to add to my consternation, +the guard at this point was being relieved. I lay still for awhile in +a tremor of excitement lest I should be detected; it occurred to +me, also, that though the moon had kindly shown me the way to +get rid of my burden of proof, the sun might, also, in the hours following, +expose, from the front part of the house, the presence of a +roll of white paper under the porch. I had not satisfied myself +that the opening at the front was closed. To prevent the roll of +white paper being too conspicuous, I tore from my hat the black +silk lining, and, at a favorable opportunity, I re-rolled the little +paper into the black silk stuff in a smaller package, which allowed +of its being deposited in the Rebel signal station, and "let her drop."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +It reached the ground about two feet below, and, being dark in color, +was assimilated so closely with the black earth as not to attract any +notice, even if there had been an opening to daylight. This package +out of my mind and off my hands safely, I breathed a heartfelt +sigh of relief and thankfulness, and uttered a solemn prayer: "That +I'd be hanged if I ever touched another paper."</p> + +<p>When I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and looked around and +saw daylight breaking, my heart again sank within me as I realized +my position.</p> + +<p>Through a misty, drizzling daylight in August, I saw preparations +of the rebel outposts to "pack off," and was hurriedly +ordered to get up behind one of the troopers whose horse would +"tote double," and instead of a gallant dash down the road to our +lines, followed by howling and shooting pursuers, I was being +"toted," back to the Rebel Army, "on behind."</p> + +<p>It seems very funny now to have to describe my inglorious position, +as compared with the novelist's idea of a dash for liberty. I +was riding lady fashion on the rear end of a rebel cavalryman's +horse, holding on around his waist for dear life, like a girl at a picnic, +as we trotted ingloriously back toward the headquarters of the +Rebel Army. It was quite unbecoming I know, and if I had been +in a camp meeting crowd I should have enjoyed the ride; just at this +particular time I was obliged to be satisfied with the facilities, and +pretended that it was fun. I was smart enough not to allow those +people to discover, by any words or actions of mine, that I objected +to going back in this way; though I would have given worlds to +have had a chance to delay them, in hopes of relief coming up +from the Union Army that would compel them to give me up in +order to save themselves.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i158.jpg" width="600" height="387" alt="I WAS BEING "TOTED" BACK TO THE REBEL ARMY." title="" /> +<span class="caption">I WAS BEING "TOTED" BACK TO THE REBEL ARMY.</span> +</div> + +<p>I had two chances for my life: I could not be expected to fight +the whole Rebel Army single-handed and escape unhurt; the only +thing to do, was, so to conduct myself that I might throw them +off their guard and quietly get away, and thus have an opportunity +to try again to reach our lines. The other alternative was, +that if this chance of escape did not appear, that I might so conduct +myself toward my captors as to win their confidence, and +have the forged pass disposed of and not be carried to Beauregard. +If conducted to headquarters, I might, by cunning stories, try to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +impress on the minds of those who would have my examination in +charge the truth of the story that "I had become lost in the +night, while searching for the house in which my sick friend was +reported to have been left."</p> + +<p>This was plausible enough, and I hoped from the general demoralization +prevailing after the battle, that they might be careless, or +at least indifferent, enough to let me off easy on this statement.</p> + +<p>The forged endorsement on the pass, which had gone out of my +hands, was the serious <i>evidence</i> against me, coupled with the fact +of having been captured while trying to go to the enemy.</p> + +<p>There was, also, of course, always before me the great danger of a +discovery of my identity as the Fort Pickens Spy.</p> + +<p>I had ample opportunity to consider all these things as we trotted +along back over that portion of the road that I had tramped out +in so lighthearted a manner the night previously. The soldier who +"escorted" me was a jolly, good fellow, and felt disposed to make my +ride as comfortable as possible, but as there were eight in the squad +beside the officer in command, we had to keep up with the rest +and, as our old nag was a rough trotter, it was a little bit uncomfortable +at times. They seemed to be in a hurry to get away. +Perhaps something may have happened while I was asleep that +made it necessary for them to whoop things up a little that ugly +morning.</p> + +<p>The unpleasant jolting of the horses, and the rattling of the +sabers and horses' tramping feet, prevented an easy flow of language—in +fact, I could not talk at all; it required all my time and attention +to keep my place on the rear of the saddle. I did not dare to drop +off the horse, because the officer in charge had been careful enough +to place us in front.</p> + +<p>We reached a bridge on which was stationed a picket, who halted +us; the officer rode up, dismounted, and gave the necessary countersign +and ordered us forward.</p> + +<p>I had only seen the bridge at night, and from the other side, +where I had discovered a soldier with a gun walking about, +when I broke for the field and flanked him. We were halted for a +moment while the rebel officer of the guard, with our officer, walked +a little distance to one side to consult with some others, who were +in a drowsy way, lounging about a camp-fire.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> + +<p>I looked about to gain some idea of the topography of the country +over which I had traveled in the night.</p> + +<p>Several officers approached us, accompanied by our commander. +I was requested to dismount, when our officer politely introduced me +to the other, saying:</p> + +<p>"The Colonel is anxious to know how in the world you could +have gotten by his picket on this bridge last night."</p> + +<p>"Yes" says the Colonel, "I've had men on post here who declare +that no one passed them during the night."</p> + +<p>I was taken all aback, because I had told the party who had captured +me that I had followed the road right along.</p> + +<p>"Well," said I, "I walked right over this bridge last night, +and saw no one here at all."</p> + +<p>What a whopper that was; but I knew that I'd got to go through +with it. Turning abruptly away from us, both the officers walked +off a short distance and brought a sergeant forward to hear my +statement; luckily for me, he admitted that at a certain hour he +had been obliged to leave the bridge in charge of one man alone; +but he insisted that it was for a short time only. After this admission +the sergeant and his officer had some interesting talk, in rather +an emphatic tone of voice, in which my officer and our squad seemed +to take a lively interest. They evidently felt that they had found a +weak spot in the infantry line of pickets, and rather enjoyed the +honor of having caught the fish that had gotten through the net.</p> + +<p>After this little affair had been so happily passed, to my great +relief, they all seemed to be in good humor with themselves and with +me, and were rather inclined to give me credit for having passed +through their infantry successfully. As my escort's horse was having +to carry double, and could not be expected to travel as fast as +the others, the officer in command directed a second man to stay +with us, while himself and the rest of the body-guard rode ahead.</p> + +<p>They assumed that, being again inside of their picket-line there +was no danger of my getting out to the Yankees—if I had wanted +to try to escape from them.</p> + +<p>We were directed to hurry to a certain house, where they would +order breakfast, and very considerately urging us to hurry along, +so we could have it hot. I was apprehensive, from this talk of a +breakfast in a house, that I should be landed back into the old bush<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span>whacker's +shanty, where I had taken a greasy supper the night before, +and had been put to bed in his barn.</p> + +<p>I was not sure of the road, nor would I recognize the house, as I +had seen it only at night when approaching it from the other side. +I felt relieved when we turned out of the broad road into one not +so well traveled, which led to the left or south, in the direction of +Fairfax or the railroad. To a question as to our destination, my man +said: "We are to go to Headquarters, I reckon, but we are to stop +up here for a rest and feed."</p> + +<p>Sure enough, after passing only a short distance up the side +road, we came in sight of an old tumble-down looking house on one +side of the road, while across from it was the identical barn that I +had crawled out of a few hours earlier. The house and necessary +outbuildings of the farm were located between these two roads. I +discovered by the daylight, also, that there were quite a number of +rebel soldiers encamped in a wood close to this fork of the roads; +there was, probably, a brigade of them, or at least a couple of regiments, +bivouacking there, as I judged from the smoke of their +numerous camp-fires. They were preparing their early breakfasts. +These troops, I learned from my companion on our horse, were +detailed for the Rebel advance picket duty, and were scattered in +detachments all along the front in the best shape to protect their line.</p> + +<p>Riding up to the gate, I jumped off the horse with alacrity, and +seeing the old bushwhacker in the door, I rushed up to him as if I +had found a long-lost father, and began to tell him how glad I was +to be safely back there again.</p> + +<p>"But," said the old scoundrel, "why didn't you stay here last +night?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I couldn't sleep in that old barn for the rats, and so I +got out; and as I didn't want to waken you all up, I walked off +quietly alone, but I got started on the wrong road in the night and +came near getting into the Yankee's hands."</p> + +<p>"Too bad," said the old rascal, with a sneer and a knowing +wink to a group of officers who had gathered around there for a +breakfast and had heard my story from our officer. I saw at once +that I was a goner, and that my story wouldn't go down here; but, +keeping a stiff upper lip, I assumed an air of cheerfulness that I did +not at all feel in my heart. I was disturbed, too, to observe that my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +commander was being questioned earnestly by several officers, who +would every now and then glance significantly at me; from their +gestures and manner I knew instinctively that my case was being +discussed, and every sign indicated that the verdict would go against +me.</p> + +<p>This sort of a reception was not calculated to whet my appetite +for the breakfast awaiting us. The Georgetown tutor, whom I have +termed "my Rebel," was a perfect gentleman, and whatever may +have been his own convictions as to my being a spy, he most considerately +concealed from me any indications, and refrained from +the expression of a suspicion as to the truthfulness of my story. He +assumed in my presence that I was a straight refugee; and I inferred, +from his intercourse with the officers whom he had met at this old +house, that he had defended me as against their suspicions.</p> + +<p>A young enlisted man from one of the regiments camped about +there had been brought to the house to confront me on my "Maryland +story," he being a Marylander. It was supposed he would be +able to detect any inaccuracies in my account of Maryland; but I +soon satisfied him, and showed the officers who had gathered about +that I knew as much about Maryland and Baltimore as he did, and +more about the Rebel country. I had fully crammed myself on +that subject, in anticipation of being questioned on it.</p> + +<p>I have often thought since that, had I fallen into the hands of +those infantry officers, after having successfully passed through +their lines, they would have been tempted to hang me without trial, +and the old bushwhacker would have been glad to have acted hangman. +He looked like a veritable Jack Ketch. They well knew +that the report of the cavalry officer to headquarters would expose +the weakness of their line.</p> + +<p>I took occasion at the first opportunity to have a little talk with +my officer, to ascertain what he intended to do with me. With a +sigh of relief, he said:</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, I shall have to leave the matter entirely with the +officer who gave you this pass."</p> + +<p>That wasn't very comforting, but I didn't say that I felt it +was the very worst thing that could befall me; but, instead, I spoke +up: "That will be all right. I shall be glad to get away from this +place as soon as possible."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; we will see you safely to our headquarters."</p> + +<p>Then giving some directions to the sergeant of his squad to get +ready to move, he turned again to me and said, kindly:</p> + +<p>"I am sorry that I have no horse for you, sir; and, as we are +now detained considerably, I will ride on ahead. These two men +will come on more leisurely with you."</p> + +<p>That was one good point—the chances for escape were increased +three-fourths, or in direct ratio to the reduction of my body-guard, +or escort from eight to two.</p> + +<p>I was inside the Rebel pickets again, and <i>they</i> had been made +more alert, and would be more watchful after their carelessness of +the night previous. This, with the fact that I had been scrutinized +by so many soldiers on that morning ride through their lines and +camps, would make any attempt to escape in that direction doubly +dangerous; therefore I concluded I should try to quietly get away +from these two soldiers at the first favorable opportunity; if I succeeded, +I should not dare to attempt passing <i>that</i> picket-line a second +time, especially in daylight.</p> + +<p>It was quite a relief to me to say good-by to the old bushwhacker +and his crowd of Rebs from my seat on the rear end of +the horse. He had something to say about "not coming back that +way again," as we rode off. They detained our companion a moment +or two, while I imagined they poured into his head some cautions +or directions about taking care of me. When he caught up to us, +he said, laughingly: "Them fellows think you are a bad man."</p> + +<p>This was thought to be too funny for anything; and to keep up +the joke, I grabbed my man around the stomach and called on him +to surrender to me at once, or I'd pull his hair.</p> + +<p>We trotted along the road in this laughing humor for a mile or +so; my heart was not in the laughing mood, but I, like the broken-hearted +and distressed comedian on the stage, was playing a part, +and, in a greater sense than theirs, my "living" depended upon my +success in acting the character well.</p> + +<p>At one point in the road my comrade had dismounted for awhile, +and kindly gave me the bridle-rein to hold. I was then in possession +of the horse, he was afoot, his gun standing by a fence-corner, +and himself on the other side of the fence. This was a pretty good +chance for a horse-race with the other fellow, who was still mounted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span>, +but he had the advantage of holding a carbine and a belt full of +pistols, while I was unarmed. I wasn't afraid of <i>his</i> guns. I took in +the situation at once, and would like very much to be able give the +reader a thrilling account of a race inside the Rebel lines, but the +hard facts are—I was afraid to undertake it. I had discovered at +the foot of the hill, near a stream of water, in the direction in which +we were going, the smoke of a camp, and probably a road guard +was over the little bridge.</p> + +<p>These soldiers, I knew, would halt me with a volley from their +muskets, especially if I should come tearing down with an armed +Rebel shouting after me. On the other side, toward the out lines, +the course would lead me back into the Rebel camps and past the +old bushwhacker's house we had recently left, and I preferred going +to headquarters to getting back into their clutches again.</p> + +<p>When my man remounted and I surrendered the reins to him, +I observed that, if I had wanted to have gone back, or to run off +with his horse, I could have done it, and at least had a race with +our companion; they had not thought of the danger at all, and were +both tickled at this evidence of my good intention; neither of them +had seen the infantry guard ahead of us, which was the <i>only</i> obstacle +to my attempting to carry out this "good intention."</p> + +<p>We trotted and walked further down the hill and passed inside +the guard; in going up the next hill, I proposed relieving the horse +by walking a little; this was readily granted, and I slipped off on +to the road and stretched my legs in training for a run, if a chance +offered. I remarked jokingly to the soldiers, who rode along leisurely, +that they had better watch me close; that, as we were now +inside of about three lines of pickets, or road guards, being such a +dangerous fellow, I might fly back over their heads into the Yankee's +lines.</p> + +<p>This sort of pleasantry seemed to keep them in an easy frame +of mind, and they began to act as if they were ashamed of the fact, +that two heavily-armed men on horseback should be necessary to +guard one unarmed boy on foot. One of the men discovered a house +standing back from the road, at which they proposed getting water +for their horses and ourselves, so we all turned into the little road +leading right up to the place.</p> + +<p>Our first inquiry was met at the kitchen door, in answer to his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +request for a cup to drink from, by a real neat, young, colored gal, +whose laughing, happy face showed a mouthful of beautiful teeth +while the red struggling through the black showed a beautiful cherry +color in her lips.</p> + +<p>Both the boys were attracted, and began immediately, in the true +Southern chivalrous style, to make themselves agreeable to the +"likely gal." I didn't have anything to say. The other two fellows +kept up the fun for quite a little while, becoming every moment +more and more interested, and actually became jealous of each +other. I saw that this was likely to be my opportunity and encouraged +the performance. While they were both dismounted and "resting" +on the old back porch buzzing the gal, I carelessly observed +that I'd go around to a little out building. They had gained so +much confidence in me that my proposition was assented to without +a word, or even a nod; and the boys both sat still, while I unconcernedly +walked around the corner of the house.</p> + +<p>How long they sat there and talked I do not know, and what +became of the two good boys in gray will never be told by me.</p> + +<p>As far as their history is concerned in this story, it closes with +this scene on the back porch of the old house.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>ONE MORE ESCAPE—"YANKING" THE TELEGRAPH WIRES—"ON TO +RICHMOND!"—A CLOSE SHAVE.</h3> + + +<p>Apparently there were "no men folks" about the house at the +time of our morning visit. However, through a window, I saw the +white cap of an old lady, whose bright eyes shone through her +large-rimmed specs intently on the group that sat on her back porch.</p> + +<p>I had taken observations every foot of our march during the +morning, with an eye single to the main chance, when the opportunity +should offer, to escape from the guard—either to run or to hide +from pursuit. Under such conditions, one's wits take on a keen +edge. Directly back of the house, but on the other side of two open +fields, was the edge of a wood that extended a long way in both +directions. This wood was the timber or inclosed land down in +the "hollow" or bottom, as they term the low lands, while the road +on which we were traveling stretched in almost a straight line over +the higher ground.</p> + +<p>Once around the corner of the house, I stopped a moment to +take in the situation. I saw at a glance that the wood was my only +chance, because cavalry could not follow me on horseback through +the undergrowth, where I could go on foot. I felt equal to both of +them—except the guns.</p> + +<p>A dividing fence ran along the fields toward the house, and +quickly scaling this, I turned for a look back, then thinking of the +doubly dangerous risk of a second capture while attempting to +escape, being actually in the enemy's army, I was nerved to desperation +and made a break for liberty, feeling that I could almost fly. +I ran like a pursued deer.</p> + +<p>I took off my hat—I don't know why, but I always take off my +hat when anything desperate is to be attempted. I didn't stop to pray +in a fence-corner, but, in a half-stooping position, so as to keep +under cover of the fence, I ran like a deer along that old stake-and-rider +fence, and I made, I know, as good time as ever boy did in a +race after hounds. In the middle of the field an old negro man +was working alone. I stopped for a moment when I saw him, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +as I was, luckily, on the opposite side of the fence from him, +he did not see me. This old moke had a dog along with him—they +all have dogs. I was more afraid of the dog than of guns. This +black apparition in my path to the woods necessitated a slight +change of direction, to avoid him, as well as the scent of the mangy-looking +old dog, that I imagined was "pointing" me.</p> + +<p>I was soon under the hill, from where I stopped a minute to +look back. I could see only the top of the house that I had just left, +and I knew they could not see me; so, leaving the protecting +shadow of the fence, I struck boldly across the field in a direction +leading furthest away from the old coon and his dog, in a course +toward headquarters, the same in which we had been traveling. +I knew, or at least imagined, that, immediately on discovering my +escape, they would naturally think that I would return, or that I +should at least try to make toward their front, and again try to +escape into the Yankee lines.</p> + +<p>This was their mistake. My plan had been deliberately formed +before hand to do precisely the opposite thing—which was to run +ahead, or toward the Rebel headquarters, trusting to the chances +of putting pursuers off my scent, and hoping to lose my identity in +the crowd among the Rebel camps.</p> + +<p>Like the hunted fox, my tracks zigzagged me back to the road +we intended to follow, but brought me out ahead of the house. +Before risking myself on the road a second time, I peered through +the fence cautiously, from whence I could see up and down the road +for a long way. The coast was entirely clear; and, cautiously +crawling through the lower bar of the fence, I did not run across +the road; no, indeed, I <i>crawled</i> across on my hands and knees, like +a hog, so that I might the better avoid any chance of observation, +and, in the same ignominious style, I hogged it through the lower +panel of the fence on the other side. Once safely over the road, I +quickly changed my character from the swinish quadruped to the +biped; and, without turning to look either to the right or to the +left, I crawled along that fence right alongside of the road, in as +speedy a manner as was possible.</p> + +<p>It was more luck than good management on my part that I had +been forced back on to and over the road by the presence of the +black man and his dog. In pursuit they would naturally follow,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +but the old man would be sure to swear that I had not gone in the +direction that I had been obliged to take, because he had been there +all the time and had not seen me.</p> + +<p>While the two clever cavalrymen were probably skirmishing around +on their horses along the road, or through the fields to their front, +looking after me, I was rapidly traveling in a course directly opposite, +and they would not be likely to suspect that I had crossed the road.</p> + +<p>There were no woods on the side of the fence or road on which +I had placed myself, and I was obliged to keep close to the fence, +and followed right alongside of the road for quite a long way.</p> + +<p>At the bottom of the hill was a dry run; that is, there was a +gravelly bed over which a small stream should have coursed, but +the water was not there in August, 1861. The banks were, however, +pretty well shaded or covered with a light undergrowth of +willows, or some such trees as usually are seen in these situations. +It was a good chance for me to get away from the road fence, so I +ran along the run-bed toward the south, under the protection of +the shady undergrowth. There were no signs of life along this +stream; it was deserted both by the water and the things that live +in and above the water.</p> + +<p>Its course led me a long way from the road. After successfully +passing a house, which was near the top of the hill, at a safe distance, +unobserved, I got into a second wood and lay down on the +ground for a much-needed rest.</p> + +<p>I did not dare to stop long in any one place, knowing only too well +that, when my guard should report that he had lost his prisoner, the +Rebel cavalry about headquarters would be sent out to search for me, +with probable orders to all guarded points to keep an especial lookout +for a person of my description. I could not stay in the wood, +though I could best conceal myself there, because I knew that I +would famish. I was already in real distress for want of a drink of +water, and, as I lay there in the wood, my brain began to conjure +up all sorts of torments. I imagined that the dry bed of the +stream over which I had been stumbling was mocking me with an +appearance of moisture.</p> + +<p>If any who chance to read this have ever had a couple of hours +violent exercise in a dusty country, on a hot August day, and +longed for a drink of water, they may appreciate my misery. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +don't imagine that I can convey in words any conception of the +suffering, the intense suffering one may experience for a drop of +water, when they can't get it. The experience will almost drive +one wild. I believe this, because, on more than one occasion, I have +seen the demon of this anguish look into my eyes with the wild +glare of the frenzied maniac.</p> + +<p>The drizzling rain of the morning had given way to a sultry, +close noon, and as I lay panting in the shade of the wood, the sun +hung out like a huge, blazing copper ball, and poured down his +fiercest heat. I thought of the beautiful, clear, cold spring on the +hill-side back of my father's house, in Pennsylvania, where I had +so often, when a boy, been sent for a bucket of water, and had so +reluctantly obeyed, thinking it a great hardship to be compelled to +throw out a whole bucket of <i>good</i> water just because it wasn't fresh +and cold. I would have given anything in the world for just one +chance to be a better boy at home, and solemnly pledged myself +never to kick again on my turn at going for water.</p> + +<p>I called up involuntarily all the soda fountains I had ever seen +in the cities, and became frenzied over the idea that I began to hear +in my mind the buzzing noise of the little sprays of water that were +always to be heard dashing against the glass case. Unable to stand +it any longer, I got up and made a break for water, determined +that I must find it at any risk.</p> + +<p>In this condition of mind I trotted along slowly, like a hunted +wolf, with his tongue hanging out. Let's see. I've compared +myself to a monkey riding on the rear end of a horse; a deer stalking +behind the fence; a fox with zigzag tracks being chased by a +dog; a hog under a fence; and now it's a chased wolf. I hope to +exhaust Noah's Ark before I complete the story, and am trying to +keep the score in view.</p> + +<p>I found a pool of water on the outer edge of the wood. There +had been a spring about there some place at some time. If there +had been any hogs about they would have found it first and utilized +it as a bath; as it was, it was partly covered with a greenish +slime. I had spent some time in Texas, where it only rains once in +seven years, and had learned, while traveling about that country, +that the green scum is considered an indication of <i>good water</i>. +That's a fact. A Texan will always prefer to take a drink from a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +pool on which there is this scum. So, in my distress, for the want +of a drink—of anything, so it was water or something wet—I +eagerly skimmed a place large enough to poke my nose and mouth +into, and sucked into my parched throat a long drink of the warm +stuff.</p> + +<p>I had also learned another drinking trick in Texas, which is—always +to hold your breath as long as possible after taking a drink +of what they call water, in order to conceal as far as possible the +taste in the mouth which necessarily follows the nauseous dose.</p> + +<p>But we must hurry along and get out of the woods with the +story. I reached, after considerable dodging, a railroad. I judged +it was the Manassas road, leading from Alexandria past Fairfax +Station back toward Manassas. I was not sure of my location, but +I was glad enough to strike a railroad-track, because I knew that +cavalry could not travel on ties as fast as I could, and I hoped, too, +that it would afford me some chance to get away from the cussed +country more rapidly.</p> + +<p>I didn't dare walk the track, but I followed along it for quite a +long way. At one point, where there was a long, straight line, I +discovered some distance ahead a soldier on guard. I imagined it +was a bridge or culvert guard, and I knew that I could not pass +that point. While getting ready to go around them, I observed that +the telegraph wire, which had become destroyed and was repaired +at one point, was quite low; the men who had done the work had +evidently not been able to climb a pole, and had left it hanging over +the bushes. The sight of the wire in this shape, put into my head +the idea that it would be well enough to destroy their communication +right there, and prevent the use of <i>that</i> means of spreading +information about a spy being loose in their camps.</p> + +<p>Getting to one side of the bushes, I easily got hold of the wire +from my position on the ground, and, hauling it as far as possible to +one side, after hastily glancing up and down the road to see that no +one was near to observe me, I "yanked," or by a dexterous "twist +of the wrist," which a wire-man understands, I was able to break the +wire, which, the minute the tension was removed, suddenly flew apart, +making the adjoining poles resound with the vibration. I was +frightened at the consequence of my act and dodged hastily into +the shelter of the wood.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 388px;"> +<img src="images/i177.jpg" width="388" height="600" alt="I "YANKED," OR BY A DEXTEROUS "TWIST OF THE WRIST," +I WAS ABLE TO BREAK THE WIRE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">I "YANKED," OR BY A DEXTEROUS "TWIST OF THE WRIST," +I WAS ABLE TO BREAK THE WIRE.</span> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was possible for me, as an expert telegrapher, to have drawn +the ends of the wire together, and, by simply tapping them +together, to have sent by this simple method a message of defiance +to General Beauregard. I suspect that this story would be enlivened +somewhat by such a trick, but it don't come in here. It was successfully +played <i>afterward</i> while I was on Stoneman's raid to Richmond's +outskirts; but the truth is, that I was too badly scared to +think of such a thing at this time. The accident, if I may so term +it, served me a good turn in one or two ways; first, it destroyed +communication for the time, and it brought about a valuable means +to the end of assisting my escape, but it was not a safe place to +loiter.</p> + +<p>It occurred to me that I might be able to pass the bridge, and +thus get over the stream safely, by assuming the role of a telegraph +line repairman, carrying some loose wire. The wires were being +frequently broken by the rough pounding of the poles by mule +drivers, and repairmen were no doubt often being sent out to fix up +the breaks. In this capacity I knew I would be looked upon as +belonging to a sort of privileged class, as they now are, riding free +on the rear end of the railway trains, while we all know a telephone +man will walk right through the best and biggest house to get on to +the roof to fix a break, as if he had an inborn right to go anywhere +he chose.</p> + +<p>Breaking from one of the hanging ends of the wire a long piece, +I coiled it in shape that linemen carry, and putting it over my neck, +I started boldly down the track. I had no climbers, but I was able +to personate an amateur repairman who had been suddenly pressed +into the service, on account of a great emergency, who must travel +rapidly as possible in search of a broken wire.</p> + +<p>My story passed me safely over the bridge and past the guards +stationed at several points on the track. I traveled rapidly in the +direction farthest from the break. By the same bold trick I was +able to get through several camps that were close by the tracks.</p> + +<p>There were no trains running on that part of the road at that +time, or I should have, probably, been tempted to boldly stop an +engine and get on; as I had often seen linemen on the Pennsylvania +Railroad thus picked up from the road by accommodating engineers. +I knew, of course, that the trick would not last long; that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +moment the wires had separated the operators would know of some +sort of a break out on their line, and would at once take the necessary +steps to test for the location of the accident; and, of course, +men would be sent out as speedily as possible to repair the damage. +I ran the additional risk, too, of meeting with some of those <i>bona +fide</i> linemen, who would question my authority.</p> + +<p>In the manner in which I have tried to describe, the greater part of +this eventful day was spent, until along about an hour before sundown, +when I came to a road crossing the railway. I now seemed to have +gotten through, or beyond, Manassas, in the rear of the Rebel Army, +toward Richmond, as there were no further guards at the crossings. +I discovered, by encouraging a trackman in a short talk, that the +road crossing the tracks led off in a direct course to Falmouth and +Fredericksburg and Richmond. After a little further inquiry as +to a suitable house at which to apply for something to eat, I left the +track, taking the dusty summer road "on to Richmond."</p> + +<p>I felt, as I walked along this narrow road, which was seemingly +cut through a thicket of small saplings, so common in that country, +that I had escaped, and was safe once more. My belief was, that I +had not only eluded pursuit but that I had put those whom I knew +would be sent to find me on the wrong scent.</p> + +<p>I was tired, <i>very</i> tired, and as I had eaten nothing at all since +the hasty breakfast at the bushwhacker's house, when I didn't have +appetite enough to swallow a mouthful, I was, of course, hungry. I +hadn't a cent of money, either, and what could I do but beg, and +this I <i>would not do</i>. Again my good angel came to my relief by +suggesting a ruse, to further aid my escape and, at the same time, +perhaps, create a sympathy for myself.</p> + +<p>I had, in assuming the character of a lineman, thrown away my +coat, in order to relieve myself of the burden of carrying it along in +the hot sun, and to further carry out the impression that I was +a workingman without a coat.</p> + +<p>I had walked so much and so rapidly that my left foot had +become swollen, so that I was obliged to go along at a limping gait. +I took advantage of this accident to further add to the change in +my appearance, by assuming a lameness that apparently obliged me +to depend upon the use of two sticks to hobble along.</p> + +<p>I had been obliged to take off my tight left shoe, and around<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +the swollen foot I tenderly tied the greater portion of my shirt, +which I had, of course, first torn off the narrative end. In this +shape, walking between two sticks, with my foot tied up as if it had +recently gone through a surgical operation, I jogged along down the +sandy, dusty road which was leading toward Fredericksburg and +Richmond.</p> + +<p>Along in the evening I ran into a clearing, at the far end of which +was nestled a little old-fashioned house. It was one of those country +farmhouses where the roof extends down beyond the house and +forms a lower shed or porch roof, which runs along, both at the +back and the front, the whole length of the house.</p> + +<p>Opening on to the roof were two dormer windows of the old-fashioned +kind, that we don't often see nowadays.</p> + +<p>I marched boldly—if limpingly—through the picket gate, up the +straight path in front of the house door, and, assuming to be suffering +dreadfully from my "wound," I asked the old man—another +old bushwhacker—for a drink of water. He didn't fly around with +any great alacrity to wait on the "poor soldier,"—that isn't the style +of hospitality for poor whites in Virginia—but the old cuss did order +a colored boy to bring some water.</p> + +<p>"Right away; do you hyar?"</p> + +<p>I was just dying for a chance to operate on the old fellow's sympathy, +with a view to "accepting his hospitality" for the night, or +to the extent of a supper, at least, but I had come up to his door a +poor wounded soldier on foot, and the second-class Virginia gentleman +has no use for a poor man, even if he should be a wounded +Rebel soldier, who had come all the way from Texas to defend his +home, etc., etc.</p> + +<p>If I had ridden up to his house as a blatant Rebel officer, on +horseback, everything his house contained would have been officiously +placed at my disposal without a word of question.</p> + +<p>As it was, the old rascal began to ask questions, and was so disagreeable, +too, in his manner, that a young man, who had come up +from the barn, and who I judged to be his son, found it necessary +to answer for me, and in a way that put the old man down.</p> + +<p>Being thus encouraged by the son, the old lady took a hand in +behalf of the "poor soldier," and endeavored in a kind, motherly +way to make me more comfortable. I had told them that I had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +been slightly wounded in the foot, but the wound did not properly +heal, and I had been tired and sick lying about the hospital camp, +and had determined on my own account to get out to the country +some place, for a day or two. I was particular to impress on the +mind of the sour old man, that I was not a beggar—that I'd pay for +all I got, etc. Now, I didn't have a cent of money, and if that old +man had demanded a settlement after supper, I should have been +sadly left; but I was going to stay all night, and return to camp +<i>for a pass</i> the next day. The old man had said that they all had +their orders from the army officers not to entertain <i>any</i> soldiers +who couldn't produce passes. To this I replied that, "I had +thoughtlessly overlooked the matter, but could easily fix <i>that</i> the +next morning, when I'd return."</p> + +<p>We had a <i>good</i> supper; the old lady's sympathies were aroused, +and she set out her little delicacies for the</p> + +<p> +"Poor Texas boy, who was so far from home."<br /> +</p> + +<p>I was just hungry enough to have eaten everything they had +prepared for the whole family; but, as I was on my good behavior, +you know, by a mighty effort and struggle with the inner man I +was able to postpone my appetite. There was only the old man, +his wife, and the big lubberly son, and a colored mammy in the +house. They were evidently "poor white trash," but they owned +one slave, so old that she was like a broken-down horse or cow—very +cheap.</p> + +<p>I heard the old man talking earnestly to the son, and I imagined, +of course, that the conversation was about myself—at such a +time one's fears are aroused by every little incident.</p> + +<p>"Trifles light as air, become proofs as strong as Holy Writ."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; you're mistaken, Father! Why, the poor fellow can't +walk."</p> + +<p>"But," replied the gruff voice of the old man, "he don't know +where his regiment is."</p> + +<p>Without further words the young fellow walked off. When +the old man came back to the porch, where I had been sitting +telling the old lady a sorrowful tale about my home, etc., he began:</p> + +<p>"Where did you say you got your wound?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, it was a trifling hurt on the instep; it only became +troublesome because I couldn't keep from using my foot."</p> + +<p>Then the old lady chipped in with:</p> + +<p>"Shall I send Mammy to help you bathe it with warm water, +before you go to bed?"</p> + +<p>I declined this with profuse thanks, and begged that they would +not trouble themselves about it; it was a mere trifle.</p> + +<p>After some more questions from the old man, which I was able +to parry, I was ready for bed, glad enough to get away from him, and +determined to clear out as soon as possible. They put me into a +room which was in the attic, which extended across the width of the +house; from this room there were windows opening on to the roof +before described (two dormer windows), one in front and the other +directly opposite, opening onto the roof of the porch. Before getting +ready to lie down, I took a good look at the surroundings from +both of these windows. I had become so accustomed to this, going +to bed in the enemy's country, not knowing the condition in which +I should find myself when I'd waken, that it became a sort of a +habit with me to take my bearings, that I might be able to escape +in case of fire.</p> + +<p>I didn't "dress" my wound exactly, or undress myself for bed; +in fact, there was nothing that I could strip off but the trousers, one +shoe and a hat. With these all on, I lay down on top of the old-fashioned, +cord bedstead, and, as described by some of the smart sayings +that we used for texts in our copy-books at school—"Consider +each night how you have spent the past day, and resolve to do better +the next." Its awfully easy to get up these texts, but it's sometimes +a little bit troublesome to apply the same thing to every-day +life. I "resolved" easily enough to do better the following day—if +I could. I wanted to get out of that country very badly, because +I knew, as before stated, that the whole Rebel Army at Manassas +would be on guard for spies at once.</p> + +<p>My one hope was to get to Richmond and escape by some other +route. While "resolving" further in my mind how to get along +down that road in the morning, without this old man getting after +me for my supper and lodging bill, I almost fell asleep. I was so +tired that I could scarcely keep awake, yet I was afraid to trust +myself in sleep.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<p>The folks in the house had all been in bed some time; the lights +were out, and everything became ominously quiet. My quick ear +detected horses neighing and tramping, and an occasional voice in +the night air reached my ear; but, as the sound seemed to die away +so soon, I began to think myself mistaken, and was about to surrender +myself to sleep, when aroused again by what was unmistakably +horses galloping along the road. I quickly, but painfully, jumped +up from the bed, and stole quietly over to the front window just in +time to see a troop of horsemen come up. They were about to ride +rapidly past when one of the fellows in the rear file called out: +"Here's a house."</p> + +<p>There was the jangling that always follows a sudden halt of cavalry, +especially when following each other closely on a dark night. +Some voices, in the nature of interrogations from an officer to his +command, and a halt was made some little distance down the road +past the house.</p> + +<p>Two of the men wheeled and rode toward the front of the house, +and, after looking about the grounds, talking in a tone of voice that +did not admit of my getting distinctly the purport of the remarks, +they both galloped back together to the command, which they had +left standing in the road. I breathed freer, hoping they had decided +to let us alone.</p> + +<p>It would never do for that old man to have a chance to explain, +in his way, my presence in the house. I felt devoutly thankful for +the lucky escape I had again made, and had about concluded in my own +mind to clear out silently, without the Virginia formality of saying +good-by to my host, when I saw, with horror, that the whole troop +had turned about and were walking their horses slowly back toward +the house. I stood by the front dormer window of the old house, +and you may imagine how eagerly I watched their every movement.</p> + +<p>The officer in command halted his troop and, calling a trooper +by name, said:</p> + +<p>"Sergeant, you go up to the house and ask if they have seen any +strangers along this road."</p> + +<p>That was enough for me. I left that window as suddenly as if +a gun had been pointed at me, and ran across the little room to the +back window; it was open, the night being so warm, the sash held +up by the customary window-stick. I got myself through the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +window with celerity and was about to let myself slide down the roof +slowly to the eaves, so that I might catch on there and allow myself +to further gently drop down on to one of the supporting posts, where +I could slide down to the ground. Stretching myself out in a feeling +way on the roof, still holding on to the window sill, almost +afraid to let go, when down came the window-sash striking me across +the wrist so suddenly and severely that I involuntary let go my hold +and, of course, slid down the roof feet foremost like a sled on an iced +track, landing kerslop over the side on to the ground. In my sudden +descent I had caught hold of a lot of Virginia creepers that +were trained up to the side of the back porch and had pulled them +down with me, and lay for an instant all tangled up in them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 389px;"> +<img src="images/i185.jpg" width="389" height="600" alt="LANDING KERSLOP OVER THE SIDE ONTO THE GROUND" title="" /> +<span class="caption">LANDING KERSLOP OVER THE SIDE ONTO THE GROUND</span> +</div> + +<p>If there is anything that will startle a man or a woman it is +the sudden fall of a window-sash, because, in most cases, it makes +such an infernal noise and does so little damage; but, in this case, +luckily for me, perhaps, my poor hand was made to answer the purpose +of a buffer and deadened the sound of the falling sash, otherwise +it might have fallen, as sashes always do, and the noise have +attracted the notice of the cavalrymen, who were on the road at the +other side of the house. My quick shute from the up-stairs of the +little old house to the ground was softened a little by the mass of +vines that I had carried down with me.</p> + +<p>The house only stood between me and a troop of pursuing cavalrymen. +Quickly realizing my precarious predicament, I gathered +myself up, and, for a poor wounded crippled Texan with two canes, +I made most elegant time, considering the darkness, straight back +to the barnyard into the wood beyond. What happened at the +house I never learned, as I did not stop to hear another word spoken.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>ON TO RICHMOND—A NIGHT OF TERROR—A GHASTLY FIND IN THE +WOODS—ATTACKED BY BLOODHOUNDS—OTHER MIRACULOUS +ESCAPES—FIRST VISIT TO <a name="fred2" id="fred2"></a><ins title="Original has FREDRICKSBURG">FREDERICKSBURG</ins>—A COLLECTION +TAKEN UP IN A CHURCH IN VIRGINIA FOR THE "BOY SPY"—ARRIVES +IN RICHMOND.</h3> + + +<p>When I heard the officer in command of the cavalry party give +instructions to his Sergeant to inquire "if any strangers had been +seen about there," I jumped to the conclusion that it was a detachment +of Rebel cavalry that had been sent after me. It may have +been that this party had received general instructions only—to look +out for all strangers traveling over the roads; but I knew full well +that the old man would make such a reply to any inquiries as +would excite their suspicion and put me to the dangerous test of +an examination.</p> + +<p>In sliding off the back-porch roof so suddenly, I had further +injured my already tired and swollen foot; but I seemed to forget +all about it for the time, and ran off as lively as if I were just out +of bed after a refreshing sleep.</p> + +<p>I believe that they did not discover the "presence" of an enemy +for some time after I had gotten off, or until the old man had been +roused from his sleep; and I imagined, after a parley with him, the +officer would accompany him to my room in the garret for the purpose +of interviewing their guest.</p> + +<p>What they thought when they found the bed empty, and nothing +left of the poor Texas cripple but his two improvised crutches, I +must leave to imagination.</p> + +<p>I ran through the darkness wildly, recklessly, as fast as I could, +scarcely knowing whither I was going, only feeling that each jump +or step led me further from the cavalrymen. The night was quite +dark. My course led me across a plowed field to a fence over which +I climbed quickly, and plunged into a thicket or wood of small +pine trees.</p> + +<p>Once into this cover, I plodded along slowly, being obliged to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +pick my steps. It was blind traveling, and I avoided running into +the briar bushes that are so plentiful in that part of Virginia. +Through this thicket, every step, to my frightened wits, seemed +sure to betray my presence by the breaking or snapping of the +twigs and bushes.</p> + +<p>I didn't know where it would lead me, but I could not for the +life of me keep still a single moment. I felt impelled by some +unseen power to keep going on, on—how long I dodged and scratched +through the bushes and briars can not be told. I only remember +that every few steps I would be obliged to halt, having run my face +against some low, thorny limb of the heavy growth of saplings, that +would almost bring the tears to my eyes from the smart pains +inflicted. I carried my hat in my hand, as I always do when I'm +hard-pressed, and my long hair, like that of Absalom, gave me a +great deal of additional trouble.</p> + +<p>I was soon beyond sight or sound of the cavalrymen, whom I +had left in the road. I desired to keep near the roads leading +toward Fredericksburg. I assumed that, in pursuing, these men +would naturally imagine I had taken the back track to reach the +railroad.</p> + +<p>I sometimes almost despaired of getting far enough away from +the house to prevent capture before daylight would come. When +I'd stop for a few moments to untangle myself from the bushes, or +to feel my way over a fallen tree, I'd imagine that the curious +noises that every one hears in the stillness of the night in the woods +were the echoes of the pursuing Rebels.</p> + +<p>I feared above all things else that they would procure from +some of the neighboring houses some dogs—bloodhounds, perhaps—that +would be used to track me through the thicket. In this way +a most miserable night passed.</p> + +<p>Though I say it, who should not, I had less fear of the Rebels +in arms than of the dogs. In all my adventures in their camps, I +had preserved secretly, next to my body, the little Colt's five-shooter +revolver. I knew how to use it. There were the five loads +yet in it, that I had put in before leaving Pennsylvania, and I had +resolved that four of them would be used against either Rebels or +bloodhounds and the fifth would relieve me from further pursuit.</p> + +<p>I admit freely that I was frightened; indeed, I was scared half to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +death, and would have given the world and all that was in it, if it +were mine, to have gotten out of the miserable scrape in which I +had voluntarily placed myself. Under such conditions even a +frightened boy will become desperate.</p> + +<p>I had deliberately determined to sell my life as dearly as possible, +and, if they had not killed me, I should most certainly have +done the business for myself rather than take any further chances +in their hands. This is the way I was feeling while resting for a +few moments on an old log.</p> + +<p>A picture of myself would show a smooth-faced youngster sitting +"like a knot on a log," dressed in three-fourths of a shirt, a +pair of torn trousers, one shoe and a half, bare-headed, long tangled +hair, and I imagine an expression of countenance that would closely +resemble the "Wild Boy of the Woods." I had torn off the greater +part of my shirt to bandage a sore foot the evening previously.</p> + +<p>When a person is hunted down he can accomplish some wonderful +feats in quick traveling, even if the difficulties to be overcome +are distressingly innumerable.</p> + +<p>I had forgotten all about the sore foot, on which I had limped to +the house the night before. My wrist, on which the window sash +had fallen, was most painful and threatened to give me trouble. +Though I had been on a terrible jaunt for twenty-four hours previously, +I did not at that time feel tired, sleepy, or even hungry.</p> + +<p>There was the one idea in my head—to make all the speed possible, +and increase the distance between myself and Manassas. I +had come upon a peculiarly sickening smell, that made me a little +sick at the stomach, when all of a sudden I was startled, and my +blood chilled, by a rustling noise in front of me; glancing ahead, in +a terror of fright, I saw gleaming through the darkness something +that I thought and believed might be the glaring eyes of a bloodhound. +That dread was in my mind, but in the next instant the +eyes had disappeared; with a rushing, rustling noise, the object, +whatever it was that owned the terrible eyes, ran off through the +woods.</p> + +<p>For the moment I was so stunned that I could scarcely move +forward or backward; but, on second thought, realizing it was probably +some wolfish dog that I had surprised while feeding upon the +carcass of a dead sheep, I gathered courage to move ahead. As it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +was in my path, I was obliged to approach it, despite the sickening +odor which was everywhere around. In a hot, sultry August night +it was like—well, old soldiers can imagine what it was like. Desirous +of avoiding the stench as much as possible, I was climbing over +a log rather than walk too close to where I supposed the eyes had +been; hurrying along, holding my breath, with one hand to my +nose, what was my horror to find that I had stepped from the top +of the log right down on to the decaying body of—<i>a man!</i> O, horror +of horrors! I can not write of it. I've never even told the story +to my best friends. It has been too dreadful to contemplate; but +the naked, disgusting facts are, that I stepped down on to the soft +object—my foot slipped, as it would from a rotten, slimy substance, +throwing me partly down, as I had one hand on my nose, and, in +my efforts to recover myself, plunged both my hands into the soft, +decaying flesh of the head, causing the hair to peel off the scalp.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 394px;"> +<img src="images/i191.jpg" width="394" height="600" alt="I HAD STEPPED ON TO THE DECAYING BODY OF—A MAN." title="" /> +<span class="caption">I HAD STEPPED ON TO THE DECAYING BODY OF—A MAN.</span> +</div> + +<p>What did I do? What would you have done? I was, for that +moment in my life, as wild as ever lunatic could be; and can not +remember further than that I ran straight ahead toward the road, +which I had been so careful to avoid, and, after reaching it, I scaled +the fence, like a scared dog, at two bounds, and ran—oh dear me—I +didn't care what I should meet after that. My steps were long and +quick, and it was not until I was completely exhausted that I +stopped for a rest. I rubbed my hands in the dusty road; I polished +the shoe in the dust of the road that had slipped off the slimy +bones, but the smell would <i>not</i> out; it seemed to penetrate everything; +and I became deathly sick from the exhaustion. The +experience of that hour had so turned my head and stomach that I +was as weak and helpless as a child. In this condition I lay down +in a fence-corner, not able to hold my head up another moment. +Perhaps I fainted, but I claim never to have fainted.</p> + +<p>I know that the dreadful object was a half-buried man. I +know this, because some of his hair was in the sleeve of my shirt +the next day. I don't feel like writing anything more about it, and +will dismiss it with the theory which I subsequently entertained: +that it was most likely the unburied body of a wounded Rebel, or, +perhaps, an escaped Union prisoner who, like myself, after the recent +battle of Manassas, had concealed himself in the thicket, and +while in that condition he had probably taken sick, and being unable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +to procure any assistance, or to make his presence known, had died +this lonely and unhappy death; and the wolves and dogs only had +found his resting place—the log his only tombstone.</p> + +<p>I lay curled up in the fence-corner for an hour or so. I +imagined <i>everything</i>. Dear me! I might fill a book with the +thoughts that whirled through my excited, feverish brain that +dreadful night. I felt that this would be my fate. Every stick of +wood became a snake, and they soon became so numerous that I +was surrounded by them on all sides. The trees were a mass of +living, laughing, bowing giants, who were there to laugh at my +misery; and the noises—well, all know how a little frog can scare +a big man when it darts into the puddle of water with a thug, +especially if it's at night and he alone. I've often been scared by +the suddenness of their jump, but that one night in particular it +seemed as if all the wild animals in creation had gathered about +that country, attracted by the smell from the distant battlefield of +Manassas.</p> + +<p>There were plenty of unburied and half-buried bodies all over +the country about Manassas—the very air was laden with the odor +from decaying horses, mules, etc. One can imagine far better than +I can describe the sensations of an over-sensitive youth as he lay +in a fence-corner of Virginia, forced to inhale the odor and obliged +to hear all the dreadful noises that came out of the dark woods, +and add to this the certain knowledge that, if I should become +prostrated, then all hope of any relief for me from this veritable +hell in Virginia would disappear.</p> + +<p>As I lay there to add further to my cup of misery, I heard coming +along the road, the tramp and gallop of horses. Lying on the +ground one can hear the horses' feet a long way off, and I suffered +in anticipation just so much the more. I imagined these were the +same cavalrymen I had left at the house. This new danger served +to rouse me partially, and raising my head a little, I got my trusty +little Colt out of its concealment, and was ready for the end.</p> + +<p>In truth I did not then care, and had become so perfectly desperate +that I was ready and indeed almost anxious to be out of my +misery.</p> + +<p>They approached rapidly. I raised myself to a sitting posture, +placed my back against the fence, cocked the pistol, and waited for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +their appearance. They trotted up, talking gaily among themselves +and without seeing me, as their horses shied past. That was +not very wonderful, because I was so close to the fence as to become +covered by the shadow; the night was still too dark for objects +to be seen at a short distance, especially from a rapidly-trotting +horse.</p> + +<p>The passing of this cavalry detachment before me, as I sat in +the fence-corner, served to arouse my drooping spirits somewhat. +The dust which they had raised had scarcely settled, and the sound +of their horses' hoofs were yet to be heard, when I became imbued +with a new strength and hope, realizing that there was yet some +hope for my escaping.</p> + +<p>I knew that it would be safe enough to follow along the road in +the wake of that troop of cavalrymen; and the fact that there were +no infantry pickets further along this road, was evident from the +fact of the cavalry being out on this scout.</p> + +<p>I stepped out into the road with renewed energy, glad enough +to be moving to any place that would take me from the sight +and smell of such scenes.</p> + +<p>I don't know how long I walked. I remember very well that I +found it necessary to stop every little while to rest. I was becoming +so weak that I could scarcely hold my head up, and every time I'd +sit down I'd involuntarily drop helplessly, and soon find myself +going off to sleep on the roadside, being lulled to obliviousness by +the queer, unearthly sounds from the wood—the effect being +pretty much the same that I once experienced when taking laughing +gas in a dentist's shop.</p> + +<p>I roused myself often, each step with a greater effort, and had +the daylight been delayed but a little longer I should have been +obliged to succumb. The appearance of the gray dawn in the East +seemed to me as a sign or token of encouragement, and from its +appearance I took fresh courage and kept moving, as if impelled by +an unseen power "on to Richmond."</p> + +<p>It is said the darkest part of the night is just before the dawn; +so I have always found it; and it has been my observation, too, that +the safest time to scout is just before or at dawn; then all animal +nature seem to sleep or, at least, be off their guard, thinking, perhaps, +everybody else like themselves are sleepy.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + +<p>This was one reason why I was able to travel some distance after +the Rebel cavalrymen in such apparent safety. I knew that, if they +returned along this road, I should be able to discover their approach +a long time before they could get up to me, and could get out of the +way. I judged rightly, too, that they would be the only trouble I +should have to overcome, as it was evidently their assignment to look +after that particular section.</p> + +<p>Why didn't I get ahead of them? I didn't have a horse, and it +was safer to follow them than have them follow me. They would +ask at every house if a stranger had passed. In this way they had +caught up to me once. Now they will be told at each house ahead +of me that no one had been along that way.</p> + +<p>That's the way I was arguing the question in my own mind that +morning. I moved along rather hopefully, not intending under any +circumstances to approach a house or to allow myself to be seen by +any one.</p> + +<p>But I was tired, weak and so hungry; and the best resolutions +can be broken down by the pleasant odor of good cookery from a +farmhouse, especially when it's wafted out to a poor hungry devil +on the road.</p> + +<p>I had discovered about sunrise some blue wood-smoke curling up +over the tops of a little growth of trees to the side of the road yet +some distance ahead. Knowing that I dare not approach from the +road, I crawled wearily over the fence, and rather reluctantly began +my old tactics of flanking the place and advancing in the rear of it. +When I got through the woods and came to the opening nearest the +house, I found myself almost behind it.</p> + +<p>The house was larger than any that I had seen the previous +evening, and I gathered from the appearance of several little outbuildings, +which I judged were "quarters" for the negroes, that +the place belonged to a well-to-do Virginia slave-owner. There +was no smoke coming from the large house; it was from one of the +little buildings that I supposed was an out-kitchen. The proprietors, +or white folks, were evidently still asleep. An old aunty was +prowling about the wood-yard gathering up chips.</p> + +<p>The pangs of hunger and thirst were driving me pretty nearly +wild, and, being so dreadfully weak and exhausted, I felt that I +<i>must</i> have something to eat; that only a cup of coffee would do me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +for the rest of the day. But I <i>must</i> have something to eat to keep +me alive. Desperate, and believing it to be the safest time to take +the risk, I walked boldly out from my hiding place straight up to +the quarters, determined to appeal to the old aunty, for a bite of +something. She had gathered her apron full of chips and had gone +back into the kitchen with them, so that I was able to follow her +to the house unobserved, and was flattering myself that I had succeeded +so well when all at once two dogs that I had not seen rushed +savagely down the back yard toward me. I raised my two arms in a +frightened way as they rushed on me; the foremost one sprang up, +placing his feet on my breast and tried to reach my face or throat, +but only succeeded in inserting his teeth in the fleshy part of the +muscle of my left arm. As I had only the thin covering of the shirt, +he tore this in a distressingly painful manner. I have the marks +yet on that arm. The wound has been a painful one at many +times during these twenty-five years; but the Pension Office regulations +do not "compensate" for the bite of a <i>bloodhound</i>, so I +have not mentioned it outside my own family.</p> + +<p>The old colored woman rushed out, followed by her old man, who +grabbed the dog by his hind legs and threw him over; the two other +dogs, attracted by the scent of the dead man on my shoes and trousers, +could scarcely be driven away from me.</p> + +<p>The old woman kindly took me into the kitchen and washed the +bloody arm, and bound it up with a piece of turban which she tore +off for the purpose. Without asking any questions, I was given a +cup of good black coffee and some hoe-cakes, which I gulped down +with a relish.</p> + +<p>These poor, ignorant, black people knew instinctively that they +were succoring a friend, and at a very great risk to themselves; and +to relieve them of any fear for their own safety, should their conduct +be discovered, I told them the old, old story about being lost +on the road, etc.</p> + +<p>The old man, who had been watching out of the doorway as I +ate my breakfast at the hearth, observed, knowingly:</p> + +<p>"The master's folks isn't out of bed yet, but I specs dem sogers +will want dey hosses, so I'se gwine along to de barn to feed, Liza."</p> + +<p>The hint was sufficient, and to my hurried inquiry:</p> + +<p>"Are there any cavalrymen at the house?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, 'deed; dahs a whole company sleepin' on de front poach +over dar."</p> + +<p>"How long have they been here?" said I, putting down my cup.</p> + +<p>"Dey comes hyar most every night, and sleeps on dat poach tel +they get over breakfast."</p> + +<p>That was sufficient. I had lost all pain in my arm; my hunger +had been satisfied with less than half a breakfast, and, hastily +thanking the old aunty, I made an excuse about not wanting them +to know I was out of camp, and left—the shortest cut for the +woods.</p> + +<p>I was up to my pursuers, and had left them asleep on the porch, +awaiting their breakfast. This would give me an hour's start +ahead of them, and I gathered renewed courage from the belief that +they would <i>return</i> from that point.</p> + +<p>As I have heretofore said, I am not a believer in Spiritualism, +but I have always felt convinced in my own mind that the dog was +sent by a higher power to prevent me going up to the house where +were sleeping a half a dozen or more Rebel cavalrymen.</p> + +<p>I struggled along through the dreary, desolate, pine woods, skirting +the roads and avoiding houses, suffering with my wounded foot, +wrist and arm; fortunately the houses were not many, which allowed +of my using the road more freely. It was along about noon, I think, +when I reached the top of the hill at the old town of Falmouth, +which overlooks Fredericksburg and vicinity. Here was an obstruction +in the shape of the Rappahannock river, which had to be +crossed by a ferry into Fredericksburg. Of course, everybody who +crossed there would be scrutinized closely, so that their identity +could be traced.</p> + +<p>It may be asked, why did I not attempt to reach the Potomac +from this place at this time. I don't know exactly why, except, +perhaps, that I felt I was being impelled by some mysterious power +to go to Richmond.</p> + +<p>The Potomac was only about ten or twelve miles distant, but it +was also four or five miles in width, and the Rebels controlled all +the means of communication across to Maryland. Richmond was +forty miles distant, and a railroad ran there from Fredericksburg.</p> + +<p>Luckily for my purpose, a drove of horses, being steered by an +old farmer and two colored men, made an appearance at the top of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +the hill leading into Falmouth. Seeing my chance, I asked one of +the drivers to be allowed to ride an "empty" horse over the river. +He consented, and in this way I rode down the hill, and we crossed +the Rappahannock and entered Fredericksburg in August, 1861.</p> + +<p>I had intended to stop at Fredericksburg and run the gauntlet +of the railway trains into Richmond, but I found myself so comfortable, +seated on the bare back of a horse, that I concluded to stay +with the drove the balance of the day, so we passed right through +the town and on down the main road to Richmond.</p> + +<p>I felt reasonably safe from pursuit. Bloodhounds would not be +able to track me that night, as they most certainly would when my +presence at the colored shanty should become known.</p> + +<p>The old uncle told me that the dog that bit me was a young +bloodhound, and that the proprietor of the house <i>kept a pack</i>, and I +suspected that the object of the officers in visiting him was to secure +their use. But, in getting on a horse and crossing the river, I had +eluded their scent, and felt safe enough from further danger in that +direction. It was also fortunate for me that I was further able to +disguise myself, by traveling the road in charge of a couple of colored +men with a drove of horses that were being sent to Richmond +for the army.</p> + +<p>That evening, without further adventure or trouble, except that +I began to suffer from my foot and arm, we reached an old-fashioned, +out-of-the-way stopping place, called Hanover Court House, +where the colored boys had been ordered to keep the horses over +night.</p> + +<p>They found entertainment in the quarters. I was received into +the house as a wounded refugee soldier <i>en route</i> to Richmond, and +treated in first-class shape by the old landlord and his kind wife.</p> + +<p>I had a new story for them that took real well.</p> + +<p>I slept soundly in a nice bed between the clean, white sheets. I +am sure that I felt devoutly thankful for the home-like, pleasant +change in my surroundings from the two preceding nights.</p> + +<p>The agreeable change in my surroundings that remains most +grateful in my memory is, that the kind-hearted and motherly old +landlady, seeing my wounded, bleeding arm, which had soiled the +whole side of my already pretty dirty shirt, at once waddled off to +fathom from the depths of some bureau drawer a nice, clean, white<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +shirt, and with it across her arm she marched back to my room +almost out of breath, because she was so stout, saying:</p> + +<p>"My dear, you must take off that shirt, which seems to be +soiled by your wound; here is some fresh linen that you will please +use."</p> + +<p>The old gentleman, who though not so rotund as his wife was +fully as kind, approvingly observed: "Why, of course, mother, +that's right;" addressing me courteously, "Is there anything else +we can do to make you comfortable, sir?"</p> + +<p>Thanking them profusely and perhaps tearfully, I asked only +for a little warm water, before retiring, that I might bathe +and dress my wounded arm—to which request the old lady called +out:</p> + +<p>"Chloe, have some warm water brought here at once—you +hyar?" She "hyard." While I was yet telling these dear old people +some of the most bare-faced lies about myself being a wounded +refugee from Maryland, etc., Chloe waddled into the room with a +bowl of water in one hand and a couple of towels across her black +arm.</p> + +<p>Her appearance interrupted for the time the flow of yarns, as +both the old gentleman and lady excused themselves, first directing +"Aunty" to help the "young gentleman to dress his wound."</p> + +<p>Aunty stood up in front of me with both sleeves rolled up, as +if ready for a fight, when I should strip off the old shirt, which was +sticking closer than a brother to the sore spots. But Aunty very +kindly helped me as tenderly as she could, and when my torn, +inflamed arm was exposed she could not refrain from uttering a cry +of sympathy, and wanted at once to go down to bring up the +"Missus" to see it. I would not allow her to do that, and, with +her aid, I washed as well as I could, and was about to pull the shirt +on over it, when, without asking my consent, old Aunty marched +out of the room, saying: "Ise gwine get Missus put sothin on dat +arm," and disappeared. Very soon the old lady embarrassed me +by walking boldly into the room; and, after a few motherly words +of sympathy, she took hold of me, as if I were a half-naked +baby, and turned me around for her inspection. Then giving a few +words of direction to "Aunty" to bring certain articles, she took +motherly control of me, and for the time I became as a child in her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +hands, and was put to bed after my wound had been carefully +dressed and wrapped by her own kind hands.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman made an appearance, too, with some medicine +for the inner man, which I swallowed like an obedient child.</p> + +<p>We had, previously, had some supper. I was, of course, profoundly +thankful for their kind attention, but was at last ordered, +in the same kindly way: "Don't talk another bit, but go to sleep!" +and I did not require much inducement to court the drowsy goddess. +That night no unpleasant dreams disturbed my heavy slumber. The +ghost of the horrible, unburied soldier, on which I had stumbled the +previous night, did not haunt me. I was dead to everything for the +time, and slept as soundly as a child.</p> + +<p>The sun was shining brightly through the windows of my bedroom, +on a beautiful Sunday morning, in August, 1861, when I was +roused from this refreshing slumber by the voice of the old +"aunty"—</p> + +<p>"Missus says you'd better have some toast and egg, and a cup of +coffee, den you can sleep some moah."</p> + +<p>There is nothing that will rouse a sleeper so quick as the invitation +to breakfast, especially if the sleeper has not been over-fed and +surfeited. Toast and egg is a weakness with me even now, and +when I heard the delectable words, "toast, egg, and coffee," I +was wide-awake in an instant. But when I attempted to turn +myself, so that I could see who had spoken these magic words that +suggested such an agreeable aroma, I found that I was so sore +and so much bruised that the attempt to move started through my +whole frame twitches of sharp pain. "Aunty," seeing that I was +awake, came closer to my bed, and, in a kindly way, asked:</p> + +<p>"How is you dis mornin'?"</p> + +<p>In attempting again to move, I was forced to cry out with the +pain which the exertion caused. Aunty bade me, "Jis you lie dar; +I'll fetch your coffee!" And walked out leaving me alone; and for the +few moments all my distress and trouble came upon me like a sudden +cloud, as I realized upon waking that I was yet in the enemy's country, +far enough from home, while between us was almost the insurmountable +obstacle of the Rebel Army. I saw, too, that the heretofore +unexpected danger of a spell of serious sickness was now liable +to be added to my other troubles and difficulties. These gloomy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +forebodings were dispelled for the moment by a gentle knock at +my door and the kindly appearance of the mother of the house, +upon my invitation to come in, who, with a pleasant "Good-morning," +walked up to my bed and placed her hand upon my forehead. +Without asking a question, she said:</p> + +<p>"Why, you are ever so much better than I expected to find +you this morning."</p> + +<p>This was pleasant news for me to be sure, as I had not speculated +at all on being sick. When with a few more kind words she +left me, I heard the landlord say:</p> + +<p>"Mother, don't be in a hurry; wait till I give the young gentleman +his medicine, before he takes breakfast." When he came into +my room a moment later—I was trying to bathe my face—with a +cheery "Good-morning, sir; I hope you rested well, sir; just +take this if you please, sir;" and I had to obey; "We will send +over after the doctor to come and attend you, sir."</p> + +<p>I became alarmed at this, fearing that their kindly feeling +toward the distressed refugee would cause them to introduce to me +some Confederate surgeon from the neighborhood, who might make +a correct "diagnosis" of my case and expose me. I begged that he +would not put himself to that trouble; that I should go right into +Richmond and would soon be among plenty of friends who would +take care of me, etc. He rather insisted that it was their privilege to +care for me, and that they could not consent to my undertaking to +travel to Richmond until I had sufficiently recuperated. I thanked +him; but am afraid that I did not convince the old gentleman that +it was not necessary. He left me with the understanding that it +should be "As mother says about it."</p> + +<p>But the circumstances rather dissipated my appetite for the +breakfast, as I saw at once that it would be necessary for me to get +away from them as soon as possible. A new trouble seemed to rise +from the kind attention of this old couple. While I feared capture +and detection on my account, I actually think that I dreaded most +of all lest an exposure should happen while I was enjoying their +hospitality. I could not think of having to confront these kind +people, if I should be brought to bay, so it was that I made up my +mind that I must leave their house the very first opportunity. I +had not been questioned in the least particular except as to my com<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span>fort +and health. These people were too cultured and refined to pry +into my history before granting any aid; it was enough for them +that I had stated that I was a Maryland refugee, who had been +wounded and was <i>en route</i> to Richmond to find friends. They saw +my crippled condition, and they gave me all the aid and comfort that +was in their power.</p> + +<p>Seeing an old-fashioned inkstand and quill on a small table in +my room, I had the aunty draw it up close to my bed, from which +I was to eat my breakfast. The drawer contained a supply of +paper, and, taking advantage of the first favorable opportunity, I +wrote, when alone, the form of a pass, such as I had seen in general +use, and signed it in an official way with the name of a well-known +Chief-of-Staff.</p> + +<p>There was unfortunately no red ink with which I could further +add to its apparent official character. Looking about the room in +the hope of finding some, my eyes rested on the bandage on my still +bleeding arm. In another moment the pen was cleaned of all the +black ink stains. I gently dipped it into my own bandaged wound +and drew enough blood on the pen to write across the face of the +pass, in back-hand writing (to distinguish it from the other) the +almost cabalistic words in those days: <i>Approved</i>, and signed it in +red with my blood.</p> + +<p>The red ink "took beautifully."</p> + +<p>At the next visit of my host I took great pleasure in exhibiting +to him my "papers." He glanced at it approvingly, and no doubt +the red ink indorsement was sufficient. Not deigning to examine +farther, he said: "I don't want to question the character of a gentleman +in my own house, sir, especially the word of a soldier, by +Gad, sir"—he laid it aside, as of no consequence. I had told the +same old story of the refugee so often, had the character down so +fine, that I almost believed it myself. Of course, there were variations +to suit the different circumstances, but it was nearly always a +Maryland boy far away from home. I could not possibly disguise my +voice and dialect sufficiently to pass in the South for a Southerner. +I had been living in the South long enough to have learned the +peculiarity of its people, and knew very well that I could not overcome +the difficulty. So it was necessary, even at great risk to +myself sometimes, to continue to play the dual character of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +Maryland refugee and an English boy from Texas. There were a +great many young people constantly coming over the line from +Maryland into the South, and most of these, after a few days "outing," +corresponded very well with my appearance or condition in +this, that they were "busted," having sacrificed all but their lives +for the cause, and were now hankering for a chance to offer that on +the Southern altar. This immigration helped to further my projects.</p> + +<p>I had told my kind host and hostess a tearful story of my sufferings; +how my coat, and all the money that was in the pockets had +been stolen while I was sick, and that I was now going to Richmond +to replenish my wardrobe, just as soon as I could meet some +friends, or hear from my home. This had the desired effect. Of +course, I did not beg, neither did my kind friends see it in that +light; but, all the same, when the good people attended their country +church that Sunday they somehow interested the whole congregation, +<i>and a collection was lifted in a Virginia church for the +benefit of a Yankee Spy</i>. When they returned from church they +brought with them several neighbors to dinner, and soon after I +was waited upon by the old gentleman and his pastor, who, in the +most considerate manner possible, presented me with an envelope, +which he said: "Would be of service in making me comfortable +until I met with friends."</p> + +<p>Now the Good Spirit of my Sainted Mother in heaven, who had +so often taken care of her wondering boy, certainly sent that earthly +angel to me again, while I was alone in the midst of enemies on the +Sunday. There was nothing that I so much needed as money, as, +with it, I could hope to find means of escaping by some other route +back to my home, and I would <i>stay</i> there, too. I was hardly allowed +to thank the kind friends. After some further pleasant talk, which +they indulged in to make me feel easy, I accepted their offer to +the Rebel cause with the understanding that I should be able some +day to repay it.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; some of our lady friends were anxious for an opportunity +to show their devotion to the cause, and were pleased to be +able to aid, above all things, a worthy refugee who is so far from +home and sick."</p> + +<p>Under the circumstances, what else could I do but take this advan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span>tage +of the good people? With me it was a question of life and death; +but I resolved in my heart, that if the time should ever come when +our army entered that country, I should be on hand to plead for the +protection of those who had unknowingly befriended a foe.</p> + +<p>I began preparations to get away as soon as possible, by telling +my kind people that it was necessary that I should "report" at +once to certain officers in Richmond. I secured their consent to +leave their care before I was able to travel.</p> + +<p>It was agreed that I should be allowed to depart at once for +Richmond, and, with as much feeling as if I were an only son being +torn away from home to go to the war, I bade them all a hearty, +thankful good-by, and walked slowly to the railroad station, which +was some distance off, to get an evening train from Fredericksburg +to Richmond.</p> + +<p>The train came along in due time, and I got aboard with difficulty, +because I was quite stiff and weak. Taking the first seat, in +the rear of the car, I noticed at once, while being waited upon by +the conductor, that there were in the forward part of the same car +several officers in the Confederate gray uniform. This wasn't very +reassuring, and rather unsettled my nerves, because, you see, I had, +from my past few days' experience, imbibed a holy terror of anything +in gray clothes. It was a Sunday, and, as they were probably +off on a leave, they were engaged in their own pleasures and +were not likely to disturb me. The conductor informed me, when +I offered to pay my fare to Richmond, that he was required to report +all soldiers traveling to a certain guard, and asked my name and +regiment.</p> + +<p>I assured him that I had a pass, and with that he walked off, +and, in looking it up, I discovered that my blood approval had almost +faded out.</p> + +<p>I watched him, expecting that he would go straight to the Confederate +officers; but he didn't, and I was greatly relieved to see +him go out of the car, slam the door behind him, and disappear in +the next car ahead. I began to wish that I had remained at the +Hanover a little longer, and saw at once that the possession of the +money had probably gotten me into a bad scrape, because without +it I should have walked, even though every step was a pain. I +reasoned correctly enough, however, that I should be safer in Rich<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span>mond, +in the midst of the crowded city, than alone among country +people, who would soon become curious about my history, and I +prayed that I might be allowed to pass in safety this new and unexpected +danger of being reported by the conductor on arrival at +Richmond.</p> + +<p>While I was thinking over these uncomfortable prospects, the train +was dashing along toward Richmond—only a short distance now—there +was a whistle, and while the train perceptibly slackened I had +time to decide that I better get off, and before the cars had stopped +altogether I had slipped quietly out of the door and dropped myself +down on the ties. I stood on the side of the track long enough to +see a solitary passenger get aboard; the conductor jumped on, and +the engine puffed off, leaving me standing alone on the track. I +was again free—for how long I could not tell.</p> + +<p>Still determined to take Richmond, I started on, wearily, to follow +the train along the track, but being so weak and sore my progress +was necessarily quite slow, but I persevered, and along about +the time the evening lamps were being lit I walked into the outskirts +of Richmond.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>SICK IN RICHMOND—CONCEALED BY A COLORED BOY AND UNABLE +TO MOVE—AN ORIGINAL CIPHER LETTER SENT THROUGH THE +BLOCKADE TO WASHINGTON THAT TELLS THE WHOLE STORY IN +A FEW WORDS—MEETING WITH MARYLAND REFUGEES—THE +BOY SPY SERENADED—"MARYLAND, MY MARYLAND"—JEFF +DAVIS' OFFICE AND HOME—A VISIT TO UNION PRISONERS AT +LIBBY PRISON, ETC.</h3> + + +<p>Feeling my way along, to avoid guards that might be stationed +in the principal roads entering the city, I was soon on Main street, +Richmond, and I walked with an assumed familiarity in search of +a boarding-house. Finding a place that I thought would suit +me, located on the south side of Main street, not far from the +market, kept by a widow lady, I applied for lodging, proffering her +the cash in advance. She accepted the cash and me without question, +and being tired, weak and anxious to get to rest, I was at once +shown to a room, and in a very few moments later I was in bed, +and, with a feeling of security, was soon sound enough asleep in +the Rebel Capital.</p> + +<p>There were two beds in our room, as in most other cheap boarding-houses, +and waking early in the morning, I was surprised to +see on the chair alongside of one of them, the too familiar gray +uniform of a Confederate officer. I didn't take breakfast with the +Madame, but hurried out into the street, and, after a hasty meal in +a restaurant, I hunted up a Jew clothing shop on the Main street, +where I invested a good deal of the church contribution in a snug +suit of clothes, a pair of soft gaiters for my sore feet, a new hat, +etc.</p> + +<p>The next step was to a barber's, where I had most of my hair +taken off, and in their bath-room I donned my new clothes, and I +flatter myself I walked out of that barber shop so completely disguised +that my recent friends and enemies would not have known +me. I was feeling just good enough to have called on Jeff Davis +that morning, and believing that, as my visit would be short, it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +was well enough to have a good time, I walked rather proudly up +to a certain hotel office and astonished the young clerk by registering +myself O. K. Wilmore, Baltimore, Maryland. I notified an +attaché of the hotel that I had but recently arrived via the blockade, +and desired a small room for a few days, until I could meet with +a lot more fellows who were coming over, you know, and was courteously +welcomed by the affable clerk. The room to which I was +shown overlooked the park, the Confederate Capitol building, the +Governor's mansion, etc., and there I remained an unwilling guest +(after that day) for three long, lonesome weeks, <i>sick in bed</i>.</p> + +<p>Maybe it was a fortunate circumstance for me that I was thus +taken off my feet, as it served to effectually hide or exclude me +from sight, and frustrated any efforts that might have been put forward +for my capture. In the meantime the sensation that was, perhaps, +caused by my escape had died out and I had been forgotten.</p> + +<p>As it was, that night I was taken sick and the next morning I +was unable to get out of my bed. The trouble was principally dysentery, +such as was epidemic in the Rebel Army at Manassas, and +had probably been caused by the bad water, or change of water, +greatly aggravated in my case by the nights of terror I had undergone. +While in my weak condition, perhaps, I had overloaded my +suffering stomach too much the first day of my arrival in Richmond. +I can testify here to the fact that there was plenty to eat in +Richmond in 1861, and it was not so very much more expensive at +that time than in Washington.</p> + +<p>The hotel people of Richmond were a little dubious about refugee +boarders from Baltimore, as I soon learned, and were inclined +to be rather disposed to refer their sick guest to a hospital. Fortunately, +I was able to prevent this by a prompt advance of a week's +boarding from my church-collection fund, which fully satisfied the +Virginia Yankee hotel-keeper. It happened, too, that there was +some change due me from the amount I had passed to him, which, +in the princely style I had assumed, I graciously told him to keep +for a credit on the next week's account. I still had some money +left, but not enough to pay another week's expenses at that hotel, +but it was best to keep up a good appearance.</p> + +<p>The colored boy's name who served me with meals and who +attended to all my sick wants, I regret, I have forgotten. He was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +indeed a good friend, and when my week was out and I was still so +weak that it was impossible for me to move, he continued to serve +me with three light meals a day in a room where I had been moved +by him, which was located in a block of buildings which served as +an annex to the crowded hotel.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 388px;"> +<img src="images/i209.jpg" width="388" height="600" alt="YOU ALWAYS SAY DOWN HERE, AND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO +GO UP HOME." title="" /> +<span class="caption">YOU ALWAYS SAY DOWN HERE, AND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO +GO UP HOME.</span> +</div> + +<p>The hotel clerks, or the people at the office, supposed when I +left the room that I had gone from the hotel; at least, they did not +give me any trouble, and I have always thought my presence in that +room was overlooked or forgotten by them in the great rush of their +business of those days. This colored boy was one of the regular +waiters employed at the hotel, who had for the week or ten days +previous to my change served me regularly, and had told me several +times, in explanation or in self-justification, that he was told to serve +me every day, and he was going to do it until he was told to stop. +Though I had not dared to breath to the poor colored boy even a +whisper of my true character, yet it was instinctively understood +between us that I was a Yankee. I knew this from his manner, +and I could see in every move he made that he was so carrying on +his little game to aid me that he might not be detected in it, yet it +was so shrewdly managed that, if he had been picked up, he would +have readily cleared himself of all collusion by merely referring to +his orders.</p> + +<p>In talking with him one day, he remarked, with a significant +grin: "You always say <i>down</i> here, and that your going to go up +home; I thought you was going to stay in Dixie?" I took the +ignorant boy's teachings thankfully, and was more careful in the use +of the words after that lesson.</p> + +<p>I might fill a chapter with interesting stories of Richmond life +which the boy gave me that were a pleasant relief for me, and served +to while away, in my solitary sick bed, my first weeks in Richmond.</p> + +<p>I took the opportunity the leisure afforded me of putting in +operation a plan for secretly attempting to communicate with my +friends in the North. I realized that I should not be able soon to +undertake any adventuresome travels, and I could not reach home +by any easy stages.</p> + +<p>While yet a school boy I had practiced with my playmates a +simple system of a cipher; with this, which was the easiest form +that I then knew for a basis, I worked out in the form of a letter,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +that I could pass through to Baltimore on the blockade runners, a +secret communication reciting my discoveries at Manassas, etc.</p> + +<p>It is an easy matter to arrange a system of cipher communication +between any two persons, which will be readily and perfectly understood +by them alone, or only by those who have been furnished with +a key. In my particular circumstances, however, it was necessary +that my letter should be a blind cipher, and so worded as not to +excite suspicion, or distrust, and it must, besides, carry the key +along with it, concealed of course, as I had not had an opportunity +of making a preconcerted arrangement. I had intended to propose +this to General Banks at the interview at Harper's Ferry, which, +unluckily, did not take place, as I have explained.</p> + +<p>The letter that was sent through the blockade is given herewith, +as <i>copied from the original</i>, and I shall be glad to have the reader +look for the secret information it contains before referring to the +key, which follows:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="right"> +"<span class="smcap">Confederate States of America,<br /> +Powhattan Hotel, </span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Richmond, Va.</span>, August, - - - - - 1861.<br /> +<br /></p> +<p>"<i>My Dear Father:</i><br /> +- - - . - -<br /> +</p> + +<p>"For three weeks I've been quite sick, but am all-right now, and +hope, through the kind attention of Southern friends of ours in +army, to soon be out again. - - - I will be greatly obliged if you will +arrange to have money sent without delay, to pay my bills here, +which were incurred on account of this most unfortunate sickness. +. - - I am satisfied it's impossible to secure from our Confederate +Maryland friends any cash advance, because I know they are all rather +short, (having exhausted in getting here about half their money +before joining Army. Since I have been absent from my regiment +here sick, I have consumed what balance I had along. We are not +at-all discouraged, or demoralized; on the contrary, we look forward +to great things under Beauregard, who is in front of Washington. - -</p> + +<p>"A greater portion of Marylanders stop at Blank's, where I am - - - +the house is large and pleasantly situated on a street up on top of +quite a hill, that overlooks the Railroad that runs out to <a name="manas1" id="manas1"></a><ins title="Original has Manasses">Manassas</ins> +Junction. We hope soon to march right on to Washington, and +drive out the black abolition rascals, and will roll them back through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +Baltimore. Of course, all the Yankee papers give lying accounts, +but official statements will give the proofs of our success. I wish +some of the Northern Congressmen could see Ely or Covode, who are +locked up secure in Libby prison; with them are a great lot, officers +and prominent men who are looking quite disconsolate through +their bars.</p> + +<p>"I met, Sunday night, a couple of young students lately arrived +from the Georgetown College, who expect to signalize their devotion +to the South in some heroic way. From their talk would think the +boys fresh from their dormitory dreams of war. I will write again +soon; will be glad to hear from home often, please send money soon +as possible same way as before, so that I can pay up."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The preparation of this letter had given me interesting employment +while I was confined to my sick room. Though it is quite crude, +and would hardly pass the scrutiny of the sharp censorship that was +inaugurated later on, but considering the times, and the fact that +letters of similar purport were being daily passed through the lines +from Richmond by Baltimore refugees, it was worded so as to perfectly +blind those who might see it, and it answered its purpose very +well. I had calculated to submit it openly to certain Richmond +authorities, at a risk of being picked up on their casual inspection. +I had been careful to select a blank, headed Richmond. No real +names were given except Covode and Ely. I knew very well +Covode was not at Libby, but Ely was, and I could see no other +way of getting Covode's name in, except to mix it with Ely's and +assume ignorance, if corrected. This letter was not sent to my +father's name and address, of course, but was directed to a certain +telegraph operator who had been an office associate, and who was at +the time in the employ of the military telegraph at Annapolis, Md.</p> + +<p>There was a little risk in using his address, but I knew that the +fact of the party named on the envelope being in the Government +service would not be detected in Richmond, and the understanding +with regard to these letters was, that for a consideration they had been +taken into the United States and mailed at Baltimore. An additional +reason for sending it to this telegraph friend was, that he would +be sure to discover the key to the cipher, and would then translate +and properly deliver it. If the reader will look at an apparent +flourish under the words, "My dear Father," as if under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span>scored, +he will observe three little dashes like this, - - - and a +little further on a careless looking scratch of the pen, resembling +. - - This forms the key to the simple cipher, and the same characters +are indifferently scattered about the sheet so as to attract +only the eye of an operator. The three little dashes represent +the Morse character for the figure five - - - (5), while the other +signal, a dot and two dashes, is a W, which, when placed alone, is +always understood to stand for word. Now the operator will be +sure to see that 5, W, while the chances are that no one else but an +operator would. The young friend to whom I had addressed this +I knew would understand, from the tone of the letter, that it was a +blind, and he would search for a different interpretation, and would +soon discover the 5, W, which he would see referred to the fifth +word. If the reader will read <i>only</i> every fifth word of this letter +he will have the true meaning.</p> + +<blockquote><p><i>Translation.</i>—Been all through Southern Army, again obliged +to delay here account sickness Impossible Confederate advance +are exhausted half army absent sick balance are demoralized look +under front portion Blank's house situated on hill road <a name="manas2" id="manas2"></a><ins title="Original has Manasses">Manassas</ins> to +Washington black roll of papers official proofs wish Friend Covode +secure them officers are there night students Georgetown signal +South from the dormitory will be home soon as can.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The carefully studied phraseology of this crude letter, so that every +fifth word which I would insert should properly read both ways +had given me considerable trouble, because I was especially desirous +that, as a whole, it should at the first glance impress any person to +whom I might find necessary to submit it that it undoubtedly +emanated from a Rebel and a Maryland refugee. This thought +once established in the minds of those who I anticipated had the +censorship of mail matter from strangers, I was satisfied would +result in forejudgement, or at least serve the purpose of allaying +any suspicion as to it being anything in the nature of a secret communication +to the enemy.</p> + +<p>What to do with my letter was the next important consideration. +While yet so weak and thinned, as I was by the three weeks' illness +and close confinement, I realized that I must yet continue to live in +some such a quiet way as I had during my sickness. It would be +folly for me to attempt to travel through the armies in the rough<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +manner that would be necessary if I should try to reach our lines by +the underground or by running the blockade.</p> + +<p>The colored boy who had served me so kindly and so faithfully +in the hotel annex, during these three weeks of sickness was partly +taken into my confidence. When I began to feel like getting out, +and my appetite had improved so as to make increased demands for +his service to my room, I suggested to him one day that I hadn't +enough money left to pay the bill at the office, and was especially +sorry that I could not give him something handsome for his kindness +to me.</p> + +<p>"Don't you never mind me, as I don't want no money." It was +then that I explained to him that I should like to be furnished a +pencil and some paper so that I might write home for some money, +etc. The stationery was at once supplied, and, as I had while lying +on the cot bed during the long August days blanked out my proposed +letter, I proceeded to work my cipher out on paper.</p> + +<p>My faithful colored boy felt encouraged by my talk with him to +offer me some good advice:</p> + +<p>"You don need to give no money to me, an if I was you I'd not +give no money to dem clerks, either. I'd jis tell de ole man, if I +was you, and he wont let dem take all you money, and you sick +hyar."</p> + +<p>This advice, offered in his most friendly way, was none the less +accepted thankfully, because it came from a slave boy and a waiter, +in his own words, as near as I can give it. I learned that the "ole +man" was the proprietor of the hotel, and from his further description +I gathered that I had not seen him since I had been in the +house. The man who had talked about sending me to a hospital, +the first days of my illness, was only a clerk, though I had assumed +him to be the owner, because he was quite old and had so much to +say to me. He was easily "placated," anyway, by the cash I had +tendered him, in payment for a week's board in advance. I have +wondered often if I were indebted to his pocketing that money, for +the fact that my presence was so completely overlooked. I would +prefer, however, to give the colored boy the credit for having +quietly "done as he was tole, and axed no questions."</p> + +<p>The "ole man" was an invalid at the time of which I am writing, +being confined to his room most of the day. I made some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +anxious inquiries also about the "ole woman," and was glad to hear +that she was "So big an fat she doan go roun much."</p> + +<p>I was solicitous about the proprietor and his wife, because, you +know, a great deal depended upon how he was going to jump after +he had found out that I had been in the house two weeks, apparently +without the knowledge of the office, and certainly without +having paid any board for the time.</p> + +<p>One nice morning, while feeling pretty fair and bright, I decided +to make the break, knowing that I had to do something soon. I +gave my letter to the boy to deliver to the "ole man," first, for his +information as to the prospects of his getting paid, and, secondly, +asking his advice as to the best means to have it sent North. You +will observe the apparent burden of my letter is for a remittance of +money, and, in the second place, I wanted to get it suitably endorsed +or vised by some one well known in Richmond, so that I would not +have to show up personally in it.</p> + +<p>With a good deal of anxiety and heartache I waited in my +back room for the boy's return, which would bring me this verdict. +I dreaded being suspected as an enemy in concealment more than +to be sent out on the streets of Richmond, though I was so poor +that I should soon starve, because too weak to attempt any kind of +work. In anticipation of at least the latter treatment, I had dressed +myself up carefully in my new suit of clothes, which I had bought +the day before I took sick. They had become ever so much too +large for me. A severe dysentery can waste a frail human frame +considerably in three weeks. When I heard the footsteps of two +persons down the long corridors—they had no carpet on that annex—my +heart sank within me as they stopped before my door. In +another moment my trusted colored boy had thrown open the door; +and, as he stood aside to let the other person in, he said: "Dar +he."</p> + +<p>I felt sure for the moment that all was lost—that the boy had +given me away. When the "ole man" got up close enough I am +sure he was struck by my very pale face. I was trembling from the +effect of the suspense and tension to my nerves, and could scarcely +hold my head up. The "ole man" was not old at all, but a rather +thin, benevolent-looking, middle-aged gentleman; he was lame and +had apparently been very sick himself; his kindly manner reassured<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +me in part, and when he bade me, "Lie right down and keep +perfectly composed; we will take care of you, my boy," I did as +he directed. I had to drop, and I turned my face into the pillow +and sobbed like a big baby for a moment or two, so overcome was +I in my weak condition by the breaking strain after and the reversal +of feeling, it was so entirely different from anything I had expected.</p> + +<p>The "ole man" had a few words more of comfort, and, turning to +the colored boy, said, rather savagely:</p> + +<p>"Sam, you damn black rascal, why didn't you tell me before +that this young man was sick?"</p> + +<p>Sam began to explain by saying: "I done thought you know'd +dat."</p> + +<p>But the "ole man" stopped him abruptly, with: "Get out; go +and bring some brandy and water up here, quick!"</p> + +<p>Sam was glad enough to get out; and when he came back, in a +few minutes, with a couple of glasses on a tray, he was grinning all +over as his eye caught mine, as much as to say, "I done tole you so."</p> + +<p>The "ole man" administered the dose and, after a few more +encouraging words, got up to leave, first giving orders to Sam:</p> + +<p>"See that you attend to this young man right after this, you +ugly nigger."</p> + +<p>Sam seemed to be immensely enjoying the "ole man's" abuse.</p> + +<p>I was assured that I should be made easy until such time as I +should hear from my friends.</p> + +<p>"Do you know Colonel Blank, of Baltimore?"</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't, not by that name"—and I had to admit ignorance +of quite a number of others that he mentioned to me, saying that +his house was a sort of refugee headquarters; he would have some +of the Maryland boys look in and see me. I didn't like that part of +the visit, but there was no way now but to put a bold face on to anything +that turned up. I felt that I was so thinned out and pale, my +hair closely cut, and otherwise altered, especially by my new clothes, +that I should not be recognized by anybody who had recently seen +me so ragged in the Rebel Army at Manassas.</p> + +<p>"In regard to your letter," he said, handing it back to me, +"I will have some one see you who understands about getting +mail to Baltimore. I only know that they do send them, and that +answers come here to my house almost every day."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p>In another moment I was again alone, and so overjoyed by the +agreeable turn affairs had taken—or by the dose of brandy and +water—that I felt almost able to dance a jig. I was free again; +that is, I was not burdened every moment by a fear that some one +might drop in and discover my presence and begin to ask questions +about my past history.</p> + +<p>Feeling so much relieved in mind, I could not resist the temptation +to go out of the room to have just one look at the sunshine +outdoors. My boy provided me with a stick for a cane, and, with +his aid, I walked out the long corridor and stepped boldly into the +office. The first person I met was the old clerk who had collected +my first week's boarding.</p> + +<p>"You have treated me very badly, sir."</p> + +<p>I began to ask an explanation, really not knowing what he +meant by making it such a personal matter, when he interrupted me +and hurriedly walked off as he saw the "ole man," who was pointing +me out to his wife at the moment. I walked along without +further interruption, except to attract the attention of people whom +we met by my weak, sickly appearance, and, reaching the park, I +sat down under the shadow of the Virginia State House, which was +then the Capitol of the Confederacy. In one corner of the same +grounds the Governor's mansion was pointed out, then occupied by +Governor Letcher, while below, or on the lower side of the square, +I was shown the building occupied by President Davis for an executive +office.</p> + +<p>I was within sight of it all at last, and for two hours I sat there +taking everything in, only regretting that my legs wouldn't carry +me around more lively, so that I might investigate more closely.</p> + +<p>When I stumbled back to my hotel I was met at the office by a +young clerk, who said he had been directed to introduce me to +Colonel ——, and would I be seated a moment.</p> + +<p>I had a right to believe, of course, that I was to meet the Maryland +people of whom the proprietor had spoken, but I dreaded the +interview nevertheless. However, when I saw the Colonel was +quite an ordinary looking man, with a jolly, round face and pleasant +manner, my fears subsided, and I was able to feel easy in his presence. +I was introduced to several others as a Maryland boy who +was unfortunately sick among strangers, and I didn't have to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +"make up" for the character of a sick youth. My appearance, +probably, did have the effect of creating some sympathy, which was +kindly expressed to me. The Colonel said: "You have a letter +to send home I am told?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. I want to get some money very much. I don't +want to go home, but would like to send for some money."</p> + +<p>"Ah! yes, of course; that can easily be fixed. All you have to +do is to put a United States stamp on your letter."</p> + +<p>"But don't I have to pay something for the delivery?"</p> + +<p>"Well, no; you don't have to; but, as it goes to a foreign +country, you know, we generally pay the messengers a little for the +risk."</p> + +<p>Thanking the Colonel, I took my letter out of the envelope and +begged that he would read it, so that the envelope would have the +benefit of his endorsement. He did not think that necessary at +all, but I insisted that he should learn of my affairs and my address, +so that if anything should happen to me some Maryland people +would know who I was. That was a good shot, and it took effect, +too. He felt that I had given him my entire confidence as a brother +exile from home and in distress, and he read my letter hastily—that +is, he glanced at the address and the last paragraph, wherein I had +especially asked for money. No doubt he was impressed with the +truth of the statement I had made—that all Maryland refugees were +hard up. Sealing the letter in his presence, I handed it to him with +a tender of a fraction of the money which I had left, to pay the +"foreign postage."</p> + +<p>"Oh no," he said. "I will not take your money for this; it's not +necessary. Where shall your answer be delivered?" This was something +I had not thought about, and for the moment I was embarrassed. +I remembered that I had referred to my regiment in my letter, +and was about to say that the letter could be sent there; then the +thought suddenly came over me, "What if I should be questioned on +this regiment?" I did not want any talk of this sort, because it would +be getting me into rather too close quarters. The Colonel, noticing +my hesitancy as these thoughts passed through my brain and no +doubt mistaking its true import, relieved me by saying:</p> + +<p>"You had better go along over to Colonel Jones and be registered, +if you have not already done so."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> + +<p>I had not attended to this matter of registering my name and +address among the refugees from Baltimore, and, without knowing +exactly what would come of it, I consented to have it done at once, +as he had suggested. Pointing to a building on the opposite side of +the square a little below where St. Paul's Church is located, he said:</p> + +<p>"That's Colonel J. B. Jones' office, and if you can go with me I +will introduce you to him, and you can have all your Maryland mail +come to his care."</p> + +<p>I walked across the square on his arm, and was formally introduced +to Colonel Jones as a worthy Maryland refugee, sick and in +distress. I am giving the correct name here, because he became a +well-known character in Richmond during the war. He impressed +me as an agreeable, rather jolly, gray-haired gentleman of the +old school, at the time. On the rather tedious and slow walk for me +over the square, my companion had explained to me that Colonel +Jones was himself a refugee, having been fired out of Philadelphia, +where, if I remember aright, he had been printing a weekly paper +which had been rather too outspoken in its sympathy for the South, +and, as a consequence, it was, perhaps, violently suppressed. The +Colonel informed me, as we walked along, that President Davis had +organized the temporary bureau for the registration and general +information of refugees and others who might, by the necessities of +war, be driven from their homes. It was also understood that any +persons desiring information in regard to Maryland refugees should +apply at this bureau. This was not exactly the sort of a place that +I had been hankering to register myself in, but I was in for it now +and had to go through with it. Colonel Jones gave me his courteous +attention for awhile, and apparently became interested in the +little bit of my "history" that I dealt out to him. It is likely that +my sickly, innocent-looking appearance had operated somewhat upon +the generous sympathies of Colonel Jones. He assured me in his +most agreeable manner that any time at all that I had a letter for +my home to just drop it into his postoffice, and he would see that +it went out on the "First Mail." This was quite satisfactory to +myself and my companion, who had placed the letter in the Colonel's +hands. I happened to recall that I had read a book over and +over again, written by a J. B. Jones, that had made a great impression +upon my youthful mind, and I had worshiped the name in con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span>sequence—the +title of the book was "Wild Western Scenes." The +Colonel laughed heartily, and taking my hand gave me a second +jolly shake as he said: "He had met another of his boys—they were +turning up every place—wherever he had been some one who had +read his book had asked him that question."</p> + +<p>I had accomplished one very important step—in this, that I had +opened communication with Washington from my location in Richmond.</p> + +<p>There was danger that my letters <i>might</i> fall into the wrong +hands up North; but, as the person who carried them must, for his +own protection, keep quiet, it was probable that no effort would be +made to look after their destruction, once they were safely placed +in Uncle Sam's postoffice somewhere. I was also liable to be picked +up in Richmond almost any day by those who had known me at +Montgomery, Pensacola, or, more recently, at Manassas, and in +Beauregard's camp. Knowing that I could not travel in the rough +manner as indicated, I felt wonderfully relieved to know that the +letter just mailed would most surely go through more speedily +than I could expect to travel at my best, and it contained in substance +all that I could report by a personal trip, which was in effect +that:</p> + +<p><i>First</i>—The Confederate Army <i>could not advance</i>, because +thirty per cent. were sick, a great many absent on leave, and the +rest as much demoralized after their victory as by our defeat.</p> + +<p><i>Second</i>—That the official documents of the Rebel Surgeon-General, +addressed to Richmond, would be found under a certain +house as described, where it will be remembered that I had placed +them.</p> + +<p><i>Third</i>—That signals were being made from the dormitory of +Georgetown College to Rebel outposts, or pickets who had been +students at the College.</p> + +<p>When this letter would reach my telegraph friend, he would, +most assuredly, find the key to the cipher and properly communicate +with Mr. Covode, and through him the information, and I hoped +the papers I had deposited would be recovered. I could not have +done more than this myself, and, feeling that it was enough for one +day's work, I retraced my steps to the top of the hill, on which the +hotel was situated, and finding my cot bed again I was glad enough<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +to drop myself into it for a rest without the formality of undressing.</p> + +<p>Soon after Sam found me half asleep, when he came up to my +room with some supper; his face was covered all over with the happy +grin, peculiar to a colored boy, who has only this means of expressing +his pleasure. If he knew that I had made a successful explanation +of myself, which had relieved us both of the fear of detection, +he was too cunning to express himself in words. My Maryland +Colonel, who had so kindly endorsed me to the refugee bureau and +franked my contraband mail matter to Washington, came to see me +in the room late in the evening, bringing with him another refugee +whom he introduced as Mr. Blank, a lawyer from Elkton, Maryland. +I have really forgotten his name, but remember distinctly +that he was from Elkton, from this circumstance. When I had +subsequently returned North, while traveling from Philadelphia to +Baltimore one day, I heard the name Elkton called out by the +trainman, as we stopped at a country station. I rushed out on the +platform on hearing the words and, while the train stopped, inquired +of the agent and expressman about this gentleman. They both at once +assured me: "Oh, yes; he's a great Rebel, and had to leave town."</p> + +<p>The train began to move off, as I was hurriedly telling them +about my meeting him in Richmond, and the agent became quite +interested, following the train along side as long as he could, to get +some information of him for his friends, who were living in the +town. I heard from them afterward, and, as this Elkton lawyer +and I became associated somewhat intimately for a month or two in +Rebeldom, I have mentioned this circumstance by way of an introduction, +and so that we will know him hereafter as "Elkton."</p> + +<p>The Colonel, I learned, had been a store-keeper in one of the +"lower counties," and the twain had crossed the broad Potomac +together from Maryland to Virginia one night, and had only been in +Richmond a month or so. They were, of course, anxious to meet +all the other refugees they could hear of, and so it came about that +I made their acquaintance. Luckily for me, they were both from a +section of Maryland distant from that which I represented, and +neither of them for a moment doubted my "Loyalty," but, on the +other hand, both of these gentlemen seemed to think it a part of +their duty to take care of me; and I take this opportunity to say<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +to Elkton, or any of his family who may read this, that his kindness +to me has always been appreciated—<i>but</i>, I must not anticipate the +story—I was invited to share a bed or cot in the same room these +two gentlemen occupied. Their room was located like the one to +which I had first been assigned—the windows overlooking the park. +I could from my room see all who entered the Capitol building, also +had an unobstructed view of President Davis' office, as well as that +of other prominent officials. This "prospect" was indeed gratifying +to me, and, as it may be assumed, much more satisfactory than anything +I had yet encountered in the way of "facilities." From my +window outlook I ran no risk of detection, as would be the case if +I were on the streets all the time. I was naturally most anxious to +see President Davis, and to my rather eager questions in regard to +him—as I look at it now—I was told by the Colonel that "The +President lives right around on the next corner on the next street. +He walks through the grounds to his office every day; I'll show him +to you, the first chance."</p> + +<p>That night I lay down early, and had scarcely gotten into sound +slumber, and was, perhaps, dreaming of home, when I was roused +gently by the Colonel to listen to "the serenade." On the street or +pavement in front of the hotel a large crowd had gathered, composed +partly of a company of men without uniforms, who had marched in +the rear of a band. I was informed that they were the nucleus of a +company or regiment which was to be composed entirely of Marylanders, +who were expected to arrive in Richmond by details of +three and four at a time. The purpose of the visit that night was +a serenade to Marylanders, the band having been furnished by +kind sympathizers among the Richmond people, who took the +opportunity to compliment the refugees. Now, if I were to say +that a band had been known to serenade a Yankee Spy, the statement +would have been laughed at as ridiculous, yet the facts are +that the serenade was tendered in Richmond, in part at least, to a +Yankee Spy, as the collection was raised for the same in a Virginia +church. There were but three of us in the hotel that night—the +Colonel, Elkton, and myself—and it was the presence of this trio +that had brought the band under our window. They played in a +highly effective style, considering the peculiar surroundings, all +their own Southern airs, among which was "Maryland, my Mary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span>land." +This is a really beautiful air, which is familiar to all who +ever associated with any crowd of rebels who could sing. The beautiful +air—the significant words so full of pathos and sympathy, especially +under the existing circumstances and surroundings—was rendered +in a style so sweetly pathetic that the effect produced on my +memory that night will never be effaced. After the band had played, +all the crowd present, recognizing its appropriateness, gave them +with a hearty good will round after round of applause. Cries were +made for an encore, and, while the excitement it had created was +still high, the entire company of Maryland recruits burst forth into +a full chorus of their own good voices and sang, with even greater +effect through, this sweet old war song, "Maryland, my Maryland."</p> + +<p>After they had left our hotel, it was understood the band, with +the crowd of followers and all the Marylanders in the city that had +been gathered up, were to call on Jeff Davis and give him a serenade +of "Maryland, my Maryland." I was not able to attend it, +but I suppose the records of the rebellion will show somewhere +that Jeff Davis made a fine speech of welcome to the persecuted +exiles from Maryland—my Maryland. My room-mates had both +gotten out of the room at the beginning of the uproar. I lay +awake a long time waiting for their return that I might hear the +talk of the further serenade at the President's and Governor +Letcher's. They were both full of it, of course. Their conversation +that night, if reported in shorthand by the Spy, who lay awake an +interested listener, would make an amusing chapter—read by the +light of the present day. I gathered one point from them that I +had not thought of before, which gave me some food for reflection. +They both intended to unite themselves to the Rebel Army, but +each of them wanted to be officers. If I remember aright, there +was some "constitutional" difficulty in the way of President Davis +forming a Maryland battalion—at least, my impression now is, +that he could not issue commissions, which was the duty of the +Governor of Maryland, and it was necessary that some sort of a +"Governor" should help him out of the new State-rights difficulty. +They got over it in some way, however, as they did other State +sovereignty questions. Elkton subsequently became a Lieutenant +of the 3rd Battery of Maryland Artillery. I learned from their +talk that night that they both expected, as a matter of course, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +<i>I would</i> join their Maryland battalion. With them, it seemed to be +only a question of time, or until I should be sufficiently recovered +from my illness. I imagined that I saw in this scheme of theirs a +way out of my difficulty to further serve the Union. Of course, +when I should be able to move about it would be necessary to do +<i>something</i>; that I could not stay at the hotel indefinitely without +money was certain, and it was also equally certain that I should not +get any money, even in answer to my letter.</p> + +<p>I had expected to get back by using their underground system, +as soon as I would be able to travel by that line. But, as I had +opened communication, I realized the correctness of my theory—that +I could best serve the North by not <i>at once</i> attempting to return, +but by remaining in Richmond, to watch and report the progress +of events there.</p> + +<p>One of the first walks I took after getting out of my room was +to the house of President Davis, which was, and is yet, beautifully +located on the top of the hill; indeed, it is almost on the edge of +a precipice that commands a view of the low country to the north.</p> + +<p>The Colonel had not observed in my letter the reference to "my +regiment." Now that it had been sent off without his, or anybody +but the sick proprietor seeing it, I was glad to drop any reference +to a previous connection with the army at Manassas. My +story was, in brief, the same old thing, done over to suit the altered +condition of things. I had told the Colonel about coming through +Manassas; that I had been delayed there expecting to meet some +of my Maryland friends, but was taken sick and had come on to +Richmond for them. That, and the letter, and more especially my +appearance, coupled with the greater inducement that he saw a +recruit for their Maryland battalion, was to them all sufficient. No +questions were asked by either him or Elkton; they were satisfied +themselves, and their cordial introduction of myself to their other +friends were enough to fix my status in Richmond for the time +being. I was kindly treated by all with whom I was brought in +contact, through the influence of my two newly-made friends. As +I have stated, the first visit was, by courtesy, made to the President's +<i>House</i>. I did not find it advisable to thrust myself on to Mr. Davis +just then. The next point of greater interest to me was Libby +Prison, where were confined a great number of the officers captured<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +at Bull Run. I learned, upon cautious inquiries, that Libby was +situated at the other end of the town, or about a mile distant from +the hotel. This was quite a long walk for me to undertake, but I was +almost sickened with the everlasting and eternal Rebel talk, which +I had been forced to hear every day and hour for so long, that I +felt in my soul that the sight of one true-blooded Union man would +do my heart good, even though I saw him through iron bars. At +the first favorable opportunity, on finding myself alone, I started out +for a morning walk, leading in the direction of Libby Prison. +Once on Main street, I began to feel a little apprehensive lest I +should run against some one in the crowded throng who might +recognize me. There were a great many soldiers in gray moving +about the streets. It seemed, too, as if everybody I met was staring +at me, and probably they were—as an object of pity. I became +more accustomed to it, however, as I began to see that the interest +being centered on me was probably due to the fact that I had been +sick, and showed it in my appearance and walk. I felt more +assured, too, when I saw, after awhile, that no person seemed to +care much after all who I was, after they had once gratified their +curiosity by a stare.</p> + +<p>I wanted very much to gaze once more on a Union soldier, and +one, too, who had fought in a real battle against these howling, +blowing Rebels, even though he were defeated and was then a +prisoner. I saw them, lots of them, through eyes that were +pretty watery, and with a heart throbbing so hard with a fellow-feeling +for them that I was almost afraid that I should lose control +of myself, and I turned away. Through the barred windows of the +prison I could see a room full of the boys in their ragged but still +beautiful blue, as compared with the gray of the guard. They +talked together in groups; some were laughing heartily, as though +they were having a fine time among themselves; others walked up +and down the floor with heads bowed and their arms behind +them, as if in deep study. Occasionally I would catch the eye of +some one looking through their bars at me; and, oh, dear, what +wouldn't I have given at that moment for the privilege of being one +of them—of making myself known with a shout. I felt that +moment that it were far better to be a real prisoner of war, even +though confined to the dreary walls of Libby, than to be as I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +at the time, in truth or in anticipation, a prisoner already condemned +to execution. Though apparently at liberty, I felt as +Wordsworth writes, that I was not only</p> + +<p> +"Homeless near a thousand homes."<br /> +</p> + +<p>But, also, that,</p> + +<p> +"Near a thousand friends I pined and wanted friends."<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>RICHMOND—HOLLYWOOD—JEFF DAVIS—BRECKINRIDGE—EXTRA +BILLY SMITH—MAYOR, GOVERNOR, ETC.</h3> + + +<p>It should be remembered that I am writing of Richmond, as +I found it during the beautiful autumn months of September, +October and November, 1861. The same conditions did not prevail +in the years that immediately followed. It would no doubt +have been impossible in 1864 to have overcome so easily the obstacles +I encountered in 1861-2.</p> + +<p>One other important factor in my favor is, that, after the success +of Bull Run, the Southern people generally, and especially those +about Richmond and <a name="manas3" id="manas3"></a><ins title="Original has Manasses">Manassas</ins>, were so enthused as it were by the +recent success that they became, for the time being, quite careless +and were not disposed to closely scrutinize strangers who happened +to be among them.</p> + +<p>I realized these facts at the time, and profited by it. I began +to feel so secure myself that I became quite careless about my own +safety, and, as I became stronger each day, I spent pretty much all of +my time either on one of the benches in the Capitol Square or leisurely +walking over the streets of the city.</p> + +<p>It became a daily custom with me to secure early a certain seat +in the Capitol grounds, from which I could look directly into the +front windows of the room which Jeff Davis occupied for his executive +office. I had selected this bench because, from its location, +which, by the way, to be exact, I will state was near the statue of +Henry Clay, I could observe every person that either went into or +out of the large hall door down stairs, which led to Mr. Davis' +apartments. I was most anxious to get a glimpse of Mr. Davis, +whom I had last seen at the Exchange Hotel at Montgomery during +the bombardment of Fort Sumter. From my position in the +grounds I could not, of course, see into the room in which I knew +Mr. Davis was located, but I could imagine, from the number of +people who were constantly going and coming, that he must have +been kept pretty busy entertaining them. I did not find it advis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span>able +at that time to thrust myself upon his attention. It was only +after several long waits and disappointments that I was one evening +gratified to see my old Montgomery friend come out of the hallway +in company with the present distinguished Senator from Texas, +Hon. John H. Regan. They stood together on the steps a few +minutes engaged in conversation, when Mr. Davis, with a courteous +bow, turned to his carriage, which was waiting at the curb, the +door was shut with a bang, the driver turned his horses, and in a +moment more they had disappeared around the corner of the square, +as they drove up the hill in the direction of the President's mansion.</p> + +<p>It was generally understood by my refugee associates that, as +soon as I was sufficiently recuperated, I would unite with the +other Maryland refugees in the formation of a Confederate company +of volunteers. They had taken me in charge, as it were, and, as +they had voluntarily guaranteed my hotel expenses, I could do no +less than to tacitly accept the situation. Even at that early day +there was considerable rivalry in the matter of securing recruits for +the newly-forming organizations of the Rebel Army. One reason +of this was that, in their army as it was in ours, at the first of the +war the commissions were generally given to those persons who +were most active in securing the necessary recruits to fill out a company's +quota. While these two Maryland gentlemen were quite +kind to me and had personally helped me through my sickness, I +saw that their object was not altogether disinterested. In vouching +for my expenses they were perfectly safe themselves, as it was understood +that I should secure the very best bounty that was being paid, +and out of this fund it was known I should be able to pay all my +sick bills. So you will see how it came about that, while my two +guardians were busy most of the day in skirmishing about for their +recruits, as well as looking out for their own prospects for commissions, +I was indulged in every thing that they could at all assist me +in, and was in general terms given the "Freedom of the City."</p> + +<p>It became a favorite walk with me on pleasant afternoons to +wander out to the beautiful Hollywood Cemetery, one of the most +lovely spots in all Virginia. Hollywood has been so fully described, +even before and after the war, that I need not attempt it here. +With me Hollywood had a peculiar fascination during my first<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +visit to Richmond, during that fall of 1861—the "melancholy months +of that year." I found myself out there frequently, nearly always +seeking out the one resting place, which was beautifully situated on +the top of the hill, under a grove of large forest trees, close by the +tomb of ex-President Monroe. The view from this point was +superb. Directly underneath the hill, which overhung the river +like a precipice, were the great falls of the James river, the water +of which, coming from the Blue Mountains of Virginia, was +splashing over the thousands of immense rocks standing up from +the bed of the river, making a wildly-beautiful picture, extending +for a mile or two up and down the river. Right beneath the cemetery, +but out of sight of a rambler in the grounds, the railroad bed +had been chiseled out of the hill-side rocks. Trains could continually +be heard rolling and whistling along, which I knew went near +my friends in a few hours at Manassas and Fredericksburg. Near +this, on the water's edge, were located the immense Tredegar Iron +Works, upon which the Confederate Government depended almost +entirely for their supply of manufactured iron, and I believe they +were also turning out at the time some large cannon for their +fortifications and ships. I remember that I was impressed at the +time, from overhearing a debate in the Confederate Congress, that +the loss or destruction of the Tredegar Works early in the war +would have been one of the most terrible blows that could have +been inflicted upon their cause, and I had embodied this statement +in one of my "dispatches."</p> + +<p>One evening a brass band paraded the streets, gathering up quite +a crowd of followers. Always anxious to see everything that was +going on, and a lover of brass music, I "joined in" with the crowd +and marched along with the band. We halted in front of the largest +hotel in Richmond at that time—the Spottsword—since burned +down—but then located on Main street. On inquiring, I learned +that the excitement was occasioned by the recent arrival in Richmond +of the Hon. John C. Breckinridge, recently the Vice-President +of the United States and Pro-Slavery candidate for President. +It will be remembered that there had been for quite a long time +considerable doubt or uncertainty as to which side of the fence Mr. +Breckinridge would eventually jump. He had remained in Washington +City up to a very short time previous to his arrival in Rich<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span>mond. +One of the facts brought out during his speech that night, +in answer to the serenade, was, that he was still a member of the +United States Senate, he having so arranged it that his resignation +would not take effect until he was safe inside of the Confederacy. +I remember this portion of his talk very well, because +at the time it impressed me as being very mean for a man of his +standing, who had been so highly honored and trusted by his Government, +to pretend so long to be neutral, yet knowing all the time +in his heart of the purpose to gather information and then desert +and betray his Government. I felt in my heart then that the +numerous Southern gentlemen who held official positions and violated +their oaths that they might betray their Governments, were +cowardly spies whose methods were to be execrated, and anything I +could do to frustrate them would be honorable in comparison with +their service.</p> + +<p>Another point of interest is the "old stone house," which is situated +on Main street within a square of the Libby Warehouses. +This old stone building, with the curled oak shingles on the roof, +was General Washington's headquarters.</p> + +<p>We will pass the Colonial and Indian periods, the wars of 1776, +1812, 1846-9 with this one sentence, and hasten up the Main street +about a mile to headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief of the +war of 1861-65.</p> + +<p>From the windows of my room I had a close view of the City +Hall building directly opposite, which fronted on Broad street.</p> + +<p>One morning I observed an unusual excitement on the street in +front of the City Hall. They were apparently preparing for what +we would have thought up North was to be a bonfire. Of course I +became an interested looker-on, but was almost afraid to ask any +questions lest I should hear some bad news. I feared that the Rebels +were about to celebrate some victory over our armies, when I +saw them pile in the middle of the street a great heap of kindling +wood.</p> + +<p>The gray-headed man who was then the Mayor of the City was +apparently overseeing these preparations.</p> + +<p>I had been in the habit of sleeping late, and while all this was +going on outside I was alternately dressing myself and running to +the window to watch the proceedings.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> + +<p>Without waiting for breakfast, I went out on to the street to +investigate. The first person I questioned happened to be the hotel +proprietor, who said, laughingly:</p> + +<p>"Oh, they are just burning the gamblers' stuff that the police +captured on the last raid."</p> + +<p>It seemed that Richmond had, and has yet, a law that compels, +or at least authorizes, their Judge of Police Court to destroy by public +fire in the open street any material or paraphernalia which has +been used, or intended to be used, for gambling purposes.</p> + +<p>The Mayor of Richmond in 1861 was a Mr. Mayo. He was certainly +an efficient official, as some of the Maryland refugees will +bear testimony.</p> + +<p>Extra Billy Smith, who I think had been a Governor of Virginia, +was one evening put into our room to sleep, the hotel being +quite crowded, it being the occasion of some Virginia State gathering. +He was full of talk and kept our crowd aroused and interested +until late in the night.</p> + +<p>He was living, I believe, somewhere in the neighborhood of +where the armies were confronting each other.</p> + +<p>One of his stories, which interested me more than anything else, +referred to the death of the brother of the Secretary of War, Colonel +Cameron, of the 79th New York Regiment, at Bull Run.</p> + +<p>The body of Colonel Cameron, it seems, had been found after +the battle inside of the Rebel lines.</p> + +<p>The news of his death having reached the Secretary of War—the +Hon. Simon Cameron—he was, of course, very anxious to have the +remains sent back into the Union line for proper burial in his own +State.</p> + +<p>At that time there was a serious question about the recognition +in any official form of the Confederate States of America. It was +necessary that the Secretary of War should address a request in some +form to an officer in the Confederate Army, requesting the "courtesy" +of burying the remains of his brother at home. With Extra +Billy Smith it was a question of "curtesy" to the Confederates, +and he related with great gusto the amusement the Secretary of +War's request for his dead brother's body caused in the Confederate +officers' quarters, because it was addressed—"To whom it may +concern." Mr. Cameron probably had nothing to do with the for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span>mation +of the note or request, and it is likely that whoever did it +for him was obliged to adopt this, simply because they were ignorant +of the names of the proper persons in the Confederate Army to +whom it should have been addressed. At any rate, it was a very +contemptible piece of work to reply to the Secretary of War that: +"The officers of the Confederate States of America did not know +that his note, addressed 'To whom it may concern,' concerned anybody +but himself."</p> + +<p>I made a mental note of Extra Billy's share in this business, +determined that old Simon should have him marked.</p> + +<p>I presume that about the same general condition of things +existed in Washington as in Richmond at the time I was there. +There were undoubtedly Rebel spies, and plenty of them, running +around loose in Washington, not only at that particular time, but +constantly during the years of war which immediately followed.</p> + +<p>The Confederates had a very great advantage over us in this +regard. Washington City and the Departments were literally full +of their sympathizers, who were able to carry on their work of +assisting to destroy the Government, which was at the same time +feeding them, as they were able to keep up an easy and safe communication +through the country about.</p> + +<p>Some of these Department Rebel spies remained in the Union +Government service not only throughout the war, but even now, +after twenty-five years of Republican Administration, are yet in the +government service.</p> + +<p>In Richmond and the country adjacent it was entirely different. +If there were any sympathizers with the Union cause they were +known and closely watched, and this was not a troublesome task for +the Confederates, as there was not enough of it to occupy much of +their attention. As a rule, the colored people were friendly to us, +but they were at that time all poor, frightened, ignorant slaves, +who dare not, under penalty of the most severe whipping, indicate +by the slightest sign that they had any interest in a Union man.</p> + +<p>The colored people in Richmond were forbidden to assemble in +any number together. If a half-dozen slaves would accidentally get +together to talk over the matters of life and liberty, that were so +dear to them, it was the duty of any white citizen to order them +to disperse. It is not generally known, and may be even doubted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +by the present generation of Virginians, that there was such a law, +but it is a fact. Colored men were not permitted into the Capitol +Square at certain times, being excluded by the same municipal +law that applied to stray dogs.</p> + +<p>It is but just to say that this rule did not apply to Richmond +alone, but to Washington as well. In 1861, and previous to the +war, the colored boys and girls, as they were all called, even though +they were grandfather and mother, were not allowed to enter the +Capitol or President's grounds at Washington. They were only +permitted to peer through the bars of the great iron fence that then +surrounded the grounds.</p> + +<p>Every day, as regular as my meal-time occurred, I walked over +into the Capitol Square and took my accustomed seat on the bench +which gave me such good opportunities to see every person who +entered President Jeff Davis' office, as well as a chance to observe +the crowd that attended the proceedings in the Capitol building.</p> + +<p>I did not give their Congress very much attention, because their +business seemed to be to talk only. I was interested only in the +War Office, and especially in President Davis.</p> + +<p>The Virginia Legislature was also in session at the Capitol. We had +a room-mate with us for several days who was a member of the State +Legislature from somewhere in the mountain district. Our Maryland +refugee, friend Elkton, and this Virginia delegate, who was +inclined to doubt the power of the President as compared with that +of the Governor of Virginia, were continually discussing the question +among themselves at night after we had all gotten to bed, +very much to the disgust of the Colonel and myself.</p> + +<p>Governor Letcher seemed at the time to be a "bigger man" in +Richmond than Jeff Davis. The Governor occupied an elegant +mansion, which is beautifully situated in one corner of the Capitol +grounds, while President Davis' "White House" was a large red +brick building, situated right on the street, a few squares back +of the Capitol, with only a small yard for grounds. It is a +double house or a square building, with a hall through the middle +and a number of rooms on each side. It was beautifully located in +what may be called an independent position. I mean by this that +there were no other houses immediately adjoining, but a yard or +lot on each side as well as the rear. This lot or garden was enclosed +by a brick wall.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> + +<p>I frequently strolled up there to get a glimpse of the President, +whom I considered to be in my care and keeping, to a certain extent, +so that I learned to know his habits or hours of arriving and +leaving the house.</p> + +<p>I am not competent to make a pen portrait of Mr. Davis. He +appeared to me at Montgomery and at Richmond in 1861 as quite +a pleasant, but ordinary looking gentleman of middle age. He was +usually dressed in dark gray clothes of the frock coat or Prince +Albert pattern. I think ordinarily in a dark steel gray. His face +was rather thin; the jaws being firmly set gave him rather a dyspeptic +appearance.</p> + +<p>Jeff Davis has only one eye, which fact I learned quite early, +and I always endeavored in my intercourse with the President to +keep on the blind side of him. The one good eye was bright +enough at that time, and I almost felt from his sharp glances +toward me that he suspected me.</p> + +<p>One day it was reported that the President would review a regiment +of North Carolina cavalry which was then organizing and +had been in camp at the Fair Grounds. This was a long walk for +me, but I had become sufficiently strong to undertake almost anything—at +least I so felt—and as it would never do to miss this +opportunity to see Jeff Davis in a military capacity, I started out to +the Fair Grounds early in the day reaching there a couple of hours +before the review was announced to take place, and sat down under +the shade of the fence to watch and wait. The cavalrymen and +their officers were busy cleaning up their horses and dressing up for +the occasion. One troop was drilling on a distant part of the field.</p> + +<p>At the proper time the entire regiment were mounted, and, after +a good deal of coaxing, and some cussing, they were formed into +long lines, which a full regiment of horse makes.</p> + +<p>The Colonel of this regiment was the present Senator from North +Carolina, Hon. M. W. Ransom. I heard some of the lookers-on +among the crowd, in which I had placed myself, say: "The officer did +not dare attempt manœuvering the cavalrymen, because they were all +green tar-heels from North Carolina, mounted on fresh horses, and +if they would get out of the line, in which they were placed with so +much difficulty, there would be such a circus, or hippodrome, in the +Fair Grounds that we would all have to climb the fence for safety."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span></p> + +<p>We waited patiently and in crowds all the afternoon for the President +to come. It was until after his office hours, or about five +o'clock <span class="smcap">P. M.</span>, that a half-dozen horsemen rode through the gate, +and, amidst a blast from a dozen buglers, the President and staff +trotted up to the front. To return the salute due the President we +have pretty nearly all been through an inspection, and know how it +ought to be done, so I need not attempt to describe it here.</p> + +<p>President Davis and his staff, dressed in plain, citizens' clothes, +rode along the front of the line, his one sharp eye seeming to take +in every man from horses' hoofs to their caps. He turned slowly +around to the rear of the line, and rode close to where I happened +to be standing at the time, and to this day I remember the sudden, +sharp glance as his eye caught mine. Perhaps it was imagination or +a guilty conscience that gave me the feeling at the time, but, whatever +it was, I felt a shock.</p> + +<p>After the ordinary forms of a review had been gone through +with, to the accompaniment of a half a dozen or so bugles, the +President and his party dismounted and held an informal reception +to the officers and the crowd at the Colonel's headquarters.</p> + +<p>I did not stay for this reception, because I was not, after that +glance, particularly anxious to see Jeff at close quarters. I started +back to the city on foot. I had gotten almost into town when I +heard the Presidential party coming along the road behind me. As +they came up, I stopped and was standing alone by the side of the +road as President Jeff Davis passed. He was then talking pleasantly +with some one who was riding along side of him. Seeing me, +Mr. Davis turned away around, probably so his good eye could get +me in range, and gave me another look, that pretty nearly convinced +me that he had recognized in me the Montgomery Spy.</p> + +<p>I do not suppose he gave the subject another thought, if he +had at all entertained it, but I was made quite uncomfortable by the +incident, which served to put me on my guard. I was becoming +too careless.</p> + +<p>Indeed, I went to Libby so often that I began to get acquainted +with a couple of the Rebel guards, who had a little camp on some +vacant lots on the opposite side of the street.</p> + +<p>I had noticed that a few enlisted men from among our prisoners +had been detailed by the Rebel officers to carry water and other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>wise +wait upon or assist in preparing the rations for the Union +prisoners. Of course these men were always accompanied by a +home guard, in gray clothes, who carried a loaded gun.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i237.jpg" width="600" height="387" alt="I WHISPERED TO HIM AS I WENT PAST: "NORFOLK IS TAKEN."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">I WHISPERED TO HIM AS I WENT PAST. "NORFOLK IS TAKEN."</span> +</div> + +<p>I had formed a rather foolish notion that it would be a great +satisfaction to our prisoners if I could open communication with +them, or, at least, that it would gratify them to let them know they +had a friend who was at liberty in this city and anxious to serve +them.</p> + +<p>I gave this up after one trial. One day while loitering in that +neighborhood, as usual, I passed on the pavement the customary +Rebel guard accompanying a couple of fellows who carried a bucket +of water in each hand.</p> + +<p>It was about the time that Norfolk was taken by the Union +troops, and, as it had been the only piece of good news that I had +heard for so long, I was feeling quite elated over even that much, +so, when I saw this procession of water-carriers coming up the street, +I impulsively concluded at once to convey that information to our +poor fellows inside the warehouse.</p> + +<p>They had stopped and set down their buckets to rest. Picking +out a big, good-natured looking fellow in the blue clothes, who was +one of the water-carriers, to experiment on, I walked up to him; +without stopping at all or even looking at him, I whispered to him +as I went past: "Norfolk is taken."</p> + +<p>Never turning my head, I was walking on hurriedly when the +blamed fool sang out after me so everybody could hear:</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>He didn't hear anything further from me. I had nothing more +to say. Luckily the guard was as stupid as the prisoner, and no +notice was taken of it.</p> + +<p>Close by Libby Prison is Rockett's, or the landing point in the +river below the falls for all the shipping that comes up the +James river from the ocean. At these wharves ocean vessels drawing +eighteen and twenty feet landed their cargoes in the piping +time of peace. It is one of the busiest points about the city, but +during the blockade, while the Union troops occupied Fortress Monroe, +and subsequently Norfolk and the lower part of the James +river, it was quite dull. There were, I believe, some gun-boats being +fitted out here, and a few smaller-sized vessels were running irreg<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span>ularly +up and down the James as far as they could go, without +encountering their own torpedoes, Union batteries, and war-ships. +My interest in this place was accidentally aroused (as was Newton's +discovery of gravitation by the fall of an apple from a tree) by the +reflection, while listlessly throwing sticks of wood out into the +stream, that they would naturally float into the Union lines in a few +hours—the river that goes on forever certainly reached the Union +gunboats, and I reasoned that if the water went to the Union gun-boats, +that, of course, I could do the same by simply going with the +stream.</p> + +<p>This was good logic if it was not good sense. I felt that the +details for such a voyage would be easily enough arranged. I +gave the matter my careful study, looking up all the maps that I +could find bearing upon this river, and cautiously questioning every +old colored cook, or seaman, that I could safely run against who +had sailed up and down the river and could give me any information. +In this way I was able to learn by detail pretty closely the +location of the Rebel batteries along the river, and also to ascertain +as nearly as was possible just where I would find a Union gun-boat +or battery.</p> + +<p>My experience on ships of war at Pensacola had not been exactly +pleasant, but I knew very well that, once at Fortress Monroe, I +could be quickly identified from Washington, and all would be safe +enough.</p> + +<p>I determined that, when I should return, it would be via the +James river and the bay. I preferred the risk of drowning or +being blown up by torpedoes in the river to another chase over the +hills through the Rebel lines of Manassas, and, as I was in no condition +for that long walk that night, I thought it would be more +comfortable to have the water to float me out of rebellion into the +Union and under the old flag.</p> + +<p>Governor Letcher, of Virginia, frequently entertained great +crowds of citizens at the elegant mansion provided by the State for +her Governor. It seemed to me that the people of Richmond gave +more attention to their Governor than to President Davis.</p> + +<p>I could hear occasionally of some friction between the Confederate +Government and the State Government. Of course, they did +not allow this to become generally known, but there was certainly a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +good deal of this feeling at Richmond, even as early as 1861, which +increased in bitterness as the years rolled on.</p> + +<p>The State of Virginia had, before the war, a regularly organized +standing army of its own. Of course, there were but a few of +these "regular" troops, who were not at all like the militia of other +States, but a permanent establishment, with a separate uniform of +their own, and under the pay and control of the Governor of the +State of Virginia. These few Virginia troops were distinct from +the Confederates. Their principal duty seemed to be to act as a +sort of "Pope's Guard" to Governor Letcher.</p> + +<p>There were always several of them on duty about the Capitol +grounds in the capacity of guards or police; and, as a consequence, +there were numerous conflicts between the Confederate officers and +soldiers, who were quite numerous in the city at that time, with +this Governor's Guard. I saw one altercation which resulted in a +shooting and running match—the Confederate winning over what +he termed the "liveried hireling" Virginia Yankee.</p> + +<p>I had been giving the telegraph office a pretty wide berth during +the early part of my stay in Richmond, fearing that I should meet +some one who had known me at Manassas. I began, however, to +stop at the large glass windows of their Main street office, to stare in, +like the rest of the curious loungers who were attracted by the mysterious +tickings of the instruments, which were in sight from the +street, the causes of mysterious movements and sounds of which +were at distant points.</p> + +<p>In those days operators who could read by sound were not so numerous +as they are now, and it was never thought necessary to attempt +to prevent any person from hearing the sounds of the instruments. +I was always very careful to first scrutinize the faces of all the +operators before any of them should have an opportunity to first +see me. As I have previously stated, an expert operator can read +by the sight of the moving armature, or lever, which makes +the sound. This was the way in which I had to attempt to read +those instruments from the pavement on the main street of Richmond.</p> + +<p>To make this plainer to those who are not familiar with the +mysteries of the telegraph, I will explain that the right and left +motions, or swingings, of the signal flags, which were used in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +army, represent exactly the same principle of reading characters by +movement. This can be done through even so small a space as +that usually taken by a ticking lever of a telegraph instrument, and +its operation may be as light and quick in its action as the hand of +a watch.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>RICHMOND—A CLOSE SHAVE.</h3> + + +<p>My telegraph operations were interrupted for a while by a personal +incident, that occurred while I was still supposed to be on +"sick leave." One night I was in the barber shop of our hotel, +getting myself primped for an evening out with my Maryland boys. +While lying back in the barber's chair, all covered up with +lather and towels, I was startled to see through the glass, in my +front, an apparition that had as great an effect on my nerves for +the time as the traditional story of the devil looking over the +shoulder of those who worship the looking-glass too much.</p> + +<p>I beheld, like a ghost, walking right up to my barber the superintendent +of the railway station at Manassas—the identical gentleman +to whom I had been sent by General Beauregard, and who +would, of course, at once recognize me.</p> + +<p>My barber held his razor in his hand while he stopped to tell +this gentleman that "<i>his turn would be after me</i>."</p> + +<p>It will not be possible for me to describe the sensations that I +experienced the day when startled by the apparition, which appeared +as though looking through a glass window in front of my chair. +Standing apparently in front of me was the one person, of all others, +that I most particularly desired to avoid meeting in such a place as the +Capital of Rebeldom at this time. Of course he must have learned, +from the officers at headquarters, of my attempted escape to Washington, +via Fairfax and Munson's Hill, and the subsequent chase +through the woods the following night, in common with all the +rest of the officials with whom I had been in contact about the +telegraph offices at Manassas. He would, upon learning of this +attempt to get away, recall all that I had been doing about the telegraph +office during those few days; and, if careful examination were +made into my past history, I knew that they must discover my true +character.</p> + +<p>While talking to my barber about his turn, this gentleman stood +right behind my chair, so close to me that his arm almost touched<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +my bare head, that was lying back on the cushions. He looked in +the glass while talking, stroking his face which certainly needed +the attention of a barber, as he had just come from the front. My +face was entirely covered with the soapy lather.</p> + +<p>The barber stood with his razor suspended over my head as he +talked to the "customer." I am sure my face must have first +turned as white as the lather. When I spied this gentleman, +if I had not been already lying down, I am afraid that I should +have suddenly collapsed, or have attempted to run off. As it was, +being so muffled up in towels, and so completely disguised or masked +by lather, and fastened, as it were in the stocks, by mere fright, I +was prevented from making an exhibition of myself, and lay there +for the time being as distressed as a wounded soldier on an amputating +bench under the hands of surgeons, and as helpless as if +under the influence of ether.</p> + +<p>He was so much interested at the appearance of his own face, as +he saw it in the glass over my head, that he did not closely scrutinize +me; in fact, he could have only recognized me at that time, perhaps, +by my eyes and upper portion of the face. And while he +stood there I half closed my eyes, and purposely corrugated my brow. +It was, of course, something of a relief to my suppressed emotions +when, after an admiring stare at himself, he was sufficiently satisfied +to go off and sit down among the other persons who were waiting their +turn. I breathed a little freer, and gave such a great sigh of relief +that the barber who was shaving me looked down at me with something +of an expression of wonder in his black face. I quietly +recovered myself, however, and began instinctively to plan to get +out of that shop as quietly and as quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>It would not do to get out of the chair, which had concealed me +so well, until this dangerous apparition itself should be shrouded in +a napkin and laid out on the chair, so that he could not have a free +view when I should be ready to get out. He must not follow me +in the chair I was occupying, as that would probably put us face to +face, as when I should rise to give place to him. To prevent this, +in an undertone I told the barber that I had been suffering with a +toothache, and if he would give me a careful and slow shave and +wash, that I would allow him double pay for the greater time he +would have to put on me. This was a successful and cheap way of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +getting out of so great a pickle. I had the satisfaction of seeing +Mr. Superintendent invited into a chair a little way over from +where I was located, and he had no sooner got safely tucked in than, +I fear, I rather abruptly told my man: "That will do; I will go now." +The suddenness and celerity with which I crawled out of the chair +and hauled on my coat and sneaked out of the door must have surprised +that barber, and, if he had seen me get along the street and +around the corner into the hotel office, he would have been puzzled +still more. A glance at the hotel register showed not only the name +of the superintendent at Manassas, but also that of another well-known +railroad man, who had been about the station at Manassas +nearly all the time I was up there. Without asking any questions, I +stalked straight to my room, with a determination to gather up any +valuables that had accumulated during this sick time, and to at +once put as much distance as possible between myself and the ghosts +that I had just encountered. I did not have the remotest idea, at +that time, as to <i>where</i> I should go. My only desire was to get away +from Richmond and out of Virginia as quickly as I possibly could.</p> + +<p>I was homesick. There is nothing that will make a man or a +boy so awfully homesick, when away from home and realizing that +you cannot get there, as to meet with some such "unpleasantness" +as this. It is a much more satisfactory thing, as I know from subsequent +experience, to meet your enemy on a skirmish line, knowing +the gun in his hand is cocked and loaded, than it is to run across +him while unarmed on his own dunghill. I did not like the idea +of being "caught" as a spy. I always had more dread of the +attendant humiliation connected with the probable surroundings +of a prisoner, who was a recognized Spy, than of the final danger.</p> + +<p>When I reached my room, I found my two clever Maryland +refugees there. Probably my manner and appearance still showed +some signs of my agitation, as they both immediately became interested +in me. The Colonel, who was the jolly fellow of this trio, +said, laughingly:</p> + +<p>"Hello, boy, what have you been up to?"</p> + +<p>Fortunately for me, they both attributed my apparent embarrassment +to a trifling matter, and did not pursue it further. Elkton, +the older and more staid member of the refugee band, told me, with +great glee and pleasure, that he had received an assurance from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +Rebel War Department that his quota, or the detachment of refugees +that he had been gathering up, would be specially provided +for as a part of a Maryland company of light artillery which was +then organizing. He would be the First Lieutenant of this company, +and, as such, would, of course, see that <i>his</i> boys were well taken +care of. It was further explained that his quota would be permitted +to form a detachment of itself, or, at least, it would be so +arranged that one section of this proposed battery would be in +charge of his own men. This plan was not exactly what Elkton +and the Colonel had calculated upon when they left their comfortable +Maryland homes to join the forces of the Rebels. Elkton +probably expected to be at least a Colonel, and the Colonel himself +evidently considered himself entitled to at least a Lieutenant-Colonelcy +in the Confederate armies. They might have attained to +this position if they could have furnished sufficient recruits themselves +to have filled out a regiment. As it was, they were sadly +and sorely disappointed in not finding the rush of refugees from +Maryland which they had expected, and they were obliged to be +satisfied with the best they could get, which was a lieutenancy +for Elkton, and a sergeantcy for the Colonel. In all these talks +and plans, it had been calculated by both of these gentlemen that +I should, as a matter of course, join the army—as one of their detachment.</p> + +<p>I never intended to do this. Under the peculiar circumstances +under which I was placed, resulting in my sickness in the enemy's +camp, and in order to further my own purposes and objects, which +were solely to better collect information for the use of the Government, +I had allowed them to think that I would at the proper time +go with them.</p> + +<p>Everything is fair in love and war.</p> + +<p>This sort of artifice or scheme for deceiving a traitorous enemy +in time of war, adopted on a large scale by the best generals, is +termed by them "strategy"—but however disinterested the motives +or inspiration of patriotism of a spy, who encounters for his country +even an infamous death, his work has been recognized as something +necessary, but "treacherous." While I am not attempting +the writing of an essay, yet I may be permitted to insert here that +"The work or the purpose of a spy is not more 'treacherous'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +than that of a general's 'strategy.' Both necessarily imply deceit. +There is only a difference in rank or degree."</p> + +<p>Very often the spy's "treachery" enables the general to apply +his "strategy," and, perhaps, the poor spy has made the success of +some of the greatest generals possible.</p> + +<p>My desire was to stave off as long as possible this plan. I hoped, +<i>before</i> the necessity for it should occur, to get away from them and +return home.</p> + +<p>So it came about that the time was approaching when I must +either enlist or leave, and as I had that day so narrowly escaped an +encounter, or detection in the barber shop, I decided very quickly +in my own mind that I should leave.</p> + +<p>As previously indicated, I had studied as far as possible from all +the maps that I could get access to, and learned pretty well the +topography of the James River country. My Maryland friends +who had come over had fully explained their trip by the Potomac +River crossing, and I gathered at once that their route was very +like what fisherman call a set-net—it was a very easy matter to get +into the net, but it was difficult to find the way out again. In fact, +it was only the favored few who were in the service of the Confederate +Government that were permitted to escape backward. I +knew very well that I could offer no satisfactory reasons for going +in that direction, and that, if discovered in attempting to do so, it +could not help but lead disastrously to me.</p> + +<p>I kept pretty close to my room, being taken conveniently "sick" +for a day or two.</p> + +<p>The leaves on the large trees in the park were beginning to take +on their beautiful autumnal colors. The air itself seemed to be +clearer and more bracing, and I again began to feel well enough—was +ready to undertake almost anything in the way of adventure.</p> + +<p>One evening, when the Colonel and I were alone, he told me +that Elkton, who had been almost a daily visitor at the War Office—looking +after his commission—had learned on direct authority that:</p> + +<p>"The army under Generals Johnston and Beauregard will very +soon advance, and we must get in at once, because," he added in +great glee and with significant emphasis, as he tapped me familiarly +on the shoulder as he uttered each word: "The plan is to march +into Maryland, and capture Washington and <i>relieve</i> Baltimore."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span></p> + +<p>This was the most interesting bit of news that I had heard for +some weeks, and its dramatic recital set my nerves all up to a high +tension. Eager to learn more, I questioned the voluble and confiding +Colonel, who was eager enough to talk.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know it's true; and, my boy, I tell you truly that, before +very long, we will march right into that portion of Maryland from +which you came."</p> + +<p>I was further encouraged to enlist with them, when the Colonel +said: "Why, my dear boy, we will all soon march home to 'Maryland, +my Maryland,' and be received by our friends in our gray uniforms."</p> + +<p>This last part of the programme rather stumped me. I was not +particularly desirous that any of my friends should "receive <i>me</i> +in gray uniform."</p> + +<p>I shared his enthusiasm in one respect, however—that it would +be glorious to be doing something once more—and I even hoped +they would move into Maryland, as that would serve to stir up +McClellan and the North. I saw in this proposed advance into +Maryland a good chance to again safely go through Beauregard's army, +which I was willing to risk in this shape if, by so doing, I could +learn of any proposed movement of the Rebels on to Washington, +knowing very well that once in that country, in a Rebel uniform, I +could safely "advance" into Maryland some hours, and perhaps days, +before the Rebel Army, so that our friends could be prepared to +suitably give their distinguished military visitors a warm reception, +and entertain them in the proper form after they should arrive.</p> + +<p>The Colonel went out to the bar to take a drink.</p> + +<p>I sat down and built up another cipher letter, in the same key +as I used in the former. It was about the same form as the preceding, +being carefully worded, so as not to excite any suspicion. +The real information which it conveyed to my Northern correspondent +was to this effect, briefly, as each fifth word read:</p> + +<p>"Proposed advance north via upper Potomac."</p> + +<p>It was short and to the point, because I had not time—at least +I thought I should not have—to "cipher out" a longer dispatch, as +I wanted to get this through quickly. With this in my hands, I +joined the Colonel down stairs, and together we walked along to +Colonel J. B. Jones' office, and on the other side of the square.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> + +<p>The evening previous, while venturing out, I had first been +careful to ascertain, by a cautious inspection of the people about +the hotel, before I should approach any of the groups of men always +loafing about the hotel, that my superintendent from Manassas was +not among them.</p> + +<p>I cautiously inspected the register, and, at a favorable opportunity, +remarked to the gentlemanly clerk, as if I were surprised +and delighted at the discovery:</p> + +<p>"Why! is Mr. Superintendent here?"</p> + +<p>The Richmond hotel clerks are like the same fellows every place +else, and he did not deign a response to my inquiry as he was talking +to another party. I looked, perhaps, rather inquisitively at +him, finally attracting his attention, as he turned to a colored boy +and said, apologetically:</p> + +<p>"Show this gentleman up to 62."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! never mind; I'll not disturb him to-night; I'll see him +again."</p> + +<p>I didn't ask any further questions.</p> + +<p>The next morning I was greatly relieved to learn from a colored +porter that the Superintendent "Had gone off on de early cahs."</p> + +<p>It was late in the evening when the Colonel and I called on Colonel +Jones with my letter. I remember this, from the fact that the +genial Colonel was preparing to close his office for the night, but he +kindly took charge of my open letter, and, without a word of question, +placed it in a pigeon-hole, in which were quite a number of +other sealed letters. I asked, with an assumed expression of deep +interest and anxiety in my manner, if the Colonel had any letters +for me.</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all undelivered," he said, as he politely expressed +his regret at having to disappoint me. I felt so sorry, too, and with +a sigh of relief and an uttered hope for better luck next time, bade +the Colonel a good-night.</p> + +<p>This information of the threatened invasion of Maryland, and +the capture of Washington and Baltimore, had apparently put new +and fresh blood into my veins. I felt that I <i>must</i> find out all +about it, because I was in Richmond for that purpose, and if I +failed or permitted so important an event to be planned and put +into operation right under my own eyes, it would prove pretty con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span>clusively +that as a Spy, or scout, I was not reliable, and, after enduring +so much hardship, I could not afford to fail in this important +matter.</p> + +<p>So I told the Colonel that I was most anxious to go with him and +Elkton to Maryland as a Rebel soldier.</p> + +<p>While they were arranging the details with the War Office, and +some of the other Maryland refugees with whom we were to be consolidated, +I put in my time scouring every avenue of information +that I could think of, for some confirmation of the reported plan to +advance. I was more deeply interested in this than I can explain; +because, aside from my personal feelings and sympathies, I had, as +will be remembered, a month or two previously advised our Government +that an advance was impossible, on account of so much +sickness and general laxity of discipline, etc.</p> + +<p>But that information was based upon a condition of things which +existed shortly after the battle of Bull Run.</p> + +<p>It was now about the first part of October, I think, and during +the time that had elapsed the condition of affairs at Manassas had +changed very much, of course. The Rebel Army had been sick—like +myself—but had now sufficiently recovered to carry the campaign +further, and be in good shape for an offensive movement.</p> + +<p>The Confederate authorities at Richmond were fully posted on all +that was being done at Washington.</p> + +<p>I am not sure but that there was a daily mail from the North. +I wanted very much indeed to learn something about the manner of +this system of communication, but I was always afraid to meddle too +much about it while I was in Richmond, lest I should get picked +up by some of the knowing ones among the Rebel spies and sympathizers, +who were even in the employ of our own Government.</p> + +<p>It was intimated in my hearing, while in Richmond, that the +wife of President Lincoln was at heart in sympathy with the South; +and that her brother, a Mr. Todd, who was in the Confederate service, +was in communication with her. No person of good judgment +ever believed in this story. I only mention it because some of the +Rebel officers talked of the matter in a self-satisfied way.</p> + +<p>One of my regular morning walks in Richmond was to go to the +newspaper office, in Main street, to read their daily, which was posted +on a file outside of their office. There was usually quite a crowd<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +about the office early in the day, because paper was becoming quite +scarce in Rebeldom and a daily paper was too expensive a luxury +for every one to enjoy, especially in my circumstances. I found, +too, while standing about in the crowds, that I could overhear a +great deal of comment on the news—that was more satisfactory to +me as a spy than the news the paper contained.</p> + +<p>The Richmond press regularly quoted the principal New York +papers of only a day or so preceding. Of course, all the unfavorable +criticism of the Union military officers, and especially the opposition +to the administration of Lincoln on the part of Northern +Copperheads.</p> + +<p>If some of these old Coppers could have been in Richmond +while under the Confederate free government, and have experienced +something of the "gratitude" extended to them in their words of +comment, it would have been a benefit to the country, in this way—that +it would have dried up a great deal of Northern sympathy.</p> + +<p>It seemed to me to be the general sentiment among Southern +people of the more intelligent class, in response to this exhibition +of Copperhead sympathy, was oftenest expressed in words similar to +this:</p> + +<p>"Why don't they come over and help us now?" "What are +they talking about so much; why don't they come on?"</p> + +<p>If I heard that sentiment expressed once, I've heard it perhaps +hundreds of times, in different forms; but it seemed to me, even +then, that there existed a general contempt on the part of the better +people South for those in the North who sent their sympathy +and encouragement through the newspaper exchanges.</p> + +<p>On Main street, nearly opposite the newspaper office, was the general +telegraph office, through which all communications by telegraph +was had to all parts of the Southern Confederacy.</p> + +<p>Inside, the office was arranged pretty much in the same general +way as a bank: There was a high counter dividing the room +lengthwise; that is, from the front about two-thirds of the way +back, where it turned in an L-shape across the room. The front +door opened into this office. Around the walls were placed the usual +conveniences for writing messages, which were to be handed in at +the little windows through the glass counter. I called frequently +at the office for a message, which I pretended to be expecting.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> + +<p>It never came.</p> + +<p>But I was not discouraged, and kept up the visit until the +delivery clerk got to know me so well that he would answer my question +before I put it. I thought it would be well enough to try +something through this channel, and every time I went inside the +office, I lounged listlessly about long enough to hear the sound of +the instruments, and I never failed to hear <i>something</i> from the +sound of the brass-tongue tickers, but that something always happened +to be of no consequence. It would usually be some private +message, or perhaps a long order from the army headquarters office +about some commissary stores.</p> + +<p>I remember that I was impressed at the time, from the amount +of telegraphing going on on that subject, that there was certainly +a war between the Commissary Departments at Richmond and the +officers in the front.</p> + +<p>I did not dare tarry too long at a time, for fear that my constant +attendance at the office might excite some suspicion.</p> + +<p>It was only while I was on the alert to get something tangible +about the proposed movement of the army that I was willing to +take some extra risks to obtain official information.</p> + +<p>It was evident, from the increased activity about the offices of +the War Department, that something was up. Since I had heard +of this proposed advance, I was giving the Departments considerable +attention, and rarely missed an opportunity to see as far as I could +from the outside what was going on inside.</p> + +<p>From my bench, under the trees in the park, I could see that the +office was being besieged almost constantly by crowds of people, +mostly members of their Congress, who had to pass my seat on their +way from the Capitol building to the War Department.</p> + +<p>They went in groups of two to four at a time; sometimes a +Congressman would be accompanied by an officer in the gray +uniform.</p> + +<p>As they passed me, their conversation seemed to be animated—in +short, there was a general feeling among the crowd, as far as I +could gather anything, that something important was pending.</p> + +<p>Yet I had no facts—simply surmises, and gossip.</p> + +<p>I could not learn much at the telegraph office, and had about +abandoned the attempt in that direction, until I struck a plan that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +was a little risky, but, under the circumstances, I felt justifiable in +undertaking almost anything.</p> + +<p>Noticing a messenger leaving the War Department, I followed +him at a respectful distance. He went straight to the telegraph +office; so did I. I entered the door just a moment after him, and +was carelessly edging toward the delivery clerk, to put my stereotyped +interrogation to him, when he said in my hearing to the messenger:</p> + +<p>"Shall we send dispatches <i>from the President</i> to Mrs. Davis at +her home to-night?"</p> + +<p>"There wont be any; he is expected back to-night."</p> + +<p>Jeff Davis was at Manassas then. I felt really as if I had been +derelict in my duty, in thus permitting the President to go out of +town without my knowledge and consent. But he was coming +back; that was comforting to me. I felt sure now that the rumors +of an advance had been confirmed. I knew something was in contemplation, +and I should not leave Richmond at that time—certainly +not until I had ascertained what it was that they proposed doing, +and when it was to be done.</p> + +<p>I went straight to my room, wrote a short dispatch—a rather +crude one—the translation of which was that:</p> + +<p>"Jeff Davis had been to Manassas; something up." And before +I slept it was in Colonel J. B. Jones' postoffice.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>RICHMOND ON AN AUTUMN MORNING—A GROUP OF GOOD LOOKING +SOLDIERS—JEFF DAVIS PASSED BY—THE BATTLE OF +BALL'S BLUFF—RICHMOND NEWSPAPERS.</h3> + + +<p>While I felt that my "dispatch" would ultimately go through to +its destination at Washington all right, I was yet quite uneasy +about this talked-of advance of the Rebels into Maryland, fearful +that it might take place at once, or before my information could +reach the North, through the blockade mail service, which was necessarily +a little bit slow and uncertain. This fear kept me awake +long after I had gotten into bed; and as I lay there alone in my +room, in a Richmond hotel, brooding over the dangers of a Rebel +invasion into Maryland and the humiliation that would attach to +the capture or flight of President Lincoln and his officers from +Washington, I became, I expect, somewhat wild and frenzied, and +again resolved to myself, while in this disordered and disturbed +frame of mind, that I would "stand by Jeff Davis"—for awhile—that +for one, <i>he</i> should not go to Washington.</p> + +<p>I had been away from home now since July, during which time +I had heard only of the Union Army through the Rebel sources, and, +of course, everything favorable had been suppressed, while all the +weaknesses or shortcomings of our Northern forces had been greatly +exaggerated.</p> + +<p>I had heard so much of this sort of talk during these three +months that I had, perhaps, come to believe in a great deal of it. I +was young but not inexperienced.</p> + +<p>We soon learned how to interpret the numerous war rumors and +gossip of the soldiers of both sides—a little later on. Every recruit, +perhaps, has suffered—in anticipation—more from the "chin" of +old veterans about a camp-fire, who always knew more of the proposed +movements of the generals than they did themselves.</p> + +<p>So it was that I was compelled to listen to the wild talk of the +enthusiastic refugees, my Colonel and Elkton, after they came into +the room that night. It was late—they had been having some fun,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +and were feeling greatly exhilarated over the street rumors of the +coming fight. I do not mean to insinuate that they were tipsy, +just because the Colonel got in bed without taking his clothes +off, for he was able to talk plainly and volubly until he fell asleep +from exhaustion.</p> + +<p>The talk of those two fellows that night, about the dreadful +things that were going to happen soon, had about set me wild, and +I felt as if I should get out of bed and walk right straight up to +Washington before daylight and tell Uncle Abe all about it. But I +fell asleep, too, and dreamed, perhaps, as wildly as I had been +planning.</p> + +<p>There was one point settled in my mind, and that was that it +was my best plan to remain in Richmond, at least, until something +sure was discovered about the Rebel plans. Another was, that if I +kept up my friendship with these two lively old boys, who thought +they were taking care of me, that I should more easily get fuller and +more satisfactory information. I was obliged, in order to prolong +my stay, to go with them into their Maryland artillery. I could +also more safely reach our army through the cover or disguise of a +gray uniform. As they were to go to the front at once, I was willing +to do anything that was necessary for the good of the Government, +but I wanted very much to avoid as long as was possible the +approaching necessity for joining the Rebel Army as a means to +further my ends and objects.</p> + +<p>I had already staved it off a long time. I could have returned +to the North via the James river without trouble, and I had all my +arrangements completed to do so, when the reported advance of +Beauregard reached my ears, and I had delayed purposely to learn +something about this.</p> + +<p>While there had been no active operations, I had worked hard +and faithfully in secret.</p> + +<p>I had opened and kept up communication with our Government—through +the rebel channels—that was one great success.</p> + +<p>I was also on hand in their territory, and on the alert to discover +and report any further information.</p> + +<p>I had probably at last discovered something important was pending, +and I decided to stay and see it out.</p> + +<p>The next morning I was out of my bed early, and in the park<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +before my two comrades were out of their beds. I wanted to see if +Jeff Davis had returned to Richmond, and, after breakfast, I took +my accustomed walk, from which I could obtain a view of his office +door.</p> + +<p>I can recall that beautiful Autumn day on the Capitol Grounds +as distinctly as if was but a day or two ago. The trees were putting +on their most beautiful shades of color, the air was fresh and bracing, +and I, having fully recovered from my recent weakness, was +again so well and bright that I almost felt in my youthful, impulsive +way, that it would be an easy task to go right up to Manassas +that day to see what Mr. Davis was doing, and, if his movements +were not satisfactory, I could continue my walk on to Washington.</p> + +<p>There were at all hours of the day a great many people in the +park. They were of all kinds, from the provisional Congressman +and Virginia State Assemblyman, Confederate Government, down to +refugees, citizens, soldiers and spies.</p> + +<p>As I have previously said, there was always to be seen in this +beautiful square any number of people, and on this October morning +it seemed as if every person who wanted to go any place in the +city were making it convenient to walk through the square to their +destination.</p> + +<p>There was eternally some Confederate soldiers and officers loafing +about on the benches. I had become so accustomed to the boys +in gray, in the streets, that I had forgotten to be at all afraid to +meet with and to talk to them. This morning in particular I was +perhaps unduly reckless, because I was so eager to obtain some +further information about this advance.</p> + +<p>Seeing a group of three nice looking soldiers talking together, a +little distance from where I stood, I determined on the spur of the +moment to join them, and, if an opportunity was afforded me, I +would try to learn from them what they knew of the Rebel plans.</p> + +<p>A group of three soldiers on a lark is not exactly the source +that I would have applied to for information of an army's proposed +movements six months later, but, as I have said, I was young +then and fresh in the war service.</p> + +<p>I approached, and addressed the boys a mild and meek inquiry +as to a good place to enlist in "our army." This was a question +that interested them all, and every fellow was at once eager to give<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +me the desired information, which was to the effect that they had +the very best Captain in the army.</p> + +<p>They belonged to Louisiana, they said, and were recruits from +New Orleans, and were on their way then to join the army at Manassas, +having arrived in Richmond the day previously, and were laying +over until the officer in charge secured some necessary transportation +or other authority at the War Office.</p> + +<p>I was urged to go with them. They declared that there was to +be some great fun soon—that their officer knew all about it and had +told them of the plan for the campaign.</p> + +<p>The story they had did not differ materially from that I had +heard from our own boys, and I judged safely enough that, as they +were but recently from New Orleans, they could not know much +more about the army at Manassas than I did. While we talked +together these few moments, we all stood in a close group on one of +the broad walks, the conversation being carried on with such a +degree of earnestness on their part that we scarcely noticed the persons +who were constantly passing us, until one of the Virginia +police-soldiers came up to us with his gun and politely ordered the +crowd not to block up the way. We moved off a little and sat +down to finish the contract they had undertaken—of inducing me +to join them.</p> + +<p>The police-soldier walked off a little piece, and then, taking a +position where two paths joined, he stood like one of the statues +for a moment; then, as if suddenly imbued with life, his arms flew +about as he brought his gun to a "present." Passing him were two +gentlemen—one quite portly and red-faced, the other a slender thin-faced +gentleman in a dark suit of steel gray. As they came closer, +we all watched to see who they might be, as the guard had saluted. +The big-faced gentleman was doing all the talking—the thin-faced +one was close to me before I recognized him. He was so intent on +hearing the old man's talk that he did not look toward us at all; +and, after they had passed, I said to the soldiers: "That's President +Davis!" They were, of course, all anxious to get another +glimpse of their great man, and one of them hastily followed after +while one of the others said in his slow, deliberate way:</p> + +<p>"I thought so; because he looked just like a Confederate postage +stamp."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> + +<p>At that time Mr. Davis' picture was on the stamps recently +issued.</p> + +<p>I took this opportunity to get away from them, by saying that I +must join one of our own Maryland regiments, and started off as if +I must find one right away.</p> + +<p>Jeff Davis was back in Richmond, as I had discovered with my +own eyes.</p> + +<p>In my daily rounds, the next source of information I sought was +the newspapers offices, because the crowd that was always to be +found about them seemed to do more satisfactory blowing than any +that I could strike elsewhere. They commented pro and con upon +the bulletins that were sometimes put out; or, in fact, it seemed as +if this daily gathering at the <i>Examiner</i> office, a few doors around +the corner from Main, was a sort of a news clearing-house, where a +great many of the citizens of the better class came to tell all they +knew and to hear all that any others had to tell.</p> + +<p>It was through this channel that I obtained some important clues.</p> + +<p>While I was in Richmond, the Ball's Bluff, or Leesburg, disaster +occurred, and most eagerly did I read all that appeared in Richmond +about that distressing affair.</p> + +<p>The <i>Examiner</i> and <i>Whig</i> articles on this "great victory," if +reproduced to-day, would make some interesting reading, of a character +that would stir up the blood of the old soldiers, even now, about +as quickly as anything I know of.</p> + +<p>The prevailing sentiment or feeling in Richmond at the time +seemed to be, that this "great achievement of the Confederates" +merely confirmed the opinions that had been previously uttered, +based on the battle of Bull Run, "that one Southern was equal to +five Yankees."</p> + +<p>The patronizing and superior manner with which those Richmond +people talked of the battle of Ball's Bluff, which, in fact, was +almost a massacre, made such an impression on my mind that time +has not and never can efface.</p> + +<p>The Richmond papers, too, in those days, I recall very distinctly, +found it necessary to apologize for, or defend, General Stone, for +his part in the affair.</p> + +<p>It was through this press channel that we heard of General +Butler's operations in North Carolina. The old man had evidently<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +done something down there that hurt very much, which they did +not print, as the city press was filled almost every day with abuse of +him and the Yankees.</p> + +<p>I gathered that it was about Henry A. Wise, who had a son or a +brother killed by Butler's operations. One would think, from the +manner in which the Virginians went on about this "outrage," that +the Yankees had no right to kill a Virginia gentleman under any +circumstances.</p> + +<p>While I am on the subject of the Richmond press, I must not forget +to explain that, as printing paper was becoming quite scarce in +the South, they were obliged to economize, and frequently the Richmond +<i>Examiner</i> and <i>Whig</i> appeared in half-sheets and letters; the +quality of the paper became so inferior as to resemble in appearance +the reverse side of the cheapest wall-paper.</p> + +<p>I sent to the North, through the blockade, several times, marked +copies of the Richmond papers.</p> + +<p>The Pittsburgh <i>Chronicle</i> actually published, while I was yet in +Virginia, an extract from one of those papers, in which were some +caustic comments on a case of a certain well-known Presbyterian +clergyman of Allegheny, who had been dismissed by his church +there for some harsh expressions of sympathy for the South.</p> + +<p>I was thanked by name for the "courtesy" in sending the paper, +which was exhibited at the office as a great curiosity, and am thankful +even now, on reflection, that the Pittsburgh papers were not on +the Richmond exchange list.</p> + +<p>There were no earthworks of any description around Richmond +in 1861. This is a fact that is not generally known.</p> + +<p>When I was before the Committee on the Conduct of the War, +some months after the date of which I am writing, there was an +effort being made by some of the Congressmen to prove to the country +that McClellan's inactivity during the fall and winter was wholly +inexcusable. This truth was fully brought out at the time and +the facts proven.</p> + +<p>There was probably not a day from August to November, 1861, +that General McClellan could not have easily entered Richmond, +with a very small force, from the Peninsula or via the South.</p> + +<p>It was also fully established by the official papers of the Rebel +authorities themselves that twenty-five per cent. of their army was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +incapacitated on account of the prevailing epidemic in August and +September, and that twenty-five per cent. more were absent, while +the rest of the Rebel army was as badly demoralized by their victory +as we were by our rout.</p> + +<p>I do not attempt to criticise General McClellan in mentioning +these facts. I refer simply to my own personal observations on this +point, as testified to before the Committee of Congress, after I had +gotten home again. I beg to refer the reader to volume 3, page +380 of the printed Government Record for a part of my sworn testimony +referring to these dates.</p> + +<p>After a long day's hunt for news, visiting about every place in +the city, like a reporter, where I thought I could learn anything—among +the rest, Libby Prison guard—I returned to the hotel in the +evening.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>A NARROW ESCAPE—RECOGNIZED BY TEXAS FRIENDS AT A RICHMOND +THEATRE—PERSONNEL OF THE MARYLAND BATTERY—REFUGEES +FROM IRELAND—CAMP LEE, NEAR RICHMOND—OUR +CAPTAIN—LIEUTENANT CLAIBORNE, OF MISSISSIPPI—OUR SECTION-DRILLS—HORSES +FOR OUR USE IN TOWN AND ADJOINING +COUNTY—VISITS OF LADIES—CAPITOLA—POPULARITY OF REFUGEES—THE +ENTERTAINMENT FOR MARYLANDERS—TABLEAU—JEFF +DAVIS STRIKES THE CHAINS FROM THE ENSLAVED MARYLAND +BEAUTY.</h3> + + +<p>Richmond hotels during the war were very like those in Washington +City during the same period. Every evening the offices, +billiard rooms, and even the bar-rooms, would be filled with that +class of a city's population that usually congregate in these places. +As the crowded hotel lobbies in Washington City nowadays are just +the places the newspaper men seek to obtain news for their papers, +so it was in Richmond as well as Washington during the war.</p> + +<p>Everybody agreed on one point—that something was up, but +just what it was nobody seemed able to tell, and I was unable to find +out. But I had a night's adventure, which served to dispel any +scruples I had entertained about the propriety of entering the Rebel +Army.</p> + +<p>I met at the hotel office my companion, the Colonel, who, upon +seeing me, rushed over the office floor to say:</p> + +<p>"Why, where the devil have you been? We have been hunting +you every place."</p> + +<p>I explained that I had been poking about the city all day, and +was so tired that I was going straight to bed.</p> + +<p>"No you ain't; we are going to initiate you to-night. We +got our orders to-day. Elkton has his commission, and has +authority to enlist his men—you know we have nearly all we need +for our section. I am to be Sergeant in charge of the piece and +you are to be Corporal."</p> + +<p>Then, with a slap on the shoulder, he hauled me to one side,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +and whispered: "We have got it all fixed for our big bounty, and +we want your papers right away."</p> + +<p>I was cornered. I must go along or get out of town. There +could be no possible excuse for further putting off this step.</p> + +<p>I asked only the one question—"Where do we go?"</p> + +<p>"Why, into Maryland, of course!"</p> + +<p>Being further assured that this battery was to be at once sent to +the front, I agreed to go along with him—<i>to get the money</i>. We +found Elkton in our room, attending to the papers of some of the +other recruits, and, at a favorable opportunity, I, with a trembling +hand and a doubting heart, signed my assumed name to the papers, +and by that act became a <i>Rebel soldier</i>. There was one great relief +to my mind while performing this necessary act. It was distinctly +understood that I was to be made the Corporal, and, as such, it would +be my duty to sight and fire the gun of our section. I determined +that if the occasion should arise before I could get away from them, +when it would become my duty as a Rebel soldier to sight that gun, +that it should <i>never be pointed in a way to do any damage</i>.</p> + +<p>My object was to use this scheme as a disguise to again get to the +front at Manassas, and find out what had been done <i>there</i>. I could +not learn anything at Richmond, and once more in the Rebel Army +at Manassas, disguised in a gray uniform, I would find some way to +anticipate any forward movements. I would also be "handy" to +our army, and be able to reach our pickets quickly.</p> + +<p>If I were caught going over to the enemy, with a Rebel jacket +on, I'd be shot as a deserter; but I had the consolation of knowing +that, if I were caught in any other clothes, I should be hung anyhow. +While this was not a very comforting thought, I knew it was +true.</p> + +<p>I did not care much for the money that was to be paid to me; +and authorized Elkton to settle my bills at the hotel and to retain +the balance for me. He furnished the Colonel and me some spending +money, and together we went out to "make a night of it" in +Richmond.</p> + +<p>The Colonel and I went first to a theatre, located on the street +on which stood the Exchange and Ballard Hotel.</p> + +<p>One of the players sang with dramatic effect some words suitable +to the time and people, which was adapted to the French air of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +"La Marseillaise." He waved in one hand a French flag and in the +other the Confederate <i>bars</i>. At a certain point in the song, the fellow +threw to the floor and stamped upon—old glory—the Stars and +Stripes. The wild cheers of approval and howls of applause from +the large audience that went up at this dastardly exhibition of American +treachery sent the cold chills down my marrow bone. I wondered +then, and have never ceased to wonder, at the frequent exhibitions +of contempt and dishonor for their old flag that were so +freely and heartily indulged in by the Southern people during the +war.</p> + +<p>It did not occur to me at the time that I might accidentally +meet or, at least, be seen—in a crowded theatre—by some person +who would know something of my past experiences.</p> + +<p>As we were slowly edging through the crowd, after the curtain +had fallen, I noticed a tall fellow in front of us, who turned +around to look back. I thought I had seen his face before, but I +had been seeing so many faces lately, that I paid but little attention +to him. I observed that he said something to his companion, as +both turned around facing me, but, as the crowd kept pressing down +the narrow aisle, they did not have a good chance to scan me too +closely.</p> + +<p>Becoming aware of their scrutiny, my suspicions became aroused. +I began to hasten along, and nervously nudged the Colonel to push +ahead more rapidly. We passed the two men—one of whom was in +uniform—and as we did so, I heard one of them, say:</p> + +<p>"That's him, ain't it?"</p> + +<p>I didn't linger to hear what reply the other made, but shoved on +toward the door, and had reached the vestibule when the voice +behind called out—<i>my right name!</i> I was startled, but did not turn, +being intent only on getting to the street as quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>The Colonel, who was with me, had not noticed the affair at all; +and the calling out of my real name had not attracted his attention, +as I was known to him only by the fictitious name that I had +assumed.</p> + +<p>As I reached the door, and was about to hurry down the front +steps, a hand was laid on my shoulder. I have no doubt that it was +a pale face which turned around, expecting to meet some one that +I certainly did not desire to see at that time.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span></p> + +<p>I did not know him, though his pleasant face, which was covered +with a broad grin, seemed familiar.</p> + +<p>"Ain't you Mr. O. K., that was out in Texas with Major J——?"</p> + +<p>I suppose that my surprised appearance was misunderstood for +an expression of offended dignity I had assumed. This had the +effect of putting him in doubt as to my identity, as he eyed me more +closely, and gave me his name, and remarked he was one of a regiment +that had been organized in that part of Texas in which I had +spent the winter preceding the war, and had probably known me +there, as a stranger naturally becomes an object of curiosity in that +country.</p> + +<p>As I did not want to run the risk of meeting any of my Texas +uncle's friends, who might know of my interest in the affair at +Fort Pickens—as the Texas boy—I mildly resented the proposed +acquaintance. His companion relieved the embarrassment by suggesting, +politely, that it was simply a mistake. When I had recovered +sufficiently, I gave my fictitious name and introduced the Colonel, as +a sort of endorser for my statement.</p> + +<p>It was accepted with hesitancy, and we parted without stopping +to further explain the matter.</p> + +<p>I was now, seemingly, to all intents and purposes, a <i>bona fide</i> +"rebel." The position in which I had almost involuntarily placed +myself was such, that it put me in a dangerous attitude toward both +sides, and would necessitate considerable explaining in certain +events. It was, in fact, a "straddle," that caused me a good deal +of annoyance and trouble that I had not counted on before I +entered into the arrangement.</p> + +<p>After the little incident at the theatre, the Colonel and I went +straight to our room at the hotel. He wanted to run around town +a little longer, but I was not in the humor for taking any further +risks of meeting any more of my Southern acquaintances, and I +prevailed upon him to go with me to bed. After the lights were +out, I had an opportunity to think over the day's doings before I +slept. It was arranged between us that we should travel together +as a pair, or as a team of fresh Maryland colts, wherever we should +go. We were both to be attached to the one gun of the Third +Maryland Battery of Artillery. That is the name of the organization, +as will be found upon a reference to the records, and I have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +no doubt my name is also set down there among the members of the +company. Elkton was made the Lieutenant, while the "Colonel" +was promoted to be Sergeant in charge of the piece, while I was +Corporal and gunner.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 387px;"> +<img src="images/i267.jpg" width="387" height="600" alt="RECOGNIZED BY TEXANS AT RICHMOND THEATRE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">RECOGNIZED BY TEXANS AT RICHMOND THEATRE.</span> +</div> + +<p>A majority of the other "refugees" belonging to this patriotic +band of exiles were composed principally of recruits who had been +recently drawn to Richmond from their shovel and pick employment +on a railroad contract, on what is now the Chesapeake & +Ohio Railroad. This sense of duty to the suffering and abused +South of their adoption, was due to the fact, as we all understood +it then, that the bounty and pay of the Maryland refugee was +very much greater than that of a laborer in a ditch while the +work was not nearly so fatiguing. In fact, and in brief, the refugee +business was very much of a fraud on the Confederacy in our +company. To be more explicit, I will enumerate, from memory, +the several nationalities which were attached to our "piece," which +may be considered a representative of the Maryland refugees in the +Confederacy.</p> + +<p>Our No. 1 and No. 2—which all old soldiers will remember, are the +figures that represent the two men who stand at the muzzle of an old-fashioned +gun, one of whom swabs her out, while the other rams the +charge home—were two stalwart Irish brothers, Mike and Terry by +name. The former had been a boss of a wheelbarrow gang somewhere +out on the railway in Virginia—one of those blustering Irish fellows +who are so full of extravagant and positive talk. He was eternally +and forever complaining about something or somebody, and I +remember that he gave the officers and men more trouble on this +account than all the rest. He had, as the leader of his gang, brought +a dozen of his Irish recruits into our organization at one draft, and +felt as if he must continue to be their boss. His men were also +disposed to recognize "Mike's" authority, as being superior to that +of the military officers. A good deal of discipline was necessary to +explain to them the changed condition in their affairs. His brother +Terry was a strapping big fellow, whose position at the gun was +alongside of his brother. In disposition and temperament, Terry +was the very opposite of Mike, being a quiet, sullen fellow, whom I +do not remember to have heard speak a dozen words beyond mere +monosyllables. He was, however, a tricky, treacherous fellow, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +the pair of big gray mules gave the team of Maryland colts any +amount of trouble and fun.</p> + +<p>The man whose duty it was to prick the cartridge and attend +the vent was a native of Richmond—a fat, boyish fellow of eighteen +full of fun and laugh all the time. My recollection is, that he had +been a butcher's clerk somewhere. He represented what may be +called the "poor white trash," as it was termed by the Southern +people.</p> + +<p>He was probably attracted by the bounty and the chance to ride +on a gun-carriage, as we found out very soon he was too blamed +lazy to walk. Another peculiarity of this recruit, that we subsequently +discovered, and which made it interesting to the rest of +us, was, that he was subject to epileptic fits, and probably for this +cause he had been rejected by the more respectable Virginia regiments.</p> + +<p>When he first took one of those spells, during the excitement +occasioned by the drill-master hustling him around a little, we all +felt that something dreadful had occurred in our midst, and every +man in the camp was crawling over the other in their efforts to wait +upon and assist the poor fellow. He lay on the ground, gnawing +and twisting himself in the most horrible way, frothing at the +mouth in the meanwhile in a frightful manner.</p> + +<p>It was on such occasions as this that big Mike showed his usefulness +in the company. He would grab the big Virginian lubber +by each hand and hold him "steady," as if he was a mere baby in +his hands, giving orders meanwhile, as if he was a captain on a +man-of-war in a great storm.</p> + +<p>The other fellow, who pulled the lanyard, was a slender, good-looking +man, who had been a sailor who had traveled around the +world, and did not seem to have any nationality. The war had +found him blockaded at Norfolk, and, being unable to get out to +sea, he had gravitated into Richmond, where he was induced to +join the refugee band by the hard logic of an empty pocket, a hungry +belly, and a show of money as bounty. He and I became fast +friends, and, as a singular coincidence, I mention here that we both +joined that battery with the same intent—<i>i. e.</i>, to use it as a means +of escape North; and though we were together and slept together +every night for months, neither knew the other's thoughts on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +subject until the morning we met, accidentally, while both were +escaping through the Rebel pickets.</p> + +<p>Our No. 5, whose duty it was to carry the cartridge from the +caisson to the gun, was a queer character. He was a man of +about forty-five years of age, tall and angular, with that odd cast of +countenance that one often sees among the lower order of Germans. +He was not exactly a German, but had an accent similar to the German; +his face was broad and square, the lower part of it being apparently +broader than the upper. I think he must have been a Russian +or a Polander. He was not a successful No. 5, because his +motions were too stiff and lumbering for that position; and, in consequence +of his stupidity, he was being prodded all the time +when on drill. He became, however, a very useful member to the +company.</p> + +<p>By some mysterious expressions from the officers, we were led to +believe at first that he might have been a disguised "juke" or count, +exiled from his native land, and who desired to serve his adopted +home with this band of devoted refugees. We learned, however, +that he had simply been a professor in his own country in—a barbershop. +We were all glad enough to ascertain this fact; also, that he +served his time as a tailor—to be sure his "time" as a tailor had +been "put in" at a certain penitentiary—but he was a good and useful +refugee all the same, because he was detailed to shave the company +and, also, to do over the baggy gray uniforms which were furnished +us.</p> + +<p>The "Colonel" and I were the first to take advantage of this +information, as to the "juke's" accomplishments, to have him refit +the gray blouses and trousers which we were to wear. We procured +some black stuff for trimming the cuffs of our coats, because one of +the Lanyards' lady friends had told him that the black and gray +matched nicely together. We also had our Sergeant's and Corporal's +stripes of bright red stitched on to our sleeves, and a narrow +binding of red was sewed down in front of the coat. It was in this +rather neatly-trimmed Rebel uniform that I boldly walked the streets +of Richmond, and secured entrance to houses and places of interest, +from which I had heretofore been excluded, during the rest of my +eventful stay in that city.</p> + +<p>It will be seen that, in this account of the personnel of one sec<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span>tion +of the so-called Maryland Battery, there was but the <i>one</i> genuine +Maryland refugee in its outfit, outside of Elkton, and that was +the Sergeant, who is the "Colonel" of our story. I was, of course, +supposed to be another Marylander, but it will be seen that the +much-vaunted "flower of the South," which composed the Confederate +armies, was very much like the "flower of the North" in its +actual composition.</p> + +<p>The other sections of our battery were composed principally of +the aforesaid "recruits" from the railway laborers, who were +mostly refugees from Ireland and Germany.</p> + +<p>Our other lieutenant was a Mr. Claiborne, one of the genuine +sons of the South, a native of Mississippi, and as clever and courteous +a young gentleman as it has ever been my pleasure to meet. +I recall my acquaintance with Lieutenant Claiborne, though formed +in this surreptitious way, as one of the most agreeable in which I have +ever shared. If it shall so happen that this writing may meet his +own eye, or that of his family or friends—and I have given the +correct name—he will understand some of my actions toward him, +which were at the time, to say it briefly, inexplicable. Lieutenant +Claiborne, I think, followed the Confederate fortunes to the +end—I am sure he did so if he lived to see the end—for, without a +doubt, he was earnestly, though quietly, sincere in his devotion to the +cause of the South.</p> + +<p>The Captain of the company had been, as I understood it, a +lawyer from Baltimore. He was a small man in stature, small in +mind, and about as <i>little</i> and trifling in every way as any soldier +that I have ever met.</p> + +<p>Perhaps some allowance should be made for the Captain on +account of the fact that he was a cripple. He was born, I believe, +with one leg shorter than the other—wore what is known as a club +foot; that is, one shoe was filled with a cork sole, which raised his +foot three or four inches from the ground. He walked with a +cane, and sometimes used two, and apparently walked with difficulty. +His face wore an expression of pain or sourness that is +peculiar to many persons whom I have met that are similarly +afflicted.</p> + +<p>In justice to the Captain, it may be inferred that, on account of +his bodily infirmity, he had been reared in such a way that every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +whim was gratified, and he was petted and spoiled until he became +in nature and disposition a veritable tyrant, as all pets are. We +understood that he came of a first-class Maryland family, and that +he had been highly educated at his home, where he had become a +successful attorney. Our impressions in this regard were amply +confirmed by our association; and the fact that our Captain had +great influence at the Rebel War Department was undisputed. +The Captain himself recognized his importance, and was of the +temperament that inclined to make the most of his advantages.</p> + +<p>There was a disposition on the part of our first Lieutenant, Elkton, +to resist the Captain's severe exercise of his authority and overbearing +manner; and in this rebellion within a rebellion, we of this +section unanimously sustained our Lieutenant. Mr. Claiborne, the +second Lieutenant, was also in constant friction with the Captain, +and, as his squad sustained him, also, we were in hot water right +along.</p> + +<p>The Captain became a cross, surly, revengeful man. He knew +nothing whatever of military drill and the requirements, and was +narrow-minded enough to meddle and interfere with the trifling +details, which should have been left to the subordinate officers.</p> + +<p>Big Mike, of our section, was one of the fellows who had a grievance, +because he had not been made sergeant in charge of the gun, +with his own squad of Irish to work it, instead of my Colonel. He +took every complaint to this sour-faced, crippled Captain, who, in +an unmilitary manner, entertained his private growling complaint +against the officers and the rest of the company. He would invite +Mike into his quarters, where he would discuss with him the minor +affairs of the company. Any old soldier will see how this sort of +thing would work; and if any imagine for a moment that all the +Southern soldiers were a "band of brothers," harmoniously bound +together, fighting only against the Yankee invaders, they are very +much mistaken.</p> + +<p>I have seen more of the ugly, bitter jealousy between Rebel +officers, and severe criticism of Jeff Davis and his generals, in an +association of nine months among them, than I did subsequently +in three years between Stanton and Halleck and all the commanders +of the armies of the Potomac.</p> + +<p>Our company was quartered in the Fair Grounds, on the out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span>skirts +of Richmond, which in after years became widely known as +"Camp Lee." A high board fence enclosed several acres of ground; +inside this enclosure were a number of temporary wooden sheds, +which had been turned into barracks for the Confederate soldiers.</p> + +<p>Troops were arriving at this camp from the South every day; +and as fast as they were organized or suitably provided with arms +and clothing, they were shipped on the cars, which ran right by the +grounds, to the Rebel Army at Manassas or thereabouts. I was always +glad to see the trains stop to load up some of the troops for +the North, because I felt, every time I saw it, that our turn to go +would soon come, and I should soon be at the front again, from +whence I could easily skip over the line into Washington City.</p> + +<p>The time, during these days, was usually occupied in a daily +routine of military life. Officers and men occupied comfortable +quarters at Camp Lee, in the barracks. There was a roll-call every +morning, a very good breakfast, then a couple of hours' drill at the +one old iron cannon, which was all that the entire camp possessed. +Each of the sections took turns at this one piece. So it was, that, +between us all, we managed to keep it hot pretty near all day. +This drill was a regular circus. As the gunner, I did not +have very much exercise. Lanyard, who stood by me, and I, +had so much fun together over the two big Irishmen, who would +so violently ram home the imaginary charges of powder and ball +and swing the big swab around as wildly as if it was a little shilleleh. +Fatty, the Virginia refugee, whose place was across from +us, was full of fun himself, and kept us all amused by his antics +during the drill—holding his fingers to his ears and winking and +jumping as if a charge had actually been fired and the rebound +was dangerous. The two big Irish brothers were always in a sweat +and swearing at the disguised "juke," because he was so dignified in +his bearing that he could not be made to see the necessity of +rushing frantically from the limber, holding an imaginary cartridge +in his hand. It, perhaps, seemed too absurd for a man of his +dignity, age and clumsy bearing to be compelled to run around +the gun holding out his empty hands, as if carrying a ten-pound +shot in them, which he was supposed to deliver in like imaginary +manner.</p> + +<p>My duty was to sight the piece, and I learned to get that part of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +the drill down so fine that I was able, on short notice, to hit the +same knot-hole in the fence, twenty feet distant, every time.</p> + +<p>The number of Yankees that we killed with that gun—in imagination—far +outnumbered all that were afterward slaughtered by all +of General Alexander's Rebel Artillery. The Captain somehow got +a notion that I was the only person in the company who could use +pen and ink. This was not very complimentary to the rest of the +company, because I've not, in all these years, learned how to write +properly; but I was, in consequence, detailed as a company clerk, or as +a private secretary to the Captain, and from this assignment, until +we took the field, I had what is vulgarly called—a snap.</p> + +<p>I was quartered thenceforth in the Captain's room, except when +off duty, when I would quickly join the Colonel and Lanyard in +their barracks. My duties were not at all onerous; on the other +hand, I became relieved from all details for drill guard, police duty, +and a hundred and one other little "turns" that catch everybody in +the ranks, both in the Rebel and Union armies. It was my business +to do all the company's clerical work: I filled out requisitions for +commissary supplies, kept the roster, made a daily report for the +Captain to somebody who was the General in command at the camp +at that time.</p> + +<p>One day the Captain notified the men, as we were at evening +roll-call, that he had engaged a doctor for the exclusive benefit +of the company, who would accompany us as our surgeon. Everybody +was glad to hear this, as we had experienced a good bit of +sickness already while in camp. The Captain wound up his +speech with the incidental observation that a dollar or two would +be retained from each man's pay to compensate this private surgeon. +There was surprise, and the parade was dismissed and the men reassembled +to growl. Big Mike then took a turn at making a speech, +inciting rebellion against the Captain's arbitrary orders. It resulted +in a regular Irish row upon the Captain ordering Mike's arrest and +imprisonment in the guard-house. Before we got through with it, +the whole of the bold refugees were under the guns of some of the +other troops, that had been called upon to quell the disturbance.</p> + +<p>It was lots of fun to Fatty and Lanyard, but for my part I'd +rather get into a real battle than to become mixed up in an +Irish fist fight.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span></p> + +<p>There were some horses in camp belonging to the several officers +who were quartered out there. Our Captain had his own, a finely-bred +animal, which he rode to town and back every day. On account +of the deformity of his limbs or hips, it was necessary that +he should be almost lifted into the saddle, which was made of a +particular shape suited to him. Because of this necessity for having +someone always with him, I was selected by the Captain, with +whom I had become a favorite, to accompany him nearly every day +on a second horse. He almost always rode straight to the War Department, +and I went along with him as far as I could. In this +way I was able to keep up safely my silent watch on the Rebel War +Office, rarely missing a day during our stay in Camp Lee on which +I did not get to town with the Captain.</p> + +<p>My gray uniform had been neatly fitted by the "juke," and my +way of wearing my blouse coat-tails tucked inside my trousers had +so pleased the Captain that he had ordered every man to wear his +clothes as I did. This style of dress gave me a sort of Garibaldi +appearance, and I fancy that, as I rode my horse fairly well, from +an early training in Western Texas, I made a pretty creditable +appearance on the streets of Richmond as a Rebel soldier boy.</p> + +<p>It was in this disguise that, I may safely assert, I openly visited +<i>every single point of interest in and around Richmond</i>.</p> + +<p>I felt so perfectly secure and safe, that I had again become reckless +and careless.</p> + +<p>By reason of my close association with the Captain, as his private +secretary or company clerk, I was able to secure from him his +written permit to visit town in the evening. The Colonel (or +Sergeant), Mr. Lanyard and myself had naturally gravitated toward +each other, and visits to town after dark were usually made by +this congenial trio in one group, but we didn't always return +together.</p> + +<p>The old Colonel and Lanyard were the real Philistines, and I may +safely put all their night raids upon them. Whenever the Colonel +or Lanyard wished to go to town, one of them would come to me, +as the "Adjutant of their Corps," as the Colonel used to say, and +in their seductive manner ask me to write out a pass for three and +get the "old man" to sign it. The Captain had gotten into the +way of signing so many of the blank forms, that it was my daily<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +duty to submit to him, his signature was easily obtained to further +our little schemes.</p> + +<p>Of the great number and variety of troops, probably the most +popular, as a general thing, were the refugees from Maryland.</p> + +<p>For some months after the first battle, the ladies of the very +best old families of Richmond were in the habit of making daily +visits to the camps of the troops about the city.</p> + +<p>There was a crack battalion of "gentlemen" soldiers from South +Carolina that came to town during my stay, whose regiment I've +forgotten, but my impression is that it was Hampton's South Carolina +Battalion. Their presence created quite a furore among the +ladies of Richmond, and the dress-parade in the evening seemed +to bring half the town out in carriages and in droves of pedestrians. +These fellows wore a fancy uniform, and, without a word of exaggeration, +I may say every private in the battalion was provided with +a body servant—in most cases a likely boy, perhaps one of the slaves +with whom the soldier had played as a child, was now sent along +with him to the war to take care of the young master.</p> + +<p>Our Colonel didn't like the attention that was being given to +the South Carolina boys; perhaps he felt a little bit envious or +jealous, as he observed to a lady:</p> + +<p>"These fellows have brought along their niggers to carry +umbrellas over them while they fight."</p> + +<p>While Lanyard thought: "It's most likely the nigger is there +to fix up their cocktails."</p> + +<p>I have, myself, seen refined ladies in our camp, with sleeves +rolled up and huge aprons covering their fine dresses, assisting the +troopers to bake their biscuit and bread. The younger and better-looking +ladies were often to be seen at camp, with baskets in hand, +laying out bountiful spreads in the barrack "dining-room."</p> + +<p>The appearance of these ladies at camp always put the Colonel +on his mettle—he would go about our part of the quarters, his +actions totally altered from his usual slow and quiet manner.</p> + +<p>Our sailor-boy chum, whom we called Lanyard, had not enjoyed +the society of ladies so much as the Colonel, probably on account +of his sea-faring life, and was rather inclined to resent the intrusion +of the ladies. Through the Colonel's gallantry and cheek, our little +mess was pretty well remembered by the visiting sisters.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was through visits of this character that we became acquainted +with a nice young lady, whom we will call Capitola, because that +wasn't her name. She was a typical Southern girl. I can not +describe her, except to say that she was a beautiful brunette, who +had attended boarding school somewhere near Baltimore, and +probably through this fact she became interested in the Maryland +refugees. As I have said, the Colonel was a gallant fellow, and +also a good manager, who was not slow to take advantage of the +opportunity this pretty girl's visits to our camp afforded. She, of +course, made her visits in company with a bevy of other pretty girls, +some of whom were equally as handsome as herself, but Capitola +is <i>the</i> girl of this part of our story.</p> + +<p>One day our fair visitors made a special call on our officers to +notify us, in their charming way, of an entertainment which was +to be given at one of the halls in the city, to which Marylanders +especially were invited. The Colonel in his courteous way +accepted the invitation for us.</p> + +<p>When the ladies were ready to return, the Colonel persistently +escorted them to the gate—as he always did—while we bashful boys +stood back and envied his easy manners, as he escorted them away +from us. He always came back to us with a broad grin on his face, +but, kept a taunting silence as to the conversation that seemed to be +so interesting and amusing.</p> + +<p>We put in the balance of that day preparing for the evening's +entertainment. As a general thing, we were demoralized after the +visit and could do nothing else. It so happened that it rained one +of those cold, misty, half-rain and half-sleet storms, that are so disagreeable +always, and especially so when they interfere with one's +efforts to get himself up in his best shape. The storm did not, +however, prevent a full attendance at the ball, for it was a sort of +ball or reception, after some introductory addresses, accompanied +by the music of "Dixie" and "Maryland, my Maryland."</p> + +<p>Mrs. President Davis was present. Though I had frequently seen +her, she never looked to my eyes other than a very ordinary matronly +lady.</p> + +<p>It was a tableau, in which our girl was representing "Maryland +enslaved." She was attired, not exactly in the costume of the Greek +slave, but in a sombre mourning garb, with her head bowed as if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +in great sorrow and distress. She walked on to the stage, and, with +a pathetic appeal, lifted toward heaven as beautiful a face as I have +ever seen, stretching out her bared arms, which were shackled by +chains. It was a beautiful and a striking picture, presented with +great effect, and I don't suppose there was a person in the vast +crowd who did not feel ready to make a desperate effort to release +the pretty Maryland girl from those dreadful chains. I'm quite +sure I should have done so if I'd had the opportunity, and would +have been glad to have picked "Maryland" up and carried her away +from such dreadful people, but we were not to be given this privilege.</p> + +<p>At the proper moment, Mr. President Davis stepped forward, +and, like an accomplished actor, played his part excellently well, +wrenching the chains from "Maryland" and setting her free. +"Maryland" horrified all the battery boys by immediately throwing +her arms around her rescuer.</p> + +<p>"We three roughish chaps together," came away from that show +with our empty heads in a whirl. It was still sleeting and quite +cold. Lanyard, with an assumed shudder, proposed that we go to +some saloon to get something hot to prevent our taking cold.</p> + +<p>I have never been drunk in my life. I say this here, because a +good many persons who will read this will naturally think that any +person who has "been around" as much as I, must at some time +have been full. Especially as I am an old soldier, I know that +some persons will laugh at this statement as a joke; but it's a sober +fact. I never was drunk, but I came mighty near it that night in +Richmond.</p> + +<p>Lanyard was familiar with all the best places to "get something," +and took us into a cozy, warm room, where there was a +good, cheerful fire blazing. On one side of the room was the bar—one +of those old-fashioned high counters—but you all know what a +bar is like, so I won't attempt a description of such a place to old +soldiers. On this counter was a large china bowl beautifully decorated +on the outside, while within was floating a mixture that I had +never seen before. On inquiry, I was informed by the bartender, +with a significant grin at the Colonel, which I afterward recalled, +that the mixture was Virgina apple-jack.</p> + +<p>You don't know what that is? No, I think it has gone out of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +date, or perhaps its concoction is one of the lost arts. There were +apples—roasted apples—floating in a sea of foam, that gave forth a +most delightful fragrance. I was curious about the stuff, and being +assured by Lanyard that it was a sort of cooked cider, that was +made in Virginia as a temperance drink for those who were opposed +to hard cider, I, in my unsuspecting innocence, partook of a mug +full of the hot stuff. It was not hard to take, being quite pleasant +to the taste, and, the evening being so cold and wet, I was prevailed +upon to poke my nose into another mug of the apple tea, "just to +keep from taking cold."</p> + +<p>We all sat down at an adjoining table to await our order of fried +oysters, the two companions becoming quite hilarious over their +gin, in a way, which I recalled afterwards, as quite significant.</p> + +<p>The room was quite warm, and, as I began to dry out in its +atmosphere, I became, I thought, too warm, and said as much, +which my companions passed off in their careless way with a laugh.</p> + +<p>When I attempted to get on to my feet, for the first time in my +life my head felt a little bit dizzy, and I had to support myself as I +stood to get a proper balance. The table began to move, as if +impelled by some unseen power; in looking up, the fire had grown +into three or four different fires in as many different places; there were +several hundred bottles behind the bar, and realizing in an instant +what was coming, I made a sudden rush for the door, staggering +through the room, amid the laughter of the Colonel and <a name="lanyard" id="lanyard"></a><ins title="Original has Laynard">Lanyard</ins>, +who urged me to sit down; but I had not yet lost my head, and +refused to stop until I got outside, when I leaned against the door +until I cooled off.</p> + +<p>It was a close call, but the Federal Spy didn't lose his head in +Richmond that night.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>RICHMOND, FALL, 1861—DAILY VISITS TO THE WAR OFFICE, +MECHANICS' HALL—EVENINGS DEVOTED TO VISITS IN TOWN—MIXED +UP WITH MARYLAND LADIES—FORT PICKENS OPENS +FIRE ON PENSACOLA BATTERIES—GENERAL WINDER, OF MARYLAND—JEFF +DAVIS INAUGURATED PRESIDENT—SHAKE HANDS +WITH JEFF DAVIS.</h3> + + +<p>While it may very often become expedient for a spy, while perambulating +in an enemy's country, to drink socially with those with +whom he desires to communicate, it is always a dangerous expedient, +because, of all persons, a spy requires a cool and clear head.</p> + +<p>Although these Confederate soldiers, with whom I was that night +associated, had not the slightest suspicion of my true character and +purposes, yet, if I had been made foolishly drunk by them, there is +no telling what my loosened tongue might have done for me. We +were—all three of us—very much "gone" on the enslaved beauty, +and under such softening influences, at this particular time, a very +light dose of Virginia "apple-jack," added to the "Maryland" +influence, would have completely upset us all.</p> + +<p>In fact, I was in greater danger of losing my heart than my +head. The beautiful tableau which we had just witnessed, coupled +with the presence of refined and lovely ladies, accompanied by the +sweet music of Maryland, had more effectually intoxicated my +senses than the seductive "apple-jack."</p> + +<p>It will be remembered that in our set was the Lieutenant, who +was supposed to have been a staid married man at home in Maryland, +and it would hardly be fair now to print his desperate efforts +to cut out the boys of his company, simply because he was an officer. +We were only able to defeat his intrigue by bringing to our +aid the gallant and handsome Second Lieutenant, a dark-eyed Mississippi +gentleman, but he, with base ingratitude, took unfair +advantage of the opportunities we had afforded him and used his +big black eyes and seductive smiles to capture <i>our girl</i>—and she, +the beautiful but uncertain Capitola, the friend of the Maryland<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +refugees, surrendered to our Mississippi Lieutenant, and there was +great trouble and heart-burning in that Rebel battery ever after.</p> + +<p>My undertakings and surroundings in Richmond were not +exactly adapted to the production of humorous or funny effects, +but I had lots of fun, all the same, though I was not sent there for +that purpose.</p> + +<p>I went about the city during daylight in the garb of a Confederate +soldier, carrying in my pocket the pass of the commanding +officer at Camp Lee, which was furnished me freely through my +Maryland Captain's influence.</p> + +<p>General Winder, who became afterward notorious as the Provost-Marshal-General +of Richmond and keeper of Libby Prison, was a +Maryland man, and it so happened that he had known our Captain +intimately while the two lived together in Baltimore. This was a +most fortunate circumstance for my schemes, as the first endorsement +I had taken General Winder was of a personal character from his +friend, our Captain, and thereafter I became solid with General Winder +as long as I remained in Richmond.</p> + +<p>I was frequently tempted to go home; indeed, I had several +times come to the conclusion, from my own observation, that there +was to be no advance into Maryland, and that I might as well +quit and go home; but, again, I really felt as if I must accomplish +<i>something</i> first. I had stayed away so long, and had done nothing +of importance, that I began to feel that it would be a degradation +to crawl back home and have to explain to every person I knew +where I had been and why I had been there.</p> + +<p>I wanted to go back when I should be made welcome. I confess +right here that, since our pleasant acquaintance with the ladies of +Richmond had been formed, I was becoming more content to remain +longer in exile. The presence, and particularly the bright smiles +and winning ways of our "Capitola" was a very great attraction.</p> + +<p>I did not go about Richmond as a tramp or a peddler, as is the +usual method of spies we read about in novels, but, instead, I personated +a high-toned Maryland youth—dressed myself in the grayest +of gray uniform, adding all the red trimmings that my rank as +Corporal permitted. I rode a good horse, and, in my capacity of +Private Secretary or Orderly to our lame Captain, enjoyed unusual +facilities. During the daytime I took advantage of all these circum<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span>stances, +and had my eyes and wits about me, while the night, in the +company of our trio, was usually spent "about town," where I met +some of the best people, who welcomed us to their houses as Marylanders +exiled from our homes. I also encountered among others +some of the very worst class of citizens.</p> + +<p>As I have before stated, our Captain frequently visited the War +Office, and I was nearly always taken along him, as he, on account +of the stiffness of one of his legs, was unable to mount or dismount +his horse without assistance. I learned, through this association +with him, that the influence which he controlled at headquarters, +and which enabled him—a cripple—to obtain such a good and +much-sought-after position in the army over the heads of others, +was derived, in part at least, from some relationship with Mr. Judah +P. Benjamin, the Secretary of War for the Confederates.</p> + +<p>Mr. Benjamin, it will be remembered, was a close friend of Mr. +Davis.</p> + +<p>As the fall was now well advanced into winter, the weather was +daily becoming colder, the rains were more frequent, and once or +twice we had some signs of snow, and occasionally that most disagreeable +of all weathers—sleet, rain and cold, all at the same time. +We understood, generally, that it was now getting too late in the +season for a fall or winter invasion of Maryland.</p> + +<p>I had not learned enough of the art or science of war at that time +to know that there were any seasons for Army operations.</p> + +<p>One day, while standing in the hall door of the War Department +Office, waiting, as was my custom, for the Captain to +come around, I was aroused from the indifference, which had grown +upon me, by overhearing two persons, who were passing me, talking +together excitedly about Fort Pickens and Pensacola. As we had +been hearing nothing at all about Fort Pickens during these summer +and fall months, I had almost made up mind that the place +had been overlooked.</p> + +<p>As may be imagined, I was not anxious on my own account to +have the subject revived during my stay in Richmond. When I +heard the word "Pickens," which to my ears was like a shot in the +rear, I was instantly on the alert, and watched most eagerly the +movements of the two gentlemen, whose discussion had attracted +my attention. They passed along out of the building and together<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +walked up the street and were gone out of my sight. It was evident +from their not paying any attention to my presence, that +their conversation about Pickens did not have any reference to me +or my connection with the affairs.</p> + +<p>I felt the least bit uneasy, however, and, while I stood about the +War Office in Richmond that day, the terrible thought passed +through my brain, "Had I in any manner given myself away, and +was I being taken to the Department by our Captain for the purpose +of entrapping or identifying me?"</p> + +<p>It does not take very long for these dreadful thoughts to get +possession of one's brain, and they do grow most wonderfully into +the wildest fears and fancies in less time than it takes to write the +words that will explain the incident. I waited and watched most +anxiously about the square in front of the office, where our horses +were tied, for the appearance of our Captain. He was not in the +building at that time, I learned upon inquiring of some of the +clerks. He was most likely further down town, or with General +Winder. It was our custom to hitch our horses at this same place +every day, when, after dismounting, the Captain went his way, +while I did as I pleased also, it being understood always that at or +near a certain time we were to remount at this place and together +return to Camp Lee.</p> + +<p>That evening he was unusually late getting around, and when +I saw him limping along, his cane pounding the pavement with +more than ordinary vigor, I knew I should have to lift the old man +bodily on to his horse. He was always more communicative at such +times, and ready to tell all that he had learned during the day. To +my own surprise I blurted out, without thinking of my words, so +engrossed was my mind on this subject, as if determined to hear +the worst at once:</p> + +<p>"How about Fort Pickens?"</p> + +<p>"Oh," he growled out in his thick, guttural tones, "the Yankees +have opened fire on our fellows from that damned Fort Pickens."</p> + +<p>"Is that all," said I, with great a sigh of relief, which he must +have noticed had he been sober enough.</p> + +<p>"That's enough, ain't it? The President and the Secretary are +both disgusted with General Bragg for not capturing the damn +place last spring."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Too bad!" my thoughts were, though I did not dare express +them. I had prevented the capture of Fort Pickens in April.</p> + +<p>As we rode along in silence for the remainder of the way out to +camp, I had the opportunity to recall the Fort Pickens service, and +I wondered and planned in my own mind just how that duel would +be carried on there. I should have liked so much to have witnessed +the booming of guns from Pickens, and the exploding of +the great shells over the exact spots in which I had located the +masked Rebel batteries down there.</p> + +<p>My fears having been relieved by this explanation of the conversation +I had overheard, I felt very much as if I'd like to go off by +myself and yell for the old flag, just once, but I dare not; I must +continue to suffer and enjoy, in the silence, that was becoming almost +a second nature to me.</p> + +<p>It will be remembered that I had been at Montgomery, Alabama, +at about the time the provisional Government of Jeff Davis was +being initiated at that place. I was at the same hotel for about a +week at which Mr. Davis then occupied rooms. I had several times +been close to his person—indeed, so near that I was able to overhear +the conversation in which he always seemed to be engaged.</p> + +<p>Through the fortunes of war, and an adventurous, reckless disposition, +I was again, in the winter of the same year, at the Capitol +of the Rebel Government in Richmond, Virginia, in a position to +witness the formal inauguration of Mr. Jeff Davis as President of +the "permanent" Government of the Confederate States of America, +for the term of six years.</p> + +<p>I saw Mr. Davis inaugurated, attended his public reception on +the same evening, and, with all the rest of the callers, I was introduced +to him, shook his hand, looked into his one eye, and passed +out into the darkest night that I ever remember to have seen. The +inauguration ceremonies were intended to be imposing.</p> + +<p>We all know now that, even at the early stage of the war, there +was much serious trouble among the Confederate leaders. During +my experience among them there was scarcely a day that I did not +hear expressions of discontent, and witness other evidences of a bitter +feeling between the extreme Southern men and what they termed +"Virginia Yankees."</p> + +<p>My observations were, of course, principally among the rank<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +and file, but I had also an eye and an ear for what was occurring +among the higher classes. Though they were able to conceal their +bickerings at the time, to a certain extent, we all know now, from +the testimony of such men as Generals Joe Johnston, Beauregard +and Longstreet, that there were always the smoldering embers of a +volcano in the very heart of the Rebellion, and this cause alone +would have prevented their success in the end, even if General +Grant and the Army of the Potomac had been defeated in the +field.</p> + +<p>Though Mr. Davis had been elected President without any +contest, the fact remains that there had been hostile opposition to +him from various sources, probably the most noted being that of +Howell Cobb. We, of the Maryland Battery, were given to understand +by our Captain that we would be expected to do our share, +individually and collectively, in making the inauguration a success.</p> + +<p>The Secretary of War was a personal friend of our Captain, as +will be remembered, and we all know now, if we did not suspect it +then, that Mr. Benjamin was the Mephistopheles of Mr. Davis' +Cabinet, such was the peculiar character of his services to his +chief.</p> + +<p>Of course, we were all glad enough of an opportunity to display +ourselves in Richmond as Marylanders who were exiled from home; +we had been accustomed to receive the "ovations" of our Richmond +lady friends, and we were all glad enough of another opportunity +to secure all the attention we could command from them.</p> + +<p>There were some fears, too, that the inauguration might be of +such a quiet character as to reflect somewhat, in this way, upon the +administration of Mr. Davis. In brief, Mr. Benjamin and our +side were to take an active part in making it a "popular" ovation. +I was in for this, as I had been for anything at all that would add a +little spice to the daily routine of camp life, that was becoming +tiresome to me.</p> + +<p>A couple of days previous to the inauguration day, we were all +kept pretty busy drilling our awkward squad in marching and in +burnishing up our uniforms. We had received no arms as yet. +The one old condemned iron cannon we were using to practice on +was all that we refugees could boast of in the way of arms, for the +proposed invasion of Maryland.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span></p> + +<p>The trio before mentioned had been dubbed the "Three roguish +chaps together," comprised the Colonel (our Sergeant), Lanyard, the +sailor, and myself had promised the Captain our hearty coöperation. +We determined to assist him and his friends in every way we could +in "creating a demonstration," leaving for ourselves the evening +following the reception of the President.</p> + +<p>The eventful morning came at last, ushered in by a slowly-drizzling, +cold rain. Indeed it promised about as inauspicious for a +street display as could have been imagined. Later in the day the +rain increased, and about the hour set for the ceremonies it had +settled down to a steady pour.</p> + +<p>It was, indeed, a dreary day in Richmond overhead as well as +under foot. We marched to the city through slop and mud, that +added to our personal misery and discomfiture, as well as it detracted +from our intended gay appearance.</p> + +<p>The ceremony took place in the Capitol Grounds—a stand had +been erected in the neighborhood of the Henry Clay statue. On +account of the pouring rain, it was necessary at almost the last +hour for a gang of workingmen to erect a temporary roof or shelter +over the place from which Mr. Davis was to deliver his inaugural +address.</p> + +<p>I did not get to hear a word of it, but I was not caring a scrap +about it just then. I saw Mr. Davis, though, through all the proceedings—we +were stationed at some distance down the hill and +looked up over a sea of umbrellas.</p> + +<p>After the ceremony was over, we three were permitted by our +Captain to remain in town, and the trio at once found shelter in +the same comfortable restaurant in which I had first tasted the +apple-jack. Here we were permitted to dry out our wet clothing +and enjoy a good old-fashioned Virginia dinner, which mine host +had prepared in honor of the day. The great china punch-bowl +was still on the high bar, filled almost to the brim with the sweet-smelling, +seductive apple-jack, in which floated some roast apples, +which were garnished with cloves, so they looked like great pine +balls, but I felt that they were as dangerous as porcupines.</p> + +<p>I was urged to drink several times indeed, but one taste was +enough for me. The landlord was rather hurt, or pretended to be, +that I should refuse to accept from his own hands the courteously<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +proffered mug of the delicious compound, to be drunk in honor +of the day, etc.</p> + +<p>The Colonel, who had been such a good friend since we had met +while I was sick in the hotel, had formed apparently the utmost +confidence in me. In fact, our relations became of the most intimate +character, as far as was possible between any two persons +who were so unlike in disposition and purposes. The Colonel was +my senior by several years; perhaps, because of this, or maybe from +the fact that he had nursed me out from my illness and led me into +the company, I felt that he had an oversight or care over me, and +acted toward me in the kindly way of an elder brother.</p> + +<p>In the love affairs, in which we all became so absurdly mixed up +with our Maryland slave, Capitola, the Colonel had taken it upon +himself to act in my behalf and for my good. I had taken him into +my confidence about Capitola, and told him all about my trouble in +that direction; how our officers had taken undue advantage of their +uniform to cut me out, etc. He agreed with me that it was an +"outrage," and admitted, with a smile, that I now recall as significant, +that it was due entirely to the uniforms.</p> + +<p>I had accepted his offer to make things all right for me. I had +consented most reluctantly to the Colonel's disinterested and +brotherly advice—not to have anything more to do with Capitola.</p> + +<p>On inauguration day, being in town and feeling in pretty good +trim, I yielded to the impulse, and concluded to meet Capitola just +once more, to say "Good-by," provided I could do so without letting +the Colonel find it out.</p> + +<p>While trying to fix up a scheme to get away from him and Lanyard +that afternoon, so that I might make the proposed call undetained, +I was delighted to hear the Colonel ask Lanyard and I, to +excuse him for a couple of hours, as he had an important engagement +with the Lieutenant that afternoon—business must be +attended to.</p> + +<p>I was not long in getting away from Lanyard, and quickly +skipped around to the well known residence of our Capitola. She +surprised me by meeting me cordially and, all in one breath, +demanded to know why I had stayed away so long.</p> + +<p>"Why," she said, in her smiling, innocent way, "all the rest of +your boys have been to call on us."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Indeed," thought I; and when I had sufficiently recovered to +ask who had been there since I had been gone, she smilingly said:</p> + +<p>"Why, your friend, the Colonel, calls frequently; also that +Mississippi Lieutenant of yours. Isn't he just too nice?"</p> + +<p>This was not exactly what I expected or desired to hear from +Capitola, but it was enough. The Colonel, my brotherly friend, +was deceiving me, too. One purpose of my visit had been to +request her company to the reception at the President's that +evening. I had formed the impression that it would be a great +scheme for the Spy to escort the Maryland slave to Jeff Davis' +reception. When I had intimated the object of my visit, she burst +into a hearty laugh as she said, cheerily:</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is too funny. I believe every soldier from Maryland +in your company has made that request already, and I had to +decline them all, because I had engaged to go with the Lieutenant, +you know."</p> + +<p>I was preparing to take my leave when the door bell rang. +After a few more words and a sad "Good-by" to Capitola, I was +about to leave the room when I ran against my disinterested, brotherly +Colonel, who had been trying to replace himself in the affections +of my girl—while advising me to stay away. He was not at +all embarrassed, but at once broke out into a hearty laugh, and, +pulling me over to a sofa, we had a talk about the affair, which +amused Capitola so much that her merry laughter rang through +the house as she gathered the situation from our "explanations."</p> + +<p>The Colonel proposed going out with me, but I noticed that he +had cunningly slipped Capitola to one side and whispered in her +ear something which had the effect of causing her cheery laughter +to break out in a fresh place. She rushed over to me and, placing +both hands on my shoulder, said:</p> + +<p>"There is another—he wants me to go with <i>him</i> to the reception."</p> + +<p>So I had my turn to laugh on the Colonel. We were about to +leave. Capitola, smiling, suggested that we march the whole company +down to her house and she should go along with all of us—as +the <i>Fille de Regiment</i>.</p> + +<p>Despite the weather and some gloomy forebodings of friends, the +reception of President Jeff Davis was a success—in the way of a crowd,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +at least. It seemed to me at the time that everybody was there. There +were all kinds of people present during the evening—the very best +class of the citizens of Richmond and, perhaps, some of the very +worst element, along with the numerous army officers and soldiers.</p> + +<p>Richmond, in the winter of 1861, may justly be termed, at that +time, the wickedest city in America. Adventurous gamblers and +bad citizens of every conceivable description had flocked to the +Rebel Capital from New Orleans and all parts of the South and +North. One portion of Main street was abandoned almost wholly +to gambling houses, which, at night, were inhabited by the worst +kind of characters, in Rebel uniforms. These people and their +associates, who were in the city for sport and to ply their vocations, +flocked in great numbers to all places where crowds were gathered, +such as theatres, receptions, etc.</p> + +<p>The Mayor of the city, a Mr. Mayo—whose name I remember +so well because it lacked but the final letter "r" to spell the name +and position in the same word—was a dignified, gray-haired, old +Virginia gentleman, who did the best he could to preserve the peace +and order of the city. I saw him frequently on the street and at +the City Hall, on Broad street. I never had any dealings with him +in his official capacity that prevents my bearing this testimony to his +good intentions. He was on hand at the reception, as the city +official, as was also Governor Letcher, who was another Virginia +gentleman and official who I can remember with feeling of respect. +General Winder, who had been a police inspector, or something of +the kind, in Baltimore, was, in reality, the Governor, the Mayor, and +the Provost-Marshal combined in one, as well as Military Governor, +with absolute authority from the Confederate Government. He +had, as a Baltimorean, imported into Richmond a number of the +Baltimore ex-police, or plug-uglies, whom he had employed as special +detectives in his service.</p> + +<p>We went to the President's house together, early; and we stayed +around the neighborhood as long as we could stand the storm, in +hope of getting a sight of Claiborne and Capitola.</p> + +<p>The Colonel and I took our places in the line, to be presented +in our turn. I had some slight misgivings on the outcome of this +adventure, because I knew that Mr. Davis had frequently seen me +while in Montgomery with him, and I feared that the subsequent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +notoriety I had obtained from the Fort Pickens episode would have +served to have placed me in his mind. It will be remembered, too, +that the press all over the South, as well as the North, had fully +described my visit from Montgomery to Pensacola. So, it was with +something of a nervous quivering at the heart that I saw myself +being slowly advanced to the President. I watched his face closely +from my place in the line before I reached him, and saw him courteously +and smilingly take each one by the hand as he was presented.</p> + +<p>As I have said before, Mr. Davis' face was thin—his cheeks +somewhat sunken. His pictures do not properly represent his face, +as it was only when he smiled and spoke in his low, soft, gentle +manner, that he was so fascinating to those who knew him best.</p> + +<p>He was, of course, severe and unbending to his enemies, but he +was always the same to friends.</p> + +<p>The Colonel was ahead of me, and, as his name was mentioned, +he said to Mr. Davis, as he turned to me:</p> + +<p>"A couple of Maryland boys have come to pay their respects to +you, Mr. President."</p> + +<p>Mr. Davis held his hand for a moment, saying, pleasantly, to +the Colonel:</p> + +<p>"Why, I'm right glad to see you."</p> + +<p>At the same time he reached his other hand to me, and, for a +moment, he grasped us each with a hand saying, as he looked at +me with that one mighty bright eye:</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to see you both."</p> + +<p>We passed on, my heart fluttering terribly; but, once, in the +crowd again, I felt that I had passed another danger. We lingered +in the crowd for a short time; saw all who came and left in that time, +and not being able longer to stand the storm, while waiting for a +glimpse of Capitola, I turned away from the crowd into the darkness +of a stormy night and wandered out to camp, so much absorbed +in my own thoughts that I lost all care for my appearance—trudging +blindly along through the darkness into the mud and slush +until I reached camp, tired, where I quickly tumbled into the bunk +and was quickly lost to all consciousness of the day's doing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>ONE SUNDAY IN RICHMOND—JEFF DAVIS' AND GENERAL LEE'S +HOMES AND CHURCH—RECOGNIZED AT LIBBY PRISON—VISIT TO +TEXAS CAMP—A "DIFFICULTY" RENEWED—THRILLING EXPERIENCE—A +NIGHT IN RICHMOND WITH TEXAS BOYS.</h3> + + +<p>From the subsequent questionings of our people North about +how things looked in Richmond during the war, I gathered that +they all entertained erroneous impressions about the conditions of +affairs in that city at that time. I have been trying to describe +them from a Unionist's standpoint. Though it had been in a state +of siege at the time of which I write, and was apparently cut off +from the balance of the world for a year, yet there was absolutely +nothing in the general appearance of things in the streets to indicate +that the city suffered in the least from the blockade.</p> + +<p>It may be said that Richmond was very much like Washington +at the same period, the principal difference being that the soldiers +who thronged the streets and filled the saloons and houses of one +city were in a gray uniform, while those in the other wore a blue. +There was probably more of the blue boys loose in Washington than +of the gray in Richmond, because the Confederate officials and, particularly, +Provost-Marshal-General Winder, of Maryland, was able, +with the despotic power granted him by the War Office, to prevent a +great deal of straggling.</p> + +<p>The weather was now settled into the regular Virginia winter, +alternating into rain, snow, slush and sleet. Under these conditions +it was impossible for either army to move, and, as a consequence, the +city was soon filled full of officers from Manassas, who were on leave +from their command, or of soldiers on furlough, or straggling deserters. +No one will attempt to claim that the city at this time was +orderly; in fact, the oldest citizens are ready to assert, even now, +that, during the early winter months, the respectable portion of the +community were in truth besieged in their own houses. It was +scarcely safe for a lady to venture alone in certain portions of the +town during the daytime, while at night the straggling furloughed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +officers and soldiers, under such conditions, on the same equality, +had entire possession in the streets and certain parts of the city.</p> + +<p>There was apparently no scarcity of money—such as it was—and +there was not, that I can recall, any limit of the supply of +whisky and all the other little attachments that the soldiers either +in gray or in blue will have.</p> + +<p>Main street, 1886, looked to me very much as it did in 1861 and +1862, except, perhaps, that on the occasion of my last visit the city +presented to my eye somewhat the appearance of Sunday, in its +general orderly and quiet bearing, as compared with the noisy, +boisterous crowds that we saw on the streets daily in 1861 and 1862.</p> + +<p>Camp Lee was on that side of the city furthest from the Libby +Prison and <a name="rock" id="rock"></a><ins title="Original has Rocket's">Rockett's</ins> Wharf, and those places in the neighborhood of +which I had spent most of my time in the first days of my visit, +after recovering from my illness.</p> + +<p>I had neglected to visit my early friends, the guard at Libby +during these later days, because of the long distance of our camps +from them, and not that I had forgotten or lost interest in our prisoners +at Libby.</p> + +<p>One Sunday morning, the weather being rather more agreeable +than any we had enjoyed for some days previously, I obtained permission +and a pass from our Captain to go to the city early in the day +to attend church. The Captain pleasantly granted the request. +Some of the officers, who were near by when I asked the privilege of +attending church, facetiously recommended the Captain not to +refuse anything that would tend to improve the morals of his corporal +or clerk. I went off alone on foot, intending to make a visit +to the prisoners before I should return.</p> + +<p>Perhaps I may have been feeling a little bit homesick and disgusted +with Richmond on this Sunday morning, because on the +evening previous our beautiful Capitola had—to put it vulgarly—gone +back on me for our Lieutenant.</p> + +<p>I walked into the city via Franklin street, which is the aristocratic +residence street of Richmond. There are on this thoroughfare +some old Virginia homes and families that the city and State +may well be proud of. General Lee's family lived on this street in +a large, plain, double brick house, on the south side, one or two +blocks from the Capitol Grounds. The house is quite ordinary-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span>looking +as compared with that of some of the large private residences +in the neighborhood, but it will always remain to Southern +people one of the historic houses of their city, because it was here +on the street, on a Sunday morning after the surrender, that General +Lee, accompanied by a few members of his staff, rode up to his +door, dismounted from his war horse—Traveler—and, with a silent +wave of the hand, parted with his personal staff, entered his house +and closed the doors forever on his hopes of a Confederacy.</p> + +<p>It is not written what occurred behind the closed doors, but there +is gossip, which has, perhaps, been confirmed, that the staid, +reserved, dignified old General, once inside his own hall at his home, +completely broke down and fell to the floor, from which he was +carried to his bed by the servants and that part of his family who +were present.</p> + +<p>The home of General Lee is more sought out by tourists in +Richmond nowadays than is that of President Jeff Davis.</p> + +<p>A block below, or nearest the Capitol, and directly opposite the +grounds, stands St. Paul's Episcopal Church, in which both President +Davis and General Lee worshiped. On the Sunday morning +of which I am writing, in 1861, I took a position at the Fountain +Hotel, directly opposite the church, to await the arrival of President +Davis. There had been a good bit of talk about Mr. Davis' +intentions of joining this church. Though he was a regular attendant +during his early days in Richmond, it was not until some months +after—and, I think, during the day of which I write—that he was +formally baptized and confirmed into that church.</p> + +<p>I did not have to wait long for the appearance of Mr. Davis. He +came on to the steps so suddenly that I nearly missed seeing him. +He was alone, and dressed in his usual plain way—had walked up +from the direction of his office, when I had looked for him coming +down through the grounds from his house. He spoke pleasantly to +the few people whom he passed on his way, and disappeared inside +the church.</p> + +<p>Mr. Davis, whatever may be said of his public character, and a +great deal has been written against him by his own Southern people, +always impressed me at sight as being an agreeable, honest +gentleman. I was frequently close to him, and always felt his presence, +impressed with the feeling that he was having a great deal of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +serious trouble. I have often wondered if Mr. Davis ever entertained, +for a moment even, the thought or fear that his life was in +danger. I hope he may live long, and perhaps read the poor story +of the Yankee Spy, who dogged his very footsteps in Richmond +from after the battle of Bull Run until the winter following, and +prevented any attempt at invasion of the North.</p> + +<p>After the President had entered the Church, I lounged outside +while the great organ gave the beautiful Sunday morning an +impressive salute. When the tones had died away, feeling more +homesick and blue than ever, I started off on my walk down Main +street toward the Libby and the Warehouse prisons. As Libby is +in the lower end of the city pretty close to Rockett's Wharf, it was a +long walk, though it was Sunday, and the shops along the way were +open and dispensing refreshments to the crowds.</p> + +<p>My early Rebel friend was not on guard that morning, but some +of his friends said he would be around after dinner, so, under pretense +of waiting for him, I sat around in such shape that I could +get a good view of the "animals" as they called the prisoners.</p> + +<p>The tobacco warehouses in which the prisoners were confined +have been so often described that any attempt of mine would be +superfluous. It will be remembered, however, that, even before the +war, all these large barn-like buildings were constructed pretty +much after the form of our modern bonded warehouses. All the +windows were made with iron bars, presenting the appearance of +cages.</p> + +<p>Groups of our poor fellows were easily to be seen through the +bars, some of them having become pretty ragged; others were standing +by the windows peering through the bars; a few walked or +promenaded in pairs up and down the large barn-like floors. There +were always two sentries and an officer at the main door, while on +the pavement in front other sentries paced their silent beats, so +that it was impossible for me to have any communication with +them.</p> + +<p>I desired for a particular reason to ascertain the names of some +of the prisoners, and, if possible, to get the address of their friends +in the North, that I might test my mail communication, by sending +some word direct to them. Perhaps, for my own good, I was +not successful.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span></p> + +<p>I may be permitted to say here that, in case we had another +war, the benefit of the Signal Service Code will be made apparent +in this, that a silent communication may be carried on between +friends of the same side under just precisely such conditions as I +have described here.</p> + +<p>If there had been a prisoner inside the bars who had been familiar +with the Telegraph Code, as adapted to the motions of the hand, +I could have spelled out over the head of the guard, without his +knowledge, quite as rapidly as I can write it, messages that would +have been a relief and pleasure to the prisoners inside, if not otherwise +beneficial.</p> + +<p>It was while standing in front of the Warehouse Prison, on Main +street, thinking and planning over the possibilities in this direction, +looking intently, from where I stood on the inside of the pavement, +through the windows at the prisoners, that I felt a slap on my back +that caused me to jump like an india-rubber ball. The voice, which +was not a familiar one, said, loudly enough for even the prisoners to +hear, using my own, my right name:</p> + +<p>"Hello, Blank!"</p> + +<p>When I turned to see who had "struck" me, I am sure that I +presented a very flushed and, perhaps, angry face. I did not at once +recognize the person, probably because he was in a gray uniform, +but the smiling face of his companion, in the full black beard, I at +once recognized as Doctor ——, of San Marcos, Texas, whom I +had known familiarly as the young son of my uncle's neighbor.</p> + +<p>I saw that I was caught at last, as I fully believed, and determined +to make the most of my short time.</p> + +<p>The tall young fellow, who had first approached me, I was able +to recall, as the doctor mentioned his name and a visit we had +made together to his house.</p> + +<p>I was assured somewhat, and recovered from my surprise by the +doctor extending his hand, and in the most agreeable and hearty +manner, said:</p> + +<p>"Well, Blank, I'm damn glad to see you are on the right side."</p> + +<p>I hardly knew what to say to them, the surprise was so great, +but this remark served to bring me to my senses, and I replied in a +somewhat embarrassed manner, by asking what they were doing in +Richmond?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh! we are all here. Our regiment is encamped just out +here. We have been in town to church, but are going out to camp +now." Then taking my arm, familiarly, said: "Come along, the +boys will all be glad to see you?"</p> + +<p>Their invitation was so cordial, and I was being urged with such +earnestness to join them, that I could see at once that they did not +suspect my true character. It was evident that neither of them +had heard of my Fort Pickens affair.</p> + +<p>The one difficulty I saw before me in renewing this Texas +acquaintance was, that I should have to represent in Richmond two +different characters, under the two different names. I might be able +to keep up this dual character if the two crowds were distinct or separated, +but there was, of course, a great risk in this.</p> + +<p>I did not, under any circumstances, want to become known by +the name in Richmond by which I had been so widely published as +the Pensacola Spy. All the Rebel detective force, which was made +up principally of Baltimore police and detectives imported by General +Winder, had undoubtedly been furnished with instructions to +look after spies, and perhaps I had been specially honored by their +notice as being the first on record during the war.</p> + +<p>But I could not well resist the demand to accompany these two +Texas boys out to their camp; and when they suggested that I <i>must</i> +see my old friends from Texas, and seemed to take it as an affront +that I should hesitate, there seemed to be no way out of it—especially +as they had proposed furnishing me a horse to return to my +own camp in the evening.</p> + +<p>I reluctantly started to walk out to their camp, talking familiarly +and cordially on the way, as they did about their delight at +finding me on the "right" side. I could not entertain the thought +that these honest-hearted Texan youths, who had never before been +so far from home, were capable of any trick—they were sincerely +glad to see me. I felt instinctively that they were old friends and +neighbors of my Texas uncle, who did not suspect me of being a +Yankee Spy.</p> + +<p>The road to the camp of the Texans led in the direction of +Seven Pines (or Fair Oaks), where Johnston attacked <a name="mcclell" id="mcclell"></a><ins title="Original has McCellan's">McClellan's</ins> +left in the following May, and the camp itself was not far from that +point.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span></p> + +<p>As we tramped along a pleasant chat was kept up, and though I +was on the alert to hear if any suspicion attached to me for the +Fort Pickens matter, nothing was said to indicate that either one +had ever heard of the affair. They were, undoubtedly, sincere in +their cordiality, and only desired to gratify their companions in +camp with their success in having found one whom they all knew, +so far away from their Texas homes.</p> + +<p>In the talk, I gathered that one company in their regiment +came from the neighborhood in which my uncle lived, and was +composed principally of the very set of young fellows with whom I +had been associated there only the previous winter. They gave me +the names of a good many of the boys, and amused me with the +accounts of the journey they had made from Texas to Virginia in +search of the war. The fact of my having an uncle in the South +would of itself have been sufficient indorsement for my "loyalty" +with most of these fellows, but I recalled to myself that, while +amongst them in Texas, I had got into trouble several times by my +outspoken Northern sentiments during the Presidential campaign, +which was then going on. The doctor probably referred to this +when he congratulated me so heartily on having found me on the +right side.</p> + +<p>We finally reached the camp. I was marched up to the company +quarters, and was generally recognized by the boys, who were as +sincerely glad to see me as if I was just from their home. I was at +home among them—everything was all right there, and I enjoyed +renewing the friendship of a year previous. Among the boys was +one fellow, to whom I referred in the introduction of this story, as +having a difficulty with—the grandson of David Crockett, the hero of +the Alamo. Young Crockett, like most of his class, had been +taught to presume a little on the glory of his ancestors. This had +made him somewhat personally disagreeable to his associates; but +he kept away from me that day.</p> + +<p>I remained in camp until after dress parade. It was a regiment +of as fine a looking set of truly American men and boys as I have +ever seen in either army. Their war record, as the Texas Rangers, +will bear me out in this opinion. Their Colonel was afterward the +famous General John B. Hood.</p> + +<p>I was urged to stay for camp dinner. The boys, with whom I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> +had so often before been in camps in Texas, while "rounding up" +their stock, were all well up to the use of the camp-kettles and pots, +and, with the advantages of the city close by them, they were able +to get up in good style, first-class shape, one of the good old-style +Western Texas dinners. We were having a good time all around. +I was being urged to get a release from my Maryland Battery and +join the Texas Brigade.</p> + +<p>I saw that I could not very well keep up this dual character, +the very cordiality of these fellows would lead to their visiting me +up in the Maryland Battery, and, once there, things would become +badly mixed up. I would never be able to explain to these Maryland +fellows that I was in reality another fellow altogether, and it +would cause some confusion in the Texas camp to have to explain +the other way to my Texas friends.</p> + +<p>These thoughts, however, detracted but little from the pleasure +of my visit, for, as I felt that somehow or other I would get out of +the difficulty, I did not concern myself for a moment.</p> + +<p>It was a mistake to have accompanied the Texans to their camp. +It was, to say the least, when there, very indiscreet to place myself +on exhibition among the hundreds of other spectators who were +grouped in front of the Texas regiment while they were having +their Sunday dress parade.</p> + +<p>In the society of the earnest and cordial Texas acquaintances +whom I had found—or who had found me—I had wholly overlooked +the little circumstance that had occurred during the night +at the theater, when, it will be remembered, I had been pleasantly +approached after the dismissal by a couple of Confederates who +said they had met me in Texas the preceding winter. I was then +that evening in the company of the Colonel, who knew me only as +a Marylander, and by an entirely different name than that by which +the Texans addressed me, and it will be remembered that I then +declined to be recognized as ——, and had, perhaps, rather curtly +repelled their courteous advances.</p> + +<p>As I sat at camp dinner on an improvised bench in front of the +tent with my friends, with consternation I saw approaching me +the very chap whom I had snubbed in the vestibule of the theater. +The appearance of this tall fellow at the time, in his gray clothes, +had about such an effect on me at the dinner table in that company<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> +in broad daylight as a ghost might produce when alone somewhere +near midnight. He had his staring eyes fixed right on me. There +was no mistaking it.</p> + +<p>My dangerous predicament rushed to my mind at once. Luckily +for me, perhaps, we were all seated at the table, so the fellow +had politeness enough not to intrude himself upon the crowd, but +walked on past us keeping his eye searchingly, and I felt sternly, +fixed on me. I lost my appetite, which a moment previously was +ravenous, and, as soon as I could decently do so, meekly suggested +that, as I had a long way to go, I'd better leave them at once.</p> + +<p>"O, no; we are going to escort you back to your camp on a +horse, as we agreed to do."</p> + +<p>That was very kind, of course, but if there was any one thing +that I did not want to happen just then, was any farther attention +to be paid to their guest. I declined the proffered kindness with +so much earnestness that it might have had the effect of quieting +the matter had not one of the fellows observed:</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm going to town to-night anyway, and you can wait +awhile and ride that far."</p> + +<p>I have no doubt that the conversation between myself and the +Texas Confederates that evening (in the light of subsequent events), +would be interesting to any of them yet living who may see this +narrative, and if I were able to put it down here in detail it might +also be interesting to the ordinary reader.</p> + +<p>I remember all that occurred during the half hour that followed +the dinner hour. Could I forget that banquet?</p> + +<p>While my newly-found old friends were arranging among themselves +a programme to spend the evening in Richmond with me as +their guide, my searching glances detected that my tall theatre +acquaintance had gathered a group of half a dozen of his comrades +around himself, and, as I imagined, he was earnestly explaining to +them his experience with me at the theatre door.</p> + +<p>Of course, I must have imagined the worst; who would not have +done so under the same conditions? He probably did not suspect +my true character at all, and was, perhaps, only entertaining his +associates with an account of what he, no doubt, termed the shabby +treatment that I had accorded him, as compared with what he was +witnessing in my intercourse with the other boys. It had, how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span>ever, +another dangerous effect of calling the attention of a great +many of the regiment to their visiting comrade in gray—the Maryland +refugee—who was, by a stretch of the imagination, almost as far +from home as were the Texans, because, as they said, in their sympathetic +way, when speaking of their absence and distance from +home:</p> + +<p>"We can get home if we have occasion to go, but you cannot, +because, you live in a foreign country that's at war with us, you +know."</p> + +<p>While talking together, the doctor came up to the group of +which I was the center, and remarked in a half-quizzical way, his +face wearing a smiling expression:</p> + +<p>"Say, Blank, Jim Haws says he met you one night at the +theatre, and you wouldn't speak to him."</p> + +<p>Right here I made another mistake that day, by denying that I +had refused to speak to any one.</p> + +<p>"That's what I told him, but he swears that he and Bill Williams +both saw you there."</p> + +<p>I realized that I had again put my foot into it; but, I suppose, on +the principle that a lie well stuck to will answer for the truth, I +deliberately thrust myself deeper into the mire by insisting that +I had not met any one at the theatre. This was satisfactory to the +friends near me, who had become somewhat interested in the talk, +and it all might have passed off without any further questioning or +investigation if my former enemy, Davy Crockett, Jr., had not +meddled with the affair. He had, as it subsequently appeared, +been volunteering his sympathies and comments unfavorable to me +to the two comrades whose story of the "insult" at the theatre had +reached him. Of course, the motive that prompted young Crockett +was simply a desire to get even with me, for presuming to +promptly accept a challenge from him while in Texas to fight a duel.</p> + +<p>As I have said, the one thing that I most desired just at that +time was to get away from that crowd. If this intention had not +been so fixed in my mind, or if I had at all thought of being +delayed, perhaps I should have conducted myself with more discretion, +and not have committed the blunder of denying a matter that +would so soon and so surely react on me and endanger my life.</p> + +<p>When we were about ready to leave the camp, and as I was flat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span>tering +myself that once out of sight I should be out of mind, and +have another opportunity to get away, I was confronted by the +identical Jim Haws, who had brought to our part of the camp "a +few friends," among whom was Billy Williams. In a voice trembling +with suppressed rage, he said, looking savagely at me:</p> + +<p>"Didn't you see me at the theater the other night?"</p> + +<p>I have before stated, not with egotism, but as an explanation +for some of my statements, that it is or has been one of my good +points to always have been able to meet a sudden danger coolly, +while at the same time I confess that I would tremble with apprehension +and fear if I were anticipating or expecting the same danger.</p> + +<p>Looking him straight in the eye—for I was <i>riled</i> by his savage +manner—I answered, resentfully and boldly:</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether I did or not. I've seen so many fellows +like you around town that I've not minded them much."</p> + +<p>For the moment my defiant manner served to give me the advantage, +and the fellow was so badly stumped that he couldn't answer +at once, but turning to his friend and companion, Williams, whom +he had brought along as a witness to prove to the boys that he was +right in his assertion of my having insulted him, he said:</p> + +<p>"Bill, ain't he the fellow?"</p> + +<p>Whether it was a disposition on the part of Bill to prevent any +outbreak (a crowd was collecting), he mildly answered:</p> + +<p>"Well, it looks mighty much like him, but you know we might +be mistaken," and, turning to me, said, politely:</p> + +<p>"My friend felt sure you were the man we met that night, but, +as I had never seen you at home, and it was so dark and crowded +there, I can't be certain myself."</p> + +<p>At this stage, while I had become too much excited to talk coolly, +my friends stepped in and interfered in my behalf, and Bill and Jim +walked off with their friends, the latter muttering threats of vengeance.</p> + +<p>The little ruffle on the surface, which looked like a "difficulty" +on this quiet Sunday evening, created quite a commotion about the +quarters. All know how quickly a fight will gather a crowd in +camp, and how soon the officers become aware of it.</p> + +<p>The serious part of this threatened fight was in the fact, that it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> +served to call general attention to me individually—would bring to +the scene not only the officer of the day, but other officers of the +regiment, who had been attracted by the gathering crowd.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 390px;"> +<img src="images/i303.jpg" width="390" height="600" alt=""BILL, AIN'T HE THE FELLOW?"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"BILL, AIN'T HE THE FELLOW?"</span> +</div> + +<p>Explanations followed freely in our own crowd, to the effect that it +was a case of mistaken identity, which was generally accepted good-naturedly. +The fact that I was a visitor, and a friend of some of the +best men in the regiment, who were ready to vouch for me (as the +"Nephew of my Uncle")—had been inhospitably or ungenerously +treated by any of their men while a guest—had the effect on these +good, generous-hearted boys of completely turning the tide of feeling +to sympathy for me. In the general exchange of courtesies, +which resulted from the officers coming down to see us, it so happened +that I was introduced to a Captain Somebody, who, not hearing +distinctly, had asked for my name a second time, and on my +repeating it with some little pride on my uncle's account, he said, +turning to his companion, who was also an officer:</p> + +<p>"Why, isn't that the name of the Yankee Spy that was at Pensacola?"</p> + +<p>I have often, often thought, in the years that have since passed, +of that one terrible moment of my life. Here I was just emerging +from one difficulty, resulting from my dual character as a spy, +while I was in Richmond, and on the precipice of another greater +danger directly in my path. A single word improperly spoken at +that time would have condemned me to the scaffold in <i>less than</i> +twenty-four hours.</p> + +<p>I felt for the moment that the fates were against me and determined +to crush me at last. Realizing that the mere reöpening of +my difficulty with the Texas boys must now result in an investigation, +and that would lead in the one direction, only to the gallows, +I said nothing. Perhaps I was too much stunned for an instant to +speak; but I have often thought that my flushed face was misinterpreted +by those who must have seen it to indicate resentment at the +coupling of my name in such a way.</p> + +<p>My friend, the doctor, relieved my temporary embarrassment by +speaking up for me, saying, in a laughable way that seemed to +change the subject:</p> + +<p>"Come on, let us get away from here, or somebody will swear +they saw you some place else."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span></p> + +<p>Thus relieved, I quietly suggested to the Captain that I had +been wearing a gray uniform up in Virginia since I left Texas.</p> + +<p>I was again temporarily out of danger and breathed a little +freer, but became nervously anxious to get away, and hurried up +the boys who were to accompany me into town.</p> + +<p>While still talking to these officers, the younger one, to whom +the Captain had addressed the inquiry as to the name of the Pensacola +Spy, incidentally volunteered the information that their company, +which was a part of the regiment, had been organized about +Galveston in the early days of April and May, and, while waiting +for the enlistment of the regiment's full quota, they had been ordered +to New Orleans, and from thence were assigned to duty at Pensacola, +Florida, and <i>were actually there about the time</i> of my adventure +to Fort Pickens.</p> + +<p>I did not feel like pursuing the conversation much further in +that direction. I quickly changed the subject, so as to make an +impression on their minds that I had been in active service in Virginia +right along. This was not difficult, and I had the satisfaction +of seeing that my gray uniform had been of service again. It +saved my bacon that day, sure.</p> + +<p>It seemed, in my nervousness, that the boys would never get +ready to leave camp for town. When I learned the delay was caused +by some disappointment about securing enough horses for all who +wanted to go along, I urged with much earnestness that horses would +only be an encumbrance—that we could easily walk and have more +fun if not encumbered with their care. They abandoned them +reluctantly, as a Texan thinks he can not go a square without a +horse. We all started off at last, light-footed. There was not one +of that crowd of hearty boys who walked out of that camp in the +gloaming of that Sunday evening who suspected my true character. +My heart was heavy enough as I walked along with them, brooding +inwardly over the troubles which I saw must result from this Sunday +visit; but my feet were light, and I verily believe that I could +have double-quicked it all night in almost any direction that would +lead me away from there.</p> + +<p>I dared not take any of these boys to our Maryland Battery and +introduce them to my friends there, who knew me as a different person. +They were, for this time, only expecting to put in a night<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +sky-larking in Richmond, but I knew very well the time would come—very +soon, too—when I must expect a return visit from them. I +realized, too, that in the meantime my old enemy, Davy Crockett, +would keep stirring up the two boys who had been only temporarily +put down; and if the Captain could hear of their story, and be made +to believe that I was playing double with them, it would surely +awaken his Pensacola recollections and direct his attention to me. +So I did not want to see anybody from Texas any more.</p> + +<p>In attempting two different characters on the one day, in Richmond, +I ran a foolish risk, and had probably stirred up an investigation +that would be fatal to me. This was about the situation of +affairs on this Sunday evening, when I was actually reckless enough +to risk again mixing myself up, by acting as a guide or cicerone to +a party of Rebel soldiers about their own Capital at night for fun. +Notwithstanding the previous encounters, I enjoyed the night off +fully as much as any of the boys of the crowd.</p> + +<p>I was somewhat heavy-hearted when we first left the Texas +camp, but the hearty, joyous, unsuspecting behavior of the crowd +had the effect of reassuring me, as it were; and seeing that they, at +least, would stand by me in their own camp, I entered with them +into the spirit of the fun in such a way that I am surprised at +myself when I think of it now.</p> + +<p>We walked into town over what is known as Church Hill, above +Rockett's, on the road leading out to Seven Pines and Fair Oaks.</p> + +<p>It was about dark when we reached the colored settlement in +the outskirts, and, as we began the descent of the long hill (the +same on which the colored troops first entered Richmond in 1865), +we heard the church bells of the city. There is, in many souls +like my own, a sympathy with sounds of this character. In +our crowd was the doctor, an educated as well as a polished gentleman +and scholar. When the tones reached his ear he stopped, +lifted his hat reverently as he stood on the sidewalk, and recited in +a manner that so impressed me that I shall never forget these +words:</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Hist! When the church bell chime,<br /> +'Tis Angels music."<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>Some of the boys, inclined to poke fun at the doctor's serious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span>ness, +to which, in his absent-minded, thoughtful way, he responded: +"Have you never been where bells have tolled to church?"</p> + +<p>He continued in this serious strain, while the jangle of the bells +lasted; and as he and I were walking side by side, he kept pouring +into my ear the beautiful thoughts about church bells, home, and +all its attendant happiness, that I began to feel quite homesick.</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Those evening bells, those evening bells,<br /> +How many a tale their music tells<br /> +Of youth, and home, and that sweet time,<br /> +When last I heard their soothing chime."<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>The doctor suggested that we all go to church, but seeing that +his recommendation did not meet with a very eager second, he +amended it by adding the word "first," observing by way of +explanation, that it would be a good way to put in the time for +awhile. There were objections: one said he was an Episcopalian—their +church did not have services at night; he was supported in +this evasion by another who declared he was a Catholic. The doctor, +appealing to me, asked if I were not an Episcopalian, too; I assented +to it, when he mildly observed:</p> + +<p>"I thought so; you and the other Episcopalian swear and lie +alike so superbly."</p> + +<p>Of course the boys wanted to get into some of the "society" of +Richmond, and, as I had been there during the winter season, they +expected me to introduce them.</p> + +<p>I had entertained them about my experiences, which naturally +aroused their curiosity, and excited their interest to learn more, +and, perhaps, they desired to participate a little in the social enjoyments.</p> + +<p>There was a great deal of society in Richmond in the winter of +1861, as I have said heretofore—people of all classes and all kinds +were there in throngs, from every portion of the South, principally +New Orleans, Baltimore, and other large cities. To my mind, +unsophisticated as I was, there was but one—the beautiful little +brunette, our Capitola—the Maryland slave.</p> + +<p>I had talked to these fellows about Capitola so much that I was +urged in the most seductive way to permit them to make her +acquaintance, on my account. That sort of talk was all very nice,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> +but it didn't have exactly the desired effect. I'd been fooled that +way once before, twice before by being inveigled into introducing the +Mississippi Lieutenant, who was anxious to see her on my account, +and also who had cut me out entirely, on his own account. I didn't +tell the Texas fellows this part of the story, though.</p> + +<p>A spy who allows himself to get mixed up with a lady in his +work, and loses his heart and parts with his judgment, is worse, +decidedly worse, than one who loses his head with drink.</p> + +<p>Personally, I wanted very much to call on Capitola, and would +have been delighted with the excuse that was offered to present my +friends, but for the fact that she knew me only as Mr. B——, while +my friends called me Mr. A——.</p> + +<p>In my eagerness to meet with her again, as I felt that now I +must leave town, I was willing to take some risk. It was explained +to the boys that I had assumed a fictitious name in my intercourse +with Capitola, and, after giving them the blind, it was arranged that +I should first see our enslaved beauty alone, and obtain her consent +to present the Texans at her court that evening.</p> + +<p>A soldier will risk a good deal for the sake of meeting his girl, as +we all know. It was with the earnest desire to accomplish the +purpose of seeing my girl—just once more—to say "Good-by" +forever, that I was willing to meet another danger.</p> + +<p>I saw Capitola alone, and nervously explained that a few of my +Texan acquaintances, who had heard so much of her beauty and +accomplishments, were clamorous for an opportunity to kneel at the +feet of "Maryland." I did not attempt to say a word for myself, +because it was understood that, since the Mississippi Lieutenant had +been paying his addresses to her, we were, all of us, entirely out of +the question. This disagreeable fact did not, however, prevent the +handsome girl from entertaining me in a heartily cordial manner +during my preliminary visit that evening in the interest of the other +boys.</p> + +<p>I could not say "Good-by," because, don't you see, I dare not tell +anybody—not even my best girl—that I must go away; so I was +denied even the poor satisfaction of a farewell with Capitola.</p> + +<p>I do not remember whether I have said so before in this narrative, +but, at the risk of a repetition, I will write down here what I +believe to have been the truth—that Capitola was attracted more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> +by the Mississippi Lieutenant's uniform and position than by his +superior personal appearance. That she became convinced that the +blue-eyed and light-haired Maryland Corporal of Artillery was the +most devoted of her lovers, if not as handsome as many others, I +have every reason to know.</p> + +<p>It was pleasantly agreed that I should introduce to her my Texas +friends. She, in her fascinating manner, considerately proposed to +have with her one or two lady friends as her companions, who would +help to pleasantly entertain my friends, the Texans, who were as +she expressed it, "Thousands of miles from their homes."</p> + +<p>While all these fascinating interviews were being held, I, like a +love-sick boy, became wholly indifferent to the dangers and complications +which I was rapidly bringing about myself.</p> + +<p>I subsequently escorted my three friends around to Capitola's residence +on —— street—I can not give the name of the street. I know +the location very well, however, from frequent visits. It was popularly +known among us as "Poplar Grove," as it is the custom in +Virginia to give names to residences. This was given to Capitola's +house, because one solitary and sickly Poplar shade tree stood +before it.</p> + +<p>That we were pleasantly and cordially received by Capitola, goes +without saying. She had, with bewitching taste and consideration, +dressed herself for the occasion in her "Maryland, my Maryland," +robes, as nearly as she consistently could, and, of course, she looked +to my eye more beautiful than ever. Not to my eye alone, either, +as I saw at once that our boys were most favorably impressed, not +only with her appearance, but by the ease and cordiality of her manner, +which served, in some mysterious way, to make everybody feel +so much at home in her presence.</p> + +<p>The doctor was particularly pleased—of all our crowd the most affable +and gentlemanly and winning in conversation, being able to sustain +himself creditably in any company, he was, of course, very soon at +home, as we all found out to our sorrow. With him it was apparently +a case of love at first sight—at least he tried to make Capitola +think so. As I was out of the field myself, it was something of a +gratification to me to see a prospect of some one of my friends being +able to shove Lieutenant Claiborne off the stool. Some such thought +as this was in my mind when, to my utter consternation, a black ser<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span>vant +announced to Capitola that "Lieutenant Claiborne was at the +door."</p> + +<p>Jumping to my feet and rushing across the room to where Capitola +was seated with the doctor, I begged her so earnestly not to +admit Lieutenant Claiborne that I suppose I made myself ridiculous. +She misunderstood my motive; but, with her quiet tact, she +said to me, laughingly:</p> + +<p>"Why, of course. I will arrange that your company shall not +be interrupted."</p> + +<p>She passed out to the hallway closing the door after her, +while she held a consultation with some one, whom I knew to be my +Lieutenant. If he had come into the room just then introductions +would have ensued, and, of course, explanations must have followed; +and, as I have so often said in these sketches, if there was +any one thing that I desired to avoid more than another, it was any +necessity for "explanations."</p> + +<p>Capitola returned to the room, laughing heartily as the outside +door closed with a bang, and saying to the doctor and the rest of us, +as we rose to go: "Oh, no! seat yourselves and be at home here +this evening."</p> + +<p>There was not a word of reference to the visitor on her part +until, in my eagerness, I found an opportunity to ask quietly if she +had told Claiborne who we were.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes; I merely told him some of your friends had called +by a previously arranged agreement to spend the evening."</p> + +<p>"What did he say?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all, except that he would call later, and when I +said that you would probably remain all the evening, he left me in +a towering rage."</p> + +<p>Then she added, laughing heartily as she spoke:</p> + +<p>"Didn't you hear him slam the door?"</p> + +<p>I was safe for a little while longer, and, without caring +what the next hour would develop, we proceeded to enjoy ourselves +as freely as if we had nothing else to do, and not a fear to +trouble us.</p> + +<p>How long we remained with Capitola and her one friend is not +material. When we were ready to leave this pleasant society, it +was discovered by some one that it was then too late to get home to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> +camp, unless by running the gauntlet of the city guard and patrol, +who lifted everybody's pass after a certain hour.</p> + +<p>This annoyance was fully compensated for by the sympathy +which the ladies expressed for us. When we were, after a good +many failures, at last ready to say a final "Good-night," all were +made happy by pressing invitations to call again.</p> + +<p>I noticed then, and have not forgotten in these twenty-five years, +that the doctor was the last to say "Good-night" to Capitola; that he +held her hand in his while he whispered, as he spoke in a low tone, +some words that we did not hear, which seemed to amuse her +immensely, as she only laughed in reply.</p> + +<p>My acquaintance with the city streets and the haunts of the +patrol at night enabled me to steer the party safely up to my old +hotel on the Square, where we engaged one room and two beds. The +quartette went to bed, but not to sleep. The doctor raved like a mad +man about his agreeable evening in my company, and as his talk +was altogether on the subject uppermost in my mind and heart, I +enjoyed it as much as he did. We occupied the same bed, and +before sleeping I detailed to him the whole story of Capitola, Claiborne +and myself, without giving myself away.</p> + +<p>I saw there was going to be trouble between the Doctor from +Texas and the Lieutenant from Mississippi, on account of my Maryland +girl; just where <i>I</i> was to appear, or where I was to come out +of this affair, did not concern me so much as the hope that, somehow +or other, when these two would get to quarreling over Capitola, +that it would result in neither of them obtaining her, and the +end would come about—like it should in all good stories—that I +would yet march into Richmond some day in a Federal officer's uniform +and claim her by reason of my devotion, and convince her +that I was as plucky as any of the Southern men, worthy of a Federal +officer's uniform, and of her love, etc., etc.</p> + +<p>In the morning, after a hasty breakfast at the hotel, I escorted +the boys down to Jeff Davis' office, in hopes that we might get a +chance to see him come down through the square.</p> + +<p>We were disappointed in this, as he had gotten in before we +arrived. My companions were interested in having me point out +to them some objects and persons of interest about the Capital, but +the day was cold and dreary, compelling us to separate early.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Texans were accustomed to the snow and slush of a Virginia +winter, which interfered so much with their enjoyment that day.</p> + +<p>I was the least bit uncertain about my status with our old Captain, +as I had overstayed my leave all night, especially as I knew +that Claiborne would be sure to let him know that I was in the city +that night.</p> + +<p>With the return of blue Monday morning, while out of sight of +Capitola and away from the Texas boys, my small supply of common +sense began to assert itself, and I saw that I was not only standing +on a scaffold but the rope was about my neck. That something +must be done at once was evident to the dullest sense. While pondering +over what must be done, what might be the best course to pursue, +having made up my mind not to return to the company at all, +but to add desertion of the Rebel cause to the probable charges and +specifications against me, by making a desperate effort to get North +that night, I was hailed on the street by the Captain himself, +who inquired rather savagely:</p> + +<p>"Where in hell have you been?"</p> + +<p>He interrupted my explanations abruptly by saying:</p> + +<p>"We have orders to march, and all hands are getting ready; +you go right out and pack up the papers."</p> + +<p>This was news—good news, I thought—and, saying as much to +the Captain, I ventured to ask if we were to go to Manassas.</p> + +<p>"No, no; there is enough up there doing nothing; we are to go +down to hunt for those damned Tennessee Unionists that are burning +bridges."</p> + +<p>This wasn't so satisfactory, but I was glad to hear that we were to +leave Richmond <i>at once</i>, and I hastened to Camp Lee. Here I found +everybody packing up, everything was in commotion, and I entered +with zest into the preparation to leave Camp Lee.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Claiborne and one section of the battery were to +remain in Richmond.</p> + +<p>It appears that a sudden demand had been made on the Rebel +War Department for troops to protect the railroad bridges in East +Tennessee, and as our old Captain happened to be on good terms +with the Secretary, he volunteered his company for this service, +temporarily, as the Government seemed unable to supply them with +guns to take to the field at Manassas.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span></p> + +<p>So it happened that, on the evening of the same day, in company +with the Colonel and Lanyard, we carried our bundle down street, +stopped a moment at the familiar old restaurant to taste apple-jack +once more, and, without an opportunity to say "Good-by" to Capitola, +we spent the night on the railroad train, reaching some town +for an early breakfast.</p> + +<p>I had taken the precaution to drop in to see Colonel Jones, who +had oversight of the mail service to the North as well as the general +exchange of prisoners, and left with him a brief cipher dispatch +for my friends North, explaining my change of base from Richmond; +also, a note to some Texas friends, telling them our +command had been ordered to <i>Manassas</i>, and expressing a hope to +meet them there soon. I had been careful enough not to designate +the battery explicitly or to name the officers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>MARYLAND "REFUGEES"—COERCING INTO THE UNION EAST +TENNESSEE "REFUGEES"—PARSON BROWNLOW INTERVIEWED—A +HAPPY EXPERIENCE WITH MAGGIE CRAIG—THE BATTLE +OF MILL SPRING—FIRST UNION VICTORY AS SEEN FROM +INSIDE THE REBEL ARMY.</h3> + + +<p>I reluctantly take the reader away from the Rebel Capital and +its attractions. I was leaving Richmond at least, somewhat against +my own inclination.</p> + +<p>While lying curled up in a seat in the old emigrant car, that was +being used to transport the troops, sleeping, and, perhaps, dreaming +of "the girl I left behind me," I was roughly awakened by a +sharp bump on the end of our train that sent me bouncing off the +seat against the back of the one in front. When I hurriedly +picked myself up and looked around me wildly, I realized that +something had happened; and, as everybody else seemed to be +rushing to the doors and windows, I made a reckless break in the +same direction, but before I could get into the aisle of the car the +floor of our car in the vicinity of where I was standing seemed to +rise up suddenly. In the same instant I found that something had +caught me by the left leg near my knee, which held me as in a vise. +In my desperate struggles to extricate myself, I threw myself violently +backward, my head striking the iron corner of an adjoining +seat. I succeeded in breaking loose, but only after the car had +come to a stop, and the danger was all past.</p> + +<p>It was only a run-off, that caused the truck under our car to +turn and twist itself upside down in such a way as to force part of +the woodwork through the floor, resulting in squeezing my leg +against the seat, so that it cut deeply into the flesh and left a mark big +enough to entitle me to a pension—when the Rebel soldiers get their +turn.</p> + +<p>This happened near a little town located close upon the Virginia +and East Tennessee line, named I think, Abington. We laid off +there to repair damages—to the railroad. None of us were hurt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> +seriously enough to require more than a patching up, which our private +surgeon was competent to do. The accident, however, gave +me an opportunity to meet, for the first time in many months, something +that was pretty scarce in the Eastern part of Virginia at that +time, namely—an outspoken Union man, who was also a native of +Virginia.</p> + +<p>When we learned that we should be delayed there until a couple +of cars could be brought out to replace the broken ones, the Colonel +and I concluded to strike out for ourselves, in search of some +warm meals and perhaps a bed. With his assistance I limped along +to a house standing some distance from the railroad track, where +we applied for entertainment, offering pay for the same.</p> + +<p>A tall, lank man met us pleasantly at his gate, and to our proposition +he replied in a cordial, though dignified, manner so foreign +to his appearance and surroundings that I was surprised.</p> + +<p>"If you young gentlemen will step inside my house, my wife, no +doubt, will be pleased to entertain you."</p> + +<p>Inside the large, old-fashioned country house, such as I had seen +more frequently in Pennsylvania than in Virginia, we were introduced +to "Mother," as a couple of young gentlemen who had been +belated by the railroad mishap, and desired some warm food.</p> + +<p>I had been a soldier long enough then to understand, in a vague +sort of a way, that the term "gentleman" was not properly applied to +common soldiers, though we endeavored, by our conduct, to merit +the title at this time. It was my zealous Rebel friend, the Colonel, +who got into an argument with our host over the war question.</p> + +<p>It was brought about by something that was said during the +natural inquiries that follow such meetings as to where we came +from, etc., when the Colonel rather boastfully, perhaps, informed +him that we were a band of exiles from Maryland. We had enjoyed +so much homage on this score while in Richmond that it had become +a second nature to us to expect it as a matter of course from all +quarters, and when this West Virginia gentleman rather quizzingly +observed:</p> + +<p>"Well, now, Mother, isn't this remarkable. Here are some +Maryland secessionists being sent away down here to Tennessee to +punish and coerce Unionists?"</p> + +<p>It seems that this Unionist, who lived in what is now West Vir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span>ginia, +was a member of the State Legislature, and who was also a +citizen of some prominence, highly esteemed, and looked upon as +one of the leaders of this band of Unionists that devotedly remained +steadfastly loyal throughout the war.</p> + +<p>The general tenor of the conversation had the effect of reviving +my interest, and served to stir anew my zeal for the cause. It also gave +me a wonderful appetite for the old-fashioned, home-like meal that the +good mother had been preparing for us, while the other fellows were +talking. That I enjoyed the good, warm supper more than the +Colonel, was evident to all the household, because he had permitted +the talk to raise his choler so that he was scarcely in a suitable frame +of mind to appreciate the kind attention of the lady.</p> + +<p>They declined our proffered pay for the entertainment, which +had so generously been furnished. As we were about to leave, and +while the Colonel and the host were yet predicting, each in his own +way, all sorts of terrible dangers, I could not resist the temptation, +while saying "Good-by" to the old lady, to quietly whisper to her that +I was heartily glad to have met with a Union family; that I was +reminded of home very much by the visit, and I would soon be +home, too. She was so surprised at my manner that she wasn't +able to answer.</p> + +<p>What the Colonel got from the old man as a parting salute I +don't know, only that it made him very cross and had the disagreeable +effect of causing him to want to walk back to the train faster +than I was able to keep up in my crippled condition.</p> + +<p>We passed through Greenville, in East Tennessee, which was +pointed out to us as the home of Senator Andy Johnson, of Tennessee. +I should have liked to stop over here to have visited the +residence and met some of the friends of Senator Johnson, who had +been so much interested in my Southern experiences, but our train +only remained a little while. We moved along slowly enough, stopping +at what I thought must be every side-track on the road, to meet +some trains that were due from the opposite direction, but which +seemed never to come.</p> + +<p>The burning of several of the bridges by Unionists, or those +who were charged with being Unionists, had put the railroad people +all out of their regular reckoning, causing this general delay of the +trains.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span></p> + +<p>By reason of my rather close official and personal relations with +the Captain of our company, I was enabled by some quiet questioning +to learn from him in advance of the rest of the boys that our +destination was Knoxville, Tennessee, or, as he termed it in the +military phrases that we learned to use so aptly, "Knoxville was to +be our base of operations, but our objective point was probably +Cumberland Gap, that being the nearest point of probable contact +with the enemy."</p> + +<p>I was very glad to learn that there was to be something that +looked like a contact, because, now that I had left Richmond and +Virginia, my entire purpose and aim was to get back home as quickly +as possible, and they couldn't "advance on the enemy" any too +quickly for me. In thus coming down to Tennessee to get to Washington, +the old saying was realized in my case, that "The nearest +way home often leads the farthest way round."</p> + +<p>We reached Knoxville on a cold, cheerless day. A crowd of Yankee +troops could not have met with a more chilling reception in any +town in the South than was accorded to the Maryland Refugee's +Rebel Battery—both by the people and the weather.</p> + +<p>I had become rather accustomed, like the rest of the Maryland +fellows, to expect complimentary observations on our self-sacrificing +spirit, in exiling ourselves from our homes for the good of the +Southern cause. We didn't get any of this sort of taffy in East +Tennessee. I thought I was the only man in the crowd who felt +like resenting this "outrageous treatment," as they all felt it to be; +but, as will be seen hereafter, there were others besides myself in this +battery of Maryland refugees who secretly enjoyed the discomfiture +of our officers and men at the hands of the Tennessee Unionists.</p> + +<p>To me it was most refreshing to meet with an outspoken +Union man. Of course, they were—at this time—somewhat careful +in their expressions of dissent to the Southern cause, but we all +understood, in a general way, that those who were not outspoken in +their sentiments for the South were opposed to secession and the +war, and as the outspoken element was just then mighty scarce, the +inference was that the majority was against us.</p> + +<p>Quarters had been provided for our crowd in what must have +been a deserted old mansion house, which was situated—as nearly +as I can remember—on a road near the outskirts of the town. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> +think it was the Swan House. If the house is still there, I am sure +I will find it when I go down there to revisit and renew some old +but not forgotten friendships, and, perhaps, may be able to practice +some amateur photography on it and some of the "scenes" which +are related in this chapter, that I may supply some friendly reader +hereafter.</p> + +<p>On account of the accident up the road, which had bruised me up +so that I was becoming quite lame and helpless, it was arranged that +I should find a private house in which to live until I could sufficiently +recuperate to stand the travel on horseback.</p> + +<p>It is likely that I was indebted to my constant friend's (the Colonel) +consideration for securing me comfortable quarters in the +home of a refined family, who lived in that section of the town +known, I think, as East Knoxville. The name was Craig. I am +giving the correct names here, because I am desirous, even at this +late date, of acknowledging an indebtedness to this family for their +many kindnesses to me, as well, also, that I may explain to them and +the other residents of that city some of my actions that, at the +time, must have been bewildering in the light they then had. If +they have thought of me at all since I was their guest in 1861, the +lapse of twenty-five years has not served to further enlighten them, +and will be, at least, a gratification to them as well as to myself.</p> + +<p>Mr. Craig was an official at the County Court House, located in +the other end of the town—I think either the Prothonotory or +County Clerk. He was rather an old gentleman at that time and +is scarcely living now, but his family of accomplished daughters, +who were then at home, if living, will no doubt recall their soldier +guest of 1861.</p> + +<p>Mine host was one of those old-fashioned gentlemen, who was +able to entertain a visitor handsomely without asking questions; it +was understood that he was or, at least, had been a Union man. On +this important question, at that time, he was the most agreeably non-committal +man in his own house of any person I have ever met. +The wife and mother, like the father, was all attention and kindness +to the needs of the poor soldiers, never stopping a moment to +inquire whether they were of the North or the South.</p> + +<p>There was a daughter, Mary, who was decidedly and emphatically +a warm-hearted "Female Rebel." An elder sister, Miss Mag<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span>gie, +whom I will only attempt to describe as a most amiable, sweet +girl, with dark, wavy, auburn hair, was the Union girl of the family; +though not as outspoken or decided in her way of expressing herself, +she was, nevertheless, settled in her conviction that the Government +was right and that slavery was wrong; and she put it, +at the time, in a way that was comforting to me:</p> + +<p>"It's not right; slavery is a sin and an evil, and it will not be +permitted to exist."</p> + +<p>Of course, Miss Maggie became a favorite with me during the +week or two that I remained confined to the house by the bruises +which had been so aggravated by the cold and neglect into something +that threatened serious results. She was the good angel of +the family, and attended to my every need as if I were an only +brother returned from the war to receive her nursing and tender +care.</p> + +<p>There was also a younger sister, Laura, perhaps about twelve or +fourteen years old, the little beauty of the family, with dark eyes +and long, curling hair, whose political sentiments, sweetly and disdainfully +expressed, agreed with those of the Rebel sister. All of +the family were, however, kind and good, and, in the almost constant +discussion of the merits of the two sides, not an unkind or +harsh word was spoken of either.</p> + +<p>At every meal-time the old gentleman reverently asked a blessing +over the table, and usually lengthened it into prayers for both sides.</p> + +<p>Around the corner from Mr. Craig's house, on a lot that almost +joined the Craig property, in the rear, was the house of Parson +Brownlow. At the time of which I am writing Mr. Brownlow was +achieving national reputation by his bold and defiant stand against +the Southern leaders, and his outspoken, belligerent Union sentiments +had gotten him into all sorts of trouble with Jeff Davis' Government.</p> + +<p>I had heard of Parson Brownlow all my life, having been raised +in a Methodist family. Before the war I had been much interested +in his denominational discussions with the Baptists of Tennessee, +the accounts of which were printed at the time.</p> + +<p>The Craig family were, I think, Baptists, and probably on this +account they were, as Miss Craig politely put it, "Neighborly, but +not intimate," with the Brownlow family.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span></p> + +<p>It seemed as if the family had always been in hot water. There +was a son, who had either killed somebody or been killed himself. +Another boy was around stirring things up in a way that made the +old town lively. The old gentleman owned and edited a paper—the +Knoxville <i>Whig</i>—that circulated pretty much everywhere, and +served to stir people and things up, not only in East Tennessee, but +all over the country.</p> + +<p>At the time of which I am writing, the parson had been arrested, +by order of the Rebel Government, for his outspoken Union sentiments, +and was a prisoner in his own house.</p> + +<p>I thought at the time of my visit that, personally, Mr. Brownlow +and his family did not seem to receive much sympathy from his +immediate neighbors, though politically the town was in full accord +with his sentiments.</p> + +<p>The members of the family were, however, quite able to take +care of themselves. They seemed to be entirely indifferent as to +the opinions on the propriety of their course that other people +might entertain.</p> + +<p>Mr. Brownlow himself was a rather tall, gaunt, smooth-faced +old gentleman; just such an appearance as one would expect to find +in the pioneer backwoods Methodist preacher of the Peter Cartwright +stamp.</p> + +<p>His smooth face, which was strongly marked, was rather expressionless, +reminding one somewhat of an Indian. The cheek-bones +were prominent, and his under lips protruded, which, with his +touseled hair, gave him something of a belligerent air.</p> + +<p>I saw him frequently, and it always seemed to me as if his broad +lower jaw snapped open and shut when he spoke, something like an +automatic machine that one sees the ventriloquists working on the +stage. On my youthful and inquisitive mind, at the time, was created +the impression that he never spoke at all except to "jaw" +somebody or something. I'm not attempting a criticism of Parson +Brownlow. Everybody knows that every time he opened his mouth +he said something, and that his words to-day are quoted all over the +land. It was his abrupt manner that seemed so odd and harsh to +me, when compared with the mild, courteously-spoken words of the +official and Unionist, Mr. Craig, my host—the two persons being so +closely associated in my mind and observation daily.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span></p> + +<p>The home of Parson Brownlow was one of the plain, old-time +structures that are to be met with by the hundred in every town of +like size and character as Knoxville. It was situated in what would +be called a back street; it was not so pretentious, but probably fully +as comfortable as some of the houses on the front streets.</p> + +<p>Of course, there was a porch in front of the house extending +over each side of the front door. The only difference in the style of +architecture in this particular porch from all the others was, that +on account of its abutting too closely on the pavement, or slab-stone +walk, the steps led down from each side of the porch into the little +front yard instead of straight in front on to the pavement.</p> + +<p>At the time of my visit there was another ornament or decoration +to the Parson's front door-steps that was not to be seen on the +other houses, in the form of living statuary, representing Confederate +soldiers in gray uniforms, and with loaded muskets in their +hands, who were on guard as sentries over the person of the Parson, +who was then a State prisoner.</p> + +<p>He was subsequently removed to jail and compelled to live in a +damp disagreeable pen, that had been used for years as the slave-cage +for runaway niggers. This was rough, but it's true, as I can +testify.</p> + +<p>One reason, perhaps, for his removal to the jail has not been +given by himself or his friends. As I have said, the Brownlows +were a peculiar people—"devilish peculiar," in fact.</p> + +<p>While we can all admire the pluck and spirit of the family, +which resented the presence of armed Rebel soldiers on their own +door step—their castle—one can not help but feel that a little discretion, +mixed up with their abundant spirit, would have brought +out more satisfactory results.</p> + +<p>The Parson's combativeness must have been in the blood of the +family, as it was not confined to himself and his sons, but was exhibited +while I was there, in a striking manner, by one of his daughters. +For some fancied or real offense on the part of one of the +guards, who was stationed at her father's door with a loaded gun +in his hands, Miss Brownlow, after deliberately giving the soldier +and his officer "a piece of her mind," coolly walked up to the +guard and vigorously and repeatedly slapped him in the face, and +kept up her attack until the man actually backed down off the side<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +of the porch, while the officer of the guard, who was with him, +hastily scrambled down on the other side, leaving her in possession +of the entrance to the castle.</p> + +<p>The incident had a widespread notoriety at the time, when the +facts reached the North; the affair was widely published throughout +the country with many exaggerations. I did not witness this +affair, but gathered from the Misses Craig and others what is probably +the true story.</p> + +<p>My confinement to the house of my good friends, the Craigs, +though sick and sometimes suffering, was made to me the most +agreeable two weeks of my trip South, all through the kind care and +attention of the family. Miss Maggie and myself seemed to be +nearest in accord in our sentiments, not only of the war, but maybe +of love and peace and, through her pleasant friendship, I was +enabled to lose, in a manner, some of my interest in the far-away +Capitola.</p> + +<p>By the exercise of some diplomacy, necessitating a good deal of +talking and some shameful lying to a young and innocent girl, I +induced Miss Maggie and her sister to take me down to the Brownlow +house, as a visitor who was desirous of meeting the now celebrated +family.</p> + +<p>I did not dare to intimate to Miss Maggie that I sympathized +deeply with the cause of the Brownlows; in fact, I never admitted +to a living soul, not one—not even after my return from my trips—the +true character and purpose of the undertaking. An elder sister, +having some doubts about the Brownlows' probable reception of +a visitor in a gray blouse uniform, thought it advisable to arrange +the matter beforehand, and sent the little girl around to the house +one day with a polite note, stating that a Maryland soldier desired +the pleasure of their acquaintance.</p> + +<p>The mother looked with some disfavor on the proceeding, but, +of course, Maggie and I accomplished our purpose, and the note was +returned with a verbal answer to "Come ahead." This was not +exactly as encouraging a response as we had hoped for, but, after a +little fun from the mother and older sister over our probable reception, +they arranged among themselves for a short call during the +afternoon.</p> + +<p>I was gathering information; and, feeling secure through my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> +supposed sympathy with Mr. Brownlow, I had not the least hesitancy +about meeting him personally; I did not consider the family +failings at all. I knew, too, that I should soon leave there for home—my +mind was already settled on that—and I could travel now without +the fear of meeting any persons who had known me at <a name="manas4" id="manas4"></a><ins title="Original has Manasses">Manassas</ins>, +Richmond, or Pensacola. My plans were to reach the Union lines +at the nearest point, which was then Cumberland Gap.</p> + +<p>As I have tried to explain, the Brownlows' residence was just +around the corner, so that it was like a neighborly "run in for a +little while" for the Misses Craig to escort their guest around to +their house that afternoon.</p> + +<p>The Parson being a prisoner in his own house, his guard was +under strict orders not to permit any communication between the +imprisoned, fighting preacher and his Union friends.</p> + +<p>To make this military order thoroughly effective, the officer of +the guard had found that it was necessary to make it general, so as +to exclude everybody, as it was well seen that the population were +almost unanimously loyal, the visitors to the Brownlow family were +most likely to be enemies to the Rebel Government, or, at least, +Unionist suspects.</p> + +<p>When we reached the door, where we encountered the guard, +Miss Craig left to me the task of overcoming the obstruction of a +loaded musket in the hands of a soldier in gray. I am not sure +whether it was the shameful lies I told the guard, the gray uniform +I was wearing, or the pleasant, smiling face of my companion that +had the effect of inducing the man in charge so suddenly to change, +yield and admit us into the house without question. But I have +always inclined to the belief that the influence was the large, +imploring, brown eyes of my lady companion, which were brought to +bear on the guard. I remember that we had some talk after the +visit closed about this guard, who kept his eyes more closely on +Miss Maggie, during our visit, than either on the prisoner or the +other surroundings.</p> + +<p>Once over the threshold, we had yet to encounter the old lion in +his den, or, more properly speaking, the wounded bear in his hole.</p> + +<p>The weather was so cold that a fire was necessary, which fact +was impressed on my mind by our introduction into the Parson's +presence, his first salutation being a request to "shut the door," and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> +then at once apologizing in a mild, apologetic manner; he complained +of the rough usage he had been obliged to submit to in his own +house, by the guard insisting upon opening doors through his hall +whenever they saw fit. He, and more especially his wife, imagined +they did more of this than was necessary, for the sole purpose of +annoying him. Mrs. Brownlow insisted that the purpose of the +soldiers was to kill her husband by exposing him to these draughts +during his illness.</p> + +<p>The Parson had been quite seriously ill for some time. The sickness +was incurred by his terrible exposures, first while an outcast or +exile in the mountains, and subsequently by the miserably mean +and hoggish treatment while confined in the Knoxville slave-pen +cage among the crowded Unionists.</p> + +<p>The complete story of the imprisonment, sufferings and brutal +treatment of the hundreds of Unionists, among whom were some +old men of seventy-five years; embracing in the list of martyrs, +preachers, lawyers, judges, as well as others of the most prominent +and respectable people of that section, simply because they were +Unionists—or had dared to be loyal to the Government, or even +entertained at a remote period an opinion on the subject different +from that of the Rebel—would excel in many respects the horrors +of Andersonville. I regret that I can not in this narrative tell half +of my own observation, but perhaps some one will yet write the true +story of East Tennessee in 1861-62.</p> + +<p>While I was there as a Rebel soldier, I witnessed one sight alone, +not one horrible feature of which has been effaced from my memory, +and which has not—that I can recall—been made generally public. +I refer to the double execution of an old man of seventy, a respected +class-leader in the Methodist Church, and his son. The old man was +obliged to hear first the dreadful shrieks of innocent protest from +his son's lips, and though the boy's cries pierced even the hearts of +the New Orleans wharf-rats, who had the execution in charge, the +old man was brutally compelled by Colonel Ledbetter to gaze upon +the dreadful, horrible agony of his son on the scaffold, where he +himself was to be hung in a few moments.</p> + +<p>At the time of our visit, Brother Brownlow was snugly wrapped +up in one of those old-fashioned, striped shawls, that probably +belonged to his wife's wardrobe. He sat that afternoon in a great,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> +old, hickory rocking-chair, with his stocking feet perched on +another chair, looking at me, at first sight, more like a sick old +woman than such a dangerous character as to require the constant +attendance of a large armed guard at his door, day and night. +His face was thin, and his general appearance of emaciation showed +the effects of his recent sickness and sufferings. I can well recall +the queer expression of wondering scrutiny in the big eyes of the +old Parson, as he slowly turned to me when I was introduced by his +neighbor's daughter as a "refugee" soldier from Maryland. That +he was a little bit suspicious as to the object of this visit under such +circumstances is not to be wondered at, when his surroundings at +the time are remembered.</p> + +<p>As a consequence, perhaps, Mr. Brownlow was not inclined to +talk to me, more than the ordinary politeness to a stranger in his +own house demanded. The Parson's wife and daughter, however, +who were present, did not seem to entertain any doubts or fears as +to any danger to be apprehended, as they kept up a constant clatter +with Miss Maggie about the outrageous treatment they were being +subjected to.</p> + +<p>To my own surprise afterward, as well as theirs at the time, I +blurted, involuntarily, out some genuine expressions of sympathy +for them, when Miss Brownlow detailed how the brute, Colonel +Ledbetter, had, without ceremony of a request, rudely entered the +sick man's chamber, demanding that "this 'assumed' sick man +set an hour when he would be ready to leave town." This, at a +time when Mr. Brownlow was not able to lift his head from the +pillow of the bed, to which he was then confined. On this rather +premature outbreak on my part, Miss Maggie took occasion to say +to the family:</p> + +<p>"I'm sure our friend is not a very bad Rebel; he is pretty homesick, +already."</p> + +<p>This latter observation seemed to rouse the Parson's interest in +the visit, and turning to me, in a voice almost inaudible from weakness, +he said:</p> + +<p>"I should be glad to know what induced a Maryland boy to +leave his home for this Secession cause."</p> + +<p>Just what I replied must be left to the imagination. I don't +remember myself, only that I went as far as I dared, and said in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> +manner—if not in words—that I was going back home. Something +was said, either by Miss Maggie or myself, as to the opinions we +both quietly entertained that slavery was wrong and was at the bottom +of it all, which seemed to stir the old man up in a way that +astonished me. I don't remember his exact words, but if there is +any one thing that Parson Brownlow could do better than another +it was to pile up epithets.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i327.jpg" width="600" height="387" alt="AN INTERVIEW WITH PARSON BROWNLOW." title="" /> +<span class="caption">AN INTERVIEW WITH PARSON BROWNLOW.</span> +</div> + +<p>"No," he said, raising his voice to a half-shriek; "it's not +slavery. I am a slave-owner myself, and I am a Union man," and then +continuing in a strain of abusive words, directed to the leaders, +which would read something like this: "Any man who says I am +a Black Republican or an Abolitionist is a liar and a scoundrel," +getting more excited as he continued: "It's these God-forsaken, +white-livered leaders, who are hell-deserving assassins."</p> + +<p>His family seemed so accustomed to this sort of talk that they +took but little note of what the Parson was saying; it scarcely had +the effect of stopping their own flow of complaint about the guards.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Brownlow said to her husband in a quiet way not to allow +himself to become excited, on account of his weakness, and with a +mild hint added that he might be overheard.</p> + +<p>"I take back nothing I have ever said: they are corrupt, unprincipled +villains; if they want satisfaction out of me for what I have +said—and it has been no little—they can find me here any day of +life, right where I have lived and preached for thirty years."</p> + +<p>There was one remark which the old man made that afternoon +which I have never forgotten. Mrs. Brownlow had been telling +about the dirt the Rebel guards made in her hall, with their tobacco, +as well as the noise incident to the changing of the guard every two +hours, and their rude intrusion into the bedroom at all hours—to +get warm, they said. The Parson in an undertone, as if exhausted +by his previous outburst, said:</p> + +<p>"They are worse than weeds in the garden, and exactly like +fleas out in my hog-pen there;" stopping for breath, he kept on: +"Why, they play cards on my front porch on Sunday, and I, a +preacher, have to hear their oaths in my house, that would blister +the lips of a sailor."</p> + +<p>When I laughed at this a little, he growled out:</p> + +<p>"Oh those cowardly assassins, who disarm women and children,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> +and set bloodhounds after their fathers and grandfathers, who are +hiding from their persecution in the Smoky mountains in this +winter weather, have the meanness, without the courage, to do anything."</p> + +<p>I was entertained that afternoon in a way that made such an +impression on my mind that I shall never forget even a single +striking point that occurred, and the reader is referred to the files +of the Cincinnati papers of the winter of 1862 for an account of +this interview, which, as a war correspondent, I reported at that +time. Once the Parson got fairly started, the rest of the party +became interested as well as amused listeners. When he would run +down a little, something would be said that would seem to wind him +up again, and he would go off like a clock without a pendulum or +balance wheel. Something was said about the geographical or commercial +effect of the proposed separation of the South from the +North. I think I must have said something to lead up to this, as +the Parson turning to me, said, while pointing his long, bony finger +toward me:</p> + +<p>"Young man, it can never be done."</p> + +<p>And, by way of illustration, he continued in an impressive and +intensely dramatic way:</p> + +<p>"This Union will be dissolved only when the sun shines at midnight, +or when water flows up stream."</p> + +<p>Some one interrupted to say, laughingly:</p> + +<p>"Why, the sun is shining at midnight at this moment in the +other part of the world."</p> + +<p>And his own daughter chimed in:</p> + +<p>"Yes, and our teacher says the Mississippi <i>does</i> run up North +in its tortuous course."</p> + +<p>This created a little laugh at his expense. But, without noticing +it or smiling himself—by the way, he was so dreadfully solemn +looking—I doubt if he ever smiled—he got back on them by saying:</p> + +<p>"Well, it will happen only when Democrats lose their inclination +to steal."</p> + +<p>After the laugh over this had subsided, he became eloquent as +well as emphatic:</p> + +<p>"And that will be when the damned spirits in hell swap for +heaven with the angels, and play cards for mean whisky."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span></p> + +<p>That's exactly the sort of a man Parson Brownlow was to talk; +and we all know that he acted out his words to the bitter end. Then, +by way of personal application, the parson said:</p> + +<p>"I am not only a Tennessee Union man of the Jackson and +Andy Johnson stripe, but I'm a native of Virginia. My ancestors +fought for the Union in the Revolutionary War, and their descendents +have fought to preserve it in every war since. This country is +as loyal as any State in the North."</p> + +<p>Mr. Brownlow's astonishing way of putting things was impressed +on my mind, by his apt way of illustrating the dependence of the +South upon the North, in his argument to show that disunion was +not practicable.</p> + +<p>"Why," he said, "we are indebted to the North for everything." +While he was speaking he held a pocket-knife in his hand; +holding it up he said:</p> + +<p>"This knife comes from the North; the hats and clothes we wear, +the shoes on our feet, every piece of furniture in this room," and, +pointing to an adjoining room, where one of the ladies was quietly +engaged in preparing the tea-table for our entertainment, "the ware +on that table, out there; and the farmer gets all the tools North +to work the farm that supplies the food we eat." Then with an +expression of disgust: "Even the spades that dig our graves, +and the coffins we are buried in, come from the North."</p> + +<p>Here Miss Maggie felt impelled to speak a word in defense of +her native South, observing:</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Brownlow, they haven't any better minds or people +in the North; it's only their educational facilities that give them +this advantage."</p> + +<p>This gave me an opportunity to say that "the North didn't have +any clearer heads than Mr. Brownlow's, nor any sweeter ladies than +I had seen in Tennessee."</p> + +<p>The Parson didn't even smile at this attempt at flattery, but +kept on in the same strain, reciting some of his experiences while +in the prison at Knoxville, only one or two of which I can recite.</p> + +<p>That which made the greatest impression on my mind was the +interview of a young girl with her aged father the morning of the +day set for his execution, as one of the bridge-burning conspirators. +The Parson's manner was at all times serious, but his story of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> +heart-breaking farewell of the daughter to an aged father, and its +effect upon the one hundred other suspects who were confined with +him, and who were obliged to witness the scene, is beyond the +powers of my pen to describe.</p> + +<p>The one redeeming feature of it was—the rough-talking Parson, +acting in the character of a minister, endeavored to soothe the +heart-broken daughter as he could in the most comforting words +for an hour, alternately praying and talking, amid the sobs of the +hardy mountaineers who were witnesses to it all.</p> + +<p>The Parson said it occurred to him, as a matter of policy, in +order to separate them, and not with any hope of success, he suggested +sending a message to Jeff Davis in the name of the daughter, +begging a pardon for her aged father—her only dependence in +the world. The execution was to occur at 4 <span class="smcap">P. M.</span>, and he had purposely +delayed mentioning this last hope that she might have all +the time that was possible of the last hours with her father. It +was 2 <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> when he wrote with his pencil, on a leaf torn from his +note book, a brief dispatch addressed to Jeff Davis, craving his +mercy and a pardon for her old father. The girl herself took it to +the telegraph office, which was in the same square with the jail; the +kind-hearted telegraphers interested themselves in her behalf, and +rushed her message through to Richmond, not expecting a reply, +as there was but an hour or so left; when, to the surprise and +delight of every person, probably without an exception, a message +was promptly returned by Mr. Davis commuting the sentence to +imprisonment at Tuscaloosa during the war.</p> + +<p>I am glad to be able to record this fact in favor of Mr. Davis. +I believe it may also be set down to his credit that much of the +persecution of Unionists, and the brutal punishment of the same, +was without his knowledge. It has been said that if Mr. Davis +has been consistent in anything more than another, it has been in +his life-long devotion to his principle of State rights or local self-government. +Yet one has to wonder how his relentless attitude +toward the coerced Unionists of East Tennessee is to be explained.</p> + +<p>In this way I was entertained by Mr. Brownlow, while his good +wife and daughter were engaged in preparing an evening tea for us. +When we were invited out to the table—I asked to be allowed to +wash my hands, and was shown the toilet stand in the same room<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span> +the Parson occupied. I picked up a brush to dress my hair a little—you +know those pretty brown eyes of Miss Maggie were yet in the +house, and I wanted to primp up while at the glass—the Parson +looked over toward me, after indicating where I would find a comb, +and said, without a smile:</p> + +<p>"The combs come from the North, too, and now, since the war, +there won't be a fine-tooth comb to be had in the South;" then in an +undertone to me: "The Rebels are full of squatter sovereigns +hunting for their rights in the territories."</p> + +<p>We sat down to the tea-table without the Parson's company, he +being obliged to remain in his room, partly on account of his parole, +but principally because he was just recovering from a serious illness, +it being necessary to guard against a relapse, which would come +from taking cold.</p> + +<p>He had done pretty much all the talking while we were in his +company, and as we all knew he was in the habit of speaking right +out in meeting without any regard to consequences, even before the +war, and the fact of there being an armed guard at his own door, +as well as the presence of my gray uniform alongside of his, did not +at all prevent his ready "flow of language." I do not imagine that +he would have talked so freely, and in such a harsh criticizing way, +in my presence had I not encouraged him to believe that I was a +disappointed Marylander, while Miss Maggie added to this impression +by endorsing me as a homesick refugee.</p> + +<p>At the tea-table the ladies of the family did most of the talking. +I kept my mouth occupied devouring some hot biscuit and honey, +and drinking coffee with real cream in it, out of dainty old-fashioned +tea-cups, while my eyes feasted on the sweet face and brown +eyes of Miss Maggie.</p> + +<p>I had enough of the visit, and as soon as it could politely be +done, we gave our host and hostess a pleasant "Good-by."</p> + +<p>After this visit to the Brownlow's, where I had been permitted +to witness, in one case, the effects of the dastardly treatment by a +government of Rebels, who were advertising to the world that "they +were contending only for their rights against the tyranny of the Lincoln +Government," and heard from the lips of one who seemed to +be a dying Unionist martyr, it may be imagined that I was in no +frame of mind to dally any longer in the Rebel camps.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span></p> + +<p>I wanted to go home—I wanted to go badly—and I determined +before I left the Parson's house that evening that I should—unknown +to him at the time—advise the authorities at Washington, and give +to the Northern press a careful account of my interview with him. +I did it, too, through the Cincinnati papers a few days subsequent +to the interview as stated.</p> + +<p>I had gathered so much information since leaving Richmond +about the Union hopes and sufferings, and I felt so great a sympathy +for them, that I was, to use a vulgar term, "slopping over." There +was now no chance to communicate with the North by mail from +Tennessee—that I had yet got on to—as there had been in Richmond, +and beside I was so full of news that it couldn't be put on +paper in the brief style which the simple cipher permitted me to +use.</p> + +<p>We spent the evening after the tea at the Parson's in the Craig +family's parlor, in a way highly enjoyable to me. I felt like a boy +who had been absent from home for months, and who was being +entertained at a farewell party in his honor.</p> + +<p>As I have said before, there were several ladies in the Craig +family, all of whom were present that evening; in addition there +was a Miss Rose Maynard, who was the daughter of the loyal Congressman +from that district. Their residence was on one of the +main streets of the town, and at the time of which I write the +Hon. Mr. Maynard was exiled to Congress at Washington. I will +state here that I met him on my return to Washington, a few days +later, when I gave him the latest news of his family.</p> + +<p>Among the gentlemen present was a Mr. Buchanan, who was a +Confederate soldier then stationed at Knoxville. He was, I think, +the son of a Buchanan who had been a Minister to the Netherlands, +under the former Democratic Administration. I mention him here, +on account of his having been more recently from Washington than +myself. I was able to gather from his talk to the ladies, in a general +way, that he had in some way been acting as a sort of a spy for +the Rebels; at least he had been in communication with those +who were so engaged, and it was through his boastful talk of his +family connections that I secured one of the most important secrets +of my mission.</p> + +<p>I will do Mr. Buchanan the justice and credit to say that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> +was an accomplished young gentleman. He had been abroad with +his parents, or perhaps it was an uncle, and being raised, as it were, +in the diplomatic world, he was, of course, able to conduct himself +in a becoming way in the society of ladies. Indeed, he seemed to +completely eclipse me for that evening with these ladies, but I was +so filled with homesickness just then that I did not care so very +much about it. One of Mr. Buchanan's happy accomplishments +was his ability to recite, in what we all felt to be a perfectly +delightful way, Poe's and Byron's poetry. Somebody had learned +of his talent in this direction, so we kept the young fellow "going" +right along.</p> + +<p>Only one of his recitations remain in my memory, that of +"Annabel Lee"; indeed, and in truth, I may say now with him, that +"The stars never rise, but I see the bright eyes" of Miss Maggie, +who seemed to be so much infatuated with him.</p> + +<p>The younger Miss Craig and Buchanan were of the same mind +on the war question. My gray uniform talked for me, while Miss +Maggie, to my great delight, amused the parlor full of company +with a ludicrous account of the battle of Mill Spring, or Fishing +Creek, given her and her friend, by the Rebel troops from that section, +who had participated in it.</p> + +<p>It will be remembered that this little fight was one of the first, +if not the very first, Union victory in the West. Zollicoffer was +killed, and the Rebels retreated in the very worst disorder as far to +the rear as Knoxville, Tennessee, over a hundred miles from the +battlefield.</p> + +<p>Miss Maggie told the story in her delightful way, appealing, as +she went along, to her Rebel sister and others who were opposed to +her side for confirmation as eye-witnesses to the ludicrous appearance +of the Rebel soldiers as they rode back to town on mules—in +their dirty, ragged clothes, many of them hatless, and sometimes +two or three on one old mule.</p> + +<p>To make it more interesting, she related, as a preliminary, how +the gallant Secessionists had marched out of town but a few days +before with a whoop and a hurrah, she declaring: "She felt sure +those men would go straight through to Boston, and bring Lincoln +back as they returned via Washington." The father, who had been +quietly sitting back in the corner, enjoying Maggie's fun at her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span> +sister's and Mr. Buchanan's expense, broke his silence to add +drily:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Brownlow says, when they saw the Stars and Stripes and +looked into the muzzles of the Union guns, they started to run, and +didn't stop 'till they got to the other side of sundown."</p> + +<p>If there are any readers of the Western armies who participated +in Mill Spring or Fishing Creek, I can assure them that their little +victory that day was a great God-send to thousands of the noblest-hearted +Unionists of East Tennessee, who, from their hiding-places +in the rocks and crevices of the mountains, saw the boastful Rebels +run like wild sheep a hundred miles without stopping.</p> + +<p>There was a piano in the parlor, as well as three or four persons +who were able to spank it right well, so, between the recitations of +our poet and the droll stories by Miss Maggie about the Rebels run +back to town, we enjoyed a pleasant evening together, which will +long be remembered by me as one of the many agreeable nights of +my varied war experience.</p> + +<p>One little story related by Mr. Craig, later in the evening, +served to throw a mantle of caution about me, else I might have +been tempted, under the jolly feeling existing among the company, +and the influence in my own mind, as it was to be my last night, to +make some "Union confessions" to Miss Maggie in confidence. +Mr. Craig said in his slow, quiet way:</p> + +<p>"There was a funny affair happened up-town to-day. You +know there has been a daily prayer-meeting for some time which +has been conducted here by the several ministers of the different +churches, alternately. They have all along a little sign printed on +card-board tacked against the wall, reading 'Union prayer-meeting; +all are welcome.' Well," he continued, with a sly laugh: +"There was a Georgia regiment came in here to-day from <i>Pensacola</i>, +and a lot of them got too much whisky aboard, and seeing this +sign, <i>Union</i> prayer-meeting house, and probably having heard of +the Unionists of East Tennessee, served to raise their bad blood at +once, and for a while came near causing a small riot, until the matter +was explained.</p> + +<p>"Some who were too drunk or ignorant to be made to see that +the word 'Union' was not always to be considered offensive to a +Southern man, would not be satisfied until the card was removed."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span></p> + +<p>This little play of the Georgia regiment on the word "Union," +which serves to show the sentiment and feeling then, afforded this +company some amusement, but to me, the one word "Pensacola" +was far more significant than any other that Mr. Craig had spoken.</p> + +<p>There was then a regiment in town from Pensacola. That town, +nor any other, was big enough to hold me, at the same time, with +anybody that had been to Pensacola. So that here was another +inducement for me to get away toward home.</p> + +<p>After leaving Richmond and the Texans in the lurch as to my +whereabouts and destination, I had felt that in the mountains of +East Tennessee I would be at least secure from any possible +re-union with any former Pensacola or Fort Pickens associates, +but it seemed as if this Florida experience, like Hamlet's ghost, +would not down.</p> + +<p>When we came away from Richmond so hurriedly, it will be +remembered that Lieutenant Claiborne with a portion of our Battery +had been left in Camp Lee. If I remember aright, they were +either to recruit or perhaps they were to await the arrival of some +English cannon which were expected via the blockade, and in that +case it was probably the intention to order us <i>back</i> there, to be sent +as a solid Battery to Johnston's army in Virginia.</p> + +<p>I was the least bit apprehensive, too, after I had been away some +days, and had leisure to think over the matter more carefully, that +Claiborne might in some way run across the Doctor through their +mutual admiration of Capitola.</p> + +<p>As I was "only a boy," as Capitola had so heartlessly said, I +had been obliged to sorrowfully leave the Doctor and the Lieutenant +to fight over Capitola among themselves, never thinking or caring +much at the time whether I should become mixed up any further +or not.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>CRUELTY OF GENERAL LEDBETTER—ANOTHER NARROW ESCAPE—ORDERED +TO CUMBERLAND GAP—A WEARISOME JOURNEY—ARRIVED +AT THE GAP—THE STOLEN LETTER—ALONE IN THE +DARKNESS—THE NORTH STAR—DAY DAWN.</h3> + + +<p>Most of the time in Knoxville I was sick and confined to the +house, under the kind care of Mrs. Craig's family. Our company +of Maryland Artillery, after a time, had been ordered away to Cumberland +Gap, where they were to manage, if necessary, one or two +old iron cannon that had been secured somewhere for them. Part +of the refugees were left at Knoxville as part of the guard at Parson +Brownlow's house. For this duty those were selected who had +been sick, or who were thought to be "inefficient" for active field +duty. I was among the number so detailed, because I certainly was +the most "inefficient" Rebel soldier you ever saw or read about.</p> + +<p>It will be remembered that in the opening chapter, while I was +in Washington before the war began, I was accidentally, or, perhaps, +providentially, introduced to Senator Andy Johnson through +one of Senator Wigfall's Comanche Indian breaks in the Senate.</p> + +<p>I flatter myself that the evidence I gave <i>then</i>—before Mr. Lincoln +was inaugurated—shows that the great conspiracy was going +on while the conspirators themselves were yet in the service of the +Government, and under oath to support the same—therefore it was +a "conspiracy."</p> + +<p>This acquaintance with Mr. Johnson was recalled one day while +in East Tennessee.</p> + +<p>Mr. Craig said something one day about some letters that Mr. +Johnson was charged with having written to some Abolitionist in +Boston, proposing, or, in some way that I do not exactly recall, +admitting that, for a certain large sum of money, he (Johnson) +would use his influence in favor of the Union.</p> + +<p>If Mr. Craig had any opinion as to the truth or falsity of the +matter, he was careful not to let me learn it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the first opportunity, in order to get an opinion from a man +who was not at all slow in furnishing that cheap article, in season +and out of season, I interviewed Mr. Brownlow about the Johnson +bribery to bring him out.</p> + +<p>It brought the Parson out, and for a moment or two the air was +thick with such elegant epithets as, "Hell-deserving scoundrels, +white-livered villains," etc.</p> + +<p>"I've not been on speaking terms with Johnson for thirty years, +but I know it's a lie."</p> + +<p>He was cautioned by his wife not to give expression to his views +so freely. When I reminded them that the matter was public talk, +and even printed throughout the South, the old fellow broke out in +a new place:</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, I know the Postmaster at Knoxville delivered the letters +addressed to Johnson to a certain party here who is known to be in +the employ of Wigfall of Texas."</p> + +<p>That was enough for me. I was prepared to believe that Wigfall +and his crowd would stoop to forgery, or anything else, to do a +Southern Union man an injury. Wigfall was especially vindictive +towards Johnson, as will be remembered.</p> + +<p>If Brownlow had not been talking in the same strain to everybody +about his Union sentiments, even while he was a prisoner, I +should have felt from his free, outspoken manner toward me, every +time I met him, that, by some instinct, he knew of my true character +as a Union Spy who was about to return North, and would +carry his messages home. I have often thought that Mr. Brownlow +did divine my true character.</p> + +<p>In this forged letter matter, if I am not greatly mistaken, Mr. +Brownlow connected one of the present Senators from Tennessee, +who was then Governor of the State. The Parson, in his odd way, +had a name for everybody: Governor Isham Harris, was Eye-Sham +Harris. Everytime I have looked at Senator Harris since he has +been in Washington, and I have seen him almost daily, I have had +this queer expression brought to my mind.</p> + +<p>Rebel troops were being concentrated at Knoxville by railroad, +to be marched thence to Cumberland and other gaps in the mountains. +Something was up. Those who were on the Kentucky side +about this time will know more about what caused the commo<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span>tion +than I who was on the inside and could only "guess," as the +Yankees say.</p> + +<p>The General in command of the forces in East Tennessee at the +time was E. Kirby Smith. He was, I believe, a distant relative of +mine.</p> + +<p>Our Brigadier, and immediate commander, was General Ledbetter, +a native of Maine, one of the meanest, most tyrannical +and brutal men I have ever heard of, in either the Rebel or the +Union Armies, or any place else. He had been an officer in the +Regular Army before the War; and, as Parson Brownlow put it, +"he had married a lot of niggers in the South." The Parson +made this observation in the presence of his wife and the lady +visitors who had accompanied me to the house one afternoon; +though I did not exactly understand the drift of the expression at +the time, I refrained from pressing the conversation just then. I +learned afterward that he simply meant that Captain Ledbetter had +married an Alabama lady, who owned sixteen slaves.</p> + +<p>This General Ledbetter, from the State of Maine, was the willing +tool selected by the Rebel officials to punish and abuse the +Unionists—very much as Wirz was permitted to do at Andersonville. +If I write harshly of this officer it will be accepted as an excuse +from me to explain that I saw him do a great many mean acts, but +that which turned my stomach worst were his roughly-spoken words +to an old Unionist bridge-burner, a man with bushy, grey hair, +who was at the time shrinking and cowering in a corner, looking at +me with his frightened eyes like a crazy man at bay. His distress +was being caused by the dreadful shrieks of his son, at that +moment on the scaffold, to which the old father was led in a few +moments.</p> + +<p>"Get up here, you damned old traitor," while he deliberately +tied the rope around the trembling old man's neck.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 398px;"> +<img src="images/i331.jpg" width="398" height="600" alt=""GET UP HERE, YOU DAMNED OLD TRAITOR."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"GET UP HERE, YOU DAMNED OLD TRAITOR."</span> +</div> + +<p>It was a horrible, horrible sight—one that I shall never cease to +remember. I wish it were possible for me to efface it from my memory.</p> + +<p>After the delightful evening at the Craig's, part of which I have +tried to describe here, because there was a short, sweet interview at +the garden gate after most of the guests had retired, in which the +readers are not at all interested, I went to bed, determined in my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> +own mind that in the morning I should make the final break for +home. I do not remember now whether I dreamed of the girl I +was to leave behind me there, or that my visions were of "Home, +sweet home." Of course, it was cruel to be obliged to tear myself +away from them so ruthlessly, just when it was becoming interesting, +but I consoled myself with the reflection that I had survived +these heart-troubles before—several times.</p> + +<p>In the first place I had deliberately separated from my really and +truly girl at my own home, when I joined Patterson's army in +Pennsylvania, but I had succeeded in finding another, in dark-eyed +Capitola, at Richmond, who in turn had been almost forgotten, in +the new-found treasure at Knoxville, from whom I was now to be +estranged by the fortunes of war—perhaps forever. It was now +time to return to the first love again; and that's the way it was +"evolved" with me right along. I always managed to have a girl, +to keep me from attending to business, and to get me into trouble, +whether I was in the Rebel or Union armies, or lines.</p> + +<p>I was being "recuperated" so pleasantly, that I enjoyed playing +off sick after I felt strong and active enough to have undertaken to +walk right through Tennessee and Kentucky to my home.</p> + +<p>The greater part of our company being at Cumberland Gap, Captain +Latrobe was somewhere near Knoxville with General Ledbetter. +I can not definitely recall exactly how it was—only that in +order to reach him, to report for duty, it was necessary for me to +go out of town some distance, where I found him in a camp at Ledbetter's +headquarters.</p> + +<p>I was a little out of favor with the Captain about this time. His +greeting was not calculated to make me feel exactly comfortable.</p> + +<p>"You are never on hand when wanted, but eternally scouting +around some private houses, sick."</p> + +<p>When I told him that I was now ready and anxious to join the +company at the Gap, he took my breath away by saying:</p> + +<p>"You will be no use there."</p> + +<p>Then, as if remembering something that he had forgotten, he +put his hand in his pocket, drawing out a package of letters, and +as he fumbled them over, said:</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant Claiborne writes me something hereabout wanting +you to go back to Richmond."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span></p> + +<p>Luckily for me, he wasn't able to put his hand on the right +letter at that moment, which gave me a little time to gather myself +up, which I did with an ease that astonished myself afterward +when I had a chance to laugh in my sleeve, as I thought to myself +how perfectly natural it was becoming for me to tell a lie on so +short notice. I said at once in reply, as if by inspiration:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Captain, that's probably those fellows I owe some money +to, who want to get me into trouble."</p> + +<p>He seemed to be satisfied with this explanation, and to my +great relief, he put away the letters.</p> + +<p>Just what the letters from Richmond had to say about me I am +unable to say, because I did not press the inquiry at that time. I +left the Captain soon after the conversation (some twenty-five years +ago) and have not had the pleasure of meeting him since. I had +very decided impressions on the subject at that time, however, +which were to the startling effect that some of those Texas fellows, +whom I had run against in their camp near Richmond, not satisfied +with my bluff reception of their overtures, had been hunting me up at +our old camp. Either that, or Lieutenant Claiborne had met with the +Texas Doctor at Capitola's, where my double character would most +likely have been discussed among them. In this one particular I +should have preferred that Capitola had so far forgotten me as not +to have mentioned my name again.</p> + +<p>You may imagine how eager I was for the opportunity to change +the subject with the Captain, which seemed to present itself with +my remark to him. He replied in what was intended to be rather a +severe lecture on what he termed my "fast and loose" way of carrying +things on. I took his medicine quite meekly, and talked +back only in a tone of sorrow and humiliation, taking good care to +get in all sorts of rash promises to do better service for Maryland +and the Confederacy, if he would only give me a chance by allowing +me to go to the front.</p> + +<p>He was disposed to be skeptical, and I write down here Captain +Latrobe's exact words, spoken to me that morning in answer to +my earnest appeal to be permitted to join the company at the Gap:</p> + +<p>"Well, Wilmore, you are no use here, and I don't believe you +will be up there, but I'll see what I can do with you."</p> + +<p>He turned to leave, directing that I should "hold on here a while,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> +as he limped off toward General Ledbetter's headquarters. I felt +sure that he had gone there to consult with his superior officer about +some disposition of myself; and I strongly suspected that the +hinted-at requisition for me from Richmond had come through the +military channels.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the reader may be able to imagine my thoughts and fears, +or share my feelings for the few moments that I sat on the edge of +the porch of the old log house that morning, waiting for the verdict, +as it were. I rather incline to the belief though, that it is +only those who have been under a sentence of death, or who are +awaiting the result of a last appeal for a pardon, who will be competent +to sympathize with me, or one who has been in such a +plight.</p> + +<p>I was a long way from home, all alone—in a strange, I might +say, a foreign land—among enemies; at liberty, but really with a +rope around my neck; a single misstep, or word, a chance recognition, +was all that was needed to spring the trap, and my career was +ended ingloriously right there.</p> + +<p>I was filled, too, on this bright and beautiful morning with the +bright hope and prospect of soon getting home; in fact, I was starting +out homeward bound at this time; my reaching there depended +in one sense upon the will of this Captain, who could have put me +in arrest and confinement and, at least, have delayed my chances, +or he could give me the orders, that would admit of my easy escape.</p> + +<p>The moments seemed like hours until the Captain made his +appearance at the log-cabin door, where he stood for a few moments +talking to an officer on General Ledbetter's staff. I felt sure that +I was the subject of their conversation, but like most persons who +feel this way when their consciences trouble them, I was mistaken.</p> + +<p>Coming up to me, the Captain said, in a cheerful tone, as compared +with the first remark to me:</p> + +<p>"Corporal, could you find the Gap, if we—" so eager and +thankful was I, I abruptly interrupted him to say: "Oh yes, I can +easily do that."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's forty miles from here, over a most God-forsaken +mountain path."</p> + +<p>I replied that I was used to the mountains and would easily find +the place.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We want to send some papers up there for signatures. I am +here at headquarters to-day to get our Muster Roll fixed up, and find +that I have to send them back again. We were going to get a couple +of the natives to do the traveling, but, if you think you can get there, +we will get you a horse and start you off right away."</p> + +<p>The Captain's companion, the staff officer, seemed to be satisfied +with my ability to undertake the journey, while the Captain himself +was rather pleased to see me show some enthusiasm, or a disposition +to "do something," as he put it.</p> + +<p>He didn't understand the motive at the time, but I reckon he +appreciated the feeling a little later on.</p> + +<p>So it was arranged, to my great delight, that I should start at +once, as the roll of papers had been waiting for a chance messenger. +The staff officer went to see some one in the rear about a horse. I +was invited to follow them into the stable. A reliable old mountain +climber was pointed out as the best thing for the trip. The +details of the mount was left to the stable boss and myself.</p> + +<p>He told me she was used as a pack horse, for the staff officers: +admitted that she might be old, but insisted that the climber was +reliable.</p> + +<p>I wasn't very particular—anything for a horse, a kingdom, or +two kingdoms, so it would "tote" me up the mountain. I would +have saddled up right away, but the old farmer insisted on feeding, +while we hunted around for a saddle and other tools. A bag was +filled with oats, a haversack stuffed with one day's rations for me, +and I was ready to charge on the Yankees. Indeed, the old nag +was choked off on her feed, so eager was I to get away. I got +aboard at the stable door, found the old saddle-stirrups a mile too +long for my short legs, and while the old fellow adjusted them, he +laughingly said:</p> + +<p>"Why, you go on jist like a boy."</p> + +<p>I was a boy, and I was going home; but I was old enough to +prevent older heads from finding out just how old I was.</p> + +<p>I rode around to the front, dismounted gayly, and reported to +the Captain that I was ready. Then began another trouble. I +received more "orders" and "directions" in the next half hour +than my wild head could contain, which resulted in my going off at +last without explicit directions as to the route I was to take.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Captain gave me some letters for Lieutenant Elkton, who +was in command of our detachment at the Gap, which he said I +was to deliver personally. I assented cheerfully to all the instructions, +but when I had gotten off some time, and had cooled down a +little, and had time to reflect, I concluded that I had better not be +in a hurry to deliver that letter to our commanding officer. I +"preserved" it carefully, however, so that it will be made public +here for the first time. In addition to the numerous specifications +that may be charged against me, I added that of robbing the Confederate +mail.</p> + +<p>As I look back over this mountain path, as it appeared to me +then and remains in my memory, I wonder how it is that I ever +got through with the journey alone so easily and safely.</p> + +<p>I am not going to attempt a description of the wonderful mountain +scenery of East Tennessee. That has been done so well and so +often that any who may read this will have seen the well-written +accounts which appear in the magazines every now and then, or, perhaps, +more elaborately done in numerous war stories, as well as in +the later writings of Charles Egbert Craddock and Frances Hodgson +Burnett. Besides, every man of the Western armies has hoofed +it over the same old road I traveled that day, carrying with him +a goodly assortment of family groceries and "forty rounds," so +that the impression on their minds will last as long as life remains, +being as indelibly fixed as the everlasting hills themselves.</p> + +<p>I can see nothing but the great mountains, on each side of an +awfully rocky road, that seemed to me then to have been simply +the dried-out beds of some streams that had refused to run to supply +the Rebels with water. On every side of me, as I traveled +along over these mountain roads, was the dense growth of interminable +laurel thickets.</p> + +<p>The country is, of course, somewhat diversified in mountain and +plain, but the general impression left with me is, that it was so +much more mountain than plain that there was hardly enough +plain for a wagon-road.</p> + +<p>After I had gotten some distance away, and was driving ahead +as fast as the old horse would navigate over the rocky road, houses +and farms began to grow smaller and beautifully less each mile. +Every now and then we would plunge into a clearing, and find<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span> +somewhere in a field of stumps a house—one of the small farmhouses +where the roofs extend down and out over the front far +enough to make a covering for a porch. On this porch one could +almost always see some pumpkins rolled up in a corner, a saddle +would be astride of the rough porch railing, a few dried provisions +hung in the roof rafters overhead; one could always expect to find +the lady of the house standing in the front door as he passed, and +she was generally broad enough to fill the narrow space, so that +only one or two heads would have room to peep out beside her, +like young chickens under the old hen's wings. I generally hunted +the well at almost every house we came to, when I took great cooling +drinks of water from a gourd dipper.</p> + +<p>These were the houses of the East Tennessee mountaineers. To +describe one will answer for all. At the time of my travel among +them, most of the men folks were away from home, either hiding +among the rocks and gorges of the mountains from their persecutors, +or, perhaps, having crossed the mountain, where they joined +the Union Army, hoping soon to return to their homes as soldiers +of the Government. There were six of these refugee Tennessee +regiments as early as 1861-'62 in this part of the State, composed +entirely of genuine, <i>bona fide</i>, Unionist refugees. I would like to +record a comparison here with the refugees from Maryland in the +Confederate Army at this time, both as to number and character.</p> + +<p>I had left headquarters so late in the day that it was too much +for me to make the Gap the same night with that horse, over these +roads. When I started out, though, I intended to do this or burst; +but on toward evening, after several hours of rough riding, I began +to find the road getting so blind, and the houses were becoming so +scarce, that I feared getting lost in the mountain if night should +overtake me beyond the settlement.</p> + +<p>So, early in the evening, when I reached the ford or crossing of +a stream, the name of which I cannot now recall, I pulled up in +front of a large house—for that country—and asked for a night's +shelter. My impression is that this was a sort of stopping place or +the last relay house on the southern side of the Gap. I found accommodation +for both man and beast, and enjoyed a pleasant evening +with the two old people on their front porch. I took it for granted +that they were Unionists, though they had little to say on that sub<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span>ject, +but they both were so well pleased with my way of talking, +and of the encouraging news for a Rebel soldier to bring, that I +think the old woman exerted herself to make the biscuit extra light, +as she put enough salaratus in them to color the whole batch of +them with yellow spots.</p> + +<p>I was put to sleep in an attic room, and very early the next +morning I was awake and dressed for the last ride. The old man +had taken good care of the old horse during the night, feeding her +on fodder, I reckon. When I got out from breakfast I found her +tied to a tree down by the water. I mounted gayly. The old fellow +gave me explicit directions as to the road to the Gap, which, he said, +was in sight from the top of the hills. I bade him "Good-by," promising +to pay the bill on my return. I hadn't a cent of money—besides, +it was customary for the soldiers to live off the Unionists—so +the old man was not much disappointed at not getting a fee, +but I shall feel as if I owe them a dollar with interest for twenty-five +years.</p> + +<p>I believe I rather rushed the old hoss for awhile that morning, +because I was feeling so good over the prospect of getting away +at last.</p> + +<p>Sure enough, I could see the Gap through a break in the trees +and brush from the next hill-top, as the old man had said. I was +surprised because it was so close to me, and disappointed in its +appearance, as I had expected, from all that I had heard and read +of Cumberland Gap, to find a great gorge breaking abruptly +through the mountains.</p> + +<p>On the southern, or more strictly speaking, the eastern side of +the approach to Cumberland Gap, the ascent up the mountain +is so gradual that one is disappointed until the summit or highest +point is reached, from which a view is to be had down into Kentucky. +It is then, only, that the grand beauty of the historic old +place is realized. As I rode closer I met signs of military occupation—there +were a lot of horses down the road at a black-smith +shop waiting to be shod—a couple of soldiers in gray had them in +charge; further on was a farmhouse, on the porch of which two +officers in loose uniforms were sitting smoking pipes. I forged +ahead, without being stopped by anybody, or stopping of my own +accord until I was almost up to the very entrance to the Gap itself,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span> +when I met with a careless sort of challenge, given by a soldier, or +officer without arms. It was only necessary to offer my papers and +explain my business, to be told to go ahead, with directions as to +where I should find our Battery.</p> + +<p>I found our fellows were in a camp—or cabins—some little distance +inside of the real Gap; on that side there seems to be two +gaps, or, more plainly speaking, it seemed to me from a distance as a +double gap, neither of which seemed very deep; indeed, the top of +the mountain peaks on each side of the road that curved around +between the two highest points did not strike me then as deserving +the great name and celebrity they had obtained.</p> + +<p>When I found the Lieutenant and delivered my papers to him, +I received from the boys something of that greeting which is always +accorded to a visitor who brings a pay roll or any papers or mail. +Lanyard was there, the sailor recruit from Norfolk, as was also +my old Richmond friend, the Colonel; we three had some hearty +hand-shaking and cordial greetings. The Colonel, who was really +the Sergeant, could not spare the time from some duty to accompany +me, but Lanyard escorted me over to the real Gap, and it was there, +as I stood on the crest of that great mountain top and looked down, +down into the tree-tops of a great forest, far below and stretching +away in the distance as far as I could see, that I realized what Cumberland +Gap was. I could see threading along through the mass of +trees that looked like mere bushes, so far down were they, a winding +cord that resembled to my mind then a kite-string that had +dropped down from above. This was the long, narrow and crooked +road which led to the Union forces, which I knew were somewhere +pretty close.</p> + +<p>We were looking over into Kentucky and into the Union. I +don't think I spoke much. I know that when such a scene is presented +to me for the first time, I am struck dumb, as it were, and +not able to rave over it, as I have so often heard others do, and have +envied them.</p> + +<p>To my first question, as to the location of the Yankees, Lanyard +pointing to a clump of trees forming a little grove, seemingly +isolated from the rest and a little to one side of the road, said:</p> + +<p>"That's where they were in force when they made that attack +on the Gap here."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then we walked over to a stockade made of the trunks of saplings +put on end in ditches, reaching up ten feet, behind which our +Maryland boys were located. They had two guns then, and I was +shown the marks of bullets of the Yankees, which were in the new +wood of the stockade. Those who were on guard had a good deal +to say of these wonderful guns of the Yankees that could imbed +such a large long ball so deeply in the hard wood of the stockade. +Our Battery had actually enjoyed the glory of putting a couple dozen +of shots over into Kentucky somewhere. The bold refugees from +Ireland imagined that they had done some wonderful execution by +these few shots, but, upon investigation a few days later, I found +that our troops were so close to the guns at the time, that the shots +passed not only over them, but landed a long distance beyond, +where they probably fell among the tree-tops and only scared the +owls.</p> + +<p>If this attack of our troops had been made after my report of +the weak condition of the defenses of the Rebels, it might have +resulted in an early capture of Cumberland Gap.</p> + +<p>I lingered a long time in the Gap, at such points as admitted of +my seeing out into Kentucky. I kept my eager longing eyes strained +over that vista, hoping I might see the Stars and Stripes floating +defiantly above the tree-tops. So eager was I to learn about the +land of hope and of home, that lay stretched out before me, that I +quickly gathered from these soldiers who were about me all the +information they had about the land that lay beyond. My curiosity +was pardonable at the time, because they supposed I was green and +had never seen the Yankee country before. They were also quite +anxious to tell all they knew, and more too. I gathered enough +information in a very short time to satisfy me, first, that there were +no Rebel pickets stationed beyond the Gap, though some predatory +horsemen belonging to the artillery, and mounted on anything they +could get, were in the habit of scouting out the roads occasionally +for forage; secondly, the Yankees were in force within a few +miles of me. I was told that their Cavalry frequently came almost +to the foot of the mountain below.</p> + +<p>This was enough. I should not allow another sun to set or rise +on me before I had put myself under the protection of the old flag. +I sat alone on a log, on the side of the hill, for a long time. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span> +recalled that awfully hot July day that my companion and myself +had sat out together on a log in like manner on a hill-side, very like +this one, at Harper's Ferry, that other great hole in the mountains +near my home, and how we both escaped inside the lines in the +evening. My experiences in the Rebel lines during the months that +followed passed before me rapidly. I was willing to risk a good +deal to get away without the formality of a "Good-by" to the boys +whom I had just met and left at the camp a little to the rear. I +remarked to the sentry who was on guard nearest me:</p> + +<p>"Is there any danger of being caught if I go down the hill to +that house (pointing to one right below); I want to get something +good to eat."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," he said, "our fellows go down there all the time."</p> + +<p>He was a very obliging sentry. If he had orders at all, they +were probably to allow no one to pass in; so, with a heart throbbing +with suppressed excitement, I looked around. It was close on +to evening, about supper time in the Rebel camps. Lanyard had +returned to the performance of some duty. No one was near except +the good-natured sentry. I leisurely stepped beyond "bounds," +and, with a parting injunction to the soldier not to shoot when he +saw me coming up, I stepped off down grade at a lively gait, and +was soon winding down the horse-shoe curved road, which led me +either to home or heaven, liberty or death.</p> + +<p>Before reaching the foot of the winding road, that led on past +the little house standing some distance below, I stopped a moment—only +a moment—to plan. In those days my mind was soon made +up, and, once I had decided a matter, I was always prepared to act +upon it the same moment.</p> + +<p>I concluded not to go to the house—that I must avoid leaving +any trail by which I might be traced. To accomplish this, it was +necessary that I leave the road and clamber up the steep side-hill +embankment, which was full of brush and thickets; by so doing it +would lead me into a wood to the side of the house.</p> + +<p>It was probably another of my mistakes to have left the road +and climbed that hill to get into the wood. I saw at the foot of +the mountain below me the little old house by the roadside, which +reminded me, both by its similarity in appearance and location of +the old shanty near Manassas, where I had experienced so much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span> +annoying trouble from the quizzical and curious old bushwhacker +proprietor, after my failure to get through the lines to Washington +that night in August, 1861. It must have been about supper time +when I had gotten pretty close to the house that day, because the +curling, blueish smoke from a freshly-made wood fire was just then +beginning to pour from the top of the big rough-stone and mud +chimney, which was, as usual, hung on to the end of the cabin as a +sort of annex.</p> + +<p>The sentry I had so recently left at the top of the mountain +had said that "our men" were in the habit of going down to the +house, but, with the vision before me of former experience in such +a mixed crowd in a shanty in Virginia, I quickly enough decided to +apply some strategy and to flank the obstacle.</p> + +<p>It's a simple matter to plan things and to apply strategy to +the proposed movements. By the time I had climbed up that +perpendicular cliff to the side of the road, through a thicket +of last year's blackberry bushes, that were apparently growing +out of a stone quarry, I was so done out that I had to sit +down on the ground awhile to get my second wind. I had expended +sufficient strength and nerve in making that climb to have +carried me miles past the house, if I had only made the dash on +the straight road.</p> + +<p>From my seat on the rocks among the bushes, which was elevated +considerably above the winding road down the mountain, I could +see by the refracted sunset, in that clear atmosphere, a long way +ahead of me. There seemed to be a thick, almost dense growth of +timber, which was still below me, so that I looked only over the +tops of the trees, as one views the chimney-tops of a city from a +hill. I knew that somewhere in that general direction were the +Union forces, which had recently attacked the Rebels at the Gap. +I could only imagine that their outposts of cavalry were within—say +a few miles at furthest.</p> + +<p>The house that I was working so hard to avoid was yet, seemingly, +as close as it had been before I had quit the road. But from +my isolated position I could see only the top of it. The road had +become lost under the tree-tops. Looking back, I could see nothing +but the stockades at the top of the Gap, and these I could only +locate in the fast gathering twilight, because I knew their exact<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span> +position. There were no signs of life behind me—nor before me—except +that the smoke kept curling straight upward from the chimney-top, +until it formed in appearance a water-spout in the evening +sky.</p> + +<p>Up to that time, I might have safely returned to the Rebel +camps, or, if I had been halted and arrested, it would not have +been a difficult matter to have accounted for my being out of bounds +at the time. But I had no intention of returning. I had started +for home, and I was willing to risk everything to get there. I knew +very well at that moment I had deliberately added to my peril, in a +blind fearless sort of a way, that causes me a shudder as I write it +down here to-day. If I had been caught, I would have been liable +to summary execution, on the simple charge of deserting to the +enemy, and, of course, any delay in the execution of this sentence +must have resulted only in my character as a spy being discovered +by the investigation which must follow. While thinking over these +things, for the moments I sat on that mountain-side that evening, +I recalled my similar experience while trying to get out of Beauregard's +army in Virginia. I planned a plausible excuse to offer, in +case I should accidentally run into anything hostile, when it suddenly +occurred to me that the "official papers" about the strength +of Beauregard's army in August, 1861, which I had gotten out of +the telegraph office and had endeavored to smuggle through, were +the cause of my greatest danger that time, and I had resolved then +that I should never again be caught with any papers in my possession.</p> + +<p>Following my thoughts with the movements of my hands into +my pockets, to strip myself of papers, and be prepared for a dash +for liberty, I hauled out the letter which the Captain had handed +to me with specific instructions to deliver to the Lieutenant.</p> + +<p>I destroyed it with a good deal of energy, after having first nervously +opened and read it. By that one simple act, I had cut down +the last bridge behind me. But you will not be surprised at my rash +conduct, in thus robbing the Confederate mail, when I give you the +substance of the letter, as nearly as I can recollect, and, by the way, +a lifetime—a long and checkered lifetime—will not serve to efface +from the memory the recollections of such days and nights as this +in one's experience.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="right"> +"<span class="smcap">Headquarters, near Knoxville.</span><br /></p> +<p> +"<span class="smcap">Lieutenant Commanding</span><br /></p> +<p class="greeting" > +"<span class="smcap">Detachment Maryland Artillery</span>,<br /></p> +<p class="sig"> +<i>Cumberland Gap:</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>"I send you by —— the Muster Rolls, etc.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"It was the intention to go myself, but we have some prospect of +a move in another direction, and I will wait here for further orders. +We have borrowed this horse from the Staff, so that these papers +can be fixed up and returned by ——, so they can be returned to +Richmond.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"I have a letter from Richmond asking about the antecedents +of ——, and the purpose of sending him up is, that you and +the "Colonel" (the Sergeant), who brought him in, can answer.</p> + +<p>"My information is, that he is wanted at Richmond for something. +I'm waiting to hear through the Secretary of War."</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"(Signed.)"<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>This was enough for me. I was not going back now; in fact, I'd +rather be shot in trying to escape in Kentucky than to be deliberately +hung in Tennessee. Those who have read my story will +not censure me for opening that letter and neglecting to deliver it +personally. Probably the rattle-snakes that crawled out of their +holes among the rocks in that hill-side, when the weather became +warmer, were astonished at the fragments of that official correspondence +lying around there so loosely; may be the crumpled and +torn papers became the basis of some nests. I only know that it +was not delivered—not much.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 388px;"> +<img src="images/i355.jpg" width="388" height="600" alt="CUMBERLAND GAP—THIS WAS ENOUGH FOR ME." title="" /> +<span class="caption">CUMBERLAND GAP—THIS WAS ENOUGH FOR ME.</span> +</div> + +<p>This accounted for the Captain's curious questions the day I +left him. I saw it all. I got up on my feet suddenly and buckled +on my armor, as it were, and prepared to fly. It was getting a +little late in the evening for a walk out alone in that country, but I +had considerable of a motive behind me, and something of an +inducement in front. Indeed, I felt, for the time being, that I +could almost fly as a bird, so eager was I to get there. In starting +off so suddenly, I neglected to properly take my bearings, so plunged +down, recklessly, over the rocks and through the bushes, only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span> +knowing that I was going in the general direction which led me +the furthest away from the Rebel camps that I had left up on top +of the hill. I kept going, going blindly, I thought straight ahead, +but making little progress. I wasn't the least bit tired then. +While sitting down to read that letter I had rested wonderfully in +a short time. It was only when I climbed down off the big hill or +mountain, and had plunged, like a scared deer, into the dense growth +of woods, that was at the foot of the mountain, that I was stopped, +almost abruptly by the sudden appearance of darkness, which +seemed to have dropped around me like a curtain. The curtain +wasn't pinned with a star, because I couldn't see the evening star +on the horizon on account of the trees, that were as thick here as +the blackberry bushes had been up on top of the mountain.</p> + +<p>I could only see the sky by looking straight up. I don't know +that I looked up either; in fact, I don't believe I did. My recollection +is that I was only concerned about where to put my feet, and, +as a consequence, I was obliged to look down pretty much all the +time pretty sharply. I should have appreciated just then, more +than anything else, "A lamp unto my feet and a light unto my +path."</p> + +<p>It took me a little while to "get used to it," as they say when +one plunges suddenly into darkness.</p> + +<p>I have read very nice poetry about the "pathless groves," and +the "pleasure in the pathless woods where none intrude," and all +that sort or thing about the grandeur, and majesty, and silence of +the woods at night, but I did not relish this dreadful silence and +majesty that night, and, to tell the truth, I've never learned to +appreciate the same grandeur since.</p> + +<p>I like well enough to be in the woods at night, if I am one of a +camp at any army corps headquarters, and 25,000 soldiers are looking +out for the Rebels that may be prowling through the majestic +woods, but, alone, I don't like it a bit.</p> + +<p>I was alone in a deep, dark wood, somewhere between the outposts +of the two armies, in the neighborhood of Cumberland Gap.</p> + +<p>Everything around me had become obscured by the thick darkness, +that one can almost feel on a dark night. I kept going, as I +supposed, straight ahead, clambering over fallen logs, stretching +out my hands before me as I stepped cautiously ahead to guard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span> +against a too sudden contact with the trunks of trees, stumbling over +exposed roots, or becoming entangled in undergrowth.</p> + +<p>This was the tiresome, dreadfully tiresome and discouraging +path that I trod that night, for hour after hour, in my efforts to +get home.</p> + +<p>Almost exhausted, I began to grow impatient at not meeting +with any encouraging outlook. I felt that I had had enough of this +and was entitled to a change. I was sure that I had traveled over +sufficient ground to have brought me, at least, a couple of miles +nearer the Union lines. But I did not then take into consideration +the fact that I had been going blindly, and had been merely stumbling +and crawling around in a circle, as I have heard all persons do +who become lost in the woods.</p> + +<p>I realized with a shudder of horror that I was lost—lost, and lost +forever—in that dark wood nearest the enemy; because I knew very +well, from the observations of the country that I had made from the +mountain top, that I should have come out on to the road that led +on toward the Union line of pickets long before, if I had kept the +course that I had so carefully laid out before dark. What did I do? +I sat down on a big log and cried like a big baby; and that's what +you would have done.</p> + +<p>I wasn't so badly scared as I was demoralized, tired out, and +discouraged.</p> + +<p>After I had sat long enough to have somewhat recovered myself, +I remembered all that I had ever read or heard of persons who were +lost in the woods. I recalled that when only a boy, in my mountain +home, I had connected myself voluntarily with a party of kind-hearted +mountaineers who had joined in a body to search those +mountain fastnesses for two little children of six and eight years +old, who had strayed from their home a day or so previously, and +were lost in the woods. My two days and nights' experience in +that searching party became of great service to me now.</p> + +<p>I first attempted to ascertain in the darkness, by feeling with my +hands, which side of the trunks of the standing trees the moss was growing +on. I knew that if I could establish for a certainty this fact, from +several of the trees, I would, from this circumstance, have been +able to locate the points of the compass, but it failed me, because of +the utter darkness of the night and the absence of such a trifling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span> +thing as a match, with which to make a glimmer of light in that +overpowering gloom. Matches are cheap enough, but, if I had had +the money then, I would have been willing to have given as much +cash for the little stick of wood, with a light on the end of it, as +would have bought all the logs contained in that forest of lumber.</p> + +<p>There was another sign that has never failed the lost and the +distressed, from wherever looked up to, when the sky was not +clouded—the North Star.</p> + +<p>While a lad at school I had been taught how to find this, the +only true and fixed star, and that night, while lost and in such dire +distress in that dark woods, along side of the enemy, who had, by +this time, surely learned of my escape, I looked up through scalding +tears for the dipper and the pointer, and through the leafy +branches of a high, old oak tree, the bright, twinkling, constant and +true little North star was looking down brightly upon me as I sat +there on the old log. What a bright, beautiful, hopeful little +emblem it was to me then, and how often have I recalled this night, +when I look up still and find it always the same friend.</p> + +<p>I felt as much relief at the discovery of the North star as if I +had found a lost trail in the sky. I felt that somehow I should be +able, from this fact, to come out all right, though I was sorely puzzled +to discover that, in appearance, the star seemed to be almost +over the top of the mountain that I was so anxious to get away +from. I did not then understand, as I since learned, that the range +of mountains is nearly North and South.</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"I passed a miserable night,<br /> +So full of ugly sights, of ghastly thoughts,<br /> +That, as I am a Christian, faithful man,<br /> +I would not spend another such a night,<br /> +Though 'twere to buy a world of happy days."<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>This quotation expresses in the familiar lines my experience +more satisfactorily than I could attempt in a column a description +of this one night of holy terror. It's bad enough to be lost under +any circumstances, but at night, between two lines in a deep, dark +forest, with the certainty of an ignominious death pursuing me as a +phantom, almost mocking me through the screeching, hooting owls, +whose diabolical laughter at my distress, in having failed to reach<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span> +the goal that was in sight before dark were audible above the tree-tops.</p> + +<p>As I have so often said before, there is only one way to properly +understand the feelings under such conditions, and that is, "put +yourself in his place." This can only be done, and that but feebly, +in the imagination now, because there probably never will be just +such another "dark path to glory" in that part of the country.</p> + +<p>If I could only have kept moving in any direction, it would have +been something of a relief, but I couldn't stir without stumbling +over old roots of fallen trees. I didn't mind that so much, but +everything was so awfully quiet and solemn that it seemed as if, +every step I made, my feet would crash into the little twigs that +made so much noise that I became startled every time, lest my +every movement would be heard for miles distant.</p> + +<p>So the only thing for me to do was to sit down on an old rotten +log, that I had at last stumbled on, and wait for more light. The +wild, scared thoughts and weird, horrible sounds that went through +my head while I sat on that log in that dark woods that long, long +night, can never be described. There were owls, bats, and other +solemn birds of the night, sitting on the adjacent trees, hooting in +chorus, and flying past a crazy-looking, wild boy of the woods, sitting +like a knot on a log, wild-eyed, and with frantic gestures that +would become a person with an attack of mania, who attempts +blindly to protect and defend himself from imaginary enemies that +would fly uncomfortably close.</p> + +<p>I didn't see any big game. I didn't want to see any. I was not +hunting; but I imagined there was a whole menagerie of such things +around me. We hear a great deal about the silence and the majestic +grandeur of the forest, but that's all poetry. There are more noises—and +the most horrible noises—when alone, to be heard in a deep +wood on a still, quiet night than ever I heard in the streets of any +city at midnight.</p> + +<p>It was these sounds that stirred the blood in my veins and kept +the cold chills running down my back, so that I sat there and shook +like one with an attack of ague.</p> + +<p>When I could stand it no longer, and found it impossible to +move in either direction, I climbed a tree. In getting up a pretty +good-sized tree, I felt that I was out of the world and away from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span> +the danger of crawling and creeping things, though the owls +became more curious and inquisitive than ever. That wood was +full of owls. I was more afraid of them that night than of panthers—or +Rebels either.</p> + +<p>Once up in the tree, I was kept busily employed with the necessity +for constantly changing my position. I couldn't get "fixed" +comfortably on any limb or crotch in that old tree, and I verily +believe that I "adapted myself" to every position that it afforded.</p> + +<p>From my elevated position in the top branch of the tree I could +look out through the tops of adjoining trees. It was before the +season for the leaves to be thick in that section.</p> + +<p>In one direction, I discovered what I had at first taken for a +heavy cloud on the horizon were the outlines of the mountain. +There were no signs, from my outlook, of the house and road I had +seen last before coming into the woods. There was nothing whatever +to serve as a guide, except the little North star. I could only +wait for daylight, which must soon come. It seemed as if I had +been ages in the woods. I looked eagerly for the breaking of the +gray dawn, but I had been straining my eyes in the wrong direction, +expecting in my dazed condition to see the first glimmer come +from the western horizon. It was when I looked back of me, with +a sigh of discouragement, that I first beheld the light of a coming +dawn.</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Night's candles were burnt out,<br /> +And jocund day stood tiptoe<br /> +On the misty mountain top."<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>In a moment I became renewed with the old life and fire of +those boyish days. Only stopping long enough to get a good view +of the surrounding hills or mountains, I was able to discover that +the Gap, from whence I came, was, apparently, closer than when I +had first taken to the woods in the early twilight.</p> + +<p>If I didn't know exactly where to go to find the Union pickets, +I saw quite plainly where <i>not</i> to go, and knowing that I'd not make +any mistake in getting further away from the Gap, I crawled hastily +out of the tree, and in another moment was hopping along +through the woods, which were yet quite dark down on the ground.</p> + +<p>The uneasy night birds had flown. I heard a chicken crow,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span> +though it may have been a mile distant. I steered as clear of that +signal of the proximity of a house as a sailor does of a fog-horn. As +the light began to break through the tops of the trees, I was able to +make better headway. The big mountain, that had cast a shadow +over the world of woods all that night, loomed up grandly in the +gray dawn; the Gap stood out as clearly defined in its profile as if +it had been cut out by a chisel. There was nothing stirring anywhere +but me; all the noises had apparently gone to sleep, and I, +recognizing by former experience that the early morning is the +safest time to travel in an enemy's lines, was making the best use I +could of the "limited time at my disposal" before the Rebel officers +would wake up and start their scouts out after me.</p> + +<p>Without meeting with any obstructions, except the fallen logs +and bushes, I must have traveled a mile, when I suddenly emerged +from the woods on to a path, or mountain road, which led in the +same direction I wished to go. I cautiously followed this until it led +into another, a larger and apparently a more generally used wagon +road, which I knew must be the main road leading up to the Gap +from Kentucky. This, I knew, if followed up, would bring me +into the Union lines. But it would also be likely to be used by any +Rebel cavalrymen or scouts who might be sent out from the Gap.</p> + +<p>Not having any means of defense with me, in case I should be +confronted by an armed scout, I would simply have been at his mercy +and been led back to the Gap, like a sheep with a rope about its neck. +On this account, I was obliged to keep myself under cover of the +woods, but, fearing to trust myself again in the deep woods too far, +I scouted along the edge as near the road as I dared, keeping the +open road in view all the time.</p> + +<p>In this way I moved along slowly enough, watching eagerly up +and down the road for some signs of a picket in blue in one direction +and a scout in gray in the other.</p> + +<p>Soldiers seemed to be awfully scarce out there that morning. +I thought I'd never get out of the woods, or find relief from the +long strain on my nerves, my legs, and my stomach. Not seeing +anything in either direction for so long, I at last, to help myself +along faster and with less difficulty, boldly came out to the road, +and, with one good, long look behind me, started to walk ahead at +a double-quick gait.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span></p> + +<p>I had not gone far when, stopping to listen, as was my habit on +such occasions, I was startled to hear what I supposed were horses' +feet behind me. In a moment I was in the woods at the side of the +road, where my long jumps made such a noise in the dry undergrowth +that I had to stop and lie down.</p> + +<p>I saw two gray coats coming up the road together, both of them +on foot. Dropping myself to the ground as suddenly as if shot, +just where I stood, I lay for a few seconds in a tremor of fright, +the only sound audible being my heart wildly beating.</p> + +<p>As the two men passed by me on the road, they were talking in a +hurried way between themselves, and my presence was not discovered. +I lifted my head far enough to look after them when they passed. +I saw that they were none other than two men from our own Rebel +company of Maryland Artillery; but, worst of all, one of the two +was Lanyard, my old Richmond mate and chum; the other was a +fat, young German, who had been a baker in Richmond.</p> + +<p>The first thought in my mind was that these two fellows had +been sent out on the road after me. Any person would have so +surmised under like circumstances, and, like myself, would have +been terror-stricken at the thought of being so close to them. It +was not comforting, either, to know that they were now not only on +my path, but they were ahead of me.</p> + +<p>What to do under the suddenly-changed condition of things +was only a momentary puzzle. I argued to myself that they could +not go very far ahead on that road without running into the Union +pickets, and that, if they were not captured by them, they would +soon be coming back over that path. In either case, I should avoid +the road, and endeavor once again to get through to the Union +lines through the woods only, while the daylight lasted.</p> + +<p>The thought that perhaps our forces had fallen back some distance, +or that they might have wholly abandoned that part of the +country, was not comforting. While I did not at first understand +why Lanyard, of all others, should be the person detailed to intercept +me, I began to imagine that his notion was that I had innocently +strayed off and been lost, and that his purpose was only to +aid me in a friendly way, in my return to the Rebel camp.</p> + +<p>While walking through the wood, some such thoughts as I have +tried to describe were crowding each other through my now fren<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span>zied +brain, when the current was suddenly changed by hearing the +wild barking of dogs ahead, in the direction my pursuers had taken +on the road.</p> + +<p>If there is one thing more than any other that a scout detests, +while he is quietly pursuing his business, it's a barking dog.</p> + +<p>Crawling carefully toward the sound, I could see some smoke +above the trees, and a little beyond, on the opposite side of the road, +a house. That was enough for me. I wanted some breakfast +terribly just then, but I had no use for any more houses. What I +wanted to see was a camp of soldiers with their tents and the Stars +and Stripes floating over them.</p> + +<p>It took a long time to flank that insignificant little old house, +and made my legs very tired, but I succeeded in accomplishing the +task at last, and had the satisfaction of looking <i>back</i> at it from a +hill-top on the road, some distance inside, or beyond it.</p> + +<p>I saw then what surprised me no little. In the road and all +about the front of the house that I had passed, were quite a crowd +of men and some horses tied to the fences alongside. The men +seemed to be armed, and they wore blue clothes. I wasn't exactly +sure of this from the distance. I remembered my mistake in Virginia +in trusting too much to the blue clothes, and determined that +this time I should be sure the wearer of the blue was a Union soldier +and not a disguised Rebel.</p> + +<p>I hoped sincerely and prayed that I had passed a Union outpost, +and was at last within the United States. That they had not seen +me was evident, from the indifferent and careless manner of the +men. I judged, too, that the dogs had announced the approach of +Lanyard and the baker to the house, and that they were both +detained there.</p> + +<p>I trudged ahead, hugging the road closely, meeting with no one +in that lonely country, until so tired out and exhausted, after my +night and now half of the day, that I was forced to sit down by the +roadside to rest. I don't think I went to sleep, but must have +dozed off, so completely exhausted had I become. I dreamed of my +capture, the tramp of horses' feet, and heard the angry voices, +which I had imagined belonged to a gang of Rebels, who were dragging +my helpless body to a good place for a hanging.</p> + +<p>In this nightmare in the broad daylight I was as helpless as if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span> +tied hand and foot, and could not utter a word, but blindly submitted +to their brutal treatment, because too weak to resist. Aroused +by the approaching sound of persons' voices, before I could get to +my feet two horsemen in blue, armed with carbines, their sabers +rattling, were almost up to me. In front of the two cavalrymen +walking along, not like captured prisoners, but gayly laughing and +talking with the mounted men, were my two comrades in arms—Lanyard +and the baker.</p> + +<p>I lay perfectly stunned. I dare not, I could not, move for an +instant, when they quickly came almost abreast of me, and I jumped +up so suddenly as to scare the nearest horse, so that it shied against +its companion.</p> + +<p>I spoke first, with the desperation of an outlaw challenging a +helpless traveler: "Are you Union or Confederate?"</p> + +<p>Before he could answer my question, which had been put as +pointedly as if demanding money or life, Lanyard, with a shout of +pleased surprise, came over to me, saying:</p> + +<p>"Bully for us! We are all right, my old chum," and, turning to +the cavalryman, who seemed to be getting ready for a combat or a +conspiracy, he said:</p> + +<p>"This is my old chum that I was telling about," then turning +to me, for I was not yet fully satisfied in my own mind—"Why, in +h—, didn't you tell me, so that we could come together?"</p> + +<p>Then, after seeing that I was indeed O. K. at last, and, sure +enough, under the guard of the troopers of the United States +Army, I was ready for an Indian dance, even though I was so tired +that my legs would scarcely carry me along.</p> + +<p>The youngest of the troopers was a handsome boy of about nineteen +or twenty, who informed me that he was a Kentuckian, and +one of the company of Kentucky Cavalryman in the Union Army.</p> + +<p>I hope this young chap and his companion are living yet somewhere +in the beautiful blue-grass region of Kentucky, and that they +may see this book, and will be kind enough to give me their present +address.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i367.jpg" width="600" height="387" alt=""ARE YOU UNION OR CONFEDERATE?"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"ARE YOU UNION OR CONFEDERATE?"</span> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>RETURN HOME FROM CUMBERLAND GAP—MEETING WITH PARSON +BROWNLOW ON HIS TRIP TO WASHINGTON.</h3> + + +<p>I knew by that particular instinct, born of a soldier's daily +experience of months among his own kind, that the two Cavalrymen +I had seen coming up the road toward me were not from the +army I had just left, or I should have kept quiet. Probably it was +because I remembered, at the first glance of them, that I had not +seen any such looking troopers in the Rebel Army, either about the +Gap or in the interior country beyond, through which I had so +recently traveled miles on horseback.</p> + +<p>After some "mutual explanations and introductions," with a +general hand-shaking all around, wherein it was laughingly agreed +among them that my Jack Shepard manner of jumping out of +a bush to demand satisfaction was a good joke—on my part—as +they supposed it, I "fell in" with Lanyard and Baker, and +we marched on ahead of the two cavalrymen toward the Union +camp. Though I was tired and well-nigh exhausted, I walked +ahead so briskly and stepped out so joyously that I was almost +keeping the horses on a trot to keep up with us. This fact elicited +from the older of the Kentucky cavalrymen an observation to his +comrade that comprised about all the words that I remember to +have heard him speak while in his company:</p> + +<p>"My h—, don't that fellow travel!"</p> + +<p>I am not prepared to say whether the renewed motive power was +supplied through a fear of the Rebels coming after us in force, or a +wild desire to get to a place where the blue soldiers were to be seen +in greater numbers.</p> + +<p>As we walked along together, Lanyard gave me a minute and +funny account of the manner in which my disappearance was +accounted for by my late companions in arms at the Gap.</p> + +<p>"Well, by G—! I never thought you were a real Yankee. Why +didn't you say something to me before? I was your best friend +always, you sucker." Then, with a loud laugh and a slap on my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span> +tired back that nearly knocked me off my feet, he made a break +for the little, fat Dutch baker.</p> + +<p>"Say, Baker, ain't you just playing off as a Dutchman? Come +now; let's hear you talk plain United States. You are in a free +country."</p> + +<p>The baker had suddenly dodged to the other side of the road +when the hilarious Lanyard readied his ponderous claws toward +him, and only grinned back, in broad Dutch, his reply to the suggestion. +After a little more of this sort of sky-larking, as he called +it, he cooled down sufficiently to talk in a more rational way, but +kept on using, by way of emphasis, as Parson Brownlow would say, +"Good mouth-filling oaths, that would blister a sailor's lips."</p> + +<p>"Why, blank it—I only shipped with this gang of pirates until +we could reach some civilized port where I could get ashore amongst +white people."</p> + +<p>Lanyard was opposed to "d——d niggers," and had somehow +become full of the contrary notion, that the South was fighting to +retain the colored population, and the North wished to free them, +merely that they could be sent, as he said, "back to Africa, where +they belong."</p> + +<p>"You were not missed from camp last night until it was time +to turn in; the duffer that was on watch up on the volcano back +there reported to his partner, who took his place, that you had +said you were sick, and had gone down to the house below to get a +hot supper, so he told him not to shoot at you when you came in to +roost.</p> + +<p>"Our old chum, the Colonel, you know, he got excited because +you didn't show up, so he had to turn us out to go down to the old +house to fetch you in. I told him it was no use; that you would be +too drunk to walk up the hill; but he made me take a mate out of +our mess, and started us out after you. We couldn't get by the +watchman. We told the blasted fool that we had to go down the +hill to find you, but he kept fooling with his gun, and swore he'd +sink us if we tried to run out of port.</p> + +<p>"Pretty soon the racket and loud talk brought an officer and a +whole gang of fellows on to us, and we were taken into the guard-house. +We had to stay there half the night before any of our fellows +came to help us out; then the Colonel and Elkton figured<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span> +around and, by a lot of talking, they were allowed to take us back to +our shanty to finish the rest of the night.</p> + +<p>"Now I wanted to get out of that country and go to New York, +terrible bad, but, by G—, I never would have thought of going down +into that wood to find a path to New York. I was just going to +wait until the Yankees came up to fight us, and then I was going +right out to join them in spite of h—; but I wanted to see them first. +Well, while we were in the guard-house that night, and our Lieutenant +was talking with the other officer about getting us out, I heard +them say something about your 'being in the Yankee camp before +we started after you.' This set me thinking about your being +there and me left in the Rebel guard-house.</p> + +<p>"On the way back to our shanty, I asked the Lieutenant if he +thought you were captured by the Yanks, and he said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! he's got lost, and will turn up all right when it gets +daylight."</p> + +<p>"But the Lieutenant was in a damn bad humor about your going +off, and kept talking to the Sergeant about it being "queer" that +you should come up from Knoxville and go straight out into that +country alone. The Colonel was satisfied that you were lost, but +the Lieutenant said the officers up at the guard-house were sure you +had gone straight to the Yankee Camp, as they were out on the road +only a mile and you must have been among them before night.</p> + +<p>"The Lieutenant talked to them as if it might be so, because you +had been having a row with the Captain again, and it was hard to +tell what you had been doing last. That is about the way they +kept talking about you.</p> + +<p>"I began to think, if the Yankees were only a mile off, that I +would like to go and see them, and not wait for them to come up +and see us. So that night, after we got back to our quarters, I told +the Lieutenant I would start out at daybreak and hunt you up, +my notion being that you had left for good and I wanted to join +you. The duffer that was with me swore he would not go along +with me down the hill, if the Yankees were only a mile off. At this +the Dutchy wakened up from his sleep and bravely volunteered to go +along with me." Then Lanyard with a contemptuous look, turned to +Baker and said: "Say, Dutchy, you blasted rascal, you played me +for a marine, didn't you?" But getting only another broad smile<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span> +from Baker for a reply, he continued talking, much to the +amusement of our Guard of Cavalrymen, his tongue and jaw keeping +pace with our quick steps.</p> + +<p>"Well, to make a long story short, I laid awake all the balance +of the night in thinking it over. I got our old chum to fix up a +plan with the officers to allow me to go out to hunt you up; and +just as soon as I could bundle up a little, we made the break, and +came straight down the road to that house. They told us you had +not been there that night. After taking my bearings, we grabbed +the anchor, set full sail, and ran out the road until these chaps hailed +us back at the house there.</p> + +<p>"Dutchy kept right along side of me; he wasn't a bit afraid of +the Yankees, he said, and wanted to go ahead." Then with a +look of assumed disgust at the baker for having so shrewdly +deceived him by pretending bravery in meeting Yankees, while his +intention all the time was simply to conceal his real motive, which +had been to escape, his tongue ran on with an amusing soliloquy, +and, partly addressing himself to the cavalryman about 'the deceitful, +lying, treacherous marines he—the guileless, innocent sailor +boy—had been compelled to associate with for so long a time against +his inclination.'</p> + +<p>This cavalry was part of an outpost who were stationed at this +point on the road nearest the rebels, as is the usual custom; they +were some miles in advance of the infantry or the headquarters, of +the camp. We learned from our Guard that their principal duty +consisted in receiving and escorting to headquarters the scores of +Unionist refugees, who were constantly coming into their lines day +and night, in an exhausted condition, through the passes of these +mountains. Most of these Unionists were promptly enlisted into +the Tennessee regiments, then in camp with the Union army. By +this means was solved a difficult problem for the officers, as to their +maintenance, when driven away from their homes. (The Government +was supposed to guarantee protection to them in their homes.) +Under this head, or in this classification, we were placed by the +Union officer with whom we first came in contact.</p> + +<p>Some time ago, in looking over a volume of the published War +Records, by a mere accident I turned to a page referring to some +operations about Cumberland Gap, and, because of its familiarity to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span> +me, I took the time to hunt up, as nearly as I could, some of the +official records bearing on the time of my escape. On a certain +page, which I could give herein, is an official report of the general +officer in command of the Union forces, announcing the arrival of +"three men" who had escaped from the Rebel army that date, and +who had given him valuable information of the plans and the forces +of the Rebels in his front.</p> + +<p>As I have previously stated, I have no memory for dates, but +my impression is that our information, at that time, was of service +to General Grant, who was then operating in the West, in this, +that I had satisfied the general officer, from my account of the location +of the Rebel troops, their guns and earthworks in the Gap, +that it could not be captured by assault, by any reasonable force in +front. In the words of Longfellow, adapted to the occasion:</p> + +<p> +"Try not the Pass, the young man said."<br /> +</p> + +<p>And they didn't. The force that had been idly lying out there, +where provisions and ammunition had to be hauled for miles upon +miles over the miserable Kentucky roads, soon after changed their +base, and were placed where they could do the most good.</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon when we reached the camp of the +Union forces. I was tired—very tired, and most awfully hungry, +too, when we got in sight of a real camp of soldiers, which was, in +those days, laid out in regular form according to the books, in rows +upon rows of tents in the woods; a neat clean parade ground, from +the center of which rose a tall staff, on the very pinnacle of which +was flying—old glory—the Stars and Stripes.</p> + +<p>There are moments in every soldier's life time that will never be +effaced from the memory, and this was one that, in my heart to-day, +is as bright and happy as it was twenty-five years ago. I can not +describe my feelings; I will not attempt it. Those who have tried to +read my experiences for the months preceding will understand, but +only feebly, how heartfelt was my gratitude in that supreme +moment of my life. It was as if I had escaped an ignoble death, +but, generally, my heart was filled with unselfish pride and pleasure +at seeing floating up there, above the army, the flag that for months +upon months I had heard decried until sometimes I begun to think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span> +that there was no one to defend it but me, and I was all alone among +enemies, and must grin and bear the daily abuse in silence. I don't +believe I spoke a word to anybody for an hour.</p> + +<p>Near the flag were a few large tents standing by themselves, +which were pointed out to us as the headquarters, where we were +to be conducted as soon as we had washed off some of the dirt and +dust. In front of these headquarter tents were seated three officers +comfortably smoking pipes and chatting together pleasantly.</p> + +<p>We were transferred to an infantry guard, being still held as +prisoners. After giving us plenty of time to put ourselves in as good +shape as we could, and being kindly tendered all the aid they could +give us, we were put between files of neatly uniformed soldiers. +When I made some remark to one of them about going to unnecessary +trouble about us, as we were only too glad to get there, and +weren't going to leave them, he explained with a laugh, as he fixed +his bayonet to the gun: "That's all right; we know that; but the +'old man' would kill us if we should march you fellows up there in +anything but the regular military style."</p> + +<p>So, after putting us in about the shape that the recruit occupies +at his muster into the G. A. R., a sprightly young officer of the guard, +with sash and sword, gave the order to forward, and we were marched +across the parade ground toward headquarters.</p> + +<p>As we passed almost under the flag, I looked up, and, without +a thought that anyone would see me, I involuntarily took +off my old rebel hat. Our appearance was, of course, attracting +very general attention in the camp, and, I presume, some of +them witnessed the humble salute to the old flag, which was the +more marked as I wore the gray clothes of a rebel and a traitor to +the flag.</p> + +<p>To my surprise, the "old man," as the General was called, was +quite an ordinary-looking little gentleman. It was General Carter, +of East Tennessee. As I have since been advised, he had been a +naval officer in the United States Naval Service for some years before +the war.</p> + +<p>The Guard, after properly presenting us, were dismissed; we +were pleasantly invited to take seats on a log, and for an hour I did +most of the talking, but that Union officer only gathered from me my +East Tennessee experience, which was of immediate use to him; he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span> +was told nothing whatever of my former relations with Washington +and the Secretary of War.</p> + +<p>There was a young fellow on the staff of the General who +exerted himself in a very pleasant, easy way to make us comfortable. +To him I was particularly indebted for some personal favors, that +I have never had an opportunity of repaying, except at this late date +to publicly acknowledge my obligation.</p> + +<p>There was not a dollar of any kind of money between the three +of us, so we had need of friends then. In this camp I first saw a +greenback, which was presented to me by this young officer.</p> + +<p>After the General was satisfied that he had pumped us all dry +of information, he gave the necessary orders for our entertainment.</p> + +<p>We were taken in charge by a couple of jolly fellows of an +Indiana regiment, one of whom had been a river man, and had +some acquaintance with that section of the Ohio river, the headwaters +of which I had started out from with Andy Johnson's train +some months before. The "boys" gave us a hearty supper of <i>coffee</i>—real +coffee.</p> + +<p>It is sufficient to say here that the boys of that Indiana regiment +were clever fellows; they treated us bang-up, as our fellows always +did when a poor, hungry devil in gray strayed in to take supper +with them.</p> + +<p>There were one or two exceptions, as there always is in every +company, who run around to do the scavenger work. I was tired—I +believe I have said so once before—and, as soon as possible, after +the grub had been swallowed, I hunted a place to stretch myself out +for a rest. I felt safe enough, and knew then that, for the first +night in months, I could lie down to sleep in perfect security, not +dreading or fearing what the next day would bring forth.</p> + +<p>One of those curs, that was always hanging around to make +themselves noticed, seemed to have taken offense at what he supposed +was an intentional slight or failure to recognize his importance; +he was, I think, a First Sergeant of a company—one of those +fellows who have a grievance against everybody because he wasn't +the Colonel. I don't really remember what I could have said or +done to have brought upon my defenseless head his vengeance; but +it's my impression now that, in his positive, disagreeable way, he +had been boastfully referring to the Rebel soldiers in their front as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span> +being of no consequence—you all know how some fools talk about +the enemy. It's barely possible that I had resented his estimate of +the ability of the Rebels I had just left. I had been among them a +good while, and knew something of their character, and it was a +weakness with me to attempt to defend them at such a time; but I +reckon I was as big a fool as this fellow himself, and talked too +much in an honest, candid way about the earnestness and patriotic +zeal and enthusiasm, as well as the undoubted courage of the Rebel +soldiers.</p> + +<p>I reckon that I was so tired that I was cross-grained at the persistence +of the fellow urging himself upon me. I was wakened +from a sound sleep by a Corporal with an armed guard, who said he +had orders to put me in the guard-house. Hardly realizing my +position, in my dazed condition, I mechanically followed the +Corporal out into the cool, night air, which had the effect of awakening +me fully to the changed conditions in my circumstances.</p> + +<p>It seemed so like a dream that I could scarcely realize that I +was being escorted to a guard-house. The Corporal kindly intimated +to me that there were fears that I would get away. I could get no +further satisfaction from him or the guard, except that the matter +would be explained in the morning.</p> + +<p>The fact that a Sentinel stood near me with a loaded musket did +not at all interfere with my slumber; it rather had the effect of +inducing more sound sleep, as I felt a certain personal security from +the Rebels as long as I was honored with a private protector of my +own—while I slept. In the morning a good breakfast was sent +me. Lanyard called, but was not permitted to speak to me, and +walked off swearing to himself. After guard-mounting, I was conducted +to the General's tent, where I met the young staff officer, +who, in the most brotherly manner, said:</p> + +<p>"Mr. ——, the General was disposed to give you special consideration, +because it seems that he had been impressed by your +manner and your voluntary salute to our colors yesterday, that you +were a born loyalist; but he is informed by Captain —— and +some member of Company —, Indiana, that you were detected in +giving expression to the most traitorous sentiments, and you +declared your belief of the ultimate success of the Rebels, which, you +know, is not the way you talked to us yesterday."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span></p> + +<p>My manner and the expression of my face must have satisfied +the young officer at once. Really, I was too much taken aback +to speak for a moment, but, when my tongue did get loosened, it +gave expression to such violent language that the young officer +laughed heartily at my earnestness. I denied most positively the +use of any such words, and demanded the authority. The officer +simply said:</p> + +<p>"Well! The General said you were nobody's fool, and I didn't +think you would have talked that way in our camp;" then, turning +to an orderly, he directed him to bring to headquarters a certain +person, whose name I am sorry I am unable to give. It was the +blatant First Sergeant who had forced himself upon me. When +face to face with him, in the presence of the General and several +other persons, I was able to so completely demolish his statements +that his discomfiture was enjoyed by everybody around the camp. +I was indignant, and I talked badly. I was apt to be that way then, +and my tongue and gestures toward my <i>vis-a-vis</i> created so much +amusement I was allowed to indulge myself to the fullest extent. +It was a mistake of mine. The Sergeant went away humiliated +and full of revengeful intent. I was released from arrest and +joined Lanyard in the camp. The affair had created something +of a breeze, as every soldier in camp had heard of the arrest. +While in a tent, surrounded by a crowd of boys who were congratulating +me, an officer with a drawn sword rushed into the crowd +and in an instant put the point of his sword against my breast, +with a wild oath, as he grabbed for my throat, declaring he would kill +me if I did not retract every word I said to the General about his +First Sergeant.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 390px;"> +<img src="images/i263.jpg" width="391" height="600" alt="IN AN INSTANT HE PUT THE POINT OF HIS SWORD AGAINST +MY BREAST." title="" /> +<span class="caption">IN AN INSTANT HE PUT THE POINT OF HIS SWORD AGAINST +MY BREAST.</span> +</div> + +<p>I have said that, in cases of sudden and dangerous emergency, I +was always able to be cool, while I get terribly rattled in anticipation +of imaginary danger. So it was that, in this case, I was the +only cool one in the crowd. Looking straight in the Captain's eye, +and wholly disregarding his sword, I said to him, calmly: "I am +unarmed and a prisoner."</p> + +<p>At this, one of the men present, though only an enlisted man, +attempted to interfere in my behalf, which only seemed to further +enrage the officer, who turned from me to glare at the common +soldier.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the mean time some one had run over to headquarters and +told the General and staff that I had been killed by this officer. In +a moment the young staff officer made his appearance on the scene, +and my life was again saved. The explanation was, that the Indiana +Captain was a brother-in-law of the First Sergeant whom I had +discomfited. I was politely requested to accompany the young staff +officer to the General's tent where the matter was explained.</p> + +<p>I have seen military men awfully mad, but it was the first time I +ever beheld a General get so angry that he turned as white as a +dead man; why, he couldn't speak at all, but simply walked off; and +those who had not seen his face would have been led to imagine that +he was simply indifferent. I was invited to sit down near the +headquarters' tent. In a very few moments—less than it takes to +tell it here—that Indiana Captain's sword was taken from him, he +was in arrest, in disgrace for having been guilty of one of the most +cowardly unofficer-like acts that can be charged to a soldier—that +of assaulting a defenseless prisoner.</p> + +<p>That afternoon, the Colonel of the Indiana regiment spent a +couple of hours with the General, in attempting to palliate the Captain's +offense, but it was no use. I could not hear what they said, +but could see that the little General kept shaking his head constantly +in a savage negative, that indicated his feelings.</p> + +<p>This affair created such a stir in the camp that it was thought +best to send us away at once. So, that evening, all three of us were +marched under the same style of guard with fixed bayonets to the +camp of an Ohio regiment, located about a mile distant.</p> + +<p>In due time we reached Lexington. Here the officer transferred +us to the charge of the sick soldiers. It so happened that, just +before reaching the town of Lexington, we had all stopped for a +noon rest at a point near which was a fine, old-fashioned mansion +house, belonging to a large farm. The house, as is the style of that +country, was well supplied with verandas and porches. In the rear +was quite a little village of whitewashed log-cabins, which I recognized +as the negro quarters. The stone spring-house was in a little +ravine convenient to the barn, where we all went to get a drink of +cool water. While seated around on the big, flat stones, enjoying +the cool, refreshing water, an old gentleman, tall and patriarchal-looking, +walked toward us, and, in his courteous manner, intro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span>duced +himself to the rough-looking crowd that had taken possession +of his spring-house, as "the farmer who lived here," pointing back +to his house, and politely asked if we required anything more to make +us comfortable. For one, I felt abashed and uncomfortable, but +Lanyard spoke up and suggested that: "We would like to try a +little of the Kentucky whisky that we heard so much about."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, certainly, sir;" and turning to a grinning colored +"boy," who was quite a gray old rat, he directed him to "fetch the +brown jug down."</p> + +<p>This kindly reception of the sailor's suggestion served to make +the old gentleman exceedingly popular with the whole crowd. The +colored man was anxious to be agreeable also, and, with quite a +frisky manner for one of his age, he soon trotted back with a big +jug and two tin cups.</p> + +<p>"Wait on the gentlemen," was the brief order. The old darky +smiled all over when he saw the alacrity with which the boys +crowded toward the jug. I had never allowed myself to drink, and +when my turn came the old gentleman seemed to be offended at my +declining it, as if it were the quality of the whisky that I was +objecting to; he explained:</p> + +<p>"You need not be afraid of that, my boy, it's pure; the rye was +grown right over in that field, sir; I had it made myself, sir; it's +for my own family use, sir."</p> + +<p>To satisfy him I took hold of a tin cup and allowed the boy to +pour out a spoonful or two, intending to fill it up with water.</p> + +<p>"No use in that, sir; it don't need any water, sir."</p> + +<p>I gulped it down like a dose of medicine, and put a tin cup full +of water on top of it. It was the first time I had ever seen whisky +drank from a tin, but I saw lots of it come from the tin canteens +soon after.</p> + +<p>The effect on Lanyard was to make him talkative and somewhat +confidential with the genial old host. I didn't hear what was said, +but when we had separated, or the jug had been emptied, Lanyard +took me to one side and muttered in my ear, in a half-drunken +way, in great confidence that: "I've told the old man that you and +I were Confederate prisoners, and gave him a hint that we would be +glad to get a lunch." Then grabbing me by the arm, I was dragged +up to the house and made to sit down on the veranda with him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span> +I wasn't drunk—that's a fact—I could see peeping through the +window shades several pairs of bright eyes.</p> + +<p>I realized at a glance that it was our gray clothes that was the +attraction, and that the appearance of two <i>real</i> Confederates on +that porch was creating something of a sensation among the lady +occupants of that "Old Kentucky Home."</p> + +<p>In order to gratify my vanity, and to see the ladies, as well as a +desire to have some fun, I helped to keep up this delusion. Lanyard's +object was something good to eat.</p> + +<p>Lest there should be some misunderstanding on the part of our +officer and his companions as to our motives, I quietly gave them +the cue, and I admit now, with a sense of mortification, that we +shamefully imposed ourselves on the kind people of that home as +Confederates, and, through this means, we were so hospitably entertained +that the officer in command was induced to prolong his camp +in that grove all night.</p> + +<p>Several of us were furnished with an elegant supper of chicken +and corn cakes, while the officer and myself were agreeably entertained +by the ladies in the parlor during the long evening.</p> + +<p>There were, also, a couple of mules going back home on sick furlough. +These were tied on behind the wagon that was in front of +ours, being towed along in this way like a pair of solemn prisoners +of war.</p> + +<p>One of these mules was bigger than the other, but the little one +had the larger head and longer ears of the two, which gave to it a +peculiar, wise-looking expression of grave dignity. It was what +would be called a roan. I remember that, in our joking way, we had +lots of fun about its hide being about the color of the Rebel uniforms. +I reckon our loud and coarse remarks about this mule +must have hurt its feelings; at least, this is the only way in which I +can account for its subsequent vindictive conduct toward me.</p> + +<p>Those who have been in Kentucky—especially that part of Kentucky—will +know something about the roads. At this season of +the year they were simply awful—not so muddy, but just about as +rough as big rocks, and the exposed roots of large trees could make +them. The rains for ages back seemed to have washed out all the +bottom of earth, and had left exposed on the surface a network or +corduroy of roots, with the chinks filled in with stones. It wasn't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span> +pleasant riding in an army wagon over these roads, and we earned our +passage by walking. There was not sufficient room on that road +beside the wagon for a foot path, so we had to follow in the rear of +the wagons. In a long procession of wagons, mules, and soldiers, +sandwitched one behind the other, I was walking slowly, one afternoon, +with my head down, thinking over the happy escapes from +the many dangers through which I had been almost miraculously +preserved, and no doubt dreaming of the anticipated joys of a welcome +home, which was soon to be realized, when all of a sudden I +felt a quick rush of wind and dust thrown like a gust into my face; +at the same time the rim of my hat was barely touched by the +heels of that roan mule. The fellow who was beside me cried out +something about "looking out," and dragged me back into the heads +of the team following.</p> + +<p>This is not an attempt to be funny, but is set down here as a +most remarkable intervention of Providence—or my good angel—for +my safety. That mule kicked back over a clear space as +long as himself, and had correctly directed his heels right into +my face; had I been two inches closer, the blow would have been +received full on my forehead and must have fractured my skull with +its force.</p> + +<p>When we got into the town, or City of Lexington, about noon, +one day, we found the town full of people. It was, I think, court +week; anyway, the prisoner game was played on some of the citizens +here also, by Lanyard. In this way we were well cared for.</p> + +<p>It was night when we reached Cincinnati, where we were ferried +over the Ohio river and placed on Ohio soil. Here I was, at +last, free of all restraint, and permitted to do as I pleased. Lanyard +was still full of the genuine Kentucky bourbon, and that +night was lost to me forever.</p> + +<p>I usually hunted up in those days, on reaching a city, a telegraph +office, that I might announce to my folks at home, in this +spirited way, that I had again returned to the earth for a brief visit +to them. It was always a surprise to them to hear from me, after one +of these secret-service trips; they never knew exactly where I was, of +course, and could not make any calculations as to what point on the +earth my balloon would land me next. It will be remembered that +I had come upon them suddenly, after being widely advertised as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[352]</a></span> +having been hung by both the Rebels and our own officers at Fort +Pickens, some time previously, from New York. This time it was +from Cincinnati.</p> + +<p>Being one of the boys—that is, a telegrapher—I usually had +free access to the operating-rooms of the offices, where I frequently +met with some of the fraternity with whom I was well acquainted—by +wire. You know it is a fact that there are old acquaintances and +even intimate friends amongst telegraphers, who have never met +personally; their only method of knowing each other is through +the mysterious and magnetic pulse of the electric wave over the +wire.</p> + +<p>In the operating room of the Cincinnati office, up on a dingy +fourth floor, I found the night manager, a gentleman whom I had +known familiarly by wire, though I had never seen him before. +Introducing myself, I was at once made at home, and felt as if I +had met the first friend since my return. After giving him a brief +account of myself, I was courteously put in instant communication +with some of my old associates in the neighboring city, with whom +I was personally acquainted, and who had, by the way, heard of my +mysterious disappearance and subsequent adventures. For the time +being, all other business was laid to one side on that telegraph circuit +and the entire system was turned over to me.</p> + +<p>Remember, if you please, that I had not heard a single word +from home for over eight months. I did not, of course, know that +all were well. I almost dreaded to hear first that some one dear to +me had died during my long absence. I had sent some communications +through the blockade from Richmond, but this had been some +time before I left East Tennessee.</p> + +<p>Of course, no replies to these could be received by me. Now, +if the reader will put himself in my own, or my father's place, each +at the end of a wire five hundred miles long, and try to imagine, if +he can, the agony of suspense and fear that hung over me at that +hour, he will realize, in part, my feelings. My nerves were at such a +tension that, figuratively speaking, they were strung out as long as +that wire, that reached over miles of mountain and plain to my +Pennsylvania home. With my own hand trembling on the telegraph +key I sent my own message, as follows:</p> + +<p>"To father: I am here safe; are all well at home?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 390px;"> +<img src="images/i383.jpg" width="390" height="600" alt="TO FATHER: "I AM SAFE; ARE ALL WELL AT HOME?"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">TO FATHER: "I AM SAFE; ARE ALL WELL AT HOME?"</span> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[353]</a></span></p> + +<p>While waiting for the answer, which I knew must come soon, +the moments seemed hours of suspense, while I tried to entertain +my friends who were about me with a brief sketch of my adventurers, +one of the operators took from the wires and handed me +the reply, which I had failed to catch with my own ear while +engaged in the talk. He read aloud the exact words of a <i>bona fide</i> +message:</p> + +<p>"I had little hopes of ever seeing you again. Come straight +home. Your uncle A—— is dead. All the rest well.—Father."</p> + +<p>That was all. It was enough. All were well at home. The +uncle who had died in my absence was the one relative I had last +visited on the day I heard of the battle of Bull Run. I would like +here to tender a tribute to my father, but I feel that I am not competent +to do the subject justice.</p> + +<p>He still lives, an old patriarch, and will read these notes and +for the first time fully understand the entire story of his wayward +boy's adventures. My father was the one true constant friend of +my checkered career, and to him and his untiring interest in my +behalf I owe not only the preservation of my life, but what little I +have attained in this world. I can sincerely thank God, as Beecher +says, "That I was born of parents who gave me a sound constitution +and a noble example, and can never pay back what I got from my +parents. If I were able to raise a monument of gold higher than +heaven, it would be no expression of the debt of gratitude which I +owe them, for that which they unceasingly gave by the heritage of +their body and the heritage of their souls to me."</p> + +<p>That night we reached Pittsburgh, which had been my business +home for some years immediately preceding my war travels.</p> + +<p>My father's home was not at that time in Pittsburgh but a little +distance beyond.</p> + +<p>Early next morning I was around town, and soon enough found +plenty of my old chums. I was only in danger then of meeting too +many people who were anxious to hear my story from my own lips. +Luckily for me, perhaps, I was captured by Mr. William Moreland, +an old associate, who was then the district attorney, and through +his advice and management I was preserved from my friends, and +urged not to talk too much until I had first reported to Washington.</p> + +<p>It will be remembered that I had suffered previously by giving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[354]</a></span> +the New York papers an account of my Florida campaign in +advance of my report to Washington; and, with a desire to profit by +this experience, I refrained from giving away my story.</p> + +<p>At my father's house, on the sunset side of the Allegheny Mountains +close by Cresson Springs, I remained in comparative retirement +but for a few days.</p> + +<p>While I was at home, it so happened that Parson Brownlow was +coming up through Ohio on his way to Washington, after his release +or banishment from home. He was having quite extensive ovations +at all the principal cities, delivering at each place one of his characteristic +speeches. One day, rather unexpectedly to me, we were told +that the Parson would pass our place on a certain train in a few hours. +I determined to see him, and, if possible, get a speech for our townspeople +while the train stopped. Quite a crowd had gathered about +the platform by the time the train reached us. We discovered the +Parson on the engine. The railroad officials, who were quite attentive +to this class of travelers, usually tender their distinguished +guests a seat on the engine, for a better view of the scenery as the +train is whirled over the big mountain.</p> + +<p>I climbed up on the engine as soon as the train stopped, followed +by my father and several others. The Parson looked surprised, +and I imagined for a moment that when he saw the familiar gray +clothes making a break on him, followed by a crowd of eager persons +so closely, that he recalled some of his former Knoxville +experiences among the Rebels.</p> + +<p>Mr. Brownlow had changed considerably since I had seen him, +when he was wrapped up in his old shawl in his Knoxville parlor. +He was dressed in a new suit of black broadcloth, and wore a high +silk hat, gloves, etc., that gave him quite a clerical appearance.</p> + +<p>Without speaking a word for a moment, so surprised was he, he +simply reached his hand toward me with a blank stare of astonishment +on his countenance. To my hearty, laughing greeting, he +soon cordially replied, recognizing me as his interviewer with Miss +Craig, and, but for the fact that the train stopped only a moment, +we would have had a good speech from him.</p> + +<p>When the train reached Altoona, twenty-five miles beyond, +where the party were met by G. W. Childs and Mr. Stewart, as a +committee of reception from the City of Philadelphia, and, in reply<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[355]</a></span> +to their address of welcome, Mr. Brownlow pleasantly referred to +"meeting one of his rebel guard up on the mountain," declaring +that the Rebel ghost followed him, phantom-like, every place he +went, night and day, always awake.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[356]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>ARRIVAL AT WASHINGTON—MEETS HON. JOHN COVODE—J. W. +FORNEY AND SENATORS—TESTIMONY BEFORE COMMITTEE ON +THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR—REMARKABLE INTERVIEWS WITH +SECRETARY STANTON—A VISIT TO MR. LINCOLN, AT WASHINGTON—THE +TELEGRAPH CORPS—AGAIN ORDERED TO THE FRONT, +AT FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA.</h3> + + +<p>It was my good fortune at the time of my return home to meet +with the Hon. A. A. Barker, of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, who had +been a friend of the family all my life, who subsequently represented +that district of Pennsylvania in Congress. Mr. Barker may +be described as being in every sense a large man. He was one of +those great six-feet, bone-and-sinew fellows, who, as he used to say, +"come from way down in Maine, where I was bred and born." +He was not only large in stature, but broad and liberal otherwise, +with a head and heart in correct proportion. He lives yet, an honored +citizen and a veritable Daniel in the politics of his adopted +State, and will, I have no doubt, be glad to read in print the history +of his <i>protege</i> of the early days of the war.</p> + +<p>Mr. Barker took me in charge for the time being, accompanying +me to Washington at his own expense, where I was to meet with +my former friend, the Hon. John Covode. We went by way of +Philadelphia, in order to again meet Parson Brownlow, who was +then a guest of Mr. George W. Childs.</p> + +<p>The purpose of the visit was to obtain from Mr. Brownlow some +additional endorsement from him, of my being in Knoxville, that +my friends desired to use in Washington.</p> + +<p>In those days I cared but little for such matters, as proofs or +evidence of work I had endeavored to perform, which, as a rule, we +left to others to look after in my interest. It would have been better +for me in those days, perhaps, if I had been blessed with a little +bit of ordinary business management, but I confess here that I had +but a small allowance of "business sense," as that term is applied +to selfish interests. I am thankful, however, for a good memory,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[357]</a></span> +and really believe that, after a little quiet reflection, I can bring to +my mind nearly everything that happened to me during the war—that +is worth remembering.</p> + +<p>I was induced to say that I had but little common sense, by the +reflection, after a lapse of twenty-five years, that I must have shown +a lamentable lack of policy, by traveling about so defiantly at this +time in Pennsylvania and Washington, clothed in a dirty Rebel +uniform. This in itself was bad enough, but I was frequently so +indiscreet as to show some boyish resentment toward every person +whom I imagined was showing an idle curiosity as to my history.</p> + +<p>I became contrary, or, if you please, cranky, and indignantly +refused to act upon the suggestion of friends, that I should make a +change in my dress, declaring stubbornly that I should face the +President in that uniform—and I did—at the War Department +office in Washington; but it was a foolish thing to do, and gave me +a heap of trouble subsequently, as we shall see.</p> + +<p>One of the most unlucky or unfortunate changes that had +occurred during my long absence in Richmond was, that Simon +Cameron had been relieved, as the Secretary of War, by the Hon. +E. M. Stanton.</p> + +<p>The kind and clever old Pennsylvania statesman, who had been +induced to take such an interest in my work, and to whom I was +directly responsible, was, at the time of my return, away off in St. +Petersburg, Russia, as Minister for the United States.</p> + +<p>Colonel Thomas A. Scott, who had been an Assistant Secretary +of War to Mr. Cameron, and whose personal endorsement to Mr. +Cameron had first set me going, had also been relieved by a Mr. P. +H. Watson, who was at the time Acting Assistant Secretary to Mr. +Stanton.</p> + +<p>My brother, Spencer, who, for some months previously, had been +in the employ of the War Department as a telegraph operator, and +whose relations with the Government officials were necessarily somewhat +of a confidential character, took me to his room in a boarding-house +on F street, where were living a number of War Department +clerks. Spencer thought the fact of my wearing the Rebel +uniform one of the best kind of jokes, and he, consequently, took +great delight in calling the attention of all his War Department +associates to the fact.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[358]</a></span></p> + +<p>My old and constant friend "Glory to God," as the Hon. John +Covode was called, was the only man of prominence in Washington +that I knew, or who had any knowledge of my previous undertakings. +He was a Member of Congress from a Pennsylvania District +adjoining my own home, near Pittsburgh. Congress was in +session at this time, and it so happened that, for some months previously +Mr. Covode had been stirring things up in the House at a +lively rate, by his persistent investigation of our military men and +movements in Virginia. There had been an investigation of Bull +Run, of Ball's Bluff massacre, of old Patterson, in Pennsylvania, +and, more recently, a great hubbub had been raised all over the country +about General McClellan's failure, or slowness, in moving "on +to Richmond" via Manassas.</p> + +<p>There was, indeed, a great deal of this sort of thing going on, +the details of which had been ground up and sifted through the +one joint "Committee on the Conduct of the War," of which Mr. +Covode was chairman. To make a long story short, all will see—to +use a vulgar term—that my arrival was "just nuts to Old Glory," +as some one told me. If an angel had dropped down from the sky +to corroborate the honest old man's assertion, it would not have +been more opportune.</p> + +<p>I had been inside the Rebel lines for months. I had obtained +the Rebel opinions, officially, of Manassas, after the battle, and knew +the exact strength of the Rebel Army was not <i>one-half</i> as large as +McClellan's scare had represented it to be. I had heard the comments +of the Rebel Secretary of War on Ball's Bluff massacre. Mr. +Covode could, and did, endorse me as a "reliable devil," as he put +it, in the committee room, and, of course, I was willing enough to +be of service to my old friend, and was glad that I was able to substantiate +nearly all of his statements.</p> + +<p>The morning of my arrival in Washington, I hunted up Mr. +Covode, and found him in his rooms at the old Avenue Hotel, the +large, plain, old affair, that once stood at the corner of Seventh and +Market Space. I was an early caller, and, without a card, knocked +at his door before he was out of bed. To his sleepy growl of +"Who's there?" I simply gave my name. There was only one +word of reply, "Helloa," in a loud emphatic tone; then in a more +moderate voice, he continued, as if talking to himself: "Wait a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[359]</a></span> +minute. I got word you were coming, and have been expecting +you every day."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i391.jpg" width="600" height="389" alt="HE SEEMED TO HAVE FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT DRESSING HIMSELF." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HE SEEMED TO HAVE FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT DRESSING HIMSELF.</span> +</div> + +<p>The door opened, and the great Pennsylvania statesman stood +before me—in his robe <i>de nuit</i>—grinning all over, with his hair all +mussed up and his bare legs sticking out under his shirt.</p> + +<p>He was about as funny a looking object as anything I had met +with in my travels. He wasn't embarrassed, but, as he shook hands, +I was drawn inside, and the door closed with a bang. All that was +said that morning would make quite a chapter.</p> + +<p>The circumstance which remains strongest in my mind to-day +is, that he sat on the edge of the bed, and asked question after question +in such an interested way that he seemed to me to have forgotten +all about dressing himself. I was for the time being more +interested in seeing him get some clothes on than in the fate of +McClellan's army.</p> + +<p>After breakfast, Mr. Covode took me to the Capitol, and the first +person I met there was Colonel J. W. Forney, then editor of the +Philadelphia <i>Press</i>, and also Secretary of the Senate. Mr. Forney +impressed me most favorably; in truth, I felt more at home with +him than with my old friend Covode—probably because Mr. Forney +had the tact of drawing out his subjects and was more able to practice +the suave gentleman than was the sturdy, honest old John. I +was for a time taken in charge by Mr. Forney, who, in turn, introduced +me to several Senators, among them the Hon. Edgar Cowan, +of Pennsylvania. I remember Mr. Forney saying, in an aside to +Senator Cowan, and the others to whom I was introduced, "He is +a capital subject." Mr. Forney did me another valuable service at +this time. Of course I had no money; I had been depending upon +the generous pocketbook of my good friend Barker. I made Mr. +Forney and Mr. Covode acquainted with my circumstances, by a +request for some immediate and active employment to enable me to +earn my expenses.</p> + +<p>Mr. Forney had a clerk make out some sort of a "voucher," +which I think must have been for mileage and witness fees all over +the Rebel country that I had traversed, another clerk cashed the +paper for me, and, in this way, I was furnished at once with quite +a nice little pile of crisp, new greenbacks from the Secretary of +the Senate.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[360]</a></span></p> + +<p>This was the first and only cash that I have ever received for all +those months of service—of trial, distress and danger—excepting +that which the good comrades who will contribute by subscribing +for these "recollections of the unforgotten days to all of us."</p> + +<p>Amongst the other members of the Pennsylvania delegation, to +whom I was introduced that morning, was the Hon. S. S. Blair, +then and now a resident of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. As Mr. +Blair is the sole survivor of those who were with me at that time, I +desire particularly that his testimony should be added to establish +the correctness of my narrative, or to serve as a review notice, if it +ever attains to the distinction of a criticism or becomes the subject +of a controversy.</p> + +<p>The Hon. J. K. <a name="moor1" id="moor1"></a><ins title="Original has Morehead">Moorehead</ins>, who represented Pittsburgh, was +another of the delegation in my interest. Thus it will be seen that, +through the management of Mr. Forney, the entire Western Pennsylvania +delegation, including Senator Cowan, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, +had been interested in my "report."</p> + +<p>As I have before stated, I paid but little attention to these +details at the time. I had but the one request, and, as before, which +was, that I should be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the +Regular Cavalry Service and detailed on the General Staff, in active +field service. I wanted to go <i>at once</i> to the field, and cared but little +for the "effect of my testimony" before the committee, or the +pecuniary reward for the service.</p> + +<p>Mr. Forney said, in his pleasant way, that was so grateful to me +that I have not forgotten a word of it: "Why, certainly, you must +have that at least, if not more;" but, turning to Covode, he continued: +"Curtin can do better than that for us."</p> + +<p>Covode thought anything whatever that I wanted could be done, +but suggested, kindly, that it would be better for me not to take a +commission in the Volunteers of Pennsylvania, because I should +have to be put in over the heads of some others, and that would +make it ugly for me personally.</p> + +<p>I agreed with Mr. Covode heartily in that. I had been in the +Rebel service long enough to see that this sort of thing didn't work +there, because Claiborne, the Mississippi Lieutenant, was really +treated as a foreigner, or outsider, by the rest of us "refugees from +Maryland." So it was arranged between them that I should have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[361]</a></span> +a commission in the Regular Army. In support of this, Mr. Forney +kindly talked to Senator Cowan in my behalf, who expressed some +doubts about getting a Lieutenancy, saying in his plain way:</p> + +<p>"Why, we may just as well ask the Secretary to make him a +Brigadier-General; he can do that, because they are making Generals +every day, but they are not making any Lieutenants in the Regular +Army."</p> + +<p>But Mr. Forney insisted in his agreeable way: "But, my dear +sir, here is a young man who has done our State—who has done the +Government more service than some of our Generals; he has been +all over Virginia, and knows all about the Rebel Army, and all +about Richmond—from personal visits; why," with an expression +of disgust, "his services are simply indispensable at this time; he +should be sent down to the army, where the information he has +gained will be of immediate use to us."</p> + +<p>The only answer that Senator Cowan made to this appeal, as he +looked me all over critically, as he would if buying a horse: "You +have the right sort of grit in you, but I don't believe we can get it."</p> + +<p>It was arranged between them all that I should first give my testimony +before the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. Mr. +Covode and Mr. Forney quietly conferred among themselves (they +were Republicans and Senator Cowan a Democrat), and concluded +that only a small part of my history should be made public at present.</p> + +<p>I don't know why this was thought necessary, but while Mr. +Covode and I walked together over to the committee room on the +House side of the Capitol, he cautioned me, in his fatherly way, not +to talk too much, and to answer only such questions as he would suggest.</p> + +<p>On page 480, volume 3, of the printed document containing the +report of the Committee on the Conduct of the War, will be found +only that portion of my testimony that Mr. Covode and Mr. Forney, +as my political managers, thought advisable to put on record at the +time. The full story was detailed at different times to Mr. Forney +and Mr. Covode, and others, but has never been made fully public +until the present time.</p> + +<p>After I had finished my testimony to suit Mr. Covode, and had +been severely cross-examined by some of the opposition members of +the committee, I was told through my friend Covode, that I should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[362]</a></span> +make myself perfectly comfortable; that he and the rest of the delegation +would see that I was properly cared for.</p> + +<p>I felt that a great load had been taken off my shoulders in this +one day—that the secrets of my trip, which I had been carrying +around with me, among Rebels and friends for months, had been +safely deposited with the Government, and that I was at last free, +and could do as I pleased once more.</p> + +<p>I had worn the Rebel uniform to the Capitol and into the +committee room, and gave my testimony standing at "attention" +in it.</p> + +<p>In giving my full testimony to the Committee on the Conduct of +the War, I had no thought of antagonizing the War Department. +My secret service was, in a manner, "irregular," and, instead of +reporting direct to the War Office or to a General in the field, I was +induced to give the story to a committee that was investigating +both. In this way it was not "suppressed" in anybody's interest, +but afterward had the effect of antagonizing certain War Department +detectives against my subsequent services, as will be shown +further on.</p> + +<p>The first thing that I did with some of the money which had +been given me was to trim myself out from head to foot in the best +suit of clothes that I could find in Washington, but I preserved the +uniform for future use. The next number on the programme was +to take my brother and some of his friends to "Gautier's"—which +was then the celebrated French restaurant—or, Chamberlains, of +to-day, in Washington, where we indulged in a generous lay-out. +The third number on the programme, I will simply describe as +"making a night of it." We all went to the Canterbury and had +a pleasant evening together, while I told the party of similar experiences +at night in the Rebel Capitol at Richmond.</p> + +<p>While I remained in Washington waiting for an office, like the +office-seekers that now hang about the Departments, I remember +that I was continually worried with the dreadful thought that +McClellan's great army of good-looking officers would get there +while I was being tethered, like a young steer, in the Capitol.</p> + +<p>My case was "left entirely in the hands of my friends"—that is, +I had nothing whatever to do with it but to wait, which was about +the most difficult part of the job. As I recollect it, Mr. Covode<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[363]</a></span> +was not on such particularly good terms with Mr. Stanton as he had +been with the Pennsylvania Secretary, General Simon Cameron.</p> + +<p>It is likely, too, that Mr. Covode's disposition to be continually +"investigating things," caused the new administration of the War +Department some annoyance. Covode was naturally Cameron's +champion, because they were both Pennsylvania politicians—if for +no other reason. On account of some such feeling as this, perhaps, +it was thought advisable among my "managers" that Mr. Covode +should not personally bother Mr. Stanton—in my interest; that +part of the contract was to be left to Senator Cowan and John W. +Forney, while Covode was to see Mr. Lincoln.</p> + +<p>I loafed about the Capitol a great deal during the session each +day, and I reckon, in my persistence and restlessness, that I bothered +these statesmen a good bit. I had assurances from Mr. Covode +every day that "it was all right," but I remembered that this was +the exact way in which he talked to me on the former visit, and I +was blunt enough to remind him of this truth, when he promptly +got it back on me by saying:</p> + +<p>"It would have been all right, too, if you had come back here, +but we all thought you were dead for so long."</p> + +<p>He explained over and over again that the War Office was so +crowded, on account of the spring campaign, that it was impossible +to do anything there in a rush.</p> + +<p>One day Senator Cowan, of Pennsylvania, handed me a very brief +note, which read as follows, bluntly directing me to go to the War +Department and watch my chance to present it personally to Mr. +Stanton.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p> +"<span class="smcap">Hon. E. M. Stanton</span>, <i>Secretary of War</i>.<br /> +</p> + +<p>"<i>Dear Sir:</i> The bearer is the young man who has given +important testimony to the committee, about whom papers have +been filed for an appointment where he can do the most good. It +is suggested that you may be able to learn something additional +of value from him.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +Yours truly,</p> +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Edgar Cowan.</span>"<br /> +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>The Senator didn't give me a chance to ask him any questions, but +left me abruptly to talk to a group of persons who were waiting for +him. I saw Mr. Forney and showed him the letter, which somehow +or other was not satisfactory to me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[364]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Forney folded it up and handed it back to me, saying, in +his elegant way: "You just take that paper up to Stanton, and +hang to him till he <i>sees you</i>. That's all he wants." Then, in a +fatherly way, he gave me the advice to "let him do all the talking; +you just answer his questions."</p> + +<p>In an hour I was at the old War Department again. I first put +on my gray jacket, but had covered it with a light spring duster or +overcoat, at Mr. Forney's suggestion.</p> + +<p>The War Department of 1862 was a desolate looking old affair, +something after the architectural style of the "four story barracks," +in a well-kept arsenal reservation. On the second floor a long corridor +extended from one end of the building to the other, running +east and west, on each side of which were the rooms of the principal +chiefs. In the southeast corner, nearest to the White House, +was the Secretary's apartments, with whose location I was somewhat +familiar, because of some previous long "waits" and mighty short +interviews with Mr. Cameron when he was Secretary.</p> + +<p>On this visit, as before, I found in this corridor rows of people +seated along the wall—ladies and gentlemen, officers, and a few sick-looking +soldiers; big fat contractors elbowed the thin-faced, big-nosed, +Jewish sutler, Congressmen, and, in fact, all sorts of people; +and it is safe to say that every one of them had been there for hours, +perhaps days and weeks previously, waiting their turn, or an opportunity +to get to talk to the Secretary on their own business, which, +of course, was more important to them than anybody else's.</p> + +<p>There was a handsome soldier of the Regular Army in citizen's +dress on duty at the outside door, as an orderly or messenger. +When I saw all that were ahead of me, I was discouraged, but, +profiting by past experience, I made a break for the Secretary's +office, when I was stopped by the orderly, who demanded my business. +I was in a Rebel uniform, but the soldier orderly didn't notice +that; he said his orders were not to admit anybody at that time. I +showed him my letter, saying, with an assumption of importance, +that I was sent to the Secretary by Senator Cowan to present it +personally. A Senator, especially a <i>Democratic</i> Senator's request, +was really of greater weight than half a dozen common Congressmen, +because it was important just then that the Government should conciliate +the loyal Democrats in Congress.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[365]</a></span></p> + +<p>The soldier took a card, wrote the Senator's name and my own on +it, and invited me to a vacant chair in the Secretary's office. There +were rows of people sitting alongside the wall, inside the room, just +as there was out in the corridor; but I had gained one point; I was +on the inner circle.</p> + +<p>I had never seen Mr. Stanton before, and was not nearly so anxious +to see him again, after the first time. I need not describe the +great War Secretary's personal appearance. His face resembles the +photographs, and has always struck me as being the best likeness +extant of all those great men. He was not so tall as one would think +from looking at a picture of his face; and when I saw him, he stood +at a small, high desk, a little to one side of the room, very much to +my mind in the position of a school-teacher before an old-fashioned +desk. The desk itself was a plain, square, long-legged affair, precisely +such as we used to see our teachers stand behind, or that are +used more recently by auctioneers on street sales. The sitters on +the anxious benches all around the front portion of his room, with +their serious watchful faces, helped the illusion, that I was in the +presence of a lecturer or judge, awaiting my turn for sentence, like +the rest of the culprits.</p> + +<p>The attendant found me a chair alongside of a natty-looking +young officer in uniform on one side, and a big, fat Congressman on +the other; he laid my card, with the Senator's name, on Mr. Stanton's +desk.</p> + +<p>The Secretary was then standing beside his pulpit, talking in his +positive way to some old gentleman; he was so intent on this business +that he never deigned to look at my card when it was left on his +table. We did not overhear the conversation between the Secretary +and his visitor, and being at a loss for something to do, I turned to +the young officer beside me and said something as to the prospect for +a talk with the Secretary. He replied in a very polite way, that he +had been waiting for hours, for a single word; that, with him, it +was a question of life and death; but he couldn't get any audience +until the Secretary "called his name" from the cards on his desk.</p> + +<p>The young man had so impressed me by his courteous manner +that I became curious to know his errand, which he explained in a +whispered conversation. He was just from the bedside of a dying +father, on his way to rejoin his command, his leave having expired;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[366]</a></span> +he had stopped at Washington, and, upon the endorsement of influential +Congressmen, he had called to ask the Secretary to extend his +leave so that he might be at his father's bedside and bury him +before leaving for the army. The officer told me all of this in a +trembling voice, while his eyes were filled with tears. I felt so +much sympathy for him that I offered to give him my time if my +name should be called before his. At my urgent suggestion, when +the old gentleman was about to leave the Secretary, the young +officer approached Mr. Stanton, who bluntly demanded his name. +Then looking over his file of papers to what his business was, while +the young fellow in the most genteel and effective way stated his +wishes to the Secretary. I shall never, never forget the words that +Mr. Stanton spoke on that occasion; they "sank deeply into my +heart," perhaps, as also into that of the young officer.</p> + +<p>"I cannot extend your leave, but I will accept your resignation!" +As he said this, he handed to the officer the papers he had filed. +Looking him over in a contemptuous way, the Secretary turned to +look after the next victim on his list. The officer mildly protested, +saying: "Why, Mr. Secretary I do not want to leave the service; I +merely want to spend the last days—"</p> + +<p>Here he was roughly interrupted by Mr. Stanton who repeated +in an angry tone, so that all could hear: "I'll accept your resignation, +sir."</p> + +<p>The poor fellow would not consent to be driven from the service +in this way, even to attend his father's last wishes. When he +returned to pick up his hat, which had been left on the chair beside +me, his face was white, and his hands trembled so that he could +scarcely take hold of his hat. I assisted him, and together we left +the Secretary's office in deep disgust. I had enough for one day. +After reporting the incident to Mr. Covode and others, they mildly +laughed at my indignation, while they expressed the cold-blooded +opinion that it was only one of Stanton's ordinary jokes.</p> + +<p>After this, I was more than ever anxious to get out of Washington, +and began to feel that I should be willing to take anything at +all, that savored of active service in the field, being perfectly content +to leave my personal business with Mr. Stanton in the hands of +my friends. It was decided among them all that I should be taken +to the White House to see Mr. Lincoln, personally. All the arrange<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[367]</a></span>ments +for this visit were made, as nearly as I can recollect, without +consulting me about it in any way at all. It was generally understood, +I reckon, that I needed somebody to properly present my business +affairs, and that it was hardly worth while to bother with me +about such things. I only know that I was told by Mr. Covode to +get ready to accompany him to the White House.</p> + +<p>"We are all going up in General Moorehead's carriage and want +you to be on hand sure, as it's hard to get them all together." I +didn't know who "they" were, until I came down to his room +rigged out in a grey jacket. While we were waiting for the carriage +to come around for us, Mr. Covode explained further: +"We're going to make a demand on the President for your pay out +of the secret-service fund."</p> + +<p>I had only heard in a general way that anything of this sort was +contemplated. I can say here again, sincerely, that my only desire +and aim was for a commission in the Regular Army, and a detail on +the Staff, where I should have a chance for active service in the +field. While we waited Mr. Covode explained more fully:</p> + +<p>"You are entitled to this; the fund is being squandered shamefully +by certain influences, who are making the President believe +that they are giving him valuable information. We all know your +service and experience has been of some practical use, and you are +going to be paid for it, too, in cash as well as in promotion."</p> + +<p>He had a way of saying things in a very emphatic style when +he became interested, when I expressed my thanks for his interest +and proffered a remuneration, he began to talk bad grammar +at me in such a way that I had to beg off.</p> + +<p>The carriage called; in it were Senator Cowan, General J. K. +Moorehead, M. C., from Pittsburgh; Hon. S. S. Blair, of <a name="holl" id="holl"></a><ins title="Original has Holidaysburg">Hollidaysburg</ins>, +and Hon. John Covode. I jumped up with the coachman, +and we made a charge on the White House. Before we started +off there was a short but pointed business consultation among +them. Senator Cowan had suggested: "Now we had better have +an understanding before we go up there."</p> + +<p>General <a name="moor2" id="moor2"></a><ins title="Original has Moorhead">Moorehead</ins> agreed that this was necessary; and when I +undertook to make a suggestion about getting Mr. Lincoln to give +me a commission, Covode told me in polite terms but decided language, +but in a fatherly way: "Now you've got to keep quiet."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[368]</a></span></p> + +<p>The rest all thought this quite a funny remark. When Covode +crawled into the carriage, Mr. Moorehead said, "Well, what's the +programme?" Covode explained that it was to be a demand for +pay from the President's secret-service fund. No one had even +suggested the amount, and I reckon Mr. Covode's idea was to leave +this discretionary with the President, but Mr. Blair and Moorehead, +who were business men as well as statesmen, insisted that it would +be better to settle a sum in advance.</p> + +<p>"Make it enough," said Mr. Blair.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we may just as well make it $10,000," observed the Senator.</p> + +<p>Mr. Moorehead shrewdly suggested: "We have to appropriate +this secret-service money anyhow, and our votes will go for this +amount."</p> + +<p>Covode admitted that, "We have given him hundreds of thousands +of dollars for this use already."</p> + +<p>This, in a general way was the plan and purpose of the visit to +Mr. Lincoln on that date.</p> + +<p>It failed—not that the claim was rejected by the President—it +was never presented to him or anybody else. When we reached the +White House we were informed on the threshold that "the President +had that day gone to Fortress Monroe." That ended it for +that day, and for all time. Soon after, I left Washington for +another trip. The same crowd were never again brought together in +this interest. As I have said, I was not a good manager, and perhaps +neglected my own interests in this respect.</p> + +<p>I have to show my children, however, that which is dearer to me +than gold—a commission as a Second Lieutenant signed by Abraham +Lincoln and E. M. Stanton. That will remain for all time on the +war records of my country. If I had secured this money, I might +have failed in obtaining this commission, and no doubt the $10,000 +would have soon disappeared from sight forever and no record of it +left.</p> + +<p>A few days after this visit—the date of which may be fixed by +a reference to the books, which will indicate the time of Mr. Lincoln's +visit to Fortress Monroe—I saw Mr. Stanton personally, but +only for a moment; he was not such a dreadful person after all, as +I expected to find him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[369]</a></span></p> + +<p>Since I had been a disgusted witness to the abrupt interview +between Mr. Secretary Stanton and the young officer who desired +his leave extended that he might visit his dying father, I was not +particularly anxious to encounter the Secretary at close range. I +had said as much so emphatically to Mr. Covode and the other +friends, all of whom laughed at my earnestness, and consoled me +with the remark that they had all suffered in the same way at the +War Office, and that I must not expect to be welcomed with open +arms by Mr. Stanton. It was no good to explain to them that I +didn't want to be welcomed, or kicked out either. I was told that I +<i>must</i> see Mr. Stanton; that they could do nothing for me without +first securing his approval. I recall in this connection an old +chestnut, which explains in reality pretty nearly the true status of +affairs between the President and his Secretary of War. In conversation +with a group of friends about my "case," Mr. Covode +had expressed the conviction that for him to interfere with Stanton +would only operate against my chances, as he was thought to be a +meddlesome investigator; and another Congressman related the +story about Mr. Lincoln telling an importunate office-seeker that +he, the President, "didn't have very much influence with this +administration."</p> + +<p>I called at the War Office several times, and always found the +same old crowd in the corridors, and, though I was somewhat +"fresh" and impulsive, I could not raise the courage to face the +grim old Secretary, because he was <i>always</i> engaged with somebody, +and I feared to intrude or interrupt him with my personal affairs.</p> + +<p>As I have said previously, I had a brother, who was employed in +the War Department Telegraph Office, but as his hours for duty were +at night, I could not avail myself of this opportunity to loaf with +him. One day, however, after so much annoying delay, I put on +my Rebel jacket, screwed up my courage, and determined to settle +the matter by a bold dash on the War Office. My brother accompanied +me, and, while waiting in the ante-room of the telegraph +office, I had a long and quite an agreeable chat with General Anson +Stager, who had charge of all the military telegraph. The General, +in those days, was quite a jolly, good-natured gentleman; and, in +this respect, almost the opposite to his subordinate, Major Eckert, +who was very dignified in his bearing toward his subordinates. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[370]</a></span> +was young and not unobserving, and I noticed that Major Eckert +always lost his dignity and high-and-mighty bearing, when he had +any dealings with <i>his</i> superiors. General Stager was alike to all.</p> + +<p>General Stager became much interested in my secret service +more especially in that part wherein I had attached myself to the +Rebel telegraph office at General Beauregard's headquarters, from +whence I could overhear all the messages between headquarters and +Richmond. General Stager laughed heartily at my recital of these +events. He looked at my rebel jacket with interest, took hold of +my arm to critically examine the texture of the cloth, and wound +up by saying:</p> + +<p>"Well, you certainly are an acquisition to us, and I want you in +our service."</p> + +<p>When I explained my desire to obtain a commission, that I +might get into active service, the General endeavored in a kindly +way to persuade me saying:</p> + +<p>"It wasn't worth while to do that; they could pay me more +salary than a commission as Second Lieutenant would bring beside +I should be allowed all the liberty I chose at the front, being at +headquarters as a civilian, furnished with a horse or ambulance, +and all the rations I could consume, and independent of the military."</p> + +<p>He made it very attractive indeed; but I resisted the temptation, +determined to stick to my plans. I had expressed a willingness +to do or undertake any special service, but I wanted to be an officer. +After consultation with some one in another room, who was either +the Secretary himself or some of the high officials in the Adjutant-General's +Department, General Stager came back to me and clinched +that which came very near being a nail in my coffin. He proposed +something like this:</p> + +<p>"The army is on the peninsula, and Washington is cut off in a +manner from telegraph communication with them, except by means +of a dispatch boat to the nearest point on the Maryland side of the +Chesapeake, from which the telegraph is open to Washington. If +you could open communication for us, <i>overland</i>—say from Fredericksburg, +or the outposts of our forces there, to connect with +McClellan on the Peninsula by courier service—it would be a good +thing for us, as we could hear from our army so much quicker."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[371]</a></span></p> + +<p>Everybody will appreciate the anxiety of the officials to hear +from the Army promptly and frequently. In other words, I was to +operate secretly between our lines below Fredericksburg and McClellan's +advance, only a gap of a few miles, but not occupied by either +army but infested with "guerrillas."</p> + +<p>I accepted the proposition without a moment's thought about +the probable difficulties that were to be met with in carrying out +the undertaking, and I had been over that country in Virginia and +was familiar with it. I was anxious to do <i>anything</i> that would give +me an opportunity for active service.</p> + +<p>My brother interposed some objections, which General Stager +thoughtfully considered, and, after admonishing me of the danger +in my case, he again proffered service in the telegraph department. +It was arranged between us that I should call again on the following +day; meantime he would consult with some of the officers +and ascertain their wishes in regard to the matter.</p> + +<p>General Eckert, who was in the room, had overheard part of my +story—he had not been consulted at all by General Stager—to my +mind, showed in his manner some little resentment toward me, +probably because of the interest that General Stager had seemingly +taken in my affairs.</p> + +<p>He felt impelled to make some remark, intended to be jocular, +about a Rebel uniform being in the War Department. I didn't pay +much attention to it at the time, and probably would not have observed +the circumstance had not several others, who were present, +made it a subject of conversation among themselves at our dinner-table +that day.</p> + +<p>In leaving the War Department Building that day, I walked out +by the basement or east door, nearest the White House, intending +to take the short cut, through the White House grounds, to our +boarding-house on F street.</p> + +<p>Just as I passed out of the door my quick eye detected President +Lincoln coming up the few stone steps into the doorway; as he +slowly walked or shuffled along, he was apparently reading the contents +of a paper, which he held before his eyes with both hands. +I had seen Mr. Lincoln inaugurated, and frequently since. I recognized +him at a glance, and to get a closer look, I respectfully stood +to one side of the steps to let him pass. A gentleman was walking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[372]</a></span> +alongside of the President, and as the two passed the President became +crowded quite close to me, and actually touched or rubbed +against my Rebel uniform. Mr. Lincoln apparently did not see me; +he was too deeply immersed in reading, or trying to read, the letter +he held in his hand as he walked, while the gentlemen with him +was gabbling in his ear in a very earnest manner.</p> + +<p>So it happened, as I had predicted, when my home friends had +shown their opposition to my wearing the gray, that I saw Mr. +Lincoln while dressed in my Rebel uniform. I had shaken hands +with "the other President"—Jeff Davis—in Richmond, only a +short time previously, while attired in the same court dress.</p> + +<p>This "interview" wasn't exactly as satisfactory to me as it +might have been, if I had been presented by the delegation that +had called with me a few days sooner. But I had "seen the President," +and, as there had been such a great opportunity presented +for some further secret service in my line, I didn't care very much +just then whether I should again get the crowd together for another +call or not.</p> + +<p>That evening I saw Mr. Covode, to whom I related my interview +with General Stager, telling him of the plan upon which I +had agreed to make the trip to Richmond again. The old man put +on his specks, looked over the top of them at me in a curious sort +of way, and said, rather savagely: "You beat hell, you do." Then +in a more moderate tone he protested earnestly against it, saying: +"You mustn't let everybody make use of you that way."</p> + +<p>When I explained that I was only desirous of getting out of Washington, +and anxious to be on hand in the field when Richmond was +taken, and intimated further that Mr. Stanton and the President +would give me the commission on sight if I should come in first +with some good news, he remonstrated earnestly: "Oh, yes; you go +down there again in that shape, and you wont need any commission; +they will hang you, sure, to the first tree."</p> + +<p>I had to leave the old man without getting any encouragement +from him, but had given him a promise, before saying "Good-night," +that I would not do anything further in the matter until I saw him +again; in the meantime he urged me to see Mr. Stanton.</p> + +<p>I went to bed that night very much disturbed in mind. While +I was not so very anxious to continue the secret-service work, I felt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[373]</a></span> +so worn-out and disappointed at the dilatoriness in getting anything +settled in Washington toward a commission, that I was about +ready to both give it up and to try again. We were continually +hearing so much that was exciting from the front, that I was really +half wild and in a fever of impatience to be on hand among the +boys.</p> + +<p>The next day I called at the War Office early, determined to see +Mr. Stanton, or at least make a sure thing of his seeing me before +I should again leave.</p> + +<p>I had preserved Senator Cowan's letter and with it in my hand +I made an onslaught on the regular orderly at the door. He had +gotten to know me, and pleasantly suggested:</p> + +<p>"If you hang to it with your teeth, you will get all you want."</p> + +<p>With his assistance I got my card in to the Secretary, and was +again shown a seat inside the Secretary's room, to wait until my +name was called.</p> + +<p>In addition to the regular crowd, there seemed to be a delegation +of some kind in an adjoining room, as I judged from the loud +talking. The Secretary came out of the room, but, before he could +reach his pulpit, he was called back; then, in a few minutes, he +again made his appearance in the doorway, talking back to those +inside in his usual vigorous style. Feeling desperate, and always +impulsive, I made a bold break and handed the Secretary my letter +before he reached his desk, being careful to prelude my intrusion +by saying: "Senator Cowan directed me to hand you this personally."</p> + +<p>With a sharp glance of impatience at me, he took the letter, +walked to his desk, and, without opening it, began to deliberately +look over his pile of cards. I stood my ground, right in front of +him, feeling very much like a guilty school-boy who had been called +up by his teacher for punishment.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Stanton raised his eyes from the cards and spied me, +still standing in front of him, he looked towards me then as if +remembering the letter, and said to me: "Where is the note from +Senator Cowan?"</p> + +<p>"I gave it to you, Mr. Secretary," said I tremblingly.</p> + +<p>He looked around, found the envelope, and, while he read it, I +felt in my soul that I would rather face Jeff Davis and the whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[374]</a></span> +Rebel Army again than the Secretary of War. I resolved, if I ever +got out of that alive, I'd risk anything in the front rather than go +back into that room and face the Secretary of War.</p> + +<p>When he finished reading the letter, he looked me over earnestly +as he folded it up slowly. It will be remembered that this paper +referred to me as having been <i>every place</i> in the South; that I had +a most valuable experience, etc.</p> + +<p>The Secretary astonished me by saying, in the most agreeable +and gentle tones, as he looked benevolently through his glasses: +"I would like to talk with you, but I'm engaged, and I will have +to refer you to the Assistant-Secretary to-day."</p> + +<p>I was too scared to make an immediate reply. The Secretary, +calling the orderly to him, said to him, as he endorsed something on +the bottom of my letter: "Take this gentleman to the Assistant-Secretary."</p> + +<p>That was all, but that was enough for me for one day. If there +was any one person in all Washington City for whom, or against +whom, I entertained an unjust prejudice—I might say, a deep-seated +hatred—it was Mr. P. H. Watson, the Assistant-Secretary of War.</p> + +<p>I had never met him; in fact, I had never seen him; but the +simple fact that he had taken the place of my old friend Colonel +Thomas A. Scott in the War Office, since Cameron's removal, was +of itself sufficient to turn me against him; but, in addition to this +fact, I had gathered from Mr. Covode and the rest of the Pennsylvania +delegation, as well as the telegraph boys in the War Department, +that Mr. Watson, and his clique of friends, had scandalously +maligned Mr. Scott personally and abused Mr. Cameron politically.</p> + +<p>I was ushered into the presence of a large, red-headed, sandy-complexioned +man, to whom I was introduced, as the young man +Mr. Secretary had "directed to present to you."</p> + +<p>Mr. Watson, at the moment we entered, was busy with some +papers. He was surrounded by clerks, occupying other desks in +his room, but at once dropped everything to receive us. Upon +reading the Senator's letter and the Secretary's endorsement, he at +once became very gracious toward me. And, as he shook hands +and drew me to a chair near him, and began some complimentary +remarks about my "valuable services," I was not only disappointed +at the Secretary in having said not a word about the matter which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[375]</a></span> +was uppermost in my mind, but I was also really angry at being +handed over to Mr. Watson in a second-handed manner to be +pumped by him. Therefore, I didn't pump worth a cent. I was +dry. Mr. Watson made it worse for me by the first question he +put. "I presume you are in Mr. Pinkerton's service." That was +adding insult. I resented this insinuation by asserting emphatically: +"I am not a detective at all."</p> + +<p>The interview did not last long, so there is not much to say +about it here; in fact, it ended rather abruptly, when Mr. Watson +further suggested that I should put myself in communication with +Mr. Pinkerton, who had charge of all these things. I want to +make it as plain right here to all who may read this story as +I did to Mr. Watson twenty-five years ago, that I reject with +scorn and contempt the intimation that I was a detective, working +for money. I declined positively to have any communication with +the Chief of the Secret Service, and told Mr. Watson, as my friends +had all frequently suggested, that I had done important secret-service +work for the Secretary of the War Department, <i>direct</i>, and I +wanted something now wherein I could make available my past +experiences.</p> + +<p>As I had promised Mr. Covode not to make any engagements +with any one, and had fulfilled my agreement to see the Secretary, +I retired from the War Office in disappointment and disgust.</p> + +<p>I saw Mr. Covode and the other friends, to whom I related my +experience with Mr. Stanton and Mr. Watson, and, at the same time, +declared my intention to leave the city for the front, and enter the +army as a private soldier, and work my way up to position by meritorious +service in <i>front</i> of the enemy, instead of in the rear.</p> + +<p>The day following, before I could get an opportunity to again +see General Stager in regard to his proposal, or take any action myself, +Mr. Covode sent for me. When I reached his room he said, in +his blunt way:</p> + +<p>"If you are bound to be in the field, I'll give you a letter to +General Haupt, who has charge of the railroad between Fredericksburg +and Aquia Creek, and he will give you something to do to +keep you busy down there till we can get something fixed up here."</p> + +<p>I eagerly accepted this proposal; it was not what I wanted +exactly, but it admitted of my going to the front, and that, too, in an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[376]</a></span> +official position, wherein I could be on hand and, unmolested, see +everything that was being done. I had known General Haupt well, +as the accomplished Chief Engineer of the Pennsylvania Railroad, +and Mr. Covode had been assured by him, it seems, that he would +be delighted to have me in his Military Railroad Service, as I had +experience in that direction in Mr. Scott's service.</p> + +<p>We were going to rebuild that road right into Richmond the +next week, and I consoled myself with the thought that, if I did not +reënter Richmond on a horse as an officer, that I might get there +all the same on a locomotive.</p> + +<p>I was to be paid a good salary and expenses. All my friends +thought it just splendid, and I imagine now, though I didn't think +so at the time, that the position was created for me just to prevent +my getting into trouble again. In a few days I took a morning +steamer, armed with an official pass and a bundle of good clothing, +and sailed with the greatest anticipations of quickly seeing Richmond. +We reached Aquia Creek in a few hours—this, as all the boys will +know, was then the leading place or connecting point between the +steamers and the railroads to Richmond. After strolling about +there for an hour, I got aboard the first train, which was made up +of open truck cars, and we rolled over the ten or twelve miles past +the straggling camps of our forces then thereabouts, crossing the +high and hastily-improvised trestle of bridges that had been built +by "sojers," in the place of those destroyed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[377]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>GENO—FREDERICKSBURG—A CHAPTER OF WAR HISTORY NOT IN +<i>The Century</i> PAPERS.</h3> + + +<p>It will be remembered that, on a previous occasion, I had made +an entrée into the town of Fredericksburg, on the bare back of an +old horse, on the morning in August after the night of horror in +which I was pursued by Rebels, suffering from the attack of bloodhounds.</p> + +<p>On the occasion of this, my second visit, I rolled over the temporary +railroad bridge into the old depot at Fredericksburg on a +freight train, dressed—well, in the best store clothes that money +would buy at that time in Washington.</p> + +<p>I am not sure of the exact date on which I got into Fredericksburg, +<i>en route</i> to Richmond; it does not matter much, as I do not +pretend to have kept an accurate record of the dates, however, it was +along in April or May, judging by my recollection of the weather at +that time. McClellan's great Army of the Potomac was on the +Peninsula only a few miles from Richmond, while Fitz-John Porter +had been up to Hanover Court House, about half way between +Fredericksburg and Richmond. General McDowell was in command +of quite a large, but, as I recollect it, a widely scattered and +very much mixed up force at Fredericksburg.</p> + +<p>The problem was to unite McClellan's and McDowell's forces +against Richmond. There was just this little gap of some ten or +fifteen miles between these two armies, and it was this bit of neutral +ground that General Anson Stager, of the United States Military +Telegraph Corps, was so desirous of opening communication +through, because the "Washington Government" could only hear +from McClellan by way of the slow medium of dispatch boats +across the bay to the nearest point of telegraph.</p> + +<p>I was directed by Mr. Covode to report in person, with a letter +to the Chief Engineer, or Superintendent, of the Richmond & +Fredericksburg Military Railroad, General Haupt, who was +recently the Chief Engineer and builder of the Northern Pacific<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[378]</a></span> +Railroad. Exactly what was to be the nature of my duties I do not +now recall, if, indeed, I ever knew.</p> + +<p>I was shown to the Exchange, or may be it was the Planter's; +anyway, it was the best hotel, located on the hill, on one of the +principal streets leading out toward Marye's Heights. It was not a +particularly hospitable place for me, because I saw at once that the +young boy, who ran the office for his mother, was only there to collect +all the money he could from the "Yankee Invaders," while the +father and elder brother were probably in the Rebel camps outside +of town, only waiting a favorable opportunity to return and scalp +the boarders.</p> + +<p>The town was full, literally and spiritually, not only of McDowell's +soldiers, who were in camp all around, but of all sorts of strange +people in civilians' dress—adventurers, sutlers, traders, whisky +smugglers, strange women—in fact, the main street of the quiet, +sleepy old aristocratic town was a perfect bedlam in 1862, as compared +with my first visit in August, 1861.</p> + +<p>That evening, before dark, I saw on the street a greater variety +of life than I had met in Washington on any one evening during +my stay there. These numerous hangers-on of the armies had +been, to a great degree, excluded from the Peninsula, so they had +swarmed up to Fredericksburg as the next best place for them, to +be nearest their favorite regiments, and "on the road to Richmond," +where they all expected to rejoin McClellan's army in a very few +days.</p> + +<p>In addition to the great number of officers and men of the army, +there were several batches of naval officers from one or two gunboats +of the Potomac Flotilla, which had sailed up the Rappahannock +and were anchored below town.</p> + +<p>Altogether, it was what might be termed a lively town. The ordinary, +quiet population had been suddenly increased to 40,000 or +50,000 of McDowell's army and followers, which had settled down +around the hills and the streets in one night, like a flock of bluebirds +or crows at a roosting place.</p> + +<p>During my walk about the town that evening, I ran against a +crowd of contrabands on the sidewalk, who were watching with the +greatest interest the antics of a pair of New York street arabs, or +newsboys, who were dressed up in their rags doing some song-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[379]</a></span>and-dance +acts, to the great delight of the country soldiers and +assembled contrabands. There was even an attempt at a theatrical +performance after early candle-lighting. Indeed it was only after +taps that the Provost-Marshal's Guard made any attempt to suppress +the fun.</p> + +<p>It did not occur to me, until after I had undressed myself and +had "doused the glim," while looking out of the window toward +the Virginia hill, since so well known as Marye's Heights, that there +was any possibility of the Rebels making a sudden dash on the town +and capturing us all. I seemed to realize, only when I was alone, +that there might be some chance for those Rebel fellows getting in +there in sufficient force to gobble us all up.</p> + +<p>As I peered through the darkness in the direction of Richmond, +I appreciated pretty strongly the fact that I was getting close to the +front of that Rebel gang again, and I had not the least desire to get +inside their lines as a prisoner. I didn't sleep well, so early next +morning I started out to find a place to stay, which did not impress +me so strongly as being the house of my enemy.</p> + +<p>It was my good luck, or my fate, to have met with a clever gentleman +in Mr. Jimmy Wilson, of Middletown, Pennsylvania. He +was one of those happy, companionable persons, to whom one +naturally attaches one's self to on first acquaintance. His business +in Fredericksburg was that of a trader to the army, and he had +secured some special privileges in this direction through his townsman, +General Simon Cameron, while he was yet Secretary of War.</p> + +<p>It may be that Mr. Wilson was attracted to me by something of +a selfish motive, through a knowledge of my connection with the +railroad in an official capacity, by which he might be able to better +facilitate his business interests in the transportation of his "supplies" +over the road and evading too close inspections.</p> + +<p>In the shrewd manner peculiar to the business of traveling salesmen, +he had discovered the very best place in the town to live, to +which he kindly consented to introduce me. It was through him +that I first met my "fate," in the family of Captain Wells. There +were in this happy and accomplished household quite a bevy of +young ladies. "All were young, but one was beautiful."</p> + +<p>It is quite a long, and I think may be an interesting, story, +which is indeed quite too romantic for this narrative of facts. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[380]</a></span> +will only say that Geno, the youngest, was, to my eyes, all that may +be described as a beautiful, budding young girl.</p> + +<p>The eldest, Miss Sue, had been a belle in Georgetown before the +war; another, Miss Mamie, was noted for her sweet disposition. +The father, I grieve to add, was suspected by our officers of being a +blockade-runner for the Rebels. He had been engaged on the regular +underground line between Richmond and Washington, via the +Potomac River, since the commencement of the war. Previous to +this he had been the owner and captain of a steamer plying on the +Rappahannock River. Through this means he had gained valuable +information of the river and little bays of that part of Virgina, +and knew all about the inlets and outlets of the adjacent water, and +was, in consequence of this fact, probably suspected of being a +most valuable ally to the Rebel Government. His sympathies were +openly with the South, but, as this was the general feeling among +the citizens, no one attached importance to the Captain's personal +sentiments.</p> + +<p>Between my infatuation for Geno and the sense of duty, I had +a troublesome old time of it in the weeks and months and years +that followed this first evening in the Wells home.</p> + +<p>It's pretty much the same old story of love at first sight and +trouble forever after. I was politely invited to join the family circle +in the parlor after tea. The mother was as youthful in her +happy manner as her daughters. The genial Captain permitted +himself to be prevailed upon by the younger children to sing one +or two comic songs, which were received with hilarious applause. +The three daughters vied with the others in their polite efforts to +entertain such a dull boy, as I must certainly have become after +encountering the apparition of Geno that evening. Jimmy Wilson's +presence seemed to help me out a little. A group played +cards, while some one banged the piano and sang "Bonnie Blue +Flag," "Dixie," and, by way of a tease, "Yankee Doodle." The +elder daughter, Miss Sue, was a decidedly beautiful girl, of perhaps +twenty, quite lively, and perhaps a little bit of a flirt. I state this +opinion generally. I did not entertain it so fully at that time as I +did subsequently. Miss Mamie was the good girl of the family, +while Geno was the beauty.</p> + +<p>If I were not writing this story myself, I should be tempted to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[381]</a></span> +honestly declare that Geno was not only the prettiest, but the sweetest, +girl I ever saw, and I have seen a great many in my life. She +was not tall, but a slender, graceful, womanly figure, dressed in dark +blue, she required no artificial aids to her fresh young beauty. Her +face was sweetly intelligent, and, while not lacking in resolution, +it was marked by that shyness which belongs to young girls who +are well-born and bred in comparative seclusion.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 393px;"> +<img src="images/i415.jpg" width="393" height="600" alt="GENO WAS NOT ONLY THE PRETTIEST, BUT THE SWEETEST +GIRL I EVER SAW." title="" /> +<span class="caption">GENO WAS NOT ONLY THE PRETTIEST, BUT THE SWEETEST +GIRL I EVER SAW.</span> +</div> + +<p>It was decreed that Geno should sit near me that evening on a +low sofa, located in a corner of the parlor. All the chairs were +occupied by the rest of the company, either by accident or through +Miss Sue's propensity to tease her younger sister and myself.</p> + +<p>Geno, though but between fifteen and sixteen at that time, was, +in her manner, quite as easy and winning as her elder sisters. She +sat beside me on the sofa, her luxuriant, dark hair bewitchingly +plaited in a roll over her head, wearing a low-neck dress, short +skirts, while her bare arms gracefully held a guitar, on which she +skillfully played the accompaniment and sweetly sang the old, old +Spanish serenade, <i>Juanita</i>. (I advise the young ladies to get a guitar +and practice on this song; it will catch a boy every time.) It was +that <i>song</i>, and the beautiful, large, dark, expressive eyes of this dear +little girl that put me in Old Capitol Prison.</p> + +<p>I was a "goner" from that moment, and have never gotten entirely +over it in all these years.</p> + +<p>I do not say it boastingly at all, but for a truth. I believe I +should at that time have felt more at my ease if I had been "scouting" +or sitting around a camp-fire with Rebels instead of beside the little +girl whose dress touched me. It was a clear case of love at first +sight.</p> + +<p>The Wells family were natives of my own State, having been +embargoed during the war because of the father's steamboat interests +on the river; and thereby hangs another tale not pertinent to +this narrative, which I hope, subsequently, to give to the world.</p> + +<p>I had been introduced to the family as a civilian employé of the +military railway, and had been able to present some flattering letters +of introduction from Mr. John W. Forney, Mr. Covode, and +other prominent Pennsylvania gentlemen. I was, of course, made +to feel quite at home.</p> + +<p>I may as well admit frankly I was about Geno's house more than duty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[382]</a></span> +warranted; so much so, indeed, that the amiable mother must have +become tired of me. I seldom went to the railroad headquarters, and +I had lost all interest in the capture of Richmond and in Capitola.</p> + +<p>Of course, I felt obliged to make an appearance of reporting for +duty to the railroad office occasionally.</p> + +<p>With a desire to learn something of the probable advance to +Richmond, I had spent considerable time about the Provost-Marshal's +Office, where I had become quite well acquainted with a young +officer on detached duty.</p> + +<p>His interest probably sprung from having seen me in the company +of the pretty girl, with whom he desired to become acquainted +through me.</p> + +<p>On the occasion of one of these visits, I was questioned quite +closely by another of the Staff officers about the politics of the +Wells family, and especially of the sympathies of the ladies for Confederate +officers.</p> + +<p>Perhaps I was not in proper frame of mind to dispassionately discuss +this question of Geno's family affairs with a strange officer, and +it is probable that I somewhat rashly resented the supposed impertinence.</p> + +<p>I was informed that it was through the usual gossipy information +volunteered, by some unfriendly Unionists of the town, that this +officer at headquarters had learned that Captain Wells had been +engaged in blockade-running for the Rebels. I exclaimed that I +knew better; that my relations with the family were of an intimate +character; that Captain Wells was a native of my own State; that +all his daughters had been born and educated in the Wyoming +Valley, and that he was in Virginia solely and only because his business +of steamboating had embargoed him there, and he had chosen +to remain himself and sacrifice his boats, rather than abandon his +family. All this was said in a positive manner, and with probably a +little more animation than the subject justified. It had, however, +the undesirable effect of bringing out prominently a trifling affair +that occurred in connection with the family, which I must relate, as +part of my experience which soon followed, just to show that "trifles +light as air, are to the jealous, confirmations strong as proofs of +Holy Writ."</p> + +<p>It will be remembered by the old soldiers that, early in the war, it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[383]</a></span> +was the custom to display flags promiscuously wherever they could +find a place to string one in a Virginia town.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 389px;"> +<img src="images/i419.jpg" width="389" height="600" alt="REFUSING IN HER VERY DECIDED MANNER TO WALK +UNDER "THAT FLAG."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">REFUSING IN HER VERY DECIDED MANNER TO WALK +UNDER "THAT FLAG."</span> +</div> + +<p>Soldiers who were in <a name="fred3" id="fred3"></a><ins title="Original has Fredricksburg">Fredericksburg</ins> with McDowell, in 1862, will +know that over the main streets of the town hung innumerable +flags, so that the natives must either walk under the flag or stay +indoors altogether.</p> + +<p>Miss Sue Wells, like most bright girls of her age who lived in +the South, was fond of tormenting our officers, "just for fun, you +know." She insisted, in the company of Union officers, that she +was a Rebel, but I was quietly informed by the family that, when the +Confederates first had possession of the town, she was a Union girl +to them.</p> + +<p>On this and several other questions Miss Sue and I differed quite +decidedly. The sequence and truthfulness of this story compels me +to say here that Miss Sue and I quarreled all the time (after I had +become fairly established in the family). One day, while walking +with her along the main street of the town, we encountered one of +the numerous flags that were suspended over the sidewalk. Miss +Sue put her little foot down (and I know positively that she had a +little foot), refusing in her very decided manner to walk under "that +flag!"</p> + +<p>What could I do? The street was full of soldiers and officers, +whose attention was being attracted toward us by my taking her +arm and attempting to force her to accompany me under the flag. +I explained that there were flags on the other side of the street,</p> + +<blockquote><p> +Flags to the right of us,<br /> +Flags to the left of us,<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>and flags every place; that we would not dare to go around it; but +the more I talked and urged, the more contrary she grew, and to +prevent a further scene on the street, we retraced our steps.</p> + +<p>That little act on the streets of Fredericksburg, in the summer +of 1862, is on record to-day in the war archives as part of the +specifications in a charge of disloyalty against myself, on which I +was subsequently arrested and confined in Old Capitol Prison.</p> + +<p>It is a shameful fact, that my early record for the Union at Fort +Pickens, and the subsequent year of service with a rope about my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[384]</a></span> +neck, was, for a short time, completely shadowed by this silly performance +with a young lady in Fredericksburg. Not only this, +but it was, perhaps, the indirect cause of this young lady's father's +banishment from his home and the confiscation of his property.</p> + +<p>The officer who had reminded me of this incident undertook to +give me some advice as to my association or intimacy in a Rebel +family.</p> + +<p>He further astonished me by saying they had information of a +piratical scheme being hatched, which had for its object the seizure +of some of the regular line of steamers plying on the Chesapeake +Bay, and Captain Wells was to act as pilot. The officer explained +to me further that the plan, as they had learned of it, was for a +party of Rebels, disguised as passengers and laborers, to board one +of these steamers in Baltimore, and, after she was out in the bay, at +midnight, they were to throw off their masks, seize the boat, confine +the officers and, under the pilotage of Geno's father, run her +into Rebel waters as a prize.</p> + +<p>This was indeed startling intelligence, that for a moment staggered +me. I realized that a more suitable person to do the work +could not have been selected than Captain Wells.</p> + +<p>The officer said, as they had no proof of this at all, he had mentioned +it to me with a view of having me look the matter up; that +my relations with the family were of such a character as to enable +me to get on to the real facts. I left the headquarters feeling very +much depressed.</p> + +<p>After another enjoyable evening spent at the Wells house following +this conversation at Provost Headquarters, I went to my +quarters quite disturbed in heart and mind as to my duty.</p> + +<p>With the sweet voice of "Juanita" still ringing in my ears, and +the memory of her beautiful eyes seemingly appealing to my tenderest +sympathies, I went to bed with my head in a whirl, and dropped +into a restless sleep without having settled the question in my own +mind satisfactorily as to her father's guilt. There was no question +as to the Captain's being entirely competent to pilot or even command +such an expedition, and I may as well cut this story short by +the frank admission that, had he not been the father of a very pretty +girl, I would have jumped at the same conclusion as the officer.</p> + +<p>I was, however, unwilling to believe that the father of such an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[385]</a></span> +interesting family, all of whom had been born and reared in Pennsylvania, +would become the leader of a piratical gang. I concluded +at last that I would postpone any action, for a while at least. I +could do this with the better grace, as I was not specially engaged +in secret service at that time. I rather relished the truth, too, that +the failure of the Secretary of War to recognize my former services +relieved me from any obligation to act as "spotter" for the Pinkerton +detectives.</p> + +<p>But after having slept over the matter, and while enjoying a +walk the next morning among the neighboring camps, over which +floated the "emblem," I suddenly regained my senses, for a little +while at least, and made up my mind that it would be worse than +traitorous for me, by my silence and apparent association, to permit +those Maryland sympathizers to go on and mature a plan to hire a +gang of Baltimore plug-uglies to play the pirate on unarmed vessels +on the bay, within sight of our armies. I could, at least, put the +officials on their guard. I walked back toward my "office," where I +briefly wrote the rumor as it had, without my volition, been detailed +to me, and at once put the letter in form to reach Mr. Covode +through the improvised mail service then existing between Washington +and the army of McDowell. I felt better for having done this +much. I had also advised Mr. Covode that I was in a position to +follow up the matter from this clew, and, if it could be confirmed, I +would give the information directly to himself, and no one else. I +expect, too, that I was indiscreet enough to have taken this opportunity +to ventilate my own rather fresh opinions of Secretary Stanton; +because just then I was smarting under his seeming indifference to +and neglect of my services and claims. I am sure that my letter contained +some unnecessary criticisms on Mr. P. H. Watson, Assistant +Secretary, as well as the Secret Service Corps, which was under his +direction, and Maj. Eckert, of the Telegraph Corps.</p> + +<p>This letter was intended as a private communication to my +friend Covode, and I had particularly cautioned him not to permit +certain War Department influences to get hold of the rumors, as I +wanted to work it out myself. I learned subsequently, to my sorrow, +that this personal letter, containing both the information and +the criticism, was sent to the War Office at once as an important +paper. Anybody will see that it was not only a mistake of my own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[386]</a></span> +to have written in this way, but also of Mr. Covode's to have shown +it; but it was one of that statesman's "privileges" to mix things +up. It probably never occurred to him—as I afterward heard—that +the principal effect of the criticisms, coupled with the "information," +would be to impress upon the War Department officials +the suspicion that Covode had employed me as one of his agents to +play the "spy" on our own officials, for the benefit of the Congressional +Committee of the War.</p> + +<p>I was not very much bothered about the consequences of such +things at that time. I was in love, which will account for a good +many of my mistakes.</p> + +<p>When I went to my newly-found home, at Capt. Wells's house, +the evening of the same day on which I had written and mailed +this letter, I was received so kindly and courteously into the house +by the genial Captain himself, that I began to feel that I had been +guilty of an awfully shabby trick in having reported, even privately +to Mr. Covode, a private conversation with this Staff officer in regard +to mine host.</p> + +<p>Indeed, I was feeling so uncomfortable over what seemed to have +been an ungracious return for favors received, that I took the first +opportunity to get out of the Captain's presence, and, in the seclusion +of my room that night, I inwardly resolved that I would, if possible, +attempt to modify my report by another letter to follow the first.</p> + +<p>The evening was spent in the little parlor, as on the many previous +occasions. I was treated as one of the family, and entertained +in the most agreeable manner by the accomplished ladies of this +happy household. Each night we had music. Of course, Juanita, +with the guitar, accompanied by Geno, became one feature of all +others that was always so charmingly attractive to me. The Captain +himself sang a number of comic songs with good effect, while the +elder daughter, Miss Sue, exerted herself in a pleasant way to create +a little fun for the company at my own and Geno's expense. Col. +Hoffman, Mr. Wilson and myself furnished the only audience, while a +happy-faced, brisk little mother supplied the refreshments, and +made us all feel at home.</p> + +<p>This general attempt at a description of one evening must suffice +for the many, many happy days and evenings that I spent in +Fredericksburg during the months of McDowell's occupation of that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[387]</a></span> +country. As I have previously stated, I could furnish the material +for a romance based on wonderful facts connected with my different +visits here that would make a large-sized book in itself. This is +simply a blunt narrative of fact.</p> + +<p>This is an absolutely "true love" story, and I am giving correct +names and actual incidents, realizing that I may be talking to some +of the survivors of McDowell's army, who may have been "thar or +tharabouts".</p> + +<p>The Colonel Hoffman referred to above was in command of the +regiment that had control of the town at this time. The Colonel +having known the Wells family in the North, was glad of the +opportunity to meet them, and during his stay in town lived with +them in the house with Mr. Wilson and myself. His regiment had +been recruited somewhere in the neighborhood of Elmira, New +York.</p> + +<p>As soon as I could see the Colonel alone, I took the opportunity +to tell him the story of the Captain's alleged complicity in the Chesapeake +Bay piracy. To my surprise and gratification, he blurted +out rather savagely: "I don't believe a word of it. Why, I've +known Frank Wells all my life. No one at home ever accused him +of any such traits of character as this. Why," continued the Colonel, +with a show of disgust, "it's impossible. He couldn't be a disloyal +man; he comes of Puritan stock, from away back. I've seen +myself a family tombstone up in Long Island which shows that his +ancestors were buried there as early as 1671. Why, boy, they came +over in the Mayflower."</p> + +<p>This seemed to settle it with Colonel Hoffman, but he added, in +an explanatory way: "I suppose it's one of those 'Unionists' +stories. Every dog who has a grievance against his neighbor, in war +times, runs to the nearest Provost-Marshal to get the army on to his +enemy. Wells came down here to run his boats on the Rappahannock; +that was his business. He tells me that he, with a majority +of the citizens here, did not believe there would be a war, or that +Virginia would go out of the Union, and, therefore, he did not +attempt to get away until it was too late. The Confederates wouldn't +let him take his boats North. When our fellows got there, he ran +his boats below town to prevent the Rebels burning them, as they +did all the rest; and when the gunboats came up the river they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[388]</a></span> +allowed a lot of rough sailors to seize and confiscate his boats. Their +object was prize money, and it is probably to their interest to create +an impression that he was disloyal, that they may secure this money. +I've told Frank he ought to resist this, but he is mad about it; +swears they are robbers and thieves; and it is likely he and the girls +have given offense in this way to some of our officers."</p> + +<p>The Colonel's decided talk fully confirmed me in the belief that +the story of the Captain's complicity was the outcome of some personal +grievance.</p> + +<p>Feeling that I had been guilty of a mean action, in reporting the +names to Mr. Covode, I sat down and wrote him the second letter, +retracting all that the first contained, and added that the mistake +arose from the desire of some enemies of mine, or the Captain, to +get me mixed up with the War Department.</p> + +<p>I do not remember just what I did write, but if the reader will +put himself in my place at that time, or try to realize what an +enthusiastic, love-sick boy would be liable to write under such circumstances, +in defense of his intended father-in-law, you will be +apt to reach the conclusion that I do now, that I put my foot in it +badly.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, I did not mail the letter in time to overtake the +first one. I was delayed by engaging myself to accompany the +ladies the next day on a visit to the grave and monument of the +mother of General Washington. As all know, the mother of President +Washington lived, died, and is buried in this historic old town. +The old house, or all that is left of it, still stands on one of the +streets. The tomb and monument is situated on rising ground +some distance in the outskirts.</p> + +<p>Most of the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac have visited +this spot, at least all who were interested in such matters did, +who were about Fredericksburg, and it will not be necessary to +describe it.</p> + +<p>It was arranged that we should make a select picnic party of our +visit to the tomb of the Mother of our Country, and, as we expected +to make a day of it, one day's rations for a dozen, composed of the +usual girls' rations of sweet cake and sour pickle, were packed in a +big lunch basket.</p> + +<p>The picnic was a pleasant affair, of course, because Geno was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[389]</a></span> +there. For the time being I had entirely forgotten or, at least, lost +interest in the letter of explanation which I had intended to send +to Mr. Covode on that day, as well as everything else but Geno. +On our return through town that same evening, I saw for the first +time a New York regiment in full Zouave uniform marching in +their cat-like or tip-toe step, carrying their guns in a graceful, easy +manner as they marched along in their picturesque style. The band +played and, seemingly, the whole regiment of a thousand bass +voices sang "John Brown's body," as I have never heard it since. +The effect upon our own party and the few loyal citizens was +magical, and I leave the reader to imagine the sensations of the +Rebel occupants of the houses along the line of march. The shades +were closed—they always were—but that did not entirely conceal a +number of bright-flashing eyes, that one could always find on close +inspection peeping through the cracks.</p> + +<p>After relieving my mind by sending the letter in the evening I +turned in to enjoy myself freely in the society of the ladies, and +became so much immersed in the pursuit of this new-found delight +that I lost sight of all other business. Every day became a picnic +and every evening a party.</p> + +<p>One day, while loafing about my office down at the depot, I +observed a strange-looking fellow hanging about. Every time I +would look toward him I discovered his eyes had been upon me. +He was not a good spy, or detective, because he at once gave himself +away by his too naked manner of observing things. I got on to +him at once, because he did not seem to do anything but shadow me.</p> + +<p>There was also a telegraph office at the depot, the wire extending, +I believe, only as far as the railroad was operated, to Aquia +Creek. I had not met the operator personally, and, as had been +my invariable practice, I had carefully concealed from all strangers, +even friends, the fact that I was also a sound operator. I knew +that neither the detective nor the operator suspected me of being an +operator. As soon as I discovered that a suspicious watch had been +put upon me, it stirred me all up, and served most effectively to +recall me to some sense of the duties or obligations that were +expected of me. For the day or two following I passed more of my +time within the hearing of the telegraph instrument and less in the +parlor of Captain Wells.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[390]</a></span></p> + +<p>One morning I saw the Pinkerton detective hand a piece of +paper to the operator, who quietly put it on his telegraph desk. I +had to wait a long, long time, and was forced to manufacture a +good many excuses for lying around the office so closely.</p> + +<p>There is something which I cannot explain that instinctively +seems to satisfy one of certain conditions or impressions of another's +mind. In modern mind-reading a telegraph operator has a very +great advantage over any of the professional mind-readers, from the +fact that, by a simple contact of the hand to any part of the body, +the telegraph operator can telegraph by silent taps or touches or by +simple pressure of the hands the characters of the telegraph +alphabet, and thus spell out rapidly any word. Perhaps this fact +will account for some of the recent phenomena in this direction.</p> + +<p>As I have said, I was satisfied in my own mind, instinctively, as +it were, that this fellow was a War Department spy on Captain +Wells and, perhaps myself, and I was just sharp and cunning enough +when my blood was up to determine to beat him at his own game. +He walked off some distance while I hung to the office, apparently +very much interested in reading a copy of the Christian Commission +Army Bible, which had found its way into the office there. I +heard the operator call up his office, and, after doing some routine +railroad business, he sent the message to some one of the chief +detectives in Washington, which was, in effect, as nearly as I can +remember, a sort of report or excuse for the failure to arrest a certain +party, because he was absent that day, but was expected to +return at night, when the arrest would be made.</p> + +<p>Of course I saw that I was not the party referred to, because I was +not absent. It did not take long, however, to find out, after some +investigation and private talk with the operator, that Mr. Pinkerton +had sent a man down there to look after the matter referred to +in my letter to Covode. Of course Covode had indiscreetly rushed +to the office and presented my letter, without once thinking of the +severe reflections on the officials, or in anyway considering my +interests. He only thought of the proposed scheme to get possession +of the steamers. I suppose that he felt in his honest, patriotic +heart that it must be thwarted at once. That's the way Mr. Covode +did things. He told me subsequently that he felt that my letter +would show Stanton and Watson that I was a valuable man.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[391]</a></span></p> + +<p>But I was not willing that the detectives of Pinkerton should +have the credit of working up this plan, and, aside from little personal +feeling against the Pinkerton spy and my sympathies and +sentiment for the father of Geno, I at once determined to defeat +their aspirations; and I succeeded—to my own subsequent discomfiture.</p> + +<p>Determined to prevent the arrest of Geno's father, because I +believed him innocent, and realizing that I was responsible for the +espionage that had been placed upon the family, and without a +single thought as to the consequence to myself, I went quietly from +the telegraph office to the Wells house, only a few blocks distant.</p> + +<p>Geno smilingly welcomed me as she opened the door (she had +learned to look for my coming, I have since thought,) and to her +pleasant greeting I abruptly demanded, in a tone and with an agitation +that must have seemed strange, "I want to see your father +right away." To the polite response, "Why, there is nobody at +home but me; come in;" I could only say, rather nervously, perhaps, +"I must see your father or your mother on private business. +I can not talk to you until this matter is settled first."</p> + +<p>Geno turned her big, black eyes on me quickly, quizzically, +looked into my heart, seemingly satisfied herself that I was very +much in earnest, she observed, with a smile: "You can see father +to-night, if you wish."</p> + +<p>"I must see him before to-night. Where is he?"</p> + +<p>My animated manner, or perhaps urgent demands in the hallway, +had attracted Mrs. Wells's attention in an upper room. +Making an appearance at the head of the stairway, she asked, pleasantly: +"What in the world is the matter with you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing much. Come down, please. I have something +to say to you and the Captain, privately."</p> + +<p>The happy mother descended only to the landing, where she +halted long enough to see whether it would be safe enough for her to +come any closer. Geno having heard me express a desire to talk +privately to her parents, had suddenly disappeared through a side +door; while Mrs. Wells, laughingly, stepped down, and, without +waiting to hear from me, said, in her gentle, motherly way:</p> + +<p>"Now, my dear boy, don't you talk to me about that. Why +Geno is only a child."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[392]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, no; not that—not now. I came to tell you that the Captain +will be arrested to-night. He must leave town at once."</p> + +<p>With a few words more of explanation, the loyal wife and mother +was alive to the gravity of the situation. I left the house as suddenly +as I had entered it, after cautioning them under no circumstances +to admit that I gave this information, as I would be hung +too. I was back at the station before they had discovered that I +had been away.</p> + +<p>My plan, as detailed to Covode, was to have quietly waited and +watched for some tangible proofs of this rumored piracy. If they +had left me alone I should have worked it up for all it was worth, +and reported the result to the War Department. But they jumped +in and agitated the oyster, which of course closed up the oyster +securely. I admit that on seeing this attempt at poaching on my +premises, that I flushed the game, believing that the end would +justify the means. I was only apprehensive that some member of +the family might accidentally say something that would indicate +that I was responsible for the escape of Captain Wells.</p> + +<p>I became for a day or two subsequently a most regular attendant +at the Department Telegraph Office.</p> + +<p>I learned by my telegraph facilities that this Pinkerton spy had +reported to his chief that "Wells has not yet returned," that "the +party was still absent," and later that he had "escaped South." +Luckily for me he did not learn of the short and interesting return +visit the Captain made, and, in consequence, he had no occasion to +immediately investigate the Captain's taking off, so that several +days elapsed before he found it out. The Captain did not go South +to join the Rebels, but, instead, went North, visiting during his exile +a married daughter living in Baltimore, and subsequently published +a little family history, in which he gives "a friend" the credit for +the warning and also for supplying a pass over the railroad to +Aquia Creek.</p> + +<p>I found that I had made my way clear in thus "breaking the +ice" when I should want to ask for Geno's hand. I had killed two +or three birds at one shot that day. I had thwarted Assistant Secretary +of War Watson and his <a name="pink" id="pink"></a><ins title="Original has Pinkertown">Pinkerton</ins> crowd in their attempt +at arresting Captain Wells on mere rumors. I had established +myself in the good graces of Geno's entire family. I had prevented<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[393]</a></span> +her father from being imprisoned. In addition to all this, I succeeded +in getting myself into Old Capitol Prison, by order of Secretary +of War E. M. Stanton, and became a companion of Belle +Boyd and numerous other Rebel spies. But I'll have to tell some +other things that occurred at Fredericksburg before this unfortunate +episode came to pass.</p> + +<p>I need not say that, after this episode, I felt that the fate of the +entire Wells family was in my hands. From that day on I was +what may be slangily termed "solid" with that happy family. I +believe I have mentioned the fact previously that Geno was a strikingly +beautiful young girl of sixteen, and that I was twenty. I +may be permitted to even say, parenthetically, that there has been +nothing in my adventurous life nearly so fascinating as were the +summer days in which I was "isolated" in company with the little +girl who lived, as it were, between the two armies, at Fredericksburg.</p> + +<p>To be sure the soldiers were there, or thereabout, in force.</p> + +<p>The crack of the picket's rifle—almost the distant boom of +McClellan's battles around Richmond—indeed, the smoke of war +was in the air at the time, and no one knew what a day would bring +forth. This was not exactly a period well adapted to sincere love-making. +But no one who has known of Geno could be made to +believe that she could be insincere, or that anyone could insincerely +make love to her.</p> + +<p>We were together nearly all the time, but I do not think we +were sentimental in our talk.</p> + +<p>There was this difference to me between Geno and all my other +girls. In her presence it did not seem to be at all necessary to do +any sentimental talking. I was always impressed by her soul-piercing +eyes with the feeling that she knew it all anyhow, and it was +no use in talking—I had almost written lying. I believe I told +Geno more of my life than I ever intended anybody to know. I +simply couldn't help it. But I shall never do this subject justice +until I write out the "Romance of this Secret Love and Secret +Service." This is only a narrative of facts.</p> + +<p>I believe I have said somewhere in this story that Geno was a +pretty little girl, but, at the risk of repetition, I will say that her +beauty was of a kind that may not be easily described or portrayed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[394]</a></span> +It was her eyes—her beautiful dark-brown eyes—that were in themselves +a soul.</p> + +<p>In every man's life there is one moment, or one single memory, +that is more cherished than all others. I shall have to tell of this +one moment of my life, which occurred the day before I left.</p> + +<p>One pleasant afternoon I happened around to the Wells house, +as usual, knowing very well that Geno, dressed in her most becoming +of summer toilets, would soon join me on the veranda. Perhaps +I was a little earlier than usual at my accustomed seat; anyway, +I became a little impatient at Geno not putting in an appearance +promptly, and thinking perhaps she might not have become +aware of my presence, stepped into the hall to try to make it known +to her. The windows had all been closely shaded, to exclude the +bright August sunlight, giving the hallway a cool and inviting half-darkened +appearance. Stepping into the parlor, affecting a little +cough as a signal that I was around the house, I had scarcely seated +myself when my quick ear caught the sound of her footsteps as she +quickly tripped down the stairway.</p> + +<p>Lest I have neglected to mention it, I will say here that Geno +was a sweet girl, with beautiful eyes, and, moreover, she was womanly +in figure and graceful in action, in that hers was of the ethereal +style of beauty so aptly described by Longfellow's "Evangeline." +And she was sixteen, while I was twenty. Rising to greet her, I +advanced to the door just as her lithe figure darkened it. She +looked <i>so</i> nice, and you know the parlor and hallway were shrouded +by that dim, religious light one reads about. I was tempted, and, +yielding to the youthful impulse, grasped both her hands in mine, +and attempted to steal a kiss—the first kiss of love.</p> + +<p>I had by her quiet dignity of manner during my visit been +repelled from attempting anything of a too familiar kind on such a +short war-acquaintance. She quickly dropped her head, turning +her face from me, while I held both hands tightly in my own, and +uttered only that one little word of four letters "Geno." Whether +it was the tone of voice, the imploring or entreating manner and +earnest emphasis, or a mild reproach, I knew not. She answered +not a word, but turned her pretty blushing face up to mine, while +her beautiful eyes pierced to my soul, and I—I—oh!</p> + +<p>Here I drop my pen, put my feet on the desk on which I have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[395]</a></span> +been writing this, lay my head back in my lazy chair, and with both +hands pressed on my face I bring back this one blissful moment of +my life twenty-five years agone, as if it were but yesterday. I can not +write of it. It's a "true love" story, as the sequel will show, and +none but those who have been there in war-times will appreciate it.</p> + +<p>Before I could do it again she had deftly slipped away from me, +and, like a frightened deer, glided into a dark corner of the parlor; +from behind a chair she blushingly cast reproachful glances toward +me, while she rearranged the hair that she had taken so much +pains to bewitchingly do up, and that had so long delayed her +appearance.</p> + +<p>There is a song, and of course plenty of melody and poetry in it, +which I have frequently asked friends to sing—"Il Bacio"—which +more aptly describes this one blissful moment than my pen can +write.</p> + +<p>After this there was a sort of an understanding between us that +all lovers, who have been there, will understand, and it is not +necessary for me to explain.</p> + +<p>I had Geno's first love; and it is a true saying that, in a woman's +first love, she loves her lover; in all the rest, she loves love.</p> + +<p>I have been in love—oh, often—so many times that I cannot +enumerate all, but Geno was my "war girl"; and all old soldiers will +agree with me that there is a something in the very memories of +love and war that touch the heart in a way that is not reached by +any other feeling.</p> + +<p>Do not for a moment imagine that there was any attempt on the +part of this truly happy family to take any advantage of the tender +susceptibilities of the "Boy Spy." They knew absolutely nothing +of my past record.</p> + +<p>"Through the rifted smoke-clouds of the great rebellion" of +twenty-five years ago I am relating a little love story from real life, +that seems almost like a dream now, but which is the best-remembered +incident of all the war to me.</p> + +<p>"The ways of fate are very diverse," and it has truly happened +to me that this sweet face looked into so long since has never been +forgotten in all the years that have passed or are yet to come.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[396]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>A SCOUT TO RICHMOND DEVELOPS IMPORTANT INFORMATION—NO +FORCE IN FRONT OF M'DOWELL TO PREVENT HIS COOPERATING +WITH M'CLELLAN—THE SECRETARY OF WAR +RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE PENINSULA CAMPAIGN—OUR +SPY AS A WAR CORRESPONDENT ANTAGONIZES THE WAR +DEPARTMENT BY CRITICISM IN THE PAPERS—IS ARRESTED ON A +TECHNICALITY AND SENT A SPECIAL PRISONER TO OLD CAPITOL +BY THE SECRETARY OF WAR'S ORDERS.</h3> + + +<p>I made a scout on my own account to the very outskirts +of Richmond, which resulted in establishing the fact that there +was no enemy in front of McDowell. On my return to our lines, +I was, as had been my usual fate, coolly received by our own +officers and suspected of disloyalty. In my impulsive way, perhaps, +I had too freely criticised, in my letters to Mr. Forney's paper, our +officers for their listlessness in permitting McDowell's army to lie +idle, while McClellan was being forced to change his base on the +Peninsula.</p> + +<p>At the headquarters of the regiment, or picket guard, I had +encountered, I was cross-examined by every officer who could get +a chance to stick a question at me. To all I had the same story, +with renewed emphasis each time, that there was no Rebel army +between Fredericksburg and Richmond.</p> + +<p>The detention at so many of these subordinate headquarters, +or the halting at so many stages of our return, to answer these +same stereotyped questions, began to annoy me. I had been scouting +for hours without a moment's rest; my nerves were all +unstrung, now that I had gotten safely back. I wanted to go to +the real headquarters, and tell all I knew to the General, and +then go to Mrs. Wells' house to see Geno and rest for the +balance of my life. I was tired, hungry, nervous and irritable, +which accounts for the unfortunate fact that I became at last +resentful and, perhaps, insulting, to some of the higher officers +about the headquarters and staff, who questioned my statements.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 390px;"> +<img src="images/i435.jpg" width="390" height="600" alt="ON A SCOUT TO RICHMOND." title="" /> +<span class="caption">ON A SCOUT TO RICHMOND.</span> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[397]</a></span></p> + +<p>General McDowell was not present; he had been sent to Washington, +or to the Shenandoah Valley I think, so that those in command +had no authority, as I knew, and I felt in my nervous condition +that they had insulted me by daring to doubt my story.</p> + +<p>While yet smarting under this disagreeable reception of my +report, I sat down and sent Mr. Covode a dispatch, over the military +wire, giving him in brief the results of my recent observations, +and asserting positively that the army could go to McClellan if +they wanted to. Those are not the words of the dispatch, but it +was in substance the same story that I had told, with the addition +of some bitter comments. I did not stop to think at the time that +such a dispatch could pass through the War Department Telegraph +Office, and be subject to that censorship. My only object was to +hasten the information to headquarters through Covode, because I +realized that the officers of our own army would not act upon it.</p> + +<p>I did not know then, neither did General McClellan, or anybody +else in the armies, that Secretary Stanton had sometime previously +positively ordered General McDowell <i>not</i> to reinforce McClellan.</p> + +<p>My dispatch was unintentionally a criticism on the Secretary +of War; and, coming as it did, in this outside and unofficial way, +to Covode, whose committee were investigating these things, it no +doubt put me in bad shape before the Secretary of War.</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly, Major Eckert, who was then the official in charge +of the telegraph office, but who in reality acted as a messenger to +carry private news to the ear of the Secretary, gladly availed himself +of the opportunity to place me in a bad light before the Secretary.</p> + +<p>As I had previously made several visits to Washington and Baltimore +while sojourning with the family, my short absence of one +day and two nights was not noticed.</p> + +<p>I may be permitted to say, parenthetically, that Miss Mamie +Wells, the second daughter, had gone to her sister's home in Baltimore +under my charge a few days previous to this. Her war history, +I venture to say here, would present one of the most attractive +yet written.</p> + +<p>She was, during the bombardment and battles, a Florence Nightingale +to both sides; and to her parents and family, in the subsequent +terrible sufferings consequent upon their exposed position +between the two armies, became a heroine in deed and in truth.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[398]</a></span></p> + +<p>My personal acquaintance with this remarkable young lady was +confined to the few days of 1862. The incident which is best +remembered occurred while riding up the Potomac from Aquia +Creek as her escort, <i>en route</i> to Baltimore. In reply to something +that I had said on the subject that was uppermost in my heart, she +took occasion to say to me in a kind, sisterly way about Geno, that +produced a lasting effect upon me: "You must not trifle with +that child."</p> + +<p>That I was sincere and very much in earnest she soon discovered, +because, from her charming manner, I was impelled to tell her right +there much more of my love for her sister than I had told Geno herself. +Her smiling approval, when I mentioned my ambition to +make Geno an officer's wife, was: "You love like a boy, but I +believe you would fight like a man."</p> + +<p>Miss Sue was of an entirely different disposition. She was a +born coquette, and flirting was natural to her. Her eyes were hazel, +and, if I may be permitted to offer my advice to the sons of veterans, +it is, don't attempt to flirt with a pair of hazel eyes, because it +is a waste of time and dangerous. Perhaps they are less susceptible +than black or blue, but once trifled with, or neglected, they do not +pine away in grief, but rally for revenge and take it out in scorn.</p> + +<p>I never made love to Miss Sue that I remember, after having +met Geno; but she evidently felt that I was her legitimate game, +simply because she was the oldest daughter. In fact, she told me +plainly that Geno was entirely too young to be spending so much +time with strange young gentlemen.</p> + +<p>Naturally enough, I resented her advice, and talked to Geno +about it, but my little girl only laughed sweetly at my earnestness, +and not once, that I can recall, said a single word in reply that +reflected on her elder sister's judgment. Geno's voice was mild, +her method of speaking slow, with a charmingly hesitating manner, +that made everything she said, or left unsaid, impressive.</p> + +<p>The father being absent in exile, Miss Sue prevailed upon the +mother to allow her to "manage this affair," as she haughtily +termed it. We were being restricted somewhat arbitrarily by Miss +Sue's management, and, to get around it, I had recourse to smuggling +little notes to Geno through her little brother George and +sister Jennie.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[399]</a></span></p> + +<p>I recall now, with a laugh, with what slyness and caution Geno +managed this little secret service of ours. There were not any +ciphers used, but Geno had away of inserting quotations in French +in her notes that embarrassed me, because I couldn't interpret +them myself, and, of course, dare not appeal to any one else.</p> + +<p>One day we all came to grief by Miss Sue getting hold of one +of my notes to Geno, in which I impulsively intimated that the +animus or motive of Sue's opposition was based on the fact that +she desired all the attention bestowed on herself. That was a +very indiscreet thing to put on a piece of paper; but, as I have said +before, I think, I was twenty and Geno was sixteen.</p> + +<p>Entering the parlor one afternoon, I found both the sisters +sobbing and crying as if their hearts were breaking over some +sudden intelligence of a dreadful character. I hurriedly asked if +their father had been caught. But, to my eager interest, Sue +replied through her tears by taking me to task about this note. I +tried to explain, but she did all the talking for an hour, and I got +no chance to say a word, until she said something about Geno +being too young to take care of herself, when I blurted out: +"Geno is better able to take care of herself than you are, and +I know it."</p> + +<p>That was putting my foot into it deeper than ever.</p> + +<p>It took me a week to get this affair straightened out, and I +verily believe the words uttered so thoughtlessly at this moment +were treasured up against me in wrath by Miss Sue for twenty +years, though she pretended to "make up," and I kissed both of the +sisters that time before we broke up the conference or love-feast.</p> + +<p>There remains in existence to-day a neatly-written, faded letter +addressed to "The friend of an hour," which my sister Ruthie has +preserved. The smart, sharp, stinging words of this letter have +served as a model for more than one communication under similar +circumstances.</p> + +<p>There was this peculiarity about the Wells family: they were +all loyal and true to each other, and to their parents. More than +one outsider has learned to their sorrow—touch one, and all of +them were touched.</p> + +<p>As serving to indicate this, and to show the innocence and +purity of Geno, I will relate at my own expense an incident.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[400]</a></span></p> + +<p>Shortly after the Captain and father had "escaped" through +my connivance, Geno, in her sweet, hesitating voice, said to me, in +reply to something I had been saying or doing: "Father said to +me, as he bid me good-by: 'Geno, look out for Mr. O. K.'"</p> + +<p>I was stunned. Perhaps I was presuming too far on my being +solid with the family, and, in my usual impulsive way, I earnestly +resented the Captain's caution, probably because I realized that he +was right, and said something harsh in reply. Geno looked up +into my face in a surprised way, while she defended her father. I +shall never forget the words and the manner in which they were +uttered: "Why, father knows best. I would not have him angry +with me for anything."</p> + +<p>It was a lesson to me. I was angry at the moment, but I loved +her all the more for this evidence of loyalty to her parents.</p> + +<p>It may be worth while to add a word of advice to the boys and +girls who may read this. The good and faithful daughter always +makes a good wife. Don't forget it, boys and girls.</p> + +<p>To pick up the tangled love-knot in the thread of this narrative, +I will say during the pleasant evening spent with the Wells +family, I was so happy and contented that I became wholly oblivious +to everything that was going on in the army outside. It was +late the next day when I walked down to the railroad office as +usual, to see if there was any news for me. It was then that I +received the note of warning from my brother Spencer, which had +come during my absence, a reference to which has been made +further back in this narrative.</p> + +<p>While in or around this office or station, about which were +always congregated a great crowd of officers and soldiers off duty, +as well as sutlers, newsboys, etc., I was pleasantly approached by +General McCallum, who had charge of all the military railroads, +as the successor of Colonel Thos. A. Scott, and who, after talking +agreeably about some of the work I had previously undertaken, +told me in his gruff way: "Railroad and telegraph employés have +been required by the Secretary of War to take the oath of +allegiance. All have signed but you, and I have left a blank in +the office for your signature."</p> + +<p>I was an employé, and as such was perfectly willing to sign all +the oaths they required, and expressed my willingness to comply<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[401]</a></span> +at once. I found a written blank form had been prepared for me +in the office. I signed it without thinking it necessary to read. +When handing the paper back to the clerk, he remarked jocularly: +"They have made you sign a mighty tight paper, haven't they?"</p> + +<p>It was only when my curiosity was aroused by this remark that +I thought of reading over the form of the oath. I think it was what +was known in the year after as the cow-catcher bond or iron-clad +oath. It was purposely made strong enough to catch any supposed +case of disloyalty. It contained one simple clause that at the time +seemed to perplex me a little. It read in substance: "I have never +belonged to any organization, or borne arms against the Government +of the United States, voluntarily or involuntarily."</p> + +<p>I could not conscientiously or truthfully swear to that. I was +willing enough to do almost anything to get around the ugly +point, that seemed like a rock in my path, without being forced +to explain that I had voluntarily united with the rebel army, and +involuntarily borne arms against the Government. I dreaded +very much putting my name to a paper which could in any event +be brought up against me as a proof that I was "a perjurer."</p> + +<p>I was loyal to the core, as everybody who has read this must +know; but I had—I may say voluntarily—united myself with +the Third Battalion of Rebel Maryland Artillery. To be sure, I +was forced by the necessities of my peculiar work and the situation +during my sickness in Richmond, as well as prompted by a +desire to further and better aid the United States Government, to +do this; but the stubborn fact was—I had taken their oath and +I had in reality borne Rebel arms. I had not told anyone in +Fredericksburg about this, and none of the railroad employés +knew anything of my former experiences. Perhaps Geno had +my confidence, but none of the family ever received any intimation +from her of my true character. To them all I was, as Sue +put it, "A nice little fellow from Pennsylvania, and that's all we +know."</p> + +<p>I saw at the first glance of this new oath that I was in a tight +place; and, in a moment of hasty impulse, prompted solely by a +desire to be truthful and honorable to myself, I scratched my +name from the paper. Without a word of explanation to the +astonished clerk, I took it to Gen. McCallum, and, in a few words,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[402]</a></span> +explained my action, and desired him to try and find some way +out of the trouble for me. He had understood in a general way +something of my experiences, and when I told him my action, +he agreed with me, and said that it was right and honorable in me +to protect my name. Further, on his return to Washington the +day following, he said he would report the matter to the Secretary +of War, and asked that I be permitted to remain in the service +without being compelled to sign that iron-clad paper.</p> + +<p>I thought then that the matter was settled, and in the evening +went home from my office, to pass another—only one more—of the +enjoyable, happy nights, in the company of the ladies.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the leaven I had sent to Washington previously, +in the shape of a telegram to Covode, had begun to work; +so that when General McCallum got back to Washington City the +next day, and reported my case to the Assistant Secretaries, P. H. +Watson and General Eckert, these two officials put their wise +heads together, and with only the evidence in their possession, +which was additionally overbalanced by General Eckert's former +prejudice, they came to the hasty conclusion, without giving me +a chance to be heard, that "I was a very dangerous man," and so +reported their conclusion to Mr. Stanton, whose attention was at +the same time called to my reports to Covode.</p> + +<p>The telegrapher at <a name="fred4" id="fred4"></a><ins title="Original has Fredericksburgh">Fredericksburg</ins> at that time, was a Mr. +Gentry, of Kentucky, a clever gentleman, as all Kentuckians are +that I have ever met.</p> + +<p>That afternoon, while lounging in the cool parlor with Geno +and Miss Sue, I was called to the door by a visit from Mr. Gentry, +who politely informed me that he had an intimation from my +brother and friends in Washington that I would get into trouble +unless I signed that oath. Mr. Gentry very kindly advised me, to +use his own words, which made such a lasting impression on me +that I have not forgotten them: "Now, don't you be carried +away by infatuation for this pretty little girl; act sensibly for the +present; why, I'd sign anything, and I'm from Kentucky."</p> + +<p>He was very courteous, and I felt that he had been sent after +me, and if there is any one thing that I abhor it is being "led" or +coddled. He knew nothing of my reasons for declining the oath, +and when he desired a reply from me to telegraph back to Wash<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[403]</a></span>ington, +I merely said: "Just tell them I won't do it. They will +understand that."</p> + +<p>"But," Mr. Gentry interposed, "the Secretary of War sends +this word—that you must do it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I won't do it for the Secretary of War or anybody else."</p> + +<p>"What shall I tell him?"</p> + +<p>"Tell him to go to ——."</p> + +<p>"No," laughed Gentry, "I wouldn't like to do that."</p> + +<p>"Well, tell the Secretary I said so."</p> + +<p>I felt at that time that it was not Mr. Stanton personally who +was insisting upon cornering me in this way. He certainly knew +of my former services, and that I could not be disloyal if I wanted +to. If he had given the subject a moment's consideration, he would +have surmised the reason for my "recalcitrancy"—to call it by a +big name.</p> + +<p>I believed then, and I have always entertained the opinion, that +Mr. Eckert, through Assistant Secretary Watson, was instrumental +in creating this misunderstanding. Perhaps I am mistaken, +but I shall die without changing my mind on this subject.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gentry probably went direct to his office after his short +interview with me and reported the failure of his effort to "reconstruct +me."</p> + +<p>I imagine that, in his jocular manner, common to all operators, +he detailed the exact conversation with me over the wire to the +War Department operators. I cannot think he sent my words as +an official message to the Secretary of War, but undoubtedly the +substance had been telegraphed, and, of course, the War Department +telegraph spies made the most use of their opportunity to +down one who was inclined to be so "independent and obstreperous."</p> + +<p>In an hour or two Mr. Gentry returned to the house—they all +knew where to find me—called me to the door again, and, in the +most feeling manner, told me privately that he had received, and at +the same time held in his possession, a telegraph order from the +Secretary of War, E. M. Stanton, to Provost-Marshal-General +Patrick for my arrest.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gentry very kindly kept the fact that he had received such +a message entirely to himself, considerately bringing to me first<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[404]</a></span> +the ugly intelligence. He did not say so, but I have always +believed his object was to give me an opportunity of escaping. I +could easily have done so without leaving any suspicion attached to +him of having advised me of this intention.</p> + +<p>I had no thought of attempting anything of this kind. We +sat down on the porch together while I read the order, which is +to-day on file in the War Office, in these words: "Arrest and keep +in the closest confinement, O. K., and send to Washington in +charge of sufficient guard to prevent any communication."</p> + +<p>Mr. Gentry endeavored to ease the "disagreeable duty," as he +termed it, by saying that the receipt of such an order was a great +surprise to him, and he felt sure there was some mistake, and that +all would be righted when I should reach Washington.</p> + +<p>When I realized the full purport of such an order from the +Secretary of War, I was almost stunned at the direful prospect.</p> + +<p>My first thoughts were of the distressing effect of such news on +my father and relatives at home, who were expecting that I should +receive soon a promotion from the Secretary of War to the Regular +Army. How, then, could I explain this arrest to them? I +don't know now whether or not I even thanked Mr. Gentry for +his kind thoughtfulness at the time. I hope he may be living and +see from this that, after the lapse of twenty-five years, I have not +forgotten his generous and thoughtful consideration for me on +that hot Summer day in 1862.</p> + +<p>Asking to be excused for a moment, I briefly told Mrs. Wells of +the sudden intelligence, which she received in her motherly, +sympathetic manner, with both hands raised in astonishment. +Without trusting myself to talk further to her or anyone else in +my agitated condition, I rejoined Mr. Gentry, and we walked +together up the hill to General Patrick's office, where Mr. Gentry +handed the order to General Patrick while I stood by. After he +had read the telegram, Mr. Gentry astonished the old man by +introducing his prisoner. The General was kind, indeed he was +very sympathetic, and explained that, as the order was direct from +the Secretary of War, he should have to give it especial attention, +and see that it was executed to the letter; but he would make it as +pleasant for me as possible.</p> + +<p>I was given one of the vacant rooms in the private mansion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[405]</a></span> +then occupied as Provost-Marshal's Headquarters; a sentry with a +loaded musket stood guard in the large hallway at my open door, +with positive orders, as I was courteously informed by the officer +who placed him there, not to allow anyone to see me, and, under +no circumstances, was I to communicate with any person, except +through himself, as officer of the guard.</p> + +<p>As there were no boats leaving for Washington City from Aquia +Creek so late in the day, I was obliged to remain a solitary prisoner, +under strict order of the War Department, until the following +day.</p> + +<p>I shall make the story of my imprisonment as brief as may be. +During all my life, it has been a close secret with me, and for +the first time, I am attempting to tell the entire story, which to +many of my best friends has been as a hidden mystery.</p> + +<p>The sentry in a blue uniform, with a loaded musket in his arms, +stood within a few feet of me during the evening; and, while I +slept on a cot, he faced about like a guardian angel, in a grum +sort of way, however, that was not at all calculated to promote a +feeling of sociability.</p> + +<p>In fact, his bearing rather impressed me with an overwhelming +sensation that the gun he carried was loaded, and the fellow who +had command of it looked as if he were asking for a chance to try +it on something.</p> + +<p>He wasn't a companionable fellow, so I acted toward him as he +did to me—with silent contempt; and that's the way I spent the +evening. I knew very well that there were plenty of friends in +town who would have called to see me in this, my time of need, if +they had been permitted to do so. As it was, I was all alone in +my glory, until late in the evening, when an officer, accompanied +by a soldier, came to my prison door, the soldier carrying a +little basket, which I was told contained my supper, which kind +and motherly Mrs. Wells had sent to me, but not a word of +sympathy or regret accompanied it. I don't know for sure, but I +think that the contents had been, not only "inspected" by the +officer of the guard on the lookout for contraband communications, +but that the different little dainties had been sampled as +well, probably to see if they did not conceal a poison.</p> + +<p>This generous and thoughtful remembrance from Mrs. Wells,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[406]</a></span> +was the only indication I received in my solitary confinement, +during all that beautiful but lonely long summer evening in +Fredericksburg, that there were any persons outside of my four +walls, except the grim old sentry. Of course, I well knew that +at our house there would be assembled the usual crowd of happy +young folks, and their conversation and thoughts would naturally +be with me in my confinement. This comforting reflection was, +however, somewhat disturbed by the fear that the entire family +might either have been arrested or dispersed; so that, the discomforts +of my close confinement were greatly increased by this fear, +until I was in a manner assured of their safety by the arrival of +the daintily-served lunch.</p> + +<p>I slept that night—if I slept at all—on a bed of misery. At +every turn I was made to realize that I was a prisoner—to our own +side. Though the officers of General Patrick's Staff, who had +charge of me, were accomplished gentlemen, and seemed apparently +to sympathize with me, I could not conceal and they must have +seen my distress, they were obliged, by the strict orders they had +received—as was frequently explained to me—direct from the +Secretary of War—to <i>prevent</i> any communication with me.</p> + +<p>The morning following my arrest, after a hasty and solitary +breakfast, I was personally visited by General Patrick, who was +then Provost-Marshal for that Army, who, in the most kindly +manner possible, expressed his regrets for the necessity of putting +me to so much inconvenience, further explaining that, once in +Washington, I could no doubt get everything fixed up. He then +showed me two letters and a small pocket Bible that had been +sent to me, but which he could not deliver to me, under the strict +orders to permit no communication. When I recognized the +address of one letter to be the well-known handwriting of my +father, the very sight of it seemed to be like a thrust of a knife +into my heart, as I at once realized how distressing to him would +be the news of my arrest—my friends had been expecting in its +stead a promotion, by way of recompense for my past services. +The other note I knew was from Geno, while the Bible was the +last, best gift of Mrs. Wells.</p> + +<p>I was assured by General Patrick that they should be sent +along with me to Washington, in the care of the officer in charge,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[407]</a></span> +and he hoped and expressed the belief that I should soon be free +and get possession of them.</p> + +<p>With a kind "Good-by," he introduced me to Captain ——, +whose name I have forgotten, and a Lieutenant, who would kindly +accompany me to Washington. The Captain very considerately +observed that it had been arranged that we should get out of +town quietly, without attracting any attention from the crowds +about the streets, who had, no doubt, heard of my arrest.</p> + +<p>To better accomplish this and avoid the depot, we crossed the +river together at a ferry, in order to take the train for Aquia +Creek from the other side, and, in so doing, we passed within a +half block of Geno's house, but not within sight of it.</p> + +<p>The Captain who accompanied me, though always by my side +or, at least, close by me, considerately made it a point to act +toward me—his prisoner—as if I were merely a companion. Not +any of the crowd that took the train that day with us suspected +that I was a prisoner. And, by the way, there was a great crowd +leaving for Washington about that time, caused, if I remember +aright, by some bad news from General Banks in the Valley, or +McClellan.</p> + +<p>It was the Lieutenant who was acting as the silent partner of +the Captain, who kept the closer eye upon me, while, at the same +time, he discreetly kept himself aloof from us and did not appear +at all as one of the party. I mention all this minutely, merely +to show that, notwithstanding the strict orders of the Secretary +of War, and the close watch of the two officers, I succeeded in +communicating with my friends at Washington.</p> + +<p>When the overcrowded train of open freight cars and one or +two passenger coaches cautiously crawled over the big trestle-work +bridges, constructed by details of soldiers, between Falmouth, +on the opposite side of the river from Fredericksburg, and +reached "You-be-dam" Station, near Aquia Creek, though only +twelve or fourteen miles, it was late in the day. There was a +long temporary pier at Aquia Creek, and a number of rough +board-sheds had been erected for the accommodation of the Quartermaster, +commissary and other officers at this base of supplies. +Among these offices was located the railroad telegraph offices, which +were then in charge of Mr. Wm. Emerick, at the present time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[408]</a></span> +the efficient manager of the Gold and Stock Telegraph Company +in New York City. In the management of the business +in hand, it so happened that my Captain was obliged +to call in a business way upon the Quartermaster, stationed here, +to secure the required transportation for his party, on the +boat up to Washington City; and while he was showing his +papers and explaining his errand, I occupied a seat that I +discovered to be convenient to the telegraph office, or desk, +which was located in the same room. Mr. Emerick did not +at that time suspect that I was an operator, neither did he know +that I was under arrest; so, when the attention of the Captain was +drawn, Mr. Emerick was eating his lunch outside, I sat on the +edge of the rough table that was used for the telegraph instruments. +Without speaking a word and apparently intent on watching +the Captain's business, as my face was toward him, quietly, +with one hand I touched the telegraph key, and deftly making use +of my education as an operator, I signaled for attention. Quickly, +and as all operators will readily understand, in shorter time than +it takes me to tell it on paper, I was recognized by the answer, +I, I, g-a., which means, Yes, go ahead. I sent a few words nervously +to my brother operator, in effect for Mr. "John Covode—Call +at Old Capitol Prison to see me," and signed my name.</p> + +<p>This was all done so quickly, and so quietly and effectively, +that not one person present suspected that I was occupied in anything +of the sort.</p> + +<p>Lest I should be suspected, I left the telegraph desk abruptly, +but I had the satisfaction of hearing the acknowledgment of my +dispatch, in the familiar telegraph sound: "O. K."</p> + +<p>In the year following, I rode in an ambulance one day with +Mr. Emerick from Aldie to Washington during the Gettysburg +campaign, and was amused beyond my power of description to +hear Mr. Emerick detail the trick that a Rebel Spy had played on +him at Aquia Creek. He did not detect, in my hearty laugh at +his recital of the story, that I was in any way an interested party +because, at that time, I was on the Headquarters Cavalry Corps, +Army of the Potomac Staff, and wore the blue uniform.</p> + +<p>At the regular hour for the daily boats to leave Aquia Creek +for Washington, we—the Captain, Lieutenant and myself—were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[409]</a></span> +aboard and comfortably seated in arm-chairs on the hurricane +deck.</p> + +<p>About 6 <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> we ran up past the Arsenal and finally fastened +to the wharf. Here I realized fully, for the first time, that +the Captain and Lieutenant were both strictly attentive to me, +insisting on giving me a helping hand to almost every step +through the crowds that were then rushing off the boats as soon as +they touched the landings. I realized, with a sickening sensation +at my heart, that I was not now free to go as I pleased, as had +been my habit on many former trips up the river to Washington.</p> + +<p>The officer in charge, not knowing the location of the Old +Capitol Prison, in Washington, it became my duty to pilot my +guard to my own prison. I believe we went along Maryland avenue, +or, at least, to the south side of Washington, on what was known as +"the Island"—below the canal—and got up through one of the +stone-yards that then surrounded the unfinished Capitol.</p> + +<p>In 1862 there were no beautiful Capitol Grounds to the north +and south of the building, but, instead, the whole country thereabout +was occupied by the gang of stone-cutters and their piles of +marble or stone debris, similar to that which surrounded the +Washington Monument within the last few years.</p> + +<p>I steered the way in a direct course to the Old Capitol. When +we got there, we were stopped by an armed sentry on the pavement, +who called an officer that escorted us inside the hallway.</p> + +<p>Here we were again detained, to wait until the Commandant +had been heard from. After a most unhappy wait of half an hour +we were ordered to the "office." Here, for the first time, I saw +Colonel W. P. Woods, who is, I understand, a resident of Washington. +Colonel Woods was rather a young, sharp-looking man, if +I remember correctly, with side-whiskers, or, as we term them, short +Presbyterians.</p> + +<p>He was evidently accustomed to receiving guests at his hotel, +and at first seemingly paid but little attention to the new arrivals, +being at the time engaged in conversation with some lady visitors. +The Captain produced a letter, which a young fellow, with all the +airs of a hotel clerk, graciously deigned to open and read. He +left his seat and whispered a word to Captain Woods, who left his +talkative lady friends and turned his attentions to us, with as sudden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[410]</a></span> +an interest as if he had discovered a millionaire guest among +the recent arrivals. I never knew what were the contents of the letter +delivered to the Captain. I presume it is on record in the War +Department among the Rebellion Records. Only this much I +am sure. I am not mistaken in saying that I was a special guest, and +at once became the center of attraction for Captain Wood and his +force of attendants.</p> + +<p>He gave us his personal attention, and himself took the records, +and entered my arrival on his register, where they will be +found to-day.</p> + +<p>The walls of the Old Capitol Prison of the War of the Rebellion +are still standing on the corner of First and A streets, North-East +Washington, but in so altered a shape as to be scarcely recognized +by the oldest inhabitants. In 1862 this famous building +was a plain, oblong structure, more closely resembling a warehouse +after the style of the Richmond Tobacco Libby, than anything +else that I can think of just now by way of comparison.</p> + +<p>The old building was what was known as a double house, with a +large, very broad hallway running through the center of the house, +extending to the back porch or yard, on the L-shaped wing—a back +building on A street.</p> + +<p>In one of the four rooms that opened out of the hall, located +nearest the door I think, was Captain Wood's office. Here I was +"detained" for, well, probably an hour, after the Captain had bidden +me a cordial "Good-by," promising that when he reported my +safe arrival to the Secretary, on the following morning, he would +endeavor to say a word of commendation of my good conduct.</p> + +<p>My heart sank within me when I realized to the fullest extent +that I was a prisoner. I sat in a chair near Mr. Wood's desk, +while he, with some others, arranged suitable quarters for me. In +due time I was shown to my room, which was located in the L, +immediately at the head of the back stairs that led up out of the +porch. I am living in Washington on the same square with the +celebrated old building, now occupied as a princely residence by +Chief Justice Field, General Drum, Senator Spooner, and, during +my daily walks to and fro, I frequently pass the old window, and +never once fail to look at it, almost expecting to see a ghost of my +former self looking out at me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[411]</a></span></p> + +<p>I was shown to my little eight by ten hall-room, furnished only +by a soldier's cot and a chair, and being so tired, sick, and broken-hearted +I lay down, and, after bitter, scalding tears, soon dropped +into the sleep of innocence.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[412]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>OLD CAPITOL PRISON—BELLE BOYD, THE REBEL SPY, A COMPANION +AND FRIEND—A DISGUISED ENGLISH DUKE—INTERESTING +SCENES AND EXPERIENCES IN THIS FAMOUS STATE PRISON—PLANNING +TO ESCAPE DISGUISED AS A CONTRABAND—RELEASED +ON PAROLE BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.</h3> + + +<p>My Old Capitol Prison experience covered about three weeks of +the hottest and, to me, the most disagreeable close and sultry days +of a Washington summer.</p> + +<p>I was a "prisoner of State" within the walls of the ugly old +building during part of the months of August and September, 1862.</p> + +<p>To one of my active temperament, the confinement at this particular +time was made doubly annoying by the knowledge we, as +prisoners, were permitted to obtain, in an unsatisfactory way, of +course, of the important military movements that were then going +on outside. We heard, in a half apologetic way, of the abandonment +of the Peninsula by McClellan, or a change of base; and this +news was received inside the prison by the inmates with cheers, +that sent cold chills down my spine. The locks and bars, which +were always in sight, as well as the bayonets of the armed sentry, +that were everywhere in view from the windows, seemed to sink +deeper into my heart, when I realized that Fredericksburg was also +necessarily abandoned, and Geno in the hands of the Rebels. When +the crowded inmates of the prison would form groups in the yard +in the evening, and, in the wildest glee, openly congratulate each +other on the prospect of their speedy release by Stonewall Jackson's +men, when he should reach Washington, I felt, for obvious reasons, +that I'd rather not be "released" by that sort of a crowd. This +feeling was especially exhibited after the news of General Pope's +disaster at the second battle of Bull Run, that occurred while I was +locked up there. But I am getting over these three weeks in O. C. +P., as we call it for short, a little prematurely.</p> + +<p>Very few of the tourists who visit Washington are aware that +within rifle-shot of the Capitol stands (in greatly altered shape, of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[413]</a></span> +course,) one of the most historic buildings about the city. A good-sized +book might be printed about the Old Capitol, and yet not one-half +the secrets the old walls could tell would have been told. It was +within these walls that John C. Calhoun, in dreadful agony of mind +and body, breathed his last on earth, and it is said that his last +words were not those of peace and happiness. It seems a little odd +that the same brick and mortar hid from the outside world the last +dreadful agony of the arch-fiend Wirz. The Kit Carson G. A. R. +Post, of Washington, of which I am a comrade, was organized over +the same bier and in the same dungeon that contained the body of +Wirz after execution, in the year of the assassination of Lincoln, +and during the Presidency of Mr. Andrew Johnson.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 391px;"> +<img src="images/i453.jpg" width="391" height="600" alt="IN OLD CAPITOL PRISON—I ADMIT THAT I BROKE +DOWN COMPLETELY." title="" /> +<span class="caption">IN OLD <a name="cap1" id="cap1"></a><ins title="Original has CAPITAL">CAPITOL</ins> PRISON—I ADMIT THAT I BROKE +DOWN COMPLETELY.</span> +</div> + +<p>I spent my first night alone in a prison on the only cot the little +hall-room contained. I had thrown myself upon it when I realized +that Colonel Woods had closed and locked the door on me, +after a polite "Good-night," without undressing myself. I admit that +I broke down completely, and cried myself to sleep. I was simply +broken-hearted when I recalled my previous dangerous services for +the Government; could not understand why I should be so ruthlessly +and heartlessly treated by the Secretary-of-War. It was my +sensitive feelings that were so cruelly hurt.</p> + +<p>In the morning I wakened, a hardened, stubborn, and, if I had +been given the least chance, I should have shown myself an ugly, +vindictive <i>man</i>. It seemed as if the <i>boy</i> in my nature had parted +from me with those bitter tears, and when I roused myself it was +with a determination to "do something"—I didn't know exactly +what, but it was anything but a surrender, or to beg for my liberty.</p> + +<p>The unlocking of the doors and the tramping of feet along the +hallways, with the voices of the attendants in boisterous conversation +with the inmates of the other part of the Hotel de O. C. P., +were the sounds that first awakened me to this new life, as it were. +As I had not undressed, I was out before the crowd got around, +and enjoyed the opportunity of surveying my surroundings in quietness. +As I have tried to explain, my room was right at the head +of the hall stairs, on the L-part of the building, facing on A street +north. The only window the room contained looked north, and, +as there were in those days no buildings at all, of any size, in that +part of the city, my view extended away across the country to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">[414]</a></span> +Deaf and Dumb Asylum on the northern hills. In the low foreground +were the numerous trains of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, +that were constantly going and coming out, the tracks being +in full view. This sight of loaded cars speeding away to the North—to +home and liberty—was not, you may be assured, exactly the thing +calculated to make the close prisoner, who saw them from his window, +feel any better contented with his prison. My first thoughts +at this sight were, that I should quietly leap down the short distance +from that window on to the pavement below, as it was but one +story above the walk, where I might quietly glide over the open +commons and "catch a train."</p> + +<p>There were no bars to the windows, and the sash was not even +fastened down, because of the necessity for ventilation, so that I +was able to stick my head clearly outside, but I was paralyzed to +discover on the first inspection that, down on the pavement below +my window, every inch was being closely patrolled by a double guard +of armed sentries, while the commons, a little distance off, were +occupied as the camp for the outside-guard. That's exactly the +way they had it arranged in 1862, and, I also observed very soon +after my arrival, that there was an inside-guard pacing up and down +the hallway in front of our open doors. The outside sentinels did +not allow <i>any</i> one except their own officers on the pavement or +street, in their front, so that communication in any shape or form +was out of the question.</p> + +<p>The back stairway led out on to the porch of the L, that opened +into the yard. Communicating with this wooden porch at one end +was the front hall, which led through the center of the main building +out on to First street, to the west. It was modeled precisely +on the same old-fashioned plan of a large farmhouse or country +hotel. A main building, divided in the center by a hall which +opened on to the big back porch. As if to further complete the +comparison with a country tavern, I found, on going down stairs +that first morning, that the porch was provided with a number +of wash-bowls and long towels on rollers, at which the guests +were expected to make their morning toilets, assisted by that +usual scraggy old comb attached to a yard of string, tied to each +post of the porch, that contained, of course, a looking-glass which +distorted one's face so that I imagined, at the first sight of my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">[415]</a></span>self, +that a single night in jail had made me look like a horrible old +murderer.</p> + +<p>Meals were served by the proprietors, of course, but I was +politely informed by an officer, in answer to some question about +the rules and regulations of the house, that those who preferred it +could select a caterer and have special meals served from the outside. +I concluded to be a prisoner on the European plan, and +joined a mess of two or three other hail-fellows-well-met, to whom +I was introduced by the officer. There were no restrictions placed +on my intercourse with this mess, though we were informed that +the trio would not be allowed to have any communication with +prisoners in the other part of the house.</p> + +<p>I did not want to see anybody that I had ever known before—not +even my brother, who was then at the War Department, and to +whom I had secretly telegraphed to meet me with Mr. Covode. +There is no other explanation of this feeling except an admission +that it was a cranky freak I indulged in to the fullest extent. After +my first breakfast, while in my little room engaged in looking out +of the window at the shifting trains, I was surprised by a first call +from a lady.</p> + +<p>One of our mess, whom I will call English, because he was an +English "Spy"—or had been arrested as being in communication +with the Rebels—politely knocked at my half-open door, saying, in +the most polite way, for he was a genuine English gentleman:</p> + +<p>"Miss Belle Boyd desires to meet you, sir," and, before I could +recover from my surprise, the door was darkened by the lithe and +graceful figure of a neatly-dressed young lady, who had presented +herself to my vision so suddenly as to suggest a spirit from the +other world. It was Belle Boyd, the celebrated female Rebel Spy. +I had heard of her in connection with her daring horseback raids +about Winchester and in the Valley with Stonewall Jackson and +Jeb Stuart, but did not have any idea that she was to be a "fellow" +prisoner with me. Without any embarrassment at all, and as +if sincerely anxious to welcome me to the prison, she stepped forward +smilingly and, with hands outstretched, took mine in hers, as +she said: "I was anxious to see who it was that was here by Stanton's +express orders."</p> + +<p>I don't just remember now how I did act, but it's most likely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">[416]</a></span> +that it was in an awkward, embarrassed manner, that caused Miss +Belle to say, reassuringly: "Oh, you are among your friends now, +and I'm glad to know you."</p> + +<p>To my immediate relief the conversation was further carried on +by English and Miss Boyd in a strain which, while it gave me an +opportunity to recover myself, at the same time put the thought +into my brain that I'd "catch on," as we say nowadays, and find +out what this racket in the Spy line was. Here were two Rebel +spies, with whom I had been put in confidential communication, +and it flashed across my mind in an instant that I would make +some good come of the unpleasant surroundings and put myself in +such a position that the War Department would be glad enough to +acknowledge my services. There was not a shadow of a doubt of +Belle Boyd's sincere interest in me. She said:</p> + +<p>"I was in C. I. Woods' office last night when I heard him tell +the officers on duty: 'You must not overlook the fact that the +young man in the hall room, by himself, is here under the <i>express</i> +orders of Mr. Stanton.'"</p> + +<p>As Miss Boyd made this observation in her own positive style, +her lip curled with scorn at the mention of Mr. Stanton's name. +She said further, in words that I have never forgotten:</p> + +<p>"There was something else said in an undertone that I could +not gather, but I determined that I would see the prisoner who was +under Mr. Stanton's express orders."</p> + +<p>This was my introduction to Belle Boyd, and to this indorsement +of Colonel Woods and Mr. Stanton I am probably indebted +for the very warm and kindly interest this famous female Spy afterward +showed toward me.</p> + +<p>As I remember her appearance at that time, she was of light, +rather fair complexion, and I think her hair was inclined to be a +strawberry blonde. While she was not strictly a handsome woman, +there was something in her manner that was very attractive. She +reminded me of Maggie Mitchell in her younger days. She was +graceful, and, if I remember her right, has been accorded much +praise for her winning ways and easy bearings. Though she was older +than myself at that time, and the center of attraction among the distinguished +prisoners, all of whom seemed anxious to win her favor, I +flatter myself that the famous female Spy took quite a fancy to me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">[417]</a></span></p> + +<p>The gentleman whom I have called Mr. English was rather +older than either of the little coterie that I had been invited to join. +He was one of those fellows who have been everywhere and know +everything; in short, a regular adventurer, after the style of the +English novel. He was educated—at least, we all thought so—because +he talked so glibly and knowingly about every conceivable +thing, and incidentally mentioned some of the palaces he had visited, +how he had been entertained by royalty. This, with an occasional hint +as to the character of his family friends, and the accidental exhibition +of a genuine coat-of-arms, convinced Miss Boyd and myself, in our +inexperience with this sort of thing, that our friend was, of course, a +disguised "juke," and from that time forth he was treated with the +greatest deference by us, and ate the best part of our rations. Fortunately +for me, he and Miss Belle Boyd did all the talking for the +first few days. I became a quiet and admiring listener, had plenty +of time in which to gather myself up, so as to be able to formulate +my own story, when it should be called for.</p> + +<p>But this everlasting Englishman talked so incessantly, and so +agreeably, too, about his wonderful adventures, "in the bush, +you know," while in the East India service, and in the Crimea, +that, as I said, even Belle Boyd, who was a great talker, had but +little show.</p> + +<p>Our friend could sing, too, as well as talk; each evening the +prisoners assembled in the "court-yard," while our glee club, on +the balcony above, which was something like a stage, led by the +Englishman, who bossed everything, you know, furnished entertaining +music. We had every song in the whole list well rendered. It +is easier to mention what was <i>not</i> sung than to begin to tell all that +were given by this improvised club. Among those we never heard +was the Star Spangled Banner, and kindred airs. We had Dixie +for reveille, dinner and tea, and it was Dixie for a doxology at taps.</p> + +<p>We had regular taps and hours in O. C. P. just as they have in +camp outside. At bed-time everyone was made to "douse his +glim" with as much strictness as if we were all aboard a man-of-war +at Fort Pickens.</p> + +<p>While I played the Rebel inside the prison for a purpose, +because, as I have said, I determined the first day not to beg off, and +it came sort of natural for me to ventilate a little against Stanton,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">[418]</a></span> +I became awfully bored by the everlasting Rebel talk, and especially +so at the Englishman's predictions, that we would all become willing +"subjects of Her Majesty before long."</p> + +<p>I must do the most violent Rebel prisoner the credit for resenting +this sort of talk, every time it was broached in O. C. P.</p> + +<p>One evening the Englishman was, as usual, entertaining the +assembled crowd with his melodious bellowing of "Brittania Rules +the Waves;" he could do that song up in the most approved operatic +style; indeed, my later judgment is that the fellow must have been +an opera singer among his other accomplishments. He sang this +beautiful song standing before the prisoners in the most effective +stage style, expecting, as a matter of course, to be applauded and +encored at the end of the act. Instead of that, however, in a quiet, +slow-speaking voice, I suggested involuntarily: "How about the +Monitor and Merrimac?"</p> + +<p>The question seemed so apt, and put in such a sly way, that it +seemed to act as a match that exploded a slumbering mine. The +Englishman never before had such applause, accompanied with loud +laughter. It was a continuous "howl" for a few minutes. We +retired that night, laughingly discussing the Englishman and the +Monitor.</p> + +<p>The incident served to break up the singing services, and after +that we heard less of England. It also shows that, even among +the United States Rebel prisoners in the Old Capitol Prison, in 1862, +there was a smoldering or banked-up fire of genuine patriotism +yet burning, that only needed a little stirring or poking up, to cause +it to break out into a great flame.</p> + +<p>I will not burden this narrative with this Englishman's story. +His history, and especially his secret services for the Rebellion, as he +related it every day in the three weeks that I was obliged to listen to +his everlasting talk, would, to use a common term, fill a book.</p> + +<p>He was evidently enamored of Miss Boyd, and the plans of these +two Rebel Spies, after they should be released, were from day to +day discussed in my hearing.</p> + +<p>Belle Boyd's operations as a Spy, had been carried on principally +in the Valley, where I was not at all known. During our many +hours of confidential chat together, I learned from her, under pretense +of expecting to use the information in getting South, when I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">[419]</a></span> +should "escape," the names and location of those people along the +Upper Potomac and in Washington, who could be depended upon as +"our friends," or as we called them in those days, "Rebel sympathizers."</p> + +<p>The list was extensive, and embraced some Washington "officials."</p> + +<p>If my services had not resulted in anything else, this information +alone, which I gained as an involuntary Spy, was of sufficient +importance to compensate for all my troubles. Of course, it will +be understood here that Belle Boyd never once suspected my true +character. She had heard me denounced by the officials of the +prison as a "dangerous man." Indeed, without egotism, I may be +allowed to say that, at that particular time, I was looked upon by +the prisoners and attendants as a "remarkable character," to put it +modestly.</p> + +<p>I did not suspect at this time that I was the object of so much +quiet Rebel homage and attention, else I might have conducted +myself differently, and exhibited some vanity over the reputation I +then enjoyed. As it was, I was set down as one of the quietest, +least troublesome of all Colonel Woods' guests. That was my Old +Capitol Prison record in brief; and I don't know now whether I +should boast of it or not. Probably I do not deserve any credit at +all for the simple facts were, that I was so sick at heart, and yet so +stubborn in disposition, that I had neither inclination or desire to +speak a word to <i>anybody</i>, and wanted to be let alone.</p> + +<p>My brother called to see me the second day after my arrival, +accompanied by some officious fellow from General Eckert's War +Department Office, whose name I have forgotten.</p> + +<p>When Colonel Woods personally called me down to his office, he +said, in a kindly way, that my brother and a friend had called, and +that, out of respect for us all, he would permit us to have a quiet +interview, without any show of guards or the usual censorship of +official attendants. I thought at the time that this was very kind +in Colonel Woods, but I changed my mind after the interview had +ended.</p> + +<p>As I walked into the room, my brother stepped up to shake my +hand, but the poor fellow broke down completely and could not +utter a word. His exhibition of feeling surprised and, of course, +affected me, and for the moment I more fully realized the effect<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">[420]</a></span> +that imprisonment was even then having on my father and friends +in the world outside. With this came a reaction in an intense bitterness, +engendered by the knowledge that I was being at least outrageously +treated, so that I became in a moment, even in the +presence of my heart-broken brother, as cold and apparently as +indifferent as the worst Rebel inside. It will be seen that this +unjustifiable imprisonment had changed my whole nature for the +time being. It had soured me, as it were, with the War Department +Administration (but not with the country), as completely as +a thunderstorm would have turned a glass of sweet cream into a +cold thick mass of clabber.</p> + +<p>The young fellow who accompanied my brother commenced to +do the talking, expressing in his kindliest way, but in a drawling +nasal tone, peculiar to a Down-east man who affects the moral-reform +style, that has had the effect of setting me on edge ever +since against this class of men, his "sincere regret at my unfortunate +condition." His tone and manner not only put me on nettles, +but his first proposition was, "Now, my dear boy, the best thing +you can do, for your brother and yourself, is to freely confess +to——."</p> + +<p>That's all he said; he didn't get any further, because I snapped +him up abruptly, saying, "Confess <i>nothing</i>; I'll do nothing of the +kind, because there isn't anything to confess."</p> + +<p>"But, my dear boy, why did you refuse to take the oath of +allegiance? Surely if you——."</p> + +<p>"Oh you go to ——. I'm not going to make any further explanations +to you."</p> + +<p>Then, turning to my brother, I quietly told him that Mr. Covode +would explain matters; that I would not, if I stayed there forever, +ask any favors from the War Office. My brother said that this man +had been sent down as a witness to my denial, and it was only necessary +for me to say in his presence that I would take the oath.</p> + +<p>But, I could not honorably do that. I could not swear falsely to +get out of prison, that "I had never borne arms nor belonged to +an armed organization against the United States." And I would +not perjure myself, even with the orders of Secretary Stanton, with +a long imprisonment threatening me for disobedience.</p> + +<p>And I did not. To make the long story short, I went back to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">[421]</a></span> +prison. Colonel Woods, who had been called into the room and +heard with surprise of my refusal to be released on such a "technicality," +merely laughed as he escorted me back to quarters, fully +satisfied in his own mind, no doubt, that I was a "case."</p> + +<p>The Englishman and Belle Boyd had, of course, heard one side +of his story of my "bribery," and, in consequence, became, if possible, +more interested than ever in the development of my interesting +case.</p> + +<p>Realizing from this interview that I was simply at Mr. Stanton's +mercy, and that he was most probably influenced by the War +Department suckers whom I have mentioned, and who were envious +or jealous of my independent and important telegraph or secret +communications, I made up my mind that it was going to be a long +siege in O. C. P. for me. The more I thought about it, and as +each day's scanty news brought us fresh and exciting intelligence of +the military doings in front of our army, I concluded impulsively +that I <i>wouldn't</i> stay very long; that I <i>must</i> be on hand and once +more outside. I would vindicate myself independently of Mr. +Stanton's advisers.</p> + +<p>Our mess was served by a caterer from the outside, as I have +already explained. The meals were brought in three times a day, +on a tray, by a colored boy, or a contraband. I had noticed from +my room window that this colored boy came from that direction, +and had, in consequence, learned to look out for his appearance as +regularly as we got hungry, at each meal time, so that it became a +daily question in our mess: "Is dinner in sight yet?"</p> + +<p>The same boy brought it every day. He had to pass the quartette +of guards in front of the house, and his basket was "subject to +inspection" inside the hall before it could be admitted through the +house.</p> + +<p>But, as a matter of fact, the inspection became somewhat of a +fraud, because the hungry guards selected the best bits of everything +by way of sampling the contents, so that we held so many +indignation meetings and bothered Colonel Woods so much with +protests and complaints, that he was glad enough to arrange with a +"trooly loil" cook, whom he could trust to not pack any papers in +our grub. In this way our boy was permitted to pass unquestioned, +as he became so well known to the regular attendants.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">[422]</a></span></p> + +<p>It occurred to me that it would be a good scheme to personate +the colored boy, and walk out with the empty dishes, past the guard +unquestioned, and so escape from the prison.</p> + +<p>Looking up into the colored boy's face, I noticed that his ragged, +old, white, straw-hat, always worn well pulled down over his curly +head, half concealed a black face that, while it was not exactly similar +to my own features, may be set down as being (with the exception +of the black) about my "style," in age and general appearance, +if I should black my face.</p> + +<p>Playfully at first, I suggested to Belle Boyd a scheme of exchanging +places with the boy, coloring my face, dressing in his coat and +hat, and attempting to walk out with his tray.</p> + +<p>She looked at the boy, then at me, and, with a hearty laugh, +declared: "It's the very thing; let's do it."</p> + +<p>Mr. English was, of course, consulted, and graciously gave his +assent to the undertaking, provided he was allowed to "make me +up," and to boss the job generally.</p> + +<p>This suggestion was fully discussed between us during that and +the days that followed; indeed, we talked of little else for a while. +How to conceal the boy, inside, until I should get safely out of +reach of the guards, was the most difficult part of the problem. +The trouble that would ensue from my friend's complicity, if he +should be detected, was also fully discussed, and a plausible way out +of all these difficulties was arranged.</p> + +<p>I was to borrow or buy from the boy, his old hat and coat, and +the patched pants and torn shoes I would manufacture.</p> + +<p>I was to be already blackened when he should come in, at a certain +evening meal, that was usually served nearly at dark. While +he was waiting on our table I was quickly to don his hat and coat, +and, with the empty basket of rattling dishes, to boldly march out, +as he had been in the habit of doing, into the street, and then trust +to my legs for the balance. We were a long time in arranging all +the details. Indeed, the occupation it gave to us all helped to +pleasantly pass hours that might otherwise have been distressing.</p> + +<p>Belle Boyd was as much interested in my outfit as any school-girl +is over the dressing up of her new doll, while the Englishman +gave me enough instructions and orders to carry me around the +world. He was certainly an adept in the business.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">[423]</a></span></p> + +<p>During my three weeks at the Old Capitol Prison, I made a +number of peculiar acquaintances that were quite interesting in +the year which followed. As I am only to furnish that which pertains +to myself personally, I will omit the mention of any other +except to record my first acquaintance with a most universally-known +war character.</p> + +<p>The party to whom I refer will be recognized by every soldier, +I may say without a single exception, in all the armies. I regret +very much that I can not give his name in Latin, but in war talk +it was the "Greyback," or, in plain United States—lice.</p> + +<p>These detestable things were in Old Capitol as thick as they +only can be, and, after my first contact, I may say frankly, they +stuck to me closer than a brother "for three years or during the +war." This was one of the "things" that "animated" me to get +out of that dirty old building, that I might rush down to the Potomac +and drown myself.</p> + +<p>Old Capitol is now a beautiful block of fine residences, containing, +to-day, probably as fine and as luxurious furniture and occupied +by as refined people as are in the country, but, personally, I +wouldn't live in it for anything, because I feel sure the bugs are in +the walls yet.</p> + +<p>The plan I proposed was entirely feasible; we all agreed on that; +not one of us doubted but that I would be able to successfully +accomplish the dangerous undertaking. It was dangerous only if I +should be detected in the attempt, as it would certainly end in my +being sent off to Fort Lafayette in New York Harbor, where I +would probably be ironed and placed in a dungeon as a dangerous +character, and be kept there, too, during the war. It never once +occurred to me that to have been caught in attempting to escape, +or to have succeeded in doing so, would have reacted against me +disastrously, to the satisfaction of those who were so anxious that +I should afford them some proof by which they might be able to +more fully substantiate the charges of supposed disloyalty, that +they had whispered into the ear of the Secretary of War. It was +quite an easy matter in those days for the suckers, like Woods, +Eckert, and the gang of Pinkerton suckers, and others, who were +around the War Department, to poison the mind of the powers that +were against any persons they may have selected as a target for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">[424]</a></span> +their contemptible and cowardly persecution. It's a true story, +well known among historians, that this was being done—in many +cases where the victims were often men of great prominence and +rank, that subsequent events proved to have been as loyal as the +Secretary himself.</p> + +<p>The Englishman's story, that I gathered from his continual gabble, +would make a chapter in itself. I will only mention now that +he was apparently in the service of at least some official of great +prominence in the English Government. He told us of letters of +introduction he brought to President Jefferson Davis and a number +of the leading officers of the Rebel Government at Richmond; from +ever so many "my lords" of high degree in England.</p> + +<p>It was while endeavoring to reach Richmond through the Potomac +blockade that he was captured, and, to his great disgust, all of his +papers were "seized," as he said, "by some brutal soldiers, you +know," and the vulgar officers absolutely declined to return his +papers, and had actually been so preposterous as to send him under +guard to "a vile prison."</p> + +<p>That's about the style of his everlasting chin—from morning +until night—and the fact that his accent, as well as his foreign airs +of superiority and of contempt for the Yankees, necessarily accompanied +the words, made him all the more disagreeable to me.</p> + +<p>The most interesting part of his story is, as he in an unguarded +moment, apparently, while talking with Miss Boyd, who had +expressed a curiosity to know why he did not attempt to escape, too, +confessed that the real object and purpose of his mission in this +country, as he had been instructed before leaving England by his +friend, was to purposely place himself in the way of arrest and +imprisonment by the United States Government.</p> + +<p>His papers were not of an incendiary character exactly, I suppose, +and my recollection of it now is, that they were principally +letters of introduction, which were prepared by English lords with +the avowed purpose of being used by the bearer in making a "case," +or difficulty, on account of his English citizenship, which would +give them some grounds to make a claim for his release, that would +create a breach, and bring about a war, all in the interests of the +Southern people. This, in effect, was the story, and I took it all in +very carefully.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">[425]</a></span></p> + +<p>One day, to my disgust as well as personal discomfort, Colonel +Woods brought a gentleman to my door, whom he introduced as a +fellow Rebel who would be compelled to share my room with me for +awhile; because, as he explained, they were getting a little crowded. +The party introduced to me, I recognized at once—that is I remembered +seeing his face some place, but couldn't exactly place him; +when Colonel Woods in a little further chat, intimated that my +associate would no doubt be a boon companion, as he was an +original Rebel, he left us alone.</p> + +<p>My new room-mate was a man of thirty-five or forty years, with +a face that I should now denominate as hard. He was pleasant; +indeed, his manner was made especially agreeable to me. The story +he told me of the cause of his imprisonment served to satisfy me—for +the time being—that I had been in error in having supposed that +I had ever seen him before.</p> + +<p>He said he was arrested for having been implicated in an attempt +to recapture and return to Virginia some fugitive slave whom he +had caught in the District of Columbia. He gave me a long account +of the law, as it then existed—which, by the way, is the fact—that +in 1862 there was a fugitive slave law in the District.</p> + +<p>As soon as my two comrades in distress heard of this associate +having been thrust upon us, and dropped into our exclusive mess to +become our company, their suspicions were aroused.</p> + +<p>The Englishman declared that the object of putting "this person" +in among us was to ascertain what we had been so thick about +lately. I confess this had not once occurred to me. I was simply +annoyed at being obliged to have the constant company of another +person in my cramped little hall room; not that he was at all disagreeable +personally, but probably because we three had become rather +exclusive and wanted to select our company from among the convicts. +It is likely enough that we would have resented any person's +society from outside just then.</p> + +<p>When the others expressed their conviction that it was a scheme +to entrap us, my eyes became opened, as I recalled again my first +impression, that I had certainly seen the man before. When I +mentioned this fact to Miss Boyd, she at once jumped to the conclusion +that he was a spy on us, which opinion was shared by the Eng<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">[426]</a></span>lishman +most decidedly, who gave us our orders as our commander +to be on the <i>qui vive</i> for him.</p> + +<p>It was thought best that we should treat him with the greatest +possible coolness, but of course with decency. Indeed, our Englishman +was so exceedingly polite and gracious to the new-comer that +his assumed airs and comic actions were so amusing to Miss Boyd +and myself that we could scarcely keep up our show of dignity. +Miss Boyd performed the chilling process, and she acted the part so +well that the poor man was frozen on to me, as the only one to whom +he could talk sensibly. I talked lots to him when we were alone. +The opinions, the very decided opinions, he got from me, on Mr. +Stanton and his clerks, if repeated to his employers, would have +made things more interesting for him and me too.</p> + +<p>When I became satisfied, or thought I was, and imagined that I +had for my room-mate or companion a Pinkerton man, who had +been purposely sent in there by some of the War Department officials +to manufacture testimony against us, we all took the greatest +delight in filling him up.</p> + +<p>The first night, when alone, I talked him to sleep. I told him +all my grievances; at least, that part that I wanted the War Office +to hear officially.</p> + +<p>I was careful to only tell one story correctly, and that was the +exact character and object of the Englishman's business in this +country. I saw that my listener was interested in it from his actions +and questionings, so that I gave him the full details, for a purpose. +I knew, or suspected very strongly, that he would make a report of +it to the Secretary, and I, as a victim of the Pinkerton clique, was +willing that they, as detectives, should have the credit from the +Secretary of unearthing that story.</p> + +<p>My desire was to defeat the Englishman's purpose, and to benefit +this Government, whose officials were persecuting me when I knew +that I was entitled to a reward.</p> + +<p>We made him sick; at least, the following day he complained of +feeling unwell, and, under this pretense, he was allowed to go, ostensibly +to the hospital, which was located in another part of the building.</p> + +<p>His name was Horton or Norton, I have forgotten which. I +learned, in a couple weeks following, that he was the detective we +had suspected him of being. When I mentioned to my brother,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">[427]</a></span> +that I had seen him before, he told me that I had probably met +him in Eckert's telegraph room, at the War Office, where he had +been specially employed.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i469.jpg" width="600" height="388" alt="IN OLD CAPITOL PRISON—DISGUISED AS A CONTRABAND." title="" /> +<span class="caption">IN OLD <a name="cap2" id="cap2"></a><ins title="Original has CAPITAL">CAPITOL</ins> PRISON—DISGUISED AS A CONTRABAND.</span> +</div> + +<p>When relieved of our unwelcome guest, we set about with +renewed energy to put into operation the plan we had now about +matured for my escape.</p> + +<p>Miss Belle Boyd entered into the preparations for this scheme +as school-girls plan their tableaux.</p> + +<p>Her quick manner, or apt way of being able to change the subject +of conversation, in case of occasional interruption was, to me, +a source of great astonishment coupled with admiration.</p> + +<p>One evening, by way of experiment, I was, with the assistance +of Belle Boyd and the Englishman, completely rigged out in the +colored boy's clothes. Corks had been gathered up and scientifically +toasted, or burnt, over the lamp flame by our Englishman, who +handled the business so familiarly that I am constrained now to +think he was a disguised showman instead of a scion of a noble +family.</p> + +<p>I was dressed in the rags we had collected for the purpose, +Belle managing this part of the job with as much glee and interest +as if dressing a bride for a wedding. She would stick a pin in +here, or tuck up a rag at another place, look at me critically, +order me to turn around or walk off, as if I were trying on a new +dress. The Englishman rubbed my face, and, after the manner of +an artist, cocked his eye to get a better view of the effect of the +last touch of shade, and then both would nearly explode with suppressed +laughter at my ridiculous appearance.</p> + +<p>I was instructed in the best way to show all my teeth at once, +duly cautioned not to speak unless I was obliged to, and drilled in +the broadest negro dialect, to which I was somewhat accustomed +through my long residence in the South.</p> + +<p>When all was satisfactory, after dark, the curtain was rang up +and I was ushered out into the hundreds of assembled prisoners to +try my disguise, by mixing promiscuously among them for a while. +I entered boldly into the fun, and, with the feeling that, if detected, +it would only be considered a good joke, as long as I was not +attempting to use it as a means to pass the guard, I, in a happy, +careless way, went through my part in such a satisfactory manner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">[428]</a></span> +that even Miss Boyd and the Englishman, who were intently watching +the play, involuntarily applauded me every time I happened to +do a piece of silly business that tickled them.</p> + +<p>As an amateur actor, my debut on that sort of a dangerous stage +was satisfactory to the two patrons who were managing the "bringing +me out."</p> + +<p>I stepped up to Miss Boyd, who had been standing on the balcony +watching the play, bowed low, and, in as broad a dialect as I +could muster, requested her order for breakfast. She, in her quick +way, had a smart reply:</p> + +<p>"Sam, you ugly, good-for-nothing nigger, tell your master to use +a scrubbing brush on you before you come to me again."</p> + +<p>This, with some other unkind observation, which Miss Boyd +addressed to the Englishman, as to the "villainous expression of +that nigger's face," served to wind up the fun for me, when, at +the first opportunity, I got behind my door and very quickly changed +my color and clothes.</p> + +<p>As an experiment, it was a complete success; so satisfactory that +we agreed that there would be no trouble in my being able to pass +the guards in this disguise, provided I could keep a stiff upper lip, +and not become so nervous as to excite any suspicion. I was willing +to risk that part of it. A day was set, which was to be Saturday +evening of that week, only two days distant, for me to make +the attempt.</p> + +<p>I had minute directions from Belle Boyd as to the location of +her Rebel friends—in Maryland and in Washington—who would +furnish me assistance in getting back to the Rebel lines. Of these +I made a careful mental note, and also procured from the lady +some short notes of introduction.</p> + +<p>If I had gone into that miserable prison as a Union Spy, +with the object of gathering information from an intimate association +with the inmates, I could not have hoped to be as successful +in this direction as I had been while I was acting as an involuntary +Spy.</p> + +<p>It so happened, and I take pleasure in recording it, as something +almost supernatural, or in the line of that providence that +seemed always to be with me, and to control my actions at the right +time, that at the very time I was arranging all these details in my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">[429]</a></span> +room, preparatory to an escape in the evening, a visitor was in the +prison waiting to see me.</p> + +<p>As I have so often said, while in the prison I had positively and +even stubbornly declined to ask any consideration at the hands of +the Secretary of War or his whelping advisers. This singular +feeling I shall not attempt to excuse now, simply stating the facts. +It was a mistake; but my whole life seems to have been made up of +mistakes. The effect of it was to estrange from me even my best +friends, and my brother who, on account of the confidential relations +he held in the War Telegraph Office, was afraid to become too openly +interested in my case.</p> + +<p>Rather to my surprise, I was notified on this Saturday afternoon +by one of the regular prison attendants that I was wanted in +Colonel Woods' office. Of course I suspected at once that our little +game had been found out, and that I was to be called upon for an +explanation. This subject of escaping had been in my mind so +much lately that I could not for the time think that anything else +was probable. As if further to confirm my suspicions, the attendant +who brought the summons to me said, in his polite but positive +way, "I am ordered to stay with you, and you are to take anything +you have along, as there is to be some change made in your +case."</p> + +<p>I had not brought anything with me to the prison in the way +of baggage, and had really less to take away, excepting the greybacks, +which we had always with us. My only baggage was my +light wearing apparel, with the Bible which Mrs. Wells had given +to me.</p> + +<p>The purpose in thus suddenly summoning prisoners to headquarters +was to prevent their relieving themselves of anything +incendiary which a search of the person might have disclosed.</p> + +<p>My request to be permitted to see Miss Boyd was politely refused +by the attendant, who explained his refusal by saying, his orders +were to take me at once to the office and to prevent any communication. +I saw that it was no use to reason or argue with that New +Hampshire Yankee—he had his orders and was going to obey them +to the letter—so, gathering up my coat, slipping it on nervously, +and, donning my hat, I was at his side, and in a few minutes more +was inside Colonel Woods' office.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">[430]</a></span></p> + +<p>To my astonishment, I saw my brother and some stranger seated +in the office chatting cheerfully with Colonel Woods. The greeting +of Spencer on this occasion was so entirely different from the first +visit, when he had involuntarily broken down on seeing me, that I +was further surprised by his clapping me on the back, in his old-time +brotherly way, and saying, "Well, boy, we are going to take +you away from here."</p> + +<p>I don't know what I said or did; probably the first feeling was +one of disappointment that I was to be deprived of the fun of escaping; +but, quickly realizing the fact that I had almost overlooked +that there was a world outside, I joined pleasantly in the greetings +until it was explained that there were some little preliminaries to +be arranged, in the way of signing some papers.</p> + +<p>When my brother's friend spoke up in explaining this, and observed +that the Secretary was "disposed to be lenient in my case," a feeling +of resentment came over me, which might have broken out in +some expression, if my brother had not whispered: "Father wants +you to go home, and says Covode will arrange everything right +there."</p> + +<p>The mention of my father, and a request from him has, under +all conditions and circumstances of my checkered life, been +respected, and, if possible, complied with. It has been my observation, +too, that I have never made a mistake while acting under his +advice, and, also, that I have always found it disastrous to disregard his +injunctions. In this case my father's simple request had more effect +than the Secretary's mandate.</p> + +<p>An examination of the little papers that the messenger from +Mr. Stanton presented to be in duplicate, showed at a glance that +it was simply a parole of honor, without any conditions or penalties, +by which I agreed <i>not to go south of a certain point</i>, until +<i>authorized or released from the parole</i>.</p> + +<p>Knowing that I could secure the necessary release through my +friends, and, after a word of kind advice by Colonel Woods, I +attached my name to the paper in duplicate, took one with me, and +walked out of the door a free man, with my gratified brother, while +the other copy was taken to the War Department, and is <i>on record +there to-day</i>, as a proof that I was in the Old Capitol Prison during +this time, as stated.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">[431]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>FIRED OUT OF OLD CAPITOL PRISON—"DON'T COME HERE AGAIN!"—MY +FRIEND THE JEW SUTLER—OUT IN A NEW RIG—AT THE +CANTERBURY THEATRE.</h3> + + +<p>I was fired out of Old Capitol Prison as suddenly and unexpectedly +to myself as I had been run into the old trap.</p> + +<p>When I said something to the officials about my own expenses, +the Colonel handed me a copy of the parole, saying in a jocular +manner: "There is your receipt in full; that paper clears you. +Get out, now, and don't come back here again."</p> + +<p>I went out with my brother and his companion, first to a "haberdashery," +kept by a sutler Jew on the avenue. He was one of +the fellows whom I, as a railroad official at <a name="fred5" id="fred5"></a><ins title="Original has Fredricksburg">Fredericksburg</ins>, had +granted some special favors in the way of getting his goods into +the army, through the Provost Guards.</p> + +<p>At the time, the fellow was all smiles, or rather grins, because +in the position I then occupied, I had been able to secure him +special facilities to carry on his profitable army trading business. +I thought, of course, from the gushing way he had talked to me +then, that he would be my everlasting friend, as he had so freely +expressed his gratitude to me and desired to make me presents. +Naturally I looked him up the first thing when I discovered that +my neat wardrobe had become sadly in need of replenishing during +the month. I wanted some clean, fresh clothing, "cheap for +cash." We found the fellow easily enough; but, dear me! circumstances +had altered cases with him. When I made known my +errand, and asked an outfit on small payment, the broad open-mouthed +grin of the ugly fellow closed up tight as an oyster, and +his face became solemn as a patriarch as he began the lamentation +of Jacob over his losses by the evacuation of Fredericksburg.</p> + +<p>Through my brother Spencer's assistance, I was soon supplied +with an entirely new and fresh outfit from the skin out. At first +my demands for a complete rig rather struck my brother as +being a little extravagant, but when I had explained that one of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432">[432]</a></span> +the tortures Mr. Stanton inflicted upon his victims at the Old +Capitol was the persistent bugs that the building was infested +with, he let go my arm as suddenly as if he had experienced an +electric shock, sidled off from me, and, without another word of +argument, fully agreed with me that the only and first thing to +do was to get rid of everything—clothes and all, from hat to socks. +Carrying my bundle to a barber shop, I had my hair cut, took a +bath, donned my new suit, and generously donated my old clothes +to the colored barber.</p> + +<p>Disguised in a new suit of clothes, I walked the streets of +Washington an hour after having left the prison. The first place +I desired to visit was the War Department. I felt that I had +some urgent business with some of the officials up there, that I +was anxious to relieve my mind of at once.</p> + +<p>My brother and his companion objected. This mutual friend +called my attention to the parole, which I had carelessly left in +my old clothes in the barber shop. I was gently reminded that I +had agreed to go north of a certain point at once, and was not to +return south of that line until properly authorized to do so by the +War Office.</p> + +<p>Instead of going to the train that evening, I went to the "Canterbury +Theatre," an institution on Louisiana avenue as well +known by old soldiers who spent a day in Washington as any of +the War relics.</p> + +<p>While seated in the theater, which was crowded by officers, +soldiers, citizens, adventurers, sutlers, clerks, politicians, army +contractors, etc., I was immensely amused when a pair of country +officers, dressed up in full uniform, each wearing belt, sash +and saber, strutted down the crowded aisle, their accoutrements +of war rattling at every step, making so great a noise that it disturbed +Johnny Hart, a negro comedian then on the stage, who +abruptly stopped his performance, stepped up to the footlights, +and addressed the noisy incomers: "Say, why in hell didn't you +bring your horses too?"</p> + +<p>This brought the house down, and had the effect of silencing +that part of the audience that brought their camp and garrison +equipage to the theatre.</p> + +<p>It was not so much of a joke, however, when a little later on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433">[433]</a></span> +an army officer led a Corporal's Guard, armed with loaded muskets +and bayonets stuck into their guns, down the aisle, and +at a lull in the performance, came to an "order arms," while +this shrewd officer of the Washington Provost Guard demanded the +passes of every one in the audience who wore a uniform. I felt +quite uneasy when they actually arrested and took out of the same +bench on which I sat two commissioned officers who could not +show passes.</p> + +<p>Fortunately I was not disturbed, but I lost all interest in the +show, and soon retired to quarters where the Provost Guard couldn't +find me.</p> + +<p>The only thing I could hear from Covode in relation to our +own embarrassing affairs was: "Oh, that's all right; just tell him +that it will be all right."</p> + +<p>It was true, though not much of a consolation for me, to be +reminded by some kind friends that I was not alone a sufferer by +Mr. Stanton's arbitrary orders. Even General McClellan had been +not only relieved from command of the army, but had been ordered +to proceed to Burlington, N. J., and there await orders. This I +was told meant, in reality, exile for him in precisely the same +manner as for my own humble self, though the phraseology of the +order was a little different from that in my parole.</p> + +<p>I went home, where I was affectionately received into my +father's house by my sisters and my aunts—I had no mother +then. Probably, if I had not so early in life been deprived of a +mother, I would have been saved, by her teachings, from many of +the hard knocks which I was receiving by way of bitter experience. +My father, always kind and indulgent, seemed to think that it +was our privilege and right to pitch in for ourselves, that we might +learn from experience. He seldom gave his boys any of that "I +told you so" advice, in the threatening manner which renders it +so inoperative.</p> + +<p>I had made up my mind, while in the Old Capitol Prison, that +when I should get free again the very first thing I should do would +be to enlist as a private soldier in the Union Army.</p> + +<p>I reasoned to myself that my services as a Scout or Spy, while +working as a civilian in the interest of the politicians at Washington, +would not advance my military ambition. In fact, I had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434">[434]</a></span> +learned from some hard hits already that it was an uphill business +to operate in the field as a civilian. Somehow or other, all the +military people were not exactly distrustful, but there seemed to +be at least a prejudice against any person about the camp who did +not wear a uniform. I was willing and anxious enough to wear +a uniform, but my ambition was to be an officer in the Regular +Service, attached to Headquarters Staff.</p> + +<p>This, as I have said, was about as difficult to reach as the position +of Brigadier-General in the Volunteers, because they were +making Brigadier-Generals every day, and they were not making +Second Lieutenants in the Regular Army.</p> + +<p>I explained my plans to my father and a few friends. My +father interposed some objections to my selection of the Regular +Army, preferring that I should identify myself with some regiment +from our own State, and especially from our own neighborhood.</p> + +<p>I preferred the Regular Cavalry first, because I intended fitting +myself, by the experience I should gain in the ranks under the +severe discipline and drill, for a Second Lieutenancy in that branch. +My father thought that I would not be able to stand the +restraints the discipline would impose upon me; but, as usual, I +had my own way, overcoming their preference for the State troops, +by the reminder that the treatment I had received from the Secretary +of War would serve as a club in the hands of malcontents and +growlers, who are to be found in every regiment, kicking against +new-comers' advancement.</p> + +<p>Another difficulty was raised by the receipt of a letter from my +brother, at Washington, which reminded my father that I was not +allowed to remain at my home, because it was located south of the +line of my stipulated parole.</p> + +<p>The War Department detectives had tracked me even into my +own home, through the connivance of some contemptible neighbors, +who are descendants of the Revolutionary Hessians, and like +the craven dogs they were, they helped to hound me away from +my father's home. To relieve my father and friends of any +embarrassment, I left the house, after bidding them another "Good-by," +one evening, arriving in Pittsburgh before midnight of the +same day. The first thing the next morning I hunted up the +recruiting office, astonished the officers by offering myself, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435">[435]</a></span> +without any preliminaries enlisted into Company B, Second +United States Cavalry, Captain T. F. Rodenbaugh.</p> + +<p>When I applied for enlistment I never once thought of the +bounty money I would become entitled to, therefore my entry +into the army in the fall of 1862 was in no sense mercenary. I +had served a year previously as a civilian and knew what was in +store for me in the ranks.</p> + +<p>I was not even "in the draft," as my parole would have +relieved me from every obligation, if I had chosen so to use it. I +volunteered from motives of duty and patriotism in 1862, at a +time when recruiting was not so brisk as it had been; in fact, at a +time when everything looked dark enough for our side.</p> + +<p>Instead of availing myself of the parole that cleared me from +obligation, I, in the darkest days of the war voluntarily enlisted as +a private soldier. I felt in my heart that, in thus putting my life +in pawn for the cause I had from the first consistently championed, +that I would forever put beyond discussion the question of the +sincerity of my motives, and I became credited to Alleghany +County, Pennsylvania, so that, after all, I was a "regular volunteer" +from my own State and County.</p> + +<p>Through the thoughtfulness of Captain Rodenbaugh, I was +paid some bounty money, which I expended in the purchase of +mementoes for my friends, believing that I should never again +come home to them.</p> + +<p>In the matter of my get-up as a soldier, Captain Rodenbaugh +was quite useful to me, and became quite pleasantly interested, +taking the trouble to accompany me to the tailor shop, where he +gave the necessary directions as to the regulation pattern.</p> + +<p>I was to act as his private secretary or company clerk, and I +suspect that he also intended to use my good clothes as a sort of +a dressed-up dummy, to stand around the office with white gloves +on, as a decoy to entice recruits to his roll, pretty much as we see +the "walking sign" now a days at recruiting offices.</p> + +<p>In the Second Cavalry, the facings, instead of being the ordinary +"yaller" of the cavalry, were of an orange color, to distinguish +them as the "Dragoons," as they were listed previous to +the reorganization of that service just before the war.</p> + +<p>I was made a Corporal by the Captain, and had the stripes in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436">[436]</a></span> +beautiful orange on my arms. The cap was the regulation little +fatigue or McClellan style, with the crossed sabers, and the insignia +of company and regiment in brass letter—B 2.</p> + +<p>At my earnest solicitation, Captain Rodenbaugh sent me away +with the first detachment of recruits to Cavalry Headquarters, then +Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. Here I had a regular circus every +hour of the day, from reveille till retreat or tattoo. It's only those +who have seen cavalry recruits drilled with regular cavalry horses +and old drilled Sergeants, that can be made to believe the stories +that are told of their accomplishments in this direction.</p> + +<p>Carlisle Barracks was in crude form, just what the West Point +Riding School of to-day is. I was anxious to learn to be a good +soldier, and I did learn a good deal—in a mighty short time, too—while +I was at Carlisle. I was taught some things there that I +thought I had learned thoroughly before I went there. For +instance, I had been a long time in Western Texas, and had ridden +wild and bucking horses without a saddle, chased buck-rabbits in +a zigzag course over hog-wallow prairies in a reckless way that +made my head dizzy, but it was reserved for my Drill Sergeant at +Carlisle Barracks to show me how simple a matter it was for a +trained cavalry horse to throw off a Texas cow-boy. Those old +Sergeants—and there were a number of them—had the drill horses +trained so thoroughly, and withal so full of tricks, that they beat +Buffalo Bill and any circus horses I've ever seen all to pieces.</p> + +<p>It was lots of fun for the Sergeants and a few officers and their +wives, who were always watching our evolutions from their barrack +windows, but it was a little bit rough on some of the boys.</p> + +<p>We were given lessons in mounting and dismounting by the +hour, till I became so expert that I was relieved of that part of the +drill and advanced into a squad who had been there some time, and +were soon to be sent off to the front as graduates. We were all +obliged to hold the bridle-rein in one and the same way; that is, in +the left hand, turned up so that we could see the finger-nails. All +the steering had to be done by merely turning or twisting the +clenched hand around, keeping it in the same position. There was +no hauling back of the reins permitted, except by drawing the hand +straight up to the chin to check or tighten the lines; and the forearm +must be always directly in front of the pommel of the saddle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_437" id="Page_437">[437]</a></span></p> + +<p>This part of the riding lesson was all new to me. I had always +used my hands as I pleased, but here we must all hold the infernal +wild horses with one hand turned upside down, and dare not even +yank the elbow around without getting a cuss from the Sergeant. +There were always two or three Sergeants to each drill; one gave +the commands from his position in front, while another old rascal +rode behind somewhere to watch our arms and legs and to do the +extra cussing.</p> + +<p>Some of the fellows in our squad had been farmer boys, and felt +that they knew all about horses, and were disposed at first to talk +horse with the Sergeants; but one lesson in deportment answered +for the whole term at Carlisle Barracks.</p> + +<p>Those old fellows all said they would far rather take a city man +who had never been on a horse than a farmer who had been riding +all his life. The city fellows made good Regular Cavalrymen. We +learned to ride with our knees and to steer with the legs.</p> + +<p>At first our little caps would not stay on top of our heads, but +we soon became able to balance them, with the strap dangling +under the nose or chin, instead of being fastened under the chin.</p> + +<p>These old war-horses had been at the barracks a long time, and +had been carefully trained to go by the bugle. At the sound +"trot," they would all start off as neatly, with the left foot foremost, +as any infantry squad. When the "gallop" was sounded +every old horse would switch his tail, take the bit in his teeth and +go off like a shot over the field, helter-skelter, as if it were a hurdle +race, or the whole Rebel Army were after them. This part of +the show is where the most of the fun came in. Of course, some +of the riders couldn't keep time with the horses, and their caps +and sabers would become troublesome appendages, and were often +cast off; then the old Sergeant, bringing up the rear, would yell like +a Comanche Indian, which none of us could understand, and, as +everybody thought it was necessary we should hear, it had the +effect of rattling the whole squad. One of our first lessons was that +never, under any circumstances, must we speak to our horses; everything +must be done quietly and effectively by bit and spur; but when +they got to running us off by the bugle, some of the farmer boys, +when they would be tossed up too much, involuntarily sang out, +"Whoa!" or else, too audible, cursed the man alongside for jam<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_438" id="Page_438">[438]</a></span>ming +their legs. This would bring down such a torrent of abuse +on the head of the offender that we were kept in a state of terror +from the time we were on the horses till we dismounted.</p> + +<p>The Sergeant, or perhaps an officer, after getting the squad +well under way, would sound "to the right," and, of course, the +horses knew what the bugle said and obeyed the signal instantly; +but most of the riders didn't, and were, in consequence, involuntarily +going straight ahead or fell off at the unexpected turn of the +horse. Then, on the home-stretch, they would so abruptly sound +a "halt," that the horses would stop in two jumps, while the +rider very likely went straight ahead.</p> + +<p>I'm telling you the truth about Carlisle Barracks and the Regular +Cavalry. I've been there—several times—and know it all +pretty well. Why, it's a fact, that those old horses would, at the +command "right dress," as soberly turn their one eye down the line +and back up a step or forward as any infantry regiment; and on +the wheel the inside horse always marked time beautifully, while +the fellow on the outside had to gallop.</p> + +<p>I had lots of fun during the couple of weeks that I was at Carlisle +Barracks. Probably because I entered with so much zest and +earnestness into the drill, which was really sport for me. I +attracted the attention (favorably) of the Sergeants and officers, +and was so rapidly advanced that my request to be sent to the +front with the first detachment was approved. In this ambition +Captain Rodenbaugh seconded me, as he had been relieved of +recruiting duty, and was ordered to conduct the first party to the +front.</p> + +<p>We left one cold day in November, via Harrisburg, traveling +all night in a box-car attached to a freight train. We were delayed +all the next day in Baltimore, putting in the time standing around +in the cold, miserable streets, under guard, awaiting our transportation +over the slow Baltimore & Ohio to Washington. The +second night we reached Washington, and slept on the floor of the +barn-like affair they called the Soldiers' Retreat, then located down +by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Depot. A great many soldiers +will remember that shanty.</p> + +<p>Early next morning, before any of my comrades were awake, I +was up about daybreak, anxious to get a look at Washington, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_439" id="Page_439">[439]</a></span> +especially Old Capitol Prison, through the glasses of a Union +soldier. It was a bitter cold morning; so early as 5 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>, when I +went to the door of our barracks, I was astonished to see, wrapped +up in his big blue overcoat, the snow blowing all over him, and +standing almost up to his knees in it, our Captain, C. F. Rodenbaugh.</p> + +<p>I did not know then that it was an officer's duty, and one of +his privileges, to stand around all night in the cold, while his men +slept comfortably under shelter. I said something like this to the +Captain, when he courteously answered that he was the officer in +charge, and it was his duty to see that the sentries were on hand. +It was an early lesson; and I will say right here that the Regular +officers, though severe and strict in discipline, I found always +ready to expose themselves before they asked their men to do +so. Apparently the Regular officers held themselves aloof from +their men, and though I was almost intimate with Captain Rodenbaugh, +I would not have ventured to address him, except in the +way of duty, and then only after a proper salute, after we had +gotten out in the field. Yet, if I could have met him alone or +unobserved, I should have been as free with him as with my best +friend. This matter of Regular Army etiquette was fully understood +as part of our drill, and the subject never gave us any uneasiness, +but in all probability saved us much trouble. There were +no favorites in our service; every man was treated alike, and as +long as every man did his duty, right up to the scratch, in Regular +Army style, he was as independent as any officer, in his way. I +had some queer experiences in this way, which I will relate further +on.</p> + +<p>I was in Washington again, and, strange to say, we were +camped for the first night right in sight of the Old Capitol +Prison.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stanton, the autocrat Secretary of War, failed entirely to +suppress me. With all his arbitrary exercise of authority he could +not keep me away from the front. Locking me up in Old Capitol +Prison only detained me temporarily. If I had not been released +I certainly should have escaped the same day.</p> + +<p>The first visit I made in Washington after my return there as +a soldier was to the Capitol.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_440" id="Page_440">[440]</a></span></p> + +<p>Armed with a pass, duly approved by the Provost-Guard officers, +and dressed up in my Sunday uniform, I called the member of +Congress from my home District from his seat out into the corridor +(Mr. Covode being absent), where I bluntly and briefly explained +that I had been given a parole not to come South until released, but being +satisfied in my own heart that it was a wrong to me, and injustice +had been done through the envy and malice of some War Department +officials, I had, upon the advice of such men as Covode, +decided to enlist in the army, and they had formally notified the +Secretary of my intention of so doing.</p> + +<p>I had not officially been advised that "I was forgiven," and +desired Mr. Blair to see the Secretary and arrange the matter for +me. He looked at me with astonishment at first, and then, realizing +the absurdity of the thing, laughed heartily, saying "Why, +of course, that's all right; they would not dare to annoy you any +further."</p> + +<p>I was, further, most kindly assured that my friends in Congress +would all see me through, in case I had any difficulties on that +score.</p> + +<p>I left the Capitol, going straight to the War Department, +where I endeavored to get an interview with the Secretary, but, +dear me, a soldier—a common soldier—only a little Corporal in the +Dragoon's uniform—presuming to address the Secretary of War, +was something so unheard of among the old regular attendants +about the door that they were disposed to fire me out of the +up-stairs window for my effrontery. I had found it difficult as a +civilian to reach the Secretary of War on several former occasions, +but I learned, to my disgust, that as a soldier it was entirely impossible.</p> + +<p>The lesson in the Regular Army etiquette which I took that day, +burned itself so bitterly and deeply into my heart that I never +attempted afterward to address anything higher than a First Sergeant +in the Regular Army, except through the regular channels.</p> + +<p>On account of an accident that happened me at Carlisle, I was +permitted by Captain Rodenbaugh to sleep in a boarding-house +during the first days after our arrival at Washington City, or until +horses were issued to us. At Carlisle there was an old horse widely +known among all the Regular cavalrymen who have been there as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_441" id="Page_441">[441]</a></span> +"Squeezer." At stable-call, I had noticed the men in the squad to +which I had been advanced, all showed a singular alacrity in rushing +to the task of cleaning their horses as soon as we broke ranks +for this purpose. I learned by an experience that came near being +serious, that this was caused not so much by anxiety of the troopers +to clean horses, as to avoid a certain stall which Squeezer +occupied.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 392px;"> +<img src="images/i485.jpg" width="392" height="600" alt="THE SERGEANT KINDLY GAVE HIM THE STEEL." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE SERGEANT KINDLY GAVE HIM THE STEEL.</span> +</div> + +<p>Squeezer was a good-enough horse outside of his stall, or away +from a fence-post or the side of a house. The trouble with +him was, that he would invariably catch the man detailed to +curry him against the side of the stall, and the vicious beast would +deliberately put the weight of his whole body against the man so +caught, to try and crush his bones. The only satisfaction the old +horse seemed to get out of the dirty trick was, in listening to the +cries of pain the poor fellow so caught was obliged to give vent to.</p> + +<p>The Sergeants in charge of the stables were up to Squeezer's +tricks so well that they always carried a sharp-pointed saber-blade to +the stable, which was the only thing, well struck in, that would +make the old rascal let go his hold of a victim.</p> + +<p>It was the custom to let the recruit get caught by this horse +trick, and I, as the latest in our squad, suffered the penalty. +Squeezer put his haunches up against my breast and forced me +up against the board stall until the bones began to crack, when the +Sergeant kindly gave him the steel, and he let go of me, but began +to kick viciously at the Sergeant. I was hurt badly, and suffered +severely from it for some days. I learned afterward that every +man in our squad carried a saddler's awl as part of the outfit, and +when Squeezer became too affectionate with the man to whose lot +it fell to tackle him, he kept the awl in one hand and the brush in +the other, and used them alternately.</p> + +<p>It was one of the games of the men to lay for a chance to catch +the old Sergeant near his heels, when they would give Squeezer +an inch of the awl, and the heels would reach for the Sergeant in +a style that took all the military dignity out of him.</p> + +<p>For a few days our detachment was encamped in the roughest +kind of barracks, located on Capitol Hill, near Old Capitol. We +drew our rations of soft bread, but our meat was the regulation +pickled pork, fished out of the original barrels on the spot. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_442" id="Page_442">[442]</a></span> +recall now, with a good deal of surprise to myself, the truth that +there ever was a time in Washington when I had to take my slice +of raw pork on a slice of bread, standing in two inches of snow, +warming up with a quart of black coffee drank from a tin cup.</p> + +<p>I am at the present writing a resident of this same Capitol +Hill, within gunshot of the Old Capitol Prison and this former +camp-ground. We would consider it a great hardship to be +deprived of any of the comforts and pleasures to be extracted from +a residence in this beautiful city.</p> + +<p>How few of those who now enjoy the blessings of this great +Government ever think that all of these pleasures were made possible +for the children by the willing sacrifices and hardships of +their parents in 1861-65.</p> + +<p>After many unsatisfactory days spent about the old barracks on +the Hill, we were at length ordered into camp near Fort Albany, +Virginia. This fort was located on the high ground just beyond the +Long Bridge, close by Fort Corcoran, or between the Long Bridge +and Arlington.</p> + +<p>I was at heart greatly rejoiced to find myself once more in old +Virginia, even if it were only over the Long Bridge and the Potomac +River. Though yet in sight, I was out of Washington, and +safely beyond the reach of the meddlesome War Department detectives, +who had become so numerous and about as thoroughly despised +as were the army insect pests. It does not speak so well for the +shrewdness or effectiveness of Mr. Pinkerton's corps, that I am +able to record the truthful fact that they had not, with all their +vaunted facilities of telegraph and military and civil police connections, +been able to locate me, or discover that I, who had been represented +to the Secretary of War as a dangerous man, was freely circulating +all over Washington City.</p> + +<p>Had I been so disposed, it would have been a simple matter to +have concocted much mischief, with the aid of information I had +obtained in the Old Capitol of Rebel sympathizers who were living +in the city. Miss Boyd had given me the names and addresses of +pretty nearly everybody she had known as a friend of the South; +but I made no use of this myself, except to give the information +in writing to Covode's committee.</p> + +<p>At our camp, near Fort Albany, we were quartered in the regu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_443" id="Page_443">[443]</a></span>lation +Sibley tent, which all old soldiers will recognize without +further description. As the company clerk, or private secretary +of our Captain, I was pleasantly provided for in the First Sergeant's +tent. There were but the two of us in the big concern, +because we had to make room for the desks or writing-table and +other storage for the company papers.</p> + +<p>It is a little curious that I was selected to do precisely this same +duty by the Rebels in their capital.</p> + +<p>Through the good management of the Captain and the First +Sergeant, who were, of course, my friends, and looked after my +interests in the company while I was busy on the papers, I was +supplied with a real beauty of a horse. He was one of the black +Morgan type, a little small, but oh, my! I suspect that the Captain +became personally solicitous about my being handsomely +mounted, as I found myself detailed to act as an Orderly to himself +and the other officers almost every time they rode into the city.</p> + +<p>My little nag was what may be termed frisky and spirited. I +am talking all this horse now, because in the days and weeks and +months that immediately followed "Frisky" took an important +part in all the adventures that I had. From this time forth most +of my experiences were somewhat of a dashing character, dressed, +as I was, in a neat uniform, and well mounted on a horse. One +little trick of Frisky's will serve to illustrate better than I could +describe in many words the nature of the animal.</p> + +<p>The stable, in the field, you know, was simply a parallelogram +composed of ropes tied to posts driven in the ground. Inside of +this the horses were tied to the ropes. At every stable-call I +usually went out to attend to my own horse, so as to get a chance +to ride bareback to water. At a certain signal, all hands mounted +their horses, and at the command all filed out of the ropes, under +the leader, toward the water. Frisky, being well to the rear of +the column the first time I got on him, astonished me and surprised +the officer in command by suddenly jumping at a clear leap +over the top of the rope and running off toward the head of the +line. So that, at every water-call, it got to be a regular show for +the officers to come around to Frisky's side of the corral to see +him jump over the rope instead of marching around in the rear +of the others.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_444" id="Page_444">[444]</a></span></p> + +<p>I was at least as good a horseman as any of the rest of our +batch of recruits, and probably my experience in Texas, supplemented +by the lessons at Carlisle, had made me quite proficient in +the regulation style of marching my horse.</p> + +<p>We frequently rode over to Washington to spend an evening. +I had lots of fun, but no adventures that I care to put in print. +Nearly every Sunday a couple of us would get permission and +passes and ride up to what was then called the Arlington House, +and thence through the lines of heavy artillery sentries about the +fortifications, over the Aqueduct Bridge, to Georgetown and +Washington.</p> + +<p>At last we were ordered to the front. I do not now remember +the exact date, but it was sometime in December.</p> + +<p>This is engrafted on my memory by the fact that the "front"—as +the history of the war shows—was then at or near Fredericksburg, +the same grand old historic town, so dear to my memory, +from which I have been escorted a prisoner to the Old Capitol only +a couple of months before.</p> + +<p>But I was going back—so the fates had decreed, in spite of +Stanton—to this very same place; not exactly the same place, as +the Rebel Army occupied the town most of the time; but we were +going to get as close as we could to it, and be neighborly, without +getting into a fight.</p> + +<p>Another circumstance which impresses this date upon my mind +is, that I spent my Christmas of 1862 on the Rappahannock with +the boys of the old Army of the Potomac.</p> + +<p>I was as happy as a boy with a new pair of boots when the +orders came for us to draw five days' rations and get ready to move. +As company clerk, being in the ring, as it were, with the First +Sergeant, I was privately advised that we were to go to the front, +so that I got all the papers in my possession in shape, and had +everything so packed away before the Sergeant was ready that I +had to open up the box for him again.</p> + +<p>I supposed, as a matter of course, we would ride our horses right +through Fairfax to Fredericksburg, going the route leading somewhere +near the old trail I had footed so faithfully while I was in +the Rebel lines.</p> + +<p>I had not told anybody in our company—not even my good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_445" id="Page_445">[445]</a></span> +friend Captain Rodenbaugh—of my previous experiences in Virginia.</p> + +<p>It will be readily understood that I was not anxious to disclose +these things, which had given me so much trouble; in fact, I +desired above all things to conceal them.</p> + +<p>When I heard of the proposed movement, I went to the Captain +personally, and took occasion to tell him that I knew something +of the road to Fredericksburg, and felt competent to act as +guide for the regiment, and offered my services in that direction.</p> + +<p>The Captain looked at me for a moment, then, with a significant +smile, he took my breath away by observing, pleasantly:</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, Corporal, I understand you have had some experience +down here that would seem to make you familiar with the +roads; but it has been ordered that we march down through Maryland +on the other side of the Potomac."</p> + +<p>Though the Captain's manner was so agreeable and assuring, I +was so astonished by the revelation that he, of all others, had +learned of my private history, that I was for the moment so taken +down I could hardly look him in the face. I felt as though I had +been deceiving my best friend, and he had caught me in the act, +as it were. When I ventured to offer some explanation, the Captain, +in his courteous way, said: "Why, my dear boy, that's all +right; we all—that is, the officers—have heard of your services, +and, as a consequence, you have in advance plenty of friends in the +regiment."</p> + +<p>I was gratified to hear this from him, and asked no further +questions as to his source of information, but ever after that I was +further convinced not only of the Captain's kindly feeling toward +me, but of the other officers as well, by the fact that, on almost +every important occasion, I was honored by being selected for special +Orderly duty with the officers.</p> + +<p>We marched or rode our squadron out of Fort Albany camp one +cold, damp December morning, crossed the Long Bridge, passed +through the lower part of the city, up over Capitol Hill, where I +got a farewell glimpse of Old Capitol Prison from under my fatigue +cap, seated on a horse, going to the front.</p> + +<p>We crossed the old bridge, beyond the Navy Yard, over the +Eastern Branch, went up over the hill, and were soon out of sight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_446" id="Page_446">[446]</a></span> +of Washington, traveling all day over the same route that Wilkes +Booth took in his flight to Virginia the night of the assassination.</p> + +<p>The next morning we reached the river at some point, and put +in all that day in getting our horses and baggage ferried across +about four miles of water.</p> + +<p>The next night we slept on the sacred soil at or near Aquia +Creek, in Virginia—precisely the same point from which I had +embarked as a first-class passenger in charge of an officer <i>en route</i> +to Old Capitol Prison.</p> + +<p>The following day we marched over a long, wind-about road to +cover the fourteen miles from the Potomac to the Rappahannock. +How shall I write it, but that evening at sundown, as soon as I +could beg the privilege, I rode my horse down to the Lacey House, +which, as all old soldiers know, is located on the banks of the Rappahannock +directly opposite Fredericksburg. The Rappahannock +river only was between me and Geno; but, oh! my heart ached +when I realized what a great gulf it was; and that was as near as I +could get to Fredericksburg. Though at this point it is but a +narrow stream—so narrow indeed that a conversation in an ordinary +tone of voice could be carried on over it—I could not, except +under the penalty of being at once shot to death by our own or the +rebel forces, make even the slightest attempt at signaling to the +other shore. The Rebel Army occupied that side.</p> + +<p>I could see walking about the streets some few persons in citizen's +clothes, but all along the river, and at the foot of the street +leading to the river, were armed men in gray uniforms. They had +possession of the town that held all that was dear to me just then—little +Geno Wells.</p> + +<p>I lingered until the early twilight of that December evening +began to drop down like a curtain; then with a heavy heart I rode +slowly back to our own camp, determined in my own mind and +heart that I should get into that town somehow, in spite of our +own and the Rebel Army.</p> + +<p>In my hurry to go down to the river, I had not taken sufficient +care to get the bearings of our newly-located camp, and on my +return at dark I experienced considerable difficulty in finding my +way home. In my bewilderment, I ran afoul of so many camps +and extra sentries that I was detained until quite late.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_447" id="Page_447">[447]</a></span></p> + +<p>Our regiment was acting as Provost-Guard at Gen. Burnside's +headquarters, and, as almost everybody knew where headquarters +were to be found, I finally got on the right track.</p> + +<p>It was fortunate for me, personally, that we were at headquarters, +as I was enabled to at once make acquaintances that +became useful to me.</p> + +<p>With what exalted feelings I should have rushed over one of +those pontoon bridges and charged up the streets to Geno's house, +if I had been there at the right time, may be imagined. The +anxiety and eagerness with which she must have looked for me +among the first of the invaders I must leave to the imagination or +fancy of the romantically-disposed young lady readers who may be +following this narrative.</p> + +<p>Captain Wells' house being located close by the river bank, near +the point at which one of the pontoons was laid down, I have no +doubt that its roof sheltered some of Barksdale's Sharpshooters, +who so forcibly resisted this work of the Engineer battalion.</p> + +<p>When we joined Burnside, we found that our regiment, the +Second Regular Cavalry, was acting as Provost-Guard, one company +doing duty as a headquarters or body-guard.</p> + +<p>This took me personally right into the big family at the Army +of the Potomac headquarters. I was delighted at this prospect. +I realized that I should henceforth be privileged to enjoy +riding a good horse in the cavalcade that always dashed along in +the wake of headquarters. In addition to this, I should personally +have the opportunity to rub against the headquarters men, +which would also give me the facilities for knowing pretty nearly +what was going on in advance of the other boys. There were other +agreeable advantages in being at headquarters, as any old soldier +who is not cranky with envy will readily admit.</p> + +<p>One of these, which I appreciated very much indeed, was that, +after I became a fancy Orderly, and stood around with clean clothes +on, and wore white gloves, I enjoyed also the very best of rations.</p> + +<p>I became familiar with the Surgeon's Hospital Steward, who +happened to be from my native city, so we messed together. It +therefore became one of the privileges at headquarters, especially +with the Hospital Steward, to draw rations from the hospital +stores, which was an immense thing while at the front. I don't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_448" id="Page_448">[448]</a></span> +mean the sick rations of rice, soup, etc., but the good, nourishing +things that are always reserved for the poor sick fellows. We +got plenty of tea and rice, to be sure—so much, indeed, that +I have soured on it ever since, and never take tea except when +I am so sick that I can't bear the smell of coffee. As for rice, I +am fond of it. As the Colonel said, "I like rice very much indeed, +if it is properly cooked—that is, about a quart of cream and milk, +a pound of butter, and some eggs and sugar and nutmeg and all +the other things, nicely stirred up and baked—and, oh, yes, I +forgot—about a half teaspoonful of rice may be added."</p> + +<p>The Steward's name was Fulton—Johnny Fulton—formerly +of Fahnestock's great drug house in Pittsburgh.</p> + +<p>It became the duty of the Surgeons to inspect the boxes before +they would admit their contents into the hospitals, because, you +know, they often contained articles of food prepared and sent by +kind friends at home that might have been as fatal to the sick +soldiers, if they had been allowed to eat them, as would have been +the Rebel bullets. For instance, all sweet cakes, raisins, nuts, +apples and other fruits were sure death for those troubled with the +great army epidemic—dysentery. Pickles, as well as the innumerable +sorts of canned stuffs, became confiscated, as too dangerous +to let pass, so that we had to eat them up in self-defense.</p> + +<p>There was scarcely ever a box opened that did not contain a +bottle of something contraband—some old whisky. These the +Surgeons usually took care of.</p> + +<p>I know that some of the boys even now will be ready to +swear at the headquarters' "dog-robber." I've been called that +so often, and become so accustomed to it, and "loblolly boy," that +it had no effect. We went straight along, having as good a time +as we could, wore the best clothes and rode fast horses, and when +we were not doing anything else on Sundays, we would be out +somewhere horse-racing.</p> + +<p>There were, of course, some disagreeable things about headquarters +too, and we of the Regulars had a standing fight with a +lot of fancy boys who came down from Philadelphia that year. +They were Rush's Lancers. As some of the Western soldiers have +never seen this sort of a soldier, I shall describe him as a Zoo-zoo +on a horse—that is, he wore a fancy Zouave uniform of many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_449" id="Page_449">[449]</a></span> +colors, and carried a pole about fifteen or twenty feet long in a +socket in his stirrup. On the end of the pole was a sharp spear or +lance, and a few inches from the end of the lance a little red silk +flag fluttered. They were an awfully nice-looking set of fellows +on parade. A thousand of them made about as dashing a show as +can be imagined when galloping along in line or column.</p> + +<p>It was expected that these long poles, with the sharp spears on +the ends, would be just the thing to charge on an enemy.</p> + +<p>I have often heard the owners explain just how they were going +to do it when they should get a chance at the enemy. The custom +or style had been imported from Europe, but somehow it +didn't take well in the Army of the Potomac. The boys called +them "turkey-drivers," probably because of the red patch on the +end of the pole.</p> + +<p>For a time they were at headquarters as a brilliant, fancy-looking +attachment to the Staff; but every time we would go out with +the "turkey-drivers" the "doboys," or infantry, would yell and +gobble at them in such a ridiculous way that they had to be suppressed. +I have heard as many as 10,000 men in the camps in the +woods gobble at the "turkey-drivers," as if it were droves of wild +turkeys, every time the lancers would ride along.</p> + +<p>We of the Regular Cavalry at headquarters were, of course, +pleased to witness the frequent discomfiture of the "turkey-drivers," +probably because we were a little bit jealous of them, and +feared, that their bright, dashing appearance might give them a +preference over us as the headquarters' favorites.</p> + +<p>Pretty soon they, like the Zouaves, changed their uniform to +the old blue blouse, and threw away their long sticks for the noisy +saber.</p> + +<p>Although we had some fun among ourselves at headquarters, +yet about that time—Christmas and January, 1862-63—were the +dark days of the war. Seemingly, everything had gone wrong +with the Army of the Potomac. Burnside had left some of the +best blood of the long-suffering old army on the frozen ground +over the river; the hospitals were filled with the sick and wounded, +who could not safely be transported North; and, to my intense +disgust, it seemed to me that I never rode out to any place, or made +a visit to my friends in other regiments, that I did not run into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_450" id="Page_450">[450]</a></span> +some of those professional embalmers or packers, who would be engaged +at one of their ugly jobs. The weather was cold, and these +men went about their work as indifferently as we often see the +dead beef and hogs handled in market!</p> + +<p>One of the saddest duties to which we at headquarters were +subjected, at times, was the piloting of visitors, who came down +from Washington with passes and reported first at headquarters, +to the regimental or brigade hospitals, in which their wounded or +sick were to be found. Generally the visitor would be an old +father, perhaps a farmer, sent by the mother to take home a sick +or may be a dead son.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_451" id="Page_451">[451]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<h3>LIFE AT HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF POTOMAC—SOME STARTLING +REVELATIONS AS TO THE "TRUE INWARDNESS," NOT TO SAY +CUSSEDNESS, OF OUR HIGH UNION OFFICIALS—INTERESTING +DESCRIPTIONS OF FAMILY LIFE AT HEADQUARTERS—"SIGNALS"—CIPHERS—AGAIN +VOLUNTEERING FOR SECRET SERVICE INSIDE +THE REBEL ARMY—A REMARKABLE STATEMENT ABOUT BURNSIDE +AND HOOKER—INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL MEADE—A +NIGHT AT RAPPAHANNOCK INTERVIEWING REBEL PICKETS.</h3> + + +<p>We were encamped on the side of the hill on the top of which +was the large mansion house then occupied by Burnside and Staff. +My memory is not reliable as to names, but I think it was called the +Phillips House; anyway, it was a fine, large house, with all the +usual surroundings of a Virginia mansion of the days. There were +negro quarters, smoke-house, ice-house, stables, etc. These were filled +up with the innumerable crowd that are always about headquarters. +Our command was in camp in Sibley tents on the hill-side or in the +orchard, almost within call of the house. It was my daily habit, +when not otherwise engaged (and I had the liberty of the camp), +to loaf around the porch of this house. Some way there seemed to +be a strange fascination in the general officer's appearance, and I +took great delight in watching his every movement and in listening +to the talk of the big officers on the Staff.</p> + +<p>There was always something going on at headquarters. Either +General Franklin, or the old, almost feeble-looking, but grand E. V. +Sumner, or Couch, would be there as visitors, and before they +would leave probably other corps commanders in the uniform of +Major-Generals, with swords, and followed by their Staffs, would +dash up to the fence, dismount, and strut in, with swords rattling +on the frozen ground and reverberating in the big hallway.</p> + +<p>I saw Burnside every day, and several times a day. Whatever +may be the judgment as to his generalship, there can be but one +opinion as to his handsome appearance and his courteous manner. +I became a personal Orderly to the General, and bear my cheerful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_452" id="Page_452">[452]</a></span> +testimony that he was always courteous and kind, and most tenderhearted +and thoughtful of the welfare of the boys in the ranks.</p> + +<p>It was my privilege to have seen him frequently when alone during +the dark, dreary days that followed his terrible disaster. I have +often since thought that his mind became affected by his great +trouble. He would do some of the queerest things; as, for instance, +one evening he came out into the back part of the house, where I +happened to be at the time, in company with a chum, there being +no one else near. He, in his bare head, coolly walked up to us. +We, of course, jumped to our feet, saluted and properly stood at +attention, expecting that he would pass on, but, instead, he stopped, +and, with a peculiar little laugh, said, in words that I do not now +recollect, but, in effect, it was: "Tell them it's all right." Then, as if +suddenly recovering consciousness, probably at our stupidity in staring +at him, he turned abruptly away, saying, hurriedly: "Never +mind, never mind."</p> + +<p>My companion, being older and more experienced than I, probably +felt it his duty to whisper to me, as he touched my arm: "Come; +don't stare so. Don't you see the 'old man' is full?"</p> + +<p>I believed at the time, and for a long time after, that my companion +was right, but, in the light of subsequent events, and coupled +with some other singular things that it was my privilege to witness +in the few days that followed, I am reluctantly inclined to believe +that General Burnside was crazed by his defeat, and that he had +not recovered the possession of his faculties when he planned the +"Mud Campaign."</p> + +<p>But, to better explain my reasons for entertaining this view, I +will explain that, a day or two after this singular occurrence, when +I found an opportunity to see the General alone, I took occasion to +boldly make a proposition to him. As I put the matter in writing at +the time, at his request (for my own good, as he in such a kindly way +suggested), it is probable that the paper may be among the records.</p> + +<p>I wanted to go over the river very, very much—that goes without +saying. As I knew Geno was in the house, the roof and one +corner of which I could see, I made almost a daily pilgrimage to +the Lacey House, and sat there on my horse by the hour, hoping +and praying that it might be that she or some of the family would +recognize me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_453" id="Page_453">[453]</a></span></p> + +<p>When I made bold to personally address General Burnside, I am +afraid that I began in a rather nervous voice and manner to unfold +my plan of going into General Lee's lines again. At first he looked +at me a little incredulously, then, as he recognized me as being one +of the telegraph and signal men about his headquarters, he said: +"Why, my dear boy, I couldn't send you on such an errand as that."</p> + +<p>But I persisted, and, to assure him further, I told him I had +been there before, and wasn't afraid to go again.</p> + +<p>"You surprise me," said the General, genially. "Come into +my room and I'll talk it over a little."</p> + +<p>I followed him into his room, where we found at least half a +dozen officers already gathered; indeed, there was always a crowd +of them around headquarters. While General Burnside greeted +them cordially, I stood at attention, at a respectful distance, in one +corner of the room, where I was wholly unobserved.</p> + +<p>While waiting for the General to clear up the business with his +callers—which, by the way, seemed to me a long, long while—I +heard, among others, one little story that I do not think has ever +been printed.</p> + +<p>Some officers were quietly discussing the recent battle; indeed, +this was a subject that would not down. It seemed as if the ghosts +of the thousands of dead soldiers who were slaughtered before +Marye's Heights and at the pontoons were haunting the memories +of our Generals.</p> + +<p>And, by the way, the boys who died doing their thankless duty +at the pontoons are almost forgotten, though they are almost as +numerous as those who charged up the heights. Well, one of the +officers whom I heard talking on the subject that day was, to my +mind then, quite an ordinary-looking man. He was a little bit +stoop-shouldered; at least, his careless, loose dress gave him that +appearance, while with his muddy boots and spectacles and generally +unsoldierly bearing, he gave me the impression that he was a +Brigade Surgeon. Another of the officers, speaking of the failure +of the army, made some remark about the left not doing its share. +At this the Surgeon jerked up his head and his eyes showed fire +through his spectacles, as he said: "I want you to understand that +my division on the left broke Jackson's line in our charge, and, if +we had been sustained, the result would have been different."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_454" id="Page_454">[454]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was a good deal more of this sort of talk, pro and con, to +which I paid no attention at the time, because it seemed as if everybody +that I heard speak was explaining something or finding fault +with another, and it, of course, became tiresome. There was lots +of this sort of thing around headquarters which we on the outside +overheard.</p> + +<p>One little circumstance indelibly impressed this one man's talk +on my mind at the time. Holding up his battered, old, slouched +hat, and sticking his bony finger through a bullet-hole, in the crown, +he said, in a reply to a suggestion that "there was no enemy in +front of him, as there was at Marye's Heights"—"I found it hot +enough in my front."</p> + +<p>After he left I asked who the doctor was. The man on duty at +the door looked at me with disgust as he said: "That's no damned +doctor, man; don't you know General Meade?"</p> + +<p>That was my introduction to the future commander of the army. +And I put it on paper here now, that Meade's Division, of the old +Sixth Corps, made a charge, at <a name="fred6" id="fred6"></a><ins title="Original has Fredricksburg">Fredericksburg</ins>, on Jackson's 30,000 +men (the best position of the Rebels, because higher and more +precipitous than Marye's Heights) that equaled that of Pickett at +Gettysburg, yet we never hear the survivors blow of it.</p> + +<p>I had a much longer wait for my opportunity to talk with General +Burnside alone on this business than the reader has in reading +this story.</p> + +<p>I might tell some secrets that I overheard that day, while lying +about headquarters. My ears were always as wide open as the +proverbial little pitcher's, and, besides, I had been in training so +much under similar circumstances in the Rebel country that I could +scarcely help picking up everything that dropped in my hearing or +sight.</p> + +<p>However, at last they were all gone, excepting the Adjutant-General +and his clerk; these two were busily engaged with some +papers, seated at a long dining-room table that had been drawn out +for a desk. After General Burnside gave some directions about +his correspondence to the War Department, he turned to me and, +taking a chair in each hand, asked me to sit down, and in as courteous +a manner as if I were a Major-General he began apologizing for +the delay. He drew his chair right up in front of mine, looking me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_455" id="Page_455">[455]</a></span> +straight in the eye, as he said: "Now, my young friend, what is it +that you propose?"</p> + +<p>As briefly as I could put it I explained, what my plan was—to +open telegraph communication from the town of Fredericksburg, +inside the Rebel lines, direct with his headquarters telegraph operators. +This at the first glance may seem to be a wild, visionary +scheme, but that it was entirely feasible I soon satisfied General +Burnside.</p> + +<p>Those who were in the Army of the Potomac will remember +the Signal Telegraph Corps. I do not mean the Military or Morse +Corps, but the <i>Signal</i> Telegraph Corps. There were two distinct +organizations doing practically the same character of work in the +Army of the Potomac. As a natural consequence, these two army +telegraph corps were in a state of active, bitter warfare against each +other all the time. The Morse Telegraph Corps was a civilian or +non-military affair under Mr. Eckert, who was located at the War +Office. Through this fact, and the sinister influence of these jealous +Washington telegraphers, they were successful in securing Mr. +Stanton's hostility to the Army Signal Telegraph Corps.</p> + +<p>Every old army man will remember the signal telegraph lines +that were constructed, as if by magic, on the little ten-foot poles, +which were stretched along the roads like miniature telegraphs, +always taking the shortest cuts through the camps.</p> + +<p>I presume that every Corps Headquarters was in immediate telegraphic +connection with the General Headquarters, and that the little +poles and gum-insulated wire extended to all the important outposts. +This telegraph line was used in connection with the flag-and-torch +system. For instance, from some elevated position on the outskirts +of our lines, probably a tree-top or a distant hill, always overlooking +the enemy's country (which was just over the river), would be +located a signal station. Here would be found a signal officer and +his squad of trained flag swingers. Those stations were equipped +with the very best field-glasses and telescopes that were obtainable +in this country and in Europe.</p> + +<p>The telescope, being the larger glass, would always be found supported +on a platform or tripod, and usually leveled so as to sweep +the enemy's country. Each of these stations covered a designated +field, equal in extent to five or ten miles. A number of these sta<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_456" id="Page_456">[456]</a></span>tions +were arranged so that the entire front, as well as the rear, if +possible, and both flanks of the enemy, were being minutely +inspected every hour of the day, and any unusual movement of men +or teams were at once noted and immediately reported to headquarters.</p> + +<p>The telegraph lines were generally used while in permanent +camps to convey these reports back from the front. But in case of +their being disarranged or on the march, when telegraphs could +not be operated, the flag-and-torch system was used.</p> + +<p>Those who have seen these temporary wires will remember that +they were apparently about the thickness of a lead-pencil, but an +examination would show that a gum or rubber casing inclosed a +very thin copper wire. For purpose of insulation the best quality +of rubber was used, while the wire was of the purest copper. It +was made in Europe to order, and, as it was expected that the wires +would receive some pretty hard usage, great care was taken in its +manipulation.</p> + +<p>The wire, though as thick as a pencil, was as flexible as a piece +of rope of the same thickness. It could be looped, tied and twisted +into any sort of shape in the roughest, shortest manner, and be +undone without damaging it. It will be understood without +further explanation from me, that the purpose in having this army +signal wire made in this way was to secure perfect insulation for the +electric current. It was expected that, in certain emergencies, the +wire could be rapidly reeled off the hose-carriage-looking vehicle +that carried it on to the ground, even during a battle, and signal +communication kept up through it even while it lay on the ground +or in the water. A corps of men with wagons arranged to carry +cords of their little circus-tent telegraph poles would run along +after the reel, like a hook-and-ladder company, and were drilled to +rapidly pick up the wire and suspend it overhead, where it was not +liable to be injured by men or horses coming against it.</p> + +<p>I didn't have to tell him all of this, because he already knew all +about it. The telegraph and the wire were both in his sight continually. +I merely said to him: "General, I will take some of that +insulated wire, submerge it as a cable under the Rappahannock, and +go over there myself and telegraph your headquarters every hour, +if necessary, from inside the Rebel lines."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_457" id="Page_457">[457]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, my boy, if you were to attempt to take that wire over +there, the first use that would be made of it would be to make a rope +to hang you."</p> + +<p>"But I'm not going over there with a rope in my hands," I +said. Then I fully explained to the General, first, that I could get +into Fredericksburg in apparent safety, under pretense of being a +Rebel, because I had actually been taken away from there in arrest +and confined in Old Capitol Prison, by Mr. Stanton's orders, which +fact was well-known by some friends in the town. At this the +General's mouth opened in astonishment, and he probably began to +think he was talking with a crazy man. But, after a long talk +about my former experiences and my recent personal troubles with +Mr. Stanton, which interested the General, especially the latter, +seemed to renew his interest, and he apparently gave me his sympathy +and encouragement. The poor old General was in great +trouble with the War Office just then, and probably from this fact +he was able to better appreciate my queer position. How very +insignificant and trifling my affairs became, as compared with his +own distressing, heart-breaking burden!</p> + +<p>The General, with a deep sigh, as an expression of pain passed +over his face that I shall never forget, said:</p> + +<p>"My dear boy, I should like to avail myself of your offer, and +will think it over; but," with hesitancy, as his brow wrinkled with +something like a frown of distrust, "I want to say to you in the way +of secret-service confidence, that the position and location of the +Rebel forces has been incorrectly reported to me by the War Department +Secret Service officials."</p> + +<p>In this connection I can only explain this voluntary observation +by the well-known fact that, undoubtedly, Burnside was indirectly +obliged by public sentiment, expressed through Halleck and Stanton, +and perhaps the President, to make his unfortunate movement +over the river, in the face of an enemy intrenched on the almost-impregnable +heights, against his better military judgment.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the War Department had information of the Rebel Army +that would seem to have justified the attempt. I don't pretend to +know anything more about it than I have gathered from General Burnside +in the way I have indicated.</p> + +<p>In after years, when General Burnside became a Senator from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_458" id="Page_458">[458]</a></span> +Rhode Island, I was employed in the Senate as telegraph operator for +the Associated Press. Major Ben. Perley Poore, the correspondent, +learning from me that I had served with the General, incidentally +mentioned the fact to him one day, and, in less time than I take to +write it, the dear old General was in my office shaking me heartily +by the hand. I met him in a business way frequently during his +term, but he never talked on the subject of the war to me, except in +a general, pleasant way.</p> + +<p>I further explained, to the apparent satisfaction of the General, +that I should submerge the wire in the river, at night, at a certain +point, and not attempt to haul it out on the Rebel shore, except +under certain contingencies, that were likely to occur, and which I +could make use of from the other shore. I had studied the subject +carefully; indeed, from my frequent visits to the river bank, I had +evolved from my fertile brain the plan to kill two birds with one +stone; <i>i. e.</i>, to get to see Geno, at the risk of my neck, and while +there, under the protection of her father and friends, who would +undoubtedly vouch for me as a good Rebel, I should be able to go +about unmolested, and learn the position and, perhaps, the plans of +the Rebel Army, and then trust to a fortunate combination of circumstances +to go and fish up my submerged wire and tap my important +news to headquarters. Any telegrapher will see that this could +easily have been done by the use of the little instrument, that could +be concealed between the empty lids of a big watch-case. The current, +or battery, was to be supplied from the other end, and all that I +had to do to secure attention, or notify the operators at Burnside's +headquarters that somebody was at the other end of their wire, was +to merely lift the exposed end off the ground or out of the water. +I can't explain all this, but that is the fact easily substantiated. The +only difficulty about the plan was in getting hold of this end of the +wire without detection. This was a very serious trouble; but, as I +have said, I had carefully studied the thing out, and thought it over +night and day.</p> + +<p>I will admit, for the sake of argument, that my thoughts and +plans were stimulated by the hope of getting over to see Geno. In +my frequent rides along the river banks in search of a good landing +for my cable, I had selected a point on the other side right +below the piers of the burnt railroad bridge. Those who have been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_459" id="Page_459">[459]</a></span> +there will remember an old mill that was located right on the bank, +the water-wheel of which seemed to be almost on the edge of the +water. From this wheel was a deep ditch, or waste-way, for the +escape of the surplus water into the river. Back of the wheel +there was, of course, the mill-race, which was quite deep and, like +a canal, sluggish. This race, as it is called, extended in a winding +way up into an unfrequented part of the town.</p> + +<p>Now, my scheme was to watch a favorable opportunity from +the Union side, and, with the connivance of our own officers, the +first dark night I proposed taking a coil of that wire, and, under the +pretense of escaping over the river in a boat, I should, when near +the Rebel shore, drop the coil with its anchor, and make a certain +signal, at which our pickets were to fire their guns as if they had +discovered me and were in hot pursuit.</p> + +<p>Of course the Rebel pickets would be expected to be on the alert +all the time, and, to prevent detection, I proposed suspending the +coil of wire in the water from the start, attached to a rope, which +I could quickly let go, and the coil and anchor would quietly drop +out of sight to the bottom.</p> + +<p>Once on the other side, I would have to run the risk of being +recognized by the Rebel officers, to whom I should undoubtedly be +taken at once. I hoped that by this time I had been forgotten by +my old Rebel friends. Once safely through this gauntlet I should +appeal to Captain Wells for recognition and release as a Rebel. +There would be no trouble about that, you know.</p> + +<p>Then, after looking the ground over, I could, at my leisure, go +fishing for my coil of wire, and extend it up the mill-race either +into the deserted old mill or beyond, out of the range of the pickets, +and astonish the boys at Burnside's headquarters by signaling to +them from the other shore. There was nothing about this plan +impracticable, and General Burnside was so favorably impressed +with my scheme that he heard me through with an apparently deep +interest, and even suggested some changes in my project.</p> + +<p>It did not occur to me at the time, though I learned subsequently, +that one of the reasons which induced General Burnside to +delay the consideration of my proposition was (very properly) +to enable him to make some inquiries of my immediate officers +about my past experience and supposed fitness for secret service<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_460" id="Page_460">[460]</a></span> +among the Rebels. I was quietly informed of this by a friend at +court.</p> + +<p>The result of this investigation must have been satisfactory to +the General. He sent after me one evening, so late that the messenger +had considerable difficulty in finding me, because I was +wrapped up over head and ears in my army blanket for a nightgown, +so sound asleep that I did not hear my name called.</p> + +<p>As all of us were lying around loose in that shape, looking like +mummies of the same age, he took the very great risk of resuscitating +the wrong one, when the Orderly gave notice that "The General +is waiting for that Telegraft Signal fellow to report."</p> + +<p>Everybody within hearing at once took a part in the search, and +I was rooted out of my snug corner by the order to "Git out of here +damned sudden; you're wanted at headquarters." This sort of a +summons aroused the curiosity of every old soldier that happened +to be around, and that's saying a good deal.</p> + +<p>It's only those who have lived among the old soldiers (I mean +those regular chaps who have been in the service twenty or thirty +years) that can understand fully what is meant by exciting their +curiosity with an order for a comrade to report to headquarters.</p> + +<p>They looked upon me with various expressions of pity, contempt, +envy and wonder. The general impression was that I was getting +into some kind of trouble, and one comrade sympathetically whispered +words of cheer and comfort; another bade me "Good-by," etc.</p> + +<p>Being only an enlisted man, I was quartered with the "non-coms" +around headquarters, my immediate chum being the Hospital +Steward.</p> + +<p>As soon as I was wide enough awake to realize the situation and +understand the summons, I knew well enough what it meant, but +feigned wonder and surprise, and, hastily dressing myself, rushed +through the dark yard to the house before any one could question +me.</p> + +<p>There were the usual sentries around headquarters, but my man +got through them quickly, and we entered the house through the +big hallway. There was but one light burning there, as every one +of the numerous Staff had gone off to sleep. The Orderly gently +knocked at the door as if he were afraid some one might hear. A +quiet voice said, "Come"; the Orderly opened the door, put on his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_461" id="Page_461">[461]</a></span> +"Regular" face, jerked himself in sideways, stiffened up, saluted, +and reported that he had "fetched the man he was ordered to."</p> + +<p>"All right; 'fetch' him a little more, Sergeant, till I see him," +were the exact words the General uttered in reply, in his pleasant +way. Without waiting for any further introduction from my +escort, I brushed my bangs down, wiped off my chin, and stepped +inside of the door, saluting the General according to the regulations. +The General dismissed the Orderly with a pleasant "Ah, +here he is; that will do Orderly." Turning to me, with the pen he +pointed to a chair, saying: "I wanted to see you, and it seems as if +the only opportunity I have is after everybody else has left me. +Take a seat till I finish this note."</p> + +<p>After expressing my readiness to wait upon him at any hour, I +sat down as directed, and for the time being I was alone with the +Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Potomac.</p> + +<p>If I were permitted to live a thousand years, that lapse of time +would not efface from my memory the impressions that this singular +midnight interview with General Burnside has left upon my mind.</p> + +<p>Previous to my reporting, the General had probably been engaged +with his private correspondence, and was at that moment very intent +in an awkward effort at steering his pen over a sheet of paper. The +General, like all other great soldiers, was a poor penman. It made +me nervous watching him scratch over the paper, so that I felt like +volunteering my services as an amanuensis to help him out of his +labor, though I am a poor penman myself—which, by the way, is +the only claim that I have for comparison with great men.</p> + +<p>Almost everybody is familiar with the broad, honest, generous +face of Burnside, with his English side-whiskers—"Burnsides"; +but, like most pictures, it fails entirely to show him with his face +lighted up by his happy, encouraging smile.</p> + +<p>Though there were upward of a hundred thousand soldiers sleeping +on that cold, inhospitable ground in this darkness, all was as +quiet in the Army of the Potomac along the Rappahannock at that +hour as if it were a great national cemetery containing a hundred +thousand quiet graves. As I sat there and watched the General's +features as he continued to write, the thought occurred to my mind +that this one man could, by a word, call into active life every one +of those around, not only on this, but on the other side of the river.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_462" id="Page_462">[462]</a></span></p> + +<p>Right over the little Rappahannock River, on every one of the +hills that were in the background, we knew well enough was another +sleeping army; but their dreary winter camps were enlivened somewhat +by their hundreds of cheerful camp-fires, the light from which +seemed to flicker in our faces a happy sort of defiance at our wretched +darkness. All along the river front, almost within gunshot of our +headquarters, was stretched a line of camp-fires at such regular intervals +that the scene resembled the lights of lamps on a long, winding +street. They were allowed camp-fires on their picket-lines. We +were prohibited from lighting a match at the front.</p> + +<p>After the General had finished his task of writing and sealing +the note, he rose from his chair, threw up both arms, as if to stretch +himself out of a cramp, as he walked toward me, saying, abruptly: +"It seems to me, young man, that you are in a position that will +enable you to do us great service."</p> + +<p>When I made a move to get on my feet to assume the soldier's +first position of attention, the General motioned me back into my +chair, with a command to: "Sit still; I want to stretch my legs a +little while I talk this matter over," and he halted in front of me +as he put the question: "Do you think you can get to the other side +in safety to yourself?"</p> + +<p>I assured him that I had no doubt of that whatever, and went +on to explain that my recent relations with the people there would +serve to protect me, but that I must not go in the uniform of a Federal +soldier.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure that your friends over there have not heard of +your being in the army?"</p> + +<p>I thought not—indeed, I was sure they had not—as some of my +best friends in the North were not aware of the step, because I had +not joined with any of the State troops, but had united with the +Regulars, where I had become lost, as it were, among strangers.</p> + +<p>During this examination I had assumed that, as a matter of +course, my proposition to submerge the cable was in the General's +mind. I had spent some time and considerable labor in the interval +in carefully preparing a section of the soft rubber or insulated +wire for this use. Sufficient length had been carefully selected and +tested with the electrical batteries, and then I had put the whole +Quartermaster's Department in a stew by a requisition, approved by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_463" id="Page_463">[463]</a></span> +headquarters, for some linseed oil, which was something that was +not in the regulation list. I wanted to use the oil as additional +coating to the rubber, as a better protection in the water. After +much red-tape business, I got some oil, and put my coil of selected +wire into the barrel for a good soaking.</p> + +<p>When I began to tell the General about this additional security, +he interrupted me: "Oh, never mind about that now. I fully +appreciate your ingenuity, and believe that some such plan might +become practicable hereafter, but (with an impressiveness that I +shall never forget) we know pretty well the extent and disposition of +the enemy's forces over there."</p> + +<p>With a deep sigh he hesitated a moment, as if recalling his +recent battle, that had so terribly demonstrated this fact.</p> + +<p>"The Government was deceived to a great extent by Scouts; +what I now desire is to deceive the Rebels."</p> + +<p>I didn't "catch on," which the General probably discovered by +his intent look into my eye.</p> + +<p>"We must deceive them the next time; and if you are willing +to take the risk on yourself of going into their lines, you can no +doubt aid us very much better than by taking the wire along with +you."</p> + +<p>I expressed so decided a willingness to do anything, that the +General smilingly said: "I see that you will do; and, as you have +explained, it will be no great risk to you personally, I am satisfied +to have you make the attempt." After a few more words of +friendly caution, the General said, finally: "It will be better that +you should make the crossing either above or below, and come up +into the city. A few signals may be arranged beforehand with some +of the Signal officers, which you can, no doubt, perfect yourself better +than I."</p> + +<p>I assured him that this could be easily done, and with a word +or two more of caution and a suggestion to arrange my signals, +and when I was ready to go to report to him, the General bade me +"Good-night."</p> + +<p>I left General Burnside's office that night without any very +clear understanding of what he wanted me to do. I was only sure +that I was expected to go over into the town for a purpose which +he had not yet explained. This was sufficient for me. I went off<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_464" id="Page_464">[464]</a></span> +in the dark to find my blanket, my head swimming with delight at +the prospect of personally serving the General of the Army and +the Government in a way that would at once secure advancement +for me; but, best of all, I should at the same time be able to see +Geno; and perhaps the fortune of war would be so altered by +another move as to enable me to escort her and the Wells family +away from the ill-fated old town.</p> + +<p>But I shall leave the romantic portion—the love story—out of +this narrative of fact. Perhaps some person better able than +myself may in the future weave a romance from these plain statements +of facts that I have somewhat reluctantly been putting down +from time to time, in the midst of the bustle and confusion of my +later-day work of a newspaper correspondent at Washington, yet +scouting around among Rebels for news.</p> + +<p>I found my blanket undisturbed during my absence. It had +served as a sort of claim to that part of the floor in the large room +over which were scattered a half-dozen sleeping men. One of the +boys was wide enough awake to begin questioning me in regard to +the nature of my business with the "old man"—the General was +always the "old man," you know. In anticipation of this, and +remembering a word of caution from the General, I had fixed up +in my own mind a plan to put them on the wrong track. I +explained—very confidentially, of course, knowing very well that +it would get out the better and be believed if in that form—that I +was to be questioned about the material necessary to build a telegraph +line up to Washington on our side of the river.</p> + +<p>It will be remembered that there was no direct communication +with Washington by land from the army at Fredericksburg. +Ostensibly, the Union forces occupied that portion of the territory, +but, practically, the Rebel residenters, bushwhackers and guerrillas, +assisted by Stuart's cavalry, infested the entire region between +Alexandria or Manassas and Fredericksburg. Occasionally our +cavalry were up in that region about some of the upper fords of the +Rappahannock, but it was to all intents and purposes the enemy's +country.</p> + +<p>It was expected that I would convey some false or misleading +information as coming from our forces to the Rebel officers. In a +word, I was to become a decoy-duck.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_465" id="Page_465">[465]</a></span></p> + +<p>While lying there all alone thinking this over carefully, and the +exuberance of my feelings over a personal and pleasant interview +with the General had subsided, I began to realize the dangerous +position in which I might be placed.</p> + +<p>The character of the decoy messages, and the manner of conveying +them, the General had discreetly kept from me until the time +for action. I was satisfied that I could easily get through to the +Rebel headquarters and perhaps see General Lee personally. My +"sympathizer"—Old Capitol story—would, no doubt, take well, +especially in Fredericksburg.</p> + +<p>The first danger that I should encounter would be a chance +recognition of my "former services," but this was only equal to +about one in a thousand. The only matter that I feared at all was +going into the Rebel headquarters as the bearer of any important +papers; they might, notwithstanding my friends in Fredericksburg, +become suspicious and, perhaps, be induced to keep a watch over me +as a sort of hostage for their fulfillment. If the intelligence I had +taken to them had misled and caused disaster to their army, I would +have to suffer.</p> + +<p>The only way to circumvent this was to get out of the way +before it was too late. Geno was over on that side, and the prospect +of once more seeing her settled in my young impulsive heart +the question. I determined that I would go, and go, too, as soon +as possible; and with this thought fixed in my mind, I at last went +off into a sound sleep, to dream of the happy hour when I should +again take her hand in mine and tell her of the difficulties and the +dangers I had met and so persistently overcome, that I might once +more enjoy the happiness of being near her.</p> + +<p>All the different headquarters were in direct communication +with each other and the General Headquarters, as well as the Signal +Station, from their points of observation, by means of this wire +signal telegraph, which I have described.</p> + +<p>This field telegraph was operated on the "induction" principle, +which is the basis of the telephone patent. In the field telegraph, +instead of vibrations, the induced current causes the deflection of a +sensitive needle, which noisily points to letters of the alphabet on +a dial synchronously with the transmitting apparatus.</p> + +<p>Compared with the Morse system, it was a little tedious, and, at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_466" id="Page_466">[466]</a></span> +times, as uncertain as a telephone. It had the advantage, however, +of simplicity. We called these "coffee-mill telegraphs." Since the +war the "coffee-mill," or English system, has been greatly improved—the +same principle operating the Atlantic cables. Instead of a +needle revolving on the face of a dial, it is made by a wave of electricity, +to simply dip or deflect, as desired, either to the right or the +left of a zero point.</p> + +<p>In this way the two simplest of all known characters are formed; +<i>i. e.</i>, the "dot" and the "dash" of the American Morse system.</p> + +<p>This principle has an important bearing, not only in the action +of this narrative, but it is the basis of a system of signals first +applied to use in war by myself, as developing the practicability of +signaling from even the inside of an enemy's line into headquarters +of his opponent. Since our war developed its uses, it has been +adopted by nearly all the Governments of the earth.</p> + +<p>It was designed by myself that, instead of being burdened by +the attempt to lay a cable under the water and concealed in the +earth, through which it was hoped to signal, that I should go over +to Fredericksburg and, once safely in Geno's home, I could, by +visual signals, communicate directly with an accomplished signal +officer to be located at the Lacey House.</p> + +<p>This was entirely practicable. Captain Wells' house was barely +discernable from the Lacey House. I was to take a position at a +certain window in the Wells' House and, when alone, signal +directly over the water and through the air to a window in the Lacey +House, by the simple use of this dot and dash system.</p> + +<p>Those who have seen the signal-flags and torches will remember +that there were but two simple motions, one to the left and the other +to the right of a perpendicular—the stroke down, or in front, merely +signifies a stop—the dot (or No. 2) is represented by a quick motion +<i>to the right</i>; a dash (or No. 1) by a motion to the left of a sender.</p> + +<p>At the end of each word, abbreviation, conventional or prearranged +signal, a "front" motion is made.</p> + +<p>I put in the cold days and long nights in studying up signals +and in arranging with my "pard" for their exchange. He entered +heartily into the scheme, believing, as we all did, that I, of all +others, was just the person to undertake the business, because I +would be recognized as a Rebel in that town.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_467" id="Page_467">[467]</a></span></p> + +<p>From an up-stairs window of the Lacey House we discovered that +two windows of Captain Wells' house were plainly visible. There +was also a single "dormer" window in the roof, which the bombardment +had seriously damaged.</p> + +<p>These up-stairs windows were visible over the top of another +house that stood between it and the river.</p> + +<p>There was no other point on our side of the river from which +signals could be quietly made that would not attract the attention +of the watchful Rebels. Even from an obscure window of the Lacey +House we feared it would be risky to attempt any demonstration +in the way of signals. It was on this account settled upon that very +few, if any, signals should be made to me.</p> + +<p>There would be only some common recognition of my presence. +We arranged that when one shutter of the Lacey House window +was open it would signify to me in the Rebel lines that my man had +his telescope leveled at my window, of which I was to open one shutter +to signify my presence in that room.</p> + +<p>Now, the telescopes used in the United States Signal Service +were of the very best character. It will seem to many to be an +exaggerated statement when I assert that I have distinctly and +clearly read flag-signals a distance of twenty-five miles, and these at +the rate of fifteen to twenty words a minute, too. At night torch-signals +may be distinctly read by this method. It is only necessary +that the exact point or bearings of the distant signal station be +known. For this purpose a first-class pocket compass was furnished +each signal officer.</p> + +<p>In this case it was not necessary to see the compass to find the +window, but we located with the telescope and compass certain +other points miles to the rear of Marye's Heights and the Rebel +Army, which I was to find in case the window was not available.</p> + +<p>The window was altogether the best point, provided I could get +use of it, because I could sit back in the shadow, and out of view of +any person outside, and be seen by the use of the telescope, especially +at night.</p> + +<p>With my hand, or with a wand or a fan, I was supposed to seat +myself in that room, my feet cocked up on a window-sill, smoking +a cigar and nonchalantly signal or spell out this one-two alphabet +by the waves of a fan. The objection to that was that it was wintertime,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_468" id="Page_468">[468]</a></span> +and fans were not necessary, but it was generally understood +that I was to use anything that happened to suit best, and to change +as often as possible—merely to show a right and left motion was all +that was necessary.</p> + +<p>Circumstances may arise in the future in which some such conditions +may be availed of, as they were in our war on more than +one occasion. Exactly what I was to telegraph back did not occur +to me. In fact General Burnside did not seem to attach very much +importance to this part of the plan, which was more attractive to +my own and my chum's mind than his decoy matter.</p> + +<p>It was my intention to travel at will, through my Rebel friends +in the town, and, if possible, get into the lines even to General Lee's +headquarters, and hear their telegraph instruments, and if anything +important was learned I should at once "open my half-shutter" +and watch for the open half-shutter in the Lacey House. When +they were ready to "receive" both shutters were to be opened, and +as long as both remained opened they were "getting me down" in +black and white. In case of the loss of a signal or a word, an +attempt would be made to close one shutter, when I would see that +I was to stop until signaled to "go ahead" by the opening of both +shutters again.</p> + +<p>It is not to be understood that it was expected of me to "spell +out," by this motion system, every word that I might want to communicate +over the river. There is scarcely a word in general use +that was not abbreviated by the phonetic spelling and pronunciation, +so that every message became a blind cipher, excepting to +those who understood the phonetic system. For instance, the long +word "communicate," which I have just used here, is reduced to +two simple letters, as follows:</p> + +<table border="0" cellspacing="5" summary="put title here"> +<tr> + <td>Communicate</td> + <td>km.</td> + <td> </td> + <td>Communication</td> + <td>kmn.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Communicating</td> + <td>kmg.</td> + <td> </td> + <td>Communicated</td> + <td>kmd.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>The suffixes ing, ed, tion and ty to this word, and wherever +they occur, were shortened by the use of the letters g, d, n, and y, +respectively. I can "communicate" with a flag in shorthand as +rapidly and as correctly at a distance of twenty miles as our official +reporters will at twenty feet, and if the weather does not permit the +use of flags, a battery of guns can be made to "km" as far as they +can be heard, in a storm or in the dark.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_469" id="Page_469">[469]</a></span></p> + +<p>For my own especial purpose, we had arranged a few additional +signals by which I was to quickly "km" with headquarters. For +instance, the important information that I had been successful in +spreading the false information was to be known by a continuous +repetition of the signals "sk, sk, sk," signifying successful.</p> + +<p>I felt that I could with perfect safety to myself stand on the +bank of the river, and, while apparently using my handkerchief in +an ordinary way, make these two simple signs so that it would be +readily understood. If I signaled re-rd, it meant General Lee was +in Richmond; or Lt. was not Lieutenant, as would be supposed by +any signal officer, but meant Longstreet; while a simple X was for +Stonewall Jackson. Enh was "enough."</p> + +<p>Before everything was in readiness, I was looking for an opportunity +to see General Burnside and tell him of the character of our +arrangements. I was disappointed in not seeing him for a couple +of days; my recollection is that he was in Washington. Any way, +I felt at the time that he was not as much interested in the matter +as I had supposed he would be.</p> + +<p>Finally, I succeeded in seeing the General, but not alone; indeed, +he was seldom, if ever, without some sort of company. When he +stopped his conversation long enough to hear me, he simply said, in +his polite, kindly way: "Well, you come in and see me again, +won't you?"</p> + +<p>Of course that settled it for that interview, and I had to go off +disappointed. I watched for the next opportunity, and when I +sent a little note to his room to say that I was ready, he surprised +me by sending out to see me one of his Staff officers, who, holding +my note in his open hand, came up to me and began to explain that +the General had directed him to see me, etc.</p> + +<p>This officer said, very kindly: "The General has informed me +of your proposed service, and has directed me to afford you every +facility possible. What can I do for you? He is very much occupied +just now."</p> + +<p>That was very kind, but it was not exactly satisfactory, as I +wanted to talk to the General; however, I told this officer I wanted +to cross the river below the town, under the guise of a deserter, and, +once over, to act as I should find best. He heard of my proposed +signaling with amazement, and after explaining his grave doubts<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_470" id="Page_470">[470]</a></span> +about the safety of such an undertaking, he told me, with a significant +confidence for such a short acquaintance: "The army is to move +in a few days right over into the town precisely as we did before. The +General, you know, is determined to make a success of his former +plan, but he especially desires that the Rebels should be led to +believe that he proposed to cross below. Therefore, he directed me +to say that the only directions he had were that the enemy should be +made to believe this, and directed me to confer with you as to the +best method of accomplishing this result."</p> + +<p>He went on further to detail a plan of crossing the army at a +place called Hoop-pole Ferry, and said they would make a demonstration +in that direction, but they would cross into the town +again.</p> + +<p>It never once occurred to my innocent heart that this smooth-talking +Yankee officer was lying to me. They did not intend to +cross at the town, and he knew it. At this very time General Burnside +was planning his campaign to cross above the town some distance, +at Banks or United States Fords, and he was only prevented +from doing so by the "stick-in-the-mud."</p> + +<p>In stating so positively that he intended to redeem the army and +"lead his own Ninth Corps" up that hill, right through town as +before, he purposely and, perhaps, wisely deceived me, and I was in +turn to further deceive, or attempt to deceive the Rebels by making +them think he was to cross twenty miles below.</p> + +<p>After I had gotten under my blanket, the night following the +interview with General Burnside's Staff-officer, I instinctively felt +it was my last peaceful sleep under the protection of the old flag.</p> + +<p>It was then, when alone with myself, that I calmly and dispassionately +thought over the entire matter.</p> + +<p>I will admit that I was a little bit cowardly when the time neared +for working this case in the dark. I am not afraid, however, to +put myself down here in cold type as being afraid of the Rebels. I +may be permitted to say, that no one soldier, in all that army, +carried a greater risk than myself in being there.</p> + +<p>It will be understood the prime motive with me was a longing +desire to see Geno. For her dear sake I was willing to risk my life, +knowing, if I were successful, I should win promotion and Geno at +the same time.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_471" id="Page_471">[471]</a></span></p> + +<p>I recalled, with feelings of intense gratification, the Staff-officer's +words: "We shall cross into the town again as we did before."</p> + +<p>It occurred to my dull comprehension that if this were to be so +what would be the use in my taking any risk on myself to find Geno, +by going over into the hands of the enemy, in advance of the army.</p> + +<p>I reasoned very clearly, the more I thought over it, that it +would be decidedly safer, and in every way better to answer my +purpose, to ride a horse over the pontoons under the protection of +our cannon than to go over alone only a day or two in advance.</p> + +<p>General Burnside's Staff-officer, in thus lying to me about the +crossing, unintentionally over-reached himself. But I had said to +the General that I would go, and all the preparations had been +made to signal. I could not, therefore, decently back down on my +own proposal.</p> + +<p>I was a coward both ways—afraid to go and afraid not to go.</p> + +<p>I concluded, by way of compromise, to do as a great many of our +Generals have done, who were also afraid sometimes—I would procrastinate, +in hopes the army would move before I did—I would also +make a "demonstration" below town, but hope to get into town +by the convenient method of the pontoons.</p> + +<p>The scene of this adventure is, of course, along the Rappahannock, +the season that of the dreadful winter of 1862-3, on Stafford +Heights, once the farm of Mrs. Washington, the mother of +the Father of his Country.</p> + +<p>The scenery was changing, like that on the stage, from the +"snowy shroud that winter weaves around the dying year" to the +more disagreeable mud that Virginia alone can supply, and that so +effectively tied up everything that does not go on wings. In addition +to the innumerable enemies in the front, in the rear, and on the +flanks, that the old Army of the Potomac had to contend with, one +of the most obstinate was the mud.</p> + +<p>It was arranged that I should be quietly furnished with the +facilities to enable me to "desert" over the river. All these +arrangements were practically in my own hands. Everything that +I desired was cheerfully afforded me.</p> + +<p>During two of the coldest, most disagreeable days and nights of +that memorable winter, I bivouacked with our cavalry outposts, located +on the river bank some distance below the town.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_472" id="Page_472">[472]</a></span></p> + +<p>I was there for the purpose of watching a favorable opportunity +to desert to the other side.</p> + +<p>That I did not go, was not to be charged to a lack of facilities. +I was not in a hurry; in fact, I was hoping against hope that the +whole army would move. I, at last, concluded that I should +have to make a demonstration to satisfy my friends, with whom I +had talked it over.</p> + +<p>The weather was so terribly cold and rough along that river bottom +that, after a few days' experience, I felt it would be a relief to +get over the river, alongside of the snug camp-fires of the Rebels, +which seemed to beckon me over, as an <i>ignis fatuus</i>. The Confederates +were allowed camp-fires all along their picket-lines. We +were not even permitted to light a match.</p> + +<p>The Rappahannock, at the point patrolled by our cavalry, was +narrow and deep, the banks on either side being abrupt and covered +in most places by a close undergrowth of willow. Directly opposite, +and within speaking distance, were the Rebel pickets. Their +outpost camp-fires were in a little grove of saplings, so close to the +bank that, from our side, we could see their every movement at night +by the light of their fires, and could count the number of men laying +about on the ground. We imagined that we could hear their snores, +so close were they. It seemed as if we were on guard over them.</p> + +<p>When their fires would burn low, one of the number would crawl +from under his blanket, stir up the embers, put on some more wood, +and again lie down to sleep in perfect security. There was no firing +on picket-lines at that time.</p> + +<p>During the daytime there would frequently be a general exchange +of agreeable, but sometimes sharp, words between the pickets.</p> + +<p>On our side there was a general order prohibiting this communication, +but, when the officers were not around, we talked more +freely with the Rebels than we would have dared with the sentry +on the beat adjoining our own.</p> + +<p>It was only necessary to call "Johnny!" to get a quick "Hello," +or if Johnny called first it was "Hello, Yank."</p> + +<p>But little, if any, reliable information passes through the lines +in this way. The pickets out on the line, as a rule, know less about +their own army than anyone else. Of course a stranger, or even a +soldier unknown to the officers, is not permitted on the line.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 391px;"> +<img src="images/i519.jpg" width="391" height="600" alt="CAVALRY PICKET ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK." title="" /> +<span class="caption">CAVALRY PICKET ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK.</span> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_473" id="Page_473">[473]</a></span></p> + +<p>What I am relating is an actual experience from real life in the +picket-lines.</p> + +<p>These incidents resulted in bringing about some remarkable +developments that, in the days and months and years that followed, +produced a sadly sweet influence on the lives, not only of myself, +but upon that of some famous Confederate officers and the family +of Captain Wells; but to tell the story of the "other side," at this +time, is to be left for a future occasion. This is to be a straight +narrative of one experience.</p> + +<p>Picture to yourselves a stormy, snowy night. The men of the +relief to which I had been temporarily attached, who were to be +called, could not be found, because the snow had actually covered +them out of sight.</p> + +<p>Soldiers who lay down on the ground to sleep during a snow +storm wrap themselves entirely with the blankets, which the +snow soon covers. Strange as it may seem, we slept more comfortably +and warmly when thus shrouded under the snow.</p> + +<p>The night I had selected to cross to the enemy was of this kind. +In the early part, I had slept sweetly under this white blanket of +snow, and, when called up to take my position, I felt loth to stir, +with such first thoughts, perhaps, as a criminal who is awakened +from sound sleep on the morning of his execution.</p> + +<p>At that time, in addition to two heavy flannel shirts and +drawers, we usually wore two complete suits of fatigue uniform, +one right over the other. The boots were large, and came high. +Over the leather we learned, in very cold weather, to draw an old +woolen sock. If the reader has never tried this, he will be surprised +to see how much warmth even an additional cotton sock adds when +drawn over the outside of a boot. It is equal to three pairs inside.</p> + +<p>We also discovered that the placing of an old newspaper between +blankets increased their warmth doubly without adding to the +weight.</p> + +<p>It will be seen from this description, or attempt at one, that a +Union cavalryman on picket on a winter night, on the Rappahannock, +resembled, as he sat on his horse, something that has not yet +been pictured in any war-book that I have ever seen! Of course, +under all this bundle of blankets and ponchos he carried across his +knee his carbine, or perhaps it was "slung."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_474" id="Page_474">[474]</a></span></p> + +<p>As a general thing, if the night was very cold, the poor picket +allowed his heavily-loaded feet to hang out of the stirrups, because +it assisted the circulation and kept the feet warmer than when resting +in the stirrup.</p> + +<p>Determined that I should settle the question that night, at a +favorable opportunity I called, in a voice that I fear was somewhat +tremulous, "Hello, Johnny!"</p> + +<p>Not getting any reply, I waited a few moments, watching intently +every movement around the fire in the little grove. Presently +one tall fellow, with whiskers all over his face, whom I took to be +an officer, called gruffly to one of the sleeping Rebels, as if directing +his attention to the picket-line. There were a few words or +growls in a sleepy tone, and all became quiet. Fearing that they +would all go off to sleep again, I called out loudly, "Come down to +the river a minute."</p> + +<p>At this the officer got up, stared into the darkness over his fire +as if the voice had come from a ghost in the tree-tops. Again I +called: "Come over a minute; I want to give you some dry coffee."</p> + +<p>This stirred up the officer, whose pleased smile I could see by +the fire-light.</p> + +<p>"Hello! is that you, Yank?" Then, urging the sleeper to get +out, the two had some sharp words, which I didn't hear.</p> + +<p>It was only a few moments before both strode away from the +fire-light in the direction of the river. At the time I was so nervous +that I thought it an hour's delay.</p> + +<p>Our officer was conveniently absent at the time, and while I +knew that I would not be molested, except as a feint, I still felt +that for effect I must go quietly about this, and this feeling served +to make me act the part nervously.</p> + +<p>There was a flat-boat or raft tied on the other side. This little, +square, coffin-shaped craft had been manufactured by some Georgia +soldiers. The sides were straight up and down and the bottom flat. +A good name for the thing is "a boy drowner"; that's what they +call them on the river where I learned to swim. To navigate this +concern, a rope had been stretched over the river and anchored at +each side, the rope sinking under the water. That rope was there +permanently, just in such shape as I had proposed to lay a cable. +Our officers only knew in a general way of its existence from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_475" id="Page_475">[475]</a></span> +fact that the little boat was drawn or ferried almost every night by +means of it.</p> + +<p>When the two Rebels that I had roused from sleep had gotten +close enough and began to feel along the shore ice for the boat, +which was always kept on their side, I excited them to greater +exertion by saying in a whisper, intended to be confidential, but +which was heard easily over the river: "I've got a canteen of commissary +here I will sell or trade."</p> + +<p>Whisky has its uses. It enters into almost every conspiracy in +some shape or other; in this case it was only to be applied as a sort +of taffy. The officer called back eagerly: "All right; we'll make +some kind of a dicker."</p> + +<p>The boat was scarcely safe for one and wouldn't carry double +without kicking over. It was built on the theory that the one +passenger would part his hair in the middle, and to get an exact +balance, the "chaw" of tobacco could be shifted to that side of the +jaw that required the weight. It would do well enough for a plaything +in the summer time, but to risk a bath in the middle of a +winter night was not to be so lightly considered.</p> + +<p>The officer insisted on the soldier coming over. By way of persuasion +I heard him tell him that if he should get a little wet, the +commissary that Yank had would warm him up. That settled it.</p> + +<p>He came over in less time than I had taken to tell about it, jumped +through the bushes and stood before me on the hard-frozen ground.</p> + +<p>Nearly all of the old soldiers of the Army of the Potomac have +been a party to these little "exchange of courtesies" on the outposts, +and will understand better than I can explain just how the +thing was done. For those who have not seen the reality, I would +suggest a picture. The scene is on the Rappahannock; the background +shows the heights below Fredericksburg covered with snow. +The characters in real life are the Rebel soldier and his boat. He +stood by me wrapped in a dirty butternut blanket, in that style of +drapery that only a Rebel soldier or an Apache Indian can adapt +himself to.</p> + +<p>I have already described my bundled-up appearance, topped off +with a poncho. We were meeting at that lonely spot in the middle +of a winter night, ostensibly to trade coffee and whisky for tobacco; +but in fact it was, with me, a meeting for the purpose of hatching<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_476" id="Page_476">[476]</a></span> +out a conspiracy as important in one sense, if successful, as was +that of Benedict Arnold and Major Andre's meeting. I was there +for a purpose, with the indirect knowledge and consent of the Commander-in-Chief +of the United States Armies.</p> + +<p>I preferred very much to talk with the officer; he would have +the authority to grant me the privileges I wanted to negotiate for, +before I should surrender my liberty.</p> + +<p>The man in front of me was a middle-aged, unshaven, ugly-looking +specimen of a Georgian or North Carolinian Tar-heel. All +he knew was to do as his officer directed, and he was of a kind that +would do that at any cost. Whisky was the best or quickest way +to reach his confidence. The rebel and I "drank from the same +canteen" on the picket-line. He did the most of the drinking, +while I only pretended to take swigs of it.</p> + +<p>The officer on the other side couldn't see what we were doing; +he became uneasy and called out: "Don't fool 'round thar too long."</p> + +<p>My rebel called back, "I'm a-comin' with some good stuff."</p> + +<p>He went back to his boat, hauled out a lot of leaf-tobacco, and +after the style of the Indians trading, laid it down, saying: "It's +all I got, but there's plenty of it."</p> + +<p>I was not making a tight bargain just then, and agreed to all +his terms so readily that probably, under the influence of the commissary, +he could scarcely find words to express his good opinion of +me, etc.</p> + +<p>I broached the subject uppermost in my mind by growling at our +hard luck in having to stand out there in the cold. His reply to +this put me off my pins entirely:</p> + +<p>"Well, why don't you all go to your own home in your own +country?"</p> + +<p>I explained that we would like to do so, but being soldiers we +had to stay here against our will.</p> + +<p>I then mildly suggested that we felt like going over to their side, +that we might have such comfortable fires, etc.</p> + +<p>"A right smart of your men do come over."</p> + +<p>"What do they do with them?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, they are sent away down to the coast some place, where +they are in no danger of getting caught by you all."</p> + +<p>That was one important point learned; they would send me off<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_477" id="Page_477">[477]</a></span> +South if I should go over as a deserter. I didn't intend to be sent +away so far from Geno, and I decided mighty suddenly just then +that I wouldn't go along back with him.</p> + +<p>The Johnny started to return, when I asked him if he ever +went up to the town. He had been there, but was seemingly as +dumb and indifferent as an animal about everything but the whisky +and coffee.</p> + +<p>"I've got some friends up in town there that I'd like to send +some word to. Can't you go up there and see them for me?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, I'll do anything I can to oblige you; but I'll have +to ask the Captain about that, you know."</p> + +<p>Then I drew from my pocket a letter or note, sealed in an +ordinary envelope, addressed to Captain Wells, and confidentially +whispered as I looked around me, as if afraid some of our officers +would see or hear me: "I've a sweetheart up there, and between +you and me I would like to send her some word explaining why I +am here. The fact is," I continued, as the fellow reached his hand +and took my letter, "I only came into this Yankee army for a chance +to get to see her, and if I thought I wouldn't be sent South I'd go +over now."</p> + +<p>The fellow was then so much softened by the whisky that he +tugged at my hand to "Come right along; come on, old fellow." I +only got away from him by proposing that he see his officer about +it first, and if they could give me any assurance that I'd not be +sent South I'd go over the next night I was on duty.</p> + +<p>Again assuring him that the letter contained nothing that I +should object to his officer seeing, he left me, ramming into his +pocket the document containing the misleading information that +General Burnside's Staff-officer had suggested that I personally convey. +I had prepared the document myself, which was in the form +of a friendly letter to Captain Wells and family, detailing my +experience in the Old Capitol Prison, and explaining that I had +joined the army as the only means to get back there; then, as if it +were an ordinary bit of news, I added the decoy information to the +body of the note in these words:</p> + +<p>"I have heard from my brother, who you know is a telegraph +operator at the War Department, that General Burnside has been +ordered to cross the river again; but next time it is to be away<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_478" id="Page_478">[478]</a></span> +down the river at Hoop-pole Ferry, so that I hope to soon be with +you all once more, etc."</p> + +<p>When the Rebel got back and had talked a while, and had probably +given the Captain a swig at the commissary, the Captain +called back to me to say, "Thank you, old fellow; much obliged to +you, sir." Then, in an undertone, "Are you all alone?"</p> + +<p>I signified that I was, when he said: "I know those ladies very +well, and will see them myself to-morrow."</p> + +<p>What could have been better for my purpose? It will be +remembered there were two older sisters, Miss Sue and Miss Mamie. +I flattered myself with the reflection that Geno was then too young +for company—especially Rebel company, or any other kind but me.</p> + +<p>In this manner I was in every way as successful in accomplishing +General Burnside's purpose as if I had gone over personally; +perhaps more so, as there would be no doubt in the minds of the +Wells family that I was sincere in these statements, and they would +indorse me strongly to the Rebel officers. If the letter had been +intercepted it would have answered precisely the same purpose. +The message was delivered to the Wells family, and, no doubt, the +contemplated move of General Burnside below town was reported to +the Confederate officers.</p> + +<p>While General Grant was preparing for his Wilderness campaign, +I learned—in some way that I cannot now recollect—that +Captain Wells was a prisoner in the Old Capitol.</p> + +<p>At the first opportunity I procured a pass from the Provost-Marshal's +Office in Washington, and, calling at the Old Capitol, +asked for Captain Wells. I was then in uniform, so that the outside +attendants did not recognize in their visitor a former prisoner.</p> + +<p>In a little while the Captain was shown into the room. At sight +of him my heart ached. The poor old man seemed to have aged +wonderfully in the year since I had last seen him. He looked +at me, but his eyes were not so good, and, seeing my uniform, he +probably supposed that I was one of the guard, and was about +turning to an attendant to ask who had called to see him, when I +spoke and reached for his hand. Then his face brightened up as +he heartily shook hands, and the first words he spoke, in answer to +some remark about our altered appearance as he looked at my uniform, +were: "We heard you were in Stoneman's cavalry."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_479" id="Page_479">[479]</a></span></p> + +<p>General Stoneman was then Chief of Cavalry, and the Southern +people, after their own manner, usually named the troops after the +commander. When I asked how he had heard from me, when I +could not get a word from them, he looked up with that curious +smile of his, as he said, significantly: "We got word from a certain +good friend of ours telling us about it."</p> + +<p>Further conversation was carried on in this guarded way, as an +officer sat in front of us and heard every word that was exchanged.</p> + +<p>When I asked the Captain about his accommodations, and proposed +sending him some fruit and eatables from the outside, he +warmly thanked me, adding, with the same peculiar smile: "You +know about what we get here, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>At this I had to laugh, so did the old Captain, the officer between +us looking curiously from one to the other, to try and discover what +the joke was that created such merriment.</p> + +<p>He told me, then, something of the dreadful experiences of the +family, in Fredericksburg, during the bombardment and battles, +declaring that he should take them away from there at the first +opportunity.</p> + +<p>The interviews of visitors were limited to a certain number of +minutes, and when my time was up I had to go.</p> + +<p>In a few days after the experience of negotiating the decoy +over the river, the Army of the Potomac did move, and a demonstration +was made precisely as I had indicated. But the history of +General Burnside's famous stick-in-the-mud march has already been +so well told that I need only to add that this was his plan. If the +weather had not changed, or the dreadful Virginia mud had not +prevented, General Burnside would have crossed above the town, +and might have been successful then, and redeemed himself.</p> + +<p>It is now certain that General Lee would have been surprised, +and have been compelled to fight the Army of the Potomac on +equal terms, outside of fortifications, with General Burnside for a +leader. General Hooker afterward did precisely the same thing that +General Burnside is so mercilessly criticized for attempting. Hooker +failed miserably, after he was over, and when everything was in his +grasp. Burnside might have managed it better in Hooker's position.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_480" id="Page_480">[480]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<h3>CONSPIRACIES AMONG UNION GENERALS AND NORTHERN POLITICIANS—THE +DEFENSE OF THAT UNAPPRECIATED ARMY, THE +CAVALRY—HOOKER AND DEAD CAVALRYMEN—STONEMAN'S CELEBRATED +RAID TO RICHMOND TRUTHFULLY DESCRIBED, AND +ITS FAILURE TO CAPTURE RICHMOND ACCOUNTED FOR—A CHAPTER +ON THE "SECRET SERVICE" NOT REFERRED TO IN OFFICIAL +REPORTS OR CURRENT WAR HISTORY.</h3> + + +<p>It is with considerable reluctance that I make this jump in my +narrative from the date of Hooker's taking command until his first +active movement at Chancellorsville. The months of February, +March and nearly all of April were spent in comparative idleness. +The massive Army of the Potomac, with its 100,000 men, were in +their restful winter quarters on Stafford Heights, opposite Fredericksburg. +It is a great mistake, however, to suppose that there +was no activity at the headquarters of that army.</p> + +<p>We were boiled and stirred up incessantly at headquarters by +the little wars and inside conspiracies between our own general +officers and against the War Office. The secret history of some of +these bickerings would be interesting reading, by way of foot notes +to the articles now being contributed to the <i>Century</i> and other +war books by some of those who were active participants in these +traitorous schemes. I however do not know enough of it (except +from personal gossip about headquarters) to permit my venturing +upon any detailed exposition.</p> + +<p>Sufficient is known, however, in a general way, by the survivors, +who were cognizant of the affairs at the time, to bear me out +in asserting that among other schemes there was a widespread, +organized conspiracy among certain officers to attempt a <i>coup +d'etat</i>, by which McClellan was to be made Military Dictator, in +place of President Lincoln.</p> + +<p>This may be denied again and again, but the unadulterated +facts are (and they froze so hard that winter that they will keep +to the end) that there was such a conspiracy. The correspond<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_481" id="Page_481">[481]</a></span>ence +on the subject with the Copperhead politicians in the North, +who were to manage that end, is probably yet in existence. Some +day, when the active participators are dead and gone, perhaps the +truth may be made known.</p> + +<p>On the occasion of a visit to Washington during this long +winter siege, I was questioned privately by the Covode Committee +as to procuring some information on the subject.</p> + +<p>As I have stated before, I had had enough of the politician +secret-service business, and did not take kindly to their making +any use of me as a spy on our own headquarters. But this much +was established: there were agents in Washington, wearing the uniform +of the Union Army, who were in communication with our +Generals in the field and politicians in the North, who personally +sounded certain officers at a certain hotel room on the subject. +These officers procured from this traitorous committee all the +information they could, and promptly gave it to the Government +officials.</p> + +<p>Only one more word of this: one, probably two, of the officers +who procured this information are prominent officials in the Government +service at Washington to-day. Their character for reliability +and truthfulness is unimpeachable. That is all I have to +say on this question at present.</p> + +<p>General Burnside was aware of the intrigues—to call it by a +mild term—that were going on among his own officers. As a +telegrapher I handled some correspondence with the War Department +at the time which, turned onto a screen, would make some +"handwriting on the wall" that would more than surprise the +war-reading public. The effect would be greater than any magic-lantern +or stereopticon exhibition of battlefields.</p> + +<p>Burnside wanted to arrest Hooker and his friends as public +conspirators. I have heard him talk and act so wildly on this subject, +that I believe, if the provocation had been given Burnside, he +would have shot some of his corps commanders dead. This is not +given as an opinion; I state that there was, and probably is to-day, +correspondence on file in the secret archives that would confirm +this statement.</p> + +<p>It was Mr. Lincoln who personally and privately, through certain +friends, held Burnside in check.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_482" id="Page_482">[482]</a></span></p> + +<p>Of course Burnside was a little "off" on this subject, but +under the distressing conditions and treacherous surroundings of +the time it is not surprising that he should lose his balance at +times. General Hooker probably was obliged to swallow, in secret, +some terrible doses of the same medicine he and others had given +to Burnside.</p> + +<p>The unhappy condition of our family affairs at headquarters +did not affect me directly. There was a general change of staff +officers with the change of commanders. (Of course the orderlies +followed their chiefs.) I have heretofore explained that I was a +"special," on telegraph and signal duty. My work could not be +performed by every one, therefore I was let alone.</p> + +<p>In general appearance General Hooker was as fine a looking +specimen of a General as one would wish to see. In this respect +he had but slight advantage over Burnside, whose appearance was +more of the "bishop" style of high-toned, gentlemanly dignity. +Hooker was a soldier all over. In his ordinary talk he was short +and abrupt. When he came out of his office for a ride, he would +strut out to his horse, mount him in a jerky way, as if in a bad +humor, and ride off on a gallop as if he were going into a fight +every time. He was surrounded by a staff who were of course +suited to the chief.</p> + +<p>In this way the dreary months were passed at headquarters +until just before the preparations began for the move to Chancellorsville, +when I was ordered on special secret service to go with +General Stoneman on his raid to the rear of General Lee.</p> + +<p>I do not know either the exact date of Stoneman's raid nor +the number of horses used. I have nothing in the way of +histories of the war for reference. Desiring to secure something +definite in the way of a date, I looked up Appleton's Cyclopedia, +which is supposed to be the American standard of reference. +Turning to "Cavalry," I found several closely-printed pages of +fine type devoted to the subject. With the feeling that the entire +Cavalry history of our war would be condensed in this American +authority, I squared myself in a comfortable position to study up +the subject. After wading through a good deal of ancient history +of cavalry in foreign wars—which, by the way, was commended +to the Americans as a model system—I at last got down to our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_483" id="Page_483">[483]</a></span> +own war. Imagine my surprise, if not indignation, to find this +authority stating, among other things, that the "Cavalry of the +Army of the Potomac was not effectively organized until after +General Grant had placed it in charge of General Sheridan."</p> + +<p>This statement, so false and misleading, the writer mildly +qualifies by admitting that the Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac +had been, in a manner, organized by General Hooker, etc. After +those few lines of stinted praise devoted to the Cavalry of the +Army of the Potomac, this historian goes on at great length to +detail the history, organization and work of the Cavalry in the +great West.</p> + +<p>The authority of General Grant is printed also for the reorganization +of that arm of the service in the West, which seems to +have required it too. The article shows that General Grant gave +General Wilson <i>carte blanche</i> to put this arm into effective service +in the West. Then follows a fulsome history of the Western +Cavalry, in which the services of General Wilson prominently +figure.</p> + +<p>Such names as Pleasonton, Stoneman, Custer, Kilpatrick, +Buford and Gregg on our side, or Stuart, Wade Hampton, Fitzhugh +Lee, Butler, Mosby and others, on the Rebel side, are lost +sight of.</p> + +<p>I threw the standard American authority on Cavalry down in +disgust, and after walking the floor long enough to cool off a little, +I turned to the index of the contributors or authors. The +explanation was found in one word—it was Wilson. General +Wilson furnished the Cavalry article to Appleton's Cyclopedia.</p> + +<p>I may be treading on somebody's toes in this little prelude, but +I feel that I shall never get on with this story until I relieve my +mind on this question. There is in my mind no disposition to +criticize the soldiers of the Western Cavalry force, but this fact +should be put down, that the Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac +did as much toward ending the cruel war as any other branch of +the service.</p> + +<p>Hooker offered a reward of fifteen dollars for the body of a +dead cavalryman. That was Hooker's bluff way of talking, but +the facts are, nevertheless, that the cavalry at Chancellorsville did +their duty and cut Lee's communications, and if Hooker had done +his share there, the Cavalry would have gathered up the trophies +and laid them at his feet. Hooker, like some others, talked too<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_484" id="Page_484">[484]</a></span> +much. We all remember his famous message to the President +from Chancellorsville (which, by the way, is the only instance on +record of the recognition of the Almighty on the part of our general +officers in the conduct of the war):</p> + +<p>"I have got Lee in such a tight place that God Almighty can't +get him out."</p> + +<p>Yet within two hours after Hooker had sent this he was running +his 130,000 men away from Lee's 60,000.</p> + +<p>The Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac was composed of as +fine a body of men in 1863 as were to be found in the Army. Our +officers were such men as Stoneman, Pleasonton, Buford, Custer, +Kilpatrick, Gregg. Such men as the present Commandant at +West Point, General Wesley Merritt, who was a Lieutenant in my +Company, composed the line officers.</p> + +<p>In the Rebel Army, against this force, rode the best blood of +the South in such men as Wade Hampton, J. E. B. Stuart, Fitzhugh +Lee, Mosby, etc. Not only this best blood in the riders, but +the stock they mounted and the arms they carried were of the +very best quality.</p> + +<p>The Western armies had, comparatively speaking, a free field; +they rode hundreds of miles unmolested, while we in Virginia +dare not show a head without danger of getting it hit. I am saying +all this here not only to relieve my mind, but to help establish +the fact that Appleton's Cyclopedia is way off. The Cavalry +of the Army of the Potomac made its reputation and did much of +its best fighting before Grant and Sheridan saw it. History will +prove this. If the reader will ride with me on this raid to Richmond +and go over Brandy Station battlefield, also to Aldie and up +to Gettysburg, he will be convinced on this point.</p> + +<p>When I read of Sheridan's ride down the Valley, done up in +poetry, song and painting, I think of Buford's cavalry battle and +Hancock's ride to Gettysburg, on the first day, when he turned +defeat into a great victory. It was then and there that the great +anaconda of secession and rebellion had its back broken. When +Grant and Sheridan came out of the West, the head of the serpent +was, of course, alive and dangerous, but it was scotched. Therefore +the Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac earned, by hard fighting +against a superior force, much of its glory before Sheridan +came.</p> + +<p>Of course there was not much chance for the Cavalry to operate +while we were in our winter quarters. The river served to separate +the two armies as a sort of barrier or dead-line over which it +was dangerous to venture. Yet, almost every winter night a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_485" id="Page_485">[485]</a></span> +large force of Cavalry was detailed to ride to the upper fords to +watch J. E. B. Stuart's raiders.</p> + +<p>When spring opened at last, almost everybody expected and +desired to get out of our tiresome quarters. Therefore, when the +order came to pack our five-days' rations, I may say that the +cavalry arm was rejoiced.</p> + +<p>One of the reasons for my not being more familiar with the +regimental brigade and corps history is that I was always on the +staff. I only knew of the movements of such regiments as contained +my friends, whom I visited while in camp. On the march +I seldom saw any of them. We rode along in a loose, dashing +way, seemingly as the spirit moved the General, without any rank +formation; the orderlies bringing up the rear in the dust or mud.</p> + +<p>I was ordered to hang to headquarters closely, as it was +expected that I would be of valuable aid in tapping the Rebel +telegraph lines between Richmond and Lee; also, to do any scouting +or piloting in the advance to Richmond, and to signal, if +necessary, by rockets, from the rear or otherwise, as would be +found best, over the rebels' heads, to our army signal officers in +Lee's front.</p> + +<p>We moved off quietly at night, crossing the river at early +dawn at one of the upper fords. I don't remember whether it +was Kelly's or Beverly's; anyhow, we had to swim our horses +partly over it. I didn't know exactly whither we were bound, +except in a general way, that it was to be a big raid behind Lee +and perhaps into Richmond.</p> + +<p>We succeeded in a remarkable manner in getting started without +detection. Stuart's cavalry had been led off on a stern chase +after some of our fellows. We passed between Stuart's cavalry +and Lee's army. This fact is important, because the Southern +historians assert that General Lee was not surprised by Hooker's +movement on Chancellorsville. He was, because Stuart couldn't +communicate with his General.</p> + +<p>I saw at headquarters a dispatch that had been captured by our +advance, which indicated this so clearly that our officers were congratulating +themselves over the fact of our safety as we rode +along the first day.</p> + +<p>That our movement was a complete surprise was also clearly +seen by the conduct of the inhabitants. We went along quietly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_486" id="Page_486">[486]</a></span> +enough for awhile, passing houses from which perhaps we could +only see a few ladies gazing at us from behind the screened windows. +At one door stood an old man leaning on a cane, looking +about as old folks are supposed to do when a funeral procession is +passing.</p> + +<p>In the "quarters" of the contrabands, usually behind the +houses, the sights were entirely different, however. Big fat aunties +stood out in front of their cabins, but out of sight of the houses, +and waved their bare arms or their aprons at us in a happy way; +old uncles lined the fences, or stood in the fields with their hoes at +a "present" as we went by; pickaninnies of all sizes and shades +ran around laughing, showing their white teeth and white eyeballs, +capering as they do now a days when a Barnum circus goes +along.</p> + +<p>At the first halt over the river a sort of general order was read, +or, in most cases, talked to the different regiments by their officers, +to the effect that "we were in the enemy's country on an important +campaign." It was, therefore, imperatively commanded that +there be no straggling, no foraging, except under proper escort +and under command of an officer.</p> + +<p>Each man was asked to exert himself to the utmost to make +the movement a success. It was also explained that the movement +not only required the greatest vigilance on the part of every +man in the command, but it was expected also that the powers of +endurance, both of men and horses, would be taxed to the utmost. +We must conceal ourselves as much as possible during the daytime +and march at night.</p> + +<p>One of the towns we reached <i>en route</i> was Louisa Court House. +In Virginia, all the county seats are named court houses. Louisa +was not much of a prize, to be sure, but it was directly in General +Lee's rear at Chancellorsville.</p> + +<p>In this quiet old place we bivouacked for a half day or more, +while our forces were up and down the roads, destroying railroad +tracks.</p> + +<p>Somewhere in this neighborhood is the railroad running between +Gordonsville and Richmond. This track was torn up, and all the +railroad route to Manassas Gap and Washington City from the +South was made useless.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_487" id="Page_487">[487]</a></span></p> + +<p>Most of the readers know how a railroad track is destroyed in +war, so I shall describe it very briefly. Of course we were supplied +with the "tools" for drawing spikes from the ties quickly. +A number of rails at a certain point are lifted; the cross-ties are +then taken up and built into a sort of open-work, brick-kiln-shaped +pile several feet high, being quite narrow at the top. On top of +this pile of well-oil-soaked, weather-dried logs are laid the iron +rails which have been lifted from them. These are placed so that +the middle of the rail rests on the ties, the long, heavy ends being +balanced over the sides. A fire is kindled in the tie pile; the +grease in the ties, perhaps aided a little by more combustibles, soon +makes as hot a fire as comes from the top of a furnace. The ties +burn up slowly, but with such a constant heat that the iron rails +soon become red hot. While in this soft condition the overhanging +weight of the long ends causes them to bend and twist out of shape. +This renders the rails utterly useless for a railroad track. They +become old scrap-iron, and must be worked over at a mill before +they can be used again as rails. It cannot be straightened out by +any process that will admit of its being again used in rebuilding +the destroyed tracks.</p> + +<p>I saw at one point on the track where these hot rails had been +lifted off the fire and twisted around the trunks of trees. After +they had cooled in that shape, the only way to get the old iron +was to cut down the tree and lift the loop over the stump. Of +course, the rebels could repair the tracks in time, but to do this +required several days in which new rails could be transported to +the spot.</p> + +<p>One of the purposes of this raid to Richmond was to destroy +the immense Tredegar Iron Works on the James River. This large +establishment supplied the Confederates with nearly all their iron +materials, such as cannon, shells, bridge material, and a thousand +other articles necessary in war. To have effected its demolition +would have most seriously crippled the Rebellion.</p> + +<p>Of course the details for this anticipated railroad destruction +had been carefully planned before we started. All the necessary +appliances for the work had been brought along. Each officer +knew exactly what he was expected to do, and, as a rule, they all +successfully completed their tasks. It was expected that I should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_488" id="Page_488">[488]</a></span> +be of service in tapping the telegraph wires, and to me was left, +in a general way, the oversight of the telegraph business.</p> + +<p>The General and his Staff, to which I was attached, did not, of +course, ride in the extreme advance. Imagine my surprise and +disgust, on coming up with a party of these railroad wreckers, to +find that they had exceeded their instructions, and cut down nearly +a mile of telegraph poles to burn with their ties. They had +gathered the wire up and piled it in heaps on the fires. This was +exactly what I did not want done. My purpose was to first tap +the wires and attach my pocket instrument and have some fun out +of it. Another reason for disappointment was, that I had discovered—if +not patented—a safer and surer method of destroying +telegraph lines. Of course a mile of wire is more easily transported +then a mile of rails. Two men can carry a half-mile coil +of wire. A telegraph line can be rebuilt and used with the wire +lying on trees, or even fences, in dry weather. Therefore, the +cutting out of a mile of poles was not an effectual interruption. +My plan was—and I call attention of future war-telegraphers to it—to +first take some of the small magnet wire, which is so thin as +to be almost invisible, attach this to the insulator hook, or wire at +the top of the pole, lead the thread of wire down the pole, imbedding +it, if possible, in some seam or crack to further conceal it, and +at the bottom of the pole run the other point of wire into the +ground. If this is done, be the wire even as small as a silk thread, +and made of copper, all electric communication is effectually conducted +off its channel. Each current, or wave, or signal, sent +from either side of this wire will take the short cut and follow it +to the ground, where it becomes lost. Neither side can converse +or signal over such an obstruction, and they do not know the +character or location of the trouble, as the wire works as usual. +Of course each operator will wonder why the other does not respond +to his signals, and absence is taken for granted as the reason.</p> + +<p>I had supplied myself with a quantity of this fine copper wire. +Finding the point nearest Gordonsville where the wire had not +been removed from the poles, I attached a thread of this thin wire +to the line-wire and led it to the earth, so as to be concealed. I +knew very well, from long experience, that the telegraph operator +at Gordonsville would know, from the loss of all circuit, that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_489" id="Page_489">[489]</a></span> +wire had been destroyed at some point, and it would become his +first duty to send a man out along the road to find out and repair +the damage.</p> + +<p>We did not want Gordonsville to know that we, the Yankee +raiders, were the destroyers. The piece of wire which I attached +to the ground made the circuit short but complete, so that the +wire worked as usual up to that concealed point, but no further. +When the linemen should come out to repair breaks he would find +the wire broken. This he would repair speedily and return to +Gordonsville without discovering the little ground-trap that I had +set. In time it would be discovered, by a system of tedious and +expensive tests from pole to pole, but this would probably consume +several days. A broken or destroyed gap of wire could be at once +discovered and rebuilt in a few hours.</p> + +<p>On the same evening, at a point some distance below this destroyed +gap of railroad and telegraph wire, I drew the wire down +from a convenient pole in a secluded way-side grove.</p> + +<p>It was about sundown when I, with a few helpers, was dancing +around a pole when the General and Staff road by. Seeing +us engaged in this apparently mysterious business, their +curiosity was of course, aroused; we were questioned, the General +and his entire Staff stopping to watch the result of tapping the +rebel wires.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, the premature cutting of the wires that morning +had interfered with my plans for working quietly and secretly in +this direction. When I got my little relay attached to the wire, +you may imagine with what nervousness I took hold of the adjustment +spring to feel for a signal from a distant rebel operator, +probably in Richmond.</p> + +<p>At first there were no signs of life on the wire. It was while my +face was turned away from the instrument, talking to General +Stoneman of the mistake of the men in cutting the wire, that I +heard a faint click on the magnet. I turned from the General +abruptly, bent my ear to the little ticker, and listened with every +nerve and sense strained.</p> + +<p>A second signal was soon made, which was lost to my ear by +some loud talking among the Staff. I nervously turned to them +and ordered General Stoneman and his Staff to "keep still."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_490" id="Page_490">[490]</a></span></p> + +<p>That's a fact. The General laughed quietly, but didn't dare to +open his mouth again.</p> + +<p>I made the signal for interrogation, or question, which all operators +understand to mean, "I did not hear you," or "What did +you say?" The answer came back "Sign," which means give +your signature or your office. I judged at once that, whoever it +was, he'd got wind of the raid and was suspicious. I merely said, +as any operator was likely to do after a wire has been interrupted, +"Is this wire O. K. now?" The answer came back from some +point that I dare not attempt to locate by a question: "The wire +has been down all day."</p> + +<p>I was compelled to break off the talk by wire to gratify the +curiosity of the General and Staff by an explanation. I told them +I had "got" somebody, but did not know who, and was afraid to +give myself away by asking any questions. The General suggested, +"You had better say that the Yankees cut the wires, and that they +have been driven back home again."</p> + +<p>As suggested by the General, I telegraphed: "The wire was +cut by those Yankees on horseback, but it's fixed now."</p> + +<p>"Is that so? Who is it?" were the questions fired at me.</p> + +<p>"I'm a repairman sent out to fix this wire. The Yankees were +chased back by J. E. B. Stuart to-day."</p> + +<p>"Good enough. I thought Jeb wouldn't allow that," were +some of the expressions which were used in reply.</p> + +<p>I conveyed these messages to the General and Staff, to their great +delight and amusement. The General was anxious to find out +whom we had on the wire. They all saw from the automatic ticking +of the little machine, when my hands were off it, that it was +something at a distance making the signals. To gratify the General, +and get around the question, I asked: "Is it 'Rd?'" which is +the signal I had myself heard used, when I was at Beauregard's +headquarters, from the Richmond office.</p> + +<p>"No; it's Supt.'s Office." That was enough. It was the Railroad +General Superintendent's Office. I had reason to think they +had been led off by this talk, and hoped that they would notify +the Richmond officials that the communication by wire had been +restored, and that the Yankees had been driven off. In reality, +we had more effectually destroyed their communication. Instead<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_491" id="Page_491">[491]</a></span> +of being driven off, these Yankees proposed moving south at once +toward Richmond.</p> + +<p>The General and Staff rode off, evidently well satisfied with the +little experiment. I was directed to lose no time in following. I +"fixed" this wire to the ground, as I had the other side of the +gap, and, after reporting to the Superintendent's Office that everything +was O. K., left.</p> + +<p>I have no doubt that both the Superintendent's Office and Gordonsville +"called" each other quite a long time that evening, and +perhaps each supposed the other had closed his office for the night +and gone home. Each one of the wires seemed to be all right; in +reality it was, as far as these two taps to the ground.</p> + +<p>To make a surer tap, or to more effectually blind the regular +telegraph repair force, I carried with me some leather thongs +rolled into a shape resembling an ordinary piece of line wire. +These bits of leather "wires" were inserted in the telegraph line +and connected by the twisted joint, precisely in the same manner +as the real wire. The effect is to break the continuity of the wire, +or metallic circuit. A piece of this sort of leather an inch in length, +inserted into the wire, as completely destroys the use of 100 miles +of wire as if 50 miles of it had been torn down. Of course, it will +be understood that the leather is a non-conductor of electricity. +Not a wave of the current will get over it. To prevent detection, +the leather, or tarred twine, should be an exact imitation of the +real wire. In time it will be detected, of course, but an ordinary +repairman on the lookout for a break will inspect the wire for days +without discovering the hidden flaw.</p> + +<p>We traveled nearly all of that night, reaching, I think, nearly +to the James River the next morning. We did not all go in a body +or bunch, of course. Every road was occupied by detachments of +the raiders. We went as we pleased, giving to the people of the +interior of Virginia a sight of the Federal uniform for the first and +only time.</p> + +<p>A great many of those F. F. V.'s, whom we called upon at +their mansions, discovered, to their chagrin, that the despised +"Yankee on a horse" was a good soldier and a gentleman. Such +men as Custer, Kilpatrick, Buford and Gregg were there.</p> + +<p>It would fill a good-sized pamphlet to tell all that I saw on this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_492" id="Page_492">[492]</a></span> +raid, so I shall condense as much as possible. We had destroyed +all the railroads in our rear, and were ready to move on the direct +line between Fredericksburg and Richmond.</p> + +<p>Several days after we were out, the headquarters were resting +or bivouacking at a large, old-fashioned tavern. I don't remember +the name of the place, but it may be briefly described as one +of those country stopping-places that are so frequent on roads +traveled by stages and freight wagons. On the front of the house, +along its entire length, was the wide porch, containing the usual +row of benches and clusters of big hickory chairs. From this +porch, doors opened into a broad hall running through the middle +of the house, also into the office, or bar-room, at the end of the +porch. Around the corner were the benches, or sinks, containing +the basins, or bowls, for washing, while on the wall were hung a +row of towels on rollers.</p> + +<p>Seated about this porch, promiscuously, were General Stoneman +and Staff. They had sampled some of the whisky in the bar, +and ordered warm meals for themselves. The attachés and orderlies +were scattered around, as were the bodyguard.</p> + +<p>A little distance from the house was a stream of water, or +"crick," which we learned emptied into the James River, near by.</p> + +<p>We were then above or west of Richmond, on the James River. +We were all feeling pretty tired, and, to put it mildly, we rested uneasily +at the old house. The landlord was like every other landlord +at such a place—pot-bellied, red-nosed, good-natured, and pompous.</p> + +<p>I had expected, when we rode off so briskly, that I should ride +into Fredericksburg from the rear. I felt on that side of the river, +which had separated us all winter, I was sure of seeing Geno at +last. The great obstruction of the river, which had been in sight +all winter, was now out of mind for the time being. Having heard +of the occupation of the town by our forces, it occurred to me that +I might make a little break on my own hook, and ride up to +Fredericksburg.</p> + +<p>I said something about it to one of the Staff-officers, who replied +that I'd better hold on and go along with the rest of them. Getting +impatient at this point, where it seemed as if we were hiding +(ourselves and horses) in the woods, I suggested going out to our +advance, in hopes of finding a telegraph wire to tap for news.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 388px;"> +<img src="images/i541.jpg" width="388" height="600" alt="TAPPING THE TELEGRAPH WIRE.—"ARE THE YANKS IN +FREDERICKSBURG?"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">TAPPING THE TELEGRAPH WIRE.—"ARE THE YANKS IN +FREDERICKSBURG?"</span> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_493" id="Page_493">[493]</a></span></p> + +<p>This was readily agreed to. I was furnished a couple of men +and directed to the nearest "main road." This, as I now recall +it, was a road running west from Richmond toward the Valley. +My impression—gathered from the colored people—was, that the +road led to Lexington or Staunton. Anyway, I followed it out +some way until we found an old-fashioned telegraph line. I mean +by this, one of the early kind built along the highways.</p> + +<p>There seemed to be but little travel along that route just then, +so we had a good chance to get at the wire without being seen. +One of the men held our horses and kept guard while another +climbed or reached up to the wire from a fence.</p> + +<p>I felt sure, from its dilapidated appearance, that it was some +abandoned old wire. It was rusted so deeply that it snapped +asunder at the first touch of the nippers. While hastily drawing +it together again I felt the shock of a live current in the hand +which held the wire. This satisfied me that we would get something +for our trouble.</p> + +<p>After I had inserted my instrument into the circuit, the delicate +little armature was at once strongly attracted to the magnet. +Adjusting my spring, I discovered, to my surprise, that our cutting +of the wire had interrupted some dispatches. That they were +important, I gathered from the impatient manner of the operator, +demanding to know why he should be stopped so long in such an +important dispatch. I let the two operators fight it out among +themselves for a few moments on that line, each accusing the +other of being responsible for the delay. When they got started +again, I quietly listened to the ticks of the sending operator. The +first words seemed to be giving an account of a battle, in which +certain friends had been injured.</p> + +<p>Not being able to restrain my curiosity, and knowing, too, +that we occupied dangerous ground on that highway, I "broke +in," at the first chance, to say:</p> + +<p>"Are the Yanks in Fredericksburg?"</p> + +<p>"Not much," was the answer which came to my ears and made +my heart sink.</p> + +<p>"Why, I heard they were there."</p> + +<p>"They were there, but Uncle Bob scattered them all back, and +they are running on Washington. Who are you?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_494" id="Page_494">[494]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm a strange operator from New Orleans. I stepped in +at this office to get the news, and found the operator out."</p> + +<p>"Well, the news is, the Yanks are all gone to h—— again, and +General Lee is marching on Washington."</p> + +<p>I don't remember whether I thanked the Richmond man or +not; it's likely not, as I was so much worked up that I didn't +know what I was doing. I hastily told my companions what I +had heard.</p> + +<p>They indignantly denied the truth of the story, and insisted +that the Rebel operator was fooling me. On being taunted with +this insinuation, I returned to the key to ask further questions.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the ticking kept up, and when I again directed +my ear to it, I heard that which convinced me of the truthfulness +of the report. A report, or long dispatch, was being sent, explanatory +of Stonewall Jackson's being wounded, etc. Without again +questioning the operator, I learned beyond a doubt, in a convincing +way, that there had been a battle, and that the Rebels claimed +a victory.</p> + +<p>That was enough for that day. We didn't stop to fool any +longer with that wire, but left it open on the ground, took to our +horses and galloped back to the big house. The General and Staff +were in the dining-room. I gave my information breathlessly to +one of the Staff, who communicated it to the General. At once +officers were ordered to go in certain directions, to confirm, if +possible, this report. In a very little while my report was so far +confirmed by other scouts that the mass of the force then scattered +over the country, was ordered to move back rapidly under cover of +the coming night.</p> + +<p>We at headquarters lay around the house until dark, the +General and officers assuming an air of cheerfulness and indifference +they did not feel.</p> + +<p>In order to deceive the landlord and any Rebel spies that might +be hanging around about us, an order was openly issued for a large +detachment to move forward, or in the advance to Richmond. +The officer in command was, I think, Custer. He understood his +business, and quietly let it be known, through his men and the +colored people about, that they were all going ahead. As a +matter of fact, his orders were to move cautiously in that direction<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_495" id="Page_495">[495]</a></span> +and to conceal his force in the woods. At dark he was to retrace +his steps and follow us, becoming our rear-guard on the retreat.</p> + +<p>We were in a tight place, a mighty tight place, being miles +from our own base, not only with a victorious army between us, +but J. E. B. Stuart had got loose, and now had the leisure to +follow us up. We must recross the Rapidan and Rappahannock +at certain fords. I can not go into the details of this great movement. +Anyone who reads must see that the problem of extricating +this large body of cavalry was a most difficult military feat. Yet +the movement was made completely and successfully by the skillful +handling of the troops by General Stoneman and his efficient +aides—Custer, Kilpatrick, Buford and Gregg.</p> + +<p>At the time I knew General Stoneman he was a little past middle +age. I think his short beard and mustache were tinged with +gray. In features he somewhat resembled Sedgwick. He was +not, therefore, a handsome man. In fact, to most persons, General +Stoneman had rather an austere, dignified bearing that was +somewhat repellant. He was cross—awfully cross about headquarters. +The boys used to call him "Dyspepsia," which I think +rather an appropriate title. As a rule, the pet names given the +Generals were suitable.</p> + +<p>Some of those who had probably run against him when his +hardtack and bacon did not sit well on his stomach, were fond of +intimating that he had conspired to beat <a name="pleas" id="pleas"></a><ins title="Original has Pleasanton">Pleasonton</ins> and his friends +out of their commands. I don't know how this was, but it is certain +Pleasonton was manœuvered out of it for the time being. +Pleasonton recently told me this entire history. There were many +"conspiracies" going on in Virginia about that time. Stoneman's +loyalty was even questioned by some of our extra patriots +from New England; probably because he was connected by marriage +with an influential Southern family residing in Baltimore.</p> + +<p>I reckon he was one of the McClellan-Franklin-Fitz-John-Porter-Smith-and-Hooker +clique. One little incident on the +march will serve to show his notion of the proper conduct of the +war.</p> + +<p>We all foraged a little, despite the general order prohibiting it. +As a matter of fact, it was necessary that we should do so to procure +feed for our jaded horses. While on these expeditions after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_496" id="Page_496">[496]</a></span> +forage for horses, etc., the men took the opportunity to buy from +the colored people.</p> + +<p>We had a great supply of imitation Confederate money along. +Indeed, the boys generally found out that any piece of paper that +looked at all like a dollar bill would go among the ignorant contrabands. +Paper money was new to them, and it was all alike, +good, whether the label off a pill-box or a genuine greenback. In +this way we got around the order against foraging. We also tendered +to the white people their own Confederate money. If they +got mad and demanded gold and silver, the boys were apt to get +mad, too, and help themselves. One day a lot of us were clearing +out a smoke-house in the rear of a big mansion. A certain officer—now +a Brigadier-General in the Regular Cavalry Service—was in +command of the detachment. We had tried to buy, but they +wouldn't sell, so the boys helped themselves.</p> + +<p>In that part of the country, the farmers, being so far distant +from the towns, kept a large supply of provisions on hand. In +addition to hams and shoulders, etc., there was a barrel of molasses +inside. Every fellow there filled his canteen and everything he +had with the long-drawn sweetness. It was this slow-running +molasses that got us into trouble, by keeping the boys there too +long, waiting their turn at the spigot. While we were leaving, +Stoneman and Staff rode by the house. Seeing us coming away +loaded down with hams, etc., he halted, asked for the officer, who +rode up and saluted.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing there?" yelled the General.</p> + +<p>"The men were foraging." The officer only got this word out +when Stoneman stopped him with an oath—</p> + +<p>"Foraging h——! You're stealing; you're leading a band of +robbers." Turning and putting spurs to his horse, he dashed down +the road, leaving the discomfited officer standing at the head of +his enlisted men, who had heard the unmerited rebuke. That +officer was Wesley Merritt, now General. I suppose General +Stoneman was afterward informed that we had tried to buy, etc.</p> + +<p>On a long march of this kind, it is the horses that first give out. +As a cavalryman, I believe I speak for the whole of that arm of the +service in saying, that we were always willing to do without ourselves, +but the poor horse must be provided for.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_497" id="Page_497">[497]</a></span></p> + +<p>A cavalryman may be starved and tired almost to exhaustion, +but he will walk miles, in all sorts of weather, doing without sleep +or rest, to carry back an armful of hay or fodder for his horse. +It's one of the dreadful things to be compelled to ride, day and +night, a tired, hungry, but ever-faithful horse.</p> + +<p>The men become so much attached to their horses that they +will steal, and risk their lives recklessly, to get them a feed. In +the Regular Service, the men were discouraged from forming any +of these horse attachments. It was found that, when once a +soldier made a pet of his horse, he was apt to be too careful of +him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln's jocular remark, that horses had become more +valuable than their riders, because the horses were getting scarce, +contains a great deal of truth.</p> + +<p>More consideration was given to the horses than to the men. As +an illustration of the point, the first night of this return march I +was approached by an officer, who was hunting volunteers to ride +in the advance to the river, to get help at the crossings. I +explained that I had been out in the advance every hour and was +played out, and was willing, but afraid I could not stand it. The +only consolation I got from the officer was, "Can your horse stand +it? We will risk you."</p> + +<p>The officer explained further that he had been sent after me, +because I was understood to be familiar with the country. I was +not familiar with that part of the country, but I agreed to join +this advance. Orders were given to be prepared to move quietly +when called upon, and we all layed down for a little sleep.</p> + +<p>In all the pictures of the war published, I have failed to find +what I think would be one of the most striking—a squadron of +cavalrymen, sleeping on their arms under their horses' noses. +The horses, saddled, are all in line; the men, all heavily armed, +are lying right in front sleeping, with the bridle-rein loosely +fastened to their left hand. I have slept soundly, and sweetly, in +a line like this. The horse will sleep and rest also. There is no +fear of the horse treading on his sleeping rider. He seems +instinctively to understand that they are both occupying dangerous +ground and must stick together.</p> + +<p>It was while resting in this position, after the interview with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_498" id="Page_498">[498]</a></span> +the officer, that I formed a plan to go alone in advance of this +advance to our army. At the first opportunity, I suggested to this +officer that I should go alone and see the lay of the land. I preferred +this to being one of a squad of mounted men to ride along to +hunt the Rebel sharpshooters.</p> + +<p>If there is anything in war that is embarrassing, it is to be on +a cavalry line with orders to draw the enemy's fire.</p> + +<p>On Stoneman's raid, and after, the force generally was fought +dismounted; that is, No. 4 holds the horses of Nos. 1, 2 and 3, who +advance as an infantry skirmish-line. They are armed with Spencer +rifles, and go along gingerly over a big field, at the other end +of which is a wood, to ascertain if the Rebels are in that wood. +The poor skirmishers know damn well the Rebs are there, but their +orders are to go down in this way, and find out by getting shot at.</p> + +<p>Having had a taste of this sort of advance-guard service, +wherein I had attracted too much Rebel fire, I was anxious to be +excused. My plan was to go alone on my horse as a Scout or Spy. +I should not carry any arms to be seen, and would dress as a Rebel +or country farmer-boy. I thought that, in this guise, I could ride +freely over the roads and get into our lines. The scheme seemed +to please our officer immensely, and he reported the matter to +General Stoneman's Chief of Staff. I was ordered to report to the +Chief, and again unfolded my plan. He suggested, among other +things, that I should, if I met any questioners, endeavor to mislead +them as to the number and, especially, the route of our cavalry.</p> + +<p>A disguise was obtained; it was a dirty old jacket, borrowed +from a contraband cook. Several persons interested themselves in +my make up; one got me a straw hat, another a pair of trousers, +etc.</p> + +<p>I left all my arms except a pistol, and, when ready to go, I paralyzed +them by demanding a bunch of signal rockets. I explained +that I should only use them in case of extreme danger; that the +appearance of a certain rocket at night would indicate that that +neighborhood was to be avoided. In carrying these rockets, and +exploding them, I knew that I ran great personal risk, but somehow +I felt that, alone, I would be able to get through. I was only +nervous and doubtful of myself when working in company.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_499" id="Page_499">[499]</a></span></p> + +<p>The General, or at least his Staff, was most solicitous that I +should deceive or mislead the people as to their real force and purpose. +We only anticipated serious trouble at the fords on the +Rapidan, and possibly the Rappahannock.</p> + +<p>The General had heard, through the Captain, of some sick and +wounded Rebel soldiers who were returning from Chancellorsville +to the interior, that Hooker had been defeated. He had also +ascertained that the report I had brought about their marching on +Washington City was exaggerated. We expected, naturally, that +some steps would be taken by our army to help us out. We also +expected that Stuart would endeavor to head us off and capture +the entire force.</p> + +<p>This was about the condition of things when I started out on +the road alone towards the Rappahannock. For mile after mile I +met nothing. At the few scattered houses I would dash up and +breathlessly ask for information about the Yankees. At the colored +quarters I scattered the news that the Yankees had gone +back into the Valley.</p> + +<p>On this return march, Stoneman did not once show a horse on +a road during the daytime. This fact probably accounts for his +success. During every day the men were all concealed in suitable +places. Skirmishers, of course, kept guard, and, at a moment's +warning, the whole cavalry force would have been up in arms as +infantry behind breastworks to repel an attack. The marching +was all done at night. Men sleep pretty well on horseback when +they are as tired out as were Stoneman's raiders. A column of +horses will follow each other without the use of any bridle over +the most devious roads.</p> + +<p>One of the funny things about the raid was, that nearly half of +the cavalrymen were bare-headed when they got back. This resulted +from sleeping in the saddle on these night marches. The +narrow roads we were compelled to take were overhung with the +branches of trees; these stripped the hats off the sleeping beauties. +Very often, too, the rider in front would grasp a switch, or limb, +and hold on till he was safely passed; then, without a thought of +the sleepy rider in his rear, he would let go, and the switch, flying +back, would strike the man in the face. This sort of thing +wakened up a good many sleepers and made some disturbances in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_500" id="Page_500">[500]</a></span> +the ranks. It had the effect, also, of making the faces of those who +caught the switch look decidedly as if they had come out of a +free fight, especially if they were hatless.</p> + +<p>My ride along during that day was without special incident. +I was more than surprised to find the path clear of Rebel +soldiers. I did all that was expected of me as a Scout, in circulating +freely the false information that our force had gone the +other way.</p> + +<p>With a great deal of trepidation I approached the crossing of +the Rapidan. I knew that, if there was a force of Rebels any place +in our path, they would be there. I inquired particularly of everyone +I would meet if there were any Yankees on the road. I knew +very well that, in asking this question, I'd find out whether there +were Rebels around. There were no Yankees there, but a few of the +Rebels had been seen over the river in the morning. Here was +my dilemma. The crossing was clear now, but how long it would +remain so was uncertain.</p> + +<p>I was too far from our men to make any signal to them that +the road was clear. I didn't like to venture over the river alone, +where those Rebels had been seen. The important thing was to +report that ford clear. I staked my horse in an adjoining grove, +determined to conceal myself until night.</p> + +<p>As the early evening wore on and no enemy showed themselves, +I became impatient at lying idle, and boldly determined to ride +back to our force before dark. I knew very well that, once we were +safely over that river at this crossing, with its steep precipitous +banks, with our men in force, we had a clear field for a run, or a +fight with J. E. B. Stuart to the Rappahannock.</p> + +<p>Therefore I rode back at a gallop over all the long road. Just +after dark I met the advance of our force,—the same I had been +asked to volunteer with.</p> + +<p>Hastily informing the officer in command of my observations +at the ferry, that the crossing was not occupied, etc., he reported +to the General.</p> + +<p>In a little while there came dashing up the road the head of +our column. Nobody stopped to thank me for the good news that +we could get over the river, but all were intent on getting there at +once. In a word, the entire force got over all right, and, in due<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_501" id="Page_501">[501]</a></span> +time, we crossed the Rappahannock, and were once more safely +within our own lines.</p> + +<p>I do not know the figures for this raid. I have drawn my +recollections of it to an abrupt termination. My impression is, +that we lost nothing of material importance. We captured a good +many prisoners, probably more than we lost. My notion is that +the cavalry can boast that we brought back the force intact.</p> + +<p>One great good was accomplished by the raid—the Rebels were +again taught to show more respect to a Yankee on horseback. It +was Hooker who failed, not his cavalry.</p> + +<p>The truth should not be overlooked, that the partial success of +the expedition was not due to General Hooker, nor even to his +Lieutenant, General Stoneman. The one man to whom more +credit is probably due than any other was General Alexander, the +Chief of Staff of the Cavalry Corps, who served both with Stoneman +and Pleasonton. It was he who planned and organized this +great raid; it was his object and aim to go to Richmond, and that +we did not go in while at the back gates of the city is to be charged +solely to Stoneman or Hooker.</p> + +<p>This is not an opinion merely. I rode close by General Alexander +one day, and heard him with my own big ears urge, yes +plead with Stoneman to go on into Richmond anyhow. I heard +Stoneman's voice utter the words: "I know d—— well we can do +it, but my orders are not to go to Richmond."</p> + +<p>General Alexander was a large man, with a full beard, who +talked in a slow, deliberate voice, but always in a kindly manner. +He became somewhat ruffled at Stoneman's declining to act upon +his suggestion, and I recall very distinctly how this ordinarily +quiet man became as much interested in his subject as a Methodist +preacher or politician in an argument, on horseback.</p> + +<p>Both were so intent upon the question that neither took any +notice of the little orderly in a dirty uniform who was riding near +them.</p> + +<p>My impression then was that <a name="stone" id="stone"></a><ins title="Original has Stonemen">Stoneman</ins> was too much of a regular +of the old school to disobey an order, even if he knew it would +result in great good to his cause.</p> + +<p>Whether there was such an order from headquarters can perhaps +be established from the records<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_502" id="Page_502">[502]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>That one could have gone into Richmond was freely admitted +by the general officer in command.</p> + +<p>We returned to our old camps at Fredericksburg again. In this +way I hovered about that ill-fated Fredericksburg during all that +winter, and until the movement to Gettysburg, without once having +an opportunity to get into the town, though our troops had +been there. It was my luck to have been absent at the time. For +some unfathomable reason, the fates were against me every time.</p> + +<p>I shall never do this subject justice until I write a novel, giving +the entire story.</p> + +<p>Fredericksburg during all these days presented, from our side, a +gloomy, deserted appearance. There were always a few Confederate +sentries on duty, which we could see on the streets. At the +river crossing, or ferry, an occasional flag-of-truce boat would be +rowed over, but on these occasions the General Staff-officers conducted +the courtesies. Men and orderlies were invariably placed +to prevent any but the two officers interested from getting a word +with the Confederates.</p> + +<p>Right here I will remark that I've witnessed innumerable flag-of-truce +exchanges, but I do not recall a single instance in which a +bottle was not passed around as a preliminary to the business +in hand. I presume the custom originated from the Indians +smoking the pipe of peace.</p> + +<p>One funny remark on an occasion of this sort remains in my +memory. An enlisted man near me, seeing a Rebel taking a long +pull at the flask of Union commissary, which our officer presented +with a supercilious bow, said: "Well, I'm —— if this is not +getting to be too much of a civil war." He probably felt disgusted +because he did not have an opportunity at the flask.</p> + +<p>One day I was startled by the sounds of artillery, and an +accompaniment, which, to me, resembled more than anything I can +compare it with, a whole lot of carpenters tearing down a frame +house. One would have thought there was a man with a hatchet, +pounding sharply on every board, as if they were having a contest +among themselves to see who could hit the fastest.</p> + +<p>I rode hurriedly down to the river, below town, to see what it +was all about. In those days, I never stopped to ask anybody's +advice or consent, but followed my own impulses and inclinations.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_503" id="Page_503">[503]</a></span> +I passed some General officers and Staff on a hill-side near the +batteries that were firing, who had their glasses pointed in the +direction of the hammering.</p> + +<p>When I got to the river, as close as my horse could go without +jumping down the steep bank, I saw, to my surprise, that from all +along the rifle-pits that lined the top of the bank on the Rebel side +was a line of white smoke—indeed, the smoke almost concealed +the rifle-pits.</p> + +<p>It was from behind this bank of foggy smoke that all the +hammering noises came. It was caused by the sounds of hundreds +and hundreds of rifle-shots "at will," but in such rapid succession +that it resembled, as I have said, innumerable hammers on a frame +house.</p> + +<p>My horse could not get me close enough to see down to the +edge of the water on our side, and I was about to dismount and +get closer, when I saw coming up the steep road, that had been cut +in the bank, a procession that took the blood out of my heart. +There were two men dragging (not carrying) a dead soldier, while +a closer glance showed all along the side of that steep bank dozens +of others, either dead or dying.</p> + +<p>It was the Engineer Corps of the Army of the Potomac that +were down there behind that bank trying to lay a pontoon bridge +over the Rappahannock.</p> + +<p>The artillery "support" had no more effect in quieting that +incessant hammering than if their shots had been fired into the +air.</p> + +<p>I stood there for a while, absolutely paralyzed, at a distance +not much greater than the width of a street, watching those Rebels +bob up all along that rifle-pit, puff out the white smoke, and their +heads go down behind the long line of yellow clay out of sight, all +along the line.</p> + +<p>I have often since wondered that one of those fellows did not +pick me off my horse, as I sat there an absurdly-conspicuous mark.</p> + +<p>If they had not been so busy watching those who were trying +to lay that pontoon, they would undoubtedly have dropped me. +My position on the horse would naturally be taken for that of an +officer. I assert here that more desperate or more heroic service +has never been performed than by those of our Engineer Corps in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_504" id="Page_504">[504]</a></span> +their laying of pontoons in the face of the enemy's fire from rifle-pits.</p> + +<p>It seemed to me, on a closer inspection of the work that day, +that they carried out a dead man for every plank they laid on the +pontoons. When it is remembered that these men necessarily +work <i>en masse</i>, and that almost every shot from an enemy must +hit something, it will be seen how much exposed to deadly fire the +quiet Engineer Corps become. In the charges on rifle-pits or forts, +or on an enemy's line, there is always something of the excitement +of a rush or hurrah that impels men forward with loaded guns and +pointed bayonets in their hands; but, in laying pontoons over a +river in the face of the enemy, a courage and nerve are required +that, to my notion, is far beyond the ordinary.</p> + +<p>I often wonder that some of the accomplished Engineer officers +do not give this matter their attention in the histories of the war +that every other branch of the service is showering upon the land.</p> + +<p>These men, supported by the artillery and a few infantry, +succeeded at last in getting so many boats launched that the +Rebels concluded it was time to quit bothering them any longer, +when, all at once, every Rebel popped from behind his rifle-pits, +took to his heels and ran for dear life across the plain toward the +hills. Of course, our artillery opened upon them at a lively rate. +In spite of the fact that the dead and wounded were thick around +me, I yelled with as much fun and delight as I have since at baseball +games to see a man make a home-run.</p> + +<p>Not a single Johnny dropped, though they threw their guns +away to lighten them in the race for the home-run.</p> + +<p>This occurred some distance below Fredericksburg, and as +there did not seem to me to be any intended movement of troops +over the pontoons, which had been laid at such a terrible sacrifice +of life, I rode off to the upper fords near the Lacey House, expecting +to get over there. I was told, on reaching headquarters, that +this was simply a "diversion," to detain, or ascertain if the enemy +were still in our front.</p> + +<p>Great Scott! what a disappointment to me. What a terrible +thing is war, that will permit, as a simple diversion, the murdering +in cold blood of hundreds of men without intending to profit +by their work at all.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_505" id="Page_505">[505]</a></span></p> + +<p>The services of a single reliable Spy, or Scout, would have +accomplished more than all of this diversion. That evening the +Staff moved off and I went along. I did not know then where we +were going. I supposed, as did everyone else, that it was to be +another battle somewhere near Fredericksburg. It never occurred +to my mind then, that, in riding away from the Lacey House that +June evening, I should never see it again.</p> + +<p>I do not suppose a dozen persons outside of General Lee's staff, +imagined we were going to ride home to Pennsylvania—to +Gettysburg. That's where we went. And, before leaving Fredericksburg, +I wanted to say a few words of farewell to Geno.</p> + +<p>There are one or two old, old songs, which have always +remained such particular favorites with me that my friends have +learned to expect me to call for them, in season or out of season.</p> + +<p>I mention them now for the benefit of the sons and daughters +of veterans, and the other friends, young and old, who have followed +the "boy" in his love-making under the great difficulties +that a war develops.</p> + +<p>They are beautiful songs besides and the words and melody +more clearly define the romance than my pen could describe.</p> + +<p>I have already detailed the experiences with Geno, who so +gracefully handled a guitar in her beautifully-formed bare arms, as +she skillfully played an accompaniment to "Juanita." It was that +old, old song and "them" eyes that put me in Old Capitol Prison.</p> + +<p>I would advise any of the young lady readers, with black +hair and pretty eyes, to get a guitar and practice "Juanita" on +the boys. It will bring them down every time.</p> + +<p>Another old favorite is "Evangeline," which so fully expresses +my sentiments on the past.</p> + +<p>Surely, there never was a sweeter and more appropriate love +song than my "Lost Evangeline." While the song of separation +is the sweetly familiar "In the Gloaming."</p> + +<p>Another beautiful air and words is entitled "Someday"—strikingly +expressive of future hopes. This I heard sung first in +the parlor of a hotel in the far, far West, when I was traveling in +California, where it had the effect of making me homesick.</p> + +<p>Since the close of the war, I have wandered all over the land, +like Gabriel in search of his Evangeline. I was shipwrecked on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_506" id="Page_506">[506]</a></span> +the Pacific Ocean at the mouth of the Columbia River, in the +extreme Northwest. I sailed up the Columbia River with some +such feelings as an explorer must experience on discovering a new +continent. I visited the eternally snow-capped Mount Hood, rode +around Puget Sound to British Columbia, went over the Cascades +and The Dalles, in Oregon, to the western slope of the Rocky +Mountains in Montana, thence over miles of wild mountain roads +in Oregon and California on stage coaches, where Indians and +stage-robbers thrive. I have lived in San Francisco, spent part +of a winter in Los Angeles, lived among the <a name="mormons" id="mormons"></a><ins title="Original has Mormans">Mormons</ins> in Utah for +six months; in truth, I have been everywhere, but I have not yet +found a trace of the long-lost Geno. While I have not exactly +been searching for Geno on these travels, I have never given up +the hope of some day seeing her, and as long as I live I never shall.</p> + +<p>I don't know how it may be with Geno; it is likely she has a +good husband—better than I would have been—and that she is +devoted to him and her family; but, in my secret heart, I hope the +old saying will prove true, that a woman never forgets her first +love, and that some day, in some unseen manner, Geno may read +this and see that I have not forgotten her. This has been to my +life only a sweet memory, which I shall cherish fondly as such to +the end. "Her bright smile haunts me still."</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Dear as remembered kisses after death,<br /> +And sweet as those by hopeless fancy feigned<br /> +On lips that are for others; deep as love,<br /> +Deep as first love, and wild with all regret;<br /> +Oh, death in life! the days that are no more."<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>After leaving Falmouth, the headquarters of Cavalry corps +were quartered in an old house somewhere convenient to the railroad +and telegraph wires that run into Alexandria. It was probably +close by the Sixth Corps' position, as General Sedgwick occupied +the same house with his Staff, and as their horses were tied +about the fences.</p> + +<p>One little incident will serve to locate me. General Pleasonton +was then the Chief of Cavalry, to whose General Staff I was +afterward attached. He also occupied rooms in this same building. +Late one night a message was brought in to me to deliver to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_507" id="Page_507">[507]</a></span> +the General. The building we were in had been apparently deserted +by the family. I was told by some of the officers that I'd find +General Pleasonton in his room up stairs. I went tramping up +the uncarpeted steps, with my big cavalry boots and spurs rattling +and resounding through the great empty hall in the "wee sma' +hours," so that I awakened Colonel Blake, who was wrapped up in +his blanket trying to sleep on the hall floor. The old Colonel gave +me a terrific blast from his bugle mouth, which awakened every +officer in the house. Some one crawling from under another +blanket pointed to General Pleasonton's room, which I entered +unceremoniously, glad enough to get any place out of sound of +the old Colonel's voice.</p> + +<p>I found General Pleasonton, by the aid of the commissary candle +I carried for a lantern, lying asleep on an ambulance stretcher. +At the head of his couch stood an empty cracker-box, on which +was the remnant of his student lamp—about an inch of candle—along +side of which were two derringer pistols.</p> + +<p>Probably because I was nervous or rattled, by the fuss I had +raised in the hall outside, I abruptly awakened the General, at the +same moment stooping down to light his candle with mine. The +General must have been having a nightmare. The moment I spoke +he started up, grabbed for his pistols, and scared me so badly that +I dropped the candle on the floor, leaving us in the dark, retreating +to the door, as I said: "Don't shoot; it's me." After another +"blessing" for my midnight endeavor to deliver a message, I got +the matter straightened out.</p> + +<p>I was telling General Pleasonton of this incident recently, +which he recalled in his usual pleasant manner, though he insists +that he never carried a pistol during the entire war.</p> + +<p>General Pleasonton was certainly one of the most courteous, +gentlemanly General officers in the Army of the Potomac.</p> + +<p>It was my privilege and pleasure to be near his person a great +deal up to Gettysburg, and I cannot recall a single instance of his +using harsh or ungentlemanly language toward his associates. +Indeed, the General had more the appearance and manner of a +Presbyterian minister than of a dashing cavalryman. During the +war, he wore his full beard closely trimmed, going about the camps +in his quiet, easy way, like a chaplain.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_508" id="Page_508">[508]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was Custer, and Kilpatrick, and Gregg, who possessed the +dashing, dare-devil style. Buford, like Pleasonton, was an old +Regular, and went about among his troops as if the war was a +business that could not be hurried.</p> + +<p>I saw General Pleasonton angry one day at a matter that seemed +so trifling that all the Staff enjoyed the affair. His servant, or +hostler, who took care of his blooded riding horse, had been regularly +supplied by the General with a little cash, to be used in keeping +a supply of loaf or lump sugar on hand. It was the General's +habit before mounting to receive from his hostler a lump of the +sugar, which he fed himself to his horse. It is said, you know, +that the feeding of a lump of sugar to a horse regularly has an +effect similar to love powders, and creates a peculiar attachment +of the horse to the feeder of the sugar.</p> + +<p>On this occasion, either the contraband had spent the sugar +allowance for "commissary," or some one desired to play a trick on +the General by substituting some lumps of drugs from the hospital +steward's chest for the sugar. The horse found out the deceit and +kicked on it, and investigation showed the General that he had +been trifled with, and he was very mad about it.</p> + +<p>It is probably true that General Pleasonton, as the Chief of Cavalry, +will be held responsible for not having obtained information +of General Lee's escape from Fredericksburg. I have talked with +General Pleasonton as recently as the summer of 1887 on this subject, +but his explanation would make an interesting chapter in itself +and does not pertain to this narrative of facts.</p> + +<p>I hope it may not be considered egotistical in me to observe +here that I, as a scout and spy at headquarters, was in no way +responsible for the lack of information of Lee's departure. I was +not Chief of the Secret Service. I cannot resist the temptation to +say right here, in connection with my proposed services with Burnside, +that, if he had remained in command, I would have been doing +signal duty from Geno's house in Fredericksburg, or from some +point in the enemy's lines.</p> + +<p>If I had gone over the river, as proposed, and had mixed with +the Confederates as a spy, I certainly would have secured information +of the movement of two of Lee's corps. I should most assuredly +have been able to have signaled this information over the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_509" id="Page_509">[509]</a></span> +river, and then and there General Hooker would have received the +credit for having "so wonderfully divined the enemy's movements +and thwarted his purposes." The poor, despised Spy would probably +have been hung, and his services never been heard of.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_510" id="Page_510">[510]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<h3>FAREWELL TO FREDERICKSBURG—GENERAL PLEASONTON—CAVALRY +FIGHTING AT BRANDY AND ALDIE—LOOKING AFTER +STUART'S REBEL CAVALRY—A COUPLE OF CLOSE CALLS—CHASED +BY MOSBY'S GUERRILLAS—WITH CUSTER IN FREDERICK, MD—THE +DAY BEFORE THE BATTLE, FLIRTING WITH THE GIRLS.</h3> + + +<p>Just how long we of headquarters were on the march from Fredericksburg +to Gettysburg is beyond my recollection. We went the +longest way around to get there, I think, but we will hurry the +reader along the war-path to Gettysburg. As it was Pleasonton's +business to find out where Lee was going, we had to cover considerable +ground in chasing the devil (Stuart) around the bush.</p> + +<p>The first incident or date of importance was the great cavalry +battle of Brandy Station, which has been so fully written up that I +only need to mention that I was "thar or tharabouts"—in the rear +of a haymow.</p> + +<p>It was Buford, of my brigade, who should have the credit of +manœuvering the cavalry there. In result, it rather astonished the +Confederates. After this encounter, a "Yankee on a horse" was +more respected by them. It was the only cavalry battle of the war. +We had other little skirmishes on the outposts, of no particular +interest to this narrative. One little circumstance remains vividly +fixed in my mind in connection with our cavalry skirmish along the +rugged, rough Blue Ridge Mountains or Gaps.</p> + +<p>At one point—Middleburg, I think—we had a rumpus with some +of Imboden's, or Stuart's, men, who were opposed to our looking +through the Gap to see what Lee was doing in the Valley.</p> + +<p>I had been sent out to scout, and for this mounted secret service +a second man was sent along.</p> + +<p>The instructions were to get on some untraveled road and reach +the top of the mountain, or, at least, some position from which we +could use our signal glasses to view the Valley on the other side. It +was understood that Lee was moving down or up the Valley, but +Pleasonton desired to know just what infantry force was yet in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_511" id="Page_511">[511]</a></span> +front. To obtain this information, two of us started out alone about +three or four o'clock one morning, hoping to get a secure place in +the woods on a mountain-top by the light of an early dawn, where +we would remain quietly all day, using our glasses from tree-tops, +etc., and signal back from the mountain.</p> + +<p>Now, bear this in mind, we were to signal back, indicating our +position by the old Indian plan of a column of smoke. The signal +men about headquarters, seeing the smoke ascend, would level their +glasses at the point from which it was supposed to originate. We +rode along quietly enough, without meeting anyone, and dressed so +that we would have passed ordinarily for the guerrillas that infested +the country thereabouts.</p> + +<p>I was particular, however, to keep on my uniform jacket and +pantaloons, saber, etc., though I disguised them by rents and rags +as much as possible.</p> + +<p>I knew very well that to have been captured in the disguise of +countryman meant being hung as a Spy. The uniform and arms +protected me from detection and immediate execution.</p> + +<p>We got to a point in the road from which we turned into the +woods, leading our horses over the rough growth of underbrush a +half mile or so, where we securely tethered them in a little ravine, +safe from observation. The poor, tired horses were only too glad +of a chance for a little rest and quiet, and on this account we did +not fear their making any noise.</p> + +<p>Laboriously climbing up the rough mountain on foot with our +paraphernalia, we at last reached a point from which we had a +clear view of a certain portion of the country on the other side.</p> + +<p>We saw nothing at all like an army below us; in fact, the Confederate +army had previously passed out of sight at that point, <i>en route</i> +to Gettysburg. I turned in leisurely to make our coffee and +"smoke," while my chum stood guard with his glass.</p> + +<p>After climbing half a dozen trees, to try to get a back view, we +at last were compelled to give up, because of the presence of a +dense wood below, behind which our headquarters were sunken +completely from our sight. As the next best thing to do, we made +the signal of "two smokes," which had been previously agreed upon +to signify "no enemy in sight."</p> + +<p>We remained long enough in the mountain to satisfy ourselves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_512" id="Page_512">[512]</a></span> +that there was no enemy there and not likely to be, and, as we could +not flag back, we decided to smudge the two fires, so that the two +smokes would be seen for some time after we should leave on our +return.</p> + +<p>Finding the horses all right, and feeling so well satisfied that +there was no enemy near enough to trouble us, we probably became +too careless. On reaching the road, I proposed riding ahead on the +road to the summit before returning. My companion, who, by the +way, was chief clerk of our Adjutant-General, and, being as big a +fool as myself, consented, so we trotted on up the road, feeling perfectly +safe. At a point right at the summit, probably, we were +paralyzed to see a blockade or rifle-pit across the road.</p> + +<p>We abruptly stopped at the sight of this, but receiving no salute +of welcome, we sidled to one side of the road to make room for +any cannon-balls that might want to pass down. Not stirring anyone, +my friend suggested that it had been abandoned. Feeling +assured by the deserted-looking appearance of the road, we were +ready to advance again when, on looking to one side of the road +in a direction we had not thought of scrutinizing, my comrade +observed, as he jerked in his horse: "There's a man over by that +old barn," pointing to the right, and then in hurried tones: "There +come two more around the corner."</p> + +<p>I looked in the direction indicated and saw a half-dozen mounted +men at the edge of a wood; but the first one wore blue clothes, so +I reassuringly said: "Why, it's some of our men who are out here +foraging."</p> + +<p>"No; I'm —— if it is. I'm going to get out of range, anyhow;" +with that he turned his horse's head. I kept my eye on the +men, and saw, to my horror, two of them raise their guns and +point at us.</p> + +<p>As quickly as if I had been shot, I jerked my horse around and +dodged my head on the other side of his neck; the horse turning +suddenly as I made this motion, threw me entirely out of the saddle +on to my feet on the ground. Just as I turned there were two +shots in quick succession.</p> + +<p>As we were within very close range, the Rebel cavalrymen seeing +me dropped out of the saddle, stopped firing, supposing, of +course, I was hit. The funny part of it was, my companion's horse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_513" id="Page_513">[513]</a></span> +had been so accustomed to going "double" that he could not be +made to budge a step until my horse was ready to go along with +him.</p> + +<p>I had not lost the reins and was soon in the saddle, hanging by +the neck of the horse. I spurred him for dear life and led the +other horse out of the scrape. It was a close call, and I have not +the least doubt but that my fall out of the saddle saved us both, as +they supposed we were sure game and didn't follow up until we +were galloping down the road, there being a fence between us.</p> + +<p>These men were part of the Confederate cavalry that had been on +the very mountain below us all the time we had been in the woods +above.</p> + +<p>We returned to camp at Aldie, reported the matter, and were +complimented highly as "two —— fools."</p> + +<p>During these every-day cavalry skirmishes, while <i>en route</i> to +Gettysburg, I saw a great many horrible sights in the way of +wounded cavalrymen and horses. One of the most disagreeable, to +me, was to see them carry a dead soldier across a led horse's back, +while a companion walked along side, holding him steady by the +heels, precisely as if the man was a bag of potatoes, or corn, going +to mill. There was a great deal of this, which seemed to be the +only method to get the dead out of those mountains, where ambulances +could not travel. It is not pleasant to think or write +about; but, dear me, I sometimes feel as if all the horrible truths +should be told. In the war-papers we find but little mention of the +rough manner of taking care of the wounded, and the disgusting +disposition of the dead heroes. As General Sherman says: "I +don't want to make any more speeches about the war—it's not a +pleasant subject. You know, boys, as well as I do, that war is +hell."</p> + +<p>I will just observe, in passing, that a chapter on the "ruling passions" +and dispositions of men, as they lie in field hospitals, would be +a curious study. My observation has always been that the big, +blustering fellow, who was often a bully in camp, on getting a little +wound, was the fellow to make Rome howl when he got under the +Surgeon in a hospital. Quiet, inoffensive boys, probably lying +near him with serious and painful wounds, were compelled to hear +the booby howl like a school-boy who had stumped his sore toe.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_514" id="Page_514">[514]</a></span></p> + +<p>We were at Aldie several days. General Hooker's headquarters +were somewhere about Fairfax Court House, some ten or twelve +miles distant, or to our rear. Between this cavalry outpost and the +Army of the Potomac communication was kept up over one of the +best of Virginia pikes. I think it must be a section of the National +pike, leading to Winchester and the West; anyway, it is a good and +a very straight road, running up and down the hills, so that it +seems to be always in sight. I remember the road very distinctly, +from an adventure with guerrillas over it.</p> + +<p>I had been ordered to take a lot of Quartermaster and Paymaster +papers into Washington from the Adjutant-General's headquarters. +A headquarters ambulance, driver and two good horses were +furnished me to reach the railroad at Fairfax Station. Mr. Emerick, +the civil-service Telegrapher who had been at our headquarters, +accompanied me on this return to Washington. This was the +same operator whom I had described at Aquia Creek, while <i>en route</i> +to Old Capitol. He did not recognize me at all, and, of course, I was +not anxious to identify myself. Being on the move, there was no +telegraphing to do, and he, as an independent civilian, left the +army for Washington when he desired to do so, without consulting +the Generals in the field.</p> + +<p>Right here I will say, as serving to further emphasize the policy +of the telegraphs as well as the signals being under military control, +that the Army of the Potomac was practically without a word of +telegraph communication with Washington from the time they left +Fairfax and the railroad until two days after the battle of Gettysburg. +There was, of course, some telegraphing from Frederick, +Maryland, but it was not reliable, as Stuart was somewhere between +the lines.</p> + +<p>This is an important fact that should not be forgotten. The +civil telegraphers abandoned the army when they saw proper, and +this at a time when it was most important of all the War that they +should have been in communication with Washington. The Signal +Corps, on the other hand, established and operated a line of signals +all along the march from Sugar Loaf Mountain to South Mountain, +Monterey, Green Castle, Pennsylvania, up to Parnell's Knob, in +the Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p>The ambulance that brought us to the railroad was ordered to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_515" id="Page_515">[515]</a></span> +await my return from Washington. I reached Alexandria in the +evening, when I was met by my elder brother, Spencer, then in +charge of the railroad telegraphs. My brother took me to his +boarding-house to spend the night. He, having recently married a +wealthy Maryland lady, Miss Katie Hyatt, of Hyattsville, was living +in considerable style for Alexandria war times. I therefore +felt quite uncomfortable in their society, dressed only in my hard-used +uniform. When shown to my room, in which was a comfortable, +clean bed, I couldn't think of occupying it, so slept on the +floor alongside, more comfortably than if I had been between the +clean sheets.</p> + +<p>The next day I delivered my package of papers, muster-rolls, +pay-rolls and a whole haversack full of Adjutant-General's papers +to the proper officers at the War Department, and started on my +return via Alexandria and the railroad to Fairfax.</p> + +<p>I found the ambulance waiting for me all right, and we at once +started off via Fairfax Court House. Here I found a headquarters +horse, and as the ambulance was to be detained at Fairfax for a +couple of hours, waiting an escort to convey it out to Aldie, I concluded +to ride on out in advance.</p> + +<p>It was not a very sensible conclusion, to be sure; but, as I have so +often said, I did not have very much sense, and acted usually as the +spirit moved me, without thinking about the probable consequences.</p> + +<p>I rode along nicely for several miles, passing our infantry and +outposts, who were stationed along a little run some distance in +advance of Fairfax Court House. Along in the evening, just about +sunset, I reached a hill-top, from which I could see the road straight +ahead over a valley and thence up another hill. The road on the +other hill ahead of me was cut through a dense wood, such as is +usually found on these hills.</p> + +<p>I discovered something ahead, apparently standing in the road +on the top of the further hill, but paid little attention to it, supposing +it was merely a wagon-train stopping for a feed or going into +camp for the night. I rode on down the hill carelessly, getting +almost out of sight of the hill-top beyond while in the valley below.</p> + +<p>Seeing considerable smoke ahead, I was confirmed in my first +impression that it was a wagon-train camp just lighting their camp-fires.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_516" id="Page_516">[516]</a></span></p> + +<p>On coming closer, I observed a great deal of bustle around the +wagons, but, as that was nothing unusual among a lot of teamsters +and mules, I paid but little attention to it, and jogged along on my +horse, singing to myself the popular song of those days, "Gay and +Happy."</p> + +<p>But when I came in full view, and so close that I could see a +wagon on fire, I began to get suddenly interested. Men were flying +around at a lively rate, as I supposed putting out the fire. I +didn't exactly like the looks of the thing, and determined, in my +own mind, to reconnoiter and advance slowly. Discovering a little, +old house in the edge of a clearing to the side of the road, a short +distance from the scene I have described, I rode into the little yard, +and called to a woman who was holding a baby in her arms: "Who +are those men up the road?"</p> + +<p>"Soldiers, I reckon, sir."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know; but what soldiers?"</p> + +<p>"Colonel Mosby's soldiers, I reckon, sir."</p> + +<p>That was enough. I had a package of reports and papers +and some private letters in my pocket, to deliver to Pleasonton +and other officers about headquarters. Feeling sure of my belt, +pulling my cap down tight over my face, I took a short grip on the +reins.</p> + +<p>"What are they doing up there?"</p> + +<p>"They done captured that wagon-train, sir; and I reckon they +will burn the wagons when they get the horses away."</p> + +<p>I turned my horse back to the main road, feeling a little nervous, +but determined to run for my life.</p> + +<p>The moment I got into the road, and without looking up at the +burning wagons, I turned my horse's head back and put spurs +deeply into his flanks. I had not made five jumps before I heard +the cracks of at least a dozen rifles. This only nerved me to more +desperate lashings with spurs, leaning forward to the horse's mane +as I thrust the spurs into him at every jump. They came after me, +yelling like a band of Comanche Indians; but I had a good start, +and their guns were empty.</p> + +<p>It was a good race for about three miles. I won, and saved my +neck again. As I reached the picket-lines that I had passed, I +reported to the officer in command that guerrillas were burning our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_517" id="Page_517">[517]</a></span> +train, but this fellow—a Colonel—refused to cross his men over the +run to help to save them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 388px;"> +<img src="images/i567.jpg" width="388" height="600" alt=""COLONEL MOSBY'S SOLDIERS, I RECKON, SIR."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"COLONEL MOSBY'S SOLDIERS, I RECKON, SIR."</span> +</div> + +<p>I rode on back toward Fairfax and met some officers of Hooker's +Staff, giving them my adventure. While I was talking to them, we +heard sounds as if a distant blast was going off. Looking ahead +over the straight road, in the direction whence I had retreated, we +saw a dense cloud of white smoke, like a fog-bank, rise over the tops +of the trees. Hooker's aide said:</p> + +<p>"Well, those fellows will get badly fooled if they are burning +that ammunition train."</p> + +<p>That was it. They hurried back to Fairfax, and, there being +no other cavalry available, Hooker sent out his bodyguard—Rush +Lancers—whom I piloted back to the hill-top. When we got near, +one or two wagons were yet unburned, but as they were surrounded +by the debris of the explosion, we were afraid to go near, lest another +wagon-load of ammunition would go off.</p> + +<p>I have read Mark Twain's old joke regarding his bravery, in +being in the army where cannon-balls and bullets were thickest—right +where whole wagon-loads of ammunition were going right +past him—but after this experience with a wagon-train, I'm willing +to admit this as about as dangerous as anything in an army.</p> + +<p>I saved my papers, my life, and got back to Aldie and headquarters +that night under the escort of Hooker's bodyguard—or "turkey +drivers," as we called them.</p> + +<p>It was Pleasonton's cavalry scouts that definitely ascertained +that Lee had crossed the Potomac into Maryland. We of the headquarters +moved rapidly from Aldie, crossing the Potomac at some +point near Leesburg. I think it was the Sunday preceding the contact +with Lee that headquarters spent in Frederick, Maryland. We +were comfortably quartered at the City Hotel, on a main street of +that old town. It was one of the old-fashioned country taverns, +with a big yard or court in the rear, for the accommodation of the +country teams that visited the city on market days. On this particular +Sunday the stables were filled with the horses of the Headquarters +Staff, while the yard was crowded with ambulances, baggage-wagons, +commissary supplies, etc.</p> + +<p>Custer was with us in Frederick all of that Sunday, and spent +most of his time at the big parlor window up-stairs flirting with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_518" id="Page_518">[518]</a></span> +couple of quite young girls who lived opposite the hotel. The people +usually lived above their stores in the town, and I remember +very distinctly the name on the sign was spelled "Schley"; so, if +there were one or two Misses Schley in Frederick in 1863, their +children will have the testimony of a very-much-interested eye-witness +that their mothers were beautiful ladies, who so attracted the +handsome General Custer that he almost forgot all about his cavalry +pickets who were on the South Mountain hunting Stuart's lost cavalry. +In those days Custer wore his hair long; it was quite curly, +and touched the blue velvet boyish-looking jacket which he always +wore; this, with the long, loose ends of the invariable red necktie, +gave the cavalry hero a very picturesque appearance, especially +when he dashed along on his horse with all the Staff and orderlies +spurring after him in the dust. As I remember, we of the cavalry +were after J. E. B. Stuart. No one seemed to know where he was; +even General Lee was at that time in entire ignorance of Stuart's +whereabouts.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_519" id="Page_519">[519]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<h3>SENT TO FIND GENERAL BUFORD—A HASTY RIDE—THE BATTLE +OF GETTYSBURG—CEMETERY RIDGE—GENERAL DOUBLEDAY—GENERAL +HANCOCK—THE SECOND DAY OF THE BATTLE.</h3> + + +<p>It was the Rebel Scout, Harrison, who gave to General Lee the +first information about the close pursuit of Hooker. This one faithful +tramp Rebel soldier carried on foot to Lee and Longstreet at +Chambersburg the important intelligence that Hooker had crossed +the Potomac, and General Lee, on the report of this single scout, +in whom he had implicit confidence, issued orders at once recalling +his forces from the front at Harrisburg, and concentrating his +entire strength at Gettysburg. I mention this fact, because it is the +only instance on official record of a great General giving credit to +his Scout or Spy for important secret service.</p> + +<p>This solitary Scout succeeded in doing for General Lee alone +what was expected of Stuart's large cavalry force, and which they +failed to accomplish.</p> + +<p>I was sent out from Frederick with orders to find General +Buford, who commanded the Cavalry Division in the advance. It +was expected that I would be of service in military signaling, and +especially in opening up communication with Washington and +Baltimore by wire. This was my special duty, and when we ran +into a country where there were telegraph wires, I became quite an +important fellow; all the Generals being so anxious to get or send +news, they cheerfully afforded me all the detail of soldiers I could +use to help me.</p> + +<p>I found Buford, but when I got to him he was so busy out on +the hill, on the morning of July 1st, that he didn't have any time to +talk to me. The night before the battle I spent with some of +Buford's headquarters men near a town called, I think, Middletown +or Middleburg, Maryland. It being very late when I got up to +them, I turned my horse into a little stable, or barn, belonging to +the house at which the boys had quartered themselves. Headquar<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_520" id="Page_520">[520]</a></span>ters +usually selected a good, hospitable-looking house for their +temporary quarters, you know.</p> + +<p>Thoroughly tired out with my hard day's ride in the sun, while +hunting Buford all over that part of the country, I lay down in the +haymow of the stable, and was soon sound asleep, and wholly +oblivious to all surroundings. I think that I must have had two +sleeps that night, instead of one long one. Probably it was on +account of my secluded position that I was not awakened until late +the following morning, and then it was by Buford's first guns at +Gettysburg. Rubbing my eyes open, I saw, with astonishment, that +the bright sun was peeping through the cracks of the old barn.</p> + +<p>The sound of each distant gun served to hasten my hay-loft toilet, +and sliding down out of the haymow as quickly as a fireman gets +down his pole, I had the saddle on the horse and was ready to travel, +in either direction, in as short a time as the fire-engines get their +rigs ready when an alarm is sounded. In my hurry I did not take +time to count out an exact dozen of eggs from a nest in the manger, +from which my sudden appearance had scared the old hen. She +expressed her surprise and indignation in a great deal of noise, +but I took no notice of her protests, and slipped, with a dexterity +that only a cavalryman of the Army of the Potomac had acquired, +the whole lot into my haversack, nest-egg and all, and hastily threw +it over my shoulder.</p> + +<p>Getting outside, I was further surprised to discover that the place +had seemingly been abandoned in the night, not only by headquarters, +but by the occupants of the house. There was not a soul +to be seen, and without being exactly sure whether I was within the +enemy's lines or our own, I mounted and hastily spurred on toward the +sound of the guns, that was becoming more frequent.</p> + +<p>I only knew that I was on Pennsylvania soil, my native State, +and within a day's ride from my birthplace, and hoped that I should +find myself among friends. There was certainly enemies where the +firing was going on. I had not gone far until I met a farmer's +wagon loaded, apparently, with every member of his family, and, +no doubt, all their worldly goods that they could pile into it.</p> + +<p>When I stopped them to ask about the racket down the road, all +of them began to talk at once, in broken Pennsylvania Dutch, about +"the war down below town." I learned further from some scared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_521" id="Page_521">[521]</a></span> +natives and some stragglers in blue, that were scurrying along the +road, and were becoming thicker the nearer I got, as they put it, +"The Rebels are fighting with our men on the other side of town."</p> + +<p>That was enough for me. I was young and active, and, as a +Pennsylvania boy, I was most anxious to participate in some way in +fights that were to take place in my own State. I made that old +horse dash along the road to the battlefield of Gettysburg, for about +four miles that morning, in a way that would have put to shame +General Sheridan's ride down the Valley. If my celebrated ride +could have been done up in poetry and set to music, it would, as a +parody on Sheridan's ride, go down into the literature of the century +after the style of John Gilpin's famous ride at the sound of artillery. +I'd give the old nag the spurs and make him jump ahead as if the +cannon-balls were after instead of ahead of us.</p> + +<p>That beautiful morning of July 1st, as I rode along that old pike, +the one fear uppermost in my mind was that the battle of Gettysburg +would be all over before I could get there. I felt that I +should never be able to meet my Pennsylvania friends again if it +should unfortunately happen that Buford would drive the Rebels +out of the State without my assistance. That's what made me in +such a hurry.</p> + +<p>I was delayed a little on the road by an accident. I had noticed, +while tearing along, that there was an awful bad air in that part of +the country, but I had, as a soldier, become accustomed to bad +smells hovering about an army in Virginia, that I didn't take much +account of it—rather satisfying myself with the reflection that the +smell simply indicated the presence of the Rebel Army in the +neighborhood. But it became so oppressive that I checked up my +Mad-Anthony-Wayne gait long enough to look around me. It was +the eggs in my haversack. In my excitement, I had forgotten all +about them, and, of course, every time my horse galloped the haversack, +being strung loose to my saddle, tried to keep time, but +couldn't always do it, with the result of beating the eggs up into a +soft mess, and mixing shell-dry coffee, hard tack and cold meat into +a fancy omelette.</p> + +<p>When I discovered the horrible condition of things, the eggs +were dripping down my horse's flanks, and when the horse stood still +the odor wafted itself around me. I got one good whiff and then cut<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_522" id="Page_522">[522]</a></span> +the thing loose, boldly sacrificing my expected breakfast of eggs +and also all the good coffee and other nice things my kit was packed +with. I have always believed that there must have been more than +one bad egg in the dozen. In writing up this ride in poetry, after +Buchanan's Sheridan, this incident should not be made too prominent. +I record it simply as one of the necessary ingredients of a +true story.</p> + +<p>I had a double incentive after this to hurry me along; the awful +stench clung to the flanks of my horse and I tried to ride him out +of the range of it. When I reached the top of the hill, now so +widely known as Cemetery Ridge, on the morning of July 1st, it was +as quiet and restful as the old graveyard probably is this July 1st, +1889. Beyond the town, to the west, which was visible from this +point, were to be seen in the air over the tops of the trees the too-familiar +little curls or puffs of white, steamy-looking smoke, that I +knew were from exploding shells. For the moment there seemed to be +a lull in the proceedings—only an occasional gun and the more frequent +sharp, hammer-like sound of infantry firing on a skirmish line.</p> + +<p>But I'm not going to attempt a description of the battle of +Gettysburg; that has already been done too thoroughly and well. I'll +tell only what I saw that day, in as few words as I can put it.</p> + +<p>When I rode through the town the people were gathered in +groups in the street; ladies were at the windows talking in a whining, +half-crying way to other nervous neighbors, who were, perhaps, +at an up-stairs window, praying at intervals, or asking in a beseeching +way, "What is to become of us all?" During all this time the +soldiers inside of the town, in a sullen, quiet, business way, peculiar +to old coffee-coolers, were moving about, indifferently, amidst the +excitement that must have struck the inhabitants as being very +unconcerned for soldiers.</p> + +<p>I remembered one fellow in blue loitering where I had halted +for a drink, while the lady of the house was kindly dishing out +glasses of water. She appealed to him for something encouraging +or hopeful. He looked up at her, and then, turning around in the +direction of the occasional musketry, as if he had just discovered +that there was something going on, assured her in an easy-going +way: "Oh, that's all right; that's only a little squabble. Our army +isn't out there."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_523" id="Page_523">[523]</a></span></p> + +<p>I forged ahead straight out of the Chambersburg Road, galloped +my horse up the hill and on past the Seminary, and might have +gone a little too far on that line if I hadn't been summarily stopped +by an officer, who was standing close behind the fence beside the +road.</p> + +<p>"Where in —— are you going?" was the polite salutation.</p> + +<p>When I explained that I was a Staff orderly from headquarters +hunting General Buford, he observed: "Well, you go out +that road any further and you will find some Rebel General."</p> + +<p>Another officer, more polite and obliging, kindly volunteered +the information, "Buford's cavalry were in those woods this morning," +pointing to a grove to the left.</p> + +<p>It was further explained that the fence was down a little distance +up the road. I made a break for the gap, and got safely out +of the now-deserted highway, and ran in behind the big stone +barn and dismounted, when I discovered that I was right at the +front of our lines. Before me, stretched along the ground at full +length, was a brigade of infantry, extending to the grove on the left. +This was the advance of our line of battle, under Doubleday. I +wanted very much to get into that grove, to communicate with +headquarters, but I had run myself, precipitately, into a trap, and +couldn't get out without the risk of being shot.</p> + +<p>It was safe enough, for the time being, while behind the old +stone barn, but there was that awful gap of a quarter of a mile +between it and the grove. I dismounted, went inside of the barn, +and there witnessed such a scene as can best be described by a reference +to a first visit to an insane asylum. It seemed to me that +from every corner, crevice and stall of the dark old basement of the +barn I saw glaring at me the wild eyes of maniacs. In a word, the +barn was full of skulkers—of cowards, who no doubt looked upon +me as the leader of a detail to drive them out into their ranks in the +front.</p> + +<p>I was worse frightened by those fellows than by the line of battle +of the Rebels in the front, and, hurrying out of the place, got on my +horse and hauled down my cap, felt for the security of my belt, and +was making ready for a dash over the Gap, when my attention was +attracted by some officer's loud voice, who, in a whining, half-crying +tone, was haranguing his men, who were lying down in his front.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_524" id="Page_524">[524]</a></span> +I shall never forget the expression on the faces of those poor fellows +as they would look up at their officer and glance longingly to the +rear, and alternately gaze with a frightened, serious look toward the +Rebel lines, their pale, blanched faces looking the whiter through +the dirt and smoke of battle, that was on them like a war-paint.</p> + +<p>In this connection I have a conundrum for the Chaplain: How +is the indisputable fact to be accounted for, or reconciled, that the +same men in line of battle, facing death, will, in one and the same +moment, be praying and cursing, as I heard them in this line—"God +have mercy on us," and after the first volley, or when a +charge was ordered, the prayer, almost in the same breath, turned +to the most terrible oaths—"God damn your souls."</p> + +<p>I went up to the Colonel and reported the discovery of the men +in the barn. To my surprise, he only said: "Oh, that's nothing; +let them alone."</p> + +<p>I have looked carefully into all the accounts of the different battles +for some mention of the cowards and skulkers, but, somehow, +this part of the battle is not brought to the attention of the reading +public nowadays, though it is not denied that these form quite +a large percentage in each army.</p> + +<p>It was imperative that I should obey orders and report to General +Buford.</p> + +<p>I had found him all right, but there remained between us the +little space that I must cross. I screwed up my courage to the sticking +point, and, with my head bent low, I made the run safely into the +grove, where I found General Buford sitting quietly on his horse, +accompanied by one or two of his Staff. He did not seem to have +a happy or satisfied look, and I judged at once, from his uneasy +manner, that something was going wrong. I soon found out. General +Reynolds was lying by the two little elms along side of the fence, +dying or dead. This was what put so serious and sorrowful an +expression on the faces of all the officers just then. A Rebel sharpshooter +from that stone barn had killed the best General the Army +of the Potomac contained—he whom we all knew at headquarters +should have been its Commander-in-Chief.</p> + +<p>Every moment we staid in the grove was a holy terror to me; it +seemed as if the whole Rebel artillery had discovered that it was +headquarters, and were concentrating their shells into it. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_525" id="Page_525">[525]</a></span> +would go crashing through the tree-tops, shrieking and tearing +through the branches of the trees as we used to throw clubs into +apple trees to knock down the fruit. General Buford, noticing my +uneasiness as I'd glance up through the trees, as if expecting to see +the apples fall, quietly observed to me: "They have not got the +range yet." He said this in a tone indicating that he was only +waiting till they <i>did</i> get it, before he should leave.</p> + +<p>My horse became awfully nervous, to say nothing of myself, and +I didn't feel that I wanted the Rebel artillery to hunt their range +with me for a target.</p> + +<p>I became suddenly solicitous about the expediency of looking +after some signal and telegraph business in the town, a mile or so +to the rear, and safely "beyond range."</p> + +<p>So, riding up to the General, saluting in the Regular Army style, +bowing my head low as a shell went over, I meekly suggested going +back to town to see if there were any telegraph operators to be found.</p> + +<p>"All right," said the General, significantly, "We will all be +back there soon."</p> + +<p>Turning my horse's head to the rear, I didn't hesitate so long +about starting as I had for the barn, but boldly made a dash to the +rear over a lot of old fields that lay between the grove and the +Seminary.</p> + +<p>I thought it about a mile distant at that time, and I have since +visited the ground and was surprised to find it so short a distance; +but I covered it so quickly then that some allowance may be made +for the miscalculation.</p> + +<p>I don't believe any horse-race jockey ever got over the same +amount of the earth any quicker than I did that last quarter on +the home stretch—I had got "in range," and was in a hurry to get +out.</p> + +<p>This was a piece of open ground, where it seemed all the shells +that passed through the trees in the grove stopped and ploughed +into the earth, and scattered the dirt or exploded in the air and scattered +the pieces of iron.</p> + +<p>I felt for the minute and a half that I was out from under the +imaginary protection of the trees, that the whole Rebel Army were +after me. Really I was so badly rattled that I did not know +whether I was on a horse or afoot. Once behind the big brick<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_526" id="Page_526">[526]</a></span> +Seminary Building, I felt it safe enough to dismount, cool off myself +and the horse, and repair damages.</p> + +<p>Discovering that both the horse and myself were unharmed, +and being anxious to see how the rest of them out that way were +getting along, I availed myself of my privilege as a signal man on +the Staff, and climbed the stairs to the top of the building, getting +out on the cupola.</p> + +<p>There were several Generals up there. They were somewhat +excited, and talking together in an earnest manner about something +that was going on in another part of the field.</p> + +<p>They left the cupola as if they were in a hurry. So did I, without +stopping to examine the outlook very closely. There was plenty +to be seen—it was quite a moving panorama of blue and gray, and +far more realistic from <i>that</i> platform than the cyclorama I have +viewed from similar elevations in the center of the battle scenes +they depict.</p> + +<p>I noticed from the cupola that there was some excitement or stir +to the right of the town. I had not thought of there being any +Rebels, except those I had seen immediately in our front. As I +had seen enough of this part of the field, I concluded to go over to +the right and see what I could do to save the day there.</p> + +<p>I went down the steps, three or four at a jump, and was on my +horse before any of the Generals, who had preceded me.</p> + +<p>I rode out toward the right as far as it was expedient for a horse +to go.</p> + +<p>In 1863 there was a railroad embankment, or fill, along that edge +of the town. Behind this I dismounted and fastened my horse to +a fence, discreetly advanced as dismounted cavalry to reconnoiter, +and, if possible, learn what all the fuss over here was about. I +soon found out—one good look was enough. There was another +barn out that road, and from behind it, or from all corners, puffs +of white smoke were to be seen at frequent intervals. Beyond this +there were other lines of this same white smoke; and, before I +knew exactly what was going on, there came suddenly from another +direction that <i>awful</i> sharp din of volleys of musketry. Dear me, +how sharp and how sudden the noise of musketry—it rings to-day +in my ear, after a lapse of twenty-five years, as distinctly as it were +but yesterday. I frequently visit Gettysburg—the place has a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_527" id="Page_527">[527]</a></span> +strange fascination for me. As I walk alone over the very ground I +am trying to tell about here, I recall every incident, and wonder, +and wonder, in the strange quiet of the old town, where all the +200,000 are to-day!</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"No marshalling troops, no bivouac song,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">No banner to gleam and wave;</span><br /> +But, Oh <i>these battles! they last so long—</i><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>From boyhood</i> to the grave."</span><br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>After this outbreak, which we all knew preceded a charge, there +came the usual confusion, accompanied by the yells and indescribable +ugly sounds, the echo of which seems to chill one's blood, even +now.</p> + +<p>In this confusion and rush, I nearly lost my horse; he had torn +loose from his fastenings, in the jam and tear of artillery, breaking +to the rear along the road; he was retreating in disorder among the +boys of the Eleventh Corps. When I caught up with him and +mounted again, there was a crowd of infantrymen jamming along +the road. It is a fact that a "doboy," as we cavalrymen called the +infantry, instinctively hates a cavalryman of his own army as much +as he does that of the enemy, so that, in my isolated predicament, +in trying to navigate my horse along a road filled with excited Germans, +with bayonets on their guns, I had, literally, a hard road to +travel.</p> + +<p>I intended to go back to the Seminary, which I had recently left, +thinking it the best place to get a good view of the field. I was +steering my horse in that direction, down the main street of the +town, when I discovered that, seemingly, everybody was coming +away from there.</p> + +<p>It looked as if the show was over and the crowd was rushing +along the streets, as if anxious to catch the first car, or the last train.</p> + +<p>I did not realize that it was a retreat until I saw riding up the +road, in a direction away from the Seminary, a cavalcade, which I +knew to be a General and Staff.</p> + +<p>It was General Doubleday. The handsome General, erect +and dignified at the head of his Staff, was riding alone with a bearing +very much as I have witnessed other Generals on the fancy +parades at the head of the column of play soldiers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_528" id="Page_528">[528]</a></span></p> + +<p>Except for an angry flush on his face, and evidently in a bad +humor about something that had gone wrong, he was as cool as I +have seen him since on ordinary occasions.</p> + +<p>On looking through the dusty and crowded streets that dreadful +afternoon toward the Seminary, which I had so recently left some +distance inside of our lines, I was astonished beyond measure to +see that a battery was right in the middle of the road firing like +all nation toward us. It has always remained one of the great surprises +of my life to understand how that Rebel battery could possibly +have gotten through our army so suddenly and have been +firing shells down the road into our retreating column from <i>our</i> +hill, when I thought, according to the tactics, it ought to have +been two or three miles out of the road on their own hill. The frequent +shots did not hasten General Doubleday's pace a particle; he +kept on giving his orders in a sullen, ill-natured tone, but walked +his horse as slowly as if heading a funeral procession.</p> + +<p>My young heart was distressed to see that our men were beginning +to pour into the main street from every direction—all were eagerly +making for the main road through town to Cemetery Hill.</p> + +<p>It was very much as if a church, or theatre, had been dismissed +in a panic; the people who were in the side aisles were rushing down on +the crowds in the main entrance, so that everything became blocked +by the confusion worse confounded.</p> + +<p>The ladies of the town, from almost every house and window, +were imploring the men to give them some explanation of the movement, +the very suddenness and excitement of which bordered on a +panic.</p> + +<p>As a Pennsylvania boy, I felt that it was disgraceful to abandon +one of our own towns to Rebel invaders, and with such thoughts +burning within me, and fired by the excitement of the hour, +remembering that in my ride into the town that morning I had +passed Slocum's (Twelfth) Corps only a little way out, I rode up, +facing the stately Doubleday, and, after saluting, said:</p> + +<p>"General, I passed General Slocum only a little way out the +road." The General, without halting his slow movement, gruffly said:</p> + +<p>"Where is Slocum?"</p> + +<p>"Why, out the road a little piece."</p> + +<p>"When did you see him?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_529" id="Page_529">[529]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This morning."</p> + +<p>Just then a shell went over the top of a house, exploded on the +roof, making a most infernal noise, which scared all the horses, and +in the mix-up, as I was facing the General, my horse could not +march backwards, I became tangled up with him, and impeded for +a moment his progress. Turning to me, with a savage expression, he +said:</p> + +<p>"Get out of my way, —— you. We all know where Slocum was +this morning. Where is Slocum now? Who in —— are you, +anyhow?"</p> + +<p>I didn't insist on continuing the conversation with General +Doubleday at the time; but I have had the pleasure of hearing +from this grand old man, since the publication of this day's +experience.</p> + +<p>When I saw so indisputably that everybody else was going to +leave town, I concluded that I might as well go too, and I stood +not on the order of my going, but went at once.</p> + +<p>On the occasion of President Cleveland's visit to Gettysburg, it +was my pleasure, as well as my business as a newspaper man, to +accompany that party. I heard then one of the old residents—one +of the "reliable old liars"—tell a distinguished party that the Rebel +band played "Dixie" on the square of the town at 1 <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> on that day.</p> + +<p>I want to say that is not true. There was lots of music at +1 <span class="smcap">P. M.</span>, but there were no bands playing that day that I ever heard +of. It was late in the afternoon when we had our parade through +the streets of Gettysburg to the music of booming cannon, screeching +shell, and the sharp notes of musketry.</p> + +<p>This music was in the air all around us, accompanied by the +groans and cries of the wounded and dying men, who were being +piled into the court house and churches of the old burg.</p> + +<p>I managed to crowd my frenzied horse through the dense mass +of soldiers, wagons, etc., who were surging up the main street +toward Cemetery Hill.</p> + +<p>I got there just as soon as I could, too.</p> + +<p>On reaching the brow of the hill, I was gratified and surprised +to see General Howard sitting on his horse, quite alone, in the lot +to the right of the cemetery gate, or across the road from it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_530" id="Page_530">[530]</a></span></p> + +<p>All of this time, the men of the Eleventh Corps, which, in the +retreat led the way, had been coming steadily up the hill from town +and kept on going down over the hill on the other side, like so +many sheep that follow a leader blindly over a fence.</p> + +<p>It never occurred to me that there would be any halt then, and +I assert here, bluntly, my opinion, as being unprejudiced and based +solely on the events as they actually occurred to me at that day, +that General Howard had not, at that hour, any other expectation +than to retreat further back. He certainly had not made any effort +whatever to stop the rushing to the rear of his men of the Eleventh +Corps. They not only swarmed up the one road, but came straggling +through the by-ways and fields, skipping over the stone fence, +and, unmolested, kept going on farther back, as if it were a matter +of course.</p> + +<p>I stopped on the side of the road, near General Howard that I +might look around from this elevation.</p> + +<p>To my consternation, I discovered, from the musketry and confusion, +that the Rebels were going it lively over toward our extreme +right, in the direction of what is now known as Culp's Hill.</p> + +<p>I was satisfied that the Rebels would get around to the road I +had come down on, and capture the entire force then at Gettysburg.</p> + +<p>For obvious reasons, I did not intend to be made prisoner, if my +horse's legs could keep me out of the grip of the encircling Rebs.</p> + +<p>While I was making my way back to the road I ran against General +Hancock, who had just come up in search of Howard. Hancock—brilliant, +dashing, glorious Hancock—rode across the way +to Howard, who had been standing silently biting his finger-nails, +evidently as much rattled as it was possible for a good soldier to be.</p> + +<p>"Howard," said Hancock, in a voice and with an emphasis that +attracted the attention of the crowd that had gathered there, "let's +get them behind that stone fence; they can never get us out of +that."</p> + +<p>Howard looked surprised, and said something in a low voice, +trembling with excitement, which I took to be an acquiescence with +Hancock's suggestion. There were some other words between them +that were not heard, but we all knew that Hancock, from his fiery, +almost blustering manner, was urging Howard to the importance of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_531" id="Page_531">[531]</a></span> +this step. Hancock's very presence seemed to inspire the men, who +had now begun to gather on the hill in great crowds, attracted by +the excitable manner of the General.</p> + +<p>Just then Doubleday reached this point. Hancock, upon seeing +this fighting General, abruptly leaving Howard, turned to Doubleday +and began to explain with excited gestures the importance +of securing this position. Doubleday, at a glance, seemed to take +in the importance of this step. He and Hancock talked together +for a moment only, when Hancock, without again referring to +Howard (who still sat silently in his saddle, looking over toward +Culp's Hill, his back now turned to the crowd), said to Doubleday:</p> + +<p>"Now, you put your men behind that fence, and don't let +another man go back of it." Then, turning to the Staff of assembled +officers that were there, he said: "Don't allow another —— +man to go over that hill; drive them all up behind that stone wall."</p> + +<p>Some one asked if they—the Staff—should use force indiscriminately. +Doubleday retorted, violently: "Yes; shoot any —— man that +refuses to obey."</p> + +<p>Some officer whom I can not locate turned to all of us, took command, +and ordered every officer and soldier to draw his pistol and +saber and prevent another man from going down the hill. For the +first and only time during the four years of the war I used a saber +on our own men of the Eleventh Corps. No more men went back, +thanks to Hancock. Howard and Hancock, standing together, were +having some further animated conversation. I was close enough to +hear only these words, spoken petulantly by Howard in answer to +something that had been said to him: "Hancock, you cannot command +here to-day."</p> + +<p>Hancock rode over to Doubleday; they exchanged a few words +in private, heated talk; Doubleday took charge, and it was he who +executed Hancock's commands and saved the position. Howard +received the credit and the thanks of Congress for having selected +this position, but I assert here, as if it were a dying statement and +my hopes of eternity hung on it, that Howard did not, until Hancock +forced him to act, take any steps to hold the place.</p> + +<p>Hancock's arrival upon the field, in obedience to General Meade's +command, turned defeat into victory. His imposing presence, +together with the admirable disposition of the First and Eleventh<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_532" id="Page_532">[532]</a></span> +Corps and Buford's Cavalry, created in General Lee's mind the +impression that we had been reinforced. In proof of this fact I +will refer to the official reports of General Lee, lately published, in +which he states that he had "restrained pursuit" because of the +belief that we had been reinforced.</p> + +<p>Much has been written upon the subject of this battle of Gettysburg, +but this point has been little touched upon by any writer who +is a wholly disinterested witness. My testimony is not of a regimental +kind, for I am simply trying to tell of my own personal +observation and experience. As a Headquarters-Staff man, I went +everywhere I considered it safe to go. I only knew such regiments +as contained Pennsylvania friends, and especially those of the Pennsylvania +Reserves, while I knew certain other commands in the +Second and Fifth Corps. I generally knew where to find them +when we were in camp, but would only meet them on the march +accidentally.</p> + +<p>There was one little incident that occurred, however, in the +presence of Hancock, Howard, Doubleday, and the crowd which +had gathered around them on Cemetery Hill, that some of the survivors +who may read this article will remember, and may thereby +establish the identity of the men or regiments which were "going +up the hill and down again." After it had been decided by Hancock +and Doubleday to try and stop the rout of the Eleventh Corps, +Howard "caught on," as we say nowadays, but only awakened to +the importance of holding the place after Hancock had bulldozed +him into it. One big, tall fellow, with side-whiskers (I give his +description because I do not know his name or regiment), who was +carrying the regimental colors, rolled up, stalked over to where +Howard was spurring his horse around at a lively waltz, issuing his +orders to everybody who would carry into effect Hancock's suggestions.</p> + +<p>This Color-Sergeant, in a wild and dramatic way, stood beside +Howard's frisky horse and made his little speech, which was listened +to with more apparent deference than had been accorded to Hancock. +I am not conscious of having any personal feeling or prejudice +against General Howard—in fact, I am politically the other +way—but think, as a chronicler of events, that I can be perfectly +fair now in my estimation of men and events which occurred<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_533" id="Page_533">[533]</a></span> +twenty-five years ago. This Color-Sergeant and Howard had a +little scene up on the hill to which almost everybody else was oblivious, +having as much as they could attend to at the time themselves. +But I heard the Sergeant say, in quite a loud voice: "I'll take the +flag down there," pointing to the stone wall just below, "if these +men will stand by me." Howard replied in a low voice, tremulous +with excitement, at which the color-bearer and a few men started +down toward the stone wall, which was the last I ever saw or heard +of them, although I have little doubt, if this man lived through the +battle, he was favorably mentioned in Howard's report, and got his +commission, as it was a brave act on the part of the color-bearer; +but I can't help but think it would have looked better (to my eyes +at least) if he had stopped with his colors at the wall on his way +up, and not have made his little speech for apparent effect.</p> + +<p>Perhaps some person will ask why Generals Hancock and Doubleday +did not lay claim to the credit of this manœuver at the time. +Probably they did, but of this I know nothing. Howard was Hancock's +senior, and, as such, was entitled to the command during +Meade's absence. But through some hocuspocus Howard received +the vote of thanks by Congress for doing that which he did not +do, and so the matter stands to-day.</p> + +<p>Hancock was a noble-looking soldier. There was something in +his appearance during a fight, while on his large horse, that was +wonderfully impressive. Sheridan's ride up the Valley, in which +his presence is credited with turning a disastrous defeat into a victory, +was no more important in its results, in my estimation, than +Hancock's dashing and well-timed arrival on Cemetery Hill on the +afternoon of the first day of Gettysburg. There can be little doubt +but that his prompt action secured the position, and his very presence, +while talking with Howard, served to check the fugitives who +were passing over the hill in droves.</p> + +<p>It may also be asked why I bring this subject up at this late +date, and after Hancock's death? For years I have avoided all +talk on the subject of army experience. I would have sooner asked +Hancock to take a drink in a public-bar-room than to have broached +this matter to him. He was not the sort of a man who invited +everybody's opinion. He always impressed me, and I was near him +often, with the feeling that he was the ideal Regular soldier, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_534" id="Page_534">[534]</a></span> +could only be approached through official channels. It was probably +to this disposition, to leave everything to official reports, that +can be attributed the fact that he did not always obtain through +the newspapers the credit to which he was clearly entitled.</p> + +<p>I therefore contend that Hancock is the hero of Gettysburg, +not only of the third, but of the first day; and had he been in +supreme command, and remained unharmed, General Lee would +not have gotten away so easily; the war might have ended a year +sooner than it did, and more than likely Gettysburg would have +been in history what Appomattox now is, while Grant would have +equally divided honors with Hancock. I sometimes think that, +like a great many other good Generals in the East, Hancock +became soured by the promotion of Grant's Western men to the +best position in the Army of the Potomac.</p> + +<p>Grand old Army of the Potomac! Noble, patient, long-suffering +Army of the Potomac. Its greatest battles were fought while +Meade and Hancock were subordinates—before Grant came out of +the West to lead it to the Wilderness and Cold Harbor.</p> + +<p>Everybody on Cemetery Hill did their utmost to check the +shattered column, which had been doubled back from the right and +the officers and men thrown into confusion; and the few men of +the Staff had a hard time to rally these demoralized soldiers, for, +as is well known to everybody who has had any connection with +the army, a body of men once broken are about as hard to control +as is a resistless mountain torrent.</p> + +<p>I became so much engaged in this work, personally, that for a +while I neglected to look around to see what was happening elsewhere. +The men had come up from the town, and all stopped on +the hill behind the wall, their guns cocked and lying across the +top.</p> + +<p>I was seated on my horse by the side of the big arched fancy +gate of the old Cemetery, and, before I suspected that the Rebels +were near, a minie-ball struck the brick-work of the gate, which I +found, upon examination, was but a few feet above my head.</p> + +<p>I had turned briskly around in search of some of my recent companions, +to tell them that evidently the Rebel sharpshooters had +secured places on the roofs, when I was almost paralyzed to discover +that they had disappeared—scarcely anybody to be seen, save a lot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_535" id="Page_535">[535]</a></span> +of infantry, who were hugging the ground all around. Not being +under the orders of any particular officer, I was, of course, like +"nobody's child," and had to look out for myself. I hurriedly got +behind the hill, when, to my consternation, I heard the rapid, sharp, +hammer-like firing over on Culp's Hill, which seemed to me to be +directly in our rear. It is a geometrical fact that the Rebels were +almost in the rear of our position on Cemetery Hill. A glance at a +map will explain this. Cemetery Hill projects like the point or +promontory of a peninsula out into the sea of the Rebel Army, +which was apparently on three sides of it.</p> + +<p>The first thing I did was to look around for Hancock, thinking, +if he was somewhere about, I would attach myself to him, as a means +to get me out safely. But he was nowhere in sight; neither was +Doubleday, Howard or any of the big guns I had just left on the +hill; and, glancing down the Baltimore road to the rear, I saw such +signs of general commotion that it gave me the impression that we +were going to be surrounded.</p> + +<p>I thought then that Hancock had made an awful big mistake in +allowing the men up there to be caught in the rear while lying +behind the stone wall looking in the opposite direction. I was not +the only one who entertained this opinion at that juncture, by a +large majority. But future events proved that Hancock was right +and we were all wrong.</p> + +<p>I went back over the same old road, along which I had dashed +so gallantly in the morning, and did not stop until safely established +near General Pleasonton, and so far to the rear that the sound of +guns did not disturb my rest that night.</p> + +<p>One day of Gettysburg should be enough. It was for me. The +battle has been fought over so often in the newspapers that there is +scarcely anything new to be said. Of course, my experience was +peculiar in this—that I went as I pleased. Regimental history relates +only to the observations from one fixed point.</p> + +<p>The evening of the first day it looked badly enough to me, and +if I had been Commander-in-Chief, I think I should have changed +the base to a point a little farther away from the Rebels. I was +defeated.</p> + +<p>I was on hand bright and early the morning of the second day. +I was not in so much of a hurry to save the day as I had been the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_536" id="Page_536">[536]</a></span> +first day. I rode down the same road I did the morning before, +but I went along more cautiously. There was no booming of guns +to be heard. Though nearly two hundred thousand men had been +gathered there in the night, the surroundings the second morning +were decidedly peaceful—unusually quiet—ominously as compared +with the first morning and the evening of the first day.</p> + +<p>I had slept in the same haymow from which I had been awakened +the previous morning.</p> + +<p>I came down the road straight toward Cemetery Hill to find +headquarters—at least, that is what I started out to reach. I was +stopped before I got up the hill, by an order from somebody to +"Get out of the road." I got off as directed, and went into a +little grove to the left, and almost in the rear of the Cemetery, +where I had seen a group of officers on horseback. I do not remember +who they were, but, seeing that they did not know any more +than I about the "prospect," which was just then the important +question, I tied my horse to a tree, that I might reconnoiter on foot, +and find out something for myself. I proceeded to climb up the +crest of the hill on my hands and knees, with all the humility, +respect and caution that I felt was due to the Rebels. I wanted to +see them all once more very much, indeed, but I did not care to +have any of their sharpshooters discover me first. There were batteries +upon batteries, the horses of which were down on the hill to +the rear, in care of their riders. The artillerymen were, of course, +around their guns, but most of them were hunting places not too +much exposed. I did not see the line at first; you know the artillery +is always behind, or to the rear of a line of battle, supported by +infantry. Bound to see the shape of our advance of that line of +battle, I went as far out as the very crest of the hill nearest the +Cemetery gate. When I got that far I was paralyzed by another +yell, from some unseen quarter, to "Get down, there!" I got +down, and in that abject position heard the voice explain, in not +very gentle tones, "The sharpshooters are on the tops of those +houses." The houses referred to were so close that I could almost +count the bricks in the chimney-tops.</p> + +<p>There was another curious fellow—an officer—some distance +ahead of me, standing behind a tree, looking for all the world as if +he was having lots of fun playing hide-and-seek with someone. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_537" id="Page_537">[537]</a></span> +concluded to play, too, and crawled up to the base of another tree +close beside him. When I got behind the tree, I felt perfectly safe +from an attack of the whole Rebel army. I was feeling so secure in +this position that I became bold enough to stand to one side, that I +might get a good view of our fellows. I saw them lying down or +silently moving about behind that old stone wall.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 394px;"> +<img src="images/i589.jpg" width="394" height="600" alt="A CLOSE CALL AT GETTYSBURG." title="" /> +<span class="caption">A CLOSE CALL AT GETTYSBURG.</span> +</div> + +<p>While I was yet intently gazing over the valley in hopes of seeing +the Rebels, there was a little "ping" noise near me, a sharp +sting on my face, as if some one had thrown a handful of gravel at +me. It was only some of the bark of the tree, which had been +dusted into my face by a minie-ball.</p> + +<p>I got behind the tree. I stayed there, too, standing up against +it as stiff as a post, and hugging it as close as its own bark. I was +afraid to turn my head either to the left or to the right. I had +seen enough, and slid down to the ground and crawled back on all-fours, +after the manner of the harlequin on the stage. I found the +headquarters, which was located not very far from that spot, but +out of reach of any hiding sharpshooters on the house-tops at the +upper end of the town.</p> + +<p>During all that morning I was about headquarters, trying to +find out what in thunder was up; everything was oppressively quiet.</p> + +<p>In the early afternoon I sent a note addressed to General Meade +into the dingy little old shanty where he had his headquarters. +They were having a prolonged caucus. I proposed to send a detail +of men to try to open up telegraph communication with Baltimore +and Washington. I had discovered that the wires were down at +some point on the railroad, and wanted to rebuild the line. In +reply to this suggestion, which may be on file some place, as it was +a written communication, General Meade sent me out to see General +Gregg. This officer, who is a native of Pennsylvania, and at +present is residing at Reading, greeted me most courteously, saying: +"General Meade directs me to say to you, sir, that he appreciates +the importance of securing the telegraph service, and desires +you to be prepared to act upon it."</p> + +<p>I was at the headquarters later on, when all the Generals who +had been attending the Council of War came filing out, with their +swords rattling, their faces wearing a determined, if not anxious, +expression.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_538" id="Page_538">[538]</a></span></p> + +<p>Each of the officers, without uttering a word, but acting as if +he had an important business engagement on hand and was behind +time at the appointment, quickly mounted their horses, all darting +off in different directions.</p> + +<p>I took the liberty of propounding a question to General Gregg. +I should consider it impertinent, at my present age, for any one to +ask me such a question.</p> + +<p>But these were war times, which is the apology I now tender +to General Gregg publicly. He will get a copy of this book with +the author's compliments.</p> + +<p>I asked the General, bluntly, if there "was anything up." He +answered by significantly pointing over his shoulder to General +Meade, who was at the moment in big boots, strutting off to his +horse, which an orderly held near the assembled Staff.</p> + +<p>"It looks as if something was up, don't it?"</p> + +<p>I thought it did;—and as everybody else was mounting their +horses I followed the example; that is, I followed General Meade, who +was my example, over toward what was then the front of the +Round Tops or Sickles' salient.</p> + +<p>I can not go into Sickles' fight at Gettysburg. I know nothing +more about it than has been published, except the impression +that I gathered at the headquarters, and throughout +the army at the time, in the days that immediately followed, +which in effect was, that General Sickles had played a big card +in hopes of accomplishing something on his own account that +would give him the command of the Army of the Potomac. As +all know, it was a continual fight between our Generals as to +who should be the Chief. Sickles lost his opportunity and his +leg at the same time. It was the common talk then, and few +cared to dispute it some years ago, when Meade and Hancock +were yet alive, that, if Sickles had not lost his leg, he would have +lost his commission.</p> + +<p>I was at Gettysburg with General Sickles in July, 1886 and +1888, and interviewed him for the press on this subject. He +showed considerable feeling over the hostile attitude of other distinguished +officers toward his absurd claim of having won the +battle of Gettysburg, by being defeated the second day.</p> + +<p>At the time, it looked to me like another first day, and, as I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_539" id="Page_539">[539]</a></span> +anxious to be on the safe side, I retired to the valley between the +Round Tops.</p> + +<p>While riding out toward the rear, from between the Round +Tops, I met a double line of battle slowly advancing. It was so +long a line that I could not see either end of it through the undergrowth. +In endeavoring to find a break, or hole, to get through, I +asked some of the officers what troops these were, and my recollection +is they were the Pennsylvania Reserves. I have often wondered +since why some mention is not made of this reserve being on +hand there to receive Longstreet if he had come through Sickles.</p> + +<p>The appalling fear before me, as I faced those fellows advancing, +with their guns loaded and bayonets fixed, pointing at my horse's +breast, was that they wouldn't let me through, but might drive me +ahead of them. I was not ambitious to lead them down through +that valley, where so much noise was being made by Rebel yells +and musketry.</p> + +<p>I will never forget that double row of dirty faces. They had been +on a forced march all day, perhaps, to reach the field. The dust of +the roads had adhered to their perspiring faces, presenting a war-paint +effect that was ludicrous even at so serious a time.</p> + +<p>"How does a man feel in battle?" is a question often asked, or +"Were you frightened the first time?" My answer is: "Yes, and +every other time." I never heard a shell screech, or a minie-ball +whistle or whiz, that I wished, with all my soul, that I had not come. +I was scared when I went in the first and the last battle.</p> + +<p>At the end of every fight I felt, somehow, as if the war was a +failure, and we might as well go home, we so seldom had the satisfaction +of seeing the Rebels run.</p> + +<p>A majority of people have formed an idea that a battle is a continuous +uproar, from daylight until dark, or during all of the day on +which it occurs. As a matter of fact, the real fight is soon over, +one way or another; that is, the actual contest of the larger bodies +ends about as suddenly as a collision on a railroad.</p> + +<p>It is a long time beginning; may be the picket-firing of the night +previous is the first indication; then will come the more frequent +clattering from the skirmish-line, with an occasional shot from a +battery; perhaps it ends with this.</p> + +<p>I have nearly always noticed that the officers and men thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_540" id="Page_540">[540]</a></span> +it had ended, and were only suddenly awakened to the fact that it +had not, by a tremendous boom from some battery, that would nearly +always be discovered to be at some point they did not expect a hostile +shot to come from.</p> + +<p>It may not be an agreeable thing to print, but it has been my +experience in battle, that it was always the unexpected that happened +to our officers.</p> + +<p>The first time I was under fire, I happened to be near a battery, +and became so much excited by the booming of the guns, and the +action of the men and officers, that I did not realize my danger.</p> + +<p>A battery pounding shot into an enemy is the most inspiriting +music a soldier can hear. Of course, you can not tell whether the shot +hit any one or not, as they go so far, but you instinctively feel, from +the big noise and fussy kick the thing makes every time it is fired, +that something must get hurt at the other end.</p> + +<p>As a rule, it is not the artillery that does the damage; the shells +most frequently go entirely over the heads of a line of battle and +drop far to the rear, where they stampede the mules about the +wagon-trains and scare the skulkers.</p> + +<p><i>The wounds are not always received at the front.</i> It is the +nasty <i>little</i> bullets that do the greater damage to the men in line.</p> + +<p>On this occasion I felt, from the way this battery had been +pounding into the woods, a mile or so away, that they had killed +everybody over there, so I boldly advanced on my horse to the front +or skirmish-line. On my way out, I saw coming toward me two +fellows carrying, or rather supporting, a third between them; getting +closer, I discovered that the man they were carrying had his leg +off; indeed, it seemed as if his whole lower body had been torn off +at the hip, leaving his bleeding flesh hanging in shreds to his light-blue +pantaloons.</p> + +<p>I naturally stopped when they got nearer, when I discovered, to +my horror, that the poor man's bowels were actually trailing on the +ground. He was yet alive; his eyes were fixed upon me in a sorrowful, +longing way that I shall never, never get out of my mind.</p> + +<p>While paralyzed by this sight, I was so sick that I almost fell +off my horse, by seeing one of the men accidentally tread on his +bowels, which served to draw more of his entrails from his torn and +bleeding body. The poor fellow was then past all pain. I hurried<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_541" id="Page_541">[541]</a></span> +forward to get away from the horrible sight, only to come on a boy +in blue, who was lying flat on his face, as if he had been literally +biting the dust, all choked up—dead.</p> + +<p>You will notice in all the pictures of battles that the dying are +usually represented as throwing up their hands and falling backward +gracefully.</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact, the men usually fall forward, unless they are +struck by a missile so large that its weight will carry them backward +by the momentum. I have observed that a wounded man's +head drops forward; this, I presume, has a tendency to cause the +body to fall forward with the weight of the head; and the fact that +the dead, who die on the field, are nearly always found with their +faces down, burrowed, has created the expression, "biting the dust."</p> + +<p>As it generally rains after a battle, I have noticed the wounded +and dying nearly always crawl to a pool of water, and their dead +faces are often found as if they had died in an effort to wet their +parched tongues.</p> + +<p>Every person I have talked with for five minutes about Gettysburg, +asks the question: "Were you there when Pickett charged?" +as if that famous incident comprised the whole of the battle, whereas +it was only the fire-works at the end of the three days' meeting.</p> + +<p>When Pickett's charge was made I was behind the stone wall, +about three miles away, and, consequently, did not see it.</p> + +<p>At the "supreme moment," I was quietly picking blackberries +in an old field where the reserve artillery had been parked.</p> + +<p>When the tremendous firing began and the reserve artillery were +ordered down, I stopped my blackberrying, out of season, and went +down to the front to see what the fuss was all about.</p> + +<p>Pickett's charge has been done—and over-done—so very thoroughly +by both sides, that I shall not even attempt to add a word +to the mass of stuff that has already been printed about it.</p> + +<p>There is, however, a little story about a charge of Pennsylvanians +in the Virginia "burg," led by the glorious but unobtrusive +Meade, that the <i>old</i> Army of the Potomac should not themselves +forget, nor allow their old-time enemies to obliterate, or snow under. +I refer to the charge of Meade on the left at Fredericksburg, +December 11th, 1862, where, with fewer numbers, he accomplished +greater results than Pickett against greater odds:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_542" id="Page_542">[542]</a></span></p> + +<p>With the Rappahannock River in the rear, Meade led his Division +over a mile of plain under a heavy artillery fire, and <i>broke the +celebrated</i> Stonewall Jackson line, and penetrated 600 yards beyond +their line. If he had been sustained, the slaughter at Marye's +Heights would have been avoided.</p> + +<p>It was also at Marye's Heights, where greater heroism was +shown, where not one grand attempt was made, but where charge +after charge was made against an absolutely impregnable position, +yet one never hears of these charges.</p> + +<p>The gallant Allabach, the veteran of two wars, led the last final +onslaught on Marye's Heights, at the head of a small brigade of +Pennsylvania troops of Humphrey's Division that had never before +been under fire, and this handful comparatively, went into the very +jaws of death, and, though they did not reach the stone wall, they +got nearest to it and kept their ground, within a few rods of it till +dark, when they were ordered to fall back.</p> + +<p><i>No prisoners were taken</i> at Fredericksburg as there were at +Gettysburg.</p> + +<p>The snake, Secession, had its back-bone broken at Gettysburg to +be sure, but boys of the dear old Army of the Potomac—patient, +noble, long-suffering old Army of the Potomac—remember the +early, the dark days, when Meade, Hancock, Reynold, Warren, +Humphreys, etc., were our immediate commanders; do not forget +the <i>old</i> Army of the Potomac and its numerous general +officers when the proper praises are so freely being given to its +later chiefs.</p> + +<p>Though the final charge of Pickett, preceded and attended as it +was by peculiarly dramatic surroundings, has furnished a subject +for more speeches, historical essays, paintings, poems, than any +other event which ever occurred in America, yet, in point of fact, +history is wrong in ascribing the credit to Pickett.</p> + +<p>The charge was not led by Pickett, neither were the troops who +did the most gallant fighting Virginians.</p> + +<p>It is reserved for these Spy papers to record, on the testimony of +reliable, Confederate officers, that Pickett did not get within a +mile of our lines.</p> + +<p>The <i>best</i> fighting was done by the North Carolinians and Tennesseeans, +led by Pettigrew; therefore, it should be <i>Pettigrew's</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_543" id="Page_543">[543]</a></span> +charge. In this, as in many other matters, the historians of the war +are at fault.</p> + +<p>May we hope that the humble efforts of the "Boys" in these +pages, will, at least, call attention to some of those inaccuracies, +with a view of getting at the truth.</p> + +<p>As I have intimated, I have endeavored to collect some recent +testimony from the Southern side, having spent some time on the +old war-trail, which I hope to be able to put in shape soon. The time +must come when the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, will +be known, and then, perhaps, future generations may be taught to +see that to the Pennsylvania Reserves is due some of the honor, +valor, gallantry and patriotism that is now being so freely offered +to the Pickett survivors.</p> + +<p>No one will question their bravery at Gettysburg on July 3rd, +1863; but since then, and on July 4th, 1887, the survivors have left +themselves open to attack, in assuming their positions in reference +to monuments.</p> + +<p>There remains among the Southern people an ignorant, deep-seated +belief, which is being taught the "New South," that, if +Longstreet had properly supported Pickett, they would have been +successful, and the country would have become a Confederacy. +There is a great deal of "if" in all the survivors' talk in the New +South, so that we may indulge in the use of the little word, and +propose a few conundrums—possibilities.</p> + +<p>What would have been the result, <i>if</i> Meade had been supported +by Franklin, when he broke Stonewall Jackson's line at Fredericksburg? +And <i>if</i> Sedgwick had been properly supported by Hooker, +at Chancellorsville, when he drove Early from behind the "impregnable" +works on Marye's Heights? Once more: <i>If</i> Pickett had +succeeded and had broken into our line, and had been supported +by Longstreet, then <i>if</i> the Sixth Corps, which had scarcely been +engaged in the great fight, had turned in on them on the flank, <i>if</i> +any of them had gotten back at all it would have been a miracle. +<i>If</i>, on the other hand, General Meade had taken Hancock's +advice and turned the Reserves and the Sixth Corps loose after +Pickett the war might have ended. <i>If</i> they were to try it again +they would be whipped worse. <i>If</i> they don't believe it, fire on Fort +Sumter. <i>If</i> we had never been born we would not have to die.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_544" id="Page_544">[544]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was one little episode I have never seen recorded. After +the charge of Pickett—on the third day—had failed, everything had +quieted down. Meade, accompanied by his Staff, went over the +wall and rode along our entire front, from Cemetery Hill to the +Round Tops, receiving the cheers of the whole army, or all that +was left.</p> + +<p>That was the only time I ever heard music on a battlefield; then +it was from a band in the woods at Little Round Top, that played +"Hail to the Chief."</p> + +<p>I never hear that old tune, nowadays, on these fancy parades, +but it brings up the recollection of that great day and causes the +cold chills to creep up and down my spine.</p> + +<p>I rode with General Meade this day; to prove which, I will ask +some of the survivors who witnessed that event to recall a smooth-faced +boy on a lame horse that brought up the rear of the dashing +cavalcade. My nag got hurt the first day, and I did not have a +chance to steal another, and, as I was bound to be on hand, I had to +ride my lame horse.</p> + +<p>The General and Staff always go at a break-neck gallop, the Staff +tearing along in the rear, like a tail to a comet, so that, in this case, +I "got left" about a gunshot to the rear; and, because I so energetically +spurred the lame horse, to catch up, our boys, behind the +stone wall, gave me the laugh and some cheers of derision. They +were all feeling pretty good just then, and were excusable.</p> + +<p>One of the Staff-officers told me that we had captured General +Longstreet, and when I got over among the Reserves I told this bit +of news, where it created a sensation.</p> + +<p>I have never seen an account of that ride along the lines in print. +It is correct, though it may have been the fourth day instead of +the third. You will find in the Rebel reports of the battle, that +General Lee states that, on hearing these shouts and cheers from our +army, he thought it meant an advance on his line, and he made +preparations to meet it. I think it was the cheers for General +Meade that he heard, even so distant as his headquarters.</p> + +<p>But we will leave Gettysburg. I want to say something about +Kilpatrick and the Corn Exchange Regiment of emergency men, +that came out of Philadelphia at that time to repel the invasion.</p> + +<p>It is not for me to criticise General Meade for not closely pur<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_545" id="Page_545">[545]</a></span>suing +Lee's shattered army. We all know that, when a rattle-snake +is chased into his hole, he don't leave his tail exposed, but at once +presents his head to the entrance. I remember that some days +after Gettysburg, while we were at Emmittsburg, or between there +and Frederick, Maryland, General Kilpatrick and some of his associates +had an animated conversation about it, which everybody in +the neighborhood heard, as Kilpatrick was a free talker when he +became very much interested in a subject. On this occasion he +freely expressed his disgust with the slow proceedings, but no one +who knew Kilpatrick well paid much attention to his bluster. He +was nick-named "Kill Cavalry," because of his recklessness and +apparent disregard of his own and the lives of his men.</p> + +<p>I will relate a single incident illustrating this General's character, +that occurred in my hearing at Hagerstown. At the time of +the Gettysburg campaign there had been quite a lot of emergency +troops called out by the Governor of Pennsylvania—"ninety-minute +men" we called them. On our march from Gettysburg we met +with these home-guards at different points. I remember that just +outside of the town of Frederick, Maryland, there was a regiment +of these men doing guard duty. As we marched by, and these citizen-soldiers, +who were fresh in their picturesque, zoo-zoo uniforms, +or, as they are sometimes called, "Night-drawers Cadets," the dirty-looking, +old, blue-bloused veterans chaffed them most unmercifully. +It was wet weather, and the roads were muddy, as is always the +case after a battle. Wherever these ninety-minute men were stationed +on guard duty, they were to be found perched as sentries on +top of a pile of cracker-boxes or fence rails, to keep their feet out +of the mud, the boxes giving them the appearance of a statue on a +pedestal.</p> + +<p>"Pretty boys," "Nice little sogers," "Don't get your feet wet, +sonny; you might take cold," "Let me kiss him for his sister," are +mild specimens of the expressions hurled at them from the marching +columns of old vets.</p> + +<p>My recollection is that these were Philadelphia troops. When +we reached Hagerstown, we ran into a lot more of them, that had +come down the Cumberland Valley from Harrisburg and Chambersburg +to head Lee off. One of these organizations was, I think, +called the Corn Exchange Regiment, recruited, or at least fathered,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_546" id="Page_546">[546]</a></span> +and sent into the field by the wealthy gentlemen of the Philadelphia +Exchange. They were composed of what may be termed the +better class of men; at least, that was their own estimate of themselves. +At their Philadelphia home they probably ranked as rather +an exclusive set of boys. Their officers were decidedly "fresh," to +use a slang term; at least, we around headquarters, who had become +accustomed to pay some attention to military etiquette, were disgusted +to see these line officers crowd around our Generals, to stare at and +talk as familiarly as if they were all corps commanders.</p> + +<p>Custer and Kilpatrick, with whom I was then serving, were at +first immensely amused at the efforts of the militia officers to make +themselves agreeable. The officers and men, too, felt, no doubt, +that it was their only opportunity to see a live General, like Kilpatrick +and Custer, and were bound to gratify their curiosity while they +had a chance.</p> + +<p>In addition to their curiosity, these chaps were continually +imploring General Kilpatrick to let them have "just one chance at +the Rebels." They begged that they might be permitted to have an +opportunity to distinguish themselves before they returned to Philadelphia.</p> + +<p>One evening Kilpatrick told Custer, in my hearing, to put some +of these men out on the picket-line, which was really a most dangerous +place, for they were in close proximity to the rear-guard of +Lee's army. The rear of an army cornered, as was Lee's at that +time, is an ugly place to put a recruit, and General Kilpatrick knew +very well that, in yielding to their foolish requests, he was subjecting +them to great danger. But General Kilpatrick concluded he +would have a little fun out of the recruits, so he placed some of +them on the advance line, and watched to see what they would do +if attacked. We all dismounted, and were watching the lines of +Rebels. The officer of the guard protested against having these +new men on his line, saying they would be likely to raise a hornets' +nest about our ears, but Kilpatrick told him to let them try their +hands a little while. These men went up the hill a little distance, +when their brilliant uniforms attracted the attention of the Johnnies, +and, as they acted as though they were going to drive Lee's +army across the Potomac, they let these recruits have a few shots +by way of warning, which was answered by the Philadelphians, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_547" id="Page_547">[547]</a></span> +became excited, with a broadside. The Rebel fire had injured about +a dozen of the recruits, one big fellow keeling over and yelling like +a boy stumping a sore toe. Instead of continuing up the hill, or +even falling back, they all crowded together where the wounded lay, +and began to console with them. They were finally brought away, +with the loss of a few more men, and they did not bother General Kilpatrick +again to be placed in the front rank of the army. But there +was one thing about Kilpatrick: he never ordered a man to go +where he was not willing to lead. I stood beside him the following +day, near Williamsport, when a rifle-ball whizzed close by his ear. +Jerking up his hand nervously, as if stung by a bee, or to brush off +a mosquito, he turned to me and said: "Holy Moses! That ball +came near hitting me." But he didn't move out of range of that +sharpshooter—but I did.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_548" id="Page_548">[548]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + +<h3>CLOSING CHAPTER.</h3> + + +<p>We were all expecting another great battle at Hagerstown. I +hung close to the headquarters in the stirring days, after Gettysburg, +during which I witnessed some scenes that would make +quite interesting reading. At this time there was frequent communication +between the Washington War Department and Headquarters, +the greater part of which, coming by wire, I had an opportunity +of scanning.</p> + +<p>In reading the recent <i>Century</i> war-papers, and also some of the +official reports now being published, the thought oftenest occurring +to my mind is, why don't they publish <i>everything</i>, even the little +straws, which significantly tell which way the wind was blowing at +that time. We were in a manner besieged by the visitors who +thronged about Headquarters, after Gettysburg, in a <i>civil</i>, inquisitive +way that was very annoying to the officers.</p> + +<p>General Meade has never received the full meed of praise to +which he was entitled for his management of the Army of the Potomac +during and in the days immediately following Gettysburg.</p> + +<p>He was a peculiar man—in many ways, one not constituted to +"command" attention. He was evidently conservative, and, perhaps, +too cautious, but when one recalls that he had <i>won</i> a great +victory, and in forcing a second battle, unprepared, he not only +staked his hard-earned laurels, but he risked the army and the Capitol.</p> + +<p>I happen to know that General Meade felt keenly President +Lincoln's severe criticism, though it was uttered in his usual, joking +way. The General was an exceedingly sensitive man, and when +he got to hear that the President compared him and his pursuit of +Lee over the Potomac to an old woman shooing her geese over the +river, he actually wanted to resign.</p> + +<p>General Meade was every inch a soldier, as well as a gentleman, +by birth and training.</p> + +<p>In camp he was the most unpretentious looking of the General<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_549" id="Page_549">[549]</a></span> +officers. His spectacled face, rather quiet, scholarly bearing, reminds +me of professors or doctors whom we frequently see; they resemble +him in appearance.</p> + +<p>He always wore a slouch hat, and around his neck was invariably +worn the old-fashioned leather <i>stock</i>, used in the Regular Army +on recruits to keep their heads checked up.</p> + +<p>He usually slept in an ambulance attached to Headquarters.</p> + +<p>We learned that Lee had retreated the night before the impending +battle, and early in the morning the cavalry were astir, in pursuit. +I rode from Hagerstown to Williamsport, Md., with General +Kilpatrick, following precisely the same road I had footed it +when scouting, just before Bull Run. We passed through the +deserted camps, in which the fires were still burning. The Rebels +had so hurriedly left them that in many places their camp equipages +were left behind.</p> + +<p>Kilpatrick was <i>mad</i>. He was very mad—on seeing the enemy +had all gotten away, and, putting spurs to his own horse, dashed +ahead of his advance guard, and rode so recklessly that those of us +not so well mounted had difficulty in keeping up.</p> + +<p>He instinctively saw that there was no force in his immediate +front, and, without paying any attention to the hundreds of Rebel +stragglers who were on the road, he gave order to his command to +hurry on to the river after him.</p> + +<p>On reaching Williamsport, we made a little haul of stragglers, +but Kilpatrick sat on his horse sideways, looking over the river +into Virginia with an expression of disgust on his face that I shall +never forget.</p> + +<p>Some of the colored residents of the town told Kilpatrick of the +enemy's manner of retreat. Not a Rebel was in sight, but they +also notified him of a Rebel battery that was slyly masked in the +woods over the river, intended as a deadly ambuscade for any troop +that should precipitately follow too close.</p> + +<p>On hearing this, Kilpatrick quietly put a house between himself +and the aforesaid masked battery. When our artillery came +up with the cavalry, I was sent to conduct a section of it to a +certain place behind the houses, but which admitted of the guns +pointing between two adjoining houses.</p> + +<p>The colored people who lived in them gave the gunners the exact<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_550" id="Page_550">[550]</a></span> +location of the Rebels, and in less time than it takes for me to describe +it, our section let them have a dose of the medicine they intended +for us.</p> + +<p>The Rebels were so surprised they did not have time to return +the salute, but scampered away as fast as they could. At this, the +entire colored population of the town, which had assembled, broke +out in the wildest yells of delight I had ever heard.</p> + +<p>Custer, accompanied by a few officers of his Staff dashed up to +Kilpatrick, who, by the way, was the senior, or the General in +Command, and in his eager, boyish way, said: "General, hadn't I +better go down below here and see if we can't find some of 'those +people'?"</p> + +<p>General Lee never called the Union Army Federals or +Yankees—it was always "those people."</p> + +<p>Kilpatrick laughed as he said something to Custer that was not +intended for his superior, General Meade's ears.</p> + +<p>Custer, in his nervous manner, again suggested going after +some of "those people" down below.</p> + +<p>As if to gratify Custer's eagerness, not with any expectation of +finding an enemy, Kilpatrick indifferently gave his consent, and +Custer, turning to the Staff-officers, who were with him, gave a +few orders and dashed off. I followed Custer at a gallop.</p> + +<p>We rode three or four miles perhaps, when we reached some of +our own cavalry and infantry.</p> + +<p>This was in the neighborhood of Falling Waters, and here, on +the Potomac river, almost the same place I had, as a Scout, crossed +into Dixie a year previously. We will, for the present, say good-by +to the grand old Army of the Potomac.</p> + +<p>There was a little battle at Falling Waters, in which Custer's +Division participated.</p> + +<p>I cannot part from Custer, however, without a heartfelt word of +praise and devotion for the gallant "Boy General." His Michigan +troops were among the very best in our army. I hope some of +the Western readers of this will see that I bear my humble testimony +to the exalted opinion Custer had of them. It was the custom +of the General to frequently discuss the relative merits of their +troops, and Custer certainly did love his old Division.</p> + +<p>On this occasion, one of Custer's aides was a Michigan Officer,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_551" id="Page_551">[551]</a></span> +and in my hearing, while still on horseback, under fire, I heard Custer +assure the officer that he had given Michigan full credit for +certain work in his official report.</p> + +<p>While straggling off from the headquarters during a skirmish +with some Rebels upon a hill-top, I was surprised to see two good-looking +young men in gray uniform come out of the woods and ride +up to me. While in the midst of our army, it had never occurred +to me that I was in any danger of capture, but, as I was still some +distance from any of our troops, these two rebel chaps had me sure. +Both were armed and well mounted, while I was, at the time, dismounted. +To my great relief, however, they surrendered to me, +stating that they were tired of the war, and did not want to go back +to Virginia, so they had concealed themselves in the woods until +an opportunity offered of surrendering. I welcomed them cordially +to the North. One fellow at once handed me his pistol, belt and +saber, which are to-day in my possession as trophies of war. The +pistol contains yet the five loads that were put in it by the Rebel +soldier. As my horse had been struck in the leg by a spent ball while +on South Mountain, and was lamed from the bruise, I also traded +horses with the Rebel.</p> + +<p>And now we will again say a reluctant good-by to the Army of +the Potomac.</p> + +<p>So it came to pass that I returned to the very same grounds on +which we had first visited the Army of Patterson, previous to Bull +Run. We are again on the Potomac, nearly at the same point we +had started from two years previously.</p> + +<p>Obtaining a furlough from the ever-accommodating General +Alexander, Chief of Staff at Cavalry Corps Headquarters, I turned +my horse's head North and, instead of following the Army back into +Virginia, I rode my Rebel horse, as the "solitary horseman," +dressed in my war clothes and wearing my captured saber and pistol, +through Chambersburg to the little hamlet where I was born, +where I enjoyed a few days' rest with a sister, who was attending +school at Chambersburg, and who had witnessed the Rebel Army's +occupation of the place. Her story would make an interesting +chapter in this connection, but we are off duty now enjoying the +furlough and must hurry home.</p> + +<p>In the few days that immediately followed, I rode, solitary and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_552" id="Page_552">[552]</a></span> +alone, along the old pike, over the Blue Ridge Mountains to Bedford, +Pennsylvania, and from there debouched across the mountain +by an almost unfrequented path to my father's home at Wilmore +near Cresson, where I surprised the homefolks by dashing up +to the door about supper time, one summer evening, wearing the uniform +that I had taken away from there less than a year previously. +It had, however, received its baptism of fire at Gettysburg and all +along the line.</p> + +<p>The old Rebel horse remained on my father's farm for many +years.</p> + +<p>The story from this out must be told at another time. The +wonderfully thrilling and romantic story of Geno and the Wells +family—which represents the "other side"—will make a volume of +romance in real life that is indeed stranger than fiction, and exceeds +my own adventures in our lines.</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"The story of our love is incomplete;"<br /> +The leaves of many years are missing;<br /> +Lonely apart we pined, each seeking truth<br /> +Together, we will find love's land enchanted.<br /> +<br /> +The past is flown, the future still have we;<br /> +So let our twin souls blend beyond the ages,<br /> +Till young and fair, beside the Jasper Sea,<br /> +We may discover all love's torn out pages.<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>One word of retrospect. As will be remembered, I was ambitious +to secure a commission from the War Department. I had +worked zealously and faithfully for it. My trials and troubles with +the War Office have been told here. It had resulted in my being +disappointed for many days. Yet, at the time of which I am writing, +while I was serving as an enlisted man, drawing my rations +and pay as such, I was in fact an officer and did not know it, and +only learned it some months afterward. This anomaly was brought +about after Gettysburg by Mr. Lincoln, who, on learning of my +former services, ordered my commission ante-dated one year. So +that, when I got my parchment at last, I found that I ranked some +of the older officers in seniority.</p> + +<p>As I have furnished other references to establish the correctness +of my statements, I take especial pride in putting before the readers +the following correspondence.</p> + +<p>I lost my original parchment while traveling in California in +1884. General Stoneman, then Governor, to whom I wrote about +my loss, kindly interested himself in assisting me in my search for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_553" id="Page_553">[553]</a></span> +it, but, not finding it, I applied to the War Department for a certified +copy. The following is the reply, which explains itself:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p> +[2677 A. V. P., 1885.]<br /> +<br /></p> +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="tableright" summary="War Dept letter"> +<tr> + <td class="tdr tdind"><span class="smcap">War Department</span>,</td> + <td class="tbt tbr"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><span class="smcap">Adjutant-General's Office</span>,</td> + <td class="tbr"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><span class="smcap">Washington</span>, April 29, 1885.</td> + <td class="tbr tbb"> </td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Mr.</span> —— ——,<br /> +</p> + +<p><i>Sir:</i> Complying with your request of the 27th instant, I +inclose herewith copies of your commission as Second Lieutenant, +Signal Corps, and of letter of June 12, 1865, from this office, +notifying you of the acceptance of your resignation as such, to +date June 9, 1865.</p> + +<p class="sig tdind"> +Very respectfully, your obedient servant,<br /></p> +<p class="sig"><span class="smcap">C. McKeever</span>,<br /></p> +<p class="right">Assistant Adjutant-General, in charge.<br /></p> +<p>(Two inclosures.)<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>As will be seen in the copy, I did not resign until after the war +was over.</p> + +<p>The original was on parchment, with Mr. Lincoln's and Mr. +Stanton's autograph signatures.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="greeting"> +THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.<br /> +<br /></p> +<p><i>To all who shall see these presents, greeting:</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>Know ye, That, reposing special trust and confidence in the +patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities of J. O. Kerbey, I have nominated, +and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do +appoint him Second Lieutenant in the Signal Corps, in the service +of the United States, to rank as such from the third day of March, +eighteen hundred and sixty-three. He is, therefore, carefully and +diligently to discharge the duty of Second Lieutenant by doing and +performing all manner of things pertaining and thereunto belonging. +And I do strictly charge and require all officers and soldiers +under his command to be obedient to his orders as Second Lieutenant. +And he is to observe and follow such orders and directions, +from time to time, as he shall receive from me, or the future President +of the United States of America, or the General, or other +superior officers set over him, according to the rules and discipline<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_554" id="Page_554">[554]</a></span> +of war. This commission is to continue in force during the pleasure +of the President of the United States for the time being.</p> + +<table border="0" cellspacing="20" summary="seal"> +<tr> + <td>[<span class="smcap">Seal.</span>]</td> + <td>Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, this fifteenth + day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand + eight hundred and sixty-four, and in the eighty-ninth + year of the independence of the United States.</td> +</tr> +</table> +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="table2" width="60%" summary="Presidential Signature"> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">By the President.</td> + <td> </td> + <td class="tdr"><span class="smcap">Abraham Lincoln.</span></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="greeting"><span class="smcap">Edwin M. Stanton</span>, Secretary of War.<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>I especially call attention to the <i>dates</i> of these papers.</p> + +<p>I would like to put in parallel columns Mr. Stanton's order for +arrest or confinement in Old Capitol, and his parole, wherein the +words, "dangerous man, disloyal, Rebel spy," etc., were used.</p> + +<blockquote><p>The above copy of the original commission is furnished to the +person named therein, the original commission having been destroyed +or irrecoverably lost. This commission is not now effective, having +expired previous to this date.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote><p> +<span class="smcap">C. McKeever</span>,<br /> +Assistant Adjutant-General.<br /></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><br /> +<span class="smcap">War Department, Adjutant-General's Office</span>,<br /></p> +<p class="greeting">April 29, 1885.<br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center">COPY OF MY BREVET COMMISSION.<br /> +<br /></p> +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="tableright" summary="brevet commission"> +<tr> + <td class="tdr tdind"><span class="smcap">Office of Chief Signal Officer,</span>,</td> + <td class="tbt tbr"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr"><span class="smcap">Washington, D. C.</span>, January, 1865.</td> + <td class="tbr tbb"> </td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><i>Sir:</i> I am directed to inform you that the Chief Signal Officer +desires to send to the General of the Army your recommendation +for brevet. You are requested, therefore, to forward to this office +copies of any papers bearing upon your services which may be in +your possession.</p> + +<p>It is the object of the Chief Signal Officer to secure whatever +material may influence to favorable action in the case.</p> + +<p class="sig tdind"> +Very respectfully, your obedient servant,</p> +<p class="sig"><span class="smcap">Richard P. Strong</span>,<br /> +Acting Chief Signal Officer. +</p></blockquote> + +<p>This accounts for my "Captain-Major's" title. Promotions in +this branch were rare—indeed, there were none; but I enjoyed, as a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_555" id="Page_555">[555]</a></span> +General Staff-officer, all the privileges and none of the responsibilities +of the rank of a Major-General.</p> + +<p>As I have indicated, I stayed till it was over, and would do it +again.</p> + +<p>As the reader will have seen, the work of a Spy is at all times +unpleasant, exceedingly dangerous as well as thankless.</p> + +<p>It is, however, a necessary service in war. There is with some +minds a vague impression that this secret service necessarily implies +deceit and treachery. This is so only in the same sense that the +strategy so often applied by the General is treachery.</p> + +<p>Strategy is an artifice of war that is considered honorable, and +is practiced by all the nations, yet it is seldom, if ever, applied +without resorting to deceit and treachery. Therefore a Spy may be +as honorable as the General, who profits by his work. Often the +victories of the Generals are made possible by the preliminary information +obtained of the enemy's force and movements, yet the +official reports of the victorious Generals give the despised Spy no +credit.</p> + +<p>It is the <i>motive</i> which should give character to any service. +With me there was no mercenary consideration, and, as will be +seen, the service became in a manner almost involuntary.</p> + +<p>I was simply willing to sacrifice myself that I might accomplish +some good for the cause.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_556" id="Page_556">[556]</a></span></p> + +<p>After the lapse of so many years, there has recently been unveiled +in Hartford, Connecticut, a monument to the memory of Nathan +Hale, who was a Spy of the Revolutionary War, captured and executed +on his first attempt to work in the enemy's lines. Upon this +tablet are these words:</p> + +<p class="center"> +Stranger, beneath this stone<br /> +Lies the dust of a<br /> +A Spy<br /> +Who perished upon the gibbet;<br /> +Yet<br /> +The storied marbles of the great,<br /> +The shrines of heroes,<br /> +Entombed not one more worthy of<br /> +Honor<br /> +Than him who here<br /> +Sleeps his last sleep.<br /> +<br /> +Nations<br /> +Bow with reverence before the dust<br /> +Of him who dies<br /> +A glorious death,<br /> +Urged on by the sound of the<br /> +Trumpet<br /> +And the shouts of<br /> +Admiring thousands.<br /> +But what reverence, what honor,<br /> +Is not due to one<br /> +Who for his country encountered<br /> +Even an infamous death,<br /> +Soothed by no sympathy,<br /> +Animated by no praise!<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_557" id="Page_557">[557]</a></span></p> + +<p>I would, as a last word, again say that my efforts as a Spy during +the Rebellion were prompted solely by a disinterested patriotism +and a single desire to do some good for the country.</p> + +<p>When my time is up, and I am mustered out, I ask of my comrades, +of the Grand Army of the Republic, not a monument, but +a simple head-stone to a "Low green tent" with the bivouac of +unknown at Arlington, marked—</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i611.jpg" width="600" height="552" alt="Tombstone: "THE BOY SPY'" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 147px;"> +<img src="images/i612.png" width="147" height="200" alt="Book Cover" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="lgfonta"><b>The New +Alpine Edition</b></p> + +<p>160 Titles</p> + +<p> +Library Style Gilt Top<br /> +</p> + +<p>This series comprises 160 of the most popular and standard works by the +world's best authors, such as: Barrie, Bunyan, Hall Caine, Cooper, Corelli, +Curtis, Dickens, Doyle, Dumas, Eliot, Hawthorne, Henty, Holmes, Hugo, +Irving, Kipling, Longfellow, Poe, Scott, Sienkiewicz, Thackeray, Jules Verne, +Whittier, and embraces every department of science, art, literature, philosophy, +history and fiction. They are printed from large, new clear type on a superior +quality of laid paper, and substantially bound in Bedford ribbed silk cloth. +Title stamped on back in genuine gold and original designs stamped on the side +and back in inks, with hand-burnished gilt top—library style; Size 5 × 7-1/2.</p> + + +<p>Price 75 Cents Per Volume.<br /></p> +<hr style="width:0%;"/> + +<p> +T. S. ARTHUR<br /> +<br /> +125 Ten Nights in a Bar Room<br /> +<br /> +BALZAC<br /> +<br /> +152 Wild Ass's Skin<br /> +<br /> +J. M. BARRIE<br /> +<br /> +149 When a Man's Single<br /> +153 Window in Thrums<br /> +<br /> +R. D. BLACKMORE<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">75 Lorna Doone</span><br /> +<br /> +CHARLOTTE BRONTE<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">65 Jane Eyre</span><br /> +<br /> +BULWER-LYTTON<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">4 Alice</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">44 Ernest Maltravers</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">71 Last Days of Pompeii</span><br /> +<br /> +JOHN BUNYAN<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">57 Holy War</span><br /> +100 Pilgrim's Progress<br /> +<br /> +HALL CAINE<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">17 Bondman, The</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">27 Deemster, The</span><br /> +<br /> +MARIE CALM<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">12 Bella's Blue Book</span><br /> +<br /> +ROSA N. CAREY<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">81 Mary St. John</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">90 Not Like Other Girls</span><br /> +147 Wee Wifie<br /> +158 Wooed and Married<br /> +<br /> +RALPH CONNOR<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">15 Black Rock</span><br /> +<br /> +J. FENIMORE COOPER<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">28 Deerslayer, The</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">72 Last of the Mohicans</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">95 Pathfinder, The</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">99 Pilot, The</span><br /> +101 Pioneers, The<br /> +105 Prairie, The<br /> +120 Spy, The<br /> +138 Two Admirals<br /> +146 Water Witch<br /> +154 Wing and Wing<br /> +<br /> +MARIE CORELLI<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">7 Ardath</span><br /> +111 Romance of Two Worlds<br /> +128 Thelma<br /> +142 Vendetta<br /> +160 Wormwood<br /> +<br /> +MARIA CUMMINS<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">70 Lamplighter, The</span><br /> +<br /> +GEO. W. CURTIS<br /> +<br /> +107 Prue and I<br /> +<br /> +CHARLES DICKENS<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">16 Bleak House</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">22 Child's History of England</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">23 Christmas Stories</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">26 David Copperfield</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">29 Dombey and Son</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">51 Great Expectations</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">80 Martin Chuzzlewit</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">89 Nicholas Nickleby</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">91 Old Curiosity Shop</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">93 Oliver Twist</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">94 Our Mutual Friend</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">97 Pickwick Papers</span><br /> +122 Tale of Two Cities<br /> +<br /> +A. CONAN DOYLE<br /> +<br /> +150 White Company, A<br /> +<br /> +J. H. DRUMMOND<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">34 Addresses</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">88 Natural Law in the Spiritual World</span><br /> +<br /> +ALEXANDER DUMAS<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">24 Count of Monte Cristo, The</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">37 Edmund Dantes</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">76 Louise de la Valliere</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">79 Man in the Iron Mask, The</span><br /> +119 Son of Porthos<br /> +129 Three Guardsmen, The<br /> +137 Twenty Years After<br /> +145 Viscount De Bragelonne<br /> +<br /> +GEORGE EBERS<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">39 Egyptian Princess, An</span><br /> +139 Uarda<br /> +<br /> +GEORGE ELIOT<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1 Adam Bede</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">25 Daniel Deronda</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">45 Felix Holt</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">84 Middlemarch</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">85 Mill on the Floss</span><br /> +112 Romola<br /> +117 Silas Marner<br /> +<br /> +JESSIE FOTHERGILL<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">46 First Violin, The</span><br /> +<br /> +GOLDSMITH AND JOHNSON<br /> +<br /> +143 Vicar of Wakefield, and Rasselas<br /> +<br /> +P. G. HAMERTON<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">63 Intellectual Life</span><br /> +<br /> +NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE<br /> +<br /> +114 Scarlet Letter<br /> +<br /> +W. HEIMBURG<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">48 Gertrude's Marriage</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">86 Misjudged</span><br /> +<br /> +G. A. HENTY<br /> +<br /> +155 With Lee in Virginia<br /> +156 With Wolfe in Canada<br /> +<br /> +MARIETTA HOLLY<br /> +<br /> +113 Samantha at Saratoga<br /> +<br /> +MARY J. HOLMES<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">32 Dora Deane</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">41 English Orphans</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">69 Homestead on the Hillside</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">73 Lena Rivers</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">78 Maggie Miller</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">82 Meadowbrook Farm</span><br /> +123 Tempest and Sunshine<br /> +<br /> +OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">8 Autocrat of the Breakfast Table</span><br /> +<br /> +THOMAS HUGHES<br /> +<br /> +132 Tom Brown's School Days<br /> +133 Tom Brown at Oxford<br /> +<br /> +VICTOR HUGO<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">18 By Order of the King</span><br /> +<br /> +REV. J. H. INGRAHAM<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">98 Pillar of Fire</span><br /> +106 Prince of the House of David<br /> +131 Throne of David<br /> +<br /> +WASHINGTON IRVING<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">3 Alhambra, The</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">68 Knickerbocker's History of N.Y.</span><br /> +118 Sketch Book<br /> +<br /> +JEROME K. JEROME<br /> +<br /> +127 Three Men In a Boat<br /> +<br /> +CHARLES KINGSLEY<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">60 Hyputia</span><br /> +<br /> +RUDYARD KIPLING<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">11 Barrack Room Ballads</span><br /> +<br /> +H. W. LONGFELLOW<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">74 Longfellow's Poems</span><br /> +<br /> +SIR JOHN LUBBOCK<br /> +<br /> +102 Pleasures of Life<br /> +<br /> +EDNA LYALL<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">30 Donovan</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">64 Hardy Norseman, A</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">62 In the Golden Days</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">69 Knight Errant</span><br /> +148 We Two<br /> +157 Won by Waiting<br /> +<br /> +E. MARLITT<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">10 Bailiff's Maid</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">49 Gold Elsie</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">92 Old Mam'selle's Secret</span><br /> +<br /> +IK MARVEL (D. G. Mitchell)<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">33 Dream Life</span><br /> +109 Reveries of a Bachelor<br /> +<br /> +OWEN MEREDITH<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">77 Lucile</span><br /> +<br /> +MISCELLANEOUS<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">2 Aesop's Fables</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">5 Andersen's Fairy Tales</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">6 Arabian Knight's Entertainments</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">9 Bacon's Essays</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">31 Don Quixote—Cervantes</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">40 Elizabeth and Her German Gardener</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">42 English Woman's Love Letters</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">43 Epictetus, Discourses of</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">50 Golden Butterfly, Besant and Rice</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">52 Grimm's Fairy Tales</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">53 Gulliver's Travels</span><br /> +103 Plutarch's Lives<br /> +110 Robinson Crusoe—De Foe<br /> +121 Swiss Family Robinson—Wyss<br /> +159 Wood's Natural History<br /> +<br /> +MISS MULOCK<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">66 John Halifax</span><br /> +<br /> +FRANCIS PARKMAN<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">19 California and the Oregon Trail</span><br /> +<br /> +EDGAR ALLAN POE<br /> +<br /> +104 Poe's Tales<br /> +<br /> +JANE PORTER<br /> +<br /> +115 Scottish Chiefs<br /> +126 Thaddeus of Warsaw<br /> +<br /> +R. M. ROCHE<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">21 Children of the Abbey</span><br /> +<br /> +SIR WALTER SCOTT<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">55 Heart of Midlothian</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">64 Ivanhoe</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">67 Kenilworth</span><br /> +<br /> +ANNA SEWALL<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">14 Black Beauty</span><br /> +<br /> +HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ<br /> +<br /> +108 Quo Vadis<br /> +<br /> +SAMUEL SMILES<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">20 Character</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">35 Duty</span><br /> +116 Self Help<br /> +130 Thrift<br /> +<br /> +HERBERT SPENCER<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">38 Education</span><br /> +<br /> +ST. PIERRE<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">96 Paul and Virginia</span><br /> +<br /> +ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON<br /> +<br /> +135 Treasure Island<br /> +<br /> +HARRIET BEECHER STOWE<br /> +<br /> +140 Uncle Tom's Cabin<br /> +<br /> +BAYARD TAYLOR<br /> +<br /> +144 Views Afoot<br /> +<br /> +JEREMY TAYLOR<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">58 Holy Living</span><br /> +<br /> +ALFRED TENNYSON<br /> +<br /> +124 Tennyson's Poems<br /> +<br /> +WM. MAKEPEACE THACKERAY<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">56 Henry Esmond</span><br /> +141 Vanity Fair<br /> +<br /> +JULES VERNE<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">47 Floating Island</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">83 Michael Strogoff</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">87 Mysterious Island, The</span><br /> +134 Tour of the World in 80 Days<br /> +136 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea<br /> +<br /> +JOHN G. WHITTIER<br /> +<br /> +151 Whittier's Poems<br /> +<br /> +AUGUSTA EVANS-WILSON<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">13 Beulah</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">61 Inez</span><br /> +<br /> +MRS. HENRY WOOD<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">36 East Lynn</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p class="lgfontb">"HARKAWAY" SERIES<br /> +<span class="smfonta">OF BOOKS FOR BOYS</span></p> + +<p><i>By Bracebridge Hemyng</i></p> + +<p>No more Readable Books for the Young have ever been printed than these +Fifteen Volumes</p> + +<p>Bound in Linen Cloth, Back and Side Stamped in Ink</p> + +<p><i>Price 75 Cents per copy</i></p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 Jack Harkaway's School Days</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2 Jack Harkaway After School Days</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">3 Jack Harkaway Afloat and Ashore</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">4 Jack Harkaway at Oxford, Part I</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">5 Jack Harkaway at Oxford, Part II</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">6 Jack Harkaway Among the Brigands, Part I</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">7 Jack Harkaway Among the Brigands, Part II</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">8 Jack Harkaway's Adventures Around the World</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">9 Jack Harkaway in America and Cuba</span><br /> +10 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in China<br /> +11 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in Greece, Part I<br /> +12 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in Greece, Part II<br /> +13 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in Australia<br /> +14 Jack Harkaway and His Boy Tinker, Part I<br /> +15 Jack Harkaway and His Boy Tinker, Part II<br /> +</p> + +<p>All books sent, postpaid, to any address in the United States, Canada or Mexico, +upon receipt of price, in currency, postal or express money orders.</p> + +<p> +M. A. Donohue & Co.,<br /> +407-429 Dearborn Street<br /> +Chicago<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfontb">Webster's Handy American Dictionary.</p> + +<p>Containing 320 pages, 16mo; over 500 illustrations. An excellent +dictionary for school and office use. Bound in cloth and +title stamped on the front in ink from ornamented dies.</p> + +<p class="padbase">Price, 25 Cents.</p> + + +<p class="lgfontb">DONOHUE'S WEBSTER'S SCHOOL DICTIONARY<br /> +<span class="smfonta">AND AMERICAN PICTORIAL HANDY +LEXICON OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.</span></p> + +<p>Revised, enlarged and corrected to date by Charles Walter +Brown, A.M. Over 50,000 words, 300 illustrations. The latest +and best dictionary for the price published. Nearly 400 pages. +Full cloth.</p> + +<p class="padbase">Price, 35 Cents.</p> + + +<p class="lgfontb">Popular American +Dictionary of the English Language.</p> + +<p>Illustrated and compiled on the basis of Webster, Worcester, +Johnson and the most eminent English and American authorities. +Containing over thirty-two thousand words with accurate definitions, +proper spelling and exact pronunciation, and contains a +special department of Law, Banks and Banking. Complete +descriptive Dictionary and Encyclopedia, including Mercantile +Law, Constitution of the United States, etc.; 544 pages, 12mo; +over 500 illustrations; bound in cloth, stamped in ink.</p> + +<p class="padbase">Price, 75 Cents.</p> + + +<p class="lgfontb">DONOHUE'S WEBSTER'S FAVORITE DICTIONARY<br /> +<span class="smfonta">OF VALUABLE INFORMATION +AND POPULAR BUSINESS GUIDE.</span></p> + +<p>Comprising all Business, Musical and Classical Terms, Abbreviations; +Nicknames of Cities and States; Church, Agricultural and +Vital Statistics; Synonyms, Words and Phrases, Federal Constitution, +Mercantile Law, Interest Tables, etc., etc., together with +an up-to-date <b>Biographical Dictionary of distinguished persons</b>, +with notes of their works, inventions or achievements. Revised +from the more comprehensive work of Noah Webster, LL. D. +12mo. Near 300 large pages.</p> + +<p>Price, 50 Cents.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>For sale by all Book and Newsdealers, or will send to any address +in the United States, Canada or Mexico, postage prepaid, on +receipt of price, in currency, money order or stamps.</p> + +<p>M. A. DONOHUE & CO.<br /> +407-429 Dearborn St. CHICAGO<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p class="lgfontc">SPEAKERS, DIALOGUES AND PLAYS</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 135px;"> +<img src="images/i616.png" width="135" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="lgfontb">Ideal and +Model Series of Speakers</p> +<p>Embracing the Best Select Readings and Recitations</p> + +<p>Including the heroic, pathetic, dramatic, oratorical, patriotic, etc. +Each book contains 96 pages, printed from new plates on a superior +quality of paper and bound in chaste and appropriate covers. The +series is the largest and best ever published to retail at the price. +The selections embrace a great many copyrighted pieces not found +in any other work, as well as declamations and dialogues adapted for +all ages.</p> + +<p class="padbase">Price, 10c. each</p> + +<p class="lgfonta">IDEAL SPEAKERS</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 Selected Readings and Recitations</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2 Select Readings and Recitations for Young People</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">3 Select Readings and Recitations for Little Children</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">4 Select Readings and Recitations for Christmas</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">5 Select Readings and Recitations Humorous and Dialect</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">6 Select Readings and Recitations Comic</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">7 Select Dialogues for Little Children</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">8 Selected Readings and Recitations</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">9 Select Readings and Recitations for Young People</span><br /> +10 Select Readings and Recitations for all the year around<br /> +11 Select Dialogues for Young People<br /> +12 Select Readings and Recitations<br /> +13 Select Readings and Recitations<br /> +14 Children's Select Readings and Recitations<br /> +15 Children's Select Dialogues<br /> +16 Select Recitations<br /> +</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">MODEL SPEAKERS</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 Select Readings and Recitations</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2 Select Readings for Young People</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">3 Select Recitations for Young People</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">4 Select Recitations for Little Children</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">5 Select Readings and Recitations for Young People</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">6 Select Readings and Recitations</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">7 Comic Recitations</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">8 Select Dialogues</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">9 Select Readings for all the year around</span><br /> +10 Select Recitations and Readings for all the year around<br /> +11 Select Recitations for Young People<br /> +12 Select dialogues for Young People<br /> +13 Select Dialogues for Young People<br /> +14 Select Recitations for Young People<br /> +</p> + + +<p>M. A. DONOHUE & CO., CHICAGO.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfontb">PATRIOTIC RECITATIONS AND READINGS</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 71px;"> +<img src="images/i617a.png" width="71" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Compiled by Charles Walter Brown, A. M.</p> + +<p class="padbase">This is the choicest, newest and most complete +collection of Patriotic recitations published, and +includes all of the best known selections, together +with the best utterances of many eminent statesmen. +Selections for Decoration Day, Fourth of +July, Washington's, Grant's and Lincoln's Birthdays, +Arbor Day, Labor Day, and all other Patriotic occasions. +There are few more enjoyable forms of +amusement than entertainments and exhibitions, +and there is scarcely anything more difficult to +procure than new and meritorious material appropriate for such +occasions. This book is designed to fill the want.</p> + + +<p> +Handsomely bound in Paper Covers, 25 Cents<br /> +Cloth, 50 Cents<br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + + +<p class="lgfontb">COMPLETE GUIDE TO DANCING</p> + +<p class="lgfonta">Ball Room Etiquette +and Quadrille Call Book</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/i617b.png" width="75" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="padbase">Containing all the new and modern square dances +and tabulated forms for the guidance of the leader +or others in calling them. Full and complete +directions for performing every known square +dance, such as Plain Quadrilles, Polka Quadrilles, +Prairie Queen, Varieties Quadrille, Francaise, +Dixie Figure, Girl I Left Behind Me, Old Dan +Tucker, Money Musk, Waltz Lanciers, Military +Lanciers, Columbian Lanciers, Oakland Minuet, +Waltz Quadrilles, etc. The "German" introduces +over One Hundred of the newest and most popular +Figures, fully described, and conveniently grouped +for ready reference. Every information in regard to the service +of Ball Room Etiquette, duties of Leaders and general instruction +is fully and clearly given.</p> + +<p> +Handsomely bound in Paper Covers, 25 Cents<br /> +Cloth, 50 Cents<br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + + +<p>For sale by all book and newsdealers, or sent to any address +in the United States, Canada or Mexico, postage paid, on receipt +of price, in currency, money order or stamps.</p> + +<p> +M. A. DONOHUE & CO.<br /> +407-429 Dearborn St.,<br /> +CHICAGO.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 151px;"> +<img src="images/i618.png" width="151" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="lgfontb">NATURAL HISTORY STORIES.</p> + +<p class="padbase">We have included in this series a +carefully selected number of books +that will fascinate and interest, as +well as instruct, old and young alike. +The books are printed from large, +clear type; are profusely illustrated +and are bound in a substantial and +attractive manner in Cloth, artistically +stamped in Inks from Unique +Dies.</p> + +<p class="padbase">Price of each book is $1.00, +postpaid.</p> + + +<p class="lgfontb">History of Animals, Their Varieties and Oddities.</p> + +<p>Comprising graphic descriptions of nearly all known species +of beasts and reptiles the world over, illustrating their varied +habits, mode of life and distinguishing peculiarities, by means of +delightful anecdotes and spirited engravings, by the Rev. W. +Bingley, A. M. Containing 586 pages of large, clear type, and +over 500 illustrations; bound in Cloth; stamped in Inks from +unique dies.</p> + +<p class="padbase">Price, $1.00.</p> + + +<p class="lgfontb">History of Birds.</p> + +<p>Containing their varieties and habits, and comprising +sketches of every known species of birds in all climes; illustrating +their use, value and culture, by the Rev. W. Bingley, A. M. +Containing 500 pages of clear type text and nearly 500 illustrations, +made especially for this work; bound in Cloth and stamped +in Inks from unique dies. Large 12mo, 6-1/2 × 9 inches.</p> + +<p class="padbase">Price, $1.00.</p> + + +<p class="lgfontb">History of the Sea.</p> + +<p>Comprising a complete description of all the varieties of the +finny inhabitants of the sea, showing their mode of life, and illustrating +their habits and usefulness, by Rev. W. Bingley, A. M. +Containing over 500 pages of large, clear type, and nearly 500 +illustrations; bound in Cloth; stamped in Inks from unique +dies.</p> + +<p>Price, $1.00.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>For sale by all Book and News Dealers, or will be sent to any +address in the United States, Canada or Mexico, postage paid, on +receipt of price, in currency, money order or stamps.</p> + +<p> +<i>M. A. Donohue & Co.</i><br /> +407-429 DEARBORN ST.<br /> +CHICAGO<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfonta">HOW TO BECOME RICH</p> +<p>A TREATISE ON</p> +<p class="lgfontb">PHRENOLOGY</p> + +<p>A Choice of Professions and Matrimony : A Self-Instructor</p> + +<p>By Prof. William Windsor, Ph. D.</p> + +<p><i>Fully Illustrated</i></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 74px;"> +<img src="images/i619a.png" width="74" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Every young man and woman of reasonable intelligence +is, or ought to be, possessed of a laudable ambition to be +self-sustaining. To win a competency, to secure the necessities, +to have even the luxuries of life, is perfectly praiseworthy, +provided they are obtained in a legitimate manner. +Every rational man seeks the occupation, trade or profession +which ensures the profitable employment of his best +talents, and the science which discloses to the youth at the +beginning of his education what those talents are and how +they may be developed to perfection in early manhood, +confers upon him the greatest favor within the gift or +knowledge, from a financial standpoint. That a knowledge +of Phrenology does this, and more, this book proves beyond all +question.</p> + +<p>Paper, 184 pages. Price, 25 cents.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + + +<p class="lgfontb">FACIOLOGY</p> + +<p class="lgfonta">Or, The Science of Character : A Self-Instructor</p> + +<p>By L. B. Stevens, LL. B.</p> + +<p><i>95 Illustrations</i></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 73px;"> +<img src="images/i619b.png" width="73" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Faciology" opens up an old, familiar and picturesque +field of observation in a new and scientific light; it gives +one a mortgage on man, a <i>quasi</i>-ownership in every creature +and individual that comes within our range of contemplation; +this science stimulates our observation and augments +our reason; it teaches us to interrogate the causes and +meaning of human actions, intensifies our interest in humanity, +and fills the heart with a higher and more ardent +devotion to philanthropy.</p> + +<p>Paper, 208 pages. Price, 25 cents.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>For sale by all Book and Newsdealers, or will send to any address in +the United States, Canada or Mexico, postage prepaid, on receipt of +price, in currency, money order or stamps.</p> + +<p> +M. A. DONOHUE & CO.<br /> +407-429 Dearborn Street CHICAGO<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfontb">Lives of Famous Men</p> + +<p>Edited by Charles Walter Brown, A. M.</p> + +<p class="padbase">In this series of historical and biographical works the publishers +have included only such books as will interest and instruct +the youth of both sexes. A copy should be in every public school +and private library. Special discount made when entire set is +ordered. They are printed from large, clear type on an excellent +quality of paper and substantially and attractively bound in +cloth, stamped in inks and gold from original designs. Each book +is fully illustrated. Price, $1.00 per copy, postpaid.</p> + +<p class="lgfonta">LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.</p> + +<p class="padbase">By George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted son of +our first president. Cloth, 664 pages, large, 12mo.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.</p> + +<p class="padbase">By Hon. Joseph H. Barrett, ex-member of Congress. +Cloth, 842 pages, large, 12mo.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">LIFE OF U. S. GRANT.</p> + +<p class="padbase">By Hon. B. P. Poore and Kev. O. H. Tiffany, D. D. Cloth, +594 pages, large, 12mo.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY.</p> + +<p class="padbase">By Murat Halstead, Chauncey M. Depew and John Sherman. +Cloth, 450 pages, large, 12mo.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT.</p> + +<p class="padbase">By Thomas W. Handford. Cloth, 255 pages, large, 16mo.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">LIFE OF HENRY M. STANLEY.</p> + +<p class="padbase">By A. M. Godbey, A. M. Cloth, 560 pages, large, 12mo.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">LIFE OF JOHN PAUL JONES.</p> + +<p class="padbase">By Charles Walter Brown, A. M. Cloth, nearly 300 pages, +12mo.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">LIFE OF ETHAN ALLEN.</p> + +<p class="padbase">By Charles Walter Brown, A. M. Cloth, nearly 300 pages, +12mo.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">LIFE OF W. T. SHERMAN.</p> + +<p> class="padbase" class="padbase">By Hon. W. Fletcher Johnson and Gen. O. O. Howard. +Cloth, 607 pages, large, 12mo.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">LIFE OF P. T. BARNUM.</p> + +<p class="padbase">By Hon. Joel Benton. Cloth, 621 pages, large, 12mo.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">LIFE OF T. DEWITT TALMAGE.</p> + +<p class="padbase">By Charles Francis Adams. Cloth, nearly 500 pages.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">LIFE OF D. L. MOODY.</p> + +<p class="padbase">By Charles Francis Adams. Cloth, 318 pages, large, +12mo.</p> + + +<p>For sale by all book and newsdealers or sent postpaid to any +address in the United States, Canada or Mexico, upon receipt of +price in currency, stamps, postal or express money order.</p> + +<p> +M. A. DONOHUE & CO.<br /> +407-429 Dearborn St.,<br /> +CHICAGO.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfonta">FORTUNE TELLING, MAGIC, TABLEAUX, +PANTOMIMES, PLAYS, SPEAKERS, ETC.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 132px;"> +<img src="images/i621a.png" width="132" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="lgfonta">Twentieth Century Wonder Book</p> +<p>By WM. C. HUNTER</p> + + +<p>A storehouse of wonderful things for the +entertainment, instruction, information and +amusement of the home circle. A book for +everybody; embracing riddles, conundrums +and autograph album mottoes, lessons in +parlor magic, interesting parlor games, +clairvoyant, the language of flowers, chemical +experiments, tableau, pantomimes +and true interpretation of dreams, prognostications +by cards explaining all cards +and how to define them, charms, charades, +how to delineate character, signs, omens, +fortune telling, etc., etc. The most wonderful +book ever compiled.</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Bound in Cloth</span>, 50c.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bound in Paper</span>, 25c.<br /> +</p> +<hr style="width: 0%;" /> + +<p class="lgfonta">Dearborn Speaker<br /></p> +<p><span class="smcap">182 Pages<br /> +12mo. Cloth</span></p> + +<p>Embracing original and select readings, recitations, declamations +and dialogues, with introductory observations of eminent elocutionists +and dramatists on the study and practice of elocution. Printed +from new plates, substantially bound, with title stamped in gold.</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Price</span> 75c.<br /> +</p> +<hr style="width: 0%;" /> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 139px;"> +<img src="images/i621b.png" width="139" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="lgfonta">Tommy's First Speaker</p> +<p><span class="smcap">160 Pages, 12mo. Cloth</span></p> + + +<p>Containing selections for boys and girls +that are simple, serious, quaint and pleasant +and so short that they can be easily +memorized. Over 300 selections, bound in +art vellum cloth, titles stamped on the front +cover.</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Price</span>, 50c.<br /> +</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">Tommy's Second Speaker</p> +<p><span class="smcap">160 Pages, 12mo. Cloth</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Comprising selections for boys and girls +of a more advanced age than those for +whom Tommy's First Speaker was written. +Over 200 selections, bound in art vellum cloth, title stamped on front +cover in ink from ornamental design.</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Price</span>, 50c.<br /> +</p> +<hr style="width: 0%;" /> + +<p>M. A. DONOHUE &. CO., CHICAGO.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfontc">Famous Books<br /> +<span class="smfonta">FOR BOYS</span><br /><br /></p> + + +<p>These are new and superior editions of these famous authors' +books for boys. They are printed from new plates on an excellent +quality of paper while many are profusely illustrated. Each book +is sewed, thus making a flexible back, so that it opens easily, +making its reading a pleasure and a comfort. The covers are +printed in two colors from appropriate designs on a heavy coated +enameled paper in assorted colors.<br /><br /></p> + +<p class="lgfonta">From the Modern Authors' Library</p> + + +<p>By G. A. Henty</p> + +<p> +260 Boy Knight, A<br /> +271 Cornet of Horse<br /> +280 Facing Death<br /> +285 Final Reckoning<br /> +295 In Freedom's Cause<br /> +296 In Times of Peril<br /> +297 In the Reign of Terror<br /> +299 Jack Archer<br /> +317 One of the 28th<br /> +318 Orange and Green<br /> +319 Out on the Pampas<br /> +337 True to the Old Flag<br /> +349 Under Drake's Flag<br /> +348 With Lee in Virginia<br /> +</p> + + +<p>By J. Fenimore Cooper</p> + +<p> +170 Last of the Mohicans, The<br /> +178 Pathfinder, The<br /> +179 Pioneers, The<br /> +180 Prairie, The<br /> +187 Spy, The<br /> +254 Deerslayer<br /> +</p> + + +<p>By Victor Hugo</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">36 By Order of the King</span><br /> +272 Cosette<br /> +283 Fantine<br /> +106 Hans of Iceland<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">37 History of a Crime</span><br /> +300 Jean Valjean<br /> +308 Marius<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">38 Ninety-Three</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">39 Notre Dame de Paris</span><br /> +331 St. Denis<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">40 Toilers of the Sea</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>By Emile Gaboriau</p> + +<p> +284 File No. 113—<br /> +287 Gilded Clique<br /> +108 Lecoq, the Detective<br /> +199 Lerouge Case, The<br /> +312 Mystery of Orcival<br /> +</p> + + +<p>By Jules Verne</p> + +<p> +245 Michael Strogoff<br /> +219 Mysterious Island<br /> +189 Tour of the World in 80 Days<br /> +121 Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea<br /> +</p> + + +<p>By H. Rider Haggard</p> + +<p> +153 Allan Quartermain<br /> +228 Allan's Wife<br /> +160 Cleopatra<br /> +100 Jess<br /> +167 King Solomon's Mines<br /> +112 Miawa's Revenge<br /> +244 Mr. Meeson's Will<br /> +186 She<br /> +</p> + + +<p>PRICE, POSTPAID 25c EACH OR ANY FIVE FOR $1.00</p> + +<p>For sale by all book and newsdealers or sent postpaid to any +address in the United States, Canada or Mexico, upon receipt of +price in currency, stamps, postal or express money order.</p> + +<p> +M. A. DONOHUE & CO.<br /> +407-429 Dearborn St., CHICAGO<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfontb">Comic Readings and Recitations</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 74px;"> +<img src="images/i623a.png" width="74" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Compiled by CHARLES WALTER BROWN, A. M.<br /><br /></p> + + +<p class="padbase">Few of the selections contained in this book +have ever before appeared in print. Copyright +matter has been procured at great expense from +the greatest wits of the age. Such delightful +entertainers as Ezra Kendall, Lew Dockstadter, +Josh Billings, James Whitcomb Riley, Marshall +P. Wilder, Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Opie Read, +Bill Nye, Petroleum V. Nashby, Artemus Ward, +together with the best from "Puck," "Judge," +"Life," "Detroit Free Press," "Arizona Kicker," +renders this book the best of its kind published.</p> + +<p>Paper covers, printed in two colors on enameled paper, 25 cents.</p> + +<p>Cloth, gold titles, original designs, stamped in inks, 50 cents.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + + +<p class="lgfontb">The American Star Speaker and Model Elocutionist</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 140px;"> +<img src="images/i623b.png" width="140" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>By CHARLES WALTER BROWN, A. M.<br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="padbase">Many Speakers are advertised to be <i>the +best</i>, but a comparison is all that is necessary +to convince anyone that our claim +that <b>The American Star Speaker & Model +Elocutionist</b> is beyond all question the +best from an Elocutionary point of view. +Of the 500 or more selections there is +not one that is not available for reading +on any desired occasion. The treatise +on Acting, Delsarte, Elocution, Oratory +and Physical Culture is by the professor +of these departments in the Missouri +State University, while its mechanical +make-up is that of a work of art, for the +text and half-tone illustrations are the +best made. No home, school, church, +club, literary society, lodge or library is +complete without this book. It gives +more for the money than any similar work published. Space forbids +further details. Satisfaction is guaranteed. Elegantly and +substantially printed and bound in the best silk cloth, the national +emblems being stamped from artistic designs in the patriotic +colors. Price, $1.50.</p> + + +<p>For sale by all book and newsdealers or sent postpaid to any +address in the United States, Canada or Mexico upon receipt of +price in currency, postal or express money order.</p> + +<p> +M. A. DONOHUE & CO.<br /> +407-429 Dearborn Street<br /> +CHICAGO<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfonta">Biographies <i>of</i> Prominent,<br /> +<span class="lgfontb">Border Bandits</span></p> + +<p>Profusely Illustrated</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 118px;"> +<img src="images/i624.png" width="118" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="lgfonta">Frank and Jesse James</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">By J. W. Buel</span></p> + + +<p class="padbase">The life and daring deeds of noted criminals +have a wonderful fascination for most people the +world over. The highway robber, road agent or +bank plunderer who boldly takes his life in his +hands and makes a desperate dash after other +people's money at once finds himself a hero. +290 pages. <span class="smcap">Price</span>: cloth, 75 cents; paper, 25 cents.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">The Younger Brothers</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">By J. W. Buel</span></p> + +<p class="padbase">The lives of these men need no romantic or +exaggerated shading to make the narrative remarkable. +Their deeds are as prominent in the archives +of guerrilla warfare as their names are familiar on +the border. 268 pages. <span class="smcap">Price</span>: cloth, 75 cents; +paper, 25 cents.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">The Dalton Brothers</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">By Llew Williams</span></p> + +<p class="padbase">This is a remarkable tale of the adventures of these noted bandits in +their plunderings on the border. The work is fully illustrated from life +and graphically depicts the desperate and startling criminal careers of +all the men who composed the notorious Dalton gang. 234 pages. +<span class="smcap">Price</span>: cloth, 75 cents; paper, 25 cents.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">Harry Tracy, the Bandit</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">By W. B. Hennessy</span></p> + +<p class="padbase">The career of Tracy, which thrilled and horrified two continents, is +still the sensation of the day. His deeds of crime and outlawry are unparalleled. +Like the James Boys, the Youngers and the Daltons, he began +his depredations in Missouri, which state was also the scene of the +"labors" of the Quantrells and the Benders. 336 pages; 25 full page +illustrations. <span class="smcap">Price</span>: cloth, 75 cents; paper, 25 cents.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">Twin Hells</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">By John M. Reynolds</span></p> + +<p class="padbase">This is a thrilling narrative of life in Kansas and Missouri penitentiaries. +Endorsed by over 1000 clergymen, wardens and state officials as +a book that should be read by every youth and citizen for its moral influences, +information and excitement. It is absolutely unsurpassed for interest +and reflection. 331 pages. <span class="smcap">Price</span>: cloth, 75 cents; paper, 25 cents.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">Cow Boy Life in Texas</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">By W. S. James</span></p> + +<p>This is the only realistic and yet withal true recital of wild life on the +boundless plains of Texas, it being the actual experience of 27 years in +the exciting life of a genuine Cow Boy. The author was born in Texas at +a time when no man's life was safe and the whole southwest from the +Missouri to the Rio Grande was infested with cruel and blood-thirsty outlaws. +Contains more than 50 illustrations from life. 213 pages. +<span class="smcap">Price</span>: cloth, 75 cents; paper, 25 cents.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>For sale by all Book and News Dealers, or will be sent to any address +in the United States, Canada or Mexico, postage paid, on receipt +of price in currency, money order or stamps.</p> + +<p> +M. A. Donohue & Co.<br /> +407-429 Dearborn Street,<br /> +Chicago<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfonta">THE GREATEST LIFE OF<br /> +<span class="lgfontb">Abraham Lincoln</span><br /> +<span class="smfonta">YET PUBLISHED</span></p> + +<p>By HON. JOS. H. BARRETT, +and CHARLES WALTER BROWN, A. M.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 133px;"> +<img src="images/i625.png" width="133" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>In this great work which embraces +the complete life of the greatest man of +modern times, nothing has been omitted +or slighted. His early History, Political +Career, Speeches, both in and out of Congress, +the great Lincoln-Douglas Debates, +every state paper, speech, message +and two inaugural addresses are +given in full, together with many characteristic +<b>STORIES AND YARNS</b> by and +concerning Lincoln, which have earned +for him the sobriquet</p> + +<p class="center lgfonta">The Story Telling President.</p> + +<p>In addition there is included a <b>COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF +HIS ASSASSINATION</b>, death and burial, together with the trial +and execution of his assassins.</p> + +<p>This immense volume of 850 pages contains nearly 360,000 +words, being six times larger than the average school history. +Size of book 6-1/2 × 9, 3 inches thick, weighing nearly 3 pounds.</p> + +<p>PRICE, $1.00.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Sent postpaid to any address in the United States, Canada or +Mexico upon receipt of price, in currency, express or postal money +order or stamps.</p> + +<p> +M. A. Donohue & Co.<br /> +<i>407-429 Dearborn Street CHICAGO</i><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfontc"><span class="smcap">Picturesque American Biographies</span></p> + +<p>"In John Paul Jones and Ethan Allen, Mr. Brown found two of the +most picturesque figures in the life of the country, and he has shown +himself able to deal with them as historical persons, without detracting +anything from the romantic qualities of their individuality. He +competes with historical fiction by developing the superior interest +of the facts as they grew out of the life of his heroes and the life of +their times. Few biographies intended for popular reading and the +widest general circulation illustrate this same faculty of measuring +statement and giving its governing value to fact while developing the +picturesque and the romantic as it lies latent in history."—<span class="smcap">William +Vincent Byars</span> in <i>The St. Louis Star</i>.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + + +<p class="lgfontb">LIFE AND DEEDS OF ETHAN ALLEN AND THE GREEN +MOUNTAIN BOYS</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 136px;"> +<img src="images/i626a.png" width="136" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>By Charles Walter Brown, A. M.</p> + +<p>Author of "John Paul Jones," "Nathan +Hale," "Lafayette," "Pulaski," "Washington," +"Abraham Lincoln," "Sherman."</p> + +<p>16 ILLUSTRATIONS</p> + +<p>"It is the best 'life' of Ethan Allen published."—<i>Chicago +Chronicle.</i></p> + +<p>"It abounds in incidents, anecdotes and adventures."—<i>Louisville +Courier Journal.</i></p> + +<p>"It is a painstaking and accurate biography, +possessing the fascination of romance."—<i>St. +Louis Republic.</i></p> + +<p>"The account of the expedition into Canada +and Allen's lamentable capture by the +British, near Montreal, holds the reader's +attention with all the force of a work of +fiction."—<i>Chicago Journal.</i></p> + +<p>12mo, cloth, size 5-5/8 × 7-7/8, nearly 300 +pages. Price, Postpaid $1.00</p> + +<hr style="width: 0%;" /> + +<p class="lgfontb">LIFE AND DEEDS OF JOHN PAUL JONES of NAVAL +FAME</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 138px;"> +<img src="images/i626b.png" width="138" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>By Charles Walter Brown, A. M.</p> + +<p>12 ILLUSTRATIONS</p> + +<p>"This book is a credit to any publishing +house."—<i>Detroit Free Press.</i></p> + +<p>"The publication is a careful and commendable +one."—<i>Chicago Journal.</i></p> + +<p>"The public will readily welcome this +new and valuable biography of John Paul +Jones."—<i>Indianapolis Sentinel.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Brown is a faithful biographer and +historian, and has the happy knack of +making his hero live again in the imagination +of his host of readers."—<i>Literary +Life, New York.</i></p> + +<p>Size, 5-5/8 × 7-7/8; nearly 300 pages; 12mo, +cloth. Price, Postpaid $1.00</p> + +<p>This set of two volumes, "Allen" and +"Jones" sent to one address, express +paid, for $1.50</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p> +M. A. DONOHUE & CO.,<br /> +407-429 Dearborn Street<br /> +CHICAGO<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfonta">STANDARD ENGLISH-SPANISH +AND SPANISH-ENGLISH DICTIONARY.</p> + +<p>Containing 500 pages; white and red edges. Size, 6-1/4 × 5 +inches. Printed from new plates on good paper; bound in cloth; +title stamped on side and back.</p> + +<p class="padbase">Price, 75 Cents.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">KOHLER'S ENGLISH-GERMAN +AND GERMAN-ENGLISH DICTIONARY.</p> + +<p>Red and white edges, new plates, good paper, bound in cloth, +title on side and back.</p> + +<p class="padbase">Price, 75 Cents.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">MASSON'S ENGLISH-FRENCH +AND FRENCH-ENGLISH DICTIONARY.</p> + +<p>Printed on good paper, substantially bound, title on side and +back.</p> + +<p class="padbase">Price, 75 Cents.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">DONOHUE'S +VEST POCKET WEBSTER'S MANUAL</p> + +<p>For Readers, Writers and Speakers.</p> + +<p>Contains complete dictionary of 18,000 synonyms, besides +complete tables and definitions, short words and phrases, etc.; +how to read, write and speak.</p> + +<p class="padbase">Bound in cloth, red edges, 25 Cents.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">Donohue's Vest Pocket Dictionary +and Complete Manual of +Parliamentary Practice.</p> + +<p>Containing 256 pages; size, 5-3/4 × 2-3/4. It contains more words, +more miscellaneous matter and embraces more pages than any +other Vest Pocket Dictionary on the market, and yet it is so admirably +made that it does not bulk in the pocket. Besides the +dictionary of the English language it contains a dictionary of +Latin words and phrases, French words and phrases, Italian +words and phrases, Spanish words and phrases, and complete +manual of parliamentary practice. Type clear, paper good and +binding excellent. It is made in the following styles:</p> + +<p> +Bound in binders' cloth, red edges, without index, 25 cents.<br /> +Bound in cloth, red edges, indexed, 35 cents.<br /> +Bound in full leather, full gilt edges, indexed, 50 cents.<br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>For sale by all Book and Newsdealers, or will send to any address +in the United States, Canada or Mexico, postage prepaid, on +receipt of price, in currency, money order or stamps.</p> + +<p> +M. A. Donohue & Co.<br /> +407-429 Dearborn St.<br /> +CHICAGO<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfontb">"HARKAWAY" SERIES<br /> +<span class="smfonta">OF BOOKS FOR BOYS</span></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 124px;"> +<img src="images/i628.png" width="124" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>By BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG<br /><br /></p> + +<p>"Jack Harkaway's School Days" is +one of the most fascinating and instructive +books for boys published, +and should be read by every boy before +his 15th year. After reading +this book the other 14 should be read +in the order in which they are given +since each is a continuation of the +one preceding.</p> + +<p>They are uniformly bound in linen +cloth, stamped with original designs, +in inks, on backs and sides.</p> + +<p>PRICE PER VOLUME, 75 CENTS</p> + +<p>"No more readable books for the young have ever been +printed than these fifteen volumes."—<i>Book and Newsdealer.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 0%;" /> +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 Jack Harkaway's School Days</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2 Jack Harkaway After School Days</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">3 Jack Harkaway Afloat and Ashore</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">4 Jack Harkaway at Oxford, Part 1</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">5 Jack Harkaway at Oxford, Part 2</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">6 Jack Harkaway Among the Brigands, Part 1</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">7 Jack Harkaway Among the Brigands, Part 2</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">8 Jack Harkaway's Adventures Around the World</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">9 Jack Harkaway in America and Cuba</span><br /> +10 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in China<br /> +11 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in Greece, Part 1<br /> +12 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in Greece, Part 2<br /> +13 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in Australia<br /> +14 Jack Harkaway and His Boy Tinker, Part 1<br /> +15 Jack Harkaway and His Boy Tinker, Part 2<br /> +</p> + +<p>For sale by all book and newsdealers or will be sent postpaid +upon receipt of price, in currency, money order or stamps, to any +address in the United States, Canada or Mexico.</p> + +<p> +M. A. DONOHUE & CO.<br /> +407-429 Dearborn St.<br /> +Chicago<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfontb">LOVE LETTERS</p> + +<p class="lgfonta">With Directions How To Write Them</p> + +<p class="lgfonta">By INGOLDSBY NORTH.</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 72px;"> +<img src="images/i629a.png" width="72" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>This is a branch of correspondence which fully +demands a volume alone to provide for the various +phases incident to Love, Courtship and Marriage. +Few persons, however otherwise fluent with the pen, +are able to express in words the promptings of the +first dawn of love, and even the ice once broken +how to follow up a correspondence with the dearest +one in the whole world and how to smooth the +way with those who need to be consulted in the +matter. The numerous letters and answers in this +book go far to overcome the difficulties and embarrassment inseparable +from letters on this all-absorbing topic in all stages from +beginning to end of a successful courtship, aided in many instances +by the author's sensible comments on the specimen letters, and +his valuable hints under adverse contingencies. It also contains +the Art of Secret Writing, the Language of Love portrayed and +rules in grammar.</p> + +<p>Paper Covers, 25 Cents. Cloth, 50 Cents.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + + +<p class="lgfontb">THE COMPLETE LETTER WRITER</p> + +<p class="lgfonta">Being the only Comprehensive and Practical Guide and +Assistant to Letter Writing Published.</p> + +<p class="lgfonta">Edited by CHARLES WALTER BROWN, A. M.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 73px;"> +<img src="images/i629b.png" width="73" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>There are few books that contain such a fund of +valuable information on the every-day affairs of life. +In addition to every conceivable form of business +and social correspondence, there are letters of Condolence, +Introduction, Congratulation, Felicitation, +Advice and Favor; Letters accompanying presents; +Notes on Love, Courtship and Marriage; Forms of +Weddings Anniversaries, Socials, Parties, Notes, +Wills, Deeds, Mortgages; Tables, Abbreviations, +Classical Terms, Common Errors, Selections for +Autograph Albums; Information concerning Rates on Foreign and +Domestic Postage, together with a dictionary of nearly 10,000 +Synonyms and other valuable information which space will not +admit of mention. The book is printed from new plates, on a superior +quality of paper and bound in substantial and durable +manner. 12mo.</p> + +<p>Paper Covers, 25c. Cloth, 50c. Cloth, 320 Pages, Price $1.00</p> + + +<p>For sale by all book and newsdealers, or sent to any address in +the U. S., Canada or Mexico, postage prepaid on receipt of price +in currency, money order or stamps.</p> + +<p> +M. A. DONOHUE & CO.<br /> +407-429 DEARBORN ST.<br /> +CHICAGO<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p>THE COMPLETE<br /> +<span class="lgfontb">HOUSE BUILDER</span><br /> +With Practical Hints on Construction</p> + +<p>The subject of house building is of interest to all, even though +financially they are at present unable to realize their cherished hopes. +A few months or a year may so change the aspect of one's affairs as to +render it possible to build. It is therefore well for all to anticipate +the realization of a home and become familiar with the requisites +of a good house, barn, warehouse, or other necessary building. +This valuable work contains not only Plans and Specifications for +Dwellings, but Clubs, Churches, Public Buildings, Barns, and all necessary +outbuildings for Farms, Country Seats, Suburban Homes, etc.; +accurate estimates of materials with cost, and all Tables and Rules +necessary in Plastering, Plumbing, Painting, Roofing, Masonry, Cornice, +Windows, Doors and Porch Materials, with 50 Plans and Specifications +on buildings from $476 up, are given.</p> + +<p>176 pages, 12mo, paper.</p> + +<p class="padbase"> +<span class="smcap">Price, 25 Cents.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>THE COMPLETE<br /> +<span class="lgfontb">LETTER WRITER</span><br /> +Being the only Comprehensive and Practical Guide and +Assistant to Letter Writing Published</p> + +<p>Edited by CHARLES WALTER BROWN</p> + +<p>There are few books that contain such a fund of valuable information +on the every-day affairs of life. In addition to every conceivable +form of business and social correspondence, there are Letters of +Condolence, Introduction, Congratulation, Felicitation, Advice and +Favor, Letters accompanying presents; Notes on Love, Courtship and +Marriage; Forms for Wedding Anniversaries, Socials, Parties, Notes, +Wills, Deeds, Mortgages: Tables, Abbreviations, Classical Terms, +Common Errors, Selections for Autograph Albums; Information concerning +Rates on Foreign and Domestic Postage, together with a Dictionary +of nearly 10,000 Synonyms and other valuable information +which space will not admit of mention.</p> + +<p>The book is printed from new plates, on a superior quality of +paper and bound in substantial and durable cloth.</p> + +<p>320 pages, 12mo.</p> + +<p class="padbase"> +<span class="smcap">Price</span> $1.00<br /> +</p> + + +<p>For sale by all Book and News Dealers, or will send to any address +in the U. S., Canada or Mexico, postage prepaid on receipt of price</p> + +<p>M. A. DONOHUE & CO., CHICAGO.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfontc">Famous Books for Boys</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 106px;"> +<img src="images/i631.png" width="106" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="lgfonta">Famous Frontiersmen, Pioneers +and Scouts.</p> + +<p class="padbase">A thrilling narrative of the lives and marvelous +exploits of the most renowned Heroes, Trappers, +Explorers, Adventurers and other Scouts +and Indian Fighters, by E. G. Gattermole, A. H. +540 pages, over 250 full page portraits and +illustrations; bound in English Silk Cloth, +stamped in Inks. List price, $1.00.</p> + +<p class="lgfonta">The Boy Spy.</p> + +<p class="padbase">By Major Kerbey. A substantially true record +of Secret Service during the Rebellion. A correct account of events +witnessed by a soldier attached to headquarters. The only practical +history of the war telegraphers in the field. A full account of +the mysteries of Signaling by Flags, Torches and Rockets. Thrilling +scenes of Battles, Captures and Escapes. Fully illustrated +by True Williams. Large 12mo. Price, $1.00.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">Boys' Life on the Frontier.</p> + +<p class="padbase">By Frank W. Calkins. Containing Frontier Sketches, Indian Tales +and Hunting Stories. The most interesting series of experiences +ever published. All having originally appeared in the Youth's +Companion, which is a guarantee of their superior excellence in +every way. Containing 403 pages of large, clear type, and numerous +illustrations, bound in cloth, stamped in Inks from unique +dies.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">War Path and Bivouac;</p> + +<p class="padbase">or, The Conquest of the Sioux. A narrative of stirring personal +experiences and adventures on the frontier, and in the campaigns +in the Northwest in 1879, by John F. Finerty; containing 468 +pages; numerous engravings and illustrations; bound in Cloth; +stamped in Inks from unique dies. One of the most interesting +works on Frontier Life ever issued. List price, $1.00.</p> + + +<p class="lgfonta">Marching Through Georgia.</p> + +<p>Being Pen Pictures of Every Day Life in General Sherman's +Army, from the beginning of the Atlanta Campaign until the close +of the war. By F. Y. Hedley, Adjutant Thirty-Second Illinois Infantry, +with Introduction by Charles Walter Brown, A. M. and with illustrations +by F. L. Stoddard. Dedicated by permission to Mrs. John +A. Logan: Autograph letter from General Sherman, 500 pages, +large 12mo, cloth. Price $1.00.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>For sale by all Book and Newsdealers, or will send to any address +in the United States, Canada or Mexico, postage prepaid, on receipt +of price, in currency, money order or stamps.</p> + +<p> +M. A. Donohue & Co.<br /> +407-429 DEARBORN ST.<br /> +CHICAGO<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfontb"><span class="smcap"><i>Complete Hypnotism</i></span><br /> +<span class="smfonta"><i>Or, How to Hypnotize</i></span></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 71px;"> +<img src="images/i632a.png" width="71" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>A manual of self-instruction based on the new and +improved system of mental and bodily healing. +Pronounced by all who have read it to be the most +fascinating and instructive book of its kind published. +Inductive Hypnotism, Mesmerism, Suggestive +Therapeutics and Magnetic Healing, including +Telepathy, Mind Reading and Spiritualism fully +treated. Nearly 100 lessons especially prepared +for self-instruction. This is positively the best book +on Hypnotism published. Fully illustrated.</p> + +<p>Paper covers, 25 cents; Cloth, 50 cents.</p> + +<hr style="width: 0%;" /> + +<p class="lgfontb"><i>The Complete Palmist</i></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 71px;"> +<img src="images/i632b.png" width="71" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Prepared for self-instruction by Ina Oxenford, +the world-renowned author and acknowledged +authority on Palmistry. This is the simplest presentation +of the science of Modern Palmistry published. +There is no trait, no characteristic, no inherited +tendency that is not marked on the palm of +the hand and can be traced with unerring accuracy +by following the instructions given in this book. +Even a casual reading will enable one to know his +own character better and give convincing proof of +the constancy of friends, or the professing ones. +The Bible attests the truth of Palmistry.</p> + +<p>Paper covers, 25 cents; Cloth, 50 cents.</p> + +<hr style="width: 0%;" /> + +<p class="lgfontb"><i>The Mystic Fortune Teller, +Dream Book and Policy Players' Guide</i></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 71px;"> +<img src="images/i632c.png" width="71" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>This book contains an alphabetical list of dreams, +with their significations and lucky numbers, and +the getting of fortunes by the Mystic Circle, Cards, +Dice, Coffee and Tea Grounds, etc. Also a list of +curious superstitions and omens, birthdays, lucky +days, their significance and their numbers. It is +unquestionably the best and most reliable book of +its kind published and is worth many times the +price asked for it.</p> + +<p>Paper covers, 25 cents; Cloth, 50 cents.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>For sale by all book and newsdealers or sent postpaid to any +address in the United States, Canada or Mexico upon receipt of +price in currency, postal or express money order.</p> + +<p> +<i>M. A. DONOHUE & CO.<br /> +407-429 Dearborn Street. CHICAGO</i><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="lgfontc">FIRESIDE HENTY SERIES</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 149px;"> +<img src="images/i633.png" width="149" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Comprising 84 titles by such authors as +Henty, Mayne Reid, Baker, Horatio Alger, +Oliver Optic, Lover, Cooper, DeFoe, Stowe, +Ilsley, Stevenson, etc. Bound in best quality +of cloth, stamped on the back and side in +ink from a unique and attractive die, and +printed on an extra quality of paper from +new plates. Olivine edges. Each book in a +printed wrapper.</p> + +<p>Price, 50c per Volume.</p> + +<hr style="width:0%;"/> +<p> +Adventures Among the Indians. W. H. G. Kingston.<br /> +Adventures in Cuba. Felix L. Oswald.<br /> +Adventures in Tropics. Fred Gerstacker.<br /> +Adventures on Forest and Shore. Charles Ilsley.<br /> +Afloat in the Forest. Capt. Mayne Reid.<br /> +All Aboard. Oliver Optic.<br /> +Among the Malays. G. A. Henty.<br /> +<br /> +Black Beauty. Sewall.<br /> +Boat Club. Oliver Optic.<br /> +Bonnie Prince Charley. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Boy Hunters. Capt. Mayne Reid.<br /> +Boy Knight, The. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Bravest of the Brave. G. A. Henty.<br /> +By England's Aid. G. A. Henty.<br /> +By Pike and Dyke. G. A. Henty.<br /> +By Right of Conquest. G. A. Henty.<br /> +By Sheer Pluck. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Buccaneers on Land and Sea.<br /> +<br /> +Capt. Bayley's Heir. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Cast Up by the Sea. Sir Samuel W. Baker.<br /> +Cat of Bubastes. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Cornet of Horse. G. A. Henty.<br /> +<br /> +Daniel Boone, Heroes and Hunters of the West.<br /> +Deerslayer. J. F. Cooper.<br /> +Desert Home. Capt. Mayne Reid.<br /> +Dragon and Raven. G. A. Henty.<br /> +<br /> +Facing Death. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Final Reckoning, A. G. A. Henty.<br /> +For Name and Fame. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Forest and Frontiers.<br /> +For the Temple. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Friends, Though Divided. G. A. Henty.<br /> +<br /> +Golden Canon. G. A. Henty.<br /> +<br /> +Handy Andy. Samuel Lover.<br /> +Hero of Pine Ridge.<br /> +Hunting in the Great West. Shields.<br /> +<br /> +In Freedom's Cause. G. A. Henty.<br /> +In the Reign of Terror. G. A. Henty.<br /> +In Times of Peril. G. A. Henty.<br /> +<br /> +Jack Archer; A Tale of Crimea.<br /> +Jack Harkaway's School Days. Heming.<br /> +<br /> +Last of the Mohicans. J. F. Cooper.<br /> +Lion of St. Mark. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Lion of the North. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Lone Ranch, The. Capt. Mayne Reid.<br /> +<br /> +Maori and Settler. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Mysterious Island. Jules Verne.<br /> +<br /> +Now or Never. Oliver Optic.<br /> +<br /> +Ocean Rover.<br /> +One of the 28th. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Orange and Green; A Tale of Boyne and Limerick. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Out on the Pampas. G. A. Henty.<br /> +<br /> +Pathfinder. J. F. Cooper.<br /> +Pilot. J. F. Cooper.<br /> +Pioneers. J. F. Cooper.<br /> +Poor and Proud. Oliver Optic.<br /> +Prairie. J. F. Cooper.<br /> +<br /> +Rangers and Regulators. Capt. Mayne Reid.<br /> +Red Rover. J. F. Cooper.<br /> +Robinson Crusoe. D. DeFoe.<br /> +<br /> +Scalp Hunters and Rifle Rangers. Reid.<br /> +Slow and Sure. Horatio Alger.<br /> +Spy. J. Fenimore Cooper.<br /> +St. George for England. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Sturdy and Strong. G. A. Henty.<br /> +<br /> +Through the Fray. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Treasure Island. R. L. Stevenson.<br /> +Try Again. Optic.<br /> +True to the Old Flag. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Two Admirals. J. F. Cooper.<br /> +<br /> +Uncle Tom's Cabin. Stowe.<br /> +Under Drake's Flag. G. A. Henty.<br /> +<br /> +Voyage and Ventures of Famous Sailors.<br /> +<br /> +Water Witch. J. F. Cooper.<br /> +Wing and Wing. J. F. Cooper.<br /> +With Clive in India. G. A. Henty.<br /> +With Lee in Virginia. G. A. Henty.<br /> +With Wolfe in Canada. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Wood Rangers; or, the Trappers of Sonora. Capt. Mayne Reid.<br /> +<br /> +Young Buglers, The. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Young Carthaginians. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Young Colonists, The. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Young Franc-Tireurs. G. A. Henty.<br /> +Young Midshipman. G. A. Henty.<br /> +</p> + + +<p>For sale by all Book and Newsdealers, or will send to any address in the United +States, Canada or Mexico, postage prepaid, on receipt of price, in currency, money +order or stamps.</p> + +<p> +M. A. DONOHUE & CO.<br /> +407-429 Dearborn Street,<br /> +CHICAGO.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 158px;"> +<img src="images/i634a.png" width="158" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="lgfontb">QUO VADIS.</p> + +<p>By <span class="smcap">Henryk Sienkiewicz</span>.</p> + + +<p>530 pages and illustrated with 32 photographs +and scenes in half-tone, taken from F. +C. Whitney's great dramatic production. A +new and complete translation, printed from +large, clear type, on superior quality of paper, +and bound in ornamental cloth with title +stamped on front and back from unique dies. +A sumptuous edition of this masterpiece.</p> + +<p>Price, Cloth, $1.00; Paper, 25 Cents.</p> + +<hr style="width:0%;"/> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 87px;"> +<img src="images/i634b.png" width="87" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="lgfontb">In His Steps.</p> + +<p>By <span class="smcap">Charles M. Sheldon</span>.</p> + +<p>275 pages, illustrated with 8 beautiful half-tone engravings. +Printed from new, clear type on superior paper, +bound in ornamental cloth, stamped from unique dies, title +on side and back in gold. Over three million copies of this +book have been sold, and it has been the aim of the publishers +to make this edition the most attractive illustrated +edition at a popular price.</p> + +<p>Price, Cloth, $1.00; Paper, 25 Cents.</p> +<hr style="width:0%;"/> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 94px;"> +<img src="images/i634c.png" width="94" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="lgfontb">Sappho.</p> + +<p>By <span class="smcap">Alphonse Daudet</span>.</p> + +<p>224 pages, illustrated with 8 half-tone reproductions of the +striking climaxes of the play. New type, superior paper and +bound in ornamental cloth, embellished with unique stamping +on side and back in gold.</p> + +<p>Price, Cloth, $1.00; Paper, 25 Cents.</p> + +<hr style="width:0%;"/> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 142px;"> +<img src="images/i634d.png" width="142" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="lgfontb">Black Rock, +<span class="smfonta">A Tale of the Selkirks.</span></p> + +<p>By <span class="smcap">Ralph Connor</span>.</p> + +<p>Printed from new plates, on good paper and bound +in art linen cloth, and stamped in three colors from +ornamental designs on side and back. Containing +attractive frontispiece. A new edition of one of the +most popular and best selling books of the year, and +has been universally commended by the press and +public as a work in which the freshest humor, purest +pathos, and the most exquisite tenderness are portrayed. +Bound in cloth, stamped in two inks from +unique dies.</p> + +<p>Price, Cloth, $1.00; Paper, 25 Cents.</p> + +<hr style="width:0%;"/> +<p>For sale by all Booksellers or postpaid by</p> + +<p>M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY, CHICAGO.</p> + +<div class="bbox"> + +<p>Transcriber's Notes:</p> + +<p>Chapter XVIII was duplicated in the text. The Table of Contents has been +changed to reflect the chapter numbers given in the text.</p> + +<p>Punctuation has been standardised.</p> + +<p>Minor printer errors (e.g. omitted, superfluous or transposed +characters) have been fixed.</p> + +<p>Misspelled words have been corrected to match correct spellings found +elsewhere in the text. Corrections to proper nouns are listed below.</p> + +<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation were retained in the text if both +variations were used in equal amounts.</p> + +<p>Title page, "SIGNALLING" changed to "<a href="#signaling">SIGNALING"</a> (MYSTERIES OF SIGNALING)</p> + +<p>Illustration was published at Page 247 in error. It has been moved to Page 347.</p> + +<p>Illustration was published at Page 306 in error. It has been moved to Page 316.</p> + +<p>Page vi, "Breckenridge" changed to "<a href="#breck">Breckinridge</a>" (Breckinridge--Extra)</p> + +<p>Page 10, "Fredericksburgh" changed to "<a href="#fred1">Fredericksburg</a>" (Ferry, +Fredericksburg)</p> + +<p>Page 26, "Mongomery" changed to "<a href="#montg">Montgomery</a>" (while in Montgomery)</p> + +<p>Page 34, "McRea" changed to "<a href="#mcrae">McRae</a>" (through Fort McRae)</p> + +<p>Page 36, "Pansacola" changed to "<a href="#pensa">Pensacola</a>" (There were at Pensacola)</p> + +<p>Page 86, "Harrisburgh" changed to "<a href="#harris">Harrisburg</a>" (to Baltimore and +Harrisburg)</p> + +<p>Page 178, "FREDRICKSBURG" changed to "<a href="#fred2">FREDERICKSBURG</a>" (VISIT TO +FREDERICKSBURG)</p> + +<p>Page 198, "Manasses" changed to "<a href="#manas1">Manassas</a>" (out to Manassas Junction)</p> + +<p>Page 200, "Manasses" changed to "<a href="#manas2">Manassas</a>" (hill road Manassas)</p> + +<p>Page 214, "Manasses" changed to "<a href="#manas3">Manassas</a>" (Richmond and Manassas)</p> + +<p>Page 260, "Laynard" changed to "<a href="#lanyard">Lanyard</a>" (Colonel and Lanyard)</p> + +<p>Page 273, "Rocket's" changed to "<a href="#rock">Rockett's</a>" (Prison and Rockett's)</p> + +<p>Page 277, "McCellan's" changed to "<a href="#mcclell">McClellan's</a>" (attacked McClellan's)</p> + +<p>Page 302, "Manasses" changed to "<a href="#manas4">Manassas</a>" (known me at Manassas)</p> + +<p>Page 360, "Morehead" changed to "<a href="#moor1">Moorehead</a>" (Moorehead, who represented)</p> + +<p>Page 367, "Moorhead" changed to "<a href="#moor2">Moorehead</a>" (General Moorehead agreed)</p> + +<p>Page 367, "Holidaysburg" changed to "<a href="#holl">Hollidaysburg</a>" (Blair, of +Hollidaysburg)</p> + +<p>Page 383, "Fredricksburg" changed to "<a href="#fred3">Fredericksburg</a>" (Fredericksburg +with McDowell)</p> + +<p>Page 392, "Pinkertown" changed to "<a href="#pink">Pinkerton</a>" (his Pinkerton crowd)</p> + +<p>Page 402, "Fredericksburgh" changed to "<a href="#fred4">Fredericksburg</a>" (telegrapher +at Fredericksburg)</p> + +<p>Illustration following Page 412, changed "CAPITAL" to "<a href="#cap1">CAPITOL</a>" (IN OLD +CAPITOL PRISON)</p> + +<p>Illustration following Page 426, changed "CAPITAL" to "<a href="#cap2">CAPITOL</a>" (IN OLD +CAPITOL PRISON)</p> + +<p>Page 431, "Fredricksburg" changed to "<a href="#fred5">Fredericksburg</a>" (official at +Fredericksburg)</p> + +<p>Page 454, "Fredricksburg" changed to "<a href="#fred6">Fredericksburg</a>" (charge, at +Fredericksburg)</p> + +<p>Page 495, "Pleasanton" changed to "<a href="#pleas">Pleasonton</a>" three times in this +paragraph (Pleasonton and his friends)</p> + +<p>Page 501, "Stonemen" changed to "<a href="#stone">Stoneman</a>" (Stoneman was too much of)</p> + +<p>Page 506, "Mormans" changed to "<a href="#mormons">Mormons</a>" (among the Mormons)</p> + +<p>Alleghany and Allegheny both used in this text.</p> + +<p>Pretence and pretense both used in this text.</p> + +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Spy, by Joseph Kerby + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SPY *** + +***** This file should be named 34344-h.htm or 34344-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/3/4/34344/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Sharon Verougstraete, Joseph +Cooper and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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