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diff --git a/31769-0.txt b/31769-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..37db5eb --- /dev/null +++ b/31769-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15372 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Uncle Daniel's Story Of “Tom” Anderson, by John McElroy + +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: Uncle Daniel's Story Of “Tom” Anderson + And Twenty Great Battles + +Author: John McElroy + +Release Date: March 25, 2010 [EBook #31769] +Last Updated: February 25, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNCLE DANIEL'S STORY *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +UNCLE DANIEL'S STORY + +OF “TOM” ANDERSON + +And + +Twenty Great Battles. + +By John McElroy + + +1886. + + + “UNCLE DANIEL” IS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC. A TRUTHFUL + PICTURE, IN STORY, BASED UPON EVENTS OF THE LATE WAR. THIS + VOLUME IS DEDICATED TO THE UNION SOLDIERS AND THEIR + CHILDREN. + + The Author + +New York, Jan. 1st, 1886. + + + + + +UNCLE DANIEL'S STORY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + DARK DAYS OF 1861.--A FATHER WHO GAVE HIS CHILDREN TO THE + COUNTRY.--RALLYING TO THE FLAG.--RAISING VOLUNTEERS IN + SOUTHERN INDIANA. + + “The more solitary, the more friendless, the more + unsustained I am, the more I will respect and rely upon + myself.”--Charlotte Bronte + + +ALLENTOWN is a beautiful little city of 10,000 inhabitants, situated on +the Wabash River, in Vigo County, Ind., in the vicinity of which several +railroads now center. It is noted for its elevated position, general +healthfulness, and for its beautiful residences and cultivated society. +Daniel Lyon located here in 1850. He was a man of marked ability +and undoubted integrity; was six feet two inches in height, well +proportioned, and of very commanding and martial appearance. In 1861, +he was surrounded by a large family, seven grown sons--James, David, +Jackson, Peter, Stephen, Henry and Harvey--all of whom were well +educated, fond of field sports and inclined to a military life. The +mother, “Aunt Sarah,” as she was commonly called by the neighbors, was +a charming, motherly, Christian woman, whose heart and soul seemed to be +wrapped up in the welfare of her family. She was of short, thick build, +but rather handsome, with dark brown hair and large blue eyes, gentle +and kind. Her politeness and generosity were proverbial. She thought +each of her seven sons a model man; her loving remarks about them were +noticeable by all. + +Daniel Lyon is at present 85 years old, and lives with one of his +granddaughters--Jennie Lyon--now married to a man by the name of James +Wilson, in Oakland, Ind., a small town conspicuous only for its rare +educational facilities. + +[Illustration: Uncle Daniel telling his Story 017] + + +On the evening of the 22d of February, 1884, a number of the neighbors, +among whom was Col. Daniel Bush, a gallant and fearless officer of +the Union side during the late war, and Dr. Adams, President of ------ +College, dropped in to see Uncle Daniel, as he is now familiarly called. +During the evening, Col. Bush, turning to the old veteran, said: + +“'Uncle Daniel,' give us a story from some of your experiences during +the war.” + +The old man arose from his easy-chair and stood erect, his hair, as +white as snow, falling in profusion over his shoulders. His eyes, though +dimmed by age, blazed forth in youthful brightness; his frame shook with +excitement, his lips quivered, and tears rolled down the furrows of his +sunken cheeks. All were silent. He waved his hand to the friends to be +seated; then, drawing his big chair to the centre of the group, he sat +down. After a few moments' pause he spoke, in a voice tremulous with +emotion: + +“My experience was vast. I was through the whole of the war. I saw much. +My story is a true one, but very sad. As you see, my home is a desolate +waste. My family consists now of only two grand-children; wife and sons +are all gone. I am all that is now left of my once happy family. My God! +My God! Why should I have been required to bear this great burden? But +pardon this weakness in an old man. I will now begin my story. + +“In the month of ------, 1861, my nephew, 'Tom' Anderson,--I called the +boy Tom, as I learned to do so many years before, while visiting at his +father's; he was the son of my eldest sister,--his wife, Mary, and their +only child, a beautiful little girl of two years (called Mary, for her +mother), were visiting at my house. Their home was in Jackson, Miss. One +evening my good wife, Tom, his wife, my son Peter, and I were sitting on +our front porch discussing the situation, when we heard a great noise a +couple of blocks south of us. The young men stepped out to see what the +trouble was and in a very short time they returned greatly excited. A +company of men were marching down the street bearing the American flag, +when a number of rebel sympathizers had assaulted them with stones, +clubs, etc., and had taken their flag and torn it to shreds. It seemed +that a Mr. 'Dan' Bowen, a prominent man in that part of the State, had +been haranguing the people on the question of the war, and had denounced +it as 'an infamous Abolition crusade,' and the President as a +villainous tyrant,' and those who were standing by the Union as +'Lincoln's hirelings, and dogs with collars around their necks.' This +language stirred up the blood of the worst element of the people, +who sympathised with secession, and had it not been for the timely +interposition of many good and worthy citizens, blood would have been +shed upon the streets.” + +Here Col. Bush asked: + +“What became of this man Bowen?” + +“I understand that he now occupies one of the highest positions the +people of Indiana can give to one of her citizens. You see, my friends, +that we American people are going so fast that we pass by everything and +forget almost in a day the wrongs to our citizens and our country.” + +“But to return to what I was saying in connection with the young men. +Tom Anderson was in a state of great excitement. He said he had almost +been mobbed before leaving home for entertaining Union sentiments, and +feared that he could not safely return with his family. My son Peter +suggested that, perhaps, they (being young) owed a duty to their country +and could not perform it in a more satisfactory manner than to enter the +service and do battle for the old flag. To this suggestion no reply was +made at the time. I said to them: + +“'This seems to me a very strange condition of things, to see a +Government like this threatened in its permanency by the very people +that have controlled and profited most by it.' Tom replied: + +“'Uncle, I have given a great deal of thought to this subject. You know +I was born in Ohio. My father was an Episcopal minister, and settled in +Mississippi while I was but a boy. My father and mother are both buried +there, leaving me an only child. I grew up and there married my good +wife, Mary Whitthorne. We have lived happily together. I have had a good +practice at the law; have tried to reconcile myself to their theories of +human rights and 'rope-of-sand' government, but cannot. They are very +_different_ from our Northern people--have _different_ theories of +government and morals, with _different_ habits of thought and action. +The Pilgrim Fathers of the North who landed at Plymouth Rock were men of +independence of thought; believed in Christianity, in education and +universal liberty. They and their progeny have moved almost on a line +due west, to the Pacific Ocean, infusing their energy, their ideas of +government, of civil liberty, of an advanced Christian civilization, +with a belief in man's equality before the law. These ideas and thoughts +have become imbedded in the minds of the Northern people so firmly that +they will fight to maintain them; will make them temporarily a success, +and would make them permanent but for their habit of moving so rapidly +in the direction of business and the accumulation of wealth, which +prepares the mind to surrender everything to the accomplishment of this +single object. The Southern inhabitants are almost entirely descended +from impetuous, hot-blooded people. Their ancestors that landed at +Jamestown, and later along the Southern Atlantic coast within our +borders, were of an adventurous and warlike people. Their descendants +have driven westward almost on a parallel line with the Northern people +to the borders of Mexico, occasionally lapping over the Northern line. +Their thoughts, ideas, manners and customs have been impressed upon the +people wherever they have gone, by the pretense, always foremost and +uppermost, as if a verity, that they were the most hospitable and +chivalric of any people in America. Their civilization was different. +Their arguments were enforced by the pistol and bowie-knife upon their +equals, and slaves subjected to their will by the lash and +bloodhound--the death of a man, white or black, being considered no more +than merely a reduction of one in the enumeration of population. They +have opposed common schools for fear the poorer classes of whites might +have an opportunity of contesting at some time the honors of office, +that being the great ambition of Southern society. They would not allow +the slave to be educated for fear he might learn that he was a man, +having rights above the brute with which he has always been held on a +par. The aristocracy only were educated. And this was generally done in +the North, where the facilities were good; and by sending them from home +it kept down the envy and ambition of the poorer classes, where, if they +could have seen the opportunity of acquiring knowledge it might have +stimulated them to greater exertion for the purpose of storing their +minds with something useful in extricating themselves from an obedience +to the mere will of the dominating class. Those people, one and all, no +matter how ignorant, are taught to consider themselves better than any +other people save the English, whose sentiments they inculcate. They are +not in sympathy with a purely Republican system of Government. They +believe in a controlling class, and they propose to be that class. I +have heard them utter these sentiments so often that I am sure that I am +correct. They all trace their ancestry back to some nobleman in some +mysterious way, and think their blood better than that which courses in +the veins of any Northern man, and honestly believe that one of them in +war will be the equal of five men of the North. They think because +Northern men will not fight duels, they must necessarily be cowards. In +the first contest my judgment is that they will be successful. They are +trained with the rifle and shotgun; have taken more pains in military +drill than the people of the North, and will be in condition for war +earlier than the Union forces. They are also in better condition in the +way of arms than the Government forces will be. The fact that they had +control of the Government and have had all the best arms turned over to +them by a traitorous Secretary of War, places them on a war footing at +once, while the Government must rely upon purchasing arms from foreign +countries, and possibly of a very inferior character. Until foundries +and machinery for manufacturing arms can be constructed, the Government +will be in poor condition to equip troops for good and effective +service. This war now commenced will go on; the North will succeed; +slavery will go down forever; the Union will be preserved, and for a +time the Union sentiment will control the Government; but when reverses +come in business matters to the North, the business men there, in order +to get the trade of the South, under the delusion that they can gain +pecuniarily by the change, will, through some 'siren song,' turn the +Government over again to the same blustering and domineering people who +have ever controlled it. This, uncle, is the fear that disturbs me most +at present.'” + +“How prophetic,” spoke up Dr. Adams. + +“Yes, yes,” exclaimed all present. + +Col. Bush at this point arose and walked across the floor. All eyes +were upon him. Great tears rolled down his bronzed cheeks. In suppressed +tones he said: + +“For what cause did I lose my right arm?” + +He again sat down, and for the rest of the evening seemed to be in deep +meditation. + +Uncle Daniel, resuming his story, said: + +“Just as Tom had finished what he was saying, I heard the garden gate +open and shut, and David and Harvey appeared in the moonlight in front +of the porch. These were my second and youngest sons. David lived some +five miles from Allentown, on a farm, and Harvey had been staying at his +house, helping do the farm work. They were both very much excited. Their +mother, who had left. Mary Anderson in the parlor, came out to enjoy the +fresh air with us, and observing the excited condition of her two sons, +exclaimed: + +“'Why, my dear boys! what is the matter?' + +“David spoke to his mother, saying: + +“'Do not get excited or alarmed when I tell you that Harvey and I have +made a solemn vow this evening that we will start to Washington city in +the morning.' + +“'For what, my dear sons, are you going?' inquired the mother, much +troubled. + +“'We are going to tender our services to the President in behalf of the +Union. Harvey is going along with me, believing it his duty. As I was +educated by the Government for the military service, I deem it my duty +to it, when in danger from this infamous and unholy rebellion, to aid in +putting it down.' + +“Their mother raised her hands and thanked God that she had not taught +them lessons of patriotism in vain. She laid her head upon David's manly +breast and wept, and then clasped Harvey in her arms and blessed him as +her young and tender child, and asked God to preserve him and return him +safely to her, as he was her cherished hope. Peter, who had been silent +during the entire evening, except the bare suggestion to Tom to enter +the service, now arose from where he was sitting, and extending his hand +to David, said: + +“'My old boy, I am with you. I shall commence at once to raise a +company.' + +“David turned to his mother and laughingly said: + +“'Mother, you seem to have taught us all the same lesson.' + +“His mother's eyes filled with tears as she turned away to seek Mary. +She found her in the parlor teaching her sweet little daughter her +prayers. My wife stood looking at the pretty picture of mother and child +until little Mary Anderson finished, kissed her mamma, and ran off to +bed; then entering the room she said: + +“'Mary, my child, I am too weak to speak. I have held up as long as I +can stand it,' and then burst into tears. Mary sprang to her at once, +clasping her in her arms. + +“'Dearest auntie, what is the matter? Are you ill? + +“'No! no! my child; I am full of fear and grief; I tremble. My sons are +going to volunteer. I am grieved for fear they will never return. Oh! +Mary! I had such a terrible dream about all the family last night. Oh! +I cannot think of it; and yet I want them to go. God knows I love my +country, and would give all--life and everything--to save it. No, I +will not discourage them. I will tell you my dream when I have more +strength.' + +“Just then my blessed old wife fainted. Mary screamed, and we all rushed +into the parlor and found her lying on the floor with Mary bending over, +trying to restore her. We were all startled, and quickly lifted her +up, when she seemed to revive, and was able to sit in a chair. In a few +moments she was better, and said: + +“'I am all right now; don't worry. I was so startled and overcome at the +thought that so many of my dear children were going to leave me at once +and on such a perilous enterprise.' + +“To this Peter answered: + +“'Mother, you ought not to grieve about me. Being an old bachelor, there +will be but few to mourn if I should be killed.' + +“'Yes; but, my son, your mother loves you all the same.' + +“Just then a rap was heard at the window. It being open, a letter was +thrown in upon the floor. I picked it up. It was addressed to 'Thos. +Anderson.' I handed it to him. He opened it, and read it to himself, and +instantly turned very pale and walked the floor. His wife took his arm +and spoke most tenderly, asking what it was that troubled him. + +“'Mary, dear, I will read it,' he said, and unfolding the letter, he +read aloud: + + “'Jackson, Miss., June -- 1861. + + “'Dear Tom--You have been denounced to-day in resolutions as + a traitor to the Southern cause, and your property + confiscated. Serves you right. I am off to-morrow morning + for the Confederate Army. + Good-by. + Love to sister. + + “'Your enemy in war, + + “'JOS. WHITTHORNE. + +“'Mary sank into a chair. For a moment all were silent. At last Tom +exclaimed: + +“'What is there now left for me?” + +“His wife, with the stateliness of a queen, as she was, her black hair +clustering about her temples and falling around her shoulders and neck, +her bosom heaving, her eyes flashing fire, on her tip-toes arose to her +utmost height. All gazed upon her with admiration, her husband looking +at her with a wildness almost of frenzy. She clenched both hands and +held them straight down by her side, and exclaimed in a tone that would +have made a lion cower: + +“'Would that I were a man! I would not stop until the last traitor +begged for quarter!' + +“Tom flew to her and embraced her, exclaiming: + +“'I was only waiting for that word.' + +“She murmured: + +“'My heavens, can it be that there are any of my blood traitors to this +country?' + +“The household were by this time much affected. A long silence ensued, +which was broken by David, saying: + +“'Father, Harvey and I having agreed to go to Washington to enter the +army, I wish to make some arrangements for my family. You know I have +plenty for Jennie and the babies, and I want to leave all in your hands +to do with as if it were your own, so that the family will have such +comforts as they desire.' + +“David's wife, Jennie, was a delightful little woman, with two beautiful +children--Jennie, named for her mother, and Sarah, for my wife. I said +to David that I would write to his brother James, who was a widower, +having no children, to come and stay with Jennie. I at once wrote James, +who was practicing medicine at Winchester, Va., that I feared it would +be 'unhealthy' for him there, so to come to me at once. This being +done and all necessary arrangements made, David and Harvey bade all an +affectionate farewell and started for their farm, leaving their mother +and Mary in tears. As their footsteps died away their mother went to the +door, exclaiming, “'Oh, my children! will I ever see you again?' “That +night we all joined in a general conversation on the subject of the war. +It was arranged that Peter should start next morning for Indianapolis to +see the Governor, and, if possible, obtain authority to raise a regiment +under the call of the President. This having been decided upon we all +retired, bidding each other good night. I presume there was little +sleeping in our house that night save what little Mary did, the poor +child being entirely unconscious of the excitement and distress in the +family. The next morning Peter took the train for Indianapolis, Tom went +down town to ascertain the latest news, and I took my horse and rode +out to David's farm, leaving the two women in tears, and little Mary +inquiring: “'What is the matter, mamma and aunty?' “I rode on in a deep +study as to the outcome of all this trouble. I came to David's house, +unconscious for a moment as to where I was, aroused, however, by hearing +some one crying as if in despair. I looked around and saw it was Jennie. +She stood on the door-step in great grief, the two children asking +where their father had gone. “'Good morning, my daughter,' I said, and, +dismounting, I took her in my arms, and laying her head on my shoulder +she sobbed as if her heart would break. + +“'O! my dear husband, shall I ever see him again? O! my children, what +shall I do?' was all she could say. + +“I broke down completely, this was too much; the cries of the little +children for their papa and the tears of their mother were more than I +could stand. He had never left them before to be gone any great length +of time. I took Jennie and the children into the house. There was a +loneliness and a sadness about the situation that was unendurable, and +I at once ordered one of the farm hands to hitch the horses to the wagon +and put the family and their little traps in and get ready to take them +to my house, and turned David's house over to his head man, Joseph Dent +(he being very trusty) to take charge of until David should return. With +these arrangements I left with the family for Allentown. On our arrival +the meeting of the three women would have melted the heart of a stone. +I walked out to the barn and remained there for quite awhile, thinking +matters over to myself. When I returned to the house all had become +quiet and seemingly reconciled. For several days all was suspense; +nothing had been heard from any of our boys; I tried to keep away from +the house as much as possible to avoid answering questions asked by the +women and the poor little children, which I knew no more about than they +did. But while we were at breakfast on the morning of ------, Jennie +was speaking of going out to her house that day to look after matters at +home and see that all was going well. Just at this moment a boy entered +with a letter, saying: + +“'Mr. Burton sent me with this, thinking there might be something that +you would like to see.' + +“Mr. B. was the Postmaster, and very kind to us. He was a true Union +man, but the opposition there was so strong that he was very quiet; he +kept the American flag flying over his office, which was burned on that +account a few nights later, as was supposed, by Southern sympathizing +incendiaries. These were perilous times in Southern Indiana.” + +“Yes! Yes!” said Col. Bush. “We had a taste of it in Southern Ohio, where +I then resided; I know all about it. The men who were for mobbing us +at that time are now the most prominent 'reformers,' and seem to be the +most influential persons. + +Uncle Daniel continued: + +“I opened the letter and read it aloud. It ran substantially as follows: + + “'We arrived at Columbus, O., on the morning of ------, when + there was some delay. While walking about the depot I + chanced to meet your old friend the Governor. He was very + glad to see me, and said to me, “Lyon, you are the very man + I am looking for.” I asked, “Why, Governor? I am on my way + to Washington to tender my services to the President in + behalf of the Union.” The Governor answered, “You are + hunting service, I see. Well, sir, I have a splendid + regiment enlisted, but want to have a man of some experience + for their Colonel, and as you have been in the Regular Army + and maintained a good reputation, I will give you the + position if you will take it. I grasped him by the hand and + thanked him with all my heart. This was more than I could + have expected. So, you see, I start off well. We are now in + camp. I am duly installed as Colonel. Harvey has been + mustered in and I have him detailed at my headquarters. He + seems to take to soldiering very readily. I have written + Jennie all about matters. I hope she and my darling children + are well and as happy as can be under the circumstances. + + “'Your affectionate son, + + “'David Lyon.' + +“He did not know that I had them at my house, and all were assisting one +another to keep up courage. This letter affected the whole family, and +caused many tears to fall, in joy as well as grief; joy that he had +succeeded so well at the beginning, and grief at his absence. That +evening Jennie received her letter from the 'Colonel' as we now called +him, all becoming very military in our language. Her letter was of the +same import, but much of it devoted to family affairs. This made Jennie +happy. We all retired and rested well that night, after pleasing the +children by telling them about their father being a great soldier, and +that they must be good children, and in that way cause their mother to +write pleasant things about them to their good papa.” + + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + BATTLE OF THE “GAPS.”--YOUNG HARVEY LYON BRUTALLY MURDERED.-- + UNCLE DANIEL'S RETURN.--RAISING TROOPS IN SOUTHERN + INDIANA. + + “When sorrows come they come not single spies, but in + battalion.” ---Shakespeare. + +“Three days later Peter returned from Indianapolis, with full authority +for Tom Anderson to recruit a regiment for the Union service. This was +very gratifying to him, and he said to his wife, 'Mary, my time will +come.' She appeared happy over the news, but her quivering lip, as she +responded, gave evidence of her fears that the trial to her was going +to be severe. My good wife then called us into tea, and when we were all +seated, Mary said to her: + +“'Aunt Sarah, you have not yet told us your dream. Don't you remember, +you promised to tell it to me? Now let us hear it, please.” + +“'Yes, my child. It has troubled me very much; and yet I don't believe +there is any cause for alarm at what one may dream.' + +“'Mother, let us hear it,' spoke up Peter; 'it might be something that +I could interpret. You know I try to do this sometimes; but I am not as +great a success as Daniel of old.' + +“'Well, my son, it was this: I thought your father and I were in the +garden. He was pulling some weeds from the flower-bed, when he was +painfully stung on both hands by some insect. Soon his fingers began +dropping off--all five from his right hand and his thumb and little +finger from his left.' + +“Tom laughingly said, 'Uncle, hold up your hands;' which I did, saying, +'You see my fingers are not gone.' Whereupon they all laughed except +Peter. + +“My wife said to him: + +“'My son, what is your interpretation of my dream! It troubles me.' + +“'Well, mother, I will not try it now. Let the war interpret it; it will +do it correctly, doubtless. Let us talk about something else. You know +dreams amount to nothing now-a-days.' + +“During all this time, Peter wore a serious countenance. We discussed +the matter as to how Tom should go about raising his regiment. It was +understood that he should start out at once, and that Peter should take +the recruits, as fast as organized into companies, and place them in +the camp of instruction at Indianapolis. The next morning Tom opened a +recruiting office in Allentown, placed Peter temporarily in charge, and +started through the country making speeches to the people (he was quite +an orator), and soon succeeded in arousing patriotic sentiments in +and about Allentown. After raising two companies, he extended his +operations, going down on the O. & M. R. R. to Saco, a town then of +about 1,000 inhabitants. While addressing the people, a mob gathered and +were about to hang him. He stood them off until the Union people came to +his rescue and saved his life.” + +“That is just as it was where I lived,” said Col. Bush. “I know of just +such a case, where a mob tried the same thing; some of them, however, +repented before they went to heaven, I hope.” + +Uncle Daniel continued: + +“He left the town, however, under a guard and returned home. Soon after +this he made a second effort, by arming 20 resolute men of his recruits +with Colt's revolvers, which he procured from the Governor of the State, +and returned to Saco. He at once gave notice that he would speak the +next day. When the time arrived, he told his men to take positions in +the crowd, scattering as well as they could in his front. This done he +commenced his speech. Soon mutterings of the crowd could be heard, and +finally the storm came and they rushed towards the stand. He shouted +at the top of his voice, “Hold!” at the same time drawing his revolver, +declaring he would shoot the first man that advanced another step, and +also raising his left hand above his head. This was a signal for his +men to “fall in,” and they all rushed into line in his front with +drawn weapons. The crowd instantly ran in all directions, much to the +amusement and gratification of Tom. + +[Illustration: Tom and the Mob 030] + +“There were some loyal men in that community, and before leaving Saco, +Tom had raised a full company. When the day came for them to leave, +they marched with the flag presented to them by the ladies of the town +proudly waving, and with drum and fife making all the noise possible. +There was no more disturbance there, except in secret. The 'secesh' +element murdered several soldiers afterwards, and continued secretly +hostile to the success of our army. In a few days after this Tom had +recruited another company. There seemed then to be an immediate demand +for a regiment, with a brave and daring officer, at the Capital, for +some reason not then made known. Tom was ordered to have his four +companies mustered in, and, attached to six already in camp; he was +commissioned Colonel, and the regiment was numbered the ---- Indiana +Infantry Volunteers. Tom Anderson looked the soldier in every respect. +He was five feet eleven, straight as an arrow, well-built, large, broad +shoulders, black eyes and hair, and martial in his bearing. + +“He placed his family in my charge. The next day after Tom had left +(Peter Lyon, my son, having gone before him with the recruits), my wife, +Mary, Jennie, the three children and myself, were all on the porch, when +a tall man, fully six feet, rather fine looking, made his appearance at +the gate, and asked if that was where Daniel Lyon lived. As I answered +in the affirmative, he opened the gate and walking in, saluted us all +with: + +“'How do you do? Do you not recognize me? I am James Lyon.' + +“I sprang to him and grasped his hand, his mother threw her arms around +his neck and wept for joy, the other women greeted him heartily, and the +little children rushed to him. Although they had never seen him before, +they knew he was some one they were glad to see, as their fathers and +uncles, whom they knew, were gone from them. We all sat down and the +Doctor, as I must call him (being a physician by profession), gave +us some of his experiences of the last few weeks. When he received my +letter and commenced getting ready to leave, the people of Winchester +suspected him of preparing to go North to aid the Union, and so they +threw his drugs into the street, destroyed his books, and made him leave +town a beggar. He walked several miles, and finally found an old friend, +who loaned him money enough to get to my place.” + +Mr. Reeves, who was of the party, said: + +“I have been through all that and more, too. I had to leave my wife and +family, and was almost riddled with bullets besides; but it is all past +now.” + +“I have been greatly interested, Uncle Daniel,” said Dr. Adams, “and am +taking down all you say in shorthand, and intend to write it up.” + +“The next day,” continued Uncle Daniel, “the newspapers had telegrams +stating that the troops at Columbus and other places had been ordered +to the East for active operations. I said to Dr. James that he must +stay with the family while I went to Washington, as I wanted to see the +President on matters of importance. The truth was, I wanted to see David +and Harvey, as well as the President. I started the next morning, after +telling the women and children to be of good cheer. + +“When I reached Washington I found the army had moved to the front, and +was daily expecting an engagement, but I could not understand where. I +at once visited the President, to whom I was well known, and told him +my desire, which was to see my sons. He promptly gave me a note to the +Provost-Marshal, which procured me a pass through the lines. That night +I was in the camp of my son David, who, you remember, was a Colonel. +After our greeting we sat down by his camp chest, upon which was spread +his supper of cold meat, hard crackers and coffee, the whole lighted by +a single candle inserted in the shank of a bayonet which was stuck in +the ground. While enjoying the luxury of a soldier's fare I told him all +about the family, his own in particular. Harvey enjoyed the things said +of him by the children which I repeated. The Colonel, however, seemed +thoughtful, and did not incline to very much conversation. Looking up +with a grave face he said to me: + +“'Father, to-morrow may determine the fate of the Republic. I am +satisfied that a battle, and perhaps a terrible one, will be fought very +near here.'” + +'I asked him about the armies, and he replied that we had a very +large army, but poorly drilled and disciplined; that the enemy had the +advantage in this respect. As to commanding officers, they were alike +on both sides, with but little experience in handling large armies. +He suggested that we retire to rest, so that we could be up early, but +urged me to stay at the rear, and not go where I would be exposed. +To this I assented. Soon we retired to our couches, which were on the +ground, with but one blanket apiece and no tent over us. I did not sleep +that night. My mind was wandering over the field in anticipation of what +was to occur. + +Early next morning I heard the orders given to march in the direction of +the gaps. Wagons were rolling along the road, whips were cracking, and +teamsters in strong language directing their mules; artillery was +noisy in its motion; the tramp of infantry was steady and continuous; +cavalrymen were rushing to and fro. I started to the rear, as my son had +directed, and ate my breakfast as I rode along. About 10 o'clock I heard +musket shots, and soon after artillery; then the musketry increased. I +listened for awhile. Troops were rushing past me to the front. As I was +dressed in citizen's clothes, the boys would occasionally call out to +me, 'Old chap, you had better get back;' but I could not. I was moved +forward by some strong impulse, I knew not what, and finally found +myself nearing the front with my horse on the run. Soon I could see the +lines forming, and moving forward into the woods in the direction of the +firing, I watched closely for my son's command, and kept near it, but +out of sight of the Colonel, as I feared he would be thinking of my +being in danger, and might neglect his duty. The battle was now fully +opened--the artillery in batteries opening along the line, the infantry +heavily engaged, the cavalry moving rapidly to our flanks. Steadily the +line moved on, when volley after volley rolled from one end of the line +to the other. Now our left was driven back, then the line adjusted and +advanced again. The rebel left gave way; then the center. Our cavalry +charged, and our artillery was advanced. A shout was heard all along the +line, and steadily on our line moved. The rebels stubbornly resisted, +but were gradually giving way. The commanding General rode along the +line, encouraging all by saying: + +“'The victory is surely ours, Press forward steadily and firmly; keep +your line closed up;' and to the officers, 'Keep your commands well in +hand.' + +“He felt that he had won the day. For hours the battle went steadily on +in this way. I rode up and down the line watching every movement. I took +position finally where I could see the enemy. I never expected to see +officers lead their men as the rebels did on that day. They would rally +their shattered ranks and lead them back into the very jaws of death. +Many fell from their horses, killed or wounded; the field was strewn +with the dead and dying; horses were running in different directions +riderless. I had never seen a battle, and this was so different from +what I had supposed from reading, I took it for granted that, both sides +being unacquainted with war, were doing many things not at all military. +I learned more about it afterward, however. From an eminence, where I +had posted myself, I could see a large column of fresh troops filing +into the plain from the hills some miles away. They were moving rapidly +and coming in the direction of the right flank of our army. I at once +rode as fast as I could to the left, where my son was inline, and for +the first time that day showed myself to him. He seemed somewhat excited +when he saw me, and asked: 'In Heaven's name what are you doing here?' + +“I said: 'Never mind me, I am in no danger.' + +“I then told him what I had seen, and he at once sent an orderly, with +a note to the General commanding. In a short time, however, we heard +the assault made on our right. It was terrific. Our troops gave way and +commenced falling back. The alarm seemed to go all along the line, and +a general retreat began without orders. Soon the whole army was leaving +the field, and without further resistance gave away the day. The rebel +army was also exhausted, and seemed to halt, in either joy or amazement, +at the action of our forces. + +“Just as our army retired I found a poor young officer wounded. I let +him take my horse, thinking that I could walk as fast as the army could +march. I came to the place formerly occupied by my son's regiment. There +I found quite a number of wounded men, and my young son Harvey trying to +help one of his comrades from the field. + +“Neither army was then in sight. I heard the sound of horses' hoofs; +looked up, and saw a cavalry troop coming. I supposed it to be our own, +and did not move. They dashed up where we were, and Col. Hunter, in +command, drew his sabre and cut my dear boy down. I caught him as he +fell, his head being cleft open. I burst out loudly in grief, and was +seized as a prisoner. I presume my dress and gray hair saved my life. +I was torn from my son and made to walk some three miles, to the +headquarters of Gen. Jones, who heard my story about my adventure and +my dead boy. He at once released me and sent an officer with me to that +part of the field where my dead child lay. + +[Illustration: Death of Harvey Lyon 035] + +“I shall ever respect Gen. Jones. He is still living, and respected +highly for his great soldierly qualities. I walked on the line of our +retreat until I came up with a man driving an ambulance. I took him +back with me and brought my son away from the field to the camp of his +brother, whom I found in great distress about Harvey, but he was not +aware of what had befallen him. I pointed to the ambulance, he looked +and saw him lying there dead. He fell on my neck and accused himself for +having brought the young boy away from home to encounter the perils of +war. I was going to take his body back to his mother, but the Colonel +said: + +“'No; bury him like a soldier on the battlefield.' + +“So I gave way, and we buried him that night in the best manner we +could. He now lies in the cemetery at Arlington. My sorrow was great +then, but I am past it all now, and can grieve no more.” + +Col Bush here interrupted, saying: + +“'Uncle Daniel, you made a narrow escape. My heavens! to think of a +father carrying his young son dead from the battlefield, slain by an +enemy in such a villainous and dastardly way.” + +“What a blow to a father,” said Dr. Adams. “Uncle Daniel, this Colonel +was a demon to strike down a youth while assisting a wounded comrade. He +deserved to be killed.” + +“Yes, it would seem so. I felt just as you do, and my son David uttered +many imprecations against him. But, you see, we forgave all these men +and acquited them of all their unholy deeds. Col. Hunter has become a +very prominent man since the war, and now holds a high position in +one of the Southern States. You know, in the South, the road to high +position since the war has been through the rebel camps.” + +“Yes, yes! Uncle Daniel, that is true. Not so, however, with us in the +North. The road to high position here is not through the Union camps, +but through wealth and the influence of what is called elegant society, +where no questions are asked as to how or where you got your money, so +you have it.” + +“It does seem so, Doctor, now; but it was not so in our earlier days. I +am sorry to confess that this change has taken place. + +“After going through the scenes of this battle, now called the battle of +the 'Gaps,' and burying my son, I felt for the time as if I could have +no heart in anything the only thought on my mind was how to break the +sad news to his mother. The Colonel said he would keep the name from the +list of the dead until I could return home to be with the mother, so as +to console her in her grief. I bade my son, the Colonel, farewell. There +he stood, quiet and erect, the great tears rolling down his cheeks. +I commenced my sad journey alone. In going to Washington I overtook +straggling detachments, teams without drivers, and found on the road +general waste of army materials, and equipage of all kinds in large +quantities. Arriving in Washington, everything was in great confusion. +The old General then in command of all the forces was dignified and +martial in his every look and movement, but evidently much excited. +There was no danger, however, as both armies were willing to stand off +without another trial of arms for the present. I saw the President and +told him what I had witnessed, as well as my misfortune. I advised that +no movement of our forces be again attempted without further drilling +and better discipline, as I was sure good training would have prevented +the disaster of that day. On my way home I was oppressed with grief, +causing many inquiries of me as to my distress, which only made it +necessary for me to repeat my sad story over and over again until I +reached Allentown. My friends, there was the great test of my strength +and manhood. How could I break this to my wife? They had all heard the +news of the battle, and were in sorrow over our country's misfortune. On +entering the gate all rushed out on the porch to welcome me back, eager +for news; but my countenance told the sad story. The Doctor was the +first to speak: + +“'We know about the battle, father,' said he; 'but your face tells me +something has happened to the boys. What is it?' + +“Sarah and the women stood as pale as death, but could not speak. Then I +broke down, but tried to be as calm as I could, and said: + +“'Our dear Harvey is killed.' + +“My wife fell upon my neck and sobbed and cried aloud in despair until +I thought her heart would break. The children ran out to their mother, +crying: + +“'Oh! mother, what is the matter? Is papa hurt? Is he shot?' + +“They screamed, and the scene was one that would have melted the +strongest heart. James stood and gazed on the scene. When all 'became +somewhat calm, my wife was tenderly placed in bed, and Jennie, after +hearing that the Colonel was safe, staid with her. To the others I +related my experience on the battlefield, and the death of Harvey, +his burial, my capture and release, my arrival at and departure from +Washington, and all up to the time I reached home. The saddest time I +ever spent in my life was during the long, weary hours of that night; +the attempt to reconcile my wife to our sad fate, the fears expressed +by the wives of the Colonel and Tom, the questions of the children, and +their grief and sobs for their Uncle Harvey--they all loved him dearly; +he had petted them and played with them frequently, entertaining them in +a way that children care so much for. Many days my wife was confined to +her bed, the Doctor keeping close watch over her. Weeks of sadness and +gloom in our household passed before we seemed to take the matter as a +part of what many would have to experience in this dreadful and wicked +attempt to destroy the peace and happiness of our people. In the +meantime, Col. Tom Anderson (as he was now a Colonel), and my son Peter, +who had been made a Captain in Col. Anderson's regiment, came home to +see us, and tried to make it as pleasant for us as could be done under +the circumstances. When Peter heard of Harvey's death, through Col. +Anderson, he was very much affected and wept bitterly. + +“'That dream haunts me,' he said, 'by day and by night. I know my fate +so well.' + +“This amazed the Colonel, and he asked Peter what he meant by this +nonsense. + +“'I know,' said Peter, 'but--' + +“'But what?' asked the Colonel. + +“'Nothing,' replied Peter, and the conversation on that subject dropped +for the time being. + +“The visit of Col. Tom and Capt. Peter, as we now out of courtesy called +them, made the time pass much more pleasantly. Col. Tom and the Doctor, +both being good conversationalists, kept the minds of the family as much +away from the battle of the Gaps as possible. The Doctor having lived in +Virginia and Col. Anderson in Mississippi, their conversation naturally +turned on the condition of the South. The Doctor said 'there are in +Virginia many Union men, but they were driven into secession by the +aggressiveness and ferocity of those desiring a separation from the +Government. + +“'Those people are opposed to a Republican form of Government, and if +they succeed in gaining a separation and independence, sooner or later +they will take on the form of the English Government. They now regard +the English more favorably than they do the Northern people, and the +most surprising thing to me is to see the sentiment in the North in +favor of the success of this (the Southern) rebellion. True, it is +confined to one political party, but that is a strong party in the North +as well as the South. + +“'One of the dangers that will confront us is the tiring out of our +Union people at some stage of the war, and following on that the success +by the sympathizers with the rebellion in the elections North. If this +can be brought about it will be done. This is part of the Southern +programme, and they have their men selected in every Northern State.'” + +“'I have heard this discussed frequently, and their statements as to the +assurances that they have from all over the North--in New York, Ohio, +Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, and so on. In Ohio, their chief adviser +from the North, Mr. Valamburg, resides. Such men as “Dan” Bowen and +Thos. A. Stridor, both very influential and prominent men, are regarded +as ready to act in concert with them at any moment. Should that party +succeed, with such men as I have mentioned as leaders, the independence +of the Confederacy would at once be acknowledged, on the ground that we +have failed to suppress the rebellion, and that a further continuance +of the war would only prove an absolute failure; and I fear that our +Northern peacemakers would then cry “peace! peace!” and acquiesce in +this outrage upon our Republic and our Christian civilization,” 'Yes,' +replied Col. Tom; 'but, Doctor--there is a feature preceding that which +should be carefully considered. I fear, since I have heard what is +going on here, that these Northern secessionists and sympathizers will +organize in our rear and bring on war here at home. I was ordered to the +Capital to watch this movement. They are organizing all around us. I was +about to be mobbed near here for trying to raise troops for the Union +army. Thos. A. Strider, of whom you spoke, is doing everything he can +to discourage enlistments. He speaks of the Republican President as “a +tyrant and this war as an unholy abolition war,” and people listen to +him. He has been considered a kind of oracle in this State for many +years, as you know.' + +“Just then Jennie returned from the post-office with two letters +from Col. David--one to her and one to the Doctor. This concluded the +conversation between Col. Tom and the Doctor. Jennie's letter gave her +a more complete description of the battle of the Gaps than any he had +heretofore sent. He spoke of my appearance on the ground and the +tragic death of Harvey. The household assembled and listened with great +attention, except my wife, who went weeping to her room, as she could +not hear of her boy without breaking down, wondering why it was her +fate to be so saddened thus early in the contest. The Doctor opened his +letter and found that the Assistant Surgeon of Col. David's regiment had +died from a wound received at the battle of the Gaps, and the Governor +of Ohio had commissioned Dr. James Lyon Assistant Surgeon at the request +of the Colonel. He was directed to report to his regiment at once. This +was very gratifying to the Doctor, as he felt inclined to enter the +service. + +When his mother heard this she again grew very melancholy, and seemed +to think her whole family were, sooner or later, to enter the army +and encounter the perils and vicissitudes of war. The next morning the +Doctor bade us all good-by, and left for the army of the East. The visit +of Col. Anderson and Pefer helped to distract our attention from the +affliction which was upon us. Peter, however, was very quiet and seemed +in a deep study most of the time. His mother finally asked him if he had +thought of her dream, saying it troubled her at times. He smiled, and +answered: + +“'Mother, I think this war will interpret it. You know there is +nothing in dreams,' thus hoping to put her mind at rest by his seeming +indifference; but he afterwards told Col. Anderson his interpretation.” + +Dr. Adams here asked Uncle Daniel if he knew Peter's interpretation. + +“Yes; it was certainly correct, and so it will appear to you as we +proceed in this narrative, should you wish to hear me through.” + +“My dear sir, I have never been so interested in all my life, and +hope you will continue until you tell us all. I am preserving every +sentence.” + +“The day passed off quietly, and next morning Col. Anderson and Peter +left for their command. Mary was brave; she gave encouragement to her +husband and all others who left for the Union army. She was very loyal, +and seemed to be full of a desire to see the Union forces succeed in +every contest. In fact, the letter of her brother to her husband seemed +to arouse her almost to desperation; she went about quietly, but +showed determination in every movement. She taught her little daughter +patriotism and devotion to the cause of our country, and religiously +believed that her husband would yet make his mark as a gallant and brave +man. She gave encouragement to my good wife Sarah, and to Jennie, Col. +David's wife. She told me afterwards, out of the hearing of the others, +that she hoped every man on the Union side would enter the army and help +crush out secession forever.” + + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + BATTLE OF TWO RIVERS.--COL. TOM ANDERSON MEETS HIS BROTHER- + IN-LAW.--UNCLE DANIEL BECOMES AN ABOLITIONIST.--A WINTER + CAMPAIGN AGAINST A REBEL STRONGHOLD. + + “Cease to consult; the time for action calls, + War, horrid war approaches.”--Homer + +For a season battles of minor importance were fought with varying +success. In the meantime Col. Anderson had been ordered with his command +to join the forces of Gen. Silent, at Two Rivers. + +Here there was quiet for a time. + +“At length, however, orders came for them to move to the front. For a +day or so all was motion and bustle. Finally the army moved out, and +after two days' hard marching our forces struck the enemy's skirmishers. +Our lines moved forward and the battle opened. Col. Anderson addressed +his men in a few eloquent words, urging them to stand, never acknowledge +defeat or think of surrender. The firing increased and the engagement +became general. Gen. Silent sat on his horse near by, his staff with +him, watching the action. Col. Anderson was pressing the enemy in his +front closely, and as they gave way he ordered a charge, which was +magnificently executed. + +“As the enemy gave back, evidently becoming badly demoralized, he looked +and beheld before him Jos. Whitthorne. + +“The recognition was mutual, and each seemed determined to outdo the +other. Anderson made one charge after another, until the enemy in his +front under command of his wife's brother retreated in great confusion. +Col. Anderson, in his eagerness to capture Whitthorne, advanced too +far to the front of the main line, and was in great danger of being +surrounded. He perceived the situation in time, and at once changed +front, at the same time ordering his men to fix bayonets. Drawing his +sword and rising in his stirrups, he said: + +“'Now, my men, let us show them that a Northern man is equal to any +other man.' + +“He then ordered them forward at a charge bayonets, riding in the centre +of his regiment. Steadily on they went, his men falling at every step, +but not a shot did they fire, though they were moving almost up to the +enemy's lines. The rebel commander shouted to his men: + +“'What are these? Are they men or machines?' + +“The rebel line wavered a moment, and then gave way. At that instant a +shot struck Col. Anderson's horse and killed it, but the Colonel never +halted. He disengaged himself, and pushing forward on foot, regained his +line, and left the enemy in utter rout and confusion. Whitthorne +was not seen again that day by Anderson. The battle was still raging +on all the other parts of the line. First one side gained an advantage, +then the other, and so continued until night closed in on the +combatants. A truce was agreed to, and hostilities ceased for the time +being. + +“The Colonel worked most of the night, collecting his wounded and +burying his dead. His loss was quite severe, in fact, the loss was very +heavy throughout both armies. Late in the night, while searching between +the lines for one of his officers, he met Whitthorne. They recognized +each other. Col. Anderson said to him: + +“'Jo, I am glad to see you, but very sorry that we meet under such +circumstances.' + +“Whitthorne answered: + +“'I cannot say that I am glad to see you, and had it not been for making +my sister a widow, you would have been among the killed to-day.' + +“The Colonel turned and walked away without making any reply, but said +to himself: + +“'Can that man be my wife's brother? I will not, however, condemn him; +his blood is hot now; he may have a better heart than his speech would +indicate.” + +“Thus meditating, he returned to his bivouac. In the morning the burying +parties were all that was to be seen of the enemy. He had retreated +during the night, and very glad were our forces, as the battle was +well and hard fought on both sides. The forces were nearly equal as to +numbers. + +“Col. Anderson did not see the General commanding for several days; when +he did the latter said to him: + +“Colonel, you handle your men well; were you educated at a military +school?' + +“The Colonel answered: + +“'No; I am a lawyer.' + +“General Silent remarked: + +“'I am very sorry for that,' and walked on. + +“Tom wrote his wife a full report of this battle. He called it the +battle of Bell Mountain. It is, however, called Two Rivers. He said that +Gen. Silent was a curious little man, rather careless in his dress; +no military bearing whatever, quite unostentatious and as gentle as a +woman; that he did not give any orders during the battle, but merely +sat and looked on, the presumption being that while everything was going +well it was well enough to let it alone. In his report he spoke highly +of Col. Anderson as an officer and brave man. + +“This letter of the Colonel's filled his wife's heart with all the +enthusiasm a woman could possess. She was proud of her husband. She +read and re-read the letter to my wife and Jennie, and called her little +daughter and told her about her father fighting so bravely. We were all +delighted. He spoke so well of Peter also. Said 'he was as cool as an +icebox during the whole engagement.' He never mentioned to his wife +about meeting her brother Jo on the field until long afterwards. + +“The troops of this army were put in camp and shortly recruited to their +maximum limit. Volunteering by this time was very active. No longer did +our country have to wait to drum up recruits. The patriotic fires were +lighted up and burning brightly: drums and the shrill notes of the fife +were heard in almost every direction. Sympathizers with rebellion had +hushed in silence for the present--but for the present only.” + +[Illustration: The Charge of Col. Anderson's Regiment 045] + +“Uncle Daniel,” said Major Isaac Clymer, who had been silent up to this +time, “I was in that engagement, in command of a troop of cavalry, and +saw Col. Anderson make his bayonet charge. He showed the most cool and +daring courage that I have ever witnessed during the whole war, and I +was through it all. Gen. Pokehorne was in command of the rebels, and +showed himself frequently that day, urging his men forward. He was +afterwards killed at Kensington Mountain, in Georgia. We got the +information very soon after he fell, from our Signal Corps. They had +learned to interpret the rebel signals, and read the news from their +flags.” + +“Yes, I have heard it said by many that our Signal Corps could do that, +and I suppose the same was true of the other side.” + +“O, yes,” said Col. Bush, “that was understood to be so, and towards the +end of the war we had to frequently change our signal signs to prevent +information being imparted in that way to our enemy.” + +“There was a Colonel,” said Major Clymer, “from Arkansas, in command +of a rebel brigade, in that battle, who acted with great brutality. He +found some of our Surgeons on the field dressing the wounds of soldiers +and drove them away from their work and held them as prisoners while the +battle lasted, at the same time saying, with an oath, that the lives of +Abolitionists were not worth saving.” + +“Yes. The Colonel mentioned that in his letter and spoke of it when +I saw him. He said it was only one of the acts of a man instinctively +barbarous. His name was Gumber--Col. Gumber. He has been a prominent +politician since the war, holding important positions. You know, these +matters are like Rip Van Winkle's drinks--they don't count, especially +against them.” + +“'But among Christian people they should,' said Dr. Adams. + +“'That is true, but it does not. There are two distinct civilizations in +this country, and the sooner our people recognize this fact the sooner +they will understand what is coming in the future. But, returning to my +story, the winter was now coming on, and I had to make provision for the +families that were in my charge, so I called the women together and had +a council as to what we would do for the best; the first thing was to +arrange about sending the little girls to school. After discussing it, +we concluded to start them the next day to the common school. Our public +schools were said to be very good. So the next morning my wife, Mary and +Jennie all started with the children to school. They saw the teacher and +talked with her, telling her that their fathers were in the army, and +she entered them in school. They came and went, back and forth, and +seemed greatly pleased during the first week, but on Wednesday of the +second week, they came running home crying and all dirty, saying that +some of the school children had pelted them with clods and pebbles, +calling them Abolitionists. Little Jennie said to me: + +“'Grandpa, what is an Abolitionist?' + +“I replied: 'One who desires the colored people to be free, and not sold +away to strangers like cattle.' + +“'Grandpa, do white people sell colored people like they sell cows?' + +“'Yes, my child.' + +“'Well, grandpa, is that right?' + +“'I think not, my child. Would it be right for me to sell you away from +your mother and send you where you would never see her again?' + +“'Oh! no, grandpa; you would not be so wicked as that. I would cry +myself to death; and mamma--what would she do without me, she loves me +so?' + +“'Yes, said little Sarah, 'I love sister, too. I would cry, too, if you +sent her away where I could not see her. Why, grandpa, people don't do +that, do they? Your are only fooling sister.' + +“'No, no, child; in the South, where the war is, there are a great +many colored people living. They are called slaves. They work for their +masters and only get what they eat and wear, and their masters very +often sell them and send the men away from their wives and children, and +their babies away from their mothers and fathers.' + +“'Grandpa, do they ever sell white people?' asked Jennie. + +“'No, my child.' + +“'Well, why don't they sell white people, too?' + +“'Oh, my child, the law only allows colored people to be sold.' + +“'Well, grandpa, I don't think any good people ever sell the little +children away from their mothers, any way.' + +“'No, my child, nor any grown people either.' + +“'Well, grandpa, you wouldn't sell anybody, would you?' + +“'No, my child, I would not.' + +“'Well, then, grandpa, you are an Abolitionist.' + +“'Yes, in that sense I am.' + +“'Well, grandpa, I am one, too, and I will just say so at school, +and will tell the boys and girls who threw clods at us and called us +Abolitionists that they sell people like cows, and that they are not +good people.' + +[Illustration: Pupils attacking the little Abolitionist 048] + +“'Yes,' said little Mary Anderson, 'I know what colored people are. +They've plenty of them down where we came from. They call them +“niggers”. They are mighty good to me, grandpa, and my papa doesn't sell +'em. He is a good man. He don't do bad like those rebels, does he, ma?' + +“'No, my child, your papa does not sell anybody. He is against it. He +never owned anyone. He does not think it right to own people.' + +“'No; my papa don't, does he, ma? He is going to fight the people that +sell other people, ain't he, ma?' + +“'Yes, my darling; but don't say any more. Let us go in and get our tea, +and you will feel better.' + +“This interference of little Mary and her mother let me out of a scrape, +for I say to you, friends, that I was getting into deep water and would +have very soon lost my soundings if Jennie and little Sarah had kept +after me much longer. You see, the truth is that I had never been an +Abolitionist, but a Freesoil Democrat; but soon I became a full-fledged +Abolitionist after our flag was fired upon by the Secessionists. + +“However, we all entered the house, and after tea, the children being +put to bed, we held another council and decided that inasmuch as there +was such great excitement in the country, and Allentown being such +a hot-hole of rebel sympathizers, it was not safe even to allow our +children to attend the schools. Jennie, however, being a good scholar +and having prior to her marriage taught school, we unanimously elected +her our family teacher, and setting apart a room, duly installed her on +the next Monday morning over our Abolition school, as we found on the +evening of our discussion with the children that they had converted the +household by their innocent questions. + +“The next day I rode out to my son David's farm and saw Joseph Dent, the +man whom I had left in charge. I inquired of him if everything was all +right about the place, and he told me that he had moved his family into +David's house, as he feared some damage might be done to it, having seen +several persons prowling about at different times. He did not know who +they were, but was sure they meant mischief, as they were very abusive +of the Colonel, calling him a 'Lincoln dog,' after the manner of Dan +Bowen in his speech. + +“Joseph said he was now prepared for them; that he had another man +staying with him, and if I would go with him he would show me what +they had done. I did as he asked me, he led the way into the house and +upstairs, where he showed me a couple of holes cut through the wall +in each room, just beneath the eaves, and standing in the corner was a +regular arsenal of war materials. I said to him that he seemed to be in +for war. The tears started in his eyes, and he said: + +“'Uncle Daniel, I am an old soldier; was in Capt. David's company +when he was in the Regular Army. I came to him three years ago when my +enlistment was out. I will defend everything on these premises with my +life. I would be in the army now with the Colonel (I am used to calling +him Captain) if he had not asked me to stay here and take care of his +farm. These “secesh” will not get away with me and my partner very +easily, and should you hear of this fort being stormed, you bring some +men with you to pick up the legs and pieces of the fellows who shall +undertake it. Do not be afraid; we will take care of all here.' + +“'Yes, Joseph, I see that. I will tell Jennie, and also write the +Colonel how splendidly you are doing.' + +“'Thanks,' said Joseph, giving me the regular soldier's salute. 'Is +there anything wanted at your house, sir? Tell the Colonel's wife that +I will bring down anything that she may be wanting at any time. I will +certainly bring a load of wood in to-morrow.' + +“We were in the habit of getting many things from the farm--butter, +eggs, chickens, potatoes, etc. All our wood came from there. Joseph was +very useful in many ways. I returned home satisfied that all was going +well at the farm. + +“The weather was now getting cold and disagreeable; too much so, it was +thought, for any very serious army movements on our Western lines. The +rebels had collected a very heavy force at Dolinsburg, situated on a +high ridge, with hills sloping down to Combination River, one of the +tributaries of the Ohio. Here they had built an immense fortress, with +wings running out from either side for a great distance; on the outer +walls were placed large guns, sweeping and commanding the river to the +north. The rebels were well prepared with all kinds of war materials, as +well as in the numbers of their effective force, to defend their works +against great odds. + +“Gen. Silent, who, it seems, always did everything differently from what +the enemy expected him to do, conceived the idea that he would try +to dislodge them. When the enemy heard that he was preparing to move +against them, they but laughed at such an attempt. + +“The General, however, made ready, gave his orders, and his army was +soon in motion. The direction in which our army was to march was very +soon known, as it was impossible to keep any of our movements a secret, +on account of the great desire of newspapers to please everybody and +keep every one posted on both sides, the rebels as well as friends; +which prompted them to publish every movement made. This was called +'enterprise,' and it has been considered patriotic devotion by many, +especially the gold gamblers and money kings. This was not permitted +by our enemies; the publication of any secret expedition or movement of +their forces, by any one inside of their lines, would cost him his life; +and so in any army save our Union army. Why was this? It does seem to +me that this ought not to have been so. I have often thought of it, and +concluded it must have been fear. 'The pen is mightier than the sword' +has been truthfully said. + +“Our Congress was afraid of the press, and were not willing to make laws +stringent enough for the army on this subject. The President was nervous +in this respect, and commanding Generals were afraid of criticisms; so +it was the only class that had the privilege of doing and saying what +it wished to, and, my friends, that is one of our troubles even now. Our +statesmen are afraid to speak out and give their opinions, without first +looking around to see if any one has a pencil and notebook in his hand. +This is getting to be almost unbearable, to find some person in nearly +every small assemblage of people, on the street, in the hotel, in the +store, even in your own private house, reporting what you have for +dinner, what this one said about some other one, what this one did or +said, or expects to do or say in the future. But I am wandering from my +story.” + +“Well, Uncle Daniel, your discussions on all subjects are interesting,” + replied the Doctor. + +“I have been thinking of what you said about the press during the war,” + said Col. Bush; “and taking what you said upon the subject of our great +ambition here in the North to get money, and let all else take care of +itself, I can see that the same sordid spirit pervaded the press during +our war; fortunes were made by many newspapers in that way; everybody +bought papers then; we sold the news to our own people for money and +furnished it to the rebels gratis. Get money, get money; that is our +worst feature, and most dangerous one it is, for the country's welfare.” + +“I agree with you, Colonel,” spoke up Maj. Clymer, “but I would rather +hear Uncle Daniel talk. On any other occasion I would be delighted to +hear you.” + +“I beg pardon, Uncle Daniel,” replied the Colonel. “I will hereafter be +a patient and delighted auditor.” + +“Well, when the army was under way there was great excitement and alarm +throughout the North among the Union people. Our armies in the East had +not been successful, and the sympathizers with the rebellion all over +the country were again beginning to be rather saucy. They would +enjoy getting together and reading of our defeats and discuss, to our +disadvantage, the failures of our attempts to subdue the rebellion, +and in this way made it very uncomfortable for any person who loved +his country and desired its success. They would in every way try to +discourage our people by saying 'this movement now commencing will +only be a repetition of what we have already had so often lately in the +East.' + +“But our army moved on, and during the march to the vicinity of +Combination River they were met by the enemy frequently, who were +trying to impede their march, and several severe skirmishes and +minor engagements occurred. They were now within some twenty miles of +Dolinsburg Fortress, when a sharp and very decisive engagement took +place between one battalion of cavalry, two batteries of artillery, and +three regiments of infantry on our side, where Col. Anderson was +the ranking officer, and therefore in command, and five regiments of +infantry, two batteries and one troop of cavalry on the side of the +rebels. They were posted behind a small stream, known as Snake +Creek, having steep banks. The action commenced, as usual, with the +skirmishers. After reconnoitering the position well, the Colonel +determined to send his cavalry and one regiment around some distance, so +as to cross the stream and strike the enemy's left flank. He could +not expect re-enforcements, if they might be needed, very soon, as he +marched on the extreme southern road, so as to form the junction with +the other troops on their extreme right, touching Combination River to +the south of the enemy's works, so as to be the extreme right flank +of our army. The enemy, finding his force was superior in numbers, +attempted to cross the stream with his infantry. The two batteries were +opened and poured shrapnel into the advancing column, dealing havoc and +slaughter on all sides. They tried to keep their line, but they soon +staggered, halted, and fell back. The Colonel then opened a destructive +musketry fire all along the line. Just at this moment he heard the +attack of his regiment of infantry and troop of cavalry on their flank. +He quickly advanced across the stream, and the enemy was in utter rout. + +“He captured all his guns--six 12-pound Napoleons and four +howitzers--and a large number of prisoners. He followed closely on the +rear of the enemy, gathering in stragglers and squads of men until night +closed in and compelled him to desist and go into camp. When safety +from surprise was assured, he sent for one of the prisoners to get some +information about the road and the fortifications, commands, etc. After +ascertaining many things that he considered important, he found, upon +further inquiry, that his enemy upon that afternoon was commanded by +Col. Jos. Whitthorne, his wife's brother. He turned and said to Peter, +who was standing near: + +“'This man seems to be my evil genius. I hope I will not meet him again. +It seems hard that I am to continually meet my own kindred in combat. +Is it possible that these people are willing to spill the blood of their +own friends and kindred, merely because they have failed to retain power +longer, and for that reason will destroy the Government?' + +“'Yes,” said Peter; 'they will never be content except when they can +control other people as well as the Government. But see here, Colonel, +do you see this?' showing him a great rent in the breast of his coat and +vest; 'a pretty close call, wasn't it?' + +“'By George! it was that!' + +“'Well, never mind; but was not this about as nice a little fight as you +would wish to have for an appetiser?' + +“'Yes, you are quite right; and that reminds me that I have not had a +bite to eat since four o'clock this morning. By the way, have you any +cold coffee in your canteen?' + +“'O, yes, I have learned to keep that on hand. Here, help yourself.' + +“The Colonel took a good drink, and turned to Peter and said: + +“'What is the matter with that coffee? + +“'Nothing; it is only laced a little.' + +“'Laced? What is that?' + +“'Why, I put a little brandy in it, that's all.' + +“'That's all, is it? Well! that is something I have learned. Let me +taste it again.' + +“Which he did, as Peter afterwards said, until there was none left. I +tell you these poor fellows were excusable for occasionally warming up +after a hard march or a battle. I have learned to look very leniently on +the shortcomings in that direction of the poor old unfortunate fellows +who are going through this hard world without a penny, after having +served their country faithfully. I see them nearly every day, forgotten, +neglected, no home, no friends to care for them; and to see them when +they pass by the American flag always salute it. I hope their fate will +be a better one in the next world. + +“I well remember that during the war every one who cared for his country +would say, 'God bless the Union soldier and his family.' We all prayed +for them then; the good women in church, at home, in the hospital, at +the side of the sick, wounded or dying soldier, prayed fervently for +their safety here and hereafter. We loved him then, and say we do yet; +but we find the same men who reviled him then, complaining about the +pension list, and some saying: 'The Confederates fought for what they +believed to be right. We are all American citizens. Why not put all +on the same footing? Let us be brothers.' I tell you, my friends, the +people of this country are hard to understand. I heard the President of +the Southern Confederacy applauded this year. I was saddened by this, +and was glad that my time here could not be regarded as of great +duration. Can such things be? Am I dreaming? Where am I? Is it possible +that I am in Indiana and not in South Carolina? Am I under the Union +flag, and not the Confederate?” + +Uncle Daniel here bowed his head, and in a whisper to himself, said: + +“Is it so? Is it so?” + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + BATTLE OF DOLINSBURG.--HEROIC CONDUCT OF COL. TOM ANDERSON + --REPORTED DEAD.--HIS WIFE REFUSES TO BELIEVE THE REPORT. + + “There was speech in their dumbness, language in their very + gesture, they looked as they had heard of a world ransomed, + or one destroyed, a notable passion of wonder appeared in + them; but the wisest beholder, that knew no more but seeing + could not say, if the importance were joy or sorrow; but in + the extremity of the one it must needs be.”--Shakespeare + +The next morning the march was resumed. At an early hour the whole army +was in motion on different roads with the general understanding that the +command would close in line around the west side of the fortress that +afternoon. The weather being very disagreeable for marching, there was +delay on the roads, but, finally, late in the evening the army commenced +closing in and forming its line. The centre was commanded by General +Smote; the left, resting north, on the river, commanded by General +Waterberry, and the right, resting on an almost impassable slough, +connecting with the river, commanded by General McGovern. In moving into +position the place was found to be well protected by a heavy abatis and +chevaux-de-frise, from point to point, above and below the fortress. +This seemed impassable, and the enemy, seeing our army closing in around +them, kept up a terrible fire on our advancing columns, causing us very +severe loss in getting into position. It was at a late hour in the night +(when our lines were only partially formed) that our army rested, as +best as they could, in the snow and sleet; but not a murmur was +heard. The next morning our lines were advanced to the front and the +impediments removed as much as possible; though a severe and deadly +fire was poured upon our men most of the day. Late in the afternoon an +assault was ordered in the centre, and a bloody affair it was; again +and again our brave fellows moved on the works, but were as often driven +back with severe loss. About 'o'clock Gen. Silent came riding along +with an orderly by his side, his staff having been sent in different +directions with orders. He came up to where Col. Anderson was sitting +on his horse, watching the engagement in the centre. Gen. Silent, after +passing the compliments of the day, said to the Colonel: + +“'Your engagement at Snake Creek (that being the name of the creek where +the Colonel met the enemy the day before) was a rather brilliant affair +as I learn it.' + +“'Yes,' said the Colonel; 'it was my first attempt at commanding in a +battle, but we had the best of it.' + +“'Yes,' said the General; 'and now I want to see if you can do as well +here. I wish you to assault the enemy's works in this low ground on the +right, in order to draw some of his forces away from the centre; our +forces are having a hard time of it there.' + +“Col. Anderson gave the order at once to prepare for action--knapsacks +and blankets were thrown off, and the assaulting column formed. The +General rode away after saying: + +“'It is not imperative that you enter their works; but make the assault +as effectual as you can without too great a sacrifice of men.' + +“The Colonel looked at the ground over which they must pass and viewed +the works with his glass, but said not one word save to give the command +'Forward!' On, on they went, and as they moved under a torrent of leaden +hail, men fell dead and wounded at every step; but they went right up +to the mouths of the cannon. There they stood and poured volley +after volley into the enemy, until at last he began to give way, when +re-enforcements came from the centre, as was desired. The Colonel's +force could stand no longer. Sullenly they fell back to a strip of woods +when night closed in, and the battle ceased for the day. + +“Our lines were much nearer the enemy than in the morning. + +“The centre held their ground at last, and all was still, Part of the +night was employed in hunting the dead and wounded. Many were wounded +and frozen to death, being left on the ground during the night. The +suffering in front of Dolinsburg was something almost indescribable--it +snowed, sleeted, hailed and froze during the whole of the night. The +troops did not sleep, nor did they attempt it; they had to form into +squads and walk around trees all night. No fires could be lighted--they +were so close to the enemy's entrenchments. Just at daylight the sharp +sound of their skirmishers was heard. They had concluded to move out on +our right and attack us on our flank, and open the way for the escape +of their army. On they came. Our line was soon formed and our musketry +opened. During the night one of our batteries had been brought up and +given position on a slight elevation to the right of Col. Anderson's +centre. The enemy opened furiously on our line, and in a few minutes our +battery was knocked to pieces and was charged by infantry. Here there +was a bloody conflict; men fell by the score; the snow was reddened +by the blood of both patriots and traitors. The smoke seemed to hover +around the trees and underbrush, as if to conceal the contending forces +from each other. The flame of musketry and the red glare of the cannons +lighted up the scene with a lurid tint. Limbs fell from the trees, +and the ground was mown as smoothly of weeds and underbrush as if by +a scythe. Our right was under orders to hold their position at all +hazards. The battle, dreadful and bloody, continued. By degrees the +troops on the right of Col. Anderson gave way and abandoned the field. +At noon but one regiment besides Col. Anderson's withstood the enemy on +the right of our line. They were terribly cut up, and having no food, +were nearly exhausted. Their ammunition was growing scarce, none having +been brought up to this point for their supply. In this condition +they stood like a wall, under the most galling fire of artillery and +musketry, their comrades falling like grass before the sickle. At +length the enemy's cavalry appeared in the rear; not in line, but as if +observing the battle with a view of taking advantage at the proper time +of any mishap that might occur in our lines. Col. Anderson seeing this, +and feeling that his command was now in great peril, conceived the idea +of a bayonet charge on the line to his front, and so ordered it. + +[Illustration: Col. Anderson Wounded 059] + +“His line moved forward, in a double-quick, and with a shout drove the +enemy, who was stampeded by the impetuous assault. The Colonel, being +on foot, led his men right up to the works, the enemy having been driven +inside. As he leaped forward to them, with sword in hand, calling to +his men, 'Come on, my boys,' he fell, as they then thought, mortally +wounded. The enemy seeing this made a fresh assault, and drove our +force back. Col. Anderson was left on the field supposed to be dead. The +battle raged all along the line. Our right was driven and forced under +the brow of a hill. While under this partial shelter a portion of the +enemy made their escape through this unoccupied part of the field. +At this time our left made a successful assault upon the works of the +enemy, capturing their outer line and forcing them into their more +contracted lines but more strongly fortified. The centre had made +several ineffectual assaults and had lost in killed and wounded very +heavily. Re-enforcements came to the right, and a renewal of the assault +all along the line was ordered. To the work of blood and death the men +again came forward with a heroic will, and for about an hour the battle +was like the long roll on a thousand drums. The air was filled with +shells; the heavens were lighted up as if meteors were flying in all +directions; the rumbling of artillery was heard as batteries changed +position, and the loud commands of excited officers. On and on moved +the serried masses. As the lines opened by the dropping of the dead and +wounded, 'close up, boys,' could be heard. It was now about dusk. One +grand charge all along the line, one grand shout, 'up with the flag, +boys!'--all was over, the fortress was ours, and the Stars and Stripes +floated over Dolinsburg. That night, however, was a night of gloom and +sorrow in our army. Gen. McGovern was killed in the last assault. Gen. +Smote was badly wounded and died a few days later. Gen. Waterberry, +a brave and gallant officer, fell a few weeks later at the battle of +Pittskuk.” + +“I remember when Waterberry fell, poor fellow,” said Col. Bush. + +“Yes, many a poor fellow lost his life in those two battles. We captured +a great number of prisoners. Gen. Bertram surrendered. Many of his +leading officers were killed and wounded, and some made their escape +through the opening in our line on the right, where Col. Anderson fell +wounded.” + +Dr. Adams asked: “Uncle Daniel, did you ever hear of him? Was his body +found?” + +“Yes, Doctor, and the story of that and his recovery is a very singular +one. Peter searched diligently for him, but failed to find him; this +distressed him so much that he decided to ask for a leave and return +home, so as to stay a short time with the family and do what he could +to help us bear the sorrow of the Colonel's supposed death. After our +grief-stricken family could have the patience to listen to his recitals, +he gave us the story just as I have told it. Mrs. Anderson, although +stricken down with grief, insisted that her husband was not killed, +or he would have been found among the slain; that a man of such marked +features would have been noticed by some one who did the interring. The +Captain insisted that there could be no doubt but that he was killed. +Time passed on, but little Mary would continually ask, 'If her papa +was dead?' 'Was he shot?' Who had killed him?' and a thousand other +questions which constantly kept her mother thinking of the Colonel's +fate, and soon she determined to go in search of him. Peter was leaving +for his regiment, now under command of Colonel Rice. Col. Anderson +having been reported as killed, Rice had been promoted Colonel, and +the regiment had moved with the army in a southwesterly direction some +considerable distance from Dolinsburg. Still there had been troops left +there, so that it was perfectly safe to visit the battle-field, there +being no rebel force in that part of the country at that time. I agreed +to go with her, and made all the arrangements necessary for the family; +the farm of Col. David having been looked after, and our family-school +reorganized under Jennie, which had become demoralized by the news of +Col. Anderson's death. In the meantime we had heard from Col. David and +James, who were well, and also had letters from Stephen and Henry; both +had joined the army: Stephen in an infantry regiment from Ohio, where he +lived, and Henry in a cavalry regiment from Michigan, where he had been +employed for a time in surveying for a company; so at this time I had +one son left not yet in the army, he being my third son, Jackson, who +was then engaged in railroading in Minnesota. We had not heard from him +for some time, and his mother was sorely troubled, expecting soon to +hear of the last of the Lyons being in the army. This, she thought, was +a little more than ought to be required of any one family.” + +“So say I, Uncle Daniel,” spoke up several of the listeners. + +“True, true; but our country's demands should be satisfied by her +citizens, no matter what they may be. Well, when all was arranged, Mary +Anderson and I started. We went as far as we could by cars and boat, and +then obtained horses and traveled on horseback to Dolinsburg. Coming to +the pickets we were halted, and, on telling our errand and where we +were from, we were taken to the headquarters of Col. Harden, who was in +command of the post. We were well received and most hospitably treated +by himself and officers. They all sympathized with Mrs. Anderson; knew +of the Colonel's gallant conduct in battle, but all thought there was +no use of a search for him; that he was certainly killed in charging +the works near the fort. They showed us where he made the assault. After +resting for the night we started on our search, Capt. Day accompanying +us as guide and protector. We first went to the place where the Colonel +fell, but there was nothing but long trenches, where the dead had been +buried. We passed over the battle-field, which was mowed down smoothly +by bullets. Limbs of trees had fallen in confusion, furrows were plowed +in the ground by shell, horses' skeletons, broken muskets, pieces of +wagons, parts of caissons, spokes, ammunition boxes, pieces of blankets, +coats, pantaloons, parts of tents--everything in pieces, the evidences +of a great contest were marked at every step. Late in the afternoon, +worn out with walking and the excitement, we returned, very much +disheartened. We dined on soldier's fare, which seemed to us delicious. +After discussing the battle and the probabilities of the result of the +war until a late hour, we retired to the camp cots for a night's rest. +Next morning we got ready for a start. Mary Anderson inquired of Col. +Harden which way the rebels who got through our lines had retreated. +He answered her that they retreated on a road along the river up stream +some twenty-five miles, and then crossed on a boat that had come down +the river on its way to Dolinsburg, which was stopped by the retreating +rebels. Mary said: + +“'Uncle Daniel, I am going to that place if I can be allowed to do so.' + +“I replied: 'This would be a very tiresome and fruitless trip, my child; +but if you will be any better satisfied by doing so, I will make it with +you.' + +“Col. Harden said he would send a small escort for protection, though +there was no danger of any force of the enemy, but there probably would +be some wicked people there who might do us some harm. He had our horses +brought out, and sent Capt. Day and ten mounted men with us. The road +was somewhat rough, but very passable for saddle-horses. When we had +gone about ten miles we met a colored boy, some fourteen years old, who +said he was going to Dolinsburg. Mrs. Anderson rode on with Capt. Day. +The escort was in front of them. I asked the boy why he was going to +Dolinsburg. He said he lived about ten miles further up the river, and +that an old colored woman, called 'Aunt Martha,' had sent him down to +see if any soldiers were at Dolinsburg; and if so, to tell them that +there was a Union officer at her house, sick. + +“'Do you know his name?' I asked. + +“'No, sir; but Aunt Martha calls him Massa Tom.' + +“I trembled all over. My blood was hot and cold by turns. + +“'When and how did he come there?” asked. + +“He said that the rebels had left him. My brain was now dizzy, and I +told him to turn back and take me to the place. We rode past the rest +of the company while they were resting for a short time. I told them I +would ride on to the place where the river was crossed, and wait there +for them. Mary was hearing all she could from Capt. Day about the +battle, and so she raised no objections. I inquired of the boy as to +the appearance of the sick officer. He described him as very pale, black +hair, eyes and beard. I could understand his being pale, and felt sure +it was Col. Anderson. I asked the boy if he ever spoke to him. He said +he had not, but Aunt Martha talked to him about his wife and little girl +and Uncle Daniel. I now was positive it was Tom. I reeled in my saddle +and nearly fell from my horse. What should I do? I could not tell Mary, +for if it proved not to be him she would not be able to bear it. So I +rode on. After a long time we came to the house. It was some hundred +paces from the road, a square log cabin or hut, occupied by an old +colored woman ['Aunt Martha ') and her husband['Ham'), both over sixty +years, I should judge. + +[Illustration: Uncle Daniel meets Aunt Martha 064] + +“The old aunty was in the yard, a smooth, hard, flat piece of ground, +fenced off by a low fence, about four rails high, which a man could +easily step over. I saluted her with: + +“'How do you do, aunty, do you live here?' + +“'Yes, sa, I lives heah--me and Ham, my ole man. What is you, massa? Is +you Union or is you “Sesh?”' + +“'Oh! I am a Union man,' I replied. + +“'Den I is glad to see you. I'll jes' call Ham. He runned away when he +seed you. He's feared; yes, he's dat. He isn't gwine wid de “Sesh” any +mo'.' + +“'Well, aunty, have you a Union officer in your cabin, sick?' + +“'Well, now, massa, I'se jes' got to know who you is afore I 'fess on +dat case.' + +“'Well, aunty, I am Daniel Lyon, sometimes called “Uncle Daniel.”' + +“'Afore God, is dat you, Massa Lyon? Jes' get off yo' hoss an' wait rite +heah; I be back in a bit.' + +“She hobbled in, evidently to speak to the Colonel. I waited quietly +until she returned. Just then the others came in sight, and I sent the +boy to halt them. Aunty came out so excited that she could hardly speak. + +“'Sho' as you is born'd, dat Massa Tom knows you; but, sah, he's +powerful weak, an' you must exclose who yo' is to him in a most +delicacious manner, or you'll incite him. He's 'fraid, sah, dat you is a +exposter.' + +“'O, no, aunty, I am his uncle and benefactor.' + +“'Yo'is what?' + +“'His uncle,' + +“'No, but de oder t'ing what you is?' + +“'His benefactor.' + +“'Glory to God! Is you? May de Laud shine his light in dis pore house, +an' brush away de fears ob dis misfortunate famly.' + +“Then she called Ham. + +“'Oh, yo' Ham, come heah.' + +“I entered the cabin and beheld Col. Anderson, as pale as death, lying +on a poor, broken-down bed. I knelt by his side upon the floor and wept +aloud. The Colonel could only whisper. Extending his hand, while the +great tears were rolling down his face, he asked: + +“'Is my wife with you? How is my child?' + +“He was greatly excited and very weak. I arose from his bedside and +told him who were coming, and begged him to be calm. Aunty brought some +cloths and laid on his breast, saying to him: + +“'Now, Massa Tom, you mus' be still. Don' be like I tole you. You +mussent get 'cited now--nuffln of the kine. Jes' see de folks like yo' +allers done. Dey's come a mighty long ways to fine yo'. Wish dey stay +away 'til I cure yo'; but spose it's all rite. De good Laud he done +knowed de bes'. Maybe de “Sesh” come take him some day afore long, so de +Laud he knows what he wants. Bress de good Laud.' + +“'I went out to meet the others. Mary at once asked me what the matter +was. I spoke as gently as I could, and said: + +“'Mary, Tom is still alive.' + +“She instantly leaped from her horse and made for the cabin, and in an +instant was at the bedside of her husband, covering his face with kisses +and tears. Tom was too weak to more than whisper 'my dear wife,' and +weep in silence. Old Ham had come in, and stood in one corner of the +room looking on the scene with his hands locked together over his head. +He was heard to say over and over in a low tone: “'De Lord bress dese +chilien.' “Aunt Martha took hold of Mary, saying: “'Deah Misses, yo' +jes' stop dat cryin'. You ought to be 'joiced dat Massa Tom be libbin. +You ought ter seed him when de “Sesh” fotched him heah. I tell you dat +was de time what fotched me down, I done got rite on my old knees an' +axed de good Laud to spar dis good Massa Tom. I knowed him the berry +minute I laid my eyes on him. Many's de time I make his bed and cook his +dinnah. I tell you all about dat. Why, dem “Sesh,” when dey fetch Massa +Tom heah in de old wagon, dey des frowed him out like he been a hog, and +tole Ham an' me dat we mus' dig a hole and put him in; dat we be killed +if we don't. I done went and looked at him, an' tole Ham dat he wasn't +dead; dat he was wa'm an' bredin. So Ham an' me jes' carried him into +dis house, an' got blankets and kivers, and wash him wid wa'm water, and +took keer on him; setted up all de time, one or bofe on us, and kep' him +good an' wa'm, an yo' see he's done gittin' well. De good Laud heah our +prayers, an' he whisper to pore ole Marfa dat he gwine to fetch him out +for some good he gwine to do for us pore people. Bress de Laud; he is +good to us. I tell yo', de man what said to dig a hole fo' him is a +bad man; his name is Whitthorne. I 'member de name kase I knowed de +Whitthornes in Jackson, Miss., when I libbed there. Yes, dat so.' + +“At this Mary broke down again. She felt sure that this was some of her +people. Aunty continued: + +“'Ole Massa Gawge (George), that we b'longed to, move upheah six year +ago, on dis place, from Jackson. He libbed up dar on the hill in dat +white house dat yo' see up dar, dat am locked up an' no one is in it. +Dey got lot ob t'ings in dar. When de Union whip de Sesh at Dolins-burg, +and de Sesh come dis way, gwine home or some-whar, den Massa Gawge an' +all de famly dey go, too, an' take all de niggers 'cepin' me an' Ham. +Dey say we's too ole, an' dey done lef us to take keer ob de place; dey +leabe de smoke-house so we kin git in an' git sumpin to eat. Well, dey +is plenty in dar, an' we lib all right, and, bress de Laud, dat save +Massa Tom's life. De good Laud fix it dat way, sho' as yo' born. He take +tkeer ob de good folks.' + +“Old Ham, who had been silent, broke out: + +“'Yes, dat's so, massa, dat's so. De Laud do do dis. He done told me up +at de smoke-house to take all dat we wanted, an' dat when Massa Tom done +get well, dat we mus go wid him 'way from heah an' lib with Massa Tom; +dat de Sesh kill us when dey find out we done cure him up. Yes, sah, de +Laud say dat to me, sho.' + +“I said to him: 'Ham, are you sure the Lord said that; did you not dream +it, or was it not Aunt Martha that said it?' + +“'No, massa, no; de Laud told me, sho! I know 'twas he. De words come +right down frough de smokehouse when I was gittin' meal to make de gruel +for Massa Tom. O, no, massa; Martha was down heah. I told Martha when I +come back.' + +“'Well, Ham, what did Martha say?' + +“'She say dat we must 'bey de Lord; dat he was mo' our massa den Massa +George; don't we b'longs to de Laud mo' dan to Massa George. Den I say +dat's well, Martha; you know, and if you b'lieve in dat we go. An' we is +gwine wid Massa, sho.' + +“'If you should go, Ham, they would accuse us of stealing you, and have +us arrested for it.' + +“'Well, I doesn't know 'bout dat. I knows we can steal our ownself away, +an' go to de place whar Massa Tom lib; I knows dat. We's gwine; dat's +done fix; we's gwine.' + +“The Colonel had been listening, and smiled to find that these two good +old people loved him so, and he nodded his head to Ham, which caused him +to laugh immoderately. + +“'It's done fix,' said Ham, and he left the cabin. + +“I said: 'Aunty, have you any children?' + +“'Laud bless yo' good soul, we has six chilien some whar; don't know +whar. Massa George he sole our chilien 'way from us soon as dey was six +year old. I never see any ob dem since den; neber heard anything 'bout +dem. He sole 'em 'way down on de Gulf some whar; neber would tell us. +Dey done forgot us, or whar we lib, long go; dey so young when dey taken +'way, O, dey do dat way, so de ole folks not fine 'em. I tell you, Massa +Lyon, 'tis purty hard on ole folks, to lose de chilien dat way. If +dey die an' de Laud take dem 'way, dat's all rite; de Laud know he own +business; but when dey sole 'way, dat hard. You see, dese people dey got +chilien, but dey tink we no keer for our'n. Dat is whar dey don't know. +We does keer jes as much as de white folks, but we can't help ourself, +dats all. I tell you dat's bad. O, I cry myself nearly to deff 'bout my +chilien; but all do no good; dey done gone; I neber see dem any mo'. If +I was to, dey would not know me, an' me not know dem; so no good now to +cry any mo'; dey be all dead, maybe--hope dey am--den dey work for de +Laud and Master all de time, and not be worked all de time fo' de people +for nuffin' an' doin' no good. Yes, I hope dey is all done dead. Wish I +knowed dey was, den I'd be feelin' good. You see, me an' Ham talked dis +all ober. We neber see our chilien no mo' no matter whar we is; so we am +gwine where we will be counted wid de people an' not wid de cattle. Yes, +sah; dat's what we's got in our heads; dar's no use tryin' to put it +out; it in dar, an' dar it stay. We's gwine, sho'.' + +“'Well, well, aunty, all right; I will see that you go. I will take the +consequences. I will not see as good an old couple as you are held like +cattle if I can help it.' + +“The old woman shouted 'glory,' and hobbled out of the cabin, I presume, +to tell Ham what I had said. + +“By this time the Colonel had recovered somewhat from his excitement, +and quietly and in a low voice told us how he came to be there. He said +that when he was wounded on the works of Dolinsburg and left for dead, +that some one came along and stanched the flow of blood by binding some +cloth around the wound saturated with something--his wound was through +the right breast, touching slightly the right lung--that in the +afternoon, when a portion of the rebel army passed over the ground that +he occupied, Col. Whitthorne, his wife's brother, discovered him and had +him placed in one of his ambulances, bringing him away; had no knowledge +as to what his intention was--whether to take him to some place of +safety--some hospital, or let him die and bury him where his remains +could afterwards be found by his family; that up to within a few days +he had no idea where he was; that these old colored people had kept his +whereabouts a profound secret, except among a few of their race +whom they could trust; that when he found a force was stationed at +Dolinsburg, he got them to send there and give the information, so that +he might make some arrangement about getting away, for fear of recapture +by the enemy, and they had sent the boy that we met. He was anxious +to get away, and thought that he could bear being moved in some easy +conveyance to Dolinsburg in two or three days' travel. We consulted +together, and Capt. Day sent a messenger back with a letter to Col. +Harden, asking him to send an ambulance and a surgeon the next day, +we remaining with the Colonel until their coming. There was plenty of +fodder at the plantation barns, and the men took care of the horses. +Aunty prepared a sufficient quantity of wholesome food for ourselves. We +passed the night without much sleep, the Captain and I using our chairs +for beds, as there was not sufficient accommodation for us all; Mrs. +Anderson slept on the bed by her husband, and the men found comfortable +quarters in the stables. We enjoyed ourselves, however, hearing Aunt +Martha and Ham tell us how they had taken care of the Colonel; how +they had bathed and dressed his wound once each day with warm water and +poultices of white-oak ooze and slippery-elm bark; how they stopped +the bleeding with soot from the wooden chimney; how they dosed him +occasionally, when his wound seemed painful, with good whiskey that Ham +got up at the house on the hill (he had managed to force an entrance +somehow); and how every day they asked the Lord to heal his wound and +make him well, so he would take them away from their long suffering and +unhappy life. The story of the old woman was most interesting as well as +very amusing. The next morning we had bread, coffee and chicken, which +was relished by all, I assure you. The Colonel was fed on gruel and a +piece of chicken. Aunty, who had him entirely under her control, would +not allow him to eat anything else. After breakfast was over I asked +Aunty how she came to know Col. Anderson, and she in her way told me the +story of her having been hired out once by her master to Col. Anderson's +family before the Colonel was married, and she said: + +“'Laud bressyou, chile, I know Massa Tom soon I put my eyes onto him. +Yes, sah. I neber let on, doe. He didn't know nuffin when they frowed +him out heah like a pig. No, sah. He was mos' dead, sho'. Dat's one time +he mos' done gone to glory, sho'. But he all right now; he come out. An' +when he do, oh, great Laud, don't I jes' want him to go for dem “Sesh.” + Yes, I tell you, I do. Dar is no mistake on dat pint.' + +“The day passed. The Colonel improved and conversed considerably with +his wife. We left them together all we could to enjoy their reunion. +He was very desirous of getting away and having the assistance of a +surgeon, who, however, could do no more for him than was being done. +In the afternoon late, however, there came an ambulance and the Post +Surgeon. This seemed to give new life and spirit to all. The Surgeon +entered the cabin, and, after pleasantly conversing about the Colonel +with us, proceeded to make an examination of his wound. Aunty was +determined to be present. She raised the Colonel up, and showed the +Surgeon where the wound was, its condition, etc. He said it was healing +rapidly, and would be well soon, but that he would be some considerable +time gaining sufficient strength to do any service. He said that aunty +ought to have a diploma; that she had treated him as skillfully as +anyone could have done, and much better than some might have done, Aunty +at once replied: + +“'I tell you where you gib de “'plomas.” You jes' gib dem to de Laud. He +is de one what do dis work. I tell you, He keep Massa Tom for some good. +I don't know what, but he is got some good work afore he, sho' I tells +you, de Laud never show dis pore old nigger what to do, des like she +be a doctor, less He wanted Massa Tom to do something. He know what He +wants. He know all t'ings, de Bible say so, an' dats the book you can't +'spute.' + +“We all agreed with aunty, and she was happy. The next morning the +ambulance was arranged in the best possible manner and the Colonel +tenderly carried out and laid in, his wife and Aunt Martha having a +place arranged so they could stay in the ambulance with him. We all +started, old Ham tying their belongings up in a couple of blankets and +lashing them on a horse loaned him by one of the escort. We were +two days in making Bolinsburg, but did it without any very great +inconvenience or suffering to the Colonel. When we arrived Col. Harden +welcomed us most heartily, and made all necessary arrangements for the +comfort of Col. Anderson, as well as the rest of us. I noticed that Col. +Harden said nothing about the two colored people, and did not seem to +notice them, so I called his attention to them. He looked at me rather +quizzically and remarked: + +“'Why, I did not observe any colored people. You did not bring any +through the lines, did you?' + +“I took the hint, and said: + +“'O, Colonel, what did I say? I was a little absent-minded being up with +Col. Anderson; and loss of sleep has bothered me.” + +“So, you see, I got out of the scrape. Orders then existed against +bringing colored people through the ines, as I learned afterwards. +He (Col. Harden) always said that he was color-blind, and could not +distinguish between the color of people. I remained several days, and +Col. Anderson continued to improve. I, however, felt that I ought to +go home and look after the family. So old Ham and I got ready, and bade +good-by to all, after returning thanks for the kindness shown us. We +took the two horses that Mary and I rode to Dolinsburg and made our way +through in several days to Allentown. I preferred to go all the way on +horseback, to save, perhaps, some trouble about Ham. He claimed to be +freeborn and from Ohio, where I formerly lived. This went as sound, and +no trouble ensued. Ham lived at our house and did chores for us and made +himself generally useful. I related the whole story to the family and +made all happy, especially little Mary Col. Anderson's child, who had +the impression fixed on her mind that her papa had been killed, like her +Uncle Harvey. We received letters from David and James, in the Eastern +army; also, from Stephen, who had marched with the regiment to which +he belonged to the Army of the Center, then in the western part of +Kentucky, and on the way to Pittskill Landing, where the Union forces +were now concentrating. Henry wrote that his regiment of cavalry had +been ordered to the East to report to Gen. Kilpatterson. Having heard +from all our family, except Jackson, we were again happy. We all longed +for the day to come when Col. Anderson and his wife would return home, +and were anxious also to see the good old colored woman who had been a +mother to him during his illness. The children especially asked me every +day about Aunt Martha; how she looked? if she was as black as Uncle Ham? +and why Mr. George sold her children? and in any other questions that +could not well be answered.” + +“Uncle Daniel, I knew Col. Harden, of whom you spoke,” said Maj. Clymer. +“He was a good soldier, went all through the war, and died in 1868. He +was rather an old man for the service, and was never well after the war +closed.” + +“Yes; I heard of his death; I kept track of him up to that time; he was +a good man.” + +“Uncle Daniel,” said Dr. Adams, “the implicit faith of those two old +colored people was an example that might well be followed by the masters +now.” + +“Yes; the colored people are the most faithful on the face of the earth, +and deserve better treatment than they are getting in the South.” + +“Why is it that they are deprived of their political rights in the +Southern States?” + +“My dear sir, that is easily answered. As I have heretofore repeated in +the discussion of other points, the controlling element in the South is +now, as it ever has been, an aristocracy of and for power. They do not +intend that in any way or by any means, lawful or otherwise, the control +of their States shall pass out of their hands; by this means they will +control the General Government. It would be the same were these colored +people white; if they were poor and not of the ruling class, they would +be deprived of their rights in the same way. They believe that they +were born to control, and control they will, unless we shall find men +hereafter in charge of this Government with nerve enough to see that the +rights of the people are protected and enforced.” + +“Yes,” said Col. Bush, “another war will come some day, and it will +commence at the ballot-box. People will suffer just so long and no +longer. The idea that I gave my right arm away for a Government that +allows its citizens to be bulldozed and murdered merely for desiring +to participate in the affairs of the Republic. No, sir! I fight no more +until I know what I am fighting for and also that we will sustain the +principles for which we contended.” + +“This is a curious people. They are nearly ready for any kind of +government to-day, when only a few years ago they expended billions of +money and rivers of human blood for liberty, and now care nothing for +it. They made the gift of franchise to millions at a great sacrifice, +and now quietly smile at its surrender. O, yes; but how can you expect +anything else. Are we not apologizing every day for what we did? Do we +not avoid speaking of the war in the North? Are not some of our great +leaders to-day men who aided and sympathized with treason, while we +teach kindness to our erring brethren and forgive all? Do we not find +our flag despised nearly everywhere in the South? Do they not march +under their State flags instead of the Stars and Stripes? Are not all +their monuments to rebel leaders and Generals? Are not their school +books full of Secession sentiments? Do they not teach the children that +we conquered them with hired Hessians? While this is so in the South, +and any allusion to the war in the North is regarded as stirring up bad +blood, is it not submissive, cowardly and unworthy of any brave people, +and will it not result finally in their dominating over us? These are +the reflections that annoy me in my old and lonely days.” + +Here he stopped, was silent for a moment, then said in a low tone: + +“Why should I have lived to tremble now for the future of my country.” + +The tears stood like crystals in his eyes, and he ceased to speak for +the present. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + ANOTHER GREAT BATTLE--TWO DAYS OF AWFUL FIGHTING AT + PITTSKILL LANDING--HARD-WON VICTORY-UNCLE DANIEL'S SONS BEAR + THEMSELVES GALLANTLY. + + “But whether on the scaffold high, Or in the battle's van, + The fittest place where man can die Is where he dies for man.” + --Barry. + +“During the suspense great preparations were being made for the various +campaigns by the several ar-armies of the Union, which caused much +excitement throughout the country. The many prisoners captured at the +fall of Dolinsburg had been sent to different camps in the North. The +secession sympathizers were vieing with each other as to who should +visit them the oftenest and show them the greatest consideration. The +whisperings of releasing them and organizing for 'a fire in the rear,' +as the saying went, were loud and plentiful I traveled to Indianapolis +and Chicago to see if I could learn anything of a definite character on +these points, and at both places heard mutterings and threats that were +calculated to produce alarm and also to make any loyal man feel +like beginning a war at home. Everything that was being done by the +authorities was denounced as arbitrary and despotic--their acts as +unconstitutional. In fact, no satisfactory act had been performed by +the Administration that was calculated to assist in putting down the +rebellion (according to their way of thinking). When I returned home I +found a letter from Peter, who had been promoted to a Majority in his +regiment. The Lieutenant-Colonel (Rice), as I before stated, had been +made Colonel, Major Pierce Lieutenant-Colonel, and Capt. Lyon (Peter) +Major. They had not as yet learned of the discovery of Col. Anderson. +I wrote to Peter, giving him in full the details in reference to the +Colonel, but told him not to reveal the facts to a soul until it should +be reported officially. In his letter, however, he informed me of the +massing of the rebel troops at Corin Junction, and the like process +going on at the High Banks, on the Little Combination River, now called +Pittskill Landing, and that he looked for hot work as soon as the Army +of the Center, under Buda, could make a junction with Gen. Silent. When +I read Peter's letter all the family were anxious about his fate, should +there be another battle fought. Old Ham was present and seemed to be +much interested in what I was saying. He had been entertaining the three +children with his simple stories about the 'Sesh,' as he and Aunt Martha +called the rebels. He spoke up, saying: + +“'Massa Daniel, I tells you da's no danger, sah. I had a dream 'bout +dat. Massa Peter am all right, sah; I tells you he is. I neber dreams +'bout anything but what comes out good.' + +“My wife asked Ham if he could interpret dreams. 'No, missis; I not know +'bout dreams 'cept my own. I knows dat Massa Peter all right.' + +“There was no way getting the cunning old darkey to tell his dream. My +wife said to him: + +“'I am troubled about a dream that I had at the commencement of the war. +It distresses me still.' + +“She then related her dream, and he broke out into a laugh, saying: + +“'Yes, but you see, massa got all he hands, all he fingers; dey all +dar--none done gone. Dat dream all good, kase, you see, he fingers all +right. O, dat's nuffin. De bug he be Sesh; skare you, dat's all; bite de +chilien little spec, dat's all.' + +“We all laughed at the curious speech of old Ham, and yet he sat down +and commenced counting his fingers, and said: “'How many chilien yo' +got, misses?' + +“'Seven.' + +“'Ham became silent, and nothing more could be got from him on the +subject of the dream. He never spoke of the matter again to any of us, +except to Peter. I found after all was over that he and Peter had the +same interpretation--strange, yet so true.” + +“Uncle Daniel, what was the interpretation, may I inquire the second +time?” said Dr. Adams. + +“It was very strange; but the interpretation is disclosed by the +casualties of war, and as we proceed you will recognize it. But to my +story: The rebel and Union forces were now confronting each other, and +each was constantly on the lookout for the movements of the other. About +midway between the camps of the two armies they were almost constantly +having skirmishes, sometimes with cavalry, and sometimes with infantry. +The successes were about equal. Peter related the story of an old +colored man, I presume something after the style of old Ham, meeting him +while he was making a reconnaissance with his regiment. The old darkey +was tall and very black, and was walking in great haste when Peter +called to him: + +“'Uncle, where are you going?' + +“'Ise gwine to de ribber, sah. Ise ti'd ob de wa', Ise been cookin', +sah, for de 'Sesh.' He say he gwine to whip dem Yankees on de +ribber,--dat dey am gwine to come right on and drive dem in de ribber +and drown dem like cats; dat's what he say, sho'. I heah him wid dese +old ears, I did.' + +“'When did he say he was coming?' + +“'Well, massa, he say he comin' right off, sah; he say he kill 'em an' +drown 'em all afore de res' ob de Yankees come for help dem; dat's what +he say.' + +“'Who was it said this?' + +“'Why, sah, it wah de big Gen'l--de one what boss all de res'; he name +wah Massa Sydenton Jackson. He say he kill all ob you stone dead--he not +leab one ob em.' + +“'If he is going to kill all of us, you don't want to go to our camp and +get killed, do you?' + +“'No, sah; I doesn't spec' to git killed; I 'bout 'cluded dat I wait +till de shootin' git goin' pretty libely, den I jes' skip de ribber and +neber stop 'til I be done gone whar dey done got no wa'.' + +“'How many soldiers have they in Gen. Jackson's army?' + +“'Well, I dunno, but I 'spec' dar am somewhar near a million ob dem, +sah. Dey's got de woods full ob hoss sogers, an' all de fiel's full ob +'em what walks. Den dey got big guns wid hosses. Oh, Laudy, massa, I +dunno, but dey's heaps ob dem.' + +“'What were they doing when you came away?” + +“'Dey was campin' 'bout ten miles, I 'spose. I walk mighty fas', and I +is monstrous tired. When dey start dis mornin' I get outside and go in +de woods and keep whar I see dem all de way. When dey stop I keep on. +Dey be here in de mornin', sho'. I knows dey will, massa.' + +“This being about all Peter could ascertain, he thought perhaps it would +be as safe back towards the main army, so he returned, bringing old +'Dick' with him, that being his name. When Peter reported with Dick at +headquarters the General cross-questioned the old man in a manner that +would have done credit to a prosecuting attorney, and said to Peter: + +“'Major, I guess the enemy intend to try our strength very soon.' + +“He then said to Dick: + +“'You can go around behind my quarters. You will find some colored +people there, with whom you will remain until after we have this fight. +You can then go where you please.' + +“'Bress de Laud, Massa Genl, you gwine to make me stay heah and get +shotted?” + +“'Well, I don't know whether you will get shot or not but you will stay +as I direct.' + +“'Afore God, Massa Gen'l, you see dese heah 'backer sticks, (meaning his +legs), 'dey go, dey go if dey shoot; I can't hole 'em. I tried dem one +time, an' I tell you dey won't stay. You can't hole 'em, no, sah; dey +git ebery time--when you 'spec dem be stayin' dey's gwine.' + +“The General laughed at his peculiar expressions and sent him away. The +position of the Union forces was an exceedingly good one for defensive +operations. The country all around was covered with heavy timber and +very thick underbrush, save a small opening or field on the right center +and to the rear of our right flank. The ground was very uneven, full +of streams, gulches, hills and hollows. The line of the Union troops +stretched from Hawk Run to Bull Gulch and Buck Lick Junction, the right +resting on Hawk Run and the left at or near the Junction, the center in +heavy timber quite a distance farther south than either flank. The right +of the line was commanded by Gen. Sherwood, the left by Gen. Prince; two +divisions were in reserve, commanded by Gen. Waterberry. The Army of +the Center, under Gen. Buda, was within communicating distance, but +advancing very slowly, causing some fear that they would not get to +the field prior to the attack being made by the enemy, who was in great +force ready to be hurled against our comparatively small army at any +moment. + +“The suspense must have been terrible for the time, but at last it was +over, for on the morning of the third day after Dick made his revelation +about the enemy's movements, our forces having become a little careless +on their front, the enemy were upon them without much warning. Just as +Gen. Sherwood was about to take his breakfast skirmishing commenced +not more than a mile from his camp, and nearer and nearer it seemed to +approach our lines. The 'long roll' was sounded and 'to arms' was the +cry all along the lines. The roads passing through the camp were leading +in almost every direction, affording the enemy ample opportunity for +unfolding their line all along our front by a very rapid movement, of +which they took advantage, and in rapid succession threw their divisions +in line of battle and moved with quick motion to the assault which was +made simultaneously along our front. From Peter's description it must +have come like a thunderbolt. They struck Sherwood's command on the +center and right flank and drove him from his first position back on +the reserves and a part of his command entirely from the field. So +thoroughly were they demoralized that they could not find time to return +to their places during that day. Sherwood tried to rally them, but +could not; so he joined his remnant to the first command he found, and +continued resistance to the impetuous assaults of the Confederates. + +“The battle was now raging all along the line; our troops were in good +condition, and the ones that had won the victory at Dolinsburg were in +no wise discouraged. They came into action like veterans and stood the +first shock of the battle without the least movement to the rear or +panic. Our lines were again adjusted on the right, and one continuous +rattle of musketry from one end of the line to the other could be +heard. There was no chance for the operating of cavalry on either side. +Artillery was run up to the front by both armies. How the different arms +rattled and thundered. Batteries to the front, right and left rolled +amid confusion and death. Closer still the armies came until their eyes +were seen and aim taken as if in target practice. To the rear and front, +as the armies gained or lost a little of their ground, lay the dead +and the wounded. The shrieks and groans of the wounded and dying were +unheeded; the crushing of bones might also be heard as the artillery +rushed from one part of the lines to another. In this way the contest +continued for the greater part of the forenoon. At last our center was +penetrated and our right was forced back again with the center for the +distance of perhaps a half mile. Our left, having a better position, +under Gen. Prince, held their ground, and, turning their fire partially +on the advancing column that was forcing our right, checked them +somewhat in their rapid advance. At this critical moment our reserves +came up in good style and entered the conflict. The enemy were now +steadily driven back to their original position. + +“Over the field the Union and rebel soldiers lay side by side, dead and +wounded alike. They were seen helping one another, their anger and fury +soon subsiding when they found themselves helpless by the side of +each other, and, perhaps, often asking 'Why are we thus butchering one +another?' + +“This bloody battle raged with a deadly fury unparalleled on the +continent up to that time. Louder and louder roared the artillery and +more steadily and sharply rattled the musketry. The smoke was rising in +great clouds from the field of carnage. Gen. Silent was very impatient +on account of the non-arrival of Gen. Buda, as well as Gen. Wilkins, +whose division was some six miles away to the rear, and was expected to +come rapidly forward and strike west of Hawk Run, on the left flank of +the enemy; but no Buda and no Wilkins came. The battle was then raging +with great slaughter on both sides. The entire Union force was now +engaged, and the rebel commander was bringing his reserves forward and +re-enforcing his lines. He could be seen re-organizing his forces and +putting his reserves in line. Gen. Jackson and his staff were seen +riding along giving directions. He had on his staff one Gen. Harrington, +who seemed to be very active in moving about. Soon another assault was +made on our lines. The fresh troops seemed to inspire them with new +zeal, and on they came, steadily and firmly, with a constant and heavy +fire pouring into our lines. The assault was resisted for some time. It +seems that during this assault, their Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Sydenton +Jackson, was shot through the breast, falling from his horse dead. At +the fall of Jackson, Gen. Harrington seemed to become crazed and rushed +madly on, directing that every Yankee be killed. 'Bayonet them!' 'Kill +them like cats!' 'Let none escape,' he cried. So on they came like a +line of mad animals, sending forth such unearthly yells as to induce the +belief that all the fiends of the infernal regions had been turned loose +at once and led on by old Beelzebub himself. On, on they came. Our line +reeled and staggered under the assault. A fresh column came up under +Gen. Bolenbroke, and advanced rapidly against our right flank, and bore +down so heavily that our line on the right and centre again gave way. In +falling back, Gen. Waterberry, a gallant officer who had brought up our +reserves on our first repulse, was killed while trying to rally his men. + +“His death seemed to create a panic, and Gen. Sherwood was unable to +hold the men to their line. He would form and reform them, leading them +himself; but when he would look for the command he was trying to bring +to the front, he would find them going to the rear, making very good +time. + +“Peter's command was in this part of the line. He could hear this man +Harrington, as the rebels came rushing on, crying out: 'No quarter!' +'Kill every Yankee!' 'Let none escape!' 'Rid the country of the last +one!' 'Take no prisoners!' The panic continued on our right, and at +least one-half of this part of Sherwood's command broke, and was utterly +disorganized, hiding behind trees, in hollows and ravines, to cover +themselves from the enemy. In great numbers they sought roads leading +to the rear, and followed them without knowing to what point they might +lead. In this demoralized condition of one portion of our army, despair +seemed to set in. Gen. Silent sat on his horse looking sadly at this +condition of things. He spoke not a word. Riding up to Sherwood, who was +greatly excited, he said: + +“'General, can you not send word to Prince to fall back slowly? I see +the enemy will soon be on his flank.' + +“As the General rode away he said: 'I cannot understand the delay of +Buda and Wilkins.' + +“He sent orderlies immediately to hurry them up, giving imperative +orders to them 'to move to the field of battle as rapidly as possible.' +In the meantime Gen. Hudson had gone to the support of Prince; our +forces on the right having steadily fallen back. It was too late, +however, to save him. The enemy had surrounded him before Hudson could +form on his right, and he was compelled to surrender with a portion of +his command, the rest having fallen back and thereby saved themselves. +Hudson joined on the remainder of Prince's command and made resistance +to the further advance of the enemy. Our line, being again intact, fell +back behind a ravine that crossed the battlefield from northwest to +southeast--from Moccasin Run to the river. The enemy by this time were +in possession of the camps of the Union forces, and partially giving +themselves up to plunder, the battle gradually slackened until darkness +closed in on the contending armies The enemy occupied our camps during +the night, intending the next morning to capture what was left of our +army. During the first part of the night they kept up a fearful noise, +evincing their joy over what they thought a great victory. Gen. Silent, +however, was engaged in arranging his forces for an attack at daylight, +being satisfied that he could surprise the enemy and defeat him, as he +would not expect our forces to fight, and, therefore, take the noise of +preparation for a retreat. The column under Gen. Wilkins came up early +that night and was posted on the right of our army, with its right on +Hawks Run. + +“Gen. Buda also arrived during the night and was given position on the +left, his left resting on the river. The center, held by Sherwood, was +re-enforced by Hudson and that portion of Prince's command not captured. +The artillery was put in battery in the center and on the right center, +and orders given for the men to replenish their boxes with ammunition, +to sleep on their arms, and at 4 o'clock in the morning to make a +simultaneous attack all along the line with infantry and artillery, +moving the artillery rapidly to the front. This being understood, all +were quiet. The enemy were so confident of having our army at their +mercy that they lighted fires and made night hideous with their howls. +During the night the leaves and grass were set on fire by some unknown +means and burned over the battlefield, causing great consternation, as +many of the wounded were yet lying where they fell. Their shrieks and +appeals for help would have made the tears come to the eyes of the +most heartless. An allwise Providence, however, heard their prayers and +appeals for help, and the windows of heaven were thrown open and the +flood poured forth and subdued the flames, saving many a poor fellow +from dreadful torture and death. The storm continued nearly all night +swelling the little streams that ran through the battlefield, causing +the roads to become almost impassable. The stragglers were collected and +returned to their commands. + +“At 4 o'clock the crack of musketry was heard, and soon after the +artillery from our lines opened and we were upon the rebels. They were +taken by surprise and thrown into confusion. The hurrying of officers +from one part of the field to another was distinctly heard by our men +and greatly encouraged our forces. On they moved, driving the enemy +pell-mell from our former camp. It was impossible, under our galling +fire, for the enemy to form in any compact line. They fell back as our +troops advanced. We struck them in front, on the flank, and, as they +sometimes turned in their retreat, in the rear. The slaughter for a +time was terrible and sickening. They were at last driven into the woods +where they had formed the day before. Here a lull came in the contest, +and they took advantage of it to form their line again, believing that +our advantage could only be temporary, having no knowledge of the number +of our re-enforcements. When they were in a condition to do so they +advanced and took the aggressive. On they came. Our line stood as +immovable as a rock, received the shock of their first assault, and +then poured the missiles of death into their ranks as if they were being +rained down from the heavens. For a time the lines both advanced slowly +and dealt death into each other. The commands from each army could be +distinctly heard by the other. Harrington on the rebel side was heard to +say: + +“'Charge the Lincoln hell-hounds! Give the cowardly dogs the bayonet!' + +“This gave our troops that heard it a contempt for the man, and a +determination to receive the charge in a soldierly manner. They stood +silent until the enemy was within close musket range, and at the +order--the batteries having come up--everything opened and poured volley +after volley into the advancing columns, which swayed and halted; +no power could press them forward. Our forces seeing this, advanced +steadily, firing as they moved. At last the rebel line gave way and fled +to the woods on their left, taking shelter among the trees. The ground +between the lines was now literally covered with the killed and wounded. +On our extreme left the battle was still raging, and seemed to be going +to our rear. Gen. Silent rode away to this part of the field. Finding +that our forces had fallen back nearly to the junction of Bull Gulch and +Buck Lick Run, he ordered Hudson to move rapidly and strike the enemy in +flank where the line had been broken by the falling back of their left +and center. This order was executed with much alacrity and was a great +success. Hudson struck the detached portion of the enemy's army in +flank and rear, and doubled them up (over the very ground from which +our forces had fallen back the day before), capturing many prisoners +and several pieces of artillery. Here he met a young officer whom he had +noticed moving rapidly to the front and assaulting the enemy with his +command at any and every point where he could hit him. + +“Hudson rode up to him and inquired his name. + +“'My name, sir, is Stephen Lyon. I belong to an Ohio regiment. I joined +the Army of the Center only a short time since, and this is my first +battle. I have lost many men; my Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel were +both killed, and I am the Major and now in command of the regiment.' + +“This was my fifth son in line of birth, and sixth in the service. I am +digressing, however. Their conversation was here cut short, as Gen. Buda +had ordered an advance along his line, which was the left wing of the +army. The advance was duly made. The rebels, however, in the meantime +had been re-enforced on this part of their line. The contest, therefore, +became a very stubborn one on both sides. The advance of Buda was soon +checked, and the fighting became desperate. Both armies to our right +seemed to have partially ceased their advance, seemingly to understand +how the event was being decided on this part of the line. The enemy +was driven slowly to the rear for some distance. A halt then came and a +rally on the part of the rebels. They organized into column of regiments +and made a desperate attempt to break the center of our left. Buda +massed his artillery against them, keeping it well supported, and mowed +them down with shell and canister until they lay in piles on the ground. +They advanced to the assault three times with a heroism and desperation +seldom witnessed in any ancient or modern battle, but each time back +were their shattered columns sent in utter confusion. Thus the battle +continued until late in the afternoon, when both parties reorganized for +a last and desperate struggle. The lines of the enemy showed all along +the skirts of timber, leaving the open space to our right and center, +and extending to Buck Lick Run. Both seemed eager to make the attack, +but our forces were first in motion, and with a quick-step movement they +advanced against the enemy. The firing opened all along the line. First +one and then the other line staggered and swayed to and fro. The forces +on both sides seemed determined to win or die on their ground. At last +Wilkins crossed Hawks Run and struck the enemy in his flank, causing +consternation to seize him, and he gradually gave way, his left flank +doubling back on the main line nearer the center. At this moment Gen. +Silent ordered an advance with infantry and artillery simultaneously. +This was executed in good order, the firing again became general. The +roar of artillery now was almost deafening. The yell of the enemy was +heard in every direction as though assaulting, but they could no longer +stand against our determined forces. Steadily on the advance continued; +the enemy stood, delivering his fire with deadly results, until our +army approached to the point where one or the other must give way. +The rebels, seeing that our force was coming with a steady step and +determination unmoved by their fire, broke in different parts of their +line, and finally the moment arrived when they could no longer stand our +deadly aim, and their whole line gave way. They retreated through the +woods and on different roads in great disorder; our forces followed up +their lines of retreat and kept a constant fire upon them until night +intervened, which protected them from any further disaster. This closed +one of the bloody battles of the war. That night our army again slept +upon their arms. Some supplies were brought to them during the night, +which stayed their hunger. The next morning the enemy was nowhere to +be seen or heard; he had made his retreat in the night, leaving many +wagons, ambulances and guns. The roads being made almost impassable by +the rain of the night before, their dead and wounded were left in our +hands, save those whom they had removed to the rear the night of +the first day's contest, when they held the ground. The battlefield +presented a ghastly and sickening sight,--the dead, the dying, the +wounded; the hospital in the rear, near the river; the parties burying +the dead, finding Union men and rebels piled up in heaps together; +the long trenches being prepared; the soldiers being wrapped in their +blankets and buried without any knowledge of who they were, or to what +command they belonged; the words of the dying to be taken back to their +friends; the messages to fond wives and blessed children; the moans and +shrieks of the wounded as they were carried on stretchers from where +they had lain and suffered, some of them, for two days and nights. + +“These things, when first recited to me by my son Peter, filled me with +deep sorrow and pain. O, my friends, the suffering of our poor men for +their country was great-it was heartrending to hear of it. When the +sick, wounded and dead had been cared for, of course the army could not +move again very soon,--it must have rest and reorganization. So the +camp for the present was established a little in advance of the +battle-ground. Many were furloughed for a short time and returned home. +My son Peter came home on a leave, having been wounded late in the +evening of the second day. His wound being in his foot, he was unfitted +for duty for some time. His Lieutenant-Colonel having been killed that +day, he was promoted to the vacancy. + +“While Peter was kept in the house (where he was confined by his wound), +he constantly entertained us by his recitals of all of these incidents +and movements that I have given to you in my poor way. It is a matter of +great interest to me to follow the history of men on both sides, and see +what their good or bad fortune may have been since. Now, on our side +in this great battle, Gen. Waterberry, one of our leading generals, was +killed on the first day. Gen. Hudson went through the war creditably and +died away from home in some of the South American states. Gen. Buda soon +left the army under a cloud, and I do not know what became of him. I +think, however, that he is dead. Wilkins went through the war with some +credit to himself, but was killed in Mexico afterwards in some of their +periodical revolutions.” + +“Uncle Daniel, do you know the history of the rebel generals since the +war, who commanded in this battle of which you have been speaking?” + asked Dr. Adams. + +“Oh, yes! You know Sydenton Jackson was killed on the first day. +Bolenbroke was in the rebel army up to its surrender, but died soon +after from dissipation, as I have been informed.” + +“I am curious to know what became of Dick, the darky,” he said. + +Uncle Daniel smiled and said: “Dick, poor fellow, has not been seen +since his 'backer sticks' ran off with him, just as he said they would.” + +“What became of Harrington, who wanted every d---- Yankee killed like +cats--bayoneted--without any quarter being shown, etc.?” + +“He went to Mexico after the war closed; could not live under 'Yankee' +rule. He there tried to assist in establishing an empire. Was regarded +by some of the Imperialists as suited to become a Duke. When the Empire +fell, and no further hope of a dukedom arose before his flattered +vanity, he came back, and is now one of the leading governmental +reformers and placed in official position by his party (how strange to +say 'reformers'. They were once known by a different name). But things +are changing with the seasons now. + +“You see, this great battle of Pittskill Landing, following so soon +after the battle of Dolinsburg, had marked influence on the country. The +people began to see that the question of courage did not depend so much +upon where a man was born as it did on the amount of it he had when +he was born, and the principle for which he was contending, as well as +drill and discipline in his duty. The people in the North were beginning +to learn that every hill in the South was not mined and ready to be +exploded, blowing up everything that approached. After becoming cool +they would ask themselves as to where the powder could have been +procured, etc.” + +“Yes,” said Dr. Adams, “I remember well when it was reported, and +believed by many, that all the hills in Virginia, near Washington, were +mined, and that masked batteries were behind every bush.” + +“Yes, I know many would speak of those things to prove that the +rebellion could not be conquered, or any headway made against it. +Just as though a masked battery was any more dangerous than a battery +uncovered; and without reflecting as to the quantity of guns that would +have been required, and the number of men supporting the batteries +at every place where they were by the vivid imagination of many whose +stories were invented for the purpose of frightening the ignorant.” + +“The truth is that it was and is to me one of the great wonders how we +ever succeeded in putting down the rebellion, with nearly the entire +South in arms, while there were but few that were not in arms who did +not sympathize fully with those who were; and in the North a strong +political party, as an organization, prayed and worked for the success +of secession and rebellion. The only ones of the party who did not +sympathize with the rebellion were a few old men who knew the benefits +of a government, those who entered the Union army, those who had friends +in the service, and those who were taught to revere the Union in early +youth. The remainder of that party who desired our success were but +few and far between. They are now the ones, however, who saved the +Government, preserved the Constitution, the flag, and our honor, and are +going to reform all abuses and make everybody prosperous and happy. +The Colonel here, who lost an arm for his country, is laid aside as +'worthless crockery'; and as for myself, who gave seven sons to the +service of my country, I am of no use whatever. Of course, I am very +old, but I supposed that it would be considered an honor to me to +have made so great a sacrifice. So I went out to one of the Reformers' +meetings last Fall, and instead of being invited on the stand and +referred to as an old man who had given up his whole family for his +country's cause, I was permitted to sit on the ground and hear an old +Secessionist and rebel sympathizer extolled to the skies, with great +applause following, and one of our best and most gallant soldiers +ridiculed and abused as if he had been a pirate during the war. So it is +and so it goes. I am poor. So are all who spent their time in aiding +our country. The mistake we made was not to have staid at home and made +fortunes, and let these men, who “feathered their nests” during the war, +have gone and served in the army and showed their love of country. +We would now have been the patriots and the ones to be intrusted with +public affairs. + +“But why should I care? I think I should not. But it is impossible for +me to lay aside my feelings on the subject of my country's welfare. I +will go down to my grave with the feeling that those who so loved their +country that they risked their lives for it are the safer ones to trust +with its control. I cannot see how those who did not wish the success of +our country and those who exerted every nerve to destroy it can be the +best persons in whose hands to place our vast interests. + +“I may be wrong about this, however, and, therefore, will return to my +story, believing that the Lord doeth all things well. + +“Peter and our family at home were sitting in the parlor. Jennie was +wrapping Peter's foot in cloths and bandages, when the conversation +turned on Col. David and Col. Anderson. Jennie had a letter from David +but a day or so before, which gave us the news of the good health of +himself and James, the doctor. It also informed her that Henry had been +assigned to duty in the same command with himself, which made it very +pleasant for them. My wife, Aunt Sarah, had received a letter from Mary +Anderson a day or so before which brought the gratifying intelligence +that the Colonel was improving rapidly and would be able soon to return +to Allentown and once more enjoy for a time the quiet of our home. He +was informed that he must not return to take the field again for some +months. While I was at home, trying to arrange the difficulty about +the colonelcy of his regiment, inasmuch as his discovery and return to +Dolinsburg had not been officially announced, I wrote to the President +the situation, telling him the whole story and calling his attention to +the reports of the battles in which the Colonel had participated, +and asking that he give him recognition by promotion to a +Brigadier-Generalship. With this request the President had kindly +complied, and I had his commission in my possession, which fact I kept a +profound secret. Just then Peter said to me: + +“'What can be done to arrange matters in Col. Tom's regiment? There +is Col. Rice, who, when Tom takes command or when the facts are +ascertained, will be reduced in his command as Lieutenant-Colonel, and I +will go back as Major. This I do not care for, but Col. Rice is a proud +man, and will dislike this, I fear. + +“'Then he will show himself an unworthy officer. He should be glad that +his Colonel is alive and yield up the command gracefully.' + +“'There is no other way for him to do,' said Peter; 'that is true.' + +“Old Ham was sitting off to one side with little Mary Anderson on his +lap. The child had been listening to what was said about her father. She +spoke to Uncle Ham, as she, with the rest of the family, had learned to +call him, and asked: + +“'When is papa coming home? Is he well? Is mamma well? How will they get +home?' and many other questions. + +“Ham said, 'I doesn't know. Hopes he git heah all right.' + +“The old fellow seemed rather serious, and finally he asked Aunt Sarah +'If dat letta diin't say nuffln 'bout my ole woman Marfa.' + +“'Oh, yes,' said my wife. 'Uncle Ham, you must pardon me; I was so +engaged talking to Peter and Uncle Daniel about our sons that I really +neglected to tell you. I will get the letter and read you what Mary says +about your wife.' + +“She took the letter from her pocket and read to Uncle Ham that Martha +was well and so kind to Col. Tom, calling him her boy and saying 'the +good Laud' had saved him for some good purpose, and sent her love to her +'dear ole Ham.' + +“Ham broke into a laugh and said: 'Datfs it; dat's good. I knowed she +say jes' like dat. I tell you, Aunt Marfa, she be all right. She know +something I tell you she do.' + +“He then entered into a disquisition on Aunt Martha to little Mary, +until she seemed to feel as much interested in Aunt Martha as did Uncle +Ham. + +“While we were enjoying the rest of the evening in conversation we heard +a noise coming from the children's bedroom. Jennie at once left us and +proceeded to the room and found little Sarah Lyon--David's youngest +child, then four years old--very sick with a violent attack of croup. We +at once sent for a physician. He came, examined her and pronounced +her very ill. He very soon gave her relief, that proved to be only +temporary. We watched her during the night. In the morning she had a +violent fever, and seemed to be very flighty. Everything was done for +the blessed child, but all in vain. That afternoon she passed away. This +was another stroke to our whole family. Jennie, her mother, was nearly +frantic. This was the first misfortune of any sort that had happened +in David's family. We were all cast down in grief, as we loved little +Sarah. She had been named for my wife, who had made the child a special +pet. Little Mary and Jennie were almost heartbroken by her death. +They cried continually, and could not be pacified for several days. +I telegraphed her father, but it seems my dispatch, for some unknown +reason, was not delivered for three days. When it was he was almost +crazed by the unwelcome news. It was too late, however, for him to come +home. This seemed to sadden him. He was never himself any more during +his life. Little Sarah lies in the cemetery at Allentown.” + +Here the old man broke down and wept bitterly for a time. When he +recovered he said: + +“My friends, it seems to me strange that I should weep now. My sorrows +are passed. I am only waiting here below for the reward that true +devotion must bring in the other world. There is no recompense for it +here. At least, I have only found that which comes from the affections +of a loving family. Oh! why should my family all-all have been taken +from me as they were? Who has had such a hard fate as mine? Yes! yes! +when I come to reflect, many have. Yes! when all are gone--one or +many--that is all; we can lose no more. My country, O! my country, it +was for thee they died.” + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + “K. G. C.”--ORGANIZATION OF THE ENEMIES OF THE UNION IN THE + NORTH--PLOTTING EVERYWHERE--OBJECTS OF THE TRAITOROUS + LEAGUE. + + “The bay trees in our country are all withered, + And meteors fright the fixed stars of heaven-- + The pale faced moon looks bloody on the earth, + And lean-looked prophets whisper fearful change, + Rich men look sad, and ruffians dance and leap.” + --Shakespeare. + +“The loss of little Sarah had spread such a gloom over our household +that I felt a desire to be out at David's farm, away from the house, as +much as possible. Peter also seemed much depressed and showed a great +desire to return to his regiment. On one occasion, when Ham and I +returned in the evening, the conversation drifted in the direction of +the absent ones in the army, and to Harvey, who fell at the battle of +the Gaps. My wife at once alluded to her dream, which seemed to be +preying upon her mind almost constantly. Peter was silent, but I noticed +that he dropped a tear. After a moment he said: + +“'Mother, you should not be constantly thinking of your strange dream. +You will become morbid on the subject, unless you drive it from your +mind. There is nothing in it that worrying will or can change. There can +be nothing sure in dreams, and if there is, you can only discover it in +the future. The war will reveal it all to you should there be anything +in it.” + +“Ham must speak; it was thought by him to be his time. + +“'Yes, missus, de wah 'splain it all. Massa Peter and me talk 'bout dat. +No danger come out of dreams, you know.' + +“'Why, Ham,' said Aunt Sarah, 'I thought you dreamed about Peter, and +said he was all right. You assured us of it; and you said that you +always knew by your dreams when matters were all right.' + +“'Yeas, yeas, missus; but, you see, I be fool on dat. You see, Massa +Peter come back wid a so' foot, shot up putty bad. I got fool on dat +dream. You see, Marfa allers tells me 'bout de dreams. So you see, I +jes' thought I could tell, too. I miss it. Yeas, I miss him dat time. +Marfa, she know, she do. She tell you all 'bout dem when she comed.' + +“Then he laughed a regular darky laugh, as I found he was sure to do, if +he concluded he had drawn you off on a 'false scent,' or heard anything +that pleased him. + +“Aunt Sarah was relieved. The fact that Ham admitted that he was +humbugged by his own dream seemed to quiet her nerves; so she did not +allude to her dream again for a great while. But I could see plainly +that Peter was very much depressed whenever allusion was made to it. O, +it was prophetic, 'twas a revelation of dire calamities to follow, one +after another. + +“I could see it all when time unfolded the mystery, as it did, in +regular order. It was a warning so strangely imparted. But why, why this +warning, and why the calamities? That is the question which has been +demanding an answer so long; and yet no answer comes that seems to +satisfy my mind. Well, well, let that pass for the present. + +“The next morning I sent Ham to the farm on horseback to bring some +vegetables. Early in the forenoon we heard a noise as if the running +of a horse down the street, and looking out saw Ham coming under heavy +pressure, with sails spread. I ran out on the porch, and Ham pulled in +opposite the little yard gate. I called to him, and asked what was the +trouble. The old darky was so scared that he stammered and made motions, +but I could get nothing of an intelligent character from him. I made him +dismount, tie up his horse, and come in. By this time the family were +all out inquiring into the trouble. Ham sat down on the edge of the +porch near the entrance and fanned himself with his hat. Great drops +of perspiration were rolling down his face. He seemed to be in much +distress. Finally Jennie said to him: + +“'Ham, where is the lettuce, the asparagus, and the butter we sent you +after?' + +“Ham, finding by this time that he was not dead, essayed to speak. He +raised himself to his full height. + +“'W'y! W'y! Yeas! Yeas! De--de--de--dey done gone!' + +“'Gone where?' asked Jennie. + +“'Dey done gone on de road, missus. I jes' tell you-uns dey's Sesh in +heah. 'Spec dey got dem, dey eat dem for dey dinner. Dey got dem, sho.' + +“'Well, what about the “Sesh,” as you call them? + +“'O, I tole you all 'bout dem. 'Pore de Laud, I mus' rest fust. I is +powerful tired, missis--I is.' + +“'Well, Ham, put up your horse and get over your fright, and then +perhaps you can explain more satisfactorily what has happened to you.' + +“'Yeas, missus, I 'spect dat am de bes' way.' + +“So, when Ham had cooled off, we had him give us his experience. He +said: + +“'Well, Massa Daniel, I jes' go to de farm and dar seed Massa Joseph +Dent. He fix up de littis, de 'sparagrass, and de eggs; and when dey all +fix up I get ready to come home. He says, “Ham, you see dem fellows down +de road dar?” I looked and seed 'em, and say “Yes, sah.” Den he say, +“Dey bad man's dey is; kase dey's done bin heah all de mornin' lookin' +round like dey wants sumfin, and I watch 'em close; if dey boddersme +dey ketch it, sho;” dat's what he say! I done told Massa Dent dat I not +feared. But dat was a story, kase me was some skea'd. I gits on de hoss +and corned right on jes' like I wa'n't skea'd at all. I rides slow doe, +kase as how I wa'n't sho' 'bout dem mans. So I gits 'bout half way down +the road home, and dem mans--dar war free of dem; dar war free, sho', +dey jes' steps right in de road afore me and de hoss. I say “Good +mornin,” and takes off my hat like a gemman. Dey say “Whar you goin', +nigga?” Den I know'd who dey is. When dey say “nigga,” dat's nuff +for dis child. I know'd dey be “Sesh.” Dat's what “Sesh” all call +us--“niggas.” I tells you, den I's ska'd. One ob dem say, “What you got +dar, nigga?” I say “wegetables for de house.” Ben dey say “Who house?' +I told dem Massa Daniel. Den dey say, “Dat ole Lyon? Dat ole Ablishner? +Dat ole scoun'el what want to whip de Souf? To free de niggas 'mongst +us?” I say, “Don' know 'bout dat. Massa Lyon not say nuffin to me 'bout +dat.” Den dey sajr, “Whar you come from, anyhow?” I tole 'em I comed +from up in de State whar Massa Daniel comed from. Den dey swar dat I a +liar; dat dey know'd Massa Daniel; dat he fetched no niggas hyar from +'Hio. Den when dey say “'Hio,” golly, I be glad; kase I could't smell +out de name afore; forgot him clar, sho'. Den I say I comed from 'Hio +awhile ago, an' stay wid you, kase I know'd you back dar in 'Hio. Den +dey ax me w'at town I comed from. Den dey get me. I skea'd den. One of +dem say, “O, he a d----d fool; he not know nuffin.” I say, “Yes, sah, +sho'; dat's fac. I doesn't know nuffin'bout dem matters what you say.” + Den dey laff. Yes, sah, dey laff. I start on. Den dey say, “Nigga, stop +dat hoss.” De hoss stop. Yes, sah, den I be orful skea'd. O, dey was de +mos' wostest lookin' disciplinous “Sesh” you eber did see wid yo' eyes. +Dey had ole brown jeans coat an' britches. Dey look like de “Sesh” what +I seed when dey lef Col. Tom at my cabin.' + +“'Well, said Peter, 'they were escaped prisoners, I have no doubt, from +some place, and are hunting their way South.' + +“'Yes, sah,' said Ham; 'dat's it; dey 'scape and is gwine back to de +reb's army, sho': dat's who dey is. I know'd dey was “Sesh.”' + +“'Well, go on, Ham; tell us the rest,' said Aunt Sarah. I was so much +amused at Ham's story that I kept rather quiet. + +“'Well,' said Ham, 'den dey took de hoss by de bridle and made me git +off. I s'posed dey was gwine to take de hoss, but dey looked de hoss +ober, and say he no good, and gib de hoss back. I got on and dey all +pull out pistols and tell me to “git;” dat's wa't dey say, and sho' you +bo'n, I git--an' de lettice go one way, de 'sparagrass go anoder way, +and eggs go de Lord knows whar--to smash, I reckon. Dey all gone, sho,' +an' I's hyar. Dey shoot when I go. I 'spect I be kill; but I'm hyar, +sho'; dis is ole Ham; he 'scape.' + +[Illustration: Ham Encounters the Rebels 097] + +“We all laughed--in fact, could not help it. I told Ham that I would +go out with him the next day and we would see about this matter. Ham +withdrew, scratching his head and looking very serious. + +“The next day I had the horses hitched to the wagon, and Peter feeling +that he had so far recovered that he could stand the ride, we went +out together. When we came to the place where Ham had met his three +suspicious looking friends we examined the spot, found Ham's lettuce, +etc., scattered somewhat over the ground, but could not see much +evidence of anything else. + +“Ham said but little. Finally, I asked him which direction his friends +had gone from here. He at once pointed the way, saying, 'Doesn't you see +de track? Dar he go, Turn 'roun' and go back de same way he come.' + +“We could see some indications that Ham's story might be true, but not +enough to be very satisfactory. However, we went along. When we arrived +at the farm and found Joseph Dent we had Ham relate his experience. +Joseph Dent said to come in the house. When we had all been seated, +Joseph said: + +“'Well, I have no doubt as to the truth of what Ham says. The same three +men (at least, I suppose them to be, from the description), came here +last night and forced me to let them stay in the house. I was not very +fearful of their doing me any harm, as I was watchful. My partner and +myself could have handled them if they had made any demonstration. We +gave them their suppers and a mug of ale and got them going, and +found that they were escaped rebels, who had been in prison camp +at Indianapolis. They told us that there was a plot to let all the +prisoners loose and to raise an army out of their friends North to +commence war here, and in that way to have the rebellion succeed.' + +“Peter inquired how they came to tell so much about their plans. + +“Joseph answered that he and his partner pretended to them that they +were in full sympathy with the rebellion, and were staying here only to +have the influence of Col. David to keep them out of the Union army, and +that if compelled at any time to join either army they would join the +rebels. + +“'Where have they gone?' inquired Peter. + +“'They have gone into the country some twenty miles, to Collins Grove. +There is to be a political meeting there to-morrow, and they expect, as +they told us, that Thomas A. Strider, of Indianapolis, and Dan Bowen, +also of Indiana, were to be there, and through one of them they thought +they could obtain aid; that while in prison they had been initiated +into a society called the “Knights of the Golden Circle,” which was +a secession organization, intended as an auxiliary force to the +rebel army; that Dan Bowen was one of their main men, and so called +“Agitator”; that Thomas A. Strider was Chief Counselor to the +organization in Indiana; was to be in Washington most of the time to +“watch things” and to defend them at all times when any of their order +should be arrested or in any danger.' + +“Peter and I went out to the barn and talked the matter over, and +thought that in such a case as this we would be justified in resorting +to any means or strategy to discover this secret organization and +ascertain the designs of its members. We concluded to get Joseph Dent, +who was an old soldier, and very bright, with an excellent memory, to +join it and find out all that he could about the organization. Agreeing +to this, Peter hobbled back on his crutches. He being a soldier made the +proposition to Dent, which he readily acceded to, saying: + +“'I had thought of that myself, but feared that you might take me to be +too intimate with these people. I call them Secessionists and rebels. I +think, that if you agree, I will go down to this meeting to-morrow, and +when I come back will come to Allentown, as they might keep a watch on +me here.' + +“With this understanding we returned, instructing Joseph Dent to stay as +long as might become necessary, in order to learn all that he could as +to the design of these people. After getting our supplies in the wagon +we returned home. On arriving we found all feeling very joyful over the +fact that Col. Anderson would be home in the course of a week. He had +so written to me. Aunt Sarah had opened and read the letter. Little +Mary was so delighted that she ran out and tried to tell us all that her +father had written. She would talk and stammer and draw a long breath, +and then commence again, and repeat until I had to tell her to rest +and begin slowly. When we got in we heard all. The two children were +delighted at the prospect of seeing Aunt Martha almost as much as seeing +the Colonel and his brave wife. Peter and I had to keep quiet about our +program with Joseph Dent, and therefore discussed other matters. During +the evening Peter concluded that he would not attempt returning to his +regiment until Col. Tom should arrive, so that he could arrange about +the command and take some word back to Col. Rice. (I said not one word +about Tom's commission as Brigadier, but continued the suggestion that +Col. Rice could not think of doing otherwise than turning over the +command to Col. Anderson.) Just then the post-boy came again with a +letter. I opened it and found it to be from my son Jackson, at St. Paul, +Minn., (where he resided and was engaged in railroad building,) stating +that he considered it his duty to enter the service of his country. +Being young and healthy, he said, no patriot in this crisis, blessed +with good health, could afford to remain out of the army; that the day +would come when the question would be asked of all such persons, 'Why +did you not go to the war and fight for your country?' Poor boy, if he +were living now he would ask himself the queston: 'Why did I go; for +what did I peril my life?' Yes! yes! + +“Well, I kept this from my wife, Aunt Sarah, for the time. She was so +worried about our family that I thought best to wait for a day or so, +inasmuch as she did not see me get the letter. A couple of days passed +and Joseph Dent came to our house. After seeing and speaking to Jennie +about the farm and her interest generally, and telling Aunt Sarah about +Ham's scare and joking him somewhat, he spoke to Peter and myself, and +said that he wanted to see us alone. + +“We all went out to the barn, and there he told us all that he had heard +and seen--that he had gone to Collins' Grove; that there was a large +political meeting there; that Dan Bowen spoke in the most excited manner +of the wrongs and outrages, as he termed them, of the vile abolition +adminstration; that the Union soldiers were mere hirelings; that he +hoped none of his party would join the Abolition army to assist in +robbing and murdering our brethren down South. (Dent had noted these +sayings in his memorandum; he was a man of fair education and a close +observer.) Bowen was vociferously applauded during his remarks. Thos. A. +Strider spoke also; but he was not so vehement and abusive as Bowen, but +was equally strong against the war for the Union. Strider spoke of it +as an unholy war on our part, and all the acts of Congress and the +President being 'unauthorized and unconstitutional,' and that the +war would be a failure and ought to be; that he would not see money +appropriated, if in his power to prevent, to carry it on; that if the +Government undertook to draft his friends in Indiana as soldiers, +he would defend any of them (free of charge) that resisted such an +unconstitutional proceeding. He continued in this vein for an hour. +These utterances were loudly applauded by the majority of the audience. +But, continuing, he stated that on that day he came across the three +escaped prisoners heretofore mentioned, and staid with them during the +speeches and agreed to all that was said, so as to satisfy them of his +strict adherence to their principles. + +“They said to him that if he would remain that night they would initiate +him into their mysterious organization. He acceded to their proposition +without hesitation, and remained--not leaving them for an instant. In +the evening, shortly after dark, they were all conducted to a large +empty barn near by, and on entering it Dent found Thos. A. Strider +presiding, and Bowen lecturing on the designs and purposes of the +Knights of the Golden Circle. + +“After he had explained the objects of the organization, an obligation +was administered to all who had not before been admitted and obligated. +Dent, being one who had not before joined, with others took the +obligation, and was then instructed in the signs, grips and passwords. +He said that he played it pretty well, so that he was thoroughly +instructed, and kept repeating them to himself, so that he might not +forget any part. The obligation pledged them to use all possible means +in their power to aid the rebels to gain their independence; to aid and +assist prisoners to escape; to vote for no one for office who was not +opposed to the further prosecution of the war, to encourage desertions +from the Union army; to protect the rebels in all things necessary to +carry out their designs, even to the burning and destroying of towns and +cities, if necessary, in order to produce the desired result. They were +also directed to give information at all times of any knowledge they +might have of the movements of our armies, and of the coming of soldiers +to their homes; to use their influence to prevent their return to the +army. They were not even to disclose the murder of any returned soldier +or Union man, if done by any one belonging to this organization. They +were told in the instructions that men were sent into our prisons to +obligate and instruct all prisoners, so that they could make themselves +known in traveling, should they escape; also, that the organization +extended into Canada, as well as every State in the North; that men +in our army belonged to it, who would retreat in battle, or surrender +whenever they could do so; they could always make themselves known to +the rebel commanders; that the members were in every way possible +to foment jealousies and ill-feeling between the Eastern and Western +troops, and especially between the commanding Generals of the two +sections; they were to encourage the Western volunteers not to allow +themselves to be commanded by Eastern officers, and especially were +they to tickle the fancy and pride of the Eastern officers and men, by +encouraging them not to allow themselves to be subjected to the control +of the uneducated men of the West--in short, every kind and character +of argument was to be resorted to. In the event of failure, any other +means, no matter what, was to be employed to cause failure on our part +and success on theirs. + +[Illustration: Knights of the Golden Circle meeting in a barn 103] + +“Peter wrote down every word told us by Dent, being very careful about +the signs and passwords. This being done, we cautioned-Dent to be +extremely careful in his conversations with others, and never to speak +of this organization to any one, for fear that he might get into trouble +or suffer in some way from its members. Dent bade us good day and +left for home. We returned to the house and there read over Peter's +memorandum carefully, and studied the signs and passwords so as to fully +comprehend them. This, to us, was a serious question. Peter felt as +though there was much in this to cause our country great trouble in +addition to what was already upon us. I said to Peter that I would at +once write to the President and send him all the statements as they were +made to us by Dent, as well as suggest to him the necessity of having +this conspiracy (as it was nothing less) ferreted out at once, which I +did that day, and also suggested the arrest and trial of all that could +be found who were engaged in getting up these organizations. I soon +received a letter, not from the President, but from another, which +satisfied me that my letter had been received by the one for whom it was +intended. + +“Very soon the whisperings and newspaper gossip showed plainly that +there were jealousies in the Army of the East as well as in the Army +of the Center. Officers were complaining of each other, and some were +charging ill-treatment on the part of the Administration, showing +clearly that there were influences silently at work. About this time I +received a note from Washington requesting me to come to that city. I +prepared for the trip. Bidding good-by to our family, and requesting +Peter not to leave until I should return, I was off, no one but Peter +and my wife holding the secret of my leaving home at this time. When I +arrived at Washington I proceeded to the Executive Mansion, sent in my +name, and was at once admitted. The President met me most cordially, and +asked me to be seated. He wrote a note and sent it out by a messenger, +then turned to me and entered into conversation about the health of our +people, the crops of the country, and the sentiments I found generally +held among the people of the West in reference to the war. I said to him +that among the Union people there was but one sentiment, and that was +that the last man and last dollar must be exhausted, if necessary, to +put down the rebellion. He grasped me by the hand warmly and said: + +“'Lyon, my good friend, I am exceedingly glad to know that. I have been +hearing curious stories about your part of Indiana. The Governor of your +State seems to fear trouble from some cause.' + +“'My dear Mr. President,' I said, 'do not misunderstand me. I do not +mean to say our people are united; it is only the Union people I had +reference to. There is a strong party in the State who are utterly +opposed to the prosecution of the war, and they are led on by very +strong and influential men.' + +“'Yes,' said the President, 'this man Strider is at the head of that +party. He is a smooth-talking fellow--rather an “Oily Gammon,” very +shrewd, and hard to catch at any open or overt act. He has a way +of setting others on and keeping out himself. At least, I should so +conclude from what I have seen and know of him.' + +“'Yes, Mr. President, you have estimated the man correctly,' was my +reply. + +“'Just at this point in the conversation, the Secretary of War came in. +The President was going to introduce me. + +“'No introduction is necessary, Mr. President,' said the Secretary; +'this is one of my old neighbors and friends.' + +“'Our meeting was full of warmth and friendly greetings, having been +friends for many years in Ohio prior to my leaving the State. We were +all seated, and after some general conversation between the Secretary +and myself, the President remarked that he had sent for me, and on my +presenting myself he had sent for the Secretary of War for the purpose +of having a full conference in reference to the situation in the rear of +the army out West, and that from my letter to him he did not know of any +one who could give him that information better than myself. + +“'By the way,' said he, 'what about your nephew, Anderson? He must be +a glorious fellow and a good soldier. Of course, you have received the +commission that the Secretary and I sent you for him?' + +“'Yes I thanks to you, Mr. President. He is improving very fast. His +wound will soon be well, and he will then be ready for the field again.' + +“'Tell him,' said the President, 'that I will watch his career with +great interest. Coming from where he does, he must have good metal in +him to face his friends and relatives in taking the stand he has.' + +“'Yes, sir,' said I; 'he is a true man, and his wife, though a Southern +woman, is one of the noblest of her sex, and as true a patriot as ever +lived.' + +“'Your family are nearly all soldiers, I believe, Mr. Lyon,' said the +Secretary. + +“'Yes, Mr. Secretary; I had seven sons--five are in the army, one was +killed at the battle of the Gaps, and the seventh is on his way from St. +Paul to join it. God knows I have some interest in our success, and I +will go myself at any time should it be necessary.' + +“'The President here interrupted: + +“'No, Mr. Lyon, you must not. You have done enough. If this Government +cannot be saved without the eighth one of your family putting his +life in peril at your age, it cannot be saved. We will accept no more +recruits from the Lyon family.' + +“'The President then asked me to give to the Secretary and himself the +situation in the West as nearly as I could, and especially in Indiana. + +“I proceeded to state the situation--the bitterness of the opposition to +the Administration, as well as to the war, then being manifested by +the anti-war party, or, in other words, by the Democratic party as an +organization; the organized lodges of the Golden Circle, their objects +and designs, the influence they were to bring to bear, how they were +to operate and in what directions, the jealousies they were to engender +between the officers of the East and the West; the fact that they were +to release prisoners and to destroy towns and cities in the North, +should it become necessary. + +“The President and Secretary both listened with grave attention, and +seemed to fully comprehend the situation. + +“The President finally said: + +“'Mr. Secretary, this is a very serious matter, and is becoming more so +every day.' + +“'Yes,' replied the Secretary; 'you know, Mr. President, that we have +talked this over heretofore, but this revelation seems startling. I can +begin to see where the influence partly comes from which gives us so +much trouble with some of the officers of the Eastern army. At first I +was induced to believe that they were jealous of each other, but I am +beginning to think it comes from political influences in opposition +to the Administration, having a desire to change the policy of the +Government in reference to the war. Several of the senior officers in +different commands act as though they thought more of promotion and +being assigned to large commands than the success of our cause. They +will not serve under any but their own selection of commanders--at +least, make opposition to doing so. There seems to be a little coterie +who think no one is suitable to command except themselves. They have not +been very successful so far, and act as though they were determined +that no one else should be. We have relieved their chief and brought a +new man to the field, and I do believe that some of these men will +not give him a cordial support. We must wait, quietly, however, for +developments. One thing is strange to me, and that is that I find these +complaining gentlemen all have been and now are in sympathy with the +party which is found in a great degree opposing the war. I do not mean +by this to impeach their patriotism, but to suggest that the influences +which operate upon them and flatter their vanity by suggestions of +presidency, cabinets, head of the army, future power, greatness, +etc., are not coming from the people or party in full accord with the +Administration and in favor of such a prosecution of the war as will +insure ultimate success.' + +“'Well,' said the President, 'we are in their power at the present, and +their demands upon the Administration are of a character to induce the +belief that they are preparing the road to an ultimate recognition of +the so-called Confederacy; but, gentlemen, they will not succeed.' (This +he said with much warmth.) 'I will not let them succeed. The Lord, in +his own good time, will raise up and develop some man of great genius as +a commander, and I am now patiently waiting for that time. I cannot put +these men aside now. The country would sympathize with them and feel +that I do not know as much about war as they do; but they will tell the +tale on themselves very soon, and then we will be completely justified +in getting rid of them. This war must go on for some time yet if the +Union is to be restored, and I have faith that it will be; but I am just +now bothered more about the condition in the rear than in the front; +that will come out all right in time. But if these Golden Circle +organizations spread, as they seem to be doing, in the West, where a +great portion of our troops must come from, and the people should once +get the idea fixed in their minds that the war must be a failure, and a +fire in the rear is started of great proportions, then what? Then will +come the serious question. And should the people pronounce at the next +election against a further prosecution of the war, there will be a +secret understanding with those who come into power that the so-called +Confederacy is to be recognized, and that will be the end.' + +“'But, Mr. President, do you look for such a result?' I asked. + +“'No, sir,' responded the President; 'I was only putting the worst side +of the case--just as I would look at the worst side of a client's case +in court. The people of this country love this republic too well to see +it go down marred and destroyed merely for the purpose of upholding the +crime and infamy of slavery. No, gentlemen, this Union will be restored. +All the rebels of the South, and all the sympathizers and Golden Circles +of the North cannot destroy it so long as there is one patriot left +qualified to lead an army. They will have to burn every city and +assassinate every leading man who is able to be a leader before our flag +will go down in gloom and disgrace. This they may try. God only knows +what desperate men will do to uphold an unholy cause.'” + +“How prophetic this thought was,” said Dr. Adams. + +“Yes, it was really so. The very things mentioned were attempted, and +an organization completed for the purpose. They accomplished a part +of their hellish design, but they did not succeed to the extent +contemplated. + +“But to return to the conversation with the President and Secretary: + +“The President then asked me if I would, in my own way, further ferret +out what was being done by this organization in the West and post him by +reports in writing as often as I could conveniently do so. + +“I responded that I could not go into the lodges myself, but I would, in +every way that I could consistently, through others, obtain information +and send him. + +“'This,' he said, 'was all that he could ask me to do, situated as I +was.' + +“This being all that was desired, the Secretary of War made out a pass +authorizing me to enter any and all of our lines or camps of prisoners, +to visit any and all hospitals--in fact, to go to and pass through all +places under military control in the United States. With this pass in my +pocket I bade good-by to the President and Secretary and left for home. + +“When I returned I found that Col. Tom Anderson, his wife, and old +Aunt Martha had arrived. The family had a joyful meeting and had become +settled down. All were glad to see me. Col. Tom, his wife, and Aunt +Martha had many pleasant things to relate--how Tom recovered so rapidly; +how kind Col. Harden had been; what a good man Surg. Long was; how a +band of rebels came down the river to old George's farm, where Tom +had been so long; how they were surprised and captured by one of Col. +Harden's reconnoitering parties, and that they said they were sent to +take Mr. George's property away and to bring with them old Ham and Aunt +Martha. + +“Old Ham, being present, broke out in one of his characteristic laughs. + +“'Ah! He-ogh. Fo' de good Laud, dat's de time dey miss der cotch. Dis +darky was done gone when dey comed. I know'd dey'd be dar sometime for +dis cat, and Marfa, too. I tells you, dey want her, dey do. She know how +to cook and do things, she do. Be a cole day when dey gits dis cat agin, +sho's you born'd.' + +“Aunt Martha came in and said to Ham: + +“'What you doin' heah, Ham?' + +“'I's sympensizen wid dem “Sesh” what comed down to ole Massa George's +place back yonder for to fotch me and you back to de Missip. De cat done +gone. He-ah! he-ah!' + +“'Yes; but you ole fool, dey'd got you if it had not bin for me. I beg +you afore you goes to go wid Massa Daniel, you knows I did.' + +“'Yes, Marfa, dat's so. I tole dem all de time dat you knows de bes'. +Don't I, Massa Daniel?' + +“'Oh, yes, Ham,' I said. 'You always speak well of Martha, and what she +knows.' + +“'Deed I do, Marfa; dat's so; I does, all de time.' + +“'Dat's all right den, Ham. I forgib you all what you do, so you jes' +git out in de kitchen; dar's whar you blong. Dese folks spile you ef dey +don't mind deyselves. + +“The family, or a considerable portion of them, again being together, we +naturally drifted in our conversation as to the war, it being uppermost +in everybody's mind at that time; so I found an opportunity to tell Col. +Anderson and Peter all about my trip, what had occurred, and what I had +promised to do. Peter said that I would have to be very cautious, and +that the first thing was to understand whether or not the Postmaster +here could be trusted. Should he allow it to be known that I was +frequently communicating with the President, the enemies at Allentown +would manage in some way to discover my communications, and thereby my +life would be in danger. + +“I knew the Postmaster, however, and that he could be trusted; so that +part of the matter was settled. + +“Colonel Anderson suggested that there should be no haste in settling +the arrangements; that it was of such importance that a little +reflection would do no harm; so we laid the matter over for the +present.” + +“Uncle Daniel,” said Col. Bush, “we who were in the army felt the +influence of the Knights of the Golden Circle. There was one time during +the war when we would have hundreds of desertions in a night; nor could +we stop it for a considerable length of time. We finally discovered +that the people opposed to the war were engaged in every possible way +in influencing the relatives of the soldiers. They would sometimes get +their wives to write about their sufferings, sickness in their families, +and in every way that it could be done they were rendered dissatisfied.” + +“Yes,” said Maj. Clymer, “that is true in every respect. Part of my +command deserted, and I have found since the war that they were induced +to do so by these very influences.” + +“The situation at that time was very critical,” said Dr. Adams. “I +remember well when mobs were organized and when soldiers were shot down +on the road in this vicinity while returning to their commands after +being home on a leave of absence. + +“O, yes, those were perilous times for all who were in favor of their +country's success. Returning, however, to family matters: + +“On the morning of the next day, after Peter, Col. Anderson and myself +had talked over the matter of my Washington trip, and sat down to +breakfast, Col. Anderson found a paper under his plate. All eyes were +upon him, and he turned his upon the paper. He read it, and looked at +me as though he understood it all, yet it was evidently a very happy +surprise; he said not one word, but handed it to his wife, supposing +that the rest knew of it. She jumped up from the table and threw her +arms around my neck and wept for joy. This procedure seemed to puzzle +the rest of the family, as they were totally ignorant of the contents of +the paper. + +“'Mother,' exclaimed Peter, 'what is all this?' + +“Col. Anderson said: 'Aunt, do you not know what it is?' + +“'No, indeed,' she replied. + +“I then revealed the secret of my keeping the fact quiet about Tom +having been commissioned as a Brigadier-General + +“Peter at once said: 'Well, that settles the question in our regiment; +and I am truly glad, for two reasons: first, that Col. Anderson has been +promoted, and, second, that it leaves our regiment intact.' + +“All congratulated the Colonel and were happy over it. Old Aunt Martha +who was waiting on the table that morning shouted out 'Glory! Dat's jes' +what I sed; dat de good Laud was gwine to keep Massa Tom for some big +thing, so he do good. I know'd it.' + +“We all felt that it was due him and all were glad. Upon looking up I +discerned tears in Jennie's eyes, I knew in a moment her thoughts, but +said not a word. Her darling child, Sarah, had died, and of course +she was sensitive and easily touched. After breakfast I took the first +opportunity to say to her: 'My dear child, don't feel badly; your +husband's promotion will come very soon.' + +“This seemed to cheer her up, and all went on well and pleasantly. No +one seemed to understand Jennie's tears but myself, and I was very +quiet on the subject. Sure enough, the very next day she got a letter +from David, telling her that he had been promoted and assigned to the +command of a brigade. This made us all doubly happy, and caused us to +forget our grief for a time. The two children did not quite understand +all this. But Aunt Martha, to whom the children had become quite +devoted, was in her very peculiar way explaining it all to the children, +and yet she knew but little more about it than they did, and between her +explanations and their understanding of it, made it very amusing indeed. + +“Two days afterwards Peter left for his command, which was still +encamped on the battle-field of Pittskill Landing. He felt as though he +could do camp duty if no more. He wore the same sad countenance that had +become fastened upon him since he had been pondering over his mother's +dream. + +“Col. Anderson was still very weak, but was nervous about the future +and extremely anxious to recover sufficiently to take the field. His +bloodless face and trembling motion showed that he couldn't perform +field duty for some time to come. He made a request, however, for +the detail of Capt. Day, of Col. Harden's regiment, as one of his +aides-de-camp. The order for the detail, in accordance with his wishes, +he soon received, but delayed sending it forward, leaving Capt. Day with +Col. Harden until such time as he should be able to be assigned to duty. +In talking over with Gen. Anderson the situation and the mission I had +to perform, we concluded, inasmuch as he was only slightly known through +the West, that he could travel through Ohio, Indiana and Illinois on a +prospecting tour and be less liable to suspicion than myself, known as I +was in many parts of the country, and that the journey was just what he +needed to give him strength. + +“Preparatory to his undertaking the expedition we thought proper to +visit Joseph Dent on the farm, and have the General more fully posted +in the mysteries of the Golden Circle. We at once repaired to the farm. +While there Dent instructed him thoroughly, he having it at his +tongue's end, as he had been meeting with the Circle frequently in +the neighborhood, under the advice of Peter and myself. Gen. Anderson +carefully wrote down everything in his pocket memorandum book, and after +frequently going over the signs, manipulations, passwords, etc., with +Dent, we left for home. All the preliminaries were then arranged, +so that the General was to start as soon as he considered himself +sufficiently strong to undergo the fatigues of the journey. + +“Late in the evening the form of a tall, well-proportioned man appeared +at the door and rapped. I said 'Come.' He entered, saying, 'Father, how +are you?' I saw it was my son Jackson, from St. Paul, Minn. After hearty +greetings, I introduced him to Gen. Anderson and wife. Aunt Sarah +soon entered the room, and the meeting between mother and son was most +touching. In the conversation that ensued Jackson soon disclosed the +fact that he was on his way to join the army somewhere, not entirely +defined in his own mind; but came by to pay a visit to us first. + +“Gen. Anderson seemed at once to take a fancy to Jack son, and proposed +that he make application for a Captaincy in the Regular Army and be +assigned to him as one of his staff officers. This was readily acceded +to by my son. The papers were made out, and Jackson started for +Washington the next morning to make the request of the President, the +understanding being that he was to return to my house and await +the future movements of Gen. Anderson. His mother, hearing of this +arrangement, was better satisfied with it than she would have been if +he had started out in some regiment; but she wept bitter tears at the +thought of all her sons endangering their lives. + +“She said to me: + +“'Daniel, if our whole family, or a greater part of them should be lost, +who will remember it to our honor, and where will sympathy for us come +from? You know the youth who fired the Ephesian Dome is remembered, +while the builder is forgotten.' + +“These words of my good wife are constantly ringing in my ears. How +true! how true!” + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + TRAITOR KNIGHTS--ORGANIZATION OF REBEL SYMPATHIZERS IN + INDIANA AND ILLINOIS--SIGNS AND SECRETS--GEN. ANDERSON'S + TOUR OF INVESTIGATION --THE GOLDEN CIRCLE. + + “O, Conspiracy, shame'st + Thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, + When folks are most free? O then, by day, + Where will thou find a cavern dark enough + To mask thy monstrous visage? + Seek none, conspiracy.” + --Shakespeare + +“Several days elapsed before Gen. Anderson felt that he could undertake +the journey contemplated. Finally he concluded that he would make the +effort. He thought it best for him to pass into Illinois first, as he +would not be known in that State. After arranging his matters and +leaving word for Jackson to remain at my house, (on his return from +Washington, should he succeed in obtaining the desired appointment,) +until he returned from his tour of investigation, he started. + +“The first stopping place of the General was at Colestown, in Charles +County. There he remained several days, and found the most bitter +feeling existing between the political parties. He passed very easily +among the anti-war people for a Southerner and rebel. He made the +acquaintance of one Maj. Cornell, who was home on leave of absence. The +General, finding him a very intelligent and apparently an honorable, +high-minded gentleman, explained to him that he was not a rebel, but on +a mission for the Government. This made him all right with the loyal +element, that could be privately communicated with and trusted. + +“He had noticed a gentleman, rather fine-looking, with the movements and +general appearance of a Southerner. He managed to get a good look in his +face, and recognized him as Mr. Jas. Walters, of Arkansas. He spoke to +him. The recognition was mutual; the General invited him to his room, +and there the knowledge of the Golden Circle was at once manifested. +Neither disclosed at first anything about himself, but finally the +General told Walters that he was up here North for his health, and +to spy out the situation and report the same. They soon became very +confidential, and Walters unbosomed himself to the General. He told him +that he was traveling under the guise of a real-estate agent, selecting +land for some large and wealthy firm, but in reality he was organizing +the Knights of the Golden Circle; that he had organized, some ten miles +southeast of the town, a lodge of sixty members. He gave all the names. +In Colestown he had another lodge, seventy strong, with Col. O. B. +Dickens as Chief of the Order for that Congressional district. + +“During that evening he showed the General his lists and gave him the +names of men to go to in Vernon County, Jeffersonville, Fayetteville, +Franklin, Perryville, Fultonville and many other places in the state. + +“Chicago being the main headquarters, he directed him (if he should go +there) to Morrison Buckner, John Walls, N. Judy Cornington, C. H. Eagle, +and many other prominent men who belonged to the organization and were +in direct communication with Windsor, Canada, where a portion of the +main directors and managers were stationed, and from whence they were +sending out organizers for the West. Walters told him that Indianapolis, +Ind., was one of the 'Head Centers,' and that Dodgers, Bowlens, +Millington, Dorsing and Byron were the Chiefs, with several so-called +Agitators, and that Mr. Strider was Supreme Counsel; that the +organization was spreading rapidly; that in Ohio, at Dayburg, was the +Head Center; that along the great river there were very many lodges and +quite a number of members, but that it had not been so long at work in +Ohio as in Illinois and Indiana. Also, that the Supreme Commander lived +in Dayburg, O.; his name was given as Valamburg; that in Kentucky and +Missouri nearly all the people were joining the order and sending men +as fast as they could to the rebel army, and at the proper time, +when things were ripe for the people to rise, one of the most popular +officers in the rebel army, who lived in Missouri, would be sent there +with enough troops to protect himself until the Knights could join him. + +“He went on to say that Col. Burnett, of St. Louis, was Supreme +Commander for Missouri, and Marmalade was Chief Agitator; John Morganson +was Supreme Commander in Kentucky; that he was gathering men from there +all the time; that he was not only Supreme Commander of Kentucky, but +appointed to make excursions and raids into Ohio and Indiana, whenever +the organization should be considered strong enough to protect him. +This, he said, was considered one of the measures to be resorted to in +order to frighten the property-holders of the North, and thereby drive +them into a peace-policy; that if the North could be once thoroughly +alarmed about the safety of their property, the anti-war party would +then carry an election, and that would secure the recognition of the +Southern Confederacy; that a perfect understanding of this kind existed +with the leaders of the Confederacy and the leaders of the anti-war +party North. He told the General that this organization was first +started in New York city by a man by the name of McMasterson and some +gentlemen from Richmond, who had passed through the lines and gone there +for this purpose; that there were at that time 100,000 Knights in the +State of New York; 80,000 in Ohio; 75,000 in Indiana, and 50,000 in +Illinois. + +“He said it was thought that it would require about one year yet to get +the organization perfected and in good working order; that they had to +work very cautiously, and would have considerable trouble getting the +right kind of arms into their hands. There was no trouble, he said, in +having them all armed with pistols; 'for,' said Walters, 'these Yankees +are so fond of money that you can buy arms anywhere, if on hand. You can +get them made at some of the private arsenals, if you could assure them +against discovery. The intention, however, is to get all things ready by +the time of the next Presidential election, and if we do not whip them +before that time we will resort to such methods as will insure the +election of one of our friends, or one who believes that we can never be +subjugated.' + +[Illustration: Drinking to the success of Treason 118] + +“The General responded to what he had said, and remarked that it +did seem that if those plans could be carried out that success must +certainly follow. + +“'Yes,' said Walters; 'we must not and cannot fail. I tell you, +when these money-loving Yanks see their towns and cities threatened, +prisoners turned loose, maddened by confinement, and commence applying +the torch, you will hear peace! peace! for God's sake, give us peace! +This will be the cry, sir! Mind what I say!' + +“Col. Walters by this time had disclosed the fact that he was a colonel +in the rebel army; he had pulled at his flask frequently, and was +growing quite eloquent. Gen. Anderson could not drink, and his looks +gave him a good excuse for not doing so. Finally Walters said: + +“'Anderson, how did you get here, anyhow? The last time I saw you was at +Vicksburg, four years ago, attending court.' + +“'Well,' said the General, 'I might have asked you the same question.' + +“'Now, don't play Yankee on me in answering my question by asking me +another.' + +“'Well, said the General, 'I was in Kentucky, and when I crossed the +river no one asked me any questions. I looked so ill and emaciated that +they thought I told them the truth when I said I wanted a change of +climate--and then, I am also playing the Union role, you know.' + +“'Is it not very curious,' said Walters; 'I have traveled all over this +country, and no one has asked me a question as to where I came from or +what I am doing. In our country we would both have been in prison or +hung before this as spies. Don't you think so?' + +“'We would have been in great danger,' said the General + +“'Danger! Thunder!' said Walters; 'we would have pulled hemp before +this.' + +“It was then getting quite late, and the General began to excuse himself +on account of his health, and they finally spoke of meeting again +sometime, and bade each other good night. The General retired after +arranging to leave on the train in the morning for Chicago. Leaving +Coles-town at an early hour, he arrived in Chicago that evening and +put up at the Richmond House. In the course of the next day, by proper +management, he got acquainted with Walls, Morrison Buckner and Mr. +Eagle. This hotel seemed to be the common meeting-place for this class +of men. The subject of the war was discussed very freely by all of +them. They seemed to be very much exasperated about the course of the +Administration, denouncing its acts as revolutionary, arbitrary and +unconstitutional. Eagle seemed to be rather a good-natured fellow--dealt +measurably in jokes, as I took it. He said that he did not owe +allegiance to any country, as he understood it; that his father was +French, his mother was German, and he was born on English waters under +the Italian flag; and that he should claim protection from all until his +nativity could be settled. + +“The General said he rather took a liking to him. He finally explained +to the General, however, that he was from the South, but left there +because his health was not good enough to go into the Confederate +army, and he knew if he staid he would have been compelled to do so. In +Chicago there was no danger of having to go into either army; that a +man could stay and help the rebels more than if he we were South, and if +they wanted him in the army he could hire some fool to go and get shot +in his place for a hundred dollars. He said that there was another +advantage--that the people went so fast that they forgot which side you +were on in a month, and that you did not have to live there always to +become a citizen. You could go to Congress after you had been there a +week, if you only knew how to handle the 'boys.' + +“'The General said that he was really amused at the fellow, but very +soon the Grand Head Center of the State came in and he was introduced to +Mr. N. Judy Cornington. + +“'The General gave him the sign, which was at once recognized, and the +wink went round that the General was a brother. They conversed freely +about the condition of the country; the ultimate result of the war; +what must be done to bring about peace; how the Administration must be +changed and peaceful commercial relations established with the South, +and the Southern Confederacy recognized. To all this the General +responded: + +“'Yes; but suppose these things that you mention do not bring about the +result. What then?' + +“'What then?' you ask, 'We will then resort to any and every means, no +matter what, for success. We are now in the same condition as the rebels +South. Should they fail we will have to go South, or forever be under +the ban of treason. You do not suppose that these people who support the +Union will ever trust any of us or any of our party again, should our +friends South fail, do you?' + +“'Well, what of it?' asked Mr. Buckner. 'I do not now, nor do I expect +hereafter to ask these people for anything. I am actuated by principle +purely, without reference to the future. Let the future take care of +itself.' + +“'Yes, that is well enough, Mr. Buckner,' said Corning-ton, 'as a +sentiment just now; but some day we will feel differently, and our +people, who are now taking desperate chances, will want to have +something to say. You do not suppose that all these brave men who are +now in the rebel army, and their friends North, are going to allow these +Abolitionists to run this Government, even if we should not succeed.' + +“'Do you think that these people North will care (after this thing is +over) anything about who shall be in power,' said Mr. Eagle. 'I tell +you, Mr. Cornington, that they will soon forget all about it. You show +them where the least taxes are and the most money to be made, and they +will throw patriotism to the dogs. Why, if the rebellion fails, I expect +to see Jeff. Davis' Cabinet, or part of them, running this Government, +with him behind them directing things. Yes, sir; no matter what occurs, +we only have to let these people go on making money, and we will look +after the politics. They will not take time to do it.' + +“'Why, gentlemen, I expect to run the politics of this State yet. I +intend to make money now, and when the thing blows over I will then have +leisure. I do not care for the amount of money these Northern men want. +When we Southern men get enough to have a small income to live on, we +turn our attention to politics; and there is no trouble to run things if +you only attend to it. These rich fellows think all you have to do is to +have plenty of money, and if you want anything done in politics, buy +it. There is where they make their great mistake. You must work the +boys--give them a show along with you. The people all have their +ambitions--some great, some not so great, but all want a show. There are +some men here in this city who think they can buy the whole State. But +they are mistaken; when they try it they will discover their error. They +will find the fellows that play politics play the game well,' and so +rattled on this man Eagle. The General said that when he got started he +was like a wound-up clock--you either had to let it run down or smash +it. + +“'Well,' said Cornington, 'Eagle, you seem to take rather a rosy view of +things. I do not look at matters quite in the same light that you do. I +want to see success assured; then matters may assume the shape you say. +But I fear if we fail the result will be otherwise.' + +“Said Eagle: 'I tell you, sir, that no matter what happens, the brains +and courage and aggressiveness of the Southern people will control this +country, Union or no Union, and you will see it yet, if we live. But +that belief must not prevent us from doing our duty manfully. We must +hang together and terrify the Northern people.' + +“'Yes,' said Cornington, 'as was said by one of our fathers in the +Revolution, “we must hang together, or we will hang separately.”' This +caused Eagle to laugh. + +“'Oh I' said he, 'those old fellows were frightened into success, and +you must know that to alarm the North about their money and property +being in danger is the only road to success. You can't scare them about +their lives. Our people are mistaken on that point. They care much less +for their lives than for their “oil.”' + +“The General, after getting all the information he could as to +the extent of the organization, their designs and intended future +operations, which corresponded with what he had learned from Walters, +promised to see them again, and left that night for Dayburg, Ohio. +On arriving there he tried every way to obtain an interview with the +Supreme Commander of the Golden Circle of the United States, but +in vain. His attempts were all thwarted in one way or another. +The Commander (Valamburg) must have had some fears in reference to +strangers. + +“For three days the General tried to get a chance to see him, but +could not. He met, however, three men,--Pat Burke, Tim Collins and John +Stetson,--with whom he formed a slight acquaintance, and, on giving them +the signs and passwords of the Circle, was taken into their confidence. +They took him riding into the country and showed him several large barns +where they were in the habit of holding their meetings, and gave +him full information as to their prospects in reference to future +operations. The three men were Agitators or, in other words, Organizers. + +“John Stetson had been in Dayburg about three months; was a Colonel +in the rebel army; had been a prisoner at Camp Chase, but in some +mysterious way was permitted to escape by putting on different clothes +from his own, which in some manner were smuggled in to him. He had +shaven off his whiskers and made a close crop of his hair, and was so +changed in his appearance that no one would have suspected that he was +the same man. He was known in prison, and so entered on the records, +as Col. Jacob Reed, 13th Ky. (Confederate) infantry. This man Stetson, +alias 'Reed,' was very communicative; told the General that if they did +not succeed in working up sufficient feeling in the Northern States to +change the course of the Administration that they would have to +resort to other and more severe methods--such as raiding in the North, +destroying property, burning cities, etc.; that the Confederacy must +be successful; that they were now in for it, and there must be no +faltering; that there must be no sickly sentiment about the means to +be adopted hereafter; that fire and flood and desolation were perfectly +legitimate if necessity should ever demand the use of different means +from the present. He said that they could raid from Kentucky and +Missouri; that New York, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Chicago had been +agreed upon as the cities for destruction, if the time should ever +come for such action; that their friends in those cities could make +themselves whole from the wreck--at least, all that they particularly +cared for; so far as the property-holders who pretended to be their +friends were concerned, they did not care for them,--that they would not +help them any, and only wanted to fill their pockets out of the general +misfortunes of the Southern people. + +“After the General had traveled around considerably with these men as +their friend and guest, he wished them success and health, bade them +a hearty good-bye, and left for Indianapolis to see the Governor, not +wishing to try experiments there, where he had been in camp so long. +When he arrived and had time to visit the Executive, he found +him greatly perplexed at what he had ascertained about the secret +treasonable organization in the State of Indiana. He asked the General +a great many questions about his recovery, his promotion, etc., and +finally said: + +“'I want you to help keep up the reputation of our State in the army.' + +“Gen. Anderson replied: + +“'I hope, Governor, you will never have any cause for complaint in that +direction.' + +“'No,' said the Governor; 'I hope I shall not! But,' said he, 'it begins +to look as though we might have trouble at home. These Golden Circles +are bound to give us trouble, and I fear very soon,' + +“'Yes,' said the General, 'they are getting pretty numerous, and very +bold and exasperating at the same time. How many do you suppose there +are in this State, Governor? + +“'I suppose there must be twenty or thirty thousand-enough for a pretty +good army. If they had any bold man to lead them, they could release our +prisoners here and destroy our city.' + +“Seeing that the Governor exhibited some alarm, the General was afraid +to tell him then how many there actually were in the State. But very +soon his Adjutant-General came in, and in conversation raised the +figures to some forty or fifty thousand. The Governor looked surprised, +and the General thought that he might then disclose the facts as +to numbers, and told the Governor that he had found out means of +ascertaining, and that their claim for Indiana was 75,000. This seemed +to startle him. He at once asked his Adjutant-General how many regiments +there were now in camp near the city, and was informed that there were +four, with a great many recruits in the camp of instruction. He made +many inquiries of the General as to how he obtained his information. +Gen. Anderson told him that he had obtained it in various ways; that +some of his friends had joined the organization and, not believing in +it, had posted him, under the seal of confidence. + +“'Do you believe them?' inquired the Governor. + +“'I most certainly do,' responded the General. + +“The General then gave him the names of Strider, Bowen, Bowlens, +Millington, Dorsing and Byron as the leaders--Organizers, Agitators, +Commanders, etc.--for the State of Indiana. The Governor was surprised +at hearing some of the names, and said he had no doubt of Strider being +at the bottom of it, but that he would not be caught; that when the +trying time should come, if ever, he would turn up as counsel, and +in that way would get out of it, and thereby seal the mouths of the +criminals. + +“He advised the Governor to keep a watch on some of these men, and he +would soon discover them; that they had not been long enough at this +thing to understand the necessary precaution. None had yet been caught +and punished, and they were not looking to the serious consequences to +themselves should they be exposed. + +“He also asked the Governor to apprise the President of the United +States of the condition of these matters in the State, but at the same +time not to mention his name as the source of information. He bade +the Governor good-by and left for Camp Chase, Ohio, having, while in +Indianapolis, determined to return to Ohio and investigate the prisoners +at Camp Chase. When he arrived there, having no authority, he could not +converse with the prisoners alone; but, becoming acquainted with the +Colonel commanding the Camp, and explaining in confidence who he was +and his mission, he was allowed free access to the camp and to the +prisoners. He soon picked out a young man from Virginia--his appearance +would indicate his age to be about eighteen years. He told the General +that he lived in the extreme south-western part of what is now old +Virginia. His name was Ridenbergen. He said to the General that he had +no cause to fight against the United States, but that he was in now and +proposed to fight it out. The General having played the Southern dodge +and sympathy with the rebellion in such a way as to satisfy him, and +also having given the sign of the Circle, which this young Virginian +seemed to well understand, there was no longer any necessity for +withholding anything in reference to their condition, expectations of +succor, release, etc. He told the General that John Stetson, alias Col. +Jacob Reed, of Dayburg, had been there frequently; that only a few of +them recognized him; of course no one 'peached,' as they knew he was +working for their benefit. + +“He said our commander of the prison was not very observing; that quite +a number had escaped, and nothing was known or said about it; that +others answered for them, reported them sick, or gave some other excuse +which was always taken; that Stetson had brought in the rituals of +the Golden Circle, and that all of them who were intelligent enough to +understand it, were posted, and that some of the guards belonged and +were constantly making the signs to the Confederate officers inside. +He had no doubt that sooner or later they would be released. He had the +same idea about how they would ultimately succeed. This idea pervaded +the minds of all with whom he had spoken on the subject. Many leading +men in Ohio were in accord with all that they contemplated with +reference to their release and the future success of the Confederacy. + +“He also said that the party in Ohio who were in sympathy with the +rebellion were quite outspoken, and were under the lead of a very able +and bold man. The General inquired of whom he had reference, and he said +Valamburg, of Dayburg. + +“'Yes,' the General responded, 'I have heard of him frequently; but is +he a military man?' + +“'No,' replied Ridenbergen; 'but we have them in the State in many +places, from the Confederate army, just waiting the sound of the +bugle. But the fears I have are as to the time. It takes so long to get +everything ready--our people have to move so cautiously.' + +“'Have you heard that we are organizing for raids from Canada at some +future time?' + +“'Oh, yes; that is understood. Many of our best and brightest men are +over there, at different points, preparing for it; but that is to be +done only when we must strike in Northern cities for the purpose of +terrifying the Northern property-holders; we must strike then where the +greatest amount of wealth is concentrated.' + +“The General then said to him: + +“'Mr. Ridenbergen, you are a young man. I hope to hear good things of +you in the future,' and bade him good-bye. + +“The General arrived at Allentown the next day. After the family +greetings, kisses from his wife and little daughter, and a 'How ar' you, +Marsa Tom?' from Ham and a 'Bress de good Laud, heah you is agin!' from +Aunt Martha were over, the General related his trip to me in minute +detail, and told me that matters were much worse than he had any +suspicion of prior to his investigations. In speaking of those he had +seen, and his many talks with members of the Knights of the Golden +Circle, his utter contempt for them, and especially for many leading +men who claimed to be loyal to the Union, but did not like the +unconstitutional manner of prosecuting the war, he remarked: + +“'There was but one of all of them that I have seen for whom I have any +sympathy or respect, and he is the young Virginian, Mr. Ridenbergen. +I rather liked the frankness of this young man. I am satisfied that +at heart he is not a rebel, but is young, and, after engaging in the +rebellion, will go as far as any one to make it a successful cause.' + +“Just then Jackson came from the train and entered the house. + +“'My! how well you are looking, Gen. Anderson, compared with your +appearance when I left. You must have been to some water-cure or have +used some kind of elixir of life,' was his first greeting. + +“'No, sir,' replied the General; 'I have been marching, and it has +brought me out wonderfully.' + +“'Yes, it has. Well, Jennie, I saw David, Dr. James and Henry. They are +all well and “spilin'” for a fight. David thinks that his brigade can +thrash the whole rebel army.' + +“Little Jennie rushed to her Uncle Jackson, saying: + +“'Did you see my good papa?' + +“'Yes, dear, I saw him, and he sent you a thousand kisses and asked all +about you.' + +“Turning away, he said, 'Poor David, his heart is broken over the loss +of his little Sarah.' + +“Gen. Anderson said, 'Sit down, and tell us all about your visit. Were +you successful?' + +“'Oh, yes; I am a full-fledged Captain in the 18th U. S. Inf., +and assigned, by order of the Secretary of War, as Aide-de-camp to +Brig.-Gen. Thomas Anderson, the hero.' + +“'Stop, stop,' said the General; 'you must not commence that too soon. +The taffy part must be left off if you are to be on my staff.' + +“'My dear,' said his wife, 'he can say that about you to me; for it's +the truth. Capt. Jackson, I will not get mad at you for speaking in a +complimentary manner about my husband.' + +“'Hereafter I will repeat all the good things which I may have to say +about him to you; but you will tell him, and then he will get mad at +me.' + +“'No, he will not be mad; don't you know what peculiar animals men are?' + +“'Well, yes; they are rather peculiar,' said Jackson. 'They like +compliments when not deserving; but when deserving they then dislike +them. Is that not about the way with most men? I notice women are +somewhat differently constituted? Are they not?' + +“'Yes, indeed; they always like compliments. Do they not, my dear?' +addressing her husband. + +“'I have usually found it so,' replied the General. His wife ran into +the house, and laughingly said: + +“'Well, I guess Tom has been trying his compliments on some one else. +Has he not, aunty?' addressing Aunt Martha. + +“'God lub you' sole, chile, dese men, you can't tell nuffin 'bout dem, +sho'; but Massa Tom be all rite, I 'spect; I knows him; no fear 'bout +him; de good Laud spar' him for good work, sho'.' + +“I asked the General to write out a full statement of all he had +reported to me. He did so that night, and the following day I mailed it +to the President with a private note accompanying. + +“During the day Jackson entertained us with his visit to Washington, to +the army, and the pleasant time he passed in camp with his brothers. He +said that there was something wrong in that army; that the machinery did +not seem to work very smoothly, but that never having been a soldier, +perhaps he could not form a correct opinion. The sequel told the tale, +however.” + +“Well, Uncle Daniel, this Golden Circle discovery was most +extraordinary,” said Dr. Adams. + +“Yes. It grew into greater proportions later on, however.” + +“I feel an interest in knowing what became of that young Virginian whom +Gen. Anderson met at Camp Chase; his name I forget, but have it written +down.” + +“Yes; you mean Mr. Ridenbergen?” + +“Yes.” + +“I have learned that he went through the war on the rebel side unharmed, +after the war married in Pennsylvania, and is now one of the most +prominent men in Virginia. He espoused the advanced policy of the men +who saved the Union, and is now one of the leading opponents of the +unreconstructed in that State.” + +Uncle Daniel becoming very weak and exhausted, by an agreement with us, +the continuance of his story was postponed until another time. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + BATTLE OF PAGELAND--A VICTORY TURNED INTO A DEFEAT BY + TREACHERY--DEATH OF GEN. LYON--ON THE TRAIL OF THE KNIGHTS + OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE. + + “Sorrow breaks seasons, and reposing hours, + Makes the night morning, and the noontide night.” + --Shakespeare + +“During the two weeks intervening, Dr. Adams was engaged in carefully +writing from his very full shorthand notes the relation of facts as +given by Uncle Daniel. At the appointed time all were again present, +eager for a continuance of this interesting and remarkable history of +events only a short time past, and yet almost forgotten. When all were +seated Uncle Daniel began: + +“The time between the sending of my report to the President of +Gen. Anderson's trip and his answer, with further instructions, was +considerable. Finally, I received a letter from the Secretary of War, +who seemed very much gratified about the information that had been +gathered, as also at the manner in which it had been obtained. He +requested that I send or go myself to Canada and ascertain such further +facts as I could in reference to the conspiracy and the movements of +the conspirators. Gen. Anderson, my son Jackson, and myself held a +consultation as to my going. They thought the undertaking too hazardous +for me to attempt, and finally Jackson proposed that he would go +himself, saying that it would be at least two months before Gen. +Anderson could again take the field for active operations; in the +meantime he (Jackson) could be profitably employed in this business for +the Government. This was agreed upon as the better course to pursue. +Jackson was at once given all the secrets of the Circle as far as +the General knew them. He studied the passwords, signs, and their +instructions until the General pronounced him sufficiently well informed +for a first class conspirator. And as soon as he could get himself in +readiness he started for Montreal, C. E., by way of New York. During +all this time the Circle had been busily at work, and the excitement was +increasing all over the country. + +“The alarm for fear of the enemy in our rear was producing such a +condition of things as to endanger the safety of the people every +where in the West, and at this time much encouragement was given to +our enemies at home by the many failures of our armies in the East. The +army, as before stated, had been put under a new commander, Gen. Pike, +and the displeasure created among the ranking officers was easily to +be seen by their language and manner towards him. This feeling was +constantly fed by disparaging articles in the opposition press. The +enemy in arms could easily see that this was a golden opportunity, and +they availed themselves of it. They commenced a movement which indicated +an advance against our forces. Gen. Wall, of the rebel army, had by +rapid marches put himself between Gen. Pike and his base. This forced +a movement on the part of our troops to the rear, and necessitated an +immediate attack upon Gen. Wall in order to drive him back from the +threatening position he occupied. The troops were moved rapidly back +in the direction of Cow Creek, where it was intended by Gen. Pike to +assault him. + +“The army was at last all collected in easy supporting distance, and +Pike moved out with Gen. Horn's corps and assaulted Gen. Dawn's division +of Wall's army. The contest was a spirited one, and lasted until well +in the night. Dawn finally retreated. During the night all arrangements +were made for an advance. The next morning the General-in-chief of the +rebel armies was moving by forced marches in order to join Wall prior +to any serious engagement, and Pike was determined to attack Wall before +the main army of the enemy could arrive; but, to his utter astonishment, +his forces under Farlin, ordered to join him from the base of supplies, +were not in motion as yet, as he ascertained; and so with Fitzgibbon, +who had been repeatedly urged to come with all dispatch. This left Pike +in such a condition that he must delay his attack, which delay might +bring great disaster to his army. Pike sent his staff officers to notify +those Generals of his desires and intentions, which was done; but all +manner of excuses were given for the delay. Finally, the next day, when +part of his forces had arrived, Fitzgibbon coming up leisurely with his +corps of magnificent soldiers, he was forced to commence the battle in +the absence of Farlin and his corps. He moved out, putting his cavalry +on the right flank, near Siddon Springs, threatening the left of Wall's +army, who were formed in line of battle at or near a small town called +Pageland. Rackett holding Pike's right, Shunk in the center, and +Brig-Gen. David Lyon on the left of Shunk, his left resting on the edge +of a grove of thick timber. The extreme left of the command was held by +Gen. Fitzgibbon's corps. It was understood that Fitzgibbon would attack +the enemy during the engagement on his right flank, and in that way +measurably destroy him. The troops being thus disposed they were +ordered to advance. The battle soon commenced by slight cavalry +skirmishing on our right. Our cavalry having met the cavalry of the +enemy, he, discovering our movements and positions, moved out to +meet us. The firing and cracking of carbines increased, until finally +musketry was distinguishable on the line fronting our cavalry. They soon +asked for support, which was sent, and the enemy driven back. At this +time skirmishing opened in several places on our infantry line, and +continued until our whole line was formed and advanced. The enemy having +advantage in position, did not advance to meet our forces, but held +themselves in readiness to receive any attack that our troops should +make upon them, Wall intending to save his men as much as possible, and +to hold out until the main rebel army should arrive. Finally an assault +was ordered all along the Une, and Wall was driven back to a deep +depression in the ground, behind which, on the rising slope beyond, he +reformed his line. Our forces pressed forward and assailed his left with +great energy. Wall gradually gave way and was being easily driven back, +when all at once a dash was made from the position to which they had +been forced. This onslaught was so vigorous and irresistible that our +forces had to give way and fall back to the main line. Gen. Rackett, +seeing this dash of the enemy, at once said: + +“'These are fresh troops. They are re-enforcing from some other part of +the line.' + +“This being communicated to the commanding General, he said they must +have weakened the center. In order to test this he ordered an assault to +be made at once upon their center. In this opinion he was correct. The +assault upon the enemy's center dislodged him and drove him in much +confusion back to another position. Our left then moved forward +rapidly with the same result, and the battle was going well and very +satisfactorily. Our right being then re-enforced, the enemy was driven +from his line at every point. Gen. Pike believing that he had the enemy +in a position where he could easily beat him, if his other forces would +come up promptly, sent to the rear to find Farlin, but he could not be +found. He said to one of his staff officers: + +“'Does not this look as if I was betrayed?' + +“The staff officer, now dead, replied: + +“'General, this is what I have feared for some time. The movements of +the enemy look as though they were only fighting for time. You see +how easily they are forced back--in numbers engaged more than equal to +ours.' + +“'What of Fitzgibbon on the left? I have not heard a gun in that +direction.' + +“'Nor will you,' replied the officer. + +“'But he has orders to attack at once. He must attack very soon, I am +sure. How can he see and hear a battle like this without engaging?' + +“The officer made no reply. The General thought he would ascertain, and +ordered his staff officer to proceed to the line of Gen. Lyon, and ask +him to feel out from his left for Fitzgibbon, and to open communication +with him. This order being executed, Gen. Lyon reported that he could +not find any force to his left, but at the same time reported that there +was much noise and dust in his front on the main road, and he feared +re-enforcements for the enemy. + +“Just then Gen. Mcintosh reported with his command, which had been +marching from Fitzgibbon's rear for some time in order to reach the +battlefield. As soon as he had reported Gen. Pike directed that, as soon +as his command could rest, so as to be in condition to move forward, +he desired him to move up in support of Gen. Lyon; as he feared +re-enforcements were moving to his (Lyon's) front. + +“Just about this, time Fitzgibbon had discovered much dust rising in the +direction of the south. He called the attention of some of his officers +to it, and proposed a retreat. But his command did not think a retreat +without losing a man or testing the enemy would look quite soldierly, +and the retreat was abandoned for the present; but in a few moments an +immense flock of wild pigeons (having been by some means disturbed,) +came down like a great cloud, and the roaring sound they produced in +their flight so startled Gen. Fitzgibbon that he thought a large corps +of cavalry were charging upon him. Thereupon he immediately ordered his +men under cover and to prepare for retiring, at the same time announcing +that our forces were evidently beaten. Gen. Mcintosh moved forward and +at once engaged the enemy, and the battle became general. + +“The enemy, then evidently being re-enforced, made several desperate but +unsuccessful assaults upon our center; but soon fresh troops were thrown +in its support, and our lost ground regained. Our right at this time +pressed forward, and at once were hotly engaged. Our artillery now +opened from the different positions occupied by our batteries. The +enemy's batteries promptly replied. Our cav airy were ordered to try and +penetrate to the rear of the enemy. Here was a contest between cavalry. +Carbines cracked and rattled almost like the heavy musketry of infantry. +Many a horse was seen going at full speed over the field riderless. Many +a cavalryman fell. At last a charge with sabers drawn was ordered. The +sight, as described to me, was one of grandeur to behold. On to the +charge they went, each saber flashing in the sunlight. Crash went saber +against saber. Sparks flew as if from heated steel. 'Forward?' was heard +on both sides. Flashes of sparks and ringing sounds from the steel as +saber came against saber. Arms were gashed, hands and faces were cut, +heads were cleft, and sabers pierced the bodies of the troopers on +either side. + +[Illustration: Henry Lyon is Captured 135] + +“Back went the rebel cavalry and on against them our men were thrown, +until infantry came to the enemy's support, accompanied by a battery +of artillery. A deadly fire from both was poured into the ranks of +our horsemen. Our lines staggered, then recovered again, but could not +withstand both the infantry and artillery. They were compelled to fall +back. Many were unhorsed and quite a number captured. Among them was my +son Henry, of the Michigan Cavalry. His horse was killed, and his own +back injured in the fall, so that he could not make good his escape. +(He was sent to the rear. I heard nothing from him for months--only +knew that he was taken prisoner.) But the command again rallied and held +their line on the flank of our infantry. The artillery on the left of +our line were having a regular duel with several batteries of the enemy. +Our center was being sorely pressed again. Column after column assaulted +and checked our advance. Gen. Pike was very anxious about his support, +and repeatedly sent to find Farlin, but the same report was made each +time, 'Not in sight; cannot be found.' At last a report came that Farlin +was some twenty miles away, and moving very leisurely. + +“'My God!' exclaimed Gen. Pike, 'my army is sacrificed. These men will +not support me. The battle is to be lost, and perhaps all depends upon +the issue here to-day. To win this battle makes our success sure; to +lose it may be the loss of all.' + +“He called an officer and said, 'Take this written order to Fitzgibbon. +He must attack at once.' + +“Fitzgibbon was found beneath the shade of a broad oak. He had not fired +a gun; his men were panting for a chance to enter the contest. As the +officer passed along they cried out, 'Why not put us into the fight?' +How is the battle going?' 'Are we driving them?' 'The rebs are being +re-enforced; we can see troops coming down by Pageland.' (The town was +in full view from where they were impatiently waiting for the command +'Forward!') + +“Gen. Fitzgibbon paid no attention to the order, except to say, 'Pike +doesn't know what he is doing.' + +“The officer said, on returning, Fitzgibbon's men were lying by their +arms, (which were stacked,) and could be put into use instantly. +The General could not believe that the attack would not be made by +Fitzgibbon. The battle now was at white heat--infantry, artillery and +cavalry were all engaged. The lines swayed, sometimes the rebels were +gaining slight advantage, and then the forces on our side. Gen. David +Lyon's command was now all engaged. + +“He drove the enemy through the woods where his left first rested. He was +handling his troops well. The commanding General came along where he was +engaged and complimented him very highly for the manner in which he was +succeeding on his part of the line. He then asked David (Gen. Lyon) +if he could hear any firing on his left. Gen. Lyon answered him in the +negative. + +“'Is it possible? Are you not mistaken? It seems to me that I can hear +it.9 + +“'No, Gen. Pike,' said Gen. Lyon; 'you imagine so; for I assure you I +have watched and listened for some movement on my left. There has been +none whatever.' + +“Gen. Shunk came up just at that moment and said: + +“'Gen. Pike, Gen. Rackett is killed.' + +“'Is that so? He was one of my most faithful Generals.' + +“He sent an officer back to see that the next officer in rank should +take command at once. + +“Gen. Shunk said to Gen. Pike: + +“'I fear that re-enforcements for the enemy are coming up. I have just +captured some prisoners, who say they have marched fifteen miles to-day, +and were put into the battle as soon as they arrived. They also say that +the commander of the rebel armies is not more than ten miles away with +at least 20,000 men.' + +“'Yes, that may be so; but if Fitzgibbon will attack on the left, as I +have ordered him positively to do, and Gen. Farlin comes up--who is not +farther away than the rebel troops--we will be their equal in numbers.' + +“'Do you think Farlin is trying to get here, General?' + +“'Why, he knows we are engaged. He is an old soldier and ought to do his +duty.' + +“'True enough; but if he did not know his duty, and was not an old +soldier, he might come sooner than he will, knowing it. I do not like to +say so, General, but I have my suspicions that Farlin and Fitzgibbon do +not wish you to win this battle.' + +“The conversation was here broken off. The enemy having made a desperate +assault on Shunk's command, he rode quickly away. By this time the +battle was terrific, and the slaughter terrible on both sides. The field +was beginning to look more like a slaughter-pen than anything else +to which it could be compared. Men were being brought to the rear on +stretchers, and also carried by their comrades without stretchers; in +fact, you know it was a very common thing for several men to take hold +of one to help him to the rear when sometimes the soldier had but a +scratch.. + +“Gen. Horn, who had been in reserve up to this time, came up with his +command and supported Gen. Mcintosh, who was now hard pressed. When Gen. +Horn entered the field he could be heard far away, having a stentorian +voice. He advanced rapidly and drove the right of Wall back far from his +main line; but here, in close supporting distance, lay Longpath, with +his fresh troops. He waited until Horn's line was clear in advance of +the main line, and at once set upon him with great ferocity, driving him +back on Mcintosh, that portion of our line giving way for the moment. +Gen. Lyon's command was then furiously attacked by fresh troops. They +stood the shock, but had finally to give way. Pike witnessed this +terrible fighting, and said again, 'Can it be possible that Farlin will +not get here in time to save this battle?' He again rode up to Gen. Lyon +and asked if he still heard nothing on his left. The General answered +'No.' He then directed him to send a courier through and communicate +with Fitzgibbon. By this time the heaviest fighting was on the right and +center, the firing having slackened on the left. The courier was gone +but a short time, when he returned and reported the enemy marching down +a road to our left and forming at right angles with our line. This was +easily understood, and as soon as possible our left was changed to face +the troops so forming on and across our flank. New troops were thrown in +at this point, to enable proper resistance to be made, their attack on +our angle being made as a diversion. + +“This attack now having been repulsed, the enemy were driven back, and +quite a number of prisoners captured; the soldiers became much elated +and commenced cheering, which was taken up all along the line. On our +left our officers took it that Farlin had arrived, or that Fitzgibbon +had sent word that he was going to attack at once and relieve the +situation, the position of the troops facing our left being such that he +could attack them in the rear. But all were doomed to be disappointed. +The rebels forming on our left were troops just arriving and under the +immediate command of the General-in-chief of the rebel army. They were +soon in position, and their skirmishers moving through the woods in the +direction of our refused left. The situation was critical indeed. The +commanding General ordered all the artillery that could be brought into +battery to be placed in position on this flank. The line then held by +Wall on his left could not be abandoned, nor could he draw from his +center, as he was being pressed all along that part of the line. But on +they came through the woods. None but infantry could get through without +great delay. They opened fire. Our line gave way, and fell back to the +support of the batteries. Finally the batteries all opened, and like +the roar of mighty thunders was the noise. The earth shook as though an +earthquake was disturbing it. Fire was vomited forth as though it were +from the mouth of some burning volcano. Destruction and death were dealt +out unsparingly to the enemy. They started to charge the batteries, and +with that hideous yell that they seemed only to employ or understand, +on they came. But finally, when they could stand against the torrent +of shot and shell no longer, they broke to the rear in great confusion. + +“Gen. Pike saw the success, and exclaimed: 'If my other troops would +only come up, or Gen. Fitzgibbon attack, the day would soon be ours.' + +“But he was doomed to further disappointment. They did not come up, +neither did they attack. The rebel General soon took in the whole +situation. He put his artillery in battery on a hill to the right of +our refused line, so as to concentrate his fire on the flank of our +batteries and force them to change position. This being done he +opened some eighteen guns. This forced a change in the position of our +batteries, and there and then commenced, one of the most destructive +artillery duels that was ever witnessed. Battery horses were killed on +both sides, gunners blown to pieces by shell, officers and men mangled, +Gen. Mosely, on the rebel side, had his head shot off, and a Colonel and +two Captains were blown to pieces on our side. While this duel was going +on the rebel General was reforming his men for another infantry attack +on our left. At this moment Gen. Pike said to Gen. Lyon: + +“'General, I hear guns over to our left.' + +“Gen. Lyon listened, and answered: + +“'Well, General, I believe you are correct. I think I heard a gun.' + +“Pike then believed that Fitzgibbon had made an attack, and would compel +the enemy to withdraw their forces directly on our left. But he was +mistaken. No attack was made except the one by the rebels. Very soon +afterwards they had completed their line, and, knowing the value of a +flank attack, again assaulted in the same manner as before. They came +this time with more caution than before, but with a stronger force. +They opened fire on both sides about the same time. The battle was now +renewed all along the line--cavalry, infantry and artillery. The Unes +wavered occasionally on both sides. The left of our line gave way at +first, but rallied again. Gen. Lyon rode up and down his line, cheering +his men. He led them again and again against the seeming adamantine wall +of rebels, and finally forced them back slowly, holding all the ground +gained. By this time our center was penetrated and broken. Our troops +could not be rallied for some time. The rebels seeing our confusion took +advantage of it, and with the intrepidity of so many demons made another +attack on all parts of the line and forced our whole line some distance +to the rear. It looked for an hour as though all was lost. At one time +our lines seemed to be melting away and becoming disorganized. They were +rallied again, however, and formed a new line about a mile in the rear +of our first. Both armies were exhausted. Fresh troops then to our aid +would have settled the fortunes of the day in our favor But they did +not come. Gen. Pike thought that whoever made the first attack would +be successful, and ordered our line forward. They moved cautiously, but +steadily, attacking and driving the enemy back. He kept falling back +until he occupied his first line and we ours. Our left, however, was +soon struck by a division of fresh troops, and was driven back some +distance through the woods with great loss. My dear son, Gen. Lyon, +here, while rallying his men, was shot through the heart and instantly +killed.” + +[Illustration: Death of General Lyon 142] + +“The old man wept bitterly, and many tears rolled down the cheeks of his +listeners. When he could resume he said: + +“If Fitzgibbon had attacked as was expected, our flank could not have +been turned, and the great slaughter that occurred on this part of the +line would have been avoided. Night here closed the day's slaughter with +our left completely turned and our troops demoralized. They passed the +night on their arms. The next morning at daylight the attack was resumed +by the rebels and our army was beaten. Gens. Stepleton and Kearnan fell +on that day, with many other brave officers and men. No battle lost +during the war fell with more crushing effect upon the loyal people than +did the defeat of the Army of the East at the battle of Pageland. The +battle was lost by the failure of Farlin and Fitzgibbon to support Gen. +Pike. They did just what the President and Secretary of War feared they +would do--that was, fail in supporting Pike, the new commander. Their +idea was to dictate the commander or not fight. One would think that men +who had fed upon the charity of the Government from youth to middle age +would be inspired by a more lofty feeling and sentiment. But this is a +mistake. You cannot infuse patriotism by drilling at a college or in +the field. This comes from the nursery of the mother. Nor can you put +brains, commonsense or courage where God has refused it. The question +with these men was, 'Do you belong to a certain chosen few?' If so, that +was put above every other consideration. A volunteer, no matter how +much he might develop a genius for military affairs, could have no +recognition at their hands. + +“The fact that Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte were great generals +without military training except in the field proved nothing. If men +like those who first commanded our army in the East, and who formed the +coterie, had lived during the Revolutionary War, Washington and the +best of his generals would not have been permitted to have commanded a +brigade, if these men could have controlled as they did at the outbreak +of the rebellion. The same feeling has grown among our people since +the war, until the brains of a man cuts but little figure in matters +connected with governmental affairs. He must belong to one of two +classes: either a snob or one who has made a fortune. No matter whether +he made it selling rotten blankets to the Government, worthless arms +for the soldiers, bad meat, diseased horses, small mules, rotten and +poorly-put-together harness, or procured his money in some other way--if +he has it, the conclusion is at once that he is a great man and full of +wisdom. These things are unfortunate in a government like ours. But +this is the tendency, and has been for many years. Dash and swell is the +motto now; it is growing more in that direction every day. But I have +wandered away from my subject. The battlefield of Pageland and its +surroundings was a sight to behold the day after our defeat. The private +soldiers felt outraged and officers were discouraged, and many good +people despaired of our final success. Even the President was more +despondent than he had ever been, but still had faith in God and our +cause. The losses on both sides were very great. The country all around +was by both sides turned into a great hospital. The army was almost +disorganized; it certainly was most thoroughly demoralized. Gen. Pike +was relieved, and McGregor put in command again. Fitzgibbon was sent to +the rear without a command. Farlin was everywhere by every friend of his +country severely censured. Fitzgibbon was denounced as a traitor to his +superior officer. + +“The mournful part to myself and family had only in part come upon us. +Dr. James Lyon, having cut one of his hands in making an amputation, +feared bad results from the wound; for that reason he procured a leave +of absence, and accompanied the remains of his brother David home. I +will not attempt to describe to you the depth of grief in our family, +from the oldest to the youngest. It was greater than I now wish to +recall, even though so many years have passed since that melancholy +scene. Suffice it to say that Gen. David Lyon fills the grave of as +gallant and noble a soldier as ever drew a sword. He rests beside his +wife and little daughter Sarah in the cemetery at Allentown.” + +“The old man, overcome by this recital, could not speak for some time, +but finally continued: + +“Gen. Anderson was very sad. Dr. James was very restless with his hand, +which had commenced swelling and was becoming extremely painful. My +wife Sarah and Jennie (David's widow) were stricken down with fever, +requiring the constant attendance of Mary Anderson and Aunt Martha +for many days before their recovery was assured. In the meantime Peter +arrived, the wound in his foot having broken out again. When he came to +his mother's bedside she said: + +“'O! Peter, my son, that horrible dream haunts me still.' + +“This dream from the first had a very depressing effect upon Peter, +though he pretended to think nothing of it. We now commenced casting +about to see if there was any way to have Henry exchanged. He being +merely a private soldier, this was not so easy of accomplishment, as +if he had been an officer. During the evening, while we were engaged in +conversation in the parlor, Aunt Martha came in and said: + +“'Uncle Daniel, dar's a young lady on de porch who wants to see you very +bad, she say, on mos' obticlar bizness.' + +“'Tell her to come in,' was my answer. + +“In a moment a very modest and rather pretty young lady walked in. She +was evidently greatly embarrassed. I arose, and extending my hand asked +her to be seated. She sat down for a moment, and then hesitatingly said: + +“'Your wife is unwell, I understand, Mr. Lyon?' + +“'Yes,' I replied; 'very unwell. She has had a great sorrow recently.' + +“'Yes, sir; so I understand. I very much desired to see her, but will +not annoy her at this time. I had a matter about which I wished to speak +with her. You know, women give their confidence to one another; but I +hope you will allow me to give mine to you, as your wife is sick?' + +“'Yes, my good girl; you can say what you wish to me.' + +“'Well, Mr. Lyon'--she then hesitated. + +“'I encouraged her to proceed. + +“'Well, I am on my way South, and I wish your good offices in getting +through the lines.' + +“'How can I assist you, my child?' + +“'I hear, sir, that you are a great friend of the President, and I +thought perhaps you might intercede for me.' + +“'May I inquire for what purpose you wish to go South? Do your people +live there?' + +“'No, sir; I live in Michigan. I was never farther South than this +place, and this is my first visit here. My name is Seraine Whitcomb. I +am going South to see what I can do to have a young man exchanged who is +now a prisoner in the hands of the rebels. + +“'Is he your brother?' I inquired. + +“She blushed, and replied: + +“'No, sir, he is not a relative; but one in whom I am much interested.' + +“I saw through the whole matter at once, but did not press the young +lady further. If I had only known whom she meant I would have embraced +her as the greatest little heroine living. She said she only wished a +letter from me to the President; that she would do the rest herself. +This letter I gave her without further questions. She was so modest and +yet so brave. She took the letter, bade me good-by, and left. As she +went out she remarked: + +“'Do not be surprised if you should receive a letter from me at some +future time.' + +“After she had gone Peter remarked that perhaps she was sent down South +by the Golden Circle, and I might be bestowing favors on the wrong +person. I said, 'True, but I will take my chances on that girl's being +honest, and, not only honest, but a regular little heroine.' + +“Here the conversation on this subject came to an end, and we took up +the condition of the army. Peter said the jealousies between officers in +the Army of the East were strange; that there was nothing of this +kind among the Western troops; that all seemed to have the same common +purpose, and that was success; but, said he, it may be partly accounted +for in this, that we are all alike unskilled in the arts of war, and do +not know enough to get up these conspiracies and jealousies. We are all +volunteers, save two or three, and all obey orders, and go into a battle +to win, each one believing he is doing the best fighting. It seems +that at the battle of Pageland the only object of some of the leading +commanders was to find some way to lose the battle and at the same time +save their own scalps. + +“Gen. Anderson said: + +“'Well, I do not know how I may succeed as a commander; but I will have +the courage to relieve any man, and send him to the rear, of whom I +may have the least suspicion, whether it be for cowardice, want of +good intentions toward the Government, good faith toward his superior +officer, or for any other cause that might give uneasiness about his +properly performing his duty.' + +“'That would seem to me to be the proper course for any commander of +forces,' I replied.” + +“Uncle Daniel,” said Dr. Adams, “I am curious to know what became of +those two generals--Farlin and Fitzgibbon.” + +“Well, sir, the same power that is now rewarding those who struck us +the heaviest blows, both North and South, is paying homage to these men. +They are both held in high esteem by many people, and you would think +they were the only loyal men that were near the battlefield on that +day.” + +“Yes,” said Col. Bush; “to have lost an arm or leg on the Union side +is like the brand of Cain nowadays; but to have been a rebel or to have +belonged to the Golden Circle, or failed in some way by which the rebels +profited or gained advantage, entitles one to a medal or some high +position of honor and emolument.” + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + BATTLE OF ANTLER'S RUN--SERAINE WHITCOMB LEAVES FOR THE + SOUTH--PLOTTING IN CANADA--DISCOVERY OF A CONSPIRACY AMONG + ARMY OFFICERS. + + “Yesterday was heard, + The roar of war; and sad the sight of maid, + Of mother, widow, sister, daughter, wife, + Stooping and weeping over senseless, cold, + Defaced, and mangled lumps of breathless earth, + Which had been husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, + And lovers, when that morning's sun arose. + --Pollock. + +“Gen. Anderson, Peter and myself concluded that we would again visit the +farm. There we found poor old Joseph Dent in utter despair on account of +his 'poor Captain' (as he called David) having been killed. He talked +of him in the most enthusiastic manner, and would then weep, saying 'the +only friend I had is gone, and I will not be satisfied until I can get +even with these rebels.' + +“Gen. Anderson said: 'Well, Joseph, what will you do?' + +“Joseph was silent; as an old soldier he knew how to keep his thoughts +to himself. + +“'Will you go to the war?' continued the General. + +“'No, sir; I will stay here and take care of this farm for Mrs. Lyon +and little Jennie. They shall not suffer while I am able to look after +them.' + +“Old Ham thought he had a point, and said: 'Dat's good; dat's jes' what +I 'tend to do when Massa Tom git killed. Jes'so.' + +“'Shut up, Ham. Your Massa Tom, as you call him, is not going to get +killed. There have been enough of the Lyon family killed already,' said +Peter. + +“'Dat's so, Massa Peter. I not got dat in my kalkerlate, you see; but +I tell you I is monstrous feered 'bout dese matters; deys is heaps of +people gittin' killed, and most of dem is good peoples, so dey is. Can't +tell who nex', massa; can't tell, sah!' + +“'Well, Joseph, there will be no trouble about your staying. We want you +here on the farm,' I said. 'We are all very much distressed, but, at the +same time, we must look out for our country somewhat; and our family all +being in the army, of course we must expect some misfortunes. Have you +heard any more of the Golden Circle in this neighborhood?' + +“'Yes, Uncle Daniel; they are at work, and since the defeat of our +forces at the battle of Pageland, they are outspoken about what they +intend to do; not only in aid of the rebellion, but they threaten the +Union people here at home--threaten to destroy their property, and make +war in Indiana if it becomes necessary, just as you have heretofore +understood. I am keeping close watch, and they will not be able to do +any very great harm here without my knowing it.' + +“We cautioned Joseph, and told him to come in to our house frequently +and let us know what was going on. + +“On returning home we found Aunt Sarah and Jennie much improved, but Dr. +James was suffering very great pain. The swelling was extending up his +arm from his hand. I said to him perhaps we had better have a physician. +'You are suffering so much that I fear you are not in a condition +to attend to your own case.' He consented, and one was called in. On +examination he pronounced the trouble blood poisoning. James was greatly +alarmed at this. The physician commenced at once with the most radical +treatment. The next morning James seemed much easier, and looked as if +he was coming out of it all right. + +“The next day, while we were sitting on the porch, the postman brought +me a letter, written in a delicate female hand. I read it and then +called Gen. Anderson and Peter to listen: + + + “Washington, D. C. + + “My Dear Mr. Lyon, Allentown, Ind.: + + “Thanks for your very great kindness. I have the President's + pass through onr lines; when you hear from me again, I will + let you know about your son Henry. + + “Very respectfully, + + “SERAINE WHITCOMB.” + +“'Well, well,' said Peter; 'that tells a tale. Now, father, I agree with +you. She is a brave girl; there is not more than one in a thousand like +her.' + +“'Yes; but what does she mean by saying I will hear from my son?' + +“'It will reveal itself,' said Peter. 'She is in love with Henry, and +has gone to look after him.' + +“'Do you think so?' I inquired. 'Well, I do sincerely hope so.' + +“Just then we saw Jackson coming. He came in, and after salutations +and greetings between us, he entered the house to see his mother, +the Doctor, and Jennie. He was much broken down over the death of his +brother. The news of the battle and the list of the dead in the papers +having contained David's name, he hastened home. He had, however, been +very successful in laying the foundation for probing many things which +might be of vast importance in the future. + +“When he left home he first went to New York and had an interview with +McMasters and B. Wudd, who were the leading spirits in New York, and one +of them the principal man North in starting the organization. From these +men he learned much about what was going on in Canada; the fact that +there was no doubt that quite a number of Southern men were there with +a large amount of money with which to carry out any scheme that might be +agreed upon. These men in New York were in constant communication with +those in Canada; also, with leading men in Richmond. He managed to +obtain a letter of introduction from McMasters to the leading Knights +of the Golden Circle in Canada; this letter introduced him as William +Jackson, of Memphis, Tenn., and was directed to the Hon. Jacob +Thomlinson. With this letter and the information he had now obtained, +he made his way home, feeling that he could not undertake the further +prosecution of his mission without returning and consoling his mother +and the family as much as he possibly could in their distress. Knowing +his mother's feeble condition he feared the consequences of the heavy +affliction that had fallen upon her during the battle of Pageland--with +one son a prisoner and another killed outright. + +“I wrote the President, and promised that later on I would have the +Canada mystery solved. Our people were in desperate straits. Our +army had been outnumbered and forced back to the position in front of +Pageland; defeated there, and forced to shelter itself in the rear of +Cow Creek. It was now broken and shattered, lying in defenses near the +Capital, discouraged and worn down by fatigue, wounds and disease. The +outlook was anything but bright. Commanders had been changed. Some of +our best fighting generals had lost their lives at Pageland. The country +had but little confidence in the staying or fighting qualities of the +commander, Gen. McGregor, as he had made no success heretofore. The +rebel commander, well understanding the situation, was moving rapidly +up and along the south line of the Grand River, evidently intending an +invasion of the loyal States by penetrating our lines and crossing at +or near Brown's Ferry. Our lines were held at this point by Gen. Milo, +having in his command 10,000 men, who were all surrendered at the demand +of Gen. Wall without very much resistance. Wall had slipped through the +mountains like a cat, and was upon Milo before he knew of his approach. +This was very strange though, and hard to understand, and only increased +the fears and suspicions already existing that something was out of +joint, so that the machinery was working badly in that army. + +“'The enemy now had no impediment in the way of a rapid movement except +high waters, which seemed to interpose as the only power that could stop +their advance into the interior of our country and to the rear of our +capital, cutting off all communications to the North with the loyal +States. + +“The administration was now in a position of great danger, in many +respects, not before contemplated. + +“The rebel sympathizers and Golden Circles were loud in their +denunciation of the war and the party sustaining it. Thos. A. Strider +and Dan Bowen were traversing the state of Indiana, making inflammatory +speeches, and all over the North the same policy was being pursued by +the anti-war party. They alarmed the people by declaring that unless the +war was stopped our homes North would be invaded; that our armies could +not cope with the rebels. The only thing that seemed to put a check to +their hopes, operations and denunciations was the fact that our armies +in the West were having a continuation of victories. + +“This being the situation of the armies and the condition of the minds +of the people, the loss of another great battle at this time would +have greatly prolonged the war, if it would not have been fatal to the +ultimate success of the Union cause. The authorities at Washington +were doing everything in their power to allay the excitement among the +people, and at the same time were trying to have the Army of the East +put in motion so as to pass down to Pottstown and interpose in front +of the enemy; he evidently intending to move by way of Brown's Ferry, +throwing part of his force on the Brown's Ferry road and a portion over +into the Sheepstown road, making a junction at or near Shapleyville. +The Union forces were expected to move across by Fardenburg, down +the sloping mountains of Cochineal and along and across Mad Valley to +Pottstown, and take position behind Antler's Run. But it seemed to be +almost impossible to get Gen. McGregor to put his army in motion. Many +were the excuses made; want of this thing to-day, and something else +to-morrow--shoes, clothing, blankets, and many other things--protracted +the delay. Finally, the President and Secretary of War being out of +patience with his hesitancy and excuses, the President directed the +Secretary of War to order Gen. McGregor to move without further delay. +This seemed to be understood by McGregor, and the next day everything +about the camps was in a bustle, and the Army of the East was again in +motion; but the movements were slow, and made in such a manner as not +to inspire very great confidence in our immediate success. The men +and subordinate officers seemed resolute and determined, but there was +something surrounding all the movements that was mysterious. + +“The papers were full of all the movements, and were discussing the +probabilities, etc. Seeing this Gen. Anderson was fired with a desire +to at once return to the front. On account of his very weak and feeble +condition we tried to detain him, but in vain. + +“He said: 'No, I am going to the front, and I wish to go to the East. +Will you ask by telegraph for such an assignment for me?' + +“I answered that I would, and did so immediately. + +“The next day he received a telegram from the Secretary of War, +directing him to report to Gen. McGregor for assignment to duty. + +“Gen. Anderson said to Capt. Jackson: 'Your invasion of Canada will be +postponed until later. You will be ready to start in the morning with me +to the Army of the East.' + +“He called old Ham, and repeated the order to him to be in readiness. + +“Ham said: 'Afore de Lord, Massa Tom, you isn't gwine to be fitin' agin, +is you?' + +“'Yes! You get ready. Have your bedding and all your traps ready, if you +think you can stand to be shot at by the rebels.' + +“'Shot at! Is you gwine to put me out to be snot at? Me done thought +thar war 'nuff white folks to get shotten at, widout de poor darkies +like me.' + +“'Yes; but you want to be free, do you not, Ham?' + +“'Yeas; Massa Tom, I wants dat--I wants it bad; but how is gwine to +come?' + +“'Fight for it. You are no better than I am, are you? Had you not as +well be shot as for me to be?' + +“'Yeas, sir; dat am so. 'Specks de darkies got to fight. I'll fight, +Massa Tom, if you say so. Yes, I do. I stay wid you, I will sho'.' + +“Old Martha happened to hear this, and broke forth: + +“'Well, well, Massa Tom, I's sorry you is gwine to de wah agin. But it +all right. I tells you dat de good Laud save you up for some good. I +jes' know he do it all right. I take care of Missus Mary and de little +gal; don't you hab no fears 'bout dem. But you isn't gwine to hab Ham +go, is you? If you doz, dat ole fool he git kill. I 'spect he got no mo' +sense dan jes' git rite in whar dey is fitin?' + +“'No, no, Marfa; you is wrong dar. I tell you dat you is. I stay by +Massa Tom.' + +“Peter and Jackson laughed, and said to the General: + +“'Ham thinks you will be in a safe place during the fighting.' + +“'Yes, he seems to be of that impression. I think I may, perhaps, +relieve his mind somewhat,' said the General, with a smile. + +“The General telegraphed Capt. Day at Dolensburg to report at once to +him at Gen. McGregor's Headquarters, Army of the East. The preliminaries +being arranged, all were to be ready early the next morning. The General +and Capt. Jackson having arranged and got ready their proper uniforms, +horses, mess-chest and everything that would be required in the field, +they spent the evening quietly. The Doctor was very sleepless, and +suffered more than usual, but was thought not to be in any immediate +danger. My wife and Jennie were now also quite recovered. + +“The next morning, the General having procured a car for their horses, +camp equipage, etc., they took leave of the family, who were in tears, +the two little girls, Mary and Jennie, crying aloud. As the General, +Capt. Jackson and Ham walked away, Aunt Martha called after Ham: + +“'Now, Ham, ef you eber spects to see me agin, don't you forgit your +prares ob a night, and de good Laud will fotch you back ef you do dat; +but He let you git kill like a cat when you done forget it. Do you mine +me, Ham?' + +“Turning to me, she continued: 'I 'spect de rebs git dat darky,' then +going to the kitchen she gave vent to her grief. The poor old woman felt +as badly to part with her Ham as did Mary in parting from her General, +but gave expression to it in her own simple way. + +[Illustration: General Anderson taking Command 154] + +“The General, Jackson and Ham arrived safely at the headquarters of Gen. +McGregor, which were in the valley to the north and east of Cochineal +Mountains. His commands of infantry and artillery were variously located +on the mountains and in the valley, with his cavalry at Pottstown. It +so happened that one of the division commanders had been taken seriously +ill, and was sent to the rear. This gave an opportunity for Gen. +Anderson to be placed in command of a good division at once. To +Anderson's great delight Gen. McGregor ordered him to take command +of this division. Having reported, he sent immediately for all the +commanding officers of the division and made their acquaintance. He was +greatly pleased with them and they with him. He learned all he could in +so short a time about the troops, and at once took measures to put +them in good condition. In a few days Capt. James Day reported, and +the General's military family was organized, he having taken an +Adjutant-General from the command. + +“The army was now being rapidly put in good shape; a complete +re-organization was being effected, and all were feeling less +discouraged. They seemed to well understand that there was to be a great +battle fought, and the imperative necessity for a victory by our forces +East at this particular time. + +“The enemy found means by which to pass the obstructions in his way, +and moved through the country in different directions. Finding that the +movements of our army were slow, he seemed to feel that there was no +immediate danger of a serious engagement. But the surrender of our +forces under Gen. Milo (who died immediately afterwards) so elated the +rebel army that they were determined to attack our forces whenever and +wherever opportunity offered. Both parties were, however, maneuvering +for some advantage; the General of the rebel forces holding McGregor off +until his force under Wall could come up from Brown's Ferry. The cavalry +of both armies were now scouting continuously for many miles on the +flanks of the armies. The pickets were out quite a distance in advance +of the opposing forces. No conflict had yet occurred between any of +the outposts. Finally the commander of the rebel forces selected his +position and gave challenge to our forces, with his rear to the Grand +River, covering two main roads leading to the rear, his front facing +the winding course of Antler's Run, his right resting on a bridge at the +main crossing, his center occupying a ridge commanding the open fields +in his front, the right of his left and right center resting on the +junction of the two main roads, his extreme left refused so as to form +an angle at his left center, extending along and through a skirt of +heavy woods; his reserves to the rear on the roads, so as to be thrown +easily to the center or either flank in case of necessity; the country +to his front, right and left being very uneven, full of gulches and +ravines, difficult of passage, especially under fire. So posted he +flaunted the rebel flag in the face of our army, although at this +time his main support had not arrived from Brown's Ferry. But no doubt +existed in his mind, I presume, as to their coming up in good time. +McGregor did not then seem inclined to accept the challenge, His command +was moving slowly. Farlin, still in command of a corps (for shame be it +ever to our indulgent chiefs), was some distance away and did not arrive +on that day. So the armies rested. In the meantime Gen. Anderson +was eager for the fray. He visited Gen. McGregor's headquarters and +indicated his desire to bring on the engagement, saying very soon the +enemy would be so securely posted that it would be exceedingly difficult +to dislodge him. To this McGregor replied that he could not risk a +battle without Farlin's forces being up and in readiness to support our +line. + +“During the night Farlin came up. A battle must then and there be +fought. The whole country stood with bated breath awaiting the result, +as all understood that the rebels must be driven back on what they +claimed as their own ground, or our country was in imminent danger of +becoming demoralized should they see the battlefields changed to the +North. + +“When the morning came, the commands being in readiness, the movement of +our forces commenced. It was soon discovered that the main crossing of +Antler's Run was held by a strong force of the enemy, which compelled +our troops to seek for some other and less dangerous passage. This was +found to our right, facing the left of the enemy. His left being refused +gave a safer passage over the stream. The plan of battle was to throw +Gen. Horn's Corps at the upper crossing, assail the rebel left and, if +successful, to cross the left of our forces, under Gen. Broomfield, by +assaulting the enemy at the lower crossing, and if he could be driven +from there, to cross and assault his right, his center being too +strongly posted to risk an attack on it then. (Gen. Anderson had been +assigned with his division to Gen. Horn's Corps.) The crossing over on +our right was effected without much difficulty, and the enemy pressed +back in the heavy woods. The enemy were evidently holding and waiting, +as no general engagement ensued. Another corps crossed in the rear of +Gen. Horn's and formed ready to assault. Our left had not as yet been +able to cross in front of the enemy's right, and in this position we +found ourselves,--part of our army on the one side and part on the other +of Antler's Run, in front of the enemy; thus the two armies rested that +night. Our intention being thus revealed to the enemy, he had only to +wait the attack, which they must have concluded would be commenced at +an early hour in the morning. The night was most beautiful; the vault of +heaven being studded with stars, so that either army was in plain view +of the other, at no very great distance separated. During the night +another of our corps crossed the Run at the same crossing that Gen. Horn +had passed over in the morning, and moved down to the left and in front +of the rebel center. Occasionally the movement of this corps would be +responded to with a few musket shots and a few shells from a battery +posted on the ridge in the rebel center. At an early hour in the morning +the Union forces took the initiative and hurled Horn's Corps against +the rebels' extreme left. The struggle was a severe one--re-enforcements +could not well be sent to the rebel left for fear of the movement being +now made against their right. The battle on the left was at full height, +and the lines swayed to and fro. Gen. Anderson made a movement around a +skirt of woods near a chapel, and charged the enemy's lines, with sword +drawn, leading his men in person. The assault was of such an impetuous +character as to send dismay into the ranks of the enemy, and they gave +way in confusion. Gen. Horn, however, advanced his left and center +farther to the front than should have been done without other troops +being in position to sustain the movement, and the rebel center, with +their left reformed behind the woods, fell upon Horn's left and center +with great energy and determination. The two columns now engaged with +dauntless courage on both sides. The combatants, equal in mettle, faced +each other in open field at very close range; each holding his ground +until it appeared as though none would be left alive on either side. +Neither line wavered, and it seemed as though the contest would only be +determined by a complete demolition of the two forces. Gen. Horn fell, +mortally wounded, and the command fell upon Gen. Simmons, who was killed +soon after taking command. At this time the killed and wounded of the +superior officers were such that it left Gen. Anderson the ranking +General of the corps. He at once assumed command, and could everywhere +be seen giving his orders and encouraging his men to stand. This they +did until the slaughter on both sides became a shocking sight to behold. + +“Gen. Hughes and Gen. Baily had fallen on the rebel side. The batteries +from our side were playing from a hill on the east side of Antler's Run, +pouring a galling enfilading fire into the rebel Une. Thus these lines +stood amid death and desolation in their ranks until the men themselves +on both sides, in order to stop the cruel slaughter of comrades, with +one accord ceased firing, and the officers sat on their horses looking +at each other as their forces slowly retired each to his rear. At this +time, if Gen. Far-lin had moved forward the day would have been won +without further slaughter. Gen. Anderson repeatedly sent word to him +that if he would attack the enemy he could be routed, as their left was +almost destroyed; but he did not assault at the opportune moment. + +“It was then seen that nothing more than skirmishing had been going +on between the forces on the Union left and the rebel right. Gen. +Broomfield had not succeeded in crossing the run, and was held at bay by +a small force, thus enabling the rebel commander, after discovering this +hesitancy on our left, to concentrate on his left and center for the +purpose of renewing the conflict. His re-enforcements had now arrived +from Brown's Ferry, and he was eager to make an assault, being now +satisfied that he should take the aggressive. Our batteries had crossed +the run, and were supported on elevated ground by sufficient infantry, +as we thought, for their safety. The rebel forces moved from their cover +behind the woods, and were advancing to the crest of the ridge that ran +across the open field from north to south, the best position to occupy +for vantage ground. Gen. Anderson seeing this, determined to meet the +attack and contest for this ground. Both forces were now in motion, each +determined the other should not occupy this ridge. Orders were given to +Gen. Broomfleld to cross the run at once and attack the enemy's right. +Gen. Mausker was ordered to move on the left of Gen. Horn's Corps, +now under Gen. Anderson, and attack at once; Farlin being in reserve, +perhaps, because he could not be got anywhere else. + +“The artillery was all across the run and ready for action. The cavalry +had crossed some miles above and to the north, and were ordered to +charge the enemy in the flank as soon as the engagement should be +renewed. So on came the troops of both armies, and when in close range, +the firing commenced again on our right and the rebel left, it continued +all down the line until all were engaged. The firing was terrible and +most destructive. Our batteries opened, and on in full charge came our +cavalry. The rebel infantry on the left prepared to receive the cavalry, +kneeling on one knee with fixed bayonets. What a charge that was, and +what a slaughter! On came the cavalry; on, on to the bayonet came horse +and man. Clash against bayonet came saber. Many the horse and man went +on and over the bayonet in that charge. Part of the cavalry halted and +hesitated, some retiring to the rear. Many an infantryman that did the +same. Infantry and cavalrymen were piled together in the long slumber of +death. At last our cavalry had to retire. While this tragedy was being +enacted, the infantry on the right, left and centre were also playing +the role of death. Column after column were hurled against each other, +only to be repulsed. Our two corps first drove the enemy back and +occupied the ridge, and for awhile held this advantage, until the whole +rebel army, save a skirmish-line, was withdrawn from the right and +center, and concentrated on and against our right. It looked as though +the contest was now to be continued only on this part of the line. +Farlin was now in line on the left of Mausker. Many of the enemy's +troops were thrown in at this point who, not having been engaged, +were comparatively fresh. Their column was formed in two lines. On and +against our lines in quick succession they were thrown. Another great +slaughter then commenced and continued, line facing line in open field. +Gaps were made by falling men. The command on both sides could be heard, +'Close up!' Never did men stand more courageously amid slaughter and +death. Gen. Anderson rode to the line and along its full length, +sword in hand, with a large white plume in his hat, that his men might +recognize him. Artillery roared and musketry rattled as if they were the +hail and thunder from a hundred clouds. Groans and shrieks were heard. +The ground was strewn with the dead and dying. As the lines finally gave +way, the spot could be designated by rows of the dead. Our line was now +distended and no reserves. The rebels were again re-enforced, Their dash +and desperation broke our center, and Farlin fell back. Gen. Mausker now +fell, shot through the head. His corps became demoralized and fell back +in fragments. Gen. Anderson tried to rally the lines, but could not, and +was compelled to fall back to the rear, where the artillery was posted. +The situation at this time was most critical. The General in command was +desperate. To lose this battle was his disgrace, having more troops than +the enemy, as it would also probably in a measure seal the fate of his +whole army. He at once gave Broomfield an imperative order to cross the +run at the point of the bayonet, and to advance upon and assault the +enemy's position, being his extreme right. This was done in good style, +the enemy driven at the point of the bayonet from the crossing and from +his position on his right. The contest was now changed from the enemy's +left to his right. Troops were thrown in on his right quickly, and the +battle became desperate on this end of the line. + +“Gen. Anderson, discovering this, without orders rallied his men and +all others that he could, and made a furious attack again on the enemy's +left, driving him from the open field into the woods. He then ordered +the artillery to advance to the ridge occupied by our line, and +from there poured shot and shell into their ranks. The enemy became +demoralized and broke in many parts of his line, ours still advancing +and Gen. Anderson moving his artillery to the front as he could get +position for it. The enemy on their left commenced a retreat down the +Sheepstown road in great disorder. The batteries poured their deadly +missiles after them, doing great damage. Gen. Anderson pressed forward, +believing that their army could now in a great measure be destroyed +before they could get back to a strong defensive position for +protection. Many prisoners were now being captured. Gen. Broomfleld was +following upon the Brown's Ferry road, when darkness set in. An order +was now received from Gen. McGregor to desist from any further pursuit +for the present. Gen. Anderson put his troops in position for the +night, and ordered up stores and supplies for their comfort and made all +necessary arrangements for an early movement in pursuit of the enemy +the next morning. After attending to these matters he left Capt. Jackson +Lyon and Capt. Bay, both of whom had been by the side of the General +during this terrible battle. The General with an Orderly retired to +the headquarters of the commanding General, which he found in a small +farmhouse some two miles to the east side of Antler's Run. When he +arrived he was welcomed very heartily and highly complimented by Gen. +McGregor. + +“The General said: + +“'Anderson, we will not attempt to follow these rebels. Our army is worn +out and so terribly damaged and demoralized that it would not do to risk +another assault, should the enemy make a stand, inasmuch as they would +have an advantageous position, which they certainly will, as they can +select where they will fight if we pursue.' + +“'Yes,' said Gen. Anderson; 'but, General, could we not press them +so close and worry them so as to keep them on the run, and virtually +destroy them before they can get back to their own ground? You know that +while our army is terribly mangled, the enemy is certainly in no better +condition.' + +“'That is true,' said Gen. McGregor; 'but I never have, nor will I ever +fight my army when in bad condition. But we will not discuss the matter +any further now. You will stay and get a bite to eat and take some rest, +but before doing that take a glass of wine.' + +“'Thanks, General; I think I would enjoy a glass about this time.' + +“After taking a glass together they sat down and had quite a +conversation on the events of the day. The house being very comfortably +furnished with beds and cots, Gen. McGregor said to Gen. Anderson, 'Lie +down and rest while the servants are preparing the supper.' + +“The General did so, and dropped off to sleep. Soon some general +officers came in and were seated at a table, imbibing rather freely. +The noise they were making aroused the General from his slumbers. He +recognized Farlin; to the others he was afterwards introduced, being +Gen. Bowlly Smite and Gen. William Cross. The General did not rise, nor +did he, by any means, exhibit any knowledge of their presence. + +“In the conversation between these three Generals they were discussing +the probable success of the war and the course of the Administration. + +“Farlin said: 'I am very decidedly of the opinion that this war will +last for ten years, and finally the South will gain their independence. +The North will tire out, and the property-holders will get tired of +paying taxes. This war is very expensive, and the debt will eventually +alarm the country, so that they will be ready to accede to anything.' + +[Illustration: Anderson overhears the Conspiracy 162] + +“Said Smite: 'Well; but what will become of everything? This Government +is not strong enough to stand this strain. It has not power, except it +be usurped, to prosecute the war against these Southern States. I do not +believe in a Republic anyway. We ought to have a government of central +force and power--a military government, or a monarchy, such as England. +Suppose we had such a government as that. We would not be afflicted +every now and then with new commanders that we who make soldiering our +profession know nothing and care nothing about, and cannot allow to be +placed over us when we can avoid it.' + +“'Well; but,' said Cross, 'what can we do? That is what we should think +about. For instance, here, to-day, we have won a great battle. It is not +likely that either of us will be put in command of anything higher than +a corps. The command of the different armies will be given to some of +those pets who want to free the niggers; and I was told the other day in +Washington by Mr. Thos. A. Strider, who is one of the ablest men in +this country, that this Abolition President was going to try to set the +slaves free and thereby impoverish the South, so as to force them to lay +down their arms. He said that if this was done he would not be surprised +if Indiana would rise up in revolt. + +“'If that be true, I will leave the army myself, said Smite.' + +“'No, you are wrong,' said Cross. 'If this is the intention of the +Administration, we ought to organize the army on a better basis than it +now is, have McGregor relieve every one who is not his friend; and +let us urge him to march upon the Capital and there we can install him +Dictator, recognize the South's independence, with the understanding +that they in turn will send their army to the front near to us, so as +to sustain him. We could seize all armories, arsenals and war materials. +The people would then be powerless. England would at once recognize the +South, and if we can maintain ourselves six months, which we can easily +do, the whole of Europe would recognize our government.' + +“'Just at this moment Gen. McGregor entered the room and said: + +“'Gentlemen, I hope you have been enjoying yourselves. I have been out +to my Adjutant-General's office, dictating my orders for to-morrow. I +hope you have helped yourselves to my sherry and champagne. I had quite +a good lot of it brought on, not knowing how long this campaign might +last.' + +“Farlin said: 'General, I would think that the campaign for the present +is almost over; our troops are in no condition for further offensive +operations.' + +“'Do you think so?' said Gen. McGregor. + +“'Yes; most assuredly.' + +“'Yes,' added Smite; 'we are in no hurry; this war cannot be rushed +through; and if this Administration is going to do what I understand it +is, there are some of us who will not submit.' + +“'What is that?' inquired McGregor. + +“'Free the negroes. We will not stand that. We want you to be up and +dressed. We will put you in place of the Administration, and have the +country governed properly, make peace with the South and stop the war.' + +“Gen. McGregor here put his finger to his lips, indicating silence +on their part; and looking in the direction of the bed on which Gen. +Anderson was resting, all became silent on this subject, and commenced +speaking of the quality of the wine. Very soon supper was announced, +and the messenger was told to call Gen. Anderson. The General, turning +over and groaning as if awakening from a deep sleep, arose, and +addressing Gen. McGregor, said: + +“'General, I would have slept till morning, without intermission, had I +not been called.' + +“'He was then introduced to Generals Cross and Smite, and all repaired +to their elegant meal, and there discussed the occurrences of the day, +the merits of the several officers who had fallen, etc. + +“When supper was over, which continued quite late, Gen. Anderson +repaired to his own headquarters, which had been moved up to and in a +depression or cut near Antler's Run, on the east side. There he found +his Adjutant-General, a few darkies, and old Ham. + +“'How are you, Ham?' inquired the General. 'Are you still alive? You did +not stay very close to me, to-day, so that you “might be safer,” did you +Ham?' + +“'No, Massa Tom. When you fust start out, I was gwine long wid you, but +you lef me, and den you said nuffin 'bout me comin' wid you, and I spose +you not kear 'bout habin me bodderin' you. Dat's all how it war, Massa +Tom.' + +“'Yes, Ham, I see. Well, it is all right. You stay with the headquarters +and take care of my traps, and I will not ask you to take command of my +troops in time of battle.' + +“Ham laughed one of his peculiar guffaws. + +“'Yah! yah! Massa Tom. I speck dat is de bes' way. Doz you want sumfin +to eat? Got plenty of chicken. Dey git skeered at de fitin', and jes' +cum rite to de camp, sah. Yes, sah, dey am 'fraid of de Sesh, dey is; +dey know der friends, dese chickens do.' + +“The General laughed, saying, 'Ham, are you quite sure they came into +camp alone?' + +“'Well, sah, dey got in heah some way. I not fotched dem in. De fuss I +seed dem, dey in de corner ob de tent all scrouched up, so I spose dey +hidin' from de Sesh, and I jes' took 'em in to sabe dem. Yes, sah; dat's +de way it war.' + +“Ham retired behind a tent, and laughed immoderately, saying 'I spect he +not keer bery much; I feels my way pretty good, I does.' + +“The troops rested during the night, and next morning there were no +rebels in sight, and they were ordered into camp, and no further pursuit +of the enemy contemplated by the commanding General. They, however, were +soon required in another direction, for the purpose of protecting the +Capital of the Nation. Gen. Anderson's old wound re-opened, which caused +him to turn over his splendid command. At the suggestion of his surgeon, +he with his two Aides-de-camp and old Ham, returned to Allentown until +such time as he could again recover sufficiently to perform his duty. +The President hearing of his skill in maneuvering troops, and his +gallant conduct on the battlefield, at once promoted him to be a +Major-General. + +“Their return home, of course, made our family very happy again--only +marred by the continued severe illness of Dr. James. He had lingered +for months, sometimes improving, and then again suffering severely. He +seemed to revive and gain strength on the return of his friends. Capt. +Day took up his abode at Young's Hotel, and Capt. Jackson remained at +home with us. Peter returned in a few days, his foot being in a very bad +condition, he fearing that an amputation might become necessary without +great care and immediate rest. Thus our family were once more partly +together, and although some were suffering greatly, we enjoyed the +recital of the battle of Antler's Run, by both Capt. Jackson and the +General The story of his lying on the bed and hearing the suggestions of +a conspiracy by the superior officers of the Army of the East, caused +me serious reflection. The details of this conversation he gave me in +confidence, having never revealed it even to his staff officers. I at +once repaired to the Capital, and saw the President and Secretary of +War, and stated to them the whole of the conversation and the proposed +scheme. They were almost dumbfounded. The President thanked me saying: + +“'I have now declared the slaves free. We will see what we will see.' +“He then remarked: + +“'I have my eye on the man the Lord I think is raising up in order to +complete the work we have begun. These men must be held in our hands +until the right time arrives;' which he thought would not be very long. + +“The Secretary of War was not so mild. Under a promise that I would still +prosecute my inquiries further into Canada and elsewhere I left for +home. On my arrival I found the Doctor much worse, and the family +greatly distressed. He lingered but a few days and passed away. You +can see our household was again in deep gloom. I will not speak of our +grief. We were a sorely stricken family.” + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + BATTLE OF MURPHY'S HILL.-THE MOST SANGUINARY FIGHTING OF THE + WAR.---MURDER OF STEPHEN LYON.--UNCLE HAM GETS A STRONG + DISLIKE TO WAR. + + Generals 'gainst Generals grapple gracious God, + How honors Heaven heroic hardihood! + Infuriate, indiscriminate in ill, + Kindred kill kinsmen, kinsmen kindred kill, + Labor laid levels, longest, loftiest lines; + Men march 'mid mounds, 'mid molts, 'mid murderous mines, + --FINLEY + +“After the lapse of considerable time Gen. Anderson whether or not he had +recovered sufficiently to again take the field. His staff officers and +his wife were protesting that his strength was not sufficient. + +“I said: 'Well, we will consider this matter at another time.' + +“Aunt Martha called us; we all walked in and sat down to tea, Capt. Day +with us, having been with Gen. Anderson almost daily since his return. +While at the table my wife spoke of the absence of Stephen and Peter, +wishing them with us, and again alluded to her dream, saying that she +had dreamed it all over again last night, and that she thought there +must be some kind of a warning to her in it. + +“Just at this moment I discovered old Ham standing in the corner very +much absorbed in counting his fingers. He seemed to be considerably +bothered, however, in making up the proper count. Aunt Sarah discovered +him, and said: + +“'Ham, what are you doing? + +“'Ham saw that his manner caused my wife (Aunt Sarah) to be disturbed, +and the old fox (for he was very sly) said: “'es, missus, I's--I's jes' +seein'w many is here, and how many dey is wid de oder boys what goed +away, so dat I know how many you is when you'uns is all togedder. I tell +you, dis am a big family--dat's all.' + +“Old Martha, who was attending the table, spoke to Ham in her usual way, +saying: + +“Ham, you jes' git out, you ole fool; go to de kitchen, whar you +belongs.' + +“When Ham left we finished our tea, but Aunt Sarah showed plainly that +she was very much troubled. She soon retired for the night, and the rest +of us conversed about the situation and Gen. Anderson's condition; +he claiming that he was strong, the rest of us to the contrary. We +concluded to settle it for the present by visiting the farm the next +morning, which e did, taking Ham with us as driver of our wagon. When +we arrived Joseph Dent invited us all into his house, and while making +inquiries of him as to his health, the condition of his stock, etc., a +man came to the gate and called for him. When he returned he said that +this man was notifying him that he must come to a meeting that night of +the Golden Circle; that the Circle had some very important business on +hand. We encouraged him to go, and to report to us at Allentown the next +morning. Bent consented, saying that the Circle had been exceedingly +active; that an agent had been there from Canada and had required them +to make a selection of agents of their Circle to be ready to do some +particular work, which would be explained at the proper time. He also +gave us the names of two men, one of whom resided in Allentown. This +caused us to think seriously about the danger that we might be in, as +men coming from Canada might discover us in some way and afterwards +recognize any of us who should be in that country prying into their +designs. We left for home, and on the way noticed that Ham was unusually +quiet, but watchful. Finally, he concluded that it was his time to +speak, and turn ing to Gen. Anderson, said: + +“'Mssa Gen'l, did you see dat man out at de barn, sir?' + +“'No,' said the General. + +“'Well, sah! dat was the wussest lookin' Sesh I eber did see. He war +lyin' in de hay, and when he look at me I lef; yes, sah, I lef. Somefin +wrong dar, sah. You better ax Massa Joseph, when he be down to de house, +'bout dat.' + +“We satisfied Ham by agreeing to find out on the next day; so we came +home, and were sitting on my portico talking about what was best to do, +when the General received a dispatch from Washington, stating that +Gen. Rosenfelt, commanding the Army of the Center, had asked for Gen. +Anderson to be assigned to him, which would be done whenever he was well +enough to take the field. The General was somewhat disappointed, as +he wished to return to the Army of the East, for reasons that you can +understand from what occurred in his hearing while at Gen. McGregor's +headquarters. He was a true soldier, however, and said not a word, but +promptly telegraphed, thanking them for the assignment, and saying he +would report very soon. He felt that he would be able to attend to duty +without very great danger to himself; so he directed Capt. Jackson, as +we now called him, to get ready, also Capt. Day, who had come in a +few moments after the receipt of the telegram. The young men seemed +particularly well pleased. Capt. Jackson felt that he would be +with Peter and Stephen. Stephen had been promoted and was now a +Brigadier-General. So all seemed pleased, though I knew how Gen. +Anderson felt. + +“The General sent a telegram to Gen. Rosenfelt, who was then encamped +between Nashua and Stone Run, Tenn., informing him that he would start +for his headquarters in about two days. He did not get away, however, as +soon as he stated. + +“The next day Joseph Dent came, and was greatly delighted at something. +So we gave him a seat and cleared the decks, as you must know that +these secret matters about how information was obtained of which we were +coming in possession, other than in the ordinary course of things, was +not told to the whole household. Before proceeding, however, we asked +him to tell us who was in the barn at the farm the day before, that had +so alarmed Ham. He laughed and said it was his partner; so we dropped +further inquiry, but did not tell Ham. + +“Joseph Dent said he attended the Circle the night before, as he had +promised, and that they were in great trouble. They had been advised +that the agents would not be needed for the present; that some scheme +that was on foot had been postponed, and that a consultation was to be +held in order to come to an understanding as to what course was to be +pursued. He said a man who was a stranger to him stated that two of +their principal men who were to carry out the scheme (whatever it might +be) had been sent to Europe, and that this left them in a condition so +that they could not proceed until they could work up their plan; that +their plan or scheme was being matured by the men, who were to obtain +their material in England; that it could not be done here without +suspicion being aroused. This, he said, was all that was said or done. +So you see, this meeting evidently had reference to some desperate +undertaking, of which their leaders in Indiana seemed to be posted as +to the fact that something was to be done, without knowing the details. +This proved to us that they had communication one lodge with another +all over the country, and also with the heads of the conspiracy, +and therefore we would have to take every precaution in all of our +movements; but as we acted only through persons that we could trust with +our lives, we considered the matter comparatively safe, and were very +sure that we would be able to post the President at all times as to what +might be danger in the way of our success. + +“The next day, when the family were informed that the General, Capt. +Jackson and Capt. Day must leave us, our house again became a scene of +distress. My wife cried all day long. Mary Anderson was nearer breaking +down than I had ever seen her since we heard that the General (then a +Colonel) was killed at Dolensburg. Jennie also nearly gave way. The two +children begged them most piteously not to go away to fight (as they +termed it) any more. + +“Ham seemed rather serious, and did not relish the renewal of his +acquaintance with the Sesh, The next morning, all matters being +arranged, the General and his two aides, with old Ham, after taking +leave of all the family, left. The scene that followed in my household I +will not attempt to describe. Ham lingered a little behind, but finally +he embraced Aunt Martha, and said: + +“'Good-by, Marfa; I guess I'se a gone darky dis time. I tell you I do +not like de dream what I had.' + +“'Go long, you ole fool; dreams 'mount to nuffin. You eats too much +cabbage las' night. Dats all what ails you. Dar's no danger you git +kill. You jes' go long wid Massa Tom. Dat's what you do.' “'All right, +Marfa, I do it. Good-by.' + +“They arrived at Gen. Rosenfelt's headquarters (which were with his +army) and reported. Gen. Rosenfelt was very glad to see the General, and +told him that he would assign him to the command of a first-class +division under Gen. Papson, his army then being divided into three full +corps, commanded respectively by Papson, Gen. Critsinger and Gen. +McCabe. His army numbered, embracing all arms of the service, some +56,000 effective men, and was well supplied with all necessary material +for any kind of movement. + +“On the next morning Gen. Anderson was assigned to the command of such a +division as mentioned. He was well pleased with his corps commander, who +was a fine-looking man of middle age, very quiet and unostentatious. The +whole army seemed to be in splendid condition for a campaign. On looking +through his division that day he found Stephen Lyon in command of his +Third brigade, and Peter in command of one of Stephen's regiments. This +delighted the General, and he quickly said to Capt. Jackson: + +“'Gen. Rosenfelt and Gen. Papson both being old friends of Uncle Daniel, +I suspect one of his letters might be found amongst the papers of both +Rosenfelt and Papson.' “'Capt. Jackson laughed and said: + +“'Well, father has nothing else to do except to keep the President +posted and look after his children, which he faithfully does.' + +“'Yes,' said Gen. Anderson; 'he does his duty in all respects.' + +“That afternoon Gen. Stephen Lyon and Col. Peter Lyon (being their +respective rank at that time) visited Gen. Anderson's headquarters, and +of course enjoyed themselves, each thanking the good fortune that had +brought them together. They discussed the situation, and Stephen was +decidedly of the opinion that unless we advanced at once and gave battle +that the enemy would do so, and the position we occupied not being a +favorable one for defense, he thought we could force a battle where our +position would be better. + +“The enemy at this time were also in good condition, and were commanded +by Gen. Biggs, with three full corps, commanded respectively by Gen. +Polkhorn, Gen. Chatham and Gen. Harding. Biggs's command was disposed +as follows: Polkhorn's corps and three brigades of Harding's were at +Murphy's Hill; the remainder of Harding's corps to the southwest some +twenty miles, forming the left flank; the remainder of Biggs's army +lay some twenty miles to the south and east; on and in advance of his +extreme left was one division on the Nashua and Franktown road. In this +position lay the rebel army, in easy supporting distance to the center +and main line, it having been selected by Biggs as a good position on +which to make his stand against.our forces, his outposts being ordered +to fall back should our forces advance. The position was a good one, as +it forced our army to cross Stone Run in his front in any direction that +our troops might approach him. + +“During the evening a lady came to our picket line and asked to be taken +to Gen. Rosenfelt's headquarters. This was done. When she appeared, Gen. +Rosenfelt recognized her as Mrs. Lotty Houghton, who had been employed, +it seems, by Jardine, Marshall & Co., northern manufacturers of cotton +goods, to purchase cotton and get it through our lines. They had a +permit to do so from the Treasury Department of the United States, and +it seems she was quite successful as one of the agents. The enemy were +eager to sell their cotton and our people anxious to get it. She went +to and fro with passes from both sides, neither believing she could +give any information that would be of importance to either side. +She, however, was an exceedingly bright woman, who noted in her mind +everything she saw or heard. She was as true and as loyal to the Union +as any commander we had. She asked the General for a private interview, +and gave him the position of the enemy, as I have before stated. This +was the only certain information he had up to this time as to their +exact position. She also told him that the reason she came to him +now was that all the enemy's main force of cavalry were gone. That of +Morganson and Forester were far away on raids, and would not be able +to return in time to aid in a battle, should Gen. Rosenfelt feel like +assuming the offensive. She proposed to him that she would go to Nashua +and from thence down the Franktown road, pass through the lines of +the enemy, and come in their rear to Murphy's Hill, where she was well +known; remain there quietly with a lady friend, and when she discovered +anything that she considered absolutely important, she would get +through the lines some way and come to him with the information. He was +delighted at this proposition and said to her: + +“'You shall be well rewarded for this.' + +“She said, in reply: + +“'No, sir; you mistake me. I am no spy! I give this information +because it comes to my knowledge without my seeking it, and not in any +confidence. I do this for the good of my country, and not for reward.' + +“The General bowed and applauded her devotion to her government. She +then bade him good-by and left for Nashua, refusing an escort. + +“Gen. Rosenfelt sent for his corps commanders that evening, and +explained the situation as he understood it. After examining the map and +showing his officers the manner he desired an assault to be made, should +he determine to attack, all agreed that there was no cause for delay. + +“The troops were in fine condition and 'eager for the fray.' The General +commanding told them to be ready to move at 'o'clock in the morning. He +would send them written instructions in the meantime. So he prepared his +orders and sent them out. First, his headquarters would be with those of +Gen. Papson's corps; that the army would march by three different roads, +leading from Nashua in a southerly direction. Gen. McCabe, with his +command, would march on the Franktown road; Gen. Papson, with his +command, being the center, on the Nolton and Shell-town Road; Critsinger +on the Murphy's Hill road. McCabe was to assail Harding's forces on his +road; but if Harding should fall back on the main rebel line, in that +event McCabe and Papson were both to bear to the left, so as to present +an unbroken front or line at or near Stone Run, opposite Murphy's Hill. +The movement commenced the next morning, but not so early as directed. +During the march McCabe ran against Harding's pickets, when a skirmish +began. The rebel forces fell back on their main line. Gen. McCabe was +delayed for some reason and did not reach Harding's main position that +day, but on the next. And when he did arrive, Harding had left and was +far away on his road to join Bigg's main force. The rain was now falling +in torrents, and Papson and Critsinger were troubled to get their trains +through the mud over very poor roads. When Gen. Rosenfelt's forces were +finally concentrated he was compelled to rest one day, he thought, in +order not to engage the enemy with his army in a tired and worn-out +condition. + +“The enemy had to march about the same distance, however, in order to +make their concentration of forces. The ground over which the battle +must be fought lies between Stone Run and Overman's Creek; it is +slightly rolling ground, with sticky, clayish soil, in which the roads +are tortuous and easily worked up by teams so as to become almost +impassable. There were clearings on this ground, but they alternated +with a chaparral that was almost impenetrable. There are three roads +through this valley, between the two streams, which converge on Murphy's +Hill. + +“Rosenfelt, after resting, formed his line with McCabe on the right, +Papson in the center, and Critsinger on the left, leaving Stone Run +between the enemy and himself. One or the other must cross this stream +sometime and somewhere during the engagement, in order to attack his +opponent. There is much in the first assault if made with decision. In +the evening, just before dark, one of McCabe's brigades struck one of +Wittington's (rebel) brigades. The contest was a severe one, in which +our forces were damaged very much. This ought to have proven that the +enemy were intending to cross the run and strike our right flank. But it +did not seem to disturb our commander in the least. That night Rosenfelt +laid before his corps commanders his plan of attack, which was to throw +his left across the run and attack and drive the rebel forces from +Murphy's Hill, and get between the hill and the enemy, and use the high +ground for artillery on the line and flank of the enemy; at the same +time strike him in the center with Papson, leaving McCabe to merely hold +his line to resist and not to attack. + +“This being understood, all were to be ready the next morning to carry +out the plan of the battle laid down by the General commanding. During +the day Mrs. Lotty Houghton heard directly from one of the rebel +officers that they were to move that night all their available forces to +our right and attack us on our flank in the morning. So she concluded to +leave that day, in order to be out of the way of the battle, and started +south. After traveling several miles outside of the enemy's lines, +she cut across to the west and took the road leading from Nashua to +Pulaston. Traveling on that for some distance she struck across to the +road from Nashua to Murphy's Hill, following that until she came to our +pickets, and there asked to be shown to Army headquarters. She got in +very late, and the Sergeant made a mistake and took her to Gen. Papson. +He did not know her and was rather suspicious. She told him of the +movement of the enemy. He took her into his headquarters and sent out +to find Gen. Rosenfelt. But he could not be found. He was out somewhere +looking after his lines. This caused delay. He was not found until +morning, and then not until after the movement had commenced on his +left. Critsinger was crossing the run in front of Murphy's Hill. When +Gen. Rosenfelt was informed that Mrs. Houghton was in our lines, and of +her statement made about the enemy, he said: + +“'It cannot be so. Biggs cannot suspect our movement. But even so, I +will crush his right, which he has left exposed, and carry out my plan +before he can do anything.' Gen. Rosenfelt superintended the crossing +of the run in person. He saw the moment approaching when he could throw +himself with a vastly superior force upon the isolated division that +Gen. Biggs had left at the hill--the rest of Biggs's command having +crossed the run to his left. At this juncture skirmish firing was heard, +and in a very short time sharp musketry burst forth on our extreme +right. + +“At once Rosenfelt questioned in his mind, could Biggs have guessed the +movement by which he was menaced? Was he endeavoring to forestall it, or +was this one of those encounters between pickets? Or had Mrs. Houghton +brought to him the correct information? He at once sent to have her +brought to him. But she had left for Nashua on the turnpike road, so as +to be out of the way, as well as out of danger. Very soon the facts were +revealed to him, when too late, however, to retrace his steps. There +was nothing left but to attack the isolated force at once, as McCabe +had stated that he could hold his position against any force that might +attack him. The battle had commenced on his right, and the rebels were +pressing forward and gaining very great advantage. Our forces were taken +completely by surprise on our right--the soldiers were in their tents, +the officers scattered; the Chief of Artillery was at the headquarters +of Gen. McCabe; the artillery horses had been taken to water, and in +the great haste to get under arms each regiment formed in front of their +tents. On came the rebel division, pouring a terrific fire into our +ranks, advancing at every discharge, and loading as they came. Our +artillery was mixed up and the portion of it that could be got into +position was operated in vain. The two forces came together and fought +hand to hand amid a musketry fire that struck friend and foe alike. Gen. +John's brigade held their ground manfully, but could not long withstand +the impetuosity of the attack and the superiority of numbers. Their line +broke in several places, and the batteries, deprived of horses, fell +into the hands of the enemy. Gen. Willis's brigade was totally routed +and he made a prisoner. Kirkham's brigade was broken to pieces and +routed. The first assault did not last long, but was extremely damaging +to our forces. Thus attacked, our lines were falling back in the +direction of Overman's Creek, when Lawting's rebel cavalry fell upon +their flank, capturing many prisoners, guns, and much camp equipage. +Polkhorn now assaulted Gen. Davies' division with two fresh divisions. +Davies repulsed the first assault, but was struck in flank by Clayber, +which forced him back. Potter's brigade was by Clayber entirely +dispersed. By this time our right flank had been broken and driven back +on Hospital Hill, and finally from there. + +“The rebel cavalry then came charging down, capturing many prisoners. +Our wagon trains, ammunition and rations were only saved by the action +of one regiment of our cavalry charging the rebel flank and forcing them +back. News reached Rosenfelt that his right was completely routed. He at +once countermanded his order to attack with his left, and moved to the +right in order to save a great disaster and perhaps his army. + +“In the meantime Biggs was preparing to attack the center, and on came +one of his divisions in double column and struck the troops of a general +who was in waiting to receive them (Gen. Sherlin). The attack was quick +and terrible, but they were rolled back, attacked in turn, and the rebel +loss in one brigade was one-third of its force. Gen. Sull, one of our +brave officers, here lost his life while leading a charge. Rosenfelt and +Gen. Papson now commenced forming a new line, which had to be done under +a heavy fire, as the battle had extended down to and on the center. +Sherlin had fallen back to form on the new line. Rosen felt had become +excited, and was riding over the field with his hat off, ordering +everything he came to--batteries, regiments and companies. Papson, who +was always cool and calm in battle as on dress parade, had his corps +well in hand, and ordered Gen. Anderson, who was on his right and +adjoining Sherlin, to receive the enemy and give him the bayonet. There +had been a cessation of fighting for an hour, and the broken troops +had commenced to re-organize and get into line. Biggs, seeing that +postponement would not do, ordered up the division from Murphy's Hill, +and again the battle commenced with renewed vigor. Sherlin was assailed +first by Polkhorn. Gen. Anderson now seeing his chance, moved quickly to +Sherlin's support, and with a dash struck one of Polkhorn's divisions +in flank, and almost annihilated it. One of his brigades, Stephen Lyon +commanding, was ordered to charge against another division. This was +handsomely done, and the rebels fell back rapidly. At this time Biggs +came into the fray, and led back his broken brigades in person, but they +fared the same as before. In this assault Sherlin lost his other two +brigade commanders, and had his troops somewhat demoralized for a time; +but they soon recovered and the attacking commenced on our side. Our +lines were moved forward and the battle was furious; first an advantage +was gained on the one side and then on the other. At last our men became +encouraged and were fighting with a firm conviction that we were gaining +ground and driving the enemy back. During an hour of hard stand-up +hand-to-hand fighting, officers and men fell like the leaves of Autumn +after a bitter frost. Night then closed in, leaving the two armies +facing each other. + +“A profound silence prevailed during the night, interrupted only by +the groans and the shrieks of the wounded and dying, after a constant +strife, which had lasted for ten hours. No more sanguinary struggle for +the length of time was ever witnessed. During this day there was not a +single regiment of our troops that had not been more or less engaged. +The enemy's cavalry had crossed the run below our army and captured +and destroyed a great quantity of our provisions, ammunition, etc. That +night no rations were distributed. The poor boys gathered around the +campfires and anxiously inquired about missing comrades, and what of the +day to-morrow. Many of the soldiers thought our army surrounded. Three +of our Generals had fallen during the day, and many thousand poor +soldiers were killed, wounded and captured. + +“That night Gens. Anderson and Sherlin met for the first time, and in +talking over the morrow both agreed that they would die on that ground +or win the battle, and they infused this same determination into all +they met. + +“Biggs thought that Rosenfelt would retreat during the night. He could +not believe that he would undertake to maintain himself in the position +in which he bad been forced. He thought that he had only to wait until +morning to gather the fruits of a great victory. He was mistaken. The +next morning he found the Union forces in a compact line skirting the +timber, with hastily thrown-up earthworks. If Rosenfelt had made his +movement, on the information given by Mrs. Houghton, earlier in the day, +instead of the afternoon, he would, perhaps, have met with no disaster. +But the next day, when he found that Biggs did not attack, he determined +to do so. He made the same movement that he began the day before, and +was driven back in his first attempt to take the hill. He then began a +general assault, and retook all the positions lost the day before. The +loss of the enemy was very heavy, and the victory of the second day +was complete. Gen. Anderson moved out with his division by the side of +Sherlin, and the two seemed to vie with each other as to which could +face the greatest danger. The rebels lost two Generals, killed that day. +In the two days' fighting the losses on both sides were most serious. +In the evening, after the battle was concluded, as General Anderson was +riding over the field near Hospital Hill, he discovered a rebel officer +leaning against the root of a tree. There were two rebel soldiers with +him. He was very pale, and not able to speak in louder tones than +a whisper. The General dismounted, giving his reins to his orderly. +Approaching the group, the two soldiers arose and said: + +“'General, we surrender.' + +“The General replied: + +“'That is not my purpose. I do not come to make prisoners, but to know +if I can be of any service to this wounded officer.' + +“As the General spoke, the wounded officer said, in a whisper: + +“'Tom, is that you?” + +“'Yes,' said the General, reaching out his hand to Capt. Whitthorne, in +whom he recognized his wife's cousin. + +“Capt. Whitthorne took his hand and said: + +“'I am dying. I want you to tell cousin Mary that I have never forgotten +her; I love her, and wish I could see her now. We will not speak of our +differences now; the approach of death softens our hearts. You are a +brave man, Tom. I am proud of you, even as an enemy. When I die, as I +will in a few minutes--I can only last a little while--will you bury me +just where I fell? There is the spot,' looking over his left shoulder +and asking one of the men to mark it. + +“This exertion caused the blood to flow profusely, as he had been shot +through the lungs. + +“In a few minutes he breathed his last. Gen. Anderson had him properly +interred at the place where he requested, and marked it with a headstone +with his name upon it. He wrote to his wife the facts as I have given +them to you. Gen. Anderson never alluded to him afterwards except in the +most respectful terms. When Mary, the General's wife, received a letter +giving an account of her cousin's death, she wept, but said nothing. + +“But to return to the results of the battle: Biggs retreated and left +the field to Rosenfelt, who concluded to go into winter quarters +instead of making pursuit. He said it was necessary that his army should +recuperate. Wishing, however, to cover Nashua, he sent a command out +to the west from Murphy's Hill, on the road to Frank-town. It fell upon +Stephen Lyon's brigade to go. He was quite unwell, but would by this +station have an independent command--his brigade and two regiments of +cavalry and two batteries of artillery--consequently he was gratified +by the order. In marching the command moved slowly, there not being an +urgent necessity for their presence at Franktown. On the second day's +march they halted and had a luncheon at a spring by the roadside. + +“Gen. Stephen Lyon was lying on a mattress in an ambulance. When +the command had rested he sent them forward, remaining at the spring +himself, saying to his officers that he would come on after resting, as +he could soon overtake them. H e kept with him only one officer (Lieut. +Curtis), two orderlies and the driver, not dreaming of an enemy being in +that part of the country, as Biggs's army was many miles south of Stone +Run, or rather to the southeast at Tullahoming. + +“Col. Joseph Whitthorne (then Brigadier-General), with a detachment +of cavalry, came dashing up. He captured Lieut. Curtis and the two +orderlies and driver, and then asked who the officer was that was +lying in the ambulance. On being told that it was Gen. Stephen Lyon, he +replied: + +“'I have sworn to kill him if I ever met him, for sending a spy into my +camp.' + +“Stephen was unarmed, and protested that he knew nothing about the +charges alleged against him. But it did no good. Whitthorne ordered +his men to shoot him, and it was done and my poor boy was in this +cold-blooded way murdered by this gang of bushwhackers. My other sons +had his body taken back to Murphy's Hill and buried. I never knew who +murdered him until the war was over.” + +[Illustration: The Murder of Steven Lyon 182] + +“The old man again broke down and for a time was unable to proceed, but +at last said: + +“You can see how the fates were against my family. When the news +was received at home my poor wife could not rally under these +successive blows, and she lay sick for months. I thought she would soon +follow the poor boys. When she did recover it was only partially. She +was never well afterwards. + +“After the battle, Gen. Anderson thought he would look up his military +family, as his headquarters had been sent to the rear during the +conflict. Capt. Day and Capt. Jackson were near him all the time, and +were no better posted than the General as to where the headquarters +were. Finally they were found some three miles to the rear. The +orderlies, driver, cook, etc., were found established at the +headquarters; but old Ham, poor old man, was nowhere to be found. A +general search was at once instituted, and finally he jumped up like +a rabbit from some thick underbrush. When he came out he looked all +around, and at last realizing who the parties were that had discovered +him he threw up his hands and exclaimed: + +“'Bress the good Laud, and you'uns are not all killed. Afo' de Laud I +never 'spected to see any you good people agin. And heah is Massa Gen'l +Tom, and Massa Jackson and Massa Capt. Day. Well! well! if dis isn't a +sprize to ole Ham.' + +“The General said: + +“'Ham, how did you get here? What made you run away? I thought you were +going to stay with us.' + +“'Yes, sah, I thought so, too; but, sah, de shell, de guns and de bums +dey all come rite down over whar I was, and I not know how to fight. One +ob de mans git me a gun and fix it up, and I git behind a tree and poke +it out and pull de trigger, and bress de Laud it shoot de wrong way and +I fine myself knocked ober away off from de tree. Den I said dis is no +place for dis darkey, and I gits; dats what I does, and I corned along +pretty fas' and I got wid de wagons, and pretty soon de hossmen ob de +Sesh--I b'leves dey calls 'em cabalry--dey come on de run and burned up +de wagons and slashed 'bout and cussed about de Yanks and swared about +de niggers and skeered me out ob my breff. Den I gits in de woods and +creeps under de brush and dar I stay, and sho' you born I thought ebery +one was killed, I wouldn't never come out if you hadn't found me, sho'. +I done thought I neber see Marfa no more. O, bress de Laud, I's hungry +doe.' + +“'Well, come along, Ham; I guess I will have to send you home; you seem +not to take to war.' + +“'Well, sah! Massa Gen'l, 'spect it be de bes'; for afore de Laud I +feels curous when you is fitin'. Somehow I doesn't jes' feel rite all +de time dey is shootin'. It seems dey would kill a darky jes'as quick as +dey do a white man.' + +“'Yes,' said the General; 'why not?' + +“'Well, sah, I doesn't know why; it 'pears like dey wouldn't kill the +darkies when we work for dem so long. But de Sesh dey is quar folks dey +is; dey fight doe, don' dey, Massa Tom?' + +“'Yes; they fight like other people.' + +“By this time they were at headquarters, and Ham got hold of his +namesake and devoured it as a wild beast would have done. Ham was very +serious and finally said: + +“'Massa Tom, I guess dey not fight any mo' berry soon, does dey?' + +“The General replied that he did not know. + +“'Well,' said Ham, 'I guess I stay wid you a while longer. You won't +write home 'bout me gittin' in de bush, will you'uns?' + +“'No; if you wish us not to do so.' + +“'O, for de Laud's sake! Marfa she d neber lib wid dis darky no mo' if +she know what I do. You won't tell her, Massa Tom, will you?' + +“'No, Ham; I will keep it a secret from her.' + +“'Well, den, I will try him once mo'. I 'spects I stay here nex' time. I +knows I do. O, I knows de nex' time, sho.' + +“All right, Ham; you get around now and get our things together, and +look after my “traps.”' + +“'Yes, massa, yes.' + +“Ham's conduct and explanations afforded great amusement for the boys +around headquarters for some time. + +“Capt. Zeke Inglesby said: + +“Uncle Daniel, I did not know before that Gen. Stephen Lyon, who was +murdered at Bethesda Springs, was your son. I know all about his murder. +I belonged to his brigade. That dastardly murder was considered by all +soldiers as one of the most outrageous acts and cold-blooded murders +ever known in civilized warfare.” + +“Oh, yes. I grieved over his death very greatly, he being the second +one of our dear boys murdered outright--the fourth dead since the war +began. It chilled the blood of our whole family. The strangest thing to +me was how Gen. Anderson, Capt. Jackson and Col. Peter could restrain +themselves so as not to mention the name of his murderer, in all their +conversations about his death; but, as I said, I never knew who did it +until after the war. I could easily understand the reason for their not +telling the name. Mary Anderson, being his sister, was never told the +facts; nor my wife nor any of us at the time, the boys fearing that +it might cause an unpleasant feeling even to know the fact that a near +relative of one of our family could be such a barbarian. + +“I was kept quite close at home for some months with our family, being +their only protection within call. During this time no man ever suffered +more in spirit. I can see it all before me now: my poor wife's agony, +the sorrowing of David's widow, Mary Anderson's trouble, the two poor +little children--their questions about their Uncle Stephen, who killed +him, and why? These questions I could not answer.” + +At this point Dr. Adams inquired if Gen. Rosenfelt ever expressed +any regret at not listening to the information imparted to him on the +morning of the battle. + +“No, sir; I did not so understand.” + +“Uncle Daniel, did you know anything of Mrs. Houghton after this?” + +“Yes; she continued to do good service for our cause, as you will learn +hereafter.” + +Uncle Daniel here called in Mrs. Wilson. She was a bright and beautiful +woman. He took her in his arms and said to us: + +“This dear child and one boy, the son of another of my boys, are all of +whom I can now boast.” + +His speech at this point was so pathetic and saddening, that the whole +party were unconsciously moved to tears. His voice trembled, and he +slowly walked out of the room, overwhelmed by the sad memories he had +awakened. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + THE COURT-MARTIAL.--AT MURPHY'S HILL.--THE TWO OPPOSING + ARMIES AND THEIR MOVEMENTS.--JAMES WHITCOMB'S TRIAL.-- + SENTENCED TO DEATH AND PARDONED BY THE PRESIDENT. + + “But mercy is above this sceptered sway, + It is enthroned in the heart of kings, + It is an attribute to God himself; + And earthly power doth then show likest God's, + When mercy seasons Justice.” + --Shakespeare. + +“Gen. Biggs having taken up his position in the angle of the headwaters +of Goose River and Cane's Fork, near Tullahoming, in the midst of a rich +valley, Rosenfelt at once commenced repairing the railroads and throwing +up earthworks near Murphy's Hill, which almost encircled the entire +place. There he remained during the winter and following spring. The two +armies were principally engaged in watching each other, neither being +willing to risk an advance against the other. For several months this +situation continued. The only operations that marked this long period of +inaction on the part of the two armies were a series of small exploits +which were calculated to cause the two armies to degenerate into small +bands, that could only be employed in harassing their enemies. The +rebels got ready, however, and made the first attempt. Gen. Weller, with +a brigade of cavalry, pushed his way up within a few miles of Nashua, +burned a railroad bridge, then descended on the right bank of the +Le-Harp River to the banks of Combination River, and there seized +several of our transports, which were loaded with supplies. He burned +these with all their cargoes. One of our gunboats reached the scene of +action just in time to also become a prey to the flames. + +“This act on the part of the rebel cavalrymen in its audacity seems to +have completely paralyzed our mounted troops, and Weller was permitted +to return entirely unmolested. In a very short time, elated by his +success, he concentrated a force of some 3,000 men under Gens. Forrester +and Lawting, with two batteries, within twenty miles of Nashua. Gen. +Rosenfelt, seeing that the rebels were riding all around and about him +with impunity, sent Gen. Davies with one division of infantry, and two +brigades of cavalry commanded by Gen. Minting, in order to hem Weller in +and 'bag him' and take him into camp, as the soldiers would say. Davies +marched from Murphy's Hill to Eagle Cove; Sleeman marched from Nashua +with a division of infantry, upon Tyrone; Minting moved away to the +south by way of Franktown, where the forces were all to close in like +pulling the drawstring of a bag and closing it over your game. But when +opened there was no Weller inside. The next heard of him he had pushed +on far to the northwest, and while our forces were closing in at +Franktown, Weller had again reached the borders of Combination River at +Mariam's Crossing, and appeared before Dolinsburg on the next day. You +remember the great battle fought at Dolinsburg, where Gen. Tom. Anderson +was thought to have been killed, but was found by me in the darky's +cabin?” They answered: “Yes; that could not be forgotten.” “Well, +gentlemen, this place was still commanded by good old Col. Harden. He +had but 700 men all told. The place was encircled by parapets commanding +the ravines north and south. In the center the Colonel had constructed +large earthworks, and mounted thereon one 32-pounder. He also had +a section of field-guns. The rebels lost no time in making their +dispositions, and were ready for the assault. Col. Harden hastily made +preparations to receive the enemy. He placed his women and sick on a +transport that lay at the wharf. That being done, the old Colonel said +to his men: 'Boys, here I will die before I will lower that flag.' and +his command all cheered him, and said 'we agree to that sentiment.' + +“Weller was now ready; he ordered Forrester and Law-ting to advance +and attack. But before doing so he thought it would be the more correct +warfare to summon the garrison to surrender. He did so by sending a flag +of truce and demanding a surrender of the fort. Col. Harden inquired +by what authority the surrender was demanded. The reply was that Gen. +Weller demanded it 'in the name of Jefferson Davis, President of the +Southern Confederacy.' + +“'Tell Gen. Weller that if Mr. Davis is here in person I will see him; +but if Gen. Weller wants this fort he must take it at the point of the +bayonet. Col. Harden never surrenders to the enemy.' + +“This was reported to Gen. Weller, and he remarked, 'We will see.' + +“Forrester deployed his command and moved forward up the hill, but as +he galloped up under a heavy fire his loss was severe. The soldiers +who were defending that part of the outer works retreated inside of the +heavy fortifications. A murderous and destructive fire was now opened +upon the enemy from all sides of the works. + +“Forrester fell back and formed a new line, and Weller put his whole +force in action. Lawting joined Forrester on the right, and the assault +was made. + +“Old Col. Harden said: 'Boys, here they come; let them charge close up +before you fire. Fill that old 32-pounder with bullets on top of the +shell;' and they did. + +“So Forrester charged with his men right up to the works. Col. Harden +gave the command 'Fire!' and with one volley from muskets and the old +32-pounder the cavalry retreated in every direction; many horses and men +fell under this terrible fire. Our men leaped out of the works, and with +bayonets fixed charged down against Forrester's men and captured many +of them. Forrester's best Colonel was killed and his command routed and +demoralized. Lawting had captured the Cemetery Ridge, where some of Col. +Harden's men had made a stand, but finding they could not hold it, +fell back into the fort. Darkness here closed in and the old flag still +floated over Dolins-burg. During the night a gunboat came to the rescue. + +“The next morning there were no rebels in sight, save killed and +wounded. Dolinsburg was never again assaulted by the enemy during the +war. Col. Harden was a brave man, and dearly beloved by my whole family; +not alone for his bravery, but for his kindness to Gen. Anderson during +his stay at the Colonel's Headquarters. + +“Weller was being followed up by Davies, who had finally gotten on +his track. But he took another tack; he moved a short distance, as if +intending to meet Davies, and then suddenly wheeled to the right and +reached Center-town by way of Pinche's Factory, along the line of Goose +River. After fording the river he called a halt at Colesburg. His men +were now worn out with fatigue, and his horses totally unfitted for +further service until thoroughly recuperated. This ended Gen. Weller's +exploits for a considerable length of time. Just then another raider +appeared upon the scene--one Gen. Van Doring, in command of some 5,000 +fresh cavalry. This new force gave the enemy courage, and they at once +renewed their former audacity. They were determined to wipe out if +possible the terrible and painful result of their attack upon Col. +Harden at Dolinsburg, and immediately advanced within a short distance +of Rosenfelt's main encampment, drove in his outposts, and threatened +his short Une of communication with Nashua. By this time large +re-enforcements had arrived by way of transports up the Combination +River to Nashua. Sleeman's division had moved forward to the main force +at Murphy's Hill. The General felt that he must rid the country of these +raiders, or his situation would become intolerable. His detachments, +except in large bodies, could not venture out of camp without danger of +being attacked by rebel cavalry. Later on, one day, a report came that +our outposts were attacked and part of them captured within a few miles +of his main army. Rosenfelt was greatly excited to think that with his +force of cavalry--one brigade at Nashua, one at Franktown supported by +a division of infantry at each place, and two brigades at his main +position--the rebels were audacious enough to come in sight of his camp +and menace him. Just at this moment Gen. Sherlin, a small man, but a +great soldier, came into his headquarters and said: + +“'General, how would you like to have an infantry commander take one +of your detachments of cavalry and try his hand on Van Doring, who, I +understand, is running round your camp playing marbles on your boys' +coat-tails?' + +“'Well, sir,' said Rosenfelt, 'I wish we had some one like old Col. +Harden at Dolinsburg after this fellow Van Doring. Do you think you can +run him back on his own ground?' + +“'I will try.' + +“'Well, sir, you may try your hand to-day.' + +“'All right,' said Sherlin; 'I am now ready, and I want only 1,000 men.' + +“The General ordered two regiments to report; they did so promptly, and +were off. They started with Sherlin at their head, and were not long +in reaching Brady's Wood, where the enemy was strongly posted. Without +hesitating for one moment Sherlin attacked them and charged, saber in +hand. The contest was of short duration. The rebels had not seen that +kind of cavalry fighting before. They were soon routed and driven in +great disorder back to and across Goose River. Sherlin returned the next +day with 200 prisoners and a command of encouraged men. This aroused +great jealousy with the cavalry officers, and made him the subject +of many remarks. But he went quietly back to his command of infantry +without any exultation or mention of his victory. + +“Gen. Sherlin and Gen. Anderson that evening were speaking of our +cavalry, when Sherlin remarked that they only wanted some one to teach +them how to fight. + +“'That is true,' said Gen. Anderson; 'we must obtain consent to go out +and attack the enemy whenever and wherever we may find him. We now have +re-enforcements, our army is fresh and well supplied in all respects.' + +“The General commanding finding this feeling existing, and seeing that +his re-enforcements had all come forward and were in camp, amounting to +some 14,000, while Biggs had only received the 5,000 cavalry under Van +Doring, he felt that he could afford to make a forward movement and +attack his antagonist wherever he might be found. So he commenced by +directing that our forces were to make Goose River our line for the +present, by first driving the enemy to the south side of the same, and +if possible force him out of this part of the country. + +“Sherlin's division and two brigades of cavalry were to march to Eagle +Cove and thence to Columbiana; Sleeman's division, with other troops, +were to form the center; the left was to move on Shelltown;--the whole +to concentrate on and along the north bank of Goose River. Gen. Corbin, +being in advance on the road leading to Columbiana, met Van Doring at +Spring Hill, and after five hours' hard fighting surrendered his whole +command. When this news reached Rosenfelt, who was still at Murphy's +Hill, it disturbed him much. The troops having now marched for a week +over very bad roads through rain and mud, he directed them to return +to their former positions, 'having accomplished all that the commanding +General desired,' as he said. + +“Kentucky was at this time infested with raiders and guerrillas. Gen. +Broomfield, who had about that time been sent to the West to command the +Department of Kentucky, soon cleared that State of these pests. +Their mode of warfare on either side was merely harassing without +accomplishing any great results. Very soon Rosenfelt's troops were again +within his old camp lines, and Forrester commenced annoying him in many +ways. Gen. Papson being at Rosenfelt's Headquarters, in conversation +remarked: + +“'If you will allow Gen. Anderson, of my corps, to take command of a +division of your cavalry, and give him instructions that Forrester +must be driven beyond Goose River and kept there, I will guarantee good +results.' + +“Rosenfelt readily assented, and the arrangements were made and the +order given. The command started, and by rapid marches came up to +Forrester at a point near Auburnville, and drove him as far as Winter +Hill, a point where the general headquarters of the rebel cavalry had +been for some days. Gen. Anderson charged down upon them with his whole +force in regular old English cavalry style, with drawn sabers. The rebel +cavalry made stubborn resistance, but our force drove them from their +position with much slaughter. They retreated in great confusion, and +were closely pursued and sorely pressed until they were forced to cross +Goose River at different points. The country was now cleared of them for +the present. Gen. Anderson returned with 600 prisoners. This ended the +raids, and our army was not subjected to these harassing exploits again +while it remained at Murphy's Hill. During these many annoyances by the +rebel cavalry our troops were sent after them so frequently and marched +so rapidly, and at times such great distances, that they often became +weary and footsore. + +“The day after Gen. Anderson returned from driving Forrester out of this +portion of the country a division of infantry under Sleeman returned +from a very long and circuitous march. On the detail for guard duty that +night was a boy from one of the Michigan regiments, (the 1st Michigan +I think,) who during the night was found asleep on his watch. He +was arrested and taken to the guard-house. The young man was greatly +troubled. He had been a good soldier; had never shirked any duty imposed +upon him. The next day he was reported by Serg't Smith as being found +asleep while on duty. This was a serious matter,--the penalty being +death if found guilty. The report was taken to Gen. Sleeman, and by +him transmitted to Gen. Rosenfelt with a request that he order the +Court-Martial, if one should be decided upon. The General at once +ordered the Court. I never have believed that severe punishments in +the army were productive of good discipline. The best soldiers are the +kindest men, and the most successful are those who inflict the fewest +severe punishments upon their men. The detail for the Court was made and +the charges filed. + +“The Court held its sessions at Gen. Rosenfelt's Headquarters. The poor +boy was brought out of the guardhouse in the presence of the Court. +He was 20 years old, very slight, light complexion, light auburn hair, +large blue eyes, delicate frame, and, in fact, looked almost as much +like a girl as a boy. His appearance made a deep impression upon +the members of the Court; great sympathy was felt for him. The +Judge-Advocate asked him if he had any objections to the Court, which +was composed of officers from Gen. Sleeman's Division, with Gen. Sleeman +as President of the Court. The boy answered that he had no objections; +'for,' said he, 'I do not know any of the officers. I know but few +persons in the army. I know only my messmates. I am not acquainted with +any of the officers of my own company. I know their names, but have no +personal acquaintance with either of them.' + +“'Do you never talk with any of your company officers?' inquired the +Judge-Advocate. + +“'No, sir,' replied the youth; 'I have never asked a favor since I have +been in the army. I have obeyed orders, and strictly performed my duty +and asked no questions.' + +“'Have you any relatives?' + +“'Yes, sir; I have an aged father and mother, and one sister.' + +“'What was your business before entering the service?' + +“'I was a sales-boy in the wholesale dry-goods store of Baldwin & +Chandler, in Detroit, Mich., where my parents live.' + +“'Have you written to your parents or sister since your arrest?' + +“'No, sir; I asked permission to do so, but it was refused me.' + +“Gen. Sleeman, an old man, full of sympathy and kind feelings, on the +impulse of the moment said, 'That was an outrage.' + +“The Judge-Advocate reminded the General that such remarks were not +proper in the presence of the Court. + +“'Yes,' said the General, 'I spoke before I thought; but the impropriety +of the remark does not change my opinion.' + +“The charges were read to the boy, charging him that in this, 'he, James +Whitcomb, a private soldier, was regularly detailed and placed on guard +duty, and that he slept while on post in the face of the enemy, thereby +endangering the Army of the United States.' + +“The Judge-Advocate advised the boy to plead 'not guilty,' which he did. + +“Just at this moment Capt. Jackson Lyon came along where the Court was +in session, and for the first time heard of this trial. He listened for +a moment and heard the name of the boy mentioned, and it struck him +at once that it might be Seraine's brother. He waited until the Court +adjourned and asked permission to speak to the boy. It being granted, he +ascertained that James Whitcomb was the brother of Seraine, who had gone +South in search of Henry. He told the boy to be of good cheer--to admit +nothing; that when they proved the charge, as perhaps they would, to ask +permission to make a statement, and then to tell all about his march; +the reason for his inability to keep awake, and all about his condition +on that night, and that he, Capt. Jackson Lyon, would look after him; +but not to mention him as his friend, but as one only feeling a sympathy +for him. + +“Jackson wrote to me that day all about the case, and thought it was +best that his father and mother should not be made aware of his arrest +and trial, but that I should write to the President all about the case, +and do no more until he (Jackson) should arrive. My son Jackson was a +very cool-headed man, and always did everything in the manner that would +create the least excitement or suspicion. You see, he had a plan in a +moment for the safety of this poor boy. + +“Well, to get back. The next day the Court reassembled at 12 o'clock +and proceeded with the trial. The witnesses were sworn. Serg't Smith +exhibited the detail for the guard, as well as the detail from the boy's +company, and the report of the detail to him with James Whitcomb's +name on the same. He then showed the time for the boy's guard-duty to +commence on that relief, and finally, by the Officer of the Guard who +went around with the relief guard, that the boy was found asleep and +did not arouse from his slumber when he was challenged, but that the +Sergeant of the Guard had to shake him quite hard to arouse him. This, +you can see, was very strong and hard to get over.” + +“Yes,” said Col. Bush, “that was a strong case. I was hoping to hear +that there was a mistake about it.” + +Maj. Clymer said: “Well, I hope he was acquitted. I have slept many +a time on my horse during a hard march, when if I had been placed on +guard-duty I would have gone to sleep in five minutes.” + +“So have I,” said Capt. Zeke Inglesby. + +“Yes, yes. I have no doubt of that; but it is not the men who commit +acts against law that are always punished, but those who are caught. +These men seemed to think this a terrible crime in this boy, and yet, +perhaps, there was not one of them who could have done differently under +the same circumstances. + +“After the witnesses had been heard against the poor boy, he showed +great mental suffering and agony; the disgrace to his parents and sister +was what troubled him so much. His company officers were sworn, and +stated that prior to this no complaint had ever been made against the +boy. That although they only knew him as a soldier, they had always +observed his neatness and soldierly appearance and bearing; they all +thought that the march the two days before and until 9 o'clock the night +on which he was found asleep on post, was calculated to tire out a boy +of his frail organization. + +“The Chief Surgeon stated that a boy of his constitution would be very +likely to drop to sleep anywhere after such a strain upon his physical +strength. + +“This closed the evidence with the exception of one witness. The boy +asked if he could make a statement to the Court. Some discussion +arose on this point. The Court was cleared, and Jackson said that he +afterwards learned that old Gen. Sleeman grew very angry at the idea +of refusing an innocent boy a chance to say a word in his own defense. +Finally, it was agreed that the boy might make his statement. He arose, +and, with a tremulous voice and much agitation, said: + +“'Gentlemen of the Court: I am a poor boy. My life is of no value to +me, and but little to my country. I have risked it several times without +fear or nervousness. For my parents' sake I would like to go through +this war with an honorable record. To take my life would do me but +little harm. I can meet death as a true soldier. But what can this great +Government gain by taking my life? You can inflict ruin, distress and +misery upon an old man and woman, and upon my queenly sister, who is now +going through more perils, if I am correctly informed, than any of us. +I came to the army not for gain. I was getting much more pay without +risking my life, but I felt it my duty to aid in sustaining our +Government. I did not dream, however, that in the event that I should +escape death from the hands of the enemies of our country that, for an +unhappy result entirely unavoidable, my comrades-in-arms would hasten +to make a sacrifice of me. Were I guilty of anything that I could have +avoided, then I would not ask for leniency; but this I could not avoid. +That I slept on my post I will not deny; but I pray you hear my excuse. +It is this: Two days before this offense was committed, we had marched +through rain and mud some twenty miles in pursuit (as it was said) +of Forrester's cavalry. I did not see many horse tracks in the road, +however, and took it that our forces had captured all their horses, and +that the rebels were taking it on foot, as we were.' + +“Here Gen. Sleeman laughed, and said _sotto voce_: 'That boy ought to +be put in command of our cavalry, instead of being shot.' + +“'The night of this march my messmate, John Martin, a boy of my own age +and my neighbor before coming to the army, was taken quite ill. It +was his turn to be on guard. I took his guard duty that night, and was +entirely without sleep. When not on post I was attending to him, as +he would have done for me. The next day John was not able to carry +his knapsack and gun on the march, and as we had no transportation, I +carried his as well as my own. The burden was very great for me, and +when we arrived in camp I was completely exhausted. John was not able to +stand my guard, and when I told the Sergeant my condition, he would not +excuse me, and gave as a reason that I had no business to carry John's +gun and knapsack, inasmuch as I had no orders from him to do so. I think +the Sergeant would do much better as a General than as a Sergeant. I +may do him injustice, and I would not do that for the world, but I do +believe that he entertains the same high opinion of himself that I do of +him.' + +“At which remark old Gen. Sleeman laughed again, and said, so as to be +heard, 'That boy will be a man some day, and, by the eternal, it would +be a crime--yes, a murder--to shoot him.' + +“Continuing, James Whitcomb said: 'This, gentlemen of the Court, is +my excuse, no more, no less. I hope that John Martin may be called to +verify my statement.' + +“When the boy sat down the whole Court were in tears. + +“John Martin was called, and he did verify everything that had been +stated by James Whitcomb. This closed the evidence in the case. The +Court adjourned until the next day at 12 o'clock. When they met they +began the consideration of the verdict. The Judge-Advocate charged the +Court that the evidence was clear and conclusive; that the law fixed the +penalty; that there was no way out of it; they must find the fact that +he did sleep on his post, and that fact being found, the verdict must be +death. + +“The Court was two days coming to a conclusion. When they did, my God, +it was enough to make a man's blood run cold in his veins. They found +him guilty on all the charges and specifications, and sentenced him +to be shot to death, with only ten days' respite. The sentence was +approved, and orders given to manacle the boy and double his guard. Gen. +Sleeman raved like a madman, and came near resigning; said if the boy +was shot he would at once resign. As soon as the judgment of the Court +was known, Jackson took a leave of absence for ten days and left on the +train that evening for home. He came, and on his arrival was looking +like a ghost. All ran to him to welcome him. + +“He soon assumed his wonted calmness, and talked with his mother, Mary +Anderson and Jennie, as well as the little girls, telling them all about +the army. His mother was still sick in bed over the murder of our son +Stephen; but we all enjoyed seeing Jackson, and were glad to know that +Peter and Gen. Anderson were well. Our family, you will observe, was not +very large at this time. Jackson made Aunt Martha happy by telling her +that Ham was well, and was behaving splendidly. + +“'Thank de good Laud for dat. I always 'spects to hear he killed. But +I knows Ham; he am awful coward. He allers runs off when dere is any +danger. I have to look out for dat.' + +“Jackson had a full report of the proceedings of the Court-Martial so +far as the testimony and the boy's statement was concerned. He read +the whole statement over to Jennie (David's widow), Mary Anderson and +myself. As he read the boy's statement the two ladies burst into tears. +Mary Anderson arose and walked the floor, looking like a Queen, and +seemingly much excited. Finally she said--I shall ever remember her +words: + +“'My God, what does all this mean? Has the great Father forsaken this +family? Four have already lost their lives, and one now suffering in +some loathsome prison if alive; my husband and Peter nearly at death's +door on more than one occasion; Seraine Whitcomb, a lovely girl, with +her only brother in the army (he a mere boy), she leaves her old father +and mother to take the chances of her life through the lines searching +for one of our family, and now her only brother under sentence of death +for what he could not help doing. Capt. Jackson, what do you propose?' + +“Jackson replied that some one must proceed to Washington at once, and +that he thought it was not best to let the boy's parents in Detroit know +the facts, they being old people and alone (according to the statement +of the boy), and as the young lady is doubtless searching for Henry, as +we all surmise from her letter to our father, it is certainly our duty +to look after this boy's case ourselves. I have only ten days' leave +from my duty, and therefore brought these papers, thinking that father +might perhaps go to see the President. + +“Mary Anderson spoke up at once and said: + +“'No, sir; no, sir. Your father will not go. He must not leave Aunt +Sarah in her present condition. I will go; yes, I will go at once. Get +me a ticket, I want no trunk; my satchel will do. I will be off on the +first train.' + +“Jennie said, 'Why, Mary, you will not go, will you?' + +“'Yes, I am going. I am determined to do so. It is settled; so do not +attempt to stop me.' + +“'Well,' said Jennie, 'Uncle Daniel, what shall we do?' + +“I replied, 'She is determined on it, and we will just help her to get +off at once.' + +“So the ticket was procured and Mary was off with a good-bye, taking +with her a full statement of the case made out by Jackson, also his +letter, and a letter from me to the President. Under the circumstances +this was a painful trip to her--the anxiety as to her success; the fact +that she knew nothing about the family in whose behalf she was enlisted. +She a stranger to the President, how should she approach him? What could +she say to him? Suppose he would refuse to interpose in behalf of the +boy? And a thousand inquiries would come to her mind to annoy her. She +slept none on her way, but finally arrived safely in Washington, and +went directly to the Executive Mansion without stopping to take a +mouthful of food or a moment's repose. + +“When she reached the threshold of the mansion she came near fainting; +her courage and strength both seemed to leave her all at once. Presently +her strength returned, and she asked to be admitted. The usher said, +'I will see,' and took her name to the President; also my letter. The +President was alone. She could not speak. The President came forward and +took her by the hand and greeted her most kindly, saying that he almost +knew her; that he knew much of her through me, as I had spoken of her in +connection with her husband. The President said: + +“'Your brave husband is so well known to me through my friend Mr. Lyon, +and through his daring on the field, that you would need no introduction +more than that I should know who you are; and I take it that you are on +an errand of mercy, as I am sure you could not be here to ask anything +for your husband, as I would do anything for him, as he knows, merely +for the asking by himself or my friend Lyon.' + +“'No, Mr. President; you will never be troubled by me in that way. I am +truly on an errand of mercy and justice'; and here she broke down and +wept. + +“When she recovered she said: + +“'Mr. President, my errand is to save the destruction of a good family.' + +“She then recited the facts as to the two old people, and that Seraine, +the only daughter, was now on an errand of mercy South somewhere. + +“The President replied that he remembered giving her a letter at the +request of his friend Daniel Lyon, and said: + +“'My dear Mrs. Anderson, there is hardly anything that I would not do +for any of Mr. Lyon's family, as well as Gen. Anderson and yourself; +and, certainly, if to prevent a calamity to such a family as you +describe Mr. Whitcomb's to be, I would do anything that would be proper +and reasonable for me to do.' + +“She was very much encouraged by these remarks, and began to feel more +at ease. + +“The President, seeing this, asked her many questions about her +husband's health, and also about my family. When she spoke of Stephen's +foul murder, the President walked the floor and remarked: + +“'Most diabolical--fiendish.'” + +(“Little did he or she then suppose that it was her own brother that had +committed this wicked and cruel murder.”) + +“By this time she was so much encouraged that she handed him the letter +and statement of Jackson. + +“The President read the letter, and then read and reread Jackson's +statement. Great tears rolled down his bronzed cheeks as he read the +statement. He tapped a bell, and sent for the Secretary of War. The +Secretary soon came, and greeted Mrs. Anderson very cordially on being +introduced. The President asked him to take a seat, and handed him the +statement. He read it, and said: + +“'I will at once see if any papers in this case have been forwarded.' + +“During all this time imagine the suspense and fears of Mary Anderson. + +“The Secretary sent to the Judge-Advocate-General, and found that the +papers had just arrived. + +“The President said: + +“'Let them be brought to me immediately.' + +“When they were placed before him he read them over carefully, +remarking, when he had finished, that they were exactly as stated by +Capt. Lyon. He handed them to the Secretary and asked him to read them, +which he did, and laid them down without a word of comment. + +“After some conversation between the two men, the President turned to +her and said: + +“'Mrs. Anderson, cheer up, weep no more; your friend shall not be hurt! +Instead of showing himself unworthy of clemency he has proven himself a +noble boy. The kindness which he showed to his messmate and neighbor +boy was enough to have commended him to mercy. He should have been +complimented for his kindness and excused from duty, instead of having +it imposed upon him. You can go home and bear the glad tidings to his +father and mother that their boy shall be saved for a better fate.' + +“Mary Anderson, trembling with emotion, said: + +“'Mr. President, you are so very kind, sir. But, if you will pardon me, +his father and mother know nothing of their boy's trouble. We kept it +from them, believing it would have caused them great distress. We desire +to keep it from them.' + +“'Do you say that his father and mother do not know of this, nor that +you are here?' + +“'Mr. President, they are not aware of the case.' + +“'Mrs. Anderson, that was very considerate in your friends and yourself, +to keep this from them for the present at least.' + +“The President then wrote, with his own hand, a telegram, ordering the +suspension of sentence against James Whitcomb--that he had been fully +pardoned--signed it and sent it to the office with directions that +the dispatch be sent at once. Mary Anderson on her knees thanked the +President from the fullness of her heart. He bade her rise; said he had +done nothing that she should thank him for; that if he had permitted +such a sentence to be carried out he never could have forgiven himself. +He bade her go home and carry the good tidings to her friends. He told +her to give me and my family his kindest regards. She then left with a +light heart. + +“She went directly to the train, forgetting that she had eaten nothing +during the day. She returned to us one of the happiest persons that ever +lived, and you may depend upon it that we all shared in her joy. Capt. +Jackson had returned to his command prior to Mary's return from Wash +ington. When we all got through with the family talk and Mary had eaten +her dinner, she gave us a full account of her trip, her agonies and +sensations on meeting the President. She was exceedingly happy in her +details about her trip and her success; but, strange to say, she never +alluded to it again voluntarily, and would, as much as possible, avoid +conversation on the subject when spoken to in reference to it. + +“Gen. Anderson had asked that James Whitcomb be detailed from his +regiment and assigned to him as an Orderly at his Headquarters, which +was done. And again all was moving on quietly in the field.” + +“Yes,” said Capt. Inglesby, “as I before stated, there would have been +warm times in that camp had they shot that boy. The whole camp had heard +the facts about his helping his comrade, and the soldiers with one voice +said he should not be executed. His pardon was a Godsend to the officers +who were intending to carry out the sentence. During all my experience +(and I was through the whole war) I never knew such a mutinous feeling +in the army as that sentence created.” + +Dr. Adams remarked that in all his reading and experience in life there +had not been a female character brought to his notice who had shown the +will, determination and good judgment that Mrs. Anderson had from the +beginning of the war; her fixed Union principles; her determination +to make any and all sacrifices for the cause of her country; her +persistence in hunting for her husband when all others were sure of his +death at Dolinsburg--few women like her have lived in our time. “God +bless her, whether she is living or dead!” + +The tears rolled down the old man's cheeks, but he uttered not one word +in response. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + MORGANSON'S RAID AND BATTLE OF CHEROKEE RUN.--THE REBEL + CAVALRYMEN WHIRL THROUGH INDIANA AND OHIO.--BEATEN AND + CAPTURED.--KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE CONTINUE THEIR + MACHINATIONS. + + “If that rebellion + Came like itself, in base and abject routs, + Led on by bloody youth, guarded with rage, + You revered father, and these noble lords + Had not been here to dress the ugly form + Of base and bloody insurrection.” + --Shakespeare. + + +“After the long-continued idleness of the Army of the Center around +Murphy's Hill, the people began to clamor for a movement of some +decisive character. + +“During Gen. Rosenfelt's inactivity, Gen. Silent had moved with the +Army of the West against Gen. Pendleton, who had continued to obstruct +Conception River by holding Victor's Hill, as well as the grand bluffs +below. Gen. Silent had made some of the most wonderful marches and +successes ever known. He had opened ways for the water to flow from the +river into the lands; had cut canals through at different points; had +run the batteries of an hundred guns with his transports laden with +supplies for his army; marched on the opposite side of the river below +Pendleton, crossing his army below the Grand Bluffs in one day and +night; moved out against the enemy, who was in superior force, +cutting loose from his own base of supplies, and fought him in six +hardly-contested battles with victorious results each time, and he +finally succeeded in hemming Pendleton inside his fortifications at +Victor's Hill and forcing him, with his entire army, to surrender +unconditionally. + +“The President had also in the meantime placed Gen. Meader in command +of the Army of the East on account of the constant failure of other +commanders during the Spring campaigns. Soon after assuming command +Meador had gained a great victory over the enemy at Gotlenburg, and had +driven him back across Grand River to his own ground. The enemy had +become so encouraged by his victories over our armies heretofore, that +he concluded to try a second invasion of the loyal States. + +“The people who desired the success of the Union forces were greatly +rejoiced over the victory at Gotlenburg and in the West by Gen. Silent, +and by them Rosenfelt was constantly urged to do something by way of +giving some activity to his army. But he hesitated and thought the heat +of Summer was too great in that climate for his men to march and endure +the fatigues of a campaign. This was so discouraging to his troops that +many of them sought relief by obtaining a leave of absence and returning +home for a few days. Among those who returned were Gen. Anderson and my +son Peter. When they arrived at home all greeted them with many hearty +welcomes. My wife by this time had so far recovered as to be up a +portion of the day, and the return of the General and Peter seemed to +revive her drooping spirits. The children were overjoyed and Aunt Martha +was as much delighted as any of the family, and repeated her confidence +in the “good Laud's” having saved the General for some good purpose. +Finally she could not restrain herself any longer, and said: + +“'Massa Gen'l, what you do wid Ham? Whar is he? I 'spect he be kill and +you done 'eluded you not tell ole Marfa'. + +“'No, Martha,' said the General; 'Ham is well. I left him with Capt. +Jackson and Capt. Day to take care of our traps.' + +“'Well, dat's all right. I feered he kill.' + +“'No, Aunty; he is all right.' + +“The next day Joseph Dent came in from the farm and told us he had +learned the night before that a meeting of a few of the leading men +had been held at Windsor, Canada, and that meetings were to be held +at different places in the Northern States by prominent Knights of +the Circle to consider what was best to be done, and also to appoint +delegates to meet somewhere in Canada at a time and place to be +hereafter designated, and that several propositions were being +considered about work which would be undertaken very soon; such as +destroying property, raiding in the North, releasing prisoners, etc. + +“This information was of such a character that we deemed it important to +have a full report of what was at the time being done in Canada, as +that seemed to be the base of the enemy's operations for our part of the +country, and inasmuch as Peter had promised James Whitcomb, now Orderly +to Gen. Anderson, that he would go to Detroit and visit his aged parents +and satisfy them of his innocence should they have learned of his +misfortune in having been court-martialed and condemned, we concluded +that this would be an excellent opportunity for him to pass over to +Windsor or elsewhere in Canada and gather what information he could. +This being understood, he left at once, desirous that no time should be +lost during his leave of absence. + +“The family being gathered in the parlor that evening, Gen. Anderson +said: + +“'Mary, now give us your experience as a visitor at the White House; how +the President appeared to you, etc.?' + +“Mary related what had transpired in a modest way, saying in conclusion +that nothing but the feeling aroused in her breast by the outrage that +was about to be perpetrated upon that poor, innocent boy could have +induced her to have undertaken such an expedition. She said she could do +anything except to ask favors. Said she: + +“'Tom, my dear, you need have no fears about my ever becoming a lobbyist +in Washington, or a courtier at the White House. I have tried appealing +to the President once, and although successful that time, and treated +courteously and kindly by that big-hearted and noble old patriot, yet I +have hardly recovered from my scare up to this time; and now I do hope +that you will never mention this again, for it does really give me a +palpitation of the heart whenever the subject is alluded to. I am a +coward, I know I am, and am frightened still.' + +“'Well, Mary, you did a noble act, and I am the prouder of you for it.' +He kissed her and she sank down in her chair overcome with emotion. We +then changed the subject, and the General entertained us by recitals of +the trials and vicissitudes of the army. We were all enjoying the visit +of the General very much and hoped to have a pleasant time, but a +few days after his arrival the country about Allentown became greatly +alarmed and excited. + +“Gen. Morganson, of whom I have heretofore spoken, had crossed from +Kentucky at or near Louis City into Indiana, and was raiding the +country, taking horses, wagons, and all kinds of property that could +serve any purpose whatever in aiding the rebellion or in facilitating +its movements. Stores were pillaged, houses plundered, banks robbed, and +farms laid waste. The people were taken entirely by surprise, and the +only thing that could be resorted to to meet the emergency that was +upon them, was for the loyal citizens along the raider's path before +and behind to assemble and make resistance and obstruction to his march. +Gen. Anderson, comprehending the situation, at once gathered together +a few men and started in pursuit of Morganson. He collected men and +material as he went. He also aroused the people to action everywhere. +Morganson's force was being recruited from the Golden Circle as he +passed through the country. + +[Illustration: Morganson's Raid 206] + +“That community was never so thoroughly excited before. Many murders +were committed on his line of march, and this one had lost his horses, +that one had his house plundered; this town had been sacked, and in some +instances burned, and so on. + +“Gen. Anderson made his march as rapidly as he could with raw men and +horses. He finally struck Morganson's rear and forced him to make a +stand. Gen. Anderson dismounted his men and told every man to cover +himself behind a tree where it could be done. The contest lasted for +about an hour, when a small body of men who had been gathered together +in advance of the raiders, struck him in the rear, as he was then +facing, and caused a great stampede, and his force broke in various +directions through the woods. Morganson turned upon this small force and +drove it back, making his escape. Gen. Anderson followed him up closely, +however, forcing him to change his course in the direction of the river. +Gen. Broomfield had withdrawn a small force from Kentucky, which finally +joined Gen. Anderson. Morganson was preparing to cross the river at a +point near an island, the water being shallow there. Gen. Anderson with +his raw recruits and about 100 of Broom-field's men at once assaulted +him, broke his line, and killed and wounded many of his men as they were +attempting to cross the river. After hard fighting for a few moments +Morganson and those of his command that were still with him surrendered. + +“This ended the raiders and their foolish exploits. The men who had +volunteered to follow Gen. Anderson were of all ages and sizes--from the +schoolboy to the grandfather. None of them had been in the army or at +any time seen service, so that they were without any sort of discipline, +with the exception of a few who were at home on furlough from their +regiments, and some of Gen. Broomfield's command. But Gen. Anderson said +that they fought like veterans, each one in his own way. Morganson and +his command were taken to Camp Chase for safe keeping, and Gen. Anderson +returned to Allentown to enjoy the leave of absence interrupted by the +raiders. + +“Joseph Dent came in the next morning after Gen. Anderson's return, +and told us that when Morganson entered Indiana on his raid the Golden +Circles were notified, and were getting ready to join him and make war +all over the State, but that he appeared too soon for them; that on +account of his (Dent's) illness he had not been able to advise us +earlier.” + +Dr. Adams inquired who this Gen. Morganson was. + +Uncle Daniel said: “He was part of Forrester's command, that had raided +around Rosenfelt so much during the previous Winter and Spring. He had +crossed the Combination River to the east of Rosenfelt at Carthage, +moving nearly due south by way of Greenberry, avoiding all points at +which there were Union troops. He doubtless believed either that the +members of the Golden Circle were ready to join him, armed and equipped, +or that his raid would strike consternation into the hearts of the +people, inasmuch as our armies were all far away from where he proposed +to lay the scene of his audacious exploits. But he made a mistake when +he began to take horses and other property from all alike, whether Union +men or rebel sympathizers. This changed the sentiments of many people +very rapidly.” + +Said Maj. Clymer: “What has become of Gen. Morgan-son? I have not heard +of him since the war.” + +“He was killed somewhere in Tennessee soon after his escape from Camp +Chase, so I have been informed. + +“During Gen. Anderson's absence in pursuit of Morgan-son, Peter was +traveling rapidly through Canada. He returned the day following Gen. +Anderson's from his capture of the raiders. + +“The people everywhere seemed to be greatly rejoiced at the General's +success. He received a great ovation from the citizens of Allentown, and +they cheered whenever he made his appearance. This caused him to keep +very close to the house, as he was not fond of demonstration. The +people, however, flocked to see him, and many of them could see great +virtues in our family who, prior to that time, did not know us because +we were not good enough for their society. So you see their own safety +was the patriotic spark that burned brightly in their bosoms. But +this is human nature. Selfishness seems to pervade nearly all, as is +evidenced every day. Many of those who wanted the rebellion to succeed +did so not because they were really rebels, but because they had said +that we could not conquer them, and were willing to see our Government +destroyed, merely to get a chance in the future to say to every one, 'I +told you so.' These people now want the Government placed in the hands +of its enemies for the same reason, so as to say, 'You cannot keep the +control out of the hands of such able and brave men as these.' Thus, +you see, it is in many merely a selfish pride of former expressed +opinions.” + +“That is a new idea, Uncle Daniel,” said Dr. Adams; “but I am not sure +but there is much in what you say.” + +“Yes, Doctor; experience and close observation have taught me many +things that I would have been slow to believe years ago. I am wandering, +however, from what I was stating. + +“The next evening after Peter's return we were all at tea and while at +the table Aunt Sarah, my good wife, asked Peter the condition of his +foot. Peter replied that it was nearly well; he did not suffer from it +except occasionally when he caught cold in it. + +“'You must be very careful, Peter,' said she; 'I am fearful about it. +You know how your brother James lingered and finally died with a mere +cut on his hand. I was disturbed about your wound last night in my +sleep. I was dreaming about it.' + +“'Well, mother,' said Peter, 'you seem to be dreaming something +constantly, and will continue to do so, so long as you allow yourself to +be worried.' + +“But Peter ceased speaking on the subject, and his face took the sad +expression that seemed to have fixed itself upon him. I then spoke up to +relieve the matter and said, 'Wife, you must not worry so much. You are +just able to be out, and I fear you will make yourself sick again. Peter +will take care of himself--at least I hope so.7 + +“Aunt Martha seemed to be listening to our conversation, and (having +been greatly indulged by all our family on account of marked kindness to +Gen. Anderson as well as to all the rest of the family) here chimed in +and said: + +“'Marsa Lyon, I tells you dat you is wrong on dat pint. De mans don't +know how to take kear of demsefs. Now, dars Ham. He's like to get kill +any day, he am. He don't know nuffin, he don't.' + +“Gen. Anderson and Peter laughed when she spoke of Ham getting killed. +Peter seemed to lose for the time-being his sad countenance, when he +remembered about Ham getting under the brush at Stone Run. + +“Aunt Martha knew nothing about Ham's precipitate retreat during the +last battle, so she continued by saying: + +“'Jes' see, Massa Tom, de Gen'l dar. Whar he bin if he lef wid de mans +when he got shotted at dat fight at Dolins-burg? He done bin dead sho. +Dars whar he bin. I tell you de good Laud know who he trus' him wid; yes +sah, he do. So he put him wid me and den he make my ole head cifer out +de cures what fotched him out. Jes' kase he want Marsa for good work, +dat's why. What would Ham do curin' him up? No, sah, he not know how, +and de Laud no trus' him.' + +“Peter said: 'Aunt Martha, you rather like the Lord, I take it.' + +“'Yes, sah, I do. He be good. He fotched de poor darkies out ob workin' +all de time for nuffin for dem Sesh, and he know what he doin'. He goin' +to let dem Sesh 'spect dat dey whip dem Yanks affer while, but he not +let dem do it. He jes' coaxin' dem on till he git good men hold of de +army, den dey all git smash up. Jes' like Genl Tom, de Laud save him for +dat. Don't you see dat? My! when Marsa Tom git after dem Sesh, dey done +gits ebry time, dey do; don't dey, Marsa Lyon.' + +“I agreed with her and the rest laughed. She finally cut her speech +short and retired to the kitchen. + +“After tea Gen. Anderson gave us quite an amusing account of his little +improvised army that followed Morgan-son. He said no braver set of men +ever marched, but that it was very hard to tell his men from the raiders +when they got together; that some were riding in saddles and some +without, substituting a doubled up blanket or quilt; some were on old +and some were on young horses; some were on ponies and some on mules, +some wore 'stove-pipe' hats, some caps, some straw hats, and some were +without either. Some had on frock, some dress, and some round-coats, +and many entirely without coats of any kind; some with boots, some with +shoes, and some entirely barefoot. Take them all in all, they were in +dress _à la_ Falstaff's troop, but they were a success, and did what the +Army of the Center, under Rosenfelt, had failed to do, and that was +to capture the rebel cavalry. This raid of Morganson was an audacious +adventure, doubtless encouraged by the Knights of the Golden Circle, +and had he waited long enough I have no doubt that we would have had an +uprising in Indiana that would have been very troublesome to put down. +It was quite fortunate that it occurred when it did.” + +“Yes,” said Dr. Adams; “I have no doubt that plans were being perfected +about that time and later on for a general raiding and plunder of many +cities, as well as portions of the North outside of cities, where we +could be seriously damaged.” + +Uncle Daniel resumed, saying: “During that evening we discussed matters +generally, but Peter felt very much disappointed at his being absent in +Canada while Gen. Anderson was bagging Morganson. He said that it was +just his luck to miss everything of this kind, but that he always had +the luck to get into some hard place in front of the enemy, and usually +get hurt in some way or other, but that when it came to getting rebels +into a place where they could be easily whipped or captured or chased +out of the country, the luck seemed always to fall to Gen. Anderson. He +turned to the General, and with a twinkle of the eye asked him if he +had Ham with him to assist in hiving these Sesh. The General laughed and +said no; that Ham was back watching out for the Army of the Center and +keeping Gen. Forrester from coming in some morning and taking away our +trunks and camp equipage. At this they both laughed. + +“Peter said: 'Ham will not have quite the trouble that we have all had +heretofore since Forrester's command has been depleted by Morganson's +capture.' + +“'No,' replied the General; 'he will only need to watch one of them +now.' The conversation then turned on Peter's trip into Canada. + +“I inquired if he saw Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb. He said that he spent one +night at their house; said they were nice old people, very religious, +and lovely in every respect; that they were very proud of their children +and spoke of James as a brave and good boy. They knew nothing whatever +about his having been in trouble. When he told them that he knew him and +that he was on duty with Gen. Anderson, they were delighted, and asked +many questions about the army, our prospects, etc. They spoke of Seraine +as their lovely daughter; knew about her mission, her fondness for +Henry, and, in fact, gave him much information about Henry prior to +the war that we did not know. Altogether his stay with them was very +pleasant. After hearing about these good people, in whom we all felt an +interest, I insisted on his now giving us a full report of what he had +found out about the situation in Canada in reference to the conspiracy +and conspirators. + +“He stated that on leaving Detroit, Mich., he went directly to Windsor, +and while there became acquainted with several gentlemen, one from +Chicago in particular by the name of John Wall. Peter, having learned +all about the Golden Circle, their signs, passwords, etc., had no +trouble in making himself known, and, as he represented that he was from +Nashville, Tenn., he got along without being suspected by any one. Wall +and he became friends at once, and as they had rooms adjacent at the +hotel they were together the first night in Peter's room until very +late. Wall knew all about Morganson's raid, but not about his failure +and capture. Peter learned that on his way home from the Detroit papers. +Wall told Peter that he feared Morganson would not succeed in obtaining +many recruits, as the authorities in Canada at the head of the +organization had not furnished the arms that were promised to their +friends in Indiana and Ohio; that he was at that time there for the +purpose of procuring arms for Illinois, and that he had been sent there +to see Mr. Jacob Thomlinson and a Mr. C. C. Carey on that business. He +said he was to have the arms smuggled through to Chicago, where they +would be subject to the orders of one Mr. N. Judy Cornington, and that +the intention was to release the prisoners at Chicago and Bock Island at +a time to be agreed upon for Camp Chase, Chicago, and other places. +At this point Gen. Anderson inquired if Wall was a man about five feet +eight inches in height, heavy build, gray eyes and light hair mixed with +gray, about half and half. Peter replied in the affirmative. The General +said: + +“'He is the same man Wall that I met in company with Cornington, Buckner +and Eagle when I was in Chicago on my voyage of discovery.' + +“'No doubt of it,' said Peter. Peter continued by saying that Wall gave +him full particulars as to what was intended. He said that so soon as +arms could be procured and the prisoners released it would be made so +hot for the Abolitionists, as he called the Union men, that they would +be glad to call their army back from the South in order to protect +themselves against fire and plunder in the North; that men were now +organizing to burn many of the cities North, and if that did not bring +the Abolitionists to terms other methods would be resorted to, but that +the destruction of property would be effective, as the North cared more +for their property than they did for the Government. The next day they +met a man by the name of Tucker, who was on his way to Montreal, where +he was to meet Jacob Thomlinson and Mr. Carey, in order to consult with +them about what was to be done in the direction mentioned by Wall. + +“He said that arms must be procured at once; that the friends North were +ready but that no means had yet been provided so that they could act. +He thought that if Jacob Thomlinson did not have the arms in Canada he +should at once proceed or send to England for them; that he was ready +himself to perform the journey. To this Wall replied 'That is all that +is wanted in Illinois.' Tucker said that already men were in England +procuring and preparing material only recently discovered that would +burn up all the cities of the North without endangering the parties +applying it, and should this fail something else must be resorted to; +that the Confederacy could not and must not fail. He was in favor of +assassinating every leading man North if absolutely necessary to procure +their independence. + +“Peter met several other Southern men while in Canada, as well as quite +a number of Northern men, who were in the conspiracy, and said that +they all seemed to be imbued with the same feeling and spirit--a +determination to have the rebellion succeed at no matter what cost. In +their desperation he thought they would resort to any means, no matter +how destructive, barbarous, or murderous. He left Wall and Tucker, and +visited one or two other places, and then returned, as he thought he was +meeting too many Southern men who might afterwards recognize him. His +statement only strengthened what we already had reason to believe. +Peter also said that this man Tucker and Wall placed great reliance in +Valamburg, of Ohio, and Thomas A. Strider and Bowen, of Indiana, and +felt sure that they would arouse the people of the North against the +Administration to such an extent that the war men would be put out by +the people, and anti-war men put in their places, so that a recognition +of the Southern Confederacy would be assured. The only thing that seemed +to alarm them was the success of Silent at Victor's Hill and Meador +at Gotlenburg. They said they had fears that these two men were their +greatest enemies, and would relieve from the Union army all the officers +who were not Abolitionists. They seemed to mean all who were opposed to +the Administration. They appeared to understand but two classes of men +in the North--their sympathizing friends, and Abolitionists. + +“I made Peter write out his statement and leave it with me. I sent it to +the President, and soon received his thanks through his Secretary. + +“Two days later Gen. Anderson and Peter left for their commands, and on +their arrival at the Army of the Center they were most enthusiastically +received by officers and men. An officer said: + +“'General, you had to go home to get a chance at the rebs.' + +“'Yes,' the General replied, 'Morganson and his men were merely visiting +up North during the vacation.' + +“The General found his staff officers, orderlies, and old Ham at +his Headquarters. When he had seen them all and inquired as to their +welfare, he told James Whitcomb about Peter having seen his parents. +This delighted the boy very much to think that any of us should care +enough about him to seek out his father and mother. Ham, being present, +concluded that it was about his time to say a word, so he inquired of +the General about Martha. The General told him that she was well, and +sent love to him, and said she prayed for his safety. + +“Ham laughed and said: 'I's not killed yet, but I 'spec' I will be some +day; for de nex' time I's gwine right into de fight, so I is. I jes' +tell you, Marsa Gen'l, I done sleep on dis, and jes' make up my mind dat +I fight dem Sesh de berry nex' time we git at em.' + +“'Well, Ham,' said the General, 'I am not sure that we will need you to +do any fighting; but we would like it if you would stay around where +we could find you, the next battle in which we are engaged. Will you do +that?' + +“'Yes, sah! I will, no mistake, dis time.' He got up pretty close to the +General, and said, 'Marsa Gen'l, you didn't tole Marfa 'bout I hidin' in +de bush, did you?' + +“'No, Ham; we said nothing about it to any one.' + +“'Thank you, Marsa Gen'l; thank you, sah. I go now an' look after de +hoses; I guess dey hungry.' + +“'All right, Ham,' said the General; 'go on.' + +“Gen. Rosenfelt at this time was reorganizing and putting his army in +shape for a forward movement. + +“Gen. Papson had been home, and had just returned and was changing +some of his divisions. In this change he had assigned some three more +regiments to Gen. Anderson, thereby making his division very strong. +After the reorganization had been completed, Rosenfelt called several +of his Generals together at his Headquarters and talked over the +proposition to advance upon the enemy, and found perfect unanimity among +them in favor of an early advance. He then said to them that he should +move within ten days. His Quartermasters and Commissaries were put +to work and were busily engaged in procuring supplies and having them +loaded into the several corps and division train-wagons. Everything was +active in camp. The horses and mules were being re-shod, and the sound +of many anvils could be heard both by day and by night. Officers were +supplying their mess-chests and obtaining extra supplies, as they +supposed there would not be another opportunity very soon. At this time +the Army of the Center numbered some 60,000 effective men, and was in +splendid condition as to health, but had grown somewhat lazy after +so long a rest in camp with nothing to do. Gen. Biggs, who was in +his front, had scattered his forces very much, and while he had fewer +infantry than Rosenfelt, he had more cavalry. His cavalry, however, had +been diminished by the silly exploit of Morganson, who, as we know, had +been captured with many of his men, and those who were not captured had +concluded that raiding was unprofitable and did not return to Bigg's +army again. His force was divided about as follows: Polkhorn was at +Shell-town with about 20,000 men; Harding was at Waterhouse, to the +right some distance, with some 10,000 men; and at Tullahoming, with +about 15,000 men, lay Chatham in a well-intrenched position, his cavalry +to the front and left of his army about 8,000 strong. Gen. Bertram, +who surrendered Dolinsburg to Gen. Silent, was now holding Knoxburg and +Chatteraugus with some 18,000 men, about equally divided between the two +places. + +“Rosenfelt was now compelled to attack his intrenched position or move +to the left, thereby endangering his communication to the rear. This was +somewhat perplexing to him. In marching forward he would be obliged to +leave forces behind him to guard his communications, thereby constantly +diminishing his strength, while the enemy in falling back would lose +none of his strength. Looking at the situation after he was ready, he +again concluded not to move. This caused a terrible clamor both in and +out of the army. Finally he was ordered peremptorily to move forward +against the enemy. He obeyed the order, the army was put in motion, and +a forward movement began. The question was how to out maneuver Biggs. A +feint was made on Shelltown, which lay in the direct route of his march. +This caused Biggs to concentrate his forces at this point. While this +movement was being made our main forces were moved by rapid marches to +Munster on the enemy's right, which jeopardized his communications with +Chatteraugus and the valley south. + +“Biggs now finding his forces flanked, and seeing the danger of being +cut off from a junction with Bertram, fled precipitately over the +mountains to Fayette. Rosenfelt finding that Biggs had retreated in such +hot haste, was deceived into the belief that Biggs had gone into Georgia +at or near Romulus, and on finding that Bertram had left Chatteraugus +with his command, concluded that the enemy were re-enforcing the rebel +army in the East, and therefore thought to push on with force enough to +attack and defeat him, at the same time holding the strong points in +the rear. So he sent Gen. Critsinger with his corps to Chatteraugus, and +with the rest of his force marched over the mountain into the valley, +intending to have the larger portion of Critsinger's Corps join him +in the valley, and then to move south. Instead, however, of Gen. Biggs +having sent any portion of his army to re-enforce the rebel army in +the East, he was concentrating all his forces at Fayette and quietly +awaiting re-enforcements from the East. Gen. Longpath, with a corps of +20,000 men, was moving on railroad cars as rapidly as possible to the +support of Biggs. Gen. Rosenfelt was now on the road between Bridgeton +and Fayette without any knowledge as to the whereabouts of Biggs, and +yet he was now within fifteen miles of him, and Biggs with somewhere +about 80,000 men was lying in wait for Rosenfelt's advance. During +this afternoon a lady came into camp and asked to be shown to Gen. +Rosenfelt's Headquarters. When she appeared to the General he at once +recognized Mrs. Houghton, who had made such a trip just before the +battle of Murphy's Hill, in order to give the General the movements of +the enemy on his right the night before the assault. The General was +exceedingly glad to see her. She was invited to partake of soldiers' +fare, and was very pleasantly entertained. As soon as she could get an +opportunity she said to the General: + +“'Are yot going to meet Gen. Biggs with your army?' + +“The General responded: 'Yes, if I can ever find him.' + +“'Well, General, if you continue marching in the direction that you are +now going, you will find him to-morrow.' + +“The General laughed and said, 'I hope so; but, my dear lady, he is near +Romulus.' + +“'No, General, he is not; he is at Fayette.' + +“'At Fayette?' said the General with astonishment. 'You say he is at +Fayette?' + +“'Yes, sir, I do; I saw his camp this day; I was not in the camp, but +in sight of it. I have been at Smallwood, some fifteen miles south of +Fayette, and know that Gen. Long-path, with his corps from Gen. Law's +command in Virginia has joined Biggs. The last of these troops passed on +yesterday for Fayette, and I was told by a well-informed person that the +corps would increase Bigg's army to between eighty and ninety thousand +men.' + +“'Impossible!' said Rosenfelt; 'he would not have more than sixty +thousand with these.' + +“'Yes; but, General, you must know that 20,000 of the Victor's Hill +paroled prisoners captured by Gen. Silent have been collected together +and organized into a corps under Gen. Stephenson, and are now in camp +with Biggs.' + +“'Is that so?' inquired Rosenfelt. + +“'Yes, General; what I have stated is true, and I hope you will believe +me this time. I once before took the chances of my life to give you +correct information, and had you believed my statement as then made +to Gen. Papson many a poor soldier might be living to-day who sleeps +beneath the sod. I come now as I did then, merely because I love my +country, and for no other reason. These rebels treat me kindly and never +ask me a question which would indicate their suspicion of me. I do not +dislike them personally, but I am an inborn Union woman, would make any +sacrifice for the preservation of our Government. General, you are in +the greatest danger of having your army destroyed. If I were a man and +a General in command of this army I would fall back at once to +Chatteraugus and make resistance, as they are sure to attack you in a +very short time. The understanding with them is that they must crush +your army before re-enforcements arrive to your support from the Army +of the West, that army having cleared that portion of the country of the +enemy.' + +“Rosenfelt said: 'If you had seen the army and made an estimate of its +strength, I would then have no doubt, but I am persuaded that you are +mistaken as to the whole rebel army being at Fayette. They say so to +you, but there is merely a force there to impede my march. It is a mere +outpost. Their main army is at Romulus, Ga.' + +“'Well, General, I should not like very much to see you move on this +outpost at Fayette, and I beseech you to send your scouts and find out +the exact situation before you make any further movement, as I assure +you that you will not proceed very far on this road without a great +battle, and one that you will have cause to remember the rest of your +life.' + +“And so he has.” + +“The General said: 'Well, it is best to proceed with great caution at +all times, and inasmuch as I know you feel sure of what you say, and +having given very correct information heretofore, I will halt for the +day and send my cavalry to Fayette and let them clear the town of the +rebels.' + +“'Mrs. Houghton laughed and said: 'General, you had better give orders +to have what will be left of them (if you should send them there with +such orders) return and let you know which road will be left to you to +march on, which ever direction you may wish to go.' + +“'Yes,' said the General, 'you seem to think we will not be strong +enough for the enemy.' + +“'General, he has a great army.' + +“Gen. Rosenfelt concluded that perhaps he had better be prepared, so he +placed Gen. McCabe's Corps on the right, Gen. Critsinger in the center; +Gen. Papson being some ten miles to his left near Cherokee Run, was +allowed to remain. His cavalry, under Gen. Straiter, was ordered to take +the main road to Fayette, and to enter the town if possible; but at +all events to feel the enemy and ascertain his position and force. The +cavalry were late in getting in motion, and when they had gone some ten +miles the darkness of the night impeded any rapid movement. But their +orders were such that they must move on. Soon they struck the rebel +pickets, who retired before them. Finally they approached the rebel camp +which was lighted and stretching out for miles to the east and south. +The rebels had discovered the approach of the cavalry and sent two +regiments of infantry on a side road to their rear, who opened on them +from an unsuspected quarter. This forced Gen. Straiter to strike off +to his left, following a road leading from Fayette to the old Mission +House. By doing this he made his escape with small loss, but was +completely cut off from his retreat back to Rosenfelt's Headquarters. +He traveled all night and struck the left of Gen. Papson's Corps at +daylight, giving this information to Papson, which was at once sent to +Rosenfelt. Messengers were sent with all dispatch to inform him of the +situation, and not only so, but to say that it looked as though the +enemy were about moving, and Gen. Papson thought they would be most +likely to strike our left. This Rosenfelt did not credit, as he could +not see, if they intended an attack, why they would not attack our +right. In this he was mistaken. The enemy were intending to turn our +left, take possession of the Mission House road, and interpose between +Chatter-augus and our army, secure Chatteraugus and Bridgeton, thereby +taking possession of the lines of railroad between there and Nashua, +forcing Rosen felt away from his base of supplies, and, eventually, to +destroy and capture his army. + +“Gen. Papson, taking in the situation, ordered one of his divisions, +with Straiter's tired cavalry, at once on and across the road in rear +of Cherokee Run, holding two of the main crossings, at the same time +notifying Rosenfelt of his position and the reasons for it. In the +meantime Rosenfelt had concluded that the information given him by Mrs. +Houghton was in part correct. Having said this much to her, she asked +to be permitted to go into Chatteraugus, which she could do by crossing +over in the rear of the army to the Mission House road. Her request was +granted, and she started on her way. She had not traveled far before +she heard cannonading. She was then sure that the battle had begun. +Rosenfelt was greatly perplexed. Finally he agreed to Papson's +suggestions, and ordered Crit-singer's Corps to the left, and to join on +to Papson's right. By this time he could hear the sound of artillery +in the distance, but held McCabe, believing that the attack would most +likely be made on that road and on his right. Gen. Papson, seeing that +one brigade of the enemy had advanced to the crossing on Cherokee Run, +did not hesitate, but ordered Gen. Anderson to attack it, which he did +at once. The contest was a sharp one, but the enemy were driven back +very much broken up, with heavy loss in killed and wounded. Papson then +threw Palmerston's division in on the extreme left, on high ground, +covering the road and crossing well with artillery. In the afternoon +a strong force under Polkhorn advanced, and furiously attacked the two +divisions under Anderson and Palmerston. The contest raged for over an +hour. + +“Palmerston was driven from his position, and our cavalry, which had been +posted on his left, was broken into fragments. Gen. Anderson changed +front with his left brigade and struck Polkhorn in flank and forced +him back on his main line. Palmerston was now supported by Sherlin's +division and his former position retaken. By this time Longpath had come +up on Polkhorn's left and had assailed violently Critsinger's left, and +after a severe struggle, in which the loss was great on both sides, our +lines gave way and the rebels came through and down the slope of the +hill in perfect swarms. Papson, quietly and coolly, as if in church, +threw a portion of his corps into the breach and checked the advance. +He then adjusted Critsinger's line and moved at once against Longpath's +right and broke it, driving it back in great confusion. He then advanced +his whole line and drove the enemy back for some distance through the +woods on to his reserves, and in this position night closed in on the +two armies. During the night Rosen-felt came up with McCabe's Corps, +which was now posted on a ridge to the right of Critsinger. This being +done, he had his corps commanders assemble at his Headquarters, now near +Papson. When all were together the manner of the enemy's assault was +stated and various views given as to his number. Some contended that his +whole army was engaged; some, his right wing only. + +“General Papson was of a different opinion. He thought that the day's +battle had been fought on the part of the enemy by his advance merely; +that he was marching rapidly, believing that he could pass around +our left flank on the Mission House Road, by way of Roseville, into +Chatteraugus without much of a struggle, thinking our army all to be +on the Bridgeton and Fayette road; that in the morning they would attack +with their whole force; and for that we should prepare during the night. +Rosenfelt agreed that all arrangements for a great battle must be made +during the night. He directed that the lines be adjusted and made +as compact as possible, and all be ready to receive their assault by +daylight in the morning. He then sent out to find his cavalry commander, +Straiter. When found it was ascertained that part of his command had +retreated to Roseville. + +“The General ordered him to get his command together that night and +move by daylight in the morning around our left, and on the right of the +enemy, and attack his right flank; to dismount his men and fight them as +he would infantry, and to fall back on Palmerston's left and there take +his position, and to maintain it if possible. He directed McCabe +to refuse the right of his line and to close up on the left with +Critsinger. Papson he directed to take command of the left and center +and to advance, if he should drive the enemy in the direction of the +Mission House road, so as to get the enemy across it if possible. The +two armies could be heard during the entire night moving into different +positions. The movements of the artillery sounded at times as if it was +coming into the other's line. Hospital parties could be heard on both +sides in search of the wounded. The light of the fires could be seen for +miles on either side, where the men were getting their scanty meals +and perhaps their last one. Rosenfelt was busy all night in giving +directions for the morrow. He rode all along his lines during the night. + +“Biggs intended to make the assault at the opening of day the next +morning. Polkhorn was to move around and make an assault on our left +and center with one wing of the rebel army, composed of two corps. This +attack was delayed, however, by a heavy fog that hung over the field, +lasting for some two or three hours, giving Gen. Papson time to +strengthen his lines. At length the breathless suspense came to an end. +Bolenbroke with a full division had moved around on Papson's left flank +(our cavalry failing to get round as ordered) and made a most desperate +assault. This was taken up by successive Confederate divisions +toward the center with a view of getting possession of the road to +Chatteraugus. Gen. Papson was equal to the occasion, and Bolenbroke was +soon hurled back in utter rout, two of his Generals killed--Helmer and +Deshling--and many of their men and officers killed, wounded and taken +prisoners. + +“In the same manner were all attempts to break Papson's line abortive. +While these things were going well and Pap-son's command proving itself +the superior of the enemy, rolling him back in dismay, a terrible +disaster befell us on the right, which endangered the safety of our +whole army. + +“In the morning, very early, Rosenfelt, in passing along the lines of his +army, discovered that McCabe was stretched out like a string, with +no solidity whatever in his line; that Davies with his division was +entirely detached from the main line and isolated; and Critsinger was +also stretched over entirely too much ground. He at once ordered the +proper dispositions to be made, which was not attended to until late, +and in changing these divisions the movement was attended with the most +fearful results to our troops, a gap being opened in our front by the +withdrawal of one of our divisions to the rear, the place not being +closed up, as it should have been. On its discovery by the enemy, +Longpath threw Hoadley's division in at this point, at the same time +assaulting our right flank with Bertram's force. By this movement and +assault on our flank our whole right wing was utterly disorganized and +demoralized. They rushed in every direction. The commanders seemed to be +stampeded and worse demoralized (if such a thing could be) than even the +men. The woods swarmed with disorganized bands of men without officers. +The whole right became a confused mass, mingling together without any +reference to organization. In this mixed and confused condition they +came like a rushing torrent through the woods in all directions; but +finally, getting the direction to the northward, they bore everything +along in the same direction. Rosen-felt, by some means, was carried +along by this moving mass in the direction of Roseville, and, being +now separated from the rest of the army, he continued his way +to Chatter-augus, the presumption at least being that he went to +Chatteraugus in order to collect together and reform his shattered +divisions, that Papson might be properly protected in his looked-for +retreat with the remainder of the army. + +“When Papson was looked for he was not to be seen coming on the road. He +had met the shock which came upon him after the General commanding +and the whole right wing had abandoned the field, leaving him and his +command to take care of themselves. Papson stood like the pillars of +Hercules, and met every assault of the combined army of Biggs with his +single corps. Gen. Gregor came back from the retreating column with his +command, as also did several other brigades. They were reconstructed +hurriedly and formed in line in support of Papson. He soon distributed +these troops and strengthened his flank. He fell back to a ridge across +the road over which the enemy were moving, and here reformed his lines +and encouraged his men. Gens. Anderson and Sherlin were gathering and +putting in line anywhere that they could do so the men who had been +lost from their commands on the right. The rebels were now advancing +on Papson with the assurance of an easy and triumphant march upon +Chatteraugus, where they expected to make prisoners of Rosenfelt and +his entire army. Papson was still receiving companies and regiments +returning to the field after finding that a portion of our army stood +its ground. Batteries that had been abandoned on the field by McCabe +and Crit-singer in their stampede were gathered and put in position with +other artillerymen to work them. Gen. Gregor was moved to the right with +his returned forces (who redeemed themselves at once), he hurled one of +Longpath's divisions from a hill on Papson's right, where a flank attack +was intended by the enemy. By this success we gained the position that +entirely protected our right. Papson now with his small force was in a +strong position. The fighting continued on different parts of our line. +Palmerston had been again driven from the left and Gen. Anderson again +sent to his support. He fell upon the enemy with his command and drove +him back with great slaughter. Palmerston was again re-established, and, +with his position strengthened, could now hold it. The battle raged with +great fury the full length of the line, and never did a Spartan band +stand more firmly than did our gallant men. At four o'clock like a +mighty tempest in all its most terrible fury did the musketry and +artillery of the enemy burst forth upon Papson's devoted columns, the +entire rebel forces moving down upon him in solid phalanx. Our forces +replied with all their artillery. The roar of the artillery, with its +blazing fire, the rattle of the musketry on both sides, equaled any ever +heard or witnessed. Solid masses boldly marched up in front of Papson's +lines, where they were literally mowed down by our musketry and +discharges of shrapnel and canister from our batteries. They would +recoil and then move forward again into the very jaws of death. You +could see them fall almost in heaps, as it were. + +“This character of contest continued until darkness set in, our columns +not moving or swerving in the least. At dark the enemy retreated. The +victory of Gen. Papson was complete. Had the whole army remained and +supported Papson during the day a great battle would have been won by +our army, and Biggs driven out of the country, although his army was +so greatly in excess of Rosen-felt's in numbers. As the battle closed +Papson received orders from Rosenfelt at Chatteraugus to fall back to +Rose-ville, which was done. They encamped there for the night. +Gen. Anderson and staff were worn out and hungry. They hunted their +Headquarters, but Headquarters were not there. Old Ham was nowhere to be +found, and no provision had been made for anything to eat. Gen. Anderson +was greatly annoyed, but thought perhaps there was some excuse for it, +as most of the men seemed to get lost during the day. + +“Capt. Day and my son Jackson said to the General: 'Perhaps he is with +Rosenfelt, assisting him in reorganizing the army in Chatteraugus.' +Matters were really too serious for jokes to be very amusing or +interesting at that time, so the conversations on the subject of Ham +and his whereabouts ceased. The next day they marched to Chatteraugus +without disturbance from the enemy. Many of our men remained on the +battlefield that night (compelled to do so from exhaustion) and came on +to camp next morning without the enemy coming in sight. Gen. Rosenfelt +stated his loss at 16,000, and Biggs admitted his to be 18,000. The army +of Rosenfelt was all collected and concentrated at Chatteraugus. + +“When Gen. Anderson came into camp he had a search made for Headquarters +wagons and tents, as well as for Ham. Finally one of the orderlies found +Ham down under the bank near the river and brought him to Gen. Anderson. +When Ham saw the General he was delighted and called out: “'My Laud, +Marsa Gen'l, I 'spected you done dead!' “'Yes,' said the General; 'but +it seems you did not wait to see.' + +“'No, sir; dat am so. I staid doe, Marsa Gen'l, jes' as long as anybody +else do whar I been. I tell you, our mans all git, dey do; and when I +seed dat big Gen'l what's ober all ob you'uns (what am his name)--when +I seed him a gittin' from dar, I 'eluded it war about time for dis ole +nigga to march on dis way, too. Dat Gen'l, he not ride slow, I tell +you; he go fas'. And, afore de Laud, I 'spected you ebery one killed +or cotched by dem Sesh; den whar's de use ob me stayin' any mo' at dat +place, Marsa Gen'l?' “'Well, Ham, did you ever study law?' “'No, sir; +I 'spect not; I dunno what it am.' “'I think you would have made a +good lawyer, Ham.' “'Well, Marsa Gen'l, de truf is, ole Ham no good for +nuffin'. I cannot stand dis fitin'; dat am de truf, Marsa Gen'l. So, you +see, I is no good. I stay all right jes' as long as it am all quiet; but +whar am de use ob me stayin' by myself?' + +“The General laughed and said that was too good to keep. He let Ham off, +sending him out with Capt. Day and Jackson to get some tents and camp +equipage from the A. Q. M. The next day he amused himself telling Papson +and Sherlin what Ham said about 'no use for him to stay by hisself when +de big Gen'l gone.' They all enjoyed the joke except those that came +in early. Ham came back after a while to the General and begged him to +promise not to tell 'Marfa,' and then went off satisfied. + +“Biggs soon followed up and took possession of the ridge to the east +running from the old Mission House to the Little Combination River, +called Middleton's Ridge, and also a spur branching off from the regular +chain of mountains down to the river west of Chatteraugus, known as +Looking-Glass Mountain. The line thus formed was in the shape of a +horseshoe, and, with the river washing the north side of the town, +Rosenfelt was completely encircled; the object of Biggs being to force +a surrender by starving him out, Biggs now fully commanding all +Rosenfelt's communications both by rail and river. This was the position +of the two armies at this time. + +“Gen. Silent was ordered to leave Victor's Hill and proceed to +Chatteraugus, sending as many troops as could be spared from the Army of +the West. Gen. Meador was directed to send 20,000 men from the Army +of the East, in order to protect the communications of the Army of the +Center. In the meantime Broomfield had been ordered to move with his +force, then in Kentucky, on Knoxburg. Gen. Hord had come on transports +up the Combination River to Nashua with his corps from the Army of +the East, and had sent them in advance to protect the railroad between +Nashua and Bridgeton. + +“Gen. Silent learning the situation, sent the troops forward from +Victor's Hill and hastened to the scene himself. The first order he +issued in connection with the Army of the Center was that of relieving +Rosenfelt of his command and placing Gen. Papson in his place. The +condition of the Army of the Center by this time was really frightful +and perilous, and to relieve this situation was the thing to be done, +if possible. To this end all the energy of the Chief was directed. To +do this before an unprovisioned army would be forced by starvation to +surrender was the problem. Gen. Silent telegraphed to Papson to hold +out, and the answer came, 'We will hold out until we starve.'” + +“What a noble old Roman,” said Dr. Adams. + +“Yes,” said Col. Bush; “the old man had no superior in the army, either +as a patriot or fighter; he was like a rock when he once took his +position and got his lines formed.” + +“I knew him well,” said Inglesby; “he was a noble man. He would have +starved to death in Chatteraugus before he would have surrendered.” + +“Uncle Daniel, what has become of Gen. Rosenfelt?” inquired Maj. +Clymer. “He was a kind man, and I liked him very much, barring some +faults.” + +“Yes. Well, he became soreheaded and got mad at the Administration, and +was exceedingly bitter on Gen. Silent for relieving him, and soon took +shelter under the wing of the anti-war party; but I have not heard of +him for many years. I think he went to some foreign country, then came +back and went to mining. I have no knowledge of his whereabouts now, +however.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + GEN. SILENT GUIDED BY A SPECTER.--ARMY OF THE CENTER.-- + BELEAGUERED AND HALF STARVED IN CHATTERAUGUS.--MIDDLETON'S + RIDGE.--GEN. SILENT'S FORCES SWEEP THE REBELS FROM THE + CREST. + + “O thou whose captain I account myself, + Look on my forces with a gracious eye. + Put in their hands thy bruising irons of wrath + That they may crush down with a heavy fall, + The usurping helmets of our adversaries. + Make us thy ministers of chastisement, + That we may praise thee in thy victory. + To thee I do commend my watchful soul. + Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes, + Sleeping and waking, O, defend me...” + --Shakespeare + +“The Army of the Center was now in a most deplorable condition. Gen. +Biggs's lines extended to the river above and below, so that the Union +army inside of Chatteraugus was practically invested, the rebel army +being so situated that every movement of our troops could be watched as +carefully as if they were all of the same army. The enemy persistently +threw shells into our camp and made it very uncomfortable both by day +and night. The rains had so swollen the river and damaged the roads that +there was no direction from which supplies could be drawn in wagons of +sufficient quantity to be of any very great assistance, had the rebels +only held the Une of communication by rail. Our whole command had to be +placed at once on half rations. Over 3,000 wounded soldiers were in +camp and hospital, suffering and dying for want of proper food and +nourishment. Forage for the animals could not be procured, and more than +10,000 died in and about Chatteraugus. One-third of the artillery horses +died, and the remainder were unfitted for service. + +“Biggs had cut off a train of supplies of medical stores for the +wounded, and the ammunition of our army was reduced to the minimum. +In the battle of Cherokee Run the men had thrown away and lost their +blankets, so they were exposed to the hot sun and the chilly nights, +without blankets, tents, food, or any of the comforts that even soldiers +usually enjoy in the field. When Rosenfelt started on the campaign his +order was to take but one blanket to each man, and no overcoats. In this +condition they could not retreat. They seemed doomed to surrender at no +distant day. + +“The enemy well knew the condition of our troops, being in possession of +the route to our depot of supplies, and the one by which re-enforcements +would reach our army. They apparently held our forces at their mercy. +For these reasons the enemy deemed it unnecessary to assault and lose +lives in an attempt to take what seemed secure. All that Biggs had to +do, as he thought, was to wait, and Chatteraugus would fall into his +hands without a struggle. Starvation would soon force terms, as retreat +or re-enforcements were considered alike impossible. No other portion of +our armies was reduced to such a terrible extremity during the war. + +“This was the situation of the Army of the Center when Gen. Silent took +command of it. Biggs had sent his cavalry to the interior to watch all +movements on our part, and especially to prevent supplies from being +brought to or concentrated anywhere for our almost famished soldiers. +Weller and Lawting, in command of the rebel cavalry, captured and +destroyed in the Sewatch Valley 1,000 wagons loaded with supplies. They +also captured 700 wagons at Macklinville, with about 1,000 prisoners, +and at the same time destroyed millions of dollars of other property. + +“Gen. Silent had just arrived at Nashua, and, finding that the raiders +were burning wagon trains and railroad trains loaded with supplies, +collected all the cavalry he could, obtained horses and mounted two +regiments of infantry. Under a skillful officer he started them in +pursuit of Weller and Lawting, chasing them into Northern Alabama and +capturing near one-half of their commands. Gen. Silent had no means of +getting into Chatteraugus until Biggs's force at Bridgeton and on the +river between there and Chatteraugus could be dislodged and driven out +of Looking-Glass Valley, which ran down along the mountain side to the +river. He had difficulty in getting all the positions correctly. + +“Finally he met Mrs. Houghton, who had come out from Chatteraugus prior +to its investment. She gave him the most satisfactory detailed statement +that he had received from any one as yet. In the interview she told him +what she was doing in that country and where she had been; what she had +said to General Rosenfelt the night before the battle of Murphy's Hill, +and what she told him the day before the battle at Cherokee Run. The +General questioned her as to the number of the enemy, the names of the +commanders, etc. When she gave the names of Longpath and Stephenson, the +General said: + +“'They are sending troops here from the rebel army East?' + +“'Yes, General,' she replied; '20,000, I am sure, and I so told Gen. +Rosenfelt.' + +“The General said: 'They are using the Victor's Hill prisoners?' + +“'Yes,' said she; 'Gen. Stephenson is said to be in command of 20,000 of +them.' + +“'But they have not been exchanged as yet?' + +“As to that she did not know, but they were now in Gen. Bigg's army. +Gen. Silent thanked her and invited her to come to Chatteraugus when he +should take it; 'which,' he said, 'I mean to do in ten days from the day +I open the lines of communication, so as to get food to those starving +soldiers.' He then left her with many thanks for the information. + +“The next day Mrs. Houghton sought Gen. Silent again and said to him: + +“'General, there is one matter, which may be important, I did not think +to mention yesterday in our conversation.' + +“'Pray, what is that?' said he. + +“'Gen. Longpath is to start in a day or so to Knoxburg with his command, +in order to drive Broomfield from there, who they understand is now in +possession of that place.' + +“'Well,' said the General, 'that is of more importance to know than +anything you have told me.' + +“'I am exceedingly glad then, General, that I thought of it.' + +“The General then said to her: 'I am extremely curious to know how you +learned this.' + +“'Well, sir, I visit hospitals on both sides, and many things are there +said that would not be told to anyone in camp. I had seen a sick rebel +who had just come into the city in citizen's clothes to be taken care of +by his friends, and you must not ask me who or where he is.' + +“'No,' said the General, 'I will not. Good-by!' + +“Gen. Silent at once ordered Gen. Hord to concentrate his whole force at +Bridgeton as quickly as possible, and in three days the 20,000 men +from the Army of the East had secured Bridgeton and crossed over Little +Combination River on the road to Looking-Glass Valley. They moved +forward, driving Biggs before them, until they reached the western base +of Coon's Mountain, in order to pass into Looking-Glass Valley. At the +point where he was to enter the Valley the rebels made an assault upon +his head of column. Hord deployed his troops, advanced to the attack, +and very soon routed the enemy. The enemy now could very plainly detect +and understand the movement. Our troops went into camp at about six +o'clock. + +“The rebels could see that if this movement was successful +re-enforcements as well as supplies to the Union army would immediately +be the result, and they were bewildered and chagrined. At about one +o'clock the same night, Hord was attacked in force by the enemy. Gear's +command first received the assault. Hord at once moved to the support +of Gear, but before reaching him found a large rebel force posted on a +range of hills which completely commanded his line of march. These hills +were steep and rugged. There was, however, but one course left, and that +was to assault. This was done in a most gallant style. The hills were +scaled and the enemy driven from them with a loss of many prisoners, +as well as killed and wounded. Gen. Gear meanwhile had been contending +against a superior force for two hours, and though almost enveloped at +one time by the enemy, he finally succeeded in repelling the assault. +The moonlight was so bright that the firing seemed to light up the whole +heavens, as if meteors were in every possible space. The yells of the +rebels, the running away of teams, the heavy sound of artillery, were +enough to 'frighten the souls of fearful adversaries.' Mules broke away +from their wagons and hitching places, some with halters, some with +harness and singletrees dangling at their heels. Horses neighing and +mules braying, all dashed in the direction of the enemy, who mistook +the fleeing animals for a cavalry charge, and fled in disorder and +confusion. At daylight the enemy had been repulsed at every point and +our route to Chatteraugus secured. + +“Gen. Silent had managed to communicate with Gen. Papson, and directed +that one of his divisions should cross over the river in front of his +camp in plain view of the enemy, and while the enemy were watching +these movements pontoon bridges were being laid across the river by the +Engineer Corps, they passing down the river beyond the left flank of the +enemy in the night time. Over this bridge crossed Palmerston's Division +and joined Hord, and by the next morning all the heights commanding the +bridge and Looking-Glass Valley were secured--communication opened +by way of the north side of the river by crossing the pontoon bridge, +and on that very day rations for the men were taken into Chatteraugus. +Such a shout as went up from the throats of nearly 50,000 men was +perhaps never heard before nor since. Gen. Silent entered Chatteraugus +with the supplies for the hungry, and was most gratefully received +by officers and men. When this line was opened the boys christened it +'Silent's cracker line.' + +“The scene that followed the opening of this line of communication is +not to be described by any one. Poor fellows, they had suffered long and +much. They were patriots; but how many people remember it now?” + +At this point the old man grew eloquent, and finally bowed his head for +a moment. Resuming, he said: + +“In a very short time every one had gained confidence and courage, and +was again not only ready but eager for the fray. Biggs at once saw his +peril. Longpath was at Knoxburg trying to dislodge Broomfield, while +Gen. Papson was being rapidly re-enforced. And now the tables were +turned. The rebels no longer jeered at and tantalized our boys with +inquiries as to when they proposed to start for 'Pine Forest Prison.' +Jeff Davis, the Confederate President, had only a few days before +visited Biggs's army and looked down upon our starving soldiers. Our +boys knew this, and would ask if Jeff Devis would like to dine with Gen. +Silent on hard-tack? + +“Just at this time our forces were anxiously looking for the arrival of +the troops from the Army of the West, which they knew were marching +with all the energy they could to the aid of their comrades. So the next +morning the rebels were saluted with a shout that rang from the valley +up to the top of Looking-Glass Mountain and along Middle-ton's Ridge. It +was the arrival of Sherwood from Victor's Hill with two full corps of as +good soldiers as ever marched under the American flag. Cheer upon cheer +from both our armies rang out and gladdened the hearts of all. + +“The next day Gen. Silent was handed a note by a cavalryman. He examined +it, and found that it bore information to the effect that Longpath had +failed to capture Knoxburg, but had been repulsed by Broomfield and was +then marching rapidly to re-enforce Biggs. On inquiry the General found +that the note was written by a lady, who was then some ten miles away at +a farmhouse. The cavalryman stated that she was very anxious that Gen. +Silent should get the note that day, and that she had also told him to +say to the General that she was the same lady who had given him certain +information at Nashua some days before, and that she informed the bearer +of the contents of the note and requested him to destroy it if in danger +of being captured. Gen. Silent consulted Gen. Papson and found that he +had implicit faith in her statements, as he said she had given Rosenfelt +truthful and important information twice as to the numbers and movements +of the enemy. Gen. Silent said: + +“'This being so, we must drive Biggs from his position before Longpath +can join him.' + +“It was then raining and blowing a perfect gale, and Gen. Papson said +that it might be well to delay until the storm was over. This Gen. +Silent assented to, but directed that all preparations be made for the +attack, so as to be in perfect readiness at a moment's notice. + +“Sherwood, however, had not yet succeeded in getting to the position +assigned him. He was struggling against rain, wind, and high water. In +crossing Little Combination River to the north side the pontoon bridge +gave way, and Gen. Osterman and his division of Sherwood's command were +completely cut off and left on the south side of the stream. Silent +ordered him to proceed up the river to a point opposite Middleton's +Ridge with the remainder of his command. By this time the freshet was +so great that it was impossible to repair the bridge. So Osterman was +ordered, if he could not get across by eight o'clock the next morning, +to report to Gen. Hord. Sherwood finally succeeded in moving the rest +of his command to the point indicated. Pontoons were now necessary for +bridging the river at this point in order to cross the troops again over +to the south side to assault Middleton's Ridge, the point of it sloping +down near to the river, on which rested the rebel right flank. There +were but few pontoons to be obtained, and here the genius of man came +well into play. Rafts and boats of a rough character were at once +improvised, and by the morning of the 24th of November Sherwood's +command was once more on the south side of the river, with men, horses +and artillery, ready for the assault. He was moving in a drizzling rain, +and as the clouds hung low his movement was pretty well covered. He +pushed forward with great rapidity and seized the smaller hills near the +river, driving the enemy therefrom, and at once fortified them securely. + +“The rebels now seeing this advantage made an ineffectual assault to +dislodge him. He had possession of two hills, with a depression in his +front between him and the main ridge, it being his objective point. +The mist and heaviness of the day prevented the enemy on Looking-Glass +Mountain from seeing or understanding the movement of Sherwood on the +right. Night closed in, and as the clouds cleared away, the light of the +camp fires revealed the position of both armies. Indeed, the night was +beautiful. The lights on the north side were made by those guarding the +camp of Sherwood, left in his movement, across the river. These lights +of the camp fires of both armies now formed a complete circuit, making +a grand picture. The stillness of the night was a warning to all that in +the morning work was to be done. + +“About the hour of ten Gen. Silent was out looking at the lights, and in +order to form some opinion of the condition of the weather during the +next day, he strolled along the river bank alone. Stopping at no great +distance from one of the sentinels, he sat down upon a stone under a +large tree, the shadows of which obscured him from view. + +[Illustration: A Spector appears to the General 238] + +“While sitting absorbed in thought as to what the future would be to the +army then preparing for a desperate battle, a strange form seemed to +appear before him. He was at first startled, and then felt as though +he had dreamed, and was thereby deceiving himself. The object was +apparently a woman dressed in a long flowing robe of pure white. The +features were regularly formed; she had large blue eyes, long, auburn +hair, and a light shone about her which made every feature plain and +visible to him. This strange apparition did not speak, but pointed to +Looking-Glass Mountain, and passed her hand, extending her forefinger, +as though tracing the mountain along to where it dips down to the +Roseville road. At this point she held her finger pointing for some +seconds. She then turned and pointed to the end of Middleton's Ridge, +near the river, and there hesitated; then turned and pointed to +the center of the ridge, near where Gen. Biggs's Headquarters were +afterwards located. Here she seemed to trace two lines on the side of +the ridge by passing her finger twice back and forth. She hesitated +at this point for some moments, finally pointing to the sky as though +calling attention to the stars. At this moment Gen. Silent arose quite +excited, and the strange specter vanished. He stood for some moments +motionless. He could not move, and was trembling with nervousness. +Finally he aroused himself and stepped to the spot where the strange +figure had appeared. There was nothing that could have been by dreamy +imagination distorted into such a form. He said to himself, 'I dreamed; +I must have dreamed; how could this be otherwise?' Just at this moment +he saw a sentinel walking his beat some paces away and approached him +cautiously. The sentinel challenged, and Silent went forward and gave +the countersign. He then told the sentinel who he was, and inquired if +anything unusual was going on. The sentinel replied in the negative. +Silent then inquired if he had seen nothing unusual. + +“'No,' replied the sentinel, 'except that you have been sitting on the +stone under this tree for some time. I have been watching you, as I was +not aware of your business.' + +“'You saw nothing else?' said the general + +“'No, sir,' was the reply. + +“The General then bade him good night and returned to his headquarters, +feeling pretty sure that he had fallen asleep and dreamed while sitting +under the tree. Yet he had a half lingering superstition on the subject, +and it annoyed him very much. He could not divine the meaning of it; +whether a dream or not he could not decide. He walked back and forth in +a very unusual manner. One of his staff inquired if anything had gone +wrong in the movements of the army. He said not, but inquired if all the +Orderlies were at their posts, saying: + +“'I will want them very soon to take orders to the field. They must be +cautioned, also, as they will be in some danger in passing to where they +must go.' + +“He then sat down and commenced dictating his orders. + +“At midnight they were sent out to the different commanders. Hord was +to attack with all his force, assisted by Osterman's division, in +the morning at the earliest moment possible, and scale Looking-Glass +Mountain. Gen. Papson was to make a demonstration against the rebel +center. + +“The mountain is very steep and covered with trees and underbrush. Crags +jut out at every turn all over its sides, and at the summit a high +crest rises almost perpendicular 50 or 60 feet. Around the point of the +mountain nearest the river the enemy had heavy earthworks, held by one +brigade. The ridge or crest of the mountain was held by some 7,000 men, +with many pieces of artillery. Hord's command was all on the west side +of the mountain, entirely obscured from the sight of any of our troops +who were in the town of Chatteraugus, so that nothing could be seen +except the rebels who occupied the crest of the mountain. The movements +of the enemy proved clearly that some advance was being made. + +“Gens. Silent and Papson stood on an earthwork on the north side of the +town near the river, where they could plainly see all the rebel lines. +Very soon the smoke and sounds of battle were seen and heard. Osterman +had attacked the rebels in their works at the foot of the mountain +nearest the river and driven them pell-mell out of their intrenchments, +killing, wounding and capturing a great number. At the same time Gen. +Gear was pushing up the mountain, his right passing directly under the +muzzles of the enemy's guns which were on the summit, climbing over +logs, boulders and crags, up hill and down, dislodging and driving the +enemy wherever he opposed. Up and on went our brave boys to the mouths +of cannon and into the very jaws of death. Gen. Silent, addressing +Papson, said: + +“'General, our men must be climbing up the mountain's side. The enemy +would not fire so rapidly nor such volleys unless our men were near +them.' + +“'No, I should think they would not,' said Papson. + +“The fire flashed from their guns and muskets in the sunlight as though +the heavens were in a blaze. Soon batteries could be seen pulling out +and moving on the table of the mountain in the direction of the south. + +“'Do you see that, Papson?' said Silent. 'They are getting ready to +retreat. See, they are sending their batteries out of danger!' + +“Papson looked, but said not a word. Soon a portion of their infantry +moved in the same direction. The noise of artillery firing could be +heard no longer, but the rattle of musketry was becoming more distinct. +The men and officers who were not in the demonstration against +Middleton's Ridge, which was not a very heavy one, were standing and +looking in breathless silence at the upper table-land of Looking-Glass +mountain. Finally our line was seen moving up the crest, the men firing +as they came, and such a yell as arose from our men in the town of +Chatteraugus was of the kind to bring joy to a patriot's soul. On they +went, the fire flashing from the muzzles of their muskets. The rebels +began to retreat, our men pressing them until they were driven entirely +from the mountain and across the valley near the old Mission House, and +nearly to the foot of Middleton's Ridge. Papson's movement against the +ridge, which was the enemy's right, ceased, and Looking-Glass Mountain +was ours. Joy was unconfined among our troops. + +“The poor fellows, who were nearly starved, acted as though they were +perfectly well and hearty, although they had had but little to eat for +weeks. + +“This was only the beginning of the end at Chatteraugus. + +“Gen. Silent thought the rebels would now retreat into Georgia; but in +this he was mistaken. They strengthened their line on Middleton's Ridge +and extended it across the valley to where Looking-Glass Mountain slopes +down to the road from Roseville to Chatteraugus, and there they seemed +bent on staying. Two days later, finding the enemy again preparing for +battle, Gen. Silent issued his orders for a general assault. Sherwood +at early dawn was to attack the enemy on his right and drive him back if +possible on the southern portion of the ridge; Papson was to be ready to +assault in front at the moment when the commanding General should think +the proper time had arrived; Gen. Hord was to cross from Looking-Glass +Mountain over to the Roseville road and attack his left flank. + +“The morning was clear and cold. Biggs's Headquarters could be seen on +the crest of Middleton's Ridge, near the center of his line. Gen. Silent +occupied a knob or high point near our lines that had been wrested from +the enemy in a skirmish the day before. All were anxiously waiting the +assault and final result. Now and again a shot would be heard, and then +a volley. There were skirmishings occasionally in different directions. +On Hord's line, as he advanced, slight skirmishing was kept up, and at +the base of the ridge a shot would be fired in the direction of where +Papson was forming his line. Finally shots were heard on our extreme +left, then more, then a piece of artillery, then a volley, then a +battery opened, then commands were heard and the battle began. Sherwood +was moving against the enemy's right flank. + +“He attacked as ordered, but found the enemy in strong force and very +stubborn. The battle continued on this part of the line without any very +material advantage to either side. At about three o'clock Gen. Papson +was ordered not to delay his attack any longer, so at this time the +movement of the whole army against the enemy commenced. Papson attacked +in double column, Gens. Anderson and Sherlin leading the assault +with their divisions. In the center, at the first assault made on the +rifle-pits at the base of the ridge, our forces were not successful, and +falling back for a short distance they readjusted their lines, changed +some of the regiments, and moved forward again to the attack. This time +the movement was as if it were machinery in motion. + +“When close to the enemy a bayonet charge was ordered, and against the +foe they drove the instruments of death. The men who were in this +deadly charge will never forget it. As they came with bayonets fixed and +directed, the enemy, seeing their determination, poured a deadly fire +into their ranks. Many a brave man fell, but on the lines swept over the +trenches. Here the rebels were killed and wounded in such numbers that +they lay one across another in great numbers. The enemy fell back, +giving up the trenches to our victorious troops, and retreated to their +main works on the top of the ridge. + +“Our troops moved right on up the slope of the ridge, facing a shower +of shot and shell and musketry most destructive and deadly. Anderson and +Sherlin led the way. Commanders of corps, divisions and brigades vied +with one another as to who should reach the crest first. For a time it +seemed doubtful if any of them would succeed in accomplishing it. Our +artillery was in battery playing on the enemy from an eminence on the +plateau east of the town and between the two lines. Finally the guns of +the enemy were disabled, some dismounted, and others driven from their +position. Our whole line then made one desperate effort to scale the +ridge and charge the rebel works. With a mighty shout and 'Come on +boys!' from Sherlin and Anderson, the heights were scaled, and amid +sickening scenes of blood and death our brave boys stormed and captured +their breast-works. Their center was pierced and broken. They wavered +and finally retreated down the opposite slope of the ridge. Gen. +Anderson seized one of our flags, mounted the rebel works, and held it +up so that our whole army might see it, and they did. The sight of the +old flag on the rebel works on Middleton's Ridge, filled our men with +joy and enthusiasm. They rushed forward, shouting as they went. The men +who had been shut up and nearly starved, wept with joy unspeakable. + +“Sherwood now doubled the enemy's flank back until they were retreating +and falling back on the two divisions of Anderson and Sherlin, who +turned and poured volleys into their rear. The retreat of Biggs's army +now became general We captured many prisoners. Just at this moment a +rebel cavalry officer on a white horse was seen dashing down the ridge +from the direction of the rebel left. He came within a short distance +of our line and took off his hat to our troops, as if he intended to +surrender. Turning on his horse he drew a revolver and flred. The ball +struck Gen. Anderson in the right shoulder, inflicting a severe and +painful wound. Gen. Anderson turned and saw him as he escaped down the +side of the ridge. Anderson recognized him, but did not say a word. Many +shots were flred at him by the soldiers, but he made good his escape. +(It was Gen. Joseph Whitthorne, the fiend.) Gen. Anderson was taken by +Jackson and James Whitcomb (who had been by his side during the whole +of the engagement) back to the town to be cared for by the Surgeon. Gen. +Anderson inquired after Capt. Day, and upon inquiry it was found that he +had been severely wounded during the last charge up the ridge, and had +been carried in an ambulance to the hospital. + +“The battle was won. No rebel flag was insight, and the Stars and +Stripes w ed over Looking-Glass Mountain and Middleton's Ridge once +more. Longpath just reached Ringgold's Gap in time to meet his flying +friends, who were in a great state of demoralization. They had been +utterly routed and broken to pieces. Our army was in great glee and full +of joy that night and for many days thereafter. The Army of the Center +had been in such bad condition for so long a time--being hemmed in and +starved--that it became necessary to go into quarters for recuperation, +and also to refit and refurnish it with horses, mules, harness, etc. The +troops were, therefore, distributed at the most convenient points on the +lines of our communications. + +“Gen. Silent, now having put Gen. Biggs and his army in a condition of +harmlessness for the season, took up his headquarters at Nashua. + +“The next morning after the battle, my son Jackson left Gen. Anderson +(who was comparatively easy, for his wound, though painful, was not +considered dangerous,) to search for Capt. Day. He found him in the +officers' hospital, wounded severely, shot through the bowels. He died +that night. This was sad news to the General, for he loved him as if +he had been a brother. He was buried at Chatter-augus. His friends were +notified, and removed his remains to the cemetery near Bloomington, Ill. +He was a gallant soldier, and had been so kind to Gen. Anderson that we +all loved him. His death caused nearly as much sadness in my family as +the loss of one of our own sons. + +“My son Jackson, James Whitcomb and old Ham staid close by Gen. +Anderson, doing all they could to alleviate his sufferings. There was +no suspicion as to who had shot him. One day, however, he was suffering +with a severe fever, and in a delirium remarked: + +“'Jo Whitthorne is my evil genius. He intends to murder me.' + +“This he repeated so often that when he was sufficiently recovered +Jackson asked him if he remembered saying this? He replied that he did +not. Jackson told him that it had aroused his suspicions on the subject. +He then revealed the secret to Jackson under the seal of confidence, +as he said it would kill his wife if she knew it. Jackson afterwards +revealed the same to me, but no mention was ever made of it by either of +us. + +“Old Ham was so attentive and kind that no one asked him as to his +whereabouts during the battle. Jackson, however, found him under the bed +when they brought the General back from the field. The old man said that +he had been sick all day, and got under the bed to be out of the way. +When they came back he said to the General; 'I know you be kill' dat +day or hurted bery bad, kase I dream it. De good Laud tole me so when +I sleep. No 'sputin' it, sho, for de Laud allers tells me 'bout dese +matters; and you can ax Marfa if it is not so when you go home.' + +“When the General recovered so as to think of these matters he dictated +his report to Jackson, who wrote it for him, in which he recommended +Peter for promotion, among many others, for gallant conduct, and also +recommended Orderly James Whitcomb for a Lieutenancy in the Regular +Army. These recommendations were complied with at once, and Peter was +assigned to the command of a brigade. James Whitcomb was assigned to +the 13th U. S. Inf., and detailed at Gen. Anderson's request as +an Aide-de-Camp in place of Capt. Day. The President sent Peter's +commission to me and I took it to him at Chatteraugus, in accordance +with the wish of Gen. Anderson, who desired to see me, and at the same +time to keep from his wife and our family the fact of his being wounded +until he should be able to come home. I found my sons both well and Gen. +Anderson improving when I arrived. I remained several days. I met Gen. +Silent and had several conversations with him. I found him well posted +as to all matters North as well as South. He said there was no danger +of Biggs during that Winter. He could not more than recuperate his army, +and in the Spring, in all probability, the rebel army in the center +would have a new commander, as Biggs was a great failure; that if he +had moved against our forces when he had them caged up before +re-enforcements came, our army would have been compelled to surrender. +He also spoke of our danger in the North from the anti-war party. He +regarded it more dangerous than the rebel army. If they could succeed +in carrying the election the Confederacy would by them be recognized and +the Union dissolved. + +“In a few days Gen. Anderson was adjudged by the Surgeon to be strong +enough to travel. He was granted an indefinite leave of absence by Gen. +Silent, who regarded him very highly as an able officer. Gen. Anderson, +myself, Jackson, James Whitcomb (now lieutenant), and Ham started for +Allentown. On arriving at home the family were overjoyed, surprised, and +grieved all at the same time--overjoyed at our return, surprised that +they had not heard of the General being wounded, and grieved at his +suffering. + +“Lieut. James Whitcomb was introduced to the family, who were delighted +to see him. He left the same evening for his home in Detroit, and we +were together once more, save two sons, Peter and Henry. The meeting +between Ham and Aunt Martha was very affecting. Their manner and queer +remarks were laughable. Soon Aunt Martha came in to see her Marsa Gen'l +Tom. She hugged him and got down on her knees and prayed for him, and +then said to me: + +“'Uncle Daniel, I bress de good Laud, for you bring Marsa Tom back. I +cure him, sho. I knows what to do; de Laud tell me, he do. He not goin' +to let Marsa Genl Tom die; no he not! He want him to whip de Sesh, he +do. I knows; de Laud tell me bout dat in de dream. He not fool dis old +'oinan; he neber do. Ham, he dream 'bout dat when he down to de fight. +He say he sick when dey fight. How is dat, Uncle Daniel? Did Marsa Tom +tell you? Was he sick? He awful coward, Ham is, but if he sick, den all +right; but when he not been sick he must stay wid Marsa Gen'l to keep he +things all right. Ham say he do dat. I 'spect he do; he say so.' + +“We told Aunt Martha that Ham was all right, and that pleased her, poor +old woman. She was pure gold; God never made a better heart under any +white skin than she had under her black one. + +“Gen. Anderson had the best of attention, and improved daily until +he could walk about without pain, but he was not fit for duty for a +considerable time. The two children were delighted, and were full of +questions of all kinds. One day when they were trying to entertain the +General, his little daughter asked him who shot him. I saw the tears +come into his eyes, and he arose and walked out on the porch without +making any answer.” + +Just at this moment Mrs. Wilson came into the room, and Uncle Daniel +took her on his knee and kissed her, saying: + +“Jennie, you are my all and only hope, save my poor grandson, that I now +have left. My time will soon come, however, when I can quietly quit +this world of trouble and care and find a home where works will have +due consideration; where those who serve in the army of the Lord will +at least be considered the equal of those who have been in rebellion +against him. + +“My good friends,” said Uncle Daniel, “you may think strange of my +melancholy mood; but why should I desire to live longer and see what I +do and feel as I do constantly on account of the manner in which things +are now being conducted.” + +“I am not in any way surprised at your feeling as you do. I have felt +and do feel the same, though my misfortunes and troubles have not been +severe in comparison with yours,” said Col. Bush. “But, Uncle Daniel, +to call your attention away from your sorrows for a moment, I am very +desirous of knowing what became of Mrs. Houghton.” + +“She remained in that part of the country during that Winter and +until our combined Armies of the Center and West commenced their next +campaign, during all of which time she kept our commanding Generals +posted as to the movements of the enemy, his strength, when troops were +sent east or west, where and how many; and when the troops were moved +south in the Spring she returned to New York, and, I have been +informed, married again. I hope she may be yet living and enjoying great +happiness. She was a true woman. I have not heard of her for many years, +however.” + +“She was a heroine sure,” said Col. Bush; “her movements were of a most +important character, Uncle Daniel.” + +“Yes, Colonel, she was a true patriot, and loved her country for her +country's sake, and I hope the Lord has thrown fortune and pleasure in +her pathway. There were a great many patriotic and daring acts performed +by women during our war. God bless the good women. To our poor sick and +wounded soldiers they were like ministering angels, both in the camp and +hospitals.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + SERAINE WHITCOMB'S EXAMINATION OF THE REBEL PRISONS AND + HENRY LYON'S RELEASE.--MAN'S INHUMANITY.--SERAINE WHITCOMB + VISITS THE SOUTHERN PRISON PENS.--A SAD TALE OF WOE.-- + GRAPHIC PICTURE OF SUFFERING, WRETCHEDNESS AND DEATH. + + “Oh war, thou son of hell, + Whom angry heavens do make their ministers, + Throw in the frozen bosoms of our past, + Hot coals of vengeance.” + --Shakespeare. + +Uncle Daniel Lyon resumed his story by giving us a history of the +adventures of Miss Seraine Whitcomb, who, as had been discovered, was +the sister of James Whitcomb, now Aide-de-Camp to Gen. Anderson. He +continued by saying: + +“Miss Seraine's journey to Richmond was accomplished by overcoming the +greatest of difficulties. The President's authority was good at every +point in and through the Union lines. But when she reached the rebel +pickets at or near the Rapidan she was placed under arrest as a spy, and +taken to the headquarters of the commander of the rebel army. She then +stated her case in a modest way, presenting the note given to her by our +President. Her story was so simple and reasonable that she was permitted +to enter Richmond in order to lay her case before President Davis. +At the same time the authorities at the rebel army headquarters had a +lurking suspicion of her on account of (as they thought) her pretended +perilous undertaking. Yet she was conducted to Richmond, and there took +lodgings at the Virginia Hotel, where she was subjected to a constant +watch over her every movement. She was in much doubt for several days +what course to pursue. There was great activity going on in making +preparations for some movement of the rebel army. She was not permitted +to leave her hotel. + +“She finally wrote a note to President Davis, stating that she wished to +be permitted to have an interview with him on a matter of grave import +to her; that she was alone and under a vigilant watch; that she thought +she could satisfy him of her harmless intentions. + +“To this she received a very polite answer permitting her to see him at +11 o'clock the following day, and informing her that he would send an +escort. + +“The next day, promptly at the time, an officer appeared and inquired if +Miss Seraine Whitcomb was in. She readily responded, and directed +that he be admitted. Presenting himself, he said he was Capt. T. P. +Redingson. The arrangements were soon agreed upon, and the two started +for the Executive office. The detention in the ante-room was-but slight, +before they were ushered into the presence of Mr. Davis. Seraine said he +was seated in an arm-chair, rather oldish and common. Mr. Davis rose +and greeted her pleasantly. He looked care-worn and haggard, and seemed +thoughtful; but at no time during the interview did he forget his +genial, polite manner toward her. She hardly knew what to say. After a +short time he broke the ice by asking her if he could serve her in any +way. She gained courage enough to tell him her whole story. She told him +she would not give information of any kind to any one in reference to +what she might see or hear while under his protection; that she wished +to examine the prison records for the name of her friend, Henry Lyon, +who she hoped, through his kindness, to find, and have exchanged. + +“She seemed to touch a tender spot in his nature. He gave her a letter of +safe conduct through all the rebel lines, and authority to examine the +prisons and hospitals, exacting at the same time a pledge from her that +she would, when satisfied, return by way of Richmond and make a report +to him of all she should see and hear that was of interest in connection +with the prisons, the army, or other kindred subjects. With this +understanding and pledge on her part she gave him her thanks, with many +good wishes for his health. She then bade him good, good-by and returned +to her hotel. + +“Capt. Redingson, her escort, was very polite to her, and promised that +he would call the next day and make arrangements for her to visit the +prisons and examine the records or rolls of prisoners in Richmond. The +next day at ten o'clock the Captain called and escorted her to Libby. +There she saw such suffering as made her almost frantic, but she +indulged in no remarks. As she passed along the pallets of rotten straw, +the tears would roll down the sunken cheeks of their occupants as she +uttered some kind word to them. The rolls did not disclose the name of +the one for whom she was in search, and she returned with the Captain +to her hotel. That night she could not sleep. She had seen that day such +sights as she had never expected to witness, and could not have believed +had she not looked upon them with her own eyes. Men eating rotten food; +many, very many, sick, sore and distressed; quite a number without +sufficient clothes to cover their persons; no blankets; no way to +send word to friends; no privileges granted, their treatment harsh and +brutal. For the least delinquency inhuman punishment was inflicted. No +prospect of help or relief of any kind. All kinds of stories were +told them of disasters to the 'Yanks,' as the rebels called the Union +soldiers. It was really a sickening sight to behold. + +“The next day they visited Belle Isle, and there found the same +condition of things. After an examination of records they returned to +the Virginia Hotel. Miss Seraine then concluded to leave for Salisbury. +She asked the Captain if he would be kind enough to see to getting her +tickets and placing her properly in charge of the conductor, with such +instructions as might enable her to avoid annoyance on her route. The +next morning she was feeling dull and heavy on account of having passed +a restless night. The shadows of that which she had seen during the day +were continually before her eyes. She got ready, however, and was +soon put on the train by Capt. Redingson, who knew the conductor and +explained to him her situation and desire to avoid annoyances. Then +bidding the Captain good-by, with many thanks for his kindness, she sat +down in the car to pursue her weary journey, with many ill forebodings. +She looked out of the window over valley, hill and stream, and as she +passed on through that picturesque country her eyes fairly feasted on +the majestic scenery beautified by the pines that tower heavenward along +the line of the railroad. + +“In her loneliness she could not resist the floodtide of hopes and fears +that swept through her mind--now hoping and then fearing that she would +not find Henry. If she should, would he be in the condition of the poor, +starved skeletons she had seen at Libby and Belle Isle? Could it be +possible that her lovable and gentle Henry could be so starved and +harshly treated by these people, who had been so polite and kind to her? +'No! no!' she thought to herself; 'it cannot be.' The train sped along, +and at night she was in Salisbury. There she was taken to a hotel of +limited accommodations and worse attendance, as it was of the character +so common to that country in the days of slavery. Quite a number of +sick rebel officers, who had been sent there to recuperate, were in the +hotel. + +“The next morning it was discovered that a female 'Yank' was in +the house, and, the gossips whispered 'a spy!' Miss Seraine was +unsuspecting, and acted as if she had been a mere traveler in her own +State. But very soon an officer came and sat down by her and began a +series of questions, all of which she answered frankly. She told him her +mission, and made inquiry about the prisoners there, wishing to look +for her friend, Henry Lyon. This officer left her and went to the +authorities and had her put under arrest. At this she was frightened +almost out of her wits. She wept and begged, but nothing would do but +she must have her baggage (merely a satchel) examined. This done, they +sent a lady with her to her room and searched her person. Being so much +alarmed, she did not think of her letter from Mr. Davis. This was found +in her pocket and declared a forgery, as they thought if genuine she +would have produced it sooner. Finally the conductor who had brought +the train through from Richmond returned, and finding how matters were, +relieved her situation by-explaining it to the authorities. The +officers and Mayor then hastened to make apologies for their action and +afterwards treated her very kindly, and offered her every facility for +the examination desired. Her search at the place was as fruitless as +heretofore. She found the condition of things here as elsewhere with our +poor prisoners--nothing but extreme suffering and ill treatment. It was +hard for her to understand how any civilized people could find it in +their hearts to treat human beings so barbarously. + +“She left Salisbury the first moment it was-possible for her to do so, +and made her way in great sadness to Pine Forest Prison, meeting with +many perplexing things on the way. As she neared Pine Forest she became +nervous and almost sick with fear that her mission would be a failure. +Her strength and resolution all at once seemed to fail her. But on she +went, between hope and despair. En route to this horrible place, all +kinds of phantoms rose before her mind. She would first see a starved +human being, and then a wild beast pursuing him; then the butchery and +murder of the victim; so that when she arrived at the village she was +almost frantic and nearly insane. A gentleman, seeing her lonely +and peculiar situation, assisted her to a house, where she procured +quarters. + +“It was not until the next morning that she made known her desire to +visit the prison. The lady of the house seemed to take in the situation, +and, instead of regarding her as a spy, felt a sympathy for her and +willingly rendered her all the assistance she could. Miss Seraine +told her whole story to her, and sought her aid in making the proper +investigation. This lady, Mrs. Lawton, made all necessary arrangements +for the two to visit the Superintendent at three o'clock that +afternoon. Promptly at that hour they started, and when they entered the +Superintendent's office outside the prison-pen they were received most +courteously by Mr. Hibbard. At the same time his face wore an expression +that made Miss Seraine shudder. His movements were sluggish, his manner +uneasy. She hastened to make known to him the cause of her visit, and +at the same time presented Mr. Davis's letter. He scanned the paper very +closely without making any remark. The arrangement being made to come at +twelve o'clock the next day, they returned to Mrs. Lawton's house. + +“Mrs. Lawton was kind, and readily engaged in conversation, giving the +most horrible description and picture of the prison and the inhuman +treatment the prisoners were receiving. Seraine was silent, and +refrained from expressing opinions or making any remarks save to say +that she had been treated with great kindness and consideration by the +officers she had met. Mrs. Lawton gave her to understand that she had +great sympathy for the prisoners, and that she was not entirely in +harmony with the rebellion, although she had been a sufferer by the war, +having lost her husband in the Confederate service. She said she was +living there merely to make what she could by selling things to the +soldiers when she was permitted to do so. She had a great contempt for +Mr. Hibbard, then keeper of the prison. It seems Hibbard was only there +temporarily. + +“Miss Seraine slept but little that night,--she was so eager to +ascertain if Henry was, or if he had been, there. Next morning she arose +early and was ready for breakfast, though she ate but little. When +the hour of twelve o'clock arrived she and Mrs. Lawton repaired to the +office of Mr. Hibbard as per appointment. They were received in a very +polite manner, and informed that a guard would be sent through the +grounds with them. They asked if he could not accompany them, as they +were very timid about passing through without his presence. He finally +consented to attend them as guide and protector. + +“'On first entering at the south gate they met a stench that almost +stifled them. As they passed along they saw the prisoners in groups, +standing and gazing at them with a stare like that of maniacs. Some were +moderately well clad, others almost in a state of nudity. The pen, for +that was what it really was, was in the most filthy condition that human +mind could imagine. As they passed along they could see the blush of +shame mantle the cheek of their escort. They walked through the +center of the grounds, being the dryest and most cleanly. To describe +accurately the suffering of the men, the filthy condition of this pen, +and the ghastly looks of those poor creatures, was more than any tongue +or pen could do. They came to where a portion of the sick were lying +under a very poor shelter, and there saw sick men with but little +clothing and in all the conditions of human suffering possible. Many +were covered with ulcers from scurvy, some were sick with fever, some +with their teeth dropping out, some dying with dysentery, some with old +wounds not healed, some with fresh ones made by their brutal keepers, +and nearly all were literally swarming with vermin. + +“Miss Seraine became so sick at these sights that she was almost +fainting, and asked to return to the house and be permitted to come +earlier the next day, so as not to be in the pen during the midday +heat. Her request was granted, and they left the prison. She was greatly +alarmed for fear she would find Henry among this suffering class of sick +men. The next day they entered the prison at nine o'clock, and passing +around on the north side of the grounds found many cooking and eating +their meals. There were no satisfactory conveniences for cooking. A +little fire and a few pans and cups were all. The meat, what little they +had, was broiled on coals. Many took their meal and stirred it in a cup +with the most disagreeable water ever used, and drank it down +without cooking. Hundreds had died within a few days--some from sheer +starvation, as they could no longer take the food into their stomachs; +some from scurvy, some from fever, and some were murdered by the +guards for passing beyond where ordered. How any one could live in that +polluted and poisonous atmosphere was the wonder. In the inclosure there +was a dirty, swampy piece of ground, with water stinking with filth of a +character sickening to behold. When the rain fell all were subjected to +the drenching cold bath. On the ground and in the mud and the damp they +lay. Many were there who during the prior Winter had been so exposed +as to have their feet frozen, until in many instances they were rotting +off. + +“These sights were so shocking in all respects that Miss Seraine was +afraid to speak, (except to say a kind word, when permitted to do so,) +to any of the unfortunate men. It seemed to her that Hibbard knew where +Henry was, but was avoiding bringing her into his presence. So she said +not a word, but looked well at all in view as she passed along. + +“The punishments for any and every little breach of discipline were of +the most outrageous character. She saw many persons with their hands +tied behind them, and others standing, with their thumbs run through +loops of cords tied up to posts. The guards were insolent and were +constantly damning the prisoners. Take it altogether--their dirty, +filthy food, their mode of cooking, their scanty rations, their clothes, +the stinking water they were forced to use, the treatment of the sick, +the punishments they were compelled to bear, the dirty, vile pen they +were in, and the poisonous atmosphere they were forced to breathe, there +is no account anywhere in the barbarous ages that ever did or could +equal Pine Forest Prison. + +“Miss Seraine became sick and tired of the horrible sights, and at last +said to Mr. Hibbard that she did not wish to go around any more to look +upon the suffering prisoners, but desired to be taken where Mr. Lyon +was, if in the prison. He replied that he thought he was in the main +hospital. They directed their steps thither. On entering it she beheld +so many ghastly men at one view that she recoiled, and for a moment +hesitated. Recovering herself she proceeded. While passing along she +beheld a young man with sunken eyes, pale and ashy cheeks, lying on a +board cot, so emaciated that she had no thought of who it could be. +But in a moment she heard her name whispered, and saw a lean, bony hand +reaching out towards her. She looked at him, took his cold, withered +hand, and spoke to him, asking if she could do anything for him. He +said: + +“'I am Henry Lyon, Seraine. Do you not recognize me?' + +“She fell into Mrs. Lawton's arms, exclaiming: 'My God!' When she +revived she fell upon Henry's neck and wept bitterly, exclaiming: + +“'My Henry! my Henry! Can it be possible, can it be possible?' + +“After some little conversation between them, she telling him that all +were well at home, etc., Hibbard informed her that the rules of the +prison would not allow any further interview at present.” + +“What a brute,” interrupted Dr. Adams. + +“Miss Seraine asked to see Surgeon Jones. She ascertained that Henry was +just recovering from an attack of typhoid fever and was now out of +danger. She obtained permission from the Surgeon to visit him daily +while she remained, and to bring him certain delicacies to eat. She then +returned to Henry and bade him an affectionate good-by, with a promise +to see him again. With a sad heart she retraced her steps to Mrs. +Lawton's. Retiring to her room she gave way to her grief and spent the +remainder of the day in tears. + +[Illustration: Seraine with Henry at Pine Forest Prison 258] + +“The following day Mrs. Lawton again accompanied Seraine to the +prison-pen. They took some wine and cake to Henry. After being refreshed +he and Seraine had a long and pleasant interview, in which Seraine told +Henry all about her trip, etc. She told him she had decided to leave +soon for Richmond, and thence for home, but would try and arrange with +the Surgeon, (who seemed to have some humanity left,) for Mrs. Lawton to +visit and bring him some nourishment. The prison and the sights beheld +by her had quite affected her nerves. On returning to Mrs. Lawton's +she was suffering with a violent headache, and, going to her room, she +remained in bed for three days. + +“Mrs. Lawton was very kind. She sat by her bedside and gave her a +detailed account of her own trials. She was a daughter of a Union man, +and had never lost her veneration for her country and the old flag. +Although her husband had lost his life in the Confederate army, she had +not changed her smothered feelings for the Union. She related to Seraine +the many villainous outrages perpetrated upon the Union prisoners by +the inhuman keepers and guards of this vile den. She told graphically +of seven fine-looking young men who were brought out of the prison for +attempting to escape, and shot in the presence of a crowd of jeering +devils. Said she: + +“'If a man wishes to learn of “man's inhumanity to man,” this is the +place.' + +“She expressed her great desire to leave the place, as it was like +dwelling on the verge of the prison for the souls of the damned. Seraine +talked to her of her mission and what she desired to accomplish; also +asked her to keep a watchful eye on Henry, and when the time should come +for an exchange of prisoners to remind Hibbard of Henry as one to be +sent away, provided she could arrange the matter. Henry had been a +prisoner now for more than a year, and was naturally near the time for +his exchange if any one would look after the matter. After quite a delay +on account of her being taken sick again, the time came for her to leave +for Richmond, and after thanking Hibbard for his courtesy, and tendering +manifold thanks to Mrs. Lawton for her kindness and great care of her, +as well as leaving some money with Mrs. Lawton for Henry's benefit, and +promising to write from Richmond if permitted to do so, she embraced +Mrs. Lawton as if she were her mother, and with tearful eyes they +separated. + +“Soon Seraine was on her way to report to Mr. Davis, President of the C. +S. A., as she had promised to do, and also to effect an early exchange +of prisoners if possible. Her trip was a dreary one. She remained as +quiet as possible, having no one to cheer her on her way. On arriving +at Richmond she again stopped at the Virginia Hotel, and there again met +Capt. Redingson. He expressed pleasure at seeing her, and tendered his +services as escort and protector while in the city. After detailing +some of her experiences on her journey, and thanking him for his former +politeness, and also for his present proffered services, she requested +him to bear her compliments to President Davis and ask for an early +interview, as she had promised to return and report to him. The Captain +readily assented, and on returning that evening informed her that he +would be pleased to accompany her to the Executive Office the next day +at eleven a.m., at which hour President Davis would see her. She was +very anxious and quite nervous until the time arrived. Exactly at eleven +o'clock the next day the Captain came for her with a carriage, and very +kindly attended her to the presence of the President. + +“Mr. Davis met her with cordiality. He spoke to her about her perilous +undertaking, and hoped she had been treated kindly by his people. He +also inquired as to her success in finding her friend, to all of which +she responded that her treatment was kind, and her efforts were so far +crowned with success. She gave him an account of her journey and visits +to the prisons; her examination of them, and finally her success in +finding Henry at Pine Forest. She told him the truth about the prisons, +the food, raiment, and treatment of the prisoners. He answered in a +manner rather tender, and feelingly expressed his desire to have matters +in this direction improved, but regretted the impossibility of doing all +things as we might desire to have them done. He spoke of the barbarism +of war and its attendant cruelties. But he soon changed the subject, +after thanking her for her honesty and for having the nerve to tell him +the truth. + +“He then inquired what she desired in reference to her friend. She asked +for his release as the only means of saving his life. He responded that +he would order his exchange at once, and promised her that he should be +on the first boat or train sent North with prisoners. He also gave her +permission to write to Mrs. Lawton on this subject, provided she did not +use his name in connection with this promise. He then gave her a letter +of safe conduct through his lines and detailed Capt. Redingson to go +with her to our lines. Having accomplished the object for which she had +gone South, and reported fully and truthfully to Mr. Davis as she had +promised to do, she took leave of him with her best wishes for his +personal welfare. He bade her farewell and God-speed in a very kind and +tender manner, so much so that Seraine has ever spoken kindly of him as +a man. + +“She repaired to the hotel and told Capt. Redingson that she desired to +leave early the next morning for the Headquarters of the Union army. He +said he would call for her as requested, and they separated. Seraine, +after going to her room, wrote to Mrs. Lawton and inclosed a note +to Henry, merely telling him that she was well and on her way home, +encouraging him to bear up under his sufferings, etc. + +“The next morning Capt. Redingson called according to his promise, and +they were off at once for the lines of the armies. On arriving at the +Headquarters of the Confederate army, they were nicely entertained by +the commanding General. They partook of a good meal and then rested for +the night, Seraine being cared for at a farm house near by. The next +morning, on being provided with a pass through the lines, they were +conducted under a flag of truce to the Headquarters of the Union army, +some twenty miles away. + +“Seraine was received by the commanding General and taken care of. Capt. +Redingson, after having delivered his charge, returned with Seraine's +blessing for his kindness to her. After she had taken a rest she +conversed with Gen. Meador, who was then in command, and related to +him her experiences, at the same time keeping her promise to speak of +nothing pertaining to the Confederate army or any movements of the +same. After a night's rest she was sent under charge of an escort to +Washington city, where she stopped for several days, until she could +see the President and Secretary of War. She finally managed to have an +interview with the Secretary, and, after explaining who she was and her +mission South, he replied with some nervousness: + +“'Henry Lyon' Is he a son of Daniel Lyon, of Allentown, Ind.?' + +“On being answered in the affirmative, he exclaimed: + +“'My God? what affliction that family has had! His oldest son died +recently, being the third son he has lost since this war began.' + +“This was the first knowledge that Seraine had of the sad distress +in the family. She sighed and dropped a tear. The Secretary at once +understood the situation, and told her Henry Lyon should be looked after +and properly cared for. She asked if, when he was exchanged, he could +not be discharged from the service. She said that Mr. Lyon's seven sons +were all in the army, and three having lost their lives, she thought +one ought to remain at home to comfort the parents during their terrible +trials. She struck a tender chord in the Secretary's heart, and he +replied: 'Yes; when he returns, you write me and it shall be done, if he +consents.' + +“This brought joy to her very soul. She bade the Secretary good-by, +saying as she left that he would hear from her in due time. + +“She then called at the President's and sent in his own letter which he +had given her when she started South, that she might thereby be recalled +to his memory. He sent for her at once. As she entered his office he +arose and greeted her most affectionately, calling her 'my child,' and +bidding her be seated. He commenced plying her with questions, and she +told him the whole story. When she related what she had seen in the +rebel prisons, his countenance saddened and tears fell from his eyes. He +said: + +“'This must be remedied somehow. Humanity revolts at retaliation in +kind, but in an instance like this it might be justified.' + +“She told him what she desired, and what the Secretary had promised. He +replied: + +“'My dear child, it shall be done. My old friend Lyon is making more +sacrifices than should be demanded of any one. I hope you will see +him soon, and when you do, tell him that I often think of him and his +family, as well as what they are doing for their country.' + +“The President was a man of generous impulses. He had a very kind heart, +full of sympathy for humanity. + +“She left the President with feelings of the deepest affection and +gratitude, having every assurance that her wishes would be complied +with. As she left, he bade her good-by, calling her his 'little +heroine.' From Washington she went to Baltimore, learning that some +prisoners who had been exchanged were to be landed there. She remained +at the Burnett House, most of the time in her room, not wishing to make +any acquaintances, but watching the papers closely to ascertain the time +for the arrival of the prisoners. One evening she learned that a +vessel had come into port with 200 prisoners. She hastened to the dock; +arriving all out of breath, and seeing the large crowd that was waiting +she became very much excited, and observing an officer in uniform she +ventured to speak to him. It was Gen. Shunk, of Ohio. She told him +who she was, and also for whom she was looking. He answered her very +cordially, and said he knew Mr. Daniel Lyon, formerly of Ohio, and +inquired if the person in question was one of his sons. She said he was, +and he told her to wait and he would see, as he was then in command +at Baltimore. In a few moments he came back with the glad tidings that +Henry Lyon was among the prisoners. She was going to rush on board the +vessel, but the General detained her, informing her that it was not +allowable under the orders, but he would bring Henry to her as soon as +possible. Soon she saw Henry coming from the vessel, leaning upon the +arm of a comrade. He seemed to be very weak, and still looked like +a mere shadow. He was brought where she stood, trembling and almost +fearing to meet him lest his mind might have given way somewhat under +the trying ordeal through which he had just passed. She threw her +arms around his neck and wept aloud. A carriage was procured, and she +accompanied him, by permission, to the hospital where he was ordered +to go. Reaching there, he was placed in a nice clean ward. There they +talked matters over, and Henry agreed to the discharge from the service. +Seraine left him with the nurses, saying that she would return as soon +as possible; at the same time he was not to let his people know anything +of his whereabouts. She left that night for Washington. + +“The next morning at the earliest hour that she could see the Secretary +of War, she made her appearance. On meeting the Secretary he recognized +her, and asked if she was after the discharge about which she agreed to +write to him. She replied that Henry was now at Baltimore, having been +exchanged. Then she told him of his condition. The Secretary at once +ordered the discharge made out, and as soon as it had passed through +the proper officers' hands and was returned to him he handed it to her, +saying: + +“'You deserve this yourself, without any other consideration.' + +“She again thanked the Secretary, and at once repaired to the +President's Mansion. When she was admitted, on seeing her the President +guessed from her bright countenance the whole story, and congratulated +her most heartily. She told him all, and showed him Henry's discharge +and thanked him for his kindness. He said: + +“'May God bless you, my child, and give you both a safe journey home!' + +“Returning to Baltimore, she made arrangements to have Henry placed in a +clean car and taken to Allentown. After they were under way she told him +about the discharge, and he was delighted. She telegraphed me to mee her +at the depot, but did not say one word about Henry. I read the dispatch +to the family, and many were the conjectures. Peter said she had not +found Henry, and a great variety of opinions were expressed. My wife +burst into tears, fell down on the sofa, and cried, saying she felt that +Henry was dead. Ham, hearing what was being said, concluded it was his +turn to guess; so he began: + +“'You's all off de track. Ham sees it all frough de glass in he head, he +do.' + +“'Go 'long wid you, you ole fool: since you's free you 'spec' you is big +and knows a heap. You doesn't know nuffin, you don't,' said Aunt Martha. + +“'Well, alright, Marfa; 'spec' me not know bery much; but, sho's you is +born, dat boy all right; you see, you jes' wait. I say no mo', but I see +what is de matter. You jes' wait, dat's all you got to do.' + +“The next morning I went down to the depot with a carriage, and there +found Seraine and Henry waiting for me. I embraced my poor boy, overcome +with grateful emotion. My joy was complete in finding him alive. He was +a living skeleton. We were not long in driving to the house. All were +out on the portico to see Seraine, no one but Ham expecting Henry with +her. As they all saw Henry the family leaped with joy, and rushing out +to meet us, but seeing Henry's ghastly appearance a sudden sadness came +over all. We helped him out of the carriage. He was completely overcome +when he saw his mother. She clasped him in her arms and cried piteously. +He was assisted into the house and laid upon the sofa. All seemed +to have overlooked Seraine in their great joy over Henry's return. I +introduced her to each one of the family including old Ham and Aunt +Martha. + +“'Didn't I see dem in my glass, Marfa; didn't I? What you got to say +now?' + +“'I 'spects you did, Ham; dey is heah, sho.' Bress de Laud; he bring dis +boy home. I not see him afore dem pizen Sesh fix him dat way! Dey starve +him. What did dey do to him to make him look like dat?' + +“Soon we all got settled, and after breakfast we heard Seraine's story. +She was our heroine, and no mistake. No one of us could do too much for +her. My good wife wanted to have her for a daughter at once. She could +not let her go out of her sight for a moment. She hugged her, kissed +her, seemed almost to want to take her in her lap as a child; in fact, +we all loved her. She had gone through great perils to save our dear +boy, and why not love her I For some days we did nothing but talk over +her journey-ings and what she saw and did. She was the idol of our +household. When Henry had gained strength enough to bear up under the +double shock, we told him of the death of David and James, which painful +news he had not heard before. It took him many days to rally after this +melancholy intelligence of the fate of his dear brothers. After Henry +was strong enough to walk about without help Seraine thought she must +leave us for a time and return home. This saddened our hearts, as we had +grown much attached to her. But she and Henry talked the matter over, +making their own arrangements, and the next day Jackson escorted her to +her home in Michigan. When she left, no family ever wept more in sorrow +at the departure of any one than did ours. + +“There was a mystery connected with her periling her life in the way she +did that I could not then solve, but I made no inquiry into her secret. + +“Of the few left to us they were now once more nearly all together, and +further plans were in order.” + +At this point Dr. Adams said, “The horrors of those rebel prisons have +ever been like a specter before me whenever I hear them mentioned.” + +Judge Reed here interrupted, saying: “I indorse every word of Miss +Whitcomb's description of these prisons. I endured their horrors and +inhumanity for nine months, and she does not tell the half that might be +told. To show that Seraine's statement is not in the least exaggerated, +I have saved an article from the Sumter (S. C.) _Watchman_, published +in reference to the Florence Prison at that time, which seems to have +equaled the Pine Forest.”. + +Being asked to do so, Dr. Adams read as follows: + +“The Camp we found full of what were once human beings, but who would +scarcely now be recognized as such. In an old field, with no inclosures +but the living wall of sentinels who guard them night and day, are +several thousand filthy, diseased, famished men, with no hope of relief, +except by death. A few dirty rags stretched on poles give some of them +a poor protection from the hot sun and heavy dews. All were in rags +and barefoot, and crawling with vermin. As we passed around the line of +guards I saw one of them brought out of his miserable booth by two of +his companions and laid upon the ground to die. He was nearly naked. His +companions pulled his cap over his face and straightened out his limbs. +Before they turned to leave him he was dead. A slight movement of the +limbs and all was over--the captive was free! The Commissary's tent +was close by one side of the square, and near it the beef was laid upon +boards preparatory to its distribution. This sight seemed to excite the +prisoners as the smell of blood does the beasts of the menagerie. They +surged up as near the lines as they were allowed, and seemed, in their +eagerness, about to break over. While we were on the ground a heavy +rain came up, and they seemed to greatly enjoy it, coming out _a paris +naturalibus_, opening their mouths to catch the drops, while one would +wash off another with his hands, and then receive from him the like kind +of office. Numbers get out at night and wander to the neighboring houses +in quest of food. + +“From the camp of the living we passed to the camp of the dead--the +hospital--a transition which reminded me of Satan's soliloquy-- + +“Which way I fly is hell; myself am hell, And in the lowest deeps, a +lower deep, Still threatening to devour me, opens wide.” + +“A few tents, covered with pine-tops, were crowded with the dying +and the dead in every stage of corruption. Some lay in prostrate +helplessness; some had crowded under the shelter of the bushes; some +were rubbing their skeleton limbs. Twenty or thirty of them die daily; +most of these, as I was informed, of the scurvy. The corpses laid by the +roadside waiting for the dead-cart, their glaring eyes turned to heaven, +the flies swarming in their mouths, their big-toes tied together with +a cotton string, and their skeleton arms folded on their breasts. You +would hardly know them to be men, so sadly do hunger, disease, and +wretchedness change 'the human face divine.' Presently came the carts; +they were carried a little distance to trenches dug for the purpose +and tumbled in like so many dogs. A few pine-tops were thrown upon the +bodies, a few shovelfuls of dirt, and then haste was made to open a new +ditch for other victims. The burying party were Yankees detailed for +the work, an appointment which, as the Sergeant told me, they consider a +favor, for they get a little more to eat and enjoy fresh air. + +“Thus we see at one glance the three great scourges of mankind--war, +famine, and pestilence, and we turn from the spectacle sick at heart, +as we remember that some of our loved ones may be undergoing a similar +misery.” + +“This publication,” said Col. Bush, “made in one of their own papers at +the time, proves that all that has ever been said of their treatment of +our prisoners is true.” + +“Yes,” said Uncle Daniel, “and much more.” + +“Uncle Daniel,” said Dr. Adams, “this Miss Seraine Whitcomb was, indeed, +a true woman, and, as the President well said, a 'little heroine.' I +take it she was rather small, from this expression of his.” + +“Yes, she was rather small, but a pure jewel.” + +“She was a woman of great determination, and loved purely and strongly. +There are but few instances of such pure devotion and rare patriotism to +be found in the annals of history. What feelings she must have had while +traveling through the Confederacy in such anguish and suspense. She was +a jewel, sure enough.” + +Col. Bush here interrupted, saying: “The condition of our poor soldiers +in the prisons she visited must have driven her almost insane. It +certainly drove many of the poor sufferers into a state or condition of +insanity, in which numbers died in their ravings and delirium.” + +“Is it not wonderful,” said Dr. Adams, “how soon these barbarities and +inhumanities are forgotten by our people?” + +“Yes,” said Col. Bush; “but you must remember that our people are moving +too rapidly to look back upon scenes of distress. Money and power are +now the watchwords--throw patriotism to the dogs. It is not needed now +to save their property and their rights. You must remember that a man +like Hibbard, the deputy at Pine Forest Prison, who allowed men to be +shot down like dogs and starved like wild beasts, is now looked upon +with more consideration and favor than Uncle Daniel, who gave his whole +family as a sacrifice for his country. Did not this same Hibbard travel +all through our country last Fall making speeches? Was he not received +with shouts by our very neighbors, within a stone's throw of this dear +old man, whose son was starved near unto death in Pine Forest Prison by +this man? Has he not held high positions in his State since? And I would +not be surprised to hear that he had been appointed to some Foreign +Mission, in order that he may represent our country abroad in the true +Christian spirit of our advanced civilization!” + +“Yes,” said Uncle Daniel; “when he was North on his stumping tour I +mentioned the fact of his inhumanity, and only received jeers from those +who heard me--some young students who were not old enough to be in the +war, and now feel that it must never be mentioned except in a whisper. +It seems that all the treason, infamy, and the barbarities and cruelties +practiced during that bloody period are now condoned, and the persons +who practiced the greater wrongs are made thereby the more respectable. +Oh, that I had not lived to see these things! It makes me almost doubt +my own existence. Sometimes I feel that it is all a dream.” + +Maj. Clymer, in order to draw the aged man's mind away from this +unpleasant theme, inquired if he knew what became of Mrs. Lawton. + +“I cannot tell,” said Uncle Daniel; “she and Seraine corresponded for a +number of years after the termination of the war. The last we ever heard +of her she had married with an Englishman and located in Canada. God +knows, I hope she may yet be living and happy. She was a noble woman. I +fear, however, that she, too, has passed away, as we have had no tidings +of her for many years.” + +Uncle Daniel at this time becoming weary and very melancholy, we excused +him for the present, and asked permission to return again, when +he promised that he would continue his narrative, and, bidding him +good-night, we left, with an increased desire to hear more from his +honest and truthful lips. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + PLOTS TO POISON AND BURN.--FIRE AND POISON.--THE PLOT TO + BURN NORTHERN CITIES AND SPREAD DISEASE.--THE SCHEME + AVENGED.--PART OF THE CHIEF PLOTTERS BURNED BY THEIR OWN + COMBUSTIBLES. + + “The earth had not + A hole to hide this deed.” + --Shakespeare + +Some weeks having elapsed since Uncle Daniel was excused, we were +anxious to hear him further, and assembled again at Mr. Wilson's house. +Uncle Daniel was feeling quite well, greeted us pleasantly, and asked +that we be seated. After the compliments of the season, we inquired if +he was ready to continue his story. He replied that he was, and began by +saying: + +“After Jackson had returned from escorting Seraine to her home in +Detroit, we discussed the question as to what steps should now be taken. +Gen. Anderson was still quite feeble, his wound being very painful. It +was thought that it would require considerable time for him to recover +sufficiently to again be able to take the field. He thought it would, +perhaps, be several months. Jackson, after reflection, thought he would +continue his investigation of the Golden Circle conspiracy, and to do +so satisfactorily deemed it best for him to go to England and get on the +track of their allies in that country, and see what preparations were +being made abroad in connection with the leaders in this country. Gen. +Anderson thought this a good plan. Henry, who had been growing stronger, +said to Jackson, that while he (Jackson) was making his voyage of +discovery through parts of Europe, he would go to Canada as soon as he +was able to do so, and carry out the plans left unexecuted by Jackson at +the time he returned from New York. This arrangement being understood by +all, we sent Ham out to the farm, in order that Dent might be summoned +to Allentown to give us what information he had gathered, if any, during +our afflictions and consequent suspension of our operations in that +direction. + +“We directed Ham to bring Mr. Dent back with him the next morning. At +ten o'clock Joseph Dent and Ham arrived from the farm. As soon as we +could conveniently do so, we had an interview with Dent as to what was +transpiring in his immediate neighborhood among his friends, the Knights +of the Golden Circle. He related to us the facts in reference to a +meeting held two nights before, about which he had intended to come in +that day and tell us, if Ham had not come after him. The facts, as he +stated them to us, were these: + +“A person by the name of Harris stated to his confederates that he was +just from Richmond, Va., at the same time claiming to be a member of the +Confederate Congress from Missouri. (A part of Missouri believed that +it had seceded, as you may remember, just as a few Counties in Kentucky +thought they had.) Harris had passed through the lines, coming through +West Virginia and Kentucky, as any one could have done at any time, and +as many doubtlesss did. His statement, as Dent told it to us, was this: +That he was sent by the President of the Confederate States (so-called), +and was on his way to Indianapolis to lay a plan before the leaders in +this and other States; thence he was to pass into Canada and meet the +leaders there, and in that way have prompt action and co-operation +assured. His greatest desire seemed to be to meet Mr. Thos. A. Strider, +who, he said, was one of their best and shrewdest advisers. His +headquarters were to be at Windsor, Canada. He directed the Lodge to +which Dent belonged to be ready at a moment's notice to do whatever +might be directed from the Supreme Council. He told his hearers to +spread the alarm wherever they could without being suspected, that there +was to be a great destruction of property in the North; that, he said, +would terrify leading men and property holders; and, in order to satisfy +his confederates that there was a basis for this statement, he disclosed +a part of a plot that had been proposed to Jefferson Davis and was soon +to be carried out. It was that a discovery had been recently made by a +professor of chemistry, one McCullough, by which towns and cities, and +vessels coming in and going out of our ports, could be easily burned +without danger of discovery. With this newly-discovered combustible +material a general and wholesale destruction of all kinds of +destructible property was to be inaugurated. Harris said that agents +were to be employed all over the country, who were to be selected from +the members of the Knights and to be made up of the most reliable and +tried men; that this matter had been duly considered and determined upon +by the authorities at Richmond; that Jacob Thomlinson, C. C. Carey and +others were now on their way to England to meet Mr. McCullough, who was +already there, and where the destructive material was to be manufactured +and brought in an English vessel to Canada, as there was noway of +getting from the Confederate States to the place from which they wished +to operate without running the gauntlet, and perhaps meeting with +dangers not desirable to be encountered. This man Harris also instructed +all who heard him that the penalty now fixed by the authorities in the +Councils of the Knights for disclosing any of their secrets was death, +which might be inflicted by any of the Order ascertaining the fact so +that no doubt could exist as to the guilt of the person who had played +traitor to them. + +“This, I could see, alarmed Dent and made him cautious and hesitating at +times when we would give expression to our utter abhorrence of the +use of such villainous means as seemed to be in contemplation by our +enemies. We constantly assured the old man, however, that he need have +no fears of any of us, which, of course, he had not; yet he was somewhat +timid. He could not tell which way Harris started from their meeting, +nor how he was traveling. This ended his recollection of Harris's +statement. We then got Dent again to repeat the signs, grips, passwords +and instructions to Gen. Anderson and Capt. Jackson, as well as to +Henry, and so they found themselves well posted. Then, thanking Dent and +encouraging him to persevere in his discoveries, we allowed him to go +and make his arrangements with David's widow about matters at the farm +and then return home. + +“The next day I wrote to the President, giving him the history of +matters as detailed to us by Joseph Dent; also, the plan we had laid +out for the future. In a few days I received a note from Washington, +unsigned, merely saying, 'the plan is approved.' I knew from whom the +note came, and was well satisfied to have the plans carried out. + +“The next day we received a letter from Peter, informing us that he was +well, and that the Army of the Center was in camp and were expecting a +long rest after the two great battles. This delighted my wife, as she +felt that while they were not moving, her boys were safe. By this time +all necessary arrangements had been made for Jackson's departure, and +after bidding his mother and the rest of us good-by he left for New +York; from there he expected to sail for Europe. On arriving at New +York he called upon Mc-Masterson and B. Wudd, and made satisfactory +statements to them as to the reasons for not going to Canada. After +obtaining letters of introduction to Jacob Thomlinson they proceeded to +discuss the situation, and from them he learned that preparations, such +as had been detailed to us by Dent, were evidently being made for +great damage to towns, cities, and property generally. He also obtained +letters from McMasterson to some important persons in London, where he +professed to be going on some mission for the rebels. The letters, as +before, introduced Mr. Jackson, of Memphis, Tenn. + +[Illustration: Jackson starts for Europe 275] + +“He sailed the following day and had a pleasant voyage. While on board +the vessel crossing the Atlantic he made the acquaintance of one Capt. +Redingson, a jolly, gentlemanly companion. They were very suspicious of +each other for some time, but finally Capt. Redingson gave him the sign +of the Golden Circle, to which Jackson responded. The friendship was +then at once established. Jackson carefully felt his way,--as you +have seen, he was a cautious man,--and finally discovered that Capt. +Redingson was well acquainted in Memphis. This rather placed Jackson in +a dilemma, as his letters located him at Memphis. Finally he turned the +conversation in the direction of building railroads, and finding that +Capt. Redingson knew nothing about railroads, he mentioned that he had +been employed in engineering work on the Memphis & Chattanooga Railroad. +He said he lived in Ohio, but claimed Memphis, Tenn., as his residence, +inasmuch as he was a rebel and would have nothing whatever to do with +the North while they were making war against his friends, as his people +were all natives of Virginia, he himself having been born there. This +statement made all things right, and the two had a jolly good time +together the remainder of the voyage. + +“During one of their conversations Capt. Redingson, in relating some of +his war experiences, made mention of the fact that at one time, not long +past, he had met a young lady from Michigan in search of her sweetheart, +and that he had been her escort while she was at Richmond, and through +their lines to ours. At this moment Jackson told me that he came very +near spoiling everything by his agitation, but by rising and taking a +glass of water had time to recover, and then listened to the story with +great interest, asking a question occasionally. Capt. Redingson +finally took a small book from his pocket and read her name, 'Se-raine +Whitcomb,' and that of her lover, 'Henry Lyon,' and remarked, that he +intended, if ever he should have an opportunity, to find out the history +of the two, as she had impressed him very favorably, and, in fact, had +excited his admiration,--she was so gentle and frank, and withal so +brave. Jackson said at this point he again became very thirsty. + +“Very soon the conversation took a turn in another direction, and +Jackson inquired if the Captain thought there were any persons in London +looking after the interests of the Confederacy, to which the Captain +replied that Jacob Thomlinson, C. C. Carey, and one or two others that +he did not know, were there on a secret mission, the nature of which was +not fully known to him, as he had only returned to Richmond from Mexico +on one day and left under orders the next, and had to run the blockade +in order to get away. His description of the passing of our vessels +in the night out from Wilmington in a vessel laden with cotton; the +darkness, the stillness of the night, the lights on our vessels, the +fear of being discovered and overtaken, the joy he experienced when +they had passed our line and were covered by one of their fast-running +cruisers (the Susquehanna) was indeed quite graphic. Jackson said that +although the Captain was a rebel, and perhaps engaged in running the +blockade frequently, yet he was cheerful, and took everything that +seemed to be working against their success so philosophically that +he enjoyed his company, and rather liked him. During the trip Capt. +Redingson learned to like Jackson also, and made him a confidant, +promising to introduce him to many friends after they should arrive, +among whom he included Jacob Thomlinson, Carey, and many others. +He finally disclosed to Jackson the fact that he was sent by the +authorities at Richmond to London and Paris with a large amount of +Confederate bonds for sale, and that he would take Jackson with him +to visit the bankers, and also get him introduced, so that he might +be admitted to some of the Gentlemen's clubs, where he could hear much +discussion pro and con about the war. It seemed that Capt. Redingson had +been across several times on business for the Confederacy. + +“When the vessel reached port, and all was ready, the two went out +together, and from Liverpool to London were engaged in conversation as +to how they could best manage to enjoy themselves while in London, and +at the same time attend to the business for which they were abroad. +Jackson had satisfied the Captain that he was going more to find out how +the people there felt, and the probabilities of the English Government +rendering aid to the Southern Confederacy, for the purpose of his +speculating in bonds and stocks, than for anything else, and at the same +time to aid if he could the friends of the Confederacy everywhere; +and to use all means, no matter what, for their success. They had not +noticed any of the important points until they came within some ten or +twelve miles of London, when their attention was attracted by the church +and school buildings of Harrow, beautifully situated on a hill rising +from a plain. This celebrated institution is one of the first in +the Kingdom. It was founded in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Many +distinguished men have been educated there, among whom were Lord Byron, +Sir Robert Peel, and Lord Palmerston. After this the Captain and Jackson +took much interest in the historic objects presenting themselves till +they reached London. + +“On arriving they engaged rooms at the Charing Cross Hotel. During the +next day Capt. Redingson found his friend Jacob Thomlinson and brought +him to his room. Very soon after this he invited Jackson in and +introduced him as Mr. Win. Jackson, of Memphis, Tenn., a good and true +friend of the Confederacy, who was willing to do anything to aid in +making the rebellion a success. Mr. Thomlinson received him with much +cordiality, and conversed very freely, but cautiously. He was not quite +as free and easy as Capt. Redingson. Finally Mr. Thomlinson invited them +to visit him at his hotel, 'The Palace,' near Buckingham Palace, on +the following evening, stating he would have some friends who would +be pleased to meet them. Jackson was very desirous to accept this +invitation, as perhaps the opportunity would be afforded to get +some information of value, and was consequently delighted that Capt. +Redingson promptly indicated their acceptance. + +“In good season they made their toilets as if they were to meet the +Queen of England or the Prince of Wales, and set out for the Palace +Hotel. On arriving at the hotel and notifying Mr. Thomlinson of their +presence, they were ushered into his apartments, which they found were +most elaborate and elegant. + +“On entering they were presented to Mr. C. C. Carey, Prof. McCullough, +and Dr. Blackman, of Kentucky. These men had the appearance of the +Southern aristocrats, except Prof. McCullough, whose manner and speech +denoted Northern antecedents. Jackson noted this particularly, and +in the subsequent conversation he learned that the Professor was of +Northern birth and education, having been, prior to 1860, professor of +chemistry at Princeton College, N. J. For a time the conversation ran on +the voyage and the many interesting places that should be visited by all +travelers. Before the evening was over, however, the topic was changed, +and the success of the Confederacy (as they were pleased to call it) +became the engrossing subject of discussion. + +“Jackson was here tested and found not only sound in this, the most +interesting of all questions to them, but it was thought he might be +made very useful in assisting them in perfecting and executing their +plans. + +“Mr. Thomlinson and Captain Redingson discussed the selling of bonds, +etc.; Thomlinson stating that the intention of the authorities at +Richmond was to have given him the bonds, but that they were not +prepared in time, as he had to leave at a certain date to escape the +blockade, on account of his previous relations with the United States +Government. Captain Redingson replied that he knew nothing about the +business except from his instructions, and he could not do otherwise +than to obey them. + +“After many suggestions it was finally understood that a meeting of the +gentlemen then present should be held every evening at the same rooms, +except when engagements otherwise should interfere. Capt. Redingson +and Jackson then took leave of the other parties and returned to their +hotel. + +“After going to their rooms Captain Redingson remarked that he wished +Jackson to stay with him and be his guest, as he feared he might need +a friend in future in reference to his business; that he desired him to +witness his transactions in reference to the sale of the bonds in +his custody. At the same time he asked Jackson if he had heard what +Thomlinson stated in reference to his (Thomlinson) being the one who was +to have placed the bonds. Jackson responded that he had. Redingson said: + +“'Mr. Jackson, I intend to deal honestly with my Government (meaning the +Confederacy) in this whole matter, and I do not intend that these bonds +in my possession shall be a missing 'Indian Trust Fund?' + +“Jackson remarked, 'Why, Captain, what do you mean by Indian Trust +Fund?' + +“'Oh! nothing,' said the Captain; 'it was a mere idle remark.' + +“This, however, opened a flood of light in upon Jackson's mind in +reference to matters of the past, in connection with certain frauds +upon the United States Government. He pretended not to understand the +Captain, however, and there the conversation on this subject dropped. +Jackson thanked the Captain for his generosity, but declined to accept +his offer,--that of being his guest while in London,--but said he would +remain with him as long as he could do so. They agreed that the next day +they would visit some few points of interest while resting and before +starting into business matters, and separated for the night. After +Jackson had retired to his room he jotted down what he had seen and +heard, the names of those whom he had met, etc., and at the same time +he concluded there was a chance for a fair-sized row between Jacob +Thomlinson and Capt. Redingson. + +“Evidently, the latter had but little confidence in the former, and was +determined to look well to his own matters of business. + +“The next morning, after they had breakfasted, a programme was arranged +and they started out in a cab sightseeing. The first place of interest +visited was the monument at Fish-street Hill, near London Bridge, which +stands as the enduring monument to London's great fire in 1666. The +next place, which is usually the first one visited by travelers, +was Westminster Abbey--the shrine of the ashes of some of the most +illustrious and greatest of England's dead. They then visited the +Temple, being next in antiquarian interest; then St. Paul's Church, the +Middle and Inner Temple Hall, Middle Temple Library, Temple Gardens, and +one or two of the principal parks. By this time they had whiled away the +most of the day, and therefore returned to Charing Cross Hotel. + +“After dinner that evening they again visited the rooms of Jacob +Thomlinson and found the same friends of the evening before. After +salutations, and the ordinary chat about London and the points visited +by each, the conversation again turned on the war at home. On this +occasion ways and means were discussed very freely. The Professor +and Dr. Blackman seemed to be really fiendish in their feelings and +suggestions. The Professor was very anxious that money should be +obtained at once, in order that the plan agreed to at Richmond should +be entered upon without delay, which was, as heretofore stated, that the +material was to be made in large quantities wherewith towns, cities +and other property could be easily burned without detection. Jackson +inquired of the Professor what his combustible was, to which he replied: + +“'There are but two men who have the secret; it cannot be given without +the consent of both and in the presence of both. I can,' he continued, +'burn the city of New York in one day or night by throwing this +preparation in eight or ten places at the same point of time, and no +power can prevent its success in making destruction certain. The person +throwing it can, by a certain gauge, give himself plenty of time to be +entirely out of the sight of any one who might chance to be near. In +that way he would not even be suspected. When the explosion takes place +the flames will instantly cover an entire block of buildings. It has +been so thoroughly tested that there is now no longer any doubt of the +destructive power of the material.' + +“Capt. Redingson here interposed a question, desiring to know if this +would come within the range of civilized warfare? + +“'Civilized warfare!' said Dr. Blackman; 'what do I care for the rules +of civilized warfare? Have not these Yankees destroyed our property? +Are they not setting our slaves free? Is not that destruction of our +property rights?' + +“'Yes,' said Capt. Redingson; 'but this is retaliation on property and +persons that are not doing any injury. You must remember that we +have many good friends North, and this mode of warfare would be the +destruction of women and children.' + +“'Very well,' said Dr. Blackman; 'let that be so. If those people are, +as you say, our friends, let them join in and help us. They can stop +this war if they want to do so. No, sir! they are only pretended +friends. They are after the dollar, and play between the lines!' + +“Jacob Thomlinson here spoke up, saying: 'You are quite right, Doctor; +we cannot look for help from any of those people, and the sooner we +light up their cities with a grand and bright light the better!' + +“'Very well, gentlemen; I was merely wishing to understand the matter,' +said Capt. Redingson. + +“Dr. Blackman by this time was walking to and fro across the room +somewhat excitedly. Halting in front of Capt. Redingson, he said: 'I +presume that your Christian sentiments would revolt at my proposition, +and to which the authorities have already assented.' + +“'What is that?' quickly inquired Capt. Redingson. + +“'It is to spread disease in the Northern cities and through the +Northern army.' + +“The Captain promptly replied: 'Well, sir, this would be a novel way of +fighting battles. I had supposed that physicians were educated in the +line of preventing and curing diseases, and not in the practice of how +to spread them.' + +“'Yes, sir! as a principle, that is so; but in a case like this, where +is the difference between shooting a man to death and poisoning him to +death?' said the Doctor. + +“'Doctor, I can see a very great difference. In the one case you fight +him, giving him an equal chance with yourself; in the other, you murder +him in the most dastardly and cowardly manner.' + +“'I am greatly surprised at you, sir,' said the Doctor. 'I thought you +were one of our truest men?' + +“'So I am,' responded the Captain. 'But, Doctor, we had better not +discuss this matter further. I shall obey my orders; but please excuse +me from anything more than to do so in the direction of which you were +speaking.' + +“During this discussion Jackson had remained silent. The Doctor, turning +to him, said: + +“'Mr. Jackson, what are your views on the subjects under discussion?' + +“To this Jackson replied that, being unacquainted with the usages of +war, he was not competent to decide, but he thought while all parties +implicitly obey orders, he did not see that individual opinions cut very +much of a figure in the operations of a great war. + +“Thomlinson said that was the most sensible solution of the question; +that he presumed there were a great many questions upon which we might +all have very different shades of opinion. + +“'But, Doctor,' said Jackson, 'there is a difficulty in my mind as to +how you are to carry out your proposed plan.' + +“'Not the slightest difficulty, sir. I have already made arrangements +with all the smallpox hospitals of England, so that instead of +destroying or burying in the ground the towels, sheets, covers, +blankets, and under-clothing, they are all to be boxed up tightly and +covered with clean blankets and sent to an out-of-the-way place which I +have prepared. + +“I am to pay for them on delivery. I have persons employed, all of whom +have passed through the most malignant forms of the disease. They are +collecting and having brought to this out-house those infected goods. +When I have a sufficient quantity of them I shall purchase a large +amount of material used by soldiers, such as handkerchiefs, stockings, +underwear, sheets for hospitals, etc., mix them with the infected goods, +box them up and ship them to the Sanitary Commission in New York by way +of Canada for distribution to the Union Soldiers, post hospitals, and +sanitariums. I shall go to the Charity Hospital Association here and get +permission to send them in their name; in fact, I have the permission +now. They, of course, do not know they are infected goods, but I have +given them the list of goods I intend to purchase, and they will give me +the letter I wish, turning the goods over to me as their agent to take +them to New York and present them to the Sanitary Commission for the +Union armies. I have given to them the name of James Churchill, of +London.' + +“'But, Doctor, how will you take them on board ship without danger to +the people on the vessel?' + +“'Very easily, sir. There is not the slightest danger in doing so. I +will pack them inside fresh linens and blankets, with cotton and paper +outside of them, making the boxes of good material and very close in +the joints. I shall leave for New York in about one month, and I have +no fears that I will not succeed in doing great damage to the army, and +also to the members of the Sanitary Commission who handle the goods. I +regard the Commission as a set of scamps and hypocrites.' + +“Jackson here interrupted, saying: 'Doctor, you seem to have your scheme +pretty well planned, and it looks as though it might be a success.' + +“This Dr. Blackman seems to have been a communicative individual, and +Jackson having sounded him all that he wished at that time, the Captain +and Jackson took their leave and repaired to their hotel. When there +the Captain walked into Jackson's room and stood for a moment looking +straight into Jackson's face. Finally, he spoke in about these words: + +“'Mr. Jackson, I am a rebel! I am what is called a traitor to the United +States Government. I am in favor of the whole country becoming one +universal wreck before I would submit to go back into the Union. But, +sir, I want you to remember, if you should ever think of Capt. Redingson +in the future, that his mother was a Christian woman, and taught her son +to have some of the instincts of humanity. No, sir; I am no murderer; +no city burner; no poisoner! I have listened to all these things and +remained partially silent. But, as God is my judge, I will not be a +party to any of these schemes. I will obey all legitimate orders, so far +as money is concerned, and as a soldier will do my duty; but no man has +a right to order me to commit murder or to perform inhuman acts, and I +will not do it!' + +“Jackson listened to him, and then gave him his hand, saying: + +“'Captain, you are a man, and a gentleman, with true appreciation of +what may be justified in war, and that which cannot be.' + +“The Captain said he would go the next day to see the syndicate that was +to take the bonds, and as soon as he could arrange his matters he would +leave London. + +“Jackson told him he would go with him, and they parted for the night +with that understanding. + +“The next day the Captain made a visit to the office of the syndicate, +where all the preliminaries were arranged. Jackson, at the Captain's +request, and in pursuance of their former understanding, accompanied +him. An arrangement was made for the Captain to meet these gentlemen +the next day at the Bank of England, where the bonds were to be verified +with papers sent by the Secretary of the Treasury of the Confederacy. +Being quite weary they did not that evening visit the rooms of Jacob +Thomlinson. After the Captain retired Jackson wrote to me a detailed +statement of all that had transpired, and directed his letter to his +mother, so that no suspicion could attach, not knowing what might +happen. + +“I will digress here a moment to say that the letter was received in the +due course of the mail. The statements it contained as to the proposed +schemes were so revolting that they struck terror to my very soul. +I left for Washington the next morning. On arriving there I laid the +letter before the President. He read it and seemed to be dumfounded. He +finally said: + +“'Is it possible that such men live in this day and age?' + +“He sent for the Secretary of War. The letter contained a minute +description of Dr. Blackman and Professor McCullough. Certain reliable +officers were at once detailed and dispatched to New York, with proper +authority to arrest either or both of these men, if they or either of +them should chance to enter that city. The President talked freely with +me after this was done, asking me many questions about the feelings +of the people. As soon as I could leave Washington I did so. Having +performed my errand I returned home and found Henry sufficiently +recovered to undertake his promised trip to Canada, and the day +following my arrival he started. I have wandered from the subject, +however, and must get back to London.” + +“It is all interesting, Uncle Daniel,” said Dr. Adams. + +“Yes, yes! but I must get back to London. The day agreed upon the +Captain (Jackson accompanying him), met the gentlemen of the syndicate +of the Bank of England, and then and there the bonds in the possession +of Capt. Redingson were verified and found correct according to the +Secretary's letters. The bonds taken by the syndicate amounted to +several millions of dollars, and, much to the surprise of the Captain, +the syndicate had instructions also from the authorities at Richmond to +place two millions in the Bank of England to the credit of the Treasury +of the Confederate Government, one million in the Bank of France to the +same credit, and one million in the Bank of England to the credit of +Jacob Thomlinson, and the remainder (|50,000) to be paid to Capt. T. P. +Redingson. This he placed to his own credit. He then took a statement of +the whole transaction from the bank. After giving his signature, so that +he might draw for his money, he was then ready to leave. When asked if +he knew Mr. Jacob Thomlinson, he replied that he did, and then in +turn asked the bank officer the same question. He answered that Mr. +Thomlinson was well known to the bank, and, in fact, was then in the +back room in consultation with some other gentlemen. This seemed to +nettle the Captain, as he felt that he was watched by Thomlinson. +Jackson asked the Captain if he was ready to return. He signified that +he was. They took leave of all the gentlemen, and left for their hotel. + +“That evening they visited the rooms of Jacob Thomlinson. Before +starting the Captain spoke rather angrily about Mr. Thomlinson's conduct +and about the amount of money placed to Thomlinson's credit. Jackson, +being a very deliberate man, advised the Captain not to have any +discussion with Thomlinson, but to take everything for granted and to +agree to whatever plans the gentlemen at the rooms might suggest; that +he could leave the country whenever he wished, and not meet them at any +point in the United States or Canada. The Captain, with some warmth, +said: + +“'Mr. Jackson, I will not meet them anywhere away from here to assist in +carrying out their murderous plots and schemes! Thomlinson has the money +to his credit, and can buy and pay for what he pleases. I will no longer +be responsible; and the fact that so much money is placed to his credit +causes me to have suspicion that these schemes, as they say, have been +indorsed by the authorities at Richmond. Now, my dear sir, if I knew +that to be true, so help me Heaven, I would renounce the whole concern, +as much of a rebel as I am. I would go to Mexico or some other country +and live. What! I, Thomas P. Redingson, a man of reputation, born of +Christian parents, assisting in spreading disease amongst poor soldiers, +who are merely obeying the orders of their Government? No, sir! no sir! +never I I do not believe that the All-seeing God will allow this infamy +to prosper.' + +“Jackson then said: 'Captain, let us go; they may be waiting for us.' + +“They proceeded to the meeting place. Upon entering they found all +present, and apparently feeling very much gratified at something. The +champagne was flowing freely and the conversation became quite loud. A +new face appeared in their midst. They were introduced to him. His name +was given as Dr. Mears, formerly of Washington City. In the course of +the evening it was disclosed that he was the man referred to by Prof. +McCullough as the only man other than himself possessing the secret of +the discovery of the great combustible that was to burn up the world. +Jackson excused himself from taking any wine on account of his head not +being in good condition. After many bumpers they all sat down to review +the situation. + +“C. C. Carey said that the first thing now, since the necessary money +had been provided, was to ascertain what length of time would be +necessary to perfect the arrangements, as well as for Dr. Blackman to +complete his collection. + +“Dr. Blackman, always loquacious, spoke up instantly, 'I will be ready +in two weeks.' + +“Prof. McCullough thought it would require a greater length of time +for him and Dr. Mears to make proper preparations. He thought that four +weeks would be sufficient time. + +“So it was finally decided that the three should make their arrangements +to be ready to sail within four weeks, and that they would sail on the +same vessel for Montreal, Canada. Jacob Thomlinson and C. C. Carey were +to precede them and have matters all prepared for taking care of and +storing their materials. The time was not then fixed for these gentlemen +to sail, but it was understood they should go in advance and make all +the necessary arrangements for quick and effective work as soon as the +Professor and the two Doctors should arrive in Montreal. The plan was +that agents were to be selected from their sworn friends of the Golden +Circle, who were known to be tried and true men of great daring and +courage. These men were to be placed at different points, where they +were to be furnished with the material and instructed by Prof. +McCullough and Dr. Mears on their arrival. Their operations were to be +from Canada. The agents were to operate against New York and New England +towns and cities from Montreal; also, against Buffalo and interior +cities in the State of New York from Toronto, and against Cleveland, +Cincinnati and Chicago from Windsor. + +“These preliminaries having been settled, the next inquiry was as to how +the money was to be placed to defray all the expenses. Mr. Thomlinson +made inquiry as to the amount that would be required. The estimates were +made at once by Dr. Blackman for his part, and by Prof. McCullough for +the 'fireworks,' as Redingson now called them. The two estimates footed +up $109,000. Thomlinson thought that would be very extravagant. The +Professor inquired if he knew the material to be used. Thomlinson +admitted that he did not. + +“Jackson saw that Redingson was regarding Prof. McCullough, with a look +of intense curiosity. Nothing was said for some moments. The silence was +finally broken by Mr. Carey saying that he thought it might be a good +plan to have one of the party who was to remain in London to have the +amount placed to his credit somewhere, so that he could act as Treasurer +for the two divisions of labor, and draw all the checks or drafts +necessary. Dr. Blackman spoke to Thomlinson, saying that he thought well +of that plan. + +“'Well, gentlemen,' Mr. Thomlinson said, 'whom will you select?' + +“Prof. McCullough said: 'I do not care; I am willing that Dr. Blackman +shall act if he will do so. What say you, Dr. Mears?' The Doctor +assented, and it was so arranged. + +“Jacob Thomlinson said: 'All right, gentlemen; on tomorrow I will make +the deposit, and then Mr. Carey and myself will take the first chance +for getting to Canada, in in order to make the arrangements as now +understood.' At the same time he asked Capt. Redingson when and where +would his orders take him. + +“The Captain replied that he should return to Richmond as soon as he +could get through the lines. Speaking to Jackson, he said: 'I suppose +you will remain in London for the present.' + +“'Yes,' replied Jackson; 'I shall look around the country some little +before returning.' + +“They all agreed to have one final meeting the next evening, prior to +separating for their various destinations. Bidding each other good-night +they left. + +“Capt. Redingson and Jackson wended their way to their hotel. After +arriving at their rooms Capt. Redingson commenced the conversation. You +will notice that these two men never talked on the street, or elsewhere +than in their room. Redingson said to Jackson: + +“'Did you see how loath Thomlinson was to put money in any other hands +than his own?' + +“'I saw some hesitancy,' said Jackson. + +“'Well, sir, he proposes to spend only what is absolutely necessary. +None of it will ever find its way into the Confederate Treasury. He +loves money equal to any Yankee. But now, Mr. Jackson, what do you +propose? Will you return to New York, or will you remain here for a +time? + +“Said Jackson, 'I ought to return very soon, but I have learned but +little as yet in reference to the sentiments of the people in England, +and am thinking of remaining for a short time longer.' + +“'Well, sir, if you have no objections, I will remain for a time with +you. I would like to see and learn more than I have about several +matters. Let us go to-morrow and take a look around. What do you say?' + +“'Very well,' replied Jackson. + +“'Good night,' said the Captain. + +“When Jackson was alone, he wrote again under cover of his mother's +name, without signing his own, giving full details of the plan of attack +on the cities named, agents to be employed, etc. He gave the names +of places in Canada from which the attacks with fire were to be made. +Thomlinson and Carey's headquarters were to be at Montreal; therefore +Jackson suggested that I send for Henry and put him on the track, and +for him to discover the agents so they could be arrested, etc. This, he +thought, could not be risked in a letter to Canada. Hence, I wrote to +Henry to come home. He came at once. I gave him Jackson's letter and +he studied it, making diagrams, etc., and then returned to Canada, +determined to get in with these men and learn who their agents were, +etc. I could not visit Washington at that time, so I took the chances +of a letter to the President. He received my letter and took the proper +precaution to have careful watch for the developments of the dreadful +wickedness. + +“Now, let me return to the Captain and Jackson. According to their +agreement when we left them, the following morning they started out and +spent a day of great interest to them. While riding in a cab the Captain +said: 'I have a proposition to make to you, Mr. Jackson, which I will do +to-night. The more I reflect upon what certain men are going to attempt, +the more atrocious it appears to me.' + +“Jackson looked at him, but with his usual caution made no response, +except that he would be glad to hear what he had to say. That night when +all the parties met at Jacob Thomlinson's rooms, as per engagement, all +were good natured and full of hope and belief as to their success and +the future triumph of the Confederate cause. In the conversation it +seemed that the Professor and Dr. Blackman had come to the conclusion +that they could be ready perhaps a week sooner than they had at first +thought. Jacob Thomlinson said: 'All right, gentlemen, the sooner the +better.' + +“He then revealed to them that he had that day chartered for safety a +fast-running steamer called the Will-o'-the-Wisp, to transport them and +their supplies of material from Liverpool to Montreal. The Captain +and officers were, he said, their friends, and ready to aid them in +anything. To Dr. Blackman he said: 'Take this letter; in it you will +find full instructions and memoranda, so that you can at any time +communicate with the Captain of the vessel. You had better send your +material along with some discreet person as rapidly as possible, and +leave for Montreal the first moment you can do so.' + +“He also stated that he and Mr. Carey would leave London in the morning +to take passage from Liverpool to Montreal. The Messenger being the +first steamer to leave, they were going over in her. After some further +talk of no great importance, the Captain and Jackson bade good-by to all +and withdrew. + +“After entering Jackson's room the Captain said: 'Mr. Jackson, I told +you last night that I could not see how the Living God could allow such +inhuman plans to succeed. Now, what I propose is this: for you and me to +remain and find if any vessel will leave for Montreal near the time, +but later than the Will-o'-the-Wisp, and that we take passage on her and +follow them. I am resolved that I will prevent this inhuman scheme from +being carried out. I do not believe that you will betray me, therefore I +tell you this. I do not now know how I am to do it, _but I will do it!_ +What say you, sir? Are you a Christian man?' + +“Jackson responded, saying, 'I am a man of but few words, and therefore +only say, give me your hand.' + +“They elapsed hands and pledged fidelity to each other. + +“'Now,' said the Captain, 'let us off for Paris to-morrow. We will not +see these men any more while here. We can watch the papers and learn +about the vessels, when they leave, etc.' + +“This being agreed upon, the next day they were off. + +“They visited Paris and quite a number of points of interest during the +delay of their friends in London. Finally, the Captain came to Jackson +with the Liverpool _Gazette_ and showed him the advertisements. The +Will-o'-the-Wisp leaves Liverpool for Montreal, Canada, on Thursday, +------ day of ------. + +“'We must leave for Liverpool at once,' said the Captain, and in an hour +they were en route to London. + +“Here they took the cars for Liverpool, and arrived the morning of the +departure of the parties with their fireworks, poisoned clothing, etc., +on the Will-o'-the-Wisp. She was a beauty--very long, with a sharp prow. +She sat in the water like a seafowl, and sped away out of port as if she +expected to attract the admiration of the immense throng on the wharf. +They soon ascertained that the Fairy Queen, a very fast-going steamer, +would leave the same evening for the same place,--Montreal, Canada,--and +at once engaged passage and went on board of her. + +“During the day the Captain said: 'Mr. Jackson, you are not as much of +a talker as our friend Blackman. I do not believe there is one of the +friends whom we have met in London who could tell your full name, where +you were born, what your business is or has been, or where you intend +going.' + +“'No, sir,' replied Jackson; 'I never intrude myself upon any one. These +gentlemen all seemed unreserved in their conversation, did they not? How +did they know that I could be trusted with their secrets?' + +“'Oh! they knew that I would not have introduced you unless I knew you +were all right. And they do not seem to appreciate the enormity of what +they are doing. Oh! I did not tell you the curious dream that haunted me +in my sleep last night?' + +“'No,' replied Jackson; 'will you tell me what it was?' + +“'Yes, sir. It was this: I dreamed that Dr. Mears and the Professor had +committed a murder in London, and were tried, convicted and hanged; they +were both cremated mated, and that you and I were invited to see it; +then their bodies were in a blaze like tinder, and soon became nothing +but a small quantity of ashes.' + +“Jackson said that was a very singular dream. + +“'But that was not all. I thought that Dr. Blackman was a perfect sight +to behold with smallpox, and that he was delirious, and jumped into the +Thames, and that you and I rescued him, took him to the hospital, and +had him attended to. I then awoke. The whole thing was so vivid to my +mind that I believed it to be true for a moment. What say you to this? +I believe somewhat in dreams, and fear that these reckless men will get +into trouble with their infernal machines, or fireworks, and poisons. +They must not be permitted to carry out their hellish purposes, as I +told you, and you agreed that they shall not do it. I will suffer death +before I will see these plots succeed and carry the guilty knowledge on +my conscience through life. I swear, if President Davis has sanctioned +this, I hope the Confederacy may sink into utter nothingness. What say +you?' + +“Said Jackson: 'I agree to all, except I do not believe in dreams.' + +“'Well, well, we shall see,' said the Captain. 'It is a warning of some +kind.9 + +“That afternoon the vessel moved out of port in majestic style. The +steamer Fairy Queen was stylish and noted for speed. Nothing transpired +to cause any excitement until the sixth day out. They had spoken several +vessels on the voyage and found them moving on all right. On this day +they discovered a vessel far in advance of them. The Captain and Jackson +were on the deck, and concluded that it must be the Will-o'-the-Wisp. +That night they were coming close to her, when the Captain of the Fairy +Queen told them that the vessel in sight was the Will-o'-the-Wisp, and +that she was moving slower than usual. + +“During the night, perhaps about two o'clock, they were aroused by +fog-horns and various noises. They arose and went out. It was dark and +the fog so dense that nothing could be seen. The fog-horns indicated +that the vessels were coming dangerously near to each other. The running +to and fro and the language of the Captain of the ship all betokened +danger. + +“By this time the passengers were all up and out in so many different +garbs that it was laughable, though the danger was imminent. The two +vessels were nearing each other in spite of all that could be done by +officers or crews. Finally the Fairy Queen was turned and run in the +contrary direction from her course, and by that movement we got out of +the swing of the Will-o'-the-Wisp. All remained up, filled with alarm. + +“In the morning the fog lifted, and again they could see their way. The +Will-o'-the Wisp was still in view, but seemed to be struggling. Nearing +her again they found she was crippled in some way. The Captain of the +Fairy Queen spoke her and inquired her trouble, when he found one of her +shafts was broken. The arrangement was being made to get her tow-line +and aid her on her way. Just as they were fastening it they saw a stream +of fire pour from her that looked as if the whole ocean was in a blaze. +Their vessel had to cut loose and move rapidly to save herself. The fire +seemed to leap into and out of the water, like great burning shafts, +seemingly reaching the very heavens. It would then play on the surface +of the water and reach apparently miles away. + +[Illustration: The Burning of the Will-o-the-Wisp 284] + +“There was no possible means by which any assistance could be rendered. +No one could live near her, nor could a vessel of any kind approach. +They could hear such frightful shrieks as would have made a demon +shudder. Finally nothing could be seen save sheets of sulphurous flame +jumping and skipping over the water as if playing with the waves. Then +all became dark, and a streak of suffocating smoke hung over the water, +as if a lake of burning brimstone was belching forth over the sea. + +“All on the Fairy Queen stood aghast and looked as though stricken +with paralysis. When the dark cloud of smoke had passed away there +was nothing in sight save one small boat, perhaps a mile away. The +Will-o'-the-Wisp was gone forever, and it looked as though all on +board had gone with her. The Fairy Queen steamed up and steered in +the direction of the small boat, and found that it contained but two +persons. It was found that one sailor and Dr. Blackman had escaped by +cutting loose with the little boat when the first signs of trouble were +discovered. The doctor knew what was coming, and made away for dear +life. + +“When Jackson and Capt. Redingson made themselves known to him he was +greatly surprised. They then talked the matter over, and all agreed that +all the schemes of the Professor and Dr. Blackman were at an end. + +“Capt. Redingson turned to Jackson, saying, 'There is my dream.' + +“Blackman said Dr. Mears and the Professor were lost, and their great +secret with them. + +“Capt. Redingson asked how this fire could have occurred. + +“The Doctor thought some of the Professor's material must have ignited +in some way. 'The truth is,' he said, 'the ship was wrapt in flames in +an instant. I saw this sailor jump into the life-boat, and I followed +him. We are the only ones of all on board that are saved. The rest were +all burned to death before they could possibly get from the vessel into +the sea. There has never been any such combustible made before, and +perhaps never will be again. But it is lost.' + +“He seemed very despondent all the rest of the voyage. When they arrived +in Montreal and conveyed the sad intelligence to Jacob Thomlinson and +Mr. Carey, they were overwhelmed with disappointment. Their schemes were +all blasted and they were bewildered. + +“Finally, after some days of talking and consulting, they concluded to +send Dr. Blackman to Richmond for instructions as to further +operations. The first news that reached Richmond of the burning of +the Will-o'-the-Wisp created great consternation. The loss of Prof. +McCullough and Dr. Mears was thought to be the severest blow they had +received. + +“Dr. Blackman left Jackson and Capt. Redingson to go to Richmond, but +which way he went they never knew. Capt. Redingson took passage for +Nassau, there to run the blockade, and was never heard of again by +Jackson. I hope he is alive, as I think he was at heart a good man, full +of noble impulses. Jackson was very fond of him, rebel as he was.” + +Col. Bush said: “Well, Prof. McCullough and Dr. Mears got their just +deserts; their own fireworks did the business.” + +“Yes, yes! but the innocent officers and crew suffered with them.” + +“Yes,” said Col. Bush, “but this had to be; the Lord did not intend that +such infamy should be permitted to succeed.” + +“But,” said Maj. Clymer, “there was Dr. Blackman, just as bad as either +of the others; he escaped most miraculously.” + +“Yes,” said Col. Bush; “his material, however, was all lost, and he had +a warning against trying the same thing again. There was no great secret +in his material to be lost; but there was in the others', and the gain +to mankind was in the loss of their diabolical secret.” + +“Uncle Daniel, what became of this vile conspirator, Dr. Blackman?” + asked Dr. Adams. + +“Well, Doctor, I am sorry to be compelled, with shame, to state the +fact, but nevertheless it is a fact, that this same man, Dr. Blackman, +has been made Governor of one of the States since the war, and at the +same time his record was known by his constituents. But it did not seem +to lose him any friends with his party, but, on the contrary, seemed +to help him. Yes, yes, my friends, this is the sad phase of the whole +matter. It matters not what a man did if he was a rebel; but if a Union +man, and he did the slightest wrong, he was disgraced forever. None +of the great and inhuman wrongs are remembered against the individual +rebels who violated every instinct of humanity.” + +Here the old gentleman became silent, and placing his hands over his +face, wept like a child. At length he continued: + +“I, with all my sacrifices, even here at home would be thrust aside +in order that the citizens might pay homage to the men who would have +afflicted their own household with loathsome disease, and at the same +time mocked at their calamity. If God wills, let it be so. I do not +believe, however, that He is doing more than trying the Nation, to see +if our people are worthy of such a Government as ours.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + A HAPPY WEDDING.--MARRIAGE OF SERAINE WHITCOMB AND HENRY + LYON.--FIRE AND PLAGUE.--THE PLOTTING IN CANADA TO BURN + CITIES AND SPREAD DISEASE. + + “I did not fall in love--I rose in love.”--Bulwer. + +“After Jacob Thomlinson and C. C. Carey had recovered somewhat from their +alarm and demoralization, they spoke freely to their friends in Montreal +(and they had many there) about the burning of the Will-o'-the-Wisp, +saying it was a great loss to their interests, without specifying in +what way. In a few days Jackson, (after finding that they had invited +Valamburg, of Ohio, Strider, Bowen, and Bryan, of Indiana, for +consultation,) could remain no longer, as he would be known by Valamburg +at once. He bade his friends good-by, saying he would travel through +the West and would return if it became important to do so. He left for +Toronto, remained there a day or so, and then came to Windsor, where he +remained for several days. Finally he met Henry, who had just returned +from Montreal to Windsor, where he was known as Henry Davis. He was +introduced by Henry to one Samuel Wintergreen, who was in the employ of +the Confederacy, or, in other words, of the rebels, getting everything +ready for raids on the cities and villages in Ohio and Illinois. This +man was very shy of Jackson, but spoke freely on all subjects save what +he was himself doing. Henry and he were chums and seemed to understand +each other perfectly. + +[Illustration: Thomlinson and friends in Consultation 299] + +“Wintergreen was from Thomlinson's town in the South, and was fully +trusted and posted by him with all their plans and schemes. The only +remark he made to Jackson was that he knew, from Mr. Thomlinson, +who Jackson was, and merely asked if he saw the burning of the +Will-o'-the-Wisp; to which Jackson replied in the affirmative. Jackson +and Henry had arranged so that they should leave for Detroit the next +day. Henry informed Wintergreen that he must visit Detroit on matters +of importance, and that he might, perhaps, be detained for some +considerable time, but that he would keep his eyes and ears open at +all times during his absence. The next morning Jackson and Henry met in +accordance with their agreement and immediately left for Detroit. Upon +arriving they drove directly to the house of Mr. Whitcomb, where they +found the old gentleman, his wife, and Seraine; James, her brother, now +a Lieutenant and Aide-de-Camp to Gen. Anderson, having some time prior +left for Allentown, in order to be with the General, where he had since +remained, giving to him every attention. While spending a pleasant +evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb, in conversation, in +reference to the army, Henry remarked that he longed to be in the +cavalry service once more, so that he might get even for the suffering +he had experienced at the hands of our enemies while nearly starving to +death in Pine Forest Prison. + +“Miss Seraine here spoke with much feeling, her eyes filling with tears +as she said: 'I think there are quite a sufficient number of your family +already in their graves by the hands of the rebels without any more of +you taking the chances of death that must be taken in the army.' + +“'Yes,' said Jackson; 'and there seems to be one less at almost every +turn. I feel that my time will surely come sooner or later, before this +war closes.' + +“This was uttered in such a sad and melancholy tone that Henry could not +for a moment control his feelings. Recovering, he said: + +“'It does seem that our family are struggling against fate; just +think of the barbarous manner in which Harvey was killed, and see how, +recently, the fiendish bushwhackers murdered poor brother Stephen. Would +you not desire to be avenged on such wretches as these? Ever since I +heard this, which was but a short while ago, (first told me by Seraine,) +I have felt almost desperate, and certainly very revengeful.' + +“'Yes,' said Jackson, 'revenge is saia to be sweet; but suppose you +cannot get it, and instead of being revenged, you lose your own life?' + +“'That is not all, Capt. Lyon,' as Seraine called him by his title; 'Mr. +Henry Lyon promised me that he would not enter the service again, but +that he would stay at home and take care of his father and mother, and +I hope he will do so, and not break his promise to me. I have periled my +life for him, and would do the same again.' + +“Henry clasped her in his arms and said: 'Seraine, I will do anything +for you, and now I want to say right here, in the presence of my +brother, that I am now and ever have been, ready to fulfill all of my +promises to you.' + +“Seraine looked him in the face and said: 'I have never doubted you, +Henry, nor do I now.' + +“'Jackson here interrupted, and turning to Henry, said: 'What are your +promises to Seraine?' + +“'That she and I would become man and wife whenever she should say that +the time had arrived to have the marriage take place. Is it not so, +Seraine?' + +“'Yes, Henry, that is true; but I have never thought that the proper +time had arrived.' + +“'Well,' said Jackson, 'if you will allow me to suggest, I think the +time has now arrived. Seraine, your father and mother are growing old; +your only brother is in the army and may never return.' And to Henry he +said: 'Our mother and father are also growing feeble from so much grief. +Mother, I think, cannot survive very much longer, and all of us who are +now left, save yourself, are in the army. From our experience thus far +the future is not full of hope. You and Seraine may soon be all that are +left of both families, except, perhaps, some one or more of our parents. +Now, Seraine, let us get your father and mother to go with us to +ALLentown, and there, in the presence of both families who yet remain +above the sod, (save brother Peter, who cannot be with us,) have this +marriage solemnized. Henry, our mother and Jennie would be very happy +over this, and so would Mary Anderson and the children, all of whom love +Seraine very much.' + +“By this time the tears were rolling down Seraine's cheeks. Henry stood +looking at her, and grasping her by the hand, when Jackson had finished, +he led her into the presence of her father and mother and told them the +proposition, and asked them to consent. They gave Seraine to Henry, +and blessed them both as their children. Seraine, in answer to Henry, +thought, in consideration of the whole situation, that the time had +come, and that she would acquiesce in the arrangements as proposed by +Jackson, who was happier now than he had been since the beginning of the +war, and so expressed himself to Seraine and Henry. The next day being +agreed upon for their departure for ALLentown, Jackson repaired to his +room, leaving Henry and Seraine together to talk over the details of +their prospective marriage. + +“Leaving Detroit the following morning they arrived at my house in the +afternoon and found a warm welcome awaiting them, my wife and the two +other ladies of my household doing everything to make Seraine's father +and mother feel that they were more than merely welcome. When we were +all together Jackson became spokesman, and waxed quite eloquent over the +whole affair. When he had finished Gen. Anderson cried out: + +“'Bravo! Bravo! Henry and Seraine!' + +“My wife drew Seraine to her bosom as she would have taken a child, and +embraced her and wept, until, from sympathy, we all were overcome with +emotion. The family congratulated Henry. The two little girls did not +quite understand it all, and began plying us with questions until we +had to explain all about it, and tell them Seraine was going to be their +'aunty.' This delighted them, and they commenced climbing upon Henry's +lap, and questioning him about their 'Aunty Seraine,' until finally he +made his escape from the house. + +[Illustration: Marriage of Henry and Seraine 313] + +“The preliminaries were soon arranged, and Mr. Whit-comb and I procured +the necessary license. I then called in our minister, the Rev. Mr. Lowe, +who performed the marriage ceremony in the parlor of our home. We were +very happy that evening in celebrating Henry's and Seraine's wedding, +and seemed to have forgotten for the time being all our misfortunes +and griefs. In speaking of Seraine's success in visiting the Southern +prison-pens and rescuing Henry, I came very near letting out the secret +kept from her father and mother about the visit of Mary Anderson to the +President in order to rescue her brother, but caught myself in time +and changed the conversation. Our minister, a truly loyal man, was +most enthusiastic over the marriage, insisting that this was just as it +should be, and at the same time expressing some surprise that it had +not taken place before. I said to him that I felt so, but had not +interfered. I had allowed the two young people to arrange the matter to +suit themselves. I must confess, however, that I was well pleased, and +certainly should never have been satisfied if Henry had not married +Seraine. No more devoted woman ever lived. + +“Just at this moment Aunt Martha announced tea. We all entered the +dining-room and sat down to tea, as she called it, but found, instead, +a right royal wedding feast, which all enjoyed exceedingly. Young +James Whitcomb, who had been very quiet during the evening, though very +attentive to his mother and father, now asked the minister if he thought +it right for him to keep from his parents anything pertaining to himself +which might distress them in his absence. + +“Mr. Lowe replied that he thought they should know all. All turned +and looked at each other with surprise. The young man was silent for a +moment, and his great blue eyes filled with tears. He said: + +“'I have never heretofore kept anything from my mother, father or +sister, and I am now fully determined to tell them all about myself.' + +“We enjoyed our dinner, however, and joked Henry by telling him that +Seraine would have to look after him, as she had been doing all through +the war up to this time. + +“Here Aunt Martha had to come in; we could not stop her. She said: + +“'Yes, sah; dat gal takes kear of Marsa Henry. If it not done been +for her he done starved to deff, he would. Dem Sesh, dey be affer dis +fambly. Dey done kill mos' all, and am still affer you. I tells you, dey +am; I knows dem, I do. Marsa Henry, you mus' stay home wid de folks, you +mus'.' + +“At this my wife became much distressed. I told Aunt Martha to stop, +which she did. Aunt Sarah then referred to Peter, saying that her dreams +were now entirely about him, and that she was sorely troubled on his +account. Ham stood near by, listening, and said: + +“'No mistake, Marsa Peter all right. I see him las' night in my head +glass when I's sleep. He all right, sho'.' + +“By this time we had finished dinner, or tea, and were returning to the +sitting room, when James Whitcomb took his parents out on the veranda +and told them all about his trouble, the kindness of our family, Mary +Anderson's trip to see the President, his clemency, etc.; his present +situation, and how he obtained his position. We thought that this was +a mistake, but he felt relieved, and his parents and sister, after they +were satisfied of his having done no wrong intentionally, felt that it +was the best for them to know it. We had intended it should be kept from +them, but it was now no longer a secret in my family, and it was perhaps +best that his father and mother should know all. + +“The next day Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb thought that they must return home. +Mr. Whitcomb said to Henry and Seraine that they must come as soon as +they could do so to their house and make it their home, as he and +his wife being alone at such a time it was very hard, and made them +discontented. They thanked all of us for our watchfulness over their +only son, and it seemed that they could not thank the General and his +wife sufficiently for what they had done for him. They bade us all +good-by and separated from Henry and Seraine with many regrets. + +“After they had gone Jackson entertained us by a recital of his visit +to Europe, and, in addition to what he had written me, he gave us all he +had seen and heard. His recital of the burning of the Will-o'-the Wisp +was quite graphic, and excited Henry and the General very much. No one +except those who were in the secret knew what she had on board, nor the +importance to the Confederacy of the men that were lost with her. The +language used by Gen. Anderson against such fiendishness as Jackson's +statement disclosed I will not attempt to repeat. It was strong and +denunciatory, such only as men like himself, versed in letters, could +employ. + +“I requested Jackson to make me a detailed report from the day he left +my house up to the date of his return, which he did. I retained a copy +of his report, and still have it. We did not call on Henry for his +report that day, but on the next told Henry that if he could leave +Seraine long enough (you know how young people are), we would like him +to tell us what he learned in Canada. I really did not suppose that he +could tell us a very great deal of interest, as I presumed he had spent +much of his time in Detroit, as there was an attraction for him in that +place which would naturally draw him thither. He said, however, that +he was ready to tell us all that he had discovered in reference to the +conspiracy; that when he went to Canada he formed the acquaintance of +a Mr. Samuel Wintergreen, and soon they became great friends, as he +satisfied Winter-green that he was ready to carry out any plan to aid +the Confederacy. The passwords, signs and grips of the Golden Circle +seemed to be all that any one needed in order to be at once recognized +as a friend to those people. In Canada the people, almost without +exception, were in sympathy with the rebellion. After traveling for +quite a while he came back to Windsor, and there again met his friend +Wintergreen. Remaining there for some time and talking with many persons +without any material results, Wintergreen invited Henry to accompany +him to Toronto, and finding nothing of importance there, they left for +Montreal On arriving at Montreal they found Jacob Thomlinson, C. +C. Carey, and many other distinguished men. Wintergreen met Jacob +Thomlinson, and reported to him that his friend of whom he had written +was with him. Thomlinson asked him to come to his rooms, and to bring +his friend Davis. That evening they visited Mr. Thomlinson, and found +Mr. Carey and two other gentlemen--a Mr. Landers and Ben Wudd. Henry was +presented as Henry Davis, one of the agents under Mr. Wintergreen who +was to assist (as it was then understood) in carrying out such plans +as might be agreed upon in the interest of the rebel or Confederate +Government. + +“They remained together till a late hour discussing various points. One +of the topics was the great loss the Confederacy had sustained in the +burning of the Will-o'-the-Wisp, in the material, and by the death +of Prof. McCul-lough and Dr. Mears, as they alone held the secret of +manufacturing the wonderful explosive. Thomlinson and Carey insisted +that there should be no let-up, and that they must now resort to other +means, in which the other gentlemen agreed. It was thought best to try +releasing prisoners and arming them and such others as would join them, +and make portions of the North a desolate waste, as they said was now +being done in the South by the Union army. Thomlinson said in reference +to releasing prisoners that he intended in a very short time to make +preparations in Illinois for an attack on Camp Douglas, near Chicago. + +“'I think,' said he, 'that will result in the burning of the city. It is +one of the worst places in the North. The influence of Lincoln over the +people there is very great, and extremely bad for us, and that city must +be destroyed by some means. If the Will-o'-the Wisp had not been lost, +Chicago would now be in ashes.' + +“After some further discussion on this subject, all went their way +for the night, with an understanding that there would be a meeting +of delegates from the Northern States, called by Jacob Thomlinson, +to assemble at St. Catharines in one month from that time, where +many matters of interest would be discussed and considered. Henry and +Winter-green then returned to Windsor with the understanding that +they would attend the meeting at St. Catharines. At Windsor, Henry +and Jackson met, and that which followed their meeting I have already +stated. What Henry ascertained in Canada was only important in this, +that it had opened the way for discovering that which was important to +know, which probably would occur afterwards. I requested Henry to do as +Jackson was doing,--to write out his statement in full. After both +were prepared, I sent Henry with them to the President. He thought it a +little hard to be sent so summarily away from his bride. The President +received Henry with great kindness, and told him to inform me that the +whole matter had been more skillfully and successfully managed than +anything in this line since the war began. He also said, that he and the +Secretary of War could breathe freer since they had learned the fate of +the cargo of the Will-o'-the-Wisp, and that McCullough and M ears had +their deserts. + +“The President requested Henry to continue his investigations, and +especially to attend the meeting of the leading Knights of the Golden +Circle, who were soon to meet at St. Catharines, in Canada, and send +through me, without delay, his report. The President inquired very +particularly about all our family, including Gen. Anderson and Jackson. +He also desired to know what had become of James Whitcomb and his +sister. Henry explained fully about them all, and when he mentioned that +Seraine was his wife, the President shook his hand most heartily, and +told him that he was a very fortunate man. + +“When Henry returned home and had sufficient time for rest we held a +consultation, and agreed to the following plan: Henry was to start at +once with his wife for Detroit, leave her with her parents, and pass +over to Windsor, and there, in company with Wintergreen, visit all +places that Wintergreen might suggest, and then go to St. Catharines +to the meeting arranged for the delegates from the Golden Circle of the +Northern States; that when he had obtained information of any value, he +was to return to Detroit, write his report in full, give it to his wife +Seraine, and she was to come in person with it to me.” + +“She was a jewel,” said Dr. Adams. + +“Yes,” said Col. Bush; “there were but few like her.” + +Uncle Daniel continued: “Our lines of communication now being safely +established, we were all anxious for Henry's departure; therefore, Henry +and Seraine left for Detroit, leaving all of us almost heartbroken to +be forced to give them up. But the hope of seeing them very soon again +reconciled us to some extent. The two children said they loved their +Aunty Seraine so much that they did not wish her to go away any more. +After they were gone, it now being far into the Winter--in fact, Spring +was approaching--Gen. Anderson said he felt that he could again take +the field and perform his duty without endangering his health, and +therefore must make preparations for returning to his command. We tried +to dissuade him from it, but it was of no avail, so the next day he told +the family that he should leave very soon. In the conversation he said +that he had felt all the time that there was a void in his military +family that could not easily be filled. He felt the loss of Capt. Day +very much, but said he would try James Whitcomb thoroughly and had +great hopes of him. Aunt Martha was near by and heard what was said. She +immediately hunted up Ham and said: 'Marsa Gen'l is gwine off to fight +dem Sesh agin, and I 'spect he want Ham to go, too.' + +“Ham said: 'Well, Marfa, maybe he not want me any more. I's not well; +I's got dem pains in de knees and de breas' and de shouldars and de +stomach. What is it dey calls dem pains?' + +“'Rumatiks, you ole fool; doesn't you know nuffin'?' + +“'No, Marfa, I not know nuffln'; you know I doesn't. I 'spect you better +told de Gen'l, Marfa, I's sick. I go off and die wid dem pains, den what +you do, Marfa? You be all by yerself, and don't you see dat won't do, +Marfa. No, indeed, dat won't do.' + +“'Well, now, Ham, I's not goin' to tell Marsa Gen'l no such way as dat. +No, sir. Ham, you jes' got to go wid de Gen'l; dat's what you do, so you +needn't be tucken sick jes' for to skeer me, kase I know you, Ham. You +no get kill. No, sah, no danger; so you jes' go, dats what you do.' + +“'Well, Marfa, jes' as you say. If you say Ham go, he goes, dats all; +but de good Laud love you, Marfa, I's powerful sick, sho'.' + +“'No you isn't; you play dat afore. I knows you, Ham; you knows I do. +You jes' stop dis rumatiks and go wid de Gen'l, dat's what you do. When +did you get sick? I not hear it afore. You not sick. Let me see you +walk.' + +“Old Ham hobbled off and Martha laughed at him. This nettled the old man +and he straightened up and said: 'Well, I guess I's not bery bad, but +I's not well, all de same.' + +“I came up to them, and nothing more was said. + +“I told Ham to go out to the farm and ask Joseph Dent to come into my +house in the morning. His sickness all left him and he did the errand. +The next morning Dent came in with Ham and we interrogated him on the +question of his friends and what they were doing. He said that two days +prior to this they had a meeting and were notified that they must +change their name to the 'Sons of Liberty'; that the object of their +organization was becoming too well known, and that they could not +operate any longer under their old name. This was being done all over +the country and in Canada. He also stated that Thos. A. Stridor had +ordered them to send delegates to Indianapolis secretly, in order to +assist in appointing delegates to go to St. Catharines, in Canada, in +a few days, to consult as to the best means to be adopted to aid their +friends, as they had met with a great loss. They had lost a ship and a +valuable cargo, as well as their most important men who were to operate +in burning cities. This was so true of what had occurred that we no +longer had any doubt as to their certain communication one with another, +as well as their perfect organization. This was all they did at that +time. We excused Dent, and he returned home. + +“That evening at tea my wife (Aunt Sarah) said to Jackson and the General +that she wished Peter to come home. + +“'But,' said Jackson, 'mother, you must remember he has been promoted, +and is now a Brigadier-General commanding a brigade, and he cannot very +well get away. He might lose his command by leaving.' + +“'Well,' said his mother, 'I want to see him. I am dreaming about him +whenever asleep, and I feel there is something sure to happen to him. I +have seen all the rest of you who are alive, and I want to see him.' + +“Here Jennie broke down and cried, remembering the death of her poor +husband when mention was made of all being present who were then alive. +Jackson spoke to Jennie and his mother and quieted them. We all repaired +to the sitting-room and talked over Gen. Anderson's returning to his +command. This was Saturday evening. So he instructed Capt. Jackson and +Lieut. Whitcomb to be ready on Monday morning, as they would then +leave for Chatteraugus. They were well pleased with the General's +determination. His poor wife was depressed, and said she felt as though +he had made so many narrow escapes that perhaps he might not escape +again. But grief and sorrow had been such constant visitors at our house +that we were all prepared for almost anything, and always looking for +the worst. We enjoyed ourselves, however, as best we could until Monday. +Jackson took in the situation, and kept us interested by giving +accounts of many things seen and heard by him in England. This was very +interesting to us, but more especially to the ladies and little girls. + +“On Monday they left for their command. The parting with the family was +one of those affecting scenes natural under the circumstances. When poor +old Ham bade good-by to all, after kissing Aunt Martha, his wife, he +turned to my wife and Mary Anderson, and said: 'You need not to cry no +mo.' I be 'sponsible for de General and Capt. Jackson.' + +“This was too much for Mary Anderson. Although weeping, she could not +restrain a smile, nor could the others; but Ham was in good faith, poor +old man. + +“After they had gone I felt keenly, and drove out to the farm, and there +spent the rest of the day with Joseph Dent. He, however, knew nothing +more than he had disclosed to us, about which I have already spoken. On +returning in the evening I found all the family very lonely and solemn. +They felt the loss of that portion of our family who were compelled +to leave. Our little children climbed upon my knees and talked and +chattered about their Uncle Henry and Aunty Seraine, as well as the +General and Jackson, but 'Aunty Seraine' seemed to be the favorite. +I did the best I could to gratify them by trying to answer their +questions. Some two weeks had passed in this way when one morning I was +notified to meet Seraine at the depot. I did so and brought her to the +house. When the very hearty and affectionate greetings were over, and +the two poor little girls had gotten through climbing on Seraine and +asking her questions, which she did the best she could to answer, she +gave me a paper which was Henry's report, accompanied by a good letter +from him, stating that he would come soon himself. This was not signed. + +“I carefully examined his report, and was almost dumfounded at some of +his statements; but he had gone into such minute details and given such +indubitable proofs that no one could for a moment doubt. Henry said +that on his arrival again at Windsor he met Wintergreen, and after +preliminaries were arranged they traveled about the country from one +town to another, until the time had arrived for the assembling of the +prominent friends of the rebellion at St. Catharines in accordance with +Jacob Thomlinson's request. They started for that place, and on arriving +stopped at the Victoria Hotel, where they met a great number of persons, +strangers to both, but well known in the Circle. Henry, on recovering +from his prison starving and sickness, had grown quite stout, and was +so different in his appearance from what he had ever been prior to +his recovery that his own acquaintances would not have recognized him, +therefore he did not feel that he was in any danger of being detected. +He had heretofore claimed to Wintergreen that he was from Parkersburg, +W. Va., and having been raised near there in Ohio could speak quite +understandingly of the country thereabouts, as well as about a number of +people. + +“On Wednesday, being the day fixed, quite a number of men from different +parts of the country assembled. Quite a large room in the rear of the +Victoria Hotel had been procured, in which the gentlemen were to meet, +and Wintergreen, having been designated by Jacob Thomlinson for that +purpose, notified the various delegates of the time and place of +meeting. When all were assembled each one was required to give the +signs, grips and passwords of the Golden Circle, or the 'Sons of +Liberty,' as the name had been changed within a few days from the +Knights of the Golden Circle to the Sons of Liberty. Henry did not +find the slightest difficulty in being recognized, as he had perfected +himself in all the signs, grips and passwords of the order in his +travels with Wintergreen. + +“After Jacob Thomlinson, Mr. Carey and their committee were satisfied as +to those present, they were called to order and seated in as regular +a manner as would have been done in any deliberative body, by Mr. +Valamburg, of Ohio, who, in taking the chair, said that as Grand +Commander of all the Sons of Liberty in the United States, Canada and +the Southern Confederacy he desired to occupy the time of the delegates +for a few moments, in order that he might explain the object for which +they had met. The assembling at that place, he said, was in order to be +without the jurisdiction of the United States; that while together and +out of the way of danger they were to deliberate in reference to matters +that were best calculated to effectively aid the Southern people, who +were struggling for an independent constitutional government; that +the Government of the United States had become intolerable in its +oppressions and tyranny. He made a long speech, presenting a list of +abuses by our Government against the Southern people, and urged the +necessity for aid to the South at once, in some way that would be +most potent. When he took his seat he was loudly applauded by all his +hearers. In this meeting were B. Wudd and McMasterson from New York, Mr. +Woodsen and Mr. Moore from Pennsylvania, Valamburg and Massey from Ohio, +Dan Bowen and Dorsey (who was a substitute for Thos. A. Strider) from +Indiana, N. Judy Cornington and a Mr. Eagle from Illinois (both from +Chicago). Other States were represented--Missouri, Kentucky, Iowa, +Wisconsin, Maine and Massachusetts; but Henry did not give the names of +the delegates from those States. + +“Many propositions were discussed. Jacob Thomlinson gave the full +details of what Prof. McCullough and Dr. Mears were preparing to do; +their loss by the burning of the Will-o'-the Wisp; also, Dr. Blackman's +proposition and the loss of his goods, and he now wanted to see what +could be devised as substitutes. All of the representatives present +seemed to deeply deplore the loss to the Confederacy of the secret only +known to the men who went down with the Will-o'-the Wisp. + +“Jacob Thomlinson explained that he had been instructed by the +authorities at Richmond to lay several matters before this or any +meeting they might have of representative men from the North. It was +desirable to have these matters fully understood, so that the friends of +the South in their meetings could commit all who were willing to aid the +South in carrying out the various propositions. First, he would lay the +message of President Davis on only one important subject before this +meeting. It was dated January 13, 1863, and was in reference to the +Proclamation of Emancipation by Mr. Lincoln. Thomlinson said: + +“'Mr. Davis claims that “by it the negroes are encouraged to general +assassination of their masters by the insidious recommendation to +abstain from violence unless in necessary self-defense. Although our +own detestation of those who have attempted the most execrable measures +recorded in the history of guilty man is tempered by profound contempt +for the impotent rage which it discloses so far as regards the action +of this Government on such criminals as may attempt its execution, I +confine myself to informing you that I shall, unless in your wisdom you +deem some other course more expedient, deliver to the several States' +authorities all commissioned officers of the United States who may +hereafter be captured by our forces in any of the States embraced in the +proclamation, that they may deal with them in accordance with the laws +of those States providing for the punishment of those criminals engaged +in inciting servile insurrection.”' + +“At the conclusion of the reading of this extract loud cheers went up +for Jeff Davis. Jacob Thomlinson continued reading: + +“'On the first day of May last the Confederate Congress passed a series +of resolutions. The fourth resolution declares that every white person, +being a commissioned officer, or acting as such, who during the present +war shall command negroes or mulattoes in arms against the Confederate +States, shall be deemed as inciting servile insurrection, and shall, +if captured, be put to death. The seventh resolution declares that all +negroes and mulattoes who shall engage in war, or shall be taken in +arms against the Confederate States, or shall give aid or comfort to +the United States, shall, when captured in the Confederate States, be +delivered to the authorities of the State or States in which they shall +be captured, to be dealt with according to the present or future laws of +such States.' + +“After reading the message and resolutions, he said that in order to +understand the full scope of both, it would be proper for him to state +that the laws of all the Southern States for the crime of inciting +servile insurrection fixed the penalty of death, so that the meaning +of the whole proposition is, that any white man commanding negroes or +mulattoes, who shall be captured, shall suffer death, and it will be +the same when negroes or mulattoes are captured in arms against the +Confederacy. With this explanation he submitted these documents, which +were all printed and distributed in confidence, and in this way Henry +was enabled to give the whole proceedings. Mr. Valamburg decided that +the proposition might be debated, and on this being so determined, Dan +Bowen, of Indiana, arose and made a most inflammatory speech. He said +he was born in Virginia, and would stand by her in her trials. He was +in favor of Jeff Davis's message, and not only so, but would favor the +hanging of any white man who would lead negroes against his Southern +friends, and would sustain them in any measure of punishment that they +might adopt in such cases. + +“Mr. Eagle, of Illinois, made quite a speech on the same line. He was +from Kentucky originally, and was for the South getting their rights at +any cost. He said: 'Let blood flow like rivers, sir. Yes, sir; let fire +rain upon Northern cities, and let the destruction of property become +general, if necessary to produce the desired result. You must make the +Northern people feel poverty, sir, if you wish to succeed. They care +more for their property than for their lives. You must touch their +pockets and then you touch their hearts. They are a fast-going people. +I would just as lief as not they would know after the war is over, if +it ever is, that I was in this meeting. No matter how the war may +terminate, they will forget it all in a month, especially if times are +good and money shall be plenty.' + +“This caused a great laugh, and the speaking ended. The question was +taken and decided unanimously in favor of the proposition. None but +delegates were allowed to vote. + +“Mr. Carey then presented his views, which were that their Northern +friends must encourage raids and guerrilla warfare in their own States, +and that they must commence it themselves. Burning must be resorted to +when it could be done. He said that it had been so managed at Camp Chase +in Ohio, by their friend, the Grand Commander of the Sons of Liberty, +that a great many very excellent Confederate officers had made their +escape, and were ready at any time to take command of men whenever their +friends were ready, and that those officers were brave and fearless men +ready to undertake any kind of enterprise or daring exploit. He did +not look for any more foolish expeditions like the one made by Gen. +Morganson. That it was not successful is easily understood. The Southern +people were in too great haste in trying raids by large bodies of men +where there were no lines of escape or retreat.” + +“Yes,” said Col. Bush; “they counted their chickens before they were +hatched.” + +“I think they were stale eggs,” said Capt. Inglesby. + +“Mr. Carey said,” continued Uncle Daniel, 'We have now entered upon +a system of small raids and destruction of property, so as to be very +effective. And although we fear that we cannot repair our loss in +the kind of material we had secured and had on board of the +Will-o'-the-Wisp, yet we may, by good management, in some degree +compensate for it, and, in order that you may understand how we propose +to operate, I will read to you the order of the Secretary of War of +the Confederate States to one J. C. S. Blackman, the brother of Dr. +Blackman, whose poisoned goods were lost on the Will-o'-the-Wisp. The +order is dated Richmond, 1863, and signed J. A. Seddon, Secretary of +War, C. S. A., authorizing Blackman to enlist a company of men, not to +exceed fifty in number, for special service on the Mississippi River. In +lieu of pay or other compensation they are to receive such percentage of +the value of all property of the United States or loyal people destroyed +by them as may be awarded by an officer selected by the Department in +charge of such duty, but in no case to exceed fifty per centum of the +value.' + +“Carey said that under this order it was understood as soon as Blackman +should enlist twenty-five men for this purpose he was to receive a +commission in the provisional army without pay. This commission was for +his protection in case he should be captured. Said he: + +“'We are now issuing quite a number of these commissions, and much +good has already resulted. Blackman has destroyed a great quantity of +property on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. A man by the name of J. +G. Beall, who holds a like commission, has destroyed a great amount of +supplies and other property on the Chesapeake. He is near here now, +has a vessel, and is recruiting men for the Sons of Liberty in New York +city, with a view of running over to St. Albans, in Vermont, and is not +only to destroy property, but is to terrify those rich old Vermont Yanks +out of their wits. It is by such means that we must alarm the Northern +property-holders into peace measures and into voting the anti-war +ticket. This is the only sure way to success, in my opinion.' + +“They all laughed and agreed that a St. Alban's raid would be a splendid +thing, as the old Yankees would do anything to save their money and +property. Mr. Carey continued: + +“'I think Mr. Beall is known to Mr. Wudd and Mr. McMasterson.' + +“They both replied that they knew him well, and he could be relied upon +to do whatever he should undertake. + +“'Now,' said Mr. Carey, 'the prisoners at Camp Douglas, near Chicago, +Ill., and at Camp Chase, in Ohio, must be released. Mr. Thomlinson has +the money to pay all expenses. Cannot you men in the Northern States +assist in this? Can you not get up organizations such as Blackman and +Beall have done? The Richmond authorities will pay the same percentage +for the destruction of all property necessary for the use of the army, +as they do Blackman and Beall. Why, gentlemen, crops enough might be +destroyed in one night by a simultaneous move to very badly embarrass +the prosecution of the war.' + +“A man by the name of Burnett H. Yonkers, who was present, said he would +undertake to release the Camp Douglas prisoners if the gentlemen here +from Chicago would render their assistance, to which the gentlemen +replied that they would give any aid in their power; that already there +had been arms sufficient for this purpose secured by Thomlinson and +placed in the hands of a friend in Chicago by the name of Wall; that if +Mr. Yonkers should go to Chicago on that business he should stop at the +Richmond House and inquire for Mr. John Wall, Mr. Morris Buckner, or +either of the gentlemen present; that any of the clerks of the Richmond +House would know where to send for either of the persons mentioned. + +“Mr. Walters, of Arkansas, being present, (the same that Gen. Anderson +met in Colestown, Ill.,) and being one of the chief Organizers, was +asked in reference to the condition of the Sons of Liberty. He said he +had been traveling for more than a year in the Northern States. He had +never been molested, nor had he been questioned as to his business. He +had organized thousands of Lodges and found the friends--that is to say, +the common people, who connected themselves with the order--ready +and willing to act at any time, and willing to do anything that was +required. The only trouble he found was in the cowardice of the leaders. +To illustrate what he meant, he said: 'I came from Indianapolis here. +Thos. A. Stridor promised me faithfully that he would be here, but +you do not see him. He is the one man of all others in the West who is +expected to advise and suggest.' + +“Dan Bowen here interrupted, saying: 'Strider has been at work. He has +been in Washington, and has sown seeds of dissension in the army; has +created jealousies between the Eastern and Western commanders, and +produced much trouble on account of the Emancipation Proclamation.' + +“'Yes,' said Col. Walters, 'that I believe to be true; but why is he not +here? I see he sends a substitute; is he afraid? Mr. Eagle was correct +when he said the people of the North will forget all about the war in a +month, if you will only give them a chance to make money. I can go into +any city and proclaim myself in sympathy with the rebellion, and no one +will molest me. If we should fail, and our cause go down, it would not +be one year before Jeff Davis would be invited to attend agricultural +shows North, so as to draw a crowd and increase the gate money.' This +caused great laughter. 'I want now to ask my friend Bowen why his friend +Thos. A. Strider is not here.' + +“'Well,' said Bowen, 'I cannot say. I had hoped that he would be here, +but I find he is not.' + +“Mr. Eagle, who seemed to be rather sarcastic, said he understood +Strider was compelled to stay at home on account of a cow case in which +he was employed. They laughed at this, and then proceeded to business. +The propositions and suggestions were all indorsed, and many promises +made on the part of each one present as to the part he would take in the +matter when he returned home. + +“Jacob Thomlinson said to Mr. Yonkers that he wished him to remain a day +or so longer, as he desired to confer with him about the prisoners at +Chicago. He then made quite an address to those present, saying the +success of the Confederacy depended largely upon their friends in the +North; that if the war continued two or three years longer the supply of +men and money would fail. All their available men were in the army, and +there was now nowhere whence they could draw recruits. Their friends in +the North must wake up and help. They had friends enough in the North to +make the Confederacy a success in six months, if they would only come up +to the work manfully. “'Let our friends do as our friend Carey suggests, +get up raids, organize companies for spoils; this is seductive and +calculated to gather in young men. We will release our men who are now +prisoners and turn them loose full of fiendish revenge, and alarm our +enemies into peace measures. You who are our friends in the North must +go home determined to carry the next election. This is important. If we +can defeat Lincoln at the next Presidential election we are safe. The +watchword must be that the war has been a failure; that the North cannot +subdue the South; that foreign countries are ready to recognize the +Confederacy, which will involve the United States in other wars; that +the people are being taxed unmercifully; that the war should stop and +the unbearable taxation cease. Your next Democratic platform should +start out with the proposition that the war has been prosecuted only +for the freedom of the negroes, and not for the Union, and that their +freedom can only be maintained by the Union armies being entirely +successful, and that during years of horrible, bloody war the Government +has failed to conquer the rebellion and must continue to fail. Do this, +and stand by it with a good candidate, and you must succeed. I would +suggest that you take your “Little Napoleon,” General Mac, for your +candidate. He is exceedingly popular with the soldiers of the East, +and with the people also, as I am told. The sympathy will be with him, +having been relieved from the command of the Eastern armies because +he could not whip us, which was no fault of his, as none of their +commanders will succeed in doing that on our own ground. We were foolish +to undertake an invasion of the North. But no matter, we will soon make +up for this. If you will take up Little Mac there will be no trouble in +your giving him the nomination, and then one united effort on the part +of our party will send him into the White House. If he can be elected +that will end the war, as he is a peace man and a Democrat. We would +then have another advantage. Many of the officers of the Union army of +the East do not believe in our subjugation, and are bitterly opposed +to the Emancipation Proclamation. Some of them have large commands. +For instance, there is Gen. Farlan, who is a friend of mine of long +standing; he is violently opposed to the Lincoln administration, and +would at once favor a cessation of hostilities. So also is Gen. Smite +and General Cross, both leading Generals. I may also mention Gen. +Fitzgibbon. He has been ready for some time to stop the war, because he +is thoroughly satisfied that we have been wronged and oppressed. He is +in favor of putting Little Mac in as President. He would be ready for +peace on our terms, which would be to withdraw the Union forces and let +us alone. We have been robbed of our property, but should we gain our +independence we care nothing for this, as we would reclaim our slaves, +such as have not been stolen by the Abolition army. This, gentlemen, is +what we desire and expect you to aid us in securing. If these things +all fail us we will, in our desperation, make the homes of many of your +Northern men miserable and desolate.' + +“When he was through with his suggestions they all cheered him, and each +one, by short speeches, pledged a faithful adherence to the Confederacy. +When they adjourned it was to meet again at some place in Canada to be +named by Jacob Thomlinson, and the representatives to be notified by Mr. +Valamburg. They separated with three cheers for the Confederacy.” + +Dr. Adams said: “I am desirous of knowing if Jacob Thomlinson and Mr. +Carey are the same persons whom your son Jackson met in London?” + +“Yes; they are the same men who were engaged in procuring explosives and +poisoned clothes, of which I have heretofore given you a full account.” + +Col. Bush asked if this man Blackman, who took out a commission in order +to depredate and plunder, is still living? + +“Yes, he is not only living, but is now holding one of the highest +positions in the United States, as a Reformer.” + +“What?” said Dr. Adams. + +“Yes, sir, as I once before have stated, his brother, who was to +distribute poisoned clothing to our soldiers and in our hospitals, was +made Governor of one of the adjacent States, and this marauder has been +given one of the highest and most honorable positions. But why? You look +surprised, Doctor. Has this not been so ever since the war? The most +desperate and reckless men have been given the highest places by the +opponents of the war, while our people, many of them, are only too glad +to find something against one of our good soldiers as an excuse for +laying him aside as useless furniture.” + +Said Maj. Clymer: “Valamburg is dead, I believe.” + +“Yes; he shot himself accidentally soon after the war, and died of his +wound.” + +Uncle Daniel proceeded by saying: “I made my arrangements to leave for +Washington at once, in order to have this information in the hands of +the President as soon as possible. I requested Seraine to remain with +the rest of the family until I should return, as I might wish to send +some word to Henry. When I arrived at Washington and called upon the +President I told him the reason I had not visited him recently, and why +I had sent my son with the last report. Our afflictions had been severe +and my wife was in such a condition, both in mind and body, that +I really feared to leave her, except under very extraordinary +circumstances. The President was very glad to see me and very grateful +for what my sons were trying to do for our country He asked after the +health of my family, Gen. Anderson, and all of whom he knew as in any +way a part of us, and the poor man seemed almost as much grieved over +our misfortunes as myself. He seemed to be full of hope, however, and +spoke to me very freely about the war and our chances of final success. + +“He strode across the room and, turning to me, said: 'We are now on the +right road, I think. I have rid myself of some of those Generals that +we spoke about when we last met, and I intend to be rid of them for +the remainder of the war. If they want dictators, and will not obey the +President, they will have to organize outside of the army. I have now +a new commander for the Army of the East who seems to be doing well. I +hope he may continue as he began. He won the battle of Gotlenburg and +broke the rebel army to pieces. 'I think,' said he, 'that Gen. Meador +should have followed up his victory; but perhaps not. If he should not +exactly fill the bill my eye is on a Western man who seems to know what +he is about, and I think of bringing him East and giving him control of +all the armies; but I will determine this later.' + +“I then gave him the statement made to me by Henry. He read it over +carefully, and in an excited manner ordered a messenger to go for the +Secretary of War. He soon arrived, and after greetings the President +handed the statement to the Secretary. He also read it carefully. They +then discussed the matter, and concluded to order an additional force +to Camp Chase, relieve the commandant, and place a more careful and +efficient officer in his place. This was done by telegraph, with a +warning to the new commander to look out for an attempt to release the +prisoners. + +“The Secretary said to the President: 'The rebels are desperate, and +since they lost their shipload of explosives and poisoned clothes, with +their two friends who were to carry out their plans, they are determined +to attempt something else equally desperate, and we must look for raids, +fire and plunder. By the way,' said the Secretary to me, 'that was +rather a nice thing your son Jackson did in finding out all their +schemes in London. Had it not been for his discovery we never would have +known the desperation and infamy to which those men were driven.' + +“'Yes,' said the President. 'Mr. Lyon, is he your eldest son now in the +army?' + +“'I have but two left in the army--Jackson and Peter. The latter you +promoted for gallantry at Middleton Ridge. Jackson is now my oldest son +in the service.' + +“'Mr. Secretary,' said the President, 'you will make out a commission +for him as Brigadier-General, and give it to Mr. Lyon to take home with +him as an evidence that we appreciate the services of his family, and +especially Jackson's great service in this most important matter.' + +“I was visibly affected. The President saw it as he stood by a window +for a moment. I arose and thanked him. He said: + +“'No, the obligation is the other way.' + +“Just then a dispatch was handed the President, stating that quite +a number of prisoners had escaped from Camp Chase. He gave it to the +Secretary, saying: + +“'I guess we were a little late in removing the commander of Camp Chase; +it ought to have been done sooner. Mr. Lyon,' said the President to +me, 'we will have to watch those fellows. They are doubtless up to some +game.' + +“He asked me to keep Henry in Canada if I thought he could do good by +staying there. I promised him to do so, and after getting Jackson's +commission and bidding the President good-by I left for home, feeling +gratified at the recognition given me. Arriving at home, I found my +wife better, and when she found that Jackson had a commission as +Brigadier-General she seemed so happy that we felt that she would +entirely recover. + +“I placed Jackson's commission in an envelope with a letter explaining +how the President came to promote him. When the boy returned from the +post-office he brought me a morning paper containing an account of +Beall's raid on St. Albans, Vt.; how he had sacked the town, robbed the +banks and alarmed the people. I said to Seraine, 'There it is! They have +carried out the first part of their program, and we will soon hear +of trouble in all the prison camps. I regard this as the beginning of +desperate work.' + +“'Yes,' said Seraine; 'Henry was very sure that they were desperately +in earnest; but I thought, perhaps, the warning we had given to the +President might save any further disaster in that direction.' + +“Seraine remained about a week longer, and then left for Detroit. I +sent a letter to Henry, directing him to remain in Canada as long as +necessary to find out when, where and how they were to move and operate. +My poor wife was soon taken ill again, and was quite feeble and almost +helpless for some weeks. Aunt Martha was constantly by her bedside, +waiting on her, as well as trying to entertain her with her curious +interpretations of dreams and her experience while in slavery. My +friends, this did not last a great while. More sorrows soon came to us.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + MOBS IN THE NORTH.--LAWLESS VIOLENCE AND OUTRAGE BY REBEL + SYMPATHIZERS.--THE CLASH OF ARMS.--BATTLE OF THE CHAPARRAL + BETWEEN GEN. SILENT AND GEN. LAWS. + + “One day thou wilt be blest, + So still obey the guiding hand that fends + Thee safely through these wonders for sweet ends.” + --Keats. + +“After the battle of Middleton's Ridge some rest for Papson's troops was +indispensable. As soon, how-ever, as it could be done consistently +with the condition of things, Gen. Silent issued orders from his +headquarters, then at Nashua, to Papson and Sherwood for a disposition +of the troops to be made so as to protect the lines of communication +between Louis City, Nashua and Chatteraugus north, and from Chatteraugus +to Bridgeton, Huntersville and De Kalb west. This distribution was +speedily made. The enemy was in no condition for serious offensive +movements, and contented himself during the Winter with a continuous +harassing of our troops whenever found in squads or small commands not +sufficiently strong to make effective resistance. + +“Near Huntersville a man by the name of John Cotton, with somewhere +between fifty and one hundred men, was constantly raiding small corrals +where only a few guards were left to watch them. His business seemed to +be to steal mules and wagons, being one of the parties operating under a +contract to plunder for fifty per cent, of the property so taken. He had +the same authority and character of commission from the authorities at +Richmond as Blackman and Beall, of whom I have heretofore spoken. During +the Winter this man crossed the Little Combination River near Painter's +Rock, and made a raid on Gen. Chas. Ward's corrals. Ward had been +notified of the intention of John Cotton by a Union man named Harris, +who resided near Huntersville. Gen. Ward had a company of infantry under +cover near the corral, and about midnight Cotton made his appearance. +The men who were watching for him remained quiet until he was near the +corral, and then fired a volley into his raiders, killing three and +wounding ten. They then rushed at Cotton, and he, with nine of his men, +were taken prisoners. The wounded were cared for and the dead buried. +The next day Gen. Ward organized a drumhead court-martial and tried +those captured who were not wounded. The nine men claimed to have been +forced into the service by Cotton, and were sent to Nashua and put to +work, under sentence. John Cotton was treated differently. He was not +troublesome again during the time that our troops remained at Painter's +Rock. The understanding South and North among the friends of the +rebellion was that raids were again to commence whenever they could be +made at all advantageous to our enemies. + +“The Knights of the Golden Circle, or 'Sons of Liberty,' began to be +open and bold in their utterances and their villainous work. In New York +they aroused their friends and got up mobs of such magnitude that they +could only be suppressed by withdrawing troops from the field to operate +against them. The recruiting offices were mobbed, offices and papers +burned, and the officers brutally beaten; houses were set on fire in +great numbers and destroyed. Many large stores were broken open and +plundered by the mob. All helped themselves to dry goods, clothing, +jewelry, watches, and whatever they discovered. Innocent men were +brutally murdered in the streets. Women were driven from their houses +and insulted in every possible way. Hospitals and asylums for orphans +were plundered and burned, and the poor, helpless inmates driven into +the streets. Children were clubbed and brained by brutes for no other +reason than that they were colored. Wounded and sick soldiers were +thrown on the sidewalks and left without aid or assistance of any kind. +Poor negro men were taken from hacks and wagons and hanged to lampposts. +In one instance a poor man was cut into halves as if he were a +slaughtered beast. Men were sent from Canada, employed by Thomlinson +and his co-conspirators, to come to New York and aid in this inhuman +butchery.” + +“My God! What brutality and inhuman cruelty! It does seem impossible +that such things could have transpired in a civilized community!” said +Dr. Adams. + +“Yes,” continued Uncle Daniel, “it would really seem so. Yet these +things did not only take place, but were carried on here in the North +by the anti-war party, and were well known by all who were old enough +at the time to understand matters; but they are now forgotten. Why, sir, +mob violence was resorted to in many places. Inflammatory speeches were +made in every community where they would be tolerated. Our people were +alarmed everywhere in the North, and were preparing for great trouble at +home in the absence of the army. Indiana was stirred up to white heat. +Many outrages were perpetrated on the State soldiers who returned home +on a furlough, and in many instances they were murdered. One old man by +the name of Banty, who had two sons in an Illinois regiment--they being +residents of that State at the outbreak of the rebellion--was tied to +a tree in the woods some distance from home, and remained in this +condition till rescued by his wife. It became so intolerable that troops +were held at Indianapolis for protection to the city and country. The +Governor, as well as other citizens, were threatened: + +“In Ohio the same condition of things existed. Camp Chase was about to +be attacked. Troops had, of necessity, to be sent for the safe keeping +of the prisoners. + +“At Coleston, Ill., the Knights of the Golden Circle attacked a squad +of Union soldiers, who had just returned home from the army on furlough, +and killed seven of them. In one county further south in Illinois, the +name of which I have forgotten, there were quite a number of soldiers +killed in secret. A man by the name of Geo. Akers, who had once been +Sheriff of the County, but at the time of which I am speaking was the +Head Center of the Golden Circle in that part of the country, was so +strongly suspected of having soldiers quietly 'put out of the way,' that +a search of his premises was made by a Provost Marshal, and in his +mill, which was on his place, were found many suits of Union soldiers' +uniforms, evidently taken from dead bodies. He was put in prison, but +was aided to escape by his brother conspirators. In the same County a +soldier by the name of Stacks, while home on a furlough, was called +to his own door in the night and shot by one Honeycliff. I give these +instances merely to have you understand the feeling and determination +of the men in the North who sympathized with the rebellion, to aid it in +all ways and by any means, no matter how foul or vile.” + +“Uncle Daniel,” said Col. Bush, “I know about Akers and the cases you +mention in Illinois, as I was sent there at that time with a battalion +to look after those fellows, and you do not tell one-half the trouble +there was in that part of the country.” + +“No, I presume not; I only remember these facts in regard to matters in +that State that fastened themselves irrevocably upon my mind.” + +Said Dr. Adams: “It seems incredible that such things could have +happened in the North, where the same men now claim to have been loyal +then.” + +“But, Doctor,” said Col. Bush, “all these things did occur, though they +are now forgotten by many, and our young people, who know very little +about the war, except such things as they may gather from imperfect and +distorted histories, doubt the truthfulness of these facts, being unable +to understand why traitors should go unpunished. Why, Doctor, many of +the men who were harassing and alarming the people then as Knights of +the Golden Circle, are now the leading men in the communities where +they were then the most offensive to Union people and disloyal to their +Government. They have so managed as to be at the front politically, and +if affairs continue as they are now, and seem tending, very soon the +same men will claim that they put down the rebellion. They have already +deceived many by their self-assertion. You see, Doctor, the policy of +not allowing ourselves to speak of the war nor any of its concomitants, +leaves the young people in ignorance of what we suffered during its +existence.” + +“That is true, I am sorry to say,” replied Dr. Adams; “but we who do +know all about it should teach the present and coming generations +these very important facts. The difficulty is, however, that when you +undertake it many people insist that they wish to forget all about +it, and that they do not want their children to know anything of its +horrors. But, Uncle Daniel, please continue what you were telling us.” + +“The Richmond authorities,” said Uncle Daniel, “had detached a portion +of Biggs's command under Gen. Brice, some 20,000 strong, and sent +them into Missouri, where they had made the homes of many Union people +desolate, and spread terror throughout that State and a portion of +Kansas. Brice had organized bands of marauders and bushwhackers, as they +were termed, in the same way and under the same character of agreements +as made with Blackman and others. Quartel's and Stringfinder's bands +were the most destructive to life and property, murdering Union men as +they moved, and making the country a desolate waste through which they +passed. The smoke rising from houses, barns, etc., could be seen in +every direction. It could well have been termed 'a pillar of cloud by +day and a pillar of fire by night.' + +“At the same time the rebel cruisers were a terror on the high seas. The +Alabama, the Florida, and the Shenandoah were a dreaded scourge among +our merchantmen. Our commerce was being driven from the seas and passing +under the flags of other countries. + +“'All these things were very discouraging to the loyal people of our +country, and at the same time greatly encouraged the rebels and their +allies and friends in the North. The demagogues of the anti-war party +traversed the whole country, haranguing the people, preaching peace and +crying high taxes, and insisting that the war had so far been a total +failure, and that it would not be any better in the future. In fact, +they were carrying out to the letter that which had been suggested by +Valamburg and his friends at St. Catharines, in Canada, at the meeting +about which I have heretofore spoken. Many of our best men had to return +home from the army for a brief period and canvass as stump orators +before the people, in order to quiet their apprehensions and fears as to +the chances of our ultimate success.” + +“Yes,” said Capt. Inglesby, “I well remember the very great anxiety then +amongst our people. I returned home about the time mentioned, and the +question was constantly asked me if I thought we could ever suppress the +rebellion. All our successes during the Summer and Fall before seemed +to have had only a temporary effect upon our people. In fact, they were +easily discouraged during the whole period through which the war was +continued.” + +“Yes, Col. Bush, that is easily accounted for. We left behind us an +element nearly or quite a majority; certainly so in many parts of our +country North, which was constantly decrying the war and the means which +were being used against the rebellion. Their constant talk in the same +direction could not help having a great influence, especially on the +minds of weak men, aud in many instances on those whose nearest and +dearest relatives were in the army taking the chances of their lives; +and, as you all well know, these pretended friends to our faces were in +their hearts wishing and praying for the success of our enemies.” + +“Yes, that is true; and it was strange and hard to understand at the +time, as these same people could have gained nothing by the success of +the rebellion. They lived North, and would have been equally despised by +the rebels (if they had succeeded) as a part of the Yankee Nation.” + +“Doubtless that would have been so, but it was not particularly the love +that they had for the rebels or their cause, but their hatred for the +party in power. They had been in power so long, that being ousted by +the voice of the people made a number of the leaders who had lost in the +political contest feel a desire to see the people who had beaten them +lose in the contest against the rebellion. They had said so many bitter +things against Mr. Lincoln and prophesied war and final separation +between the slave and free States, that they were willing to see the +country destroyed in order to be considered among the people as wise +oracles and political prophets; so that they made it their interest +politically that the rebellion should succeed. Many people were +followers of these men in all the States North. Out of this feeling grew +and prospered the Knights of the Golden Circle, or Sons of Liberty.” + +“Well, gentlemen,” said Dr. Adams, “I agree with all you have said; but +I am growing somewhat impatient to again hear Uncle Daniel.” + +All were again listeners, and Uncle Daniel proceeded: + +“I was speaking of the alarming condition of the country and the dangers +that were menacing peaceful citizens, as well as their property. I +became very much alarmed for the safety of the two families left in my +charge. I sent a letter to Henry to come with his wife and make my house +his home for the present. He and Seraine came at once, and were willing +as well as happy in remaining with us for a while, Seraine feeling +satisfied that, as her parents were two such quiet people, no harm could +come to them. After the excitement and confusion created by the delight +in the household over their arrival subsided, Henry took me aside and +related his experience since leaving home. + +“He said that he remained quietly in Detroit for some time at his wife's +home. Then he went to Windsor, and there learned that the people of the +Confederacy were very much disheartened, but were making a desperate +effort to harass the armies of the Union, without fighting great +battles, until their armies were recuperated and filled up with new +recruits; that the plan was for their friends to confuse and excite the +Northern people, just as they were doing. He stated Jacob Thomlinson's +plans just as they were being literally carried out. After these plans +were well on the way in the direction of being fully executed, C. C. +Carey left for Richmond, and Jacob Thomlinson for London, accompanied by +Mr. Wintergreen, who was to act as his private secretary. On separating +from Carey the understanding was that they would remain away from Canada +until the political canvass for President had well advanced and until +after the nominations by both parties had been made. During their +absence they were to ascertain what new plans were being executed and +what new schemes could be put into operation during the Fall and Winter +following. Henry said the one mentioned was the only one matured, and +that was being carried out. + +“Gen. Silent had now been promoted and ordered East, and Gen. Sherwood +put in command of the Center, with orders to make a campaign South, +pushing and pressing the enemy at every point possible. This movement +was to and did commence at the earliest possible moment in the Spring +following. Simultaneously with this a movement was made in the East +against the capital of the Confederacy. + +“One evening, a few days prior to Gen. Silent's departure for the +East in pursuance of his orders, while walking out on the bank of the +Combination River a short distance from Nashua, as the shadows of night +were quietly gathering about him, a form seemed to stand before him, +which, from its appearance and the flowing white robes in which it was +arrayed, he at once recognized as the strange specter that had appeared +to him while sitting on a stone beneath a tree at Chatteraugus. Gen. +Silent was startled for a moment, but stood still with eyes fixed upon +the apparition. Finally a light, beautiful and dazzling, shone around +the figure. He did not move. It approached him, saying in a subdued, +soft and melodious voice: + +“'Gen. Silent, you have been selected to forever wipe out the crime +of slavery. This can only be done by suppressing the rebellion now +in progress against your Government, which must be completed within +fourteen months from this day or all will be lost. Start East at +once; take no rest with either of your great armies until this is +accomplished. All is with you. The matter is exclusively in your hands.' + +“After speaking thus, the specter disappeared and all was still. He +stood for a moment, bewildered. When he had collected his thoughts he +turned and walked rapidly to his quarters, which were at the Nashua +House. He entered his room and sat for some time in deep meditation. +While at Victor's Hill he had thought of moving his army across to +Mobile, and thence to Savannah and North to the rear of Richmond. He was +not a superstitious man, but at the same time was forced by what he +had seen and heard that night to consider well that which seemed to be +before him. The condition of the armies of the Union, and also that of +the rebels, was taken in at one grasp of the mind. The East and West +were carefully considered, and a plan seemed to be placed before +him that would certainly be successful. The whole question of the +suppression of the rebellion seemed to be disclosed to his mind, and +indelibly photographed thereon, as if in a vision from on high. He could +see his Army of the West and Center combined under one commander, making +their way against obstinate resistance to the sea; and then coming north +to the rear of Richmond, breaking the shell of the Confederacy as it +marched. At the same time he saw the great rebel army of the East, +under Laws, in Virginia, melt away before him, driven, demoralized, and +finally captured. This all seemed to be a dream, and yet it was the true +method to pursue in order to put down the rebellion. These things were +at once firmly fixed in his mind, and thus he would undertake to bring +success, should he be selected as the commander of all the armies of the +Union, as had just been indicated to him. + +“Just then a rap was head at his door. 'Come in,' was the response, and +Gen. Anderson entered. Gen. Silent met him with great cordiality and +asked him to be seated. They conversed for some time on the subject of +the war and the probabilities of success. + +“Finally Gen. Anderson said: 'General, this war can be concluded in but +one way, and that is by desperate fighting. The armies on both sides +are made up of Americans, each believing they are right, and numbers and +endurance will finally determine the contest, provided our people do +not become alarmed at the constant cry for peace by the Northern Golden +Circles and other sympathizers with the South.' + +“'That is true,' said Gen. Silent; 'I feel more bitterness towards those +Northern croakers and sympathizers than I do toward the rebels in the +South, who take their lives and put them in chance for what they believe +to be right. Wrong as they are, they are better men than those who are +behind us trying to discourage us, and to encourage the rebels, without +the nerve to fight on either side.' + +“'Yes,' said Anderson; 'I fully agree with you. Allow me to ask at about +what time will our Spring campaign begin?' + +“'At the very first moment that we can move on the roads in safety. I am +now sending Sherwood with what troops are within his call from Victor's +Hill east to Meredith, breaking railroads, destroying bridges, etc., so +that when we commence our movements in the Spring, Biggs will have no +line save the one due south or east. We will then force him into the +extreme South or cause him to make a junction with the army in the East, +under Laws, where our Army of the West and Center must pursue him. The +destruction of the two great rebel armies must be our task. This done, +the rebellion will be at an end. This must be accomplished within the +next fourteen months; sooner if we can, but within that time we must +succeed, if at all, and I have no doubt whatever of a final triumph. The +Almighty is only permitting the continuation of this struggle in order +that the people shall become thoroughly satisfied with the destruction +of slavery. Whenever that time comes He will give our enemies over into +our hands.' + +“'Gen. Silent, your faith is certainly very strong.' + +“'Yes; I am now thoroughly convinced in my own mind that within the time +mentioned our enemies will be at our feet. I am going East, where I am +ordered by the President for some purpose. I intend to lay my whole +plan before him and urge its adoption, believing that if followed the +rebellion will end as I have stated. Would you like to go East, Gen. +Anderson, if I should wish you to do so?' + +“'I would certainly not disobey your orders, Gen. Silent, but I have +a good command, and one with which I am well acquainted, and perhaps I +would be of more service by remaining with it than by taking a new one. +I did have a great desire to be ordered East when I was sent here, but +the reasons for that desire do not now exist.' + +“Gen. Anderson then, in confidence, related to Gen. Silent what had +transpired at McGregor's headquarters the evening after the battle at +Antler's Run, which astonished Gen. Silent. He sat for some time without +making any remark. Finally he asked if the President and the Secretary +of War had this information. + +“Gen. Anderson replied that they had. + +“Gen. Silent smiled, but said not a word. The conversation on this +subject then dropped. Gen. Silent inquired if he believed in dreams. + +“Gen. Anderson answered in the negative; at the same time he said he had +heard on one or two occasions of very strange dreams, and one especially +that he was watching closely to see if it would turn out in accordance +with an interpretation given to it by a person whom he well knew. + +“Gen. Silent then asked him if he had ever seen anything that he could +not understand or account for. + +“'No, sir,' replied Gen. Anderson. + +“Gen. Silent said no more, and it then being quite late they separated. +Gen. Silent left early next morning for the East. As soon as he could +reach Washington he appeared at the Executive Mansion and had an +interview with the President, when he was informed that he had been +ordered East with a view of putting him in command of all the armies of +the United States. He did not exhibit the least surprise at this, but +at once proceeded to lay his plans before the President and Secretary of +War. The plans were the same as suggested by him to Gen. Anderson. After +careful consideration they were approved. + +“The President told Gen. Silent he now should have the full support of +the Government, with supreme command, and that the President would hold +him responsible for the suppression of the rebellion, and expect that +the enemy would be dispersed at an early day. + +“Gen. Silent replied that the rebellion would end within fourteen +months. + +“'Why fourteen months? Could you not say twelve?' + +“'No, sir,' replied Silent; 'I put it fourteen. I hope to see it +accomplished at an earlier date, but within this time it will be done.' + +“'Gen. Silent, I have a strange reason for saying twelve months,' and +the President laughed at the idea of having a superstition about dreams, +'but, General last night I had such a curious dream that I must tell it +to you. I thought a strange man appeared in the presence of the Armies +of the West, riding upon a large brown horse, and that where-ever and +whenever he appeared the armies were successful; that this strange +man would disappear without uttering a word. This same strange man had +appeared at the East, and at his appearance the rebel armies laid down +their arms and sued for peace. In my dream peace was restored, but it +lasted for only a short time; the citizens of Maryland and Virginia +conspired together and swept down upon Washington, captured the city, +burned the Government records, and murdered many of our leading men, +amongst whom was yourself. What do you say to this, General? Can you +interpret it?' + +“'No, Mr. President, I cannot. I do not allow myself to think but +very little about dreams. They certainly can be nothing more than the +wanderings of the mind during sleep. But, Mr. President, since you +have taken me into your confidence I must confess that I am sometimes +startled by what seems to be an unfolding of events in the future.' + +“Saying this much he relapsed into his wonted silence. After some +further conversation they separated. The next morning Gen. Silent left +for the Army of the East. He was received on his arrival in a manner +that showed their confidence in him as a great commander. He established +his headquarters in the field near Meador, and at once commenced giving +directions in his quiet way for reorganizing the troops and preparing in +every way for an early advance. His army was soon organized into +three corps,--Second, Fifth and Sixth,--commanded respectively by Gen. +Hanscom, Gen. Sedgewear and Gen. Warner; the Ninth (Independent) Corps, +under Broomneld, with the cavalry under Sher-lin, who had been ordered +to the East from the Army of the Center. + +“My son Jackson, having been spoken of very highly to Gen. Silent by +Gen. Anderson, had also been ordered to the East and placed in command +of a brigade under Gen. Hanscom. + +[Illustration: Gens. Silent and Meador in conversation. 347] + +“The armies both in the East and the West being reorganized and in good +condition, Gen. Silent began his arrangements for an immediate movement. +The Armies of the West and Center now being combined under the command +of Sherwood were to move from Chatteraugus directly down the railroad +against Biggs,--or rather Jones, the new commander of the rebel forces. +The movement of the combined armies, East and West, against the enemy, +was to take place on the same day. The rebel army East was admirably +posted for defensive operations, provided they were to be attacked in +their position. Laws had his army divided into three corps, commanded +respectively by Ewelling on the right, A. P. Hiller on the left, and +Longpath (who had come from Biggs) as reserve in the rear; his cavalry +by J. E. Seward. His army was on the south bank of the Rapidan, and in +rear of Mine Run, and extending east to the spurs of the Blue Ridge, on +the west and left flank, protected by heavy earthworks. His forces and +his movements were covered by streams, forests, hills, and by a very +heavy chaparral or copse for miles in extent. + +“Silent would not attack in his front, as Laws expected, but concluded +to plunge immediately into the chaparral and threaten Laws's right. This +would compel the enemy to give battle at once or retreat. So orders were +issued for the Army of the East to move at midnight, cross the Rapidan, +and march into the dense woods by the roads nearest the rebel lines. +The troops moved, and by dawn the next morning had possession of the +crossings and were passing over the river. By night of that day the army +had crossed with most of their trains. The cavalry had pushed forward +and camped near Sedgewear, who had gone into bivouac on the hill after +crossing the Rapidan. During the day our signal corps had read the +signals of the enemy, which were that Laws had discovered Silent's +movements and was making preparations to meet them. + +“Silent had ordered Broomfield to move at once and make night marches +so as to be up in time. Sherlin was to move forward and attack the rebel +cavalry at Chancellor's City. Three times this army had crossed the +Rapidan before and as many times had been driven back. The question +in the minds of all was, 'Will Silent go on, or will he be forced to +recross the stream?' Laws was very confident that he would force him +back. + +“That night Silent received a telegram from Sherwood at Chatteraugus, +saying that his army had moved out that day and was near the enemy; +also, from Crooker and Boutler; all had moved. Thus Silent had all the +armies of the Republic, wherever they might be, at the same hour moving +against the enemy aggressively. No such movements had a parallel in +history. The enemy were menaced in every front, so that no portion could +give aid or re-enforcements to the other. + +“Laws, when he saw the situation, determined to attack, believing that +he could assault Warner and drive him back before Hanscom (who had +crossed some miles from Warner) could come up to join on Warner's right. +That night Warner and Ewelling lay facing each other, nearly together. +They might easily have divided rations, though hidden from each other by +the dense forest. Yet, like the knowledge we all have by instinct of our +near approach to danger, they were each aware of the other's presence. + +“Gen. Silent ordered a change, so as to move his head of column direct +for the right flank of Laws's new position. Warner moved, with cavalry +in advance, to Craig's Meeting House, his left resting at Chaparral +Tavern. Sedge-wear was to join on his right, Hanscom to move from +Chancellor City to his support, and Sherlin on the left and in rear of +Hanscom. + +“Early in the morning the enemy appeared in Warner's front. One regiment +of cavalry had already been hurled back. Meador had made his disposition +in accordance with Silent's instructions. Broomfleld was now crossing +the river, and Silent waiting at the ford to see him; but learning +of Laws's movement, he went forward at once to Chaparral Tavern. This +tavern was in a low place, densely surrounded with trees and underbrush. +Here Silent placed his headquarters in the rear of Warner's Corps. The +woods and chaparral were so dense in all directions that neither army +could distinguish the line of the other. + +“By 9 o'clock an occasional shot could be heard, and then the rattle +of musketry, as though a company or so had discharged their pieces. +Presently a few skirmishers would come back to the main line, asserting +that the enemy were in force in our front. Then orders would be given to +advance the skirmish-line and feel for the enemy. + +“About 10 o'clock a shot from the artillery of the enemy announced the +fact that he was posting for resistance. Our line at once advanced as +best it could in the direction of the enemy. The musketry opened and +continued to increase until one whole division of our troops were +engaged. The artillery opened on both sides and roared as the mighty +thunders. Musketry rattled like hail on the housetops. The enemy in +our front, Ewelling commanding, was driven in great disorder for some +distance by Griffith's division, but the underbrush was so dense that +no alignment could be made with the troops. Regiments and brigades could +not find each other. It became impossible to have any unity of action. +This same cause prevented Sedgewear from joining on Warner's right or +connecting with Griffith. This left Griffith's flank exposed, and the +rebels at once taking advantage of this, forced him back again with the +loss of some of his guns and quite a number of prisoners. The rebels +made no attempt to follow up their advantage, but began at once erecting +earthworks. + +“Laws was attacked before he anticipated, although making a show of +readiness; but he was resting on ground familiar to him and wholly +unknown to our troops. Silent was notified of our repulse. It was +apparent that Laws's whole army was on the field, and meditated an +attack before our army could be brought into action. Sedgewear's troops +were not all up; Broomfield had not arrived, and Hanscom was not yet on +the ground. This was not quite what Gen. Silent had been accustomed to. +His commands heretofore were always at the spot on time when ordered, +and generally before the time appointed. + +“He at once mounted his horse and rode in person to the front, in order +to get a view of the situation. He followed Warner on a narrow road, +which was thronged with troops in great disorder. Slight works thrown up +by both sides, in intervals of the fight, were very close together. He +at once saw from the nature of the surrounding country the importance +of maintaining Warner's position. On his return to his headquarters he +dispatched officers to hasten Sedgewear's and Broomfield's troops with +all possible speed. His wish now was to bring to bear as largo a force +as possible against Laws's left, in order to prevent the discovery of +the great space between Warner and Hanscom. Laws, however, had detected +this gap, and was forming Hiller's Corps to move through it. + +“Geddis was now ordered to move at once and hold this part of the line +with his division of Warner's Corps against all force that might come +against him. This was the breathless time during the day. Geddis took +the position. Hiller moved against him, but Geddis held the point. +Hanscom came up, but his corps was far away to his rear. It was nearly +two o'clock before his troops came in sight, certainly none too soon. He +at once formed on Geddis's left. There was but one spot, on account of +the density of the forest, where artillery could be put in battery or +used to any advantage. Here Hanscom put all his artillery. At 2:30 he +received orders to attack Hiller at once in conjunction with Geddis, +which he did. This compelled Hanscom to move two of his divisions in +support of Geddis, Burns and Motley. The two lines had both approached +until they were exceedingly close together. + +“The battle now commenced in great earnest on both sides, and was of +a most destructive and deadly character. The musketry firing was +continuous along the whole line. The remainder of Hanscom's Corps +was ordered up and went into action, having no time for protecting +themselves. Several desperate assaults were made by Hanscom and Geddis, +but the enemy, having the cover of the chaparral, were able to inflict +great damage on our forces. + +“Silent, learning that our forces could not dislodge the enemy, sent +a force from Warner's left to relieve the troops who were so hotly +engaged. Accordingly one division under Gen. Walworth and one brigade +under Roberts were sent through the woods to the sound of battle. But +they could not see fifty yards before them on account of the underbrush. +The roar of the battle was like a continuous peal of thunder. Gen. +Walworth tried to penetrate the thick woods to relieve his comrades, but +did not arrive until nightfall. + +“Sedgewear had now taken position on the right of Warner, and both of +their corps had been engaged during the afternoon. Sherlin had struck +the rebel cavalry near Ford's House and driven them back. He now held +the country to the left of Hanscom on the road to Spottsyl-vania. The +night had closed in and the two armies rested facing each other. The +killed, wounded and dying were strewn between the lines like leaves. + +“Gen. Meador and others came to Silent's Headquarters that night. One +corps in each army had not been engaged during the day, and so the +battle had but fairly commenced. Silent gave orders to assault the enemy +the next morning at five o'clock. Longpath on the side of the enemy, +who had not been engaged during the day, was moving that night to the +support of Hiller, evidently intending to crush our left. Geddis was +ordered to remain with Hanscom; Walworth was to assault Hiller's left, +while Hanscom made a front attack. Broomfield was to move to the gap +between Walworth and Warner's left. But Laws was preparing also for an +attack, and made his assault on our right a little before Hanscom made +the attack contemplated by Silent. + +“The battle commenced by Ewelling assailing Wight. The fighting became +furious along Sedgewear's entire front and over and along Warner's +line. Burns and Motley, of Hanscom's Corps, advanced upon the enemy and +assaulted him with very great energy. Walworth now assaulted where he +was directed. The contest was a desperate one. The smoke rose through +the woods like a dense cloud. The artillery was brought to where it +could be used, and from both sides it belched forth its iron hail and +sounded as if the earth was breaking into a thousand fragments. The +musketry rattled and showered the leaden missiles of death in every +direction. The yells and shrieks of the wounded were enough to strike +terror to the souls of the strongest, during the whole time of this +great battle of blood and death. + +“The enemy were driven at every point, and retreated in great confusion. +Our troops undertook to pursue them through the thick woods and became +broken up and confused. Sherlin was now engaged with Seward's cavalry, +near the Todd House, in a terrible contest, The firing and shouting +could be heard by Hanscom's troops. Sherlin was victorious and Seward +retreated. + +“Up to this time Longpath had not taken the position assigned him, +but now moved rapidly against Hanscom's left. The contest was renewed. +Silent and Meador rode out to the front and looked over the ground. +Silent never lost confidence in the result for a moment. + +“Longpath now assaulted with great vehemence; our advance brigade was +swept like chaff before the wind. The density of the brush was such that +H an scorn could not make his proper formation, and therefore had to +fall back to his position held early in the day. Walworth was driven +back, and in trying to rally his men was shot through the head and +instantly killed. Sedgewear's right was assailed and turned, losing many +prisoners. He rallied, however, and drove the enemy back again. Longpath +being now severely wounded, Laws led his corps in person. + +“A simultaneous attack was now made by our forces. Broomfield assaulted +for the first time during the day, and the enemy were forced back. In +this assault my son Jackson, leading his brigade, was wounded and taken +to the rear. This was late in the afternoon. The woods had been on fire +several times during the day, but at this time the breastworks of some +of our men having been constructed of wood were fired by the musketry +and blazed up, catching the timber and leaves with which the ground was +covered. The fire became general and drove men in every direction, both +Union and rebel. The shrieks and screams of the poor wounded men who +could not escape the flames were heartrending. + +“Darkness came on and the contest ceased. During the night Laws withdrew +the rebel army to his old line of works and gave up the idea of +driving Silent back across the Rapidan. Gen. Silent repaired to his +headquarters, where he received the reports of the commanding officers. +Some were sure that Laws would attack again the next morning. Some +thought that we had better retire across the Rapidan. At this Silent +said not a word, but smiled. He finally gave orders to be ready to meet +the enemy the next morning, and to attack him if he had not withdrawn. +When he spoke of the enemy withdrawing a look of surprise was on the +faces of many. + +“After they had all repaired to their respective quarters he went out +to look around, and while listening under a tree in order to hear +any movements that might be making in the enemy's lines, he was again +startled by the same spectral form that had appeared to him twice +before. It pointed in the direction of Richmond and spoke these words, +'Move on to-morrow,' and disappeared. He was strangely affected by this, +and became quite nervous for a man of his stoicism. + +[Illustration: A scene in the trenches 354] + +“He returned to his tent and inquired for his Adjutant-General. When he +reported, he asked if any further reports had come in, and was told that +a messenger had just arrived with dispatches announcing that Boutler +had moved on City Point, capturing it; that Sherwood expected to attack +Jones at Rocky Head on that day. Silent then went to bed and slept +soundly. + +“The next morning there was no enemy in sight. Gen. Silent advanced his +troops well to the front until satisfied that Laws had withdrawn. He +gave orders for taking care of the wounded and burying the dead. The +wounded of both armies were thickly strewn all over the battlefield. +Many had perished from the smoke and fire in the woods. It was a sight I +do not wish to describe if I could. + +“That day Silent issued his orders for the army to make a night march +by the left flank in the direction of Spottsyl-vania. He and Meador +started, with the cavalry in advance, late in the afternoon, and as they +passed along the line going in that direction the boys understood it +and cried out, 'Good! good! No going back this time; we are going to +Richmond,' and they made the woods resound with shouts of joy. + +“The next day about noon Sherlin was directed to move with his cavalry +to the rear of the enemy, cut the railroads, and destroy all the enemy's +supplies he could find. He moved at once. Silent notified Broomfield +of the resistance being made to our further advance, and ordered him to +move up as rapidly as possible. Skirmishing and sharp fighting between +isolated divisions and brigades occurred. Many officers and men were +killed. Gen. Sedgewear was among the killed on this morning, and Gen. H. +G. Wight was assigned to the command of his corps. This was the 9th day +of the month, and the armies had been marching and fighting five days. + +“Silent's lines were now formed and ready to attack or resist. Thus they +lay during the fifth night. On the next morning orders were issued to +assault the enemy's center at 10 o'clock. Some movement of the enemy +delayed the assault, and about 1 o'clock the enemy pressed forward to +attack, which they did with great vigor. They were repulsed with great +loss and fell back in confusion. They reformed and came forward again. +The contest now became fierce and even terrific. They made their way +close up to Hanscom's front and delivered their fire in the very faces +of our men. Our line did not waver, but now opened such a terrible fire +of musketry on them that they broke in great disorder. + +“In the very heat of the contest the woods had taken fire again, and +the flames were leaping along with frightful rapidity, destroying nearly +everything in their pathway. Our troops on this part of the line were +compelled to fall' back, leaving many poor fellows of both sides to +perish. Soon, however, the skirmishers were re-enforced and drove the +enemy for a mile into their entrenchments. + +“It was now determined to make the assault contemplated in the morning. +So about 4 p.m. Silent ordered the assault. Warner and Wight were to +move simultaneously with Warner's and Gibbs's divisions, Motley to +advance on the left of Wight's Corps. Our troops had to advance up a +densely-wooded hill. Silent and Meador took position on an elevated +point, but could see little of the field, it was so overgrown with +bushes. + +“The battle had again commenced, our troops assaulting. A cloud of smoke +hung heavily over the field, lighted up occasionally by flashes from +artillery. The shouts of the commanders giving their orders, the yells +of the soldiers on both sides, as well as the groans of the wounded +and dying, could be distinctly heard in every direction. Across an open +field, then through heavy woods, across a soft morass in front of +one division of the enemy near the stream, went our lines, struggling +forward under a most galling fire until lost to view in a copse of +wood and the smoke of battle. Only our wounded now came staggering +and crawling out from under the cloud of smoke to the rear. These few +moments of suspense were terrible. Looking, listening and waiting, our +troops at this moment ascended the hill and stormed the enemy's works, +but could not hold them against the destructive fire. They fell back to +their original line. + +“On our left, at that moment, a great victory was being accomplished. +Col. Upson and Gen. Motley formed a storming party of some twelve +regiments, and drove right against the flank of the enemy. They rushed +with such impetuosity against the rebels that they could not withstand +the assault. Our forces captured an entire brigade and one battery of +the enemy. Hanscom now assaulted and broke the enemy's line, capturing +many prisoners. At six p.m. Broomfield attacked. Night closed with our +columns within one mile of Spottsylvania Court-house. The fighting +of this day was desperate, and the loss on both sides terrible. The +suffering was great; many were burned who had fallen wounded on the +field. + +“This was the sixth day of blood and death. Our forces held some 4,000 +prisoners, while the enemy had taken none from us save a few stragglers. +That night Boutler reported great success. Sherlin had got in the rear +of the enemy, destroyed ten miles of his railroad and nearly all of +his supplies of food and medical stores. Silent now ordered rest and +reconnoitering for the next day. + +“So, on the following day, our lines were adjusted and reconnoissances +made, with full preparations for the ending of the great contest. +Hanscom was to move in the night so as to join Broomfield, and they were +to attack at 4 A. M. of the 12th. They moved into line not more than +two-thirds of a mile from the enemy. The ground was heavily wooded and +ascended sharply towards the enemy. In the morning a heavy fog lay close +to the ground, but at 4:35 the order to move forward was given. Burns +and Barrow moved in advance. The soldiers seemed to be urged forward +by some kind of inspiration, and finally broke into a double-quick, and +with irresistible force over the earthworks of the enemy they went. Both +divisions entered about the same time, and a most desperate battle here +ensued. Muskets were clubbed and bayonets and swords pierced many bodies +on both sides. The struggle was short, however, and resulted in our +forces capturing some 5,000 prisoners, twenty pieces of artillery, and +thirty colors, with two General officers. The rebels broke to the rear +in great disorder, our men pursuing them through the woods. Shouts of +victory rent the air. + +“Silent was now by a small fire, which was sputtering and spitting, the +rain coming down in uncomfortable quantities. Hanscom had taken and was +now holding the center of their line. He reported: 'Have just finished +up Jones and am going into Ewelling; many prisoners and guns.' + +“The enemy made six assaults on Hanscom, which were repulsed. Broomfield +now reported that he had lost connection with Hanscom. Silent wrote him: +'Push the enemy; that is the best way to make connection.' + +“Desultory fighting continued until midnight, when the enemy gave up the +task of re-taking their lost line and retreated. Thus ended the eighth +day of marching and most desperate fighting ever known. + +“The next morning an assault was made in order to take possession of +high ground near the court-house, which was a success, without any +considerable resistance. The rain was now falling in torrents. The roads +became so muddy that they were impassable, which prevented any further +movement for the present. The collecting of the wounded and burying the +dead was a sight to behold. The whole country back for miles was one +continuous hospital. Our losses were over 20,000, and no one could ever +ascertain the loss of the enemy; but it could not have been less than +30,000--including prisoners. + +“The howl that was set up by the Sons of Liberty and Copperheads +excelled anything that had ever been heard. Silent was a 'murderer,' a +'butcher,' a 'brute,' an 'inhuman monster.' The enemy, however, were all +right. They were 'humane friends,' 'good Christians,' etc. The hypocrisy +of this world is perfectly amazing. + +“At this time take a glance at the rebel capital. Boutler was within ten +miles; Sherlin's troopers were, many of them, inside the works on the +north side of Richmond. Sherwood was forcing the rebel Army of the +Center. Gen. Crookerhad cut all railroads between Tennessee and +Richmond. All lines of communication with Richmond were severed, +and confusion and terror reigned in the rebel capital. Jeff Davis +contemplated flight, but was prevented by those surrounding him. With +all these evidences of our final success and failure on their part, the +anti-war party in the North could find no words of contumely too severe +for our successful commanders. + +“Henry and I left for Washington, and in the confusion of everything I +finally found a surgeon by the name of Bliss, who informed me where I +could find my son Jackson. He had been brought to Washington and placed +in the Stone Mansion Hospital, on Meridian Hill. We lost no time in +visiting that place, and by permission of the surgeon in charge visited +Jackson. We found him with a high fever and some evidence of erysipelas. +His wound was in the right groin--a very dangerous wound. He talked +quite freely, and gave all kinds of messages for his mother, the family, +and Gen. Anderson, but said to us that he could live but a few days. + +“'The fates are against our family,' said he. 'We will all go down +sooner or later. Mother is right.' + +“We remained in Washington and gave Jackson all the attention we could. +We merely paid our respects to the President. He was so busy we could +not interrupt him. Joy was in the hearts of all loyal people, while +curses were upon the lips of every disloyal and anti-war Democrat in the +whole country. + +“Jackson died from erysipelas on the sixth day after our arrival. This +shock almost broke me down. Henry was nearly frantic. Jackson was his +favorite brother. They had both been wanderers alike from home. We took +his remains to our home, had his funeral services in the church to which +his mother and I belonged, and buried him by the side of my son David, +in the Allentown Cemetery. + +“You must imagine this blow to our family; I will not undertake to +describe our distress. His mother almost lost her mind, and for several +days she talked incessantly about Peter. She seemed to lose sight of all +else. Seraine was deeply affected. She thought very much of Jackson, he +being the one who brought about her union with Henry much sooner than, +perhaps, it would have occurred.” + +Just then Mrs. Wilson came in. We could see that she kept a close watch +over Uncle Daniel. He took her in his arms and said: + +“My darling, I was just speaking of the death of your Uncle Jackson.” + +“Yes, Grandpa; I well remember when you and Uncle Henry came home from +Washington with his remains; how we were all distressed; how Grandma's +mind was affected; and how poor old Aunt Martha cried and spoke of him. +I remember also that he was buried by the side of my poor father.” + +She ceased speaking and wept and sobbed, and finally she took her +grandpa by the hand and led him to his room. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + OPERATIONS OF THE ARMY OF THE CENTER.--GEN. SHERWOOD'S + CAMPAIGN AGAINST GATE CITY.--HEAD'S ARMY DESTROYED.--GEN. + PAPSON'S GREAT VICTORIES AT FRANKTOWN AND NASHUA. + + “We die that our country may survive.”--Lyon. + +“General Silent was now in command of all the armies of the United +States, having his Headquarters with the Army of the East, so that he +might have the immediate supervision of it. Sherwood, having been +placed in command of the Armies of the West, commenced organizing and +concentrating his forces for the Spring campaign, under the general plan +suggested by Silent and approved by the President and Secretary of +War. The condition of things in the North was as heretofore described. +Sherwood was kept continually on the alert, in order to meet the many +raids that were being made in his Department. + +“About the 1st of April, Gen. Forrester, with a large cavalry force, +again moved north, marched between Big and Little Combination Rivers, +and made his way unmolested to Paduah, and there assaulted the Union +garrison held by Col. Heck, by whom he was badly beaten. He made his +retreat, swinging around to Conception River, and following that down +to Fort Pillston, which was held by a very small garrison of colored +troops. After capturing the post the unfortunate troops were most +barbarously and inhumanly butchered, no quarter being given. The poor +colored soldiers and citizens were shot down like so many wild beasts. +Some were killed while imploring their captors for mercy; others were +tied to trees, fires built around them made of fagots, and in that way +burned to death. + +“The sick and wounded fared no better. Such brutality is seldom resorted +to by the most barbarous of the savage Indian tribes. What do you +suppose would have been the fate of any Union officer who would have +permitted such conduct on the part of his command?” + +“Why,” said Col. Bush, “the officer would have been dismissed the +service in utter disgrace, and would not afterwards have been recognized +as a gentleman anywhere in the Northern States.” + +“No, sir,” said Dr. Adams; “such officers would have been compelled to +change their names and to find homes in the mountains, where they would +have been unobserved.” + +“Yes,” said Uncle Daniel, “that would have been so with any of our +troops; yet you never hear this fact alluded to. It is lost sight of, +and if you should mention it publicly, you would only be criticised for +so doing. Our tradesmen and merchants want their Southern customers, and +therefore, no matter what their crimes may have been, they are hushed up +and condoned. But to return to my story. + +“Sherwood had made his disposition for an advance, and on the same day +that the Army of the East commenced its movement to cross the Rapidan, +his army moved out against Gen. Jones, who had displaced Biggs and was +in command of the rebel Army of the Center. Sherwood's army moved in +three columns from and about Chatteraugus--Scovens on the left, Papson +in the center, and McFadden on the right. Papson moved directly against +Turner's Hill, and McFadden, by way of Gadden's Mill, to and through +Snake Gap, against Sarco. Papson had encountered the enemy at Rocky +Head, and failing to dislodge him, was ordered to the right in support +of McFadden. Jones fell back to Sarco and made a stand. Hord's Corps +assaulted him in front, Scovens on his right, Papson and McFadden on his +left, McFadden gaining the high ridges overlooking the fort and opened a +destructive artillery fire against it. + +“Late in the evening, as night was closing in, Gen. Anderson ordered a +part of his command to assault and charge their works near the river, +south of the town. This was executed in gallant style, Gen. Ward leading +the charge. The firing all along both lines was picturesque. As volley +after volley was discharged, it reminded one of a line of Roman candles +shooting forth. Soon our troops succeeded in dislodging the enemy and +capturing his works, with many prisoners. This closed the contest; and +that night Jones, with his army, retreated, destroying bridges and all +else behind him. + +“He was vigorously pushed by our army. Two days later Papson's head of +column struck the rear of the enemy between Caseyville and King's City. +Skirmishing commenced, and was kept up during the night. At this point +Jones had collected his whole army--three large corps, commanded by +Harding, Polkhorn and Head, numbering nearly as many men as Sherwood's +forces. During the night, however, the enemy retreated, and did it +so handsomely that the next morning there was nothing to be seen as +evidence of an enemy, save fresh earthworks. + +“After remaining there several days waiting for supplies, etc., our +forces resumed their advance and moved rapidly in the direction of a +town on the Powder Springs road called Dalls; McFadden on the extreme +right, Papson in the center, and Scovens on the left. Hord, of Papson's +army, in moving to the crossing of Pumpkin Run, met the enemy, and was +soon engaged in what turned out to be a severe battle, lasting until +quite in the night. This checked the movement of the army under +Papson, and changed the point to be gained to Hopeful Church. There was +continuous skirmishing and fighting at this point at close range +behind works for about five days. The losses, however, were not very +considerable on either side, both being under cover of earthworks. The +troops here were so situated in their lines and works that both sides +kept well down behind their cover. Finally our boys gave it the name of +'Hell Hole.' + +“McFadden having moved to Dalls, as ordered, was some miles away to +the right of the remainder of the forces. The enemy seeing this, +concentrated two whole corps and hurled them against the Fifteenth +Corps, and one small division on its left. The assault was made by +Harding and Polkhorn on the morning of the 28th of May, and lasted until +late in the afternoon. This was a fierce and very bloody battle, with +quite a loss on both sides. The enemy broke the line of our forces +on the right and poured through the gap like bees swarming, but the +commander of the corps of 'Forty Bounds' was equal to the occasion, +charging them with reserve troops and driving them back with great +slaughter. From that time on, the day was in our favor. The General who +commanded the corps came down the line where bullets were thickest, with +hat in hand, cheering his men on to action and to victory; with a shout +that could only be given by that old, well-drilled corps, which had +never known defeat, they rushed forward against the enemy and routed +twice their number. Men who were in this battle say that the soldiers +and officers were more like enraged tigers than men. No power could stay +them when it came to their turn during the day to make an assault, the +enemy having made the first one. + +“Two days after this brilliant victory they were ordered by Sherwood to +their left to join the right of Hord's command. The army now being in +compact form confronting the enemy, he withdrew to Bush and Kensington +Mountains, in front of Henrietta, covering the railroad to Gate City. +Gen. Sherwood moved his army on a parallel line to Shan tee, covering +the railroad to the rear, being our line of communication, directly +confronting the enemy on the Mountain ridge. The position of the enemy +was a good one; much better than our troops occupied. Thus, our forces +were 100 miles south of Chatteraugus. During the whole march it had been +one succession of skirmishes and battles, from Rocky Head to Kensington +Mountain. The skirmishes and battles were generally fought in dense +woods, and doubtless, in the rapid movements, many of our poor men, +and also of the enemy, were wounded and left to die in the forest. +The enemy's lines were several miles in length, covering those +spurs--Kensington, Bush and Pine Mountains. Our troops were pushing up +as close as possible under a continuous and heavy fire. While advancing +our lines our forces could see the signals of the enemy on the +mountains, and very soon learned to read them. + +“In one of the forward movements on our extreme right a very sharp +artillery duel took place between Davies' artillery and Polkhorn's, who +formed the enemy's left. During this engagement Polkhorn was killed +by one of our round shots. Our signal officers interpreted the enemy's +signals stating his death. Our boys sent up a great shout. + +“The enemy thereby discovered that our men could read their signals and +at once changed them, much to the chagrin of our Signal Corps. + +“The railroad bridges that had been destroyed in our rear by the enemy +on their retreat having been repaired, the trains began running and +bringing up supplies. One day a train came in drawn by a very powerful +engine. The engineer concluded that he would tempt or alarm the enemy, +so he put on a full head of steam and started down the track as +though he was going directly into their lines. As soon as he came in +sight--which was unavoidable, as the road ran through an open field +directly in front of Kensington Mountain, and then curved to the left +through a gap--they opened a battery directed at the engine. Peal after +peal was heard from their guns, but the engineer ran the engine down +to our skirmish line and there held it for some moments, keeping up +meanwhile the most hideous whistling and bell ringing. The number of +guns that opened fire and their rapidity in firing was such that +all along both lines they believed a battle was raging. The engineer +returned his engine to the train amid the shouts of thousands of our +troops. + +“Our skirmishers were now close, approaching nearer and nearer every day +and night, the advance being made by regular stages. Several attempts +were made to double the skirmish-lines and move up the slope of the +ridge, but this could not be accomplished. Finally Gen. Anderson asked +permission to make a reconnaissance to our left and to the right and +rear of the enemy, or at least to find where his right rested. This was +permitted, and Gen. Anderson struck the enemy's cavalry some five miles +to our extreme left, driving them around the point of the mountain and +capturing very nearly two regiments. This at once disclosed the fact as +to the exposed flank of the enemy. He then moved back to his position in +line and waited further orders. + +“Just about this date Gen. Sherwood received information that the +expedition up Blood River had failed, and that Forrester had defeated +Sturgeon and was now preparing to raid the railroads in our rear. This +was not very encouraging to our forces, but caused great joy in the +rebel camp in our front, as our forces learned. The next day the enemy +made a feeble attack on our right, but was handsomely repulsed by +Gen. Hord's Corps. Sherwood seemed determined to try to dislodge the +enemy,--a flank movement seemed to others to be the way to force the +enemy from his lines of works on the crest of the mountain. + +“On the 27th of June, he ordered an assault on Little Kensington +Mountain. Our troops at the same time were to make demonstrations on all +parts of the line. McFadden assaulted, by order of the commander, the +face of the mountain, where there was no possibility of success. He +was hurled back, losing many officers and men. Papson assaulted on his +right, where the mountain sloped down to a low foothill with no +rugged heights. Here the enemy had strong earthworks, with an almost +impenetrable abatis. One division after another and one corps after +another were hurled against this breastwork, where fell many brave and +gallant men and officers on that fatal day. Papson did not believe our +troops could take those strong works, posted as the rebels were, but +obeyed orders from his superior officer. + +“Towards noon our losses were heavy, and it seemed like leading men into +the very jaws of death to attempt another assault. Some of the officers, +as well as men, openly said it was most cruel and cold-blooded murder +to force men up against works where one man behind them would equal at +least four of the assaulting party. Yet another attack was ordered, and +about the middle of the afternoon all were ready. Sherwood was on a high +hill a good distance in the rear, where he could see all that was going +on. + +“The order was given to move forward. Gen. Anderson was put to the +front, my son Peter in command of his advance brigade. On, on they went, +well knowing that many a brave boy would fall to rise no more. Not a +word was spoken save the one of command. The line moved right on, the +enemy pouring shot and shell into our ranks. Our brave boys fell like +grass before the scythe. As our ranks thinned and gaps were made by shot +and shell the solemn command could be heard, 'Close up, my brave boys!' + +“Gen. Anderson rode in full dress, with a long black plume in his hat. +On and on, to the very jaws of hell they went. When close up to the +enemy General Anderson raised his sword, the gleam of which could be +seen afar in the sunlight. He ordered a charge, and well was it made. +Up, up, and into the jaws of death they moved. But to take the works +was impossible. The whole line was now engaged. Finally our forces fell +back. Gen. Anderson held his men in their line. They were not dismayed. +He was finally ordered to fall back, and did so. Peter, my son, was +shot through the lungs. Sullenly and coolly did our men fall back, with +curses many and loud against the blunder. + +“This was the first repulse to our army, and forced the commander a few +days later to do what should have been done without the loss of so many +men. He moved around against Jones's flank, which caused him to abandon +his line and fall back to Chatham River, into his heavy intrenchments +prepared some time before. + +“My son Peter, during the evening after the battle, had been conveyed to +the hospital. As soon as Gen. Anderson could do so, he started to find +him. He found young Whit-comb with my son, whom the General had sent +earlier to look after him; also, old Ham, who was in the rear during the +engagement, not far from the hospital. When the General entered, Peter +recognized and greeted him, but added: + +“'General, my time has come. When I go, that will be the last finger but +one. My mother's dream; O! how true! how true! This is not unexpected to +me, my dear General. + +“I have been waiting for it. This morning, when I found what our orders +were, I committed my soul to God, and felt this to be my time.' + +“The General said to him that he thought there was a chance for him to +get well. + +“'No, no,' replied Peter; 'I may linger some time. The doctor thinks +there is a chance for me; but, no; I am sure this is only the fulfilling +of my mother's dream.'” + +At this recital the old man wept and walked out of the room. Very soon, +however, he returned, and continued: + +“Why should I grieve? I will soon see them all. I am very sure that I +will meet my good and brave family again in a better world.” + +“Amen!” said Dr. Adams. + +Uncle Daniel said: “Peter always believed there was something in his +mother's dream; and while Gen. Anderson was trying to encourage him, old +Ham spoke up: + +“'Marsa Gen'l, dey's no use. I tell you dat dream am a fac'. It is, +sho', an' Marsa Peter he know it. I 'terpret dat for him; 'deed I did. I +not fool on dat. But, den, we mus' take keer ob him. I 'spec' he go home +an' see he mudder and fader. I 'spec' me better go wid him and tend to +him. Don't you fought so too, Marsa Gen'l?' + +“The General told Ham he would see about it. Peter began to improve, and +it really seemed as if he would recover. I was informed by Gen. Anderson +of Peter's misfortune, but kept it from my family, except Henry, who +was at home, as I before stated, in order to aid me in protecting the +family, the country being in such an alarming condition. The growing +belief in the final success of Silent against Laws was quieting the +people somewhat. + +“I made an excuse to the family, so that Henry was sent South to see +Peter and bring him home if he should be able to stand the journey. I +obtained a pass for Henry from the President by letter, and he started +to find his brother. He told Seraine, however, before he started, what +his mission was. She was discreet, and did not speak of it to any one. + +“During this time Sherwood moved out, McFadden on the extreme right, +Scovens in the center, and Papson on the left. About six miles on the +road leading to the crossing of the Chatham River Papson encountered the +enemy and passed the compliments of the Fourth of July with them, firing +his artillery loaded with shell into their lines. The celebration was +kept up in this way by both sides during the day, but the loss was not +great on either side. + +“Just at this time Gen. Russell, under orders, left De Kalb, Ala., +with 2,000 cavalry, passing through the country and meeting but little +obstruction on his way. He finally struck the railroad west of Opelima +and destroyed it for many miles, making a successful raid. He reported +to Sherwood at Henrietta, with hundreds of horses and mules, supposed to +have followed him, on his return. + +“Stoner was also to the west of our forces hunting for railroads, +bridges, etc., which might be useful to the enemy. McCabe was with his +cavalry on Soap Run, and one other division under Garner at Ross Mills, +to the left of our main army. + +“McFadden with his army now moved to the left, by Ross Mills, across +Chatham River and down to De Kalb by way of Stonington's Mountain. +Scovens crossed the Chatham River near the mouth of Soap Run, and +thereby occupied the center. Papson crossed at or above the railroad +bridge. The whole army was now safely across the river and moving in the +direction of Gate City. McFadden had reached De Kalb and there connected +with Scovens, who had extended near to the Howland House. Papson was not +so far advanced, leaving quite a distance between him and Scovens. + +“As Papson lay at Crab Apple Run, the men carelessly taking their rest +in fancied security, they were furiously attacked by Head's Corps. At +first our men were scattered in confusion, but were soon in line +again, and the battle raged with great fury. After some two hours' hard +fighting the enemy fell back and again occupied their breast-works. +The losses on both sides were heavy for the length of time they were +engaged. + +“On the same afternoon Gen. Legg's division had a very sharp contest for +a high hill in an open field to the left and south of the railroad from +the east to Gate City. Legg secured this hill, which overlooked the city +and was the key to the situation on the east side. + +“On the 22d a great battle was fought over this ground by McFadden's +army, which was severe and bloody, lasting well into the night. +Thousands were slain on both sides. The field almost ran with blood. +Gen. McFadden fell early in the day, and the command then devolved upon +another. The battle was a success to the Union troops. It was a great +victory. Many prisoners and a great quantity of munitions of war fell +into the hands of our troops. Gen. Sherwood for some reason remained at +the Howland House during this battle, with Scovens, whose forces were +not engaged. This battle cannot be properly described in this narrative, +nor will I attempt it. + +“On the 28th another great battle was fought by the same gallant army as +on the 22d, without assistance, at a place called Ezra's House, on the +extreme right of our lines. Having been ordered to move round to the +rear of Scovens and Papson, after the 22d, they struck the enemy. During +this engagement the enemy made as many as seven different assaults upon +our line, but were repulsed with great loss each time. Night closed in +and ended the contest. The next morning the dead of the enemy lay in +front of our lines in rows and in piles. The enemy having retreated +during the night, our troops buried their dead, which numbered hundreds. +One of their Color-Sergeants, of a Louisiana regiment, was killed, and +his flag taken by a boy of an Ohio regiment within twenty feet of our +lines. + +“Skirmishing and fighting continued around and about Gate City for +nearly a month, during which time the losses on both sides were very +serious. The latter part of August a general movement to the flank and +rear of the enemy was made by the whole of the united forces. McFadden's +army, now commanded by Hord, moved on the right in the direction of +Jonesville, and a terrific battle ensued, lasting for some four hours. +They fought against two corps of rebels, which were driven back and +through Jonesville to the southward. + +“Late in the night a great noise of bursting shell was heard to the +north and east of Jonesville. The heavens seemed to be in a blaze. The +red glare, as it reflected in beauty against the sky, was beyond brush +or word painting. The noise was so terrific that all the troops on the +right felt sure that a night attack had been made on Pap-son and that +a terrible battle was being fought. Couriers were sent hurriedly to the +left to ascertain the cause, and about daylight information was received +that Head--who was in command of the rebel forces, having succeeded +Jones--had blown up all his magazines, burned his storehouses of +supplies, evacuated Gate City, and was marching with his army rapidly in +the direction of Loveland Station. + +“Thus the great rebel stronghold, Gate City, had fallen and was ours. +The joy in our army was indescribable. Sherwood moved on Loveland +Station and skirmished with the enemy during one afternoon, but no +battle ensued; why, has often been asked by our best-informed men. Our +troops moved back on the same road by which they had advanced to and +around Gate City, and then went into camp, remaining during the month of +September with but little activity. + +“One day, at Gen. Sherwood's headquarters, Gen. Anderson was asked by +Sherwood if he was ever in the Regular Army. Gen. Anderson replied in +the negative. + +“Sherwood said: 'I am sorry for that, as I would like to give you a +larger command. You are certainly a good soldier.' + +“'Well,' said Gen. Anderson, 'is it not good soldiers that you want?' + +“'That is true,' said Sherwood; 'but we are compelled to make this +distinction, where we have those who are or have been in the old army, +or have been educated at the Military Academy.' + +“'But, General, suppose a man is or has been in the Regular Army or +educated at the Military Academy, and is not a successful General, how +will you then decide?' + +“'Well, Gen. Anderson, we have studied war and know all about it; you +have not. We must rely upon those who make it a profession. Papson, +Scovens and myself have considered the matter, and we cannot trust +volunteers to command large forces. We are responsible, you know.' + +“'But, General, you seem to trust volunteers where there is hard +fighting to do, or where there is any desperate assault to be made.' + +“'Yes, that is true; but we cannot afford to allow volunteers to be put +over Regular officers; Regulars do not like it, and we cannot do it.' + +“'I have seen some of your volunteer officers and soldiers succeed where +your Regulars have failed. Should not such men be as much entitled to +the credit as if they were professional or Regular Army soldiers?' + +“'There may be cases of that kind; but we will not discuss this further. +I can only say that while we have Regulars to command our armies, we +will see to it that they are given the places.' + +“Gen. Anderson was very angry, but said no more except 'good-by.' + +“By this time Peter had so far recovered that the Surgeon felt it to be +safe to remove him. Henry, who had remained with him all this time, now +brought him home, with old Ham's assistance. Henry had kept me posted by +letter, and it was very hard at times to explain his absence. But when +he reached home, and the truth was revealed to my good wife, she was +almost frantic, and was unable to sit up. She talked continually of +her dear son, and was haunted day and night by her dream. Peter gained +strength very rapidly. The members of the household were at his service +at all times. The children could not understand so many coming home shot +as they termed it, and little Mary Anderson was continually inquiring of +her mamma about her dear papa, and if he was shot again! Our family had +all become so nervous that I was continually on the alert for fear of +sickness being produced by the constant strain. + +“Old Ham and Aunt Martha had many things to say to each other. Ham's +experiences in battle very greatly amused Aunt Martha. They were both +very kind to Peter, but wore very serious countenances in our presence. +Ham would only talk to me about Peter, and would always say: 'I hopes +dat Marsa Peter git well, but I fears. Marsa Lyon, I tell's you dat +dream of de Madam, dat am bery bad. I fears de time am mighty nigh +come.' + +“Aunt Martha did not express any opinion, but would shake her head. +Peter kept the two little girls by him nearly all the time, petting +them, but conversed very seldom. He would talk to his mother +occasionally, to keep her mind away from her horrible dream. + +“About the 1st of October we learned of the movements of large bodies of +the enemy's cavalry in Tennessee, raiding the railroads to the rear of +Sherwood's army. Head had thrown his army across Chatham River, below +Gate City, to the north, and moved parallel to the railroad, so that he +could strike and destroy our lines of communication at various points. +Sherwood was compelled to follow him. Our forces were stationed on the +railroad at many places. Gen. G. B. Ream, with one division, held Carter +Station, Etwau Bridge, Alletooning, Ainsworth, King's City, Adamsville, +Sarco, and north to Dallytown. Chatteraugus was held by Gen. Sleman with +his division, and Romulus by Cortez. All had orders to support any point +that should be attacked. Gen. Ream was of the opinion that Head would +strike the railroad at Alletooning, where a great quantity of supplies +were stored. + +“Sherwood left Somers with his corps at Gate City and started north. He +arrived at Henrietta Just as Gen. Ream had got Cortez with his command +at Alletooning. Head was advancing on Alletooning by rapid marches. He +assaulted the garrison at once on his command's arrival The assault was +made with great determination, but it was not successful. His loss was +very great. He drew off and at once moved in the direction of Romulus. + +“Gen. Sherwood reached Carter Station, and was directing his movement +in order to protect the railroad and no more. Gen. Ream insisted to Gen. +Sherwood that Head's next move would be against Sarco. Sherwood did not +think Head would cross the Cussac River, and so commenced his march on +Romulus by way of King's City, and left the matter of protecting Sarco +to Gen. Ream, who procured trains and started all the troops he could +get together for that place. That night on the way they found the track +torn up. This was soon repaired, and the troops proceeded. At five +o'clock Gen. Head arrived in front of Sarco and demanded its surrender. +Gen. Ream, learning this, took the troops from the cars and marched from +Cahoon, sending the trains back for more re-enforcements. By daylight +our troops were in the fort and on the skirmish-line at Sarco. + +“Ream at once sent word to Gen. Sherwood that Head was present with +his army in front of Sarco, and would like to pay his respects. About +daylight Head opened his artillery upon the forts, and sent forward his +skirmish-line. In the garrison every effort was made to impress Head +with the idea that Sherwood's main force was present. Every flag was +displayed on the forts and along the skirmish-line. Head kept up a +continuous fire on the forts during the day. Late in the afternoon +re-enforcements arrived. There were but 500; this was enough, however, +to show that re-enforcements were coming. The firing was kept up the +most of the night; the next morning the enemy was gone. + +“He passed around Sarco and struck the railroad north of this place and +dismantled it for many miles, capturing every garrison north from Sarco +to Turner's Hill. Turning west from there he passed through Snake Gap, +moving in the direction of Alabama. Gen. Sherwood arrived at Sarco +very soon and was gratified that the place, with its great quantity of +supplies, was safe. He at once pushed out through Snake Gap in pursuit +of Head. + +“The next place that Head presented himself with his army was in front +of our garrison at De Kalb, Ala. He withdrew, however, and crossed into +Tennessee, where he rested for near a month, collecting supplies and +recruiting his army. + +“Sherwood halted his army, and while resting made such dispositions as +were in accordance with the plan to be followed out in the near future. + +“In the meantime the excitement in the North was very great. Jacob +Thomlinson had returned from Europe and was again in Canada with a +large sum of money, which was freely used in all the States North +in attempting to elect the Democratic candidate, 'Little Mack,' for +President--the man that Thomlinson had suggested in the meeting of the +leaders of the 'Sons of Liberty' at St. Catharines, Canada, of which +I have heretofore spoken. Mobs were now frequent, and bad blood was +stirred up all over the country. + +“Finding the condition of things very unsatisfactory, I suggested to +Henry that he make a short visit to Canada. He did so, and returned +to Allentown four days before the Presidential election. He had met +Wintergreen, who had returned from England with Thomlinson. He disclosed +to Henry the fact that the rebels were greatly depressed, and were using +all the money they could to defeat the war candidate, Mr. Lincoln; +and that the night before the election a raid would be made on all the +Northern prisons, so that released prisoners might burn and destroy, +and thereby cause such alarm on the day of the election as to prevent as +many as possible from going to the polls. At the same time their friends +were to be in possession of the polls wherever they could. In this way +they had hopes of carrying the election. + +“I sent this report to the President by letter, which he received in +time to have all the prison guards re-enforced. The attempt was made, +however, but defeated in every instance. In Chicago they were very +near accomplishing their designs. They had cut the water pipes and were +making preparations for the burning of the city. But the attack on the +camp was thwarted, and the leaders arrested and put in prison. John +Wall, of whom I have heretofore spoken, was one of the leaders, and was +captured and imprisoned. + +“Mr. Lincoln was triumphantly elected. Mr. Jacob Thomlinson's friend, +'Little Mack,' as he called him, was ingloriously defeated. This +indorsement by the people of the war measures and the manner of their +execution was cheering to our loyal people, as well as to the armies and +their commanders. + +“Soon after the election Sherwood abandoned pursuing Head, leaving the +States of Tennessee and Kentucky, with Head's army scattered along +the main thoroughfares, to be looked after by Papson, with his forces, +preferring himself to take the Armies of the Tennessee and Georgia and +cut loose and march unobstructed to the Sea. On the march, food for the +troops and animals was found in abundance, making this march really a +picnic the most of the way. + +“While Sherwood was making this march, matters of great interest were +going on in Tennessee. On the last day of November the enemy, maddened +by disappointment in their failure in the North to carry the election +and have their Confederacy recognized, concluded to risk their all in +a great battle for the recapture of the State of Tennessee. Head, then +in command of an army increased to nearly 50,-000, moved across Goose +Run and against our forces at Franktown, where he at once assaulted +Scovens, who had been sent to oppose his advance. Our troops were behind +intrenchments. He attacked with fearful desperation. At no time during +the war did any commander on either side make a more furious and +desperate assault than was made by Head. After forming his lines in +double column, he moved right up to our works, where his men were mowed +down by the hundreds. Gen. Pat Cleber charged time and again with his +division, and hurled them against our works only to be as often driven +back with great slaughter. At last, in a fit of desperation, he led his +men up to the very mouths of our cannon and the muzzles of our muskets. +He drove his spurs into his horse until his forefeet rested on our +parapet. In this position he and his horse were riddled with bullets +and fell into the trench, which was literally running with blood. The +desperation of the enemy was such that they continued their murderous +but ineffectual assaults until their men were exhausted as well as +dismayed at their great loss. Thirteen of his commanding officers fell +killed and wounded. Night forced him to desist. + +“The next morning his men could not be brought to the slaughter again. +The bloody battle ended and Scoven's men withdrew to Nashua, three miles +to the South of which place Papson's army was intrenched. Wellston, in +command of about 8,000 cavalry, covered both flanks of our forces. +It was now getting along in December. The enemy moved forward and +intrenched in the front and within two miles of Papson. The weather +became very bad for any kind of movement. It rained, hailed, and sleeted +until the country around and about them became very muddy and swampy, +and at times covered with a sheet of sleet and ice. Papson hesitated to +attack and Head could not retreat; so there the two armies lay shivering +in the cold, suffering very greatly, both fearing to take any decisive +steps. + +“Gen. Silent became quite impatient, believing it to be the time to +strike, as the enemy could not get away. Finally he concluded to relieve +Papson, but notified him of his order. Papson now made ready for an +assault. His command was posted as follows: Gen. A. J. Smithers on the +right, who was to assault the enemy's left, supported by Wellston's +cavalry; Ward was to support Smithers on his left, acting against +Monterey Hill, on the Hillston road; Scovens was to hold the interior +line, being the defense of Nashua. When the time arrived, all being in +readiness, the order was given. The enemy seemed to be totally unaware +of the movement. Smithers and Wellston moved out along the pike. +Wheeling to the left they at once advanced against the enemy. The +cavalry first struck the enemy at the Harden House, near Rich Earth +Creek, and drove him back, capturing many prisoners. One of Smithers's +divisions moving with the cavalry, captured two of the enemy's strong +advance positions, with about 400 prisoners. + +“At this time Scovens's Corps was put in on Smithers's right, and the +advance was then made by the whole line. Ward's Corps now found the +enemy to Smithers's left, and Gen. Anderson led his command against +Monterey Hill and carried it, capturing a number of prisoners. Ward's +Corps at once advanced against the main line of the enemy, and after a +bloody contest carried it, capturing a great many prisoners, a number of +pieces of artillery, and many stands of colors. The enemy was now driven +out of his entire line of works and fell back to a second line at the +base of Harpan Hills, holding his line of retreat by way of Franktown. +Night closed in and stopped again the play of death. Our forces were +now in possession of sixteen pieces of artillery, with many officers and +1,200 prisoners, not including wounded. Our troops bivouacked on their +line of battle in order to be ready for any movement in the morning. + +“Ward's Corps at six in the morning moved south from Nashua, striking +the enemy and driving him some five miles, to Overton's Hill, where +he had thrown up works and was making a stand. Gen. Sleman now moved +rapidly to Gen. Ward's left. Scovens remained in his position of the +last night. Wellston moved to the enemy's rear and drew up his line +across one of the Franktown roads. + +“About two o'clock one brigade of Ward's Corps, supported by Sleman's +division, assaulted Overton's Hill, which was the enemy's center. One of +Sleman's brigades was composed of colored troops. The ground over which +they had to assault was open. The enemy re-enforced his center. The +assault was made, but received by the enemy with a terrible shower of +grape, canister and musketry. Our forces moved steadily on, not wavering +in the least, until they had nearly reached the crest of the hill, when +the reserves of the enemy arose from behind their works and opened one +of the most destructive fires ever witnessed, causing our troops to +first halt and then fall back, leaving many dead and wounded, both black +and white indiscriminately, in the abatis and on the field. + +“Gen. Ward immediately re-formed his command, and all the forces of +the army moved simultaneously against the enemy's works, carrying every +position, breaking the lines in many places, and driving him in utter +rout from his position, capturing all his artillery and thousands of +prisoners, among whom were many officers, including four Generals. Ward +and Wellston pursued the fleeing enemy until by capture and other means +Head's army was entirely destroyed and wiped out of existence as an +organization. It appeared no more in the history of the great rebellion. +Thus were destroyed all the formidable forces of the enemy in the West. +The army of Papson now went into Winter quarters at different points +which were thought necessary to be garrisoned. + +“Peter, by this time, was growing very weak, having had a relapse, +resulting in a very serious hemorrhage. At his request I had telegraphed +Gen. Papson, stating his great desire to see Gen. Anderson. Upon the +receipt of which, leave was immediately granted the General and he came +home, bringing Lieut. Whitcomb with him. On the way home people greeted +him everywhere with shouts of joy. They could now see that the end was +near, and they were overflowing with gratitude and good feeling. + +“On their arrival you can imagine the joy of our household. The meeting +between him and Peter was most touching. Both wept like children. All +were much affected; even the two little children wept and sobbed aloud +at the bedside of their Uncle Peter. My wife was quite feeble. She +greeted the General as one of her own sons, and said: + +“'Our dear Peter is not going to live. I see it all, and I pray God that +he may take me also.' + +“The General encouraged Peter all he could. Ham and Aunt Martha were as +delighted to see the General as were any of his family. We all tried to +be cheerful and in good spirits, but it was very hard to do this under +the circumstances. + +“The next day after the General reached home he inquired of Ham why he +did not return to the army. Ham said: + +“'I fuss done thought I would, and den I knowed I be no use, kase you so +far off, and I feared I not jes' safe gwine trough dem Sesh lines down +dar; and den I knowed, too, dat you kin git as many niggers as you wants +dat am jes' as good as Ham is, 'ceptin when you done wants good tings +to eat, sech like as chickens. Ham can allers get dem when dey is 'round +and skeered of the Sesh. I all de time noticed dey is powerful feared ob +de Sesh', Marsa Lyon. De General know dat am so.' + +“'Well, Ham, you must be ready to go back with me when I return.' + +“'Oh, yes, Marsa; oh, yes! I go all right; I will, sho' as you is bawn. +But I tells you dat Marsa Peter am powerful bad, he am, sho'. I dream it +all out las' night. Missus, she be right in dat. He be agoin' dis time, +and no mistake. Dat dream ob de Missus be all come 'round.' + +“'That will do, Ham; you go and talk to Aunt Martha about your dreams.' + +“'All right, Marsa, all right, sah; but you mine what I tole you.' + +“The next day Joseph Dent came in, and we had a long conversation on the +subject of the war, the Golden Circle and the Sons of Liberty. He said +that they were alarmed, and quite a number had refused to meet recently, +but that the Grand Commander had issued a call for a meeting to be held +in Canada some time soon, where many of the leading men were again +to assemble and take into consideration some new plan for aiding the +rebellion. After he left for home the General, Henry and I consulted +as to the best plan to get at what those men in Canada were working up. +They had tried mobs and riots in New York and other places, had tried +releasing prisoners, burning and destroying cities, scattering disease +in our hospitals, and army raids, guerrilla warfare, etc., and had +failed in all. Now what next? We thought that it would be best for Henry +and Seraine to return to Detroit; that Henry again should visit Canada, +and, by him the information could be communicated to me. This being +understood, they left the next day. James Whitcomb, having gone +immediately home on his arrival at Allentown, would be with his parents +and Seraine, while Henry should visit in Canada. + +“Peter was now apparently improving and we felt he might possibly +recover. The news of Sherwood's safe arrival at the Sea having been +received, the people were greatly rejoiced. They felt that the Spring +campaign would probably end the rebellion. The country was full of hope +and the drooping spirits of anxious people were much revived. Things +went on in this way and our family enjoyed themselves as best they +could. Mary Anderson and Jennie Lyon, David's widow, and the two little +girls, made our home as pleasant as possible But my poor wife grew +weaker all the time, which gave us much concern. + +“Henry had arrived in Canada, and again found his friend Wintergreen. +They were now visiting different places. Henry had written Seraine and +she came down to Allentown, spending two days with us, and at the +same time posting the General and myself as to the movements of the +conspirators. Thomlinson had called the leaders of the Northern Sons +of Liberty to again assemble at St. Catharines the last Thursday in +January. Henry had concluded to remain and learn fully their intentions +and schemes. I told Seraine to say to him that his proposition to +remain was approved. I sent to the President the information and Henry's +intention, in answer to which I received a very kind and touching letter +from one of his Secretaries, exhibiting great sympathy for my family and +deploring our misfortunes. + +“Time moved on, and the General was preparing to leave for his command, +when Peter became very much worse; and, also, my wife was growing weaker +and losing her mind. Peter was coughing very often and having slight +hemorrhages. The physician pronounced him to be in a very critical +condition. One morning Aunt Martha came running into the parlor where +the family were sitting, and with much anxiety cried out: + +“'Marsa Lyon and Marsa Gen'l, come to Marsa Peter, quick; 'cause he +bleed to deff if you not hurry.' + +“We ran to him quickly. He was bleeding profusely, holding his head over +the edge of the bed. He could only speak in a gurgling whisper. He took +me by the hand and said: + +“'Father, it is all over with me; soon there will be but one finger +left.' + +“We laid him back on the pillow, and without another word or struggle he +passed away. Good bless my poor son!” + +“Amen!” said Dr. Adams. + +Uncle Daniel soon proceeded, saying: “But, my good friends, this was not +my only grief. We tried to keep his death from his mother. She, in her +delirium, was constantly speaking of her dear son Peter, and crying. She +seemed to have no thought except of Peter and the constant shadow of her +dream. The day of Peter's funeral her reason seemed to return and her +strength revived. She asked for all of us to come into her room, and +we did so. When she saw that Peter was not with us, she inquired why. +I answered that he could not come. I then broke down and left her room +weeping. She saw it, and, with strength that she had not shown for many +weeks, arose, and leaping to the floor rushed past all into the parlor, +and there saw Peter lying a corpse. She shrieked and fell on his +remains. We lifted her and carried her back to her bed. She was dead!” + +[Illustration: Mrs. Lyon dies at Peter's Coffin 382] + +Uncle Daniel sank back into his chair overcome with his sorrows. The +severe trials through which he had passed, re-called again, opened the +flood of sorrow, which well nigh swept him away. We withdrew for the +present, with intense sympathy for the old hero and a feeling that the +Government had sadly neglected him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + THE SCHEME TO CAPTURE OR KILL THE PRESIDENT AND GEN. + SILENT.--A VILLANOUS PLOT.--THE RECKLESS AND DESPERATE + SCHEMES OF THE CONSPIRATORS.--THE PLAN REVEALED.--THE + PRESIDENT AND GEN. SILENT WARNED OF THEIR DANGER. + + “I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word + Would harrow up thy soul, freeze up thy young body.” + --Shakespeare. + +“The death of my son Peter and my beloved wife cast such a deep gloom +over our household that it seemed we never could rally again to do +anything for ourselves or our country. Gen. Anderson returned to his +command a sad and despondent man. He had left Ham to look after things +for us at home, our family now being reduced to Jennie Lyon, Mary +Anderson, the two children, Ham, Martha and myself. We were lonely in +the extreme, and seemed, for some cause undis-coverable to us, to be +drinking the bitter dregs from the poisoned chalice. Ham and Aunt +Martha saw my distress and tried in their honest and simple way to +pour consolation into my soul. The little children, in their childish +simplicity, seemed to be the only fountain whence I could drink draughts +of comfort in my lonely hours of distress. Seraine came to our house to +attend the funeral, as Henry could not reach home in time to be with us +and see the last of his mother and brother. I wrote him by his wife and +directed him to remain. He came to Detroit terribly broken down with +grief, and returned, sad and dejected, to Canada. He was frequently +interrogated as to the cause of his melancholy, but parried it as best +he could. + +“About the 12th of February he returned to Detroit, and, bringing +Seraine with him, came to my house. Our meeting was mixed with joy and +sadness. The ladies, as well as my myself, were very much gratified at +having dear Seraine (as we all called her) with us again. She conversed +so sensibly on the subject of our misfortunes that she made us almost +feel that they must be for our good. + +“As soon as we could do so, Henry and I sat down to talk over the +situation in Canada and the schemes of the conspirators. He reported to +me all he had seen or heard on the question of the war, stating in the +beginning that there was no time to lose. When he found Wintergreen +they set out for a trip through Canada. After visiting many places and +meeting various persons from the South who had been in Canada for the +purpose of aiding in carrying the Presidential election in favor of the +anti-war or Democratic party, but who had not been able to return since +the election, and were waiting, Micawber-like, for something to turn +up, they had finally arrived at Montreal, where they again met Joseph +Thomlinson and quite a number of faces to them unfamiliar. These persons +were evidently there for some purpose looking to the success of the +rebellion. Thomlinson received them kindly, inquired of Winter-green +how he felt since his return from London, and asked many questions about +certain people at Windsor. Henry was also interrogated as to how matters +looked to him, to which he answered that the signs were not so favorable +as heretofore. + +“Thomlinson went into a long disquisition on the recent campaigns. He +denounced Gen. Head, who had been so utterly destroyed by Papson, as a +'brainless ass,' and spoke of Gen. Laws as having lost much of his +vigor and daring. He said that if Gen. Wall, their greatest General, was +alive, he would drive Silent out of Virginia in one month. He said that +the re-election of Lincoln was a severe blow to them; that they had been +deceived by their Northern friends. They had been led to believe that +there was no doubt of Little Mac's election, with a liberal expenditure +of money; that he had drawn checks and paid out for that purpose on +behalf of the Confederacy $1,100,000, and seemed to think that unless +measures were taken at once to strike consternation into the hearts +of the Northern people all would be lost; that the President of the +Confederacy and his Cabinet had been all along expecting some great +result from the efforts of their Northern allies, and especially from +the efforts of Valamburg and Thomas A. Strider. + +“'True,' he said, 'Valamburg had been very much hampered by the +suspicions resting upon him in the minds of the people, but it was not +so with Strider. He could have done a great deal more if he had not been +so timid. He (Strider) seemed to think that he could secure the success +of the Confederacy by crippling the U. S. Government in opposing +legislation and breeding strife and jealousies in the Union armies. +'But,' he continued, 'Lincoln is an old fox, and soon smelled out those +little devices of Strider. He has completely checkmated him and his +friends who were acting on his line, by relieving from command all those +who were playing into Stridor's hands, and has put in their places a set +of fanatics, who are fighting on moral grounds alone.' + +“He spoke of Silent as a man who did not value life or anything else, +saying that he was a superstitious man, who believed that he was merely +an instrument in the hands of the Almighty to wipe out slavery. Not only +so, but believed that he was guided and directed in all his movements by +the mysterious hand of Providence. So he (Thomlinson) could not see the +use of relying longer on any satisfactory result to come from the course +being pursued by their Northern friends. He said they must act +more openly, energetically and promptly, if they were to help the +Confederacy. + +“There were two men present that Henry thought he had seen somewhere +before, but could not place them. One was a medium-sized man, with +rather dark complexion, dark hair, eyes and mustache. He was introduced +as a Mr. Wilkes. The other was a young man, perhaps thirty years of age, +slight, with brown hair, blue eyes and no beard, named John Page. These +two men seemed nervous and uneasy; they conversed but little. The man +Wilkes remarked that there was but one way, which was a part of every +insurrection, and he was in favor of that way. Page agreed with him, +both seeming to understand the proposition; yet it was not stated in the +conversation at that time what Wilkes meant by 'but one way.' + +“Thomlinson made no answer to Wilkes or Page, but continued by saying: + +“'I have called the leading men of our organization to meet again at +St. Catharines, on the first Tuesday in February, and at that time there +must be some scheme devised and agreed upon that will turn the scale, or +all will be lost, and we will all be wandering vagabonds over the face +of the earth.' + +“Henry inquired if Mr. Carey was in the city. Thomlin-son said no; +that he was in Richmond, but would be at their meeting if he could +get through the lines, in doing which they had met with no trouble +heretofore. Winter-green said that the people where he had been, who +were friendly, were now very despondent and greatly alarmed for the +safety of Richmond, as well as the Confederacy; that everything seemed +to be against them of late. + +“'Yes,' replied Thomlinson, 'we have much to discourage us, and at the +same time all can be regained that we have lost if our friends will +settle upon some good plan and carry it out. But it does seem that all +our plans and schemes so far have been abortive. Our first great +scheme of burning the Northern cities failed by the burning of the +Will-o'-the-Wisp and the loss of Dr. Mears and Prof. McCul-lough; and +also of the material accumulated by Dr. Black-man. We stirred up riots +in New York city and elsewhere in opposition to the draft, with a +promise from Valamburg, Strider, McMasterson, and B. Wudd that our +friends would come to the rescue and make resistance everywhere.. But +these men failed to stand by their promises. The inaugurating of +riots and the employment of men to engage in them cost the Confederacy +$500,000. We undertook to release prisoners from all the Northern +prisons, We purchased arms and smuggled them to our friends sufficient +to have armed all the prisoners. This was all that was wanting, our +friends North stated to me; but when the time came, which was the last +night before the Presidential election, at Camp Chase the effort was too +feeble to be recognized, and at Chicago, where we were assured that the +prisoners would be released and the city burned and destroyed, what +was the result? They cut one or two water-pipes, and Wall, Greenfel and +Buckner were arrested. All our arms were found in Wall's cellar, +and taken possession of by our enemies. Mr. Eagle and Mr. N. Judy +Corn-ington were not on hand, neither as actors nor advisers; and so it +is. The arms, ammunition and hire for smuggling them through cost a +half million dollars. This kind of work will not do. It is not only +expensive, but fruitless.' + +“He then stated to those present that he wished them all to attend +the next meeting, as mentioned, and to study up in the meantime, some +well-defined plan for successful operations. Henry and Wintergreen left +for other points, and returned to St. Catharines on the day appointed +for the meeting, where they met with many additional persons, strangers +to both of them. The delegates assembled in the same hall, in the rear +of the Victoria Hotel, as before. They were called to order by the Grand +Commander of the Sons of Liberty, Mr. Valamburg, of Dayburg, O. All +were seated and the roll was then called by Wintergreen, who was the +Secretary. + +“Illinois was first called. Wm. Spangler and John Richardson answered; +from Indiana, Messrs. Dorsing and Bowlin; Ohio, Valamburg and Massey; +Pennsylvania, Wovelson and Moore; New York, McMasterson and B. Wudd; +Missouri, Col. Burnett and Marmalade; Kansas, Stringfelter; Iowa, Neal +Downing; Wisconsin, Domblazer; Nebraska, Martin; Arkansas, Walters; +Connecticut, Eastman; Vermont, Phillips; Massachusetts, Perry; Maine, +Pillbox; Rhode Island, no answer; New Jersey, Rogers. Prom Richmond, for +the South, there were Thomlinson and C. C. Carey, the latter having just +arrived. Other names, not remembered, save those of Messrs. Wilkes and +Page, who were admitted as representing the District of Columbia. + +“After the necessary examinations were made by a committee, the persons +mentioned, with several others, were admitted to seats in the assembly. +Henry was selected by Wintergreen to assist him in his duties as +Secretary. The preliminaries being settled, the Chairman (Valamburg) was +quite severe in his strictures against Dan Bowen, Thos. A. Strider, C. +H. Eagle and N. Judy Cornington for not attending, saying he had letters +from each of those gentlemen promising to be present. He characterized +their conduct as cowardly and they as sunshine friends, which was loudly +applauded by all. + +“After remarks by quite a number of delegates on the situation and +probabilities of the success of the Confederacy, which were generally +tinged with ill-forebodings, a committee of five was appointed to take +into consideration and report to the assembly ways and means by which +the rebellion could be materially assisted. This report was to be +submitted the next day at 12 o'clock. The meeting then adjourned until +that time. + +“During the evening a variety of discussions were indulged in by various +delegates in favor of different schemes. Some went so far as to favor +the assassination of many of our leading men. Wilkes, Page, and quite +a number of persons from the South were in favor of assassinating the +President and Gen. Silent, with such others as the necessity of the case +demanded. And so the conversation and discussions ran until the meeting +of delegates the next day. + +“At 12 o'clock the assembly was called to order by Valamburg. When the +roll had been called and all were quiet, the Chairman inquired of the +committee if they were ready to report. The Chairman, Mr. Carey, +arose with great dignity and responded that the committee, after due +consideration of the many suggestions submitted to them, were now ready +to report. He was invited to take the stand, which he did. + +“He said that, preliminary to reporting, he desired to make an +explanation, which was as follows: That on his return from Montreal to +Richmond, since the Presidential election, in viewing the many disasters +that had recently befallen the Confederacy, the authorities at Richmond +suggested to him to ascertain if he could communicate in some way with +the newly elected Vice-President, and discover his attitude towards +the people of the South. This was accomplished by sending one of the +Vice-President's old friends from North Carolina to Nashua, who being a +citizen, and not in any way connected with the Confederate army, easily +passed through the Union lines to Nashua, where the Vice-President-elect +was residing at the time. There was no difficulty in agreeing to an +interview between himself and Carey, it being understood that Carey was +to pass into Nashua in disguise and let the Vice-President know in some +way where he was stopping, and the interview was then to be arranged. In +pursuance of this agreement, Carey made the trip to Nashua disguised as +a Louis City merchant, and passing by the name of Thos. E. Hope. He had +no difficulty in getting into Nashua, but for fear of recognition, +went directly to the house of a rebel friend by the name of Hanson, and +remained in a room in the rear of the second story of the house. Through +the lady of the house the Vice-President elect was informed of the +presence of Mr. Carey. + +“The next morning the Vice-President visited the house of Mr. Hanson, +and he and Carey had the contemplated interview. Carey said that in +the interview the Vice-President contended for peace on the terms of +a restored Union, but agreed with the Democrats of the North that the +restoration should be on the basis of the old Constitution. Carey +said that in answer to the question as to what he would do if he were +President, the Vice-President said that he would restore the Union if he +could on the old basis, but that the people were tired of war and taxes, +and that unless Silent could drive Laws out of Richmond, capture it, +and destroy the Confederate army during the next Spring campaign, the +Confederacy must be recognized and the war ended. + +“At this the assembly heartily cheered. Carey also said that in answer +to the question as to the powers of the Vice-President, in case of the +absence of the President, if he should be so situated that he could not +return to perform the duties of the office, the Vice-President replied +that such a case as stated would certainly come under the provision +of the Constitution, wherein it is recited that in case of the death, +resignation, or inability of the President to discharge the powers and +duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President; +that under such circumstances he should at once assume the duties of +the office, but hoped that such a case would not arise while he was +Vice-President. + +“Carey stated that the Vice-President said that he had always been a +Union man, but that he was a Democrat, and had never been anything else, +and did not propose to be; that he was placed on the Republican ticket +without being consulted. Therefore he did not feel under any obligations +to that party. He also stated that he recognized the fact that when it +was evident that the Union could be held together only by subjugating +the people of the South, it was statesmanship to let them go, and stop +further bloodshed. This also brought applause. + +“Carey further stated that the Vice-President expressed a willingness to +meet privately with any of our leading men of the South at any time when +and where it could be done without danger to either party. With this the +interview ended. When the parties separated the Vice-President bade him +good-by and grasped his hand in the most friendly and cordial manner. He +said if Carey should experience any trouble in getting back to Richmond +to let him know. + +“Carey left the next morning, and returning to Richmond reported the +interview precisely as it occurred, at which the authorities were +greatly pleased, and thought it opened a way for success, knowing +the character of the man, his stubbornness, his egotism, and that he +possessed a belief that he was destined to be President of the United +States at some time. It was not intended to say any more to him than to +ascertain his views on a given state of facts, and having accomplished +this much, the authorities at Richmond felt sure that if the President +of the United States could by some means be captured and spirited away, +and Silent also, or either of them, the success of the Confederacy would +be assured beyond question. In the event of the capture and hiding away +of the President, the Vice-President would surely assume the powers and +duties of President. The friends of the Confederacy in Congress could +then so cripple the Government that no doubt could longer exist of +success. He said it was thought that in the event the President could +not be captured, a party could be organized who could, without much +risk, surprise and capture Gen. Silent. This done, Laws would at once +assume the aggressive, drive Meador and his army back on Washington, +and continue the war beyond the next Spring, so that the friends of the +Confederacy could regain strength, and, with the Vice-President in favor +of the recognition of the Confederate Government, it could not be longer +postponed. But the great thing to be accomplished, he said, was the +capture of Mr. Lincoln; that would end all controversy. + +“This seemed to strike the audience, and they cheered the proposition. +Carey then stated that this was the first proposition the committee +desired to present. He had other important ones, however, that must be +considered by the assembly. While in Richmond he found many men of great +courage and daring who were ready to do anything to bring success if +they could be sustained and protected. The authorities gave him the +proposals and directed him to lay them before this assembly. + +“The second was made by a foreigner--a man of good family in Europe, +and a most daring and courageous man, an educated soldier, who had been +successful in very many daring enterprises heretofore. His proposition +was read to the assembly, being a verbatim copy of the one this party +had made to the President of the Confederacy through the Confederate +Secretary of War, which was as follows: + + “'Secretary of War of the Southern Confederacy. + + “'Sir: In reference to the subject upon which I had the + honor to converse with you yesterday, and on account of + which you bade me call to-day, I take herewith the freedom + to address this most respectful writing to you. Your Honor + seemed to hesitate in giving me an affirmative answer to my + statement because I was unknown to you. Permit me to remark + that, notwithstanding I can give you no references in this + country, I am, nevertheless, worthy of your high confidence. + My grandfather, Maj. Baron De Kalb, fell in the + Revolutionary War of this country. * * * I received an + education proportionate to the means of my parents, and + served in the Crimean war as Second Lieutenant of Engineers. + * * * I landed in Quebec, Canada, in November last, and + arrived in Washington, D. C, about three weeks ago. I cannot + perceive why you should require any references or + confidence, for I do not expect personally to reap any + benefit before the strict performance of what I undertake. + The task I know is connected with some danger, but never + will it, in any event, become known in the North that the + Southern Confederacy had anything whatever to do with it. + + “'The whole matter resolves itself, therefore, into this one + question: Does the Southern Confederacy consider the + explosion of the Federal Capitol at a time when Abe, his + myrmidons, and the Northern Congress are all assembled + together, of sufficient importance to grant me, in case of + success, a commission as Colonel of Topographical Engineers, + and the sum of $1,000,000? If so, your Honor may most + explicitly expect the transaction to be carried into + execution between the 4th and 6th of the month. * * * I + trust you will not press in regard to the manner in which I + intend to perform it, or anything connected with the + execution. + + “'In case of an affirmative answer there is no time to + spare; and to show you still further my sincerity, I will + even refrain from asking for any pecuniary assistance in + carrying the project through, notwithstanding my means are, + for such an undertaking, very limited, and that some funds + would materially lighten my task, diminish the danger, and + doubly insure success. * * * I intend to throw myself at a + convenient place into Maryland and to enter Washington by + way of Baltimore. + + “'Very respectfully, your obedient servant, “' + + (Signed) + C. L. V. DeKalb.' + + +“Carey said that this man was in the employ of the Confederacy, but that +the authorities would not adopt his scheme without the indorsement of +their Northern friends, so that those friends could have warning and +not be endangered at the time. This man being a foreigner, and not +understanding the situation, regarded all Northern men alike and would +destroy one as soon as another. Therefore, those having the authority +to do so, would not accept the proposition unless due notice could be +secretly given, under the obligations of the Sons of Liberty, to +their friends in Congress. Carey said he thought this a very dangerous +undertaking on account of the friends who might be imperiled, but felt +that there was no doubt but it could be accomplished. + +“Walters spoke up at this point, saying this proposition was not +feasible at all, and a number assented to his remark. + +“Mr. Carey said the third proposition was also in the form of a +communication, and was placed in his hands by the authorities in +Richmond for consideration by the Northern friends, and was in the +following language, which he proceeded to read: + + “'Boston P.O., Ga. “'Jefferson Davis. + + “'Sir: Having a desire to be of benefit to the Southern + States is the only excuse I can offer for addressing you + this letter; and believing the best plan would be to dispose + of the leading characters of the North, for that reason I + have experimented in certain particulars that will do this + without difficulty; although it is quite an underhanded + manner of warfare, and not knowing whether it would meet + with your approbation or not, prevents me from giving you a + full account of the material used, although I believe any + one of them would take the life of a Southern man in any way + they could. If you wish, write to me and get the whole + process. + + “'Hoping for your good health and future victory. “' + + (Signed) + J. S. Paramore.' + + +“Said Carey: 'This man was sent for and closely examined as to what he +proposed, and by the experiments made by our best scientists they were +of opinion that his plan could be made a success, as the process was +without doubt effective. The question, however, was not as to the +process by which this could be done, but must we resort to it? Had all +other means failed?' + +“The other proposition was on the same line, but proposing a different +mode of execution, which Carey also read: + + “'Headquarters 63d Ga. Reg't., + + “'Near Savannah. “'To President Davis. + + “'Mr. President: After long meditation and much reflection + on the subject of this communication, I have determined to + intrude it upon you, earnestly hoping my motives will + constitute a full vindication for such presumption on the + part of one so humble and obscure as myself, though I must + say that the evidences of your Christian humility almost + assure me. I propose, with your permission, to assist in + organizing a number of select men, say not less than 300 to + 500, to go into the United States and assassinate, for + instance, Seward, Lincoln, Greeley, Prentice, and others, + considering it necessary to the chances of success at this + time. I will only say a few words as to the opinion of its + effects. I have made it a point to elicit the opinion of + many men upon this subject, in whose good sense I have great + confidence, and while a difference of opinion to some extent + is almost inevitable, most have confidence in its benefit to + us. The most plausible argument seems to be that to impress + upon the Northern mind that for men in high places there to + wield their influence in favor of the barbarisms they have + been so cruelly practicing upon us is to jeopardize their + lives; for distinguished leaders there to feel that the + moment they array hordes for our desolation, at that moment + their existence is in the utmost peril--this would produce + hesitation and confusion that would hasten peace and our + independence. With these meager suggestions upon the subject + I will leave it for this time. If you deem the matter worthy + of any encouragement, and will so apprize me, I believe I + can give you such evidences of loyalty and integrity of + character as will entitle it to your consideration. So far + as I am concerned, I will say, however, that I was born and + raised in Middle Georgia. All my relationships and + affections are purely Southern. I was opposed to secession, + but am now committed to the death against subjugation or + reunion with men of whose instincts and moral character, + till this war, I was totally ignorant. If I have insulted + any scruple or religious principle of yours I beg to be + pardoned. I neglected to state in the proper place that I + am an officer in the volunteer service. + + “'Begging your respectful attention to this communication, + + “I am, your Excellency's most obedient servant, + + “'H. C. Durham, 63d Ga.' + + +“The reading of this communication was received with cheers from quite +a number of those present, principally Southern men. Carey said that the +Secretary of War had sent for Durham, and that he was then at Richmond. +He was a fine looking, intelligent man, terribly in earnest. This was +thought, although there was hesitancy about it in the Cabinet, to be a +much more feasible undertaking than the attempt to explode the Capitol +at Washington. The necessity for some radical measure to be adopted and +put into execution at once was the reason for these documents having +been taken from the archives and placed in the present hands in their +original form. + +“Lieut. W. Alston, of Sulphur Springs, Va., who was present, as stated +by Carey, also proposed to the authorities at Richmond to undertake to +rid the country of the Confederacy's most deadly enemies, and authorized +the committee to say that he, here and now, renewed his proposition; all +of which Carey submitted to the assembly for their consideration. + +“The propositions having been submitted in due form, the Chairman stated +that they were before the assembly and open for consideration. Jacob +Thomlinson opened the discussion, and said that these propositions were +of the most vital importance; that the success of the Confederacy hung +upon the action of this assembly. The authorities were waiting with +bated breath until they could hear what their Northern friends would +consider proper and feasible to be at once entered upon. He wanted no +more promises without performance. He would save the Confederacy by +any means if he could, and would consider himself justified. If some +of these measures had been resorted to much earlier it would have been +better. He said that war was mere barbarism and cruelty; that plunder, +burning, pillage and assassination were merely the concomitants, and a +part of the system, of all wars; that when men make war it means crime, +rapine and murder, and those engaging in it should so understand. Each +party is expected to capture all of the enemy that can be so taken, +and to kill all that resist. It was proper to pick out and deliberately +shoot down the Generals. He asked if it would be any worse to secretly +capture Lincoln and Silent, the two leaders and commanders of all the +United States forces, or to assassinate either or both of them, than to +shoot them near our lines. He contended that if either or both of them +should be seen near the Confederate lines they would be shot down, and +the persons doing it would be rewarded with medals of honor, and would +go down into history as great patriots for performing the act. If this +were true, as all must concede, why should it be considered a dark and +damnable deed in time of war, when a great and dire necessity required, +for two such tyrants to be put out of the way in the cause of liberty? +He insisted that no difference could exist, save in the minds of +individuals morbid on the subject of human life. He said that he had +witnessed enough shamming, and heard enough shallow professions, and +wanted no more of either; that the promises of some of their Northern +friends, already broken, had cost the Confederacy millions of dollars in +coin, and had left him individually bankrupt and impoverished. There had +been nothing but a series of failures growing out of the pretenses +of some of their Northern allies. He was very severe on many of them, +especially on Cornington and Eagle, of Chicago, and Strider and Bowen, +of Indiana, all of whom he charged with getting large sums of money for +use in the late election and for other purposes. He said they neither +accounted for its disposition, nor had they entered an appearance, after +promising on their obligation to do so. This he considered the +most unwarranted course of conduct of which any one could have been +guilty--no less than the deepest-dyed perfidy. When he closed his speech +he was cheered to the echo.” Dr. Adams said: “This man Thomlinson was +a very brutal man in his instincts. He seemed also to have been out of +humor with his co-conspirators. He was certainly very angry and much +disappointed that his schemes had all failed. But how an intelligent +man could argue and justify assassination, as he seemed to do, I cannot +understand.” + +Col. Bush replied: “Doctor, you must see that this man, no matter what +he may have been in former years, had become a hardened, inhuman wretch. +Do you not remember that he was the same person who employed men to +gather poisoned clothes for the distribution of disease, as well as +his attempt to have our cities burned, but was thwarted by Divine +Providence, in my judgment?” + +“Yes, I remember all this, and God knows that seemed the extreme of +barbarism and inhumanity; but his last proposition in his argument was +deliberate, cold-blooded murder in order to gain a political end; and to +think of Northern men listening at any time to such propositions without +remonstrance or disapproval in any way makes me shudder.” + +“They seemed to indorse it instead of manifesting disapproval,” said +Ingelsby, “and I have no doubt they favored it, and in some way assisted +in trying to have it carried out.” + +“Yes, yes,” said Uncle Daniel; “the half of the treachery and diabolical +deeds of many of our Northern men, now leaders, is not known or +understood; but, my dear friends, I will continue my story: + +“When Thomlinson had concluded his remarks, Valamburg followed in a like +strain, and concluded with a 'so help him God' that he was ready for +any enterprise to serve-the Confederacy, no matter how dark nor how +desperate and bloody. This was received with a wild shout, as though +some rebel victory had been announced. + +“Walters, of Arkansas, then addressed the assembly. He said he was +in favor of the first proposition; that there seemed to be something +practical in it. Since their last meeting he had been all over the +North, even in Washington city, and there was not the slightest +difficulty in passing to and fro without any questions being asked. He +said he saw the President riding out beyond Georgetown with only one +person accompanying him; that there would not have been the slightest +trouble in five men capturing him and crossing the river into Virginia, +or retreating into Maryland and passing along on byways with him to +where he could have been securely kept until a chance was afforded for +conveying him to some more secure place. So far as putting him out of +the way was concerned, there would not be the slightest difficulty in +doing that, but he thought the other the best, taking all things into +consideration. The one would be considered a clean trick, and perfectly +legitimate warfare, while the other would not, and would arouse the +Northern people to more energetic measures. He said that he did not +think there would be very great difficulty in capturing Silent; that he +had made inquiry about him, and found that he seldom had anything +more than a few men as escort, and kept but a small company as his +headquarters guard; that 100 good, picked men could capture him almost +any night. If they even failed, it would only make those who attempted +it prisoners of war, so that they would be exchanged. This, if +accomplished, in case of either Lincoln or Silent, would secure the +Confederacy. With Lincoln captured, the Vice-President would only be +too glad to have an excuse for the recognition of the Confederacy. +With Silent captured, Gen. Laws would again be master of the situation. +Silent was the only match for him in the United States. So far as the +Vice-President was concerned, he was in a bad humor with the whole +administration. He (Walters) had seen him and conversed with him since +the time mentioned at which Mr. Carey had his interview. Walters had +been at Nashua, and remained for several days unmolested, and had +talked freely with quite a number of persons who were intimate with +the Vice-President, and who were conversant with his views and knew +his feelings. He said that the Vice-President suggested to him to get +through the lines and go to Richmond, and say to the authorities there +that if he were President he would recognize the Southern Confederacy; +but he (Walters) did not then have full confidence in what he was +saying, as he was rather in his cups at the time. But since he had heard +what Mr. Carey had learned in his interview with him he had no further +reason to doubt his sincerity. + +“Mr. Wilkes here interposed and asked whether the whole question of +recognition by the Vice-President did not entirely depend upon the +capture and successful spiriting away of Lincoln. + +“Mr. Walters answered in the affirmative. + +“Wilkes then said: 'Suppose this scheme should fail, what then?' + +“'Walters remarked that that was a question to be determined by this +meeting, and that he did not wish to decide it in advance. + +“Mr. Spangler, from Illinois, said that he did not desire to detain the +assembly with a long speech, but he wished to impress upon the minds of +the delegates present that in the State from which he came, he did not +think the assassination of Lincoln and Silent would be indorsed, as it +would raise such a storm there that all their friends would be driven +from the State. He was in favor of their capture and, in fact, anything +that was thought necessary; but as he lived in the same town with Mr. +Lincoln, he would not like to be forced to stem the torrent if he, +Lincoln, should be assassinated. He would cheerfully vote for the first +proposition, and at the same time pay $100 into the general pool for +that purpose. This brought down the house--money seemed to be the one +thing they greatly desired. He said: 'Now, Mr. Chairman, who is the +Treasurer?' + +“The Chairman answered that Mr. Thomlinson had the disbursing as well as +the authority to receive all funds for the carrying out of the objects +of the meeting. + +“'Then,' said Spangler, 'here is my $100.' handing it to Thomlinson. +This started the ball, and in a few minutes $5,000 were raised and +handed over to Thomlinson, who thanked the friends for their liberality. + +“The debate here closed and the vote was taken on the propositions. The +Chairman said he would put the third, or last, proposition first, which +was, whether the assembly would indorse the proposition of Capt. Alston +and Mr. Durham, who proposed to organize a force and assassinate the +leading men of the North who are prominent in the war against the South, +and recommend the authorities of the Southern Confederacy to carry out +the proposed project. The question being stated, the vote was taken. +Being very close, the roll had to be called, and the proposition was +lost by three votes. + +“The next proposition was the one submitted by De Kalb to the +Confederacy, to blow up the Capitol at Washington when Congress should +be in session. The vote being taken, this proposition was lost; it being +deemed inexpedient on account of the danger of destroying so many of +their own friends. + +“The last proposition to be voted on was whether the assembly would +recommend to the authorities at Richmond to organize a force and capture +Lincoln and Silent, or either of them, and hold the captive or captives +until the Confederacy should be recognized. This question was taken and +carried unanimously with a great hurrah and three cheers for the man or +men who should accomplish this most desirable object. + +“After the proposition had been agreed to, Mr. Page and Capt. Alston +both desired to know what was to be done, if anything, should this +attempt to capture those men fail. Quite a discussion here arose, during +which considerable feeling was shown on the part of some of the Southern +men. Finally they determined to recommend that Wilkes, Page, Alston and +Durham be put in charge and organize for the purpose mentioned, and that +they receive their instructions directly from Jacob Thomlinson. One of +these men should go to Richmond with C. C. Carey, and there meet Durham +and consult with the authorities as to the route to be adopted in +getting into and out of Washington, and the means to be resorted to for +their assistance and protection; also that, in the event of failure in +capturing either of those men, then in that case they, or some of +them, were to return to Canada and confer further with Thomlinson; and +whatever measures he and they should adopt that looked like bringing +success were to be carried out, with the understanding that the assembly +here and now assented to it; which it did, and appointed Mr. Thom-linson +with power to act as fully as if the matter had been laid before it and +agreed to by a vote. + +“This concluded the business of the delegates, and they adjourned +to meet on the call of the Grand Commander at any future time when +necessary for the benefit of the cause of the Confederacy. Henry +remained a day or so in order to note any further developments. Carey +and Page left at once for Richmond, intending to make their way in +disguise by rail into West Virginia, and from there to Richmond. Wilkes +started for New York and Alston for Buffalo. They were to make their +way to Baltimore, and meet there on a certain day and remain until +Page should return from Richmond with Durham. They were then to have an +understanding as to how they should operate. Before leaving they all had +a secret meeting with Thomlin-son, but what instructions they received +of a private nature Henry did not know, except that he learned if their +scheme should fail, one or more of them were to return at once to Canada +and consult further with Thomlinson as to their future operations. + +“'I required this to be written in full by Henry, and leaving him and +his wife, Seraine, with what of our family was now left, I telegraphed +to the President: + +“'Stay indoors; important; am coming! + +“(Signed)Daniel.' + +“'I at once left for Washington, feeling that time was important. +The desperation of these men was such that they would undertake an +enterprise of any kind, and the condition of the Confederacy such that +nothing less than some heroic remedy would avail anything. + +“When I arrived at Washington it was early in the morning. I directed +my steps toward the Executive Mansion. On arriving at the door the usher +recognized me, but said that the President had not been to breakfast. + +“'I said: 'I do not wish to disturb him, but it is very important that I +see him before a crowd comes in. I will remain here.' + +“He stepped in and very soon returned, and at once showed me to the +President's office up-stairs. He was waiting for me, and as I entered he +came forward with both hands extended, and said, 'My dear friend Lyon, +how are you?' + +“I answered him as to my health in a sad tone. He spoke of my great +afflictions in the most tender manner, and inquired as to the telegram. + +“'I said: 'Mr. President, this paper,' handing him Henry's report, 'will +explain it.' + +“He said: 'This is a long paper--as long as a President's message,' and +laughed, saying, 'I expect you have been writing one for me?' + +“'I replied that it was an important message for a President. At this he +laughed, and said: + +“'That is quite good, and is a very wise distinction; but,' said he, 'we +will not read it now. When we get our breakfast, that will do, will it +not?' + +“I replied: 'Yes, perhaps it will.' + +“He would have me take breakfast with him. His family only were present, +and we all conversed freely, but principally about the late election +and our success in the West against Head, and the prospects of Silent +against Laws. He was feeling very happy and confident of final victory. +He told me about having just returned with the Secretary of State from +Hampton Roads, where they had met the Vice-President of the Southern +Confederacy and others on a peace mission; 'but,' said he, 'it was +the same kind of peace that the Copperheads have been preaching, under +instructions from Richmond and the rebel agents in Canada, for three +years.' + +“After breakfast we returned to his office. He instructed his usher that +he could see no one for the present. Being seated, he drew the paper +that I had given him from his side pocket and commenced reading. Very +soon he exhibited some little excitement, rang his bell and sent for the +Secretary of War, who soon came in. After the Secretary had exchanged +compliments with me, the President continued reading. When he had +finished he turned to me and said: + +“'This is the most extraordinary thing that I have ever read or heard +of, in or out of history. Mr. Secretary, please read this.' + +[Illustration: Uncle Daniel conferring with Lincoln and Stanton 404] + +“The Secretary read it very carefully and remarked: 'This is what they +are coming to; they will stop at nothing. But the most surprising part +of all is the attitude of your Vice-President. What can he mean by +hobnobbing with those traitors and having interviews with one of their +principal leaders inside of our lines?' “'Yes,' said the President; +'this is strange, indeed.' “After further conversation it was determined +to have the Cabinet officers meet that day. The President also directed +the Secretary of War to ask Gen. Silent to be at the Executive Mansion +the next morning. He asked me to remain in Washington and come to see +him the next day at 10 o'clock, and not to fail. I left, went to the +Owen House and took a room. + +“While there I met a man in rather delicate health, who said his name +was Alston, that he was a Canadian, and had come to Washington on +account of the mildness of the climate. He was about five feet ten +inches in height, hazel eyes, light hair, with small goatee; was quite +a nervous man, moving his hands, or sitting down and immediately rising +again, picking his teeth, or pulling his goatee. I remembered the man's +name as that of one of the conspirators, and marked him well. On inquiry +I found he had arrived the day before and was intending, as he said, to +remain for some time in order to test the climate in his case. I stepped +up to the War Department, and finding my friend, the Secretary, in, I +asked him to send a detective with me, and he did so. I put him on the +man and said no more to any one until I met the President and others the +next day. + +“At 10 o'clock the following morning, I appeared at the Mansion and was +admitted at once. On entering the President's office I met Gen. Silent. +Having previously met him at Chatteraugus and elsewhere, he recognized +me, and after the usual compliments asked about Gen. Anderson. I told +him about my misfortunes, the last of which he was not aware of. He said +no more for a short time; he then asked me if Gen. Anderson would not +like to come East and have a better command. He said he did not think he +had been given a command equal to his ability; that he would order +him East if agreeable. I wrote the General as soon as I returned to my +hotel. + +“The conversation was then turned to the report of Henry. The +President seemed serious, and said the astounding statement about the +Vice-President worried him, and yet, he said, it was almost incredible. + +“Gen. Silent said he could believe it, but was very much surprised at +his having the interview and disclosing his opinions to our enemies. +Silent said he made some curious statements to him while he was making +his headquarters at Nashua, but he attributed it to Tennessee whisky +more than to any wrong motive in his mind, until he repeated the same +things over more than once. He thought strange of it, but did not +mention the conversation. + +“'But,' said the Secretary, 'what do you say to the attempt they are to +make to capture you two gentlemen?' + +“Silent said: 'That scheme has already failed. Our knowledge of the fact +defeats it. You must have a guard of at least one company of infantry +at or near the White House, and the officers must be notified, in +confidence, why they are placed here. There must be a company of cavalry +ordered here for escort to the President, and he must not go out of call +of the guards without an escort.' + +“The President said: 'This will not look well, but I suppose I must do +it for safety. I do not like this Vice-President's talk; it worries me. +But how about yourself, Gen. Silent; they seem to be after you as well.' + +“'Yes,' said the General; 'but you must remember that I am surrounded by +an army, and this notice protects me. I will look after that hereafter. +The truth is, they might have caught me napping, as I have heretofore +had but a small guard. I will make it large enough when I return. My +fears, however, are very much increased, as I see that there were many +of those conspirators in favor of taking the proposition to assassinate +instead of capture. That can be done in spite of guards, by reckless men +who will take desperate chances. This is what we must look out for. I +see that they are to take orders from Jacob Thomlinson, who is a most +reckless man, without any of the instincts of humanity, and utterly +without any regard for the rules of civilized warfare. He is a very +dangerous man if he has about him those who will do his bidding. So look +out, Mr. President; my judgment is that you will be in imminent peril.' + +“'Yes,' said the President. 'Gen. Silent do you remember the dream I +repeated to you when you came to Washington?' + +“'Oh, yes,' said Gen. Silent, 'perfectly; and in that dream I was to +be murdered as soon as the rebellion should be ended. But I do not +feel alarmed about myself; dreams, you know, Mr. President, go by +contraries.' + +“'Yes,' said the President, 'I will not say that I believe in dreams, +neither do I; yet they make an impression on my mind.' + +“Gen. Silent said no more on the subject, and the conversation on that +topic was dropped. + +“'I was asked if I would send Henry back to Canada to watch further +developments. I assented. They all thought that perhaps in this way we +would be able to head off any further scheme as the one reported had +been. + +“I then related what I had discovered at the Owen House, and suggested +a close watch on this man Alston. The President took up the report, and +finding the name, thought there might be something in my suggestion. +They sent for the detective that I had placed to watch him, and he +informed us that this man drank pretty freely, and had disclosed to him +while in his cups the night before that he was from St. Catharine's, +Canada; that he had plenty of money in gold, and was desirous of finding +some five or six good, active, bold and daring young men, who would be +likely to be fond of an adventure. The detective was sent back at +once with instructions to arrest him and have him taken to Old Capitol +Prison. If any questions should be asked, he was to answer that the +Secretary of War had directed it. The next morning it was telegraphed +all over the country that a Mr. Alston was arrested in Washington for +attempting to hire men to kidnap the President; and so the scheme, was +exploded. + +“The next day I bade the President and the Secretary good-by, at the +same time warning the President of his great danger. He could not thank +me enough, he said, for my interest. Silent had left for the army. Just +as I was leaving, the President said to me in a whisper: + +“'Look out for a great battle soon, and with it you will hear of the +fall of Richmond.' + +“I thanked him for his confidence in me and left. On arriving at home +I found all well and very anxious to see me, as this had been my first +absence since the death of my wife and Peter. Henry had seen the notice +of Alston's arrest, and when I described him he said he was the right +man. I wrote to the President what Henry said, and Alston remained in +prison. + +“In a short time I heard from Gen. Anderson. He was willing to go East. +I telegraphed Gen. Silent and he ordered him to report at once. He came +by home on his way and remained over several days. Lieut. Whitcomb was +with him. While there I related all that had taken place. He thought +Henry should return at once to Canada, leaving Seraine with us. He said +it would be dangerous since Alston's arrest to risk writing, so Henry +would have to come to my house with any information that he might have. +Henry left at once and the General the next day. + +“We were alone again. The women and children were weeping over the +departure of Henry and the General. Aunt Martha came in and said: + +“'Bress de good Laud, chil'n, what is you cryin' 'bout. De Gen! all +right; dars no danger 'bout him; he am safe. De Laud protect him. He dun +sabe him all dis time for good. Don't you see de Sesh git whip whareber +he goes? Dey all done killed down whar he bin, and now dey jest' take +him ober by whar Marsa Linkum am, and de Sesh all git smash up ober dar +de same way as what dey is down whar he bin afore.' + +“Old Ham chimed in: 'Yas, Marfa, dat am de fac\ You see, when I goes wid +Marsa Gen'l, he gets shotted nearly ebery time. I not understand dis, +but he not git any time hurt when I's away. How is dat, Marfa? Guess it +best for me not be wid him. I tell you I guess I see it all now; de Laud +want me to stay here wid dese womens and dese chil'ns, and Marsa Gen'l +he not t'ink ob dat, so de Laud jes' let him git hurted, so he hab to +come and stay wid de folks and hab me heah? Is dat it, Marfa?' + +“'Yes, dat am de case; and I 'spec you is glad, kase you is a powerful +coward, Ham; you knows you is.' + +“'Marfa, you neber see me fightin' dem Sesh. Else you not say dem hard +words 'bout Ham. No, indeed, you not know 'bout me.' + +“'I 'specs dat's so, Ham. How many of de Sesh does you 'specs you is +killed?' + +“'Don' know, don' know. I neber counted em; war too busy, Marfa.' + +“This was getting Ham into a close place, and he retired. + +“In a few days Henry returned and reported that the arrest of Alston +had alarmed the conspirators in Canada very greatly. Carey and Page +were still in Richmond. Wilkes had returned to Canada and had been at +Montreal with Thomlinson, but Henry could get nothing out of him, as +Thomlinson thought it best not to have any one know what was to be +attempted unless they could aid in carrying it out; but he said the +country would be startled very soon. Henry surmised what he meant, and +as soon as he could get away from Wintergreen he left for home. + +“I sent him to the President with this information, also a letter +calling the President's attention to his great danger, and the danger in +which the country would be in the event that anything should occur that +would put the Vice-President in power. This was the last communication I +ever had with the best of all Presidents.” + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + COLLAPSE OF THE GREAT REBELLION.--LAWS' ARMY SURRENDERS.-- + THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN. + + “After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well: + Treason has done his worst; nor steel nor poison, + Malice domestic, foreign envy, nothing + Can touch him farther.” + --Shakespeare. + +“When I left off speaking of Gen. Silent and his command in the East, and +continued my story about the West and Center, you will remember that he +had passed through eight days of bloody contest with Laws. We must now +return to him and understand the condition of things on his line while +these events were transpiring in the North, in Canada, and in Sherwood's +department, of which I have given you a history. + +“Silent moved out in the night time the last of May, and on June the +first found a heavy force in his front. Fighting at once began again. +Sherlin was in the advance, and by direction held his ground through +that night. By daylight support reached him and his position was +secure. Silent now established his headquarters at an old tavern, under +wide-spreading trees, at Cool Haven, some ten or twelve miles from the +rebel Capital, and at once assaulted Laws in his works. The Union troops +charged with great dash and heroism, taking the enemy's first line of +rifle-pits; but the enemy, falling back to his shorter and stronger +line, was enabled to hold his position and force our troops to abandon +the assault. The contest continued during the afternoon and evening. Our +losses were quite heavy. + +“On the next day a general assault was made, which resulted in our +repulse. The enemy being behind heavy earthworks, it proved too great a +task to dislodge him. Onr army was now intrenched, and heavy skirmishing +continued for several days. Laws made two assaults on our lines, but was +repulsed with severe loss on both occasions. + +“A few more days of skirmishing and desultory fighting, and the campaign +closed for the season. During the Summer, Silent had succeeded in +holding Laws close to Richmond. The Copperhead press and orators of +the North made him the especial target for their calumny during the +Presidential campaign. This course was evidently directed from Richmond +and Canada. + +“The following September, Silent, with his usual vigor, began active +operations against the enemy. Sherlin was now in the valley of the +Shannon, operating against the rebel Gen. Dawn, and Silent was holding +Sentinel Point as his headquarters, and directing operations from there. +On the morning of the last day of September Boutler moved from Deep +Valley. Orden's Corps moved by the Veranda road close to the river, +Burns by the new Sales road, and the cavalry by the Derby road to our +right. All our forces were now moving in the direction of the rebel +Capital. + +“Our troops struck the rebel works and attacked them at five o'clock +p.m., and after desperate fighting for hours Fort Harris was taken, with +its fifteen guns and all its garrison; also, the line of works running +down to Champ's farm, with several hundred prisoners. Thus again the +work of war had begun in earnest. Silent stood on the side of the fort, +and could with his field-glass view the whole line of rebel works now +held by them, as well as see the church spires in Richmond. Our cavalry +had advanced on our right to within six miles of the Capital. This was +very encouraging. Yet many a bloody battle must be fought before the +prize could be ours. + +“Burns now made a gallant assault against the enemy's works in front of +his advance, but, unfortunately, was repulsed. This checked the advance +of our troops on this part of the line. Boutler's position now extended +from the river (James) to the Derby road, fronting Richmond. + +“Meador's command was in front of Petersville. In the afternoon of the +next day Parker's Division of Warner's Corps was attacked near Boyd's +road. He was promptly re-enforced, and the rebels were repulsed with +great loss. Fort Harris was also assaulted with a view of recapture, as +it was a very important position. The attempt failed, and we still held +the fort. + +“Our right and left wings were now being slowly advanced in the +direction of the Capital, under the very eye of Laws, the rebel +commander. He had the advantage in this, that it would require a day +for Silent to move from one flank to the other, while Laws, holding +the chord of the circle, could re-enforce any part of his line in a few +hours. Laws could not by any possibility stretch his line much farther, +while Silent was steadily acquiring more ground. + +“The greatest consternation now prevailed in the city of Richmond. Its +evacuation was seriously contemplated. The publication of the newspapers +was suspended, and the printers were called out to defend the city. Some +of the city police fell into our hands. Offices and shops were closed. +The church bells sounded the alarm. Guards were sent into the streets to +impress every able-bodied man. Members of the Government were sent into +the trenches, and all between the ages of fifteen and fifty-five were +ordered under arms. Laws stubbornly held his position. He could plainly +see that Silent was determined to fight it out and settle the contest +in and about Richmond, without being driven or drawn away, unless some +alarm at Washington should cause a change of his campaign. + +“After many movements, counter-movements, and much fighting, of all +which I cannot speak in this narrative, Laws concluded to set Ewelling +at the work of threatening our Capital. He crossed the Potomac and +turned and threatened Washington, expecting Silent's army to be at once +ordered to its defense; but this made no impression on Silent. He sent +Wight's Corps to meet Ewelling and to follow him, which was done, and +the danger to our Capital passed. Ewelling struck for the Valley of the +Shannon, passed into Maryland and the border of Pennsylvania, levying +contributions as he marched through towns and country, returning with +much booty to the valley mentioned, joining Dawn. In the meantime Wight +was following him. Sherlin was sent to take command of these forces. +He fell upon Ewelling and Dawn, and almost annihilated their commands, +driving what was left of them entirely out of that part of the country, +and making such a desolation that another movement in that direction by +the rebels would be wholly impracticable. Leaving a sufficient force +to prevent any further movement, he returned to the army near Richmond, +destroying railroads, canals, and in fact nearly all the enemy's lines +of communication of any advantage to him. + +“In the meantime an attempt was made by our forces in front of +Petersville to mine and blow up some of the enemy's main forts. The main +sap was run some 500 feet, until it was under a fort on Cemetery Hill. +Wings were constructed to the right and left of the sap or tunnel, so +that about four tons of powder were placed under the fort, tamped with +sand bags and wood. The intention was to explode the mine, and at the +moment of the explosion to open with all the artillery in this front +on the enemy's lines, and to rapidly move a storming column through the +crater and carry the high ground in rear, which, if in our possession, +would command the city and the enemy's works. At about 3:30 on the +morning of the 30th of July the fuse was lighted, but no explosion +followed. Many attempts were made before the powder ignited. The +suspense was great. Silent was quietly waiting to see the result. + +“Finally the smoke was seen and the dead, heavy sound was heard, +like unto the mutterings of distant thunder or the rumblings of an +earthquake. Following this the whole surroundings were darkened, and up +far in the air were sent guns, gun-carriages, caissons, picks, shovels, +timbers and human beings. They went up in a confused mass and came down +as though falling from the clouds in fragments. Many poor fellows were +blown to atoms. Our artillery opened, and the cannonading that followed +perhaps was never equaled during the war. A column of infantry charged +into the crater and there hesitated and halted after capturing those +who were left alive. This hesitation gave the enemy time to recover from +their astonishment and alarm. They rallied and opened a terribly galling +fire into the crater. Support was sent in, which only made the confusion +among our men the greater. A cross-fire was now poured into them in the +breach, and it was turned into a great slaughter-pen. Both sides were +slaughtered in great numbers. Rebel and Union troops, white and colored +men, were mixed together, crying to one another for help. The scene, +as described by those who witnessed it, was one upon which no one could +wish to dwell. Our people felt this disaster as much as any during the +war. It was used by our enemies everywhere to prove our commander to be +a heartless butcher. + +“About this time an ordnance boat loaded with supplies of ammunition was +exploded at or near Silent's headquarters at Sentinel Point. The report +alarmed every one for miles around. The earth shook and trembled as if +this globe was dissolving. Fragments of shell, wood and human beings +fell about the locality like hail coming down. Men shrieked and ran +wildly about, thinking that the final end of all things was at hand. +Silent was near by, but uttered not a word. He entered his tent, quietly +sat down, and wrote a dispatch describing the disaster. + +“Time wore on without any very great results either way, until the +armies were all ready for the final movement in the Spring following. +Silent was still steadily gaining ground to his left, and holding Laws +close to his lines, at the same time keeping his cavalry in motion, to +the great annoyance of the enemy. In February, 1865, when I was at the +Capital, where I met the President, Secretary of War and Gen. Silent, +the campaign of Sherwood north to the rear of Richmond was about +commencing; but I was not then aware of it. Gen. Silent was also +getting ready for his final move against Laws, though he was waiting for +Sherwood and Scoven to make a junction at or near Goldsburg, in North +Carolina. + +“In the meantime Charleston had been evacuated; Columbia, S. C, +surrendered, and many of our starving prisoners were there released from +their deadly and poisonous prison-pens, not fit for pigs, even, to live +in. Cotton had been piled in the streets of Columbia by the retreating +rebels and set on fire. When our troops entered the city they put the +fire out, as they thought. In the evening, however, the smoldering +fire was fanned into flames by a strong wind, and the burning flakes of +cotton lighting on and against houses, set them on fire. One division +of our forces worked hard to subdue the conflagration, but in vain. +The flames leaped from housetop to housetop, as if some unseen hand was +aiding in the terrible work of devastation. Men, women and children +left their houses in their night-dresses, screaming and crying for help. +Nothing could be done to allay the destruction. A great portion of the +city was laid in ashes, and many people were in the streets houseless +and homeless. The troops of Sherwood did all in their power to alleviate +the suffering, by dividing blankets and food, and also by taking as many +families as could be placed in the wagons to a point from whence they +could take shipping North, where, on their arrival, they were amply +provided for. + +“Again moving forward rapidly, Sherwood's left wing struck Harding's +rebel corps at Averyville, and drove it in rout from its position. Our +left wing then moved by rapid marches on the Burton and Goldsburg road, +the right wing moving on a shorter and more direct route in the same +direction, many miles to the south. At Burton's Cross-roads the head +of column of the left wing struck the rebel army under command of Gen. +Jones, who had again been placed at the head of the forces collected +together since Head's defeat at Nashua. His forces were now commanded by +Harding, Biggs, Chatham and Hamden, the latter commanding his cavalry. +The Union forces, under Gen. Somers, discovering that a large force was +in their front, deployed two divisions and attacked, but could not drive +the enemy from his position. Somers hastily constructed earthworks and +held the enemy in his position until the right wing, or a portion of +it, could come to his relief. The word was soon sent to the General +commanding the right wing, and the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps were +dispatched at once to Burton's Cross-roads. + +“They arrived early on the next morning, having received the order late +at night. The General commanding the Fifteenth Corps, which was in the +advance, at once formed his leading division (Gen. Charles Ward's) and +charged the enemy's works. His men went on the run over the works and +right into his trenches, the General commanding the corps leading and +leaping his horse over the parapet in the midst of a shower of deadly +missiles. Our men captured the rebels who were in their front, and a +general stampede of the enemy followed, and in a short time Jones and +his whole command were hastily making their escape across Mill Run. +The march was not any farther impeded, and Sherwood's army marched to +Goldsburg, where, as before stated, they joined Scoven, and thus ended +the hard fighting of Sherwood's army. + +“The President and Vice-President had been inaugurated, and the message +of the President was so mild and conciliatory, breathing forgiveness and +charity in such an honest and earnest spirit, that many thought it might +have some influence on the feelings of the enemy in respect to the Union +in which they had lived and controlled so long to their own advantage. +But no; the more he expressed sentiments of respect for their opinions +the more bitter they became, denouncing every expression of kindness as +an insult to their people; so that it was determined there should be no +let-up in any way whatever--no armistice nor rest, but when the movement +commenced, to let that end the rebellion before ceasing. The country +was now up to this point, and all were ready and fully prepared for the +result. + +“Gen. Silent had now directed Papson, as well as Sherwood, to keep +their cavalry at work in destroying lines of communication, bridges, +and supplies of the enemy. Willston in the West was operating south +of Tennessee, cutting off all chance of re-enforcements from that +direction, and Sherwood's cavalry in the direction of Augusta and +northward, performing the same character of service, while Sherlin was +again marching with 10,000 cavalry around Laws, making the whole country +untenable for want of facilities in gathering supplies, of which at +this time the enemy was in great need. The whole coast from Savannah +to Newbern, with forts, gunboats and munitions of war, was now in our +hands, with 100,000 as good soldiers as ever marched or fought a battle +almost entirely untrammeled, well supplied, and ready to drive Jones or +any opposing force north back to Laws, where the whole could be crushed +at one blow. Sherwood was to so conduct his movements as to detain Jones +in his front until the 10th of April, and then he was to move directly +against him and drive and follow him; but if possible, to get to the +Roanoke River, so as to hold Laws in his position. + +“While Silent was preparing for his final movement against the enemy, +which was to commence on the 29th of March, Laws, suspecting the +movement, on the morning of the 25th, selecting the weakest point in our +lines, as he thought, assaulted the right of Meador's position in front +of the Ninth Corps. The point assaulted was a small fort known as Fort +Sleman, where the two opposing forces were not more than 200 yards +separated from each other. At dawn of day the rebels moved against +this point with Gadden's Corps, re-enforced by Bush Jones's division. +Parker's pickets were overwhelmed and the trenches taken by the enemy, +so that the main line of the Union forces was broken. The rebels now +seeing their advantage wheeled to the right and left, sweeping our lines +before them, and capturing our batteries, which they at once turned upon +Fort Sleman. The fort made all resistance possible, but, being assaulted +in front, flank and rear, was compelled to surrender. The guns of +the fort were now turned upon our own lines on either side with great +effect, driving our men and taking complete possession of this part of +our intrenchments. + +“General Parker at this juncture came upon the scene, brought up +artillery on the hills commanding the point attacked, and ordered his +forces to occupy the fort. General Hartley also moved up and massed his +division and assaulted the enemy as they were moving along our line. +He checked their advance, and, being re-enforced, drove Gad-den's +Corps back, recaptured the fort and all our abandoned lines, with 2,000 +prisoners. Meador arrived on the field and at once ordered Wight and +Hume to advance on Parker's left, which was promptly done, and that part +of the enemy's picket-line was taken, with many prisoners; so that the +temporary success of the enemy proved very expensive to him in the +end. This was the only unprovoked assault that Laws had made since the +campaign of the Summer before. + +“On the night after this assault Gen. Meador, General Orden and several +other Generals were at Gen. Silent's headquarters, discussing the +contemplated movement to be commenced on the 29th. The President had +also been down to see Silent, and agreed in every particular to his +programme. Gen. Tom Anderson was also present, having been ordered to +Sentinel Point for assignment to duty. He was introduced by Gen. Silent +as an able and brave officer. Gen. Orden said to Gen. Silent that he +would be pleased to have him assigned to his command; to which Silent +answered that he would speak to Anderson. + +“When the movement was understood, preliminary thereto Gen. Orden was +directed to move the next day to the extreme left, in connection with +and in support of the cavalry under Sherlin, designed to prevent Laws +from finally retreating in that direction, as was thought he might +attempt, in order to make a junction with Jones and fight Sherwood's +forces instead of Silent. This was not desired, as the General +commanding wished the army that had always confronted Laws to have the +honor of the capture of him and his army. + +“When all had left for their respective headquarters, Gen. Silent spoke +to Gen. Anderson of Gen. Orden's request. + +“Anderson replied: 'General, assign me anywhere; I will try to do my +duty wherever I may be placed.' + +“Gen. Silent then wrote the order and handed it to him, saying: 'You +will proceed to join Gen. Orden in the morning; he will move to the left +during the day.' Silent said that he would give him a larger command +in a few days, but could not do so then, as they were on the eve of the +movement in contemplation. + +“Gen. Anderson expressed entire satisfaction, and directed Lieut. +Whitcomb, who was with him, to have preparations made for starting at +daylight the next morning. + +“During the evening, they being entirely alone, General Silent said: +'Gen. Anderson, do you remember a conversation we had at my rooms the +night before I left Nashua for the East?' + +“'Very distinctly, General; I was much impressed by what you then +said as to your views in reference to crushing this rebellion within a +certain time, and the mode to be adopted for the accomplishment of this +end.' + +“'Well, we will do it within the time mentioned. But do you remember my +asking you if you believed in dreams, and if you had ever seen anything +that you could not explain or understand?' + +“'Yes, General, I well remember that also.' + +“'Well, sir, I desire to make a confidant of you in this particular. I +do not wish what I say known at this time.' + +“'You can do so; I will not betray your confidence.' + +“'I intended telling the President to-day,' continued Gen. Silent, +'but was so taken up with other matters that I forgot it; and I feel a +strange kind of superstition that I may not see him again. He and I are +both in great danger, but I feel that I can protect myself better than +he can himself. I do not desire to tell this story to any of my family, +as I do not want them, or either of them, to become superstitious. It is +so easy for any of us to become so. I find even the President, as strong +a man as he is, somewhat so inclined.' + +“Gen. Anderson said: 'I am surprised at this. I did not suppose he was +so; but many strong people are, and many claim to have cause for being +so.' + +“Gen. Anderson then related my wife's dream to Gen. Silent, and told him +Peters interpretation of it, and said six of her sons were now dead--one +only (Henry) remaining alive. + +“At this Gen. Silent became melancholy, and quietly responded, ''Tis +strange, indeed!' He then related to Gen. Anderson the fact of his +having seen a strange form in the night-time while under a tree at +Chatteraugus; also, the night that he met him at Nashua, as well as in +the night near his quarters while fighting the battle of the Chaparral, +its indications at Chatteraugus, and its indications to him at Nashua +and in the Chaparral. He said: + +“'I have also seen the same spectral form to-night, saying to me: “Move +to the left rapidly; the enemy are all in your hands, and in half a moon +all will be prisoners.” Gen. Anderson, what is this? Am I dreaming, +or am I laboring under some disease of the mind? I hope you will speak +freely to me as to what you think. I could not keep it longer. I must +tell some one. I feared I was becoming broken down in my brain power,--I +have studied over the military situation so much.' + +'No, General, you need not have any fears of that. You are as vigorous +in that respect as any man living. I cannot, however, explain this; nor +can I understand it. I will ask you, however, if you had this character +of campaign in your mind before you saw this strange apparition?' + +'“Yes, I had a thought of it; but somehow this seemed to influence me +not to deviate in the least, and to give me faith and confidence in our +final success; and yet I cannot but believe this to be only an optical +illusion. It must be; it cannot, it seems to me, be otherwise.' + +“'There is one thing, General: it appears to be leading you, or, at +least, helping your faith, in the right direction.' + +“'Yes; but, Gen. Anderson, it harasses me by day and by night. I cannot +keep it from my mind. I try to throw it off, but cannot. But we will +speak of this no more at present. I feel that my mind is greatly +relieved since I have given you my secret. What a strange feeling this +is; but I believe it is so with every person.' + +“'Yes, General, that is true. Things pent up in the mind and heart +become oppressive, and wear the mind until relieved. This seems to be +our safety-valve.' + +“The conversation here ceased on this subject, and both retired to rest. +The next morning Gen. Anderson and his companion, Lieut. Whitcomb, left +very early for Gen. Or-den's headquarters. As they were leaving Gen. +Silent came out and spoke many kind words to Gen. Anderson. He said: + +“'I feel much better this morning. I will be at the front to-day, and +will see you, perhaps.9 + +“With a good-by they separated. When Gen. Anderson arrived at Gen. +Orden's headquarters he was ready to move his command to the left. He +had been telegraphed by Silent of Anderson's assignment, so the orders +were ready, and Gen. Anderson at once took command of a splendid +division, getting acquainted as best he could on the march that day. His +command was in the lead. Late in the afternoon he met Gen. Sherlin, who +was overjoyed to see him, saying: + +“'Anderson, you have no time to learn the situation, but I want you to +be close to me. I will speak to Orden.' + +“Their lines were formed that evening and all was in readiness for +action. On the afternoon of the 29th the Union line was continuous from +Appomattox, and still moving to the left. Silent said: + +“'I feel now like ending the matter, if it is possible, before going +back.' + +“The army of Silent was located about as hereinafter stated. Parker and +Wight held our line in front of Peters-ville, and Orden's line reached +to the crossing of Hatcher's Run. Hume had moved to the left of Orden, +by change of orders, and Warner was on the left of the moving column. +Sherlin was now at Dinwiddie, on our left flank, some five miles +separated from the left of our infantry. This movement was made late +in the afternoon. Our lines now covered the ground from Appomattox to +Dinwiddie Courthouse. Silent said: + +“'Now, let us see what we can do with the enemy.' + +“This portion of the country was covered with forests and swampy +streams. During the night the rain fell in torrents, and by the next +morning it seemed impossible for man or beast to move without sticking +in the quicksands. The rain continued, and a deep gloom seemed to settle +over our army. Some who were in Silent's confidence suggested a return +to our former lines, but Silent could not see how we could go back if +not forward. + +“Just at this moment Sherlin came riding up, through rain and mud, and +suggested that an advance was sure of success. Silent at once gave him +orders to return and take possession of Five Forks. The enemy was now +confronted by our army at every point. + +“Sherlin, on his return, at once sent one of his divisions forward. +The conditions of the roads prevented any serious assault with cavalry. +Warner was now advanced, extending his left across the Boydton road, He +fortified his position, but did not attack; the enemy were too strong +in his front. Hume, meanwhile, attacked the enemy and drove him from his +advanced position. On account of mud and bad roads no further movement +was made during that day. + +“On the next day, however, as Silent had suggested to Meador, the enemy +made a heavy assault on Warner's left, and pressed his whole corps back +some distance. Hume sent Milo with his division to Warner's support. The +rebels were now checked. The Second Corps was sent to Milo and the enemy +were attacked in flank in front of Warner, and were driven back to their +original line. Warner now moved up, supported by Milo, and gained a +lodgment on the White Oak road. Sherlin was attacked near Dinwiddie and +a severe battle ensued, which continued until dark, Sherlin holding his +ground. + +“Both parties lay upon their arms that night within a stone's throw of +each other. During the night the Fifth Corps was ordered to the support +of Sherlin. The enemy, discovering this movement, retreated early in +the morning, Sherlin following and assaulting them at every opportunity. +Laws had instructed his infantry and cavalry that Five Forks must be +held. Sherlin well knew the importance of this position; Petersville +must fall with this in our possession. He ordered Mullet to assault in +front with his cavalry, while the Fifth Corps, and McKenon, with his +cavalry, were to hold the White Oak road and to drive the enemy back +toward Petersville. At five o'clock the assault was made. The cavalry +dismounted and fought on foot. The division of the Fifth Corps under +Griffith and one brigade under Ames charged the rebel ranks, and under +the inspiration of the bands playing and the lead of the intrepid +Sherlin, the works were stormed by our men and the rebels routed, +leaving 6,000 prisoners in our hands. Five Forks was ours, and a noble +day's work had been accomplished. This was the first great battle fought +in the last campaign against the rebel Capital. + +“Gen. Silent now ordered the enemy's works assaulted at three points +at four o'clock the next morning, April 2. Promptly on time Wight and +Parker moved against the strong works of the enemy in their front. They +broke over the enemy's picket-line with ease; but now in their front +frowned heavy earthworks and forts. They moved under a galling and +deadly fire, tearing away abatis and all kinds of obstructions until +they came to the main works. Here the contest was severe and bloody. +Bayonets clashed and musketry rattled; but our troops seemed to know +that the end was near, and nothing could stay or resist them. They +climbed and leaped over parapet and wall and into the enemy's trenches, +capturing men and guns. The advance of our men could not be stopped. +They pressed forward to the railroad, tore up the track, and turned and +swept right and left down the enemies' lines. Soon the whole line, from +the point of attack to Hatcher's Run, and all the artillery and forts +were in our possession. + +“Parker made his assault near the Jerusalem road. His column stormed and +carried the works in his front, capturing twelve pieces of artillery and +about 1,000 prisoners. + +“Orden now assaulted, Gen. Anderson's division leading. The fighting was +severe, the rebels saw that this kind of fighting meant the capture of +Richmond. Anderson led his men in person, and was one of the first to +scale the enemy's works. The enemy retreated in great haste. Anderson +again recognized Joseph Whitthorne leading one of the brigades in +retreat. + +“'My God?' he exclaimed, 'am I always to meet this man in battle!' + +“Orden turned his command to the right and joined on with Wight, and +they now made their lines strong in order to resist the enemy, as they +expected him to attempt a recapture. It had now become one continuous +battlefield, from Petersville to and beyond Five Forks. Silent now +determined to face Meador's entire command, as well as Orden's, in +toward Petersville, and take it if possible. The entire rebel army was +rushing to the defense of Petersville. Sherlin was moving on the White +Oak road toward the city. Laws was exerting himself to stay the tide. +Gadden was ordered to drive Parker back from his Une. Hiller and Mahoney +were gathering all the fragments of commands that they could find and +reorganizing them. Longpath, who had not been engaged, was ordered to +cross the James River to the south side, for the defense of this +portion of the line. Laws telegraphed his chief, the President of the +Confederacy, of the imminent danger to his army. + +“The enemy now assailed Parker's line, which was on both sides of the +Jerusalem road, and several desperate efforts were made to dislodge him, +but being re-enforced he held his position. His line included several +forts, and also commanded the main bridge across the Appomattox, almost +the only exit then left to the enemy. The rebels were now concentrating +their forces within an interior line of very heavy works immediately +surrounding the city. There were, however, two strong forts outside of +this line not yet captured by our forces--Forts Gregg and Baldwin. Orden +was directed to take Fort Gregg, and two of his brigades, commanded by +Turnlee and Forest, made the assault. After one or two repulses they +succeeded in storming and capturing the entire garrison. Both sides +fought gallantly. It was finally taken at the point of the bayonet. + +“Milo was now attacking the enemy near the intersection of the White Oak +and Claiborne roads, but finding him too well intrenched, had to fall +back some distance. + +“Late in the afternoon Sherlin, with the Fifth Corps and a portion of his +cavalry, struck the enemy who had repulsed Milo in their works that day, +taking them in flank. He routed them, capturing nearly 1,000 prisoners. +He pursued, and struck them every opportunity, until finally they threw +away their arms and took shelter in the woods. Night covering their +retreat the darkness saved them. The day's work left about fifty pieces +of artillery and 12,000 prisoners in our hands. + +“All west of the center of Laws's army had been driven by Sherlin across +the Appomattox, and the rest had been forced inside the interior +lines around Petersville, from which there was no escape save by bad +roads--country highways. Laws was now struggling to get his army out and +escape, so as to join Jones, and get the best terms he could after one +more short campaign. + +“Gen. Hiller, of the rebel army, fell that day. Laws had him buried that +night, and after the last rites were paid, he rode with his staff out +of the city, and in accordance with orders previously given, the +whole rebel army, save a small picket-line, filed out and moved in the +direction of Amelia Court-house. Parker, under his orders to feel the +enemy during the night, discovered the movement, captured the rebel +pickets, and the city was surrendered at four o'clock the next morning. +Laws burned behind him the small bridges on the Appomattox and blew up +his forts on the James River. + +“The next morning Silent ordered Meador immediately up the Appomatox +River. Sherlin was ordered to push for the Danville Railroad with Hume +and Griffith and all the cavalry. Orden was directed to push south-west, +on the Cox road. Silent waited until he got news of the surrender of the +rebel Capital and the flight of Davis and his Cabinet; then he pushed +out on the road to his army marching to intercept Laws. Mullett, being +in the advance, came upon the enemy at Deep Run, on the 3d of April, +and then a battle ensued, in which the rebels were defeated and put to +flight. The road was strewn with caissons, ammunition, clothing, and all +kinds of material used by an army. + +“This was evidence of the great demoralization of the enemy. + +“At 5 p.m. on the 4th, Sherlin, with the head of the column of the Fifth +Corps, arrived at Geterville, capturing Law's dispatch to Danville for +rations, his army being entirely destitute of food. He was at Amelia, +but our forces were in his front and in possession of the Danville road. + +“On the 5th, Silent received information from Sherlin, that Laws and his +whole army were at Amelia, and that he (Sherlin) had possession of the +road to Burkesville. He sent Davies' division on a reconnaissance in +the direction of Painstown to see if any movement was being made by the +enemy. This command struck a train of wagons, burned them, and captured +five pieces of artillery and several hundred prisoners. The enemy moved +out a stronger force and renewed the contest, but were driven back. + +“Meador had now arrived with his force and joined Sherlin, but failed to +attack, he being the senior and then in command. Silent rode late in the +night to Sherlin's headquarters, and at once ordered an attack at four +in the morning, but said that Laws would steal away that night. The +next morning he was gone, and changing his course, was now heading for +Lynchburg. Pursuit was immediately made. Hume struck the rear of the +enemy at Deatonville, and at once attacked him. Crooker and Mullett +attacked the enemy's wagon train in flank. Orden had arrived at Rice +Station, and was intrenched, so as to prevent any further movement of +the enemy south. At four o'clock Wight's Corps came up and at once +went into action and carried the road two miles south of Deatonville, +breaking the enemy in twain. Hume was on his rear and Sherlin on his +flank. Hume here moved to the right after one of the fragments, in the +direction of the Appomattox. + +“Wight now drove the enemy in his front two miles into a swampy, marshy +bottom of Sailor's Run. The cavalry were now to the left, where they +were burning and destroying the wagon trains of the enemy. The rebels in +front of Wight's Sixth Corps had crossed the run, and were throwing +up breastworks, Sherlin ordered the stream crossed and their works +assaulted. This was done by two divisions. The fight was a desperate +one. The works were carried on the enemy's left, but a division of the +enemy came sweeping down on our flank and drove the troops of the Sixth +Corps back across the stream. + +“Just at this moment Mullett's division of cavalry came charging down on +the enemy's rear. The Sixth Corps again advanced, and a most desperate +and bloody hand-to-hand bayonet and saber contest now took place. Our +artillerymen opened on the lines of the enemy some twenty guns. Our +lines were now closing around them. Crooker had come up with his +command and closed the gap. The enemy threw down their arms and +surrendered--7,000 men and fourteen pieces of artillery, with Gen. +Ewelling and his seven subordinate Generals. This utterly destroyed the +entire command that was covering Laws's retreat. + +“Hume had pursued the fragment of the enemy which he had opposed in +the morning to the mouth of the run, some fifteen miles, attacking and +fighting--a running battle all the day--as well as fording streams, +building bridges, etc. The last stand of the enemy was stubborn. Hume's +command was victorious. His captures during the day were four pieces of +artillery, thirteen stands of colors and about 2,000 prisoners. Night +now drew her curtain over the scene, and our troops lay down to rest. + +“The next day was used almost entirely in winding the coil more closely +around Laws's army. Hume and Crooker were on the north side of the river +confronting Laws; McKenon was at Prince Edwards; the cavalry column +was moving in the direction of Appomattox Station; the second and Sixth +Corps were moving to the north side of the river to attack the next day; +Mullett was pushed to the south side to Buffalo Station; the Fifth and +Twenty-fourth Corps were moving on Prospect Station, south of the river, +to prevent Laws from escaping in that direction; Orden was following +Sherlin, having taken with him Griffith, with instructions to attack the +head of Laws's column. The next morning news was received that Stoner +had entered Lynchburg and was holding it. During the greater part of +the night the armies of the Union were moving in the direction assigned +them. Gen. Silent occupied the old tavern at Farmville, where Laws had +slept the night before. + +“After the last of his forces on this line had passed, Silent was +sitting quietly on the porch, thinking Laws must surrender the next +morning. He concluded to send him a note suggesting his surrender, to +stop the further effusion of blood, stating that the last few days must +convince him of the hopelessness of his cause. He sent the note. Soon +after this he was about to retire, when he heard his name pronounced. +He looked and saw the same form as heretofore mentioned, which spoke in +these words: + +“'Laws will not surrender if possible to escape with any portion of his +force. Do not let your army rest until he is surrounded completely.' + +“Silent returned to the porch, and did not retire that night. About +midnight he received Laws's reply, saying he did not feel as Gen. Silent +thought on the subject of surrender, and during the night again moved +out in order to escape. + +“On the morning of the 8th our forces moved at once. Slight contests +only occurred during the day. At night the head of our cavalry column +reached Appomattox Station. The enemy were coming in quite a force for +supplies, there being at the station four heavily-loaded trains, which +had just arrived, for Laws's army. One train was burned, and the others +were sent to Farmville. The enemy made an assault on our forces, but +were repulsed, 25 pieces of artillery and many prisoners falling into +our hands. + +“Sherlin was here, with no force as yet save two divisions of his +cavalry. He moved a force on the road in the direction of Farmville and +found Laws's whole army moving to Appomattox. Orden and Griffith were +marching rapidly to join Sherlin, and by marching all night reached +Appomattox at 6 A.M. on the morning of the 9th, just as Laws was moving +his head of column with the intention of brushing away Sherlin's cavalry +and securing the supplies. Laws had no suspicion of infantry having +joined our cavalry at Appomattox. Orden was the senior and commanded the +two corps of infantry--his own and Griffith's, formerly Warner's. These +troops were deployed in line of battle across the road where Laws must +pass, the cavalry in front covering the infantry. Crooker moved out and +was soon hotly engaged with the enemy. He fell back slowly, and finally +our cavalry moved off to the right, leaving the road apparently open +to the rebels. They, seeing this, sent up a shout and started as if to +pursue the cavalry, when, to their utter amazement, Gen. Tom Anderson +came charging down at the head of his division upon the head of Laws's +column, and at the same time our battle line advanced. The enemy were +rolled back in great demoralization, our lines pressing them on every +side. + +“Anderson was assaulting them in front. Griffith was on one flank, and +Sherlin, moving around quickly on the enemy's left, was just ordering +a charge, when Laws sent a flag of truce and asked for a cessation of +hostilities. The cordon was now complete. Laws and his army were at +our mercy. Laws surrendered his army that day, and thus the rebellion +virtually ended. + +“The news sped on the wings of lightning, and the joy that found vent +throughout the North no pen could do justice to by way of description. +Old and young wept, embraced and shouted aloud, with their hearts full +of the glad tidings. None but the class of rebel sympathizers before +mentioned mourned at the sad fate of the enemy. + +“The next day after the surrender of Laws, Gen. Anderson and his staff +were riding around the field taking observations. While passing down +near Longpath's Corps, suddenly a man in a rebel General's uniform, with +two other officers, came dashing up to the General and halted. It was +Joseph Whitthorne. He cried out: + +“'Tom Anderson, is that you?' + +“Gen. Anderson responded affirmatively, at the same time saluting him in +proper military style. At this Whitthorne drew his pistol and was just +in the act of firing at the General, when Lieut. Whitcomb rushed at him +and ran him through with his sword. He fell from his horse and expired. +Gen. Anderson shed tears, but did not disclose to anyone present the +close relationship existing between them. This occurrence was of such a +character as might have caused trouble with the troops, so it was kept +quiet. The officers present on both sides deemed this course the best +under the circumstances. Lieut. Whitcomb never knew of the relationship, +Gen. Anderson's wife, Whitthorne's sister, always thought her brother +was killed in one of the last battles. The General revealed the facts +only to myself. + +“The joy that now pervaded the North lasted for but a brief space of +time before sorrow and deep mourning took its place. + +“You remember that Alston, one of the Canadian conspirators, had been +arrested and placed in prison at Washington on the charge that, he, with +others, were intending to attempt the capture of the President. This +having failed, doubtless the last resort had been agreed upon by +Thomlinson, Carey and their allies. Page had returned from Richmond with +Durham and met Wilkes at Baltimore, where this diabolical scheme was +agreed upon. The President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of +War, and Gen. Silent were all to share the same fate. Wilkes, doubtless, +with his picked few, were to dog the President, Page the Secretary +of State, and Durham the Secretary of War, and others to in some way +destroy Silent. My son Henry returned from Canada on the 14th of April, +and stated to me that Wintergreen said the three above named were near +Washington and would do their work well, each selecting his man; that +Thomlinson and Carey had left for Europe on the 6th of April. + +“Henry left that night for Washington with this information for the +President and his Secretaries. His trip, however, was for naught, as on +that night the assassins did their work in part. Wilkes did his, and +Mr. Lincoln, the noblest of all men, fell by the bullet of his murderer. +Page tried his hand, but failed to complete his task. Durham failed +entirely from some cause. + +“Henry arrived in Washington the next evening, when he saw the Secretary +of War. He told him to say nothing, as they would all be put on their +guard by these facts being made public. Gen. Silent only escaped, as it +seemed, by a miracle, as he had agreed to accompany the President that +night and was only prevented by his wife's trunks with her wardrobe +being carried by Washington to Baltimore that afternoon. + +[Illustration: The shooting of President Lincoln by Wilkes 431] + +“The intelligence of Mr. Lincoln's death, as it trembled along the wires +on the morning of the 15th to every portion of this Republic, coming +as it did in the midst of universal rejoicing, firing of cannon and +unfurling of banners, struck dumb those who a moment before were +shouting with joy. Language nor pen can adequately express the horror +and grief with which the people were stricken. A Nation's shouts of joy +and triumph at one moment, were the next turned into grief and sorrow. +The people were bowed down and bathed in tears. The shadows of gloom +were on every countenance. The flags that were floating in triumph one +moment were the next at half-mast. Almost instantaneously all houses +were draped in mourning. Women ran into the streets wringing their hands +and weeping aloud. Children ran to and fro to learn the cause of the +great change from joy to overwhelming grief. Each family wept as though +for the loss of their first-born. The soldiers in the field had lost +their idol; the colored people had lost their deliverer from the +wilderness of slavery. + +“The people gathered in their places of worship and mingled their tears +with their prayers. A dark pall hung over the whole land. The people +seemed to lose heart. The very earth seemed to groan and cry out against +the horrible deed. The enemies of the Government were alarmed and +shocked at this terrible crime, growing out of their own course of +conduct. Foreign Governments were horrified at the atrocity of the +fiendish resentment shown. Many men became alarmed and hastened to leave +the country. Some left for Mexico, some for South America, and some for +Europe. + +“The Vice-President had now taken the oath of office and had entered +upon the duties of President. Lincoln was dead; the last act in the +bloody drama on the program of the conspirators had been played.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + SCHEME FOR A NEW REBELLION.--ANDREW JOHNSON AND HIS CO- + CONSPIRATORS.--THE GENERAL OF THE ARMY AND SECRETARY OF WAR + SAVE THE COUNTRY.--“TOM” ANDERSON'S BRUTAL MURDER.--UNCLE + DANIEL DIES. + + “Forgiveness to the injured does belong, + But they never pardon who have done the wrong.” + --Dryden + +“Jones surrendered to Sherwood. Mobile had fallen Iand all the minor +commands in rebellion were trying to see which could get in first. The +President of the Confederacy had been captured by Wellston. Our great +armies were mustered out of the service, and peace once more reigned +throughout the land. The then President had by his declarations shown +such bitter hostility toward the leading rebels that they were greatly +alarmed, and many were leaving the country. The General of our armies +had established his headquarters at Washington, and all matters +pertaining to the future were now in the hands of the civil authorities. + +“Gen. Anderson had returned to my house, where he found joy and +happiness in our little family at his safety after passing through +the storm of this great struggle. His wife and little Mary, as well as +little Jennie, seemed as though they would never get through kissing +him. Henry and his wife (Seraine) were now with-us. Lieut. Whitcomb +returned to Detroit to his parents. Gen. Anderson and Henry were all who +were left of the eight of my household who had entered the service. You +can imagine the sadness this brought back to me. David's wife (Jennie) +became melancholy and more depressed than usual. She was stricken with +fever and died in about three weeks after the General's return. This +left this dear child”--pointing to Jennie Wilson--“alone in the world, +without a protector, save her poor old grandfather. Mary Anderson, the +General, Henry and Seraine were all kind and willing to do anything for +her that they could. She was sole heir to her father's farm, which had +been left in my hands, and naturally looked to me, and so we have ever +since lived together. + +“Henry, Seraine, Gen. Anderson and his family stayed with me until the +General could determine whether he would remain North or venture to +return to his old home in Mississippi. Old Ham and Aunt Martha, after +the murder of Mr. Lincoln, seemed to have lost all energy, and were +unusually silent and melancholy, seldom speaking to any one, save in the +expression of their great joy at the safe return of their Marsa Gen'l.' +One day, while we were sitting on the porch, the General said to Ham, +who had come to the front of the house: + +“'Ham, what is the matter with you and Aunt Martha? You seem to be in a +serious mood all the time, since my return?' + +“'Yes, Marsa Gen'l, we is monstrous serious, sah. We feels bad 'bout +Marsa Lincum, what dem 'Sesh kill. He war our bes' frien', He make us +free, and we feel dat dar am some wrong somewhar, dat dem 'Sesh starve +de Union sogers; dey shoots dem when dey wants to, and dey kills our +President, and none of dem get hunged for dis. If dis is de way dat +matters is a-gwine, what am goin' to 'come of de darkies? Whar am dey +gwine? What am gwine to 'come ob Marfa and Ham? Dat's what am worryin' +us.' + +“'Well, Ham, you need not worry about that. You will be taken care of. I +will see to that.' + +“Just then Aunt Martha came into the house, and hearing the +conversation, the good old woman became greatly excited. When she heard +what the General said to Ham she caught hold of the former, and in her +way gave expression to her feelings. She said: + +“'Marsa Gen'l, I's mighty feered somethin' bad gwine to happen to us +poor colored folks. Dar frien's seem de only ones what get kill, and +when dey do de folks do nuffln wid de 'Sesh. Dey send dem home agin, so +dat dey do jes' what dey please. You mind what Aunt Marfa say, dem 'Sesh +do wid de darkies what dey wan' to in less den no time. Dey is free; I +know dat; but who dey work for? Mus' dey be under de same ones what sell +dem before de 'bellion? If dey is, den de 'Sesh make dem young darkies +what's comin' on b'lieve anything dey wants to; and afore dey is growd +up dey be helpin' de 'Sesh, and den what we do? I tells you dis bin on +my min' and in Ham's head, too. We trus' in de good Laud; and you, Marsa +Gen'l, you kin fix dis. I's sure you kin. De good Laud spare you for +dis; I know he do. I's sure dar was six mans in dis family, all kill, my +good old missus die, den my good young missus, she die; dey was all kill +and die 'ceptin' you, and I knows dat you are save to take keer of us +darkies, or you bin kill long afore dis!' + +“'Well, aunty, I will do all I can for everybody. You and Ham shall be +cared for; have no fears about that.' + +“'Dat be good. I always know you look after us, Marsa Gen'l, case we +sabe you life; but, den, my chillens, Laud knows whar dey is. Ham and +me bin talkin' 'bout dat. We wants dem to get long, but we not know dem, +nor whar dey am. Maybe we see dem some day.' + +“'All right, aunty, we will talk about this hereafter.' + +“Poor old darkies! They both went back to the kitchen better satisfied +and much happier.” + +Dr. Adams said: “Uncle Daniel, Aunt Martha did not miss it very far, did +she?' + +“No; the poor old woman had a presentiment that matters would not be as +peaceful and well for the colored people as was anticipated. + +“Just at this time old man Joseph Dent rode up to the gate. He was as +glad to see the General as if he had been one of his own family. We +talked over the war, and praised the old man for the part he had +played in assisting us in discovering the plots of the conspirators. He +returned to the farm greatly delighted that his work was appreciated. + +“We all remained at home for some time trying to shake off our many +sorrows. Mary Anderson and Seraine tried to make it pleasant for all. +The General interested us in giving his experiences, and Henry in turn +his with the conspirators. Time wore on, and finally Gen. Anderson +concluded to go to Colorado for the purpose of seeing what he could +do in the mines, leaving his wife and daughter still with me. Henry +remained with us; he and Seraine visiting occasionally with his friends +at Detroit. + +“Congress was engaged in trying to agree upon a plan for the +reconstruction of the South, as well as to reorganize the army. When the +law was passed for the latter purpose I was written to by the Secretary +of War in order to ascertain Gen. Anderson's whereabouts. I wrote him, +giving his address. The General was tendered a position in the army. +He came home and consulted his wife, but finally declined it. He +recommended Lieut. James Whitcomb, his Aid-de-Camp, Seraine's brother, +for a position, and he was appointed a Lieutenant in the cavalry arm of +the service. He is still alive and in the army, but transferred, as I +understand, to a different branch of the service. + +“The General concluded to go to Washington city, where he remained some +weeks. On returning he thought he would settle there in the practice of +the law. His wife did not wish to go until he had tried the chances of +success. So it was arranged that his family should remain with me, his +wife wishing to return to her old home when she felt that it was safe +for the General. He returned to Washington, and did very well. + +“By this time there seemed to be some friction between the President and +Congress. This condition of things continued, with ill-feeling, and the +breach still widening. The President differed widely with the Republican +majority, as well as the Secretary of War and the General of the Army, +as to the reconstruction of the States recently in rebellion. Every +measure that Congress would pass with a view of taking charge of the +colored people or aiding them in their perilous condition, was rejected +by the President, and had to be passed over his veto. It was the same +with matters in reference to reconstruction. He began haranguing the +populace from the balcony of the Executive Mansion, in order to create +an ill-feeling and prejudice in the minds of the people against their +representatives. + +“He, however, very suddenly changed his views as to the proper treatment +for the leaders of the rebellion. Instead of wishing them tried and +punished, as formerly, he thought a portion of Congress should be tried +and punished. He turned his back on his Union friends and made the +leading rebels and their sympathizers of the North his confidants. +Jefferson Davis and all those under arrest for treason were, under +his new programme, released. He denounced leading Republicans as +conspirators and traitors. He was cajoled by every conspirator of the +late rebellion. Finally the visits of certain men from Maryland and +Virginia became so frequent that it aroused a suspicion in the minds of +the Secretary of War and the Chief of Staff to the General of the Army, +and very soon this suspicion extended to the General himself that a new +conspiracy was being organized. The General was led to believe this, +first, on the ground that the President at one time wanted all the +leading men who had been paroled by the General arrested and tried by +the U. S. Court in Virginia. This the General of the Army had resisted +in such a manner as to cause quite a coolness between the two. The +same men that he at one time desired to see hanged had now become his +companions, confidential friends and advisers. + +“Information was received about this time, through a source that could +not be doubted by the Secretary of War nor by the General of the Army, +of a programme which had been agreed upon by the President and certain +rebels claiming that their States were sovereign, were States now +as ever, with all their rights--that of representation included. The +President determined to issue his proclamation for an election of +Senators and Members of the House of Representatives from all the States +lately in rebellion, and if they came to Washington claiming their +seats, and should not be admitted by the Republican majority, he +would organize a Congress with the Southern members and the Northern +Democrats, and as President would recognize them as the Congress of the +United States and send his messages and communications accordingly. If +the Republicans resisted he would disperse them by force, and thereby +make them the rebels against the lawful Government, as he claimed, and +in that way turn it over to its enemies and their sympathizers, with +himself as their chief instead of Mr. Davis, holding the Capital and all +the Government archives. If he could induce the General of the Army to +obey his orders he could carry out this scheme; if not, he would get rid +of the General and try and find some other officer upon whom he could +rely. To be prepared in case he could not use the Commander of the Army, +a force was to be organized in Maryland and Virginia, which was to sweep +down upon Washington and take possession before outside forces could be +organized against the President's authority, using in connection with +this force such of the army as would obey him. He tested the General +of the Army and found he could not use him to aid in starting a new +rebellion. He then concluded that he would send him away to Mexico, and +put in some pliant tool as Secretary of War, and then put this scheme in +operation. + +“Just about this time an application was made to the General of the +Army, without coming through the Secretary of War, by the State of +Maryland, for its quota of arms. This at once struck the General as +strange. He went to the Secretary of War, and upon consultation the +application was placed among the relics of the past. In a day or so +the President inquired of the General if he had received such an +application. The General said he had, and was asked what he was going to +do. He answered that it would be looked into. This seemed to the General +very unusual, for a President to be looking after such things. + +“I had gone to Washington to look after pay that was due three of my +sons when killed. While sitting with Gen. Anderson in his room, soon +after my arrival, a knock was heard at the door. A boy entered with a +note from the Secretary of War, saying he had just heard of my arrival +and desired to see me.” + +“The next morning as soon as I could I went to his office. When I met +him he was very cordial with me; conversed about the murder of Mr. +Lincoln and the utter collapse of the rebellion, as well as the great +loss in my family. I spoke to him about my business, and he at once +directed matters so that it would be attended to without delay. The +Secretary then said to me that it was through my direction that Mr. +Lincoln and himself had been able to thwart the late conspirators in +many of their diabolical schemes during the war, and that they failed +only in one--that of preventing the murder of the President. + +“In speaking of this sad calamity the great tears stood in his eyes. +'But,' said he, 'my dear friend Lyon, we are now standing upon the verge +of a volcano, and this time, if the schemes of the conspirators can be +carried out, we will be in more danger than ever; and we who have just +put this great rebellion down will be compelled to play the part of +rebels ourselves in the next great drama.' + +“I was almost struck dumb by this announcement, and thought the +Secretary was perhaps unnecessarily alarmed at some minor matter. He +rang his bell for a messenger, and sent him across the street for the +General of the Army. He soon came in, and after pleasant greetings we +all retired to the Secretary's private room. There he was about to +make me acquainted with this whole matter, when the General said to the +Secretary that he desired his Chief of Staff to be present. He was sent +for, and soon entered. I was put under a pledge of secrecy, and then the +whole scheme was revealed to me as I have told it to you, except that it +was given to me more in detail. The name of their secret informant was +given, and I was then truly surprised and could no longer doubt the +facts as to the conspiracy for the second rebellion. The man who had +unfolded the scheme to the Secretary of War and to the General of +the Army was a man of reputation in a marked degree; had held a high +position in the Confederate service, but had seen enough of war, and +also respected his parole to the General of our Army. + +“The General did not know at what moment he might be relieved from the +command of the Army, and was therefore anxious that the Secretary of War +might in some way be prepared for the emergency, should it arise; but +said that he could not personally be a party to any preparations for +such an event while he was subject to the orders of the President. So he +said that he would retire, but would leave his Chief of Staff, who, he +said, seemed to be belligerent enough for any purpose. When the General +withdrew the Secretary said: + +“'Now, Mr. Lyon, what can you do to aid us, or what do you suggest?' + +“I said: 'Give me until this evening to reflect upon the matter and I +will meet you gentlemen here at any hour that may be agreed upon.' So +eight o'clock was designated, and we separated. + +“During the day I made inquiry of Gen. Anderson about the disbanded +soldiers; how they, or some of them, could be organized in an emergency, +and supposed the case of the rebels trying their rebellion over again. +He laughed at the idea, but said there was but one condition of things +that could possibly bring about such a result, and that was if the +President should undertake the restoration of all the rebel States +without the action of Congress, as he had heard hinted by some leading +rebels who had recently been in Washington. + +“I asked him if it would not be well for some men of influence to be on +the alert. + +“'Yes,' he replied; 'there ought to be a secret force in Washington and +elsewhere, until the reconstruction of the rebel States is complete.' + +“I said no more to him at this time on the subject. Gen. Anderson said +he would call and see the General of the Army in a day or so, as he had +only visited him occasionally since in Washington, but that his calls +were always made very pleasant. + +“At eight o'clock sharp I went to the War Office and found the Secretary +and the Chief of Staff to the General waiting for me. We at once entered +into conversation on the subject of the conspiracy. I made the same +suggestion that Gen. Anderson had intimated to me, which was at once +discussed and thought to be a good proposition. But how could it be done +without the whole matter being made public in some way? The Secretary +thought this was a matter that should be kept within the knowledge of a +very few discreet men. + +“'True,' said I; 'but you must have a nucleus here in Washington if you +can find the man to organize it. I know a man who would be perfectly +safe, but I have a suggestion in connection with him that I think +better. It is this: My son Henry is very anxious to go to the Black +Hills, but that country being unsafe, on account of the Indians, I have +been thinking that a large number of discharged soldiers would jump +at an enterprise of this kind. They could be organized and have it so +arranged that they could be got together quickly for any emergency; and +if the emergency should not arise, when the danger should be passed +the General of the Army could properly issue an order preventing +any organization or combination of men from entering the Black Hills +country, and instruct the army in that part of the West to carry out the +order. This would let the men at the head of the organization out of +the scrape, and would afford them an ample excuse for abandoning the +enterprise.' + +“The Secretary said: 'This seems feasible; who could you trust with this +management?' + +“I replied: 'Gen. Tom Anderson.' + +“'Just the man,' replied both gentlemen. + +“'The Secretary said: 'This part is in your hands. We do not wish to see +anyone but you on this part of the plan. We will give our confidence +to no one else. We hope you will not delay. We will look out for +Washington. You need not hesitate; these two men, Gen. Anderson and your +son, will be amply compensated.' + +“The Chief of Staff to the General then remarked: 'I think I know the +man to take hold of matters in Washington.' He then named a man who had +been a Union officer, and who was then in the city. He was sent for +and had an interview the following afternoon with the two gentlemen +mentioned. I immediately returned, met Gen. Anderson, and asked him +to go with me to my room. When there I laid the case before him fully, +imposing entire secrecy, should the terrible threatened disaster be +averted, saying to him that Henry, my son, being young and thoughtless, +must not know the inside, but must look upon it merely as a matter +of precaution, and with the intention of carrying out the Black Hills +scheme in order to get into that rich mineral country. + +“The General readily assented to all, and at once prepared to return +home with me. He visited the General of the Army the following day. + +“The next morning I again visited the Secretary of War, and explained +to him the General's readiness to act. He was delighted with the +arrangement, and said to me that I must return in two weeks and let him +know how matters were progressing; that it would not do to communicate +in writing. I bade him good-by, and the General and I left for home. + +“On our arrival his wife and the two children were greatly delighted, as +well as the rest of the family, including Ham and Aunt Martha. His +wife, finding that he was to remain at home for some time, was extremely +happy. Henry was now called into council and put in possession of a part +of our plan. They at once went to work diligently, and in a very short +time had made up a secret organization with a view, as understood, of +going to the Black Hills, and by moving about in the country found that +any number of good soldiers could be rendezvoused at Indianapolis ready +to move by rail in any direction required, the Black Hills being the +objective. + +“Gov. Morton was sent for and had an interview with the Secretary of +War. What arrangement or understanding was had between them I did not +know, nor did I ever learn. The only thing he ever said to any of us was +to Gen. Anderson, that there were plenty of arms, etc., in Indianapolis, +and if he should ever have to start for the Black Hills to let him know +at once. I suspected that he was fully posted. + +“I returned in about two weeks to Washington. In the meantime the +President had attempted to send the General of the Army out of the +country into Mexico, on some civil mission. The General had positively +refused to go. By this time there was quite a bitter feeling. The +President expressed himself freely. The General was silent. + +“The Secretary of War had been requested to resign, which he had refused +to do, and the excitement was warming up considerably. Many telegrams +were coming to the General of the Army from his old soldiers, saying +they were ready to come to Washington in case of trouble with the +President on the question of the enforcement of his views against the +action of Congress. The General would destroy these telegrams as fast +as they came. I told the Secretary of the progress of Gen. Anderson and +Henry in reference to the Black Hills. He was very much gratified at the +result. + +“I was invited to come to the War Office at about 8:30 o'clock that +evening. On arriving I was admitted by the Secretary himself. Inside the +door I found a sentinel with musket in hand, regularly on duty. I said +to the Secretary, 'How is this?' His only reply was: 'It looks warlike, +does it not?' + +“On entering his private room I found the Chief of Staff to the General +of the Army and two other gentlemen. One was a man whom I knew well, the +same mentioned by the parties as being the one to take care of +Washington city. The other gentleman I had never seen. He was a resident +of Washington city, had been a Colonel in the Union army, and was now +acting as Adjutant-General and organizer under the former. These men +remained during every night in the War Department with the Secretary of +War, having spies out in Baltimore and Richmond, as well as in +Washington, and knew of every movement that was going on. They also knew +of every meeting of leading rebels with the President. I learned that +their organization, secretly armed and equipped in Washington, amounted +to over 2,000 men, the object of which was not disclosed to the men more +than that it was a military organization in favor of the Union, and to +be ready on call for any emergency. + +“If the President had attempted to carry out his scheme, and any +movement had been made from either Baltimore or Richmond, or from any +part of any State, the first prisoner would have been the President. The +Secretary of War determined that his Department should not go into the +hands of any one who would be subservient to any set of conspirators, or +the President, who was to be at the head of them. + +“I returned home the next day full of alarm for our country. I greatly +feared another scene of blood and desolation. I was so worried over the +situation that my family thought me ill. + +“Gen. Anderson returned that night from Indianapolis, and Henry from +near Fayette. I told the General what I had seen and learned. When I +told him how the gentleman in charge of the secret forces in Washington +seemed to feel, and that he would make the President a prisoner the +first thing if any move was made, he remarked: + +“'That is the way to do it! Cut off the head the first blow, and the +body will soon die.' + +“Things went on in this way for a time. The President had copies of +telegrams given him from the telegraph office, which were sent from +different parts of the country, tendering the services of different +organizations of soldiers to the General of the Army. He also discovered +in some way that he would be in danger should he attempt the use of +force. + +“The House of Representatives now presented articles of impeachment +against him. This alarmed his co-conspirators, and the embryo rebellion +collapsed. + +“I have no doubt that if the President at that time had had a General +of the Army and a Secretary of War who could have been used by him to +further his and his co-conspirators' schemes, within ninety days from +the time when I first went to Washington, as stated, this country would +have been plunged into another bloody rebellion with an unscrupulous, +courageous and desperate man at the head of it, and at the same time +in possession of the Capital of the Nation. The country has never known +what it escaped and what it owes to those men--the Secretary of War and +the General of the Army and his Chief of Staff--for standing as they did +against these machinations.” + +“Uncle Daniel,” said Dr. Adams, “why was this matter kept so profoundly +secret?” + +“There were two reasons: First, the country was easily excited at the +time, and on that account, when the danger was passed, it was thought +best to say nothing, and all who knew of it had been put upon their +honor not to disclose it. Second, it could not be verified as to the +co-conspirators in Maryland and Virginia, and the plan agreed upon by +them, without involving a man heretofore mentioned, in high position +among the very persons who were conspiring to do the deed. His exposure +would doubtless have cost him his life; and I hope you will not now ask +me to say whether he is living or dead.” + +“I will inquire no further on this subject,” said Dr. Adams, “but would +like to know what became of the Black Hills scheme?” + +“That scheme failed at or about the same time of the collapse of the new +rebellion. + +“Time passed, and finally the country got rid of this President by +electing the General of the Army. We all, or many of us at least, +breathed more freely. The reorganization of the South became a fixed +fact, and the machinery moved smoothly for awhile. My son Henry was +still anxious to go to work and try his fortune in the Black Hills +country. About this time his wife bore him a fine son. He therefore left +her with me and started fortune hunting. + +“Gen. Anderson made a visit to his old home in Mississippi and was, +to all outward appearance, well received. He returned home, and, after +talking the matter over with his wife, they thought it would be safe +to return. The Union men were at that time in power in Mississippi, and +many Northern people were flocking there and purchasing property. +Very soon the General and his family got ready to leave Allentown for +Jackson, Miss. When the time came for them to leave, the sorrow with +us all was very great. Mary Anderson and Seraine wept, and held to one +another, instinctively fearing that this separation was forever. The two +children, little Mary and Jennie, shrieked and screamed, and begged not +to be separated. The scene was heartrending. I felt as though my last +friend was leaving me. The General and I acted like children. We both +wept and embraced each other--neither could speak. I held poor little +Mary in my arms and bathed her blessed cheeks with my tears. Old Ham +and Aunt Martha would go with 'Marsa Gen'l' They both wept and heaped +blessings upon us all. As far off as we could see the poor old people, +they were bowing and bidding us good-by. God bless their poor souls; +they were as good and as kind a couple as ever lived! + +“Seraine and I had procured good help before they left, and were, in +that particular, in excellent shape; but when the General, his wife, +little Mary and the old couple left, it was desolate, sure enough. We +were lonely in the extreme. We had been so long together, and had passed +through so many trials, had grieved, and had experienced so many sorrows +together, that no one could describe our feelings. The General, however, +felt that he could do well again at his old home, and he thought the +people down there were reconstructed and satisfied with their wrong +course. + +“I spent most of my time out at the farm. I would take my Jennie, as I +called my granddaughter, with me and explain everything to her, as +much to employ my own mind as hers. Henry wrote us very often. He was +delighted with the country and was doing quite well; had made money, +and was investing it in property in Yankton. Seraine's father and mother +visited us frequently, and we were living as happily as we could under +all the circumstances. + +“In a few months Gen. Anderson visited us. He was feeling satisfied with +his home and was doing well. He gave a glowing description of old +Ham and Aunt Martha's happiness now that they could see other colored +people. The President had offered him (Anderson) a foreign mission, +which he had declined on account of his fine prospects in his profession +in Mississippi. + +“The next year after Henry left us he returned, but was determined to +make his new home his permanent one, and insisted on Jennie and I going +with him. He said he would not leave us alone, and would stay in Indiana +if we could not go with him and Seraine. He could not think of leaving +Seraine and his fine baby boy any more. I thought I ought not to +interfere with the boy's prospects, so I agreed to go with them. I +rented my house, made arrangements about the farm, and we all left +for Yankton. Henry had purchased a nice place, and we lived there very +happily together. We kept up our correspondence with Gen. Anderson and +his family. + +“One day Henry came into the house very much excited, saying that he had +just seen Wintergreen on the street, who pretended not to recognize him. +The town was settling up and growing very fast. Many people from the +South were coming into the Territory as well as the town. I told Henry +to beware of this man; that he, knowing that Henry had his secrets, +might, through fear, if nothing else, do him some harm. One day there +were quite a number of persons near a billiard hall, in a dispute about +some matter. Wintergreen was in the midst of the crowd. Henry stepped +up out of curiosity to ascertain the cause of the trouble. Wintergreen +spied him, drew his revolver, and shot him dead.' + +Dr. Adams exclaimed, “My God! Your last son!” + +“Yes,” said Uncle Daniel with a tremulous voice, “this was the last of +my dear family. So you see, gentlemen, as I first stated, my home is +desolate. Why should I wish to buffet the world longer? This was the +fulfillment of my good wife's dream--the seven fingers were now gone. + +“Wintergreen escaped. The distress of Henry's wife, as well as my +own grief, I will not undertake to describe. We conveyed his body to +Allentown and there laid him to rest with his mother and brothers. Gen. +Anderson, learning of our affliction, met us at our old home. Seraine +and I remained with our little family at Allentown, I getting back my +house. I broke down under this last sorrow, and was confined to the +house for more than a year. Seraine cared for me as she would for her +own father, and this child here, my dear Jennie, was with me and by my +bedside nearly the whole time of my sickness. God bless her!” + +“So say we all!” was the response from those present. + +“Gen. Anderson visited me several times during my illness. His wife and +little daughter came and spent a month with us, which added greatly to +what happiness we could then enjoy. + +“The men who had been in rebellion now began to show their feeling and +take hold of the politics of the South. Gen. Anderson was very prominent +as a lawyer and a leader in political affairs in Mississippi. The rebels +now commenced to organize secret societies similar to those that were in +the North during the war. Another Presidential canvass came on, and the +then President was re-elected. Very soon political matters in that part +of the country, in State affairs, became very exciting. Prominent men +were threatened; colored men were whipped and driven away from meetings; +raids were made upon their houses in the night-time and many were +murdered--some white men sharing the same fate. + +“Gen. Anderson used all of his influence to stay this tide of oppression +and wrong. He was threatened with violence, but did not believe they +would assault him. He was a brave man, and could not think of leaving +his friends, but determined to stand by them. Quite a number of Northern +men were driven from that part of the country, and their property +destroyed. A perfect reign of terror prevailed. + +“The General moved into another county, so as to be out of the +excitement as much as possible. At a political meeting near the capital +of the State, Gen. McKee, a Northern man, without any provocation +whatever, was brutally assaulted and almost murdered for making a +Republican speech. This character of conduct continued until one day in +court, where some of these men were being tried for their outrages, +the General denounced this course as brutal, and such as ought to +make barbarians blush. A mob collected around the court-house and made +threats of violence against him, denouncing him as a ----- Yank and not +fit to live. They then and there notified him to leave the State within +five days, and that if found there longer than this his life should pay +the forfeit. + +“He had determined not to leave, so he prepared himself and remained at +home. At the end of the five days a mob collected about his house and +demanded that he leave at once. They were boisterous and threatening. +One of his neighbors was at his house and prepared to assist the General +in defense of his home and family. His wife and little girl were so +much alarmed that they screamed and cried for help. Finally the General, +standing in his door, flatly refused to leave. A volley was fired at +him, one shot taking effect in his right thigh. His little daughter ran +to him and threw her arms about his neck, shrieking and begging for her +papa. His neighbor fired from a window, wounding one of the mob. + +[Illustration: Murderous assault upon Gen. Anderson and family 449] + +“This was like fanning the flame. They rushed upon the house, firing +indiscriminately. The General was shot three times and fell dead. His +little daughter, with her arms about his neck, received a shot in her +left breast, from which she died in a few minutes. His neighbor, Gibson, +was as brutally murdered in the house, being riddled with bullets. Old +Ham ran out of the kitchen to make his escape and was shot dead in the +yard. Mary Anderson fell senseless to the floor. Old Aunt Martha was the +only soul left to do anything. She was on her knees praying while the +mob was doing their desperate and bloody work. They retired yelling like +Indians after taking scalps. Poor old Martha ran to one of the neighbors +for help, but could get none from white people. A few old colored people +gathered at the house and cared as best they could for the dead. + +“For two days this family of dead and stricken lay without a white +person coming to the house to aid or assist. The enemies would not, and +the few friends were afraid to do so. The General, little Mary, and Mr. +Gibson were buried by the colored people in the best manner they could. +Mary Anderson became a raving maniac and died in about one week after, +and was buried by the side of her husband and daughter, a minister and a +few women having come to look after her since the interment of the +other dead. Old Ham was laid away by the colored people. Aunt Martha +was grieved beyond expression, and alarmed for fear she also would be +murdered. She prayed night and day to be brought back to her 'Marsa +Lyon.' + +“The colored people, having great respect for the General and his +family, made up money enough to send Aunt Martha back to my house. A +young colored man ventured to come with her, for which I remunerated +him. This poor old woman's story was enough to melt the most obdurate +heart. She talked constantly of the General, his wife, little Mary, and +poor old Ham, and felt that the 'good Laud' had deserted them for some +reason.” + +We were all dumfounded at the recital of these barbarous murders. + +“My God!” exclaimed Dr. Adams, “what is this people coming to?” + +Col. Bush shed tears, but could not speak. All were silent. Uncle Daniel +left the room, but returned in a few moments and said: + +“My friends, you can now see why I so often have said, 'What have I to +live for?' Why should I desire to remain here and brood over my great +misfortunes and sorrows longer?” + +Finally Col. Bush walked the floor, and in a most subdued tone, said: +“For such a man and so noble a family to die in such a villainous +manner! Did no one suffer punishment for this diabolical crime?” + +“No, not one was punished. The matter was investigated, but that was +all.” + +“Well, I have asked myself heretofore the question, why did I give my +right arm for such a Government? That such a man, who had served his +country as faithfully as he, could be thus brutally murdered, with his +family, and no one punished for it, is a marvel to me; and no doubt some +of his murderers are now holding high official position!” + +“Yes,” said Uncle Daniel, “one of the instigators of this crime has held +office ever since, as a Southern patriot who nobly assisted in ridding +the South of one of those Northern Yankees.” + +“Uncle Daniel, what became of Aunt Martha?” inquired Maj. Clymer. + +“Poor old woman, she lived with Seraine and me for about three years +after her return, when she sickened and died. When she spoke on any +subject she would finally get to those murders. They preyed upon her +mind constantly, and I think hastened her death.” + +“How strange that all who were connected with your household during the +war should have had such a fate!” + +“Yes, my friends, it has been the one unaccountable mystery in my life. +Poor old Joseph Dent died in the same year, and I was left almost alone. +My dear Jennie, a few years ago, married Mr. Wilson, and I came to live +with them in Oakland. Seraine went to her father and mother in Michigan. +They are both alive and she remains with them. Her son Harvey--named for +his uncle, my youngest son, who was murdered at the battle of the Gaps, +if you remember--is now in Chicago working as one of the cash-boys in a +dry-goods store. I thought, as he was the last link in our family, that +the Government owed it to us to send him to the West Point Military +Academy, but I could not get him into the school. The member from here +was not favorable, inasmuch as he was an anti-war Democrat during the +rebellion. Harvey is making his own living now and I hope he may have +a bright future. He often comes to see us. Poor Seraine; when the boy +could not get into West Point, it almost broke her heart. She said to +me: + +“'Father, how shallow is this world. You, his grandfather, lost seven +sons, six in the army. This boy's father was starved near unto death in +Pine Forest Prison. I, his mother, risked my life in going through +the rebel lines to obtain his release. He was murdered by one of the +conspirators; and now we are forgotten. No one cares what we suffered +during and since the war. My son cannot even have the poor privilege of +being educated by the Government, when the sons of nearly every rebel +General who tried to destroy the Union are now under the guardianship of +the Government, being educated either at West Point for the army, or at +Annapolis for the navy.'” + +Dr. Adams said: “This is hard; it is uncharitable, and shows a +great want of the proper gratitude that should be due under the +circumstances.” + +Col. Bush said: “What does the Government or people care for those who +made the sacrifices? We are so far away from the war now in space of +time, that we are not only forgotten, but regarded as pests in society. +Are the people not grumbling about what has been done for the soldiers? +Do they not complain about our pensions? A few years more, however, and +all of us cripples, one-armed and one-legged and those who are wholly +armless and legless, will have passed away out of sight. The recognition +now is not to the victors, but to the vanquished. If you wish to be +respected by a certain class, North or South, only make it appear that +you headed a band of marauders during the war, dealing death to +Union men and destroying their property, and you will be invited to +agricultural shows, to the lecture halls, and upon the stump; and if +still living in the South, you will either be sent to the United States +Senate, made Governor, or sent on some foreign mission.” + +“Uncle Daniel, what became of Thomlinson and Carey, the Canadian +conspirators,” inquired Inglesby. + +“They are both dead, and many of their co-workers also. There has been a +very great mortality among the leaders of the rebellion. That is to say, +the older men--those who were somewhat advanced in years when it began.” + +“Are many of the Northern men of whom you have spoken in your narratives +as rebel sympathizers, Knights of the Golden Circle, or Sons of Liberty, +still living?” + +“Yes, they were generally young or middle-aged men, and with few +exceptions are still living, and are, almost without an exception, in +some official position--some of them in the highest and most honorable +in our Nation.” + +“This could not have occurred in any other Government than ours, and is +passing strange,” said Dr. Adams. + +“Yes, that is true; but do you not remember my mentioning the fact that +Hibbard, who was connected with one of the rebel prisons during the war, +came North last Fall to teach us our duty? I also said that probably he +would be sent abroad to impress some foreign country with our Christian +civilization.” + +“Yes, I well remember what you said.” + +“Well, I see by the papers that he has been appointed to a Foreign +Mission. I also see that a man of great brutality, who is said to have +been connected with one of the prisons in Richmond, has been put +in charge of all appointments in the greatest Department of the +Government--the Treasury.” + +“Are these things so? Can it be possible?” + +“Yes, these are truths. This is merely testing us in order to see how +much the people will bear; and they seem to bear these things without a +murmur. The next will be stronger. If the people of the South see that +they are sustained in this by the people of the large cities North, on +account of a fear that they may lose Southern trade, what may they not +demand? Certainly, very soon nothing less than Vice-President will be +accepted, and the same people who sustain these things now will cry out +that this is right!” + +“It does look so. I have been studying this question since you have been +reciting your experiences and giving the views of yourself and others, +and am now prepared to agree that greed is at the bottom of all +this. This same greed is one of the several dangers that threaten +our country's institutions to-day. It causes crimes and wrongs to be +overlooked, and in many cases defended, in order to gain influence with +the people who are determined by any means in their power to control the +Government.” + +“Yes; and see the progress they are making in this direction. As I +have said, there is not a man, with but very few exceptions, North, who +denounced the war and those who were engaged in prosecuting it, who is +not in some official position. Turn to the South. So far as they are +concerned it may seem natural for them to select from their own class; +but why should the North fall in with them? You have given, in your +answer to me, the only reasonable answer--that of greed and gain; but to +see this great change in the minds of the people in so short a time is +strange indeed. Twenty years ago they were thundering at the very gates +of our Capital. To-day they control the country. There is not a man, +save the President of the Southern Confederacy and a very few of the +leaders in the war made to destroy our Government, who is not now in +some honorable position if he wishes to be. We find them representing +us in the first-class missions abroad, in the second-class and in the +third-class; and there not being high places enough of this kind, that +the world may know the Confederacy has been recognized fully by our +people since its downfall, those who were in high positions under it now +take to the Consulships and are accepting them as rapidly as can well be +done. + +“You find your Cabinet largely represented by their leading men, and +many of your Auditors, your Assistant Secretaries, Bureau officers, +etc., are of them. This not being satisfactory, all the other +appointments South are made up of those men to the exclusion of every +one who was a Union man before, during, or since the war. The Government +not furnishing places enough, all the State, county, and city offices +South are filled in the same manner by this same class. This still does +not satisfy, and all men sent to the United States Senate or to +the House of Representatives from the South, with only one or two +exceptions, are of the same class. In fact all of Jeff. Davis's Cabinet, +his Senate and House of Representatives, and his Generals that are +living, and who desire, are holding official positions of some kind. +What does this argue? Does it not notify us who have made sacrifices +for this Union that our services are no longer desired, and that we are +waste material, of no further use for any purpose? + +“Who could have believed, while the war was going on, that this state +of things could ever have existed? Suppose this picture had been held +up before my seven dead sons when they entered the service. Suppose +they could have seen their mother's dream realized--all in their graves +beside their mother, and their father living on the charities of a +grandchild, laughed at in the streets by young men when speaking of +the wrongs inflicted by the rebellion, and told that this is of the +past--how many of them do you suppose would have gone right up to the +enemy's guns and been shot down in their young manhood? + +“Suppose Gen. Tom Anderson could have seen a howling mob murdering his +family and no punishment for the murderers; would he have risked his +life hunting up the Knights of the Golden Circle and chancing it in +battle, as he did, for his country, that the rebels might control it, +and that, too, through the influence of the North, whose all was at +stake, and whose fortunes were saved and protected by such men as he? I +doubt if patriotism would have gone so far. Can you find me the patriot +to-day that, deep down in his heart, likes this condition of things?” + +“Yes; but Uncle Daniel, these men are not rebels now. They are +Democrats,” said Maj. Clymer. + +“Yes, true; but they are no more Democrats now than they were then, and +they were no less Democrats then than they are now. But I should not say +more; I have had trouble enough. Why should I grieve for the condition +of things which were not expected? I and mine have paid dearly for this +lesson. I hope it may never fall to the lot of any one else to pass +through such an experience. I shall see but little more trouble. May God +forgive all and protect the right.” + +[Illustration: Death of Uncle Daniel 456] + +Uncle Daniel here ceased speaking and sank back in his chair. His +granddaughter came into the room. Seeing him, she screamed and fell upon +his neck. We moved quickly to him. 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