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diff --git a/34344.txt b/34344.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9e4b27c --- /dev/null +++ b/34344.txt @@ -0,0 +1,24868 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** 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 + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "IF YOU ARE AROUND HERE WHEN WE BEGIN THE JOB, YOU WILL +FIND OUT ALL ABOUT THAT."] + + + 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 ATTACHED TO + HEADQUARTERS + + THE ONLY PRACTICAL HISTORY OF 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 + + BY + + MAJOR J. O. KERBEY + + CHICAGO. + M. A. DONOHUE & CO. + 407-429 DEARBORN ST. + + COPYRIGHT BY + + J. O. KERBEY. + + 1887-88-89-90. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + + Yours in F. C. & L., + + THE AUTHOR. + + + + +CONTENTS. + +[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.] + + CHAPTER. PAGE + + I. Introductory 9 + + II. 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 19 + + III. Pensacola, Florida--In Rebel Lines--Fort Pickens--Admiral + Porter and the Navy 28 + + IV. Crossing the Bay to Fort Pickens, etc. 38 + + V. Rebel Newspapers--On Admiral Porter's Ship 52 + + VI. 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 65 + + VII. 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 80 + + VIII. 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 94 + + IX. 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" 114 + + X. At Beauregard's Headquarters--On Duty at Manassas 125 + + XI. 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 134 + + XII. Another Escape, etc. 154 + + XIII. One More Escape--"Yanking" the Telegraph Wires--"On to + Richmond!"--A Close Shave 166 + + XIV. 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 178 + + XV. 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. 195 + + XVI. Richmond--Hollywood--Jeff Davis--Breckinridge--Extra Billy + Smith--Mayor, Governor, etc. 214 + + XVII. Richmond--A Close Shave 227 + + XVIII. Richmond on an Autumn Morning--A Group of Good Looking + Soldiers--Jeff Davis Passes By--The Battle of Ball's + Bluff--Richmond Newspapers 238 + + XVIII. 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 245 + + XIX. 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 261 + + XX. 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 272 + + XXI. 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 293 + + XXII. 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 314 + + XXIII. Return Home from Cumberland Gap--Meeting with Parson + Brownlow on His Trip to Washington 339 + + XXIV. 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 356 + + XXV. Geno--Fredericksburg--A Chapter of War History not in + _The Century_ Papers 377 + + XXVI. 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 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 396 + + XXVII. 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 412 + + XXVIII. 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 431 + + XXIX. 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 451 + + XXX. 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 480 + + XXXI. 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 510 + + XXXII. Sent to Find General Buford--A Hasty Ride--The Battle of + Gettysburg--Cemetery Ridge--General Doubleday--General Hancock--The + Second Day of the Battle 519 + + XXXIII. Closing Chapter 548 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + PAGE. + + "If You are around Here when We Begin the Job, You Will Find out + all about That." _Frontispiece._ + + A Close Call at Gettysburg 537 + + "Ah! Sketching, Are You?" 66 + + An Interview with Parson Brownlow 304 + + "Are You Union, or Confederate?" 338 + + "Bill, Ain't He the Fellow?" 282 + + Cavalry Picket on the Rappahannock 473 + + "Colonel Mosby's Soldiers, I Reckon, Sir?" 516 + + Cumberland Gap--This Was Enough for Me 329 + + Geno Was Not only the Prettiest, but the Sweetest Girl I ever Saw 381 + + "Get Up Here, You Damned Old Traitor." 316 + + "Halt!" 150 + + He seemed to have Forgotten all about Dressing Himself 359 + + I'd Cut Him and Feed the Pieces to the Sharks 44 + + I had Stepped onto the Decaying Body of--_a Man_! 181 + + In an Instant He Put the Point of His Sword against My Breast 347 + + In Old Capitol Prison--Disguised as a Contraband 427 + + In Old Capitol Prison--I Admit that I Broke Down Completely 413 + + I Was Being "Toted" Back to the Rebel Army 158 + + I Whispered to Him as I Went Past: "Norfolk is Taken." 223 + + I "Yanked," or by a Dexterous "Twist of the Wrist," I Was Able to + Break the Wire 170 + + Landing Kerslop over the Side onto the Ground 177 + + Miss Mamie Wells Ministering to the Wounded [Transcriber's + Note: This illustration is not found in the text.] 400 + + On a Scout to Richmond 396 + + Recognized by Texans at Richmond Theatre 248 + + Refusing in Her very Decided Manner to Walk under "That Flag" 383 + + Tail Piece--To the Boy Spy 556 + + Tapping the Telegraph Wire--"Are the Yanks in Fredericksburg?" 493 + + "Thank God, I'm Safe among my Friends." 121 + + The Sergeant kindly Gave Him the Steel 441 + + "To Father: I am Safe; Are All Well at Home?" 352 + + We hastily Dressed and Ran Back from the Bank 95 + + You always Say _Down_ Here, and That You're Going to go up Home 197 + + + + +THE BOY SPY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +INTRODUCTORY. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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, Fredericksburg, etc.--that +I, his youthful grandson, tramped over as a scout in another war half a +century later. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +In the same office, as a private clerk and telegrapher, was Mr. Andrew +Carnegie, now widely known as a capitalist. + +"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. + +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. + +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." + +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 _winked_ 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + + "I loved a maid, + And she was wondrous fair to see," + +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--I had nearly +written agility--to ride a bucking broncho and become an expert shot +with a Colt's revolver. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I happened to be present, in the crowded gallery of the Senate, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + + "TO JOHN W. FORNEY: + * * * * "Glory to God. "JOHN COVODE." + +He spelled God with a little g, Philadelphia with an F, but he got there +just the same. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +When I expressed a willingness to do anything, the old man said, in his +blunt, outspoken way: + +"Hold on now till I tell you about this thing first." Then proceeding to +explain in his homely, honest words: + +"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." + +When I observed that I wasn't born to be hanged, he said further, as he +fumbled over some papers in his hand: + +"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. + +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 introduced 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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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. + +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." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +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. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I made it a point to look closely after him, and soon gathered the +information that he had been a trusted employe 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. + +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. + +There were also to be seen in the hotel office, in the corridors, in +the barbers' shops, and even in the bar-room, groups of animated, +earnest, intensely earnest men, discussing the great "impending +conflict." + +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. + +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. + +There was an absence of enthusiasm and excitement among the common +people, which was a disappointment to those who had expected so much. + +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. + +In my walks about town my attention was attracted by a bill, posted on a +fence, bearing in large letters the heading, + + BOUNTY. + +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. + +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 the editor of the +Pittsburgh _Chronicle_, 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. + +This was probably among the first letters published from a "war +correspondent," written from the actual seat of war. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +Solitary and alone I held my little indignation meeting in Montgomery, +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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, _en route_, 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. + +This mother tongue "provincialism" was one of the greatest 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +As I had left Washington some time before, and had not had any +communication with the North while in Montgomery, 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. + +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. + +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 _both_ 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. + +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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +PENSACOLA, FLORIDA--IN REBEL LINES--FORT PICKENS--ADMIRAL PORTER AND THE +NAVY. + + +The sail down the Alabama river from Montgomery to Mobile was most +agreeable. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +There was a steam music machine on the boat somewhere, called a +calliope, which made the night and day both hideous. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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, _it did_, and was subsequently quoted +by Mr. Covode in the Committee on the Conduct of War. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 Lieutenant Slemmer and his men were in total ignorance of the +existence of this battery, which was correct, as subsequently +demonstrated. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 McRae, which was then being used as a +guard-house or prison. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +There were at Pensacola, 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. + +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. + +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." + +Here it was, then: the masked battery was to open the door and 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. + +The men must be prevented from landing on the island; I must go over +that night to post them, and I got there. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +CROSSING THE BAY TO FORT PICKENS, ETC. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +The ships outside were being manoeuvered 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. + +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. + +My only hope was to cross to the Island, some six or eight miles above +the Fort (Pickens) and nearly opposite the town of Pensacola, 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. + +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. + +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 _en route_ to Texas. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +A race over the bay to Fort Pickens with a Rebel harbor boat 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. + +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. + +I had put the latest New York _Herald_ 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. + +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. + +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 +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." + +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, _would_ +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +On the other side would be the outlines of the Rebel batteries, with +their sentries, while on the water, the guard or harbor boats. + +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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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. + +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. + +However, I briefly explained my business, and told him of the masked +batteries and the proposed attack from the island. Without 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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +To Mrs. Slemmer, it seems, was due some of the credit and glory of this +movement. + +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. + +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. + +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?" + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +REBEL NEWSPAPERS--ON ADMIRAL PORTER'S SHIP. + + +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. + +I was, of course, something new and fresh on board the ship, and the way +those chaps went for me was peculiar. + +Did you ever try to get into a hammock? I mean a _real_ hammock--one of +those made out of canvas cloth, which, rolled up--or slung, I think they +call it--looks like a big pudding. + +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. + +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. + +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 _into_ 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. + +My old guardian was busy somewhere with his lights, and when 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. + +He kindly explained to me the _modus operandi_ 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. + +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. + +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 with the greatest +eagerness to the news which I was able to give them. The New York +_Herald_, 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. + +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. + +An old salt gave me his account of their trip out, which, as nearly as I +can recollect, was something like this: + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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." + +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. + +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 _never_ 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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: + +"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. + +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: + +"That will do, Orderly," when he went through the same motions as when +we entered, and left me alone with the bear. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, fore and aft, which they would pull +and haul about for hours at a time under the commands of some officer. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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 satisfactory 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"Where away?" + +The fellow above said something about two points on our port bow. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Who they were and what they were after was just what everybody wanted +to know; the old sailors, who are always croakers, had any quantity of +ridiculous stories about their errand and our rapidly approaching fate. + +Signals went up on Fort Pickens, and I discovered, _first_, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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' 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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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: + +"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: + +"Yes, I know; but the Rebels aren't going to let any one do that." + +Then ensued a long confab, in which Lieutenant Perry did most of the +talking. + +Captain Porter finally said to me, with a peculiar look: + +"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." + +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. + +"Oh," says Perry, "we will man a boat and land you on the beach ten miles +from Pensacola." + +"Yes," spoke up Captain Porter, "we will put you ashore any place you +want to go." + +Without a moment's thought, except a desire to do any service for my +country, I said to them, "All right, I'll go." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The Admiral, who had desired the ships from Mobile to pass in +unmolested, was quite indifferent to my fate, and did not deign to +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 _courtesy_ to the Rebels, who would have further extended the +courtesy--at the end of a rope. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +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. + + +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. + +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. + +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 _Ledger_, 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. + +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. + +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 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: + +"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. + +[Illustration: "AH! SKETCHING, ARE YOU?"] + +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: + +"Take your hands out of your pockets when you talk to an officer, damn +you!" "Go forward, sir!" "Don't you come aft again!" + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +Early one morning, one of the petty officers shook me out of the +hammock, saying: + +"Bundle up quickly, to go aboard the transport." + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"Well, my boy, I wish I were going with you this morning." + +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 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: + +"I'm sorry, but don't you forget to tell Porter it's not my fault." + +After a little further talk in an undertone, Mr. Queen told the coxswain +to go ahead, and then turning to me said: + +"There's some mistake, they say they can't take you, they have no room." + +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. + +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 _and a prisoner_. 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. + +I didn't even have such a thing as a handkerchief to dry those tears, +bitter tears, which _would_ run down my cheeks and drop into the sea +below me. + +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." + +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." + +He laughed good-naturedly, while he told me of his many disappointments +in not getting home from foreign countries, as he had 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: + +"You will go on that ship in a few days." + +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. + +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. + +Because I was willing to _do anything_ 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. + +I do not believe that Captain Porter agreed with Perry in this +conclusion. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Mr. Queen had gone off visiting, but Mr. Perry was on hand, sullen and +disagreeable. + +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. + +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? _No!_ +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. + +_Great God!_ 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. + +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. + +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: + +"Captain wants you in his cabin, right away." + +I nervously followed him, and as he opened the cabin door I stepped +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: + +"Young fellow, that boat is coming after you; do you know that?" + +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. + +"You claim our protection, don't you." + +"Yes, I do. I'll go overboard Captain, but I'll not return to the Rebel +lines." + +"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." + +I tried to thank him, but he stopped me abruptly, saying: + +"Never mind; you claim our protection, and, by God, you shall have it." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I have a recollection of reading in our school histories an account 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _not to acknowledge to any person_--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. + +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. + +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. + +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 and thankful +farewell, and the curtain was rung down on my Pinafore experiences. + +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. + +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. + +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). + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"Why, bless me, is this _you_? There's been lots of talking over this +wire about you lately." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"I am O. K."--this was my telegraphic signal--"Who are you?" + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +In the evening, I met my friend according to appointment, and together +we called at the New York _Herald_ 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. + +From there we went to the New York _Tribune_, 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. + +The _Tribune_, 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. + +However, it satisfied the people, and for a single day I was a greater +hero in New York than Lieutenant Slemmer. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"Why, I thought you were hung!" + +What a deadener that was! The word _hung_ 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. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +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. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"Why, you had better come right along with me to Washington. You ought +to be there now." + +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: + +"Go on; now is your chance; you might be too late if you wait here +longer." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The clerk directed me to the parlor, where Mr. Covode was at that moment +receiving a delegation. + +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!" + +I found myself quite well known in Washington wherever introduced by Mr. +Covode and his friends. It will be remembered that 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. + +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. + +I found that it was about as difficult as before I left the city for +Montgomery to obtain a private hearing with the Secretary. + +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. + +With this object in view, I called at the War Department one day in +company with Mr. Covode. + +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 _must_ 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: + +"Well, there's no doubt but that you have the pluck necessary for the +army." + +Then turning to Mr. Covode, abruptly interrupting him, as if to ask a +question: + +"We would like to find out just now what the Rebel Johnston is doing +down in front of Pennsylvania." + +Covode was ready to change the subject, and follow the Secretary's lead, +and at once spoke for me: + +"Well, here's the boy to find out all about it." + +He didn't seem to think it necessary to consult me about the matter at +all. Mr. Cameron, looking at me quizzically, said: + +"I will have you in mind, and get you _something_ as soon as I can find +a suitable place." + +Then turning about, as the attendant brought in a message from another +urgent Congressman, he said, in an authoritative manner: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +When we reached Army Headquarters we encountered a sentry 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. + +"Does the Secretary want to procure any information as to General +Patterson's movements?" + +(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.) + +Mr. Covode answered: "We want all the information we can get from all +quarters, and he can get it too." + +The officer said, smilingly: "Oh yes, of course; the young man is in the +secret service of the War Department." + +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: + +"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 _not through the newspapers_." +This hint given in this pleasant manner, I did not forget in following +months or years. + +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." + +Putting on his old-fashioned round-eyed spectacles, he read half aloud, +in his deliberate way, as if studying out some hidden meaning: + + "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. + + (Signed), "SIMON CAMERON, _Secretary of War_." + +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 _direct_ +to the War Department?" + +"Yes," I remembered that I was advised to report to the War Department +first and not to the newspapers. + +"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." + +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-- + +"Come and see me to-morrow and I'll give you some more letters to some +friends in Patterson's army." + +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: + +"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 _to me_ 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." + +"Yes, but this letter is to report to General Patterson." + +"That's all right; you are to report direct to the War Department, too." + +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." + +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. + +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 Harrisburg, 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. + +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. + +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. + +I recall, as if it were but yesterday, this first hunt through the +different camps for "Headquarters." + +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. + +I recall now with amusement how ignorant some of the three-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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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 people 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. + +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. + +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 _any_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +My visit to General Patterson occurred about the time that General Joe +Johnston was manoeuvering 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. + +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 information 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. + +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. + +There did not seem to me to be any preparation whatever for marching to +meet the enemy. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Being satisfied that General Patterson had referred the whole subject 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. + +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: + +"The General is not disposed to make much use of the service of scouts; +he thinks it altogether unnecessary in this instance." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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: + +"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. + +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 _personally_ to the Secretary of War. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +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. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +managed, but we did not know anything whatever about the other. + +[ILLUSTRATION: WE HASTILY DRESSED AND RAN BACK FROM THE BANK.] + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 anything 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Looking at it from our uncertain standpoint, we concluded to approach it +cautiously and see if there were anybody stirring around about the +light. + +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 silence was broken by my +farmer comrade's voice startling me by a husky: + +"I'll bet we'll find the dogs at home, anyway." + +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. + +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. + +The lights at the house had disappeared suddenly when the dogs began +their uproar--there was nothing to be seen except the 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. + +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. + +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. _But what +if they should be our own men?_ + +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: + +"Well, we'd better wait right here." + +"Oh, it's all safe enough; let's go on!" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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? + +The third person, stepping a little in advance of the others, said: "Get +back to the fence; there's somebody up on the road." + +They scattered, and in a moment more suppressed voices were heard coming +from an opposite direction, or _down_ the road. + +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. + +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 _up_ the +hill, accosted them familiarly: + +"Helloa, Billy; you like to scairt us to death. I thought the Yankees +had put you and your light out sure." + +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. + +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 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_, accompanying the old gentleman, and +both of whom were so cordially entertained by our General's staff. Here +he was, a _direct_ messenger from headquarters of our army, meeting, by +a concerted signal, a Rebel officer in the enemy's country. + +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 _at once_. + +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. + + "The best laid plans of mice and men, gang aft agley." + +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. + +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. + +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, + + "Letting slip the dogs of war," + +or else we might have provided ourselves with a few poisoned dog +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, + + "Mine enemy's dog, + Though he had hit me, should have stood that night + Against my fire." + +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. + +"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?" + +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. + +"I wasn't scared at all--just merely _startled_--and if you hadn't been +holding onto my coat tails so closely, you wouldn't have been hurt." + +"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. + +"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." + +I forged on ahead sullenly, too mad to continue the conversation +further, except to say, petulantly: + +"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." + +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. + +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: + +"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. + +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. + +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 _something_ that would give +us another "start." + +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 agreeable +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 blinding 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. + +My companion was so utterly discomfited and dejected that he refused +positively to move a step further, saying: + +"I'm going to stay right here till somebody comes and takes me away. I +don't care whether it's Rebels or not." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +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 _was not_ in General Patterson's front, and +the dreadful masked batteries, which were so much feared by our +generals, were merely bush fortresses, 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 _direct +with General Patterson's headquarters_, as we could prove, and probably +knew all his plans, while he was wholly ignorant of the probable escape +of Johnston's whole force. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +We evacuated that fort, our line of retreat being in a course bearing +toward our own lines, and leading us further from the two men. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"But, we will show them a flag-of-truce." + +"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." + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _his +superior only_--General Patterson. + +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. + +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: + +"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. + +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. + +I presume he sincerely believed we had been off on a regular jamboree +_en tare_ 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. + +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. + +I felt, too, that being escorted to the General's presence, between 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, after a night of hard work, +danger and misery combined. At last, about 4 P. M., 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. + +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. + +"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." + +"But," I said, "it is undoubtedly true that there are no rebels near +us." + +"But we have _reliable_ information to the contrary, and more recent +than yours." + +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. + +Porter merely laughed in a patronizing way, as he dismissed me, saying: + +"You can make that report to Washington; it won't do here. We know all +about Johnston." + +"Well, one thing is sure, Johnston knows all about you, too." + +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, _reliable and more recent_ than I had tried to give I began +to feel that he _must_ be right, and we all wrong. + +Walking off, dejectedly, but again free to go as I pleased, I hunted up +my companion of the night before, to offer any assistance 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: + +"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." + +It flashed upon me in a moment, and I said, laughingly: + +"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." + +After a further comparison of notes, it was agreed by all that this was +the more _reliable_ 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. + +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. + +The following Sunday, First Bull Run was _fought_ and _lost_. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +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." + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It is the purpose to tell in this chapter, for the first time, the +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. + +An hour after the receipt of the news, I was _en route_ 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. + +Entertaining this feeling, my first impulse was to get somewhere in +their rear. I felt in my heart that _something_ 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I had expected to report in person to General Fitz-John Porter, to +gather further from him some advice as to the _reliability_ of his more +_recent_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Not finding the General, I retraced my steps down the mountain in the +direction of the town of Harper's Ferry. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 undergrowth along the side of a road which led up a little stream +that emptied into the river. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +He started to run back as fast as his legs would carry him, leaving me +almost pinned to the fence with astonishment. + +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. + +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 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. + +[Illustration: "THANK GOD, I'M SAFE AMONG MY FRIENDS."] + +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: + +"Thank God, I am safe among my friends." + +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: + +"Remember, now, you are not to fire unless you meet a lot." + +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. + +"Are you both Yankee soldiers?" + +I repulsed the base insinuation with scorn, and told him we were both +dying to join the Rebel Army. + +"But that fellow has on the blue uniform." + +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. + +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 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. + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +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 _his_ 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. + +We had not gone far when we met the two men returning alone. To the +eager questioning of the officer the foremost one replied: + +"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." + +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!" + +All eagerly listened for the echo in reply, but I, fearful that he might +answer, continued in the next breath: + +"All right," and as I forced a little choking cough, to disguise and +smother the words, like the robber in Fra Diavalo, "Come on!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +A pleasant renewal of the old war acquaintance has recently been brought +about. I give herewith a recent letter from Mr. Hoffman: + + LATROBE, PENN., March 29, 1887. + + J. O. KERBEY. + + _Dear Old Friend:_ 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 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. + + Yours truly, C. W. HOFFMAN. + +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. + + CAMP UNION, NEAR BLADENSBURGH, MD.,} + September 9th, 1861. } + + _Dear Aunt:_ 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 + + Brother in affliction, SPENCER. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AT BEAUREGARD'S HEADQUARTERS--ON DUTY AT MANASSAS. + + +I didn't report to General Banks _that_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. e._, 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 _bona +fide_ 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. + +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. + +A captive is always an object of curiosity. I must expect to be gazed +upon, stared at, and scrutinized wherever I should be taken. + +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. + +I believe I have not yet tried to describe my personal appearance at +that time. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Reaching the advance of the Rebel outposts, which were located 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. + +Into this group of eager, inquisitive Rebels I was, to their surprise, +introduced as a "prisoner who wanted to join our army." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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: + +"Oh, he was one of the Bull Run fellows; I am not responsible for him." + +I did not relish the idea of going into General Beauregard's 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. + +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. + +So it came about that I shared the hospitality of the Virginia +gentleman's buggy, as we drove along the road that evening _en route_ 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. + +We spent the night in that vicinity, at some neighbor's farmhouse. + +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. + +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: + +"You wont get out of this buggy until I put you into General +Beauregard's hands." + +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: + +"You're not driving a nigger now." + +I still had my loaded pistol concealed in a belt under my clothes. I had +acquired while in Texas the Southern accomplishment of 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +As we drove up to a house by the roadside to water the horse, 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: + +"I'm in a hurry to get there, as I don't want to have you on my hands +all night." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +About an hour before sundown we reached Beauregard's headquarters. As we +drove up to the fence the old man hailed a colored boy, and bade him +tie his horse; then, turning to me with a smile of relief, he said: + +"Here we are; get out!" + +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: + +"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 _at once_, and I'll have this +fellow punished for insulting a gentleman." + +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. + +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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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." + +After a few more passages at arms it was settled that I should be left +in charge of the guard while the _Colonel_ and the _General_ had an +interview. + +While he was telling _his_ 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 _the country_, +but had been treated with so much indignity by this old man I was sorry +I had left home. + +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. + +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: + +"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. + +General Beauregard again looked at me as he finished reading it, and, +turning to the officer, said: + +"Yes, yes, that will do." + +And bidding the Colonel a good evening, as he excused himself, walked +off. + +It must not be thought that the Virginia Colonel believed, or for an +instant suspected my true character; _his_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +"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 _request from General Beauregard that his +services be availed_ of, as he is an experienced railroad man. + +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, +_within sound of the telegraph instruments operating between Manassas +and Richmond_, and this by _express_ authority of _General Beauregard_, +instead of being a prisoner in a guard-house waiting for execution. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +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. + + +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. + +I had studied this part carefully, realizing fully that upon my +successful concealment of this accomplishment everything depended. + +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. + +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. + +When I reached the railway station, in charge of one of General +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: + +"Mr. Wilmore" (I had assumed my mother's maiden name) "is willing to +undertake any work you may have for him." + +"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." + +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 attaches about the place +were disposed to give me, on account of my being a youthful exile from +home. + +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. + +There was a squad of Rebel soldiers detailed at the depot for the +protection of property and to guard the employes. 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +Of course, I cultivated the friendship of the boys; I flattered myself +that I knew some of their vulnerable points and was able to approach +them in the proper way. + +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?" + +"I once began to learn to telegraph, and knew the alphabet, and could +write ever so many words, but I gave it up." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +I had not time to say that I had learned the alphabet when the young man +straightened himself up and pleasantly observed: "The _hell_ you did." + +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. + +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, 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. + +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." + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +I concluded, however, to take the general course which had been +indicated, and to depend on further inquiries as I went along. + +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 _our_ 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. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +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 observations. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +There was always about the place a lot of idle loafers--Rebel soldiers +off duty, who naturally gravitated toward the railroad stations, where +the little stores or sutlers were usually to be found, dealing out +commissary whisky and tobacco. + +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. + +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." + +This was a dead "give away," or would have been to any person who had +known anything of the telegraph business and my recent connection with +the place; but, quickly recovering myself, I said, "All right; I thought +the operator was calling me." + +He went on with his dancing but I lost the message. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 diarrhoea. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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: + +"What was that message you sent about Banks?" + +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: + +"That message about Banks--is there anything important?" + +"Oh, yes; why, you sent the answer to that." + +"I forgot it." + +"Yes," he answered; that "a Confederate Company could take care of +Banks." + +"O. K., O. K." + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 convenient houses--the +same groups of sick-looking soldiers and officers, who were probably +awaiting their turn to get home to die. + +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. + +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. + +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 understood, 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. + +The critical moments in a scout's experience come just at this +point--after successfully passing beyond one line and _before_ 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. + +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." + +That was a clear case of forgery, but "All's fair in love or war," and +"desperate cases require desperate remedies." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +"Halt!" + +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 _from behind_. I was so taken by surprise that I +could not at the instant see the object that spoke like a deathknell +this dreadful word. + +In another instant a _soldier in a blue uniform_ 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: + +"You scared me half to death, until I saw your uniform." + +He replied to my observation: + +"Yes; where did you come from?" + +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: + +"I'll tell you all about it when your officer comes," and I braced for a +run. + +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. + +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: + +"What in the name of all that's good brings you out on this road on such +a dark night, disturbing our sleep?" + +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. + +"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 _guess_ I'm lost." + +"I _guess_ you are." + +The use of this word nearly gave me away. + +"What regiment was your friend in?" + +"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." + +"Well, my friend, this is rather a singular place and time to be found +hunting a sick friend." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"Well, you came very near going into the Yankees' hands; why 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." + +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." + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +In the silence and gloom that had settled down over me, like a cold, +heavy, wet blanket, we walked together to the house. + +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. + +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." + +"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." + +While talking to the sentry, when waiting for the officer to come 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. + +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. + +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: + +"We will see you back safely." + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +ANOTHER ESCAPE, ETC. + + +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. + +This arrangement was for the accommodation and convenience of _their_ +spies in our army--enabling them to come out to this rendezvous under +cover of the night to deliver their mail or supply information. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _hours_ of agony that night that can never, never be +described. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _seated_ 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. + +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. + +I'm not a spiritualist or even a believer in the supernatural, but I +must assert, upon my conviction, that some unseen influence must 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. + +There may have been, but I don't think there was another hole in that +porch floor, and this one was quite insignificant. + +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." + +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. + +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 _would_ +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." 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." + +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. + +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." + +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. + +[Illustration: I WAS BEING "TOTED" BACK TO THE REBEL ARMY.] + +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 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." + +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. + +The forged endorsement on the pass, which had gone out of my hands, was +the serious _evidence_ against me, coupled with the fact of having been +captured while trying to go to the enemy. + +There was, also, of course, always before me the great danger of a +discovery of my identity as the Fort Pickens Spy. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I looked about to gain some idea of the topography of the country over +which I had traveled in the night. + +Several officers approached us, accompanied by our commander. I was +requested to dismount, when our officer politely introduced me to the +other, saying: + +"The Colonel is anxious to know how in the world you could have gotten +by his picket on this bridge last night." + +"Yes," says the Colonel, "I've had men on post here who declare that no +one passed them during the night." + +I was taken all aback, because I had told the party who had captured me +that I had followed the road right along. + +"Well," said I, "I walked right over this bridge last night, and saw no +one here at all." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 bushwhacker's shanty, +where I had taken a greasy supper the night before, and had been put to +bed in his barn. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +"But," said the old scoundrel, "why didn't you stay here last night?" + +"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." + +"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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"Why, sir, I shall have to leave the matter entirely with the officer +who gave you this pass." + +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." + +"Oh, yes; we will see you safely to our headquarters." + +Then giving some directions to the sergeant of his squad to get ready to +move, he turned again to me and said, kindly: + +"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." + +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. + +I was inside the Rebel pickets again, and _they_ 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 _that_ picket-line a second time, especially in +daylight. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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, but he had the +advantage of holding a carbine and a belt full of pistols, while I was +unarmed. I wasn't afraid of _his_ 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. + +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. + +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 _only_ obstacle to my attempting to carry out this +"good intention." + +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. + +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. + +Our first inquiry was met at the kitchen door, in answer to his 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. + +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. + +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. + +As far as their history is concerned in this story, it closes with this +scene on the back porch of the old house. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +ONE MORE ESCAPE--"YANKING" THE TELEGRAPH WIRES--"ON TO RICHMOND!"--A +CLOSE SHAVE. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _crawled_ 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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 _good_ +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _good water_. That's a fact. A Texan will always prefer to +take a drink from a 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _that_ +means of spreading information about a spy being loose in their camps. + +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. + +[Illustration: I "YANKED," OR BY A DEXTEROUS "TWIST OF THE WRIST," I WAS +ABLE TO BREAK THE WIRE.] + +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 _afterward_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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 _bona fide_ linemen, who would question my authority. + +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." + +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. + +I was tired, _very_ 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 _would not +do_. 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. + +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. + +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. + +I had been obliged to take off my tight left shoe, and around 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. + +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. + +Opening on to the roof were two dormer windows of the old-fashioned +kind, that we don't often see nowadays. + +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. + +"Right away; do you hyar?" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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 _for a pass_ the next day. The old man had said that they +all had their orders from the army officers not to entertain _any_ +soldiers who couldn't produce passes. To this I replied that, "I had +thoughtlessly overlooked the matter, but could easily fix _that_ the +next morning, when I'd return." + +We had a _good_ supper; the old lady's sympathies were aroused, and she +set out her little delicacies for the + + "Poor Texas boy, who was so far from home." + +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. + +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. + +"Trifles light as air, become proofs as strong as Holy Writ." + +"Oh, no; you're mistaken, Father! Why, the poor fellow can't walk." + +"But," replied the gruff voice of the old man, "he don't know where his +regiment is." + +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: + +"Where did you say you got your wound?" + +"Why, it was a trifling hurt on the instep; it only became troublesome +because I couldn't keep from using my foot." + +Then the old lady chipped in with: + +"Shall I send Mammy to help you bathe it with warm water, before you go +to bed?" + +I declined this with profuse thanks, and begged that they would not +trouble themselves about it; it was a mere trifle. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The officer in command halted his troop and, calling a trooper by name, +said: + +"Sergeant, you go up to the house and ask if they have seen any +strangers along this road." + +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 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. + +[Illustration: LANDING KERSLOP OVER THE SIDE ONTO THE GROUND] + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +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. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Once into this cover, I plodded along slowly, being obliged to 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I admit freely that I was frightened; indeed, I was scared half to +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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--_a man_! 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. + +[Illustration: I HAD STEPPED ON TO THE DECAYING BODY OF--A MAN.] + +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 _not_ 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. + +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 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. + +I lay curled up in the fence-corner for an hour or so. I imagined +_everything_. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +They approached rapidly. I raised myself to a sitting posture, placed my +back against the fence, cocked the pistol, and waited for 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The pangs of hunger and thirst were driving me pretty nearly wild, and, +being so dreadfully weak and exhausted, I felt that I _must_ have +something to eat; that only a cup of coffee would do me for the rest of +the day. But I _must_ 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 _bloodhound_, so I have not +mentioned it outside my own family. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The old man, who had been watching out of the doorway as I ate my +breakfast at the hearth, observed, knowingly: + +"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." + +The hint was sufficient, and to my hurried inquiry: + +"Are there any cavalrymen at the house?" + +"Yes, 'deed; dahs a whole company sleepin' on de front poach over dar." + +"How long have they been here?" said I, putting down my cup. + +"Dey comes hyar most every night, and sleeps on dat poach tel they get +over breakfast." + +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. + +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 _return_ from +that point. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +The old uncle told me that the dog that bit me was a young bloodhound, +and that the proprietor of the house _kept a pack_, 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. + +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. + +They found entertainment in the quarters. I was received into the house +as a wounded refugee soldier _en route_ to Richmond, and treated in +first-class shape by the old landlord and his kind wife. + +I had a new story for them that took real well. + +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. + +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 shirt, and with it across her +arm she marched back to my room almost out of breath, because she was so +stout, saying: + +"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." + +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?" + +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: + +"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. + +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." + +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 hands, and was put to bed after my +wound had been carefully dressed and wrapped by her own kind hands. + +The old gentleman made an appearance, too, with some medicine for the +inner man, which I swallowed like an obedient child. + +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. + +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"-- + +"Missus says you'd better have some toast and egg, and a cup of coffee, +den you can sleep some moah." + +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: + +"How is you dis mornin'?" + +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 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: + +"Why, you are ever so much better than I expected to find you this +morning." + +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: + +"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." + +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." + +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 comfort 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 _en route_ to Richmond to find friends. They saw my +crippled condition, and they gave me all the aid and comfort that was in +their power. + +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. + +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: +_Approved_, and signed it in red with my blood. + +The red ink "took beautifully." + +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 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. + +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, _and a collection was lifted in a Virginia +church for the benefit of a Yankee Spy_. 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." + +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 +_stay_ 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. + +"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." + +Under the circumstances, what else could I do but take this advantage +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 Richmond, 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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +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. + + +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. + +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. + +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 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 attache 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, _sick in bed_. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +[Illustration: YOU ALWAYS SAY _DOWN_ HERE, AND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GO +UP HOME.] + +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. + +In talking with him one day, he remarked, with a significant grin: "You +always say _down_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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, that I could pass +through to Baltimore on the blockade runners, a secret communication +reciting my discoveries at Manassas, etc. + +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. + +The letter that was sent through the blockade is given herewith, as +_copied from the original_, and I shall be glad to have the reader look +for the secret information it contains before referring to the key, +which follows: + + "CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, + POWHATTAN HOTEL, + RICHMOND, VA., August, - - - - - 1861. + + "_My Dear Father:_ + - - - . - - + + "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. - - + + "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 Manassas Junction. We hope soon to march right on to + Washington, and drive out the black abolition rascals, and will + roll them back through 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. + + "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." + +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. + +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 underscored, 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 _only_ every fifth word of this letter he will have the true +meaning. + + _Translation._--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 Manassas 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. + + +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. + +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 manner that would be +necessary if I should try to reach our lines by the underground or by +running the blockade. + +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. + +"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. + +My faithful colored boy felt encouraged by my talk with him to offer me +some good advice: + +"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." + +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." + +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 anxious inquiries +also about the "ole woman," and was glad to hear that she was "So big an +fat she doan go roun much." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 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. + +The "ole man" had a few words more of comfort, and, turning to the +colored boy, said, rather savagely: + +"Sam, you damn black rascal, why didn't you tell me before that this +young man was sick?" + +Sam began to explain by saying: "I done thought you know'd dat." + +But the "ole man" stopped him abruptly, with: "Get out; go and bring +some brandy and water up here, quick!" + +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." + +The "ole man" administered the dose and, after a few more encouraging +words, got up to leave, first giving orders to Sam: + +"See that you attend to this young man right after this, you ugly +nigger." + +Sam seemed to be immensely enjoying the "ole man's" abuse. + +I was assured that I should be made easy until such time as I should +hear from my friends. + +"Do you know Colonel Blank, of Baltimore?" + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"You have treated me very badly, sir." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 "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?" + +"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." + +"Ah! yes, of course; that can easily be fixed. All you have to do is to +put a United States stamp on your letter." + +"But don't I have to pay something for the delivery?" + +"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." + +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." + +"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: + +"You had better go along over to Colonel Jones and be registered, if you +have not already done so." + +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: + +"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." + +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 consequence--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." + +I had accomplished one very important step--in this, that I had opened +communication with Washington from my location in Richmond. + +There was danger that my letters _might_ 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: + +_First_--The Confederate Army _could not advance_, 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. + +_Second_--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. + +_Third_--That signals were being made from the dormitory of Georgetown +College to Rebel outposts, or pickets who had been students at the +College. + +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 to drop myself into it for a +rest without the formality of undressing. + +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." + +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." + +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 to Elkton, or any of his family who may read this, +that his kindness to me has always been appreciated--_but_, 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." + +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 Maryland." 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." + +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 _I would_ 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 _something_; +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. + +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 _at once_ attempting to return, but by +remaining in Richmond, to watch and report the progress of events there. + +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. + +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 _House_. 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 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. + +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 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 + + "Homeless near a thousand homes." + +But, also, that, + + "Near a thousand friends I pined and wanted friends." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +RICHMOND--HOLLYWOOD--JEFF DAVIS--BRECKINRIDGE--EXTRA BILLY SMITH--MAYOR, +GOVERNOR, ETC. + + +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. + +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 Manassas, 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. + +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. + +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 advisable 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. + +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." + +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 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." + +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 +Richmond. 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. + +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. + +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. + +From the windows of my room I had a close view of the City Hall building +directly opposite, which fronted on Broad street. + +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. + +The gray-headed man who was then the Mayor of the City was apparently +overseeing these preparations. + +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. + +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: + +"Oh, they are just burning the gamblers' stuff that the police captured +on the last raid." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +He was living, I believe, somewhere in the neighborhood of where the +armies were confronting each other. + +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. + +The body of Colonel Cameron, it seems, had been found after the battle +inside of the Rebel lines. + +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. + +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 formation 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." + +I made a mental note of Extra Billy's share in this business, determined +that old Simon should have him marked. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 manoeuvering 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." + +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 P. M., +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I had noticed that a few enlisted men from among our prisoners had been +detailed by the Rebel officers to carry water and otherwise 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. + +[Illustration: I WHISPERED TO HIM AS I WENT PAST: "NORFOLK IS TAKEN."] + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +Never turning my head, I was walking on hurriedly when the blamed fool +sang out after me so everybody could hear: + +"What?" + +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. + +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 irregularly 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 good deal of this +feeling at Richmond, even as early as 1861, which increased in +bitterness as the years rolled on. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +RICHMOND--A CLOSE SHAVE. + + +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. + +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. + +My barber held his razor in his hand while he stopped to tell this +gentleman that "_his turn would be after me_." + +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. + +While talking to my barber about his turn, this gentleman stood right +behind my chair, so close to me that his arm almost touched 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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 _where_ I should go. +My only desire was to get away from Richmond and out of Virginia as +quickly as I possibly could. + +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. + +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: + +"Hello, boy, what have you been up to?" + +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 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 _his_ 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. + +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. + +Everything is fair in love and war. + +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' than that of a general's 'strategy.' Both +necessarily imply deceit. There is only a difference in rank or degree." + +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. + +My desire was to stave off as long as possible this plan. I hoped, +_before_ the necessity for it should occur, to get away from them and +return home. + +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. + +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. + +I kept pretty close to my room, being taken conveniently "sick" for a +day or two. + +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. + +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: + +"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 _relieve_ Baltimore." + +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. + +"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." + +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." + +This last part of the programme rather stumped me. I was not +particularly desirous that any of my friends should "receive _me_ in +gray uniform." + +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. + +The Colonel went out to the bar to take a drink. + +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: + +"Proposed advance north via upper Potomac." + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"Why! is Mr. Superintendent here?" + +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: + +"Show this gentleman up to 62." + +"Oh, no! never mind; I'll not disturb him to-night; I'll see him again." + +I didn't ask any further questions. + +The next morning I was greatly relieved to learn from a colored porter +that the Superintendent "Had gone off on de early cahs." + +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. + +"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. + +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 _must_ 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 conclusively 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. + +So I told the Colonel that I was most anxious to go with him and Elkton +to Maryland as a Rebel soldier. + +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. + +But that information was based upon a condition of things which existed +shortly after the battle of Bull Run. + +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. + +The Confederate authorities at Richmond were fully posted on all that +was being done at Washington. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"Why don't they come over and help us now?" "What are they talking about +so much; why don't they come on?" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It never came. + +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 _something_ 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. + +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. + +I did not dare tarry too long at a time, for fear that my constant +attendance at the office might excite some suspicion. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +They went in groups of two to four at a time; sometimes a Congressman +would be accompanied by an officer in the gray uniform. + +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. + +Yet I had no facts--simply surmises, and gossip. + +I could not learn much at the telegraph office, and had about abandoned +the attempt in that direction, until I struck a plan that was a little +risky, but, under the circumstances, I felt justifiable in undertaking +almost anything. + +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: + +"Shall we send dispatches _from the President_ to Mrs. Davis at her home +to-night?" + +"There wont be any; he is expected back to-night." + +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. + +I went straight to my room, wrote a short dispatch--a rather crude +one--the translation of which was that: + +"Jeff Davis had been to Manassas; something up." And before I slept it +was in Colonel J. B. Jones' postoffice. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +RICHMOND ON AN AUTUMN MORNING--A GROUP OF GOOD LOOKING SOLDIERS--JEFF +DAVIS PASSED BY--THE BATTLE OF BALL'S BLUFF--RICHMOND NEWSPAPERS. + + +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, _he_ should not go to Washington. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +While there had been no active operations, I had worked hard and +faithfully in secret. + +I had opened and kept up communication with our Government--through the +rebel channels--that was one great success. + +I was also on hand in their territory, and on the alert to discover and +report any further information. + +I had probably at last discovered something important was pending, and I +decided to stay and see it out. + +The next morning I was out of my bed early, and in the park 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 me the desired +information, which was to the effect that they had the very best Captain +in the army. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"I thought so; because he looked just like a Confederate postage +stamp." + +At that time Mr. Davis' picture was on the stamps recently issued. + +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. + +Jeff Davis was back in Richmond, as I had discovered with my own eyes. + +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 _Examiner_ 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. + +It was through this channel that I obtained some important clues. + +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. + +The _Examiner_ and _Whig_ 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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +It was through this press channel that we heard of General Butler's +operations in North Carolina. The old man had evidently 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. + +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. + +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 _Examiner_ +and _Whig_ 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. + +I sent to the North, through the blockade, several times, marked copies +of the Richmond papers. + +The Pittsburgh _Chronicle_ 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. + +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. + +There were no earthworks of any description around Richmond in 1861. +This is a fact that is not generally known. + +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. + +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. + +It was also fully established by the official papers of the Rebel +authorities themselves that twenty-five per cent. of their army was +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +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. + + +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. + +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. + +I met at the hotel office my companion, the Colonel, who, upon seeing +me, rushed over the office floor to say: + +"Why, where the devil have you been? We have been hunting you every +place." + +I explained that I had been poking about the city all day, and was so +tired that I was going straight to bed. + +"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." + +Then, with a slap on the shoulder, he hauled me to one side, and +whispered: "We have got it all fixed for our big bounty, and we want +your papers right away." + +I was cornered. I must go along or get out of town. There could be no +possible excuse for further putting off this step. + +I asked only the one question--"Where do we go?" + +"Why, into Maryland, of course!" + +Being further assured that this battery was to be at once sent to the +front, I agreed to go along with him--_to get the money_. 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 _Rebel soldier_. 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 _never be pointed in a +way to do any damage_. + +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 _there_. 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. + +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. + +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. + +The Colonel and I went first to a theatre, located on the street on +which stood the Exchange and Ballard Hotel. + +One of the players sang with dramatic effect some words suitable to the +time and people, which was adapted to the French air of "La +Marseillaise." He waved in one hand a French flag and in the other the +Confederate _bars_. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"That's him, ain't it?" + +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--_my right name_! I was startled, but did not turn, being intent +only on getting to the street as quickly as possible. + +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. + +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. + +I did not know him, though his pleasant face, which was covered with a +broad grin, seemed familiar. + +"Ain't you Mr. O. K., that was out in Texas with Major J----?" + +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. + +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. + +It was accepted with hesitancy, and we parted without stopping to +further explain the matter. + +I was now, seemingly, to all intents and purposes, a _bona fide_ +"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. + +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 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. + +[Illustration: RECOGNIZED BY TEXANS AT RICHMOND THEATRE.] + +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. + +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 +the pair of big gray mules gave the team of Maryland colts any amount of +trouble and fun. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. e._, 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 subject until the morning we met, accidentally, while both were +escaping through the Rebel pickets. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It will be seen that, in this account of the personnel of one section +of the so-called Maryland Battery, there was but the _one_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +_little_ and trifling in every way as any soldier that I have ever met. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Our company was quartered in the Fair Grounds, on the outskirts 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. + +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. + +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. + +My duty was to sight the piece, and I learned to get that part of 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It was in this disguise that, I may safely assert, I openly visited +_every single point of interest in and around Richmond_. + +I felt so perfectly secure and safe, that I had again become reckless +and careless. + +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. + +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 duty to submit to him, his signature was +easily obtained to further our little schemes. + +Of the great number and variety of troops, probably the most popular, as +a general thing, were the refugees from Maryland. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"These fellows have brought along their niggers to carry umbrellas over +them while they fight." + +While Lanyard thought: "It's most likely the nigger is there to fix up +their cocktails." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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 _the_ girl of this part of our story. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +Mrs. President Davis was present. Though I had frequently seen her, she +never looked to my eyes other than a very ordinary matronly lady. + +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 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. + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +You don't know what that is? No, I think it has gone out of 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." + +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. + +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. + +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 Lanyard, 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. + +It was a close call, but the Federal Spy didn't lose his head in +Richmond that night. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +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. + + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 _our +girl_--and she, the beautiful but uncertain Capitola, the friend of the +Maryland refugees, surrendered to our Mississippi Lieutenant, and there +was great trouble and heart-burning in that Rebel battery ever after. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _something_ 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. + +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. + +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 circumstances, 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. + +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. + +Mr. Benjamin, it will be remembered, was a close friend of Mr. Davis. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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?" + +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. + +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: + +"How about Fort Pickens?" + +"Oh," he growled out in his thick, guttural tones, "the Yankees have +opened fire on our fellows from that damned Fort Pickens." + +"Is that all," said I, with great a sigh of relief, which he must have +noticed had he been sober enough. + +"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." + +"Too bad!" my thoughts were, though I did not dare express them. I had +prevented the capture of Fort Pickens in April. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +My observations were, of course, principally among the rank 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 cooeperation. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 proffered mug of +the delicious compound, to be drunk in honor of the day, etc. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Why," she said, in her smiling, innocent way, "all the rest of your +boys have been to call on us." + +"Indeed," thought I; and when I had sufficiently recovered to ask who +had been there since I had been gone, she smilingly said: + +"Why, your friend, the Colonel, calls frequently; also that Mississippi +Lieutenant of yours. Isn't he just too nice?" + +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: + +"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." + +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." + +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: + +"There is another--he wants me to go with _him_ to the reception." + +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 _Fille de +Regiment_. + +Despite the weather and some gloomy forebodings of friends, the +reception of President Jeff Davis was a success--in the way of a crowd, +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +He was, of course, severe and unbending to his enemies, but he was +always the same to friends. + +The Colonel was ahead of me, and, as his name was mentioned, he said to +Mr. Davis, as he turned to me: + +"A couple of Maryland boys have come to pay their respects to you, Mr. +President." + +Mr. Davis held his hand for a moment, saying, pleasantly, to the +Colonel: + +"Why, I'm right glad to see you." + +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: + +"I'm glad to see you both." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +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. + + +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. + +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. + +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 officers and soldiers, under +such conditions, on the same equality, had entire possession in the +streets and certain parts of the city. + +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. + +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. + +Camp Lee was on that side of the city furthest from the Libby Prison and +Rockett's 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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-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. + +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. + +The home of General Lee is more sought out by tourists in Richmond +nowadays than is that of President Jeff Davis. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"Hello, Blank!" + +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. + +I saw that I was caught at last, as I fully believed, and determined to +make the most of my short time. + +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. + +I was assured somewhat, and recovered from my surprise by the doctor +extending his hand, and in the most agreeable and hearty manner, said: + +"Well, Blank, I'm damn glad to see you are on the right side." + +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? + +"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?" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +But I could not well resist the demand to accompany these two Texas boys +out to their camp; and when they suggested that I _must_ 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. + +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. + +The road to the camp of the Texans led in the direction of Seven Pines +(or Fair Oaks), where Johnston attacked McClellan's left in the +following May, and the camp itself was not far from that point. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I was urged to stay for camp dinner. The boys, with whom I 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +"O, no; we are going to escort you back to your camp on a horse, as we +agreed to do." + +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: + +"Well, I'm going to town to-night anyway, and you can wait awhile and +ride that far." + +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. + +I remember all that occurred during the half hour that followed the +dinner hour. Could I forget that banquet? + +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. + +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, however, 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: + +"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." + +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: + +"Say, Blank, Jim Haws says he met you one night at the theatre, and you +wouldn't speak to him." + +Right here I made another mistake that day, by denying that I had +refused to speak to any one. + +"That's what I told him, but he swears that he and Bill Williams both +saw you there." + +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. + +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. + +When we were about ready to leave the camp, and as I was flattering +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: + +"Didn't you see me at the theater the other night?" + +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. + +Looking him straight in the eye--for I was _riled_ by his savage +manner--I answered, resentfully and boldly: + +"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." + +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: + +"Bill, ain't he the fellow?" + +Whether it was a disposition on the part of Bill to prevent any outbreak +(a crowd was collecting), he mildly answered: + +"Well, it looks mighty much like him, but you know we might be +mistaken," and, turning to me, said, politely: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +The serious part of this threatened fight was in the fact, that it +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. + +[Illustration: "BILL, AIN'T HE THE FELLOW?"] + +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: + +"Why, isn't that the name of the Yankee Spy that was at Pensacola?" + +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 _less than_ twenty-four hours. + +I felt for the moment that the fates were against me and determined to +crush me at last. Realizing that the mere reoepening 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. + +My friend, the doctor, relieved my temporary embarrassment by speaking +up for me, saying, in a laughable way that seemed to change the subject: + +"Come on, let us get away from here, or somebody will swear they saw you +some place else." + +Thus relieved, I quietly suggested to the Captain that I had been +wearing a gray uniform up in Virginia since I left Texas. + +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. + +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 _were actually +there about the time_ of my adventure to Fort Pickens. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + + "Hist! When the church bell chime, + 'Tis Angels music." + +Some of the boys, inclined to poke fun at the doctor's seriousness, to +which, in his absent-minded, thoughtful way, he responded: "Have you +never been where bells have tolled to church?" + +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. + + "Those evening bells, those evening bells, + How many a tale their music tells + Of youth, and home, and that sweet time, + When last I heard their soothing chime." + +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: + +"I thought so; you and the other Episcopalian swear and lie alike so +superbly." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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----. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 servant announced to +Capitola that "Lieutenant Claiborne was at the door." + +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: + +"Why, of course. I will arrange that your company shall not be +interrupted." + +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." + +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." + +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. + +"Why, yes; I merely told him some of your friends had called by a +previously arranged agreement to spend the evening." + +"What did he say?" + +"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." + +Then she added, laughing heartily as she spoke: + +"Didn't you hear him slam the door?" + +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. + +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 camp, unless by +running the gauntlet of the city guard and patrol, who lifted +everybody's pass after a certain hour. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +The Texans were accustomed to the snow and slush of a Virginia winter, +which interfered so much with their enjoyment that day. + +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. + +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: + +"Where in hell have you been?" + +He interrupted my explanations abruptly by saying: + +"We have orders to march, and all hands are getting ready; you go right +out and pack up the papers." + +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. + +"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." + +This wasn't so satisfactory, but I was glad to hear that we were to +leave Richmond _at once_, 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. + +Lieutenant Claiborne and one section of the battery were to remain in +Richmond. + +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. + +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. + +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 +_Manassas_, 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +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. + + +I reluctantly take the reader away from the Rebel Capital and its +attractions. I was leaving Richmond at least, somewhat against my own +inclination. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +"If you young gentlemen will step inside my house, my wife, no doubt, +will be pleased to entertain you." + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"Well, now, Mother, isn't this remarkable. Here are some Maryland +secessionists being sent away down here to Tennessee to punish and +coerce Unionists?" + +It seems that this Unionist, who lived in what is now West Virginia, +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +There was a daughter, Mary, who was decidedly and emphatically a +warm-hearted "Female Rebel." An elder sister, Miss Maggie, 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: + +"It's not right; slavery is a sin and an evil, and it will not be +permitted to exist." + +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. + +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. + +At every meal-time the old gentleman reverently asked a blessing over +the table, and usually lengthened it into prayers for both sides. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _Whig_--that +circulated pretty much everywhere, and served to stir people and things +up, not only in East Tennessee, but all over the country. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I was gathering information; and, feeling secure through my 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 Manassas, Richmond, or Pensacola. My plans +were to reach the Union lines at the nearest point, which was then +Cumberland Gap. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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: + +"I'm sure our friend is not a very bad Rebel; he is pretty homesick, +already." + +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: + +"I should be glad to know what induced a Maryland boy to leave his home +for this Secession cause." + +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 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. + +[Illustration: AN INTERVIEW WITH PARSON BROWNLOW.] + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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: + +"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." + +When I laughed at this a little, he growled out: + +"Oh those cowardly assassins, who disarm women and children, 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." + +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: + +"Young man, it can never be done." + +And, by way of illustration, he continued in an impressive and intensely +dramatic way: + +"This Union will be dissolved only when the sun shines at midnight, or +when water flows up stream." + +Some one interrupted to say, laughingly: + +"Why, the sun is shining at midnight at this moment in the other part of +the world." + +And his own daughter chimed in: + +"Yes, and our teacher says the Mississippi _does_ run up North in its +tortuous course." + +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: + +"Well, it will happen only when Democrats lose their inclination to +steal." + +After the laugh over this had subsided, he became eloquent as well as +emphatic: + +"And that will be when the damned spirits in hell swap for heaven with +the angels, and play cards for mean whisky." + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +"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: + +"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." + +Here Miss Maggie felt impelled to speak a word in defense of her native +South, observing: + +"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." + +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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 P. M., 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 P. M. 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. + +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. + +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 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: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I will do Mr. Buchanan the justice and credit to say that he 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 sister's and Mr. Buchanan's +expense, broke his silence to add drily: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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 _Pensacola_, and a lot of them got too much whisky aboard, +and seeing this sign, _Union_ 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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +_back_ there, to be sent as a solid Battery to Johnston's army in +Virginia. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +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. + + +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. + +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. + +I flatter myself that the evidence I gave _then_--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." + +This acquaintance with Mr. Johnson was recalled one day while in East +Tennessee. + +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. + +If Mr. Craig had any opinion as to the truth or falsity of the matter, +he was careful not to let me learn it. + +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. + +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. + +"I've not been on speaking terms with Johnson for thirty years, but I +know it's a lie." + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 commotion than I who was on the inside and +could only "guess," as the Yankees say. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Get up here, you damned old traitor," while he deliberately tied the +rope around the trembling old man's neck. + +[Illustration: "GET UP HERE, YOU DAMNED OLD TRAITOR."] + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I was a little out of favor with the Captain about this time. His +greeting was not calculated to make me feel exactly comfortable. + +"You are never on hand when wanted, but eternally scouting around some +private houses, sick." + +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: + +"You will be no use there." + +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: + +"Lieutenant Claiborne writes me something hereabout wanting you to go +back to Richmond." + +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: + +"Oh, Captain, that's probably those fellows I owe some money to, who +want to get me into trouble." + +He seemed to be satisfied with this explanation, and to my great relief, +he put away the letters. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +He turned to leave, directing that I should "hold on here a while," 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Coming up to me, the Captain said, in a cheerful tone, as compared with +the first remark to me: + +"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." + +"Well, it's forty miles from here, over a most God-forsaken mountain +path." + +I replied that I was used to the mountains and would easily find the +place. + +"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." + +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. + +He didn't understand the motive at the time, but I reckon he appreciated +the feeling a little later on. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"Why, you go on jist like a boy." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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, _bona fide_, 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. + +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. + +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 subject, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"That's where they were in force when they made that attack on the Gap +here." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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: + +"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." + +"Oh, no," he said, "our fellows go down there all the time." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + "HEADQUARTERS, NEAR KNOXVILLE. + "LIEUTENANT COMMANDING + "DETACHMENT MARYLAND ARTILLERY, + _Cumberland Gap:_ + + "I send you by ---- the Muster Rolls, etc. + + * * * * * + + "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. + + * * * * * + + "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. + + "My information is, that he is wanted at Richmond for + something. I'm waiting to hear through the Secretary of War." + + "(Signed.)" + +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. + +[Illustration: CUMBERLAND GAP--THIS WAS ENOUGH FOR ME.] + +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 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. + +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." + +It took me a little while to "get used to it," as they say when one +plunges suddenly into darkness. + +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. + +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. + +I was alone in a deep, dark wood, somewhere between the outposts of the +two armies, in the neighborhood of Cumberland Gap. + +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 against a too sudden contact with +the trunks of trees, stumbling over exposed roots, or becoming entangled +in undergrowth. + +This was the tiresome, dreadfully tiresome and discouraging path that I +trod that night, for hour after hour, in my efforts to get home. + +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. + +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. + +I wasn't so badly scared as I was demoralized, tired out, and +discouraged. + +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. + +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 +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + "I passed a miserable night, + So full of ugly sights, of ghastly thoughts, + That, as I am a Christian, faithful man, + I would not spend another such a night, + Though 'twere to buy a world of happy days." + +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 the goal that was in +sight before dark were audible above the tree-tops. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + "Night's candles were burnt out, + And jocund day stood tiptoe + On the misty mountain top." + +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. + +If I didn't know exactly where to go to find the Union pickets, I saw +quite plainly where _not_ 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. + +The uneasy night birds had flown. I heard a chicken crow, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +While walking through the wood, some such thoughts as I have tried to +describe were crowding each other through my now frenzied 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _back_ at it from a hill-top +on the road, some distance inside, or beyond it. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +In this nightmare in the broad daylight I was as helpless as if 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. + +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. + +I spoke first, with the desperation of an outlaw challenging a helpless +traveler: "Are you Union or Confederate?" + +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: + +"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: + +"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?" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration: "ARE YOU UNION OR CONFEDERATE?"] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +RETURN HOME FROM CUMBERLAND GAP--MEETING WITH PARSON BROWNLOW ON HIS +TRIP TO WASHINGTON. + + +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. + +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: + +"My h--, don't that fellow travel!" + +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. + +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. + +"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 tired back that nearly knocked +me off my feet, he made a break for the little, fat Dutch baker. + +"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." + +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." + +"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." + +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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 around and, by a lot of +talking, they were allowed to take us back to our shanty to finish the +rest of the night. + +"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. + +"On the way back to our shanty, I asked the Lieutenant if he thought you +were captured by the Yanks, and he said: + +"Oh, no! he's got lost, and will turn up all right when it gets +daylight." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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.' + +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. + +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 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. + +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: + + "Try not the Pass, the young man said." + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 was told +nothing whatever of my former relations with Washington and the +Secretary of War. + +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. + +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. + +After the General was satisfied that he had pumped us all dry of +information, he gave the necessary orders for our entertainment. + +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 _coffee_--real coffee. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +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: + +"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 _vis-a-vis_ 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. + +[Illustration: IN AN INSTANT HE PUT THE POINT OF HIS SWORD AGAINST MY +BREAST.] + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, introduced 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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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: + +"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." + +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. + +"No use in that, sir; it don't need any water, sir." + +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. + +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. I wasn't drunk--that's a fact--I +could see peeping through the window shades several pairs of bright +eyes. + +I realized at a glance that it was our gray clothes that was the +attraction, and that the appearance of two _real_ Confederates on that +porch was creating something of a sensation among the lady occupants of +that "Old Kentucky Home." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"To father: I am here safe; are all well at home?" + +[Illustration: TO FATHER: "I AM SAFE; ARE ALL WELL AT HOME?"] + +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 _bona fide_ message: + +"I had little hopes of ever seeing you again. Come straight home. Your +uncle A---- is dead. All the rest well.--Father." + +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. + +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." + +That night we reached Pittsburgh, which had been my business home for +some years immediately preceding my war travels. + +My father's home was not at that time in Pittsburgh but a little +distance beyond. + +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. + +It will be remembered that I had suffered previously by giving 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +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. + + +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 _protege_ of the early days of the war. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _one-half_ 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. + +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 minute. I got word you were coming, and have been expecting +you every day." + +[Illustration: HE SEEMED TO HAVE FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT DRESSING HIMSELF.] + +The door opened, and the great Pennsylvania statesman stood before +me--in his robe _de nuit_--grinning all over, with his hair all mussed +up and his bare legs sticking out under his shirt. + +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. + +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. + +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 +_Press_, 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +The Hon. J. K. Moorehead, 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." + +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 _at once_ to the field, and cared but little for the +"effect of my testimony" before the committee, or the pecuniary reward +for the service. + +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." + +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. + +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 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: + +"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." + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 make +myself perfectly comfortable; that he and the rest of the delegation +would see that I was properly cared for. + +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. + +I had worn the Rebel uniform to the Capitol and into the committee room, +and gave my testimony standing at "attention" in it. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 was not on +such particularly good terms with Mr. Stanton as he had been with the +Pennsylvania Secretary, General Simon Cameron. + +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. + +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: + +"It would have been all right, too, if you had come back here, but we +all thought you were dead for so long." + +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. + +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. + + "HON. E. M. STANTON, _Secretary of War_. + + "_Dear Sir:_ 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. + + Yours truly, + "EDGAR COWAN." + +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. + +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 +_sees you_. 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +_Democratic_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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; 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. + +"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--" + +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." + +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. + +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 arrangements 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. + +"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." + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +The carriage called; in it were Senator Cowan, General J. K. Moorehead, +M. C., from Pittsburgh; Hon. S. S. Blair, of Hollidaysburg, 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." + +General Moorehead 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." + +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. + +"Make it enough," said Mr. Blair. + +"Yes, we may just as well make it $10,000," observed the Senator. + +Mr. Moorehead shrewdly suggested: "We have to appropriate this +secret-service money anyhow, and our votes will go for this amount." + +Covode admitted that, "We have given him hundreds of thousands of +dollars for this use already." + +This, in a general way was the plan and purpose of the visit to Mr. +Lincoln on that date. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _must_ 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." + +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 _always_ engaged with somebody, and I feared to intrude +or interrupt him with my personal affairs. + +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 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 _his_ superiors. General Stager was alike to all. + +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: + +"Well, you certainly are an acquisition to us, and I want you in our +service." + +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: + +"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." + +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: + +"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, _overland_--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." + +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." + +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 _anything_ that would give me an opportunity for +active service. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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: + +"If you hang to it with your teeth, you will get all you want." + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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?" + +"I gave it to you, Mr. Secretary," said I tremblingly. + +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 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. + +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 _every place_ in the South; that I had a most valuable +experience, etc. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 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." + +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, _direct_, +and I wanted something now wherein I could make available my past +experiences. + +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. + +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 _front_ of the enemy, instead of in the rear. + +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: + +"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." + +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 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. + +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 reenter +Richmond on a horse as an officer, that I might get there all the same +on a locomotive. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +GENO--FREDERICKSBURG--A CHAPTER OF WAR HISTORY NOT IN _The Century_ +PAPERS. + + +It will be remembered that, on a previous occasion, I had made an entree +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. + +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. + +I am not sure of the exact date on which I got into Fredericksburg, _en +route_ 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. + +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. + +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 Railroad. Exactly what was to be +the nature of my duties I do not now recall, if, indeed, I ever knew. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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-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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 will only say +that Geno, the youngest, was, to my eyes, all that may be described as a +beautiful, budding young girl. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +If I were not writing this story myself, I should be tempted to +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. + +[Illustration: GENO WAS NOT ONLY THE PRETTIEST, BUT THE SWEETEST GIRL I +EVER SAW.] + +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. + +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, _Juanita_. +(I advise the young ladies to get a guitar and practice on this song; it +will catch a boy every time.) It was that _song_, and the beautiful, +large, dark, expressive eyes of this dear little girl that put me in Old +Capitol Prison. + +I was a "goner" from that moment, and have never gotten entirely over it +in all these years. + +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. + +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. + +I had been introduced to the family as a civilian employe 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. + +I may as well admit frankly I was about Geno's house more than duty +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. + +Of course, I felt obliged to make an appearance of reporting for duty to +the railroad office occasionally. + +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. + +His interest probably sprung from having seen me in the company of the +pretty girl, with whom he desired to become acquainted through me. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +It will be remembered by the old soldiers that, early in the war, it +was the custom to display flags promiscuously wherever they could find a +place to string one in a Virginia town. + +[Illustration: REFUSING IN HER VERY DECIDED MANNER TO WALK UNDER "THAT +FLAG."] + +Soldiers who were in Fredericksburg 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. + +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. + +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!" + +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, + + Flags to the right of us, + Flags to the left of us, + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I was, however, unwilling to believe that the father of such an +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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". + +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. + +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." + +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 +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The picnic was a pleasant affair, of course, because Geno was 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +"I must see him before to-night. Where is he?" + +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?" + +"Oh, nothing much. Come down, please. I have something to say to you and +the Captain, privately." + +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: + +"Now, my dear boy, don't you talk to me about that. Why Geno is only a +child." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +I became for a day or two subsequently a most regular attendant at the +Department Telegraph Office. + +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. + +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 Pinkerton 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 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. + +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. + +To be sure the soldiers were there, or thereabout, in force. + +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. + +We were together nearly all the time, but I do not think we were +sentimental in our talk. + +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. + +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. It was her +eyes--her beautiful dark-brown eyes--that were in themselves a soul. + +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. + +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. + +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 _so_ 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. + +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! + +Here I drop my pen, put my feet on the desk on which I have 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +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. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration: ON A SCOUT TO RICHMOND.] + +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. + +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. + +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 _not_ to reinforce McClellan. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, _en route_ +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +That was putting my foot into it deeper than ever. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +As serving to indicate this, and to show the innocence and purity of +Geno, I will relate at my own expense an incident. + +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.'" + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 employes 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." + +I was an employe, and as such was perfectly willing to sign all the +oaths they required, and expressed my willingness to comply 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?" + +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." + +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." + +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 employes 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." + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +The telegrapher at Fredericksburg at that time, was a Mr. Gentry, of +Kentucky, a clever gentleman, as all Kentuckians are that I have ever +met. + +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." + +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 Washington, I merely said: "Just +tell them I won't do it. They will understand that." + +"But," Mr. Gentry interposed, "the Secretary of War sends this +word--that you must do it." + +"Well, I won't do it for the Secretary of War or anybody else." + +"What shall I tell him?" + +"Tell him to go to ----." + +"No," laughed Gentry, "I wouldn't like to do that." + +"Well, tell the Secretary I said so." + +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. + +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. + +Mr. Gentry probably went direct to his office after his short interview +with me and reported the failure of his effort to "reconstruct me." + +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." + +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. + +Mr. Gentry very kindly kept the fact that he had received such a message +entirely to himself, considerately bringing to me first 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. + +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." + +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. + +When I realized the full purport of such an order from the Secretary of +War, I was almost stunned at the direful prospect. + +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. + +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. + +I was given one of the vacant rooms in the private mansion 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +This generous and thoughtful remembrance from Mrs. Wells, 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. + +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 _prevent_ any +communication with me. + +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. + +I was assured by General Patrick that they should be sent along with me +to Washington, in the care of the officer in charge, and he hoped and +expressed the belief that I should soon be free and get possession of +them. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +At the regular hour for the daily boats to leave Aquia Creek for +Washington, we--the Captain, Lieutenant and myself--were aboard and +comfortably seated in arm-chairs on the hurricane deck. + +About 6 P. M. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +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. + + +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. + +I was a "prisoner of State" within the walls of the ugly old building +during part of the months of August and September, 1862. + +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. + +Very few of the tourists who visit Washington are aware that within +rifle-shot of the Capitol stands (in greatly altered shape, of +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. + +[Illustration: IN OLD CAPITOL PRISON--I ADMIT THAT I BROKE DOWN +COMPLETELY.] + +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. + +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 _man_. +It seemed as if the _boy_ 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. + +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 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." + +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 _any_ 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. + +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 myself, that a single +night in jail had made me look like a horrible old murderer. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +I don't just remember now how I did act, but it's most likely 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." + +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: + +"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 _express_ orders of Mr. +Stanton.'" + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +_not_ 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. + +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. + +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, 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." + +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. + +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?" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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." + +The list was extensive, and embraced some Washington "officials." + +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. + +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 _anybody_, +and wanted to be let alone. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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----." + +That's all he said; he didn't get any further, because I snapped him up +abruptly, saying, "Confess _nothing_; I'll do nothing of the kind, +because there isn't anything to confess." + +"But, my dear boy, why did you refuse to take the oath of allegiance? +Surely if you----." + +"Oh you go to ----. I'm not going to make any further explanations to +you." + +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. + +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. + +And I did not. To make the long story short, I went back to 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." + +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. + +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 _wouldn't_ stay very long; that I _must_ be on hand +and once more outside. I would vindicate myself independently of Mr. +Stanton's advisers. + +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?" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +She looked at the boy, then at me, and, with a hearty laugh, declared: +"It's the very thing; let's do it." + +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. + +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. + +I was to borrow or buy from the boy, his old hat and coat, and the +patched pants and torn shoes I would manufacture. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 Englishman most decidedly, +who gave us our orders as our commander to be on the _qui vive_ for him. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +[Illustration: IN OLD CAPITOL PRISON--DISGUISED AS A CONTRABAND.] + +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. + +Miss Belle Boyd entered into the preparations for this scheme as +school-girls plan their tableaux. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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." + +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: + +"Sam, you ugly, good-for-nothing nigger, tell your master to use a +scrubbing brush on you before you come to me again." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 room, preparatory to an +escape in the evening, a visitor was in the prison waiting to see me. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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 +_not to go south of a certain point_, until _authorized or released from +the parole_. + +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 _on record there to-day_, as a proof that I +was in the Old Capitol Prison during this time, as stated. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +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. + + +I was fired out of Old Capitol Prison as suddenly and unexpectedly to +myself as I had been run into the old trap. + +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." + +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 Fredericksburg, had granted some special favors +in the way of getting his goods into the army, through the Provost +Guards. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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?" + +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. + +It was not so much of a joke, however, when a little later on 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +without any preliminaries enlisted into Company B, Second United States +Cavalry, Captain T. F. Rodenbaugh. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I was made a Corporal by the Captain, and had the stripes in a +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 jamming 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Early next morning, before any of my comrades were awake, I was up about +daybreak, anxious to get a look at Washington, and especially Old +Capitol Prison, through the glasses of a Union soldier. It was a bitter +cold morning; so early as 5 A. M., 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. + +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. + +I was in Washington again, and, strange to say, we were camped for the +first night right in sight of the Old Capitol Prison. + +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. + +The first visit I made in Washington after my return there as a soldier +was to the Capitol. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 "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. + +[Illustration: THE SERGEANT KINDLY GAVE HIM THE STEEL.] + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +At our camp, near Fort Albany, we were quartered in the regulation +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. + +It is a little curious that I was selected to do precisely this same +duty by the Rebels in their capital. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +At last we were ordered to the front. I do not now remember the exact +date, but it was sometime in December. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I had not told anybody in our company--not even my good friend Captain +Rodenbaugh--of my previous experiences in Virginia. + +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. + +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. + +The Captain looked at me for a moment, then, with a significant smile, +he took my breath away by observing, pleasantly: + +"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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +We crossed the old bridge, beyond the Navy Yard, over the Eastern +Branch, went up over the hill, and were soon out of sight of +Washington, traveling all day over the same route that Wilkes Booth took +in his flight to Virginia the night of the assassination. + +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. + +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 _en route_ to Old Capitol +Prison. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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." + +The Steward's name was Fulton--Johnny Fulton--formerly of Fahnestock's +great drug house in Pittsburgh. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +It was expected that these long poles, with the sharp spears on the +ends, would be just the thing to charge on an enemy. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Pretty soon they, like the Zouaves, changed their uniform to the old +blue blouse, and threw away their long sticks for the noisy saber. + +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 +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! + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +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. + + +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. + +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. + +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 testimony that he was +always courteous and kind, and most tenderhearted and thoughtful of the +welfare of the boys in the ranks. + +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." + +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?" + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +But I persisted, and, to assure him further, I told him I had been there +before, and wasn't afraid to go again. + +"You surprise me," said the General, genially. "Come into my room and +I'll talk it over a little." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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." + +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?" + +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 Fredericksburg, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 straight in the eye, as he said: "Now, my young +friend, what is it that you propose?" + +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. + +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 +_Signal_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 stations 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +"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." + +"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! + +The General, with a deep sigh, as an expression of pain passed over his +face that I shall never forget, said: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +In after years, when General Burnside became a Senator from 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. + +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. e._, 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 among the Rebels. I was quietly +informed of this by a friend at court. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Being only an enlisted man, I was quartered with the "non-coms" around +headquarters, my immediate chum being the Hospital Steward. + +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. + +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 "Regular" face, jerked himself in +sideways, stiffened up, saluted, and reported that he had "fetched the +man he was ordered to." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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?" + +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. + +"Are you sure that your friends over there have not heard of your being +in the army?" + +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. + +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 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. + +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." + +With a deep sigh he hesitated a moment, as if recalling his recent +battle, that had so terribly demonstrated this fact. + +"The Government was deceived to a great extent by Scouts; what I now +desire is to deceive the Rebels." + +I didn't "catch on," which the General probably discovered by his intent +look into my eye. + +"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." + +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." + +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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Compared with the Morse system, it was a little tedious, and, at 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. + +In this way the two simplest of all known characters are formed; +_i. e._, the "dot" and the "dash" of the American Morse system. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _to the +right_; a dash (or No. 1) by a motion to the left of a sender. + +At the end of each word, abbreviation, conventional or prearranged +signal, a "front" motion is made. + +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. + +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. + +These up-stairs windows were visible over the top of another house that +stood between it and the river. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + + Communicate km. Communication kmn. + Communicating kmg. Communicated kmd. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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?" + +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. + +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." + +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 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." + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +It was then, when alone with myself, that I calmly and dispassionately +thought over the entire matter. + +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. + +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. + +I recalled, with feelings of intense gratification, the Staff-officer's +words: "We shall cross into the town again as we did before." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I was a coward both ways--afraid to go and afraid not to go. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I was there for the purpose of watching a favorable opportunity to +desert to the other side. + +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. + +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 _ignis fatuus_. The Confederates were allowed +camp-fires all along their picket-lines. We were not even permitted to +light a match. + +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. + +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. + +During the daytime there would frequently be a general exchange of +agreeable, but sometimes sharp, words between the pickets. + +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. + +It was only necessary to call "Johnny!" to get a quick "Hello," or if +Johnny called first it was "Hello, Yank." + +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. + +[Illustration: CAVALRY PICKET ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK.] + +What I am relating is an actual experience from real life in the picket +lines. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +We also discovered that the placing of an old newspaper between blankets +increased their warmth doubly without adding to the weight. + +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." + +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. + +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!" + +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." + +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." + +This stirred up the officer, whose pleased smile I could see by the +fire-light. + +"Hello! is that you, Yank?" Then, urging the sleeper to get out, the two +had some sharp words, which I didn't hear. + +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. + +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. + +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 fact that the little boat was +drawn or ferried almost every night by means of it. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +My rebel called back, "I'm a-comin' with some good stuff." + +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." + +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. + +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: + +"Well, why don't you all go to your own home in your own country?" + +I explained that we would like to do so, but being soldiers we had to +stay here against our will. + +I then mildly suggested that we felt like going over to their side, that +we might have such comfortable fires, etc. + +"A right smart of your men do come over." + +"What do they do with them?" + +"Oh, they are sent away down to the coast some place, where they are in +no danger of getting caught by you all." + +That was one important point learned; they would send me off 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. + +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. + +"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?" + +"Why, yes, I'll do anything I can to oblige you; but I'll have to ask +the Captain about that, you know." + +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." + +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. + +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: + +"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 down the river at Hoop-pole +Ferry, so that I hope to soon be with you all once more, etc." + +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?" + +I signified that I was, when he said: "I know those ladies very well, +and will see them myself to-morrow." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +Further conversation was carried on in this guarded way, as an officer +sat in front of us and heard every word that was exchanged. + +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?" + +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. + +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. + +The interviews of visitors were limited to a certain number of minutes, +and when my time was up I had to go. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +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. + + +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. + +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 _Century_ 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. + +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 _coup d'etat_, by which McClellan +was to be made Military Dictator, in place of President Lincoln. + +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 correspondence 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It was Mr. Lincoln who personally and privately, through certain +friends, held Burnside in check. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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. + +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 _carte +blanche_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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): + +"I have got Lee in such a tight place that God Almighty can't get him +out." + +Yet within two hours after Hooker had sent this he was running his +130,000 men away from Lee's 60,000. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 large force of Cavalry was +detailed to ride to the upper fords to watch J. E. B. Stuart's raiders. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +That our movement was a complete surprise was also clearly seen by the +conduct of the inhabitants. We went along quietly 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +One of the towns we reached _en route_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 be of service in tapping the +telegraph wires, and to me was left, in a general way, the oversight of +the telegraph business. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +That's a fact. The General laughed quietly, but didn't dare to open his +mouth again. + +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." + +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." + +As suggested by the General, I telegraphed: "The wire was cut by those +Yankees on horseback, but it's fixed now." + +"Is that so? Who is it?" were the questions fired at me. + +"I'm a repairman sent out to fix this wire. The Yankees were chased back +by J. E. B. Stuart to-day." + +"Good enough. I thought Jeb wouldn't allow that," were some of the +expressions which were used in reply. + +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. + +"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 of being driven off, these Yankees proposed +moving south at once toward Richmond. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It would fill a good-sized pamphlet to tell all that I saw on this +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. + +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. + +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 attaches and orderlies were scattered around, as +were the bodyguard. + +A little distance from the house was a stream of water, or "crick," +which we learned emptied into the James River, near by. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration: TAPPING THE TELEGRAPH WIRE.--"ARE THE YANKS IN +FREDERICKSBURG?"] + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"Are the Yanks in Fredericksburg?" + +"Not much," was the answer which came to my ears and made my heart sink. + +"Why, I heard they were there." + +"They were there, but Uncle Bob scattered them all back, and they are +running on Washington. Who are you?" + +"Oh, I'm a strange operator from New Orleans. I stepped in at this +office to get the news, and found the operator out." + +"Well, the news is, the Yanks are all gone to h---- again, and General +Lee is marching on Washington." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +We at headquarters lay around the house until dark, the General and +officers assuming an air of cheerfulness and indifference they did not +feel. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 Pleasonton and his friends out of their commands. +I don't know how this was, but it is certain Pleasonton was manoeuvered +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. + +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. + +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 forage for +horses, etc., the men took the opportunity to buy from the colored +people. + +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. + +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. + +"What are you doing there?" yelled the General. + +"The men were foraging." The officer only got this word out when +Stoneman stopped him with an oath-- + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +It was while resting in this position, after the interview with 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Hastily informing the officer in command of my observations at the +ferry, that the crossing was not occupied, etc., he reported to the +General. + +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 time, we crossed the +Rappahannock, and were once more safely within our own lines. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +My impression then was that Stoneman 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. + +Whether there was such an order from headquarters can perhaps be +established from the records-- + +That one could have gone into Richmond was freely admitted by the +general officer in command. + +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. + +I shall never do this subject justice until I write a novel, giving the +entire story. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The artillery "support" had no more effect in quieting that incessant +hammering than if their shots had been fired into the air. + +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. + +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. + +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 their laying of pontoons in the face +of the enemy's fire from rifle-pits. + +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 _en masse_, 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. + +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. + +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. + +Not a single Johnny dropped, though they threw their guns away to +lighten them in the race for the home-run. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +They are beautiful songs besides and the words and melody more clearly +define the romance than my pen could describe. + +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. + +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. + +Another old favorite is "Evangeline," which so fully expresses my +sentiments on the past. + +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." + +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. + +Since the close of the war, I have wandered all over the land, like +Gabriel in search of his Evangeline. I was shipwrecked on 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 Mormons 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. + +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." + + "Dear as remembered kisses after death, + And sweet as those by hopeless fancy feigned + On lips that are for others; deep as love, + Deep as first love, and wild with all regret; + Oh, death in life! the days that are no more." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +General Pleasonton was certainly one of the most courteous, gentlemanly +General officers in the Army of the Potomac. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +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. + + +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. + +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. + +It was Buford, of my brigade, who should have the credit of manoeuvering +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. + +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. + +I had been sent out to scout, and for this mounted secret service a +second man was sent along. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +We saw nothing at all like an army below us; in fact, the Confederate +army had previously passed out of sight at that point, _en route_ to +Gettysburg. I turned in leisurely to make our coffee and "smoke," while +my chum stood guard with his glass. + +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." + +We remained long enough in the mountain to satisfy ourselves 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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +"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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +We returned to camp at Aldie, reported the matter, and were complimented +highly as "two ---- fools." + +During these every-day cavalry skirmishes, while _en route_ 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." + +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. + +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. + +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 _en route_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +The ambulance that brought us to the railroad was ordered to 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Seeing considerable smoke ahead, I was confirmed in my first impression +that it was a wagon-train camp just lighting their camp-fires. + +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." + +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?" + +"Soldiers, I reckon, sir." + +"Yes, I know; but what soldiers?" + +"Colonel Mosby's soldiers, I reckon, sir." + +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. + +"What are they doing up there?" + +"They done captured that wagon-train, sir; and I reckon they will burn +the wagons when they get the horses away." + +I turned my horse back to the main road, feeling a little nervous, but +determined to run for my life. + +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. + +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 train, but +this fellow--a Colonel--refused to cross his men over the run to help to +save them. + +[Illustration: "COLONEL MOSBY'S SOLDIERS, I RECKON, SIR."] + +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: + +"Well, those fellows will get badly fooled if they are burning that +ammunition train." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +SENT TO FIND GENERAL BUFORD--A HASTY RIDE--THE BATTLE OF +GETTYSBURG--CEMETERY RIDGE--GENERAL DOUBLEDAY--GENERAL HANCOCK--THE +SECOND DAY OF THE BATTLE. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. Headquarters usually selected a good, hospitable-looking +house for their temporary quarters, you know. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +"Where in ---- are you going?" was the polite salutation. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. 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. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +It was imperative that I should obey orders and report to General +Buford. + +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. + +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 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 _did_ get it, before he should leave. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +"All right," said the General, significantly, "We will all be back there +soon." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 Seminary Building, I felt it safe +enough to dismount, cool off myself and the horse, and repair damages. + +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. + +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. + +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 _that_ platform than the cyclorama I have viewed from +similar elevations in the center of the battle scenes they depict. + +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. + +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. + +I rode out toward the right as far as it was expedient for a horse to +go. + +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 _awful_ 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 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! + + "No marshalling troops, no bivouac song, + No banner to gleam and wave; + But, Oh _these battles! they last so long--_ + _From boyhood_ to the grave." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _our_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"General, I passed General Slocum only a little way out the road." The +General, without halting his slow movement, gruffly said: + +"Where is Slocum?" + +"Why, out the road a little piece." + +"When did you see him?" + +"This morning." + +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: + +"Get out of my way, ---- you. We all know where Slocum was this morning. +Where is Slocum now? Who in ---- are you, anyhow?" + +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. + +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. + +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 P. M. on that day. + +I want to say that is not true. There was lots of music at 1 P. M., 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. + +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. + +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. + +I got there just as soon as I could, too. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I stopped on the side of the road, near General Howard that I might look +around from this elevation. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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 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. + +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: + +"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." + +Some one asked if they--the Staff--should use force indiscriminately. +Doubleday retorted, violently: "Yes; shoot any ---- man that refuses to +obey." + +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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +Perhaps some person will ask why Generals Hancock and Doubleday did not +lay claim to the credit of this manoeuver 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +I had slept in the same haymow from which I had been awakened the +previous morning. + +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. + +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 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. + +[Illustration: A CLOSE CALL AT GETTYSBURG.] + +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. + +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. + +During all that morning I was about headquarters, trying to find out +what in thunder was up; everything was oppressively quiet. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"It looks as if something was up, don't it?" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +At the time, it looked to me like another first day, and, as I was +anxious to be on the safe side, I retired to the valley between the +Round Tops. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I have nearly always noticed that the officers and men thought 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +_The wounds are not always received at the front._ It is the nasty +_little_ bullets that do the greater damage to the men in line. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +You will notice in all the pictures of battles that the dying are +usually represented as throwing up their hands and falling backward +gracefully. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +When Pickett's charge was made I was behind the stone wall, about three +miles away, and, consequently, did not see it. + +At the "supreme moment," I was quietly picking blackberries in an old +field where the reserve artillery had been parked. + +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. + +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. + +There is, however, a little story about a charge of Pennsylvanians in +the Virginia "burg," led by the glorious but unobtrusive Meade, that the +_old_ 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: + +With the Rappahannock River in the rear, Meade led his Division over a +mile of plain under a heavy artillery fire, and _broke the celebrated_ +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. + +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. + +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. + +_No prisoners were taken_ at Fredericksburg as there were at Gettysburg. + +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 _old_ Army of the Potomac and +its numerous general officers when the proper praises are so freely +being given to its later chiefs. + +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. + +The charge was not led by Pickett, neither were the troops who did the +most gallant fighting Virginians. + +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. + +The _best_ fighting was done by the North Carolinians and Tennesseeans, +led by Pettigrew; therefore, it should be _Pettigrew's_ charge. In +this, as in many other matters, the historians of the war are at fault. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +What would have been the result, _if_ Meade had been supported by +Franklin, when he broke Stonewall Jackson's line at Fredericksburg? And +_if_ Sedgwick had been properly supported by Hooker, at +Chancellorsville, when he drove Early from behind the "impregnable" +works on Marye's Heights? Once more: _If_ Pickett had succeeded and had +broken into our line, and had been supported by Longstreet, then _if_ +the Sixth Corps, which had scarcely been engaged in the great fight, had +turned in on them on the flank, _if_ any of them had gotten back at all +it would have been a miracle. _If_, 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. _If_ they were to try it again +they would be whipped worse. _If_ they don't believe it, fire on Fort +Sumter. _If_ we had never been born we would not have to die. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It is not for me to criticise General Meade for not closely pursuing +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. + +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. + +"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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +CLOSING CHAPTER. + + +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. + +In reading the recent _Century_ 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 _everything_, 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 _civil_, inquisitive way that was +very annoying to the officers. + +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. + +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 _won_ 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. + +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. + +General Meade was every inch a soldier, as well as a gentleman, by birth +and training. + +In camp he was the most unpretentious looking of the General officers. +His spectacled face, rather quiet, scholarly bearing, reminds me of +professors or doctors whom we frequently see; they resemble him in +appearance. + +He always wore a slouch hat, and around his neck was invariably worn the +old-fashioned leather _stock_, used in the Regular Army on recruits to +keep their heads checked up. + +He usually slept in an ambulance attached to Headquarters. + +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. + +Kilpatrick was _mad_. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The colored people who lived in them gave the gunners the exact +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. + +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. + +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'?" + +General Lee never called the Union Army Federals or Yankees--it was +always "those people." + +Kilpatrick laughed as he said something to Custer that was not intended +for his superior, General Meade's ears. + +Custer, in his nervous manner, again suggested going after some of +"those people" down below. + +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. + +We rode three or four miles perhaps, when we reached some of our own +cavalry and infantry. + +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. + +There was a little battle at Falling Waters, in which Custer's Division +participated. + +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. + +On this occasion, one of Custer's aides was a Michigan Officer, 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. + +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. + +And now we will again say a reluctant good-by to the Army of the +Potomac. + +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. + +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. + +In the few days that immediately followed, I rode, solitary and 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. + +The old Rebel horse remained on my father's farm for many years. + +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. + + "The story of our love is incomplete;" + The leaves of many years are missing; + Lonely apart we pined, each seeking truth + Together, we will find love's land enchanted. + + The past is flown, the future still have we; + So let our twin souls blend beyond the ages, + Till young and fair, beside the Jasper Sea, + We may discover all love's torn out pages. + +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. + +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. + +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 it, but, not +finding it, I applied to the War Department for a certified copy. The +following is the reply, which explains itself: + + [2677 A. V. P., 1885.] + + WAR DEPARTMENT, } + ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, } + WASHINGTON, April 29, 1885. } + + MR. ---- ----, + + _Sir:_ 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. + + Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + C. MCKEEVER, + Assistant Adjutant-General, in charge. + (Two inclosures.) + +As will be seen in the copy, I did not resign until after the war was +over. + +The original was on parchment, with Mr. Lincoln's and Mr. Stanton's +autograph signatures. + + THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. + + _To all who shall see these presents, greeting:_ + + 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 + of war. This commission is to continue in force during the + pleasure of the President of the United States for the time + being. + + Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, this fifteenth + day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand + [SEAL.] eight hundred and sixty-four, and in the eighty-ninth + year of the independence of the United States. + + By the President. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. + + EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + +I especially call attention to the _dates_ of these papers. + +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. + + 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. + + C. MCKEEVER, + Assistant Adjutant-General. + + * * * * * + + WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, + April 29, 1885. + + COPY OF MY BREVET COMMISSION. + + OFFICE OF CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER, } + WASHINGTON, D. C., January, 1865.} + + _Sir:_ 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. + + It is the object of the Chief Signal Officer to secure whatever + material may influence to favorable action in the case. + + Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + RICHARD P. STRONG, + Acting Chief Signal Officer. + +This accounts for my "Captain-Major's" title. Promotions in this branch +were rare--indeed, there were none; but I enjoyed, as a General +Staff-officer, all the privileges and none of the responsibilities of +the rank of a Major-General. + +As I have indicated, I stayed till it was over, and would do it again. + +As the reader will have seen, the work of a Spy is at all times +unpleasant, exceedingly dangerous as well as thankless. + +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. + +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. + +It is the _motive_ 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. + +I was simply willing to sacrifice myself that I might accomplish some +good for the cause. + +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: + + Stranger, beneath this stone + Lies the dust of a + A Spy + Who perished upon the gibbet; + Yet + The storied marbles of the great, + The shrines of heroes, + Entombed not one more worthy of + Honor + Than him who here + Sleeps his last sleep. + + Nations + Bow with reverence before the dust + Of him who dies + A glorious death, + Urged on by the sound of the + Trumpet + And the shouts of + Admiring thousands. + But what reverence, what honor, + Is not due to one + Who for his country encountered + Even an infamous death, + Soothed by no sympathy, + Animated by no praise! + +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. + +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-- + +[Illustration: THE BOY SPY] + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration] + +The New Alpine Edition + +160 Titles + +Library Style Gilt Top + +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 x 7-1/2. + + +Price 75 Cents Per Volume. + + + T. S. ARTHUR + + 125 Ten Nights in a Bar Room + + BALZAC + + 152 Wild Ass's Skin + + J. M. BARRIE + + 149 When a Man's Single + 153 Window in Thrums + + R. D. BLACKMORE + + 75 Lorna Doone + + CHARLOTTE BRONTE + + 65 Jane Eyre + + BULWER-LYTTON + + 4 Alice + 44 Ernest Maltravers + 71 Last Days of Pompeii + + JOHN BUNYAN + + 57 Holy War + 100 Pilgrim's Progress + + HALL CAINE + + 17 Bondman, The + 27 Deemster, The + + MARIE CALM + + 12 Bella's Blue Book + + ROSA N. CAREY + + 81 Mary St. John + 90 Not Like Other Girls + 147 Wee Wifie + 158 Wooed and Married + + RALPH CONNOR + + 15 Black Rock + + J. FENIMORE COOPER + + 28 Deerslayer, The + 72 Last of the Mohicans + 95 Pathfinder, The + 99 Pilot, The + 101 Pioneers, The + 105 Prairie, The + 120 Spy, The + 138 Two Admirals + 146 Water Witch + 154 Wing and Wing + + MARIE CORELLI + + 7 Ardath + 111 Romance of Two Worlds + 128 Thelma + 142 Vendetta + 160 Wormwood + + MARIA CUMMINS + + 70 Lamplighter, The + + GEO. W. CURTIS + + 107 Prue and I + + CHARLES DICKENS + + 16 Bleak House + 22 Child's History of England + 23 Christmas Stories + 26 David Copperfield + 29 Dombey and Son + 51 Great Expectations + 80 Martin Chuzzlewit + 89 Nicholas Nickleby + 91 Old Curiosity Shop + 93 Oliver Twist + 94 Our Mutual Friend + 97 Pickwick Papers + 122 Tale of Two Cities + + A. CONAN DOYLE + + 150 White Company, A + + J. H. DRUMMOND + + 34 Addresses + 88 Natural Law in the Spiritual World + + ALEXANDER DUMAS + + 24 Count of Monte Cristo, The + 37 Edmund Dantes + 76 Louise de la Valliere + 79 Man in the Iron Mask, The + 119 Son of Porthos + 129 Three Guardsmen, The + 137 Twenty Years After + 145 Viscount De Bragelonne + + GEORGE EBERS + + 39 Egyptian Princess, An + 139 Uarda + + GEORGE ELIOT + + 1 Adam Bede + 25 Daniel Deronda + 45 Felix Holt + 84 Middlemarch + 85 Mill on the Floss + 112 Romola + 117 Silas Marner + + JESSIE FOTHERGILL + + 46 First Violin, The + + GOLDSMITH AND JOHNSON + + 143 Vicar of Wakefield, and Rasselas + + P. G. HAMERTON + + 63 Intellectual Life + + NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE + + 114 Scarlet Letter + + W. HEIMBURG + + 48 Gertrude's Marriage + 86 Misjudged + + G. A. HENTY + + 155 With Lee in Virginia + 156 With Wolfe in Canada + + MARIETTA HOLLY + + 113 Samantha at Saratoga + + MARY J. HOLMES + + 32 Dora Deane + 41 English Orphans + 69 Homestead on the Hillside + 73 Lena Rivers + 78 Maggie Miller + 82 Meadowbrook Farm + 123 Tempest and Sunshine + + OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES + + 8 Autocrat of the Breakfast Table + + THOMAS HUGHES + + 132 Tom Brown's School Days + 133 Tom Brown at Oxford + + VICTOR HUGO + + 18 By Order of the King + + REV. J. H. INGRAHAM + + 98 Pillar of Fire + 106 Prince of the House of David + 131 Throne of David + + WASHINGTON IRVING + + 3 Alhambra, The + 68 Knickerbocker's History of N.Y. + 118 Sketch Book + + JEROME K. JEROME + + 127 Three Men In a Boat + + CHARLES KINGSLEY + + 60 Hyputia + + RUDYARD KIPLING + + 11 Barrack Room Ballads + + H. W. LONGFELLOW + + 74 Longfellow's Poems + + SIR JOHN LUBBOCK + + 102 Pleasures of Life + + EDNA LYALL + + 30 Donovan + 64 Hardy Norseman, A + 62 In the Golden Days + 69 Knight Errant + 148 We Two + 157 Won by Waiting + + E. MARLITT + + 10 Bailiff's Maid + 49 Gold Elsie + 92 Old Mam'selle's Secret + + IK MARVEL (D. G. Mitchell) + + 33 Dream Life + 109 Reveries of a Bachelor + + OWEN MEREDITH + + 77 Lucile + + MISCELLANEOUS + + 2 Aesop's Fables + 5 Andersen's Fairy Tales + 6 Arabian Knight's Entertainments + 9 Bacon's Essays + 31 Don Quixote--Cervantes + 40 Elizabeth and Her German Gardener + 42 English Woman's Love Letters + 43 Epictetus, Discourses of + 50 Golden Butterfly, Besant and Rice + 52 Grimm's Fairy Tales + 53 Gulliver's Travels + 103 Plutarch's Lives + 110 Robinson Crusoe--De Foe + 121 Swiss Family Robinson--Wyss + 159 Wood's Natural History + + MISS MULOCK + + 66 John Halifax + + FRANCIS PARKMAN + + 19 California and the Oregon Trail + + EDGAR ALLAN POE + + 104 Poe's Tales + + JANE PORTER + + 115 Scottish Chiefs + 126 Thaddeus of Warsaw + + R. M. ROCHE + + 21 Children of the Abbey + + SIR WALTER SCOTT + + 55 Heart of Midlothian + 64 Ivanhoe + 67 Kenilworth + + ANNA SEWALL + + 14 Black Beauty + + HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ + + 108 Quo Vadis + + SAMUEL SMILES + + 20 Character + 35 Duty + 116 Self Help + 130 Thrift + + HERBERT SPENCER + + 38 Education + + ST. PIERRE + + 96 Paul and Virginia + + ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON + + 135 Treasure Island + + HARRIET BEECHER STOWE + + 140 Uncle Tom's Cabin + + BAYARD TAYLOR + + 144 Views Afoot + + JEREMY TAYLOR + + 58 Holy Living + + ALFRED TENNYSON + + 124 Tennyson's Poems + + WM. MAKEPEACE THACKERAY + + 56 Henry Esmond + 141 Vanity Fair + + JULES VERNE + + 47 Floating Island + 83 Michael Strogoff + 87 Mysterious Island, The + 134 Tour of the World in 80 Days + 136 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea + + JOHN G. WHITTIER + + 151 Whittier's Poems + + AUGUSTA EVANS-WILSON + + 13 Beulah + 61 Inez + + MRS. HENRY WOOD + + 36 East Lynn + + * * * * * + +"HARKAWAY" SERIES OF BOOKS FOR BOYS + +_By Bracebridge Hemyng_ + +No more Readable Books for the Young have ever been printed than these +Fifteen Volumes + +Bound in Linen Cloth, Back and Side Stamped in Ink + +_Price 75 Cents per copy_ + + 1 Jack Harkaway's School Days + 2 Jack Harkaway After School Days + 3 Jack Harkaway Afloat and Ashore + 4 Jack Harkaway at Oxford, Part I + 5 Jack Harkaway at Oxford, Part II + 6 Jack Harkaway Among the Brigands, Part I + 7 Jack Harkaway Among the Brigands, Part II + 8 Jack Harkaway's Adventures Around the World + 9 Jack Harkaway in America and Cuba + 10 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in China + 11 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in Greece, Part I + 12 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in Greece, Part II + 13 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in Australia + 14 Jack Harkaway and His Boy Tinker, Part I + 15 Jack Harkaway and His Boy Tinker, Part II + +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. + +M. A. Donohue & Co., +407-429 Dearborn Street +Chicago + + + + +Webster's Handy American Dictionary. + +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. + +Price, 25 Cents. + + +DONOHUE'S WEBSTER'S SCHOOL DICTIONARY AND AMERICAN PICTORIAL HANDY +LEXICON OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. + +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. + +Price, 35 Cents. + + +Popular American Dictionary of the English Language. + +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. 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Near 300 large pages. + +Price, 50 Cents. + + * * * * * + +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. + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. +407-429 Dearborn St. +CHICAGO + + + + +SPEAKERS, DIALOGUES AND PLAYS + +Ideal and Model Series of Speakers + +Embracing the Best Select Readings and Recitations + + +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. + +Price, 10c. each + +[Illustration] + + +IDEAL SPEAKERS + + 1 Selected Readings and Recitations + 2 Select Readings and Recitations for Young People + 3 Select Readings and Recitations for Little Children + 4 Select Readings and Recitations for Christmas + 5 Select Readings and Recitations Humorous and Dialect + 6 Select Readings and Recitations Comic + 7 Select Dialogues for Little Children + 8 Selected Readings and Recitations + 9 Select Readings and Recitations for Young People + 10 Select Readings and Recitations for all the year around + 11 Select Dialogues for Young People + 12 Select Readings and Recitations + 13 Select Readings and Recitations + 14 Children's Select Readings and Recitations + 15 Children's Select Dialogues + 16 Select Recitations + + +MODEL SPEAKERS + + 1 Select Readings and Recitations + 2 Select Readings for Young People + 3 Select Recitations for Young People + 4 Select Recitations for Little Children + 5 Select Readings and Recitations for Young People + 6 Select Readings and Recitations + 7 Comic Recitations + 8 Select Dialogues + 9 Select Readings for all the year around + 10 Select Recitations and Readings for all the year around + 11 Select Recitations for Young People + 12 Select dialogues for Young People + 13 Select Dialogues for Young People + 14 Select Recitations for Young People + + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO., CHICAGO. + + + + +PATRIOTIC RECITATIONS AND READINGS + +Compiled by Charles Walter Brown, A. M. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +Handsomely bound in Paper Covers 25 Cents +Cloth 50 Cents + + * * * * * + +COMPLETE GUIDE TO DANCING + +Ball Room Etiquette and Quadrille Call Book + +[Illustration] + +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. 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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. + +Price of each book is $1.00, postpaid. + + +History of Animals, Their Varieties and Oddities. + +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. + +Price, $1.00. + + +History of Birds. + +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 x +9 inches. + +Price, $1.00. + + +History of the Sea. + +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. + +Price, $1.00. + + * * * * * + +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. + +M. A. Donohue & Co. +407-429 DEARBORN ST. +CHICAGO + + + + +HOW TO BECOME RICH + +A TREATISE ON PHRENOLOGY + +A Choice of Professions and Matrimony A Self-Instructor + +By Prof. William Windsor, Ph. 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B. + +_95 Illustrations_ + +[Illustration] + +"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 _quasi_-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. + +Paper, 208 pages. Price, 25 cents. + + * * * * * + +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. + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. +407-429 Dearborn Street +CHICAGO + + + + +Lives of Famous Men + +Edited by Charles Walter Brown, A. M. + +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. + +LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON. + +By George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted son of our first +president. Cloth, 664 pages, large, 12mo. + + +LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. + +By Hon. Joseph H. Barrett, ex-member of Congress. Cloth, 842 pages, +large, 12mo. + + +LIFE OF U. S. GRANT. + +By Hon. B. P. Poore and Kev. O. H. Tiffany, D. D. Cloth, 594 pages, +large, 12mo. + + +LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY. + +By Murat Halstead, Chauncey M. Depew and John Sherman. Cloth, 450 pages, +large, 12mo. + + +LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT. + +By Thomas W. Handford. Cloth, 255 pages, large, 16mo. + + +LIFE OF HENRY M. STANLEY. + +By A. M. Godbey, A. M. Cloth, 560 pages, large, 12mo. + + +LIFE OF JOHN PAUL JONES. + +By Charles Walter Brown, A. M. Cloth, nearly 300 pages, 12mo. + + +LIFE OF ETHAN ALLEN. + +By Charles Walter Brown, A. M. Cloth, nearly 300 pages, 12mo. + + +LIFE OF W. T. SHERMAN. + +By Hon. W. Fletcher Johnson and Gen. O. O. Howard. Cloth, 607 pages, +large, 12mo. + + +LIFE OF P. T. BARNUM. + +By Hon. Joel Benton. Cloth, 621 pages, large, 12mo. + + +LIFE OF T. DEWITT TALMAGE. + +By Charles Francis Adams. Cloth, nearly 500 pages. + + +LIFE OF D. L. MOODY. + +By Charles Francis Adams. Cloth, 318 pages, large, 12mo. + + +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. + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. +407-429 Dearborn St., +CHICAGO. + + + + +FORTUNE TELLING, MAGIC, TABLEAUX, PANTOMIMES, PLAYS, SPEAKERS, ETC. + + +Twentieth Century Wonder Book +By WM. C. HUNTER + +[Illustration] + +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. + +BOUND IN CLOTH 50c. +BOUND IN PAPER 25c. + + +Dearborn Speaker +182 PAGES +12MO. CLOTH + +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. + +PRICE 75c. + + +Tommy's First Speaker +160 PAGES, 12MO. CLOTH + +[Illustration] + +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. + +PRICE 50c. + + +Tommy's Second Speaker +160 PAGES, 12MO. CLOTH + +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. + +PRICE 50c. + + +M. A. DONOHUE &. CO., CHICAGO. + + + + +Famous Books FOR BOYS + + +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. + +From the Modern Authors' Library + + +By G. A. Henty + + 260 Boy Knight, A + 271 Cornet of Horse + 280 Facing Death + 285 Final Reckoning + 295 In Freedom's Cause + 296 In Times of Peril + 297 In the Reign of Terror + 299 Jack Archer + 317 One of the 28th + 318 Orange and Green + 319 Out on the Pampas + 337 True to the Old Flag + 349 Under Drake's Flag + 348 With Lee in Virginia + + +By J. Fenimore Cooper + + 170 Last of the Mohicans, The + 178 Pathfinder, The + 179 Pioneers, The + 180 Prairie, The + 187 Spy, The + 254 Deerslayer + + +By Victor Hugo + + 36 By Order of the King + 272 Cosette + 283 Fantine + 106 Hans of Iceland + 37 History of a Crime + 300 Jean Valjean + 308 Marius + 38 Ninety-Three + 39 Notre Dame de Paris + 331 St. Denis + 40 Toilers of the Sea + + +By Emile Gaboriau + + 284 File No. 113-- + 287 Gilded Clique + 108 Lecoq, the Detective + 199 Lerouge Case, The + 312 Mystery of Orcival + + +By Jules Verne + + 245 Michael Strogoff + 219 Mysterious Island + 189 Tour of the World in 80 Days + 121 Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea + + +By H. Rider Haggard + + 153 Allan Quartermain + 228 Allan's Wife + 160 Cleopatra + 100 Jess + 167 King Solomon's Mines + 112 Miawa's Revenge + 244 Mr. Meeson's Will + 186 She + + +PRICE, POSTPAID 25c EACH OR ANY FIVE FOR $1.00 + +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. + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. +407-429 Dearborn St., CHICAGO + + + + +Comic Readings and Recitations + +Compiled by CHARLES WALTER BROWN, A. M. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +Paper covers, printed in two colors on enameled paper, 25 cents. + +Cloth, gold titles, original designs, stamped in inks, 50 cents. + + * * * * * + + +The American Star Speaker and Model Elocutionist + +By CHARLES WALTER BROWN, A. M. + +[Illustration] + +Many Speakers are advertised to be _the best_, but a comparison is all +that is necessary to convince anyone that our claim that =The American +Star Speaker & Model Elocutionist= 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. + +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. + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. +407-429 Dearborn Street +CHICAGO + + + + +Biographies _of_ Prominent Border Bandits + +Profusely Illustrated + + +Frank and Jesse James + +BY J. W. BUEL + +[Illustration] + +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. PRICE: cloth, 75 cents; paper, 25 cents. + + +The Younger Brothers + +BY J. W. BUEL + +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. PRICE: cloth, 75 cents; paper, 25 cents. + + +The Dalton Brothers + +BY LLEW WILLIAMS + +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. PRICE: +cloth, 75 cents; paper, 25 cents. + + +Harry Tracy, the Bandit + +BY W. B. HENNESSY + +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. PRICE: cloth, 75 cents; paper, 25 cents. + + +Twin Hells + +BY JOHN M. REYNOLDS + +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. PRICE: cloth, 75 +cents; paper, 25 cents. + + +Cow Boy Life in Texas + +BY W. S. JAMES + +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. +PRICE: cloth, 75 cents; paper, 25 cents. + + * * * * * + +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. + +M. A. Donohue & Co. +407-429 Dearborn Street, +Chicago + + + + +THE GREATEST LIFE OF Abraham Lincoln YET PUBLISHED + +By HON. JOS. H. BARRETT, and CHARLES WALTER BROWN, A. M. + +[Illustration] + +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 =STORIES AND YARNS= by and concerning Lincoln, which have +earned for him the sobriquet + +The Story Telling President. + +In addition there is included a =COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF HIS ASSASSINATION=, +death and burial, together with the trial and execution of his +assassins. + +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 x 9, 3 inches thick, weighing nearly 3 pounds. + +PRICE, $1.00. + + * * * * * + +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. + +M. A. Donohue & Co. +407-429 Dearborn Street CHICAGO + + + + +PICTURESQUE AMERICAN BIOGRAPHIES + +"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."--WILLIAM VINCENT BYARS in +_The St. Louis Star_. + + * * * * * + +LIFE AND DEEDS OF ETHAN ALLEN AND THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS + +By Charles Walter Brown, A. M. + +[Illustration] + +Author of "John Paul Jones," "Nathan Hale," "Lafayette," "Pulaski," +"Washington," "Abraham Lincoln," "Sherman." + +16 ILLUSTRATIONS + +"It is the best 'life' of Ethan Allen published."--_Chicago Chronicle._ + +"It abounds in incidents, anecdotes and adventures."--_Louisville +Courier Journal._ + +"It is a painstaking and accurate biography, possessing the fascination +of romance."--_St. Louis Republic._ + +"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."--_Chicago Journal._ + +12mo, cloth, size 5-5/8 x 7-7/8, nearly 300 pages. Price, Postpaid $1.00 + + +LIFE AND DEEDS OF JOHN PAUL JONES OF NAVAL FAME + +By Charles Walter Brown, A. M. + +12 ILLUSTRATIONS + +[Illustration] + +"This book is a credit to any publishing house."--_Detroit Free Press._ + +"The publication is a careful and commendable one."--_Chicago Journal._ + +"The public will readily welcome this new and valuable biography of John +Paul Jones."--_Indianapolis Sentinel._ + +"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."--_Literary Life, New York._ + +Size, 5-5/8 x 7-7/8; nearly 300 pages; 12mo, cloth. Price, Postpaid +$1.00 + +This set of two volumes, "Allen" and "Jones" sent to one address, +express paid, for $1.50 + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO., +407-429 Dearborn Street +CHICAGO + + + + +STANDARD ENGLISH-SPANISH AND SPANISH-ENGLISH DICTIONARY. + +Containing 500 pages; white and red edges. Size, 6-1/4 x 5 +inches. Printed from new plates on good paper; bound in cloth; +title stamped on side and back. + +Price, 75 Cents. + + +KOHLER'S ENGLISH-GERMAN AND GERMAN-ENGLISH DICTIONARY. + +Red and white edges, new plates, good paper, bound in cloth, title on +side and back. + +Price, 75 Cents. + + +MASSON'S ENGLISH-FRENCH AND FRENCH-ENGLISH DICTIONARY. + +Printed on good paper, substantially bound, title on side and back. + +Price, 75 Cents. + + +DONOHUE'S VEST POCKET WEBSTER'S MANUAL + +For Readers, Writers and Speakers. + +Contains complete dictionary of 18,000 synonyms, besides complete tables +and definitions, short words and phrases, etc.; how to read, write and +speak. + +Bound in cloth, red edges, 25 Cents. + + +Donohue's Vest Pocket Dictionary and Complete Manual of Parliamentary +Practice. + +Containing 256 pages; size, 5-3/4 x 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: + +Bound in binders' cloth, red edges, without index, 25 cents. +Bound in cloth, red edges, indexed, 35 " +Bound in full leather, full gilt edges, indexed 50 " + + * * * * * + +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. + +M. A. Donohue & Co. +407-429 Dearborn St. +CHICAGO + + + + +"HARKAWAY" SERIES OF BOOKS FOR BOYS + +By BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG + +[Illustration] + +"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. + +They are uniformly bound in linen cloth, stamped with original designs, +in inks, on backs and sides. + +PRICE PER VOLUME, 75 CENTS + +"No more readable books for the young have ever been printed than these +fifteen volumes."--_Book and Newsdealer._ + + + 1 Jack Harkaway's School Days + 2 Jack Harkaway After School Days + 3 Jack Harkaway Afloat and Ashore + 4 Jack Harkaway at Oxford, Part 1 + 5 Jack Harkaway at Oxford, Part 2 + 6 Jack Harkaway Among the Brigands, Part 1 + 7 Jack Harkaway Among the Brigands, Part 2 + 8 Jack Harkaway's Adventures Around the World + 9 Jack Harkaway in America and Cuba + 10 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in China + 11 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in Greece, Part 1 + 12 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in Greece, Part 2 + 13 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in Australia + 14 Jack Harkaway and His Boy Tinker, Part 1 + 15 Jack Harkaway and His Boy Tinker, Part 2 + +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. + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. +407-429 Dearborn St. +Chicago + + + + +LOVE LETTERS + +With Directions How To Write Them + +By INGOLDSBY NORTH. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +Paper Covers, 25 Cents. Cloth, 50 Cents. + + * * * * * + +THE COMPLETE LETTER WRITER + +Being the only Comprehensive and Practical Guide and Assistant to Letter +Writing Published. + +Edited by CHARLES WALTER BROWN, A. M. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +Paper Covers, 25c. Cloth, 50c. Cloth, 320 Pages, Price $1.00 + + +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. + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. +407-429 DEARBORN ST. +CHICAGO + + + + +THE COMPLETE HOUSE BUILDER + +With Practical Hints on Construction + +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. + +176 pages, 12mo, paper. + +PRICE 25 CENTS. + + +THE COMPLETE LETTER WRITER + +Being the only Comprehensive and Practical Guide and Assistant to Letter +Writing Published + +Edited by CHARLES WALTER BROWN + +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. + +The book is printed from new plates, on a superior quality of paper and +bound in substantial and durable cloth. + +320 pages, 12mo. + +PRICE $1.00 + + +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 + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO., CHICAGO. + + + + +Famous Books for Boys + + +Famous Frontiersmen, Pioneers and Scouts. + +[Illustration] + +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. + + +The Boy Spy. + +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. + + +Boys' Life on the Frontier. + +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. + + +War Path and Bivouac; + +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. + + +Marching Through Georgia. + +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. + + * * * * * + +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. + +M. A. Donohue & Co. +407-429 DEARBORN ST. +CHICAGO + + + + +_COMPLETE HYPNOTISM_ + +_Or, How to Hypnotize_ + +[Illustration] + +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. + +Paper covers, 25 cents; Cloth, 50 cents. + + +_The Complete Palmist_ + +[Illustration] + +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. + +Paper covers, 25 cents; Cloth, 50 cents. + + +_The Mystic Fortune Teller, Dream Book and Policy Players' Guide_ + +[Illustration] + +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. + +Paper covers, 25 cents; Cloth, 50 cents. + + * * * * * + +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. + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. +407-429 Dearborn Street. +CHICAGO + + + + +FIRESIDE HENTY SERIES + +[Illustration] + +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. + +Price, 50c per Volume. + + + Adventures Among the Indians. W. H. G. Kingston. + Adventures in Cuba. Felix L. Oswald. + Adventures in Tropics. Fred Gerstacker. + Adventures on Forest and Shore. Charles Ilsley. + Afloat in the Forest. Capt. Mayne Reid. + All Aboard. Oliver Optic. + Among the Malays. G. A. Henty. + + Black Beauty. Sewall. + Boat Club. Oliver Optic. + Bonnie Prince Charley. G. A. Henty. + Boy Hunters. Capt. Mayne Reid. + Boy Knight, The. G. A. Henty. + Bravest of the Brave. G. A. Henty. + By England's Aid. G. A. Henty. + By Pike and Dyke. G. A. Henty. + By Right of Conquest. G. A. Henty. + By Sheer Pluck. G. A. Henty. + Buccaneers on Land and Sea. + + Capt. Bayley's Heir. G. A. Henty. + Cast Up by the Sea. Sir Samuel W. Baker. + Cat of Bubastes. G. A. Henty. + Cornet of Horse. G. A. Henty. + + Daniel Boone, Heroes and Hunters of the West. + Deerslayer. J. F. Cooper. + Desert Home. Capt. Mayne Reid. + Dragon and Raven. G. A. Henty. + + Facing Death. G. A. Henty. + Final Reckoning, A. G. A. Henty. + For Name and Fame. G. A. Henty. + Forest and Frontiers. + For the Temple. G. A. Henty. + Friends, Though Divided. G. A. Henty. + + Golden Canon. G. A. Henty. + + Handy Andy. Samuel Lover. + Hero of Pine Ridge. + Hunting in the Great West. Shields. + + In Freedom's Cause. G. A. Henty. + In the Reign of Terror. G. A. Henty. + In Times of Peril. G. A. Henty. + + Jack Archer; A Tale of Crimea. + Jack Harkaway's School Days. Heming. + + Last of the Mohicans. J. F. Cooper. + Lion of St. Mark. G. A. Henty. + Lion of the North. G. A. Henty. + Lone Ranch, The. Capt. Mayne Reid. + + Maori and Settler. G. A. Henty. + Mysterious Island. Jules Verne. + + Now or Never. Oliver Optic. + + Ocean Rover. + One of the 28th. G. A. Henty. + Orange and Green; A Tale of Boyne and Limerick. G. A. Henty. + Out on the Pampas. G. A. Henty. + + Pathfinder. J. F. Cooper. + Pilot. J. F. Cooper. + Pioneers. J. F. Cooper. + Poor and Proud. Oliver Optic. + Prairie. J. F. Cooper. + + Rangers and Regulators. Capt. Mayne Reid. + Red Rover. J. F. Cooper. + Robinson Crusoe. D. DeFoe. + + Scalp Hunters and Rifle Rangers. Reid. + Slow and Sure. Horatio Alger. + Spy. J. Fenimore Cooper. + St. George for England. G. A. Henty. + Sturdy and Strong. G. A. Henty. + + Through the Fray. G. A. Henty. + Treasure Island. R. L. Stevenson. + Try Again. Optic. + True to the Old Flag. G. A. Henty. + Two Admirals. J. F. Cooper. + + Uncle Tom's Cabin. Stowe. + Under Drake's Flag. G. A. Henty. + + Voyage and Ventures of Famous Sailors. + + Water Witch. J. F. Cooper. + Wing and Wing. J. F. Cooper. + With Clive in India. G. A. Henty. + With Lee in Virginia. G. A. Henty. + With Wolfe in Canada. G. A. Henty. + Wood Rangers; or, the Trappers of Sonora. Capt. Mayne Reid. + + Young Buglers, The. G. A. Henty. + Young Carthaginians. G. A. Henty. + Young Colonists, The. G. A. Henty. + Young Franc-Tireurs. G. A. Henty. + Young Midshipman. G. A. Henty. + + +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. + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. +407-429 Dearborn Street, +CHICAGO. + + + + +QUO VADIS. + +By HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +Price, Cloth, $1.00; Paper, 25 Cents. + + +In His Steps. + +By CHARLES M. SHELDON. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +Price, Cloth, $1.00; Paper, 25 Cents. + + +Sappho. + +By ALPHONSE DAUDET. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +Price, Cloth, $1.00; Paper, 25 Cents. + + +Black Rock, A Tale of the Selkirks. + +By RALPH CONNOR. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +Price, Cloth, $1.00; Paper, 25 Cents. + + +For sale by all Booksellers or postpaid by + +M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY, CHICAGO. + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Chapter XVIII was duplicated in the text. The Table of Contents has been +changed to reflect the chapter numbers given in the text. + +Punctuation has been standardised. + +Minor printer errors (e.g. omitted, superfluous or transposed +characters) have been fixed. + +Misspelled words have been corrected to match correct spellings found +elsewhere in the text. Corrections to proper nouns are listed below. + +Inconsistencies in hyphenation were retained in the text if both +variations were used in equal amounts. + +Title page, "SIGNALLING" changed to "SIGNALING" (MYSTERIES OF SIGNALING) + +Illustration was published at Page 247 in error. It has been moved to +Page 347. + +Illustration was published at Page 306 in error. It has been moved to +Page 316. + +Page vi, "Breckenridge" changed to "Breckinridge" (Breckinridge--Extra) + +Page 10, "Fredericksburgh" changed to "Fredericksburg" (Ferry, +Fredericksburg) + +Page 26, "Mongomery" changed to "Montgomery" (while in Montgomery) + +Page 34, "McRea" changed to "McRae" (through Fort McRae) + +Page 36, "Pansacola" changed to "Pensacola" (There were at Pensacola) + +Page 86, "Harrisburgh" changed to "Harrisburg" (to Baltimore and +Harrisburg)*** + +Page 178, "FREDRICKSBURG" changed to "FREDERICKSBURG" (VISIT TO +FREDERICKSBURG) + +Page 198, "Manasses" changed to "Manassas" (out to Manassas Junction) + +Page 200, "Manasses" changed to "Manassas" (hill road Manassas) + +Page 214, "Manasses" changed to "Manassas" (Richmond and Manassas) + +Page 260, "Laynard" changed to "Lanyard" (Colonel and Lanyard) + +Page 273, "Rocket's" changed to "Rockett's" (Prison and Rockett's) + +Page 277, "McCellan's" changed to "McClellan's" (attacked McClellan's) + +Page 302, "Manasses" changed to "Manassas" (known me at Manassas) + +Page 360, "Morehead" changed to "Moorehead" (Moorehead, who represented) + +Page 367, "Moorhead" changed to "Moorehead" (General Moorehead agreed) + +Page 367, "Holidaysburg" changed to "Hollidaysburg" (Blair, of +Hollidaysburg) + +Page 383, "Fredricksburg" changed to "Fredericksburg" (Fredericksburg +with McDowell) + +Page 392, "Pinkertown" changed to "Pinkerton" (his Pinkerton crowd) + +Page 402, "Fredericksburgh" changed to "Fredericksburg" (telegrapher +at Fredericksburg) + +Illustration following Page 412, changed "CAPITAL" to "CAPITOL" (IN OLD +CAPITOL PRISON) + +Illustration following Page 426, changed "CAPITAL" to "CAPITOL" (IN OLD +CAPITOL PRISON) + +Page 431, "Fredricksburg" changed to "Fredericksburg" (official at +Fredericksburg) + +Page 454, "Fredricksburg" changed to "Fredericksburg" (charge, at +Fredericksburg) + +Page 495, "Pleasanton" changed to "Pleasonton" three times in this +paragraph (Pleasonton and his friends) + +Page 501, "Stonemen" changed to "Stoneman" (Stoneman was too much of) + +Page 506, "Mormans" changed to "Mormons" (among the Mormons) + +Alleghany and Allegheny both used in this text. + +Pretence and pretense both used in this text. + + + + + +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.txt or 34344.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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