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THE 
 
 SPY S. REBELLION; 
 
 BEING 
 
 A TRUE HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SPY SYSTEM OF THE UNITED STATES 
 ;-., ' - ARMY ... : 
 
 DURING THE LATE REBELLION. 
 
 REVEALING MANY SECRETS OF THE WAR 
 HITHERTO NOT MADE PUBLIC. 
 
 COMPILED FROM OFFICIAL REPORTS 
 
 PREPARBD FUR 
 
 PRESIDENT LINCOLN, GENERAL McCLELLAN AND TUB 
 PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL. 
 
 BY 
 
 ALLAN PINKERTON, 
 
 WHO 
 
 (UNDER THE NOM-DE-PLUME OF MAJOR E. j. ALLEN) 
 CHIEF OF THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. 
 
 WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1888, BY 
 
 W. Dillingham, Publisher^ 
 
 SUCCESSOR TO G. W. CARLETON & Co. 
 
 MDCCCLXXXVIII. 
 [SOLD ONLY BY SUBSCKIPTION,j 
 
 OBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORffiA 
 DAVIS 
 
COPYRIGHT* 
 
 ALLAN PINKERTON. 
 1883. 
 
CONTENTS^ 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 An Unwritten Page of History. A Political 
 Abraham Lincoln is Elected Pt j^iient. 
 
 33 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Opposition to Mr. Lincoln's Inauguration. A Plot t* 
 Assassinate Kim. The Journey frt,m Springfield, 
 Illinois. . . . . . 45 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Tkt Conspirators at Work. Detectives on their Trail. 
 Webster as a Soldier. . . . $1 
 
xii r CONTENTS.^ 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Conspirators in Council. My Operative Joins the 
 Conspiracy. * . r - ,., ,.,. 74 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Presidential Party Arrives in Philadelphia. Inde- \ 
 pendence Hall. The Departure from Harrisburg. 
 Telegraph Wires Cut. Through the Lines of Trea 
 son. Safe Arrival at Washington. . ~ . * Si 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 1 
 
 My Connection with the Rebellion. Timothy Webster 
 
 Accepts a Mission. \ 104 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 * Webster on his Way to the Capital Wrecked Trains 
 and Broken Bridges. An Adventure with a Cav 
 alryman. A Rebel Emissary. President Lincoln 
 i and Timothy Webster. . . . .114 
 
 \ \ 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 -\ 
 
 Ttmotky Webster in Washington. The Return to Phila 
 delphia. I go to the Capital. An Important Letter. 131 
 
! CONTENTS. xin 
 
 'CHAPTER ix. 
 
 An Adventure in Pittsburg. A Mob at Bay. An Ex 
 planation. Good Feeling Restored. . . .143 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 General McClellan in Command of Ohio. / am Engaged 
 for the War. The Secret Service. A Consultation. 
 -Webster Starts for Rebeldom. . . 151 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Webster Fraternizes with the Rebel Officers. A Seces 
 sion Hat. A Visit to a Rebel Camp. <c The Com 
 mittee of Safety" A Friendly Stranger. A 
 Warning. The Escape. . . .168 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 1 Take a Trip to the South. Danger in Memphis. A 
 Timely Warning. A Persistent Barber. An Un 
 fortunate Memory. Return to Cincinnati. .182 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 East and West Virginia. Seceding from Secession. 
 My Scouts in Virginia. A Rebel Captain Enter* 
 tains "My Lord" -An Old Justice dines witk} 
 
l f CONTENTS. 
 
 Royalty. A Lucky Adventure. A Runaway Horse. 
 A Rescue. ..... 2O 3 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 The Reids Attempt to Occupy West Virginia. General 
 McClellan Ordered to Drive Them Out. Early 
 Battles. The Federals Victorious. West Virginia 
 Freed from Rebel Soldiers. .... 227 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 General McClellan is Called to Washington, and Placed 
 in Command of the Armies after the Battle of Bull 
 R un . The Secret Service Department. Its Duties 
 and Responsibilities. . . 2 37 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 A Female Traitor. Suspicious Correspondence. A Close 
 Watch under Difficulties. / am Arrested. Expos 
 ure of the Treason of a Trusted Officer. A Dis 
 graced Captain. . . . . .250 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Timothy Webster in Baltimore. An Encounter with A 
 Fire-eater. Webster Defends Himself. Treason 
 Ramfant in the Monumental City. . . . 271, 
 
CONTENTS. 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Webster Makes a Journey to the South. A Secret Organ- 
 \ ization. T/ie " Knights of Liberty "Webster Be 
 comes a Member. A Sudden Intrusion of t/te Mili 
 tary. T/te Conspiracy Broken Up. . . . 283 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Suspicions in Washington. " Unch Gallus" Property 
 Searched. A Rebel Family sent South. Webster 
 Starts for Richmond. . . . . 301 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 The Spy at Richmond. Earthworks Around the Rebel . 
 Capital. An Unexpected Meeting. Pistols for Two. ' , 
 A Reconciliation. Safe Return to Washington. . 314 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Again in Baltimore. A Warning. The Spy is Ar 
 rested. And Escapes. , r . 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 I \ 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 FA 38 
 
 Webster and Scobell.- A Negro as a Spy. A Traitor 
 Deserts from the Army. He Carries Dispatches to 
 tlte Rebels. Which Fail of Their Destination. An 
 Attack in the Woods. "The Loyal League" Slaves 
 as Patriots. . 343 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 A Negro Spy. Passage on a Steam-Packet. Lyrical 
 Melodies. Scobell Deserts the Ship. His Tramps 
 Through Rebeldom. . . . . 35 8 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 A Perilous Ride. A Suspicious Peddler. Uncle Callus 
 Again. Scobell Investigating. Doubts and Suspi 
 cions. ... . . . . 367 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 The Journey Resumed. A Midnight Pursuit. A Brave 
 Woman. A Deadly Encounter. Scobell Defends 
 Himself. Death of a Rebel Spy. . .381 
 
CONTENTS. 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 YAM 
 
 Woman* s Discoveries. An Infernal Machine. The 
 Shipping in Danger. Discovery and Destruction of 
 the Submarine Battery. . * . . 394 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 Stuttering Dave:' -His Tramp Through the Rebel 
 Lines. An Ammunition Train. "Dave's" Plan 
 Succeeds in its Destruction. A Man who Stuttered 
 and "Had Fits" . . . . .404 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 Another Trip to Richmond. A .Rebel General Taken In. 
 Curtis Makes Valuable Acquaintances. " The " 
 Subterranean Headquarters" . . 4*4 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 A Virginia Home. Unwelcome Visitors. Mr. Har court 
 ~ Arrested and Released. Dan McCowan makes Forc 
 ible Love to Mary Har court. The Girl in PerU. 
 A Timely Rescue. The Villain Punished. . . 409 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 Cttrtis Again on His Travels. A Loving Episode Dan 
 McCowan Again Turns up. The Capture of Curtis. 
 A Fight for Life. And Escape. A Bit of Mat 
 rimony. ...... 445 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 JfcClellan and his Enemies. The Peninsula Campaign.* '< 
 Tlie Rebel Forces Before Richmond. The Union 
 Forces Outnumbered by the Enemy, and their Com 
 mander Hampered by Superiors. An Honest Opin 
 ion. . . . . . . .457 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 Writer's Expedition. His Gallantry. A Stormy 
 
 sage. A Mysterious Package. Treason Discove+fd 
 mnd Punished. . . . . . . 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 in Washington. Webster's Journey Through the 
 Smth. His Return to tJie Capital. . . . 
 
CONTENTS. ' \ [jtl 
 
 'CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 Webster's Last Mission. Anxiety at his Long Absence. 
 No Tidings of the Faithful Scout. Operatives Sent 
 in Search of Him. Webster III in Richmond. 485 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 JfcClellan and the Government. Lewis and Scully Ar 
 rested as Spies. An Attempted Escape. Trial and 
 Conviction. Condemned to Die. Before t/te Gallows 
 their Mouths are Opened. .... 498 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 Webster Arrested as a Spy. A Woman's Devotion , and 
 a Patriots Heroism. Webster is Convicted. The i 
 Execution. A Martyr's Grave. , . 530 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 The Defeat of General Pope at the Second Battle of Ma- 
 nassas. McClellan Again Called to the Command. 
 The Battle of Antietam.A Union Victory. A Few 
 Tlwughts About the Union Commander. McClel- 
 laris Removal from Command, and His Farewell 
 Address. . . . 561 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 tuam 
 
 Gfittral Burnside in Command. My Connection with the 
 Secret Service Severed. Reflections upon Important 
 Events. Conclusion. .... 579 
 
 APPENDIX. ^ <v * f ' 547 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 FAGl 
 
 ALLAN PINKERTON AND GENERAL MCLELLAN 
 
 IN PRIVATE CONSULTATION. . Frontispiece 
 THE OATH TO ASSASSINATE THE PRESIDENT . 65 
 SWEARING IN OF HOWARD ..... 76 
 
 LINCOLN RAISING THE OLD FLAG. , . . 87 
 THE DEPARTURE FOR WASHINGTON. . . 94 
 SAFE ARRIVAL. ...... 98 
 
 ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE WEBSTER. . . . 146 
 
 A VISIT TO A REBEL CAMP. . . .171 
 TIMELY WARNING. ...... 195 
 
 THE BARBER'S RECOGNITION ..... 201 
 
 AN ENGLISH LORD AND A REBEL CAPTAIN. 215 
 CAPTURED * BY THE GUARDS. .... 260 
 AN ENCOUNTER VTITH A FIRE-EATER. . . 277 
 
xxil LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 A SUDDEN INTRUSION OF THE MILITARY. . 299 
 
 THE SPY is ARRESTED 334 
 
 ESCAPE OF THE SPY 339 
 
 SCOBELL ENGAGED AS DECK-HAND ON A 
 
 STEAMBOAT. 364 
 
 DEATH OF A REBEL SPY 389 
 
 TIMELY INTERRUPTION TO A LOVE SCENR . 441 
 WEBSTER'S GALLANT BRAVERY. . . . 474 
 WEBSTER DISCOVERS A MYSTERIOUS PACKAGE. 475 
 
 THE PRISONERS RECAPTURED 522 
 
 WEBSTER'S DEATH WARRANT. .... 542 
 A .NARROW ESCAPE. . 569 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XT EARLY a score of years have passed since the 
 * ^ occurrence of the events related in the follow 
 ing pages. The " Rebellion," with its bloody scenes, 
 has ended, and the country is at peace. The grass is 
 waving green and beautiful over many Southern 
 fields that once ran with human blood, as the con 
 tending forces met in the deadly encounter. The 
 birds are carolling sweetly in the air, which then was 
 laden with the clarion notes of the trumpet ; the 
 fierce, wild yell of assaulting soldiery ; the booming of 
 cannon, and the groans of the wounded and dying, 
 The merchant, the mechanic, and the husbandman 
 have returned to the pursuits which they followed 
 before the dark clouds of war had overshadowed this 
 fair land, and they shouldered their muskets in 
 defense of the Union. From the desolation and the 
 ravages of war, the country has emerged into the 
 
 [MiiiJ , 
 
PREFACE. j 
 
 sunshine of abiding peace, and now, in the evening 
 twilight, the gray-haired veterans gather around their 
 family hearthstones to repeat the stones of bravery 
 and devotion associated with those trying hours of 
 their country's history. 
 
 In the twilight of my days I have been tempted 
 to the recitals which follow, and in relating my 
 experiences as the Chief of the Secret Service of the 
 Government during the Rebellion, I have been 
 governed by a desire to acquaint the public with the 
 movements of those brave men who rendered invalu 
 able service to their country, although they never 
 wore a uniform or carried a musket. Working 
 quietly, and frequently under diguises, their assist 
 ance to the Union commanders was of incalculable 
 advantage, and many acts of courage and daring were 
 performed by these men which, until now, have never 
 been revealed. Indeed, as to my own nom-de-plume, 
 " E. J. Allen," many of the officers of the army and 
 officials of the Government, with whom I was in con 
 stant communication, never knew me by any other 
 /name, and the majority of them are to this day in I 
 ignorance of the fact that E. J. Allen, late Chief of , 
 the Secret Service, and Allan Pinkerton are one and 
 the same person. 
 
 During the progress of the struggle, and the year* 
 
PREFA CE, rrr 
 
 which have since elapsed, many of my old acquaint 
 ances, who held important positions in the army and 
 in governmental departments, have passed away from 
 earth. Some of them falling- in the heat of battle, 
 in the courageous discharge of duty, while others, 
 passing through the fiery ordeal, have died amid 
 the comforts and the charms of home. 
 
 President Lincoln, Edwin M. Stanton, William 
 H. Seward and Salmon P. Chase, all giants in their 
 day, have departed from the sphere of their useful 
 ness, and have gone to their long home. Soldiers 
 and civilians, generals and privates, with whom I was 
 connected, and their name is legion, have taken up 
 their journey to " that bourne from whence no traveler 
 e'er returns." 
 
 In detailing the various events w r hich follow, I 
 have been careful to offer nothing but that which 
 actually transpired. I have avoided giving expres 
 sion to any thoughts or feelings of antagonism to the 
 South, because the time for such utterances has 
 passed. Indeed, except for the existence of slavery, 
 I always cherished a warm affection for the Southern 
 people. But this institution of human bondage 
 always received my most earnest opposition. Believ 
 ing it to be a curse to the American nation, and an 
 
 *. 
 
 evidence of barbarism, no efforts of mine were ever 
 
PREPACK 
 
 spared in behalf of the slave, and to-day I have not 
 a single regret for the course I then pursued. 
 
 Many times before the war, when I was associated 
 with those philanthropise spirits who controlled the 
 so-called " Underground Railroad," I have assisted 
 in securing safety and freedom for the fugitive slave, 
 -no matter at what hour, under what circumstances, 
 or ?.t what cost, the act was to be performed. John 
 1'rown, the white-haired abolitionist of Kansas fame, 
 was my bosom friend ; and more than one dark night 
 has found us working earnestly together in behalf of 
 the fleeing bondman, who was striving for his 
 liberty. After his gallant effort at Harper's Ferry, 
 and while he was confined in a Virginia prison, my 
 efforts in his behalf were unceasing; and had it not 
 been for the excessive watchfulness of those having 
 him in charge the pages of American history would 
 never have been stained with a record of his execu 
 tion. As it is, though his fate may have been in 
 accordance with the decrees of the laws then existing, 
 ! can recall with all the old enthusiasm that I then 
 experienced, the thundering effect of thousands of 
 our brave "boys in blue," joining in that electric war 
 cry, the refrain of which was : 
 
 " John Brown's body lies mouldering in the grave, 
 But his scul goes marching along.'' 
 
PREFACE. xrdi 
 
 while they hurried in solid phalanx to meet the 
 enemy upon the field of battle. 
 
 In the preliminary chapters, I have detailed with 
 accuracy the facts connected with the conspiracy to 
 assassinate Abraham Lincoln, when he was first elected 
 to the Presidency. The part I took in discovering 
 the existence of that plot and the efforts of my men 
 in ferreting out the prime movers of that murderous 
 compact, are told for the first time in these pages, 
 and the correctness of their relation is undoubted ; 
 though in the dark days that followed, the bullet of 
 the assassin removed the martyred President, while 
 engaged in the fulfillment of his mission. I cannot 
 repress a sense of pride in the fact, that at the com 
 mencement of his glorious career I had averted the 
 blow that was aimed at his honest, manly heart. 
 
 In the events which transpired during the years 
 1861 and 1862, I took an active part. From the 
 
 T l 
 
 early clays of April until after the battle of Antietani 
 had been fought and won, I was connected with the 
 military operations of the government. In Washing 
 ton I acted under the directions of the Secretaries 
 of War, and Colonel Andrew Porter, the provost- 
 marshal ; and in the field, I was under the immediate 
 direction of General George B. McClellan. 
 
 My relations with the various departments were 
 
always of the most cordial and confidential character, 
 
 * 
 To particularize in this matter is almost impossible ; 
 
 but I cannot refrain from mentioning, in the highest 
 terms of respect and friendship, Colonel Thomas 
 A. Scott of Pennsylvania. In the early days of the 
 nation's peril, he occupied the position of Assistant 
 Secretary of War. In him I always found a warm 
 friend and advocate, and in many emergencies his 
 prompt and intelligent action was most potent in ac 
 complishing good results in that era of confusion, of 
 doubt and hesitation. 
 
 Of my service with the military department while 
 in active duty, little needs to be said here. From the 
 lime of his commission by Governor Dennison of 
 Ohio, to the day when he was relieved, after his 
 splendid victory at Antietam, I followed the fortunes 
 of General McClellan. Never doubting his ability or 
 his loyalty always possessing his confidence and 
 esteem, I am at this time proud and honored in rank 
 ing him foremost among my invaluable friends. 
 When secret enemies were endeavoring to prejudice 
 the mind of the President against his chosen com- I 
 mander ; when wily politicians were seeking to be- \ 
 little him in the estimation of the people, an^ when 
 jealous minded officers were ignorantly criticising 
 his plans of campaign, General McClellan pursued 
 
1' RE FACE. xxix 
 
 his course with unflinching courage and with a devo 
 tion to his country unsurpassed by any who have 
 succeeded him, and upon whose brows are entwined 
 the laurels of the conqueror. 
 
 His marvelous reorganization of the army, the 
 enthusiasm with which his presence invariably in 
 spired the soldiers under his command, and the grand 
 battles which he fought against enemies in front 
 and in rear, have all passed into history and to-day 
 the intelligent and unprejudiced reader finds in a 
 calm and dispassionate review of his career, an ample 
 and overwhelming justification of his course as a 
 loyal and capable commander-in-chief 
 
 Self-constituted critics, whose avenues of informa 
 tion were limited and unreliable, have attempted to 
 prove that the force opposed to General McClellan 
 was much less than was really the case ; and upon this 
 hypothesis have been led into unjust and undeserved 
 censure of the commanding general. From my own 
 experience, I know to the contrary. My system of 
 obtaining knowledge upon this point was so thorough 
 and complete, my sources of information were so 
 varied, that there could be no serious mistake in the 
 estimates which I then made and reported to General 
 McClellan. From every available field the facts were 
 gleaned. From prisoners of war, contrabands, loyal 
 
xxx PREFACE. 
 
 Southerners, deserters, blockade-runners and from 
 actual observations by trustworthy scouts, my esti 
 mates were made, and to-day I affirm as strongly as 
 I then did, that the force opposed to General Me- 
 Clellan before Richmond approximated nearer to 
 200,000 men, than they did to the numerous esti 
 mates of irresponsible historians who have placed the 
 strength of the rebel forces at that time below 
 100,000 men. In this connection I must refer also 
 to the valuable assistance rendered both General Mc- 
 Clellan and myself by that indefatigable Aid de-camp 
 Colonel Key. Though he no longer mingles with 
 the things of earth, the memory of his devotion and 
 his intelligent services to the cause of the Union is 
 imperishable. No truer, braver man ever drew a 
 sword than did this noble and efficient staff officer, 
 now deceased. 
 
 Of Timothy Webster, who so ably assisted me in 
 my various and delicate duties, and whose life was 
 sacrificed for the cause he held so dear, I have only 
 words of warmest commendation. Brave, honest and 
 intelligent, he entered into the contest to perform his 
 whole duty, and right nobly did he fulfill his pledge. 
 No danger was too great, no trust too responsible, 
 no mission too delicate for him to attempt, and 
 though executed as a spy in a Richmond prison, his 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 name shall ever be cherished with honor and friend 
 ship by whose who know his worth, and who appre 
 ciated the unswerving devotion of a loyal heart. No 
 dishonor can ever attach to the memory of a patroit 
 who died in the service of his country. 
 
 The events narrated have all occurred. The re 
 cord is a truthful one. Although not so complete as 
 I could wish, they must serve the purpose for which 
 they are intended. In the disastrous fire which swept 
 over Chicago in 1871, my records were mainly de 
 stroyed, and to this fact must be attributed the failure 
 to more elaborately detail the multitudinous opera 
 tions oi f my men. -With the able assistance of Mr, 
 George H. Bangs, my efficient General Superinten 
 dent, ''we did what we could," and the approbation 
 of our commanding officers attest the efficiency of 
 our efforts. 
 
 After leaving the service, the conduct of the war 
 passed into other hands. Other men were chosen to 
 the command of the armies, and other sources of in 
 formation were resorted to. Succeeding battles have 
 been fought, defeats have been sustained, victories 
 have been achieved, and the war is happily ended. 
 The stave is free, and in the enjoyment of the rights 
 of citizenship. The country is at peace, her prosperity 
 is assured, and now that passion and prejudice have 
 
TTTJJ 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 died away, and honest judgments are given of the 
 events that have transpired, I leave to the impartial 
 reader, and historian, the question whether the course 
 I pursued, and the General whom I loved and faith 
 fully served, are deserving of censure, or are entitled 
 to the praises of a free and enlightened people. 
 
 ALLAN PINKERTON. 
 
THE SPY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE REBELLION 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 * A n Unwritten Page of History." A Political 
 Mr. Lincoln is Elected President. 
 
 MANY years have elapsed since the occurrence 
 of the events which I am about to relate. 
 Years that have been full of mighty import to the 
 nation. A bitter, prolonged and bloody war has laid 
 its desolating hands upon a once united country. 
 For years the roar of cannon and the clash of steel 
 reverberated through the bright valleys and the 
 towering hills of the fruitful South. In those years 
 when brother arose against his brother, when ties of 
 kindred and association were broken asunder like frail 
 reeds, glorious deeds were wrought and grand results 
 have been accomplished. America has taught the 
 world a lesson of bravery and endurance ; the shackles 
 i to] 
 
34 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 have been stricken from the slave ; an error of a 
 
 century has been crushed, and freedom is now no 
 longer an empty name, but a beautiful and enduring 
 realism. 
 
 To-day peace spreads her broad, sheltering arms 
 over a reunited and enlightened nation. The roll of 
 the drum and the tramp of armed men are now no 
 longer heard. North and South have again clasped 
 hands in a renewal of friendship and in a perpetuity 
 of union. 
 
 But a short time ago a Republican President, 
 elected by but a slight majority of the voters of this 
 igreat community, left his peaceful home in the West 
 ,and journeyed to the capital of the nation, to take 
 tthe oath of office and to assume the high duties of 
 ,a chief magistrate. As he passed through the 
 towns and cities upon his route a general plaudit 
 of welcome was his greeting, even noted political 
 <foes joining in the demonstrations. His road was 
 arched with banners and his path was strewn with 
 iflowers. Everywhere he found an enthusiasm of 
 welcome, a universal prayer for success, and the 
 triumphal train entered the capital amid the ovations 
 of the populace, which reached almost a climax of 
 patriotic and effervescing' joy. 
 
 Twenty years ago witnessed a different condition 
 of affairs. The political horizon was dark and ot> 
 :scured. The low mutterings of the storm that was 
 soon to sweep over our country, and to deluge our 
 
fS ELECTED PRESIDENT. 35 
 
 fair land with fratricidal blood, were distinctly heard 
 Sectional differences were developing into wide 
 spread dissensions. Cherished institutions were 
 threatened with dissolution, and political antagonism 
 had aroused a contented people into a frenzy of hate. 
 
 On the twenty-second of May, 1856, an Ameri 
 can Senator was assaulted in the Senate-house by 
 a political opponent for daring to give utterance 
 to opinions that were hostile to the slave-holding 
 interests of the South. Later in the same year a 
 Republican candidate, with professed anti-slavery 
 views, was nominated for the presidency, and al 
 though defeated, gave evidence of such political 
 strength that Southern leaders became alarmed. 
 
 At this time the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas was a 
 prominent leader of the Democratic party, but 
 through his opposition to what was known as the Le- 
 compton BiJl, he incurred the displeasure of his polit 
 ical friends of the South, who vainly endeavored to 
 enact such legislation as would practically lead to his 
 retirement from the party. 
 
 In 1858 the famous contest between Abraham 
 Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas for the United 
 States Senatorship from Illinois took place, and dur 
 ing its progress absorbed public attention throughout 
 the country. The two candidates indulged in open 
 discussions of questions of public policy, which were 
 remarkable for their brilliancy and for the force and 
 vigor with which their different views were uttered 
 
36 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 It was during this canvass that Mr. Lincoln made the 
 forcible and revolutionizing declaration that : " The 
 Union cannot permanently endure half slave and half 
 free." Mr. Lincoln was defeated, however, and Mr, 
 Douglas was returned to the Senate, much against 
 the wishes of those Democrats who desired the un 
 limited extension of the institution of Slavery. 
 
 In the following year occurred the slave insurrec 
 tion in Virginia, under the leadership of that bold 
 abolitionist, John Brown. The movement was frus 
 trated, however, and John Brown, after a judicial trial 
 for his offense, was sentenced to be hung. Up to 
 the day of his execution he remained firm in the belief 
 that he had but performed his duty toward enslaved 
 humanity, and he died avowing the justice of his 
 cause and the hope of its ultimate success. 
 
 All of these occurrences tended to engender a 
 spirit of fierce opposition in the minds of the South 
 ern leaders. The growing sentiment of abolitionism 
 throughout the North, and the manifest disposition to 
 prevent its increase or extension, aroused the advo 
 cates of Slavery to a degree of alarm, which led to 
 the commission of many actions, both absurd and 
 unjustifiable. i 
 
 The year of 1860 opened upon a scene of political 
 agitation which threatened to disrupt long united as 
 sociations, and to erect sectional barriers which ap 
 peared almost impossible to overcome. 
 
 In April, 1860, the Democratic National Conven* 
 
fS ELECTED PRESIDENT. |y 
 
 tion assembled in Charleston, South Carolina, for the 
 purpose of nominating a candidate for the presidency. 
 During its session loud and angry debates occurred, 
 in which the Southern element indeavored to obtain 
 a strong indorsement of the institution of Slavery, 
 and of the right to carry slaves into the Territories of 
 the United States. They were met by the more con 
 servative portion of the party, who desired to leave 
 the question to be decided by the States themselves. 
 After a prolonged discussion the majority of the 
 Southern States withdrew their delegates from the 
 convention, and the remainder proceeded to ballot for 
 a candidate of their choice. 
 
 After a protracted sitting, during which several 
 ballots were taken and no decided result obtained, the 
 convention adjourned, to meet in the city of Balti 
 more on the eighteenth day of June succeeding. 
 Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, received a large per 
 centage of the votes that were cast, but failed to 
 obtain a sufficient number to secure his nomina 
 tion. 
 
 The withdrawing delegates organized a rival con 
 vention, but, without transacting any business of a de 
 cisive character, also adjourned, to meet in Baltimore 
 at a date nearly coincident with that of the regular 
 body. 
 
 On the nineteenth day of May, the Constitutional 
 Union (being the old American) party held their con 
 vention in the city of Baltimore, and nominated John 
 
S 8 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Bell, of Tennessee, for President, and Edward Everett, 
 of Massachusetts, for the Vice-Presidency, 
 
 The Republican Convention was held on the 
 sixteenth day of May, in the city of Chicago, and upon 
 the third ballot nominated Abraham Lincoln, of Illi 
 nois, for the office of President, and Hannibal Ham- 
 lin, of Maine, for the second office. 
 
 This convention also adopted a platform very 
 pronounced upon the subject of Slavery, and which 
 was calculated to give but little encouragement to the 
 extension or perpetuity of the slave-holding power. 
 
 On the eighteenth day of June the regular Demo 
 cratic Convention assembled, pursuant to adjourn 
 ment, in the city of Baltimore, and named Stephen 
 A. Douglas, of Illinois, and Herschel V. Johnson, of 
 Georgia, as their standard-bearers in the political 
 conflict that was to ensue. 
 
 On the twenty-eighth day of the same month the 
 seceding delegates met in the same city, and after 
 pronouncing their ultra views upon the question of 
 Slavery, nominated John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky 
 (then theVice-President of the country), and General 
 Joseph Lane, of Oregon, as the candidates of their 
 choice. 
 
 The lines of battle were now drawn, and from 
 that time until the election, in November, a fierce 
 contest was waged between the opposing parties. 
 Never before in the history of parties was a canvass 
 conducted witli more bitterness or with a greater 
 
75 ELECTED PRESIDENT. 59 
 
 amount of vituperation. The whole country was 
 engrossed with the gigantic struggle. Business inter 
 ests, questions of finance and of international import 
 were all made subservient to the absorbing considera 
 tion of the election of a national President. 
 
 The Southern " Fire-eaters," as they were called, 
 fully realized their inability to elect the candidates 
 they had named, but strove with all their power to 
 prevent the success of the regular Democratic nomi 
 nees, and when at last the day of election came, and 
 the votes were counted, it was found that the Repub 
 lican party had been victorious and that Abrahm 
 Lincoln had been elected. 
 
 In many portions of the South this result was 
 hailed with joyful enthusiasm. The anti-slavery pro 
 clivities of the successful party was instantly made a 
 plausible pretext for secession and the withdrawal of 
 the slave-holding States from the Union was boldly 
 advocated. 
 
 The same power that threatened in 1856, in the 
 words of Governor Wise of Virginia : " That if Fre 
 mont had been elected, he would have marched at 
 the head of twenty thousand men to Washington, and 
 taken possession of the capital, preventing by force 
 Fremont's inauguration at that place" was again 
 aroused, and an open opposition to the Republican 
 inauguration was for a time considered. 
 
 The absorbing and exciting question in the South 
 was : " Would the South submit to a Black Repub- 
 
40 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 lican President and a Black Republican Congress T 
 and the answer to the question was a loud and deci 
 sive negative. 
 
 Among the bolder advocates of secession the elec 
 tion of Mr. Lincoln was regarded with pleasure, and 
 meetings were held in Charleston, rejoicing in the 
 triumph of the Republican party. Secession and dis 
 union were loudly advocated, and the slave oligarchy 
 of South Carolina regarded this event as the oppor 
 tunity to achieve her long-cherished purpose of break 
 ing up the Union, and forming a new confederacy, 
 founded upon the peculiar ideas of the South. 
 
 Says Horace Greeley : " Men thronged the streets, 
 talking, laughing, cheering, like mariners long be 
 calmed upon a hateful, treacherous sea, when a sud 
 den breeze had swiftly wafted them within sight of 
 their looked for haven, or like a seedy prodigal, just 
 raised to affluence by the death of some far-off, un 
 known relative, and whose sense of decency is not 
 strong enough to repress his exultation." 
 
 Open threats were made to withdraw at oni:e from 
 the Union, and these demonstrations seemed to find 
 sympathy among other nations than our own, and 
 soon foreign intrigue was hand and glove with domes 
 tic treason, in the attempt to sap the foundations of 
 our government, and seeking peculiar advantages from 
 its overthrow. 
 
 It is unnecessary to detail the various phases of 
 this great agitation, which, firing the Southern heart 
 
JS ELECTED PRESIDENT 41 
 
 kh the frenzy of disunion, finally led to the seces 
 sion of t the .Southern States. Various compromises 
 were attempted, but all failed of beneficial result 
 The " masterly inactivity " of the administration con* 
 tributed in no small degree to the accomplishment of 
 this object, and in the end the Southern Confederacy 
 was organized and Jefferson Davis was elected as its 
 President. 
 
 The Palmetto waved over the custom-house and 
 post-office at Charleston ; government forts and 
 arsenals were seized by the volunteers to the South 
 ern cause, and on February i, 1861, the Federal mint 
 and custom-house at New Orleans were taken posses 
 sion of by the secessionists. 
 
 The removal of Major Anderson from Fort Moul- 
 trie to the more secure stronghold of Fort Sumter, 
 in Charleston harbor, had been accomplished, and as 
 yet no measures had been taken by the government 
 to prevent further demonstrations of a warlike charac 
 ter on the part of the Southern Confederacy. The 
 administration remained passive and inert, while every 
 effort was being made to calm' the public fears of hos 
 tilities, and the organization of an open revolt. 
 
 The city of Baltimore was, at this time, a slave- 
 holding city, and the spirit of Slavery was nowhere 
 else more rampant and ferocious. The mercantile and 
 social aristocracy of that city had been sedulously and 
 persistently plied, by the conspirators for disunion, 
 with artful and tenpting suggestions of her future 
 
4f ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 greatness and advancement as the chief city of the 
 new government. 
 
 If a Confederacy composed of the fifteen slave* 
 holding States was organized, Baltimore, it was urged, 
 would naturally be the chief city of the new Republic, 
 In time it would become the rival of New York, and 
 occupy to the Confederacy the same relations which 
 New York does to the Union, and would be the great 
 ship-building, shipping, importing and commercial 
 emporium. 
 
 These glittering prophecies had not been uttered 
 without effect. The ambition of the aristocracy was 
 aroused. Already they saw the ocean whitened with 
 her sails, and the broad domain of Maryland adorned 
 with the palaces reared from her ample and ever-ex 
 panding profits. Under these hallucinations, their 
 minds were corrupted, and they seemed eager to rush 
 into treason. 
 
 Being a border State, Maryland occupied a posi 
 tion of particular importance. Emissaries were sent 
 to her from South Carolina and elsewhere, and no 
 effort was spared to secure her co-operation in these 
 revolutionary movements. It is to be regretted that 
 they were too successful, and the result was that the 
 majority of the wealthier classes and those in office 
 were soon in sympathy with the rebellion, and the 
 spirit of domestic treason, for a time, swept like a 
 tornado over the State. 
 
 Added to the wealthier classes was the mob 
 
75 ELECTED PRESIDENT. 
 
 element of the city of Baltimore reckless and 
 unscrupulous, as mobs generally are and this portion 
 of her community were avowedly in full accord with 
 the prospective movement, and ready to do the 
 bidding of the slave power. Between these, however, 
 there existed a great middle class, who were loyally 
 and peacefully inclined. But this class, large as it 
 was, had hitherto been divided in their political 
 opinions, and had as yet arrived at no common and 
 definite understanding with regard to the novel 
 circumstances of the country and the events which 
 seemed to be visibly impending. 
 
 The government of the city of Baltimore was 
 under the control of that branch of the Democracy 
 who supported Breckinridge, and who had attained 
 power under a popular cry for reform, and it was soon 
 learned that these leaders were deep in the counsels 
 of the secessionists. 
 
 The newspaper press was no small factor of this 
 excitement their utterances had much to do in lead 
 ing public opinion, and though their efforts " to fire 
 the Southern heart," many were led to sanction the 
 deeds of violence and outrage which were contem 
 plated. 
 
 Especial efforts had been made to render Mr. 
 Lincoln personally odious and contemptible, and his 
 election formed the pretexts of these reckless con* 
 spirators, who had long been plotting the overthrow 
 of the Union. No falsehood was too gross, no .state* 
 
14 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 
 
 merit too exaggerated, to be used for that purpose, 
 and so zealously did these misguided men labor in the 
 cause of disunion, and so systematically concerted 
 was their action, that the mass of the people of the slave 
 States were made to believe that this pure, patient, 
 humane, Christian statesman was a monster whose 
 vices and passions made him odious, and whose 
 political beliefs made him an object of just abhorrence. 
 This was the condition of affairs at the dawning 
 of the year 1861. 
 
 A COUNCIL OF WAR. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 Opposition to Mr. Lincoln s Inauguration. A Plot te Assassi* 
 nate him. Tht Journey from Springfield. 
 
 WITH the opening of the new year, the political 
 condition evinced alarming symptoms. As 
 the day of the inauguration of the new President drew 
 near, the excitement became intense. Loud threats 
 were made that Mr. Lincoln should never be per 
 mitted to take the oath of office, and the hostility of 
 the South manifested itself in such a manner as to 
 excite the fears of those who desired the peaceful 
 solution of the important question of continued 
 union. 
 
 The events about to be related have been for a 
 long time shrouded in a veil of mystery. While 
 many are aware that a plot existed at this time to 
 assassinate the President-elect upon his contemplated 
 journey to 'the capital, but few have any knowledge 
 * of the mode by which the conspiracy was detected, or 
 the means employed to prevent the accomplishment 
 of that murderous design. 
 
 Considerations which affected the personal safety 
 of those who actively participated in this detection, 
 precluded a disclosure at the time, but that such a 
 
 Us] 
 
46 A PLOT TO 
 
 conspiracy existed no doubt can be entertain' d. Now, 
 hovvover, that the dark clouds have passed away, and 
 the bright sunshine of an enduring peace is throwing 
 its bcneficient rays over a united country, the truth 
 may be disclosed, and a desire to peruse a hidden 
 page of history may now be gratified. 
 
 Early in the year 1861 I was at my headquarters 
 in the city of Chicago, attending to the manifold duties 
 of my profession. I had, of course, perused the daily 
 journals which contained the reports of doings of the 
 malcontents of the South, but in common with others, 
 I entertained no serious fears of an open rebellion, 
 and was disposed to regard the whole matter as of 
 trivial importance. The same tones had been listened 
 to before, and although the disunionists had hitherto 
 never taken such aggressive steps, I was inclined to 
 believe that with the incoming of the new administra 
 tion, determined or conciliatory measures would be 
 adopted, and that secession and rebellion would be 
 either averted or summarily crushed. 
 
 At this time I received a letter from Mr. Samuel 
 H. Felton, the president of " The Philadelphia, V/il- 
 mington and Baltimore Railroad," requesting my 
 presence in Philadelphia upon a matter of great im 
 portance. From his communication it appeared that 
 rumors were afloat as to the intention of the roughs 
 and secessionists of Maryland to injure the road of 
 which he was the President. From what had already 
 been learned, it was feared that their designs were to 
 
ASSASSINATE THE PRESIDENT.} 47 
 
 prevent travel upon the road either by 'destroying the 
 ferry-boars which then carried the trains across the 
 Susquehanna river at Havre de Grace or by demol 
 ishing the railroad bridges over the Gunpowder river 
 and other streams. This road was the great con 
 necting link between the metropolis of the country 
 and the capital of the nation, and it was of the utmost 
 importance that no interruption should be permitted 
 to the free communication between Washington and 
 the great cities of the North and West. 
 
 This letter at once aroused me to a realization of 
 the danger that threatened the country, and I deter 
 mined to render whatever assistance was in my 
 power towards preventing the successful operation of 
 these ill-advised and dangerous men. 
 
 I lost no time, therefore, in making my arrange 
 ments, and soon after receiving Mr. Felton's commu 
 nication, in company with four members of my force 
 was upon the train speeding towards Philadelphia. 
 Upon arriving in that city, I went directly to the 
 office of Mr. Felton and obtained from him all the in 
 formation he possessed of the movements and designs 
 of the Maryland secessionists. I also had a consul 
 tation with Mr. H. F. Kenney, the superintendent of 
 the road, with reference to a plan of operation which 
 I proposed, and which was considered would result in 
 obtaining the information so much to be desired. 
 
 I resolved to locate my men at the various towns 
 along ihe road selecting such places where, it was 
 
48 A PLOT TO 
 
 believed, disaffection existed. With a view, therefore, 
 of acquiring the facts necessary for an intelligent prose 
 cution of the inquiry, I took passage on one of the trains 
 of the road, intending to see for myself how affairs 
 stood, arid to distribute my men in such a manner as to 
 me seemed best. 
 
 At the city of Wilmirgton, in Delaware, I found 
 evidences of a great political excitement, but nothing 
 that indicated a hostile disposition or which led me 
 to believe that any danger was to be apprehended at 
 this place. Nothing that savored of organization was 
 apparent, and I was therefore compelled to look fur 
 ther for the existence of any antagonism to the rail 
 road or any desire to prevent the running of their 
 trains. 
 
 At Perryville I found the same excitable condi 
 tion of affairs, but nothing of a more aggressive 
 character than at Wilmington. Men indulged in 
 fierce arguments, in which both sides were forcibly 
 represented, but aside from this I discovered no 
 cause for apprehension, and no occasion for active 
 detective work as yet. 
 
 At Havre de Grace, however, the lines were more 
 clearly drawn and the popular feeling much more bit 
 ter. It was at this point that the boats which carried 
 the trains crossed the Susquehanna river, and where 
 serious damage might be done to the company, 
 should the ferries be destroyed. I therefore left one 
 man at this place, with instructions to become ao- 
 
' ASSASSINATE THE PRESIDENT. 49 
 
 quainted with such men as he might, on observation, 
 consider suspicious, and to endeavor to obtain from 
 them, by association, a knowledge of their intentions. 
 
 At Perrymansville, in Maryland, the feeling was 
 considerably more intense. Under the influence of 
 bad men the secession movement had gained many 
 supporters and sympathizers. Loud threats were ut 
 tered against the railroad company, and it was boast 
 fully asserted that "no d d abolitionist should be 
 allowed to pass through the town alive." 
 
 I have always found it a truism that "a barking 
 dog never bites," and although I had but little fear 
 that these blatant talkers would perform any danger 
 ous deeds, I considered it best to be fully posted as 
 to their movements, in order to prevent a catastrophe, 
 if possible. 
 
 I accordingly directed Timothy Webster, a daring 
 and discreet man upon my force, to locate himself at 
 this point, and to carefully note everything that 
 transpired which had any relation to attempted vio* 
 lence or a disposition to resort to aggressive meas 
 ures. . i 
 
 As I neared the city of Baltimore the opposition 
 to the government and the sympathy with secession 
 was manifestly more intense. At Magnolia, particu 
 larly, I observed a very dangerous feeling, and among j 
 men of all classes the general sentiment was in favor 
 of resistance and force. Another operative, John 
 Seaford, was accordingly left at this place, with ia- 
 
jo A PLOT TO 
 
 itructions similar to those which had been given to 
 the others. 
 
 I then proceeded on to Baltimore, and there I 
 found the greatest amount of excitement that I had 
 yet experienced. I took quarters at the Howard 
 1 louse, and proceeded to inquire closely and carefully 
 into the political situation. I soon found that the 
 fears of the railroad officials were not wholly without 
 foundation. The opposition to Mr. Lincoln's inaugu 
 ration was most violent and bitter, and a few days* 
 sojourn in this city convinced me that great danger 
 was to be apprehended, and that the sentiment of dis 
 union was far more widespread and deeply rooted 
 than I had before imagined. 
 
 The police force of the city was under the control 
 tof Marshal George P. Kane, and was almost entirely 
 ..composed of men with disunion proclivities. Their 
 leader was pronouncedly in favor of secession, and 
 iby his orders the broadest license was given to dis- 
 .orderly persons and to the dissemination of insurrec 
 tionary information. This individual was subse- 
 quently arrested, and, after a brief sojourn in Fort 
 r ,McHenry, fled in 1863 to the more congenial associ 
 ations of Richmond. 
 
 From the knowledge I gained of the situation in 
 Baltimore, I resolved to establish my headquarters in 
 tthat city. I accordingly engaged a building situated 
 >on South street, and in a position where I could re- 
 <cive prompt reports from all quarters of the metroj> 
 
ASSASSINATE THE PRESIDENT. 51 
 
 olis. I also sent for an additional force of 
 whom I distributed among the people of all grade/a 
 and conditions of life. The building I had selected 
 was admirably adapted for my purpose, and was so 
 constructed that entrance could be gained to it front 
 all four sides, through alleyways that led in from 
 neighboring streets. 
 
 Day by day, the reports of my men contained 
 many important revelations of the designs of the 
 opposition, and as a matter of additional precaution, 
 I advised Mr. Felton to employ a small number of 
 men to guard the various bridges and ferries, who 
 could be warned in time to resist attack should such 
 be made. 
 
 The chief opposition seemed to be to the inaugu 
 ration of President Lincoln, and the plan of the con 
 spirators was to excite and exasperate the popular 
 feeling against the President-elect to the utmost, and 
 so successfully had this been done that a majority 
 of the wealthier classes, with few exceptions those in 
 office and the mob element in general were in full 
 accord in their desire to prevent the inauguration 
 from taking place. 
 
 On the eleventh day of February, Mr. Lincoln, 
 with a few of his personal friends, left his quiet home j 
 in Springfield to enter upon that tempestuous politi 
 cal career which eventually carried him to a martyr's 
 grave. Among the party who accompanied the 
 President were Norman B. Judd, Esq., CoL Ward 
 
p A PLOT TO 
 
 H. Lamon, Judge Davis, Col. Sumner, a brave and 
 impetuous officer, Major Hunter, Capt. John Pope, 
 Col. Ellsworth, whose heroic death took place shortly 
 afterwards, and John G. Nicolay, the President's 
 private secretary. 
 
 As the President was about leaving his home, the 
 people turned out en masse to bid him farewell, and 
 to them Mr. Lincoln addressed the following pathetic 
 words of parting : 
 
 " My Friends : No one who has never been placed 
 in a like position can understand my feelings at this 
 hour, nor the oppressive sadness I feel at this part 
 ing. For more than a quarter of a century I have 
 lived among you, and during all that time I have 
 received nothing but kindness at your hands. Here 
 I have lived from youth until now I am an old man ; 
 here the most sacred ties of earth were assumed ; 
 here all my children were born, and here one of them 
 lies buried. To you, dear friends, I owe all that I 
 have, and all that I am. All the strange checkered 
 past seems now to crowd upon my mind. To-day I 
 leave you. I go to assume a task 'more difficult than 
 that which devolved upon Washington. Unless the 
 great God who assisted him shall be with me and aid 
 me, I must fail ; but if the same Omniscient Mind and 
 Almighty Arm that directed and protected him shall 
 guide and support me, I shall not fail I shall sue j 
 ceed. Let us all pray that the God of our fathers 
 may not forsake us now. To Him I commend you 
 alL Permit me to ask that with equal sincerity and 
 faith you will invoke His wisdom and guidance for 
 
.4'B 'tJt'B PRESIDENT. 53 
 
 me. With these few words I must leave you, for 
 how long I know not Friends, one and all, I must 
 bid you an affectionate farewell." 
 
 How touchingly simple and earnest seem these 
 words. A strange and almost weird presentiment of 
 giief and suffering give his utterances a pathos that 
 becomes profoundly impressive when linked with 
 subsequent events. How prophetic too full of tears 
 and fraught with the prescience of a future terrible 
 and bloody war they bear yet an echo like that of 
 the voice that sounded in the ear of Halleck's dying 
 hero for surely in their tones are heard the thanks 
 of millions yet to. be. How more than prophetic they 
 seemed when, four years later, " a funeral train, 
 covered with the emblems of splendid mourning, 
 rolled into the same city, bearing a corpse whose 
 obsequies were being celebrated in every part of the 
 civilized world." 
 
 From Springfield the passage was a perfect con 
 tinuous ovation. Cities and towns, villages and 
 hamlets, vied with each other in testifying their 
 devotion to Union and their determination to uphold 
 the chief magistrate in the great trial before him. 
 Immense crowds surrounded the stations at which . 
 the special train halted, and in the cities of Indi 
 anapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Pittsburg, Cleveland, 
 Erie, Buffalo, Albany, New York, Trenton, New 
 ark, Philadelphia and Harrisburg, public demon- 
 strations of an imposing character were given in hia 
 
54 A PLOT TO 
 
 honor, and vast concourses of people assembled to 
 greet him. Everywhere he was received and honored 
 as the chief of a free people, and in reply to compli 
 mentary addresses which he day by day received, the 
 President endeavored to utter cheering words, and 
 indicated a disbelief in any bloody issue of our 
 domestic complications. 
 
 On the day prior to the departure of Mr. Lincoln 
 from his home, I received a letter from the master 
 mechanic of the railroad, of which the following is an 
 extract : 
 
 "I am informed that a son of a distinguished 
 citizen of Maryland said that he had taken an oath 
 with others to assassinate Mr. Lincoln before he gets 
 to Washington, and they may attempt to do. it while he 
 is passing over our road. I think you had better look 
 after this man, if possible. This information is 
 perfectly reliable. I have nothing more to say at 
 this time, but will try to see you in a few days." 
 
 This communication was confirmatory of reports 
 of an indefinite character which had reached me prior 
 to this, and the information was far too important to 
 be disregarded. I determined, therefore, to probe 
 the matter to the bottom, and obtaining the authority 
 of Mr. Felton for such action, I immediately set about 
 the discovery of the existence of the conspiracy and 
 the intention of its organization, and then, if coolness, 
 courage and skill could save the life of Mr. Lincoln, 
 and prevent the revolution which would inevitably 
 
ASSASSINATE THE PRESIDENT. 55 
 
 follow his violent death, I felt sure of accomplishing 
 it 
 
 My plans were soon perfected, and they were to 
 have several of my men, together with myself, an 
 nounced as residents of Charleston and New Orleans, 
 and by assuming to be secessionists of the most ultra 
 type, to secure entrance into their secret societies and 
 military organizations, and thus become possessed of 
 their secret designs. In looking over the qualifica 
 tions of the members of my corps I found two men 
 admirably adapted to the object I had in view. They 
 were both young and both fully able to assume and 
 successfully cany out the character of a hot-blooded, 
 fiery secessionist. 
 
 One of these men, whom I shall call Joseph 
 Howard, was a young man of fine personal appear 
 ance, and of insinuating manners. He was of French 
 descent, and in his youth had been carefully educated 
 for a Jesuit priest, but finding the vocation distasteful 
 to him, he had abandoned it. Added to his collegiate 
 studies, he possessed the advantage of extensive 
 foreign travel, and the ability to speak, with great 
 facility, several foreign languages. He had a thorough 
 knowledge of the South, its localities, prejudices, 
 customs and leading men, which had been derived 
 from several years residence in New Orleans and 
 other Southern cities, and was gifted with the power 
 of adapiaiioii to persons whom they wish to influence, 
 fto popularly attributed to the Jesuits. 
 
5* A PLOT TO 
 
 Howard was instructed to assume the character of 
 an extreme secessionist, to obtain quarters at one of 
 the first-class hotels, and register his name, with 
 residence at New Orleans. This was done because 
 he was well acquainted with the city, having resided 
 there for a long time, and was consequently enabled 
 to talk familiarly of prominent individuals of that city 
 whom he had met. 
 
 The other man whom I selected for this impor 
 tant work was Timothy Webster. He was a man of 
 great physical stiength and endurance, skilled in all 
 athletic sports, and a good shot. Possessed of a 
 strong will and a courage that knew no fear, he was 
 the very man to operate upon the middle and lower 
 classes who composed the disunion element. 
 
 His subsequent career as a Union spy one of 
 the most perilous and thankless positions and hi3 
 ignominious death at Richmond, at the hands of the 
 rebels, have passed into history, but no historian will 
 ever relate the thousand perils through which he passed 
 in the service of his country ; of his boldness and in 
 genuity in acquiring information that was of incalcu 
 lable value to the Union officers, nor of his wonderful 
 fertility of invention, which frequently enabled him to 
 escape from dangers which would have appalled a 
 less brave or less devoted man. Arrested at last, he 
 was condemned as a spy, and on the thirtieth day of 
 April, 1862, he was executed in the City of Rich 
 mond, by order of Jefferson Davis. Even then he 
 
ASSASSINATE THE PRESIDENT. 57 
 
 wrould have succeeded in effecting a well-devised plan 
 of escape, had he not been rendered incapable of 
 movement by reason of a prostrating sickness. His 
 name is unknown to fame, but fewer hearts beat truer 
 to the Union, and fewer arms performed more de 
 voted service in its cause, and a record of his daring 
 and romantic adventures as a Union spy, would 
 certainly equal, if not surpass, those of the Harvey 
 Birch of Cooper. 
 
 It was not long before I received undoubted 
 evidence of the existence of a systematized organiza 
 tion whose avowed object was to assist the rebellious 
 States, but which was in reality formed to compass the 
 death of the President, and thus accomplish the 
 separation of the States. I learned also that a branch 
 of this conspiracy existed at Perrymansville, under 
 the guise of a company of cavalry, who met frequently 
 and drilled regularly. Leaving Harwood to operate 
 in Baltimore with the others, I dispatched Timothy 
 Webster back to Perrymansville, and in twenty-four 
 hours thereafter he had enrolled himself as a member 
 of the company, and was recognized as a hail fellow 
 among his rebel associates. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Conspirators at Work. Detectives on Theit Trail.* 
 Webster as a Soldier. 
 
 EVERY day reports would be brought to me 
 from the numerous men I had detailed along 
 the line of the railroad, and regularly on alternate 
 days I would make the journey from Baltimore to 
 Philadelphia for consultation with the officers of the 
 company. 
 
 At every visit which I made to the suspected 
 localities, I could not fail to notice an increase in the 
 excitement and the indications of a disposition to 
 open revolt became- more evident. Everywhere the 
 ruling principle seemed to be opposition to the new 
 administration and a decided inclination to aid the 
 Confederacy. As the daily papers, which chronicled 
 the events which occurred upon the journey of Mr. 
 Lincoln towards Washington, or the desperate move 
 ments of the Southern ringleaders, were perused by 
 the people, or were read aloud in tavern or store, 
 they would be greeted by alternate expressions of 
 hate and malignity for the abolitionist and wild cheers 
 for the rebellion. 
 
 This feeling, too, was largely increased by the 
 
DETEC2UVES ON THE TRAIL. 59 
 
 visits which prominent villagers would make to Balti 
 more, and who, upon their return, would relate 
 marvelous stories of what they had seen and heard 
 of the courage, the unity and the determination of the 
 Southern people. Everything calculated to inflame 
 the popular mind was seized upon, and the wonderful 
 spirit of invention which these men evinced was 
 simply astonishing. As a consequence, the ignorant 
 residents of these villages and towns, having no 
 authoritative information of their own, relied implic 
 itly upon the exaggerated statements and untruth 
 ful reports of their leaders, and were kept in a 
 condition of excitement that made them ready tools 
 of their unscrupulous and better-informed managers. 
 As far as could be learned, however, no definite plan 
 of action had been arranged, and no public outbreak 
 had as yet occurred 
 
 Barnum's Hotel, in Baltimore, appeared to be the 
 favorite resort of the Southern element. The visitors 
 from all portions of the South located at this house 
 and iri the evenings the corridors and parlors would 
 be thronged by the tall, lank forms of the long-haired 
 gentlemen who represented the aristocracy of the 
 slaveholding interests. Their conversations were 
 loud and unrestrained, and any one bold enough or 
 sufficiently indiscreet to venture an opinion contrary 
 to the righteousness of their cause, would soon find 
 himself in an unenviable position and frequently the 
 subject of violence. 
 
60 DETECTIVES ON THE TRAIL 
 
 As this hotel was so largely patronized by the so 
 called "Fire-eaters," I instructed Howard to go there 
 in order to secure quarters and to ingratiate himself 
 with these extremists. It was not long after this, 
 that, joining a company of gentlemen who were loudly 
 declaiming against the ruling powers of the country, 
 he entered into their discussion, and by blatant ex 
 pressions of the most rebellious nature, he was warmly 
 welcomed by the coterie and instantly made one of 
 their number. 
 
 Hailing as he did from New Orleans, his resi 
 dence was a ready passport to their favor and con 
 fidence, and his fine personal appearance, gentle 
 manly address and the fervor of his utterances soon 
 won the favor of those with whom he associ 
 ated. To a general inquiry he stated that private 
 affairs of a financial nature required his presence in 
 Baltimore, but as his acquaintance with the trust 
 worthy emissaries of rebeldom increased, he quietly 
 insinuated that affairs of a national character were 
 far more dear to him than individual interests or 
 private concerns. 
 
 By continued intercourse with these men, he 
 greatly increased the circle of his acquaintances, and 
 soon became a welcome guest at the residences of 
 many of the first families of that refined and aristo 
 cratic city. Here his accomplishments appeared to 
 the best advantage. His romantic disposition and 
 the ease of his manner captivated many of the sus- 
 
OF THE CONSPIRATORS. 61 
 
 ceptible hearts of the beautif-.il Baltimore belles, 
 whose eyes grew brighter in his presence, and who 
 listened enraptured to the poetic utterances which 
 were whispered into their ears under the witching 
 spell of music and moonlit nature. 
 
 lie gradually neared the circle of which Marshal 
 George P. Kane appeared to be the leader, and in a 
 short time he had succeeded in entirely winning his 
 confidence, and from this gentleman Howard acquired 
 many important items of information. The entire 
 police force of the city officers and men were in 
 full sympathy with the rebellion, and it became ap 
 parent to him that a strict watch was kept over every 
 man who expressed Northern opinions, or who 
 was not identified with the cause which they had 
 espoused. 
 
 To all of these arrangements Howard signified his 
 hearty indorsement, and by every means in his power 
 he sought to convince the leaders, of his full sympathy 
 with their efforts and his resolve to take a leading 
 part in the struggle that seemed to be impending. 
 
 Accepting the invitation of Mr. Kane, he one 
 evening accompanied that gentleman to a meeting of 
 one of the secret societies that then existed, the first 
 one he had succeeded in gaining entrance to. Arriv 
 ing at the place of assembly, he was surprised at the 
 many familiar faces which greeted him. Men whose 
 aristocratic doors had opened to his entrance and 
 whose social positions were unquestioned ; yourg 
 
DETECTIVES ON THE T 
 
 men who traced their lineage through several genera 
 tions, and whose wealth and intelligence gave them 
 a social status of no ordinary character, were found in 
 full accord and upon perfect equality with tradesmen, 
 artificers, and even with those whose vocation was 
 decidedly doubtful, and some of whom had heard , 
 the key of a prison lock turned upon them for offenses 
 committed in clays gone by. 
 
 The leader and President of this society was a 
 Captain Fernandina, who was known as one of the 
 most active of the conspirators. This individual * at 
 one time occupied the exalted position of a barber at 
 Barnum's Hotel, but treason and conspiracy had 
 elevated him to the station of a military captain whose 
 orders were to be obeyed, and a leader whose man 
 dates compelled respect. He was an Italian or of 
 Italian descent, and having lived in the South for a 
 number of years he was thoroughly impressed with 
 the idea of Southern wrongs, and that the election 
 of Mr. Lincoln was an outrage which must not be 
 tamely submitted to by the high-toned and chival 
 rous people of the South. 
 
 He was an enthusiast and fanatic, a dangerous 
 man in any crisis, and particularly so in the one now 
 impending, which threatened a civil war and all its 
 direful consequences. Educated with Italian ideas and 
 possessed of the temperament of his people, he openly 
 justified the use of the stiletto, and fiercely advocated 
 assassination as the means of preventing the Presi- 
 
OF THE CONSPIRATORS. 63 
 
 dent-elect from taking his seat in the executive chair. 
 He was also the captain of a military company which 
 drilled regularly and whose members were believed 
 to fully indorse the views of their chief. 
 
 At this meeting Fernandina delivered an address 
 which, for its treasonable nature and its violent oppo 
 sition to all laws, human or divine, has scarcely a 
 parallel. He boldly advocated the doctrine of State 
 rights ; he fiercely denounced the party who had suc 
 ceeded in obtaining power ; he inveighed in violent 
 language against the policy of the so-called abolition 
 ists, and his arraignment of Mr. Lincoln was most 
 vile and repulsive. As these words fell from his lips 
 the excitement became intense. Faces were eagerly 
 turned towards him, eyes glistened with the fires of 
 hate, and hands were clenched as though each one 
 present was imbued with the same feelings which 
 animated their sanguinary leader. 
 
 As he proceeded, overcome by the violence of his 
 emotions, he drew from his breast a long, glittering 
 knife, and waving it aloft, exclaimed : 
 
 " This hireling Lincoln shall never, never be Pres 
 ident. My life is of no consequence in a cause like 
 this, and I am willing to give it for his. As Orsini 
 gave his life for Italy, I am ready to die for the 
 rights of the South and to crush out the abolitionist." 
 
 As he stood before them, his black eyes flashing 
 with excitement, his sallow face pale and colorless 
 and his long hair brushed fiercely back from his low 
 
64 DETECTIVES ON THE TRAIL 
 
 forehead, he seemed a fitting representative of so 
 desperate a cause, and his influence over the assem 
 blage was wonderful to behold. Loud cheers and 
 wild clapping of hands greeted his utterances, and all 
 seemed in perfect accord with his declared intentions. 
 
 There could be no mistaking the fact, that the 
 object of these men was dangerous, and that they had 
 *u!ly determined to oppose and prevent the inaugura 
 tion of Mr. Lincoln, but the exact plan of operation 
 had not as yet been agreed upon. 
 
 Upon these facts being conveyed to me by How 
 ard on the following morning, I resolved to interview 
 this desperate leader of the conspiracy myself, and 
 endeavor to learn from him further particulars of 
 their movements and designs. 
 
 In the immediate vicinity of Barnum's Hotel at 
 that time there was a famous restaurant, popularly 
 known as "Guy's," and this place was much fre 
 quented by the secessionists who were in the city. 
 Fernandina spent much of his time there, either in 
 drinking or in consultation with his numerous politi 
 cal friends, who all seemed to regard him as an im 
 portant personage, and one who was eventually to 
 perform giant service in the cause. 
 
 JHoward having- effecting an introduction to Fer 
 nandina, and convinced him of his devotion to the 
 interests of the South, I experienced no difficulty in 
 obtaining the desired interview. About three o'clock 
 on the following afternoon Howard and myself care- 
 

OF THE CONSPIRATORS. 65 
 
 lessly entered the saloon, and were gratified to per 
 ceive that Fernandina was also there, accompanied by 
 several members of the military company which he 
 commanded. Walking directly up to these gentle 
 men, Howard introduced me as a resident of Georgia, 
 who was an earnest worker in the cause of secession, 
 and whose sympathy and discretion could be impli 
 citly relied upon. 
 
 Fernandina cordially grasped my hand, and we 
 all retired to a private saloon, where, after ordering 
 the necessary drinks and cigars, the conversation 
 became general, and to me, absorbingly interesting. 
 
 The question of assassinating the President was 
 freely discussed, and Captain Fernandina expressed 
 himself vehemently in its favor. 
 
 Some one in the party remarked : 
 
 44 Are there no other means of saving the South 
 except by assassination ?" 
 
 " No," replied Fernandina ; " as well might you 
 attempt to move the Washington Monument yonder 
 with your breath, as to change our purpose. He 
 must die and die he shall. And," he continued, 
 turning to Captain Trichot, a fellow-conspirator who 
 stood near, " if necessary, we will die together." 
 
 " There seems to be no other way," interposed 
 Howard, "and while bloodshed is to be regretted, it 
 will be done in a noble cause." 
 
 Fernandina gazed approvingly at Howard, and 
 then added : 
 
 f -*' 
 
66 DETECTIVES GN THZ I^IL 
 
 \ 
 
 " Yes, the cause is a noble one, and on that day 
 every captain will prove himself a hero. With the 
 first shot the chief traitor, Lincoln, will die, then all 
 Maryland will be with us, and the South will be for 
 ever free." 
 
 " But " said I, " have all the plans been matured, 
 and are there no fears of failure ? A misstep in so 
 important a direction would be fatal to the South 
 and ought to be well considered." 
 
 "Our plans are fully arranged," answered the 
 Captain, "and they cannot fail; and," he added, with 
 a wicked gleam in his eyes '* if I alone must strike 
 the blow, I shall not hesitate or shrink from the task. 
 Lincoln shall certainly not depart from this city 
 -alive." 
 
 "Yes," added Captain Trichot, "it is determined 
 {that this G d d d Lincoln shall never pass through 
 ;here alive, and no d d abolitionist shall ever set foot 
 <upon Southern soil except to find a grave." 
 
 " But about the authorities " I asked " is there 
 ino danger to be apprehended from them ?" 
 
 "Oh, no," said the Captain, assuringly, "they 
 are all with us. I have seen Col. Kane, the Chief 
 Marshal of Police, and he is all right. In a week 
 from to-day the North shall want another President, 
 if or Lincoln will be a corpse." 
 
 All the company gave approving responses to 
 tthese threats, with but one exception, and he re- 
 jgnained silent, with a doubtful, troubled expression 
 
OF THE CONSPIRATORS. y 
 
 upon his face/ This young man was one of the fast 
 "bloods" of the city, who proudly wore upon his 
 breast a gold Palmetto badge, and who was a Lieu 
 tenant in the Palmetto Guards, a secret military 
 organization of Baltimore, and I determined to select 
 this man for the purpose of obtaining the information 
 I so much desired ; and as the company shortly after 
 wards broke up, Howard and myself accompanied 
 Lieutenant Hill from the saloon. 
 
 Hill soon proved a pliant tool in our hands. Be 
 ing of a weak nature and having been reared in the 
 lap of luxury, he had entered into this movement 
 more from a temporary burst of enthusiasm and be 
 cause it was fashionable, than from any other cause. 
 Now that matters began to assume such a warlike 
 attitude, he was inclined to hesitate before the affair 
 had gone too far, but still he seemed to be enamored 
 with the glory of the undertaking. 
 
 By my directions Howard, the ardent secession 
 ist from Louisiana, and Hill, of the Palmetto Guards, 
 became bosom friends and inseparable companions. 
 They drank together, and visited theaters and places 
 of amusement in each other's company. 
 
 By reason of his high social position Hill was e- 
 abled to introduce his friend to the leading families 
 and into the most aristocratic clubs and societies of 
 which the city boasted, and Howard made many valu 
 able acquaintances through the influence of this rebel 
 lious scion of Baltimore aristocracy. 
 
*l DETECTIVES ON THE TRAIL 
 
 Finally the young man was induced to open to 
 his companion the secrets of the plot to assassinate 
 the President. It was evident, however, that Hill 
 was playing his part in the conspiracy with great re 
 luctance, and one day he said to Howard : 
 
 " What a pity it is that this glorious Union must 
 be destroyed all on account of that monster Lincoln." 
 From Hill it was learned that the plans of the con 
 spirators were first to excite and exasperate the pop 
 ular feeling against Mr. Lincoln to the utmost, and 
 thus far this had been successfully accompanied. 
 From the published programme Mr. Lincoln was to 
 reach Baltimore from Harrisburg by the Northern 
 Central Railroad on the twenty-third day of February, 
 now but a few days distant. He would, therefore, 
 reach the city about the middle of the day. A vast 
 crowd would meet him at the Calvert street depot, at 
 which point it was expected that he would enter an 
 open carriage and ride nearly half a mile to the Wash 
 ington depot. Here it was arranged that but a small 
 force of policemen should be stationed, and as the 
 President arrived a disturbance would be created 
 which would attract the attention of these guardians 
 of the peace, and this accomplished, it would be an 
 easy task for a determined man to shoot the Presi 
 dent, and, aided by his companions, succeed in making 
 his escape. 
 
 Agents of the conspirators had been dispatched 
 to all the principal Northern cities, to watch the 
 
OF THE CONSPIRATORS. *t 
 
 movements of the presidential party, and ready to 
 telegraph to Baltimore any change of route or delay 
 in arrival. A cipher had been agreed upon between 
 them, so that the conspirators could communicate 
 with each other without the possibility of detection,, 
 and everything seemed to be satisfactorily arranged 
 except to depute one of their number to commit the 
 fatal deed. This was to be determined by ballot, 
 and as yet no one knew upon whom might devolve 
 the bloody task. 
 
 Meanwhile, the idea of assassination was preying 
 heavily upon the mind of the Lieutenant of the Pal 
 metto Guards ; he grew sad and melancholy, and 
 plunged still deeper into dissipation. Howard had 
 now become a necessity to him and they were scarcely 
 ever separated. Under the influence of the master 
 spirit, the disposition of Hill underwent wonderful 
 changes. At times, he would be thoughtful and 
 morose, and then would suddenly break out into 
 enthusiastic rhapsodies. His sleep became tormented 
 with dreams in which he saw himself the martyr to a 
 glorious cause and the savior of his country. 
 
 At such times he would address himself t* 
 Howard, in the most extravagant language. 
 
 " I am destined to die," said he - one day, 
 "shrouded with glory. I shall immortalize myself 
 by plunging a knife into Lincoln's heart" 
 
 Howard endeavored to calm his transports, but 
 without avail. Raising himself to his full height, be 
 
fo DETECTIVES ON THE TRAIL 
 
 exclaimed : " Rome had her Brutus, why should not 
 we ? I swear to you, Howard, if it falls to me I 
 will kill Lincoln before he reaches the Washington 
 Mepot, not that I love Lincoln less, but my country 
 
 more." 
 
 As the day drew nearer for the arrival of the 
 President, he became more nervous and excited, and 
 would more frequently indulge in extravagant expres 
 sions, which would have been regarded as absurd, 
 but for the fact that he was but one of a large num 
 ber of fanatics, who seriously entertained the same 
 ideas of murder, and his expressions but the reflex of 
 others, more determined. 
 
 Timothy Webster was still at Perrymansville, 
 and by this time had fully identified himself with 
 the rebel cause, and the company of cavalry of which 
 he was a member. On several occasions he had 
 given undoubted indications of his loyalty and devo 
 tion to the South, and was generally looked upon as 
 a man who could be trusted. He became quite 
 intimate with the officers of the company, and 
 succeeded in gaining their entire confidence. As yet, 
 however, he had learned but little of the important 
 movement which we believed was in contemplation, as 
 all conversations upon that subject appeared to be 
 between the officers of the company, at their secret 
 meetings, to which he had not been able as yet to 
 gain an entrance. 
 
 At length one morning, after the usual daily drill, 
 
OP THE CONSPIRATORS. 71 
 
 and when the company had been dismissed, the 
 Captain addressed Webster and requested him to be 
 present at his house that evening, as he desired to 
 consult with him upon important affairs, at the same 
 time cautioning him to say nothing to any one con 
 cerning the matter. 
 
 Promptly at the time appointed Webster pre 
 sented himself at the residence of the Captain, and 
 was ushered into a room upon the upper floor, where 
 there were several men already assembled. The cur 
 tains had been drawn close, and heavy quilts had been 
 hung over the windows, which effectually prevented 
 any one from the outside from discovering a light in 
 the room. On his entrance he was introduced to the 
 gentlemen present, three of whom were unknown to 
 him, who were members of the secret league from 
 Baltimore, and who were evidently impressed with 
 the solemnity and importance of their undertaking. 
 They greeted Webster cordially, however, and made 
 room for him at the table around which they were 
 sitting. 
 
 A few minutes satisfied Webster as to the nature 
 of the meeting, and that it was a conclave of the con 
 spirators, who had met to discuss a plan of action. 
 Intensely eager as he was to acquire all possible in 
 formation, he was obliged to restrain his impetuosity 
 and to listen calmly to the developments that were 
 made. From what transpired that evening there 
 could be no doubt of the desperation of the men en- 
 
7* DETECTIVES ON THE TRAIL 
 
 gaged in the conspiracy, or of the widespread interest 
 which was taken in their movements. 
 
 The plans for the assassination of the President 
 had been fully matured, and only needed the selection 
 of the person to perform the deed, in order to carry 
 them into effect. In the meantime, however, other 
 important measures required attention and considera 
 tion. If the affair stopped simply with the assassina 
 tion of the President, but little, if any, good would be 
 accomplished. The North would rise as one man to 
 avenge the death of their leader, and they would only 
 hasten a disaster they were anxious to avoid. It 
 was necessary, therefore, that the work should be 
 thoroughly done, and the plan suggested was as 
 follows : 
 
 As soon as the deed had been accomplished in 
 Baltimore, the news was to be telegraphed along the 
 line of the road, and immediately upon the reception of 
 this intelligence the telegraph wires were to be cut, the 
 railroad bridges destroyed and the tracks torn up, in 
 order to prevent for some time any information being 
 conveyed to the cities of the North, or the passage of 
 any Northern men towards the capital. 
 
 Wild as the scheme was, it found instant favor 
 with the reckless men assembled together, and all 
 signified their hearty assent to the propositions and 
 offered their aid in successfully carrying them out 
 Among the most earnest in their protestations was 
 Timothy Webster and as he announced his intention 
 
OF THE CONSPIRATORS. y, 
 
 to perform his duty in the affair he was warmly con 
 gratulated 
 
 Matters were evidently getting warm, and but 
 fcttKi time **as left for action, 
 
 WARMING UP. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Conspirators in Council. My Operative Joins ike Con* 
 
 spiracy. 
 
 I HAD already written to Mr. Norman B. Judd 
 as the party reached Cincinnati, informing him 
 that I had reason to believe that there was a plot on 
 foot to murder the President on his passage through 
 Baltimore, and promising to advise him further as the 
 party progressed eastward. 
 
 This information Mr. Judd did not divulge to 
 any one, fearing to occasion undue anxiety or unneces 
 sary alarm, and knowing that I was upon the ground 
 and could be depended upon to act at the proper 
 time. 
 
 When the party reached Buffalo another note 
 from me awaited Mr. Judd, informing him of the 
 accumulation of evidence, but conveying no particu 
 lars. The party were now journeying towards New 
 York city, and I determined to learn all that there 
 was to learn before* many hours. 
 
 Previous to this, in addition to the men engaged 
 in Baltimore, I had sent for Mrs. Kate Warne, the 
 lady superintendent of my agency. This lady had 
 arrived several days before, and had already made 
 
 [74] 
 
THE CONSPIRATOR* f& COUNCIL. . 75 
 
 remarkable progress in cultivr.ting the acquaint 
 ance of the wives and daughters of the conspira 
 tors. 
 
 Mrs. Warne was eminently fitted for this task. 
 Of rather a commanding person, with clear-cut, 
 expressive features, and with an ease of manner that 
 was quite captivating at times, she was calculated to 
 make a favorable impression at once. She was of 
 Northern birth, but in order to vouch for her 
 Southern opinions, she represented herself as from 
 Montgomery, Alabama, a locality with which she was 
 perfectly familiar, from her connection with the detec 
 tion of the robbery of the Adams Express Company, 
 at that place. Her experience in that case, which is 
 fully detailed in " The Expressman and the Detec 
 tive," fully qualified her for the task of representing 
 herself as a resident of the South. 
 
 She was a brilliant conversationalist whrn so 
 disposed, and could be quite vivacious, but she also 
 understood that rarer quality in womankind, the art 
 ol being silent 
 
 The information she received was invaluable, but 
 as yet the meetings of the chief conspirators had not 
 been entered. Mrs. Warne displayed upon her 
 breast, as did many of the ladies of Baltimore, the 
 black and white cockade, which had been temporarily 
 adopted as the emblem of secession, and many hints 
 were dropped in her presence which found their way 
 to my ears, and were of great benefit to me. 
 
y* , THE CONSPIRATORS 
 
 i 
 
 As I have said, the Presidential party were in 
 Buffalo, and I had resolved upon prompt and decisive 
 measures to discover the inward workings of the 
 conspirators. Accordingly I obtained an interview 
 with Howard, and gave him such instructions as I 
 deemed necessary under the circumstances. He was 
 to insist upon Hill taking him to the meeting at which 
 the ballots were to be drawn, and where he, too, 
 would have an opportunity to immortalize himself, 
 and then, that being accomplished, the rest, would be 
 easy and all further danger would be over. 
 
 Accordingly, that day Howard broached the mat 
 ter to Hill in a manner which convinced him of his 
 earnestness, and the young Lieutenant promised his 
 utmost efforts to secure his admission. At five 
 o'clock in the afternoon they again met, and Hill 
 joyfully informed his companion that his request had 
 been granted, and that, upon his vouching for the 
 fidelity of his friend, he had succeeded in obtaining 
 permission for him to enter their society. 
 
 That evening Howard accompanied his friend 
 Hill to the rendezvous of the league, and as they 
 entered the darkened chamber, they found many of 
 the conspirators already assembled. The members 
 were strangely silent, and an ominous awe seemed to 
 pervade the entire assembly. About twenty men 
 comprised the number, but many entered afterward. 
 After a few preliminary movements, Howard was 
 conducted to the station of the President of the 
 
IN COUNCIL. 1J 
 
 assembly and duly sworn, the members gathering 
 around him in a circle as this was being done. 
 
 Having passed through the required formula, 
 ^Howard was warmly taken by the hand by his asso 
 ciates, many of whom he had met in the polite circles 
 of society. After quiet had been restored, the Presi 
 dent, who was none other than Captain Fernandina, 
 arose, and in a dramatic manner detailed the particu 
 lars of the plot. 
 
 It had been fully determined that the assassina 
 tion should take place at the Calvert street depot. 
 A vast crowd of secessionists were to assemble at 
 that place to await the arrival of the train with Mr. 
 Lincoln. They would appear early and fill the nar 
 row streets and passages immediately surrounding it. 
 No attempt at secrecy was made of the fact that the 
 Marshal of Police was conversant with their plans, 
 and that he would detail but a small force of police 
 men to attend the arrival, and nominally clear and 
 protect a passage for Mr. Lincoln and his suite. 
 Nor was the fact disguised that these policemen were 
 in active sympathy with the movement. George P. 
 Kane's animus was fully shown when he was subse 
 quently arrested by General Banks, and afterwards 
 became an officer in the rebel army. 
 
 When the train entered the depot, and Mr. Lincoln 
 attempted to pass through the narrow passage lead- 
 ing to the streets, a party already delegated were to 
 engage in a conflict on the outside, and then the 
 
78 THE CONSPIRATORS 
 
 pollf A/ie.n were to rush away to quell the disturbance. 
 '>: this moment^- the police being entirely withdrawn 
 Mr. Lincoln would find himself surrounded by a 
 dense, excited and hostile crowd, all hustling and 
 jamming against him, and then the fatal blow was to 
 be struck. \ 
 
 A swift steamer was to be stationed in Chesapeake 
 Bay, with a boat awaiting upon the shore, ready to 
 take the assassin on board as soon as the deed was 
 done, and convey him to a Southern port, where he 
 would be received with acclamations of joy and 
 honored as a hero. 
 
 The question to be decided this evening was : 
 " Who should do the deed ?" " Who should assume 
 the task of liberating the nation of the foul presence 
 of the abolitionist leader ?" For this purpose the 
 meeting had been called to-night, and to-night the im 
 portant decision was to be reached. 
 
 It was finally determined that ballots should be 
 prepared and placed in a box arranged for that pur 
 pose, and that the person who drew a red ballot 
 should perform the duty of assassination. 
 
 In order that none should know who drew the 
 fatal ballot, except he who did so, the room was ren 
 dered still darker, and every one was pledged to 
 secrecy as to the color of the ballot he drew. The 
 leaders, however, had determined that their plans 
 should not fail, and doubting the courage of some of 
 their number, instead of placing but one red ballot in 
 
IN COUNCIL. 79 
 
 the box, they placed eight of the designated color, 
 and these eight ballots were drawn each man who 
 drev; them believing that upon him, his courage, 
 strength and devotion, depended the cause of the 
 South each supposing that he alone was charged 
 with the execution of the deed. 
 
 After the ballots had been drawn the President 
 again addressed the assembly. He violently assailed 
 the enemies of the South, and in glowing words 
 pointed out the glory that awaited the man who would 
 prove himself the hero upon this great occasion, and 
 finally, amid much restrained enthusiasm, the meeting 
 adjourned, and their duties had thus far been accom 
 plished. 
 
 My time for action had now arrived ; my plans had 
 been perfected and I resolved to act at once. Taking 
 Mrs. Warne with me I reached New York city on the 
 same day that the presidential party arrived there, 
 and leaving Mrs. Warne to perfect arrangements, I 
 proceeded at once to Philadelphia. That evening 
 Mrs. Warne repaired to the Astor House and re 
 quested an interview with Mr. Judd. Her request 
 being granted, Mrs. Warne informed that gentleman, 
 that, fearing to trust the mail in so important a matter, 
 she had been delegated by me to arrange for a per 
 sonal interview, at which all the proofs relating to the 
 conspiracy could be submitted to him. It was sug 
 gested that immediately after the arrival of the party 
 in Philadelphia, I should inform Mr. Judd of my plans 
 
*o TflE CON'^PtRATORS IN COUNCIL. 
 
 for an interview, and that he would be governed ac 
 cordingly. 
 
 While they were conversing, Col. E. S. Sandford 
 President of the American Telegraph Company, 
 called, and was introduced by Mrs. Warne to Mr. 
 Judd. This gentleman had been made fully ac 
 quainted with what I had learned, and had promised 
 all the assistance within his power, and he accordingly 
 tendered to Mr. Judd his own personal service and 
 the unlimited use of the telegraph lines under his con 
 trol, for any communications he might desire to make. 
 
 On arriving at Philadelphia, I proceeded directly 
 to the office of Mr. Felton, and acquainted him with 
 all the information I had received, of the designs of 
 the conspirators with regard to Mr. Lincoln, and of 
 their intention to destroy the railroad should their 
 plot be successful. The situation was truly alarm 
 ing, and cautious measures were absolutely necessary. 
 It was therefore resolved to obtain an interview with 
 Mr. Lincoln, submit the facts to him, and be gov 
 erned by his suggestions, whatever they might be. 
 
 This interview took place on the 2Oth day of 
 February, and Mr. Lincoln was expected to arrive on 
 the following day. Great preparations had been 
 made for his reception, and the military, of which 
 Philadelphia was justly proud, were to escort the Pres 
 ident-elect from the depot to the Continental Hotel, 
 where quarters had been engaged for him, and where 
 he would receive the congratulations of the people. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 The Presidential Parly arrives in Philadelphia. 
 
 ence Hall. The Departure front Plarrisburg. Telegraph 
 wires Cut. Through the Lines of Treason and Safe 
 Arrival at Washington. 
 
 r I "HE twenty-first dawned bright and sunny, and 
 the streets were alive with the eager populace, 
 all anxious to do honor to the new President, and to 
 witness the scenes attendant upon his reception. In 
 due time the train containing the party arrived, and 
 after an informal welcome they took carriages, and, 
 escorted by the troops, the procession took up the line 
 of march for the hotel. Vast crowds lined the side 
 walks and the enthusiasm of the people was unbound 
 ed. The President graciously acknowledged their 
 courtesies as he passed along. On each side of the 
 carriage in which Mr. Lincoln was seated, accompa 
 nied by Mr. Judd, was a file of policemen, whose duty 
 it was to prevent the mass of people from pressing too 
 closely to the vehicle. As the procession reached the 
 corner of Broad and Chestnut streets, a young man 
 approached the file of policemen and endeavored to 
 attract the attention of the occupants of the carriage. 
 Finding this impossible, he boldly plunged through 
 (HI 
 
82 THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY 
 
 the ranks of the officers and coming to the side of 
 the carriage, he handed to Mr. Judd a slip of paper, 
 on which was written : 
 
 "St. Louis Hotel, ask for J. H. Hutchinson? 
 
 This young man was Mr. George H. Burns, an 
 attache of the American Telegraph Company and 
 confidential agent of E. S. Sandford, Esq., who acted 
 as my messenger, and who afterwards distinguished 
 himself for his courage and daring in the rebellion. 
 It is needless to add that J. H. Hutchinson was the 
 name I had assumed in registering at the hotel, in 
 order to avoid any suspicion or curiosity in case any 
 emissary of the conspirators should ascertain my real 
 name and thus be warned of the discovery of their 
 scheme. v 
 
 Shortly after the arrival of Mr. Lincoln at the 
 Continental, Mr. Judd was announced at the St. Louis 
 Hotel as desiring to see me. Mr. Felton was with me 
 at the time, and in a few minutes Mr. Judd made his 
 appearance. More than an hour was occupied in 
 going over the proofs which I produced of the exist 
 ence of the conspiracy, at the end of which time Mr. 
 Judd expressed himself fully convinced that the plot 
 was a-reality, and that prompt measures were required 
 to secure the safety of the President. 
 
 " My advice is," said I, after I had succeeded in 
 ^convincing Mr, Judd that my information was reliable 
 
WASHINGTON. 
 
 "that Mr. Lincoln shall proceed to Washington this 
 evening by the eleven o'clock train, and then once 
 safe at the capital, General Scott and his soldiery will 
 afford him ample protection." 
 
 44 1 fear very much that Mr. Lincoln will not 
 accede to this," replied Mr. Judd ; "but as the Presi 
 dent is an eld acquaintance and friend of yours and 
 has had occasion before this to test your reliability 
 and prudence, suppose you accompany me to die 
 Continental Hotel, and we can then lay this informa 
 tion before him in person and abide by his decision." 
 . This idea was at once adopted and we proceeded 
 to the hotel. Here we found the entrances blocked up 
 by a surging multitude which effectually prevented 
 our admission, and we were obliged to enter by the 
 rear of the building through a door used by the 
 iervants. 
 
 On reaching the room occupied by Mr. Judd 
 that gentleman summoned Mr. Nicolay, the Presi 
 dent's private secretary, and dispatched him with a 
 note requesting the presence of Mr, Lincoln upon a 
 matter of urgent importance. 
 
 The President at that time was in one of the large 
 parlors surrounded by a number of ladies and gentle 
 men, all eager to extend to him the hospitalities of 
 the city and to express their good wishes for the 
 success of his administration. Upon receiving the 
 message, however, he at once 'excused himself, and 
 forcing his way through the crowd came directly to us. 
 
*4 THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY 
 
 Up to this time Mr. Lincoln had been kept to 
 entire ignorance of any threatened danger, and as he 
 listened to the facts that were now presented to hin\ 
 a shade of sadness fell upon his face. He seemed 
 loth to credit the statement, and could scarce believe 
 it possible that such a conspiracy could exist. Slowly 
 he went over the points presented, questioning nfe 
 minutely the while, but at length finding it impossible 
 to discredit the truthfulness of what I stated to him. 
 he yielded a reluctant credence to the facts. 
 
 After he had been fully made acquainted with the 
 startling disclosures, Mr. Judd submitted to him the 
 plan proposed by me, that he should leave Philadelphia 
 for Washington that evening. 
 
 "But," added Mr. Judd, 4 'the proofs that have 
 just been laid before you cannot be published, as it 
 Trill involve the lives of several devoted men now on 
 Mr. Pinkerton's force, especially that of Timothy 
 Webster, who is now serving in a rebel cavalry 
 company under drill at Perrymausville in Mary 
 land" 
 
 Mr. Lincoln at once acknowledged the. correctness 
 of this view, but appeared at a loss as to what course 
 to pursue. 
 
 "You* will therefore perceive" continued Mr. ' 
 Judd "that if you follow the course suggested that 
 of proceeding to Washington to-night you w'll nec 
 essarily be subjected to the scoffs and sneers of your 
 enemies, and the disapproval of your friends who can- 
 
REACHES WASHINGTON. 5 
 
 not be made to believe in the existence of so despe 
 rate a plot" 
 
 " I fully appreciate these suggestions/' replied 
 Mr Lincoln, " and I can stand anything that is neces 
 sary, but," he added rising to his feet, " I cannot go 
 to-night. I have promised to raise the flag over 
 Independence Hall to-morrow morning, and to visit 
 the legislature at Harrisburg in the afternoon be 
 yond that I have no engagements. Any plan that 
 may be adopted that will enable me to fulfill these 
 promises I will accede to, and you can inform me 
 what is concluded upon to-morrow." 
 
 Saying which ,Mr. Lincoln left the room and 
 joined the people in the parlor. During the entire 
 interview, he had not evinced the slightest evidence 
 of agitation or fear. Calm and self-possessed, his 
 only sentiments appeared to be those of profound re 
 gret, that the Southern sympathizers could be so far 
 led away by the excitement of the hour, as to con 
 sider his death a necessity for the furtherance of their 
 cause. 
 
 From his manner, it was deemed useless to 
 attempt to induce him to alter his mind, and after a 
 few minutes' further conversation, which was partici 
 pated in by Mr. Sandford, who had entered the room, 
 1 left for the purpose of finding Thomas A. Scott, 
 Esq., the Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Central 
 Railroad, in order to make arrangements for the 
 carrying out of a plan which had occurred to me, and 
 
10 THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY 
 
 which would enable Mr. Lincoln to fulfill his engage 
 merits. 
 
 I was unable, however, to find Mr. Scott, but suc 
 ceeded in reaching Mr. G. C. Franciscus, the general 
 manager of the road, and at twelve o'clock that "night, 
 in company with that gentleman and Mr. Sac/^crd, 
 we called again upon Mr. Judd. 
 
 At this meeting a full discussion of the entire 
 matter was had between us, and after all possible 
 contingencies had been considered, the following 
 programme was agreed upon. 
 
 After the formal reception at Harrisburg had 
 taken place, a special train, consisting of a bag- 
 gage-car and one passenger-coach, should leave 
 there at six o'clock p. M. to carry Mr. Lincoln 
 and one companion back to Philadelphia ; this train 
 was to be under the immediate control of Mr. Fran 
 ciscus and Mr. Enoch Lewis, the general superm* 
 terxlent. In order to avoid the possibility of acci 
 dent, the track was to be cleared of everything be 
 tween Harrisburg and Philadelphia from half-past 
 five o'clock until after the passage of the special 
 train. Mr. Felton was to detain the eleven o'clock 
 p. M. Baltimore train until the arrival of the spe 
 cial train from Harrisburg, Mrs. Warne in the mean- | 
 time engaging berths in the sleeping-car bound for 
 Baltimore. 
 
 I was to remain in Philadelphia in order t!i*t 
 no accident might occur in conveying the President 
 
REACHES WASHINGTON. 87 
 
 i 
 
 from one depot to another, and Mr. Judd was to 
 manage the affair at Harrisburg. Everything that 
 could be suggested in relation to this matter was 
 fully considered, and having at length perfected 
 our plans, the party separated at half-past four o'clock 
 in the morning, fully prepared to carry out the pro 
 gramme agreed upon. 
 
 At six o'clock on the morning of the 22d, a 
 vast concourse of people assembled in front of 
 Independence Hall on Chestnut street, and at pre 
 cisely the hour appointed. Mr. Lincoln made his 
 appearance. With his own hands -he drew to the 
 top of the staff surmounting the edifice a beauti 
 ful new American flag, and as its Stripes and Stars 
 floated out gracefully to the breeze, the air was rent 
 with the shouts of the multitude and the music of 
 the band. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln's speech upon this occasion was 
 the most impressive and characteristic of any which 
 he had delivered upon his journey to the capital, 
 while a tinge of sadness pervaded his remarks, 
 never noticed before, and which were occasioned 
 no doubt by the revelations of the preceding night 
 He gave a most eloquent expression to the emo 
 tions and associations which were suggested by the 
 day and by the historic old hall where he then stood. 
 He declared that all his political sentiments were 
 drawn from the inspired utterances of those who 
 had sat within the walls of that ancient edifice. 
 
88 THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY 
 
 - -^ 
 
 He alluded most feelingly to the dangers and toils 
 and sufferings of those who had adopted and made 
 good the Declaration of Independence a declara 
 tion which gave promise that "in due time the 
 weight would be lifted from the shoulders of all 
 men." Conscious of the dangers that threatened his 
 country, and feeling also that those dangers originated 
 in opposition to the principles enunciated in the 
 Declaration of Independence, knowing that his own 
 life was even then threatened because of his devotion 
 to liberty, and that his way to the national cap 
 ital was beset by assassins, he did not hesitate to 
 declare boldly and fearlessly " that he would rather 
 be assassinated on the spot than surrender those 
 principles " so dear to him. 
 
 After these proceedings, Mr. Lincoln was driven 
 back to the Continental Hotel, and sending for Mr. 
 Judd, he introduced him to Mr. Frederick H. Seward, 
 a son of the late William H. Seward, who was in the 
 room with the President. Mr. Lincoln then informed 
 Mr. Judd that Mr. Seward had been sent from Wash 
 ington by his father and General Scott to warn him 
 of the danger of passing through Baltimore, and to 
 urge him to come direct to Washington. 
 
 From whom this information was originally 
 obtained did not appear, but the facts were deemed 
 of sufficient moment to be brought to the ears of the 
 President, and hence Mr. Seward's visit to Philadel 
 phia. Mr. Lincoln evinced no further hesitancy in 
 
REACHES WASHINGTON. 85 
 
 
 
 the matter, and signified his readiness to do whatever 
 was required of him. Mr. Judd then directed Mr. 
 Seward to inform his father that all had been 
 arranged, and that, so far as human foresight could 
 predict, Mr. Lincoln would be in Washington before 
 the evening of the following day, and cautioned him 
 to preserve the utmost secrecy in regnrd to the matter. 
 No particulars were given and none were asked. 
 
 At the time appointed Mr. Lincoln started for 
 Harrisburg, and I busied myself with the preparations 
 that were necessary to successfully carry our plans 
 into operation. From reports which I received 
 from Baltimore, the excitement in that city had grown 
 more intense, and the arrival of the President was 
 awaited with the most feverish impatience. The 
 common and accepted belief was that Mr. Lincoln 
 would journey from Harrisburg to Baltimore over the 
 Northern Central Railroad, and the plans of the con 
 spirators were arranged accordingly. 
 
 It became a matter of the utmost importance, 
 therefore, that no intimation of our movements should 
 reach that city. I had no doubt but that trusty 
 agents of the conspirators were following the presi 
 dential party, and after the absence of Mr. Lincoln 
 had been discovered, the telegraph would be put into 
 active operation to apprise the movers of this scheme ^ 
 of the change that had been made. To effectually 
 prevent this I determined that the telegraph wires 
 which connected Harrisburg with her neighboring 
 
90 THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY 
 
 cities should be so " fixed " as to render communica 
 tion impossible. 
 
 To arrange this matter Capt. Burns was st- nt to 
 the office of the American Telegraph Company, and 
 obtaining from Mr. H. H. Thayer, the manager of 
 the company, a competent and trustworthy man for 
 the purpose, departed for Harrisburg, in order to 
 carry out the proposed measures. Mr. Thayer, in the 
 meantime, was to remain in the office during the 
 night, in order to intercept any dispatches that might 
 be sent over the wires from any point between 
 Harrisburg and Baltimore, and to immediately deliver 
 any messages that might be sent to me. 
 
 Mr. W. P. Westervelt, the superintendent, and 
 Mr. Andrew Wynne, the line-man of the telegraph 
 company, were delegated to Harrisburg to " fix" the 
 wires leading from that place in such a manner as to 
 prevent any communication from passing over them, 
 and to report to Capt. Burns up9n their arrival. 
 
 After the train containing Mr. Lincoln and his 
 party had left Philadelphia, Mr. Judd sought the first 
 favorable opportunity of conversing with Mr. Lincoln 
 alone, and fully detailed to him the plan that had 
 been agreed upon, all of which met with the hearty 
 approval of the President, who signified a cheerful wil 
 lingness to adapt himself to the novel circumstances. 
 
 It was evident, from the manner of several of th'fe 
 gentlemen of the party, that they suspected some 
 thing was transpiring of which they had not been ad- 
 
REACHES WASHINGTON, ; 91 
 
 vised, but they all very judiciously refrained from ask 
 ing any questions. Mr. Judd, however, who felt the 
 responsibility of his position, finally suggested to Mr. 
 Lincoln the' propriety and advisability of informing 
 them of what had taken place, and of consulting with 
 them upon the proper carrying out of the contem 
 plated journey. To this Mr. Lincoln yielded a ready 
 assent, adding, with an amused smile : 
 
 "I suppose they will laugh at us, Judd. but I 
 think you had better get them together." 
 
 It was therefore arranged that after the reception 
 at the State House had taken place, and before they 
 sat down to dinner, the matter should be fully laid 
 before the following gentlemen of the party : Judge 
 David Davis, Col. Sumner, Major David Hunter, 
 Capt. John Pope and Ward H. Lamon, Esq. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln arrived at Harrisburg at noon, and 
 was introduced to the people from the balcony of the 
 Jones House, where an address was delivered by Gov. 
 Andrew G. Curtin, whose fame became widespread 
 during the dark days of the rebellion that followed, 
 as the " War Governor of Pennsylvania." From the 
 hotel the party proceeded to the House of Repre 
 sentatives, where he was welcomed by the Speaker, to 
 which he replied in a few well-chosen words. 
 
 After a short time spent in congratulations and 
 hand-shaking they returned to the hotel, and the gen 
 tlemen who have been previously named were invited 
 (in company with the Governor) to confer with the 
 
9 a THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY 
 
 President in the parlor. At this meeting the iLforma* 
 tion of the discovery of the plot to assassinate the Presi 
 dent was laid before them, and also the details of the 
 proposed journey to Washington. After the matter 
 had been fully explained, a great diversity of opinion 
 manifested itself among the gentlemen present, and 
 some warm discussion was indulged in. Finally, Judge 
 Davis, who had expressed no opinion upon the subject 
 as yet, addressed the President, saying : 
 
 "Well, Mr. Lincoln, what is your own judgment 
 upon this matter?" 
 
 " I have thought over this matter considerably 
 since I went over the ground with Mr. Pinkerton last 
 night," answered Mr. Lincoln, "and the appearance of 
 Mr. Frederick Seward, with warning from another 
 source, confirms my belief in Mr. Pinkerton's state 
 ment ; therefore, unless there are some other reasons 
 than a fear of ridicule, I am disposed to carry out 
 Mr. Judd's plan." 
 
 Judge Davis turned to the others, and said : 
 
 " That settles the matter, gentlemen." 
 
 " So be it," exclaimed Col. Sumner. " It is 
 against my judgment, but I have undertaken to go to 
 Washington with Mr. Lincoln, and I shall do it." 
 
 Mr. Judd endeavored in vain to convince the gal 
 lant old so'dier that every additional person only 
 added to the risk, but the fiery spirit of the veteran 
 was aroused and debate was useless. 
 
 Having arranged the matter thus satisfactorily 
 
REACHES WASHINGTON. 93 
 
 the party, at about four o'clock in the afternoon, re 
 paired to the dining-room for dinner. 
 
 All the preliminaries had now been successfully 
 arranged. The special train, ostensibly to take the 
 officers of the railroad company back to Philadelphia, 
 was waiting upon a side track just outside of the 
 town. The telegraph operators had performed their 
 work admirably. Walking out of the city nearly two 
 miles, Mr. Wynne climbed the poles and placing fine 
 copper ground wires upon the regular lines, the city 
 was soon entirely isolated from her neighbors. No 
 message could possibly be sent from Harrisburg, and 
 the capital of Pennsylvania was cut off temporarily 
 from the rest of the world. 
 
 The preparations in Philadelphia had also been 
 fully made. Mrs. Warne had succeeded in engaging 
 the rear half of a sleeping-car for the accommodation 
 of her invalid brother, and that portion of the car was 
 to be entirely separated from the rest by a curtain, so 
 arranged that no one in the forward part of the car 
 would be aware of the occupants of the same coach. 
 
 In order to detain the Baltimore train until the 
 ^arrival of Mr. Lincoln, the conductor was directed 
 not to start his train until he received personal in 
 structions to that effect from Mr. H. F. Kinney, the 
 superintendent, who would hand him an important 
 parcel, which President Felton desired should be de 
 livered early on the following morning to Mr. E. J. 
 Allen at Wfflard's Hotel, in Washington. (E. J. 
 
94 THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY 
 
 AJi-tn was the nom-de-plume I generally used when 
 *>n detective operations.) 
 
 At a quarter to six o'clock everything was in read 
 iness. A carriage was in waiting at the side entrance 
 of the hotel, and the entire party were still at the 
 table. A message was delivered to the President by 
 Mr. Nicolay, and upon receiving it, he immediately 
 arose, and, accompanied by Mr. Curtin, Mr. Lamon 
 and Mr. Judd, he left the dining-room. Mr. Lincoln 
 exchanged his dinner dress for a traveling suit, and 
 soon returned with a shawl upon his arm and a soft 
 felt hat protruding from his coat pocket. 
 
 The halls, stairways and pavement were filled with 
 a mass of people, who, seeing the President in com 
 pany with the Governor, at once imagined that they 
 were going to the executive mansion, where a recep 
 tion was to be held in the evening. 
 
 Mr. Judd whispered to Mr. Lamon to proceed in 
 advance, adding : 
 
 " As soon as Mr. Lincoln is in the carriage, drive 
 off." 
 
 As the party, consisting of Mr. Lincoln, Governor 
 Curtin, and Mr. Lamon, entered the carriage, CoL 
 Sumner attempted to follow them, but Mr. Judd 
 gently put his hand upon the old gentleman's shoul 
 der, and as he turned quickly around to inquire what 
 was wanted, the carriage was driven rapidly away. 
 
 Thus far everything had passed off admirably, and 
 In a short time Mr. Lincoln was upon the special 
 
REACHES WASHINGTON. 95 
 
 train, accompanied only by Mr. Lamon and the rail 
 road officials, and speeding along toward Phi-ladel 
 phia. 
 
 Without accident the party arrived at the Quaker 
 City shortly after ten o'clock, where I was waiting 
 with a carnage, in company with Mr. Kinney. With 
 out a word Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Lamon and myself 
 entered the vehicle, while Mr. Kinney seated himself 
 alongside of the driver, and we proceeded directly to 
 the depot of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Balti 
 more Railroad. 
 
 Driving up to the sidewalk on Carpenter street, 
 and in the shadow of a tall fence, the carriage was 
 stopped and the party alighted. As we approached 
 the train, Mrs. Warne came forward, and, familiarly 
 greeting the President as her brother, we entered the 
 sleeping-car by the rear door without unnecessary 
 delay, and without any one being aware of the distin 
 guished passenger who had arrived. 
 
 A carefully inclosed package, which resembled a 
 formidable official document, but which contained 
 only some neatly folded daily papers, was placed in 
 the hands of the unsuspecting conductor the whistle 
 sounded, and soon the train was in motion, whirling 
 on towards the capital of the nation. 
 
 So carefully had all our movements been conducted, 
 that no one in Philadelphia saw Mr. Lincoln enter 
 the car, and no one on the train, except his own im 
 mediate party not even the conductor, knew of his 
 
96 THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY 
 
 presence, and the President, feeling fatigued from the 
 labors and the journeys of the day, at once retired to 
 his berth. 
 
 In order to prevent the possibility of accident, I had 
 arranged with my men a senes of signals along the 
 road. It was barely possible that the work of 
 destroying the railroad might be attempted by some 
 reckless individuals, or that a suspicion of our move 
 ments might be entertained by the conspirators, and 
 therefore, the utmost caution must be observed. 
 
 As the train approached Havre de Grace, I went 
 to the rear platform of the car, and as the train 
 passed on a bright light flashed suddenly upon my 
 gaze and was as quickly extinguished, and then J 
 knew that thus far all was well. 
 
 From this point all the way to Baltimore, at every 
 bridge-crossing these lights flashed, and their rays 
 carried the comforting assurance " All's Well !" 
 
 We reached Baltimore at about half-past three 
 o'clock in the morning, and as the train rumbled into 
 the depot an officer of the road entered the car and 
 whispered in my ear the welcome words " All's Well !" 
 
 The city was in profound repose as we passed 
 through. Darkness and silence reigned over all 
 Perhaps, at this moment, however, the reckless con- 
 spirators were astir perfecting their plans fora tragedy 
 as infamous as any which has ever disgraced a free 
 country perhaps even now the holders of the red 
 ballots were nerving themselves for their part in the 
 
REACHES WASHINGTON. 97 
 
 dreadful work, or were tossing restlessly upon sleep 
 less couches. 
 
 Be that as it may, our presence in Baltimore was 
 entirely unsuspected, and as the sleeping-car in which 
 we were, was drawn by horses through the streets 
 from the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore 
 depot, until we reached the Washington station, no 
 sign of life was apparent in the great slumbering city. 
 At the depot, however, a number of people were 
 gathered, awaiting the arrival and departure of the 
 various trains, and here the usual bustle and activity 
 were manifested. 
 
 We were compelled to remain here fully twa 
 hours, owing to the detention of the tr?in from the 
 \Vest, and during that time, Mr. Lincoln remained 
 quietly in his berth, joking with rare good humor witli 
 those around him. 
 
 Ever and anon some snatches of rebel harmony 
 would reach our ears, as they were rather discordantly 
 sung by the waiting passengers in and around the 
 depot " My Maryland " and " Dixie" appeared to 
 be the favorites, and once, after an intoxicated indi 
 vidual had roared through one stanza of the latter 
 song, Mr. Lincoln turned quietly and rather sadly to 
 me and said : 
 
 " No doubt there will be a great time in Dixie by 
 and by." 
 
 How prophetic his words were, the succeeding 
 years too fully proved 
 
98 THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY 
 
 At length the train arrived and we proceeded on 
 our way, arriving in Washington about six o'clock hi 
 the morning. Mr. Lincoln wrapped his traveling 
 sha\d about his shoulders, and in company with Mr. 
 Lamon, started to leave the car. I followed close 
 behind, and on the platform found two of my men 
 awaiting our arrival. A great many people were gath 
 ered about the depot, but Mr. Lincoln entirely 
 escaped recognition, until as we were about leaving 
 the depot, Mr. Washburne, of Illinois, came up and 
 cordially shook him by the hand. 
 
 The surprise of this gentleman was unbounded, 
 and many of those standing around, observing his 
 ! cnovements, and the tall form of Mr. Lincoln exciting 
 curiosity, I feared that danger might result in case he 
 was recognized at this time. I accordingly went up 
 to them hurriedly, and pressing between them whis 
 pered rather loudly : 
 
 " No talking here !" 
 
 Mr. Washburne gazed inquiringly at me, and was 
 about to resent my interference, when Mr. Lincoln 
 interposed : 
 
 "That is Mr. Pinkerton, and everything is all 
 dght." 
 
 Thus satisfied, Mr. Washburne quickly led the 
 way to a carriage in waiting outside, where we met 
 Mr. Seward, who warmly greeted the President, and 
 hen the party were rapidly driven down Pennsyl 
 vania Avenue to Willard's Hotel I following 
 
REACHES WASHINGTON. 99 
 
 closely behind them with my men, in another 
 vehicle. 
 
 On his arrival at the hotel Mr. Lincoln was 
 warmly greeted by his friends, who were rejoiced at 
 his safe arrival, and leaving him in the hands of those 
 whose fealty was undoubted, I withdrew, and engaged 
 temporary quarters at another hotel. 
 
 Dnring the forenoon I received a note from Mr. 
 Lincoln requesting an interview, and received his 
 warm expressions of thankfulness for the part I had 
 performed in securing his safety, after which, finding 
 that my object had been fully accomplished, I took 
 the train and returned to Baltimore. 
 
 Here I found the utmost excitement prevailing. 
 The news of the safe arrival of Mr. Lincoln had 
 already reached there, and a general sentiment of 
 rage and disappointment pervaded the entire circle 01 
 conspirators and secessionists. I lost no time in 
 securing an interview with Howard, and learned from 
 him the particulars attendant upon the discovery that 
 Mr. Lincoln had outwitted his enemies and was now 
 safely quartered in Washington. Finding that their 
 plans had been discovered, and fearing that the 
 vengeance of the government would overtake them, 
 the leading conspirators had suddenly disappeared 
 All their courage and bravado was gone, and now, 
 like the miserable cowards that they were, they had 
 sought safety in flight. 
 
 A curious episode occurred at Harrisburg imrne- 
 
xoo THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY 
 
 diately after the departure of Mr. Lincoln from that 
 city. Two newspaper correspondents connected with 
 prominent New York journals had accompanied the 
 party from Springfield, and had faithfully noted the 
 incidents which had occurred upon the journey. As 
 soon as the train which carried Mr. Lincoln away 
 from Harrisburg was on its way, a gentlemanly indi 
 vidual, well-known to me, went to the room occupied 
 by these journalists, and found them engaged in 
 preparations to witness the further proceedings of the 
 presidential party 
 
 The visitor quickly informed the gentlemen that 
 Mr. Lincoln had left the city and was now flying over 
 the road in the direction of Washington, which he 
 would no doubt reach in the morning. This was the 
 signal for renewed activity, and both gentlemen has 
 tily arose, and, grasping their hats, started for the 
 door. Their visitor however, was too quick for them, 
 and standing before the door with a revolver in each 
 hand, he addressed them : "You cannot leave this 
 room, gentlemen, without my permission !" 
 
 "What does this mean ?" inquired one of the sur 
 prised gentlemen, blinking through his spectacles. 
 
 " It means that you cannot leave this room until 
 the safety of Mr. Lincoln justifies it," calmly replied 
 the other. 
 
 "I want to telegraph to the Herald," said the 
 second correspondent "what is the use of obtaining 
 news if we cannot utilize it T 
 
REACHES WASHINGTON. 101 
 
 " You cannot utilize anything at present, gentle 
 men. The telegraph will not be of any service to 
 you, for the wires are all down, and Harrisburg will 
 be separated from the rest of the world for some 
 -hours yet." 
 
 " When do you propose to let us out ?" humbly 
 asked one. 
 
 "Well, I'll tell you, gentlemen. If you will sit 
 down calmly, and bide your time and mine, I will 
 make matters interesting for you, by informing you 
 all about this flank movement on the Baltimoreans." 
 
 Their indignation and fright subsided at once, 
 and they quietly sat down. Refreshments were sent 
 for, and soon the nimble pencils of the reporters were 
 rapidly jotting down as much of the information as 
 was deemed advisable to be made public at that time. 
 After they had heard all, they prepared their dis 
 patches for New York, both correspondents writing 
 long and interesting accounts of the affair. 
 
 When daylight dawned, and the gladsome tidings 
 had been received that Mr. Lincoln was safe, these 
 knights of the quill were liberated, and, rushing to 
 the telegraph offices, which were now in running order 
 again, the news was transmitted to New York and in 
 less than an hour the types were being set which 
 would convey to the public the startling news of the 
 discovered conspiracy, and the manner in which the 
 conspirators had been outwitted. 
 
 As the later train arrived at Baltimore, I went to 
 
14* THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY 
 
 the depot and found the remaining members of the 
 President's party, who also brought Mrs. Lincoln with 
 them. 
 
 ' Mr. Judd was jubilant at the success of the 
 adventure, but Col.- Sumner had not yet recovered 
 his good humor. I have no doubt, however, that 
 Mr. Lincoln succeeded in placating his irascible 
 friend, and I know that in the bloody scenes which 
 followed Col. Sumner bore an honorable and cour 
 ageous part. 
 
 Thus ends the narration of this important episode 
 in one of the most interesting epochs of the country's 
 history, and a truthful record has been given. 
 Exaggerated stories and unauthorized statements 
 have been freely made with regard to this journey of 
 Mr. Lincoln. The caricaturist has attempted to 
 throw ridicule upon the great man who now sleeps in 
 a martyr's grave. A silly story of his being disguised 
 ia a Scotch cap and plaid obtained a temporary 
 currency, but the fact remains that Mr. Lincoln, as a 
 gentleman, and in the company of gentlemen, 
 successfully passed through the camp of the con 
 spirators and reached in safety the capital of the 
 country. j 
 
 Now the war is ended. Peace reigns throughout j 
 the borders of the great Republic. And when, ' 
 during the last dying throes of the rebellion, this 
 great man was stricken down by the hand of an 
 assassin, North and South alike united in lamenting 
 
REACHES WASHINGTON-. 
 
 103 
 
 his death, and in execrating the damnable deed and 
 its reckless perpetrators. 
 
 I had informed 3Vlr. Lincoln in Philadelphia that 
 /I would answer with my life for his safe arrival in 
 Washingtoa, and I had redeemed my pledge. 
 
 A CAMP SONG. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 My Connection with the Rebellion. Timothy Webster Accept* 
 
 a Mission. 
 
 MY connection with the " Great Rebellion " of 
 1 86 1 began almost from the inception of 
 that gigantic struggle. During the days that inter 
 vened between the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln 
 and the memorable 1 2th day of April, 1 86 i, treason 
 was busy in the South, and secession resolved itself 
 into an accomplished fact. Scarcely had the rever 
 berating tones of the guns upon the batteries in 
 Charleston Harbor died away upon the air, than I was 
 called into the service of the military branch of the 
 government. At that time I was engaged in the 
 energetic practice of my profession as a detective, 
 which, large as it was, and constantly increasing, 
 required a personal supervision, which absorbed my 
 undivided attention. When, however, it became 
 evident that a conflict was unavoidable, I soon found 
 my services were needed, and putting aside all con 
 siderations of a private or business nature, I yielded 
 a ready and cheerful response to the call, and during 
 my connection with what was afterwards known as 
 
TIMOTHY WEBSTER'S MISSION. 105 
 
 the secret service of the government, I rendered every 
 assistance that lay in my power to further the cause 
 of union, and to serve the country of my adoption. 
 
 The month of April, 1861, was an important one 
 in the history of the country. Whatever fears and 
 apprehensions had filled the minds of the Northern 
 people as to the solution of the great political ques 
 tions then pending, a resort to arms had, until that 
 time, been regarded as not likely to occur. A peo 
 ple who had been reared amid the blessings of a long 
 and undisturbed peace, and whose lives, under this 
 benign influence, had been prosperous and happy, they 
 were almost entirely unprepared for a serious contest 
 or a warlike struggle. Many times before the politi 
 cal horizon had grown dark and threatening, but the 
 storm had subsided almost instantly, under that wise 
 yielding of obedience to law and to the will of ma 
 jorities, which it was hoped would now exercise its 
 power for the preservation and continuance of amity. 
 
 When, therefore, on the I2th of April, the attack 
 upon Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor was made, 
 the Northern people were almost startled by sur 
 prise. Though entirely unprepared for such an 
 event, it was clearly demonstrated to all that war 
 could now no longer be honorably avoided. It 
 was now too late to inquire into original causes of 
 the contest ; it remained only for the loyal heart 
 to resent the insult to a nation's flag, and to sus 
 tain the government in upholding its constitution 
 
106 TIMOTHY WEBSTER 
 
 ,and in enforcing its laws. This act fired the pa 
 triotic heart and solidified the patriotic ranks, and, 
 with the crumbling of the walls upon Fort Suni- 
 ter, were shattered all the hopes previously enter 
 tained of a peaceful solution of the problems which 
 were then before the country. I have very little 
 doubt that the assault upon Fort Sumter was ordered 
 by the rebel government, under the fallacious hope 
 and groundless belief that it would not provoke 
 immediate or wide-spread civil war. The Southern 
 leaders were well aware of the fact that the frontier 
 could not be entirely stripped of regulars, and as- 
 . suming, or pretending to, that the existing laws 
 contained no provision authorizing a call of the 
 militia, they inferred that it would be difficult for 
 the new administration to obtain at once legislation 
 of a coercive character. Then, too, they reiied, in 
 a great measure, upon a friendly feeling toward the 
 South from their late political associates in the 
 North ; but in this their reckoning was at fault, 
 and the roar of Beauregard's guns in Charleston 
 Harbor cleared up the political horizon as if by 
 magic. 
 
 There could no longer be any doubt as to the 
 position and intentions of the Confederates. Seven 
 disloyal States, with all their machinery of a separate 
 government, stood behind those batteries and the 
 cool deliberation of the assault gave evidence of 
 plan, of purpose and of confidence. What had been 
 
ACCEPTS A MISSION. 107 
 
 believed to be a mere conspiracy for the gaining ol 
 certain political ends, now gave way to a revolution, 
 which menaced the perpetuity of the government 
 and which required the armed force of the govern 
 ment to combat and subdue. 
 
 The news of the assault upon Sumter reached 
 Washington on Saturday, the I3th day of April, 
 and on the following day, Sunday though it was, 
 President Lincoln assembled his Cabinet to discuss 
 the duty of the hour, and on Monday morning a proc 
 lamation was issued, calling forth an army of seventy- 
 five thousand men, for objects entirely lawful and 
 constitutional. 
 
 The effect of this proclamation upon the people 
 of the North was almost electrical, and the heart of the 
 whole nation throbbed with its patriotic emotions as 
 that of a single individual. The general sentiment 
 appeared to be in entire accord with the utterance 
 of Stephen A. Douglas, a live-long Democrat, that 
 " every man must be for the United States, or against 
 it ; there can be no neutrals in this war only patriots 
 and traitors." More than double the number of men 
 that were required tendered their services, and before 
 the lapse of forty-eight hours armed companies and 
 regiments of volunteers were in motion toward the 
 expected border of conflict. Nor was there exhibited 
 that division of Northern sentiment that had been so 
 boastfully predicted by the Southern leaders, and all 
 men, of every belief, Democrats and Republicans. 
 
io8 TIMOTHY WEBSTER 
 
 Conservatives and Radicals, natives and foreigners; 
 from Maine to Oregon, responded to the call, and 
 came to the defense of the constitution, the govern 
 ment and the Union. 
 
 At this time the position of Maryland was rather 
 a precarious one. There could be no doubt that the 
 Unionists were greatly in the majority, but it was 
 also true that there was a large and influential mi 
 nority of her people in favor of secession. Here, as 
 elsewhere, conspiracy had been at work for months, 
 and many of the prominent political leaders were in 
 full accord with the rebel government. The legis 
 lature was believed to be unreliable, and treason had 
 obtained so firm a foothold in the populous city of 
 Baltimore, that a secret recruiting office was sending 
 enlisted men to Charleston. The venomous germ of 
 treason, once planted, grew in magnitude and viru 
 lence, until it finally culminated in the infamous riot 
 of April i Qth, when the blood of the citizen soldiery 
 of Massachusetts was first shed in defense of the 
 Union. A spirit of opposition to the passage of 
 Northern troops through the city, on their way to the 
 seat of government, had been engendered among the 
 " rough " element of Baltimore, and the excitement 
 reached its climax upon the arrival of the Sixth 
 Massachusetts Regiment, which was the first to 
 answer the call for troops. When their presence 
 became known the traitorous element could no longer 
 be restrained, and while the men were passing quietly 
 
ACCEPTS A MISSION. 109 
 
 ihrough the city, on their way from one railroad 
 station to another, they were murderously attacked 
 by a reckless, howling mob, which resulted in blood- 
 .shed and carnage, and some of the most fiendish out 
 rages were perpetrated that ever blackened a page of 
 American history. 
 
 The crowning act of disloyalty, and one which 
 threatened the most serious consequences to the 
 government, was committed about midnight of the 
 same day. A secret order was issued by the mayor 
 and police officers to burn the nearest bridges on the 
 railroads leading into Baltimore from the free States, 
 and parties, under the command of the police authori 
 ties were dispatched to execute the order. 
 
 Before daylight the following morning, the 
 bridges at Mel vale, Relay House and Cockeysville, 
 on the Harrisburg road and over the Bush and Gun 
 powder rivers and Harris Creek, were completely de 
 stroyed by fire, thus effectually severing railroad com 
 munication with the North. The telegraph wires 
 leading to and from the capital were also cut, com 
 pletely shutting off Washington, and the government 
 from the loyal Northern States. These acts, com- 
 r mited by the orders of the very men who that morn 
 ing had risked their lives in defending the soldiers of 
 the Union, are sufficient to show the rapid and over* 
 mastering influence of revolutionary madness. 
 
 Of course, the news of these outrages spread far 
 and wide over the country, and while they aroused 
 
no TIMOTHY WEBSTER 
 
 universal indignation, they nevertheless were the 
 occasion of grave fears for the safety of the capi 
 tal. 
 
 It was on the 2ist of April, two days after 
 the occurrence of these events that my services were 
 required. Several gentlemen of prominence in Chi 
 cago, intimate friends of President Lincoln, and men 
 of influence and intelligence in the State, desired to 
 communicate with the President upon questions con 
 nected with the existing condition of affairs, and ap 
 plied to me for the purpose of having letters and dis 
 patches conveyed directly to Washington by the 
 hands of a trusty messenger. 
 
 I at once accepted the duty, and selected a man 
 for its performance. Experience proved that I was 
 not mistaken in my selection, and as the messenger 
 chosen for this duty is to bear an important part in 
 the event, which I am about to relate, a description of 
 him will at once acquaint the reader with his personal 
 appearance. 
 
 He was a tall, broad-shouldered, good-looking man 
 of about forty years of age. In height he was about 
 five feet ten inches ; his brown hair, which was 
 brushed carelessly back from a broad, high forehead, 
 surmounted a face of a character to at once attract 
 attention. 
 
 There was such a decided mixture of sternness 
 and amiability, of innate force and gentle feelings, of 
 frankness and resolution stamped upon his features, 
 
ACCEPTS A MISSION. in 
 
 I 
 
 that he instinctively impressed the beholder at a 
 glance. 
 
 The deep gray eyes could twinkle and sparkle 
 with good humor, or they would grow dark and 
 menacing, and seem to flash under the influence of 
 anger. The mouth, almost concealed by the heavy 
 brown mustaches which he wore, and the square, 
 firm chin evinced a firmness that was unmistakable. 
 His nose, large and well-formed, and the prominent 
 cheek bones all seemed in perfect harmony with the 
 bold spirit which leaped from the eyes, and the 
 strong will that lurked about the set lips. In figure, 
 he was rather stout, but his shoulders were so broad, 
 his feet and hands so shapely, and the lithe limbs so 
 well formed, that he did not appear of as full habit 
 as he really was. A casual observer on meeting this 
 man would almost immediately and insensibly be 
 impressed with the conviction that he was a man 
 who could be trusted ; that any duty devolving upon 
 him would be sacredly kept ; and as he stood before 
 me on this sunny afternoon in April, I felt that I 
 could implicitly rely upon him in any emergency in 
 which he might be placed, and to perform any service 
 for which he might be selected. 
 
 This man was Timothy Webster, a faithful officer, 
 a true friend, and an ardent patriot 
 
 I had known this man for years. He had been 
 in my employ for a long time, and had been engaged 
 upon operations of a varied and diverse nature, coa- 
 
I la TIMOTHY WEBSTER 
 
 sequently I knew precisely what his capabilities were, 
 and hoVv entirely he could be trusted. Though not 
 a man of great enlightenment, he was gifted with a 
 large amount of natural shrewdness, which enabled 
 him to successfully meet any emergency which might 
 arise. From his association with people in the vari 
 ous walks of life, he had acquired that habit of easy 
 adaptation which made him appear, and feel, perfectly 
 at home in almost any society, whether in the draw 
 ing-room or the tavern, in the marts of trade, or la 
 boring at the plow. 
 
 From my knowledge of Timothy Webster, and 
 my confidence in his wisdom and reliability, I had 
 chosen him to be the bearer of the dispatches to Mr. 
 Lincoln. I therefore called him into my office and 
 explained to him the nature of the duties he was to 
 perform, the possible dangers he would encounter, 
 and the importance of the trust that was to be re 
 posed in him, and when I had concluded, I asked : . 
 
 " Timothy, knowing what you do of the task 
 before you, will you undertake its performance?" 
 
 " I understand all perfectly," he replied, drawing 
 himself up to his full height, while his eyes flashed 
 with a patriotic fire, " I know that my country de 
 mands my services, and that, if it shall cost me my 
 life, I am ready to perform my full duty." 
 
 The preparations for his departure did not occupy 
 a very long time ; the services of Miss Kate Warne, 
 my female superintendent, were requested, and in 
 
ACCEPTS A MISSION. 113 
 
 f 
 
 a few minutes the important dispatches, some 
 twelve in number, were securely sewed between the 
 linings of his coat collar, and in the body of his waist 
 coat, and Timothy Webster was on his way to the 
 capital of the country. 
 
 A COLORED CONTRABAND 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Webster 0n his Way to the Capital. Wrecked Trains and 
 Bickcn Bridges. An Adventure zvith a Cavalryman. 
 Rebel Emissary. President Lincoln and Timothy Webster. 
 
 EVERYWHERE along the route the greatest 
 excitement prevailed, and the people were 
 in a state: of wildest commotion. A rumor had 
 spread throughout the country that the govern 
 ment, indignant at the riotous conduct of the 
 Baltimoreans, had ordered the guns of Fort Mc- 
 Henry to fiie upon the city, that the bombardment 
 ^as now going on, and that half the town was 
 reduced to ashes. This rumor was false, as Web 
 ster learned on arriving in Philadelphia, although 
 even in the staid old Quaker City there was 
 manifest a degree of excitement scarcely to be 
 -expected in a community so sedate, and easy 
 going as Philadelphians usually are. 
 
 Leaving the train at Philadelphia, Webster made 
 'his way through the crowded streets to the center 
 of the city. He deemed it best to take rounsel 
 -with some of the railroad and express officials, with 
 whom he was very well acquainted, by reason of his 
 connection with the discovery of the conspiracy to 
 
WRECKED TRAINS. 115 
 
 assassinate President Lincoln in Baltimore in the 
 month of February immediately preceding. , 
 
 At that time Webster had been enrolled as a mem 
 ber of a volunteer company of cavalry at Perrymans- 
 ville, in Maryland, and, gaining the confidence of his 
 officers, had assisted in discovering the plans of the 
 conspirators, and partly through his efforts, I had 
 been successful in frustrating their murderous de 
 signs. This operation had brought him in close 
 association with several gentlemen who were con 
 nected with the railroad and express companies, 
 whose travel lay between Philadelphia and the 
 now riotous and isolated city of Baltimore. As he 
 was walking leisurely down Chestnut street he was 
 accosted by Mr. Dunn, a gentleman who was con 
 nected with a leading express company in the city, and 
 who was now upon his return from a visit to the Phila 
 delphia, Wilmington and Baltimore depot. After an 
 interchange of salutations, Webster inquired of Mr. 
 Dunn the condition of affairs in and around Baltimore. 
 
 "Very bad, indeed," replied that gentleman ; "the 
 bridges are all down, and the tracks have been 
 torn up all. along the road from Perrysville to 
 Baltimore. The telegraph-wires have been cut, and 
 no communications have been received from Balti 
 more or Washington except through couriers. The 
 roads are guarded with soldiery, whose sympathies 
 are with the rebellion, and it is almost impossible 
 for any one who cannot identify himself as a South- 
 
n6 WRECKED TRAINS 
 
 ern man to pass the guards who are stationed 
 along the highways." 
 
 " It does not look very favorable for my reaching 
 Washington to-morrow, then ?" said Webster, inquir 
 ingly. 
 
 " No, sir. I am afraid that you will find it difficult, if 
 not dangerous, to attempt such a journey, particularly 
 by the way of Baltimore ; and perhaps you had better 
 delay your departure until it can be more safely ac 
 complished," said Mr. Dunn. 
 
 ." It may be as you say," replied Webster, "but I 
 left Chicago for Washington, and my line of travel 
 was laid out through Baltimore. I will obey my 
 orders to the letter, and I will arrive in Washington 
 to-morrow night, or lose my life in attempting it !" 
 
 " I see that you are determined to go," said Mr. 
 Dunn, " and further argument would be of no avail ; 
 but I assure you, that you cannot travel further by 
 rail than Perrysville ; you may succeed in getting 
 across the river to Havre de Grace, but after that you 
 will have to rely entirely upon yourself." 
 
 " Never fear for me," replied Webster, with a 
 smile, " I will get through all right, I feel confident 
 I will have but little time now to catch the train, Mr. j 
 Dunn, and if you will be kind enough to telegraph to 
 Mr. Pinkerton according to my direc/.ions, I will es 
 teem it a great favor." 
 
 " Certainly, Webster ; anything I can do for you, 
 or Mr. Pinkerton, will be done cheerfully " 
 
AND BROKEN BRIDGES. 117 
 
 Writing out a message, informing me of his arrival 
 in Philadelphia and of his intentions, he requested 
 Mr. Dunn to forward the same, and then, bidding that 
 gentleman good-bye, he made his way to the Balti 
 more depot, and was soon on the road to that city. 
 
 As the train went speeding along upon its jour 
 ney, Webster had ample time for the consideration of 
 his plans. He was pretty well acquainted with the 
 country between Havre de Grace and Baltimore, and 
 had no fear of losing his way, even if the journey 
 must be made by foot. He was impressed, however, 
 with the necessity of using the utmost caution. While 
 he did not fear for his own personal safety for fear 
 was an element entirely unknown to him he realized 
 the importance of his mission too well to rashly im 
 peril its success by any useless exposure; or unneces 
 sary risk. To reach Washington, however, he was 
 determined, and to accomplish that object no danger 
 would be too great, no hardship too severe. He 
 nevertheless felt that he must rely solely upon him 
 self, that he would have no one to advise him, and 
 his own discretion and wisdom would have to be 
 depended upon under all circumstances. Arriving at 
 the Perrysville station, he found that the train could go 
 no further, and that, to reach Havre de Grace, upon the 
 opposite side of the Susquehanna River, the passen 
 gers would be requied to take small boats and be 
 rowed over, after which each man must make his 
 as best he could. 
 
11$ WRECKED TRAINS 
 
 As the boat touched the land Webster sprang 
 ashore, and, going directly to the hotel, inquired for 
 the landlord. He found that gentleman engaged in 
 earnest conversation with iin individual who at once 
 instinctively awakened the suspicions of my operative. 
 This gentleman was a tall, fine-looking man, with the 
 erect carriage and and self-reliant air of the soldier, 
 but there was something in the nervousness of his 
 . manner, and in the furtive glances of his eyes, which 
 convinced Webster that he was concealing something 
 and would bear watching. 
 
 Approaching the spot where the two men were 
 
 * conversing, Webster at once addressed the landlord 
 in a hearty manner. " Landlord, I must get to Balti- 
 
 - more to-day. How am I going to do it ?" 
 
 " I do not know," replied the hotel-keeper, " this 
 gentleman is anxious to do the same thing, but I am 
 afraid I cannot help either of you." 
 
 The gentleman thus referred to turned to Web 
 ster, saying : 
 
 "Yes, I am very anxious to get through. I am a 
 bearer of dispatches to the British Consul at Wash 
 ington, and it is of the utmost importance that they 
 should be delivered at once." 
 
 While he was speaking a man drove up to the 
 front of the hotel with a fine, strong team of horses 
 attached to a covered road wagon, and throwing the 
 reins across the back of his horses, leaped lightly to 
 the ground. 
 

 AND BROKEN BRIDGES 119 
 
 " Here is a man who can help you," said the lai d- 
 lord, as the new-comer entered the room ; and then he 
 called out : 
 
 " Harris, come here !" , 
 
 The driver of the team came over to where the 
 three men were standing, and the landlord at once 
 made known to him the wishes of Webster and the 
 messenger of the British Consul. 
 
 " Harris, these gentlemen want to get to Balti 
 more to day. Do you think you can manage it for 
 them r 
 
 The man addressed as Harris gazed at Webster 
 and his companion in a scrutinizing manner, and 
 finally, apparently satisfied with his investigation, 
 signified his willingness to make the attempt, provided 
 the price he demanded, which was fifty dollars, was 
 agreed to. 
 
 Both men assented to the payment of the sum 
 named, and after dinner had been partaken of. the 
 two men took their seats in the vehicle, the driver 
 cracked his whip, and they were upon their way. 
 
 " I cannot promise to take you through to Balti 
 more," remarked the driver after they had started ; 
 " I was stopped twice on the road yesterday, and I 
 may not be able to pass the guards to-day." 
 
 " Do the best you can," said Webster, good-na 
 turedly, "and we will take the risk of a safe arrival." 
 
 Webster then turned to h : s companion, who had 
 remained silent and watchful ever since they had set 
 
jtao WRECKED TRAfNS 
 
 out, and endeavored to e\;gage him in conversation. 
 The bearer of dispatches, however, was very little in* 
 dined to be sociable, and Webster had great diffi 
 culty in breaking through the reserve which he re 
 solved to maintain. 
 
 The further they journeyed, the more Webster 
 became convinced that this man was not what he as 
 sumed to be, but he vailed his suspicions carefully, 
 and appeared as frank and cordial in his manner as 
 though they were brothers- 
 Nothing worthy of note transpired upon the route 
 until the party arrived at the outskirts of Perrymans- 
 ville, which had been the scene of Webster's first ex 
 perience in military service, and where, a few months 
 before, he had been a member of a company of cav 
 alry. They were trotting along quietly, and as the 
 day was balmy and bright the ride was quite an en 
 joyable one, and for a moment the detective forgot 
 the grave duties which he had undertaken and the 
 dangers that might surround him, and gave himself 
 up to the full enjoyment of the scenes around him. 
 His pleasant reflections were short-lived, however, for 
 just as they were entering the town they saw a 
 mounted cavalryman approaching, who, as he reached 
 the carriage, commanded them to halt. 
 
 The driver suddenly pulled up his horses, and then 
 the soldier, in a tone of authority : " Who are you, 
 and where are you going ?"' 
 
 J* We are residents of Baltimore/ 1 answered Wet* 
 
AND BROKEN BRIDGES. lai 
 
 ster, not at all dismayed by the stern appearance and 
 manner of his soldierly interlocutor, "and we are 
 endeavoring 1 to get home." 
 
 " You will have to go with me," replied the sol 
 dier, decisively, "you can't go any further without 
 permission." 
 
 Here was a detention as unwelcome as it was 
 unexpected, but Webster had recognized the uniform 
 worn by the soldier as that of the very company of 
 cavalry he had previously been a member of, and a 
 duplicate of one in which he had previously arrayed 
 himself. The man who had accosted him, however, 
 was unknown to him, and he could, therefore, do 
 nothing but submit quietly to his orders and await a 
 favorable operation of circumstances. 
 
 As Webster glanced casually at his companion, 
 the British messenger, he was surprised at the change 
 which was apparent in the expression of his features. 
 Instead of the calm, dignified air of watchful repose 
 which he had observed before, his face had grown 
 pale, and there was such an unmistakable evidence 
 of fear about the man, that Webster's suspicions were 
 confirmed, and come what might he resolved to as 
 certain the nature of his business before they parted 
 company. 
 
 They had traveled but a short distance under 
 the escort of their guard when they met another man 
 dressed in a similar uniform, and evidently a member 
 of the same company, and as Webster gazed at the 
 
122 WRECKED TRAINS 
 
 new-comer he experienced a sensation of relief and 
 joy, for in him he recognized an old companion in 
 arms. 
 
 As this man approached nearer, Webster called 
 out from the carriage, in a cheery voice : 
 
 " Hello, Taylor ! how are you ?" 
 
 Thus suddenly accosted, the soldier rode up to 
 the vehicle, and after a momentary glance at the 
 features of the detective, he reached forth his hand 
 and cordially saluted him. 
 
 " Why, Webster, how do you do ? The boys said 
 you would not come back, now that the war had com 
 menced, but I knew better, and I am glad to see 
 you." 
 
 The face of the reputed Englishman cleared in 
 an instant, as he found that his companion was 
 among friends, and this effect was not lost upon 
 Webster, who had been furtively observing him. He 
 turned his attention, however, to the soldier who 
 had addressed him. 
 
 "Oh, yes," he replied, "I have come back; and 
 my friend here and I are anxious to get to Baltimore 
 as soon as possible." 
 
 "That will be all right/ 1 said the soldier; and 
 then, turning to his comrade, he said : " These men 
 are all right, you will permit them to pass." 
 
 After a few minutes spent in a pleasant conver 
 sation, the soldier handed to Webster a pass which 
 would prevent further interruption to their journey, 
 
AND BROKEN BRIDGES. 113 
 
 and with a mutual pull at a flask with which Webster 
 had provided himself before starting, the pa/ rles sep 
 arated, and they proceeded on their way. 
 
 This little incident produced a marked change in 
 the demeanor of Webster's companion, and on being 
 informed that the soldiers were Southerners, and not 
 Federals, he seemed quite relieved. 
 
 By the time they were approaching the suburbs 
 of Baltimore the stranger had grown exceedingly 
 communicative, and upon Webster hinting to him 
 that he also was engaged in the cause of the South, 
 he without hesitation informed my operative that he 
 was similarly employed, and that he was at present 
 carrying dispatches to prominent Southern sympa 
 thizers then residing in Washington; 
 
 As he communicated this important item of infor 
 mation Webster grasped him warmly by the hand, 
 and greeted him as a fellow-patriot, after which, with 
 rare good humor, they cemented their acquaintance 
 and confidence with a friendly draught from the 
 spirit bottle. 
 
 Several times on their journey they were halted 
 by the guards along the roids, but the talismanic pass 
 obtained at Perrymans/illt avoided all questioning, 
 and gained for the travelers a safe passage to their 
 destination. Arriving safely at the outskirts of Balti 
 more, the two men left the carriage, and walking a 
 short distance, they entered a street car, and were 
 driven to a retired hotel, where Webster had 
 
124 WRECKED TRAINS 
 
 . \ 
 
 quently stopped when in the city on former occasions. 
 
 Here they engaged quarters for the night, and 
 Webster's companion had by this time formed such 
 an attachment for his fellow-traveler that communi 
 cating rooms were engaged, and after partaking of a 
 hearty repast, the two men lighted their cigars and \ 
 strolled out through the city. 
 
 There were still many evidences of the riotous 
 affrays which had but lately taken place. The people 
 were in a feverish state of excitement, the drinking 
 saloons and the corridors of the hotels were filled 
 with crowds of excited men, each of whom seemed to 
 vie with the other in giving loud expressions of their 
 opinions, and of denouncing the attempt of the 
 government to transport armed troops through the 
 streets of a peaceful city. Ever mindful of the 
 important duty devolving upon him, Webster wisely 
 forebore to engage in any conversation with those 
 whom he met, and among the number of the most 
 outspoken of the Southern sympathizers were many 
 whom he had previously met, and to whom he was 
 known as an adherent of the South. At an early 
 hour he and his newly found companion returned to 
 their hotel, and shortly afterward retired for the 
 night 
 
 Arising early on the following morning, they 
 found the same difficulty was to be encountered that 
 had been successfully overcome at the commencement 
 of their journey. The railroads between Baltimore 
 
AND 'BROKEN BRIDGES. 125 
 
 and Washington had also been torn up, so as to 
 render the running of the trains an impossibility. 
 This fact necessitated the procuring of a team that 
 would convey them to the capital ; but this time 
 Webster's acquaintance with the proprietors of the 
 hotel, and several of the permanent guests of the 
 house, enabled them without difficulty or delay to "se 
 cure a pair of horses and a road wagon, with a trusty 
 driver, who guaranteed to carry them to Washington 
 for the same amount which had been paid upon 
 the other portion of their journey, and at an early 
 hour they were upon the road to the seat of govern 
 ment. 
 
 Meantime Webster had been seriously considering 
 his course of action with regard to his fellow-passen 
 ger. That he was an agent of the Confederacy he 
 had already admitted, and that he was the bearer of 
 dispatches to prominent sympathizers with the South 
 who were now living in Washington, was also well 
 known to the detective. How, therefore, to arrange 
 his plans, so that these papers would be intercepted 
 and the ambassador detained without arousing his 
 suspicion ? It must be accomplished so that no delay 
 should result to his own journey, as he had resolved 
 that his dispatches must be delivered that day. Just 
 before starting out an idea occurred to him, and re 
 questing the driver to wait a few minutes, as he had 
 forgotten something in his room, he re-entered the 
 hotel, and going to the room they had occupied the 
 
126 WRECKED TRAINS 
 
 evening before, he hurriedly wrote a note which he 
 folded up and placed in his pocket. The note was as 
 follows : 
 
 " To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN : 
 
 " My companion is an emissary of tne Confederacy, 
 carrying dispatches to Southern sympathizers in 
 Washington. Apprehend him, but do so discreetly 
 and without compromising me. T. W." 
 
 He then descended the stairs, and entering the 
 wagon, they were driven away towards Washington. 
 The day was exceedingly warm, and the horses, un 
 used to long journeys, early began to show signs of 
 weakness, but they kept on without incident, save an 
 occasional question from a passer-by as to their 
 destination, and about noon arrived at a hotel known 
 as the " Twelve-Mile House/' so called from its being 
 located at that distance from Washington. 
 
 Here the party halted for dinner, and while en 
 gaged at their repast Webster noticed at an opposite 
 table a -friend of years ago, who wore the uniform of 
 a Lieutenant of infantry Fortunately, however, the 
 officer did not appear to recognize him, and during 
 the progress of the dinner Webster kept his face 
 hidden as much as possible from his new-found friend. 
 As the Lieutenant ceased eating and arose from the 
 table, Webster, who also had about completed the 
 bill of fare, arose, and excusing himself to the driver 
 and his companion, passed out into the hallway and 
 
AND BROKEN BRIDGES. 127 
 
 'lie officer face to face. Cordial greetings were 
 inter Changed, and m a few minutes Webster had de 
 tailed to his friend the circumstances attending his 
 meeting with the so-called British messenger, and his 
 suspicions concerning them. It was not long before 
 a plan had been arranged for the carrying out of the 
 project of arresting the pseudo Englishman without 
 occasioning the slightest suspicion to fall upon 
 Tirr/othy Webster, and shortly afterwards the Lieuten- 
 prt mounted his horse and rode off in the direction of 
 y/ashington. 
 
 After smoking their after-dinner cigars, Webster 
 and his companion again resumed their journey. By 
 this time they had become thoroughly acquainted, 
 and they enlivened their drive with many a pleasing 
 anecdote of experience or of invention, until they 
 came in sight of Washington city. Here a difficulty 
 awaited them, apparently unexpected by both travel 
 ers. A Lieutenant at the head of eight men emerged 
 from a house by the wayside, and in a voice of au 
 thority directed the driver to stop his horses, after 
 which he advanced to the vehicle and saluted the 
 occupants with the utmost courtesy, saying : 
 
 " Gentlemen, I am soiry to discommode you, but I 
 have orders to intercept all persons entering the city, 
 and hold them until they can satisfactorily account 
 for themselves. You will be kind enough to consider 
 yourselves under arrest and follow me." 
 
 Blank astonishment was depicted on tfce counte- 
 
ia8 WRECKED TRAINS 
 
 nances of both Webster and his companion, but realiz- 
 ing that to parley would be useless, the two men 
 dismount "d and followed the lieutenant and his men 
 into the milding, which proved to be a military 
 guard-house. 
 
 Here they were separated and conducted to 
 different apartments, where they were securely locked 
 in, Webster's companion standing outside of the 
 door of the room in which Webster was placed, and 
 after witnessing the operation which confined Web 
 ster a prisoner, he was conducted to the room as 
 signed to him, and the key was turned upon him. 
 
 In a few minutes afterwards Webster was quietly 
 released by the Lieutenant who had effected his ar 
 rest, and who was none other than the friend to whom 
 he had given the information. In less than half an 
 hour thereafter my detective was ascending the steps 
 of the White House, inquiring for his Excellency, 
 the President of the United States. 
 
 Having also been provided with a letter to the 
 President's private secretary, Mr. Nicolay, Webster 
 was soon ushered into the presence of Mr. Lincoln, 
 to whom he made known the nature of his business, 
 and taking off his coat and vest, he removed the 
 dispatches and letters, and handed them to the Pres- , 
 ident, who had been silently watching his movements 
 with a great deal of amused interest. 
 
 "You have brought quite a mail with you, Mr. 
 Webster," said the President, "more, perhaps, than 
 
AND BROKEN BRIDGES. 129 
 
 it would be quite safe to attempt to carry another 
 time." 
 
 " Yes, sir," replied Webster. "I don't think I 
 would like to carry so much through Baltimore an 
 other time." 
 
 The President carefully looked over the papers 
 he had just received, and finding that they re 
 quired more consideration than could be given to 
 them at that time, he turned to Webster and said : 
 
 "Air. Webster, I have a Cabinet conference this 
 evening, and I will not be able to give these matters 
 my attention until to-rnorrow. Come to me at ten 
 o'clock and I will see you at that time." 
 
 Again thanking the detective for the service he 
 had so successfully rendered, he bade him good even* 
 ing, and Webster sought his hotel, thoroughly ex 
 hausted with his journey, and soon after he was sound 
 asleep. 
 
 The next morning, on repairing to the White 
 House, he was at once admitted, and the President 
 greeted him with marked evidences of cordiality. 
 
 " Mr. Webster, you have rendered the country an 
 invaluable service. The bearer of dispatches who 
 was arrested last evening by your efforts, proved, as 
 you suspected, to be an emissary of the South, and 
 the letters found upon him disclose a state of affairs 
 here in Washington quite alarming. Several promi 
 nent families here are discovered to be in regular 
 communication with the Southern leaders, and are 
 
 9 
 
WRECKED TRAINS. 
 
 furnishing them with every item of Information* 
 Until this time we had only a suspicion of this, but 
 suspicion has now resolved itself into a certainty. 
 You have performed your duty well, and before many 
 days there will be an account demanded of some of 
 these people which they are far from expecting." 
 
 " I am glad to be of any service," replied Web 
 ster ; " and I have done nothing more than my 
 duty. If you have any further commands for me, 
 Mr. President, I am ready to obey them." 
 
 "Very well," said the President; "take these 
 telegrams, and when you have reached a point 
 where communication is possible, send them to 
 -General McClellan, at Columbus, Ohio; they are 
 ifmportant and must be sent without delay. Also 
 telegraph to Mr. Pinkerton to come to Washing 
 ton at once ; his services are, I think, greatly needed 
 :by the government at this time." 
 
 Rolling up the papers which he received, Web- 
 ;Ster placed them in the center of a hollow cane, 
 ^which he carried ; then, replacing the handle, and 
 ^promising to attend faithfully to the duties as 
 rsigned him, he left the executive mansion. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Timothy Webster in Washington. The Return to Philadel* 
 phia. I go to the Capital. An Important Letter. 
 
 A 7 TER leaving the White House, Timothy 
 Webster went immediately in quest of a con 
 veyance that would enable him to reach Baltimore 
 without unnecessary delay. He expected to encoun 
 ter greater difficulties in obtaining what he desired 
 here in Washington than he had met with in Bal 
 timore, for the reason that in the capital he was a 
 comparative stranger, while in the latter city he had 
 numerous friends, who believed him to be in sym 
 pathy with the Confederacy, and whose assistance 
 he could rely upon on that account. His only hope, 
 therefore, lay in his being able to find some friendly 
 Baltimorean, upon whose influence he could depend 
 to procure him a mode of conveyance for his re 
 turn. Having arrived late on the preceding even 
 ing and being terribly fatigued by the journey he ? 
 had made, Webster had retired almost immediately 
 after he reached his hotel, and consequently he 
 was surprised at the busy scenes which greeted 
 him now. The capital was swarming with soldiers 
 and civilians. Regiments continually arriving and 
 
 ['3'J 
 
ija TIMOTHY WEBSTER 
 
 were being assigned to quarters and positions aroimi 
 the city, and the streets were filled with eager and 
 excited multitudes. The position which Maryland 
 had assumed was vehemently discussed everywhere, 
 and the riotous conduct of the Baltimoreans was 
 loudly denounced by Northern men, and secretly 
 applauded by those whose sympathies were with 
 the cause of the South. The prompt action of 
 General Butler, with his regiment of Massachusetts 
 soldiers, who followed quickly after the sixth, in go 
 ing by boat directly to Annapolis, in order to reach 
 Washington without hindrance or delay, and his 
 patriotic and determined response to those in au 
 thority, who sought to induce him to change his 
 plans for reaching the capital, were everywhere 
 warmly commended. There could be no doubt that 
 the North was thoroughly aroused, and were dread 
 fully in earnest in their determination to suppress 
 a rebellion which they believed to be causeless, un 
 lawful and threatening the future of a great country. 
 As Webster walked along Pennsylvania Avenue, 
 carefully scanning the faces of every one he met in 
 the hope of discovering some one whom he knew and 
 who might be of service to him, he recognized the 
 driver who had Drought him from Baltimore on the 
 day before, and who started in astonishment at find 
 ing the man whom he had last seen a prisoner in the 
 hands of United States troops now walking the streets 
 free and unattended. This man was accompanied by 
 
WASHINGTON. 133 
 
 three others, with two of whom Webster was slightly 
 acquainted, and he at once advanced toward them 
 and greted them cordially. 
 
 " Why, Webster, is that you ?" inquired the fore 
 most oi the party, a well-known " sympathizer " of the 
 name of John Maull. " We heard you had been taken 
 prisoner how did you get out so soon ?" 
 
 " That is easily accounted for," said Webster, with 
 a laugh ; " I was simply arrested on suspicion, and 
 when they could find nothing about me that was at 
 all suspicious, they were compelled to let me go." 
 
 "This country is coming upon strange times," 
 remarked a sallow-faced Baltimorean who boasted 
 of having been one of the most prominent of the riot 
 ers a few days before, " when a man can be arrested 
 in this way and have no means of redress." 
 
 "That is very true," replied Webster, "but we 
 will have a decided change before long, or I am very 
 much mistaken. 'Uncle Jeff' means business, and 
 there will be long faces in Washington before many 
 days." 
 
 "Give me your hand, old boy," exclaimed Maull 
 heartily, " you are of the right stripe ; but don't talk so 
 loud ; let us go around the corner to a quiet little 
 place where we can talk without danger." 
 
 The party repaired to a drinking saloorx in a re 
 tired neighborhood, and on entering it they were 
 greeted warmly by several parties who were standing 
 before the bar. Webster was immediately intro- 
 
134 TIMOTHY WEBSTER 
 
 duced to these gentlemen, and it was not long befow 
 he had firmly established himself in their good opin 
 ions as a devoted friend of the South. 
 
 The conversation soon became general, and the 
 most -extravagant ideas were expressed with regard to 
 the wonderful achievements that were expected of 
 the Southern soldiers, and 'no doubt was entertained 
 that the Yankees, as they called the Northern men, 
 would be quickly vanquished by the chivalrous armies 
 of the " Sunny South." 
 
 To all of these suggestions Webster yielded a 
 ready assent, and not one among the number was 
 more pronounced in his belief in the needs of the 
 Southern cause than was my trusty operative, who, in 
 the cane he flourished so conspicuously, carried im 
 portant dispatches from the President of the United 
 States to a General in command of Northern sol 
 diers. 
 
 All the time, however, he was growing very 
 restive under the enforced delay in his journey, and 
 seeking a favorable opportunity during a lull in the 
 conversation, he turned to the driver of the wagon 
 and inquired of him when he was going to return to 
 Baltimore. 
 
 " Not for a day or two, at least," replied the man, 
 
 " That is very bad," said Webster. " I must get 
 there this evening ; it is of the utmost importance that 
 I should do so." 
 
 At this one of the party approached Webster and 
 
IN WASHINGTON. 135 
 
 informed him that he was going back that day and 
 had engaged a conveyance for that purpose, and as 
 there was room enough for two, he would be most 
 happy to have his company. Webster at once 
 accepted the invitation, and having thus relieved his 
 anxiety upon the point of reaching Baltimore, he 
 joined heartily in the conversation that was going 
 on around him. No one, to have heard him, would 
 doubt for a moment his loyalty to the South, or his 
 firm belief in the eventual triumph of her armies. 
 
 After remaining in the saloon for some time, 
 Webster noticed that the men were becoming intoxi 
 cated, and fearing that they would become noisy and 
 probably get into trouble, he suggested to the gentle 
 man with whom he was to drive to Baltimore the 
 propriety of leaving the rest to their enjoyment while 
 they arranged matters for their departure. His 
 advice was at once accepted, and the two men bade 
 their associates farewell and repaired to the hotel, 
 where they had their dinner, and about two o'clock 
 they were upon their journey. Webster's fears were 
 proven to be well-founded, for as they were passing 
 the locality where they had spent the morning, they 
 saw their former companions between a file of 
 soldiers, and there was little doubt that they had 
 allowed their libations to overcome their judgments 
 and that they would be allowed to recover their 
 reason in a guard-house. 
 
 The journey was made without event, the carriage 
 
136 TIMOTHY WEBSTER 
 
 and driver being apparently very well known along the 
 route, and Webster arrived in Baltimore late that 
 evening. He was desirous of pushing on without 
 delay, as it was important that the dispatches which 
 he carried should be forwarded at once, and he there 
 fore went immediately to the hotel he had occupied 
 when he first arrived in the city. Requesting the 
 landlord to use his best efforts to procure him a con 
 veyance to Havre de Grace, he sat down to his 
 supper, and did ample justice to a plenteous repast. 
 When he had finished the landlord entered the room 
 and informed him that he had succeeded in providing 
 a team for his service, but that grave doubts were 
 entertained whether he would succeed in reaching his 
 destination. Expressing his willingness to assume 
 any responsibility of that kind, Webster bade his 
 entertainer good-bye, and entering the wagon, he 
 started upon his midnight journey to Havre de 
 Grace. 
 
 Again fortune favored him, and although repeat 
 edly halted, he was able to give such a straightfor 
 ward account of himself that they were allowed to 
 proceed, and he arrived in Havre de Grace in time 
 for breakfast. Crossing the river, he went directly to 
 the headquarters of Colonel Dare, who was in charge 
 of the Union troops at Perrysville, and requested 
 that officer to forward the telegram to General 
 McClellan at once. This the Colonel promised to do, 
 and in a few minutes the important message was fly- 
 
IN WASHINGTON. 137 
 
 ing over the wires to its destination at Columbus, 
 Ohio, and the President's request for my appearance 
 
 at Washington followed soon after, and was received 
 
 t 
 by me in due time. 
 
 Recognizing the importance of the call, I lost no 
 time in answering the dispatch of Mr. Lincoln, and 
 started at once on my journey to Washington, 
 accompanied only by a trusty member of my 'force. 
 Before leaving I left orders that should I fail to meet 
 with Webster upon the way he should be directed 
 to await my return in the city of Pittsburg. 
 
 On my arrival at Perrysville I found that a mode 
 of communication had been hurriedly established with 
 Washington, by means of a boat which sailed down 
 the Chesapeake Bay and landed their passengers at 
 Annapolis, from which point the railroad travel to 
 Washington was uninterrupted. 
 
 Arriving at the capital I found a condition of 
 affairs at once peculiar and embarrassing, and the 
 city contained a strange admixture of humanity, both 
 patriotic and dangerous. Here were gathered the 
 rulers of the nation and those who were seeking its 
 destruction. The streets were filled with soldiers, 
 armed and eager for the fray ; officers and orderlies 
 were seen galloping from place to place ; the tramp of 
 armed men was heard on every side, and strains of 
 martial music filled the air. Here, too, lurked the secret 
 enemy, who was conveying beyond the lines the cov 
 eted information of every movement made or contem- 
 
13* TIMOTHY WEBSTER 
 
 plated. Men who formerly occupied places of dignity, 
 power and trust were now regarded as objects of sus 
 picion, whose loyalty was impeached and whose 
 actions it was necessary to watch. Aristocratic ladies, 
 who had previously opened the doors of their luxuri 
 ous residences to those high in office and who had 
 hospitably entertained the dignitaries of the land, 
 were now believed to be in sympathy with the attempt 
 to overthrow the country, and engaged in clandestine 
 correspondence with Southern leaders. The criminal 
 classes poured in from all quarters, and almost every 
 avenue of society was penetrated by these lawless 
 and unscrupulous hordes. An adequate idea can be 
 formed of the transformation which had been effected 
 within a few short weeks in this city of national gov 
 ernment. 
 
 On the day following my arrival I wended my 
 way to the White House and sought an interview 
 with the President. Around the executive mansion 
 everything was in a state of activity and bustle. 
 Messengers were running frantically hither and 
 thither ; officers in uniform were gathered in clusters, 
 engaged in animated discussions of contemplated 
 military operations ; department clerks were bustling 
 about, and added to these was a crowd of visitors, 
 all anxious, like myself, to obtain an interview with 
 the Chief Executive. 
 
 I was not required to wait an unusual length of 
 time, and I was soon ushered into the presence of 
 
IN WASHINGTON. 139 
 
 Mr. Lincoln, who greeted me cordially and intro 
 duced 'me to the several members of the Cabinet who 
 were engaged with him. I was at once informed that 
 the object in sending for me was that the authorities 
 had for some time entertained the idea of organizing 
 a secret-service department of the government, with 
 the view of ascertaining the social, political and pa 
 triotic status of the numerous suspected persons in 
 and around the city. As yet, no definite plans had 
 been adopted, and I was requested to detail my 
 views upon the subject, in order that the matter 
 might be intelligently considered, and such action 
 taken as would lead to definite and satisfactory re 
 sults. I accordingly stated to them the ideas which 
 I entertained upon the subject, as fully and concisely 
 as I was able to do at the time, and, after I had 
 concluded, I took my departure, with the understand 
 ing that I would receive further communications from 
 them in a few days. 
 
 It was very evident to me, however, that in the 
 confusion and excitement which were necessarily inci 
 dent to the novel and perplexing condition of affairs 
 then existing, that anything approaching to a sys 
 tematized organization or operation would be for a 
 time impossible. The necessity for war had come so 
 suddenly upon a peaceful community that there had 
 been as yet but little time for thorough prepara 
 tion or system. The raising of a large army, with 
 all the various contingencies of uniforming, arming 
 
I 4 o TIMOTHY WEBSTER 
 
 and drilling ; the furnishing of supplies, and the as- 
 aagning of quarters, were occupying the attention of 
 the rulers of the government, and I felt confident that 
 I would be required to wait a longer time than I could 
 then conveniently spare from my business, ere I would 
 be favored with any definite instructions from those 
 in authority. This opinion was fully confirmed, after 
 several unsuccessful attempts to obtain satisfying par 
 ticulars from the heads of several of the departments, 
 and leaving my address with the secretary of the 
 President, I returned to Philadelphia. 
 
 I had directed, prior to leaving Chicago, that all 
 important communications addressed to me should be 
 forwarded to that city, and on my arrival there I 
 found a number of letters which required immediate 
 attention. 
 
 Among the number was the following, which had 
 been somewhat delayed in its transmission. 
 
 " COLUMBUS, OHIO, 
 
 April 24, 1 86 1. 
 "ALLAN PINKERTON, Esq., 
 
 " Dear Sir : 
 
 " I wish to see you with the least possible delay, to 
 make arrangements with you of an important nature. 
 I will be either here or in Cincinnati for the next few 
 days here to-morrow Cincinnati next day. In this 
 city you will find me at the Capitol, at Cincinnati at 
 my residence. 
 
 " If you telegraph me, better use your first name 
 
IN WASHINGTON. 
 
 141 
 
 alone. Let no one know that you come to see me, 
 and keep as qiriet as possible. 
 
 " Very truly yours, 
 
 " GEO. B. McCl-ELLAN, 
 
 " Maj. Gen'l Comd'g Ohio Vols. 
 
 This letter at once decided me. Anxious as I 
 was to serve the country in this, the hour of her need, 
 I sought the first opportunity for active duty that 
 presented itself, and I left Philadelphia at once, in 
 order to comply with the instructions contained in 
 this message of Gen. McClellan. 
 
 STORMING A FORT. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 An Adventurt in Pitt shir g. A Mob at Bay. An Exflana* 
 tion. Good-feeling Restored. 
 
 SEVERAL influences operated in my mind to in 
 duce me to respond at once to this letter, and 
 some of them of a directly personal nature. I had 
 been acquainted with General McClellan for a long 
 time before this, and had been intimately associated 
 with him while engaged upon various important op 
 erations connected with the Illinois Central and the 
 Ohio and Mississippi Railroads, of the latter of which 
 he was then president. From the friendship and 
 esteem I entertained for him growing out of my rela 
 tions with him in those matters, both as an individual 
 and as an executive officer, I felt the more anxious to 
 enter into his service, now that he had assumed the 
 command of a military department, and was about to 
 take an active part in the impending struggle. 
 
 At Philadelphia I ascertained that Timothy Web 
 ster had already departed for Pittsburg, according 
 to previous instructions, and hastily telegraphing to 
 the General that I would instantly respond to his 
 letter in person, I took the first train leading west 
 ward and was soon upon my way. 
 
AN ADVENTURE. 143 
 
 f 
 Timothy Webster, meanwhile, had proceeded on 
 
 his journey from Perrysville, and arrived without 
 accident or adventure in Philadelphia. He immedi 
 ately repaired to the office of Mr. Dunn, who informed 
 him that he had just received a dispatch for him from 
 Chicago. Webster hastily opened the message and 
 found my directions for him to await my return at the 
 city of Pittsburg. Remaining in the Quaker City 
 until the following day, he took the western train and 
 in due time arrived at his destination. On inquiring 
 at the telegraph office in Pittsburg he received another 
 message to the same effect as the first one, and he 
 therefore engaged quarters at a hotel, patiently await 
 ing my coming. On the second day after his arrival 
 in the Smoky City, which was Sunday, he again went 
 to the telegraph office, where he received information 
 that I would probably arrive there in the course of 
 that day. 
 
 Returning to the hotel, Webster entered the bar 
 room, and while he was being attended to two men 
 came in, apparently engaged in excited conversation. 
 They advanced to the bar and requested drinks. 
 The excitement in the city, attendant upon the news 
 from Baltimore, had not abated in the least since 
 Webster had passed through several days before, and 
 these two men were discussing the action of the 
 government in regard to this matter. One of them, 
 an excitable, empty-headed fellow, was cursing the 
 President and General Scott, in very loud tones and 
 
144 AN ADVENTURE 
 
 in unmeasured terms, for not burning the city of Balti 
 more to ashes, and thus teaching the rebels a lesson 
 they would be apt to remember. The remonstrances 
 of his friend seemed only to excite him still more, 
 and Webster, feeling desirous of avoiding any con 
 troversy at that time, started to leave the saloon, 
 when the angry disputant turned to him, and arro 
 gantly demanded his opinion of the matter. 
 
 "I think," said Webster, "that the President and 
 General Scott understand their duties much better 
 than I can inform them, and I suppose they do not 
 wish to destroy the property of many who are true to 
 the government." 
 
 " That is all nonsense," replied the other, sharply, 
 "there is not a single Union man in the whole city." 
 
 " I think you are mistaken," said Webster, coolly. 
 " I am sure there are thousands of them there." 
 
 This answer seemed to infuriate the man, and 
 striding up to Webster, he askevl, with an air of im 
 pertinence : 
 
 "Are you a Southern man ?" 
 
 "No, sir, I was born in New York," was the reply, 
 
 " What is your name ?" impudently demanded the 
 fellow. 
 
 " You will find my name upon the register of the 
 hotel, if you desire it, and as I do not wish to have any 
 further controversy with you, I bid you good morning," 
 replied Webster, still remaining cool and unruffled. 
 
 By this time a crowd of about twenty men had 
 
IN PITTSBURG. 145 
 
 gathered about them, and as Webster turned to 
 leave the room, one of them demanded to know the 
 contents of the telegram he had just received. 
 
 This demand, added to the previous suggestion' 
 that Webster was a Southern man, was sufficient to 
 excite the entire crowd, who had been living upon 
 excitement for more than a week, and they began to 
 press around him in a threatening manner, one of 
 them calling out : 
 
 "I believe he is a d d spy; let us see what he 
 has got !" 
 
 Webster broke loose from those nearest to him, 
 and retreating backwards toward the door, ex 
 claimed, in a determined voice : 
 
 " Gentlemen, I am no spy, and if any of you 
 attempt to trouble me further, some of you will 
 assuredly get hurt !" 
 
 At this the crowd grew boisterous and violent, 
 and several called out, " Hang him P " Hang the 
 spy!" while some of them made a rush toward 
 where he stood. 
 
 Drawing his revolver, Webster faced his angry 
 assailants, who drew back involuntarily when they 
 saw that he was both well armed and undismayed; 
 
 "Gentlemen, we have had enough of this non 
 sense. You can talk about hanging me, and perhaps 
 there are enough of you to do it, but, by God, the 
 first one that attempts to put his hands upon me is a 
 dead man P 
 
 10 ' "-- - "-..-., 
 
146 AN ADVENTURE 
 
 Matters began to look serious. It seemed evi 
 dent that these excited people were determined to 
 resort to violence, and that there would be blood 
 shed in consequence. Webster, whose relations 
 with the government were of so intensely loyal a 
 character, was filled with regret at having allowed 
 himself to become a party to a conversation which 
 would lead to such serious consequences. He was 
 resolved, however, to maintain his position. To 
 show signs of weakness, therefore, would be danger 
 ous, if not fatal; to him, and he stood bravely in front 
 of the angry mob, who had drawn back at the sight 
 of the revolver which was leveled so menacingly at 
 them. 
 
 Only for a moment; however, did the crowd stand 
 awed and irresolute one moment of silence, in 
 which every man appeared to be deciding for him 
 self his course of action. Then one tall, stalwart 
 man stepped from their midst, and waving his hand 
 toward his companions, he cried out : 
 
 " Come on, he is only one against twenty, and we 
 will take him dead, or alive !" 
 
 The crowd took a few steps in advance, and Web 
 ster had braced himself to receive their attack, when 
 suddenly, close beside him stood a form, and a loud 
 voice called out : 
 
 " Stop, gentlemen, where you are ! This man is no 
 traitor, and I will defend him with my life I" and the 
 muzzles of two revolvers ranged themselves beside 
 
IN P1TTSBURG. 147 
 
 that presented by the suspected, but undismayed 
 detective. 
 
 Involuntarily the crowd stood still at this unex 
 pected arrival of reinforcements, and Webster, who 
 had recognized the voice, looked up in surprise 
 and relief at this unloo;ed-for, though timely, assist 
 ance. 
 
 I had arrived just in the nick of time, and I was 
 resolved to defend my undaunted operative to the 
 last. 
 
 At this moment the proprietor of the hotel en- 
 tred the saloon, and in a calm voice and quiet man 
 ner attempted to subdue the angry feelings of the by 
 standers. 
 
 " Gentlemen, " said he, " there need be no 1 
 trouble about this matter; Mr. Webster can fully 
 explain his position, and I think the best plan would 1 
 be for you all to repair to the office of the mayor, 
 where any explanation can be given." 
 
 "I am perfectly willing to do that/' said I ; "I 
 know this man, and will answer for him under any 
 circumstances ; we will accompany you to the office of 
 the mayor at once, and I think I can convince him 
 that he is no spy." 
 
 This proposition was eagerly accepted by some, 
 ard reluctantly by others, and finally the entire party 
 inarched out of the hotel on their way to the office 
 of the chief magistrate of the city ; Webster and my 
 self walking together. 
 
14* AN ADVENTURE 
 
 i 
 
 The crcrvd increased as we went on, and frequent 
 
 calls were Still rnude to " hang the traitor/' but no 
 further attempts were made to molest us, and we 
 reached the office without any event of a troublesome 
 
 nature occurring. 
 
 o 
 
 The noise of the crowd attracted the attention of 
 the chief of police, who, during the temporary absence 
 of the mayor, was in charge of affairs of this nature, 
 and he came to the door to ascertain the occasion of 
 the tumult. 
 
 As the crowd, with Webster and myself in the van, 
 reached the steps which led up to the municipal 
 -office, I at once recognized the chief of police, having 
 foeen connected with him some time before in the 
 -detection of some burglars from the city of Pittsburg, 
 and that officer was not slow to identify me as the 
 .detective, who had frequently enabled him to secure 
 the desperate criminals whom the law had at various 
 times pursued. 
 
 As we reached the platform where the officer was 
 {Standing, I stretched forth my hand, which the chief 
 cordially grasped. 
 
 " Why, Mr. Pinkerton, what are you doing here T 
 'inquired the chief, with some surprise. j 
 
 "I have come to defend one of my men, whom ! 
 these people insist upon hanging as a rebel spy, but 
 <who is loyal to the core," I answered, laughingly. 
 
 "I will take care of that," replied the chief, " and 
 your word is sufficient for me," at the same time ex* 
 
IN P1TTSBURG. 
 
 tending his disengaged hand and warmly greeting 
 Webster, who stood beside me. 
 
 As the crowd noticed the evident acquaintance 
 and good-feeling that existed between the reputed 
 spy and their chief of police, they drew back instinct 
 ively, while some of them looked as if they were not 
 insensible to a feeling of shame. The chief realized 
 the state of affairs at once, and turning to the now 
 crestfallen and subdued gathering, he addressed 
 them : 
 
 " Gentlemen, I will be responsible for the loyalty 
 and integrity of these gentlemen, and you will 
 instantly disperse." 
 
 The leaders of this assault on Webster looked 
 terribly ashamed of themselves when they found how 
 ridiculously they had been acting, and as the door of 
 the chiefs office closed on our retreating figures, they 
 slowly and silently retired. 
 
 In an hour afterwards, when Webster and I 
 returned to the hotel, we found the gentlemen who a 
 short time before were anxious to hang him, awaiting 
 our arrival, and we received from them their heartfelt 
 apologies for their hasty and inconsiderate conduct, 
 all of which were received with a spirit of good nature 
 that won the regards of all present, and when the time 
 of our departure arrived, they accompanied us to the 
 depot in a body, and cheered us lustily as the train 
 slowly moved away. 
 
 Thus an adventure, which promised to be very 
 
I 5 
 
 AN ADVENTURE. 
 
 serious in its results, terminated in a manner satisfac 
 tory to all, and Webster and myself, instead of being 
 lynched by a Pittsburg mob, departed in safety on 
 our journey, and arrived in Cincinnati upon the 
 following day, prepared to receive from General 
 McClellan such instructions as were deemed necessary 
 by him for the furtherance of the cause in which he 
 was engaged. 
 
 BETRAYED BY HIS BOOTS. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 General McCleLan in Command of Ohio. I am Engaged 
 for the War. The Secret Service. A Consultation. 
 Webster starts for Rebeldom. 
 
 AT the outbreak of the rebellion many difficulties 
 ji\ were encountered which the people and their 
 leaders were ill-prepared to surmount, and many 
 expedients were resorted to in order to equip and 
 officer the troops as they arrived. The State of 
 Ohio, the militia of which General McClellan had 
 been called upon to command by Governor Dennison, 
 was no exception to this rule ; but that gentleman 
 realized the importance of calling some one to the 
 command of the volunteers, upon whose knowledge, 
 judgment and experience he could place implicit 
 reliance. He therefore turned to Captain McClellan, 
 who was a graduate of West Point, and had been 4 
 captain in the regular army, but who had for some 
 years past been devoting himself to the management 
 of a prominent railroad enterprise in the State. 
 
 The Governor at once sent a communication to 
 the general government, requesting that McClellan 
 should be restored to his old rank in the army, and 
 
WEBSTER STARTS 
 
 that the duty of organizing the Ohio volunteers 
 should be assigned to him.* To this request no 
 answer was received, and it was afterwards learned 
 that the Governor's letter, owing to the interruption 
 of communications with Washington from all points, 
 had not reached its destination. Failing, therefore, 
 to receive any reply from the general government, 
 and being thus forced to rely upon his own resources, 
 Governor Dennison at once summoned McClellaa 
 to Columbus, where the latter applied himself ear 
 nestly to the work of organizing the numerous volun 
 teer regiments which offered their services to the 
 country. The State laws were changed in such a 
 manner as to allow the Governor to select command- 
 fng officers for these volunteers outside of the mem 
 bers of the State militia, and very soon afterward the 
 Ohio troops were commanded by thoroughly compe 
 tent men, who had made military movements the sub 
 ject of scientific study. 
 
 On the third day of May a " Department of the 
 Ohio" was formed, consisting of the combined forces 
 of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and this department, 
 by order of General Scott, was placed under the 
 command of General McClellan. 
 
 The Ohio troops, as they arrived, were mainly 
 located at Camp Dennison, which was situated in a 
 valley about sixteen miles northwesterly from the city 
 of Cincinnati. This was the largest and the chief camp 
 in the State, and here the volunteers received that 
 
FOR REBELDOM. 153 
 
 thorough instruction and training so essential in pre 
 paring for the rigors of war. 
 
 As I have stated, my personal acquaintance with 
 George B. McClellan had, from its earliest incipiency, 
 been of the most agreeable and amicable nature, and 
 when I called at his house in Ludlow street, as I did 
 immediately upon my arrival Ln Cincinnati, I was re 
 ceived with genuine cordiality. After we were 
 closeted together I explained fully to him the charac 
 ter of the business that had called me to Washington, 
 and how the complication of affairs at the seat of 
 government necessitated so much delay that I had 
 found it imperative upon me to leave without arriv 
 ing at any definite understanding with the President 
 
 The General had already been advised of his ele 
 vation in rank, and among other things desired to 
 consult with me in relation to his affairs at the War 
 Department. 
 
 I need not stop to give the details of that inter 
 view. His object in sending for me was to secure 
 my aid and co-operation in the organization of a 
 secret service for his department, and finding me 
 more than willing to do all in my power to help along 
 the cause of the Union, he immediately laid before 
 me all his plans. 
 
 Our business was settled It arranged that I 
 should assume full management and control of this 
 new branch of the service, and that I should at once 
 enter upon the discharge of the multifarious duties 
 
154 WEBSTER STARTS 
 
 attending so responsible a position. The General 
 then informed me that he would write to General 
 Scott for permission to organize this department 
 under his own personal supervision ; and he also 
 agreed to submit the project to Governor Dennison, 
 of Ohio, with a request to that gentleman to solicit 
 the -co-operation of the Governors of Illinois, Indiana, 
 Michigan and Wisconsin, in sustaining the organi 
 zation. 
 
 To this arrangement I gave a ready assent, and 
 we then entered upon the discussion of affairs requir 
 ing immediate attention. Several measures, more or 
 less important, had suggested themselves to my mind 
 while the General was talking, and in the course of the 
 conversation which followed, I presented them for 
 his consideration. It was a relief to me to find that at 
 the outset there was no clash of opinion between us, 
 and I felt confident that there was not likely to be 
 any in the future. 
 
 For several days my time was principally taken up 
 in private consultations with General McClellan, in 
 laying out a line of operations, by which I was to as 
 sist in making arrangements for bringing my own 
 force into active duty at the earliest possible hour. I 
 rented a suite of rooms and fitted up an office in Cin 
 cinnati, where I called about me :>ome of the most 
 capable and trustworthy detectives in rny employ, and 
 impressed upon them the great importance of the 
 tasks that were about to be imposed upon them. 
 
FOR REBELDQM. 155 
 
 The general informed me that he would like ob 
 servations made within the rebel lines, and I resolved 
 to at once send some scouts into the disaffected 
 region lying south of us, for the purpose of obtaining 
 information concerning the numbers, equipments, 
 movements and intentions of the enemy, as well as to 
 ascertain the general feeling of the Southern people 
 in regard to the war. I fully realized the delicacy of 
 this business, and the necessity of conducting it with 
 the greatest care, caution and secrecy. None but 
 good, true, reliable men could be detailed for such 
 bervice, and knowing this, I made my selections ac 
 cordingly ; my thoughts reverting first of all to Timo 
 thy Webster. 
 
 Within six hours after the commander had ex 
 pressed his wishes to me, Timothy Webster was on 
 his way to Louisville, with instructions to proceed 
 southward from that city to Memphis, stopping at 
 Bowling Green and Clarkesville on the way. 
 
 In Web3ter's case it was not necessary to devote 
 much time to instructions, except as to his line of 
 travel, for he was a man who understood the whole 
 meaning of a mission like this, and one who would 
 perform his duty with that faithfulness and ability by 
 which he had fairly earned the confidence I now 
 reposed in him. \ 
 
 Within a few days I also sent out other scouts, 
 singly and in pairs, on the different routes that had 
 been carefully prepared for them, and in a short time 
 
1 5 6 WEBSTER STARTS 
 
 quite a number of my best operatives were engaged 
 upon more or less difficult and dangerous tasks, all 
 tending to the same end. 
 
 In organizing and controlling this secret service, I 
 endeavored to conceal my own individual identity so 
 far as my friends and the public were concerned. 
 The new field of usefulness into which I had ven 
 tured was designed to be a secret one in every re 
 spect, and for obvious reasons I was induced to lay 
 aside the name of Allan Pinkerton a name so well 
 known that it had grown to be a sort of synonym for 
 detective. I accordingly adopted the less suggestive 
 one of E. J. Allen ; a nom de guerre which I retained 
 during the entire period of my connection with the 
 war. This precautionary measure was first proposed 
 by the General himself, and in assenting to it I carried 
 out his views as well as my own. This ruse to con 
 ceal my identity was a successful one. My true name 
 was known only to General McClellan, and those of 
 my force who were in my employ before the breaking 
 out of the rebellion, and by them it was sacredly 
 kept. Indeed, I doubt if McClellan has ever 
 divulged it to this day, if I may judge by the fre 
 quent occurrence of such incidents as the following : 
 
 A short time since, while on a visit to my New 
 York agency, I chanced to meet one of my old army 
 friends, General Fitz-John Porter. He recognized 
 me, gave me a hearty greeting, and proceeded to ad 
 dress me as Major Allen, after the custom of by-gone 
 
FOR REBELDOM. 157 
 
 days. I permitted the conversation to go on for 
 some time, and then said : 
 
 " Are you not aware, General, that the name of E. 
 J. Allen, which I used during the war, was a fictitious 
 one ?" 
 
 He looked at me, as if to satisfy himself that I 
 was not jesting, and then exclaimed : 
 
 " Fictitious ! You are not in earnest, Major ?" 
 
 I assured him that I was never more so. 
 
 "Why, I never suspected such a thing. What/ 
 then, is your true name ?" 
 
 "Allan Pinkerton," I replied. 
 
 " Allan Pinkerton !" he ejaculated. 
 
 His astonishment knew no bounds, and he de- 
 lared it was the first intimation he had ever had 
 that Allan Pinkerton and Major Allen were one and 
 the same person. 
 
 It was on the thirteenth of May that Timothy 
 Webster left Cincinnati on his trip southward. He 
 arrived at Louisville, Ky., late in the night, and re 
 mained there until the following day, when he pur 
 sued his course into the heart of that self-satisfied 
 State which only desired to be " let alone." 
 
 It is not my purpose to give in detail all the events- 
 of Webster's journey, as there was much that would 
 only prove tedious at this late day, though at that 
 time regarded as of the utmost importance to the 
 country. Shrewd, wide-awake, and keen as a bloodt 
 >und on the scent, he allowed nothing to escape 
 
t S 8 WEBSTER STARTS 
 
 him. but quietly jotted down every item of intelli 
 gence that could possibly be of advantage to the 
 Union army, and picked up many important points, 
 \vhich would have escaped the notice' of a man of less 
 detective experience and ability. 
 
 He stopped a day or two at Bowling Green, Ky., 
 and then proceeded on to Clarkesville, Tenn. He 
 made friends of all he met, and cleverly ingratiated 
 himself into the good graces of those whom he be 
 lieved might be of service to him. He was a 4< Hail, 
 fellow! well met," "A prince of good fellows," a 
 genial, jovial, convivial spirit, with an inexhaustible 
 fund of anecdote and amusing reminiscences, and a 
 wonderful faculty for making everybody like him. 
 He partook of soldiers' fare in the rebel camp, shook 
 hands warmly with raw recruits, joked and laughed 
 with petty officers, became familiar with colonels and 
 captains, and talked profoundly with brigadier-gen 
 erals. He was apparently an enthusiastic and deter 
 mined rebel, and in a few cunningly-worded sentences 
 he would rouse the stagnant blood of his hearers till 
 it fairly boiled with virtuous indignation against Yan 
 kees in general, and " Abe Linkin " in particular. 
 
 Webster's talent in sustaining a role of this kind 
 amounted to positive genius, and it was this that 
 forced me to admire the man as sincerely as I prized 
 his services. Naturally, he was of a quiet, reserved 
 disposition, seldom speaking unless spoken to, and 
 never betraying emotion or excitement under any 
 
FOR KEBELDOM. 159 
 
 pressure of circumstances. His face always wore that 
 calm, imperturbable expression denoting a well bal 
 anced mind and a thorough self-control, while the im 
 mobile countenance and close-set lips showed that he 
 was naturally as inscrutable as the Sphinx. - Many of 
 his associates were of the opinion that he was cold arid 
 unfeeling, but / knew there could be no greater mis 
 take than this ; / knew that a manlier, nobler heart 
 never existed than that which beat within the broad 
 breast of Timothy Webster ; and I knew that, re 
 served and modest as he was, he was never want 
 ing in courtesy, never derelict in his duty, never 
 behind his fellows in acts of kindness and mercy. 
 
 It was when he was detailed for such operations 
 as the one in question that his disposition underwent 
 a complete metamorphosis. Then his reserve 
 vanished, and he became the chatty, entertaining 
 boon companion, the hero of the card-table, the story 
 teller of the bar-room, or the lion of the social gather 
 ing, as the exigencies of the case might require. He 
 could go into a strange place and in one day surround 
 himself with warm friends, who would end by telling 
 him all he desired to know. In a life-time of varied 
 f detective experience, I have never met one who could 
 more readily and agreeably adapt himself to circum 
 stances. 
 
 Webster represented himself as a resident of 
 Baltimore, and gave graphic accounts of the recent 
 troubles in that city ; of the unpleasant position in 
 
,60 WEBSTER STARTS 
 
 which the ' f riends of the cause " were placed by the 
 proximity and oppression of Northern troops, and of 
 the outraged feelings of the populace when the 
 " Lincoln hirelings " marched through the streets of 
 the Monumental City. His eyes seemed to flash with* 
 indignation during the recital, and it would have been 
 difficult indeed to induce his audience to believe that 
 he was acting a part, or that his heart was not with 
 the South. 
 
 On the morning of his departure from Clarkesville 
 quite a number of soldiers and citizens, who had become 
 attached to him during his brief sojourn with them, 
 accompanied him to the depot, shook him warmly by 
 the hand at parting, and earnestly wished him God 
 speed. He told them all that he hoped to see them 
 again soon, and waved them a smiling adieu from the 
 platform of the car, as the train whirled him away 
 toward Memphis. 
 
 As the train stopped on the east bank of the 
 Tennessee river, and the passengers swarmed out o{ 
 the cars, Webster noticed a man take the conductor 
 aside and engage in earnest conversation with him 
 for a few moments. This man was a dark-com 
 plexioned, sharp-visaged, long-haired individual, clad 
 in civilian's garb, and wearing a broad-brimmed hat. 
 There was an air of myste'ry about him which 
 attracted more than a passing glance from the scout, 
 and caused the latter to keep an eye on him there 
 after. 
 
r FOR REBELDOM. 161 
 
 The passengers were obliged to cross the river in 
 a ferry-boat. The train going south was in waiting 
 on the other side, and its conductor stood on the 
 bank alone, making entries in his memorandum- book. 
 As soon as the boat touched the land the man with 
 the long hair and broad- brimmed hat sprang ashore 
 and approached the conductor, to whom he began to 
 talk in the same hurried, nervous manner that he had 
 done to the one on the other side. As the time 
 for starting approached, the mysterious stranger and 
 the conductor walked toward the train together, 
 conversing excitedly as they went. 
 
 *' There's something up," thought Webster, as he 
 boarded the train. " Perhaps that fellow is on the 
 look-out for new-comers like myself; but we'll see 
 whether he is sharp enough to catch a weasel asleep." 
 
 For the first twenty miles after leaving the Ten 
 nessee river, the road lay through an uncultivated re 
 gion of swamps and heavy timber. At every station 
 along the route uniformed men, heavy guns, car-loads 
 of muskets and ammunition were seen, indicating gen 
 eral and active preparations for war, while the se 
 cession flag was flying in the breeze, and the music of 
 fife and drum was frequently borne to the ear. At 
 Humboldt, where the train arrived at four o'clock in 
 the afternoon, they were delayed for some time, and j 
 Webster improved the opportunity to look around 
 him and to procure his dinner. The man with the 
 broad-brimmed hat seated himself almost opposite 
 
i6* WEBSTER STARTS 
 
 Webster at table, who noticed that his restless, inqms* 
 itive eyes were kept busy scrutinizing every face that 
 came within range of his vision. He did not address 
 himself to any one during the progress of the repast, 
 and after hurriedly satisfying his own appetite, he 
 walked out upon the platform of the depot, where he 
 stood intently watching the other passengers as they 
 returned to the train. 
 
 Webster, as he crossed the platform, instinctively 
 felt that those searching eyes were riveted upon him 
 as if they would pierce him through, but he did not 
 evince the slightest degree of trepidation or uneasi 
 ness under the ordeal. Assuming an air of quiet un 
 consciousness, he sauntqred past the man without 
 seeming to notice him, and entered the smoking-car, 
 coolly lighted a cigar, drew a Nashville newspa 
 per from his pocket, and settled himself to his read 
 ing. He saw no more of the mysterious stranger 
 .during the remainder of the journey, but on alighting 
 from the train at the Memphis depot, the first object 
 that met his gaze was the wearer of the broad-brim 
 med hat. 
 
 Arriving in Memphis at nine o'clock in the even 
 ing, Webster went directly to the Worsham House, 
 where he intended to stay while in the city. While 
 registering his name he observed a military officer in 
 full uniform standing at his elbow, watching him 
 closely as he wrote. Several other new arrivals 
 placed their signatures after Webster, and he then no- 
 
FOR REBELDOM. 163 
 
 ticed that the officer was engaged in making a copy 
 of names and addresses on a piece of paper. 
 
 While watching this proceeding, his attention was 
 distracted by some one hastily entering the hotel 
 office. It was his mysterious fellow-traveler, who, ' 
 stepping into the center of the room, glanced quickly 
 around, apparently looking for some particular face, 
 The search was evidently successful, for, walking up 
 to one of the men who had just arrived on the 
 train from the North, he tapped him on the shoul 
 der and beckoned him. 
 
 After a few moments' conversation, during which 
 the new-comer appeared to be both surprised and 
 frightened, the two left the hotel together and walked 
 up the street arm in arm. 
 
 Two citizens who were lounging near the door 
 had been interested spectators of this incident, and 
 Webster heard one of them inquire : 
 
 " What does that mean?" 
 
 " It means that the stranger is under arrest," re 
 plied his companion. 
 
 i "Under arrest? And who is the man who 
 arrested him,?" 
 L' " Oh, he is a member of the safety committee." 
 
 " But what crime has the stranger committed, that 
 he should thus be taken into custody?" 
 j " Nothing, perhaps ; but the fact that he is a 
 stranger from the North, is sufficient to mark him as 
 an object of suspicioa" 
 
i6 4 IVE3STER STARTS 
 
 " Isn't that a little severe ?" 
 
 " Severe? It's a necessity in these times. For my 
 part, I am in for hanging every Northern man who 
 comes here, unless he can give the most satisfactory 
 proof that he is not a spy." 
 
 The rest of the conversation did not reach Web 
 ster's ear, ancl, being much fatigued by his day's 
 journey, he soon retired, to seek that much needed 
 rest which slumber only could afford. 
 
 He rose at an early hour in the morning, feeling 
 much refreshed. On entering the dining-room he 
 found it crowded with guests, the majority of whom 
 wore the uniform ancl shoulder-straps of Confederate 
 officers. The conversation around the table was 
 upon the all-absorbing theme which at that time was 
 uppermost in every mind, and the scout was both 
 amused and edified by what he heard. He did not 
 long remain a silent listener, but taking his cue at the 
 proper moment he entered easily and naturally into 
 the conversation himself, and his pleasing address 
 and intelligent observations commanded at once the 
 respectful attention of those around him. 
 
 After breakfast Webster determined to ascertain 
 whether or not he was under the surveillance of the 
 vigilance committee, and he accordingly left the 
 hotel, and wended his way toward the post-office. 
 
 He had not proceeded far when he noticed a man 
 who appeared to be following him on the opposite 
 side of the street Desiring to satisfy himself upon 
 
FOR REBELDOM. 165 
 
 this point he walked on for several blocks, ar.d then 
 dropped into a saloon. Remaining there a sufficient 
 length of time for the man to pass from view, in case 
 he did not stop in his onward course, he emerged 
 from the saloon and retraced his steps toward the 
 hotel. As he did so he noticed the stranger on the 
 othf.r side of the street, dogging him as before. 
 Thl s left no doubt in his mind that he was being 
 shadowed, and he resolved to be guarded in his 
 movements, to refrain from writing any reports or 
 making any notes that could possibly betray him. He 
 returned to the office and bar-room of the Worsham 
 Hotel, and spent an hour or two reading and smok 
 ing. While thus occupied, three military officers 
 entered and stood near the bar engaged in animated 
 conversation. Webster sauntered toward them, and 
 heard one of the trio a man whom the others ad 
 dressed as " Doctor" remark emphatically : 
 
 " Yes, gentlemen, that is a true principle. It will 
 not do to let a man set foot on Kentucky soil until the 
 Northern troops disregard the neutrality of that State." 
 
 Catching the drift of the conversation, Webster 
 stepped forward and said : 
 
 " I beg pardon, sir ; will you permit me to ask one 
 question ?" 
 
 The three officers turned toward him, with ex 
 pressions of mild surprise in their faces, and the 
 Doctor replied : 
 
 " Certainly, sir ; certainly," 
 
,66 WEBSTER STARTS 
 
 \ 
 
 "Do you suppose," added Webster, "that Ken 
 tucky will allow the Northern army to march through 
 the State without showing fight ?" 
 
 "Not by a jug-full," was the prompt response. 
 ["The moment the Northern army crosses the Ohio 
 river, Kentucky will rise in arms and take sides with 
 the South." 
 
 "If she doesn't," said Webster, with much appar 
 ent warmth, " she will prove herself unworthy of the 
 respect of any true Southern men !" 
 
 The Doctor's face brightened up, and he laid his 
 hand approvingly on the scout's shoulder. 
 
 " May I ask where you are from ?" 
 
 " I was born in Kentucky and reared in Mary* 
 land," was the quiet reply, " and I am now direct 
 from Baltimore." 
 
 " Baltimore !" ejaculated the whole trio in chorus ; 
 and the next moment were all shaking hands in the 
 most vigorous fashion. 
 
 " Baltimore P repeated the Doctor, his face red 
 with his recent exertion. " My friend, we are always 
 glad to meet a Baltimorean, for we know there is 
 many a true man in that city who would help us if 
 he could. May I ask your name, sir ?" 
 
 " Webster Timothy Webster." 
 
 "A devilish good name. Mine is Burton. My 
 friends all call me Doctor Burton. Allow me to intro 
 duce you to Colonel Dalgetty and to Captain Stanley 
 of the Arkansas Rifles." 
 
FOR REBELDOM. 167 
 
 The introduction was cordially acknowledged on 
 both sides, and Webster then said : 
 
 " Gentlemen, I was about to call for a drink when 
 I heard you speak of Kentucky. I am happy to 
 know that there is still hopes for that State, Will 
 you drink her health with me?" 
 
 And in the clinking of the glasses, and the quaf 
 fing of their favorite beverages, the new link of friend- 
 chip was forged. 
 
 RUN DOWN BY CAVALRY, 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Webster Fraternises with the Rebel Officers. -A Secession 
 Hat. A Visit to a Rebel Camp. " The Committee of 
 Safety" A Friendly Stranger. A Warning. The 
 Escape. 
 
 \ "I TEBSTER'S new friends were men whom be 
 V V believed he could use to good advantage, and 
 he determined to improve the chance that had thrown 
 him in contact with them. He found them not only 
 very well informed, but disposed to be communica 
 tive, and he therefore applied the " pumping " process 
 with all the skill at his command. He experienced 
 no difficulty in making this mode of operation 
 effectual, for these officers were exceedingly willing to 
 air their knowledge for the benefit of their Baltimore 
 friend, and enjoyed his frequent expressions of agree 
 able surprise at the extent of the preparations made 
 by the people of the South to defend their rights. 
 
 Dr. Burton was the most conspicuous one of the 
 group, from his very pompousness. He wore a 
 superfluity of gorgeous gold lace on his uniform, and 
 assumed the dignity of a major-general. He was 
 a flabby-faced, bulbous-eyed individual, with a 
 wonderful stomach for harboring liquor, and that 
 
 [168] 
 
A VISIT TO A REBEL CAMP. 165 
 
 unceasing flow of spirits arising from a magnified 
 sense of his own importance. It was evident, even upon 
 a short acquaintance, that the doctor found his chief 
 entertainment in listening to himself talk, a species of 
 recreation in which he indulged with great regularity, 
 sharing the pleasure with as many others as would 
 grant him a hearing. 
 
 In Webster he found an attentive auditor, which 
 so flattered his vanity that he at once formed a 
 strong attachment for my operative, and placed him 
 self on familiar and confidential terms with him. 
 
 " Webster, we've got to do some hard fighting in 
 these parts, and that before we are many days older," 
 said the Doctor, with a wise shake of the head. 
 
 " I think you are right," conceded the scout 
 " We must fight it out. From what you have told 
 me, however, I am sure the Lincoln troops will find 
 you fully prepared to give them a warm reception 
 here." 
 
 " That they will, sir ; tkat they will !" was the 
 emphatic rejoiner. " We have one full regiment and 
 four or five companies besides, at Camp Rector, and 
 General Pillow has thirty-seven hundred men at the 
 camp in the rear of Fort Harris, which is a little 
 above us on this side of the river. We expect to move 
 with him, and if there is an attack made upon us 
 every man in the town will instantly become a 
 soldier." 
 
 " Have you arms enough for all of them?" 
 
170 A VISIT TO 
 
 " Arms ? Let the Yankees count on O'ar not 
 arms, and they will meet with a surprise party. In 
 two hours' notice we can have from eight to ten 
 thousand men ready to march." 
 
 " No doubt of it, Doctor ; but how do you expect 
 to get two hours' notice ?" 
 
 " Lord bless you, Webster, we have men watching 
 the movements of the Yankees at Cairo, and the 
 minute they make a move we are notified. Then 
 our signal gun is fired, and every man is mustered." 
 
 " A good arrangement, truly," said the detective, 
 quietly. 
 
 " You look as if you could do some hard fight, 
 ing yourself, Mr. Webster/' remarked Colonel Dal- 
 getty. 
 
 The detective smiled. 
 
 " I have been fighting against great odds for the 
 past two months in Baltimore. The last battle I 
 fought was to get away from thei^ with my life." 
 
 ' Yes, and we are confounded glad to receive you 
 here," exclaimed the enthusiastic Doctor, shaking 
 Webster by the hand for the twentieth time. " Come, 
 gentlemen, we must have another dnuk. Step up 
 and nominate your 'pizen.'" 
 
 The glasses were filled, and sdme ci>e proposed 
 the toast: "Death to the Yankees T Under his 
 breath, however, the detective muttered, " Confusion 
 to the rebels !" and drained his glass. The toasf was 
 no sooner drank than Lieutenant Stanley, who 
 
A REBEL CAMP. 171 
 
 evidently beginning to feel the influence of the liquor 
 he had drank, took off his uniform hat and put it on 
 Webster's head. ^ 
 
 " Excuse me, Mr. Webster," he said, " I merely 
 wish to see how you look in one of our hats." Then 
 stepping back, he added : " By the gods, nothing 
 could be more becoming ! My dear fellow, you must 
 have one by all means, if you stay among us." 
 
 Webster endeavored laughingly to object, but 
 they all refused to accept " no " for an answer. So, 
 finding it impossible to resist, he went with them to a 
 neighboring hat store. 
 
 " Fit a hat to Mr. Webster's head a hat just like 
 mine," said Dr. Burton, to the proprietor ; then turn 
 ing to the scout, he added : " We will have you a 
 cord and tassel of blue, as that will show that you are 
 true to the cause, although you do not belong to the 
 military." 
 
 The hatter produced a secession chapeau of the 
 kind and size required, and Webster at once put it 
 or;, much to the delight of the Doctor, who slapped 
 Webster familiarly on the shoulder, with the excla 
 mation : 
 
 " Now, my dear fellow, you can consider yourself 
 at home !" 
 
 "Perfectly at home," echoed Colonel Dalgetty. 
 
 " Henceforward you are one of us," put in the 
 Lieutenant 
 
 Webster thanked them cordially for their kind- 
 
172 A VISIT TO 
 
 ness, and promised to wear it in preference to any 
 other, As they stepped outside of % the store, how 
 ever, all thoughts of frhe new hat were temporarily 
 driven from his mind, for, standing on the sidewalk, 
 within a few yards of the store door, and looking 
 directly at him, was the identical individual whom he 
 had noticed on the train, who had arrested the 
 Northern stranger the night before. 
 
 The gaze which this vigilant agent of the safety 
 committee now bent upon Webster was full of dark 
 suspicion, but after one swift glance at him the 
 detective turned away with an air of perfect compos 
 ure and unconcern, and walked off between his com 
 panions. To say that he felt some uneasiness at this 
 evidence that he was still being closely followed, 
 would be only to tell the truth. His first impulse 
 was to speak to his companions about it, but a second 
 thought decided him not to mention the matter to 
 any one, nor to betray by word or act that he had the 
 slightest hint of a suspicion that he was being watched. 
 
 The three officers introduced Webster to a large 
 number of soldiers and citizens, and before the day 
 was over he had quite an extended circle of acquaint 
 ance in Memphis. Dr. Burton, who had conceived a 
 fancy for him, as sudden as it was pronounced, as 
 sumed a sort of paternal control over Webster, hover 
 ing about him with an air of protection and solicitude, 
 and drawing the scout's arm through his when they 
 walked together. 
 
A REBEL CAMP. 173 
 
 That afternoon, Webster, desiring to be alone for 
 awhile, hired one of the hackmen at the door of the 
 hotel to drive him three or four miles into the coun 
 try. He went down the river road, and as it was a 
 beautiful day, he enjoyed himself admiring the pictu 
 resque scenery along the way. 
 
 Just below the town, on the bank of the river, he 
 found a small encampment of soldiers with a battery, 
 who were on the lookout for boats coming up the 
 river, and during his ride he saw several encampments 
 of the same nature. After spending several hours in 
 specting the fortifications along the river, Webster 
 returned to the hotel, which he reached about dark. 
 
 The next day Doctor Burton and several of his 
 military friends sought out the detective, and urged 
 him to go with them to Camp Rector. 
 
 ''Gentlemen, I am at your service," said Webster, 
 earnestly. " I think I would enjoy a visit to your 
 camp to-day above all things." 
 
 They went to the levee, and at ten o'clock were 
 on the boat, steaming up the river toward Mound 
 City, where Camp Rector was located. 
 
 A distance of some six or seven miles, passing on 
 their way up, various objects of interest, among them 
 Fort Harris, which was merely an embankment 
 thrown up, to answer the purpose. Arriving at Mound 
 City, the party disembarked and walked to the hotel 
 After dinner the party visited the camp-ground, a 
 distance of about one-fourth of a mile from the hotel, 
 
I74 A VISIT TO 
 
 and here Dr. Button and the other officers took much 
 pride in showing Webster around. They talked 
 volubly about the unexampled bravery of the Con 
 federate soldier ; had much to say on the subject of 
 Southern chivalry as opposed to Northern braggadocio; 
 told how well they were prepared to meet the on- 
 slaught of the enemy ; and found a special delight in 
 exhibiting to the visitor a portion of General Bragg's 
 artillery, which they had in the camp. 
 
 After that they seated themselves around a table 
 in one of the larger tents, to rest and enjoy the 
 grateful shade, as it was a warm and sunny afternoon. 
 While engaged in the most bombastic utterances of 
 their prowess, and of the wonderful exploits that 
 might be expected of the Southern army, their con 
 versation was interrupted by a shadow falling across 
 the strip of sunlight that streamed in through the open 
 ing of the tent. Every one around the table glanced 
 up, and there at the entrance stood the man with the 
 broad-brimmed hat! The intruder did not tarry a 
 moment, but turned and walked away. Evidently he 
 had stopped only to look in ; but in that single instant 
 he had shot a keen, and apparently satisfactory, glance 
 at Timothy Webster, which was fortunately not ob 
 served by any one save the detective himself. 
 
 "That fellow is one of the safety committee/* 
 said Dr. Burton, filling his glass. 
 
 " He appears to be looking for some one/* 
 remarked Lieutenant Stanley. 
 
A REEEL CAMP. 175 
 
 " Reckon he is," answered the Doctor "He's 
 always looking for some one. And, by-the-bye, those 
 chaps are doing a heap of good for the cause just 
 now A Northern man stands no show for his life in 
 these parts if the safety committee spots him. They 
 hang 'em on suspicion." 
 
 " That's right," said Webster, coolly. '" I believe 
 in hanging every Northern man that comes prowling 
 around. They don't deserve a trial, for they have no 
 right here anyway." 
 
 But cool and collected as Webster outwardly 
 appeared, it must be admitted that he was inwardly 
 ill at ease. There was now no longer the shadow of 
 a doubt in his mind that this loner-haired a^ent of the 
 
 o o 
 
 safety committee was following him and watching 
 his every movement, and that any attempt on his 
 part to return to the North would betray him and 
 cause his arrest. 
 
 '"The only reason I have not already been 
 arrested," mused the scout, " is because they are not 
 sure whether I came from the North or not. They 
 merely suspect, and are watching me to see if I under 
 take to return northward. Such an act would confirm 
 their suspicions, and I would be arrested and probably 
 put to death as a spy. It stands me in hand to give 
 them the slip before I take the back track." 
 
 After spending a very pleasant day at the camp, 
 he returned to Memphis on the latest boat that night, 
 informing Dr. Burton that he was going to Chatta- 
 
I 7 6 A VISIT TO 
 
 nooga to look up a brother whom he had not seen in 
 twelve years. 
 
 "You'll come back?" said the Doctor, as he wrung 
 his hand. 
 
 " Oh, certainly," was the cheerful response. " I'll 
 be with you again before long." 
 
 Colonel Gaines, of the artillery, who heard thi3 
 conversation, now grasped the scout's hand. 
 
 " Webster, you'd make a good soldier," he said, 
 bluntly. " Hang me if I wouldn't like to have you 
 on my force." 
 
 Webster smiled good-naturedly. 
 
 44 I have some family business to attend to before 
 I could think of entering the army. After that I may 
 remind you of your remark." 
 
 " All right," said the Colonel, " any time that you 
 are ready, come ; I will make room for you." 
 
 On his way down the river Webster found, to his 
 relief, that the man with the broad-brimmed hat was 
 not aboard the boats. He now had a hope of 
 being able to give his shadow the slip by leaving 
 Memphis on early train in the morning. 
 
 Arriving in sight of their destination, the passen 
 gers on the ferry-boat were surprised to see that the 
 levee was crowded with people. Shortly after, they 
 learned that this unusual gathering was caused by 
 the capture of the steamboat " Prince of Wales " by 
 the rebels. 
 
 Webster went to the Worsham Hotel, where he 
 
A REBEL CAMP. 177 
 
 spent the night, and at five o'clock in the morning, 
 after making a few preparations, and dispatching an 
 early breakfast, he repaired to the depot. Arriving 
 there he looked carefully about on all sides, but saw 
 no one who seemed to take any interest in his move 
 ments. " So far, so good," he muttered, as he 
 boarded the train ; and the next minute he was leav 
 ing the scene of his most recent exploits with the 
 speed of the wind. 
 
 He was himself too shrewd and cunning to feel 
 absolutely sure that he was not followed. His own 
 experience in the art of " shadowing " told him he 
 had not yet escaped the vigilant eyes of the safety 
 committee, but he resolved to elude them if it was 
 possible to do so. 
 
 Innumerable troops were being transported at 
 this time, and the train was crowded with soldiers. 
 Webster amused himself by making the acquaintance 
 of the officers, and skillfully drawing on their fund of 
 information, until the train arrived at Grand Junction, 
 where he decided to change cars for Jackson, Tennes 
 see. 
 
 Accordingly, he abandoned the Chattanooga cars 
 and boarded the north-bound train, which was in wait 
 ing at the junction, and again he was whirled away ' 
 across the verdure-clad country, this time toward the 
 "land of the free." But no sooner was the train 
 well under way than something which came under 
 
 Webster's observation removed from his mind all 
 tt 
 
A VISIT TO 
 
 doubt as. to whether he would be permitted to pursue 
 his journey unmolested. He occupied a seat in the 
 forward part of the car, and on turning carelessly 
 away from the window after gazing out upon the 
 landscape for awhile, he was somewhat surprised at 
 seeing an individual standing on the front platform 
 of the car, looking in through the glass door. 
 
 It was a person whose face and figure had already 
 become quite familiar to him, being no other than the 
 man who had so persistently followed him for the 
 past few days. 
 
 " He seems determined not to let me get away," 
 thought the scout ; but neither in his face nor manner 
 did he betray any of the disappointment he felt. 
 
 He noticed that his pursuer was not alone this 
 time, but was accompanied by another person an 
 ill-looking man of herculean proportions with whom 
 he conversed in an earnest, confidential way. 
 
 When the train arrived at Jackson, Webster 
 stepped out upon the platform of the depot, and the 
 two agents of the safety committee did the same. The 
 conductor stood near by, and Webster spoke to him 
 in a tone which he meant his shadows to hear, ask- 
 
 ing 
 
 " How soon will there be a train for Humboldt ?" 
 " In twenty minutes/' replied the conductor. 
 " Do you know anything about the hotels there ?" 
 inquired the scout. " I've got to stop two or three 
 days in the town, and it's a strange place to me." 
 
A REBEL CAMP. i; 9 
 
 The conductor recommended him to a good house 
 convenient to the depot, and thanking him for the in 
 formation, Webster turned away. He had spoken in 
 a tone that he knew must have been distinctly 
 heard by his enemies, and he hoped this bit of strata 
 gem would have the desired effect. 
 
 Me boarded the train for Humboldt, and the brace 
 of shadows promptly followed him, taking seats in 
 the same car. 
 
 While the train was speeding on its way, Webster 
 was aroused from a reverie by the voice of a woman 
 saying : 
 
 " Pardon me, sir ; may I occupy a portion of this 
 seat?" 
 
 He looked up ; a tall, very respectable looking 
 lady was standing in the aisle, and he saw in an 
 instant that she was the person who had addressed 
 him. 
 
 " Certainly, madam, certainly ;" he replied ; and 
 quickly made room for her. 
 
 She sat down beside him, and then, to his great 
 surprise, she began to talk to him in a low, earnest 
 tone, without once turning her face toward him, 
 
 " You are going to Humboldt ?" she inquired. < 
 
 " I am," he answered, surprised at the question. j 
 
 " You are a Northern man ?" 
 
 "Madam!" A suspicion flashed lightning-like, 
 across his mind. 
 
 44 Believe me, I am not an enentf ' the lady went 
 
x8o A VISIT TO 
 
 on, " I have been sitting in the rear part of this 
 I heard rwc men talking, and have reason to believe 
 they were speaking about you. They said they 
 would stop at the same hotel with you in Humboldt, 
 and keep a close watch over you, and if you attempt 
 to go northward they will arrest you, take you back 
 to Memphis, and deal with you as they would with 
 any Northern spy. I advise you to be very careful, 
 sir, for your life depends upon it." 
 
 The train by this time was approaching Hum- 
 
 boldt, and the lady arose and disappeared before the 
 
 astonished detective could tender his thanks for the 
 
 warning, She was destined to remain an utter 
 
 ^stranger to him for all time to come, for he never 
 
 iheard of her afterwards. As they entered the depot, 
 
 Webster passed out at the rear end of the car, and he 
 
 noticed, with a smile of satisfaction, that his attendant 
 
 shadows were making their way out at the front. As 
 
 ,he stepped from the car he noticed a pile of baggage 
 
 ,near him, and quickly stepping behind this, he 
 
 -'Watched the movements of the two men. Apparently 
 
 ifully satisfied that their game would be safely bagged 
 
 ,at the hotel, they left the depot and walked rapidly 
 
 ,away in the direction of the public-house. His ruse 
 
 ^worked to a charm. A violent shower happened to 
 
 ibe passing over at this time, and it was only natural 
 
 if or the two " safety " men to suppose that Webster 
 
 i had stopped to seek shelter in the depot for a few 
 
 jjninutes. 
 
A REBEL CAMP. 
 
 iSi 
 
 The express train from Memphis was soon due, 
 and as it came dashing in " on time," Webster jumped 
 aboard, and was on his way toward Louisville, smil 
 ing in his sleeve as he thought of those two crafty 
 foxes, whose cunning had overreached themselves, 
 patiently awaiting his arrival at the hotel in Hum* 
 boldt. 
 
 Before crossing the Kentucky line, Webster put 
 his rebel hat out of sight, and once more donned the 
 one he had worn from the North. 
 
 The remainder of his journey was made without 
 incHent, and in* due time he arrived in Cincinnati, 
 and reported to me. 
 
 A HOT LUNCH. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 I lake a Trip to tlie South. Danger in Memphis. A Timety 
 
 ; Warning. A Persistent Barber. An Unfortunate 
 Memory. Return to Cincinnati. 
 
 TIMOTHY WEBSTER had scarcely departed 
 upon his trip to Memphis, when I was sum 
 moned for consultation with General McClellan. 
 Upon repairing to his office, which I did immediately 
 on receiving his message, I found him awaiting my 
 arrival, and in a few minutes I was informed of his 
 wishes. He was desirous of ascertaining, as defi 
 nitely as possible, the general feeling of the people 
 residing South of the Ohio river, in Kentucky, Ten 
 nessee, Mississippi and Louisiana, and requested that 
 measures be at once taken to carry out his purposes. 
 
 It was essentially necessary at the outset to be 
 come acquainted with all the facts that might be of 
 importance hereafter, and no time offered such oppor 
 tunities for investigations of this nature as the pres 
 ent, while the war movement was in its incipiency, 
 and before the lines between the 'opposing forces had 
 been so closely drawn as to render traveling in the 
 disaffected district unsafe, if not utterly impossible. 
 
 As this mission was of a character that required 
 
A TRIP TO THE SOUTH. 183 
 
 coolness and tact, as well as courage, and as most of 
 my men had been detailed for duties in other sections 
 of the rebellious country, I concluded to make the 
 journey myself, and at once stated my intention to 
 the General, who received it with every evidence ol 
 satisfaction and approval. 
 
 "The very thing I should have proposed, Major," 
 said he; "and if you will undertake this matter, I 
 have no fears of a failure, and every confidence in 
 obtaining important developments." 
 
 My action had been prompted by two impelling 
 reasons. The first was the absence of the men whom 
 I had thus far engaged, and who, as I have before 
 stated, had been detailed upon missions of investiga 
 tions in various parts of the South and West, and the 
 other was a desire to see for myself the actual con 
 dition of affairs as they existed at that time. I have 
 invariably found that a personal knowledge is far 
 more satisfactory than that gleamed from others, and 
 whenever it was possible, I have endeavored to 
 acquire my information by such means. Another 
 advantage to be derived from a personal observation 
 was that I would be necessarily forced to rely in 
 many matters to which it would be impossible for me 
 to devote my personal attention. 
 
 Having arranged everything to my satisfaction, 
 in order that my absence would occasion no disar 
 rangement in the proper conduct of the investigations 
 already commenced, I left my office in the charge ol 
 
84 TO THE SOUTH AND 
 
 Mr. George H. Bangs, my general superintendent, 
 and started upon my journey, intending to be as 
 rapid in my movements as circumstances would per* 
 mit, and to return at as early a date as I could, con 
 sistently with the proper performance of the duties 
 intrusted to me. 
 
 My first objective point was the city of Louisville, 
 in Kentucky. The position of this State at the 
 present time was a peculiar one. Her Governor, if 
 not a Southern conspirator, was, if his own language 
 was to be relied upon, both in opinion and expecta 
 tion, a disunionist. He had at first remonstrated 
 against the action of the Cotton States, but after that 
 action had been taken, he was unqualifiedly opposed 
 to coercing them back to obedience, and in addition 
 to this, he had endeavored to excite his own* people 
 to a resistance to the principles and policy of the 
 party in power. 
 
 The people, however, did not sustain his views, 
 and wlxile the popular sentiment was deeply pro- 
 slavery, and while her commerce bound her strongly 
 to the South, the patriotic example and teachings of 
 Henry Clay had impressed upon them a reverence 
 and love for Union higher and purer than any mere 
 pressing interests or selfish advantage. 
 
 At Louisville, therefore, I found a degree of 
 excitement prevailing that was naturally to be ex 
 pected from the unsettled condition of public affairs. 
 The Governor had refused to comply with the Presi- 
 
BACK TO CINCINNATI. 185 
 
 dent's call for troops, and the State had been in a 
 state of hopeless bewilderment and conflict of opinion 
 in consequence. A strong minority, arrogating to 
 themselves an undue importance, were endeavoring, 
 by self-assertion and misapplied zeal, to carry the 
 State into the secession fold, but thus far they had 
 made no substantial progress against an overwhelm 
 ing undercurrent of Union sentiment. Failing in 
 this, their energies were now devoted to an effort to 
 place the State in a neutral attitude, which would pre 
 vent her from taking a decided stand upon the ques 
 tion of supporting the Union. Thus far they had 
 been temporarily successful, and on the i6th day of 
 May .the house of representatives passed resolutions 
 declaring that Kentucky " should during the contest 
 occupy the position of strict neutrality." 
 
 This was the existing condition of affairs when I 
 arrived in Louisville, and which I found prevalent 
 throughout all the sections of the State I passed. 
 
 Representing myself as a Southern man, a resi 
 dent of Georgia, I had no difficulty in engaging in 
 conversation with the prominent men of both ele 
 ments, and I decided then, from my own observations, 
 that Kentucky would not cast her fortunes with the 
 South, but that, after the bubble of unnatural excite 
 ment had burst and expended itself, the loyal heart 
 would be touched; and " Old Kaintuck" would event 
 ually keep step to the music of the Union. Results 
 proved that I was not mistaken, and not many weeks 
 
1 86 TO THE SOUTH AND 
 
 elapsed before Union camps were established within 
 her domain, and ,the broad-shouldered Kentuckians 
 were swearing allegiance to the old flag, and, shoul 
 dering their muskets, entered into the contest with a 
 determination to support the government. 
 
 Passing on undisturbed, but everywhere on the 
 alert, and making copious notes of everything that 
 transpired, that I considered at all material to the 
 furtherance of the loyal cause, I reached Bowling 
 Green. 
 
 At this place I found a very decided Union senti 
 ment, the Stars and Stripes were floating from the 
 various buildings, and the Union men were largely in 
 the majority. There was one great cause for.dis^ 
 quietude, however, which was very manifest even to 
 a casual observer. Many residents of Bowling Green 
 and the vicinity were slave owners, and the impres 
 sion had become general throughout the negro com 
 munities that the opening of the war naturally and 
 inevitably involved their freedom, an opinion, how 
 ever, without sure foundation, at that time, but. 
 which was eventually to be justified by subsequent 
 events. The slaves had heard their masters discuss 
 ing the various questions which naturally grew out 
 of a conflict of this chance character, and in which it 
 was generally admitted, that emancipation must fol 
 low the commencement and continuance of hostilities 
 between the two sections. It was not surprising 
 therefore, that this opinion should spread among the 
 
BACK TO CINCINNATI. 187 
 
 entire colored element, or that it should be greedily 
 accepted by these down-trodden blacks as the har 
 binger of a freedom for which they had been praying. 
 In conversation with one of the leading men of 
 Bowling Green, I was thoroughly impressed with the 
 importance of this phase of circumstances. 
 
 44 Mr. Allen," said he, "you have no idea of the 
 danger we are apprehending from the blacks. We 
 know that the moment that Lincoln sends his aboli 
 tion soldiers among our niggers, they will break out 
 and murder all before them. Why, sir," continued he, 
 "we cannot sleep sound at nights for fear of the nig 
 gers. They think Lincoln is going to set them free." 
 
 " Why," I interrupted, " what can they know 
 about Lincoln ?" 
 
 " They know too much about him," he replied ; 
 " there has been so much talk about this matter all 
 through the State, that the niggers know as much 
 about it as we do." 
 
 " You should not talk before your niggers ; it is 
 not sa'~ and I never do it." As 1 never owned a 
 negro this was perfectly true. 
 
 "I know we should not, but it is too late now; 
 they know as much as we do, and too much for our 
 safety or peace of mind. Why, sir, we are compelled 
 to mount guard at nights ourselves for mutual pro 
 tection, and though there has been no outbreak as 
 yet, and I believe that this is the only thing that 
 keeps them in check." 
 
1 88 TO THE SOUTH AND 
 
 " It would be a good plan," said I, anxious to 
 preserve my reputation as a Southern pro-slavery 
 man, '' to take all the men and boys over fifteen years 
 of age and sell them South." 
 
 " That's the devil of it," he replied, " we cannot 
 do that ; it was tried only last week, and a nigger 
 that I was offered $1,50x3 for last year, I could not 
 6ell at any price." 
 
 Already, it seemed, the fruits of the slavery agita 
 tion were being made apparent. The very institu 
 tion for which these misguided men were periling 
 their lives, and sacrificing their fortunes, was threat 
 ened with demolition ; and the slaves who had so long 
 and so often felt the lash of their masters, were now 
 becoming a source of fear to the very men who had 
 heretofore held them in such utter subjection. 
 
 This state of affairs I found to be prevalent all 
 over the country which I visited. Bright visions of 
 freedom danced before the eyes of the slaves, and 
 they awaited anxiously the dawning of the day, when 
 the conning of the soldiers of the North would strike 
 from their limbs the shackles they had worn so long. 
 In the after years of this bloody struggle, many deeds 
 of self-sacrifice were performed by these slaves, when, 
 resisting the dazzling opportunities to obtain their 
 coveted liberty, they cast their lot with the families of 
 their old masters, whose male members were fighting 
 to continue their bondage. Many cases could be 
 cited where, but for the faithful labors a^d devotion 
 
BACK TO CINCINNATI. 189 
 
 of the despised slave, .the families of many of the 
 proud aristocrats would have starved. But the faith 
 ful heart of the negro ever beat warmly for those 
 whom he had served so long, and disregarding the 
 tempting allurements of freedom, he devoted himself 
 to the service and to the maintenance of those who 
 had regarded him as so much merchandise, or simply 
 as a beast of burden. 
 
 At Bowling Green I purchased a splendid bay 
 horse, whose swiftness and powers of endurance I felt 
 assured could be relied upon, intending to make the 
 rest of my journey on horseback. By this means I 
 would be the better able to control my movements 
 than if I were compelled to depend upon the rail 
 roads for transportation. I would also be enabled to 
 stop at any place where I might find the necessity, 01 
 a favorable opportunity for observation. I had no 
 cause to regret the purchase I had made, for right 
 nobly did the spirited animal which I had selected 
 perform the arduous duties that were imposed upon 
 him. Day after day he would be urged forward, and 
 under his flying feet the distance sped away almost 
 imperceptibly, and each morning found my charger 
 rested and refreshed, and ready for the day's journey, 
 be the weather fair or foul, or the roads easy or 
 rugged. 
 
 I reached Nashville, Tennessee, in due season, and 
 resolved to devote several days to my investigations. 
 Here the disunion element was more united and out* 
 
I 9 o TO THE SOUTH 
 
 spoken, but even here, I detected evidences of a 
 Union sentiment which was none the less profound, 
 because of the danger which its utterances would 
 have incurred. There could be no doubt that this 
 State had resolved to cast her fortunes with the con 
 federacy, and the rebel General Pillow had been for 
 some time engaged in fortifying the city of Memphis. 
 At Nashville I met a number of officers of the rebel 
 arm)' 1 , all of whom were full of enthusiasm, and whose 
 bombastic utterances in view of the eventual results, 
 seem at this time almost too absurd to be repeated. 
 Here also I came in contact with an army surgeon, 
 whose head was full of wild Quixotic schemes for de 
 stroying the Northern armies by other processes than 
 that of legitimate warfare. One of his plans I 
 remember was to fill a commissary wagon with 
 whisky, in which had been previously mixed a gen 
 erous quantity of strychnine. The wagon was then 
 to be broken and abandoned and left upon the road 
 so as to fall into the hands of the Union soldiers. 
 Of course, the liquor would be consumed by the 
 finders, and the valiant Doctor, with evident satisfac 
 tion to himself, but to the equally evident disgust of 
 his companions, loudly vaunted his death-dealing and 
 barbarous scheme. This brave warrior, however, I 
 learned afterward, had fled in terror at the first fire, 
 and was afterwards dishonorably dismissed from the 
 service he was so well calculated to disgrace. So far 
 as I was afterward able to learn, this grand project 
 
BACK TO CINCINNATI. 191 
 
 for wholesale slaughter, of the valorous Doctor, 
 received no sympathy or support from his more hon* 
 orable associates, and the soldiers were enabled to 
 drink their whiskey untainted with any other poison 
 ous influences than is naturally a part of its composi 
 tion. 
 
 Leaving Nashville, I spurred on In the direction of 
 Memphis, and in due time reached the city, which now 
 presented a far different aspect than when I visited 
 it only a few years before. Then the country was at 
 peace. The war cloud had not burst with all its fury 
 over a happy land, and the people were quietly pur 
 suing their avocations. I was engaged in a detec 
 tive operation which required my presence in the 
 city, and had been in consultation with some of the 
 express company's officials, for whom I was attempt 
 ing to discover the perpetrators of a robbery of one 
 of their safes. Turning a corner I came upon a scene 
 that stirred my feelings to the utmost. 
 
 It was the market square, and the merchandise 
 disposed of were human beings. There was the 
 auctionrblock and the slave-pen. Men, women and 
 children were being knocked down to the highest 
 bidder. Wives were sold away from their husbands, 
 and children from their parents. Old and young 
 were submitted to the vulgar speculators in flesh and 
 blood, and their value was approximated by their 
 apparent age, strength and healthful ness. My blood 
 boiled in my veins as I witnessed, for the first time, 
 
i 9 2 TO THE SOUTH AND 
 
 the heart-rendering scenes which I had only heard of 
 read of before. The cold cruelty of the buyers and 
 abject misery of the sold, filled me with a spirit of 
 opposition to this vile traffic that gave me renewed 
 strength to fulfill my duty as an active abolitionist, 
 and to labor earnestly in the cause of emancipation. t 
 I shall never forget the events of that day, and I 
 can recall the feeling of intense satisfaction which 
 I experienced on my second visit, when even then, I 
 could see the dawning of that liberty for which I had 
 labored, and I knew that the day of emancipation 
 could not.be far distant. Then the fair fame of in 
 dependent America would no longer be blackened by 
 the pressure of the slave or the master, but all men 
 under the protection of the starry banner would be 
 free and equal under the law. 
 
 Now the streets were filled with soldiers, some 
 of them fully armed and equipped, and others pro 
 vided with but ordinary clothing, and furnished with 
 such inefficient arms as they had brought with them 
 from their homes. A most motley gathering they 
 were, and their awkward and irregular evolutions at 
 this time gave but little promise of the splendid army 1 
 .of which they were destined in the near future to 
 form so important a part. The work of fortifying 
 the city had been progressing in earnest ; earthworks 
 had been thrown up all along the banks of the 
 Mississippi, and batteries were already in position, 
 whose guns frowned threateningly upon the river; 
 
BACK TO CINCINNATI. 193 
 
 Here to be known or suspected as a Union man 
 was to merit certain death, and to advocate any 
 theory of compromise between the two sections was 
 to be exiled from the city. Here rebeldom was ram 
 pant and defiant, and I had some difficulty in evading 
 the suspicions of the watchful and alert Southron, 
 who regarded all strange civilians with doubtful 
 scrutiny, and whose " committee of safety " were 
 ever on the qui vive to detect those whose actions 
 savored in the least of a leaning towards the North. 
 Fearlessly, however, I mingled with these men, and 
 as I lost no opportunity in pronouncing my views 
 upon the righteousner-s of the cause of secession, and 
 of my belief in its certain triumph, I obtained a ready 
 passport to the favor and confidence of the most 
 prominent of their leaders. I talked unreservedly 
 with the private soldier and the general officer, with 
 the merchant and the citizen, and by all was regarded 
 as a stanch Southern man, whose interests and sym 
 pathies were wedded to rebellion. 
 
 General Pillow was in command at this point, and 
 almost every citizen was enrolled as a soldier, whose 
 services would be cheerfully and promptly rendered 
 whenever the call should br made upon them. 
 
 Even this redoubtable chieftain was not proof 
 against my blandishments, end he little dreamed 
 when on one occasion he quxttly sipped his brandy 
 and water with me, that he was giving valuable 
 information to his sworn foe, and on*, to whom every 
 
BACK TO CINCINNATI. 195 
 
 On the third evening of my sojourn in Memphis, 
 however, my dreams of fancied security were sudden* 
 ly dispelled, and I was brought face to face with the 
 reality of danger. 
 
 I had retired early to my room, according to my 
 general custom, and had scarcely been seated when 
 I was disturbed by a faint but quick and distinct 
 knocking at my door. I arose hastily, as it was some* 
 thing unusual for me to receive visitors after I had 
 retired, and throwing open the door, I was somewhat 
 surprised to see, standing before me, in a state of un 
 mistakable excitement, the colored porter of the hotel. 
 
 Before I had time to question him, he sprang into 
 the room and closed the door behind him. His 
 countenance evinced a degree of terror that imme 
 diately filled me with alarm. His eyes were fixed 
 wildly upon me, his lips were quivering, and his 
 knees trembled under him, as though unable to sus 
 tain the weight of his body. Indeed, so frightened 
 was he, that he appeared to be struggling forcibly to 
 do so. 
 
 " What is the matter, Jem ?" I inquired, in as 
 calm a tone as I could assume, and with a view of re 
 assuring him. " What has happened to frighten you 
 so?" 
 
 " Tore God, Mass-a Allen," ejaculated the black, 
 succeeding by a great effort in finding his voice, "you 
 done can't sleep in this housn to-night, ef ye do, yeH 
 be a dead man before morning." 
 
196 TO THE SOUTH AND 
 
 \ 
 
 As may be imagined, this informatior. was not of 
 a very agreeable nature, indefinite as it was; I felt 
 assured that my informant could be relied on that 
 something had occurred to endanger my safety, and 
 I became impatient to learn what he knew. 
 
 "Out with it, Jem," said I, "and let me know 
 what it is all about" I spoke cheerfully and con 
 fidently, and the coolness of my manner had the 
 effect of restoring the equilibrium of my sable friend, 
 and, recovering himself with an effort, he began to 
 explain : 
 
 " I tell you what it is, Massa Allen, and I'se gwan 
 to tell it mighty quick. Ye see, de General hab got 
 a lot of spies up de river at Cairo, a watching of the 
 Linkum sogers, and one o' dem fellows jes came in 
 as you were going up stairs. De berry minit dat he 
 seed you he said to de man what was wid him, ' Dat 
 man is 'spicious ; I seed him in Cincinnati two weeks 
 ago, and he ain't down here for no good,' and he 
 started right off for de General, to tell him all about 
 it. I kern right up heah, massa, and you must git 
 away as fast as ye can/' 
 
 This was too important to be ignored I had no 
 desire to be captured at that time, and I had no | 
 doubt of the correctness of the porter's story. I re- * 
 solved to act at once upon the suggestion, and to 
 make good my escape before it was too late. My 
 admonitory friend was fearfully in earnest about get 
 ting me away, and he quickly volunteered to procure 
 
BACK TO CINCINNATI. 197 
 
 rny horse, which I had quartered in close proximity 
 to the hotel, and to furnish me with a guide who 
 would see me safely through the lines c.nd outside of 
 the city. Bidding Jem make all possible haste in his 
 movements, I gathered together my few belongings, 
 and in a few minutes I descended the stairs and 
 made my exit through the rear of the house. 
 Through the faithfulness of Jem, and the careful 
 guidance of the watchful negro he had provided me 
 with, I was soon riding away from threatened danger 
 and ere morning broke I had proceeded far upon my 
 way. How much service these faithful blacks had 
 been to me, I did not fully learn until some time 
 afterwards, when I was informed by Timothy Web 
 ster, who arrived in Memphis following my departure, 
 and who thus learned the full particulars of the ex 
 hausting pursuit of one of Lincoln's spies, who had 
 mysteriously disappeared from the chief hotel, while 
 a guard was being detailed to effect his arrest. 
 
 I met the faithful Jem several years later, when 
 he had worked his \vay as a refugee from his native 
 State and entered the Union lines in Virginia, and he 
 was soon afterwards attached to my force, where he 
 proved his devotion in a manner that was quite con 
 vincing. My faithful steed, who had become thor 
 oughly rested after his long journey, bore me safely 
 through this danger, and in due time I entered the 
 State of Mississippi. Here rebellion and disunion 
 were the order of the day, and a wide-spread deter 
 
198 TO THE SOUTH AND 
 
 urination existed to fight the cause of the South to 
 the bitter end. Stopping one night at Grenada, I 
 pushed on my way to Jackson, and here I resolved to 
 remain a day or two, in order to make a thorough in 
 vestigation of the place and its surroundings. 
 
 Putting up my horse, I engaged quarters for my 
 self at the principal hotel in the city, and feeling very 
 much fatigued with my long journey, I retired early to 
 my room and passed a long night in refreshing sleep. 
 
 In the morning I arose about five o'clock, as is 
 my general custom. I was feeling in excellent health 
 and spirits ; my journey had thus far been fully as 
 successful as I could have desired ; and safely con 
 cealed about my person I had items of value that 
 would amply repay me for the fatigues I had under 
 gone and the dangers I had passed. I had plans of 
 the roads, a description of the country, a pretty cor 
 rect estimate of the troops and their various locations 
 and conditions, and altogether I felt very well satis 
 fied with myself and with the results of my mission. 
 
 As I descended the stairs, I noticed a fine sol 
 dierly officer standing in the doorway, and after bid 
 ding him a hearty good-morning, I invited him to 
 accompany me to the saloon of the hotel, where we 
 mutually indulged in a decoction as is the universal 
 custom in Southern cities. After I had obtained my 
 breakfast, it occurred to me that, before attempting 
 any active measures for the day, I owed it to myself 
 to procure the services of a barber for a much-needed 
 
BACK TO CINCINNATI. 199 
 
 shave. I had been traveling for a number of days, 
 and my face had been a stranger to a razor for a long 
 time, and I concluded I would be more presentable 
 if I consulted a tonsorial artist. 
 
 This was an unfortunate idea, and I soon had 
 occasion to regret having entertained it for a mo 
 ment. I would have been far more contented if I 
 had bestowed no thoughts upon my grizzled beard, 
 and allowed nature to take its course with my hirsute 
 appendage. 
 
 Entirely unconscious, however, of what was in 
 store for me, I entered the well-fitted saloon of the 
 hotel, and patiently waited my turn to submit myself 
 to the deft fingers of the knight of the razor. 
 
 In response to the universal and well-understood 
 call of "next!" I took my seat in the luxuriously 
 upholstered chair, and in a few minutes my face was 
 covered with the foamy lather applied by the dap 
 per little German into whose hands I had fallen. 
 
 I noticed when I sat down that the man wore a 
 puzzled and speculative look, as though he was strug- 
 
 
 
 gling with some vexing lapse of memory, and as he 
 drew the keen edge of the razor across my face, his 
 eyes were fixed intensely upon my features. His 
 manner annoyed me considerably, and I was at a 
 loss to account for his strange demeanor. Whatever 
 ideas I may have entertained with regard to this sin 
 gular action were, however, soon set at rest, only to 
 give place to a feeling of unrestful anger. 
 
too TO THE SOUTH AND 
 
 He had just cleared one side of my face of its 
 stubby growth of hair, when a smile irradiated his 
 face, and with a look of self-satisfied recognition and 
 pride, he addressed me : 
 
 " Vy, how do you do, Mr. Bingerdon ?" 
 
 Had a thunderbolt fallen at my feet I could not 
 have been more perfectly amazed, and for a moment 
 I could scarcely tell whether I was afoot or on 
 horseback. I devoutly wished that I was anywhere 
 than with this Dutch barber, whose memory was so 
 uncomfortably retentive. 
 
 I had been too accustomed to sudden surprises, 
 however, to lose my self-control, and I replied to 
 him, with an unmoved face and as stern a voice as I 
 could command: 
 
 " I am not Mr. Bingerdon, and I don't know the 
 
 man." 
 
 " Oh yes, your name is Bingerdon, and you leev 
 in Geecago." 
 
 The face of the German was so good-natured, 
 and he appeared quite delighted at recognizing me, 
 but for myself I was feeling very uncomfortable in 
 deed. I did not know the man, nor what he knew 
 of me. I knew, however, that he was perfectly right 
 about my identity, and I knew also that it would be 
 very dangerous for his knowledge to become general 
 
 " I tell you I don't know the man you are speak 
 ing of," said I, sternly. 
 - " Oy, Mr. Bingerdon," he replied, in a grieved 
 
BACK TO CINCINNATI. toi 
 
 tone, " I know you well. Don't you mind me shav 
 ing you in the Sherman House in Geecago, you was 
 a customer of mine." 
 
 The pertinacity of the man was simply exasperat 
 ing, and fearing that his memory would be likely to 
 get me into trouble, as several people were listening 
 to our conversation, I resolved to end the difficulty 
 at once. Jerking the towel from around my neck and 
 wiping the lather from the unshaved portion of my 
 face, I leapt from the chair, exclaiming angrily : 
 
 " I tell you I know nothing of you Mr. Bingerdon, 
 or any other d d Yankee abolitionist, and if you say 
 another word to me upon this subject, I'll whip you 
 on the spot !" 
 
 The barber presented a most ridiculous appear 
 ance ; he was utterly frightened at my manner, and 
 yet so convinced was he that I was the man he took 
 me for, that he appeared more amazed at my denial, 
 than at my threats of violence. 
 
 Meanwhile, the occupants of the saloon began to 
 crowd around us, and several came in from the 
 adjoining rooms. Turning to them with well-simu 
 lated anger, I told them the story I had invented; I 
 lived near Augusta, Georgia ; never was in Chicago, 
 did not know Mr. Pinkerton or any of his gang. 
 Then I denounced the discomfited barber in round 
 terms, and finished by inviting the entire crowd to 
 take a drink with me. 
 
 This they all did with alacrity and by the time 
 
ao2 A TRIP TO THE SOUTH. 
 
 they had drained their glasses, every one of the party 
 were strong adherents of mine. We then returned 
 to the barber-shop, and so thoroughly was the ci owd 
 convinced of my truthfulness, that they were eager to 
 punish the innocent occasion of my anger. One im 
 petuous individual wanted to hang him on sight, and 
 his proposition was received with general favor ; but 
 finding I had succeeded in evading detection for my 
 self, I interfered in the poor fellow's behalf and he 
 was finally let off. 
 
 After another drink all round I managed to get 
 away from the party, and it was not long before I 
 was upon my horse, and traveling away from tha 
 possibility of a recurrence of such an accidental dis 
 covery. I procured a razor and shaving materials^ 
 and performed that operation for myself, as I did not 
 care to excite curiosity by exhibiting my half-shaved 
 face to any more inquisitive barbers. 
 
 A few miles outside of the town I sold my horse, 
 and concluding that I had obtained as much informs 
 tion as was desirable at that time, and as I Lad 
 already been absent from head-quarters longer than 
 I had intended, I made my way back to Cincinnati 
 by a circuitous route, and reached there in safety, 
 well pleased with my work, and quite rejoiced to find 
 that General McClellan.was fully satisfied with what 
 I had learned. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 East and West Virginia. Seceding from Secession. My 
 Scouts in Virginia. A Rebel Captain Entertains " My 
 Lord" An old Justice Dines witJi Royalty. A Lucky 
 Adventure. A Runaway Horse. A Rescue. 
 
 AT this time the condition of affairs in the State 
 JL~\ of Virginia the " Old Dominion," as it was 
 generally denominated presented a most perplexing 
 and vexatious problem. The antagonistic position of 
 the two sections of that state demanded early con 
 sideration and prompt action on the part of -the 
 Federal Government, both in protecting the loyal 
 people in the Western section, and of preserving 
 their territory to the Union cause. Within the 
 borders of this commonwealth there existed two 
 elements, directly opposed to each other, and both 
 equally pronounced in the declaration of their political 
 opinions. The lines of demarkation between these 
 diverse communities were the Allegheny Mountains, 
 which extended through the very middle of the state, 
 from north-east to south-west, and divided her terri 
 tory into two divisions, slightly unequal in size, but 
 evidently different in topographical features and 
 personal characteristics. 
 
i04 A REBEL CAPTAIN 
 
 From the nature of its earlier settlement, and by 
 reason of climate, soil and situation, Eastern Virginia 
 remained the region of large plantations, with a heavy 
 slave population, and of profitable agriculture, 
 especially in the production of tobacco. West 
 Virginia, on the contrary, having been first settled 
 by hunters, pioneers, lumbermen and miners, pos 
 sessed little in common with her more wealthy and 
 aristocratic neighbors beyond the mountains. They 
 made their homes in the wilds of the woods, and 
 among the rocky formations, under which was hidden 
 the wealth they were seeking to develop, and in time 
 this western country became the seat of a busy manu 
 facturing industry, with a diversified agriculture for 
 local consumption, while the east was largely given 
 up to the production of great staples for export. As 
 a natural result, the population and wealth of the 
 eastern portion, which was thus made to stand in the 
 relation of a mere tributary province to her grasping 
 neighbor, who selfishly absorbed the general taxes 
 for local advantage. 
 
 The slave interest also entered largely into the 
 creation and continuance of this antagonistic feeling. 
 According to a census, which had been recently 
 taken, it was ascertained that Eastern Virginia held 
 but a few thousands. It was not a matter of surprise, 
 therefore that secession ism should be rampant in the 
 east, and that a Union sentiment should almost 
 universally prevail in the west As the institution 
 
ENTERTAINS "MY LORD." ao$ 
 
 of slavery was more or less the cause of the war, here, 
 as u other parts of the South, secession reared its 
 most formidable front where the slave interest pre 
 dominated, and treason was more alert in the centers 
 of accumulated wealth and family pride, whose foun 
 dations were laid by the suffering and the toil of the 
 African bondsmen. The war had been waged to 
 defend the " Divine institution," and it was scarcely 
 to be expected that such a cause would be valiantly 
 championed by men whose self-reliance and personal 
 independence had endeared to them the rights of 
 free and honorable manhood. 
 
 When the Convention of Virginia met to consider 
 the question of secession, the slave-holding dignita 
 ries were somewhat startled by the logical, but novel, 
 declaration of one of the western members, that " the 
 right of revolution can be exercised as well by a por 
 tion of the citizens of a State against their State gov 
 ernment, as it can be exercised by the whole people 
 of a State against their Federal Government" This 
 was followed by another, more pointed and revolution 
 ary, " that any change in the relation Virginia now 
 sustains to the Federal Government, against the 
 f wishes of even a respectable minority of her people, 
 would be sufficient to justify them in changing their 
 relation to the State government by separating them 
 selves from that section of the State that had thus 
 wantonly disregarded their interests and defied their 
 will" 
 
,o$ A REBEL CAPTAI& 
 
 The c^nv' jntion, however, denying the pc 
 of this logic, passed its secret ordinance of secession 
 en the 1 7th day of April, and within a week popular 
 movements were on foot in the various towns and 
 counties of Western Virginia, to effect a division ' 
 of the State. The people united in a unanimous pro 
 test against the efforts of the slave-holding aristocrats 
 to carry them into a cotton confederacy, and a deter 
 mination to " secede from secession," was manifested 
 everywhere. The loyal determination was rapidly 
 followed by popular organization, an appeal for as* 
 sistance was made to the government at Washington, 
 who promised them countenance and support, and on 
 the 1 3th day of May, delegates from twenty-five 
 counties of West Virginia met at Wheeling, to devise 
 such action as would enable them to fully and finally 
 repudiate the treasonable revolt of East Virginia. 
 
 Many circumstances favored their position. The 
 fctate of Ohio, immediately adjoining, was organizing 
 her military force of volunteers, and Western Virginia 
 was, not long after, attached to the department of the 
 Ohio under command of General McClellan. The 
 blockade of Washington, and other events, had oper 
 ated to keep the Western troops on the Ohio line, 
 and the Unionists of West Virginia found a protect 
 ing military force at once in their immediate vicinity, 
 with a commanding officer who was instructed to 
 give them' every encouragement and support 
 
 Meanwhile, Governor Letcher, of Virginia, ignor* 
 
ENl^ERTAINS "MY LORD." 207 
 
 ing the attitude assumed by the people of the West, 
 had issued his proclamation calling for the organiza 
 tion of the state militia, and including Western Vir 
 ginia in the call. Prompted by a spirit of arrogance 
 or over-confidence, he at an early day dispatched of 
 ficers to that locality to collect and organize the mili 
 tia of Western Virginia. Owing to the sparsity of 
 the population, and the hilly and mountainous situa 
 tion of the country, there were but two principal 
 localities or lines of travel, where a concentration of 
 forces could be best effected one of these being the 
 line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the 
 other the valley of the Great Kanawha river. In 
 these districts Governor Letcher sent his recruiting 
 agents, but they soon returned reports of a very dis 
 couraging character. The rebel emissaries found 
 the feeling very bitter : that Union organizations ex 
 isted in most of the counties, and that while frag 
 ments of rebel companies were here and there spring 
 ing up, it was very evident that no local force suffi 
 cient to hold the country, would respond to the Con 
 federate appeal, while the close proximity of Union 
 forces at several points along the Ohio, pointed to a 
 short tenure of Confederate authority. 
 
 This information was 'not at all cheering to the 
 rebel Governor of the State, and he determined to 
 maintain his author'ty in the disaffected districts with 
 armed forces from the eastern portion of the State. 
 To accomplish this, he detailed a few available com- 
 
f0 8 A REBEL CAPTAIN 
 
 panics from Staunton to march toward Beverly, from 
 which point they could menace and overawe the town 
 of Grafton, the junction of the main stem of the 
 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, with its branches ex 
 tending to Parkersburg and Wheeling. The inhabit 
 ants showed more alacrity, however, to take up arms 
 for the government than for Governor Letcher or 
 General Lee. A Union Western Virginia regiment, 
 under the' command of Colonel Kelley, began to 
 gather recruits rapidly at Wheeling, while the rebel 
 camps between Beverly and Grafton were compara 
 tively deserted, and Colonel Porterfield, who had 
 been sent under orders of Governor Letcher, found 
 his efforts at recruiting decidedly unsuccessful. 
 
 On the 23d day of May the State voted upon the 
 ordinance of secession, and East Virginia, under 
 complete military domination, accepted the ordinance, 
 while West Virginia, comparatively free, voted to re 
 ject the idea of secession. 
 
 Immediately after the result was ascertained, the 
 rebel troops became aggressive, and Colonel Porter- 
 field dispatched several of his companies to burn the 
 bridge on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. 
 
 The appearance of these troops was quickly brought 
 to the notice of the Federal authorities at Washing 
 ton. On the 24th day of May the Secretary of War 
 and General Scott telegraphed this information to 
 General McClellan, and inquired "whether its influ 
 ence could not be counteracted" General McClellaii 
 
ENTERTAINS "MY LORD.' 209 
 
 at once replied in the affirmative, and this was the 
 sole order he received from Washington regarding a 
 campaign in Virginia. 
 
 On the 26th, .the General ordered two regiments 
 to cross the river at Wheeling, and two others at 
 Parkersburg. They were to move forward simul 
 taneously by the branch railroads from each of these 
 points to their junction at Grafton. The burnt bridges 
 were restored in their passage, and after a most bril 
 liant strategic movement, Porterfield was completely 
 surprised, and the rebels were forced to disperse, in 
 utter rout and confusion. 
 
 This complete success of the first dash at the 
 enemy had the most inspiriting effect upon the 
 Union troops, and also encouraged and fortified the 
 Western Virginia unionists, in their determination* 
 to break away from the East and to form a new 
 State. This movement was successfully accomplished, 
 and early in July they elected two United States 
 senators, who were admitted to, and took part in the 
 national legislature. 
 
 Governor Pierpont, who was head of this provis 
 ional State government, organized at Wheeling, made 
 a formal application to the United States for aid to 
 suppress the rebellion and protect the people against | 
 domestic violence. General McClellan, in furtherance 
 of this object, ordered additional forces into the State 
 from his department - 
 
 In order to act intelligently in the matter, it 
 
io A REBEL CAPTAIN 
 
 necessary that some definite information should be 
 derived respecting the country which was now to be 
 protected, and from which it was necessary the invad 
 ing rebels should be driven. For this purpose the 
 General desired that I should dispatch several of my 
 men, who, by assuming various and unsuspicious 
 characters, would be able to travel over the country, 
 obtain a correct idea of its topography, ascertain the 
 exact position and designs of the secessionists. 
 
 For this duty I selected a man named Price 
 Lewis, who had just returned from a trip to the South, 
 and whom I had reason to be satisfied was equal to 
 the task. I resolved, therefore, that he should be 
 one of the party to make this journey, together with 
 several others who were delegated for the same pur 
 pose. In order to afford variety to the professions 
 of my operatives, and because of his fitness for the 
 character, I decided that Price Lewis should repre 
 sent himself as an Englishman traveling for pleasure^ 
 believing that he would thus escape a close scrutiny 
 Dr a rigid examination, should he, by any accident, 
 ifall into the hands of the rebels. 
 
 Procuring a comfortable-looking road-wagon and 
 
 j a pair of strong gray horses, which were both sub- 
 
 | .-stantial-looking and good roadsters, I stocked the 
 
 vehicle with such articles of necessity and luxury as 
 
 would enable them to subsist themselves if necessary, 
 
 and at the same time give the appearance of truth to 
 
 such professions as the sight-seeing Englishman 
 
ENTERTAINS "MY LORD." an 
 
 might feel authorized to make. I provided him also 
 with a number of English certificates of various kinds, 
 and I also supplied him with English money which 
 could be readily exchanged for such currency that 
 would best suit his purposes in the several localities 
 which he would ie required to visit. 
 
 Lewis wore a full beard, and this was trimmed in 
 the most approved English fashion, and when fully 
 equipped for his journey he presented the appearance 
 of a thorough well-to-do Englishman, who might 
 even be suspected of having ''blue blood" in his 
 veins. In order that he might the more fully sustain 
 the new character he was about to assume, and to 
 give an added dignity to his position, I concluded to 
 send with him a member of my force who would act 
 in the capacity of coachman, groom and body serv 
 ant, as occasion should demand. The man whom I 
 selected for this role was a jolly, good-natured, and 
 fearless Yankee named Samuel Bridgeman, a quick, 
 sharp-witted young man, wh'o had been in my employ 
 ment S3me time, and who had on several occasions 
 proved himself worthy of trust and confidence in mat 
 ters that required tact as well as boldness, and good 
 sense as well as keen wit 
 
 Calling Sam into -my office, I explained to him 
 fully the nature of the duties he would be required to 
 perform, and when I had concluded I saw by the 
 merry twinkle in his eyes, and from the readiness 
 with which he caught at my suggestions, that he 
 
ti2 A REBEL CAPTAIN 
 
 thoroughly understood and had decided to carry cut 
 his part of the programme to the very letter. 
 
 In addition to these, I arranged a route for two 
 other men of my force. They were to travel through 
 the valley of the Great Kanawha river, and to 
 observe carefully everything that came under their 
 notice, which might be of importance in perfecting a 
 military campaign, in case the rebels should attempt 
 hostile measures, or that. General McClellan might 
 find it necessary to promptly clear that portion of 
 Virginia from the presence of secession troops. 
 These two men were to travel ostensibly as farm 
 laborers, and their verdant appearance was made to 
 fully conform to such avocations. 
 
 Everything being in readiness, the two parties were 
 started, and we will follow their movements separately, 
 as they were to travel by different routes. 
 
 Price Lewis, the pseudo Englishman, and Sam 
 Bridgeman, who made quite a smart-looking valet in 
 his new costume, transferred their horses, wagon and 
 stores on board the trim little steamer " Cricket," at 
 Cincinnati, intending to travel along the Ohio River, 
 and effect a landing at Guyandotte, in Western Vir- , 
 ginia, at which point they were to disembark and j 
 pursue their journey overland through the country. 
 
 I accompanied Lewis to the wharf, and after 
 everything had been satisfactorily arranged, I bade 
 him good-bye, and the little steamer sailed away up 
 the river. 
 
ENTERTAINS * MY LORD." aij 
 
 There were the usual number of miscellaneous 
 passengers upon the boat, and added to these were a 
 number of Union officers, who had been dispatched 
 upon various missions throughout that portion of the 
 State of Ohio. These men left the steamer as their 
 points of destination were reached, and after they ha,d 
 departed, several of the passengers who had hitherto 
 remained silent, became very talkative. They began 
 in a cautious manner to express their opinions, with 
 a view of eliciting some knowledge of the sympathies 
 of their fellow-travelers in the important struggle 
 that was now impending. Lewis had maintained a 
 quiet, dignified reserve, which, while it did not forbid 
 any friendly approaches from his fellow-passengers, 
 at the same time rendered them more respectful, and 
 prevented undue familiarity. Sam Bridgeman con 
 tributed materially to this result ; his deference to 
 ''my lordj' was very natural, and the respect with 
 which he received his commands convinced the 
 passengers at once that the English-looking gentle 
 man was a man of some importance. 
 
 The passengers all appeared to be Union men, 
 and while they expressed their regrets that the war 
 had commenced, they regarded their separation from 
 Eastern Virginia, with undisguised satisfaction. 
 
 At midnight, on the second evening, the boat 
 landed at Guyandotte, and Samuel, with a great deal of 
 importance, attended to the transfer of his master and 
 the equipage from the boat to the wharf. Here they 
 
ti 4 A REBEL CAPTAIN 
 
 found a number of men in uniform, who were ascer 
 tained to be representatives of the " Home Guard," 
 and in a few minutes Bridgeman had secured the ser- 
 Jvices of two of them, to assist him in safely landing 
 (their effects. This being satisfactorily accomplished, 
 he, apparently in a sly manner, treated them to a drop 
 of good whisky, which formed part of the stores they 
 had been provided with. Stopping at the hotel over 
 night, they continued their journey on the following 
 morning. They drove leisurely along, and at about 
 ten o'clock they stopped at a farm-house to rest 
 their horses. They remained here until nearly three 
 o'clock in the afternoon, conversing with the old 
 farmer, who seemed to be much pained at the con 
 dition of affairs, but who had two sons who had 
 joined the rebel army. They renewed their journey 
 in the afternoon, and in about two hours reached the 
 little village of Colemouth, where there was a rebel 
 encampment. On passing this they were halted by 
 the guard, who inquired their business and destination. 
 Lewis told him he was an Englishman, accompanied 
 only by his servant, and that he was traveling through 
 the country for pleasure. The guard informed them 
 that he could not let them pass, and asked Lewis to 
 go with him to the Captain's headquarters, which was 
 located in a large stone house, a few hundred yards 
 distant. My operative willingly consented, and leav 
 ing Sam in charge of his carriage, he accompanied 
 the soldier to the officer's quarters. He was ushered 
 

ENTERTAINS "MY LORD. 9 115 
 
 into a large and well-furnished apartment on the 
 second floor, and in a few minutes the Captain came 
 in, 
 
 He greeted my operative pleasantly, and informed 
 him that he regretted the necessity of detaining him, 
 but orders had to be obeyed. Lewis related in sub- 
 ssance what he had already stated to the guard, which 
 statement the Captain unhesitatingly received, and 
 after a pleasant conversation, he invited the detective 
 to accept the hospitality of the camp. 
 
 An English gentleman traveling for pleasure was 
 not to be treated with discourtesy, and upon Lewis' 
 accepting of his invitation, a soldier was dispatched 
 to bring the horses and carriage and their impatient 
 driver into camp. 
 
 Supper was ordered, and in a short time the Cap 
 tain and his guest were discussing a repast which was 
 far more appetizing than soldiers' fare usually is. 
 During the meal Sam stood behind the chair of 
 Lewis, and awaited upon him in the most approved 
 fashion, replying invariably with a deferential, 
 " Yes, my lord." 
 
 After full justice had been done to the repast; 
 Price directed Bridgeman to bring in from the car 
 riage a couple of bottles of champagne, and by the 
 time the hour of retiring had arrived the detective 
 had succeeded in impressing his entertainer with a 
 very exalted opinion of his rank and standing when 
 at home. 
 
u6 A REBEL CAPTAIN 
 
 Lewis, being an Englishman by birth, was very 
 v?ell posted about English affairs, and he entertained 
 his host with several very well invented anecdotes of 
 the Crimea, in which he was supposed to have taken 
 a.} active part, and his intimacy with Lord Raglan, 
 the commander of the British army, gained for him 
 the unbounded admiration and respect of the doughty 
 Captain. 
 
 From this officer Lewis learned that there were 
 a number of troops in Charleston, but a few miles 
 distant, and that General Wise, who was then in 
 command, had arrived there that day. 
 
 After a refreshing sleep and a bounteous breakfast, 
 Lewis informed the Captain that he would continue 
 his journey toward Charleston, and endeavor to ob 
 tain an interview with General Wise. The Captain 
 cordially recommended him to do so, and furnished 
 h.im with passports which would carry him without 
 question or delay upon the road. As they were 
 about taking their leave the Captain put into Lewis' 
 hands an unsealed letter, at/the same time remarking 
 with great earnestness : 
 
 " My lord, I beg of you to accept the inclosed 
 letter of introduction to General Wise ; as I am per 
 sonally acquainted with him, this letter may be of 
 some service to you, and I should be only too happy 
 if it will be so." 
 
 "Thank you/' replied Lewis, "but you have 
 been far too kind already, and believe me I shall 
 
ENTERTAINS "MY LORD." 217 
 
 always recall my entertainment at your hands with 
 pleasure." 
 
 The valiant Captain was not aware that he had 
 been furnishing very valuable information to his 
 gentlemanly visitor, and that while he was unsuspect 
 ingly answering his well-directed questions, his serv 
 ant, the quiet Sam Bridgeman, was unobservedly 
 making notes of all that he heard in relation to the 
 situation of affairs and with regard to the probable 
 movements of the rebel troops. 
 
 A rather ridiculous incident occurred to our two 
 travelers after leaving the camp. They had pro 
 ceeded but a short distance upon their way, when 
 one of the horses they were driving cast a shoe, 
 which made it necessary for them to stop at a 
 little village and secure the services of a black 
 smith. 
 
 Driving up to the hotel, Lewis alighted from the 
 wagon, while Bridgeman drove to the blacksmith- 
 shop in order to have his horse attended to. As 
 Lewis ascended the steps of the hotel he noticed a 
 tall, rather commanding-looking gentleman seated 
 upon the porch, who was evidently scrutinizing his 
 appearance, very carefully. The stranger was a man 
 about sixty years of age, but remarkably well pre 
 served, and the lines on his face scarcely gave but 1 
 little indication of his years. There was an air of 
 seeming importance about him which impressed 
 Lewis with the fact that he must be one of the digni- 
 
ai8 A REBEL CAPTAIN 
 
 taries of the place, and as he approached him he very 
 politely raised his hat and saluted him. 
 
 The old gentleman returned the salutatiqn with 
 an inquiring gaze, and Lewis, in order to pave the 
 way to his acquaintance, invited him to partake of a 
 drink, which was cordially accepted. In a few 
 minutes, under its influence, the two men were con 
 versing with all the freedom of old friends. 
 
 Lewis ascertained that his companion was a jus 
 tice of the peace, an office of some importance in that 
 locality, and that the old gentleman was disposed to 
 give to his judicial position all the dignity which a 
 personal appreciation of his standing demanded. In 
 a quiet manner, Lewis at once gave the justice to 
 understand his appreciating the honor he had received 
 in meeting him, and by a few well-administered flat 
 teries, succeeded in completely winning the kind re 
 gards of the old gentleman. Their pleasant conver 
 sation was progressing with very favorable success, 
 when Sam Bridgeman drove up with the team, having 
 succeeded in finding a smithy and in having the lost 
 shoe replaced. 
 
 With a deferential, semi-military salute, he ad 
 dressed Lewis : 
 
 " We are all ready, my lord.*' At the mention 
 of the title the old fellow jumped to his feet in blank 
 amazement, and in the most obsequious manner, and 
 with an air of humility, that, compared with his bom* 
 bastic tone of a few moments before, was perfectly 
 
ENTERTAINS "MY LORD." a 19 
 
 ridiculous. Jerking off his hat and placing it under 
 his left arm, he advanced, and said : 
 
 " If my lord would do me the honor to accr.pt my 
 poor hospitality, I would only be too happy to have 
 the pleasure of his company for dinner ; my house 
 is only a short distance off, on the road to Charleston, 
 and will detain you no longer than to rest and 
 feed your horses, and partake of a* true Southern 
 meal." 
 
 Lewis hesitated a moment, and then remembering 
 that he had represented himself as traveling purely 
 for pleasure, he did not see how he could avoid ac 
 cepting his kind invitation. 
 
 " I have heard, sir, of the hospitable character of 
 the Southern gentlemen, and I assure you I shall be 
 most happy to avail myself of your kindness." 
 
 The old Justice could not conceal his pleasure at 
 the prospect of entertaining a " live lord " in his own 
 house, and with evident delight he accepted a seat in 
 Lewis' carriage. He directed the way to his dwelling, 
 which stood back from the road, surrounded by a grove 
 of lofty pines, and then invited his guest within; in- 
 tvyjsting the care of the team to the care of Sam and 
 
 f' v *ip of the servants, they entered the house, and were 
 fen engaged in discussing the situation of affairs, both 
 t|rth and South. Lewis informed the old justice 
 
 TL ^5-t *^ 
 
 Tffat his name was Henry Tracy, of Oxford, England, 
 and that his object was to reach Charleston, but that 
 he was not aware that the country was so unsettled. 
 
aao A RES EL CAPTAIN 
 
 or hi would not have ventured on this trip. He 
 then related his adventure of the day before, and 
 commented favorably on the gentlemanly bearing of 
 the Captain, and the manner in which he had been 
 treated, They indulged in pleasant conversation, on 
 various topics, until dinner was announced. 
 
 When they had done justice to an excellent* re 
 past, they repaired to a shaded porch in the rear of 
 the house, and Lewis instructed Sam to bring out a 
 bottle of champagne and a bottle of brandy. These, 
 as already intimated, had been labeled with foreign 
 wrappers, so that the deception was complete. The 
 brandy was a very ordinary article, and the wine of 
 an inferior quality, but the old gentlemen went into 
 ecstasies over it, and under its mellowing influence, he 
 became familiar and confidential, and gave to my 
 shrewd operative much valuable information. Finally 
 the justice grew profusely demonstrative, and leaning 
 across the table, he said : 
 
 " My lord, I have never tasted such brandy as 
 you carry in all my life, I have a couple of warm 
 friends outside whom I have taken the liberty to send 
 for, and whom I know will be delighted to see yotf, 
 and still more pleased to taste this excellent liquor. 
 " Certainly," replied Lewis, ' bring them in ;" 
 shall be happy to meet them." 
 
 Lewis supposed, of course, that the two men 
 whom he had referred were planters and neighbors, 
 but imagine his surprise when the justice returned* 
 
 j^ 
 
 i. 
 
ENTERTAINS "MY LORD:* 221 
 
 accompanied by the blacksmith and cobbler of the 
 village. 
 
 After being introduced to "my Lord Tracy/ 
 ^Lewis invited them to take a glass with them, and 
 with evident pleasure, yet with visible embarrassment, 
 they accepted the invitation and seated themselves at 
 the table. 
 
 It was now that the old gentleman grew loqua 
 cious ; he was loud and profuse in his praises of the 
 brandy ; he asserted again and again, that it had 
 never been his good fortune to taste such liquor, in 
 which encomiums the blacksmith and cobbler heartily 
 joined. As the afternoon wore away, and the pres 
 ent supply was exhausted, Sam was dispatched after 
 another bottle, and the social meeting continued un 
 til evening. Lewis was careful as to the amount he 
 drank, and intensely enjoyed the whole affair. The 
 idea of the blacksmith and cobbler hobnobbing with 
 an English lord, struck him as being so ridiculously 
 funny, that he laughed again and again at the absur 
 dity of the situation. Often during the evening he 
 laughed immoderately, at what they supposed their 
 own jokes and wit, when he was really thinking of 
 i the ridiculous comedy in which he was playing the 
 leading part. When the hour for retiring arrived, 
 the old man begged as a special favor that he would 
 be allowed to keep one of the empty bottles, as a 
 memento of the occasion of his lordship's dining with 
 him, and to remind him of the pleasure he had en- 
 
122 
 
 A REBEL CAPTAIN 
 
 joyed of drinking some rare old imported brandy 
 (made, in Cincinnati). The blacksmith and cobbler 
 also looked so longingly at the empty bottles before 
 them, that Lewis could scarcely refrain from laughing 
 heartily, as he graciously complied with their request ' 
 for a souvenir of the occasion. The evident satisfac 
 tion with which they appropriated a bottle apiece, as 
 they started for home, and their hearty thanks as 
 they bid him good-night, was heartily echoed by the 
 old justice, who carefully laid his bottle away as a 
 sacred relic of a never-to-be-forgotten event. 
 
 While the party were enjoying themselves on the 
 porch, Sam Bridgeman had been using his time well 
 among the servants, and. had gleaned much valuable 
 information from them. They remained over night 
 with the old gentleman, and on the following morning, 
 after bidding him a kind farewell, they started on 
 their journey. Lewis did not forget, however, before 
 leaving, to take a parting glass w r ith his host, who 
 seemed very reluctant to have them depart. They 
 continued on their way towards Charleston, traveling 
 but slowly, as the roads were heavy from the recent 
 rains. About noon they arrived at a farm-house, to 
 which they had been recommended by their host of 
 the night before. Here they stopped for dinner,' and 
 after refreshing themselves, they again went on. 
 The afternoon was warm and pleasant, and their 
 journey lay through a beautiful stretch of country. 
 Driving quietly along, they'beguiled the time admir- 
 
ENTERTAINS "MY LORD." 2*3 
 
 ing the beautiful scenery spread before them, and in 
 pleasant converse. Their enjoyment was, however, 
 suddenly interrupted by the sound of loud voices and 
 the clattering of horses' hoofs immediately behind 
 him. Quickly turning around, the cause of this 
 unusual excitement was at once apparent. A fine 
 black horse, covered with foam, was tearing down the 
 turnpike at break-neck speed, and evidently running 
 away. Upon his back was seated a young lady, who 
 bravely held her seat, and who was vainly attempting 
 to restrain the unmanageable animal. Some distance 
 behind were a party of ladies and gentlemen on horse 
 back, all spurring their horses to the utmost, as if 
 with the intention of overtaking the flying steed in 
 front of them. Intense fear was depicted upon the 
 countenances of those in the rear, and not without 
 reason, for the situation of the young lady was 
 dangerous indeed. 
 
 Quick as a flash, my operatives realized the situa 
 tion of affairs, and the necessity for prompt action. 
 Without uttering a word, Sam Bridgeman turned 
 his horses directly across the road, intending by that 
 means to stop the mad course of the fiery charger 
 approaching them. As he did so, Lewis sprang from 
 the wagon, and with the utmost coolness advanced to 
 meet the approaching horse. On came the frightened 
 animal at a speed that threatened every moment to 
 hurl the brave girl from her seat, until he approached 
 nearly to the point at which my operatives had 
 
, a4 A REBEL CAPTAIN 
 
 stationed themselves, and then, evidently perceiving 
 the obstructions in his path, he momentarily slackened 
 pace. In that instant Lewis sprang forward, and 
 grasping the bridle firmly with a strong hand, he forced 
 the frightened animal back upon his haunches. The 
 danger was passed. The horse, feeling the iron grip 
 upon the bridle, and recognizing the voice of 
 authority, stood still and trembling in every joint, his 
 reeking sides heaving, and his eyes flashing fire. The 
 young lady, with a sudden revulsion of feeling, fell 
 back in the saddle, and would have fallen but that 
 Sam Bridgemen, hastening to the relief of his com 
 panion, was fortunately in time to catch the fainting 
 figure in his arms. Extricating her quickly from the 
 saddle, he set her gently on the ground, and as he did 
 so the fair head fell forward on his shoulder, and she 
 lost consciousness. 
 
 By this time Lewis had succeeded in quieting the 
 excited animal, and had fastened him to a tree by the 
 wayside, and as he turned to the assistance of 
 Bridgeman, the companions of the unconscious girl 
 rode up. Hastily dismounting, they rushed to her 
 aid, and in a few minutes, under their ministrations, 
 the dark eyes were opened, and the girl gazed won- 
 deringly around. 
 
 After being assisted to her feet, she gratefully 
 expressed her thankfulness to the men who had prob 
 ably saved her life, in which she was warmly joined 
 by the remainder of the party. 
 
ENTERTAINS y MY LORD" 225 
 
 Sam Bridgeman received these grateful expres 
 sions with an air of modest confusion, which was 
 indeed laughable, and then said : 
 
 " It ain't no use thanking me, Miss, it was my 
 lord here, that stopped the the animal." 
 
 At the words "my lord," a look of curiosity came 
 over the faces of the new-comers, and Lewis stepped 
 gracefully forward and introduced himself. 
 
 " I am glad, ladies and gentlemen, to have been 
 of service to this young lady, and permit me to intro 
 duce myself as Henry Tracy, of Oxford, England, 
 now traveling in America." 
 
 The three gentlemen who were of the riding 
 party grasped the hand of their new-made English 
 acquaintance, and in a few words introduced him to 
 the ladies who accompanied them, all of whom were 
 seemingly delighted to make the acquaintance of a 
 gentleman who had been addressed by his servant 
 as " my lord." 
 
 This adventure proved to be a most fortunate one 
 for my two operatives. The gentlemen, upon intro 
 ducing themselves, were discovered to be connected 
 with the rebel army, and to be recruiting officers sent 
 by Governor Letcher to organize such rebel volun 
 teers as were to be gathered in Western Virginia. 
 By them Lewis was cordially invited to join their com 
 pany to Charleston, which he as cordially accepted 
 Suggesting that as the young lady, who had scarcely 
 recovered from the accident, might not feel able to 
 is 
 
t6 A REBEL CAPTAIN. 
 
 ride her horse into town, he politely offered her a 
 seat in his carriage, which offer was gratefully ac 
 cepted, and attaching the runaway horse to the rear 
 of the vehicle, the party proceeded on their way to 
 Charleston, at which point they arrived without 
 further event or accident. 
 
 The young lady whom Lewis had so providen 
 tially rescued was the only daughter of Judge 
 Beveridge, one of the wealthiest and most influential 
 men in the State, and upon conducting her to her 
 home, the detective was received with the warmest 
 emotions by the overjoyed father. Lewis was pressed 
 to make the house of the Judge his home during his 
 :Stay, but gratefully declining the invitation, he took 
 ip his quarters at the hotel, where he could more 
 ^eadily extend his acquaintance, and where his move- 
 ttients would be more free. 
 
 The young officers whom he had met upon the 
 Toad had their quarters at the hotel at which Lewis 
 ?kad stopped, and under their friendly guidance no 
 one thought of questioning his truthfulness, or im 
 peaching his professions. 
 
 By this means he was enabled to acquire a wonder 
 ful amount of information, both of value and impor 
 tance to the cause of the North, all of which was duly 
 Deported to me at headquarters, and by me commu* 
 imcated directly to General McClellan. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 The Rebels Attempt to Occupy West Virginia. Genei *t 
 McClellan Ordered to Drive them Out. Early Battle. 
 The Federals Victorious. West Virginia Freed from 
 Rebel Soldiers. 
 
 ECOGNIZING the importance of holding West 
 JLV Virginia, and of preventing the Union forces 
 from penetrating through the mountains in the direc 
 tion of Staunton, the rebel authorities had sent two 
 new commanders into that region. Ex-Governor Wise 
 was dispatched to the Kanawha Valley, and General 
 Garnett, formerly a Major in the Federal army, was 
 'sent to Beverly to attempt to gather up and reorganize 
 the remnants of Colonel Porterfield's scattered com 
 mand, and to adopt immediate measures to reinforce 
 them. 
 
 General Wise having been assigned to the Ka 
 nawha Valley, was expected to arrive at Charleston on 
 the day following the appearance of my operatives, 
 and the city was in a state of subdued excitement in 
 anticipation of his coming. 
 
 I*n the evening, Lewis, in company with the officers 
 whom he had met in the morning, proceeded to the resi 
 
 dence of Judge Beveridge, where he was cordially re- 
 
 ftrr) 
 
128 WEST VIRGINIA FREED 
 
 ceived by that gentleman and his charming daughter, 
 who had now thoroughly recovered from the effects of 
 her dangerous ride. With rare grace she greeted my 
 operative, and her expressions of thankfulness were 
 couched in such delicate language, that the pretended 
 Englishman felt a strange fluttering in his breast, 
 which was as novel to him as it was delicious. He 
 passed a very delightful evening, and by his knowledge 
 of English affairs, and his unqualified approval of the 
 cause of the South, added to the fact that he was 
 believed to be a gentleman of rank and fortune, he 
 succeeded in materially increasing the high opinion 
 which had previously been entertained regarding him. 
 
 The next morning General Wise arrived, and his 
 appearance was hailed with delight by the disunion 
 element of the city, while those whose sympathies 
 were with the North looked with apprehension and 
 disfavor upon the demonstrations that were being 
 made in his honor. 
 
 At the first opportune moment, Price Lewis, with 
 the assistance of his new-found friends, the rebel 
 officers, succeeded in obtaining an introduction to the 
 ancient-looking individual whose career had been 
 marked by such exciting events, and who was so 
 prominent a figure in the tragedy that was now being 
 enacted. He was a small, intelligent-looking man, ; 
 whose age appeared to be nearly seventy years, and 
 whose emaciated appearance gave every token that 
 he had not long to live. His eyes * shone with the 
 
FROM REBEL SOLDIERS. 119 
 
 biflliancy of youth, and the fires of ambition seemed 
 to be burning brightly in his breast. Perhaps no 
 other man in the South had contributed in so great a 
 degree to hasten the folly of secession, and certairly 
 none rejoiced more heartily at its final realization. 
 
 By his eloquence, and the magnetic power of his 
 presence, he had led the ignorant classes of the State 
 to firm belief in the justice of his cause, and by his 
 teachings he had imbued them with a firm conviction 
 that they were acting for their own best interests, and 
 for the furtherance of the Southern supremacy and 
 success. 
 
 Stern and determined, he allowed nothing to 
 stand between him and the accomplishment of his 
 purposes. But a few months before, he had ordered 
 the execution of John Brown, who, with a mere hand 
 ful of men, had attempted to strike a blow in behalf 
 of the slave. This ardent abolitionist attacked and 
 captured Harper's Ferry, a government arsenal, by 
 overpowering the men who were stationed at that 
 place, but the authorities had been called upon, and 
 then, yielding to superior numbers, he was compelled 
 to surrender. In this encounter the majority of his 
 men were slain, and John Brown, with six of his asso 
 ciates, was taken prisoner. This occurred on the 
 i6th day of October, 1859, and on the 22d day of 
 December, after a hurried trial, the prisoners wer 
 ordered by Governor Wise to be publicly hanged. 
 The sentence was duly carried into effect, and the 
 
tjo WEST VIRGINIA FREED 
 
 action of John Brown was used by the secession act 
 Tocates to inflame the minds of the Southern people 
 against the North. Now that secession had become 
 an established fact, it was a matter of question 
 whether the leaders of the Southern cause would not, 
 in the end, strike a far more forcible blow in favor of 
 the emancipation of the slave, than did the impetuous 
 old man who gave up his life at the behest of the 
 Southern leaders. 
 
 The General had been previously informed of the 
 presence of Lewis in the hotel, and of his adventure 
 on the day previous, consequently, when he was pre 
 sented to the new commander, he was received with 
 warm cordiality. The General inquired particularly 
 into his history, and his present movements, all of which 
 were replied to by Lewis in a dignified and satisfac 
 tory manner. Under the influence of Lewis' good 
 nature the General became social and familiar, and 
 invited him to dine with him in his apartments. 
 
 Leaving no opportunity that offered, the detec 
 tive took advantage of every available suggestion, and 
 the result was he became fully posted upon every 
 thing that was of importance, and was enabled to ren 
 der such an account of his labors as was satisfactory 
 in the extreme. Sam Bridgeman, too, had not been 
 idle, but mingling freely with the soldiers, he had 
 Bucceeded in learning much of the conditions of the 
 country that was of immense advantage in the aftef 
 events of the campaign in Western Virginia. 
 
FROM REBEL SOLDIERS. 131 
 
 They remained in Charleston about eight clays, 
 and then, taking leave of the many friends they had 
 made, they made their way safely back to Cincinnati 
 and reported. The other two men whom I had dis 
 patched upon the same mission traveled by rail across 
 the State of Ohio and reached the West Virginia line 
 at Point Pleasant. Here they began their investiga 
 tions, and passing unquestioned they roamed through 
 the counrry, passing eastward as far as Lynchburg. 
 Thence, they made a detour to the South, and jour 
 neyed as far as Chattanooga and Nashville, in Tennes 
 see, and thence to Louisville, Ky. Throughout their 
 entire pilgrimage they were ever on the alert to 
 
 acquire knowledge, and the immense amount of infor- 
 
 
 
 mation which they gathered would only prove tedious 
 to both myself and the reader. It is enough to say 
 that they performed their duty in a manner creditable 
 to themselves and valuable to the cause they repre 
 sented, and I will simply summarize the situation. 
 General Garnett had posted himself in the pass 
 at Laurel Hill, with an additional force at Beverly, 
 while another, detachment, under Col. Pegrarn, had 
 established himself in the pass at Rich Mountain. 
 Here he had intended to fortify himself and to await 
 a favorable opportunity for breaking the railroad. 
 He found affairs upon his arrival in a miserable con 
 dition ; the troops were disorganized and without dis 
 cipline, arms or ammunition, and General Lee imme 
 diately sent him re-enforcements. 
 
ij* WEST VIRGINIA FREED 
 
 This was the condition of affairs, when, early in 
 July, General McClellan resolved to take the offen 
 sive and drive the rebels from West Virginia. In 
 this campaign he received material aid and assistance 
 from that brave officer General Rosecrans, who by 
 superhuman exertions penetrated the pathless forest 
 cutting and climbing his way to the very crest of 
 Rich Mountain. 
 
 This movement, difficult as it was, to the South of 
 the rebels, was a complete surprise to the enemy, who 
 was expecting their arrival from the North. 
 
 They made a gallant resistance, however, but the 
 Union forces had such an advantage that the contest 
 was quickly decided. The rebel forces were driven 
 from their breast-works and were compelled to take 
 refuge in thickets or the mountains. Their confu 
 sion was deplorable, and their defeat unmistakable. 
 
 This victory placed the enemy in a very precari 
 ous position. McClellan was in his front and Rose- 
 crans in secure possession of the road behind him, 
 and Pegram, realizing the danger that threatened him, 
 returned to his camp and, hastily spiking his guns, he 
 abandoned all his stores and equipments, and endeav 
 ored to escape by marching northward along the 
 mountain, intending, if possible, to join Garnett at 
 Laurel Hill. 
 
 For the time being, he was successful in eluding 
 the Federal commanders, and after a most laborious 
 march of eighteen hours, found himself within three 
 
FROM REBEL SOLDIERS. 93$ 
 
 miles of Leedsville. Here he was doomed to 
 disappointment, for he learned that Garnett had also 
 retreated, and that a strong Union column was in 
 close pursuit. Thus he was again caught between 
 two Union armies, and despairing of effecting his 
 escape, he sent a proposal to General McCiellan, 
 offering a total surrender of his command. The 
 Union General accepted the proposition, and on the 
 following day the half-famished rebel fugitives laid 
 down their arms and became prisoners of war, only 
 too glad to receive once more comfortable quarters 
 and hunger-appeasing rations. 
 
 The fugitives who had escaped from the battle of 
 Rich Mountain carried the news of that disaster to 
 Beverly, and to General Garnett, at Laurel Hill, and 
 an immediate retreat was ordered. But he was closely 
 pressed by the advancing Union armies, and when 
 General Garnett reached Leedsville, he heard that 
 General McCiellan was at Beverly, thus cutting off 
 effectually his further passage southward. He now 
 resolved upon the desperate attempt of turning to the 
 North and reaching St. George and West Union by a 
 rough and difficult mountain road, during which his 
 troops naturally became very much scattered and 
 disorganized Although he was nearly fifteen hours 
 in advance of his pursuers, they gained rapidly upon 
 him, and notwithstanding every effort was made by 
 the rebels to impede his progress by felling trees in 
 the narrow mountain defiles, the Union advance 
 
34 WEST VIRGINIA FREED 
 
 overtook the rebel wagon-train at Carrick's Ford, one 
 of the crossings of Cheat River, about twenty-six 
 miles north-west of Laurel Hill. Here Garnett 
 resolved to risk an encounter, and facing about his 
 troops, he took a position on a favorable and pre 
 cipitous elevation on the river bank, and planting his 
 guns so as to command the ford and the approaching 
 road, he prepared to defend his retreat. A brisk 
 engagement at once ensued, and after a sharp contest 
 the rebel lines broke and fled, abandoning one of 
 their guns. 
 
 Retreat and pursuit were once more commenced, 
 and at the next ford, a quarter of a mile further on, 
 during a desultory skirmish fire between small parties 
 of sharpshooters, General Garnett was killed. Here 
 the Federal pursuit was discontinued, and the rebels 
 left in the hands of the victors their entire baggage 
 train, one gun, two stands of colors and fifty 
 prisoners. 
 
 Estimated according to mere numbers, these battles 
 of Rich Mountain and Carrick's Ford appear somewhat 
 insignificant in contrast with the great battles of the 
 rebellion, which occurred during the succeeding three 
 years. Hundreds of engagements of greater magni 
 tude, and attended with much more serious loss of 
 life, followed these encounters, and decided the 
 mighty problem of Northern success, but this early 
 skirmish with the rebels cm Rich Mountain, and this 
 rout of Gar.iett's rear-guard at Carrick's Ford^ were 
 
FROM REBEL SOLDIERS. 235 
 
 speedily followed by great political and military 
 results, which exercised a powerful influence upon the 
 after-conduct of the war. They closed a campaign, 
 dispersed a rebel army, which had for a long time been 
 harassing a State whose sympathies were with the 
 Union, and they permanently pushed back the 
 military frontier to the borders of rebellious territory. 
 Now, is it too much to say that the brilliant success 
 which attended this first aggressive movement of 
 General McClellan had a marked effect upon the 
 public mind ? That they gave a general impression 
 of his military skill is not to be doubted, and he was 
 from that time the hero of the hour. Certain it is 
 that a train of circumstances started from these 
 achievements which eventually led to his being called 
 to Washington after the reverses at Manassas and 
 Bull Run, and made him, on the first day of Novem 
 ber following, the General-in-Chief of all the armies 
 of the United States. 
 
 It is not necessary for me to follow the subse 
 quent operations in West Virginia, as my duties were 
 connected with General McClellan and his campaigns 
 in that district ended with the death of General Gar- 
 nett and the dispersion of his army. About a week 
 afterwards he was called to a new field of duty at 
 Washington city, and it is not my purpose to touch 
 upon events in which I took no part. It is enough 
 to say that, with somewhat fluctuating changes, the 
 rebels were gradually forced back from the Great 
 
136 WEST VIRGINIA FREED. 
 
 Kanawha Valley, and the eventual result left West 
 Virginia in possession of the Federal troops, her own 
 inherent loyalty having contributed largely in pro 
 ducing this condition. The Union sentiment of the 
 people was everywhere made manifest, and the new 
 State government was consolidated and heartily sus 
 tained, ending in her ultimate admission as a separate 
 member of the Federal Union in June, 1863. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 General McClellan is called to Washington and placed in 
 Command of the Armies, after the Battle of Bull Run. 
 The Secret Service Department. Its Duties and Respon 
 sibilities. 
 
 AS I am not attempting to write a history of the 
 ~\. Civil War, but merely relating, as best I can, 
 the leading incidents connected with my labors in the 
 secret service, I shall not dwell upon the details of 
 the military movements of the war, except as they are 
 necessarily connected with my own movements. It 
 is necessary, however, to make cursory mention of 
 that remarkable chain of circumstances which fol 
 lowed General McClellan's campaign in West Vir 
 ginia, resulting in entire and unexpected change of 
 circumstances to him, and a consequent enlargement 
 of my own field of operations. Therefore, without 
 pausing to describe the various movements and enter 
 prises in West Virginia during the remainder of the 
 year 1861, or detailing the campaign of the three 
 months' volunteers under General Patterson, and 
 their bloodless victory at Harper's Ferry, I will pass 
 on to other scenes and events which lead directly to 
 the turning-point in my story. , 
 
 [37] 
 
t 3 8 THE SECRET SERVICE 
 
 Patriotism in the North was excited to such a 
 pitch that the people were impatient of delay, and 
 eager to strike a decisive blow a blow that would at 
 once annihilate treason and wipe out the insult to a 
 nation's flag, and maintain a nation's honor. The 
 resounding echoes of the rebel guns that had done 
 their work of destruction on Sumter's walls, were still 
 vibrating in the air. 
 
 The Confederate seat of government had been 
 transferred from Montgomery to Richmond, immedi 
 ately after Virginia's indorsement of the secession 
 ordinance, and this enthronement of rebellion so close 
 to the very stronghold of freedom, caused patriotic 
 resentment to blaze up with fresh intensity. 
 
 In the month of June a determined movement 
 against Manassas was resolved upon at Washington. 
 
 As a preliminary step to the advancement upon 
 the rebel capital, General Scott gave Patterson 
 orders to offer Johnston battle, or detain him in 
 the Shenandoah Valley by other demonstrations, in 
 order that his army might not unite with Beauregard's 
 and defeat the movement. But Patterson failed to 
 perform the task assigned to him, and his failure lost 
 to the Union cause the first great battle of the 
 war. 
 
 General Beauregard was in possession of Manassas 
 with six thousand men, and this force was being 
 very materially increased by the arrival of reinforce 
 ments from time to time; but notwithstanding this 
 
AND ITS DUTIES. 139 
 
 lact, it was believed that every chance of success 
 would be provided for by the strength of the Union 
 army at the capital, if only Johnston could be held in 
 check for a few days. 
 
 Delay in starting this expedition against the en 
 emy's works was unavoidable, and it was not until 
 the afternoon of the i6th of July that the march 
 of McDowell's army commenced. Even then the 
 progress was painfully slow, owing to inexperience 
 and lack of discipline on the part of the troops. 
 
 Manassas Junction was defended by about two 
 thousand rebels, with fourteen or fifteen heavy guns, 
 while at Bull Run, some three miles east of Manassas, 
 was stationed Beauregard's main army, over twenty 
 thousand strong, posted at the various fords of the 
 stream, in a line fully eight miles long. McDowell, 
 as a strategic movement to conceal his real purpose, 
 directed his march upon Centerville, at which place 
 Tyler's Division arrived on the morning of July 1 8th, 
 to find that it had been evacuated by the rebels, who 
 were all behind Bull Run. From Centreville, which is 
 situated on a hill, Tyler and his men had a view of 
 the whole valley spread out before them, with Ma 
 nassas on the high plateau beyond. It has been 
 hinted that Tyler was inspired with over confidence 
 by the utter absence of opposition to his advance, and 
 was thus betrayed into the indiscretion of a further 
 advance and an experimental assault. This provoked 
 a. skirmish, which speedly culminated in the battle of 
 
i 4 o THE SECRET SERVICE 
 
 Blackburn's Ford, the result of which was much less 
 and demoralization. 
 
 Two more days elapsed before the great fight 
 occurred Those two days were occupied by the en 
 gineers in "fforts to find an unfortified ford over Bull 
 Run, which was accomplished in time to permit 
 McDowell to call his officers together on Saturday 
 night, and announce to them his plan of battle for 
 the following day. This brought the main contest on 
 Sunday, July 2ist, and before daylight on the morning 
 of that eventful day, both armies were up and astir, 
 each intending to take the initiative. There was much 
 unnecessary confusion and delay, mingled with undue 
 excitement and impetuosity, showing that everything 
 was raw arid awkward on both sides. Perhaps no 
 troops ever engaged in warfare with as little knowl 
 edge of the privations, hardships and dangers of 
 soldier-life, as did the Union and Confederate armies 
 on this bloody field. 
 
 The day passed ; the shades of evening fell, and 
 the battle of Bull Run had been fought and lost ! 
 Victory had perched itself on the rebel banners, and 
 the Union army was in full retreat towards Washing 
 ton. The engagement had been well contested, and 
 fought with equal courage and persistence by both 
 sides, and the result was quite as unexpected tu the 
 Confederates as to the Federals. 
 
 But Johnston had not been kept out of the fray, 
 as it was calculated he would be. His army had 
 
AND ITS DUTIES. 241 
 
 been permitted to arrive on the battle-field in the 
 nick of time to take a decisive part in the famous 
 conflict, and to turn the fortunes of the day at a 
 moment when the signs of victory were all in favor 
 of the Federal troops. Totally unconscious of the 
 fact that they had been fighting Johnston all day, the 
 Union soldiers had not once lost confidence in them 
 selves, and fully believed that they must win ; but 
 when a fresh assault from a new quarter convinced 
 them that Johnston's iorces had arrived, the realiza 
 tion and acknowledgment of coming defeat pervaded 
 'the whole army, and the quick instinct of retreat was 
 aroused. They believed that success had now become 
 hopeless, and nothing could change this belief, or 
 check or control the impulse of flight, once started 
 The day was lost ; the evidence of a great disaster 
 became suddenly overwhelming to the non-combat 
 ants in the rear ; the retreating brigades, and the 
 nearer approach of cannonade and musketry soon 
 confirmed the worst fears of a terrible defeat and a 
 hot pursuit ; and then began that insane scramble and 
 stampede for safety. 
 
 The sights and scenes encountered on the way t> 
 Fairfax Court- House will never be effaced from the 
 memory of those who witnessed it. The story of that 
 memorable retreat has been told over and over again ; 
 of the mad flight of civilians, in carriages and on 
 horseback, lashing their steeds to the top of their 
 
 speed ; of soldiers of all regiments mingled confusedly 
 10 
 
2 4 2 THE SECRET SERVICE 
 
 together, some in complete uniform, others stripped 
 of everything but trousers, shirts and shoes, and all 
 footsore, haggard and half-starved ; of arms, clothing 
 and other valuables abandoned, that the progress of 
 the runaways might not be impeded by such incum- 
 brances ; of vehicles, and even ambulances, bearing 
 wounded men, left standing in the road, while the 
 frightened teamsters rode away like the wind, on 
 horses unhitched or cut out of their harness ; of army 
 wagons emptied of their loads and filled with 
 stragglers, thundering along the crowded highway * of 
 the dash and clatter o( artillery carnages ; of con 
 fusion, panic, demoralization and headlong hurry 
 everywhere along the route. 
 
 By midnight, mounted officers and civilians began 
 to arrive in Washington ; but not until the next day, 
 when the rain was pouring down in torrents that 
 dreadful, drenching rain that continued for thirty-six 
 hours, with but slight intermission did the poor, 
 hungry, fagged-out soldiers commence straggling in. 
 That they were promptly and properly fed by the 
 people, rich and poor, who threw open their doors 
 and gave what they could to alleviate the suffering of 
 these brave but unfortunate men, speaks volumes for 
 the unselfish generosity of the loyal families of the 
 ^capital during that period. 
 
 It was while this discouraging state of affairs ex 
 isted that General McClellan was called to Washing* 
 tfon, to assume control of the lately defeated troops, 
 
AND ITS DUTIES. 243 
 
 General Rosecrans having succeeded him in the 
 command of the Army of the West Considering his 
 recent success in West Virginia, and the military . 
 skill and judgment there displayed by him, it is but 
 natural that McClellan should have been selected to 
 re-create the army, which was destined to defend the 
 Capital for the next three years. 
 
 His arrival in Washington, on the 27th of July, 
 was hailed with genuine delight by officers and citi 
 zens, for at that date he held the esteem and confi 
 dence and admiration of all loyal people. It was an 
 immense responsibility which devolved upon him, but 
 he accepted it cheerfully, and took up his task with 
 that energy, tact and perseverance which precluded 
 all possibility of failure. When first called to the 
 command, he found a mere collection of regiments, 
 Hndisciplined,undrilled and dispirited, cowering on the 
 banks of the Potomac, and with only such material to 
 work upon, he soon organized, equipped, and trained 
 with rare skill, that grand body of troops, which he 
 afterwards led in the campaign of the Peninsula. 
 
 The war was but just commenced, at a time when 
 most people thought it would be over. The " ninety 
 days " theory was completely exploded. Those who 
 had flattered themselves that the conflict would be 
 " sharp and short " that a single victorious and glo 
 rious campaign would crush the rebellion were now 
 undeceived. My own hopes had controlled my judg 
 ment on this subject, and made me visionary. I had 
 
THE SECRET SERVICE 
 
 hoped for myself to be able speedily to return to con- 
 genial pursuits and my domestic circle, and tha* a 
 speedy collapse of their frenzy would save the South 
 ern people from the inevitable ruin which must 
 result from a protracted war. I had hoped for my 
 country, that the spectacle she now presented to 
 the world exciting the derision of her enemies, and 
 the melancholy pity of her friends would soon be 
 changed by the " returning good sense of the people," 
 as it was so easily and egotistically phrased by many 
 individuals at that time. Above all, I had hoped 
 for the oppressed and shackled race of the South, 
 that the downfall of slavery would be early accom 
 plished, and their freedom permanently established. 
 Being myself an old line abolitionist, and by no 
 means the least active or energetic of those who had 
 controlled and operated the famous " under-ground 
 railroad," I had the Anti-Slavery cause very much at 
 heart, and would never have been satisfied until that 
 gigantic curse was effectually removed. 
 
 Indeed, during" the whole time that I labored for 
 the cause of th? Union, the dearest object I had in 
 view was the abolition of the most cruel system of 
 oppression that ever cursed any people an oppres 
 sion long ago so justly characterized by John Wesley 
 as "the sum of all villainy" in qomparison with 
 which Egyptian bondage appeared simply burden 
 some. All these hopes were dissipated by the results 
 of the late campaign. The war had developed into a 
 
AND ITS DUTIES. 145 
 
 i eality to estimate. "The Federal Union it must 
 and shall be preserved!" was the sentiment that 
 now prevailed, and all realized that the time for 
 doubt and hesitation had gone by. 
 
 There was no mistaking the duty of every loyal 
 heart the Republic must be saved at whatever cost 
 
 As I have previously stated, my connection with 
 General McClellan was not interrupted by this 
 change in his position. By my own preference, as 
 well as at his request, I accompanied him to Washing 
 ton, and cast my lot with those who were rallying 
 there to protect and defend the government of the 
 United States. 
 
 Among the first things the General did, after 
 being assigned to the command of the troops around 
 that city, was to organize a secret service force, 
 tinder my management and control. I was to have 
 such strength of force as I might require ; my head 
 quarters were for the time located in Washington. 
 It was arranged that whenever the army moved I 
 was to go forward with the General/so that I might 
 always be in close communication with him. My 
 corps was to be continually occupied in procuring, 
 from all possible sources, information regarding 
 the strength, positions and movements of the enemy,, 
 All spies, "contrabands," deserters, refugees and 
 prisoners ot war, coming into our lines from the front, 
 were to be carefully examined by me, and their state 
 ments taken in writing. 
 
i 4 <5 THE SECRET SERVICE 
 
 This was the first real organization of the secret 
 service. How much benefit was rendered to the 
 country by this branch of the army will probably 
 never be known the destruction of nearly all my 
 papers in the great fire of Chicago preventing their full 
 publication but that our operations were of immense 
 practical value to the Union commander is a fact 
 attested to by every one connected with the leading 
 movements of our forces. 
 
 It was about this time that the city of Washington 
 was placed under martial law a measure deemed 
 necessary to correct the serious evils which existed, 
 and to restore order in the city. Colonel Andrew 
 Porter, of the Sixteenth United States Infantry, was 
 appointed Provost-Marshal, and under his command 
 was placed all the available infantry, a battery, and a 
 squadron of cavalry. In addition to these, the assist 
 ance of a detective police force was deemed indispen 
 sable, and in answering this requirement I found 
 work enough to keep myself and entire corps busy 
 during our stay in Washington. A better under 
 standing of my position and the nature of my duties 
 at this time may be gained from the following extracts 
 from a letter which I addressed to General McClel- 
 lan when the organization of this department was yet 
 in its incipiency. 
 
 " GENERAL : 
 
 " In accordance with your expressed desire, I beg 
 leave to submit to you my views with regard to the 
 
AND ITS DUTIES. 247 
 
 duties of my detective police force, should the 
 services of the same be required by the government 
 
 " In order to promote the efficiency of such a 
 force, it is highly necessary that its existence should 
 be known to as few persons as possible. It is an ad 
 mitted and self-evident fact that the movements of 
 the various departments of the government, civil and 
 military, are closely watched, and it is beyond a doubt 
 that from some source the rebels have received early, 
 and to them, valuable notice of the intended actions 
 of the government. I am also led to believe that the 
 rebels have spies who are -in the employment of this 
 government, or who possess facilities for acquiring 
 information from the civil and military authorities, or 
 bureaus, and that this information is imparted to 
 others, and transmitted, within a very short time, to 
 the rebel government. Many of the parties thus 
 leagued with the enemy are said to be persons of 
 wealth and position. 
 
 " In operating with my detective force, I shall 
 endeavor to test all suspected persons in various 
 ways. I shall seek access to their houses, clubs, and 
 places of resort, managing that among the members 
 of my force shall be ostensible representatives of 
 every grade of society, from the highest to the most 
 menial. Some shall have the entree to the gilded 
 salon of the suspected aristocratic traitors, and be 
 their honored guests, while others will act in the 
 capacity of valets, or domestics of various kinds, and 
 try the efficacy of such relations with the household 
 to gain evidence. Other suspected ones will be 
 tracked by the ' shadow ' detective, who will follow 
 their every foot-step, and note their every action. 
 
4 5 THE SECRET SERVICE 
 
 4< I also propose to employ a division of my Force 
 for the discovery of any. secret traitorous organization 
 which may be in existence ; and if any such society is 
 discovered, I will have my operatives become mem 
 bers of the same, with a view to ascertaining the 
 means employed in transmitting messages through the 
 lines," and also for the purpose of learning, if possible, 
 the plans of the rebels. All strangers arriving in the 
 city, whose associations or acts may lay them open to 
 suspicion, will be subjected to a strict survillance. 
 
 * * -3f # # # 
 
 " Another and more dangerous feature of the 
 service contemplated to be rendered to the govern 
 ment by my detectives, is that of entering the rebel 
 lines, and endeavoring to obtain accurate information 
 of the nature of their defences, the number'of troops 
 under their command at various points, etc. 
 
 "In order to give efficiency to this movement, 
 operations should be commenced in Baltimore as well 
 as at Washington. 
 
 * # * * * * 
 
 " Considering the amount of labor to be done and 
 the necessity of immediate action on my part, in case 
 these plans are to be carried out, I purpose concen 
 trating my entire detective force of both sexes into this 
 work. 
 
 " The amount of force necessary to carry out such 
 an undertaking as I have indicated, will necessarily 
 be very large, and the assumption of disguises and 
 characters by my operatives, will be a very 'important 
 item in itself," etc., etc., etc. 
 
 My views were carried out just as they were set 
 
AND ITS DUTIES. 
 
 49 
 
 forth in this letter, and I was soon hard at vvork in 
 my efforts to " regulate " the District of Columbia. 
 It was too true that a great majority of the local 
 police were disloyal, and could not be depended upon 
 to faithfully discharge their duties to the government 
 that employed them : therefore, in addition to my 
 other work, I exerted myself to the utmost in aiding 
 the municipal authorities to reorganize and discipline 
 the police of the district. 
 
 Many personal incidents worthy of note occurred 
 during this period, but there was one which I recall 
 at this moment with a laugh at my own expense- an 
 incident in wbidi I was reluctantly compelled to oc 
 cupy the wong side of a guard-house over night, and 
 instead '>f capturing a prisoner became a prisoner 
 myself. 
 
 GUARD-HOUSE PRISONERS.. 
 

 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 A Femals Traitor. Suspicious Correspondence. A Close 
 Watch under Difficulties. I am Arrested. Exposure of 
 the Treason of a Trusted Officer. A Disgraced Captain. 
 
 DURING the earlier stages of the rebellion, a 
 number of Southern sympathizers were domi 
 ciled in the city of Washington, and among the num 
 ber were many ladies of refinement and wealth, from 
 the South, who had been leaders of fashion and of 
 society in the brilliant days of previous administra 
 tions. Many of these ladies were extremely fascinat 
 ing in their manners, and being gifted with great per 
 sonal beauty and with rare conversational qualities, 
 they had gathered around them a brilliant circle of 
 acquaintances, to whom they dispensed regal hospital 
 ities and most delicate courtesies. 
 
 When the war broke out, these ladies thoroughly 
 identified themselves with the cause of the South, and 
 upon all occasions were unreserved in the expression 
 of opinions favorable to the rebels, and of fervent 
 hopefulness for the eventual success of the disunion- 
 ists. But little attention was paid to these grand 
 dames of the old regime, as it was not deemed posst- 
 
, A CLOSE WATCH UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 251 
 
 ble that any danger could result from the utterances 
 of non-combatant females, nor was it considered 
 chivalrous that resolute measures should be adopted 
 toward those of the weaker sex. 
 
 That this policy was a mistaken one was soon 
 fully proved, and when it was discovered that these 
 fine ladies were secretly giving information to the 
 enemy, it was deemed of great importance that such 
 means should be adopted as would prevent their 
 treasonable actions from being made valuable to the 
 opponents of the government, and who were seeking 
 its overthrow. 
 
 From information received from reliable sources, 
 it was shown that the rebel authorities were as fully 
 conversant with the plans of the Union commanders 
 as they were themselves. That they knew of the 
 position of every regiment and brigade, and the con 
 templated movements of * the commanders, and the 
 time of proposed action, far in advance of any 
 publicity being given to them, and when the utmost 
 secrecy was the only true passport to victory. Indeed, 
 it was openly boasted that the secret information given 
 to the rebel generals had been mainly tbe cause of 
 the defeat of our armies at Bull Run and Manassas. 
 
 Upon these facts being fully proven, th<*. govern 
 ment resolved to effectually prevent a continuance of 
 these practices, and that if they were persisted in, 'he 
 guilty parties should either be confined or exiJed to 
 the more congenial climate of Dixie. 
 
a 5 a A CLOSE WATCH 
 
 My department was in its infancy when the event 
 occurred which I am about to relate. I had secured 
 a house in Washington, and had gathered around me 
 a number of resolute, trustworthy men and discreet 
 women, who were devoted to the cause of their 
 country, but were scarcely in such a condition as to 
 move properly or with any systematized regularity. 
 I had not been many days in the city when one after 
 noon I was called upon by the Hon. Thomas A. 
 Scott, of Pennsylvania, who was then acting as the 
 Assistant-Secretary of War, who desired my sei vices 
 in watching a lady whose movements had excited 
 suspicion, and who, it was believed, was engaged in 
 corresponding with the rebel authorities, and furnish 
 ing them with much valuable information. 
 
 This lady wis Mrs. Rose Greenhow, a Southern 
 woman of pronounced rebel proclivities, and who had 
 been unsparing in her denunciation of the "Abolition 
 North," and who had openly declared that " instead 
 of loving and worshiping the old flag of the Stars 
 and Stripes," she saw "in it only the symbol of 
 murder, plunder, oppression and shame." Mrs. 
 Greenhow had occupied a prominent position in the 
 social circles of the capital, and was personally 
 acquainted with all of the leading men of the country, 
 many of whom had partaken of her hospitality and 
 had enjoyed a social intercourse that was both 
 pleasurable and fascinating. 
 
 She had now become an avowed hater of the 
 
UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 253 
 
 Union, and it was feared, from her previous associa 
 tion with officers in the army, that she was using her 
 talents in procuring information from them which 
 would be immediately communicated to the rebel 
 government at Richmond. 
 
 The residence of Mrs. Greenhow was situated at 
 the corner of Thirteenth and I streets quite a 
 fashionable quarter of the city, and within a short 
 distance of the White House. The building, while 
 not at all imposing in appearance, was large, 
 roomy, and was furnished with every consideration 
 for wealth and tasteful refinement. It was a two-story 
 and basement brick building, the parlors of which 
 were elevated several feet above the ground, and 
 entrance was obtained by ascending a flight of steps 
 in the center of the edifice. This lady was a widow, 
 her husband having died some years before, and 
 being possessed of considerable means, and mingling 
 with the highest circles of Washington society, her 
 home was the resort of most of the prominent people 
 of the city. 
 
 The instructions of the Secretary of War were, 
 that a strict watch should be kept upon this house, 
 and that every person entering or leaving the same 
 should come under the close surveillance of my men, 
 who should endeavor to ascertain who they were, and 
 if they attempted in any manner to communicate with 
 any suspicious persons. I was to report to him daily, 
 and to continue my espionage until I received definite 
 
a 5 4 <* CLOSES WATCH 
 
 and official orders for its discontinuance. My further 
 instnictions were, that in case any of the visitors of 
 Mrs. Greenhow should attempt to pass the lines of our 
 troops, they should be arrested at once, and a rigor 
 ous search of their persons instituted, in order that ' 
 nothing should be allowed to pass through without a 
 thorough examination by the Secretary of War or 
 Mr. Scott. 
 
 After the departure of the Secretary I took with 
 me two of my men, and proceeded to the vicinity of 
 the residence of Mrs. Greenhow. I was then quite a 
 stranger in Washington, and localities were not as 
 familiar to me as they afterward became, and I there 
 fore preferred to reconnoiter by daylight, to depend 
 ing upon a survey after nightfall. 
 
 The entire day had been dark, gloomy and threat 
 ening ; clouds had been gathering in the heavens, and 
 everything indicated the imminence of a severe storm. 
 As I left my headquarters, a slight shower of rain was 
 falling, which I knew was but the precursor of a storm 
 more violent. On arriving at the designated locality 
 I found everything to be as they had already been 
 described to me. The inside shutters to the windows 
 were closed, and no sign was apparent that the house 
 was occupied, and after carefully noting the situation 
 and the exposed condition of the premises, I left the 
 two men within a convenient distance of the place, 
 and returned for the additional aid which I thought 
 might be needed Selecting three of my most discreet 
 
UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 155 
 
 men, I again repaired to the scene of operations. 
 We had not proceeded far, when the storm burst upon 
 us in all its fury. The wind blew strong and chill, 
 and the rain fell in deluging torrents. Umbrellas 
 were a useless commodity, and, unprotected, we were 
 compelled to breast the elements, which now were 
 warring with terrible violence. 
 
 Arriving at Mrs. Greenhow's, under cover of the 
 darkness I posted my men in such positions as I thought 
 would be most advantageous for our purpose, and 
 then calling in the two whom I had left there during 
 the afternoon, I approached to within a short dis 
 tance of the house. The darkness and storm, while 
 decidedly uncomfortable, were of some benefit to us, 
 as but few people were abroad, and these paid no at 
 tention to passing events, seeming to be only too 
 anxious to reach their destination and to escape the 
 pitiless rain. 
 
 The blinds at the windows were still closed, but a 
 light was observed in two rooms upon the parlor 
 floor, and I knew that the house was occupied. Of 
 course I could see nothing within, as my view was 
 entirely obstructed by the closed blinds, and, at length, 
 becoming impatient at this unprofitable and unsatis 
 factory waiting, I determined to obtain a glimpse, at 
 least, of the interior, and to ascertain, if possible, 
 some knowledge of its occupants. 
 
 The parlor windows, through which the lights 
 were gleaming, were too high from the ground to per- 
 
* 5 6 A CLOSE WATCH 
 
 mit me to see within, and summoning the two men who 
 were awaiting instructions I made use of their strong, 
 broad shoulders in a manner quite novel to me, and 
 quite ludicrous, no doubt, to a passer-by who did not 
 understand the situation. 
 
 Ranging the two men side by side under the 
 broad windows in front of the house, I removed my 
 boots and was soon standing upon their shoulders 
 and elevated sufficiently high to enable me to accom 
 plish the object I had in view. I was now on a level 
 with the windows, and noiselessly raising the sash 
 and turning the slats of the blinds I obtained a full 
 view of the interior of the room. The furniture was 
 rich and luxurious, valuable pictures hung upon the 
 walls, and several pieces of statuary and various arti 
 cles of artistic ornamentation were arranged about the 
 apartment, but to my disapointment, it was unoccu 
 pied. 
 
 I was about to give expression to my chagrin at 
 this discovery, when a warning "Sh!" from one of 
 my sturdy supporters induced me to be silent. 
 Some one was approaching the house, and hastily 
 clambering down from my perch, we hid ourselves 
 under the stoop which led up to the front door 
 Scarcely had we ensconced ourselves in this conven 
 ient shelter when we heard the footsteps of the new 
 comer, and to our satisfaction, he stopped in front of 
 the house, and ascending the steps rang the bell and 
 in a short time was admitted 
 
UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 25) 
 
 By this time we were drenched to the skin the 
 rain had fallen in copious showers and during all the 
 time we had been exposed to its dampening influences 
 but paying but little heed to this, we again took 
 our position in front of the window, and I was soon 
 remounted upon the shoulders of my operatives, pre 
 pared to take notes of what transpired. 
 
 As the visitor entered the parlor and seated him- 
 self-awaiting the appearance of the lady of the, house, 
 1 immediately recognized him as an officer of the 
 regular army, whom I had met that day for the first 
 time. He was a Captain of infantry and was in com 
 mand of one of the stations of the Provost-Marshal, 
 and not desiring to divulge the real name of the gen 
 tleman, who has since died, I will call him Captain 
 Ellison. 
 
 He was a tall, handsome man of a commanding 
 figure and about forty years of age. He had re 
 moved his cloak, and as he sac there in his blue uni 
 form, and in the full glare of the gaslight, he looked a 
 vertible ideal soldier. As I watched him closely, 
 however, I noticed that there was a troubled, restless 
 look upon his face; he appeared ill at ease and 
 shifted nervously upon his chair, as though impatient 
 for the entrance of his hostess. In a few moments 
 Mrs. Greenhow entered and cordially greeted her 
 visitor, who acknowledged her salutations with a 
 courtly bow, while his face lighted up with pleasure as 
 he gazed upon her. 
 
 - 
 
358 A CLOSE WATCH 
 
 Just at this moment I again received a warning 
 from my supporters, and hastily -jumping to the 
 ground, we hid ourselves until the pedestrians had 
 passed out of sight and hearing. When I resumed 
 my station the Captain and Mrs. Greenhow were 
 seated at a table in the rear part of the room, and 
 their conversation was carried on in such low tones 
 that, in consequence of the storm that was still rag 
 ing, I could not catch but fragmentary sentences. 
 At last, however, accustoming myself to the noise, 
 I heard enough to convince me that this trusted 
 officer was then and there engaged in betraying his 
 country, and furnishing to his treasonably-inclined 
 companion such information regarding the disposi 
 tion of our troops as he possessed. 
 
 Presently, he took from an inner pocket of his 
 coat a map which, as he held it up before the light, I 
 imagined that I could identify as a plan of the forti 
 fications in and around Washington, and which also 
 designated a contemplated plan of attack. 
 
 My, blood boiled with indignation as I witnessed 
 this scene, and I longed to rush into the room and 
 strangle the miscreant where he sat, but I dared not 
 utter a word, and was compelled to Stand by with 
 the rain pouring down upon me, and silently witness 
 this traitorous proceeding. 
 
 After watching their movements for seme time, 
 <duiing which they would frequently refer to the map 
 Ifoefore them, as though pointing out particular points 
 
UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 259 
 
 or positions, I was again compelled to hide myself 
 under the shelter of the convenient stoop, and whea 
 I resumed my position the room was empty. 1 he 
 delectable couple had disappeared. I waited impa 
 tiently for more than an hour, taking occasional 
 glimpses into the room and watching for their re-ap 
 pearance. At the end of that time they re-entered 
 the parlor arm in arm, and again took their seats. 
 
 Again came the warning voice, and again I hastily 
 descended, and as the retreating figures disappeared 
 in the distance, I could hear the front door open and 
 the step of the traitor Captain above me. 
 
 With a whispered good-night, and something that 
 sounded very much like a kiss, he descended the 
 steps, and then, without paying any attention to the 
 fact that I was without shoes, I started in pursuit of 
 him, and through the blinding mist and pelting storms 
 kept him in view as he rapidly walked a\vay. It was 
 then about half-past twelve o'clock, and the storm 
 evinced no sign of a discontinuance 
 
 I was not sufficiently acquainted with the city at 
 that time to tell in what direction he was going, but 
 I determined to ascertain his destination before I left 
 him. I was compelled to keep pretty close to him, 
 owing to the darkness of the night, and several times 
 I was afraid that he would hear the footsteps of the 
 man who accompanied me mine I was confident 
 would not be detected as, in my drenched stockings* 
 I crept along as steathily as a cat Twice, I imagined 
 
c*o A CLOSE WATCH 
 
 that he turned around as though suspecting he was 
 followed, but as he did not stop I reassured myself 
 and plodded on. I could not, however, disabuse my 
 mind of the fear that I had been seen, I could not re 
 lax my vigilance, and I resolved to take my chances 
 of discovery. I knew who my man was, at all events, 
 and now I must ascertain where he was going. 
 
 As we reached the corner of Pennsylvania avenue 
 and Fifteenth street I imagined that I saw a revolver 
 glistening in his hand, but it was too dark for me to 
 determine that fact with any degree of certainty. At 
 this point he passed a guard on duty, and quickly 
 passed into a building immediately in advance of' 
 me. 
 
 This movement was so unexpected, that I had no 
 time to turn back, and I was so close to him that it 
 would have been very unwise to have done so, but I 
 was more surprised when, as I reached the building 
 into which the Captain had disappeared, I was sud 
 denly confronted by four armed soldiers, who rushed 
 suddenly out upon me, with fixed bayonets pointed at 
 my breast 
 
 " Halt, or I fire !" called out the officer of the 
 guard. 
 
 Realizing that an attempt at resistance or escape ' 
 would be both foolish and useless, I attempted to 
 make an explanation. All to no purpose, however. I 
 informed them that I had been out late and had lost my 
 way, but they refused to listen, and ordered my com- 
 

 DIFFICULTIES. a*i 
 
 panion and myself to march at once into the guard 
 house. I endeavored to make the best of my misfor 
 tune, and entering the building we seated ourselves 
 and awaited developments. 
 
 After waiting for about half an hour, I was in 
 formed that my presence was required by the Captain; 
 and the guard conducted me up-stairs to his room. 
 As I entered, I found myself face to face with Captaia 
 Ellison, who was pacing excitedly up and down the 
 floor ; stopping immediately in front of me, he glared 
 fiercely at me for some minutes without uttering a 
 word. 
 
 I was a sorry figure to look at, and as I surveyed 
 my weather-soaked and mud-stained garments, and 
 my bare feet, I could scarcely repress a laugh, 
 although I was deeply angered at the sudden and 
 unexpected turn affairs had taken. 
 
 " What is your name ?" imperatively inquired the 
 Captain, after he had fully recovered himself *and had 
 taken his seat at a table which stood in the room. 
 
 " E. J. Allen," I replied. 
 
 " What is your business ?" 
 
 " I have nothing further to say," I coolly replied, 
 "and I decline to answer any further questions." 
 
 " Ah !" said the Captain, " so you are not going to 
 speak. Very well, sir, we will see what time will 
 bring forth." 
 
 He endeavored to impress me with his importance 
 and played restlessly with the handles of two revol- 
 
6a ' A CLOSE WATCH 
 
 vers that lay before him on the table but I saw too 
 plainly through his bravado, and I knew that the 
 scoundrel was really alarmed. 
 
 Finding that he could not compel me to answer 
 (his questions, he turned to the .sergeant and or 
 dered : 
 
 " Take this man to the guard-house, but allow no 
 one whatever to converse with him ; we will attend 
 further to his case in the morning." 
 
 I made a profound bow to the discomfited officer 
 as I departed, to which he replied with an oath, and 
 then I was conducted down-stairs and placed among 
 the other prisoners. 
 
 I found myself in a mixed and incongruous as 
 sembly indeed. Most of my fellow-prisoners were 
 stupidly drunk, and lay about the floor like logs ; 
 others were laughing and singing, while some were 
 indulging in wild threats against the men who 
 arrested them. Here I found my companion, who, 
 representing himself as a Southern man had already 
 become acquainted with two secessionists, who were 
 laughing and talking about what they would have to 
 tell when they obtained their release. He soon in 
 gratiated himself with these men, and before daylight 
 had obtained from them a revelation of certain mat- / 
 
 3 
 
 ters that subsequently proved of great value to us in 
 our operations. 
 
 As for myself, my feelings can better be imagined 
 than described. Inwardly chafing against the unfor- 
 
UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 263 
 
 tunate and disagreeable position in which I found 
 myself, I was deeply concerned regarding the situa 
 tion of affairs at the residence of Mrs. Greenhow. 
 I had given no definite orders to my men, and they 
 would be doubtful as to what course to pursue until 
 they heard from me, and here was I a prisoner in the 
 hands of the man against whom I had grave charges 
 to prefer, and whom I had detected in treasonable 
 correspondence. Added to this, my wet garments 
 and the cold atmosphere of the room in which I was 
 confined, affected me with a degree of chilliness that 
 was distressing in the utmost. I shook like an aspen, 
 and my teeth for a time chattered like castanets. It 
 may be imagined that the hilarity of my fellow-pris 
 oners had but little charm for me, until at length one 
 of the guards very kindly brought me a blanket and 
 an overcoat, which I wrapped about me, and soon be 
 gan to feel more comfortable. 
 
 Despite the aggravating circumstances under 
 which I suffered, I could not refrain from smiling at 
 the ridiculous appearance I must have presented as I 
 stood before the irate Captain who had caused my 
 arrest. My hat was battered down over my face, and 
 my clothing was spattered with mud from head to 
 foot, and were dripping with water as I stood there, 
 One might more readily imagine that I had been 
 fished out of the Potomac than that I was the chief 
 of the secret service of the government, in the per 
 formance of duty. 
 
,$ 4 A CLOSE WATCH 
 
 By the Captain's orders I was prevented from 
 conversing with my fellow-prisoners, so I turned my 
 attention to the guard. My chief desire was to ap 
 prise Mr. Scott of my captivity, as early as possible, 
 in order that my release could be effected without 
 unnecessary delay, and I therefore applied myself to 
 the entertainment of my jailer. 
 
 The soldier who had charge of me I soon found 
 to be a jolly, kind-hearted fellow, and I amused him 
 immensely by relating some ridiculous anecdotes 
 which I had heard, and before the time came for him 
 to be relieved I had entirely won his favor. 
 
 Seizing a favorable opportunity I asked him if he 
 would deliver a note for me after his time for stand 
 ing guard had expired, at the same time offering to 
 repay him for his trouble. To this he readily as 
 sented, and by the dim light afforded us I managed 
 to scribble a few hasty lines to the Assistant Secre 
 tary of War, informing him of my imprisonment, and 
 requesting him to order my release as soon as possi 
 ble, and in a manner which would not excite the sus 
 picion of Captain Ellison. 
 
 At about six o'clock the guards were changed, 
 and my messenger departed upon his mission. He 
 was fortunate enough to find the servants of Mr. 
 Scott astir, and informing them that his message was 
 of extreme public importance, he had it delivered to 
 the Secretary in his chamber at once. At seven 
 o'clock the guard returned, and coming to the door, 
 
UNDER DIFFICULTIES. *6j 
 
 he conversed a few minutes with the soldier who had 
 succeeded him, when I called out : 
 
 "How is the weather outside ?" 
 
 " All right, sr !" replied the man, with a sly wink, 
 and then I knew that my note had been safely deliv 
 ered, and my liberation simply a question of time. 
 
 At about half-past eight o'clock the sergeant of 
 the guard came to the door with a paper in his hand, 
 and called out : 
 
 " E. J. Alien and William Ascot !" 
 
 Ascot was the name of my operative who had 
 been arrested with me, and with whom I had not 
 exchanged a word since I had been imprisoned. We 
 responded to our names, and following the sergeant, 
 were again taken to the room occupied by Captain 
 Ellison. 
 
 "The Secretary of War has been informed of 
 your arrest, and you will be conducted to him at 
 once, and then we shall see whether you will remain 
 silent any longer." 
 
 The manner of the Captain was imperious and 
 commanding, and I laughed to myself as I thought 
 of the possible result of our interview with the Secre 
 tary. The Captain led the way, and in the company 
 of four soldiers, we left the place, arriving in a few 
 minutes at the residence of Mr. Scott. He was 
 awaiting our arrival, and as we entered the room he 
 ordered the guard to release me, and directed me to 
 accompany him to his room. I followed him imme* 
 
66 A CLOSE WATCH 
 
 diately, and as the door closed behind us, he burst 
 into a hearty laugh at my uncouth and unkempt ap 
 pearance. I was a sorry spectacle indeed, and as I 
 surveyed myself in the mirror, I joined in his merri 
 ment, for a more realistic picture of a " drowned rat" 
 I never beheld. 
 
 I at once detailed what had transpired on the pre 
 ceding night, and as I related the interview which I had 
 witnessed between Captain Ellison and Mrs. Green- 
 how, his brow became clouded, and starting to his 
 feet, he paced the room rapidly and excitedly. 
 
 " Mrs. Greenhow must be attended to. She is 
 becoming a dangerous character. You will therefore 
 maintain your watch upon her, and should she be 
 detected in attempting to convey any information 
 outside of the lines, she must be arrested at once. 
 And now we will attend to Captain Ellison." 
 
 Tapping a bell which stood upon his table, he 
 ordered : 
 
 " Request Captain Ellison to come here." 
 
 As the Captain made his appearance, he seemed 
 to be very ill at ease, and gazed searchingly at Mr. 
 Scott and myself, as though he suspected something 
 was wrong. 
 
 "Captain/' said Mr. Scott, addressing him, "will 
 you give me the particulars of the arrest of this 
 man ?" pointing to me. 
 
 The Captain answered that he had gone to visit 
 some friends, who resided in the outskirts of the city, 
 
UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 267 
 
 in the evening, and on returning at a late hour, he 
 had noticed that he was being followed, and supposing 
 me to be a foot-pad or a burglar, had ordered my 
 arrest. 
 
 " Did you see any one last evening who is inimi 
 cal to the cause of the government ?" 
 
 The Captain became flushed and nervous under 
 this direct question. He darted a quick glance at 
 me, and after hesitating for some moments he 
 answered in a faltering voice : 
 
 " No, sir ; I have seen no person of that char- 
 acter." 
 
 "Are you quite sure of that?" sternly inquired 
 Mr. Scott 
 
 " I am, sir." 
 
 " In that case, Captain, you will please consider 
 yourself under arrest, and you will at once surrender 
 your sword to Captain Mehaffy." 
 
 The Captain was completely unmanned as these 
 words fell from the lips of the Secretary, and sinking 
 into a chair, he buried his face in his hands, seemingly 
 overcome by his emotions. 
 
 But little remains to be told. Captain Ellison 
 was arrested, and a search among his effects dis 
 covered sufficient evidence to prove that he was 
 engaged in furnishing information to the enemy, and 
 he was confined for more than a year in Fort 
 McHenry. He was finally released, but broken in 
 spirit and in health, and fully realizing the disgrace 
 
68 A CLOSE WATCH 
 
 1 
 he had brought upon himself, he died shortly after* 
 
 ward. 
 
 After leaving the residence of Mr. Scott, I took a 
 carnage and went directly to my headquarters, and 
 dispatched new men to relieve those who had been 
 on duty all night, and who had been so anxious for .^ 
 my safety that they had sent several times to make 
 inquiries, and who were unable to account for my 
 absence. They had, I was rejoiced to learn, taken 
 care to recover my shoes, which I was afraid would 
 be found by some one connected w r ith the house, and 
 thus lead to the suspicion that the premises were the 
 object of espionage. 
 
 We continued our watching of the premises, and 
 during its continuance a number of prominent gentle 
 men were received by the fascinating widow, and 
 among the number were several earnest and sincere 
 Senators and Representatives, whose loyalty was 
 above question, and who were, perhaps, in entire 
 ignorance of the lady's true character. 
 
 Almost every evening one particular individual 
 was observed to call at the house, and his visits invari 
 ably were of long duration. He was therefore made 
 the object of especial attention by me, and in a short 
 time I succeeded in learning his true character, and the 
 nature of the business which he followed. Ostensibly 
 an attorney, I ascertained that he was undoubtedly en 
 gaged in the vocation of a Southern spy, and that he 
 had a number of men and women under him by whom 
 
UNDER DIFFICULTIES g 
 
 the information was forwarded to the rebei auth^ri- 
 ties. This gentleman, therefore, found himself, in a 
 very few days, a prisoner of war. 
 
 About eight days after this, orders were given for 
 the arrest of Mrs. Greenhow herself. She was confined 
 in her own house, and all her papers were seized and 
 handed over to the custody of the Department o{ 
 War. The intention of the government was to treat 
 her as humanely and considerately as possible, but 
 disdaining all offers of kindness or courtesy, the lady 
 was discovered on several occasions attempting to 
 send messages to her rebel friends, and finally her re 
 moval to the Old Capitol prison was ordered, and she 
 was conveyed there, where she was imprisoned for 
 several months. After this she was conveyed across 
 the lines, and reached in safety the rebel capital, 
 where she was greeted by the more congenial spirits 
 of rebel do in. 
 
 Mrs. Greenhow afterwards went to Europe, in 
 some trustworthy capacity for the Confederacy, and 
 while there was noted for her bitter animosity to the 
 Union, and her vituperation of Northern men and 
 measures, but retribution maybe said to have followed 
 her, and some time subsequent to this, having returned 
 again to the South, she made her way to Charleston, 
 S. C., from thence she took passage upon a blockade- 
 runner^ upon some secret mission for the Confederacy. 
 Her person was loaded down with gold, which was 
 packed in a belt close to her body. After passing 
 
j-70 A CLOSE WATCH UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 
 
 Fort Sumter, a severe storm arose, and the little 
 vessel began to pitch and roll in the angry waters, 
 which swept in huge waves over her deck. Mrs. 
 Greenhow was, I was since informed, washed over-* 
 board, and the weight upon her person carried hei 1 
 down and she was lost. No trace of her was evei 
 afterwards discovered. 
 
 A FEMALE SPY. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Timothy Webster in Baltimore. An Encounter with *a Fire* 
 eater. Webster Defends Himself. Treason Rampant 
 in the Monumental City. 
 
 THE city of Baltimore at this time was also under 
 military rule. It was garrisoned by United 
 States troops, commanded successively by Butler, 
 Banks and Dix, for the purpose of enforcing respect 
 and obedience to the laws, and of presenting any 
 violations of order within its limits, by the malignant 
 and traitorous element of the people. Marshal 
 Kane, the Chief of Police, as well as the active mem 
 bers of the police commissioners, were arrested and 
 held in custody at Fort McHenry, "because of the 
 alleged encouragement and protection which were 
 given to those unlawful combinations of men who 
 were secretly aiding in numerous ways the people at 
 war with the government. General Banks appointed 
 a Provost-Marshal for the proper execution of the 
 laws, in conjunction with the subordinate officers of 
 the police department. This condition of things was 
 of course a direct result of the great riot of the iQth 
 of April, and the intention was to curb those 
 mutinous spirits, whose passions otherwise would 
 
a 7 2 AN ENCOUNTER 
 
 have led them into committing all sorts of crimes and 
 outrages against the government. Notwithstanding 
 these measures, however, the disturbing element was 
 not by any means passive and inert, although appear 
 ances may have warranted such a conclusion. Secret 
 bands of conspirators were still in existence, and 
 were \vorking assiduously for the advancement of the 
 Southern cause. 
 
 By direction of General McClellan, I sent several 
 of my best operatives to Baltimore, chief among 
 vhom was Timothy Webster, with whom the others 
 were to co-operate whenever their assistance w^re 
 required by him. The principal object in this was to 
 enable Webster to associate with the secessionists of 
 that city, and by becoming familiar and popular with 
 them, to pave his way for an early trip into the rebel 
 lines. 
 
 During his residence in Baltimore he was directed 
 to represent himself as a gentleman of means and 
 leisure, and to enable him the bette'r to carry out this 
 idea, I provided him with a span of fine horses and a 
 carriage, for his own pleasure. He made his home 
 at Miller's Hotel, lived in good style, and in his own 
 irresistible way he set about establishing himself in 
 the good graces of a large number of people, of that 
 class whose confidence it was desirable to obtain. 
 This task was made comparatively easy by the fact 
 that he already had numerous acquaintances in the 
 city, who introduced him about \vith great enthu- 
 
WITH A FIRE-EATER. 273 
 
 siasm, representing him to be as they really believed 
 he was a gentleman whose whole heart and soul was 
 in the cause of the South. Thus, by easy stages, he 
 soon reached the distinction of being the center and 
 principal figure of an admiring crowd. Before a 
 week had elapsed he had become a quietly-recognized 
 leader in the clique with which he associated, and soon 
 regarded as a man of superior judgment and power in 
 all matters relating to political and state affairs. 
 
 During fair weather he would frequently drive 
 out with one or more of his friends, and his hand 
 some equipage became well known on the streets, 
 and at the race-course. He was introduced into the 
 houses of many warm sympathizers with the South, 
 and by his agreeable and fascinating manners he be 
 came a favorite with the female members of the 
 family. Through all, he was apparently an earnest 
 and consistent advocate of Southern rights, never 
 overdoing the matter by any exhibition of strained 
 excitement or loud avowals, but always conversing 
 on the subject with an air of calm conviction, using 
 the strongest arguments he could invent in support 
 of his pretended views. In compliance with the 
 request of many of his Southern friends, he and John 
 Scully, another of my operatives, went to a photo 
 graph gallery one day and had their pictures taken, 
 holding a large Confederate flag between them, 
 while Webster wore the rebel hat which the doughty 
 
 Dr. Burton had presented to him in Memphis. 
 is 
 
274 i AN ENCOUNTER 
 
 During all this time Webster was gathering tnfor. 
 mation from every quarter concerning the secret 
 plots and movements of the disloyal cit'zens, and 
 promptly conveying it to me, and for this purpose h* 
 made frequent trips to Washington for verbal instruc 
 tions, and to report in person the success of his 
 operations. Sometimes he would be accompanied by 
 one or more of his intimate associates, and these 
 occasions were not without profit, for when thus 
 accompanied, although necessarily prevented from 
 reaching my office, he was enabled to increase his 
 acquaintance with the traitorous element of Washing 
 ton, and finally was enabled to unmask several guilty 
 *ones whose loyalty had never been impeached or 
 suspected. 
 
 Once, on returning to Baltimore, after a longer 
 absence than usual, his friends greeted him warmly. 
 
 " By Jove, Webster, we had begun to think you 
 /were in trouble," one of them exclaimed. 
 
 " No danger of that," was the laughing response. 
 
 " I have no intention of being trapped before I fulfill 
 
 .my mission. I have some valuable work to do for 
 
 / the Southern Confederacy before the Yankees can 
 
 | .get the upper hand of me." 
 
 They were in a saloon a favorite rendezvous of 
 
 I ithese men and Webster was in the midst of his crowd. 
 
 He was telKng them about some imaginary "points" 
 
 ^which he had picked up in Washington, and assuring 
 
 tthem he would in .some manner transmit the infornia- 
 
WITH A FIRE-EATER, 275 
 
 tion he had received to the rebel comiranders before 
 he was a week older. While thus entertaining his 
 hearers, his attention was attracted by a man who en* 
 tered the saloon with a swaggering gait, his hands in 
 his pockets, and his hat tipped over one side of his 
 head. He knew this man as a ruffian and bully of 
 the worst stripe, Bill Zigler, and one of the ringleaders 
 of the mob that had attacked the Union troops on 
 the i gth of April; consequently, he entertained a 
 wholesome contempt for the fellow, and avoided him 
 as much as possible. 
 
 He was much surprised when the new-comer 
 stopped in the middle of the room, and exclaimed, 
 gruffly : 
 
 " Hello, Webster ! You're here, are you ? By 
 G d, I've been looking for you !" 
 
 Webster turned toward him a look of surprised in 
 quiry. 
 
 " Did you speak to me, sir ?" Kb asked, quietly 
 
 "Yes, I spoke to you, sir!" mimicked B31 
 Zigler, in a bullying voice. " I say I've been lookln' 
 for you, and when I've spoke my piece I reckon 
 this town will be too hot to hold you many hours 
 longer." i 
 
 " I don't understand you," protested Webster. 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! ha !" laughed the ruffian, a glitter of 
 triumph and hatred in his eyes. "You've been 
 playin' it fine on the boys here for the last th*t 
 weeks,. but d n you, I'll spoil your little, gs^|^ 
 
iy <$ AN ENCOUNTER 
 
 " What do you mean ?" demanded Webster, Ills 
 angei beginning to rise. " You speak in riddles." 
 
 " I'll tell you what I mean !" blustered the bully. 
 "Gentlemen," turning toward the crowd, and point 
 ing his finger toward the detective ; " that man is 
 leagued with the Yankees, and comes among you as 
 a spy." 
 
 There was a general start of astonishment, and 
 Webster himself was dumfounded. 
 
 " Oh, nonsense, Zigler," spoke up one of the men, 
 after a death-like silence of several moments. "You 
 must be drunk to make such an assertion as that 
 There is not a better Southern man in Baltimore 
 than Mr. Webster." 
 
 " I am as sober as the soberest man here," declared 
 Zigler ; " and I reckon I know what I am talking about 
 I saw that fellow in Washington yesterday." 
 
 " 1 can well believe that you saw me in Washing 
 ton yesterday," said Webster, quietly, "for I certainly 
 was there. I have just been telling these gentlemen 
 what I saw and heard while there." 
 
 " Maybe you have, but I'll bet ten dollars you 
 didn't tell 'em that you had a conversation with the 
 chief of the detective force while you were there !" 
 
 Webster, it must be admitted, was wholly unpre- * 
 pared for this, but he realized in an instant that the 
 bully's insinuation must be denied and overcome. 
 With an assumption of uncontrollable rage he criscl 
 out " You are a liar and a scoundrel !" 
 
WITH A FIRE-EATER. 177 
 
 " I am, eh ?" hissed Zigler through his clenched 
 teeth, and r,<*lore any one could make a movement 
 to restraJj him he sprang furiously toward Web 
 ster. 
 
 Quick as was this movement, however, Webster 
 was prepared for him. Like a flash of lightning his 
 fist flew straight out from the shoulder, striking the 
 ruffian between the eyes, with a force that would have 
 felled an ox. The man reeled half-way across the 
 room, and fell prostrate between two tables. 
 
 With a roar like that of a baffled beast, Zigler 
 gathered himself up and rushed at Webster, flourish 
 ing above his head a murderous-looking knife. But, 
 as if by magic, a revolver appeared in the detective's 
 hand, the muzzle of which covered his adversary's 
 heart. 
 
 " Stop !" cried Webster, in a tone of stern com 
 mand. " Hold your distance, you miserable cur, or 
 your blood will be upon your own head !" 
 
 Zigler involuntarily recoiled. The frowning muz 
 zle of the pistol, the unmistakable meaning of those 
 words, and the deadly purpose expressed in the cold, 
 calm face before him, were too much even for his 
 boasted bravery. He turned pale and drew back, 
 muttering and growling. 
 
 " Coward !" exclaimed Webster, " if I served you 
 right I would shoot you down like a dog ; and I am 
 afraid i can't resist the temptation to do so anyway, 
 if you don't immediately leave the room, Gol 
 
* 7 8 AN ENCOUNTER 
 
 in future be careful who you accuse of being in league 
 with the accursed Yankees." 
 
 By this time a number of the other men had re- 
 jcovered from their astonishment, and they immedi- 
 ately joined their threats to those of Webster, com 
 manding Zigler to leave the saloon at once, if he 
 desired to "save his bacon." 
 
 Zigler did not dare to disobey. Sullenly putting 
 up his knife, and muttering curses on the whole 
 crowd, he slunk out, stopping at the door long 
 enough to glance back at Webster, with the exclama 
 tion : 
 
 " I'll fix you yet, d n you !" 
 ' When he was gone, Webster said : 
 
 " I cannot conceive what that fellow has against 
 me, that he should try to defame my character by such 
 an accusation." 
 
 Several of the men broke into a derisive laugh. 
 
 " I'd as soon suspect Jeff Davis of being a Yankee 
 spy," said one, with a boisterous guffaw. 
 
 " Lord, Webster," spoke up another, "you needn't 
 calculate that anything that fellow can say is going to 
 injure you with the people here." 
 
 " I reckon Zigler is mad because you won't 
 clique in with him and his gang," said a third. " No- ] 
 body takes any stock in him. It would have been 
 considered a good riddance if your pistol had gone off 
 while it covered his heart Bah ! he isn t worth a 
 thought Come, boys, let's licker." 
 
WITH A FIRE-EATER. 279 
 
 And the affair ended in a witty cross-fire of jokes, 
 frequent explosions of hearty laughter, and numerous 
 bumpers of sparkling wine. 
 
 So far from proving disastrous to Webster or hi9 
 mission, this little episode with Bill Zigler rather 
 elevated him in the estimation of his companions. 
 The neat knock-down with which he had met the 
 bully's unprovoked assault; his air of virtuous in 
 dignation in resenting the imputation of disloyalty 
 to the South, and the manner in which he had de 
 feated and put to flight a man who was much feared 
 among his fellows, only won for him new laurels, and 
 caused him tote regarded as brave as he was loyal. 
 His intimate acquaintances reposed such firm faith in 
 him, that not one of them entertained for a moment 
 the thought that there might possibly be a grain of 
 justice in Zigler's accusation. 
 
 One morning, not long after this little episode, 
 Webster left his hotel to walk down town, when he 
 noticed that there was some unusual excitement on 
 the streets. On every corner on Baltimore street, 
 from the Exchange office, large numbers of men were 
 standing in groups, evidently absorbed in some par 
 ticular topic of conversation. 
 
 While wondering what all this meant, the detec 
 tive was accosted by a man named Sam Sloan, one, of 
 the most faithful of his adherents. 
 
 " Webste'r, I was just going up to see you. Have 
 you heard the news ?" 
 
So AN ENCOUNTER 
 
 " I have heard nothing, Sam," was the reply. " is 
 there a new sensation this morning ?" 
 
 " Another of Lincoln's outrages," said Sloan, 
 with an indignant oath. " Major Brown, Ross 
 Winans, and several others were arrested last night, 
 and taken to Fort Me Henry." 
 
 " What for ?" 
 
 " For no other purpose, I suppose, than to break 
 up the election, which is to take place next month." 
 
 " But how can that interfere with the election ?" 
 
 " By making us all afraid to go to the polls, or 
 speak our minds." 
 
 The two walked down the street together, and 
 dropped into a drug store, which was known as one 
 of the resorts of the unterrified. There they found 
 a number of men conversing somewhat excitedly. 
 The proprietor, a Mr. Rogers, turned toward the new 
 comers and said : 
 
 " Good morning, Mr. Webster ; we were just talk 
 ing over last night's proceedings." 
 
 " It beats anything I ever heard of," said Web 
 ster, warmly 4< But what can we do ?" 
 
 " Nothing just now," returned Rogers ; " but I 
 think there will soon be a time when we will have a 
 chance to do something. In the meantime, gentle 
 men, we must make up our minds to say nothing. 
 We have all been too free with our tongues. Here 
 after, we must keep mum, or we will all get into Fort 
 McHenry " 
 
WITH A FIRE-EATER. 281 
 
 . " 1 vVe must just lay low, and wait till Jeff crosses 
 the Potomac," said one of the loungers. 
 
 " If we only had arms," said Webster, musingly. 
 
 " Arms !" echoed Rogers ; " why, sir, we have 
 from five to six thousand stand of arms right here in 
 Baltimore." 
 
 " That may be true," said Webster, " but nobody 
 seems to know where they are." 
 
 " I am satisfied they will turn up at the right 
 time," said Rogers. " Marshal Kane, before he was 
 arrested, put them in the hands of men who will take 
 good care of them until they are wanted." 
 
 "And let us hope they will be wanted inside of 
 two weeks," put in Sloan. " We can afford to be 
 quiet now, boys, but when the Southern army comes 
 this way, we'll rise ten thousand strong, and help 
 take Washington." 
 
 The opinion seemed to have fixed itself in the 
 minds of nearly all the Southern sympathizers in the 
 city, that in a very brief space of time, three or four 
 weeks at the utmost limit, Baltimore would be occu 
 pied by rebel soldiers, and Jeff Davis would be there 
 in person. 
 
 " One thing is certain," said Webster, firmly. 
 " If this thing goes on much longer, there will be a 
 general uprising one of these days, and the streets of 
 Baltimore will run with blood a thousand times worse 
 than they did on the iQth of April." 
 
 "You are right, there," said Rogers; "but for 
 
282 AN ENCOUNTER WITH A FIRE-EATER. 
 
 heaven's sake don't let any one putside of your circle 
 hear you use that expression, or you will be the next 
 one in limbo." 
 
 " If they want me, now is their time," replied the 
 detective, with a smile, " for I have made up my mind 
 to undertake a journey down into southern Mary 
 land and Virginia, at an early day." 
 
 "The devil you have ! You will find that a diffi 
 cult and dangerous undertaking." 
 
 " Nevertheless, I shall attempt it. I find that if I 
 can make the trip successfully I may be of service to 
 some of our people here, by carrying letters and mes 
 sages to their friends and relatives, with whom they 
 are unable to communicate in any other way." 
 
 Webster made this intention known to all of his 
 associates, and gave them to understand that he de 
 sired to sell his horses and carriage before leaving. 
 The sale was accomplished in a manner that seemed 
 legitimate enough to all, though it was a mere pre 
 tense. One of my operatives, whom I sent 'to Balti 
 more for that purpose, made a sham purchase of the 
 team and turned it over to me in Washington. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 
 Webster Makes a Journey to the South. A Secret Organizes 
 tion. The "Knights of Liberty" Webster Becomes a 
 Member. A Sudden Intrusion of the Military. The 
 Conspiracy Broken Up. 
 
 IN accordance with my instructions, Webster com 
 menced his tour through southern Maryland, 
 on Thursday, September 26th. He was accompanied 
 by John Scully, who had been assisting him in his 
 Baltimore operations, and they followed a line of 
 travel which I laid out for them. Taking passage on 
 the steamboat " Mary Washington," they baffled the 
 officers who stopped them by showing a pass issued 
 by the Provost-Marshal of Baltimore, and were soon 
 steaming down the Chesapeake toward Fair Haven, 
 which was their pretended destination. Arriving at 
 that point they went ashore, and proceeded to the 
 village of Friendship. From there they worked their 
 way south-west to Prince Frederick, then across the 
 Big Patuxent to Bendict, from which place they pro 
 ceeded to Charlotte Hall, and thence on foot to Leon- 
 ardtcwn, a distance of twenty miles. At the last- 
 named place they found Wm, H. Scott, another of 
 
 [283] 
 
*8 4 ^ SUDDEN INTRUSION 
 
 my operatives, awaiting them, and were accom 
 panied by him during the remainder of the journey. 
 
 A number of messages, written and verbal, which 
 had been intrusted to Webster by his Baltimore asso 
 ciates, were delivered at various points on the route, 
 thus enabling them to form the acquaintance of cer- \ 
 tain secessionists who were men of prominence and 
 influence in their respective neighborhoods, and who 
 in turn provided them with letters of introduction 
 to others of like ilk further on. Through this medium 
 they secured attention and hospitality wherever they 
 stopped, and had the advantage of valuable advice 
 and assistance in the matter of pursuing their journey 
 safely. 
 
 They represented themselves to be rebel sympa 
 thizers on their way to the Potomac, for the purpose 
 of finding a safe place where goods could be shipped 
 across the river into Virginia. They were frequently 
 cautioned to be very careful, as there were Union 
 soldiers stationed all along the river, and people whose 
 hearts were with the South were not permitted to ex 
 press their sentiments with impunity. They penetrated 
 as far as a point called Allen's Fresh, and deciding 
 that they had gained all the information that could be 
 picked up in that part of the country, they returned 
 to Washington and reported to me. 
 
 When Webster re-appeared on the streets of Bal- 
 t'more, after completing this trip, he was more than 
 lionized by his numerous friends who were in 
 
OF THE MILITARY. 285 
 
 the secret of his Southern journey, and its supposed 
 object. By endangering his life in the Southern 
 cause, as it was believed he had done, he had made 
 himself a hero in the eyes of the traitors who were 
 attached to him. 
 
 " Are you still keeping mum ?" he asked, as he 
 stood in the center of a group at Dickinson's billiard 
 hall, adjoining the Exchange. 
 
 " Those who have any regard for their personal 
 safety are doing so," replied Rogers ; "and I think the 
 majority of the boys have learned that lesson. Balti 
 more is comparatively quiet now. Only one man has 
 been arrested since you left, and we have hopes that 
 he will be released?" 
 
 " Who is he ?" 
 
 " A man from Washington. He was fool enough 
 to think he could talk as he pleased in Baltimore." 
 
 " By the way," remarked some one present, 
 " Webster must join our " 
 
 "Sh," cautioned Dave Dickinson, the proprietor 
 of the billiard room. " Have you no more sense than 
 to reveal yourself here f Remember that your lips 
 are sealed by an oath on that subject." 
 
 There was a moment's silence ; Webster looked 
 from one to another, and noticed that an air of mys 
 tery had settled upon every countenance present 
 
 ' What's this?" he demanded with a laugh. "Is it 
 a conspiracy to betray me into the hands of the 
 enemy ?" 
 
t86 A SUDDEN INTRUSION 
 
 " Not exactly," replied Dickinson, whose laugh 
 was echoed by the crowd. " Sloan, you will give Mr. 
 Webster his cue when a favorable opportunity occurs. 
 We want him with us, by all nt eans." 
 
 Webster's curiosity was satisfied an hour later, 
 when he and Sam Sloan walked toward Miller's Hotel 
 together. 
 
 " The fact is," said Sam, in a guarded tone, "since 
 you went away we've formed a secret organiza 
 tion." 
 
 " A secret organization?" 
 
 " Yes ; and we have held several meetings." 
 
 " Is it a success ?" 
 
 " A perfect success. Some of the best in town 
 are among our members. We may be forced to keep 
 silent, but, by Heaven ! they can't compel us to 
 remain idle. We are well organized, and we mean 
 undying opposition to a tyrannical government I 
 tell you, Webster, we will not down!" 
 
 " Never !" responded Webster, copying the boast 
 ful tone and bearing of his companion. " It does not 
 lie in the power of these white-livered Yankees to 
 make slaves of Southern men ! I should like to be 
 come a member of your society, Sloan." 
 
 " They all want you," said Sloan, eagerly. " They 
 passed a resolution to that effect at the last meeting. 
 They want the benefit of your counsel and in 
 fluence." 
 
 " What is your society called ?" 
 
OF THE MILITARY. 187 
 
 " The Knights of Liberty." 
 
 44 When will your next meeting be held ?" 
 
 " To-night." 
 
 " So soon ?" 
 
 "And you are expected to attend. Have you any 
 objections ?" 
 
 " None whatever. But how will I get there T 
 
 " I am delegated to be your escort," replied 
 Sloan. 
 
 " What is your hour of meeting?" 
 
 " Twelve o'clock." 
 
 " Ah, a midnight affair. All right, Sam ; you'll 
 and me waiting for you at the hotel." 
 
 Here they separated. Webster realized that 
 quite d.n important period in his Baltimore experience 
 was opening up before him, and that all his detective 
 skill would probably be called into play to foil a band 
 of conspirators. How to thwart the schemes of these 
 Knights of Liberty, whose purpose, as he understood, 
 was to assist in the overthrow of the Government of 
 the United States, was now the question to be 
 solved. 
 
 He did not, however, attempt to form any plans 
 at this time, but waited for such developments as he 
 had no doubt would be made that night. He 
 resolved to learn the nature of the plots that were in 
 existence, before he commenced counterplotting. 
 
 Promptly at eleven o'clock Sam Sloan put in an 
 appearance at the hotel, and he and Webster pro 
 
283 A SUDDEN INTRUSION 1 
 
 t 
 
 ceeded toward the place of meeting. The night was 
 dark and stormy, just the right sort of night, Webster 
 thought, for the concocting of hellish plots and the 
 performance of evil deeds. 
 
 'That night, a chiel might understand, 
 The Deil had business on his hand." 
 
 The stars were hidden from view by masses of 
 flying clouds ; the wind whistled shrilly through the 
 trees and spires ; while the deep, threatening 
 murmurs of distant thunder were accompanied by 
 fitful flashes of lightning, which illumined the scene 
 with a weird, quivering light. Few shops were open 
 in the localities through which they passed. Occa 
 sionally a light was seen struggling through the 
 screened window of a saloon, and the sound of mid 
 night orgies within indicated that business had not 
 been suspended there ; but elsewhere all was dark and 
 still. 
 
 Sloan led the way to a remote quarter of the city, 
 and into a street which bore a particularly bad re 
 putation. Here he stopped, and said : 
 
 " I must blindfold you, Webster, before proceeding 
 further. This is a rule of the order which cannot, 
 under any circumstances, be departed from." 
 
 Webster submitted quietly, while a thick bandage 
 was placed over his eyes and securely fastened. 
 Then Sloan took him by the arm arid led him for 
 ward. 
 
OF THE MILITARY. 28^ 
 
 Blindfolded as he was, he knew that they turned 
 suddenly into an alleyway, and he also knew when 
 they passed through a gate, which Sloan closed behind 
 them. He rightly 'conjectured that they were now 
 in a sort of paved court, in the rear of a building. 
 
 " Come this way and make no noise," whispered 
 Sloan. 
 
 The next moment the latter knocked on a door 
 with a low, peculiar rap, that was like a signal. Im 
 mediately a guarded voice on the inside was heard : C 
 
 " Are you white?" 
 . " Down with the blacks !" responded Sloan. 
 
 > 
 
 Nothing more was said. A chain clanked inside, 
 a bolt shot back, and the door creaked on its hinges 
 as it swung open. 
 
 Webster was led through, and he and his conduc 
 tor began to ascend a flight of stairs, so thickly car 
 peted that they emitted no sound from the footsteps 
 upon them. 
 
 At the head of the stairs they were again ac 
 costed : 
 
 -Halt! Who comes there ?' 
 
 " Long live Jeff Davis," muttered Sloan. 
 
 Passing on through another door, they found 
 themselves in a small, square apartment, although, so 
 far as Webster was concerned, there was no ocular 
 proof of this. There seemed to be several persons 
 here, and a voice, that was evidently meant to bo 
 tragical and impressive, demanded ; 
 19 
 
A SUDDEN INTRUSION 
 
 ".Whom have we here ?" 
 
 " Most Noble Chief," said Sloan, humbly, " I have a 
 friend in charge, who wishes to become a worthy 
 member of this league." 
 
 " His name ?" 
 
 "Timothy Webster." 
 
 " Have the objects of the league been fully ex 
 plained to him ?" 
 
 44 They have." 
 
 The gruff-voiced speaker then said : 
 " Mr. Webster, is it your desire to become a mem 
 ber of this knightly ba-nd ?" 
 
 44 It is," responded the detective, firmly. 
 
 There was a sound as of a number of swords 
 leaping from their scabbards, and the clank and ring 
 ,of the steel as the blades seemed to meet above his 
 head. Then the Grand Chief continued : 
 
 "You will now kneel upon one knee, and place 
 your right hand upon your heart, while I administer 
 to you the binding obligation of our brotherhood." 
 
 Webster did as he was directed, and in this atti 
 tude repeated the following oath, as it was dictated to 
 Ihim: 
 
 44 1, Timothy Webster, citizen of Baltimore, hav | 
 ing been informed of the objects of this association 
 and being in full accord with the cause which it seek* 
 to advance, do solemnly declare and affirm, upon my 
 sacred honor, that I will keep forever secret all that 
 I may see or hear, in consequence of being a mem- 
 
OF THE MILITARY. * 9 i 
 
 ber of this league ; that I will implicitly obey all 
 orders, and faithfully discharge all duties assigned 
 to me, no matter of what nature or character they 
 may be; and that life or death will be held sub 
 ordinate to the success and advancement of the cause 
 of the Confederacy and the defeat of the bloody 
 tyrants who are striving to rule by oppression and 
 terrorism. Should I fail in the proper performance 
 of any task imposed upon me, or should I prove un 
 faithful to the obligations I have here assumed, may 
 I suffer the severest penalty for treason and cowardice, 
 as well as the odium and contempt of my brother 
 knights." 
 
 The swords clanked again as they were returned 
 to their scabbards, and the new-made member, having 
 taken the oath, was commanded to rise. He did so 
 in silence, and the bandage was removed from his eyes. 
 
 At first the light of the room almost blinded him, 
 but his eyes soon became accustomed to the change, 
 and he looked about him with some curiosity. He 
 found that he was in the presence of seven stalwart 
 men, besides Sloan, all of whom wore swords at their 
 sides, dark cloaks drooping from their shoulders, and 
 black masks upon their faces. The masks, however, 
 were now removed, and Webster discovered, to his 
 relief, that they were all familiar to him. 
 
 " Mr. Webster," said the Chief, dropping his tragic 
 tone of voice, " without further ceremony, I pro 
 nounce you a Knight of Liberty. I greet you heart- 
 
t 9 a A SUDDEN INTRUSION 
 
 ily ;" and then, extending his hand " Come with 
 
 me." 
 
 As they emerged into the main council-chamber, 
 Webster quietly examined his surroundings. It was 
 a spacious apartment, very plain in its appointments, 
 with a low ceiling and bare walls, and furnished with 
 chairs arranged in rows around the room. At the 
 head of the hall was a low platform on which were 
 tables and chairs. Behind these, on the wall, were 
 suspended two Confederate flags, artistically draped, 
 above which were the initials "K. of L." Some forty 
 men were already assembled, and others were quietly 
 dropping in at intervals. Webster noticed that all 
 these men were from the better class of citizen seces 
 sionists, and that the low, rowdy element was not rep 
 resented. They were mostly men who had not thus 
 far been suspected of disloyalty to the Union cause. 
 
 The Grand Chief and other officers now took 
 their positions on the platform, and Webster was 
 assigned to a seat where he could observe all that was 
 said or done. 
 
 Presently a clock in the room struck twelve. In 
 stantly all the doors opening into the chamber were ( 
 , securely locked, and the secret conclave was in ses* j 
 sion. The Grand Chief rose and opened the meet- ' 
 ing in regular form ; and again, after the secretary 
 had read the journal, made an address of some length. 
 At the conclusion of his remarks, some one arose and 
 said : 
 
OF THE MILITARY. 1*3 
 
 " Most V/orthy Chief, I believe we can now claim 
 Mr. Webster as a member of this body. I under 
 stand that he has just returned from an interesting 
 and somewhat dangerous mission, and I now move 
 that he be invited to address this meeting relative to 
 his experiences during the journey he has just com 
 pleted." 
 
 Webster, taken by surprise, undertook to combat 
 the proposition, but the motion was unanimously con 
 curred in, and no excuses were accepted. He there 
 fore yielded good-naturedly, and mounting the plat 
 form, he proceeded to relate some of the particulars 
 of his trip to the Potomac. He made the recital 
 as entertaining and agreeable as possible, and 
 although his statements did not always possess the 
 merit of being strictly true, they were such as could 
 not fail to meet the approval of his hearers, and 
 were therefore received with great favor. Conclud 
 ing with a w'ell-timed panegyric on the " faithful" of 
 Baltimore, he resumed his seat amid the congratula 
 tions of his many admiring friends. 
 
 After this, the regular business of the meeting 
 was taken up, in which Webster took no other part 
 than that of a close listener and observer. Motions 
 were made, resolutions were adopted, and various 
 duties assigned to volunteer committees. The pro- 
 ceedings grew more and more interesting to the 
 detective as they progressed, and it was not long 
 before he began to feel considerable surprise, if not 
 
^ SUDDEN INTRUSION 
 
 alarm, at the unexpected revelations which were 
 made. It became evident to him that these conspir 
 ators had by some means succeeded in placing them 
 selves in direct communication with the Confederate 
 leaders, and that a gigantic plot was now in prepara 
 tion to make a united and irresistible movement 
 against Washington. Nearly ten thousand Balti- 
 moreans, it was alleged, were prepared to rise in 
 arms- at a moment's notice, and join the rebel army, 
 whenever such a movement might seem feasible. It 
 appeared, also, that the Baltimoreans were not alone 
 in this plot against the government, but that branches 
 of their organization existed in a number of the out 
 lying towns, and that the secessionists of the entire 
 State were working harmoniously together for the ac 
 complishment of one great purpose. There was no 
 lack of arms, for these had already been secured, but 
 their place of concealment was known only to a few 
 and they were not to be brought to light until they 
 should be needed. 
 
 The main portion of the plot seemed to be well 
 matured, and was most perfect in its details. The ar 
 rival of the rebel army in Maryland was expected in 
 a very short time, as they had the promises of the 
 'Southern commanders themselves that they would, 
 soon cross the Potomac. Their coming was to be 
 the signal for a simultaneous uprising of all the 
 secessionists in the Western and Southern portions 
 of the State who were to unite in a movement that 
 
OF THE MILITARY. 295 
 
 could scaicely fail to carry everything before it. 
 There were also deep-laid schemes by which the 
 Federals were to be kept in ignorance of the real de 
 signs of the Confederates, until too late to avert the 
 blow. 
 
 The extent of the conspiracy rather startled Web 
 ster, although some of the projects sounded rather 
 visionary, and he made up his mind to consult with 
 me at once. Accordingly, the very next day, he pro 
 ceeded to Washington, and was closeted with me for 
 several hours. As soon as he had explained the 
 situation, I devised a plan of procedure, and gave him 
 full instructions as to the manner in which he should 
 proceed. The great object, of course, was to break 
 up the organization, and defeat the corn-piracy in a 
 manner that would not compromise Webster ; but It 
 was not deemed prudent to go about this with any 
 inordinate haste. 
 
 I advised Webster to continue attending the 
 meetings, in, the character of an active conspirator ; 
 to learn all he could, and report to me a* often as 
 possible. In the meantime, I would send him two 
 other operatives, and he was to secure their s Emission 
 into the secret society, as members thereof. In a 
 week or two the final act in the little drama would be 
 introduced by first making a confidant of Mr. McPhail, 
 the deputy Provost-Marshal of Baltimore, and then 
 confronting the conspirators with a company vf armed 
 soldiers. 
 
196 A SVDDEN INTRUSION 
 
 Webster returned to Baltimore with a clear un 
 derstanding of the course he was to pursue, and he 
 followed that course with the untiring zeal with which 
 he performed every duty assigned to him. He at 
 tended the midnight meetings regularly, and gained 
 much information concerning the plans and move 
 ments of the Southern commanders, which proved of 
 incalculable value to the government. The two 
 operatives soon contrived to join the society, not 
 through Webster's recommendation, as that was to be 
 avoided, if possible, but by making the acquaintances 
 of men whom he pointed out to them, and represent 
 ing themselves as secessionists who were capable of 
 keeping their own counsel. 
 
 This done, the rest was comparatively easy. By 
 the rules of the society, no one could enter the secret 
 chamber of the conspirators without passing two 
 guards, and giving sundry pass-words. These guards 
 were appointed by the Chief from those who volun 
 teered for the positions. At stated periods, new pass 
 words were arranged, by which every man was re 
 quired to answer the questions of the guards, and any 
 one who failed to commit these to memory sufficiently 
 to satisfy these sentinels that he was a member of 
 the society, found himself barred out of the meeting. 
 
 Oir plan worked to perfection. There came a 
 night when my two operatives were on duty, as 
 guards, they having volunteered their services at the 
 last preceding meeting. This was the night set 
 
OF THE MILITARY. 297 
 
 apart for the surprise. It had been announced that 
 Webster would speak that night, and it had been ar 
 ranged wkh the guards, that a certain part in his 
 speech should be taken as the signal for the grand 
 finale thr'-.t had been decided upon. 
 
 The hour of midnight approached. The old 
 building in which the secret conclaves were held was 
 shrouds! in silence and darkness. At intervals .one 
 or more dark figures might have been seen to enter 
 the covered archway leading thereto, and pass through 
 the gate into the narrow court. Then, one at a time, 
 they approached a certain door, and after a signal rap, 
 and a low, muttered conversation with the guards, 
 they passed in and ascended the dimly-lighted stairs. 
 Another brief dialogue with the inside guard, and 
 they entered the council-chamber, where they dropped 
 their mysterious manner, and were ready to answer 
 to their names at the calling of the roll. 
 
 The clock struck twelve. The sound rang through 
 the apartment in solemn, measured tones, and as the 
 twelfth stroke was still vibrating in the air, all the 
 doors-, even those communicating with the ante-rooms, 
 were promptly locked, no one being admitted after 
 that hour. 
 
 The meeting was opened after the regular form, 
 and the business disposed of without interruption. 
 When the time which was set apart for addresses 
 arrived, Webster was called upon for his speech. He 
 ascended the platform with a serious expression on 
 
a 9 8 A SUDDEN INTRUSION 
 
 his face, and after thanking his fellow-knights for the 
 honor conferred upon him, he launched forth into a 
 stirring address, the treasonable nature of which was 
 calculated to fire the Southern blood of his hearers, 
 and to add much to his own popularity. As the 
 speaker appeared to warm up with his subject he 
 lifted his voice and exclaimed : 
 
 "The dissolution of the Union is one of the inevi 
 table necessities of Lincoln's election, and it will be 
 our mission to strike directly at the heart of the 
 abolition party, and bury its foul carcass beneath the 
 smoking ruins of Washington city !" 
 
 This was the signal. The words had no sooner 
 passed the lips of the speaker, than a startling noise, 
 like that of a battering-ram being applied to one of 
 the ante-room doors, cut short the speech, and caused 
 every man present to spring to his feet in astonish 
 ment and alarm. Bang ! bang ! bang ! sounded the 
 heavy blows. T^he door burst open with a crash, and 
 a stream of blue-coated soldiers, all fully armed, came 
 pouring into the council-chamber, and quickly de 
 ployed around three sides of the room, effectually 
 cutting off the retreat of the inmates before they 
 could make a movement 
 
 The sudden and unexpected appearance of these 
 intruders had a paralyzing effect upon the conspira 
 tors. Had so many ghosts confronted them they 
 could not have been more surprised. Horrified con 
 sternation was depicted on eyery blanched face ; 
 

OF THE MILITARY. 99 
 
 startled eyes looked wildly around for some avenue 
 of escape, and exclamations of terror or baffled rage 
 broke from many white lips. Some of the most des 
 perate seemed for a moment to entertain thoughts o* 
 breaking through the line of soldiers and reaching tn* 
 door, but no such mad attempt was made. McPhail 
 stepped forward with a revolver in each hand, and in 
 a low, thrilling voice, said : 
 
 " Gentlemen, you are our prisoners. I advise you 
 to give in gracefully. We are too many for you." 
 
 His advice did not go .unheeded. They surren 
 dered as gracefully as possible under the circum 
 stances, and resigned themselves to the custody of 
 their armed foes. The chamber in which they had 
 maliciously plotted the overthrow of the government 
 became the scene of their own downfall, and it was 
 with dejected countenances that they submitted to the 
 inevitable, and permitted themselves to be marched 
 . in a body before the Provost-Marshal. It was not 
 observed, however, until they were being removed, 
 that Timothy Webster had somehow contrived to 
 make good his escape. 
 
 The leading spirits of this conspiracy those who 
 did the actual plotting, and who were known to be 
 the arch traitors and prime movers in the secret 
 enterprise were taken to Fort McHenry. The rest, 
 after taking the oath of allegiance, were released. 
 
 My two operatives disappeared fiom Baltimore 
 immediately after this occurrence, as well they might, 
 
joo A SUDDEN INTRUSION. 
 
 for of course the suspicion of the defeated conspira 
 tors fastened upon them at once. As they did not 
 show themselves in that city again, however, they 
 never were made the victims of the terrible vengeance 
 which some of their late associates swore to bring 
 down upon their luckless heads at the first oppor 
 tunity. As for Webster, instead of being suspected 
 of any complicity in the betrayal, he was congratulated 
 upon his fortunate and remarkable escape from the 
 fate which befell-his unfortunate brother knights. 
 
 With the defeat of the." Knights of Liberty " in 
 Baltimore, ended the existence of the branch lodges 
 all over the State. The organization, which had so 
 carefully planned the destruction of the Union at a 
 single blow, was completely broken up. The con 
 spirators, taking warning by the fate of their leaders, 
 became mute and inactive, and although skilled 
 detectives were sent to all outlying towns, no new 
 signs of an uprising were discovered. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Suspicions in Washington. " Uncle Callus" Property 
 Searched. A Rebel Family sent South. Wtbster starts 
 for Richmond. 
 
 A SIDE from the operations of Timothy Webster 
 /"*. and his assistants in Baltimore, there was 
 work enough to do in Washington to keep myself 
 and all the members of my large force constantly 
 employed. Innumerable persons, suspected of 
 treasonable designs, were closely shadowed ; whole 
 families became objects of distrust, and fell under the 
 watchful eye of my department ; while the ungracious 1 
 task of searching the homes of people who stood 
 upon the highest round of the social ladder became 
 of frequent occurrence. 
 
 Among the latter class were the wife and family 
 of ex-Governor Morton, of Florida, who at this time 
 were sojourning in Washington. Mrs. Morton was 
 known to be in sympathy with the South, and the 
 unceasing vigilance of my men soon developed the 
 fact that she was in secret communication with 
 certain officials of the rebel government, to whom she 
 was giving information concerning affairs at the 
 North. She was a lady of eminent respectability and 
 
jo* WEBSTER STARTS 
 
 refinement, and much esteemed by all who knew her, 
 but this did not render it less advisable, under the 
 circumstances, to have all her movements watched, 
 and her house constantly shadowed by detectives. 
 Her pleasant residence at No. 288 "I" street, was there 
 fore placed under strict surveillance, and its inmates 
 
 followed whenever they went out for a walk or drive, 
 
 
 
 while all visitors at the house were invariably 
 shadowed when they went away. 
 
 There was an old negro servant, known as Uncle 
 Gallus, who went to and from the house oftener than 
 any one else, on errands for the family. Finally one 
 of my operatives drew the old fellow into conversa 
 tion, and found him so cheerful and communicative, 
 and so firm in his loyalty to the Northern cause, that 
 when the fact was reported to me, I concluded to 
 talk with Uncle Gallur^ myself. Accordingly, I gave 
 orders to have him brought to my office, if it could be 
 done without opposition on his part. The friendship 
 1 bore for the colored race, and my long experience 
 as an underground railroad conductor, had given me 
 such an insight into the character of the negro, that I 
 believed I could gain his confidence and good-will if I 
 should meet him. 
 
 Uncle Gallus came to my office quite willingly. 
 He was a powerfully-built d'arky, though evidently 
 well advanced in years, as attested by the bleached 
 appearance of his wool and eye-brows. His skin was 
 as black and shone as bright as polished ebony, and 
 
FOR RICHMOND. 303 
 
 It took but little provocation to set him on a broad 
 grin, which displayed two unbroken rows of glistening 
 ivory. 
 
 This interesting specimen appeared before me one 
 afternoon, when Timothy Webster was with me in 
 my office. We had just finished a discussion con 
 cerning some delicate point in Webster's Baltimore 
 operations, and had lapsed into a desultory conversa 
 tion. My sable visitor stood bowing and scraping, 
 and turning his hat round and round in his hands, till 
 I bid him be seated. 
 
 44 Your name is Gallus?" I said. 
 
 " Yes, sah," he replied, his mouth stretched from 
 ear to ear. " Folks done got so dey call me uncle 
 Gallus nowadays." 
 
 "You have been a slave all your life, I under 
 stand ?" 
 
 " Yes, rhassa, eber sence I war knee-high to a 
 hopper-grass. I'se done a mighty sight o' wu'k, too, 
 'kase I wus allus as big an stout as a sixty-dollah bull, 
 an' I could stan' mo' hard-fisted labor dan any o' de 
 udder niggahs on de plantation. But sence I been 
 wid Massa Morton I ain't had nuffin' to do skursely, 
 an' it seems as ef I'se gwine to git pow'ful lazy fur de 
 want o' wu'k. H'yah ! H'yah !" 
 , " What is your native State, Uncle Gallus ?" 
 
 " Ole Virginny, sah." 
 
 He held his head a little higher, and sat a trifle 
 more erect as he said this, showing that inordinate 
 
504 
 
 WEBSTER STARTS 
 
 pride in his State which I had so often noticed in 
 other Virginia slaves, as well as in Virginia masters. 
 
 I asked him if the Mortons had offered him his 
 freedom since the breaking out of the war. He shook 
 his head and gravely replied : 
 
 " Dey hain't been nuffin' said to dis pusson on dat 
 *ar subjick, but I knows dey'd gimme my freedom in 
 less'n twenty-fo' hours ef I done ax 'em fur it." 
 
 " Then you don't want to be free ?" 
 
 "Oh, yes, I does, massa; yes, I does, fur sho*. 
 But Massa Linkum an' de Yankee boys am gwhie 
 ter fetch dat aroun* all right by'm-bye. Bress your 
 soul an' body, I can't b'ar fur to run away from 
 missus an' ole massa, 'kase dey's been so good an* 
 kyind to me ; an' I'se done tuk an oath dat I won't 
 leave 'em till dey gimme leaf. When missus goes 
 back down Souf I'se gwine ter go wid her, ef she 
 don't tole me to stay heah. It won't be long, nohow, 
 'kase de time am soon comin' when de darkies will all 
 be free." 
 
 " Your mistress intends to return to the Soutl 
 then ?" 
 
 " Yes, sah ; we'll soon be off now, ef de good Lo'd 
 will let us. Massa, he's in Richmond, an' he hab done 
 sent fur de family." 
 
 " Is Mrs. Morton in communication with her 
 husband ?" 
 
 "Spec 1 she is, sah. She writes letters, an'jf&f 
 letters. She has ter be sorter keerful like, for dese 
 

 FOR RICHMOND. 305 
 
 'yah Yankees is got eyes like a cat, an* kin see fru a 
 
 stun wall in de dark." 
 
 i 
 
 " Do you know whether your mistress writes to \ 
 an\ one besides her husband ?" J 
 
 Uncle Callus leaned back in his chair, and looked \ 
 at me somewhat suspiciously, the whites of his eyes 'i 
 shining like polished china. 
 
 "'Deed, sah, I doesn't know whedder she dusdo, 
 or whedder she doant," he said, hesitatingly. " Please, 
 massa, doant ax dis chile any mo' questions. My 
 missus is de bes' woman in de wu'ld, a'nd nebber didn't 
 do nuffin' wrong in all her bawn days. Ole Callus 
 wouldn't say nuffin' to bring trubble on her for fifteen 
 cents," he added, earnestly. 
 
 I quieted the fears of the faithful old man by as- 
 suring him that I meant no harm to his mistress, 
 and that I had no doubt she was the good lady he 
 represented her to be. Satisfied with the result of 
 my investigations, I permitted Uncle Callus to depart, 
 first charging him, however, to say nothing to any 
 one concerning my interview with him. He pronv 
 ised secrecy, and bowed himself out with all his teeth- 
 visible, saying, as he went : 
 
 " Fo' de Lawd, gemmen, I'se hopin an* prayin' 
 de No'thun folks will be de top dog in dis wrastle, an' I 
 ef eber dis niggah lies a chance to gib yu'uns a help- 
 in 1 han', yu' kin bet a hoss agin' a coon-skin he'll do 
 it ; but I hope an' trus' my missus not be bod 
 dered." 
 
3 o6 WEBSTER STARTS 
 
 
 
 Nevertheless, I had learned enough to bring me 
 to the decision, that Mrs. Morton's house must be 
 searched, and under orders of the Secretary of War, 
 I sent three of my men to No. 288 " I " street, to 
 perform this unpleasant task. The operatives chosen 
 to make the search were W. H. Scott, John Scully, 
 and Pryce Lewis. Mrs t Morton received them very 
 civilly, and told them they were at liberty to make a 
 thorough search of the premises, which they immedi 
 ately proceeded to do. They had instructions to 
 read all letters that were found, but to keep only 
 those that were of a treasonable nature, and in no 
 >case to destroy any property or leave anything in a 
 ^disordered condition. These instructions were 
 
 obeyed to the letter. Boxes that were packed ready 
 'for shipment were all carefully repacked and closed 
 after they had been examined by my men, and when 
 .'the operatives departed, they left no traces of their 
 : search behind them. Their polite and considerate 
 
 conduct won for them the good will, not only of Mrs. 
 Morton herself, but also of her daughter and two 
 
 .sons, who expressed themselves as being agreeably 
 
 surprised, for they had been informed that the men 
 
 from the Provost-Marshal's office were a set of ruf- 
 
 $ans, who did not scruple to break up boxes, and litter { 
 
 the house with their contents, and that their conduct 
 
 towards ladies was insulting in the extreme. They 
 
 ,* even went so far as to assure the operatives, that if 
 
 ',-any of them should ever be taken prisoner and 
 
FOR RICHMOND. 307 
 
 brought to Richmond, they would do all in their 
 power to secure kind treatment for them. 
 
 Among the letters that were found, two of them 
 were from ex-Governor Morton, to his son and 
 daughter, requesting them to come to him at Rich 
 mond ; but nothing of a criminating character was 
 discovered, and the family were not subjected to fur 
 ther annoyance. 
 
 Some two weeks afterwards, when John Scully 
 boarded a train for Baltimore, whither I had sent him 
 with a message to Webster, he chanced to meet Mrs. 
 Morton and family in the car which he entered. 
 They were departing from Washington, having been 
 required to leave the North, by the authorities, who 
 furnished them a safe passport to Richmond, and 
 they were accompanied by the faithful Uncle Gallus. 
 They recognized Scully, and greeted him with cor 
 dial courtesy, the eldest son rising in his seat to shake 
 hands with him. They told him that on arriving at 
 Baltimore, they were to take a flag-of-truce boat to 
 Fortress Monroe, from which point they would con 
 tinue their journey to Richmond. Scully, as a . mat 
 ter of policy, gave them distinctly to understand that 
 he had quitted the government service and was re* 
 turning to his home in the North. 
 
 This little experience with the Morton family was 
 trifling enough in itself, and was only one of many 
 similar episodes with which I and my force were coa- 
 nected during those troublous times ; but I have been 
 
3 o3 WEBSTER STARTS 
 
 thus particular, in detailing it because it has an im 
 portant bearing upon other events which afterwards 
 occurred. 
 
 It was about a month after the incident above 
 mentioned, that Timothy Webster completed his prep 
 arations for making his first trip into Virginia and 
 through, the rebel lines. A large number of Balti- 
 moreans had intrusted him with letters to their friends 
 and relatives in the South, and he had assured them 
 that their messages would be delivered safely and 
 answers brought back In clue time. 
 
 He left Baltimore on the i4th of October, and 
 proceeded southward along the " Eastern Shore " of 
 Virginia, seeking a convenient place to cross over to 
 the mainland or " Western Shore." He arrived at 
 Eastville, the county seat of Northampton county, on 
 Tuesday, October 22d, where he found that he could 
 effect a crossing with the assistance of a man named 
 Marshall, who made a business of smuggling passen 
 gers and mails through the lines. He was compelled, 
 however, to remain at Eastville several days, waiting 
 for Marshall and his boat to come over from the 
 other side, his trips being delayed on account of the 
 bright moonlight nights, as the boatman did not dare 
 to run the gantlet of the Federal guns, unless 
 covered by darkness. 
 
 Some two or three months before, this man, Mar 
 shall, had owned a sloop, which he had used success 
 fully in running the Federal blockade. One night he 
 
FOR RICHMOND. jf 
 
 was caught in a calm near the western shore, and was 
 run-down by a gunboat. His sloop was captured, and 
 he narrowly escaped capture by deserting his vessel 
 ind reaching the shore in a smaller boat. Since that 
 time Marshall had been pursuing his vocation with a 
 sort of canoe, or " dugout," thirty-one feet in length 
 and five feet in width, carrying three sails main, fore 
 and jib. His route was from Gloucester Point, York 
 river, to Eastville, and his business was to transfer 
 from one side of the bay to the other the Confeder 
 ate mail and passengers, and sometimes a small cargo 
 of merchandise. Marshall being' an expert pilot and 
 a thorough seaman, was frequently employed by the 
 masters of sloops and schooners to pilot them past 
 certain points, they giving him the privilege of put 
 ting his passengers and mail-bags aboard the vessel 
 without charge. It was his invariable custom to 
 place a stone or other heavy substance in his mail-bag 
 before starting, for the purpose of sinking it in case 
 of being pressed by the gunboats. 
 
 It was on a dark evening that Webster left Cherry 
 stone Lighthouse in Marshall's canoe, to make the 
 voyage across the Chesapeake. There were thirteen 
 passengers, all told. Eight of these were Mary- 
 landers, mostly from Baltimore, every one of whom 
 announced his intention of enlisting in the Confeder- 
 ate army or navy upon his arrival at Richmond. 
 
 On starting, Marshall rowed off a short distance 
 from the light-house, and rested on his oars for soma 
 
WEBSTER STARTS 
 
 time, taking observations to ascertain if the bay was 
 dear of hostile craft. The night was scarcely dark 
 enough for safety ; the clouds were thin and scattered, 
 and the stars were peeping through the dark, ragged 
 /curtain overhead. The wind was blowing strongly 
 from the east, and the water was exceedingly rough. 
 
 Resolving, however, to make the effort, Marshall 
 hoisted his sails, and as they rapidly filled, the little 
 vessel sprung forward like a thing of life. It fairly 
 skimmed over the waves, its sharp prow cutting the 
 water and dashing up clouds of spray that caused the 
 men to turn up their coat-collars and pull their hats 
 down closer upon their heads. All conversation was 
 forbidden, lest their voices should betray them .to the 
 enemy. With sealed lips and motionless forms, they 
 might have been so many dark phantoms speeding 
 before the wind on some supernatural mission. 
 
 Webster, by his own wish, had been put upon the 
 look-out by the captain of the boat, and he keenly 
 watched for signs of danger. When they had trav 
 eled nearly half the distance across the bay, he spied 
 a point of light to leeward, and at once called Mar 
 shall's attention to it. 
 
 " It is a gunboat with a light on her bows," said 
 the latter. " Let her come. She can't catch us, for 
 with our present headway we are not to be over 
 hauled by any boat on this water." 
 
 The canoe was headed due west for about four 
 teen miles, then south-west by west for ten or twelve 
 
FOR RICHMOND. $u 
 
 miles, then due west again to Gloucester Point The 
 entire run was made in three and a Jialf hours, the 
 sailing distance being about thirty miles. 
 
 On nearing Gloucester Point, they were hailed by 
 a sentinel, with the usual challenge : 
 
 "Who comes there ?" 
 
 The blockade-runner sent back the answer : 
 
 " Marshall mail boat !" 
 
 " Stand, Marshall, and give the countersign f 
 
 " No countersign," was the reply. 
 
 The sentinel then called out : 
 
 " Sergeant of the Guard, Post No. i !" 
 
 And another voice, further away, cried : 
 
 " Who's there ?" 
 
 " Marshall, with mail boat and passengers." 
 
 " Sentinel, let them pass." 
 
 A few minutes later the passengers disembarked, 
 &nd found themselves in a rebel camp. 
 
 Webster, with others, went to Marshall's shanty 
 a rude, wooden structure, which that worthy had 
 built on the Point for the accommodation of his pas 
 sengers and there the remainder of the night was 
 spent in the refreshing companionship of Morpheus. 
 
 On the following morning Webster was up and 
 astir at an early hour. He ascertained that the en 
 campment at Gloucester Point consisted of two regi 
 ments of infantry, two companies of cavalry, and one 
 field battery of six guns, all under the command of 
 CoL Charles H. Crump. The entrenchments com* 
 
3 i2 WEBSTER STARTS 
 
 prised an area of about fifteen acres, and the main 
 breastwork on the beach consisted of a heavy earth- 
 bank, walled on the inside with split pine logs set up 
 on end. About the center of this breastwork was a 
 sixty-four-pound gun, mounted on a high carriage, 
 which traversed in a circle commanding a sweep of 
 the whole land side of the entrenchments, where 
 there was a clean field of about seven hundred acres 
 bounded by timber on the north and York river on 
 the south. 
 
 General Magruder had command of this division 
 of the army, including the forces at Gloucester Point, 
 Yorktown and all the peninsula bounded by the 
 James and York rivers, extending down to Fortress 
 Monroe. The division embraced thirty-three regi 
 ments of infantry and cavalry. 
 
 Webster called at Colonel Crump's headquarters 
 and obtained from that officer a pass to Richmond, 
 not only for himself, but for several others who had 
 crossed the bay with him. At about the hour of noon 
 on Saturday, the 26th, the party were ferried across 
 the river to Yorktown, in a small boat. The landing 
 at Yorktown was in front of a hill which rose with a 
 gentle slope some twenty-five feet above the beach, 
 on the top of which, in front of the town, was an 
 ^arth-work mounting six or eight guns. 
 
 From this point the party proceeded in a south 
 westerly direction, across the peninsula, to Grove 
 Wharf, on James river. The distance was about ten 
 
FOR RICHMOND. 313 
 
 miles, and was accomplished -without difficulty or 
 delay. On their arrival at Grove Wharf, however, 
 they were disappointed to learn that no boat was 
 to leave there for Richmond until the following 
 Monday. There was no 'help for it, and with a rue 
 ful attempt at resignation, they took quarters at a 
 neighboring farm-house, where they waited and 
 rested. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 The Spy at Richmond. Earthworks Around the Rebel Capi 
 tal. An Unexpected Meeting. Pistols for Two. A Re 
 conciliation. Safe Return to Washington. 
 
 ON Monday morning Webster left Grove 
 Wharf, on the regular steam packet, for 
 Richmond, where he arrived on the evening of the 
 same day. Here he separated from his companions 
 and made his way alone to the Spotswood Hotel, 
 where he registered, and proceeded to make himself 
 at home. He was now in the rebel capital, sur 
 rounded on all sides by the enemies of his country, 
 with no friends to whom he could apply in case of 
 danger, and burdened with a mission, upon the suc 
 cessful performance of which his life depended. It 
 was a mission, too, requiring such delicate and skill 
 ful labor, that a man less iron-nerved would have 
 trembled at the very contemplation of it ; but Web 
 ster, whose courage and self-command never deserted 
 him in the most trying moments of his life, coolly re 
 viewed the situation and laid his plans in a systematic 
 manner for future operations. 
 
 The next day, he busied himself about the city, 
 delivering his letters, forming acquaintances, and 
 
AROUND THE REBEL CAPITAL. 315 
 
 paving the way for an interview with the Secretary 
 of War, his object being to obtain from that high 
 official, if possible, a pass to Manassas and Winches 
 ter. He was informed by General Jones, Post- Ad 
 jutant to General Winder, . the Provost- Marshal at 
 Richmond, and commander of the forces there, that 
 no interview could be obtained with the Secretary of 
 War, except upon business especially connected with 
 the military department, as they were daily expecting 
 an attack from the Federal Army of the Potomac, and 
 the Secretary was wholly engaged with officers of the 
 army. 
 
 Among the acquaintances which Webster formed, 
 was a young man by the name of William Campbell, 
 originally a Baltimorean, to whom he brought a let 
 ter of introduction from the father of the young 
 man. Campbell treated my operative with the 
 utmost friendliness and courtesy, and invited him to 
 a drive during the afternoon. The invitation was 
 accepted, and as the weather was all that could be de 
 sired, they enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon. They 
 visited the environs for the purpose of viewing the 
 defenses, and Webster noted the fact that there were 
 seventeen very superior earth-work batteries around 
 the town, forming a rude semicircle with either end 
 resting on the James river. The entrenchments 
 around each of these batteries were from twelve to 
 fourteen feet wide at the top, and about ten feet deep. 
 Some of the batteries were designed for six gui s and 
 
3i6 EARTHWORKS AROUND 
 
 some for sixteen. They were nearly all completed at 
 this time, and the work upon them had been done 
 exclusively by negro slaves. In most cases they were 
 mounted with their full complement of guns, varying 
 in caliber, from thirty-two to sixty-four pounds. 
 The land around Richmond consists of hills and val 
 leys, and the batteries were planted on the most 
 elevated and commanding points. The heaviest of 
 these commanded the turnpikes and railroads which 
 formed the approaches from Manassas and Freder- 
 icksburg. 
 
 After visiting the batteries, Webster went with 
 Campbell to the ordnance department, where he was 
 introduced to several persons who had charge of the 
 ordnance stores, and from whom he elicited much 
 valuable information. Among other things, he was 
 informed by the Colonel in charge, that the " Ber 
 muda," an English vessel which had recently run 
 the blockade, had brought over for the Confederate 
 government twelve thousand Enfield rifles, a large 
 supply of cavalry swords and a number of rifled can 
 non ; and that, upon trial, the rifled cannon were found 
 to be more accurate than any of their brass pieces. 
 
 On the following day Webster concluded to make 
 another inspection of the earth-works around the city. 
 He went alone and on foot this time, as he desired 
 to make some notes and calculations, which he was 
 unable to do in the presence of others without run 
 ning an unnecessary risk. It was a fine, brisk morn- 
 
THE REBEL CAPITAL.' 317 
 
 ing, the air was slightly tinged with the coolness of 
 approaching winter, and the spy occupied the entire 
 forenoon in strolling leisurely from point to point, 
 apparently with the single object of idling away a few 
 leisure hours. Now he passed some men engaged in 
 planting a cannon on one of the redoubts, and again 
 he saw a group of slaves busily at work with pickaxes 
 and shovels, but no one seemed to pay any attention 
 to him. 
 
 About noon he came upon a scene, which, though 
 characteristic of the time and place, was rather a novel 
 sight to a Northern man, and he stopped to view it 
 with considerable interest. In a sunny spot near the 
 river bank about a dozen negro laborers were 
 gathered, their surroundings showing that they had 
 just left off work for the enjoyment of their allotted 
 hour of rest, at noon. Having finished their mid-day 
 repast, they were now filling their time by indulging in 
 a species of amusement peculiar to their race. On a 
 pine log sat a jolly-looking old negro, whose hair was 
 white as snow and whose face was black as ebony, 
 grinning, and rolling his head from side to side, while 
 he patted " Juba" with great energy and skill, on his 
 knees, chest and head. The other darkies were 
 danc. 4 .. & ""* the "music," and apparently enjoying the 
 sport to an unlimited degree. 
 
 The detective was amused at the spectacle, but 
 this feeling gave way to one of surprise and curiosity, 
 as he looked more intently at the white-haired old 
 
3 i8 EARTHWORKS AROUND 
 
 man who was acting as musician. There was some 
 thing strikingly familiar in those black, smiling features* 
 Surely this was not the first time he had seen that 
 face, or witnessed that tremendous grin. Where had 
 he met this darky before ? 
 
 Suddenly his recollection was quickened. The 
 person in question was none other than Uncle Callus, 
 the servant of ex-Governor Morton, whom he had 
 seen in my office at Washington, on the day that I 
 had questioned him about his mistress. This fact 
 was clear enough to Webster, but somewhat surpris 
 ing, withal. He remembered that Uncle Gallus had, 
 on that occasion, represented the Mortons as very 
 indulgent slave-owners, who never permitted him to 
 perform any hard labor ; yet here he was, in the role 
 of a common workman, employed upon the fortifica 
 tions around Richmond. 
 
 Whatever had caused this change, however, it did 
 not appear to weigh heavily upon the old darky, for at 
 this moment he was in the very ecstasy of delight, as he 
 patted inspiration into the nimble feet of his com 
 panions. The other darkies danced until their faces 
 shone with perspiration, and the manner, in which 
 their loose-jointed limbs swung and wriggled, sug 
 gested the idea that those members were hung on 
 pivots. They leaped and vaulted, and flung their 
 heels in the airs, as if they were so many jumping- 
 jacks and Uncle Gallus was pulling the string. 
 
 The latter hummed snatches of plantation melodies. 
 
THE REBEL CAPITAL. 319 
 
 as he warmed up to his work, and finally he sung a 
 series of characteristic verses, of which the following 
 are a sample : 
 
 " Did you ebber see a woodchuck lookin 1 at a coon-fight ? 
 
 Linkum am a-comin' by'm-bye ; 
 Did you ebber see a niggah gal dancin' in de moonlight? 
 
 Glory, glory, glory hallelujerum ! 
 
 " Possum up a gum-stump, chawin' slippery-ellum, 
 
 Linkum am a-comin' by'm-bye ; 
 Nigga's in de market an' massa try in* to sell 'em ' 
 
 Glory, glory, glory hallelujerum I 
 
 "Secesh in Richmon' de Yankee boys has treed 'em- 
 
 Linkum am a-comin' by'm-bye ; 
 All de little pickaninnies gwine to git dar freedom 
 
 Glory, glory, glory hallelujerum !" 
 
 Suddenly the merriment of the blacks was Inter- 
 rupted in a most unexpected manner. 
 
 Some tall bushes that covered the top of a slight 
 elevation near by were suddenly parted, and a man, 
 wearing the uniform of a Lieutenant in the Confeder 
 ate army, leaped down among the astonished revelers. 
 In a towering rage, he turned upon Uncle Gallus and 
 shouted : 
 
 " Shut your head, you d d old villain, or 111 
 
 fill your black hide with lead !" and he flourished a 
 cocked revolver in the face of the terrified negro. 
 
 " Afo' God, Massa, we didn't mean no harm, we's 
 jes passin' away de time," said Uncle Gallus, In a 
 frightened voice. 
 
JtO 
 
 EARTHWORKS AROUND 
 
 "Well, then," said the officer, with an oath f " be a 
 little more careful in the future about the kind of 
 
 songs you sing, or I'll have every d d one of you 
 
 bucked and gagged, and whipped within an inch of 
 your lives." 
 
 Replacing his weapon, and turning on his heel, he 
 was striding angrily away when he came face to face 
 with Webster. 
 
 The recognition was mutual and instantaneous 
 between the two men. As quick as a flash Webster 
 had his revolver cocked and pointed at the head of 
 the blustering Confederate. 
 
 "Bill Zigler, what are you doing here? You 
 move at your peril'* 
 
 " I'd kill you, curse you, but you've got the drop 
 on me now, as you had once before. But my time 
 will come, you d d Yankee spy !" 
 
 41 Look here, Bill !" said Webster, anxious, if pos 
 sible, to disarm at once and forever the suspicions of 
 his enemy, "what is the use of our being continually 
 at daggers' points ? You were foolish enough to insult 
 me in Baltimore by impeaching my loyalty to the 
 South, and I resented it, as any man would. If you 
 repeat the vile slander, 'I'll do the same thing. If, 
 however, you have anything personal against me, and 
 must fight, I'll put up my weapon and meet you 
 hand to hand." 
 
 , Zigler looked at the speaker a moment, and then 
 advancing and extending his hand, said : 
 
THE REBEL CAPITAL. 311 
 
 i 
 
 "Webster, put u'p your pistol; I guess I've made 
 
 a d d fool of myself. I -did think you were a spy, 
 
 but I knock under ; I don't want to be an enemy to 
 such a friend to the cause as I now believe you to 
 be." 
 
 Lowering his revolver, Webster good-naturedly 
 received the friendly overtures of his former foe. 
 
 " I thought you would come to your senses at 
 last ; but when did you come down here ?" 
 
 11 Oh, I've been here several weeks. I enlisted in 
 Baltimore and came down as a lieutenant, " answered 
 Zigler. " But where are you from ?" he continued, 
 "and what is the news from the Monumental 
 City ?" 
 
 " I am just from that city," replied Webster, "and 
 have brought a number of letters for parties here and 
 at Manassas. I expect to go to the Junction to-mor 
 row, if I succeed in getting a pass." 
 
 " Who do you want to see there ?" 
 
 "Well, I want to see John Bowen," replied Web 
 ster, naming a particular friend of Zigler's, whom he 
 knew was at Manassas. " I understand he is down 
 with typhoid fever, and will no doubt be glad to heal 
 from home." 
 
 This straightforward story completely disarmed ? 
 the suspicions of the bully as to Webster's true char 
 acter, and finding that he had time to spare he invited 
 the scout to his quarters. 
 
 Thus the quarrel was settled between these two 
 
 SI 
 
jt* EARTHWORKS AROUND 
 
 men, and the superior tact and. coolness of Webster 
 had succeeded in making a friend of a man who 
 might have seriously interfered, with his operations, 
 and probably have jeopardized his life. 
 
 As they were leaving the place, Webster cast a 
 look at the group of negroes, whose mirth had been 
 so suddenly interrupted, and he noticed that they 
 were regarding the Lieutenant with looks of sullen 
 anger. He was, however, considerably relieved to 
 find that Uncle Gallus had not recognized him, and 
 that as far as the aged negro was concerned, he had 
 nothing to fear. He accompanied Zigler to his 
 ^quarters, where they chatted pleasantly for an hour, 
 after which Webster returned to his hotel, a much 
 wiser man than when he first started out upon his 
 walk. 
 
 As he sauntered quietly back to the city, he felt 
 ;s|uite elated at the success of his management of Zig 
 ler, whom he had made a fast friend. After supper, 
 in -company with Mr. Campbell, he strolled about the 
 <city for a short time,, when his companion excused 
 :himself, and Webster pursued his way alone. He 
 was walking along Utah street, apparently deeply ab 
 sorbed in his own meditations, when he heard a voice 
 'behind him. 
 
 " Hole on dar, Massa !" 
 
 Turning around, he was surprised to see Uncle 
 -.{Gallus, approaching him as rapidly as his stiffened 
 jllimbs would .permit. 
 
THE REBEL CAPITAL. 523 
 
 " Well, uncle," said Webster, as the old man 
 caught up to him " did yon speak to me ?" 
 
 " You'se de man dat I 'dressed, sah -done you 
 know me ?" said the old fellow, peering anxiously in 
 the face of the detective. 
 
 " No, I don't remember you," said Webster, de 
 termined to ascertain whether the old darky did 
 know him ; "where have you ever seen me ?" 
 
 " In Washington, sah," replied Uncle Callus; "don" 
 you remember you saw me at Majah Allen's, when I 
 was dah libin wid Missus Morton T 
 
 Webster looked at the negro a moment, and then, 
 feeling assured of the friendliness of his interlocutor, 
 he said : 
 
 " Your face does seem familiar to me ; what is your 
 name ?" 
 
 " Dey calls me Uncle Gailus, sah," answered the 
 old fellow. 
 
 "Oh, yes," said Webster, "now I remember 
 you." 
 
 "Golly, massa," grinned Uncle Callus, "wen I 
 seed you gib it to Bill Zigler dis mo'nin', I dun 
 knowed you right away, but I wouldn't say nuffin' for 
 de world, fo' I knowed you was a pullin' de wool ober 
 his eyes." 
 
 Knowing full well that he had nothing to fear 
 from Uncle Callus, he talked with him good-natur 
 edly on various topics, and in the course of the coa* 
 vcrsation he learned that he was no longer with Mr* 
 
ji4 EARTHWORKS AROUND 
 
 Morton, having been disposed of by her, some time 
 before, and that he was now being used by the Con 
 federate government to work upon the fortifications. 
 Not deeming it advisable to remain long in conversa 
 tion with the old darky on the streets, he told him 
 that he would see him in a day or two, and placing a 
 coin in the old man's hand, he bade him good-night. 
 
 The next morning Mr. Campbell and Webster 
 visited General Jones, and obtained the sought-for 
 passes to Manassas, for which place he left early in 
 the forenoon. On his arrival there, he learned that 
 John Bowen, for whom he had a letter, had been 
 taken to Richmond, but having several other messa* 
 ges to deliver to parties of prominence there, he 
 busied himself during the day in forming acquaint 
 ances, and in acquiring knowledge. From Manassas 
 he went to Centreville, where he remained a few days, 
 and from thence to Warrington, and finally back 
 again to Richmond, where he delivered his remaining 
 letters. Here he formed the acquaintance of a man 
 by the name of Price, who was engaged in running 
 the blockade, and who was making arrangements 
 to return to Baltimore, to purchase a fresh supply of 
 goods. Together they went to the office of the Pro- j 
 vost-Marshal, where they obtained the necessary v 
 passes to insure their safe journey through the rebel 
 lines. 
 
 Leaving Richmond, they went to.Fredericksburg, 
 where he stayed long enough to visit all the places of 
 
THE REBEL CAPITAL. 
 
 interest around that city, and in company with Mr. 
 Price'they went on to Brooks Station, the head-quar 
 ters of General Holmes, with whom Price was inti 
 mately acquainted. After remaining several days, he 
 left his companion, making his way to Yorktown and 
 Gloucester Point, and from thence to Washington, 
 where lv; reported to me. 
 
 This first visit of Timothy Webster to Richmond 
 was highly successful. Not only had he made many 
 friends in that city, who would be of service to him 
 on subsequent trips, but the information he derived 
 was exceedingly valuable. He was able to report 
 very correctly the number and strength of the fortifi 
 cations around the rebel capital, to estimate the num 
 ber of troops and their sources of supplies, and also 
 the forts between that city and Manassas Junction. 
 His notes of the topography of the country were of 
 the greatest value, and he received the warmest 
 thanks of the commanding general, for what he had 
 thus far been able to accomplish. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Again in Baltimore. A Warning. T/ie Spy is Armtcd, 
 
 and Escapes. 
 
 AFTER the return of Timothy Webster from 
 JL\ Richmond and Manassas, I deemed it best 
 that he should again visit Baltimore and mingle 
 once more with his rebel friends in that city. Since 
 the summary collapse of the Knights of Liberty the 
 majority of them had been remarkably quiet, and no 
 indications were apparent that they contemplated 
 any further proceedings of a treasonable nature. It 
 will be remembered that on the night that the secret 
 meeting was disturbed, Webster managed in some 
 unaccountable manner to escape, and that he had dis 
 appeared almost immediately afterwards. As no sus 
 picion existed as yet of his having been concerned in 
 the affair, and as his prolonged absence might give 
 rise to doubts of his loyalty, I concluded that it was 
 best for him to again show himself among his old 
 associates, and account for his escape in a manner 
 that would appear truthful and straightforward. 
 
 He accordingly took the traint and after arriving 
 in Baltimore, he went directly to Miller's Hotel 
 
 Here he found several of his friends, and their greet- 
 3*6 
 
THE SPY IS ARRESTED. 327 
 
 ings were most cordial and hearty. In a few moments 
 others of the party had been notified, and came 
 thronging in to welcome him and to congratulate him 
 Upon his escape and present safety. Eager inquiries 
 were made as to the manner in which he had so suc 
 cessfully eluded the soldiers, and how he had spent 
 the time since the occurrence of that event. In 
 reply Webster gave a satisfactory and highly interest 
 ing account of his movements, all of which was 
 heartily enjoyed by his listening friends. Gratified 
 beyond expression at the pleasant condition of affairs, 
 he became quite jolly, and the balance of the evening 
 was spent in convivial and social enjoyment. 
 
 On the following morning he started out in search 
 of his old friend Sam Sloan, for whom he had a letter 
 from his brother, who was in the rebel army, and 
 stationed at Centreville. Having also a number of 
 
 o 
 
 letters for other Baltimoreans, he desired to secure 
 Sloan's services in their proper and safe delivery. 
 
 Sam looked in astonishment as Webster blandly 
 approached him, and after an effusive greeting he 
 remarked earnestly : 
 
 " Webster, you'll have to be mighty careful now, 
 or you will be arrested yet. We are watched night 
 and day the least suspicious move we make is re 
 ported at once and if repeated, the first thing the 
 offender knows he finds himself in the guard-house." 
 
 11 Well," replied Webster, laughingly, " I'll have to 
 take my chances with the rest of you." 
 
328 THE SPY IS ARRESTED 
 
 "I know your grit, Webster," said Sloan, "but 
 by all means be careful. I was arrested myself since 
 you went away." 
 
 " The deuce you were !" ejaculated Webster. 
 "How did that occur?" 
 
 " Well, I went over to Washington to transact a 
 little business, and while there I met some of the 
 boys, and we had a little 'time.' I don't know what 
 I did, but when I started to come home, the Provost- 
 Marshal arrested me, and I had to take the oath of 
 allegiance before I could get away." 
 
 "You don't tell me that you took the oath,, 
 Sam ?" 
 
 " Yes, I did," laughed Sam. " I would take twenty 
 oaths before I would be locked up ;" and then he 
 added : " I tell you, we are all spotted here in this 
 city, and who is doing it we can't find out." 
 
 " What makes you think that ?" inquired Web 
 ster, doubtfully. 
 
 " Many things. Why, only the other day I was 
 taken before Lieutenant Watts, who has charge of 
 the station-house, and the questions he put to me 
 about the gang, convinced me that he knew a great 
 deal more than was good for us." 
 
 " Did he ask anything about me ?" queried Web 
 ster. 
 
 "No," replied Sam, "and if he had I wouldn't 
 have told him anything, you may be sure." 
 
 " I can readily believe that," said the detective, 
 
AND ESCAPES. ' 3*9 
 
 "but if it is so dangerous here, how am I going to 
 deliver these letters ?" 
 
 " I can help you there," said Sloan, after a mo 
 ment's consideration ; " John Earl, Richardson and I 
 will see that they are delivered, and that will keep 
 you from incurring suspicion." 
 
 "That will do," said Webster, "and you can tell 
 the people you see to write their answers at once, and 
 inclose them in two envelopes, one directed to their 
 friend, and the other to John Hart, at Miller's Hotel." 
 
 " I understand ; but who is this John Hart you 
 mention can we trust him ?" 
 
 " I think so," replied the detective, laughing 
 heartily ; " his other name is Timothy Webster." 
 
 " By Jove, Webster, you're a good one ; I begin to 
 think myself that there isn't so much danger of your 
 getting caught after all." 
 
 This being satisfactorily arranged, the two men 
 started in search of John Earl and Richardson, who 
 both agreed to assist in the delivery of the letters 
 which Webster had brought with him from the South, 
 They all went to the room occupied by the detective 
 at the hotel, and after a friendly drink, the letters 
 were properly assorted, and each man was given his 
 particular portion. They were instructed to request 
 answers from those only in whose friendship they 
 could implicitly rely, and to take in person any that 
 were prepared at the time. 
 
 In the afternoon, Webster called on Mr. Camp 
 
J3 o THE SPY IS ARRESTED 
 
 bell, the father of the young man who had accom 
 panied him on his trip from Richmond to Manassaa 
 Junction. The old gentleman was rejoiced to hear 
 from his son, and after a few minutes' conversation 
 Webster discovered that he was quite as bitter a 
 secessionist as any one he had met, although he was 
 quite aged and not very active. He informed the 
 detective that he had once made a very handsome 
 horse-bit for General McClellan, and that he was now 
 making one for General Johnston, which he would like 
 Webster to take with him when he . next went to 
 Richmond, and deliver it to the General in person. 
 
 "Have everything ready," said the detective, "and 
 I will see that it reaches its destination in safety." 
 
 Returning to the hotel, he went in to supper, and 
 after a hearty repast seated himself in the reading- 
 room to await the return of his mail-carriers. While 
 carelessly glancing over the columns of a daily paper, 
 he was approached by a gentleman, who stepped in 
 front of him, exclaiming heartily : " Why, Mr. Web 
 ster, how do you do ? I am glad to see you ; when 
 did you get back to Baltimore ?" 
 
 Looking up hastily from his paper, Webster 
 recognized the speaker as Mr. Price, the blockade 
 runner whom he had met in Richmond, and with 
 whom he had traveled some distance through the 
 rebel country. 
 
 Their greeting was most cordial, and the return of 
 John Earl and Sam Sloan found the two men engaged 
 
AND ESCAPES. 331 
 
 In animated conversation. From Price, Webster 
 learned that a large amount of goods had been pur 
 chased by several wealthy gentlemen of Baltimore, 
 who had adopted a very novel manner of transporting 
 them into rebeldom, without danger from Federal 
 pickets or gunboats. Their plan was to ship the goods 
 upon a vessel bound for Europe and ostensibly the 
 goods were intended for the same destination. In ad 
 dition to this a small boat was purchased, which was 
 to be taken in tow by the steamer. By an arrange 
 ment with the captain the vessel was to stand in as 
 close as possible to the mouth of York river, when 
 the small boat was to be brought alongside, then the 
 goods were to be transferred to it, and the owners 
 were to pull up the river to Yorktown, effect a safe 
 landing, and the rest would be an easy task. 
 
 Webster complimented his companion on the 
 shrewdness displayed in this suggestion, and that 
 evening he wrote to me, conveying full particulars of 
 the proposed blockade-running. 
 
 It is needless to say that this little plan, shrewd as 
 it was, failed of execution. Men were at once placed 
 upon the track of these merchants, and a more sur 
 prised coterie never existed than were these gentle 
 men, when their goods, carefully labeled for a foreign 
 port, were seized by the government, and their con 
 veyance to the South effectually stopped. An 
 examination of the goods fully confirmed the correct 
 ness of Webster's information, and this venture, at 
 
332 THE SPY 7.S ARRESTED 
 
 least, was a losing speculation to those who had 
 engaged in it. 
 
 After Mr. Price had taken his departure, John 
 Earl called Webster aside, and informed him that a 
 gentleman desired to send a draft for a large amount 
 of money to Richmond, and that he had insisted on 
 placing it in the hands of John Hart himself. 
 
 " Do you know this man, and that he is all right ?" 
 asked Webster. 
 
 " No," replied Earl, " I know nothing about him 
 except that he is vouched for by three parties who 
 are true, and they say he is all right." 
 
 " I don't like this idea," said Webster, doubtfully ; 
 " I guess you had better tell this man that you will 
 deliver it safely for him, and then you can hand it to 
 
 me." 
 
 " I did suggest that, but he said his orders were 
 to intrust it to no one but John Hart himself." 
 
 After considering for some time, Webster finally 
 concluded to see the individual in person. He was 
 satisfied that no^ harm could corne to him if the man 
 was a Federal detective, as, by application to the 
 authorities or to me he could readily extricate himself 
 from any difficulty, and if he was a rebel, he would 
 incur no risk whatever. 
 
 " Very well," he said, after he had fully deliberated 
 the question, "you can bring him to rr.y room and 
 then we will see what is to be done. Meanwhile I 
 will take a short walk and smoke a cigar. * 
 
AND ESCAPES. 333 
 
 On his return he found John Earl awaiting him. 
 ' The gentleman is up-stairs in my room," said 
 Earl ; " will you go up now and f?ee him ?" 
 
 Webster signified his willingness, and the two 
 men ascended the stairs. As they entered the room 
 the stranger arose to greet them, and Webster 
 scrutinized him carefully. The result of his scrutiny 
 was decidedly unsatisfactory. The new-comer was a 
 tall, well-formed man, of about forty years of age. 
 His hair was dark, and he wore long side-whiskers of 
 the same color. In appearance he was what would 
 be ordinarily considered a handsome man, but there 
 was a look of quiet curiosity about the eyes, and a 
 'peculiar curl about the mouth, which struck Webster 
 very unpleasantly, and caused him to instinctively 
 regret having accorded him the interview which he 
 desired. 
 
 "Mr. Hart," said the stranger, pleasantly, after 
 they had been formally introduced to each other, " I 
 have a letter here, inclosing a draft, which I am 
 desirous of having safely delivered to my sister-in-law 
 in Richmond. You will find the address upon the 
 envelope inside. Can you attend to this T 
 
 "I guess so," replied Webster. 'T can try, at all 
 events." 
 
 Webster could not overcome a feeling of unrest 
 and suspicion, as he conversed with the man, and he 
 felt considerably relieved when, after expressing hia 
 thanks, he took his departure. 
 
334 THE SPY IS ARRESTED, 
 
 The. next morning Webster was astir early, and 
 after paitaking of a hearty breakfast, he thought he 
 would pay another visit to Mr. Bowen. Leaving the 
 hotel, he walked rapidly down the street in the direc 
 tion of the old man's residence. He had not pro 
 ceeded far when, on turning around, he noticed that 
 his friend of the night before was walking upon the 
 opposite side of the street, and but a short distance 
 behind him. Finding that he was observed, the man 
 crossed the street, and after bidding Webster a very 
 cordial good-morning, said : 
 
 " Mr. Hart, as we are walking in the same 
 direction, if you have no objection, we will walk 
 together." 
 
 Webster assented, and for a short distance they 
 journeyed along, indulging in a very constrained con 
 versation. Webster felt assured that the man had 
 been following him, and that his apparent friendliness 
 was assumed. Desiring to rid himself of his unwel 
 come and uncomfortable companion, he was upon the 
 point of expressing himself very forcibly, when he 
 was startled by the stranger grasping him firmly by 
 the arm, and ejaculating : 
 
 " John Hart, you are my prisoner!" 
 
 Had a thunderbolt fallen at his feet he could not 
 have been more surprised, but recovering himself 
 quickly, he wrenched himself from the grasp of the 
 man. 
 
 " What do you mean, sir ?" he asked ~^- * 
 
AND ESCAPES. 
 
 335 
 
 " Just what I have said," replied the other, coolly ; 
 "there is no occasion for any controversy upon the 
 question, and as you are directly in front of the 
 station-house, resistance would be worse than use 
 less." 
 
 The cool manner in which these words were 
 spoken exasperated Webster beyond control, but he 
 saw that there were two soldiers standing guard in the 
 doorway, and he realized at once that any attempt at 
 escape would be foolhardy in the extreme. He 
 therefore submitted quietly, and suffered himself to 
 be led into the building, where an officer was seated 
 at a table, examining the reports of the previous day. 
 
 The recognition between the Lieutenant and 
 Webster's captor appeared to be mutual, and, indeed, 
 the presence of my operative did not seem to be an 
 unlooked-for event. 
 
 " Lieutenant, this is Mr. Hart," said the stranger. 
 
 " All right," replied that officer, " we will take good 
 care of him." 
 
 After a short consultation, held in a tone too low 
 for Webster to hear, the stranger took his leave, and 
 the officer turned to the detective : 
 
 " Come with me, sir ; your case will be attended 
 to in the course of the day." 
 
 " Lieutenant, I would like to speak to you a 
 moment, now that we are alone," said Webster, de 
 sirous of ending the matter, and of enabling the 
 Lieutenant to ascertain his true character. 
 
336 THE SPY IS ARXESTED, 
 
 " I have no time to talk with rebels," safd the, 
 officer, shortly, and then calling to the turnkey, he 
 direected him to place Webster in a cell 
 
 Deeply resenting the treatment of the officer, but 
 feeling that opposition would only aggravate his an 
 noyance, Webster followed the man, internally vow 
 ing vengeance against the fellow who had instigated 
 his arrest He was anxious to express himself forci 
 bly to the officer in charge, but he considered that he 
 would probably do the same thing under the same cir 
 cumstances. The Lieutenant believed him to be a 
 rebel, and as such his treatment was harsh and impolite, 
 and after debating the matter in his mind he'came to 
 
 o 
 
 the conclusion that he was not much to blame after 
 all. He was desirous, however, of communicating with 
 some one who could intercede for him, and by that 
 means secure his release, and he resolved to make 
 friends with his jailer as the best possible way of 
 obtaining what he wanted. 
 
 Shortly after he had been incarcerated, he heard 
 the voices of Sam Sloan and John Earl, who had 
 been informed of his arrest and had come to see him. 
 Their request .was denied, however, and they ex 
 pressed themselves in very loud tones against the 
 injustice they were compelled to submit to. All to 
 no. avail, however, and they reluctantly took their 
 leave. The turnkey coming along the corridor at 
 this time, Webster called to him, and requested his 
 attention for a few moments. The man was about 
 
AND ESCAPES. 337 
 
 I 
 
 sixty years of age, and had a very benignant coun 
 tenance, which Webster argued was a good omen for 
 the work of propitiation which he had in hand. 
 
 " Will you tell the Lieutenant that I would like 
 to speak with him," asked Webster. 
 
 " It's no use," said the old man, with a shake of 
 the head ; " the Lieutenant says he won't have any 
 thing to say to you, until your case is reported to 
 headquarters this evening." 
 
 " Well, then," smiled Webster, " I suppose I will 
 have to wait his pleasure ; but can't a fellow get a lit 
 tle whisky and cigar? I'll make it worth your while 
 if you can help me in that particular." 
 
 The old man laughed, and said he would see what 
 could be done, as Webster slipped a bill into his 
 hand. He disappeared, and after about a half hour, 
 he returned and slipped a small bundle through the 
 grated door, admonishing Webster to be careful 
 about exposing himself to the other prisoners within 
 view. 
 
 " All right," said Webster, " you keep the change, 
 old man, for your trouble." 
 
 In the afternoon another officer, accompanied by 
 four men, came to his cell, and requested his appear 
 ance at the office. Here he was carefully searched, and 
 upon his person were found some letters addressed to 
 himself ; a pass from Col. Cramp, and about seventy 
 dollars in money. They were about to take these 
 from him, when Webster inquired: 
 
538 THE SPY IS ARRESTED, 
 
 "Who was the man who arrested me this morn- 
 ing?" 
 
 "His name is McPhail, and he belongs to the 
 secret service," was the reply. 
 
 At the mention of the name, Webster started in 
 surprise. He had heard of him as connected with 
 my force, and knew that everything would soon be all 
 right. 
 
 " Well," said Webster,," will you be kind enough 
 to send for Mr. McPhail, and ask him to telegraph 
 to Major Allen, and inquire if Tim is all right?" 
 
 " What Major Allen is that ?" asked the officer. 
 
 " Of the secret service," replied Webster. 
 " McPhail will know all about him ; and you will learn 
 *that I am no rebel, in a very short time." 
 
 " We will do what you request," said the office is 
 "and if you are all right, we will be glad to find it 
 out." 
 
 Thanking the officer for his kindness, Webster was 
 conducted back to his cell to await developments. 
 
 About ten o'clock that night, the officer again 
 ;made his appearance. 
 
 "John Hart, come here." 
 
 Webster presented himself before the iron grating 
 .of his cell. 
 
 "Is your name John Hart?" 
 
 " No, sir, my name is Timothy Webster." 
 
 " Well, my orders are for a man named Hart, who 
 iis to be taken to Fort Me Henry. 
 
AND ESCAPES, 339 
 
 I 
 Something in the tone 'of the man's voice, 
 
 and in the twinkle of his eye, tol'd Webster that 
 everything was understood, so he answered at 
 once : 
 
 41 Very well, I am the man !" 
 
 " Come with me, then." 
 
 They conducted him to the street, where he saw 
 a covered wagon in waiting. They all got in and then 
 in a loud voice the officer gave the order : 
 
 " Drive direct to Fort McHenry pier !" 
 
 Aftei they had started, the officer explained to 
 Webster that it had been arranged, in order to pre 
 vent suspicion, that he should be allowed to jump 
 from the wagon as it was driven along, and after a 
 pretended pursuit, he would make his escape to his 
 rebel friends with whom he should remain quietly for 
 a few days, and then return to Washington and re 
 port to me. 
 
 These directions he implicitly followed ; and seiz 
 ing a favorable opportunity, he leaped from the 
 wagon and rapidly made his way in the direction of 
 the city. Going directly to Sam Sloan's, he knocked 
 loudly at the door. After a few minutes a window 
 was raised and a voice inquired angrily : 
 
 4< Who are you, and what do you want ?" 
 
 " It is I Webster Sam, come down and open 
 the door." 
 
 The window was shut, with an oath of joyful sur 
 prise, and in a twinkling, the door was opened, and 
 
340 THE SPY IS ARRESTED, 
 
 Sloan pulled Webster into the room, closing and 
 locking the door behind him. 
 
 " Great G d, Webster, how did you manage to 
 get away from the Yanks ?" 
 
 11 Let me get warm, and I'll tell you," replied 
 Webster with a laugh. 
 
 " Come up stairs," said Sloan heartily, " and we'll 
 have something to drink." 
 
 After refreshing themselves, Webster related the 
 manner of his escape, carefully concealing the action 
 of the officer, and the fact that he had been peaceably 
 permitted to leave the vehicle and when he had con 
 cluded, Sloan's admiration was unbounded. Promis 
 ing to secrete him until he could safely get away, they 
 all went to bed, and slept soundly. 
 
 Early the next morning Sloan left the house, and 
 after an absence of an hour or two returned, bringing 
 with him several of Webster's trusty friends, among 
 whom was John Earl, who was decidedly crestfallen 
 at the thought of having been instrumental in leading 
 Webster into such danger by introducing the strange 
 man to him, without learning more about his charac 
 ter for loyalty to the cause. They were all overjoyed 
 at his escape, and spent the afternoon in a jollifica 
 tion over his safe return. The newspapers contained 
 full particulars of the affair, and when they were 
 brought before him Webster could not restrain his 
 laughter at their contents, as he read : 
 
AND ESCAPES. 341 
 
 " ESCAPE OF A STATE PRISONER.* 
 
 " It was rumored yesterday that the man Webster, 
 who was arrested, stopping at the hotel of Messrs. 
 McGee, upon the charge of being concerned in the 
 regular transportation of letters between Baltimore 
 and the seceded States, had succeeded in making his 
 escape. It is learned upon the best authority that 
 during a late hour of the night he was removed from 
 the western police station and placed in a carriage 
 under the charge of a special detective officer. The 
 wagon was driven towards Fort McHenry, he having 
 been previously ordered to that post, but while the 
 vehicle was in motion, and when within a short dis 
 tance of their destination, he gave a sudden bound 
 from his seat, and before the officer could seize him, 
 he was beyond his grasp. It is not known which 
 direction he took, but he will scarcely be able to 
 escape from the city. He is a citizen of Kentucky, 
 but left there in the early part of April, and since 
 that time has been residing in Baltimore." 
 
 In another paper he read 
 
 f" We have learned from an entirely reliable 
 source that Mr. Webster was arrested in endeavoring 
 to procure replies to a number of letters which he had 
 delivered from Marylanders now residing in Virginia to 
 friends at home. A fact which, in view of the haz 
 ards of such an attempt, should content the unfor 
 tunate exiles from Maryland with the gratification of 
 communication with their friends there and without 
 
 * The above is from the Baltimore American of November 23, 1861. 
 f The above is taken from the Gazette of November 22, 1861. 
 
$42 THE SPY IS ARRESTED. 
 
 the reciprocal joy of hearing from the latter in return. 
 We have reason to believe that Webster is beyond 
 the reach of the Yankees." 
 
 Remaining with his friends until after midnight 
 on the second day, he made his way to the train, and 
 at 4.30 in the morning started for Washington, where 
 he arrived about seven o'clock, and reported at my 
 headquarters. 
 
 It may seem strange that Webster was arrested by 
 one of my men>, and that my intervention was neces 
 sary to effect his release, but a few words will serve 
 as an explanation. McPhail, the operative who had 
 caused Webster's arrest, had never seen that gentle 
 man, and was entirely ignorant of his true character. 
 Under such circumstances he very naturally was led 
 to suspect him as a rebel spy, and to lay the trap for 
 his capture. The delicate and important duties 
 which had been assigned to Webster were such, that 
 I deemed it advisable to inform but very few of my 
 men of his immediate connection with me, hence the 
 arrest, as far as McPhail was concerned, was a bona, 
 fide revelation of what he believed to be a dangerous 
 crime. As it was, the arrest did no harm, but rather 
 enabled Webster to cement more closely the bonds 
 of friendship which existed between himself and those 
 with whom he had previously associated. 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Webster and Scobell. A Negro as a Spy. A Traitor Deserts 
 from the Army. lie Carries Dispatches to the Rebels, 
 which Fail of their Destination. An Attack in the 
 Woods. " The Loyal League." Slaves as Patriots.- 
 
 /~~\N the. first day of November, 1861, General 
 McClellan was made the Commander-in-Chief 
 of all the armies of the United States. Immediately 
 on assuming this important position, the General 
 turned his attention to the entire field of operations, 
 regarding the Army of the Potomic as a branch, 
 though the most important one, of the armies under 
 his command. 
 
 Reliable information regarding the location and 
 strength of the enemy was the most desirable thing 
 to be obtained at present, and although Webster had 
 been performing giant labor in this direction, his 
 operations comprised but a minor portion of the 
 work that devolved upon me. Numerous men of 
 various callings and abilities were traveling through 
 the South, gathering items of news wherever possible, 
 and reporting the same as accurately and as rapidly 
 as they were enabled to do so. So numerous were 
 the methods which I employed in promoting the 
 
 [343] 
 
344 A TfiAITOR DESERTS 
 
 successful operations of the secret service, that it is 
 possible within the limits of the present volume to 
 enumerate but very few of the many events which 
 occurred. Among the many men thus employed, 
 was a negro by the name of John Scobell, and the 
 manner in which his duties were performed, was 
 always a source of satisfaction to me and apparently 
 of gratification to himself. From the commencement 
 of the war, I had found the negroes of invaluable 
 assistance, and 1 never hesitated to employ them 
 when, after investigation, I found them to be intelli 
 gent and trustworthy. 
 
 As I have previously stated, all reiugees, deserters 
 and contrabands coming through our lines were 
 turned over to me for a thorough examination and 
 for such future disposition as I should recommend, 
 John Scobell came to me in this manner. One 
 morning I was seated in my quarters, preparing for 
 the business of the day, when the officer of the guard 
 announced the appearance of a number of contra 
 bands. Ordering them to be brought in, the pumping 
 process was commenced, and before noon many stray 
 pieces of information had been gathered, which, by 
 accumulation of evidence, were highly valuable. 
 Among the number I had especially noticed the 
 young man who had given his name as John Scobell. 
 He had a manly and intelligent bearing, and his 
 straightforward answers to the many questions pro 
 pounded to him, at once impressed me very favorably. 
 
FROM THE ARMY. 345 
 
 He informed me that he had formerly been a slave in 
 the State of Mississippi, but had journeyed to Virginia 
 with his master, whose name he bore. His master 
 was a Scotchman, and but a few weeks before had 
 given him and his wife their freedom. The young 
 woman had obtained employment in Richmond, while 
 he had made his way to the Union lines, where, 
 encountering the Federal pickets, he had been 
 brought to headquarters, and thence to me. He gave 
 an intelligent account of his travels through the 
 country, and appeared to be well informed as to the 
 localities through which he passed, and of the roads 
 and streams round about. 
 
 I immediately decided to attach him to my head 
 quarters, with the view of eventually using him in the 
 capacity of a scout, should he prove equal to the task. 
 For two weeks I employed him in various capacities 
 of minor importance, but those in which secrecy and 
 loyalty were essential qualifications, and his perform 
 ance of these duties was all that could be desired. 
 At the end of that time I resolved to send him into 
 the South, and test his ability for active duty. Calling 
 him into my quarters, I gave him the necessary 
 directions, and dispatched him, in company with 
 Timothy Webster, on a trip to Virginia. Their line 
 of travel was laid out through Centreville, Manassas, 
 Dumfries, and the Upper and Lower Accoquan. 
 
 John Scobell I found was a remarkably gifted man 
 for one of his race. He could read and write, and 
 
346 A TXAITOR DESERTS 
 
 was as full of music as the feathered songsters that 
 warbled in the tropical groves of his own sunny home. 
 In addition to what seemed an almost inexhaustible 
 1 stock of negro plantation melodies he had also a 
 charming variety of Scotch ballads, which he sang with 
 a voice of remarkable power and sweetness. During 
 the evenings his singing was the chief feature of the 
 impromptu entertainments that were resorted to in 
 order to while away the tedious hours before retiring, 
 and he soon became a universal favorite. Possessing 
 the talents which he did, I felt sure, that he had only 
 to assume the character of the light-hearted, happy 
 darkey and no one would suspect the cool-headed, 
 vigilant detective, in the rollicking negro whose only 
 aim in life appeared to be to get enough to eat, and 
 a comfortable place to toast his shins. 
 
 It was arranged that the two men should travel to- 
 
 o 
 
 gether until they arrived at Leonardstown, when they 
 were to separate, Webster proceeding on to Rich 
 mond by way of Fredericksburg, while Scobell was 
 to make his way to the rebel camp at Dumfries, and 
 then up as far as Centreville. 
 
 Proceeding by stage to Leonardstown they parted 
 company, each one depending upon his own exertions 
 to get across the river. Although they had traveled 
 in the same coach, they paid no attention to each 
 other, nor gave any indication of a previous acquain 
 tance. At Leonardstown Webster went to a hotel, 
 kept by a Mr. Miller, who was a bitter secessionist, 
 
FROM THE ARMY. 3-47 
 
 and had known my operative for some time. His 
 greeting was cordial, and his enthusiasm over his es 
 cape from the officers at Baltimore, an account of which 
 he had read in the paper, was quite overpowering. 
 
 While they were conversing together a tall, dark- 
 whiskered man came into the room, and after a quick, 
 nervous glance at Webster, requested to see the land 
 lord in another room. As' they departed, Webster 
 bestowed a searching look upon the new-comer and 
 was at once impressed with the familiarity of his fea 
 tures. He recollected that while he was coming 
 down on tile stage, this man came riding rapidly be 
 hind them, seated in a buggy and driven by a young 
 negro. They made several ineffectual attempts to 
 pass the stage, and finally succeeded in doing so, and 
 disappearing from view. Webster had forgotten all 
 about him, until his 'sudden appearance at the hotel 
 and his suspicious actions attracted his attention. 
 After the lapse of a few minutes the two men again 
 entered, and the stranger immediately took his de- 
 
 Filled with curiosity as to the identity of the 
 man, Webster carelessly observed to the landlord : 
 
 " That fellow seemed a little nervous, doesn't hej?" 
 
 " Yes," replied the landlord, " and he has cause to 
 be ; he is a deserter from the Yanks." 
 
 "Was he an officer?" 
 
 "He says he was a surgeon, and had served in 
 the regular army on the Pacific coast for a number 
 
348 A TRAITOR DESERTS 
 
 of years. His family are Southerners,^ and he says 
 he concluded to throw up his commission and join 
 our side." 
 
 " Which way is he going?" 
 
 " He wants to get to Richmond as soon as he 
 can. He will be back shortly and I'll introduce you 
 to him ; perhaps you can give him a helping hand." 
 
 " I'll do what I can," replied Webster, with a men 
 tal reservation. "What is his name ?" 
 
 "He gave me his name as Doctor Gurley : he 
 brought a letter from a friend of mine in Washing 
 ton, and I believe he is carrying some messages to 
 Mr. Benjamin, the Secretary of War, which he is 
 very anxious to deliver as early as possible." 
 
 " Well, we may be fellow-travelers if he turns up 
 in time to, go over with me," said Webster, who was 
 already attempting to devise some plan for intercept 
 ing the delivery of the dispatches which the titled 
 deserter was carrying. 
 
 "I have made all arrangements," replied the land 
 lord, '* and will send you both down to-morrow in 
 time to get the boat." 
 
 " All right," said Webster ; " and now, as I have a 
 little time before dinner, I will take a short walk to 
 give me an appetite." 
 
 Webster was intent upon finding John Scobell, if 
 possible. He had formed a plan for getting posses 
 sion of the dispatches, and he required the services 
 of his colored companion in order to perfect it. 
 
FROM THE ARMY. 349 
 
 Keeping a sharp look-out about him, he strode on in 
 the direction of the negro quarters, where he felt 
 reasonably sure of meeting with the man he was in 
 search of. As chance would have it, when within a 
 short distance of the locality, he saw, to his intense 
 delight, Scobell approaching him from the opposite 
 direction. In a few words, he developed -his plan to 
 the intelligent darky, and from the broad grin which 
 overspread his countenance, it was evident that he 
 not only fully understood, but highly relished, the 
 proposition that had been made. It was arranged, 
 that Scobell should be in the neighborhood of the 
 hotel during the afternoon, and that Webster should 
 endeavor to point out to him the deserting surgeon, 
 after which Scobell was to perform the duty which 
 Webster had delegated to him. 
 
 That afternoon, the Doctor, who was stopping with 
 some friends, a short distance out of town, made his 
 appearance at the hotel, and Mr. Miller, having firs/ 
 assured him of my operative's loyalty, introduced th<?- 
 two men to each other. By reason of Webster's 
 familiarity with the country, and his evident and 
 hearty desire to serve his new-found friend, he soon 
 won the kindly regards of the Doctor, who prolonged 
 his visit until nearly dark. At length, promising to 
 meet Webster on the morrow, and with a parting 
 beverage, the Doctor started to go. Webster accom 
 panied him to the door, and with apparent good-feel 
 ing, bade him good-evening. As Webster re-entered 
 
350 A TRAITOR DESERTS 
 
 the hotel, he noticed, with satisfaction that Scobell 
 was on hand, and had posted himself in a secluded 
 position, where, unobserved himself, he could watch 
 the hotel, and notice what transpired. 
 
 " There is going to be a shower, and the Doctor 
 will have to walk fast to escape it," said Webster, as 
 he entered the bar-room. 
 
 He had been engaged in friendly conversation 
 with Mr. Miller for about an hour, when they heard 
 the hurried stamping of feet outside ; in a few mo 
 ments, the door was thrown suddenly open, and the 
 deserting Doctor stood before them. The appear 
 ance of the Doctor was most rueful. He was without 
 his hat ; his clothing was disarranged, and torn and 
 soiled ; his face was of a death-like paleness, while his 
 lips trembled as if with fear. 
 
 Webster and the landlord sprang to their feet, 
 and rushed toward the man, who was very near fall 
 ing from exhaustion. 
 
 " What has happened !" inquired Webster, in a 
 tone of solicitude. 
 
 " I've been attacked and robbed !" ejaculated the 
 Doctor, weakly. 
 
 The landlord poured out a glass of spirits, which 
 he gave to the demoralized Doctor, and after swal 
 lowing it, he seemed to regain his strength. After 
 he had been sufficiently restored, he related his story. 
 After leaving the hotel, he had started to walk to 
 ward the house where he was stopping. It becom- 
 
SiiOM THE ARMY. 351 
 
 ing quite cloudy, and fearing a storm, he had hastened 
 his pace in order to avoid the rain. Suddenly, as he 
 was passing through a small patch of woods, he was 
 stealthily approached from behind, by some one, who 
 stRick him a fearful blow on the back of the head. 
 He was completely stunned and fell to the ground. 
 When he recovered consciousness, he found that he 
 had been thoroughly searched, and that his dispatches 
 to the Secretary of War had been taken. Nothing 
 else about his person was disturbed, and the attack 
 had evidently been made by somebody who was 
 aware of the fact that he had them in his possession. 
 The Doctor's anxiety about his loss was pitiable in 
 the extreme, but Webster could scarcely repress 
 a smile of satisfaction, at the success which Scpbell 
 had achieved in capturing the precious documents. 
 
 " Never mind," said Webster, soothingly. " The 
 loss of the papers won't amount to much ; when we 
 arrive in Richmond you can communicate verbally the 
 nature of the papers you have lost." 
 
 " That's the devil of it," blurted out the Doctor. 
 " I don't know their contents ; they were intrusted to 
 me by men who are working in the interest of the 
 South, and as they were sealed, I have no more idea 
 than you have what they contained." 
 
 This piece of information was an additional source 
 of satisfaction to Webster, who had thus effectually 
 prevented their transmission to the Rebel government. 
 He sympathized with the Doctor, however, most 
 
353 A TRAITOR DESERTS 
 
 sincerely, and although that individual was decidedly 
 crestfallen at the turn of affairs, under Webster's 
 ministrations he recovered some of his spirits, and 
 finding that he was not seriously injured he again 
 started for his lodgings. He took the precaution, this 
 time, to carry his revolver in his hand, and to keep a 
 sharp look-out as he journeyed along. 
 
 Miller, the landlord, was somewhat alarmed at 
 this adventure, but Webster endeavored to reassure 
 him as best he could. He suggested that the attack 
 was probably made by some one who was in the 
 interest of the South, but who was fearful that, as 
 the Doctor had deserted from the Northern army, he 
 might not be as true to the good cause as he should 
 be. However this may be, Miller's fears soon disap 
 peared, and by nine o'clock he had recovered his 
 usual good-humor, and set about making his arrange 
 ments for the morrow. Feeling anxious to learn from 
 Scobell, Webster lighted a cigar and strolled out into 
 the street. He walked slowly along, and after he 
 had gone some distance from the hotel he turned 
 around, and saw following him, at some distance 
 behind, a figure which he instantly recognized as 
 Scobell's. He therefore went on until he came to 
 the outskirts of the town, and then awaited the ar 
 rival of his companion. 
 
 Scobell came up with a broad grin on his coun 
 tenance, and extending his hand, said : 
 
 " Here dey is, Mister Webster Dey is all right. 
 
FROM THE ARMY. 353 
 
 an' I reckon de Doctor don't know what hurt him by 
 dis time." 
 
 Webster took the packet from the outstretched 
 hand of the black *ian, and complimented him warmly 
 upon his success. Scobell seemed quite elated over his 
 exploit, and it was with some difficulty that Webster 
 could restrain him from breaking out into loud laugh 
 ter. 
 
 Scobell informed Webster that he had already 
 made arrangements for forwarding the documents to 
 me, provided they met with the approval of the scout. 
 He suggested that they be intrusted to an intelli 
 gent and loyal colored man, who was to start for 
 Washington on the following morning, and whose 
 honor and truthfulness could be implicity relied 
 upon. 
 
 " I should like to see this man first," said Web 
 ster, when Scobell had concluded. 
 
 " Werry well ; cum along of me," answered Sco 
 bell. " I'll show you sumfin you neber seed afore, 
 I reckon. 
 
 " Go ahead, then," directed the scout. 
 
 Proceeding together a short distance, when the 
 black stopped before a dilapidated building that had 
 evidently not been used for some time. It was a low, 
 two-story structure, the windows of which were 
 boarded up, and no sign of life was visible from 
 without. 
 
 L " Come this way," said Scobell, in a low voice, 
 
354 A TRAITOR DESERTS 
 
 taking Webster by the hand and through alow door, 
 on which he rapped three times. 
 
 Webster had scarcely time to give vent to his 
 astonishment by a low whistle, when the door was 
 noiselessly opened. They entered without challenge 
 and found themselves in utter darkness, while Web 
 ster could hear the bolts and bars being replaced upon 
 the door. Listening intently, he thought he could hear 
 voices overhead, and a noise as of the shuffling of 
 feet. Presently he heard a shrill whistle from his 
 conductor, which was replied to from above with the 
 query : 
 
 "Who comes?" 
 
 " Friends of Uncle Abe!" was the reply. 
 
 " What do you desire ?" 
 
 " Light and Liberty !" came the response. 
 
 Immediately a trap-door overhead was opened, 
 revealing a dimly-lighted room, and a rope-ladder was 
 let down before them. 
 
 ".-Mister Webster, you go up first," said Scobell, 
 "and I will follow you." 
 
 Webster took hold of the ropes and, ascending 
 easily, found himself in a dimly lighted room and 
 f surrounded by a body of negroes, numbering about \ 
 forty. Some of them were young men who had 
 barely attained their majority, while others were 
 middle-aged, with a goodly number whose heads 
 were as white as snow. The room in which they 
 were assembled was quite large and entirely destitute 
 
FROM THE ARMY. 355 
 
 of furniture. An upturned barrel, with an American 
 flag draped over it, served as the desk of the Presi 
 dent, and his seat was made of a box, which had 
 once been used in packing merchandise for ship 
 ment. 
 
 It was not long before Webster realized that he 
 was in a lodge of" the Loyal Lea!gue,"composed almost 
 exclusively of colored men, and whose branches 
 extended over the entire South. The trap-door be 
 ing closed behind them, Webster was introduced 
 to the assembly by John Scobell, who had already 
 identified himself with the institution. His welcome 
 was most cordial and hearty. Shortly after they had 
 become quiet, the President, a tall, well-formed 
 negro, about thirty-five years of age, took his posi 
 tion, and in a deep, full voice, addressed the meeting. 
 He detailed the operations of the various lodges 
 which he had visited, and gave an encouraging 
 account of the good work that was being done by the 
 colored men throughout the country. He was 
 listened to intently, and when he had finished he was 
 greeted with numerous remarks of approval and 
 indorsement 
 
 Scobell had meanwhile disclosed the nature and 
 objects of the " Loyal League." Although as yet 
 prevented from taking up arms in defense of their 
 rights, these colored men had banded themselves 
 together to further the cause of freedom, to succor 
 the escaping slave, and to furnish information to 
 
35 A TRAITOR DESERTS 
 
 loyal commanders of the movements of the rebels, as 
 far as they could be ascertained. 
 
 The President of the League, Scobell said, was 
 about undertaking a trip to Washington, and he was 
 the person who had been selected to carry the packet 
 to me. Webster conversed with him for some time 
 after he had spoken, and finding him reliable and 
 willing to undertake the task about to be imposed 
 upon him, he signified his willingness to trust him 
 with the delivery of the dispatches. Writing a hasty 
 description of the manner in which they had been 
 .obtained, he safely sewed the package and his letter 
 ;iin the lining of the messenger's coat, and fully 
 'instructed him as to how the papers should be 
 delivered. 
 
 Webster was called upon before the meeting 
 . adjourned, and he replied in a few words of encourage- 
 i ment ai&d compliment, which elicited the most sincere 
 ; tokens of appreciation from his sable auditors. 
 
 After thanking the colored men for their kindness 
 
 to him, Webster and Scobell descended from the 
 
 improvised lodge-room, and Webster made his way 
 
 back to the hotel, feeling quite relieved as to the 
 
 ; safety of the dispatches, and fully confident that they 
 
 would reach their destination in safety, He shortly 
 
 . afterwards retired to rest, fully satisfied with the day's 
 
 i work, and, slept roundly until morning. 
 
 The trusty messenger arrived in Washington in 
 Vdue time, aad;L received from his hands the papers 
 
FROM TEE ARMY. 357 
 
 intrusted to him. They were of a highly important 
 nature, and conveyed information to the rebel 
 authorities which would have been very dangerous 
 had they reached their legitimate destination. As it 
 was, , through Webster's sagacity, Scobell's physical 
 power, and the exertion of the President of the 
 " Loyal League," the traitor surgeon was prevented 
 from assisting the cause of treason and rebellion, and 
 as a bearer of dispatches, his first venture was far 
 from being successful. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 . \ 
 
 A Negro Spy. Passage on a Steam Packet. Lyrical Melo 
 dies. Scobdl Deserts the Ship. His Tramps Tlwough 
 Rebddom. 
 
 next afternoon, Webster and Doctor Gur- 
 & ley started for their point of debarkation. 
 The medical deserter was exceedingly downcast 
 about the loss of valuable papers, although he had 
 entirely recovered from the physical effects of his at 
 tack. He indulged in curses, loud and deep, upon 
 the perpetrator of the theft, and speculated with grave 
 seriousness as to the effect of their loss. Webster, 
 who felt that he could be liberal in dealing out his 
 sympathy, was profuse in his expressions of regret 
 and condolence, though I am afraid, that an observer 
 who was acquainted with the facts of the case, would 
 have detected a sly twinkle of merriment in his eyes, 
 that belied his words. They were driven to a farm 
 house, situated on a little creek that ran in from the 
 bay, where they were met by a man named James 
 Gough, to whom Webster had a letter of introduction 
 from Mr. Miller at the hotel. After reading the let 
 ter, Mr. Gough invited the travelers to enter, and in 
 formed them that the boat would attempt to cross the 
 [358] 
 
SCOBELL'S TRAMPS. 359 
 
 bay that night, if the weather would permit. After 
 partaking of a bountiful supper, the party repaired to 
 the landing, and although there were indications of a 
 storm, the captain, who was in waiting, determined to 
 make an effort to get across. A large amount of 
 merchandise had already been placed on board, and 
 soon after the arrival of Webster and the Doctor, 
 who were to be the only passengers, they put off. 
 Their trip was made in safety, and by midnight they 
 reached the Virginia side. Here they went to the 
 house of a Mr. Woodward, who was a partner with 
 Mr. Gough, in shipping goods into the rebel country, 
 and who took charge of the cargo that came over with 
 our travelers in the boat. 
 
 Remaining at the house of Mr. Woodward during 
 the night, on the following morning they went to 
 Tappahannock, where they boarded a packet for 
 Fredericksburg. Here they met a Colonel Prickett, 
 who was an old acquaintance of Doctor Gurley, and 
 from the general conversation that ensued, Webster 
 obtained material information of the location of the 
 rebel forces. That evening they proceeded to Rich 
 mond, and Webster, parting with his traveling com 
 panion, set about delivering some letters which he 
 had brought with him. Finding that several of his 
 friends, from whom he had hoped to receive informa- 
 tion, were absent from the city, and that it would be 
 impossible to do much good service, he resolved to 
 return to Washington. He went to the office of the 
 
360 SCOBELL'S TRAMPS 
 
 Secretary of War, and, obtaining a pass to Norfolk, 
 he returned by that route, taking notes by the way 
 side, and arrived in Washington in due time. 
 
 John Scobell remained in Leonardstown a few 
 days after Webster's departure, mingling with the 
 colored people of that locality, and posting himself 
 upon several points that would be of benefit to him 
 further on. The desire for freedom, and the expecta 
 tion that the result of the war would determine that 
 question, had now become universal among the col 
 ored men of the South. Although as yet debarred 
 from taking up arms in defense of their rights, their 
 efforts in behalf of the Nortnern troops were freely 
 given when opportunity offered, and consequently 
 Scobell made hosts of friends among the black-skin 
 ned people, who advised him cheerfully and were pro 
 fuse in their offers of assistance. v * 
 
 During the time that he remained in Leonards- 
 town Scobell made his home with an old negro who 
 was an active member of the League, and who had 
 conceived a wonderful friendship for my bright and 
 intelligent colored operative. Uncle Turner, as he 
 was called, was a genuine Virginia darky, who, having 
 been reared as a house servant, had been enabled to 
 acquire more than the average amount of intelligence, 
 and obtaining his freedom, had settled himself in 
 Leonardstown, where he obtained a livelihood by per 
 forming a variety of duties for the people in the 
 town. Here with his aged wife, a fat, good-natured 
 
THROUGH RE SELDOM. 361 
 
 negress, he lived in comparative comfort, and a more 
 thorough abolitionist never existed than was Uncle 
 
 o 
 
 Turner. 
 
 Through this old negro, Scobell had made arrange 
 ments with a young colored man to set him across 
 the river in a skiff, and after spending the day among 
 his new-found friends, and amply provided with a 
 substantial lunch from Aunt Judy, Scobell made his 
 way to the river bank, where he found his man wait 
 ing for him, carefully concealed among some bushes 
 that grew along the shore. 
 
 After remunerating the boatman, and bidding him 
 a hearty farewell, Scobell started up the river. His 
 first plan was to walk as far as Dumfries, and from 
 that point commence his operations among the rebel 
 camps, but after reflection, he concluded to make his 
 way to the Rappah^nnock, and endeavor tp work his 
 way on one of the river boats as far as Fredericks- 
 burg, which would save him a walk of some fifty miles 
 and materially expedite his journey. He accordingly 
 set out for the river and, walking briskly, he found 
 himself about noon at .Leestown, a small landing 
 place on the Rappahannock. Feeling somewhat fa 
 tigued by his long tramp, he remained over night, and 
 early on the following morning repaired to the wharf, 
 where he was in hopes of finding a boat on which he 
 could secure his passage. He had not long to wait 
 for shortly after his arrival the packet boat " Virginia" 
 steamed up to the landing, and soon the men were en- 
 
362 SCOBELL'S TRAMPS 
 
 gaged in putting on board a quantity of miscellaneous 
 freight, that was destined for Fredericksburg. Find 
 ing that there was plenty of work to do, Scobell step 
 ped quickly on board and seeking the captain polkely 
 asked permission to work his passage. The Captain, 
 who was a kind and genial man at heart, although he \ 
 carefully veiled these characteristics under a rough 
 exterior, and a bluff and impetuous demeanor, list 
 ened to the request, and being in want of some extra 
 help, turned to Scobell and said : 
 
 " You black rascal, what do you want at Fred 
 ericksburg? Come now, no lies, or I'll throw you 
 into the river !" 
 
 " I done tell no lies, MassaCap'n," replied Scobell, 
 with a broad grin overspreading his face, "but I've 
 bin back in de kentry to see some ob my folks dar, 
 and I dun got no money fur ter git back." 
 
 " So you want me to take you to Fredericksburg, 
 do you?" ejaculated the Captain, good-naturedly. 
 " Well, go below and tell the cook to put you to work !" 
 
 Scobell was about to express his thanks, when the 
 Captain blurted out : 
 
 " Clear out, d n you ! I've no time to talk 
 
 now." 
 
 Scobell hurried below, and seeking out the cook 
 was soon busily engaged at work ; before he had 
 been very long employed he made a friend of his 
 sable instructor, and was as merry as a cricket. The 
 run to Fredericksburg was about twelve hours, but ow- 
 
THROUGH RE SELDOM. 363 
 
 ing to shoal water they were obliged to stop at 
 Coulter's Wharf to wait for the rising of the tide. In 
 the evening the negro hands gathered on the deck 
 around the smoke-stack, and with the stars twinkling 
 overhead, they made the shores ring with their mirth 
 ful melodies. Among the party was an old negro, 
 who had spent almost his entire life upon the river, 
 and who was an excellent performer on the banjo, 
 and he accompanied the singers with his instrument. 
 " Nelly Gray," " Bob Ridley," " Way down upon de 
 Swanee River," and a host of the most popular songs 
 of the day were rendered in a style that elicited the 
 heartiest applause from the delighted passengers. 
 The climax of enjoyment was reached, however, 
 when my Scobell, in his splendid baritone, and accom 
 panied by the old negro and his banjo, sang that 
 sweet old Scottish ballad : 
 
 " Maxwelton's braes are bonny, 
 Where early fa's the clew.*' 
 
 The applause which greeted him upon its conclu 
 sion was most hearty and enthusiastic, and when he 
 gave them 
 
 " A man's a man for a* that, H 
 
 the passengers crowded around him and began to 
 ply him with eager questions as to his knowledge of 
 the music of the beloved bard of Scotia. The idea of 
 a darky singing Scotch ballads, and with such true 
 
364 SCOBELL'S TRAMPS 
 
 emotional pathos and sweetness, was such a novelty 
 to them that all were anxious to learn where he had 
 heard them. Scobell briefly and modestly informed 
 them that he had been raised by a gentleman who 
 was a native of Scotland, who was himself a good 
 singer, and that his master had taught him the music 
 he loved so well. The Captain, who was also a 
 Scotchman, and who had listened to the melodies 
 with the tears trickling over his rubicund nose, now 
 stepped forward and said heartily : 
 
 " Look here, young fellow, I need an extra man 
 on this boat, and I'll give you forty dollars a month 
 to work for me. The work is light now what do 
 you say ?" 
 
 Here was a dilemma entirely unexpected. Scobell 
 had not only sung himself into the good graces of the 
 passengers, but of the rough old Captain also. It 
 was plain that this offer came from the very heart of 
 the old salt, who was as deeply touched by the mel 
 odies as was any one else, and he wanted to secure 
 Scobell's services as much for the songs he could sing 
 as for the work he could do. 
 
 Scobell bowed his thanks to the Captain, and said : 
 
 " I'm werry much obliged to yer Cap'n ; I'se bin 
 lookin* fur a job ebber since I left ole Mississippi, an* 
 I'll do my best to please you, sure." 
 
 " All right," replied the Captain. " It's time to 
 turn in now, so go below and tell the mate to take 
 your time ; your pay will commence from to-day." 
 
THROUGH REBELDOM. 365 
 
 All hands went below, where Scobell duly reported 
 to the mate, a bunk was assigned to him and he was 
 made one of the crew of the steam-packet " Virginia." 
 This was a rather different turn of affairs than he 
 had expected, but he had done the best he could 
 under the circumstances, and regretting that he was 
 compelled to deceive the honest old Captain, he 
 turned in for the night and slept soundly. 
 
 When he awoke the next morning, the boat was 
 in motion, and he knew that he was on his way to 
 Fredericksburg. How to get away was the next 
 question to be decided, but he resolved to await the 
 operation of events and adopt any chance that 
 afforded for getting away. In due time the boat 
 landed at her destination and soon all was bustle and 
 confusion in discharging the freight. Scobell assisted 
 manfully in landing the cargo, and earned the enco 
 miums of the Captain for his diligent labor. Learning 
 that the boat would not start on her return trip until 
 the next morning, he requested permission to go on 
 shore until they were prepared to start. This was 
 readily granted by the unsuspecting and really good- 
 natured Captain, who also gave him a small sum of 
 money to defray his expenses, and cautioned him to 
 report on time or the boat would start without him. 
 Scobell promised to be punctual, and then took his 
 leave. 
 
 It is not necessary to state that the " Virginia" on 
 her down trip went without the ballad-singing negro, 
 
366 BCOBELL'S TRAMPS. ' 
 
 for by the time she was ready to put off, he was on 
 his way to Dumfries and the Accoquan. 
 
 Carefully noting everything that came in his way 
 he traveled through Dumfries, Accoquan, Manassas 
 and Centreville, and after spending nearly ten days 
 in these localities he finally made his way to Lees- 
 burg, and thence down the Potomac to Washing 
 ton. His experiences on this trip were quite nu 
 merous and varied, and only a lack of space prevents 
 their narration. Sometimes, as a vender of delica 
 cies through the camps, a laborer on the earthworks 
 at Manassas, or a cook at Centreville, he made his 
 way uninterruptedly until he obtained the desired in 
 formation and successfully accomplished the object of 
 his mission. 
 
 His return to Washington was accomplished in 
 safety and his full and concise report fully justified 
 me in the selection I had made of a good, reliable 
 and intelligent operative. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 A Perilous Ride. A Suspicious Peddler. Uncle Gdttus 
 Again. Scolell Investigating. Doubts and Suspicions. 
 
 FT was on a beautiful morning in the early part of 
 J" the month of April, 1862, when a lady, mounted 
 upon a handsome and spirited black horse, and 
 accompanied by a young and intelligent-looking negro, 
 also excellently mounted, rode out of the city of Rich 
 mond, apparently for the purpose of enjoying a 
 morning ride. Provided with the necessary passports, 
 they experienced no difficulty in passing the guards, 
 and after a short ride found themselves in the open 
 country beyond the city. 
 
 The lady was young, handsome and apparently 
 about twenty-five years of age. Her complexion was 
 fresh and rosy as the morning, her hair fell in flowing 
 tresses of gold, while her eyes, which were of a clear and 
 deep blue, were quick and searching in their glances. 
 She appeared careless and entirely at ease, but a 
 close observer would have noticed a compression of 
 the small lips, and a fixedness in the sparkling eyes 
 that told of a purpose to be accomplished, and that 
 her present journey was not wholly one of pleasure. 
 
 [367] 
 
3G8 A PERILOUS RIDE. 
 
 After leaving the city the colored attendant 
 spurred to her side, and then, putting spurs to their 
 horses, they broke into a swift canter. Their road 
 lay along the river bank, which here led in a south 
 easterly direction. Turning to the negro at her side, 
 the lady remarked : 
 
 " Now, John, we have a ride of ten miles before 
 us, and we must be at Glendale as early as possible." 
 
 41 All right, missus," rejoined her sable companion, 
 " dese hosses will take us through in good shape, I 
 know." 
 
 They followed the course of the stream, whose 
 waters glistened in the rays of the morning's sun like 
 polished silver. On either side the road was fringed 
 with a growth of cottonwood trees, that cast a grate 
 ful shade along their path, while the cool breezes of 
 the rippling river rendered their ride a most delight 
 ful one indeed. But as they sped along the most 
 casual observer would have noticed from the expres 
 sion of their faces that their ride was being under 
 taken for other purposes than pleasure. 
 
 The riders pressed on, scarcely slackening their 
 speed until in the near distance could be seen the tall 
 spire of the single church in the pleasant little village 
 of Glendale. They now drew rein and brought their 
 smoking steeds to a slow walk, and riding leisurely 
 onward, they stopped before a neat little inn located 
 on the outskirts of the town. 
 i An old, white-headed negro took their horses and 
 
A PERILOUS RIDE. 369 
 
 led them away, while the landlady, a neat and tidy- 
 looking matron, wearing widow's weeds, met the lady 
 at the door, and cordially welcomed her into the house, 
 
 "Here, Jennie," she called to her daughter, a 
 trim little girl of twelve years, " show this lady to her 
 room." 
 
 Following the little girl, the lady was conducted 
 into a cool and pleasant little parlor, with windows 
 opening upon the garden, and through which came 
 the fragrant breath of roses in full bloom. 
 
 Scobell accompanied the old man with the horses 
 into the stable-yard, where he assisted in caring for 
 the heated animals. 
 
 " I dun spose you's on de way to Yu'ktown T 
 queried the old darky, who was rubbing vigorously 
 away upon the limbs of the glossy black horse. 
 After waiting a short time, and hearing no response, 
 he added : 
 
 " What'd you say ? dis yer hoss is fidgettin' aroun 1 
 so I didn't har you." 
 
 " I didn't say anything," responded his companion 
 good-naturedly, but in a tone that plainly indicated 
 his intention not to submit himself to the pumping 
 process at the hands of his garrulous friend. 
 
 " I tought you hearn what I dun axed you," re 
 plied the old man, a little taken aback by the cool de* 
 mean or of his new acquaintance. 
 
 Scobell, however, industriously worked away at hit 
 own horse and said nothing. 
 
A PERILOUS RIDE. 
 
 ' Well," said the old darky after another pause 
 and apparently communing with himself " it am a 
 fac' dat now an den you meets people dat ain't got de 
 cibbleness to answer a question nor de grit to tell a 
 feller 'tain't nun o' his business ; but cley jes let on 
 like dey didn't har wat you sed wen all de time dey 
 kin har jes as well as I kin.' 
 
 Still there was no satisfactory response, and at 
 last the old man blurted out again : 
 
 " Now I dim spec' it am nun ob Uncle Callus's 
 bizness \vere dese folks am a goin 1 , but Jemima ! I 
 didn't tink it any harm to ax. Folks dat knows 
 Uncle Callus aint af eared tu tell him nuffin, coz dey 
 Jcnows he dun got a mi ley close head when it am 
 -.oeedcessary." 
 
 The old man was none other than the veritable 
 <old Uncle Callus, whose experience in the South 
 ; 6eemed to be very different from the easy life he had 
 ied as the house servant of Mrs. Morton. How he 
 came into this position I am unable to say, but here 
 ihe was, and the same smile of good-nature irradiated 
 ihis face, as when his way of life was pleasant, and his 
 ^duties lighter. Perhaps, it would be as well to state 
 Jiere, that the two persons already mentioned were 
 Mrs. Carrie Lawton, a female operative on my force, ' 
 .and John Scobell, who has figured before in these 
 pages. These two persons had been for a time em- 
 tployed in Richmond, and were now endeavoring to 
 Affect their journey North. 
 
A PERILOUS RIDE. 371 
 
 After finishing the last remark, Uncle Callus 
 straightened himself up and stood erect, with the 
 air of a man who had been unjustly injured, and 
 who was disposed to vindicate himself now and 
 there. 
 
 " I tell you, uncle," finally replied Scobell, "there 
 are times when one must be careful what you say, 
 and who you say it to." 
 
 " Dat am a fac' !" ejaculated the old man. 
 
 " Now, if I knowed you was all right," Scobell con 
 tinued, " I might talk, but 'tain't smart to tell your 
 business to strangers." 
 
 "Dat am a fac', young man," observed Uncle 
 Gallus, shaking his head with a knowing look ; " but 
 den I spose you's a friend to Uncle Abe, ain't you 
 now ?" he queried. 
 
 "And if I am," said Scobell, "what do you 
 want ?" 
 
 " Light and Liberty," replied the old man impres 
 sively, "and fo' de L'ud I b'lieve deday am nighwhea 
 it am a comin'." 
 
 At these words, Scobell stepped forward and said 
 in a low voice : 
 
 "Do you belong to the League ?" 
 
 "I does," answered Uncle Gallus; " I dun jined 
 it in dis berry place." 
 
 " How often do you meet T inquired Scobell. 
 
 "We meets ebery two weeks, down at Undc 
 Dicky Bassett's he libs on de bluff ob de ribber, 
 
37* A PERILOUS RIDE. 
 
 . 
 
 *boiit a mile furder down de road to l rds Wilson's 
 Landin'."' 
 
 . " How far is it to Wilson's landing ?" asked Sco 
 bell, who, finding that Uncle Gallus was a member of 
 the League, was now no longer loth to talk with him. 
 
 " A little grain de rise ob twenty mile," replied 
 the old man. 
 
 " About sundown, then," said Scobell, " these 
 horses must be saddled and ready for the missus and 
 me, for we must be at the landing before midnight." 
 
 "All right," rejoined Uncle Gallus, "dey'll be 
 ready when yu want 'em." 
 
 "See heah now, is yure name John ?" suddenly 
 asked the old man, as if an idea had just occurred to 
 him. 
 
 "Yes, that's what they call me." 
 
 " An' you cum frum Richmun' dis mo'nin ?" 
 
 Scobell nodded. 
 
 "An' dat young leddy am gwine to meet some 
 body, mebbe her husband, at de landin' ?" 
 
 " Yes," said Scobell ; " but how do you know 
 these things? Has anybody been here to see you?" 
 
 "Yah! Yah!" chuckled the old man. "I dun 
 tole you dat folks as knowed Uncle Gallus dun often 
 come ter see him. I dun knowed you all de time, 
 when you fust come in fac', I was 'spectin' you 
 and de missus all de mawninV' 
 
 4< Was the landlady looking for us too F inquired 
 Scobell 
 
A PERILOUS RIDE. 373 
 
 "She knowed you was a comin', ' replied Uncle 
 Callus ; " dah was a gem'maa heah las' night, as talked 
 about you to her, an' lef a note fur de lady." 
 
 "Is the landlady all right?" asked Scobell. 
 
 " True to de core," affirmed Uncle Gallus emphat 
 ically ; "more'n one poor feller as 'scaped from Rich* 
 mun' has foun' a good bed an* supper at de ' Glen 
 Horn,- * " 
 
 " Well," said my operative, "you can finish your 
 work here ; I have an errand or two for the missus, 
 and 1 must go and attend to them before dinner." 
 
 So saying, he started for the house, leaving Uncle 
 Callus to water and feed the horses, which had now 
 sufficiently cooled, and were enjoying their needed 
 rest. 
 
 Scobell's errand was simply to take a stroll about 
 the village in order to ascertain whether there was 
 any indication of their having been followed by any 
 one from Richmond. He strolled about the village, 
 noting carefully every one whom he met, and, feeling 
 comparatively secure, started to return to the hotel. 
 
 Turning the corner of a street he came suddenly 
 face to face with a peddler, who addressed him in a 
 rich Irish brogue and inquired the way to the tavern. 
 Scobell gave him the required information and stood 
 watching the fellow as he ambled off in the direction 
 indicated. There was something in the appearance 
 of this man that attracted the attention and excited 
 the suspicions of my observant operative. He re- 
 
$74 * PERILOUS RIDE. 
 
 \ 
 
 solved to keep an eye upon his movements and 
 efideavor to discover, if possible, whether the man 
 was a genuine peddler, or a spy, who Had adopted 
 that disguise to conceal his true character. 
 
 In the few words that passed between them Sco- 
 bell had noticed that while the man's hair was a fiery 
 red his eyebrows and lashes appeared of a dark 
 brown color, and his face was altogether of too 
 florid a hue to be natural. These observations were 
 sufficient to put Scobell upon the alert at once, and 
 convinced him that the man was not what he appeared 
 to be. 
 
 Following slowly he watched him until he reached 
 the hotel and entered the bar-room, where, laying 
 aside his pack, he ordered his dinner. Scobell 
 entered the room immediately behind him, and pass 
 ing through it, he made his way to the kitchen, where 
 the landlady was superintending the preparations for 
 a most savory dinner. Calling her aside, he informed 
 her of the peddler's arrival and of his suspicions re 
 garding him, cautioning her to convey the news to 
 his missus before they met at the table. 
 
 In a few minutes dinner was announced, and the 
 boarders, to the number of fifteen, including Mrs. 
 Lawton and the peddler, with the landlady at the head, 
 gathered around the long table in the low, old-fash 
 ioned dining-room. The lively clatter of the knives 
 and forks soon attested the vigor with which they 
 attacked the viands set before them. The peddler ate 
 
A PERILOUS RIDE. 375 
 
 his meal it silence, undisturbed by the general con 
 versation going on around him, and Mrs. Lawton 
 noticed that he was keenly watching her whenever an 
 opportunity occurred to do so, as he thought, unob 
 served. She, however, affected entire unconscious 
 ness of the scrutiny she was subjected to, and kept 
 up an animated conversation with the landlady 
 upon various trivial topics until the meal was 
 finished. 
 
 Scobell, who temporarily acted as an attendant 
 at the table, lost no opportunity to carefully watch 
 the movements of the peddler, and his searching 
 glances, directed towards Mrs. Lawton, fully con 
 vinced him that his previous suspicion's were well 
 founded. 
 
 Mrs. Lawton returned to her room, not a little 
 disturbed at the peddler's strange behavior, and having 
 no doubt that the stranger was a spy, she determined 
 to discover if she was the object of his visit, or 
 whether his appearance bore any relation to her 
 presence at the hotel. She accordingly sent for 
 Scobell, and together they decided that he should 
 carefully watch the movements of the peddler, and if 
 nothing of a suspicious nature transpired, they would 
 renew their journey after nightfall. 
 
 Scobell immediately left the room, and as he en 
 tered the bar-room he noticed that the peddler was sot* 
 tling his score, preparatory to taking his departure. 
 He remarked to the landlady, with the same rich 
 
376 A PERILOUS RIDE. 
 
 brogue which Scobell had observed, that business 
 was dull, and that he would have to walk to Rich 
 mond. 
 
 "All right, my fine fellow," muttered my opera 
 tive, " we'll see whether you are going to Richmond 
 or not." 
 
 The peddler lighted a short-stemmed clay pipe, 
 and swinging his pack over his shoulder, set off at a 
 rapid pace on the road to Richmond, 
 
 ScobeH hastened to the stable and, procuring a 
 pole and line that he had observed there in the morn 
 ing, started off in the direction which the peddler had 
 taken, but taking a shorter cut to the river, which 
 would enable him to reach the road about a mile be 
 low the village and in advance of the peddler. Saun 
 tering along until he had gained the shelter of a belt 
 of timber to his left, he then increased his pace until 
 he was almost abreast of the peddler, though entirely 
 concealed from view. He was now satisfied that 
 with a little effort he could keep his man in sight, 
 and he concluded not to pass him, as he had at first 
 intended, but to follow him until he saw him on his 
 way to the rebel capital. 
 
 When they were about three miles from the vil 
 lage, the peddler suddenly left the road and turned into 
 the woods, leading directly to the banks of the river, 
 \vhich at this point were remarkably high and steep. 
 This movement was entirely unexpected by my 
 operative, and his only recourse was to drop hastily 
 
A PERILOUS RIDE. 377 
 
 belli nd a tree to prevent being seen. He was not 
 discovered, however, although the peddler, after en 
 tering the timber, gazed carefully around him, as if 
 to see whether he was being followed. Apparently 
 satisfied with his survey he resumed his walk, in 
 happy ignorance of the fact that a pair of gleaming 
 eyes were not far distant, noting his every move 
 ment. 
 
 Waiting until he had gone a sufficient distance to 
 render it safe, Scobell rose slowly from the ground 
 and stealthily followed his footsteps until the peddler 
 paused at the edge of the bluff, which ran down into 
 the river. Here he tightened the strap of his pack, 
 and after another hasty glance behind him, he began 
 the descent of the bluff, with the aid of the stout 
 stick which he carried with him. The bank was 
 almost perpendicular, and was covered with a heavy 
 undergrowth of young timber and brush, which made 
 the journey rather a hazardous undertaking. 
 
 " Wonder if. he's going to swim to Richmond with 
 that pack on his shoulders," said Scobell to himself, 
 as he wondering! y watched these strange movements 
 of the peddler. 
 
 Fully determined to see the end of this mysterious 
 maneuver, but recognizing the necessity of exercis 
 ing the utmost caution in his advance, Seobell slowly 
 and noiselessly made his way to the spot where the 
 peddler had vanished as completely from his view as 
 if he had sunk into the bowels of the earth. 
 
A PERILOUS RIDE. 
 
 Advancing to within a few feet of the edge of the 
 bluff, he threw himself upon his hands and knees,, 
 and drew himself forward until he could overlook 
 the steep descent. He could see nothing of the 
 peddler, however, for the dense growth of bushes com 
 pletely obstructed his view, but he could readily 
 discern the marks of footprints in the soft soil, which 
 had been made by him in his descent to the bottom. 
 Here was a dilemma. He had lost his man, and 
 he dared not follow directly after him, as the peddler 
 might be lying in ambush, and an encounter might be 
 fatal. After a few moments* consideration, he con 
 cluded to walk along the bluff a short distance and 
 endeavor to find another path by which he might 
 descend, and thus avoid the peddler, if he was waiting 
 to surprise him. About a hundred yards further on 
 he came upon a well-beaten path, and here he began 
 his descent. Everything was as quiet as the grave 
 around him, and he reached the base of the cliff in 
 safety, but without seeing anything of the man he 
 was after. Passing up along the lane by the river a 
 short distance, he discovered a narrow path leading 
 in the direction which the peddler had taken, and 
 showing the mark of recent footprints. Passing 
 cautiously along this path a short distance, he saw 
 that the high bluffs were gradually giving to more 
 level banks, and that a little further on the stream 
 made a sharp detour to the right, and swept out into 
 the open and level country. 
 
A PERILOUS RIDE, 379 
 
 In the bend of the river, and on the same side, he 
 noticed a small cabin, half hidden by a clump of 
 trees. Surmising that the peddler had entered this 
 *;abin, he resolved to hide himself and watch for a 
 few minutes, hoping that the man would soon make 
 his appearance. He 'had scarcely taken a position 
 where he could unobservedly note all that was going 
 on, when a man, whom he at once recognized as the 
 peddler, made his appearance at the door, and stood 
 anxiously gazing around, as though expecting some 
 one. He still maintained his disguise, and appeared 
 to be alone. Returning into the cabin, and after a 
 few minutes, to the surprise of Scobell, another indi 
 vidual made his appearance. This new-comer, while 
 about the same size as the peddler, was a very 
 different-looking person indeed, for instead of the red 
 hair and florid complexion, he noticed that this man 
 had a closely-cropped head of black hair, while his 
 complexion was dark and swarthy. 
 
 " So there's a pair of you !" thought Scobell. 
 
 Tb* fellow, after apparently satisfying himself 
 that the coast was clear, proceeded to a small stable 
 that stood in the rear of the cabin, and almost on the 
 edge of the river, bank. Scobell thought he heard 
 the faint whinny of a horse, and shortly afterwards 
 the man, mounted on a dark iron-gray horse, appeared, 
 and made his way over the hill and out into the 
 direction of the river road. 
 
 It instantly flashed across Scobell's mind that thia 
 
3 8o 
 
 A PERILOUS RIDE. 
 
 man was no other than his peddler, and without hesi 
 tation he approached the cabin and knocked loudly 
 at the door. There was no response, and after a 
 moment's hesitation he lifted the latch and entered 
 As he had conjectured, the cabin was empty. 
 
 GOOD-MORNING. 
 
CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 The Journey Resumed. A Midnight Pursuit, A Bravt 
 Woman. A Deadly Encounter. Scobell Defends Him 
 self. Death of a Rebel Spy. 
 
 WHILE these events were occurring, General 
 McClellan was advancing up the Peninsula 
 towards Richmond. Yorktown had surrendered, the 
 battle of Williamsburg had been fought, and the arm) 
 was advancing to the Chickahominy. 
 
 Mrs. Lawton and John Scobell had been for some 
 weeks in Richmond, during which time they had ob 
 tained much important information, Mrs. Lawton 
 taking the role of a Southern lady from Corinth, Mis 
 sissippi, and Scobell acting as her servant. Having 
 determined to leave Richmond, they were on their 
 way to join the Union forces, which, under General 
 McClellan, had their headquarters on the Chick 
 ahominy at a point about ten miles from Wilson's 
 Landing. Here, according to previous arrangement, 
 they were to meet Mr. Lawton, who, was also one of 
 niy operatives, and from that point were to proceed 
 to the Union camp. 
 
 The landlady of the Glen House was a stanch 
 friend to the Federals, and had on more than one oc 
 casion rendered valuable service to my 
 
182 DEATH OF A 
 
 especially to Hugh Lawton. It was therefore at 
 his suggestion that his wife and Scobell adopted the 
 plan they did to leave Richmond and to reach our 
 lines. As Uncle Gallus had stated, a man had stop 
 ped at the tavern the night before and had informed 
 Mrs. Braxton, the landlady, that these parties would 
 take that route from Richmond and had left a note 
 to be delivered to Mrs. Lawton, which contained in 
 structions of her future line of travel. 
 
 The trip from Glendale was one attended with 
 great risk, as the country, on that side of the river, 
 was filled with the scouts of both armies, and if cap 
 tured by the rebel scouts or pickets, the chances were 
 that detection would be followed by serious conse 
 quences. Among my female operatives, however, 
 none were clearer-headed or more resolute than Mrs. 
 Lawton, who prior to this time had been a most effi 
 cient worker and had been remarkably successful on 
 her trips into the lines of the enemy. In each case 
 she had escaped with rare good fortune. 
 
 When Scobell entered the structure which the 
 stranger had left, he found that it comprised but a 
 single room, and immediately proceeded to make a 
 thorough examination of its interior. A small fire 
 place on one side, which showed no signs of having 
 been recently used, and a number of benches, were 
 scattered about, In the corner of the room he saw 
 the pack and several articles that had been worn by 
 the peddler, which left no further room for doubt in 
 
REBEL SPY. 383 
 
 his mind as to the character of the individual he had 
 been watching for so long a time. 
 
 He accordingly set out for Glendale, where he 
 arrived just as the sun was sinking behind the western 
 horizon. He narrated the particulars of his chase to 
 Mrs. Lawton, whow as convinced that the peddler was 
 a rebel spy ; but the question was Was he upon 
 their track? Did he suspect them? and if so, by 
 what means had he discovered who they were and 
 what their destination was ? 
 
 Without attempting to settle these questions, 
 however, they concluded to set out at once for the 
 landing. The horses were brought to the door by 
 Uncle Gallus, who was closely questioned as to 
 whether a horseman answering the description given 
 by Scobell had passed through the village that after 
 noon, did not remember having seen such a person. 
 Believing that possibly the man might really have 
 gone on to Richmond they concluded to start that 
 night and hazard the consequences. 
 
 Both of them were well armed and were therefore 
 fully prepared to defend themselves, unless attacked 
 by numbers. They rode swiftly along at the free 
 and sweeping gallop for which the southern saddle- 
 horses are so famous, and feeling quite secure, they 
 conversed pleasantly together on their way. 
 
 " I guess we will get through all right, notwith* 
 standing our fears to the contrary,** said Mrs. Law- 
 ton. 
 
384 DEATH OF A 
 
 " I dun no about that/' replied, Sco Del 1 , ' we're not 
 through with our journey yet, and there's plenty o{ 
 time for trouble yet, Perhaps we had better walk 
 the horses a speK." 
 
 "That is d good suggestion," assented Mrs. Law- 
 ton, "we will walk them a mile or two, and then we 
 will be enabled to go the faster." 
 
 " I tell you, missus," said Scobell, " I wish we was 
 at the landin' ; sofriehow I feel that there is yet dan 
 ger ahead." 
 
 " What makes you think so ?" inquired Mrs. 
 Lawton. 
 
 " Well, I am afraid that confounded peddler will 
 turn up before we get through." 
 
 "Why, I can manage him myself," laughed Mrs. 
 Lawton, "and if that is all you fear, we are perfectly 
 safe." 
 
 " Now you're pokin fun at me, missus ; but you'll 
 find that I can fight if I get the chance, and I was 
 thinking more of you than of myself." 
 
 " Well, there's an old saying, John, don't cross a 
 bridge until you reach it ; so we won't borrow trouble 
 until it comes." 
 
 Their journey now lay through a richly cultivated 
 district ; on either side were fine farms, whose grow 
 ing crops had not yet been touched by the ravages 
 of war, and the country, under the soft light of the 
 moon presented a scene of rare beauty. Away to the 
 left ran the river, now bathed in a flood of silvery 
 
REBEL SPY. 385 
 
 light, which, emerging from a belt of woods, pursued 
 its winding way until again lost to view in the woods 
 that were sharply outlined at a distance. To their 
 right the country was broken and hilly, and the land 
 scape presented a rugged and picturesque appearance 
 in marked contrast to the evidences of cultivation 
 upon the other side. The night was soft and balmy, 
 and the silence was only broken by the sound of the 
 horses' hoofs as they slowly trotted along. It seemed 
 difficult to believe that war was abroad in the land, 
 and that even now, while in the enjoyment of appar 
 ent safety, danger was lurking on every hand. 
 
 Their horses being now sufficiently rested, they 
 again pressed forward at a rapid pace until they were 
 about five miles from the landing which was their 
 point of destination. There Mrs. Lawton's husband 
 was to meet her and the balance of the journey, to 
 the Union camp would be free from danger, as tho 
 {Federal pickets were posted across the river. 
 
 They were now approaching a patch of timber, 
 through which they would be compelled to pass, and 
 an instinctive feeling of dread came over both of 
 them as they drew near to it. The trees grew close 
 together, shutting out the light of the moon, and 
 rendering the road extremely dark and gloomy. 
 i " Just the place for an ambuscade," said Mrs* 
 Lawton shiveringly ; " draw your pistols, John, and be 
 ready in case of attack." 
 
 Scobell silently did as he was directed, and riding 
 
386 DEATH OF A 
 
 close together, they entered the wood. The darkness 
 was so great, that they could distinguish objects but 
 a short distance ahead of them. They passed safely 
 through the wood, however, and as they emerged 
 from the darkness, they congratulated themselves \.p- 
 on their good fortune, and began to think that they 
 were unduly alarming themselves. 
 
 Their comforting reflections were of short dura 
 tion, however, for scarcely had they left the wood, 
 than they perceived four horsemen approaching them 
 at a swift gallop. What to do now was a question to 
 be decided promptly. To turn and retreat would 
 certainly insure their capture, as the woods were just 
 behind, and they were afraid to travel through them 
 >on a run so they resolved to bravely continue their 
 -way, and trust to chance for their safe deliverance, 
 :$hould the new-comers prove to be foes. 
 
 A few hurried words were exchanged between 
 ; s them, as they arranged that each should select a man 
 'and fire on the instant they were challenged, and then 
 they were to dash ahead, hoping by this bold and un 
 expected move to disconcert their assailants by killing 
 <or disabling two of their number, and thus effect 
 their escape. 
 
 As the advancing party came closer, they divided, * 
 
 'two going on each side of the road, leaving a space 
 
 between them for our travelers to pass through. 
 
 i'They were now close enough for my operatives to 
 
 idiscover that two of them wore the uniform of Con- 
 
REBEL SPY. 387 
 
 federate gray, with heavy sabres at their sides, while 
 the others were apparently in citizens' clothes. 
 
 Scobell, who had been intently regarding them, j 
 now exclaimed : 
 
 " 'Fore God, missus, that one on your side is the 
 peddler!" 
 
 He had scarcely uttered these words, when one of 
 the men called out : 
 
 " Halt, and throw up your hands T 
 
 They were now nearly face to face with each 
 other, and in a flash two sharp reports rang out on 
 the still night air, and two of the men reeled and fell 
 from their saddles. 
 
 " At 'em !" hissed Scobell, through his clenched 
 teeth, as he plunged the spurs into his steed. The 
 two animals sprang forward, like arrows from the 
 tring, and in a moment they had dashed past the 
 others, who seemed dazed at the suddenness of their 
 actions, and before they recovered themselves, my 
 operatives were speeding like the wind some distance 
 away. 
 
 " Lay low to your saddle !" cried Scobell to his 
 companion, " and turn your horse as far to the side 
 of the road as you can," at the same time turning his 
 own animal close to the fence that ran along the 
 roadside. 
 
 His directions were immediately followed by Mrs. 
 Lawton, who retained a wonderful control over her- 
 self and the beast she rode, 
 
388 DEATH OP A 
 
 It was evident that their enemies had not been 
 expecting such a result to their demand, and they sat 
 for a time like statues ; then, as if suddenly recollect 
 ing themselves, they wheeled their horses, and, dis 
 charging their revolvers in rapid succession, started 
 in swift pursuit. 
 
 " They'll never get us now," said Scobell, " un 
 less their horses are made of better stuff than I think 
 they are." 
 
 The race now became an exciting one ; the pur 
 suers having emptied their weapons, without doing 
 any harm to the escaping pair, did not take time to 
 reload, but urged their horses to their utmost speed 
 They soon discovered that their horses were no 
 match for those of the fugitives, and their curses were 
 loud enough to be heard by both Scobell and his 
 companion, as in spite of all their efforts they found 
 themselves unable to lessen the distance between 
 them. 
 
 Scobell several times ventured a look over his 
 shoulder, to note the progress of their pursuers, and 
 on each occasion, finding them still lagging behind, 
 he uttered some encouraging remark to Mrs. Law- 
 ton, who was straining every nerve in the attempt to 
 escape. ^ 
 
 While indulging in one of these hasty 'observa 
 tions, and forgetting for a moment the management 
 of his horse, the animal suddenly swerved from the 
 road, as if frightened at some object in advance of 
 
REBE*L SPY. 389 
 
 them, and, stumbling, fell heavily to the ground, 
 throwing Scobell over his head and into the ditch. 
 
 Scrambling quickly to his feet, the negro shouted 
 to his companion : 
 
 " Go ahead, don't mind me ; save yourself !" 
 
 He then turned his attention to his horse, which 
 had now recovered his feet, and stood panting and 
 trembling in every nerve both from fright and exces 
 sive exertion. Listening intently, he could hear the 
 clatter of hoofs of the horse rode by Mrs. Lawton, 
 in the distance, while coming closer every instant was 
 the noise of the approaching horsemen. They had 
 discovered his misfortune, and were now shouting 
 and yelling with triumph at the possibility of captur 
 ing at least one of the party. There was no time for 
 mounting, even if his horse was unhurt, and Scobell 
 determined to make a bold stand and sell his life 
 dearly, while he would assuredly prevent the capture 
 of Mrs. Lawton. 
 
 Leading his horse to the side of the road, he 
 placed himself behind him, and resting his trusty 
 weapon across the saddle, he awaited the coming of 
 the approaching horsemen. He calmly waited until 
 the two men were within a few yards of him, and 
 then, taking as good aim as the light of the moon 
 enabled him to do, he fired. The horseman nearest 
 him uttered a scream of anguish, and, throwing up 
 both hands, toppled from the saddle and fell upon the 
 ground, while his frightened horse, with a snort of 
 
290 DEATH Of A 
 
 terror, wheeled around and dashed off in the direction 
 from whence he had come. 
 
 The remaining man stopped his horse with a jerk 
 that drew him back upon his haunches, and then, 
 turning swiftly around, s.et off in the opposite 
 direction, while the bullets from Scobell's weapon 
 whistled in dangerously close proximity to his 
 ears. 
 
 Scobell, seeing that three of the pursuers were 
 either dead or badly wounded, proceeded to re 
 load his weapon, and was preparing to remount his 
 horse and follow after Mrs. Lawton, when he heard 
 the tramp of horses' feet coming from the direction in 
 which she had gone. From the noise they made, he 
 was convinced that the approaching party numbered 
 at least a score, and that they were riding at a 
 sweeping gallop. A bend in the road, however, hd 
 them from his view, and he was unable to determine 
 whether they were friends or foes. In an instant 
 later they swept into full sight, and, to his intense 
 relief, he discovered that they were Union cavalry 
 men, and that Mrs. Lawton and her husband were at 
 their head. 
 
 " Hello, John !" exclaimed Lawton, as they came 
 up, " are you hurt ?" 
 
 " No," replied Scobell. 
 
 " What has become of your assailants ?" 
 
 " Two of them we left a mile or two back, one la 
 lying there in the road and the other, so far as I 
 
REBEL SPY. 391 
 
 know, is making tracks for Richmond," answered 
 Scobell. 
 
 "You are a brave fellow, Scobell/' said the 
 Captain of the squad, coming forward. " You were 
 lucky in escaping their bullets, and still more so that 
 you didn't break your neck when your horse fell with 
 you, at the speed you were going." 
 
 " He fell on his head, I reckon," ventured one of 
 the soldiers, waggishly, " which accounts for his not 
 being hurt." 
 
 "That's so," replied Scobell, in all serious 
 ness, " I landed right square on my head in that 
 ditch." 
 
 A roar of laughter followed this remark, and Sco 
 bell added, good-naturedly : 
 
 " It might have killed one of you fellows, but it 
 didn't even give me the headache. I am glad, 
 though, it wasn't the missus' horse, or things might 
 have turned out different." 
 
 The Captain now cut short the conversation by 
 ordering four of the party to pursue the flying rebel, 
 and, if possible, effect his capture, while the rest pro 
 ceeded to hunt up those that had been injured. The 
 man whom Scobell had shot last was soon found ; he 
 was dead the ball having entered his skull. Riding 
 back to tne spot where the first encounter took place, 
 they discovered the dead body of the peddler, or spy, 
 who had met his doom from the bullet of Mrs. Law- 
 ton, while his companion, with a shattered arm, was 
 
393 DEATH OF A 
 
 sitting up, and nearly faint from loss of blood, and 
 
 suffering intense pain. 
 
 Having captured two of the horses ridden by the 
 party, and bandaging the shattered arm as well as 
 they were able, the wounded man was placed on one 
 of the animals and under an escort they were con 
 veyed to the Union lines. 
 
 Two shallow graves were hastily dug, and in them 
 were placed the bodies of the two dead men. The 
 party sent after the escaped v soldier soon returned, 
 reporting that he had obtained too much the start of 
 them to be overtaken, and they were compelled to 
 give up the chase. 
 
 The entire party then returned to the Landing, 
 and in the morning my operatives were put across 
 the river, where they reported in due time at head 
 quarters, where they detailed fully the information 
 which they had gleaned in the rebel capital. 
 
 It was subsequently learned that the peddler was 
 a rebel spy, and for some time past had been visiting 
 the Union camps gathering information, which he 
 had no doubt conveyed to the rebels. On his person 
 were found papers which fully confirmed this, and 
 that they failed to reach their destination on account 
 ofx his death, was a fortunate occurrence for the 
 Union cause. 
 
 I How he had discovered the character of my oper 
 atives is a mystery yet unsolved, as his wounded 
 companion, when examined the next day, stated that 
 
REBEL SPY. 
 
 393 
 
 he had met him that night for the first time, and had 
 at his request accompanied him in the trip which had 
 ended so disastrously. He further stated that his 
 party belonged to a band of independent scouts, 
 which had but lately been attached to Lee's Army, 
 and were assigned to Gen. Stuart's Cavalry. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Lawton and Scobell soon afterwards re 
 turned to Washington, where they were allowed to 
 rest themselves for a time before being again called 
 upon. 
 
 A DEAD SHOT, 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 A Woman's Discoveries. An Infernal Machine. The dip 
 ping in Danger. Discovery and Destruction of the Sub' 
 marine Battery. 
 
 THE destiny of nations, history tells us, some 
 times turns upon the most trivial things. 
 Rome was once saved by the gabblmg of a flock of 
 geese, whose cries awoke a sentinel sleeping at his 
 post, just in time to give the alarm and enable the 
 Roman soldiers to successfully repel the attack of 
 an invading foe. A certain exiled and fugitive king 
 took courage from watching a spider build its web, 
 recovered his kingdom, and a crown that had been 
 wrested from him by the misfortune of war. Darius, 
 made King of Persia by the neighing of a horse 
 and in our own day historians agree, that had it not 
 been for the opportune appearance of the " Monitor " 
 when the rebel iron-clad " Merrimac " steamed out 
 of Hampton Roads in March, 1862, the destruction of 
 the Union might have been an accomplished fact. 
 For had not that formidable -battery met her match 
 in the " Yankee cheese-box," as the " Monitor " was 
 derisively called, she might have cleared the water 
 of Union sloops of war, raised the blockade, opened 
 
 F394] 
 
DESTRUCTION OF THE BATTERY. 395 
 
 the way by river to Washington, shelled the na 
 tional capital and turned the fortunes of war decid 
 edly in favor of the South. 
 
 This battle was an important epoch in the history 
 of nations, and demonstrated to the world the formi 
 dable character of iron-clad war vessels, hitherto un 
 known ; and placed the United States on record as 
 having produced the most invincible navy in the world. 
 
 In additjon to the " Merrimac," the South, early in 
 1862, had dSPIsed a great many ingenious machines 
 in the shape of torpedoes and submarine batteries, 
 that were designed for the purpose of blowing up the 
 Union vessels that blockaded the Southern ports. 
 
 It was through the efforts of one of my operatives 
 that the existence of one of these submarine batteries 
 was discovered, and that, too, just in the nick of time 
 to save the Federal blockading fleet at the mouth of 
 the James River from probable destruction. It was in 
 the early part of November, 1861, that I dispatched 
 one of my lady operatives to Richmond and the 
 South, for the especial purpose of ascertaining as 
 much information as possible about these torpedoes 
 and infernal machines, which I had good reason to 
 believe were constructed at the rebel capital. The 
 Tredegar Iron Works, the largest factory of the kind 
 in the South, were located at this place, and since the 
 commencement of hostilities had been manufacturing 
 cannon and all kinds of shot and shell for the Con 
 federacy. 
 
DISCOVERY AND. DESTRUCTION 
 
 The lady whom I selected for this task was Mrs* 
 E. H. Baker ; she had been in my employ for years, 
 and at one time had resided in Richmond, although, 
 prior to the war, she had removed to the. North, where 
 she had since dwelt. 
 
 This lady, fortunately enough, was well acquainted 
 with a Captain Atwater and his family, who resided 
 in Richmond, and after undertaking the mission, she 
 wrote to them from Chicago, apparently^stating that 
 notwithstanding the conflict between the* two sections 
 of the country, she designed to pay a visit to them 
 and renew the acquaintance of years ago. 
 
 She accordingly started, and after a circuitous 
 journey, arrived in Richmond on the 24th day of the 
 month. The Captain and his family received her 
 most hospitably, and requested her to make her 
 home with them during her stay in that city. 
 
 Captain Atwater, although holding a commission 
 in the rebel army, was at heart a Union man, and 
 secretly rejoiced at the news of a Federal victory. 
 He soon expressed his views to my operative so 
 clearly and forcibly, that she believed, if he could do 
 so, without jeopardy, he would join the Union troops, 
 and fight for the cause that really had his heartiest 
 wishes for success. 
 
 While Mrs. Baker did not reveal to him her con 
 nection with the secret service of the United States, 
 she took no pains to conceal from him her real senti 
 ments, and in their confidential conversations, was 
 
OF THE SUBMARINE BATTERY. 397 
 
 quite free in expressing her desire for a speedy Union 
 triumph. The Captain was firm in his belief that the 
 South was wrong, and that the masses had been led 
 into the war by designing and ambitious politicians, 
 and that she must eventually fail. Moreover, he 
 said, that, while born in a slaveholding State, he be 
 lieved the institution to be wicked and cruel, and that 
 the South should have given up her slaves rather 
 than have gone out of the Union. 
 
 Loyal as he was, the Captain understood the 
 Southern people thoroughly, and he felt sure that 
 they would fight long and stubbornly, rather than 
 yield to the blacks the boon of freedom. Many 
 days thus passed in quiet enjoyment and in these 
 stolen discussions upon the important topics of the 
 day. Mrs. Baker found herself very comfortably sit- 
 ufcted beneath the Captain's hospitable roof, and 
 nearly a week was passed in viewing Richmond and 
 the strange sights it then afforded. 
 
 On every hand she saw preparations for war, and 
 at every street she turned, she was confronted with 
 armed soldiers, whose measured tread kept time to 
 the music of fife and drum. In company with the Cap- 
 tain, she also visited the earthworks and fortifications 
 around Richmond, and gained many valuable points of 
 information in regard to their number and extent. 
 
 As yet, however, she had been unable to discover 
 anything concerning the special object of her mission, 
 and feeling the necessity of accomplishing something 
 
398 DISCOVERY AND DESTRUCTION 
 
 in that direction, she resolved to act. She had now 
 established herself so firmly in the estimation of those 
 with whom she associated, that she believed she could 
 with safety turn her inquiries in the direction that 
 would lead to the knowledge she desired to gain. 
 Accordingly, one evening at the tea-table she remark 
 ed, incidentally, that she desired very much to visit 
 the Tredegar Iron Works. 
 
 " Why, certainly," replied the Captain ; " I will be 
 most happy to go with you to-morrow." 
 
 " That will be delightful," said Mrs. Baker, en 
 thusiastically. 
 
 " But stay a moment," said the Captain, musingly, 
 " I am afraid I will not be able to go to-morrow, as I 
 have to go down the river to witness a test of a sub 
 marine battery." 
 
 " Why couldn't I go, too ?" demurely asked my 
 operative. " I am sure I should enjoy it very much ; 
 that is, if there is no danger connected with it." 
 
 " Oh, there is no danger, whatever, and there will, 
 doubtless, be a number of ladies present, and you can 
 go if you wish to." 
 
 " I should most certainly wish to," laughingly 
 answered Mrs. Baker. 
 
 "Very well," said the Captain ; "if you and Mrs. 
 Atwater will be ready by nine o'clock, we will have 
 ample time to reach the place, which is some few 
 miles below the city." 
 
 The ladies were both much pleased with this 
 
OF THE SUBMARINE BATTERY. 399 
 
 arrangement, and expressed themselves in extrava 
 gant terms of thankfulness for a trip which, no doubt, 
 v/ould be exceedingly pleasant. The Captain then 
 proceeded to explain to them the nature of the 
 battery which was to be experimented with on the 
 morrow. He explained the object to be obtained by 
 this battery, which was to break up the blockading fleet 
 at the mouth of the James River, and thus give the 
 South an outlet to the sea. 
 
 The next day they started in a carriage for the 
 pcene of the exhibition, which was located about ten 
 miles below the city. Arriving at the appointed 
 spot, they found quite a large number of military 
 men, many of them accompanied by ladies, assembled 
 to witness the testing of the machine, from which so 
 much was expected. 
 
 A large scow had been towed into the middle of 
 the river, and the submarine vessel was to approach 
 it and attach a magazine, containing nearly half a 
 bushel of powder, to which was attached several 
 deadly projectiles, and this was to be fired by a 
 peculiarly constructed fuse, connected by a long wire 
 coiled on board the submarine vessel. 
 
 At a given signal the boat was sunk into the river, 
 about half a mile below the scow, and shortly after 
 wards it began to make its way under the water 
 towards it. The only visible sign of its existence 
 was a large float that rested on the surface of the 
 water, and which was connected with the vessel 
 
400 DISCOVERY AND DESTRUCTION 
 
 below, designed to supply the men that operated it 
 with air. This float was- painted a dark green, to 
 imitate the color of the water, and could only be 
 noticed by the most careful observer. As my opera 
 tive listened to a full explanation of the machine and 
 its workings, she could scarcely control her emotions 
 of fear for the safety of the Federal boats, in the 
 event of its successful operation, and provided the 
 government was not speedily warned of its exist 
 ence. 
 
 It was learned that this vessel was but a small 
 working model of a much larger one, that was now 
 nearly completed, and would be finished in about two 
 weeks, and would then be taken to the mouth of the 
 James River, to operate on the war vessels guarding 
 that port. 
 
 They had obtained an excellent position, where 
 they had a full view of the river, and with the aid of 
 a strong field-glass they could distinctly watch the 
 large " float," which indicated the approach of the 
 vessel. 
 
 ' " How do the men who operate the machine man 
 age to attach the magazine to the vessel they design 
 to destroy?" asked Mrs. Baker. 
 
 " Two or three men, who operate the boat," re 
 plied the Captain, " are provided with submarine div 
 ing armor, which enables them to work under the 
 water and attach the magazine to the ship intended 
 to be 'blown up. They then have only to quickly 
 
OF THE SUBMARINE BATTERY. 40 
 
 move away to a safe distance, fire their fuse and the 
 work is done." 
 
 The Captain also informed her, that the object 
 was to break the blockade and allow the steamers 
 "Patrick Henry" and "Thomas Jefferson" out to 
 sea, these vessels being loaded with cotton and bound 
 for England. 
 
 While they were talking, my operative was closely 
 watching, by the aid of her glass, the movements of 
 the boat, and she now noticed that having approached 
 to within a few rods of the scow, it stopped, and the 
 water "float" which indicated its position remained 
 motionless. After remaining in this position for a 
 few minutes, it slowly began to recede from the scow, 
 in the direction from whence it came. 
 
 It moved steadily away some hundreds of yards, 
 and Mrs. Baker was wondering at the seemingly 
 long delay, when suddenly, and without any previous 
 warning whatever, there was a terrific explosion, and 
 the scow seemed lifted bodily out of the water and 
 thrown high into the air. Her destruction was com* 
 plete, and there was no longer any doubt that the 
 submarine battery could be used with deadly and 
 telling effect on the ships constituting trie Federal 
 blockading squadron. 
 
 Those who witnessed the experiment were, of 
 course, mach elated over the efficient work of de 
 struction which had been accomplished, and even 
 Captain Atwater, in his enthusiasm as a soldier, for- 
 
*>2 DISCOVERY AND DESTRUCTION 
 
 got temporarily his real feelings, in his undisguised 
 admiration of the ingenuity of the invention and the 
 effectiveness of its operation. 
 
 Mrs. Baker, however, looked on with a heavy 
 heart as she reflected upon the terrible consequences 
 of the workings of this machine, and at once felt the 
 urgent necessity of taking steps to inform me what 
 she had witnessed. Unless something was done in 
 this direction, she felt confident that the Federal 
 ships would be destroyed, the blockade forever ended, 
 and untold disaster would attend the Union cause. 
 
 After their return home that evening, she made 
 copious notes of what she had learned and witnessed, 
 which she safely secreted about her person. The 
 next day, in company with the Captain, she visited 
 the Tredegar Iron Works, and inspected the boat 
 that was being built. It was truly a formidable-look 
 ing engine of destruction. 
 
 The next day, being Sunday, she remained at the 
 residence of the Captain, and on Monday morning, 
 having procured a pass, she bade farewell to her host 
 and his amiable spouse, and left Richmond for Fred- 
 ericksburg. From thence she made her way to 
 Washington by the way of Leonardstown, and lost no 
 time in reporting to me the success of her trip. She 
 had made a hasty, though quite comprehensive, sketch 
 of the vessel, which sketch is still in my possession, 
 and which showed the position under the surface of 
 the water, and explained its workings. 
 
OF THE SUBMARINE BATTERY. 4*3 
 
 I immediately laid my information before General 
 McClellan and the Secretary of the Navy, who at 
 once transmitted the intelligence to the commanders 
 of the squadron, instructing them to keep a sharp 
 lookout for the " water-colored surface float," and to 
 drag the water for the purpose of securing possession 
 of the air tubes connecting the float with the vessel 
 below. 
 
 Nothing was heard from this for about three 
 weeks, but about that time I was informed that one 
 of the vessels of the blockading fleet off the mouth 
 of the James River had discovered the float, and put 
 ting out her drag-rope, had caught the air-tubes and 
 thus effectually disabled the vessel from doing any 
 harm, and no doubt drowning all who were on board 
 of her. 
 
 This incident, and the peculiarity of the machine, 
 was duly discussed in the newspapers, at that time, 
 who stated that " by a mere accident the Federal 
 fleet off James River had been saved from destruc 
 tion" but I knew much better, and that the real 
 credit of the discovery was due to a lady of my own 
 force. The efficient manner in which this work was 
 performed was of great service to the nation, and sus 
 tained the reputation of the Secret Service Depart 
 ment, as being an important adjunct in aiding the 1 
 government in its efforts to suppress the rebellion. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 "Stuttering Dave" -His Tramp Through the Rebel Lines. 
 An Ammunition Train. "Dave's" Plan Succeeds in 
 its Destruction. A Man Who St littered and " Had Fits " 
 
 ONE morning, while the army was on the ad 
 vance up the Peninsula, I was strolling about 
 the camp, when I encountered a group of soldiers 
 gathered around one of their number, who appeared 
 to be entertaining them immensely with his droll 
 anecdotes and dry witticisms. Approaching closer, 
 I became one of the crowd that surrounded the nar 
 rator, and listened to an amusing incident admirably 
 told, which had happened to him a day or two before 
 while out with a scouting party. 
 
 He was a man about thirty years of age, of 
 medium height, strongly and compactly built, and 
 with a good, firm, intelligent face, over which he had 
 the most perfect control. So perfect was his com 
 mand over his facial expression that he could make 
 his hearers roar with laughter, while he, to use a 
 homely phrase, would " never crack a smile." I 
 noticed on joining the little crowd that had gathered 
 around him, that the fellow stuttered amazingly, 
 which fact, together with his imperturbable gravity, 
 [404] 
 
MAN WHO STUTTERED AND " HAD FITS." 4*5 
 
 seemed to be the secret of his always having a good 
 audience about him to listen to his stones and to 
 enjoy his droll humor. I was struck with the man's 
 appearance at first sight and at once concluded that, 
 unless I was much -deceived in him, he was a man 
 whom I could use to good advantage, and I deter 
 mined to ascertain who he was and where he belonged. 
 
 Turning to a soldier at my side, I inquired the 
 man's name. Looking at me as though surprised at 
 my ignorance, he answered : 
 
 " Why, that's ' Stuttering Dave/ the drollest, 
 smartest man in this regiment, and one of the best 
 fellows you ever met." 
 
 " What regiment does he belong to ?" I asked. 
 
 "To the Twenty-first New York," said the soldier, 
 " but ever since I have known him, he has been with 
 a scouting party. He used to live in Virginia be 
 fore the war, and is well acquainted about here." 
 
 That day I called upon the Colonel of the regi 
 ment to which the man belonged, and informed him 
 of my wishes, which, if agreeable to him, I would ask 
 him to send " Stuttering Dave " to my quarters. 
 
 Shortly after sundown he came, and to my as 
 tonishment, I found that his stuttering propensity 
 had entirely disappeared, and that he conversed with 
 me with surprising ease and intelligence, and a quiet 
 earnestness that betokened a solid and well-informed 
 man. The fact was that stuttering with him waa 
 only a favorite amusement, and so naturally was it 
 
4 o6 A MAN WHO STUTTERED 
 
 simulated, that no one would suspect he was sham 
 ming or that he was anything else but a confirmed 
 stutterer of the most incorrigible type. In the inter 
 view which followed he signified his willingness to 
 enter the secret service, and a day or two later he 
 was detailed to my force. Here he served with such 
 ability and credit that he was shortly discharged from 
 his regiment altogether, and for the rest of the wai 
 was one of my most faithful and valued operatives. 
 
 A few days after this interview, David Graham, 
 for that was his real name, otherwise known as 
 " Stuttering Dave," set out under my instructions, on 
 a trip within the rebel lines. As he was about leav 
 ing my tent, he shook hands with me, and said in his 
 dry manner : 
 
 " G-g-go-good-by, M-m-m-major, I'm g-g-g-oin to 
 have s-s-some fun before I g-g-get home, if I d-d-don't 
 I'm a g-g-goat, that's all." 
 
 Cautioning him against allowing his propensity 
 for "fun" to get him into trouble, I accompanied him 
 to the edge of the camp, and saw him set out in the 
 direction of the Confederate forces. 
 
 Graham had adopted the disguise of a peddler of 
 notions, and carried in his pack a goodly supply of but 
 tons, needles, thread, pins and such a trifling articles 
 as he knew would be in great demand by the soldiers. 
 Discarding his uniform, and dressed in a suit of but 
 ternut jean, with a broad-brimmed hat, a stout stick, 
 and a pack across his shoulder, he appeared a verita- 
 
AND "ffAD FITS." 407 
 
 ble tramping peddler. No one, to have seen him, 
 would have imagined that he was an emissary of 
 the secret service, and they would little have sus 
 pected that the stuttering, harmless-looking fellow who 
 was hawking his wares, knew aught about military 
 affairs, or the plans and movements of an army. 
 
 It was in the fast deepening twilight of a beauti 
 ful evening, and but a few days after he had left the 
 Union lines, that a party of rebel soldiers, weary and 
 hungry with the toilsome march of the day, were rest 
 ing around a camp-fire, engaged in the preparations 
 of their evening meal. 
 
 While thus employed, they were approached by a 
 strange-looking individual, who walked right into 
 their midst, and without^ ceremony, flung down his 
 pack and seated himself among them. 
 
 " B-b-boys," said he, " I'm most d-d-darned hungry, 
 w-w-w-what do you s-s-say to givin' me a b-b-b-bite to 
 eat ; d-d-dang my buttons, I'm willin' to p-p-pay for it 
 in t-t-trade or cash." 
 
 " How did you manage to get inside the camp ?" in 
 quired one, who seemed to be the leader of the mess. 
 
 " F-f-f-followed my legs, and they b-b-b-brought me 
 right in," replied Stuttering Dave, as he coolly pro 
 duced a short-stemmed, dirty-looking pipe, which he 
 deliberately filled, and then lighted with a coal from 
 the glowing embers at his feet. 
 
 " What have you got to sell ?" asked a soldier at 
 his side. 
 
408 A MAN WHO STUTTERED 
 
 " O, n-n-needles, p-p-pins, thread, b-b-buttons and 
 n-n-notions " 
 
 " Did you come from the Yanks?" now asked the 
 man who had first addressed him. 
 
 "D-d-d-am the Yanks!" ejaculated Dave, "I 
 d-d-don't know anything about 'em. Ain't them your 
 s-s-sentiments ?" he added, nudging the fellow who 
 sat nearest to him. 
 
 His companion evidently did not relish this sly 
 poke, for he growled : 
 
 " I, for one, am gettin' most thunderin' tired of 
 jrunnin' around the country, and nothin' would suit me 
 1-better than for us to stop long enough to giv' 'em a 
 .good lickin'." 
 
 "You 1-licked 'em like the d-d-devil at Williams- 
 jburgH, d-d-d-didn't you ?" said Dave. 
 
 The fellow looked at him in surprise, but failed to 
 (detect agy evidence of an intended sarcasm in the im- 
 ; movable .gravity of his face, so mentally concluding 
 : that the peddler was a fool and one of nature's own 
 <: at that, he .dropped the conversation. 
 
 By this time the meal was ready, and Dave, being 
 .] invited to join them, gladly assented, and fell to with 
 I . an appetite that showed how thoroughly he enjoyed 
 i the repast. Supper over, the party spent the even- 
 < ing in chatting and telling yarns. The detective 
 , opened his pack, .and displaying his goods, soon dis- 
 j posed of quite, a large quantity, in return for which 
 1 he demanded >aad would take, nothing but silver or 
 
AND "HAD FITS." 409 
 
 gold. When " taps " were called, he turned in with 
 the party, and placing his pack under his head for a 
 pillow, he soon slept soundly, until reveille in the 
 early morning aroused him from his slumbers. 
 
 Having eaten his breakfast, he sauntered through 
 the camp, taking keen notice of the number of troops, 
 and finding out all he could concerning their intended 
 plans and movements. During the day, he did a 
 thriving business with his small stock of notions, and 
 was everywhere followed by a crowd, who were at 
 tracted by his droll humor and witty sayings. 
 
 On one of these occasions, and while he was driv* 
 ing some lively bargains with the soldiers that were 
 gathered around him, he was approached by an 
 officer, who slapped him familiarly on the shoulder 
 and exclaimed : 
 
 " Here, my good fellow, we can use men like you ; 
 hadn't you better enlist with us ? You can do your 
 country a great deal more good than you are doing, 
 tramping around the country selling needles and 
 pins." 
 
 The detective turned around, and seeing who it 
 was addressing him, replied : 
 
 "C-Captain, I d-d-don't think you would want 
 me ; I t-t-tried t-to enlist s-s-s-sometime ago, b-b-b-but 
 the d-d-doctor said, m-my f-f-fits and stuttering b-b-be- 
 ing so b-b-bad, he c-c-couldn't p-p-pass me." 
 
 " Are you subject to fits ?" the officer now asked, 
 as a sympathetic look came over his face. 
 
4 io A MAN WHO STUTTERED 
 
 " Had 'em ever s-s-since I was t-t-ten years old," 
 replied Dave, " have 'em every f-f-full of the 
 nvm-moon. 
 
 " Where do you live ?" interrupted the officer. 
 
 ''On t-t-the other s-s-side of the river," he an 
 swered. 
 
 " What is your name ?" 
 
 " They c-c-call me St-st-stuttering Dave," replied 
 the detective, with an idiotic grin. 
 
 The officer now turned and walked away, feeling 
 no longer any interest in the fellow, except to pity his 
 condition ; and thoroughly satisfied that there was no 
 harm in him, and that he was utterly unfit for a soldier. 
 
 Well pleased to have shaken off the curious officer 
 as easily as he had, Dave now turned again to the 
 soldiers and resumed his occupation of dickering with 
 the crowd about him ; having concluded his business- 
 here, he ambled off to another part of the grounds 
 where a large quantity of ammunition was stored in 
 the wagons. 
 
 Instantly, an idea occurred to him which he re 
 solved to carry out if possible. It was to undertake 
 the dangerous feat of firing the ammunition, and 
 depriving his enemies of that much destructive mate 
 rial at all events. He lost all interest m disposing of 
 his goods for a time, and proceeded to make a care 
 ful examination of the grounds about the wagons, 
 and formed his plans for carrying out his project that 
 very night 
 
AND "HAD FITS." 411 
 
 He soon decided that by laying a train of powder 
 from the wagons and running it to a safe distance, he 
 could readily set fire to it, and make his escape in the 
 confusion that would follow. At midnight, therefore, 
 he stole around to the wagons and quietly com* 
 menced his work. He had taken the precaution that 
 afternooD, to supply himself with a quantity of pow 
 der fuses, by rolling the powder up loosely in long 
 strips of rags. 
 
 Placing these in position to connect with the am 
 munition in the wagons, and laying his train from one 
 to another, the next thing was to lay a long train, 
 that would enable him after firing it to get out of 
 harm's way before the explosion occurred. Having 
 completed his arrangements, he now took himself off, 
 to wait until the whole camp should be quietly wrap 
 ped in slumber, before he started his " fireworks," as he 
 called them. 
 
 About midnight, had the sentinel on guard at 
 the wagons containing the ammunition been awake, 
 and looking sharply about him, instead of dozing at 
 his post, he might have observed a man stealthily 
 steal up to the stores, and silently and quickly 
 disappear into the woods beyond. Fortunately, how 
 ever, for our friend, and the enterprise he had on 
 hand, he only snored quietly and peacefully against a 
 neighboring tree, little dreaming of the surprise that 
 was in store for him. 
 
 A few minutes later, a long, quick flash of light 
 
412 A MAN WHO STUTTERED 
 
 darted along the ground, which was immediately 
 followed by a loud, stunning report, and the murky 
 darkness was illumined with a brilliant, flaming light, 
 and great volumes of smoke. 
 
 Instantly the entire camp was aroused, and the 1 
 half-dressed and fully-frightened soldiers came rush 
 ing to the scene, which was now only a scattered pile 
 of burning ruins. How it occurred, no one knew, or 
 could tell aught about it, and wild conjectures were 
 freely indulged in as to the probable cause of the 
 disaster. In the meantime, the only man in the 
 world who could tell anything about the affair, was 
 traveling as fast as his legs could carry him in the 
 direction of the Union camp. 
 
 In a few days he made his appearance at my head 
 quarters, and related the success of his journey. I 
 could not refrain from laughing heartily at his 
 peculiar and independent system of warfare, but 
 advised him to be more careful in the future as to 
 how he tampered with the stores of the enemy. 
 
 I was not disappointed as to the ability of the 
 man, however, and for months he served me faithfully 
 and well, needing but little instruction, and always 
 performing his work to the entire satisfaction of 
 every one. He at times adopted various disguises, 
 but generally depended upon his own natural shrewd 
 ness, and his natural adaptiveness for the role of an 
 itinerant peddler to carry him through successfully. 
 
 He was always fortunate in his trips, and, so far 
 
AND "HAD FITS." 
 
 413 
 
 as I knew, his identity was never discovered, and in 
 the peddler who stuttered and " sometimes had fits," 
 the rebels never recognized an emissary of the Secret 
 Service. 
 
 SHOT BY A CANNON-BALL. 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 Another Trip to Richmond. A Rebel General Taken /. 
 Curtis Makes Valuable Acquaintances. "The Subter 
 ranean Headquarters" 
 
 EARLY in 1862, it becoming necessary to obtain 
 more fully the plans arid intentions of the 
 enemy, and their numbers around Richmond, I in 
 April of that year dispatched one of my keenest and 
 shrewdest operatives on this important mission. 
 
 The man selected for this delicate and dangerous 
 work was George Curtis, a young man about twenty- 
 five years of age, tall, well-formed, with dark com 
 plexion, clear gray eyes, and possessing handsome, 
 intelligent features. He was one of those men rarely 
 met, who was by nature a detective ; cool-headed, 
 brave and determined, with ready wit and sagacious 
 mind, he was especially qualified for efficient work in 
 that important branch, the secret service. 
 
 He was a native of New York, and had at the 
 opening of the war enlisted in an infantry regiment 
 from that State. 
 
 Learning of his desire to enter the secret service, 
 I had procured his discharge from his regiment, and 
 he was detailed on my force, where he served until 
 the close of the war. 
 
A REBEL GENERAL TAKEN IN. 415 
 
 It was a beautiful April morning when, with his 
 instructions carefully treasured in memory, for he 
 dared take no written ones, he left my office on " I " 
 street, in Washington, and set out on his perilous trip. 
 
 I had previously made arrangements that he 
 should accompany General McClellan down the river 
 on his boat, the " Commodore," and on which he had 
 established his headquarters, to Fortress Monroe, 
 and landing there, make his way to Richmond. 
 
 The morning of the first, he left Washington, and 
 the next day he arrived at Old Point Comfort, and 
 landed under the frowning walls of the old fort. He 
 remained here until the morning of the second day 
 after his arrival, where he was provided with a horse, 
 and set across the river and proceeded on his way 
 towards the rebel capital. 
 
 He had now a journey of near seventy miles 
 before him, through a country filled with enemies to 
 the cause he espoused, and from whom, should his 
 true character and mission become known, he might 
 expect anything but kind treatment at their hands. 
 His object in crossing the James at this point was 
 to place himself in less danger from suspicion as a 
 spy, and to better enable him to learn the sentiment 
 of the people, as well as to gain accurate knowledge 
 of the condition of the country as to roads, bridges, 
 streams, etc., all of which information is of essential 
 importance for the General of an invading army to 
 know. 
 
4 i6 A REBEL GENERAL 
 
 He, therefore, on horseback, and apparently as a 
 man traveling for pleasure and recreation, proceeded 
 on his way up the valley of the river and towards the 
 objective point of his journey, the rebel capital. 
 
 Nothing worthy of note occurred during the day ; 
 he stopped at noon at a house by the wayside, and 
 obtained dinner for himself and horse. In a conver 
 sation with his host, who was a well-to-do old farmer, 
 he apparently in a careless manner betrayed the fact 
 that he himself followed the same occupation, that he 
 lived on the river in the county of Norfolk, below, 
 and was o,n his way to visit among friends at Peters- 
 burgh. 
 
 It was towards evening that he neared the out 
 skirts of the city, when he suddenly encountered the 
 rebel pickets, stationed outside the town, who halted 
 him and demanded to know his name and business. 
 " My name is Curtis," replied the operative, " and I 
 am from Norfolk ; my business I will state to your 
 commander when I am taken to him." 
 
 Without further ceremony he was turned over 
 to the officer of the guard,, who sent him under escort 
 to General Hill, the general in command. 
 
 " Whom have you here?" queried the General, as 
 in the company of his escort the detective was led 
 into his presence. 
 
 " A man who says he is from Norfolk," replied 
 the guard, " but who refuses to tell his business t# 
 any one but yourself." 
 
TAKEN IN. 417 
 
 " You may retire," said the General, and the 
 escort immediately left the room. "Now," he ex 
 claimed, turning to Curtis, " What is your business ? 
 Please be as brief as possible, as I am very busy." 
 
 44 Well, to come to the point at once," replied the 
 detective ; " in the first place, then, I spoke falsely to 
 your pickets when I told them I was from Norfolk. 
 My name is Curtis, and I am from Washington. As 
 to my business, I deal in what the Yankees are pleased 
 to term contraband goods ; yet 1 don't see how gun- 
 caps, ammunition of all kinds, and quinine should be 
 considered contraband, for* the simple reason that I, 
 as a dealer, find a better market South than North 
 for my goods. My desire," he continued, " is to get 
 through to Richmond, where I hope to be able to 
 effect contracts, with Secretary Benjamin, to furnish 
 my goods to the Confederate government." 
 
 4< How did you get through the Union lines ?' 
 asked the General, still, evidently, a little suspicious 
 of the sincerity of the detective's story. 
 
 " I came down on the ' Commodore,' General Mc- 
 Clellan's boat, three days ago," he answered, "was set 
 across the river there, procured a horse from a (fiend, 
 and here I am." 
 
 " Do you know anything of McClellan's plans for j 
 an advance ?" asked the General. 
 
 " I can tell you nothing about them," answered 
 Curtis, ."as everything is kept secret from even his 
 own staff, I am told." 
 
4i3 A REBEL GENERAL 
 
 The General mused, thoughtfully, a moment, and 
 then said : " I will give you a pass to Richmond, and 
 you can proceed on your way in the morning." 
 
 "Thank, you, General," exclaimed the detective, 
 " I assure you the cause shall suffer no loss by any 
 efforts of mine. I shall, in all probability, return by 
 this way, in a few weeks at farthest, when, if I can 
 be of any service to you, you have only to command 
 
 me." 
 
 " By the way," said the General, " I have some 
 letters to parties in Richmond, which ought to go at 
 once. If you will do me the favor to deliver them 
 J shall be obliged to you." 
 
 " I shall be happy to serve you, General, and will 
 take pleasure in seeing that your letters reach their 
 destination all right." 
 
 " Very well, then ; call at my quarters in the 
 * morning, before you start, and I will have them ready 
 for you, and will give you also your pass to Rich- 
 imond." 
 
 Curtis thanked him again, and, bidding him good 
 night, repaired to the hotel, and secured for himself 
 ;and horse supper and lodging for the night. 
 
 After he had partaken of a hearty meal, and pro- 
 -vided himself with an excellent cigar, he sauntered 
 out on to the veranda of the hotel, and, taking a 
 comfortable seat, prepared to enjay his fragrant weed, 
 ,and amuse himself with listening to the conversation 
 <nf those around him. 
 
TAKEN IN. 
 
 He soon discovered that the war, and the pros 
 pects for a speedy victory for the South, were the 
 subjects under discussion/ and he listened with mu:h 
 interest to the ideas advanced, and the confidence 
 that marked their assertions of the superiority of the 
 Southern troops over the Northern mudsills, as they 
 termed the Federalists. 
 
 "You may depend on it, that General Johnson 
 will not permit the Yanks to approach any closer to 
 Richmond than they now are, without contesting 
 every inch of the ground as they advance," remarked 
 one gentleman of the party near which he was 
 sitting. 
 
 " No," emphatically rejoined another, " when they 
 take Richmond, it will be when they have annihilated 
 the Southern people, when not a thousand able- 
 bodied men are left on Southern soil to rally to its 
 defense/' 
 
 " Well, I am satisfied," remarked another, " that 
 right here is to be the contest, that is to decide this 
 matter one way or the other." 
 
 " If the Yankees take Richmond, the South may as 
 well surrender at once ; if however they fail, as they 
 are extremely liable to do, they, on the other hand, 
 may as well withdraw their forces and acknowledge 
 our independence." 
 
 " If I am not greatly mistaken," now ventured my 
 operative, " in the spirit of the Southern people, 
 they will, to use a common phrase, ' fight to the bitter 
 
420 A RES EL GENERAL 
 
 end.' And yet," he continued, ." to the thoughtful ob 
 server, it is not pleasant to contemplate the spectacle 
 of brother arrayed against brother, as they are in this 
 war. I tell you, gentlemen," he added, "that whila 
 I am a Southern man, it grieves me to see our land 
 so rent with strife and bloodshed and that the Nort h 
 has made it necessary for a resort to arms to settle a 
 matter that should have been amicably adjusted." 
 
 At this juncture, the party was joined by a new- 
 corner, who had evidently just left the supper-room, 
 as he carried an unlighted cigar in one hand, while 
 with the other he was picking his teeth, with the 
 manner of a man who had just eaten a hearty meal 
 and who had enjoyed it. 
 
 He was a man past the middle age, hair gener 
 ously sprinkled with gray, and with a face, that while 
 bronzed by exposure to the weather, was keenly in 
 telligent, not unhandsome, and strongly expres 
 sive of force and decision of character. He seated 
 himself and soon joined in the conversation, with 
 that freedom and nonchalance that characterizes 
 the experienced yet courteous traveler, who has seen 
 the world and is familiar with its ways. 
 
 "We shall hear of some pretty hard fighting, 
 shortly, I imagine," finally observed the stranger; 
 " McClellan has arrived at Fortress Monroe, and will 
 no doubt commence hostilities at once." 
 
 " And we shall also hear of his army getting badly 
 whipped/' put in one of the party. 
 
TAKEN IN. 411 
 
 "Well," rejoined the stranger, "that may be true; 
 but, after all, the real contest will be before Rich 
 mond ; the fighting that may occur now, will only be 
 the strategic moves preceding the final struggle. 
 Lee and Johnson," he continued, "are not yet ready 
 for McClellan to advance upon Richmond, and they 
 will see to it that it is put in the best possible condi 
 tion of defense before he succeeds in reaching it." 
 
 At this, my operative, who had taken little part 
 in the conversation, except as an attentive listener, 
 now arose and laughingly said : " Gentlemen, I guess 
 we are all of one mind on this subject, let's adjourn 
 down below and interview the bar-keeper ; I don't 
 profess to be a judge of military matters, but when it 
 comes to a good article of whisky, I claim to be 
 posted." 
 
 The party, numbering near a dozen gentlemen 
 about him, good-humoredly took the interruption and 
 laughingly followed the detective, who now led the 
 way to the bar-room. 
 
 They filled glasses all around and Curtis proposed 
 the rather ambiguous toast, " May the right prevail, 
 and death and confusion, attend its enemies" am- 
 ' biguous in that it as much represented his real 
 sentiments as it also met the approval of his seces 
 sion friends. 
 
 After the party had drank, they separated, agree 
 ing to meet later in the evening ; Curtis was, himself 
 starting for a stroll about the town, when the 
 
422 A REBEL GENERAL 
 
 stranger, who had last joined the party on the 
 veranda approached him and said : " I have just 
 drank the toast you proposed, and judging from it 
 and your conversation up stairs, I take you to be, at 
 least, a friend to the South, if indeed you are not a 
 Southern man. F should like much to have your 
 company for a short stroll about the city ; my name," 
 he added, "is Leroy, and I hail from Baltimore." 
 
 " I shall be glad to accompany you, Mr. Leroy," 
 said my operative, heartily : " I was just thinking of 
 going for a walk alone, but I assure you I shall be 
 only too glad to have a companion. And since you 
 have so kindly told me your name, I may as well tell 
 you, that mine is George Curtis, and I am from 
 Washington. But before we start," he added, "let us 
 have a fresh cigar." 
 
 He then ordered the cigars and they started for 
 their walk. 
 
 They had not proceeded far, before his new com 
 panion revealed the fact, that he also was in the con 
 traband trade, and singularly enough, was on his way 
 to Richmond on precisely the same business my 
 operative had represented himself as engaged. Of 
 course, Curtis reciprocated the confidence of his new 
 found friend, and with such results, that he not only re 
 turned from his walk much better posted on how to 
 get goods through to Richmond, but actually returned 
 a partner in an enterprize to furnish their goods in 
 large quantities to the Confederate government, pro 
 
TAKEN IN. 4*3 
 
 vided they could succeed in making satisfactory ar 
 rangements with Mr. Benjamin, the Secretary of 
 War. They returned to the hotel, where they had a 
 long talk, completing their plans. It was arranged 
 that my operative should leave his horse at Peters 
 burg, and in the morning, they would proceed on their 
 way to Richmond by rail. 
 
 On the following morning he arose early, and 
 after breakfast, proceeded to call on General Hill 
 at his quarters and obtained his pass, also the letters 
 he was to carry for him to parties in Richmond. 
 They then took a train for the rebel capital, and by 
 noon found themselves in that city. 
 
 The day following his arrival, in company with 
 Leroy, he called on Mr. Benjamin and succeeded in 
 closing contracts to furnish large quantities of their 
 goods to his government, and at prices that were 
 highly satisfactory to Mr. Leroy, who jovially re 
 marked, as they left the Secretary's presence, that 
 if they only had good luck, their fortunes were made. 
 Curtis, however, felt highly gratified over the result 
 of the' interview, more from the reflection of the aid 
 it would give him in prosecuting the real object of 
 his visit, than from any financial benefit he expected 
 to derive from it. He had received a pass from the 
 Secretary that would enable him to pass in and out of 
 Richmond at his pleasure, a most important privilege, 
 and one that really removed all practical hindrances, 
 and left him free to more fully accomplish his work. 
 
4 2 4 A REBEL GENERAL 
 
 \ 
 He had not been in the city a week before he 
 
 discovered that through some source, the rebels had 
 almost daily news from the front, concerning the 
 movements and plans of the Union troops. This he 
 now determined to ferret out, and the next day, he in 
 a careless manner, inquired of his friend Leroy, how 
 it was, they obtained news so promptly from the front 
 
 " Why," replied his friend, laughingly, " haven't 
 you heard of the subterranean headquarters ?" 
 
 " I confess I have not," replied the detective. 
 
 " Then come along with me," said Leroy. " I 
 ought to have told you about this before, as it. is 
 intimately connected with our business." 
 
 He then led the way to the very hotel at which they 
 were stopping, and conducted Curtis to a large and 
 elegantly furnished room on the third floor, and in 
 which were seated a * number of gentlemen some 
 reading, while others were engaged in writing at little 
 tables that were ranged about the room. 
 
 " Here," said he, laughing, "are the subterranean 
 headquarters, although they are above the top of the 
 ground instead of beneath it. I need not tell you," 
 he added, " that the name is given as much to mis 
 lead as for any other purpose." 
 
 They then took seats at one end of the room 
 where they were alone, and he proceeded with his 
 explanation : 
 
 "First," he said, "you must know that this is a 
 bureau of intelligence, and is managed partly by the 
 
TAKEN IN. 4*3 
 
 government and partly by wealthy merchants here 
 and at Baltimore ; besides being used in getting in 
 formation concerning the movements of the Federal 
 troops, it is also used by the merchants in getting our 
 goods through from Baltimore. We employ," he con 
 tinued, " nearly fifty persons, some of whom are 
 constantly in the field carrying dispatches, gaining 
 and bringing in information from the Yankee lines. 
 
 o o 
 
 These persons are all under the control of a chief at 
 their head, and are all known to that v man yonder," 
 pointing to a gentleman seated at a desk at the oppo 
 site end of the room. 
 
 " Strange as it may seem to you," he continued, 
 " right here in this hotel, we have the most exclusive 
 privacy. You noticed that man standing in the hall 
 when we came in, the same one now sitting at the 
 desk?" 
 
 Curtis nodded, and he proceeded : " Well, he 
 knew me, and consequently he knew you were all 
 right. Had you come alone, that door would have 
 been closed, and would not have opened, had you 
 tried it. Now," he said, " I will call him here and in 
 troduce you." 
 
 Touching a small bell that stood on the table, the 
 gentleman, to whom he had alluded, instantly an 
 swered its summons and crossed the room to where 
 they were sitting. 
 
 " Mr. Wallace," said Leroy, " this is my friend 
 and partner Mr. Curtis." The two men bowed and 
 
426 A REBEL GENERAL 
 
 shook hands, and Wallace seating himself proved to 
 be a pleasant and well-informed gentleman. 
 
 In the course of the conversation, Leroy asked, 
 " What is the latest news from the front, Mr. 
 
 Wallace?" 
 
 [ 
 
 " We have nothing as yet to-day," he answered, 
 " but yesterday it was reported that McCleHan had 
 laid siege to Yorktown ; the chances are, that we 
 shall hear of a battle, in a few days at farthest." 
 During the interview, Curtis learned also, that the 
 persons operating for this bureau had confederates, 
 both at Baltimore and at Washington ; these, he 
 determined to discover, if possible, in addition to the 
 information already gained. 
 
 To this end, he made himself very agreeable to 
 Mr. Wallace, and in the course of the conversation, 
 expressed his willingness to do what he could in aid 
 ing the force, and remarked that he should be passing 
 back and forth, between Washington and Richmond, 
 and could doubtless be of service. 
 
 Mr. Wallace thanked him heartily, and gave him 
 a small plain badge of peculiar shape, that would at 
 any time, if shown, admit him to the headquarters, 
 and then taking him about the room, he introduced 
 him to the gentlemen present, and after a short con 
 versation with his new friends, he in company with 
 Leroy took his departure, and together they went 
 down to dinner. 
 
 That evening, as he was sitting in the bar-room 
 
TAKEN IN. 417 
 
 of the hotel, one of the men he had met up-stairs in 
 the forenoon, came to him and told him that in a day 
 or two, he was to start for Yorktown with important 
 dispatches for General Magruder, but that owing, to 
 sickness in his family, he did not want to leave home, 
 unless it was impossible for him to get some one he 
 could trust to undertake the task for him. 
 
 He then asked Curtis if he would object to mak 
 ing the trip for him. The detective thought a mo 
 ment, and told him he would give him an answer in 
 the morning. The two men then indulged in a 
 friendly glass, after which they separated. The man 
 had n sooner gone, than Curtis made up his mind to 
 take the dispatches, riot to General Magruder, but to 
 me at Washington. 
 
 Accordingly, the next morning he informed his 
 friend he would undertake the task for him, as he 
 intended returning to Baltimore at any rate. 
 
 The next morning found him, with the dispatches 
 carefully secreted about his person, at the depot, 
 re^Jy to take the first train for Petersburgh. 
 
 Mere he arrived about noon, and proceeded to 
 call on General Hill. After procuring his dinner at 
 the hotel, he ordered his horse and started on his 
 long ride for the Union camp, where he delivered his 
 dispatches to Mr. Bangs, the superintendent of my 
 headquarters in the field, and forwarded copies of the 
 same to me at Washington, together with a full 
 account of his trip and information he had gained ; 
 
428 
 
 A REBEL GENERAL. TAKEN IN. 
 
 not forgetting a full statement of his discovery of the 
 " Subterranean Headquarters," and his enlistment as 
 a member of its force of spies and agents, employed 
 in transmitting intelligence of the movements and 
 plans of the Union troops. 
 
CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 A Virginia Home. Unwelcome Visitors. Mr. I T arcourt 
 Arrested and Released. Dan McCowan Makes Forcible 
 Love to Mary Har court. The Girl in Peril. A Timely 
 Rescue. The Villain Punished. 
 
 THE important information brought to my notice 
 by Operative Curtis, on his return from Rich 
 mond, concerning the character and working of the 
 ''Subterranean Headquarters," at once determined 
 me on a plan of using the same body of men, or 
 rather the information they carried, for the benefit of 
 the Union forces, instead of allowing them to use it 
 in the interests of the Confederates. To accomplish 
 this, I detailed several members of my force, both at 
 Washington and Baltimore, to co-operate with Curtis, 
 whom I intended now should become an active agent 
 of the rebels in carrying dispatches to and from 
 Richmond. The plan was, in short, that all dis 
 patches entrusted to him should be accurately copied, 
 f the copies to be delivered to his confederates, and 
 the originals forwarded to their destination. 
 
 In war, as in a game of chess, if you krow the 
 moves of your adversary in advance, it is then an 
 easy matter to shape your own plans, and make your 
 moves accordingly, and, of course, always to your 
 
430 . M 1 COWAN MAKES FORCIBLE 
 
 own decided advantage. So in this case, I concluded 
 that if the information intended for the rebels could 
 first be had by us, after that, they were welcome to 
 all the benefit they might derive from them. 
 
 In a few days, then, having completed my arrange 
 ments, Curtis started to Richmond, by the way of 
 Wilson's Landing and Glendale, he having decided 
 that, provided as he was with his pass from the 
 Secretary, it would be perfectly safe, and at the same 
 time a much shorter route than by the way of Peters- 
 burgh. 
 
 Leaving him for the present, then, to make his 
 way to Richmond as best he can, we will turn our 
 attention to other persons and to other scenes. The 
 interior of a comfortable farm-house, the place, and 
 early evening the time. 
 
 The family are gathered around the tea-table, and 
 are discussing earnestly the war, and the chances of 
 the success of the Northern troops. The family con 
 sisted of five persons : the husband and wife, both 
 traveling down the western slope of life, a young and 
 beautiful daughter, apparently about twenty years of 
 age, and two younger children, a boy and girl, aged, 
 respectively, fourteen and twelve years. 
 
 These latter are listening attentively to the con 
 versation going on about them, and anon interjecting 
 some childish observation, or asking some question 
 commensurate with the quaint views and ideas of 
 childish years. 
 
LOVE TO MARY HARCOURT. 431 
 
 "Well," finally observed the old gentleman, "it 
 b hard that one dare not speak their own sentiments 
 in a country like this ; my grandfather fought in the 
 revolution, my father in the war of 1812, and I, myself, 
 took a hand in the brush with Mexico ; but I never 
 dreamed of seeing the day when a man dared not 
 speak his honest convictions, for fear of having his 
 roof burnt from over his head, and, worse than all, 
 endanger even his own life, and those dearest to 
 him." 
 
 " I have always told you, William," replied his 
 good wife, " that the day would come when this fear 
 ful curse of slavery would have to be wiped out in 
 blood, and you all know now that I prophesied truly. 
 And," she added, " as for me, I have no fears for the 
 result. Our only mistake has been in casting our lot 
 and sett? ing in the South, and in the very presence 
 of an evil we could not avert." 
 
 " True, motheE," rejoined her husband, " but you 
 know I. have ever been outspoken against slavery, 
 and its attendant curses. I also flatter myself that I 
 have had some influence in mitigating, at least, the 
 condition of not a few of the black race. You re 
 member Colonel Singleton liberated his slaves at the 
 very outset of this war." 
 
 " And was compelled to flee to the North to save 
 his own life," answered his wife ; " and had we been 
 wise, we would have gone to a country more conge 
 nial to our views, and while we could have done so 
 
432 WCOWAN MAKES FORCIBLE 
 
 with safety. I am afraid," she continued, " if it be 
 comes known that our son has joined the Union army, 
 serious trouble may befall us at the hands of men 
 who have long desired an excuse for arresting you, 
 and confiscating your property ; if, indeed, they would 
 be content with sparing your life." 
 
 " If I were younger," said the old gentleman, " I 
 would defy them to do their worst ; and, as it is, 
 my only fears are for my family, not for myself. 
 Still," he added, " my neighbors are all friendly, 
 and the majority of them, though thinking differently 
 from me on these questions, are under obligations to 
 me, so that I feel I have but little to fear at their 
 hands. As to our boy, who has gone to fight for 
 the old flag, I am proud of him ; I fought for it, so 
 did my fathers before me, and I would disown the 
 child who would refuse, if necessary, to lay down his 
 life in its defense." , 
 
 And here, fired with the sentiments he had just 
 uttered, he arose from the table in an "agitated 
 manner and began to pace the floor. 
 
 "Ah," he continued, "I love that old flag, and 
 old as I am, would fight for it yet." j 
 
 Going to a case that stood in a corner of the room, 
 he took from a shelf a beautiful silken banner, and 
 holding it aloft, he exclaimed, with great earnestness, 
 "There is the flag I fight under the flag of the 
 Union and of the country our fathers fought to save." 
 
 " Father," exclaimed his eldest daughter, "you 
 
LOVE TO MARY HARCOURT. 433 
 
 forget yourself in your enthusiasm ; even now some 
 one may be outside listening ; you forget that Dan 
 McCowan and his desperate gang may be in the vicin 
 ity and give us a call at any moment." 
 
 Scarcely had the warning fell from her lips, when 
 there came a loud knocking at the door, followed by 
 a few vigorous and well-directed blows that threatened 
 to take it from its hinges. 
 
 The whole family started up in alarm, and while 
 one snatched the flag from the old gentleman and 
 hastily deposited it in its hiding - place, another 
 answered the summons from without. 
 
 The old man himself, while not frightened, was 
 somewhat disconcerted by the noise, and remained 
 standing in the center of the room, when the door 
 was suddenly burst open, revealing a body of Con* 
 federate soldiers headed by a villainous-looking fellow, 
 their leader, who now entered the room, and ap 
 proaching him, said : 
 
 ' Mr. Harcourt, I have orders to place you under 
 arrest, so you will prepare to accompany us to Glen* 
 dale at once !" 
 
 " What crime have I committed ?" demanded the 
 old man, now perfectly calm, " that you dare enter 
 my house in this manner !" 
 
 " You will know that soon enough," replied the 
 officer ; " so hustle on your duds, as we must be 
 going. Bill," he commanded, turning to a fellow 
 near him, " you will search the house and take posses- 
 
434 M { COWAk MAKES FORCIBLE 
 
 sion of anything contraband or treasonable that you 
 can find." 
 
 This order was exactly what his followers wanted, 
 as it meant really an order to plunder the house and 
 appropriate to their own use whatever articles of 
 value they found and that .pleased them to take. 
 
 As none of the family had offered the slightest 
 resistance, the unwelcome intruders had 'conducted 
 themselves, so far, very orderly. Mrs. Harcourt, a 
 kind and matronly-looking woman, with a firmness 
 and self-control, that under the circumstances was 
 .admirable, bustled about the room, getting together a 
 :small bundle of clothing for her husband to take with 
 ihim on his enforced journey to Glendale ; and anon, 
 while doing this, spoke soothing words of comfort 
 arid encouragement to the younger children, who, 
 -white and speechless with terror, were crouching in 
 the darkest corner of the room. 
 
 The eldest daughter, at a sign from her father, 
 accompanied the two men detailed to search the pre- 
 inises, and proceeded with them from room to room, 
 as they rummaged chests and drawers, appropriating 
 rvarious little articles to their own use, in spite of the 
 . indignant protest of the spirited girl at such bare- 
 laced robbery. 
 
 Finally, with much reluctance, she was compelled 
 ito admit them to her own room, and to witness their 
 imthless handling of the contents of a small trunk, in 
 2tffaich were various little articles, trinkets and me- 
 
LOVE TO MARY HARCOURT. 435 
 
 inentoes, worthless to any one else, but, of course, 
 priceless to her. 
 
 But what she most prized among them, and which 
 caused her the most alarm should they be discovered, 
 was a small packet .of letters from her brother already 
 mentioned as serving in the Union army, and a small 
 locket containing his miniature. Judge of her dismay 
 were one of the men picked up the letters, and with a 
 laugh exclaimed : " These are from your feller, I sup 
 pose ;" and then, observing the locket, he opened it 
 and with a leer on his face, said : " And this is his 
 picture, I reckon, eh ?" 
 
 " Yes," said the girl eagerly uttering, or rather 
 echoing, the falsehood. " Yes," she repeated, " please 
 don't take them, as they are of no account to any 
 one but myself." . . . 
 
 "All right," said the fellow, good-naturedly, "1 
 guess you can have them ;" as he handed them to 
 her. She eagerly seized them, trembling at the narrow 
 escape they had had from falling into the possession 
 of those, who knowing their contents, would have 
 given her pqor old father much trouble indeed. 
 
 Having completed their search, and finding noth 
 ing that could be considered of a treasonable charac 
 ter, they returned to the room below, and reported to 
 their Captain the result of their search. He then 
 ordered his men to retire to the outside, where he 
 followed them, and after consulting a short time, he 
 returned to the house and brusquely informed Mr. 
 
436 AFCOWAN MAKES FORCIBLE 
 
 Harcourt that as he had found nothing to convict 
 him of treason against the Confederate government, 
 he might go this time, but to be d d careful in the 
 future, or he would get him yet. He then slammed 
 the door behind him, rejoined his companions who 
 mounted their horses and rode slowly away. 
 
 Satisfied that they had left, the family ventured to 
 express their congratulations at the departure of 
 their unwelcome visitors, and at once set to work re 
 arranging the disordered room. They, however, felt 
 that this was only the commencement of their prose 
 cutions, and they well knew that another time, the 
 chances were that they would not escape so easily , 
 for should -it become known that their son was in the 
 Federal army, they could no longer hope to live in 
 .peace a-nd safety. The men who had visited them 
 on this occasion, were evidently strangers in the 
 neighborhood, and were, no doubt, a scouting or for 
 aging party, 'who had stopped more from a want of 
 having anything else to do, than from a desire to 
 do them any injury. They, however, knew, that from 
 those in their own vicinity, there was much more to 
 be feared ; and of one person in particular, they stood 
 in especial dread. That person was Dan McCowan, , 
 the man whose name was mentioned by Mary Har- ' 
 court, in her warning to her father, only a moment 
 before the soldiers, had entered their dwelling. 
 Dan McCowan was a man who for years had pur 
 sued the detestable calling of a negro-hunter. 
 
LOVE TO MARY HARCOURT. 43; 
 
 He was about thirty-five years of age, tall, of an 
 ungainly form, and slightly stoop-shouldered ; his 
 hair and eyes were dark, and his complexion as swar 
 thy as an Indian. His features, naturally coarse and 
 repulsive, were rendered still more so, by being 
 bronzed and hardened by long-continued exposure 
 to the weather. His only associates and his most 
 intimate friends appeared to be his blood-hounds, 
 which he used in hunting and bringing back to their 
 masters, the poor negroes who were seeking to escape 
 from a life of continued toil and bondage. The fol 
 lowing unique hand-bill, which he used to post up in 
 various places over the country, will serve to show the 
 nature of his business, and also the vast amount of 
 intelligence necessary to carry it on. 
 
 NO TIS. 
 
 The undersind talks this methed of makkin it 
 none that he has got the best NIGGER HOUNDS in the 
 state, and is always redy to ketch runaway niggers 
 at the best rates. 
 
 My hounds is well trained, and I heve hed 15 
 yeres experience. My rates is 10 dollurs per hed if 
 ketchcd in the beate where the master lives ; 15 dol 
 lurs ivi the coonty, and 50 dollurs out of the coonty. 
 
 DAN McCowAN. 
 
 N. B. 
 
 Planters should taik panes to let me know, while 
 the n j ggr,rs tracks is fresh, if they want quick work 
 and a #ood job. 
 
M'COWAN MAKES FORCIBLE 
 
 It is scarcely necessary to say that his services 
 were frequently employed to catch and bring back 
 the poor runaways, and more than once had the Har- 
 court family been awakened in the night by his 
 hounds, as they made the woods echo with their 
 baying. Often had they pictured to themselves the 
 terror of the poor wretches, over whose trail, with 
 unerring scent, swept the monsters, who would tear 
 them limb from limb, and whose only choice was 
 death at their hands or the old life of labor and the 
 lash. 
 
 Mr. Harcourt was a strong anti-slavery man. 
 Holding these views, he had ever spoken consistently 
 against slavery. He was also a man of deeds, as well 
 as words, for many a poor fugitive had been assisted 
 by him on his long and perilous journey northward 
 in search of friends and the freedom he craved. 
 
 Owing to these proclivities, and to the fact that 
 he had never taken pains to conceal his views, a 
 mutual antipathy had long existed between Mr. Har 
 court and Dan McCowan, the nigger-hunter. While 
 the latter had no direct proofs, yet he had long sus 
 pected Mr. Harcourt of being a friend to, and a 
 sympathizer with the very runaways whom it was 
 his business to catch and return to the bondage they 
 were endeavoring to escape from. Notwithstanding 
 his dislike for the father, however, the fellow had 
 conceived a violent attachment for Mary Harcourt, 
 bis daughter, and for a year past had greatly annoyed 
 
LOVE TO MARY HARCOURT. 43* 
 
 not only the poor girl herself, but the whole family, 
 by his uncouth attentions. 
 
 Finally, Mr. Harcourt told him plainly that his 
 attentions to his daughter were extremely distasteful 
 to her, and added a polite, yet firm request, that he 
 cease his troublesome visits. 
 
 Mary, who was a young lady of sweet and lovely 
 disposition, possessing both intelligence and refine 
 ment, shrank from the fellow as she should from a 
 viper in her path ; while his odious attempts to lavish 
 his unsought affections upon her so disgusted and 
 frightened her that she always avoided his presence. 
 
 Dan McCowan, however, was just the man, when 
 thwarted in his plans, to at once take steps for 
 revenge. For some time he had kept a close espion 
 age of the house and the movements of its inmates. 
 He had somehow obtained possession of the -know 
 ledge that young Harcourt was in the Union army, 
 and he determined to use this in his well-laid plans to 
 persecute the poor girl, who had been so unfortunate 
 as to have been the object of his passion. 
 
 On the day following the incidents just related, 
 Mary, who had been spending the afternoon with a 
 neighbor's family, towards evening was returning to 
 her home, when she was suddenly and most unex 
 pectedly confronted by Dan McCowan. So startled 
 was she by this unlooked-for meeting, that she 
 involuntarily gave a slight scream, as she recognized 
 who it was that stood before her. 
 
440 M'COWAN MAKES PORCIBLE 
 
 " I see as how I have skeered you right smart 
 now," said the fellow, grinmng in her face with a 
 wicked leer. . " Your father told me as how, he would 
 be much obliged to me if I would stop my visits to 
 his house, which, bein' a gentleman, I was bound to 
 do, and as I had a little something to say to you, I 
 thought this would be the time to say it." 
 
 The girl, who had now somewhat recovered her 
 composure, yet fully realizing the character of the man 
 with whom she had to deal, stood quietly looking 
 him full in the face, and said, in a tone that betrayed 
 her contempt, " I suppose I must listen to you, sir, 
 but be brief, as it is getting late, and my folks will be 
 uneasy at my long absence." 
 
 " Well, Miss Harcourt," he replied, " I will come 
 to the point at once. You have a brother, who has 
 been away from home fur some time. Do you know 
 where he is ?" 
 
 Mary was silent, and he muttered, half to himself, 
 " 1 thought so ; the whole family are traitors. No 
 more than is to be expected from these d d abo 
 litionists. I can tell you where he is," he continued ; 
 "he is on the other side, and fighting against the 
 South." \ 
 
 "And what if he is in the Federal army? He is 
 fighting for the government you and yours are seek 
 ing to destroy," answered the spirited girl. 
 
 " It don't matter much to me which side he fights 
 on ; but suppose I tell it around, that he is fighting 
 
c 
 
LOVE TO MARY HARCOURT. 44*" 
 
 w' ic Yankees, do you think it would matter to 
 hen ?" 
 
 My brother is his own man,/' replied Mary, "and 
 one is responsible for his acts ; surely they would 
 
 harm my father and us for that ; and surely you 
 
 aid not tell what you know, to injure us ?" 
 
 " That depends on you, Miss Mary," the fellow 
 .plied, now approaching closer, and attempting to 
 feke her hand. 
 
 "What do you mean, you scoundrel?" demanded 
 the girl, drawing back, while the fire flashed from her 
 eyes. " Don't offer to touch me, Dan McGowan, 
 or I'll " 
 
 " What would you do, now ?" he exclaimed ; and, 
 before she was aware of his intentions, he had sprang 
 quickly forward, seized her about the waist, and 
 placed one hand over her mouth, but not until she 
 had given one long and piercing call for help. 
 
 The fellow's base designs were evident, and that 
 he would have been successful there is no doubt ; but 
 help, fortunately, was at hand. While he was yet 
 struggling with the girl, he felt a violent clutch on 
 his collar, from behind, and before he could see from 
 whence it came he was thrown violently to the 
 ground, and was writhing under the well-directed 
 kicks, which were most lavishly bestowed upon him 
 by the new comer, who was no less a personage than 
 my operative George Curtis. 
 
 The girl had sank to the ground almost fainting 
 
442 M'COWAN MAKES FORCIBLE 
 
 from fright, but so enraged was Curtis at the scene 
 he had witnessed, that he continued to shower his 
 kicks on the miserable wretch, who roared and begged 
 for mercy, until the girl interposed, and begged him,i 
 
 for her sake, not to kill him, but to desist, and let 
 
 f '* 
 
 him go. 
 
 At this my operative ceased, more, however, from 
 mere lack of breath than from a feeling that the 
 fellow had been sufficiently punished, and allowed 
 him to regain his feet. "You contemptible, cowardly 
 brute," he exclaimed, as McCowan arose ; " I have a 
 mind to finish you, while I have my hand in. Miss," 
 he continued, turning to the girl, " I am happy to have 
 arrived in time to be of service to you. I do not know 
 anything about this difficulty, but from what I saw, I 
 concluded that I had not time to make any inquiries." 
 
 "I am very grateful to you, sir, for what you 
 have done in saving me from that villain. Look 
 out !" she exclaimed, "he has a pistol." 
 
 Curtis turned his head in time to see the fellow in 
 the act of drawing a revolver. Quicker than a flash, 
 his own weapon was in his hands, and covering the 
 man, he said, coolly : 
 
 " Drop your hands, you hell-hound, or I will blow 
 you to atoms in a second" 
 
 The fellow saw that he was foiled, and dropped 
 his hands at his sides. 
 
 Curtis advanced and disarmed him ; then, stepping 
 back a pace, he said : 
 
LOVE TO MARY HARCOURT. 443 
 
 " Go now while I am in the humor to let you ; 
 another move like that, and I will shoot you as . I 
 would a "dog," 
 
 McCowan reluctantly obeyed, and slunk away 
 muttering threats of vengeance. 
 
 My operative, however, paid no attention to him 
 now, but turned to the young lady who proceeded 
 to relate the circumstance of her meeting with 
 McCowan, from which his timely interference had 
 saved her, and ended by a cordial invitation, blush- 
 ingly given, that he would accompany her home, and 
 spend the night under her father's roof. As he was 
 anxious to find a lodging-place for the night, at any 
 rate, the detective, gratefully accepted the invitation, 
 feeling such an interest in this really beautiful girl 
 that he could not resist the desire to cultivate further 
 the acquaintance, so strangely begun. He hastily 
 brought his horse from where he had left him by the 
 roadside, and leading him by the bridle, walked by the 
 side of his companion until they reached the house. 
 As they strolled along, Mary frankly told him the 
 secret of McCowan's attack, and proceeded to explain 
 the man's . character, and the detestable nature of the 
 business in which he was engaged. 
 
 By this time, they had reached her father's house, 
 where they were met at the gate by the old gentleman 
 himself, who was alarmed and anxious at his 
 daughter's absence so far beyond her usual time for 
 return* 
 
444 M l CO WAN MAKES LOVE. 
 
 " Father," said the girl, " this is" here she paused, 
 risibly embarrassed, and gazed timidly into the face 
 of the detective. 
 
 " Pardon me," said Curtis hastily, seeing the cause 
 of her confusion; "my name is George Curtis; we 
 have been so busy talking that I had not thought of 
 
 names." 
 
 She then introduced them, and briefly related to 
 her father the cause of her detention, and her adven 
 ture with McCowan, not forgetting to mention the 
 part my operative had played in her timely rescue 
 from the villain's hands. 
 
 The old man thanked him again and again, and so 
 profusely, that Curtis begged that he would not 
 mention it, as he had done nothing more than any 
 gentleman, under the same circumstances, would have 
 done, gone to the lady's rescue at her call for help. 
 
 His horse was ordered to be taken to the barn, 
 and he himself was soon seated in the house, receiv 
 ing the tearful thanks of good Mrs. Harcourt, and 
 the object of the admiring gaze of Mary's younger 
 brother and sister, who regarded him as a hero, and a 
 person who had no small claim on their affection and 
 
CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 Curtis Again on his Travels. A Lor ing Episode* Dan 
 Me Cow an Again Turns Up. The Capture of Curtis, 
 A Fight For Life, and Escape. A Bit of Matrimony. 
 
 THE next day, my operative took his leave of 
 the Harcourt family, and continued on his way 
 to Richmond. He, however, gave them his promise, 
 that he would visit them again before long, a promise 
 he was in no wise loath to keep, as Mary had joined 
 her request to that of her father, that he should not 
 fail to give them a call, when he was in their vicinity, 
 
 The truth was my operative, who was a very ex" 
 cellent young man, and, notwithstanding his calling 
 susceptible to the charms of the fair sex, was not a 
 little smitten by the fair Mary, whom he had met 
 under circumstances that would have caused even a 
 less romantic person than himself to have fallen in 
 love with her at once. 
 
 On the other hand, the girl's feelings of gratitude 
 and adrmrL-:ion for the young man, who had rescued 
 her from McCowan's clutches, were those almost 
 akin to love ; but with true maidenly modesty, she 
 simply treated him with that delicate courtesy that, 
 while it showed plainly her high regard for him, yet 
 
 [445] 
 
446 A FIGHT FOR LIFE, 
 
 it in no way overstepped the bounds of strict pro 
 priety. It was evident, however, that she regarded 
 him as one who certainly had strong claims upon her 
 friendship and esteem. 
 
 Bidding them good-bye, then, Curtis took leave of ' 
 the family, whom he had known but a single night, 
 yet who, in that brief space, had grown to be like old 
 acquaintances ; and his regret on leaving them, was 
 very much like that in parting from old and intimate 
 friends. 
 
 Taking the route by Glendale, he, towards even 
 ing, arrived at Richmond, without any event worthy 
 of notice, and put up at Miller's Hotel. 
 
 A few weeks later found him on his return to the 
 Army of the Potomac, and in his possession impor 
 tant dispatches that he had obtained in the rebel 
 capital. As he left Richmond, the news reached that 
 city of the evacuation of Yorktown by the rebels, 
 and their retreat up the peninsula towards Williams- 
 burgh. The effect of these tidings was anything but 
 encouraging to those who had hoped that a final and 
 decisive battle would have been fought at Yorktown, 
 and the further advance of the Union troops effect 
 ually checked. 
 
 McClellan's vigorous preparations, however, for a 
 protracted siege, had decided the rebels that it 
 would be useless to risk a battle here, and they conse 
 quently determined to evacuate the place, which 
 they did on the fifth of May, and by noon of the 
 
AND ESCAPE. 447 
 
 same day McClellan's army had broken camg and 
 was in full pursuit With such celerity did he make 
 his movements, and so closely did he press the Con 
 federates, that on the following day they were com 
 pelled to make a stand, and here was fought the 
 battle of Williamsburgh, in which the rebels were de 
 feated, and continued their retreat towards Rich 
 mond. 
 
 The army of the Potomac now continued its ad 
 vance, with all the rapidity the terrible condition of 
 the roads would permit, having for its base of supplies 
 the York River, until two weeks later it rested be 
 tween the Pamunkey and the Chickahominy. It was 
 at this stage of affairs on the Peninsula, that Curtis 
 was on his return trip from Richmond. With his 
 passes in his pocket, his dispatches securely concealed 
 about him, and his trusty horse as his only com 
 panion, v he set out for his long ride to Wilson's Land 
 ing, and the headquarters of the Union army. 
 
 It was his purpose to stop by the way long 
 enough to at least inquire after the health of the 
 Harcourt family, and learn how they had fared dur 
 ing his absence. So, pushing rapidly ahead, towards 
 the close of what had been a beautiful day in May, 
 he, near nightfall, found himself at Farmer Har- 
 court's door, where he was most cordially welcomed 
 
 His jaded horse ^yas led to the barn to be watered 
 and fed, while he was soon resting his tired limbs in 
 an easy chair, while waiting a tempting supper that 
 
44* A FIGHT FOR LIFE, 
 
 was almost ready for an appetite keenly whetted by 
 his long and hard day's ride. 
 
 His object now, was to stop long enough to rest 
 himself and horse, and then push on by night and en 
 deavor to reach the Federal lines by daybreak. Mr. 
 Harcourt informed him that they had not been 
 molested by McCowan since his former visit, and that 
 it was reported that he had formed a band of Guer 
 rillas, and at their head was pillaging and robbing 
 the people in an adjoining county. 
 
 "He is an unscrupulous villain," observed the oH 
 gentleman, "and I confess I stand in no little dread 
 that he may pay us a visit at any time, in which case, 
 if we escape with our lives, we may consider ourselves 
 fortunate. I have," he added, " fully made up my 
 mind to take my family, leave my home here, and, if 
 possible, go North, where a man of my way of 
 thinking can live in security and peace. If I were 
 younger, I would enlist, myself, but my fighting days 
 are past." 
 
 " I trust you may soon be able to get away from 
 here," said Curtis ;" and as the Union army is now 
 advancing up the Peninsula, you can, I think, with 
 little danger, make your way into its lines." 
 
 He then informed him of the evacuation of York- 
 town, and of the retreat of the Confederates, and 
 advised him to hasten his arrangements to go North, 
 while this opportunity afforded him a way to do so 
 with safety. 
 
AND ESCAPE. 449 
 
 After the evening meal was over the family seated 
 themselves on a pleasant little porch, that ran along 
 one side of the old-fashioned house, facing the west, 
 and in the deepening twilight they sat and talked 
 over the trying times, and united in their wishes for 
 a speedy termination of the fratricidal conflict. 
 
 Thus the evening passed until near ten o'clock, 
 when my operative informed his friends that he must 
 take his departure, as he was determined, if possible, 
 to reach the Union lines by daybreak. 
 
 The whole family urged him to pass the night 
 with them ; but finding him bent on going, his horse 
 was ordered to the door, and he prepared to take his 
 leave. 
 
 He shook hands with the good farmer and his 
 wife, and looked anxiously around for Mary ; surely 
 she would bid him good-bye before he went away, 
 but she was nowhere to be seen. He even lingered 
 a few moments, hoping she would return ; she did not, 
 however, put in an appearance ; so, leaving his regards 
 for her with her parents, he mounted his horse, and 
 with a heavy heart rode along down the long, narrow 
 lane that led from the house to the main road 
 
 He could not understand why the girl should 
 have absented herself just as he. was taking his leave ; 
 could it be that he had in any way offended her, that 
 she should avoid him on purpose ? Revolving the 
 matter in his mind, and feeling that hereafter he 
 would take pains to avoid the Harcourt mansion, he 
 
 H -- ^ 
 
4^0 A FIGHT FOR LIFE, 
 
 now approached the terminus of the lane, still buried 
 in thought, when his horse, becoming frightened, shied 
 slightly to one side ; hastily raising his eyes, he saw, 
 to his amazement, the object of his thoughts standing 
 by the roadside. 
 
 He checked his horse, and, in a tone that betray 
 ed his astonishment, exclaimed, " You here, Miss 
 Mary !" 
 
 " Yes," she answered, evidently a little confused, 
 " I wanted to see you a little while alone. I trust you 
 will pardon me for adopting the means I have to 
 secure a short talk with you." 
 
 By this time Curtis had dismounted, and was 
 Standing at her side. 
 
 " Well, what is it, Miss Harcourt ? I am happy 
 o be at your service in any way in my power." 
 
 ''Thank you," she answered, hastily, "you have 
 iplaced me under obligations to you, but I venture to 
 :-night to ask one favor more." 
 
 " It is granted already," said Curtis. 
 
 Thanking him again, she proceeded : " You know 
 
 >,my brother is in the Union army, and I have not 
 
 *heard from him for several weeks ; I wish you would 
 
 try to get ,this letter to him, and, if it is not asking 
 
 -too much," she added, hesitatingly, "will you kindly 
 
 *ibring me his reply, or at least some word that I may 
 
 iknow he is safe and well ?" 
 
 Curtis took the letter from her hands, and, de- 
 gpositing it safely .in an inside pocket of his coat, he 
 
AND ESCAPE, 4$* 
 
 said * " I will do my best to deliver the letter, and, 
 should I not return soon with an answer, you may 
 know something unavoidable has detained me." 
 
 As he stood there, gazing earnestly into the sweet 
 face of his fair companion, a sudden purpose to then 
 and there declare his love for her came into his mind. 
 With him, to resolve was to act ; extending his hand, 
 he took hers in a friendly clasp, and said : " Miss 
 Harcourt, I am going to bid you good-bye, with the 
 hope of seeing you again very soon ; but I will not 
 conceal from you the fact, that, in the fortunes of 
 war, it is possible that we may never meet again. 
 Under these circumstances, then, I make bold to 
 tell you to-night something that, ordinarily, I would 
 not mention until your longer acquaintance with me 
 would make it appear more proper, at least so far as 
 society rules are concerned. 
 
 " Miss Harcourt," he continued, still holding the 
 hand that now lay passively in his, " in the short time 
 I have known you I have learned to love you, and I 
 am confident time only will strengthen that love. I 
 do not ask your answer now ; when we meet again, if 
 we do, you can tell me my fate. If your answer then 
 should be nay, I will try to bear it like a man, 
 respecting you none the less even if I fail to win th?e 
 love I would so highly prize. Good-bye, darling f 
 and lightly pressing her hand to his lips, he threw 
 himself into his saddle, and giving his noble animal 
 the rein, dashed away, leaving Miss' Harcourt stand- 
 
45 A FIGHT FOR LIFE. 
 
 ing in a half-dazed manner, straining her eyes after 
 his figure, that in the pale moonlight was rapidly dis 
 appearing from her view. 
 
 Curtis now set off for the headquarters of the 
 Union army. Our friend pushed on, and shortly 
 after midnight arrived at the Landing, and from here 
 faced about to the east, and in the direction of 
 Williamsburgh, where the Union army, victorious in 
 the battle just fought, were encamped. 
 
 He now slackened his speed somewhat, to rest his 
 jaded steed, and, dropping the reins, allowed him to 
 take a moderate walk, while he himself fell into a deep 
 reverie over the events of his trip. 
 
 On this occasion he had been very successful in 
 his work in the rebel capital, and had, so far, effectually 
 escaped any suspicion as a spy. Considering the 
 watchful vigilance that at this time was maintained 
 by the rebels, Curtis had indeed done well ; and it 
 was with feelings of thorough satisfaction that now, 
 near the close of his arduous journey, and when he felt 
 reasonably secure from being molested, that he re 
 laxed somewhat his usual vigilance, and allowed him 
 self and animal a much needed rest. 
 
 He was not, however, destined to get through 
 so easily as he had anticipated As he entered a ' 
 small clump of timber, and while he was unsuspecting 
 any danger at this nearness to the Union camp, two 
 mounted men suddenly made their appearance from 
 the side of the road, and from where they had been 
 
AND ESCAPE. 453 
 
 concealed in the bushes, and, holding their cocked 
 weapons at his head, commanded him to halt. 
 
 At the same instant, men came pouring in from 
 both sides of the woods, that here skirted his path, 
 and almost before he could realize his situation, or 
 who were his assailants, he was overpowered, taken 
 from his horse, and securely bound. 
 
 He soon discovered his captors were a band of 
 guerillas, who had been quartered in the grove, and he 
 had by the merest chance stumbled right into their 
 midst. While he was quickly debating in his mind his 
 chances for escape, and his probable fate at their 
 hands, he was led into the presence of the captain of 
 the band, who, with a few of his followers, had 
 evidently been sleeping about a camp-fire that had 
 now burned low, leaving only a bed of glowing 
 embers, that cast a faint light on the swarthy faces of 
 the rough-looking men that now grouped yawningly 
 about it awaiting his coming. 
 
 " Who have you here," asked the Captain, as the 
 party escorting Curtis came up, 
 
 " Don't know, Capten," laconically answered one 
 of the men ; " we jest now found him and handed 
 him in here without askin' him enny questions ; but 
 here he is, you can talk to him yourself." 
 
 Curtis was now unbound, and led forward, and 
 stood facing the Captain. As their eyes met, the 
 recognition was mutual and instantaneous ; in the 
 man that stood before him, my operative recognized 
 
454 A FIGHT FOR LIFE, 
 
 no less a personage than Dan McCowan, the man 
 whom he had so unmercifully drubbed on a former 
 occasion, which has already been described. 
 
 At the same moment, McCowan saw who it was 
 that had so unexpectedly fallen into his hands, arid 
 with a wicked laugh and a horrible oath, he sprang 
 forward, and clutching him by the throat, exclaimed : 
 
 " By G d, I have been looking for you for some 
 time ; it is my turn now." 
 
 It was evident that the fellow in his rage meant 
 murder; but Curtis, who was both brave and cool, 
 besides being strong and active, wrenched loose from 
 his grip, and springing hastily backward, he dealt him, 
 with the rapidity of lightning, a powerful blow 
 between the eyes, that felled him like an ox. Then, 
 before the lookers-on could scarcely realize what had 
 taken place, he leaped over the form of the pros 
 trate man, and disappeared in the darkness of the 
 wood. 
 
 The Captain by this time regained his feet, and 
 showering curses upon his men for a pack of cowardly 
 idiots, started off in pursuit, followed by a half a 
 score of his fellows, who now, in order to conciliate 
 their enraged leader, determined to retake the detec 
 tive at all hazards. / 
 
 Fortunately for Curtis, he had been allowed to 
 retain his weapons, and being fleet of foot, he had 
 but little to fear. 
 
 He soon succeeded in eluding his pursuers, and, 
 
AND ESCAPE. 453 
 
 shortly after daylight, found his way into the Union 
 camp. 
 
 He then reported to me with his dispatches from 
 Richmond, and related his adventures here re 
 corded. 
 
 I ought to state, however, that he did not, at that 
 time, inform me of his proposal to Miss Harcourt ; 
 but after remaining with me until the close of the 
 war, during which time he made many trips to and 
 fro between Richmond and the headquarters of the 
 Federal army, after the struggle was ended and we 
 both had retired to the life of a citizen, he, as a sales 
 man in a business house in Chicago, I to my business 
 as a detective in the same city, then it was he related 
 the story of his courtship, and the manner in which 
 he wooed and won the woman who was then, and 
 still is, his wife. As for the Harcourt family, they 
 made their way to the North, by the aid of my oper 
 ative and young Harcourt, and the courtship between 
 Curtis and the daughter was kept up until the close 
 of the war, when they were married. 
 
 1 also say, that they are still living happily 
 together, surrounded by an interesting family of 
 children, who with childlike eagerness clamber on their 
 papa's knees to hear him tell them stories of the war, 
 and his adventures before they were even born, 
 a period that to them seems ages and ages ago. 
 
 Dan McCowan was killed in an attack that his 
 party, led by him, made on a band of our scouts, 
 
456 A FIGHT FOR LIFE, AND ESCAPE 
 
 ( 
 
 shortly after the occurrence of the incidents described 
 in this chapter. 
 
 I would fain have dwelt longer on the work of 
 young Curtis, and noted more minutely the impor 
 tance of his labors in the secret service, but a lack of 
 space and time compel me here to drop him with the 
 passing comment, that he was an excellent operative, 
 and that he so faithfully and efficiently did his work, 
 that the subterranean headquarters, with its , % .orps of 
 operatives, never did the Union cause any ptactical 
 harm, but a great deal of good, in furnishing intel 
 ligence of the movements and intentions of the rebel 
 forces. 
 
 MIGHT ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. 
 
CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 McClellan and his Enemies. The Peninsula Campaign. Tk* 
 R;bel Forces Before Richmond. The Union Forces Out 
 numbered by the Enemy, and their Commander Hampered 
 By Superiors. An Honest Opinion. 
 
 IT is not my purpose to attempt to detail the vari 
 ous movements of the army, to describe the bat 
 tles which were fought, or to chronicle the victories 
 and defeats which were achieved and sustained by the 
 brave soldiers who fought under the flag of the 
 Union. That duty belongs to the historian ; mine 
 simply to relate the experiences of my own men in 
 the delicate, dangerous and laborious duties which 
 devolved upon them: Far less is it my desire to 
 enter into a discussion upon the various subjects that 
 have, since that fratricidal conflict, engrossed the at 
 tention of the student of history. 
 
 I trust, however, that I may be pardoned, if, for a 
 time, I depart from the main narrative and devote a 
 brief space to the consideration of that much dis 
 cussed subject, the campaign of the Peninsula. 1 
 make no pretension whatever to being a military \ 
 scholar, nor in any sense a military man, but my 
 connection with the government during the war, and 
 participation in the movements of the Army of the Po 
 
 [457] 
 
45* THE REBEL FORCES 
 
 tomac, together with my long and intimate acquaint 
 ance with its commander, General McClellan may en 
 title me to a brief expression of my own views of that 
 campaign. I may be pardoned, also, if I attempt to 
 ascribe to their proper source, some of the causes 
 which contributed largely to the disasters that at 
 tended it. 
 
 There can be no doubt of the fact, that the young 
 commander-in-chief was subjected to the persecu 
 tions of the most malignant political intriguers, who 
 feared that his growing popularity would result in 
 political exaltation. Taking advantage of the fact, 
 therefore, that General McClellan was an avowed 
 Democrat, a scheming cabal was working to weaken 
 his influence with the people by vague insinuations 
 against his loyalty to the Union cause. To further 
 that end, his plans, so carefully and intelligently ma 
 tured, for the speedy crushing of the rebellion, were 
 either totally disregarded by an unfriendly cabinet, or 
 were so frequently thwarted, that to successfully carry 
 them out was an utter impossibility. 
 
 As I have always been a faithful adherent of the 
 maxim, " speak the truth, though the heavens fall," 
 and believing it to be a doctrine, that if practically 
 carried, will right all wrongs, uphold the innocent, 
 administer censure where deserved, and praise where 
 it is due, I have invariably attempted to form my 
 judgment of my fellow-men upon their own intrinsic 
 merits. 
 
BEFORE RICHMOND. 459 
 
 Whatever may have been his faults as a man, his 
 mistakes as a General, he was throughout unflinch 
 ingly loyal to the cause of the North. With him it 
 was but one sentiment, and one ambition to whip the 
 rebels into subjection and manfully did he perform 
 his duty toward the accomplishment of that object. 
 Much of the censure which has been heaped upon 
 him and his conduct as Commander of the Army of 
 the Potomac, is due to a hasty and inconsiderate 
 judgment of the man and his motives, or the result 
 of direct prejudice and ill-will. In the eyes of his 
 critics his great fault lay in what they considered his 
 inexcusable delay in moving against the enemy in the 
 Spring of 1862, after, as they supposed, he had ample 
 time to prepare his army for the field. 
 
 From this point began the open and unfriendly 
 criticisms which were designed to excite an impatient 
 people, who did not, and could not, understand why 
 active operations were not at once begun. This delay 
 was adroitly used by scheming politicians to cast the 
 shado.v of disloyalty upon a man, who never for one 
 moment entertained a disloyal thought, nor performed 
 a single action which he did not believe would re- 
 dound to the credit and honor of the Union troops, 
 and of the Government which he served. 
 
 My acquaintance with General McClellan began 
 before the war, and when he was the Vice-President 
 of the Illinois Central Railroad. That coiporation 
 had, on frequent occasions, employed my services in 
 
460 THE REBEL FORCES 
 
 various operations affecting their interests, and in this 
 way I first met and became associated with the Gene 
 ral. From this date began my warm regard for the 
 man, which during the many years that have passed, 
 has known no diminution. 
 
 I knew the man so well, and my confidence in his ^ 
 integrity and patriotism was so thorough, that a doubt 
 of his loyalty never entered my mind. Many of my 
 old-line abolition friends went so far as to reproach 
 me for my steadfast adherence to McClellan, and 
 accused me of abandoning my principles. I, however, 
 knew my own ground, and held it. I knew that the 
 General was not an abolitionist, but that he was not 
 a patriot I could not believe for a moment. I have 
 always thought, and my opinion remains unchanged to 
 this day, that had he been left free to carry out his 
 plans in the Peninsula campaign, the Army of the 
 Potomac would have escaped the disasters that befell 
 it ; Richmond would have been reduced, and occupied 
 by the Federal troops; and victory instead of defeat 
 would have crowned their heroic efforts from the 
 river to the rebel seat of government. 
 
 " How do you account for General McClellan's 
 'masterly inactivity* during all these months that his 
 army lay at Washington ?" is asked. Ah, there is the 
 mistake. It was anything but inactivity, and it is 
 beginning to be pretty generally understood now 
 what he was doing at that time. 
 ^ More than one writer on the campaigns of the 
 
BEFORE RICHMOND. 461 
 
 Civil War, has taken occasion to say that the splen 
 did achievements of the Army of the Potomac at 
 subsequent periods, and under other commanders, 
 were mainly due to the careful drilling and the rigid 
 discipline inculcated under McClellan. At the time 
 he was called to the command of the army it was 
 nothing better than a band of disorganized men, who 
 had not recovered from the defeat of Bull Run, and 
 whatever efficiency it attained, was accomplished by 
 the indefatigable efforts of General McClellan and 
 the officers under his command. 
 
 The South, at the outbreak, was far better prepared 
 for war than the North. For months preceding the 
 election of Mr. Lincoln the people of the South were 
 secretly preparing for a struggle. They had even 
 then determined, if beaten by the ballot, to resort to 
 the bayonet, and to decide upon the battle-field the 
 questions which they failed to settle by fair discussion 
 and honest legislation in the National Congress. The 
 people of the North, on the contrary, being so long 
 accustomed to submit to the expressed will of the 
 majority, apprehended no danger. While they were 
 keenly alive to the important nature of the issues pre- 
 sented in the campaign, they did not dream that the 
 new party, if successful, would have a gigantic civil 
 war on its hands as the result of its triumph in a 
 contest peaceably decided by the silent yet all-power 
 ful ballot Resting in this fancied security from 
 
462 THE REBEL FORCES 
 
 danger, the war was a surprise, for which they were 
 but illy prepared. 
 
 I need not detail the situation of affairs when the 
 news flashed over the wires that Fort Sumter was 
 fired upon. Suffice it do say, that the South was up 
 in arms, in full preparation almost, before the North 
 could realize that war was at hand. 
 
 The first great battle of the war was fought, and 
 the Union troops suffered a most humiliating defeat, 
 falling back in disordered crowds upon Washington, 
 and at this time General McClellan took command 
 and brought order out of chaos. 
 
 The community did not seem to consider, or to 
 understand, that it was necessary to spend so much 
 time in drilling the troops and making elaborate prep 
 arations for the field. But the commanding officer 
 was too good a general to imitate the impetuous ac 
 tions of his predecessors, and to make an aggressive 
 campaign with raw and undisciplined troops. It was 
 in consequence of this, that months were spent in 
 the patient and persistent task of properly organiz 
 ing, drilling and equipping his men for the field, and 
 in the spring of 1862, when the army did move, in 
 the language of the General, it was one " from which 
 much was to be expected." 
 
 Unfortunately, however, at the very outset, the 
 General and the President had each matured a plan 
 for the conduct of the war, and, in many respects, 
 these where diametrically opposed to each other. At 
 
BEFORE RICHMOND. 463 
 
 this point the question might be asked, whose plan 
 should have been followed ? 
 
 By the Constitution, the President is the Com- 
 mander-in-Chief of all the armies and the navy of 
 the United States, and is, of course, ex-officio, the 
 highest military authority in the land. " But if a 
 President disclaims all knowledge of military affairs," 
 as President Lincoln did, "it then becomes a question 
 how far he should defer the conduct of a war to his 
 appointed Commander-in-Chief, who is supposed to 
 be chosen, on account of his skill and sagacity in 
 military matters, and upon his presumed fitness for 
 the position." 
 
 In President Lincoln's hesitation between the ad 
 vice of his Generals in the field, and the views urged 
 by his Cabinet lay the foundation of many of the 
 blunders and mistakes of the war, the trouble being, 
 as one writer affirms, that " instead of one mind, there 
 were many minds influencing the management of 
 military affairs." As the result of this there was a 
 lack of concert and action between the two heads of 
 the military department, and at the critical period of 
 the campaign, McDowell's forces were held at Wash 
 ington when McClellan expected him to re-enforce 
 the army of the Potomac. 
 
 Notwithstanding all that has been said and writ 
 ten upon this subject, I have no hesitation in express 
 ing the opinion, that had not the President and his 
 advisors, stood in such ungrounded fear for the safety 
 
464 THE REBEL FORCES 
 
 of Washington, and had not 'withheld McDowell's 
 forces at a time when their absence was a most 
 serious blow to the plans of General McClellan, the 
 close of the year would have seen the Rebellion 
 crushed, and the war ended. 
 
 At the commencement of the campaign I had an 
 interview with General McClellan, and he expressed 
 the. utmost confidence in his ability, provided his 
 plans were fully supported and carried out, to gam 
 the objective point of the war, and to accomplish the 
 reduction of the rebel capital. My force of operatives 
 had been diligently at work in procuring what in 
 formation that was possible of attainment, of the 
 numbers of the enemy, an-d with such success that in 
 March I was able to report the approximate strength 
 of the rebel army at 115,500 men, apportioned about 
 as follows : 
 
 At Manassas, Centerville and vicinity, 80,000 
 
 " Brooks' Station, Dumfries, &c., . . 18,000 
 
 " Leesburg, 4,500. 
 
 In the Shenandoah Valley, .... 13,000 
 
 Total, 115,500 
 
 In gaining this important information, Timothy 
 Webster, Pryce Lewis, John Scobell and a host of 
 other efficient members of my force, some of whom 
 have already been mentioned in these pages, deserve 
 especial credit for their sleepless energy in prosecut 
 ing the work that had been assigned to them. 
 
BEFORE RICHMOND. 463 
 
 On the 4th of April the forward movement was 
 made, and the siege of Yorktown was begun. The 
 result of this seige the student of history already 
 knows, a simple detention of the Army of the Poto 
 mac, until the enemy could occupy and fortify Rich 
 mond. Mere is where McClellan suffered from the 
 detention of McDowell at Washington he had pre 
 pared a plan with McDowell as one of its principal 
 actors, and with that force withdrawn, the General's 
 intentions were not only radically interfered with, 
 but seriously deranged. 
 
 During this time the rebel army was being daily 
 reinforced and strengthened, until, by June 26th, its 
 numbers were swelled to nearly 200,000 effective 
 men. McClellan, on the contrary, starting as he did. 
 with a smaller army than he thought was necessary 
 to cope with the enemy, found himself, when before 
 their fortifications, after being deprived of McDowell's 
 division, with an army of less than 90,000 effective 
 troops. 
 
 Another element in this campaign must not be 
 lost sight of. The Navy, whose co-operation and as 
 sistance had been promised and relied upon, was un 
 able to aid him at all. Can it be wondered at, there 
 fore, that his plans, however well laid, and whatever 
 their merits, viewed from a military stand-point, or 
 the stand-point of common sense, failed in their 
 execution. 
 
 One writer, in speaking of the treatment of Gen- 
 
466 THE REBEL FORCES 
 
 eral McClellan, has well said : "A general of high 
 spirit and sensitive soul might have found in the 
 government's action the occasion for sending in his 
 resignation; but General McClellan continued in 
 command, accepted the situation, and endeavored to 
 make the best of it." 
 
 And still another has said, although inclined to be 
 partial and unfair, in his account of the battles of 
 Antietarri and Fredericksburg : 
 
 "His capacity and energy as an organizer are 
 universally recognized. He was an excellent strategist, 
 and, in many respects, an excellent soldier. He did 
 not use his own troops with sufficient promptness and 
 vigor to achieve great and decisive results, but he 
 was oftener successful than unsuccessful with them ; 
 and he so conducted affairs that they never suffered 
 ; heavily without inflicting heavy loss upon their adver 
 saries. It may appear a strange statement to follow 
 ;the other matter which this volume contains, but it 
 rts none the less true, that there are strong grounds 
 
 'for believing that he was the best commander the 
 o 
 
 Army of the Potomac ever had." Concluding a com- 
 parisan, that redounds much to the credit of Gen 
 eral McClellan, both as a soldier and a patriot, the 
 same writer says : 
 
 " A growing familiarity with his history as a 
 soldier, increases the 1 disposition to regard him with 
 iTespect and gratitude, and to believe, 'while recogniz 
 ing the limitations of his nature, that his failure to 
 
BEFORE RICHMOND. 467 
 
 accomplish more was partly his misfortune, and not 
 altogether his fault." 
 
 . General McClellan knew much better than soem 
 of his self-appointed critics the numbers and strength 
 of the enemy. He knew from the reports "of the, 
 secret service that the general estimate of the rebel 
 army at, and around Richmond, was far below their 
 real numbers. 
 
 My shrewd and daring operatives, men and 
 women trained for the work, moved in and out 
 among the Rebel troops at all times and places. 
 From actual observation they gathered, the location, 
 character and strength of their fortifications, and 
 from actual count the estimates were made of the 
 numerical strength of the opposing army. 
 
 Suffice it to say, that I knew of my own knowl 
 edge, and General McClellan knew from the reports 
 I kid before him, the fearful odds against which he 
 bad to contend in the bravely fought but disastrous 
 campafgn of the Peninsula.* 
 
 * See detailed statement in Appendix. /' 
 
CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 Webster's Expedition. His Gallantry. >A Stormy Passage.* 
 A Mysterious Package. Treason Discovered and Pun 
 ished. 
 
 IT was Christmas morning, in Washington, and 
 the bells were ringing merrily throughout the 
 city. The sun was just peeping over the hills, and 
 lighting up the winter landscape with a beauty and 
 brilliancy that would defy the skill of an artist. 
 Washington was alive with soldiers. Throughout 
 the city the military was the predominating element;, 
 and for miles around the country was dotted with the 
 white tents that marked the encampments of the 
 country's defenders. Thousands of muskets gleamed 
 in the morning light, as with the rattle of the drum 
 or the shrill blast of the bugle, the reveille awoke the 
 hills and valleys- from the deathlike silence and slum 
 ber of the night. 
 
 The Union army was encamped around th j 
 capital, and General McClellan was in command. ' 
 For months the process of drilling and disciplining 
 the volunteer troops had been going on under his 
 watchful eye and masterful hand, and the " Army of 
 the Potomac " was rapidly approaching a degree of 
 [ 4 68] 
 
TREASON DISCOVERED AND PUNISHED. 469 
 
 efficiency that was eminently calculated to make them 
 formidable adversaries to their reckless and deter* 
 mined enemies. 
 
 This morning, at my headquarters on I street,' 
 Timothy Webster was engaged in completing his 
 arrangements for another extended journey into 
 Rebeldom. By this time he had succeeded in 
 thoroughly ingratiating himself into the favor of the 
 rebel authorities, and at the War Department in 
 Richmond he was regarded as a trusted emissary of 
 the Confederate government. 
 
 Upon the trips which he had previously made he 
 had carried numerous letters from Northern residents 
 to their secessionist relatives in the South, and then, 
 upon returning, he had delivered communications 
 from Southern people to individuals north of the line. 
 Of course these letters and communications, before 
 being delivered to the parties to whom they were 
 addressed, .were first submitted to the inspection of 
 trusted employees of my office, and anything which 
 tended to convey information of the movements and 
 intentions of the Southern leaders was carefully noted, 
 and the Federal authorities duly notified. By this 
 means a double purpose was served. Webster not 
 only won the entire confidence of the Southern 
 authorities, but he was very frequently the bearer of 
 important dispatches, whose contents were often 
 valuable to the Northern leaders. 
 
 After finishing his preparations, Webster came in* 
 
47oj TREASON DISCOVERED 
 
 to my room, where Mr. Bangs and I were seated, and 
 announcing his readiness to start, inquired if I had 
 aoy further orders for him. 
 
 " I am ready now, Major," said he, cheerily, " have 
 you any further commands ?" 
 
 " No, Webster," said I, " I believe everything has 
 been carefully arranged, and I have no commands to 
 give except for you to take good care of yourself." 
 
 " I'll try to do that," he replied with a laugh, and 
 then, tapping his breast lightly, where his letters were 
 sewed into the lining of his waistcoat, ." I will take 
 care of my mail too." 
 
 With a warm clasp of the hand, and a hearty 
 good-bye, Webster went out into the bright sunlight 
 and frosty air of a winter's morning, and was soon 
 lost to view. 
 
 Procuring a conveyance, Webster left Washing 
 ton, passing the guards without difficulty, and made 
 his way toward Leonardstown, in Maryland. This 
 journey was accomplished without event or accident, 
 and early on the following morning, he drove up be 
 fore the hotel, and was warmly greeted by John 
 Moore, the landlord of the hostelry at that place. 
 
 This Moore was a strong secessionist at heart, 
 although openly professing to be a Union man, and 
 regarding Webster as a Southern emissary his greet 
 ing was always cordial, and his hospitality unstinted 
 The air was cold and frosty, and riding all night in a 
 stagecoach, which was far from being weather-pr^t 
 
AND PUNISHED. 471 
 
 Webster was chilled through when the stage stopped 
 before the comfortable inn of John Moore. Very 
 soon, however, a jug of steaming punch, and the gen 
 ial warmth from a fire of crackling logs in the large 
 open fire-place, were instrumental in loosening the 
 stiffened joints of my tired operative, and contribut 
 ing materially to his comfort. 
 
 "Well, John/' said Webster at length, "what is 
 the prospect for crossing the river to-night ?" 
 
 " We can't cross here at all any more, Webster," 
 replied Moore, with an oath ; " the damned Yankees 
 are too sharp for us." 
 
 " Is there no way of getting over about here at 
 all ?" asked Webster, somewhat troubled at the un 
 expected information. 
 
 " There^s a way for some people," replied Moore 
 with a laugh, and a significant wink, "and I guess 
 you are included in the number." 
 
 " All right/"' said Webster, immeasurably relieved, 
 "but how do we manage it ?" 
 
 " Well," replied Moore, " you will have to -go up 
 to Cob Neck, and then I will see that you are taken 
 care of." 
 
 Cob Neck is a point of land extending out from 
 the main shore, about fourteen miles distant from 
 Leonardstown, and was very well adapted for the 
 purpose in view. On each side of the point, or neck, 
 there was a wide bay or inlet where a boat could put 
 out, and the ground, which was soft and marshy, was 
 
17* TREASON DISCOVERED 
 
 completely covered with a growth of pine thickets 
 and underbrush, which prevented the placing of vigi 
 lant/ pickets at this point. Being perfectly acquainted 
 with the locality named, Webster had no fears of be 
 ing able to get safely across the Potomac into Vir 
 ginia, and then continuing his way to the rebel 
 capital. 
 
 " By the way," said Moore, " I have a favor to 
 ask of you, Webster." 
 
 " Well/' replied Webster, " anything I can do 
 will be cheerfully done for you, Moo're." 
 
 4< I know that, Webster," said Moore, heartily, 
 u and there is no one in the world I would rather 
 oblige than you. The fact is, I have got two ladies 
 here, who are wives of army officers, now stationed 
 in Richmond, they have been living North for some 
 tkne, and are anxious to get to their husbands ; they 
 have three children with them, and I want you to take 
 charge of the party, and see them safely on their 
 way." 
 
 " I'll do that with pleasure," replied Webster, 
 " and I'll take good care of them, too." 
 
 That night, about nine o'clock, a close-covered 
 carriage was driven away from the hotel, in the 
 direction of Cob Neck. John Moore and Timothy 
 Webster sat on the driver's seat, while within were 
 the families of the rebel officers, who had been placed 
 in my operative's charge. Reaching their destina 
 tion in safety, the party alighted, and walking out to 
 
AND PUNISHED. 473 
 
 the end of the point, Moore uttered a shrill whistle, 
 which was immediately answered in the same manner. 
 Soon they heard the splashing of oars, and in a few 
 minutes a boat was discernable through the darkness, 
 and the voice of a man called out : 
 
 " Here I am, Cap'n ! on time, as ye see." 
 
 "All right, Tom," replied Moore, "I've got a 
 party here that you must take good care of." 
 
 " Very well, Cap'n, I'll do the best I can, but I'm 
 afraid the wind ain't right tor landin' on t'other side." 
 
 44 Well," said Moore, "you must do your best, and 
 I guess you will get over all right." 
 
 The night was dark and cold, the wind was blow 
 ing sharp and chill, and heavy clouds were shifting 
 overhead. The river was running swiftly, and was of, 
 that inky blackness that invariably presages a storm. 
 The wind through the low pines was sighing like a 
 human being in distress, and the ladies gazed fear 
 fully and shudderingly at the dark waters and the 
 frail craft which was to carry them to the opposite 
 shore. Webster uttered words of courage and 
 assurance to the shrinking ladies, and assisted in com 
 fortably bestowing them in the boat, and then, with a 
 parting salutation to John Moore, the boat pushed off 
 from the shore. 
 
 After getting clear of the land they hoisted sail, 
 and were soon flying rapidly over the water, before 
 the driving wind. As the wind was against them, 
 they were obliged to make short and frequent tacks. 
 
474 TREASON DISCOVERED 
 
 and thus their approach to the opposite S!HK \vas 
 accomplished by slow and labored degrees. The 
 ladies were huddled together in the stern, clasping 
 their frightened children nervously in their arms, 
 while Webster, active and alert, rendered such assist 
 ance in managing the boat as was in his power. 
 
 " The storm's coming !" shouted the boatman, 
 after a long silence, "and the women had better cover 
 up." 
 
 The storm came, sure enough. A blinding rain, 
 icy cold,, which beat pitilessly down upon the unpro 
 tected voyagers, while the little vessel rocked to and 
 fro at the mercy of the dashing waves. The wind 
 suddenly changed, the frail yacht gave a sudden 
 lurch, and in a twinkling the keel of the boat was 
 heard scraping upon the bottom of the river, and they 
 were aground. They had been blown out of their 
 course, and had drifted into the shallow water, a mile 
 below their landing place, and within a hundred feet 
 of the shore. 
 
 Without a moment's hesitation, Webster bade the 
 boatman lower his sail, and then, jumping into the 
 water, which was waist deep, and as cold as ice, he 
 took two of the children in his strong arms, and carried 
 them safely to the river-bank. Returning again, he 
 assisted in carrying the ladies and the remaining 
 child ashore, although he was so chilled that his lips 
 were blue and his knees knocked together with the 
 cold. The nearest place of shelter was a ftiile away, 
 
AND PUNISHED. 473 
 
 but unmindful of the cold and the pelting storm, 
 Webster cheered his companions by his hearty words, 
 and bidding the boatman take care of one of the 
 children, he picked up another, and the weary party 
 set out to walk through the icy rain to the little hut, 
 whose welcome light was gleaming in the distance. 
 
 Thanks to a flask of good brandy, which Webster 
 fortunately had with him, the ladies were strength 
 ened and sustained sufficiently to make the journey ; 
 and when they arrived at last at the comfortable 
 cabin, their words of gratitude to Webster were 
 heartily and unstintingly uttered. 
 
 After warming themselves before the fire, and 
 drying their drenched and dripping garments as far 
 as practicable, the ladies retired to another room, 
 leaving Webster, who, overcome with fatigue, was 
 obliged to sleep in his wet clothing in the room to 
 which they were first admitted. Unmindful of him- 
 .self, however, his only solicitude was for the ladies 
 who had been placed in his charge, and after they 
 haa been comfortably disposed of, he prepared to 
 take his own much-needed rest. 
 
 He spread a blanket before the roaring blaze, and 
 was about to stretch his weary limbs upon it, when 
 he noticed, lying upon the floor, a short distance 
 from him, a small packet, wrapped in oiled-cloth, and 
 tied with red tape. It had evidently been dropped 
 by one of the ladies, and its loss had escaped her 
 notice. Picking it up, he examined it carefully by 
 
476 TREASON DISCOVERED 
 
 the light of the fire, and to his surprise he found that 
 it was directed to Mr. Benjamin, the Rebel Secretary 
 of War. As "all things are fair in love and war/* 
 Timothy lost no time in secreting the precious docu 
 ment about his own person. He had no objection at 
 all to assisting two ladies to reach their husbands, 
 even if they were enemies ; but he objected decidedly 
 io lend his aid to the forwarding of dangerous in 
 formation to those who were fighting against the 
 cause he held so dear. His conscience, therefore, 
 gave him but little uneasiness as he pocketed the 
 mysterious little packet, and with the resolve to dis- 
 covei its contents on the morrow, he stretched himself 
 before the burning logs, and was soon sound asleep. 
 
 The next morning, when he arose, his clothing 
 was dry, but he' experienced acute pains in his limbs, 
 and a sense of weariness, that boded no good to his 
 physical condition. Ignoring his own ailments, how 
 ever, he busied himself in securing the comfort of his 
 charges, and after a hearty breakfast, the party set 
 out upon their trip to Richmond. They traveled for 
 several miles in an ox-cart, and then by team, to a 
 place called Hop Yard Wharf, on the Rappahannock 
 River. Here the party embarked on a steamboat, 
 and traveled as far as Fredericksburg, where Webstei 
 was obliged to remain for two days, owing to an acute 
 attack of rheumatism, which was caused by his ex 
 posure in behalf of the ladies, whose safety he had 
 undertaken to insure. At this time he received a 
 
AND PUNISHED. 477 
 
 striking illustration of the gratitude which one earns 
 by the performance of a kindly act of self-sacrifice. 
 No sooner had the boat landed -at Fredericksburg, 
 than these ladies expressed their impatient desire to 
 push on directly to the rebel capital. Notwith 
 standing Webster's precarious condition, the danger 
 in leaving him alone, and the fact that his sufferings 
 had been occasioned by his efforts in their behalf, 
 these high-toned Southern dames, intent only upon 
 their selfish pleasures, left him to his own resources, 
 and without displaying the slightest interest in his 
 welfare they wer>t their way, and Webster, unable to 
 move himself, was obliged to depend upon the services 
 of absolute strangers, for that care and attention of 
 which he stood in so much need. 
 
 It was while he was detained at Fredericksburg 
 that he seized the opportunity of examining the pack 
 age, which had come into his possession in the little 
 cabin at Monroe's Creek. Removing the enfolding 
 wrappers, he discovered that the contents of the bun 
 dle were complete maps of the country surrounding 
 Washington, with a correct statement of the number 
 and location of the Federal troops. Several items of 
 information were also conveyed, in regard to the 
 probable intentions of the Union Commanders in 
 the coming spring. From the nature of this informa 
 tion, it was evident that a trusted officer of the 
 Federal government was unfaithful to his duty, and 
 was assisting the enemies of the country Webster 
 
4*8 TREASON DISCOVERED 
 
 congratulated himself upon the lucky chance which 
 had thrown this little packet in his way, and he re 
 solved to forward the same to me at the first oppo 
 tunity that occurred. 
 
 On the second day, though suffering severely, he 
 was able to resume his journey, and taking the train 
 at Fredericksburg he was soon approaching the City 
 of Richmond. Immediately upon his arrival, he re 
 paired to the office of the Secretary of War, and de 
 livered the letters which he had brought with him 
 from the North, and which were to be forwarded to 
 their various addresses by the Confederate authorities. 
 Mr. Benjamin warmly congratulated Webster upon 
 his success in passing through the Union lines, and 
 for the information which he brought. He furnished 
 him with passports, which would enable him to journey 
 unrestricted and unquestioned throughout the South 
 ern dominions, and requested a further interview at 
 a 'later day. 
 
 Leaving the War Department, he went to the 
 Monumental Hotel, where he engaged a room for 
 himself, and where he found Mrs. Lawton, who had 
 remained in the city during his absence. Mrs. Law- 
 ton informed Webster that she had just received a 
 visit from Mr. Stanton, another of my operatives, 
 who had arrived in Richmond from Nashville, Tenn., 
 and that he was going to attempt to leave for Wash 
 ington that night 
 
 This was a lucky chance, and Webster resolved 
 
AND PUNISHED. 479 
 
 to see Stanton, and entrust to him the conveyance of 
 the packet that had so fortunately come into his 
 hands. Knowing the places at which he woi^Ji be 
 most apt to be found, he made a tour of the city, and 
 was at length fortunate enough to discover the man 
 lie was in search of. Selecting a secluded place, 
 Webster confided his package to Stanton, instructing 
 him to deliver it to no one but myself under any cir 
 cumstances, and then, feeling the need of rest, he 
 went back to the hotel, and shortly afterward retired 
 to bed. The next day he was unable to move. His 
 sufferings were excruciating, and for weeks he was, 
 compelled to endure the agonies of an acute attack 
 of inflammatory rheumatism, which confined him a 
 prisoner to his bed. 
 
 Leaving Webster at the Monumental Hotel, we 
 will return to the movements of my operative, who 
 had been delegated to deliver the package which 
 Webster had found. Mr. Stanton arrived safely in 
 Washington, and after rendering a report of his own 
 observations upon his journey from Nashville to 
 W&shington* he produced this packet of Webster's, a 
 careful examination of its contents revealed to me 
 the author of the treasonable communications. 
 
 His name was James Howard, a native of the 
 South, and he was a clerk in the Provost-Marshal's 
 office. ' I had frequently seen his handwriting, and 
 knew it perfectly. There could be no possibility of 
 mistake about this, and I lost no time in laying before 
 
480 TREASON DISCOVERED AND PUNISHED. 
 
 the commanding officer, the proof of the suspected 
 man's guilt. Howard was confronted with the evi 
 dence against him, and finding it impossible to deny 
 the truth, he confessed his treason, and implicated 
 several others in the conspiracy. Before the shades 
 of night had fallen over the tented city, James How 
 ard, and his treasonable confederates, were placed 
 within the enfolding walls of the old capital prison, 
 and behind iron bars were left to meditate upon the 
 heavy price they had paid for an attempt to betray 
 their country. 
 
 " HAIL COLUMBIA 1" 
 
CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 JL.tivity in Washington. Webster s Journey Through Tk* 
 South. His Return to the Capital. 
 
 DURING the month of January, 1862, I was 
 actively engaged in the city of Washington. 
 With a part of my force, I was acting in conjunction 
 with General Andrew Porter, the Provost-Marshal of 
 the district, while the remaining portion was assisting 
 General McGlellan in obtaining reliable information 
 about the topography of the Southern country, and of 
 the number and disposition of the Southern troops. 
 
 Almost every day witnessed some incident of im 
 portance to the national cause, and my time was fully 
 occupied with the numerous and responsible duties 
 which necessarily devolved upon me. Mr. George 
 H. Bangs, who is now the general superintendent of 
 my agencies, was detailed to the headquarters of the 
 army, while I remained in charge of my office on " I " 
 street, although I was kept fully informed by daily 
 reports of whatever transpired at both places. As 
 may readily be imagined, my office was no sinecure. 
 Many times I was obliged to deprive myself of 
 needed rest and sleep, engaged in laborious duties 
 31 [481] 
 
482 WEBSTER'S JOURNEY 
 
 from early morn far into the waking hours of the 
 succeeding day, and for weeks scarcely obtaining a 
 peaceful night's slumber. The capital was filled with 
 suspicious personages, with Southern spie?, and their 
 Northern allies, and frequently officers of the govern 
 ment, holding elevated positions, would be discovered 
 in secret, but active correspondence with the rebel 
 authorities. Arrests were numerous, and the search 
 ing of suspected premises of almost daily occurrence, 
 while the large number of men employed by me re 
 quired constant and unceasing personal surveillance. 
 
 In the army it was astonishing what rapid prog 
 ress had been made in drilling and disciplining the 
 large, and, for the most part, untried force of soldiery. 
 The commanding general was engaged in perfecting 
 tiis plans for a campaign against Richmond, and in 
 order to do this intelligently, much information was 
 required of the condition of the country through 
 which the aimy must pass, and of the number of the 
 ^enemy he would be likely to encounter. The obsta- 
 vdes that must be overcome, the defenses which 
 <would impede his passage, and all the minutia of 
 war-like particularities, were mainly left to be dis 
 covered by the men in the secret service department, 
 of which I was the authorized leader, and responsi 
 ble head. Engaged in these duties the month of 
 Janraary passed away. Numerous operatives had 
 'been dispatched into the hostile country before us, 
 ;and had made their examinations, and returned, con- 
 
THROUGH THE SOUTH. 4*3 
 
 veying to me and to the commanding general items of 
 valuable information which could have been obtained 
 in no other way. 
 
 We will now follow the movements of Timothy 
 Webster, whom we left in Richmond struggling with 
 his old and relentless enemy, the rheumatism. 
 
 After a painful confinement to his bed for nearly 
 a week, he was at last able to move about once more, 
 and in a few days thereafter was strong enough to 
 uundertake a journey which he had been contemplat 
 ing for some time. 
 
 In company with one of the largest contractors 
 for the rebel government, he leffRichmond for Nash 
 ville, Tennessee. Mr. Campbell, the contractor, was 
 engaged in the purchaser of leather and desirous of 
 purchasing directly from the tanner, instead of de 
 pending upon the dealers, who might not be able to 
 supply him in such quantities as he required. Trav 
 eling with this gentleman, and armed as he was, 
 with an all powerful passport from the Secretary of 
 War, Webster would have every opportunity for 
 making his observations without incurring the slight 
 est suspicion. During this journey he traveled 
 through Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville, in 
 Tennessee, then to Bowling Green, in Kentucky, and 
 then, on his return, he passed through Manassas and 
 Centreville, carefully noting in his passage through 
 the country the number and condition of the variooa 
 troops, the number and extent of batteries and fortt- 
 
484 WEBSTER'S JOURNEY. 
 
 fications, and eliciting an amount of information that 
 seemed wonderful for one man to accomplish. He 
 made the acquaintance of commanding officers, and 
 conversed unreservedly with them upon the various 
 matters connected with their divisions, and their 
 movements, present and perspective. He carefully 
 examined the fortifications that had been erected, and 
 the number of guns they contained. He talked with 
 the private soldier and the civilian, and in fact, on 
 his return to Richmond, was as well informed with re* 
 gard to the military resources of the enemy as were 
 the generals themselves. Rejoiced at his success, 
 and carefully noting what he had witnessed, Webster 
 prepared to return North. 
 
 Visiting the War Department and the office of 
 the Provost-Marshal, he received from Mr. Benjamin 
 and General Winder a large number of letters and 
 several important commissions, which were to be 
 delivered and attended to after he should arrive in 
 Washington and Baltimore. 
 
 Leaving Richmond, he safely passed the pickets 
 and outposts of both Federals and rebels, and 
 reported to me. His trip had been a most important 
 and successful one, and the information he brought 
 was most invaluable. Webster seemed as well 
 pleased at his success as were either General 
 McClellan or myself, and after a short rest announced 
 himself as quite prepared to make another journey to 
 the South, whenever his services should be required 
 
CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 Webster's Last Mission. Anxiety at his Long Absence. N* 
 Tidings of the Faithful Scout. Operatives Sent in 
 Search of him. Webster III in Richmond. 
 
 IN the latter part of January, 1862, another packet 
 of rebel mail matter had accumulated, and the 
 various articles, which Webster had agreed to pur 
 chase for the residents of Richmond and vicinity, 
 were ready for delivery, and Webster prepared him 
 self for another journey into the South. While in 
 Washington he had not experienced any painful 
 reminders of his old disease, and he was impatient to 
 be actively employed once more. 
 
 Accordingly, everything was arranged for his trip, 
 and early one bright winter's morning he came, as 
 was his custom, to bid me farewell. 
 
 I often recall, and with an emotion that I cannot 
 control, the appearance of Timothy W T ebster, as I 
 saw him that day. Brave, strong and manly, he 
 stood before me. The merry twinkle in his eyes seemed 
 to belie the sternness of the set lips, which were even 
 now curved with a smile of good humor. No trace 
 of fear or hesitancy was apparent in his manner. 
 He seemed to be animated solely by an earnest desire 
 
 [485] 
 
ANXIETY AT WEBSTER'S 
 
 to serve his country to the best of his ability. He 
 well knew, as did I, that his journey lay through a 
 hostile country ; that danger was lurking everywhere 
 around him, and that if his true character was discov 
 ered, the consequences would, no doubt, prove fatal to 
 him. Notwithstanding this, there was no quivering of 
 the compact muscles, the hand that grasped mine was 
 as firm as iron, and the brave heart that throbbed in his 
 bosom was insensible alike to a thought of shrinking, 
 or a desire to evade, the responsibility that devolved 
 upon him. 
 
 After a few words of necessary caution and with 
 good wishes for his welfare and safe return, Timothy 
 Webster took his departure, and went his way. I 
 did not know then that I had looked upon his face 
 and manly form for the last time, and no hint or 
 warning of his subsequent fate came to me as I sat 
 watching his retreating figure. But to this day, I can 
 picture him with sentiments of pride, in his valor and 
 services, and regrets, deep and heartfelt, for the brave 
 man who but a few months afterwards laid down his 
 life for his country. 
 
 For some time previous to this journey of Web- j 
 ster's, Mrs. Lawton had been located at Leonards- 
 town, where she had assiduously cultivated the ac 
 quaintance of the most important people in that local 
 ity, whose sympathies were with the Southern cause, 
 and whose assistance to Webster and herself would 
 be valuable in time of need 
 
LONG ABSENCE. 4 Sy 
 
 Among this number was a man whose name was 
 Washington Gough, a wealthy secessionist, who was 
 one of the most active in his efforts to assist the 
 Southern blockade-runners in crossing over into Vir 
 ginia, and in eluding the watchfulness of the Federal 
 pickets. Through her acquaintance with this man, 
 Mrs. Lawton was enabled to acquire much valuable 
 information from those who sought the aid of Mr. 
 Gough in obtaining the facilities for reaching the 
 rebel lines in safety. 
 
 With Gough, Webster was a prime favorite, and 
 so thoroughly had my operative ingratiated himself 
 into the favorable opinion of this rebel gentleman, 
 that any service which would be required would be 
 performed without question or delay. Mrs. Lawton 
 was invited to make the house of Gough her home, 
 while in Leonardstown, and by her charms of mnaner 
 and conversation proved a powerful ally to Webster 
 in the discovery of important secrets relating to the 
 movements and intentions of the enemy. 
 
 Webster's footing with the rebel authorities was 
 also firmly established, and every one of them with 
 whom he came in contact yielded to the magic of his 
 blandishments and was disposed to serve him when 
 ever possible. 
 
 An event which happened about this time fully 
 justified this assertion. It appeared that during 
 Webster's absence from Leonardstown, a gentleman 
 by the name of Camileai had crossed over the river, 
 
488 ANXIETY AT WEBSTER'S 
 
 and although a noted secessionist in his own immedi 
 ate vicinity, was not known to any one upon the 
 other side of the water. He was accordingly arrested 
 and placed in confinement. The appeals of his 
 friends and relatives were unavailing in securing his 
 release, and the captive chafed terribly under the 
 burden of his captivity. At length, on Webster's ap 
 pearance, the matter was presented to him, and he 
 was entreated by Camilear's relatives to intercede in 
 his behalf. He promised to do so, and indited a let 
 ter to the officer who had the prisoner in charge, re 
 questing his release, and giving assurances of the 
 man's fealty to the Confederate government. In a 
 few days the prisoner was returned to his home, and 
 was informed by the officer, that only the protesta 
 tions made by Webster had been sufficient to accom 
 plish his release. From the highest to the lowest, 
 the confidence in Webster was universal. 
 
 On this last mentioned trip Webster decided to 
 take Mrs. Lawton with him, and having obtained my 
 sanction to his proposition, he journeyed to Leon- 
 ardstown and communicated his wishes to the lady, 
 who was nothing loath to accompany him. They 
 accordingly made their preparations, and in the dark 
 ness of the night they made their way to the river- 
 bank where an oyster boat was in waiting to cross the 
 river. Mrs. Lawton wore an overcoat and felt hat 
 belonging to Webster, and to a casual observer ap 
 peared very masculine in her habiliments. The river 
 
LONG ABSENCE. 489 
 
 was entirely clear of vessels, and the journey was 
 made in perfect safety. As they neared the opposite 
 bank the moon shone out brightly, and revealed the 
 "p-jngy" to the rebel pickets, who were known by 
 Webster, and from whom he expected no interference 
 or opposition. 
 
 The lights on shore revealed the stations of these 
 pickets, and as they were expecting his return Web 
 ster called out loudly : " Pickets ! Pickets ! !" 
 
 There was no response to this call, and to his 
 dismay the lights were suddenly extingiushed. The 
 boatman was greatly frightened at this proceeding, 
 and was in momentary dread of being fired upon ; 
 but Webster reassured him, and continued his loud, 
 but ineffectual calls for the guard. 
 
 Finding it impossible to attract the attention of 
 those who should have been upon the lookout for 
 him, Webster assisted the boatman in landing their 
 trunks, after -which the " pungy " was pushed off from 
 the shore, and soon afterwards disappeared in the 
 darkness. 
 
 Webster and his companion wandered about for 
 more than an hour, and it was nearly midnight when 
 they came to a farm house, where their approach 
 was heralded by the loud barking of numerous dogs, 
 who were aroused by the unwonted presence of 
 human beings, and were diposed to resent their ap 
 proach. 
 
 The noise of the dogs brought the farmer to his 
 
ANXIETY AT WEBSTER'S 
 
 door, who demanded, in no very gentle terms, to 
 know who they were, and what had brought them 
 there at that unseasonable hour. In a few words 
 Webster explained the situation, and the genial 
 farmer bade them welcome, and safely bestowed them 
 for the night. 
 
 They had scarcely retired, when they were aroused 
 by a loud knocking at the door, which was discovered 
 to have been made by the pickets from the adjoining 
 camp, who demanded to know who the new-comers 
 were, and stated that they had been ordered to bring 
 them immediately before an officer of the guard, two 
 miles away. 
 
 " Why didn't you tell them that, when they called 
 out to you before ?" inquired the farmer, in a con 
 temptuous tone. 
 
 " Well we did not know who they were," answered 
 the leader of the party, " and we did not think it was 
 safe." 
 
 " Oho ! you were afraid of them, were you, and 
 ran away ?" 
 
 At this point, Webster, who had heard the con 
 versation, made his appearance at the door, and 
 demanded to know what was wanted. 
 
 The leader of the guard again explained his nr is- 
 sion, and demanded that Webster should accompany 
 him to the camp 
 
 " Tell your commander that I will not stir from 
 this house until morning. My name is Timothy 
 
LONG ABSENCE. 491 
 
 Weoster. I am in the employ of the Confederacy, 
 and if you had answered my call, there would have 
 been no difficult) 1 
 
 Finding that Webster was determined, the men 
 went away, and left the household to their repose. 
 The next morning Webster reported at the camp, 
 and requested to see Major Beale, the officer in com 
 mand. He was informed, that this gentleman was 
 stationed twenty miles away, and upon telegraphing 
 to him, the answer was returned : " Let Webster go 
 where he pleases." 
 
 The day was cold and stormy, and the roads were 
 in a wretched condition, but notwithstanding this 
 Webster pushed on to Fredericksburg, and after de 
 livering some letters and merchandise which he had 
 brought for residents there, he pushed on to Rich 
 mond. 
 
 Taking up their quarters at the hotel, they re 
 solved to wait until the following day before 
 commencing their operations. During the night, 
 however, Webster's malady returned, and he suffered 
 terribly from his old enemy, the rheumatism. In the 
 morning he was helpless, and unable to move. 
 
 From this time, I heard nothing further from him 
 directly, and for weeks was utterly ignorant of his 
 movements or condition. I began to grow alarmed. 
 Hitherto, his visits had not occupied more than three 
 or four weeks, and he had always succeeded in escap 
 ing suspicion, and evading being detained by either 
 
492 ANXIETY AT WEBSTER'S 
 
 force through which he would necessarily be obliged 
 to pass. As the days and weeks passed, and brought 
 no tidings from him, my apprehensions became so 
 strong that I resolved to send one or two of my men 
 to the rebel capital, in order to ascertain the cause 
 of his unusual and long-continued absence. 
 
 My anxiety was equally shared by General 
 McClellan, with whom Webster was a great favorite, 
 and who placed the utmost reliance upon his re 
 ports. One evening, early in February, the General 
 called upon me, and advised the sending of one mes 
 senger, or two, for the sole purpose of hunting up 
 Webster, or discovering some trace of him. I in 
 formed him that I had already considered the neces 
 sity of some such action, and was upon the point of 
 submitting the matter for his approval. Finding the 
 General thus fully in accord with the proposition, I 
 at once selected two of my men for this important 
 mission. After mature consideration, I decided upoa 
 despatching Price Lewis and John Scully upon this 
 delicate quest. My reasons for this selection, were 
 that both Scully and Lewis had been connected with 
 other operations in Baltimore, in company with Web 
 ster, and had thus been enabled to form the acquaint 
 ance of a great number of secessionists in that city, 
 some of whom had gone South, while others, who 
 remained at home, had influential friends in Rich 
 mond. During these operations, both Lewis and 
 Scully had pretended the most earnest and sincere 
 
LONG ABSENCE. 493 
 
 sympathy for the cause of the Confederacy, and were 
 known as ardent secessionists. This, I concluded, 
 would materially assist them after reaching Richmond, 
 particularly if they should be fortunate enough to 
 meet any of their old Baltimore associates. They had 
 also been engaged upon various investigations through 
 the Southern States, and especially in Western Vir 
 ginia, where they had rendered good service in the 
 early campaigns in that section of the country. I had, 
 therefore, no doubt of their ability to perform the 
 task assigned to them, and felt perfectly satisfied that 
 they would perform their duties to the best of that 
 ability. 
 
 Requesting their presence in my private office, I 
 broached the matter to them, and submitted tho 
 question of their undertaking this task to their own 
 election. Upon operations of this kind, where there 
 was danger to be incurred, where a man literally took 
 his life into his own hands, and where death might be 
 the result of detection, I invariably placed the ques 
 tion upon its merits, before the person selected for 
 the mission, and then allowed him to decide for him 
 self, whether he would voluntarily undertake its 
 accomplishment 
 
 I did this for various reasons. In the first place, 
 I felt very loath to peremptorily order a man upon 
 an enterprize where there was every possibility of 
 danger, for in the event of fatal result, I should be 
 disposed to reproach myself for thus endangering the 
 
494 ANXIERY AT WEBSTER'S 
 
 lives of those under my command. It is true, that 
 under their terms of service, and by virtue of the 
 authority vested in me, I had the undoubted right to 
 issue such order; but I always preferred that my men 
 should voluntarily, and without urging, signify their 
 willingness to undertake hazardous missions. Again, , 
 I have invariably found, that the ready and cheerful 
 officer performs the most acceptable service, and that 
 the absence of fear or hesitation are sure passports 
 to success ; while on the other hand, should there be 
 timidity or unwillingness, or a disposition to avoid 
 danger, success is rarely, if ever, attained. 
 
 It is but just, however, to state that during my 
 
 entire connection with the secret service of the gov 
 
 
 
 ernment, I never found any of my men disinclined to 
 undertake an operation that was delegated to them ; 
 but on the contrary, I alwa} > experienced the utmost 
 cheerfulness and ready support from those who so 
 valiantly served under my orders. Nor was I dis 
 appointed in the present instance. On presenting 
 the case, with all its attendant dangers, to Price 
 Lewis and John Scully, both of them signified, with 
 out the slightest hesitation, their voluntary desire to 
 go to Richmond, and to make the inquiries, which 
 were considered of so much importance by both 
 General McClelkin and myself. 
 
 But few instructions, and very little preparation, 
 were required for this journey, and in the afternoon 
 both men were prepared to start I did not deem it ad* 
 
LONG ABSENCE. 49$ 
 
 visable to provide them with any goods, &s was some 
 times the case, in order to furnish an excuse for their 
 blockade-running experiences, for the reason that 
 their journey would be much delayed, owing to the 
 impassability of many of the roads. I did, however, 
 cavse a letter to be written, apparently by a rebel 
 spy, then in Washington, and which was directed to 
 Webster. This letter introduced the two men to 
 Webster as friends of the South, and informed him 
 that his old route back was no longer a safe one, 
 owing to the presence of Federal troops in that 
 locality, and advising him to select some other and 
 less hazardous one on his return to Washington. I 
 did this to guard against their being suspected and 
 detained after reaching the rebel lines, as, upon 
 presenting this, they would at once be known as 
 Southern emissaries, and given safe conduct to the 
 capital. Provided with this letter, and with full 
 verbal instructions as to their manner of proceeding, 
 they started from Washington late on the evening of 
 the 1 4th of February. As an additional safeguard, I 
 sent along with them an operative by the name of 
 William H. Scott, who was well acquainted with the 
 various Federal commanders, and who was to see 
 them safely across the Potomac river. 
 
 The three men departed in good spirits, and, 
 though fully conscious of the danger before them, 
 thoroughly resolved to successfully accomplish what 
 they had undertaken. 
 
496 ANXIETY AT WEBSTER'S 
 
 Prior to despatching these men, I had some mis* 
 givings that there might be still remaining in Rich 
 mond some of those families who, while residing in 
 Washington, had been suspected of sympathizing 
 with, or furthering the cause of the Confederacy, and 
 whose papers had been seized, and themselves trans 
 ported beyond the lines. Among the most noted of 
 these were the families of Mrs. Phillips, of South 
 Carolina, and of Mrs. Ex-Gov. Morton, of Florida, 
 who had been residing in Richmond for a short time. 
 To satisfy myself upon this point, I made extensive 
 inquiries from deserters, refugees and contrabands, 
 and learned, from a variety of sources, that Mrs, 
 Phillips had gone to Charleston, and that Mrs. 
 Morton and her family had departed for their home 
 in Florida. Believing my information to be reliable, 
 I felt reassured, and then the men were selected. 
 
 While these men were making their way to Rich 
 mond, Webster was suffering excruciating pain, con 
 fined to his bed, and unable to move. During all 
 this time, he was carefully attended and nursed by my 
 resident operative, Mrs. Hattie Lawton, and through 
 the long, weary days and sleepless nights, no patient 
 ever had more careful nursing, or more tencrer con 
 sideration than did Timothy Webster, from the brave 
 true-hearted woman who had dedicated her life and 
 her services to the cause of her country and its noble 
 defenders. 
 
 This was the state of affairs on the last day of 
 
LOW& ABSENCE. 
 
 497 
 
 January, and when the information which Webster 
 had gained would have been of vast importance and 
 benefit to the cause of the Union, but which, lying an 
 agonized invalid in a Richmond hotel, he was unable 
 to communicate to those who were anxiously awaiting 
 his return. And now, leaving Webster at Richmond, 
 and with Price Lewis and John Scully on their way 
 to the rebel capital, we will return to Washington* 
 and watch the events which were transpiring at the 
 capital. 
 
 EXCHANGE OF PJUSONERS. 
 
CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 MtClellan and the Government. Lewis and Scully Arrested 
 as Spies. An Attempted Escape. Trial and Convic 
 tion. Condemned to Die. Before the Gallows thrir 
 Mouths are Opened. 
 
 THE month of February added its slowly passing 
 days to those that had preceded it, and as yet no 
 hidings were received from Timothy Webster, or from 
 ihose who had gone in search of him. W. H. Scott had 
 returned, and reported that they had safely passed 
 <over the Potomac River, and landed upon rebel soil, 
 ; but further than this, I had no information that tended 
 to allay my anxieties, or to give assurance of their 
 safety. 
 
 In the meantime, the troops around Washington 
 had n?t been idle. Reconnoissances had been made 
 from time to time, by the advance-guard of the arrny, 
 land skirmishes with the enemy were of frequent oc 
 currence. These movements were of great impor 
 tance, not so much from the actual results of victories 
 attained, as for the education which it imparted to 
 the troops, in accustoming them to the presence of 
 their foes, and giving them confidence wtile undei 
 sfire. 
 
LEWIS AND SCULLY ARRESTED. 
 
 General McClellan had completed his plans for 
 the investment of the rebel capital, and the public 
 mind was in a state of feverish anxiety and expecta 
 tion for the forward movement of the troops. The 
 popular cry of " On to Richmond," was echoed from 
 lip to lip throughout the entire country. Every one, 
 except those who knew and realized the danger and 
 difficulties to be encountered and overcome, were 
 filled with an enthusiasm which only regarded results 
 and never considered the cost of their accomplish 
 ment. Extravagant ideas of a struggle which should 
 be " short, sharp and decisive," were the only ones 
 entertained by the great army of " stay at homes," 
 and the question of caution, foresight and sagacity 
 was left to the consideration of those who must brave 
 the dangers of the field, and face the deadly fire of 
 their determined enemies. 
 
 Added to this a feeling of dissatisfaction began to 
 display itself in high circles at Washington. The 
 delay, which General McClellan wisely deemed neces 
 sary for the perfect equipment and education of his 
 army, was being used as a pretext by those who 
 envied the young commander, to detract from his 
 reputation, and to impair the confidence which a 
 united people had reposed in his loyalty and ability. 
 The President was besieged by importunate cavillers, 
 the burden of whose refrain *was the defamation of 
 the hero of West Virginia, and it is not surprising, 
 however much to be regretted, that Mr. Lincohi 
 
5o LEWIS AND SCULLY 
 
 gradaally permitted their clamors to disturb him, 
 and eventually partook of some of the distrust with 
 which they endeavored to impress him. From ' a 
 legitimate and wise desire to prevent an untimely di- 
 vulgence of his plans, General McClellan had, up to 
 this time, kept his ideas and opinions to himself and 
 confined his military discussions to but a few of his 
 immediate officers, and those whom he had known 
 and trusted for years. This manner of proceeding 
 was not to the taste of some of the leading men in 
 high places at that time, who deemed themselves as 
 .competent to confer with and advise the commanding 
 general, as those whom he had chosen. In order to' 
 soothe their wounded self-pride they had recourse to 
 a species of revenge not admirable, to say the least. 
 They plied the ears of the President with comments 
 derogatory to McClellan, and with innumerable sug 
 gestions of pet schemes of their own conception^ 
 which would, in their opinion, undoubtedly end the 
 war with surprising alacrity. The result of these 
 onslaughts was, that McClellan was required by Mr. 
 Lincoln to unfold his own carefully arranged plans to 
 a council of generals, for their consideration and ap 
 proval. To this "wicked and ignorant clamor" he 
 was obliged to yield, and it is not to be wondered at, f 
 that his proposed movements were betrayed, and 
 that not long afterwards he was subjected to the 
 mortification of having his army divided into 
 corps, against his wishes, and their commanders ap. 
 
ARRESTED AS SPIES. 501 
 
 pointed without consulting him, and without his 
 knowledge. Subsequently he was compelled to sub 
 mit to having the conduct of the war in Virginia 
 placed in charge of inexperienced, irresponsible and 
 jealous-minded officers, whose antipathy to him was 
 as well known as it was unceasing and violent. 
 
 Notwithstanding all this, the general pursued his 
 way. His army was organized, his plans prepared. 
 The defense of Washington was provided for, as he 
 thought, in the most complete manner possible, and 
 in command of a noble army, which had grown up 
 under his immediate guidance and control, the brave 
 commander started upon his campaign. 
 
 During the month of March, 1862, the forward 
 movement was commenced. By divisions the army 
 was transported from Alexandria to their point of 
 destination upon the Peninsula, and on the first day 
 of April, General McClellan embarked, with his head 
 quarters, on the steamer " Commodore," reaching 
 Fort Monrce on the afternoon of the following day. 
 
 At this point we will leave the army, to follow the 
 movements of my operatives, and detail their experi 
 ences in the rebel capital, although the facts were not 
 reported to me until a long time after their actual 
 occurrence. 
 
 Price Lewis and John Scully reached the city of 
 Richmond without accident or delay, and at once 
 established themselves in the Exchange Hotel, where 
 they remained quietly for the night The next 
 
LEWIS AND SCULLY 
 
 morning they started out to search for Timothy 
 Webster, and for the purpose of obtaining reliable 
 information of him they went to the office of the 
 Richmond Enquirer, for the proprietors of which 
 Webster had frequently carried letters, and purchased 
 goods while in the North. Here they were informed 
 that Webster was confined to his bed at the Monu 
 mental Hotel. Repairing at once to the place where 
 they were directed, they were shown to Webster's 
 room, and here they found the brave fellow, lying a 
 weak and helpless invalid, attended by Mrs, Lawton v 
 whose attentions to him were unremitting. There 
 was also in the room, a Mr. Pierce, a warm Southern 
 friend, whose friendship for Webster was of long 
 standing, and whose visits to the sick man were of 
 daily occurrence. 
 
 The recognition between them was a most formal 
 and undemonstrative one, and no one would have 
 suspected that they were engaged in the same 
 vocation, and acting under the same authority. 
 During the short interview that ensued, Webster was 
 fretful and ill at ease. Knowing the sentiments of the 
 people as he did, and associated as intimately as he 
 was with the most prominent of the Confederate ) 
 authorities, he was fcarfu* that the precipitate and ! 
 unheralded appeararce of "iis companions might lead 
 to their being suspected. ; <.s well as to attaching sus 
 picion to himself. 
 
 The few words of conversation, therefore, that 
 
AJRRESTED AS SPIES. 503 
 
 ensjed, were marked by a constraint which was 
 uncomfortable to all parties, and the visit was of 
 short duration. When they called again upon Web 
 ster, they found with him a rebel officer from the 
 Provost-Marshal's office, who was a friend of Webster, 
 and who visited him frequently. 
 
 Webster introduced his two friends to Captain 
 McCubbin, for that was the man's name, and after a 
 few minutes, that officer inquired : 
 
 " Have you gentlemen reported at General Win 
 der's office ?" 
 
 " No, sir," replied Lewis, "we did not think it 
 was necessary, having fully reported to Major Beale, 
 and received his permission to travel." 
 
 "It zs necessary for you to report to the Provost- 
 Marshal here, and I now give you official notice of 
 the fact," said McCubbin, laughingly. 
 
 "Very well/* returned Lewis, "we will do so as 
 early as possible." 
 
 " Any time within a day or two will answer/' said 
 the officer. 
 
 Webster watched the rebel captain carefully 
 while he was speaking, and he thought he detected 
 beneath his careless, laughing demeanor, an element 
 of suspicion, which he did not like, and more than 
 ever he deplored the fact that my men had visited 
 him so soon, or had appeared to be acquaintances of 
 his. However, the mistake had been made, if mis 
 take it was, and he resolved to give the matter as 
 
504 LEWIS AND SCULLY 
 
 little concern as possible, trusting that his anxiety 
 was ill-founded, and that all would be right in the end. 
 On the following morning my two operatives 
 presented themselves at the office of the Provost- 
 Marshal, and meeting Captain McCubbin there, they 
 were soon introduced to General Winder, who oc 
 cupied that position in the rebel capital. After they 
 had been formally introduced to General Winder, 
 that officer made very minute inquiries, as to the 
 antecedents and the business of the two men before 
 him, although no word was mentioned, that led either 
 of them to believe that they were suspected of being 
 other than they seemed. They informed the Marshal 
 that they were natives of England and Ireland, that 
 Scully had been in America nearly three years, while 
 Lewis had arrived only eighteen months before ; that 
 one of them had been connected with a prominent 
 dry-goods house in New York city, and the other 
 represented, a London publishing firm, whose office 
 was located in the same city. They also stated that 
 in Baltimore they had become acquainted with W. 
 H. Scott, who had informed them of great oppor 
 tunities for making money by smuggling goods into 
 the Confederacy, and that this visit had been made 
 to afford them the knowledge requisite to embarking 
 in such an enterprize. They had agreed to deliver 
 the letter, which Mr. Scott gave them, to Mr. Webster, 
 which they had done, and further than this their 
 Intimacy with either gentlemen did not extend. 
 
ARRESTED AS SPIES. 505 
 
 This interview was conducted in a very pleasant 
 manner by General Winder, and after they had fully 
 answered all the questions which had been pro 
 pounded to them, they took their leave, being politely 
 invited by the General to call upon him whenever 
 convenient. 
 
 Congratulating themselves upon the fortunate 
 outcome of a visit which they had looked forward to 
 with more or less solicitude, they repaired to Web 
 ster's room to give him an account of what had trans 
 pired 
 
 They had not been seated very long, when a de 
 tective from the Marshal's office made his appearance, 
 and after apologizing for his visit, inquired from what 
 parts of England and Ireland the two men had come ; 
 stating also, that General Winder desired the in 
 formation. 
 
 After this man had left, Webster turned to his 
 companions and in as firm a voice as he could com 
 mand, said : 
 
 "Get away from Richmond immediately! There 
 is danger brewing. ^You are certainly suspected, and 
 it may go very hard with all of us, unless you leave 
 the city at once !" 
 
 . "Why do you think so ?" inquired' Scully, in a 
 skeptical tone. " We certainly cannot be suspected, 
 and I am confident that you are alarming yourself 
 unnecessarily." 
 
 A spasm of pain prevented Webster from reply*. 
 
5 o6 LEWIS AND SCULLY 
 
 ing immediately ; but when the agony had somewhat 
 subsided, he answered : 
 
 " I tell you that man never would have come here 
 with that question unless there was something >vrong. 
 You must, indeed, get away, or the consequences will 
 be serious." 
 
 Scarcely had he uttered these words, when there 
 came a sharp rap at the door, which, upon being 
 opened, revealed the forms of two men, one of them 
 being George Cluckner, a detective officer attached 
 to the Provost-Marshal's office, and the other no less 
 a personage than Chase Morton, a son of ex- 
 Governor Morton, of Florida, whose house in Wash 
 ington my operatives had at one time assisted in 
 searching. 
 
 The consternation of Lewis and Scully may well 
 be imagined, and the latter, without uttering a word, 
 walked rapidly towards the open doorway and disap 
 peared, leaving Lewis, filled with astonishment and 
 apprehension, to pass the ordeal of an introduction. 
 The sal-utations between them were, as may be 
 conjectured, not of a very cordial character ; and after 
 the merest form of politeness, Lewis bade Webster 
 good-evening, and left the room. At the top of the 
 landing he found Scully awaiting him, and they were 
 about to descend the stairs, felicitating themselves 
 upon having escaped a threatened danger, when the 
 door of Webster's room was opened, and the Con- 
 federate detective again stood before them. 
 
ARRESTED AS SPIES. 5*7 
 
 "Are your names Lewis and Scully ?" he in 
 quired. 
 
 "Yes, sir," answered Lewis, promptly, resolved 
 to put as bold a face upon the matter as possible. 
 
 "Then," said the officer, " I have orders to convey 
 you to General Winder's office." 
 
 There was no help for it, and they signified their 
 readiness to accompany him at once, intending to 
 make an effort to escape when they reached the 
 street. This hope, however, was dashed to the 
 ground ; for, as they descended the stairs, they found 
 three other officers awaiting their appearance, who 
 immediately took them in charge, and accompanied 
 them to the Provost-Marshal's office. 
 
 Several times, during their journey, Lewis noticed, 
 with increasing apprehension, that the gaze of young 
 Chase Morton was riveted fixedly upon them, and 
 he had no doubt whatever that they had been recog 
 nized, and would certainly be apprehended. This 
 prospect was far from being a cheerful one ; but they 
 mustered up all their latent courage, and conversed 
 good-humoredly with their escort, as they walked 
 briskly along. 
 
 Arriving at the General's headquarters, they 
 learned that that functionary was absent upon some 
 urgent business, but would shortly return, and had 
 left orders that they should await his appearance. 
 Lewis and Scully were accordingly admitted to a 
 private room, and requested to make themselves com- 
 
So8 LEWIS AND SCULLY 
 
 fortable until General Winder should desire the* 
 presence. The door closed upon the retreating forms 
 of their escort, and left them in a most uncomfortable 
 condition of mind indeed. There was now no doubt 
 of the correctness of Webster's suspicions, and they 
 bitterly regretted their haste in visiting him, and also 
 not having taken his advice at once. However, this 
 was no time for regrets, and they resolved to firmly 
 adhere to their original statements, and await the 
 disposition of their case by General Winder. 
 
 While they were conversing together, the door 
 was opened, and young Morton entered the room, 
 accompanied by an officer. Stepping directly up to 
 Price Lewis, he addressed him : 
 
 " Don't you remember me ?" 
 
 "I do not," responded Lewis; "I do not 
 remember to have seen you at any time before 
 to-day." 
 
 He looked unflinchingly into the eyes that met 
 his, and the determined tones of his voice betrayed 
 ao trace of the emotions that were raging within his 
 bosom. 
 
 " Don't you remember," continued young Morton, 
 " coming to my mother's house, in Washington, as 
 an agent of the secret service of the Federal govern 
 ment, and making a thorough search of our premises 
 and its contents?" 
 
 "You are mistaken, sir," replied Lewis, firmly, 
 *' I know nothing of what you are alluding to," 
 
ARRESTED AS SPIES. 509 
 
 "I am not mistaken " said the young Southerner, 
 " and you are the man !" 
 
 " Perhaps this gentleman will say that he recollects 
 me, next," said Scully, resolved to be as bold as pos 
 sible, under the circumstances. 
 
 Chase Morton gazed at him a few moments and 
 then answered, decidedly : 
 
 "Yes sir, I recollect you also; you were one of 
 the men who assisted in searching my mother's resi 
 dence." 
 
 Both men insisted strongly upon their ignorance 
 of any such proceeding, and indignantly repudiated 
 the charges that had been made against them. 
 
 At this juncture General Winder came in, and 
 walking up to Lewis he greeted him cordially, warmly 
 shaking him by the hand, saying f 
 
 " How do you do, Mr. Lewis, and how is Mr. 
 Seward ?" 
 
 " I do not know what you mean," replied Lewis. 
 
 " Perhaps not," said Winder, with a disagreeable 
 smile, "but I am inclined to think that you know a 
 great deal more than you are willing to admit." 
 
 " I do not understand you." 
 
 " Very well," said the Provost-Marshal, " you will 
 understand me, and all in good time. Do you know 
 gentlemen, I suspected you were all wrong from the 
 start, and you were not keen enough to impose your 
 story upon me? George," he added, tvrning to one 
 of his men, " go to the hotel, and get the baggage 
 
B to LEWIS AND SCULLY 
 
 belonging to these gentlemen. We will see if that 
 will throw any further light upon their true charac 
 ter. 
 
 The officer departed, and during his absence, 
 General Winder plied them with questions about 
 their mission ; their knowledge of Timothy Webster ; 
 their visit to Richmond, and in fact about everything 
 imaginable, and all of them showing conclusively that 
 he believed them to be spies, and unworthy of cre 
 dence. Their satchels were finally brought in, and 
 a rigid examination failed to discover anything to 
 justify his suspicions, and Winder finally left the 
 room, angrily ordering them to remain where they 
 were, and directing his officers and Chase Morton to- 
 accompany him. 
 
 A few minutes elapsed after their departure, dur 
 ing which the loud voice of Winder could be heard, 
 angrily declaiming against the two men ; he then came 
 back again, and addressing my operatives said : 
 
 " Gentlemen, your stories don't agree with what I 
 know about you, and we will give you time to think 
 the matter over;" then turning to his deputy he com 
 manded, " Take them away !" 
 
 " Where to ?" inquired the officer. 
 
 " To Henrico Jail," was Winder's response. 
 
 They were then conducted to the jail and placed 
 in a room in which six others were confined, where 
 the officers left them to their meditations, which, as 
 may be imagined, were far from pleasant Not know- 
 
ARRESTED AS SPIES. -511 
 
 ing what might be in store for them, and fearing that 
 their presence in Richmond might result in danger to 
 Webster, they resolved to say nothing whatever, and 
 to adhere strictly to the story originally told by them, 
 and then to abide by the consequences, no matter 
 how serious they might be. 
 
 During the afternoon of the following day, an of 
 ficer accompanied by an elder son of Mr. Morton 
 made their appearance at the jail, and he, too, identi 
 fied the two men, as being concerned in searching his 
 mother's residence in Washington, and endeavored 
 to recall several incidents which had taken place on 
 that occasion. To all of his statements, however, 
 Price and Scully made emphatic denials, and vehe 
 mently asserted their entire ignorance of anything 
 connected with the Mortons, or their relations to the 
 Federal government. 
 
 Finding it impossible to obtain any admission 
 from the two prisoners, they took their departure, and 
 left the confined detectives to their own unpleasant 
 reflections. 
 
 For three days they remained in their place of 
 confinement, and during that time no word came 
 from the Marshals office or from any one concerning 
 their disposition or future movements. It seemed as 
 though the authorities had been content with simply 
 placing them in durance vile, and then had dismissed 
 them from their minds. This was the most favorable 
 view they were able to take of the case, and they 
 
ji LEWIS AND SCULLY 
 
 were solacing themselves with the fallacious hope of 
 having escaped a fate which they dreaded, and also 
 with the belief that Webster, their friend and com 
 panion, would not be associated with their presence 
 in Richmond, and that their discovery would not 
 operate to his injury. 
 
 Or. the fourth day, however, an attache of the 
 Marshal's office came to the jail, and calling for John 
 Scully informed him that his presence was required 
 by General Winder. Scully prepared himself for the 
 visit, and taking leave of his companion followed the 
 officer. He did not return that* night, and for days 
 afterwards Lewis was in ignorance of what had be 
 come of him, or what fate he was to expect at the 
 hands of these minions of disloyalty and secession. 
 
 Lewis, meanwhile, had become acquainted with 
 his fellow prisoners, all of whom were in a s*tate o< 
 anxiety as to what measure of punishment would be 
 meted out to them, and all nearly crazed with the 
 uncertainty of their impending fate. For days they 
 had been concocting a plan of escape, and finding 
 Lewis disposed to make an effort to be released from 
 his confinement, they developed their plans to him, 
 and requested his aid in the accomplishment of their 
 purpose. 
 
 Lewis hailed with delight a proposition that 
 promised to enable them to exchange the damp and 
 noisome air of a prison for the free breath of nature, 
 and the dark hours of captivity for the freedom and 
 
ARRESTED AS SPIES. 51$ 
 
 liberty he longed for, and he became an energetic 
 and careful coadjutor of those who suffered with him 
 the degrading position of being imprisoned by a gov 
 ernment which they despised, and by which their lives 
 were menaced: 
 
 The part of the jail in which they were confined 
 was separated from the main building, and contained 
 four cells, two upon the ground floor and two imme 
 diately above them. These cells were reached through 
 a corridor from the yard outside, and secured by two 
 doors ; one a heavy iron one fastened on the inside, 
 and the other a stout wooden barricade, the lock of 
 which was placed on the outside of the building. It 
 was the custom of the old man, who acted as the 
 jailer, to allow the prisoners a half hour's walk in the 
 yard during the early evening, and then, locking them 
 up safely again, he would leave them alone in the 
 building, while he went to his home, several blocks 
 distant. 
 
 One of the men had managed to secrete a file about 
 his person, and with this they succeeded in making a 
 saw out of a knife. These were the only implements 
 which they had to work with. Notwithstanding the 
 meagerness of their implements, but a few days had 
 elapsed before the bolts on every cell-door were ; 
 sawed through so that they only required a few min 
 utes' labor to detach them from their fastenings 
 altogether. ) 
 
 It is impossible to detail the hours of feverish ' 
 
 \ 33 "t 
 
V4 LEWIS AND SCULLY 
 
 anxiety, of tireless energy, and of momentary fear of 
 detection, through which these men passed while en 
 gaged in their difficult and dangerous work or to 
 depict their joy, when at last their labor was com 
 pleted, and they awaited the time of carrying their 
 plans into execution. 
 
 The outside door was now the only barrier be 
 tween them and their coveted freedom, and various 
 plans were suggested to overcome this obstacle. At 
 length one was decided upon which promised to 
 secure the object of their desires. In one corner of 
 the yard in which they took their daily exercise, 
 there was a large pile of ashes and garbage, which 
 had been accumulating for a long time. It was re- 
 'Solved that -one of their number should be buried 
 Bunder this rubbish, while several of the other prison 
 ers engaged the old jailer in animated conversation. 
 
 The man selected for this purpose was a good, 
 ibrave fellow, who was formerly a sailor, and had lately 
 been a member of an artillery company from New 
 York. His name was Charles Stanton, and he had 
 .come into the South upon his own inclination, and 
 ;for the Quixotic purpose of obtaining command of 
 ,a gunboat of the Confederacy, and then attempting to 
 run it through to the Union lines. He had, however, 
 .been' suspected, and remanded to prison, where he 
 <had remained without a trial, and without hope of 
 jardease, for several months. 
 
 The prisoners were all turned out for their usual 
 
ARRESTED AS SPIES. 
 
 exercise in the yard, on the evening which had been 
 agreed upon ; and in accordance with their arranged 
 plan, several of the prisoners surrounded the old 
 turnkey, and engaged him in an earnest discussion, 
 while others set actively to work to dig the grave of 
 Stanton in the ashes. In order that he might not be 
 unbearably uncomfortable, his body only was covered 
 with the contents of the ash-heap, while his head and 
 shoulders were concealed from view by some straw, 
 which one of the men brought from his cell for that 
 purpose. 
 
 In the jail, at this time, there were a number of 
 negroes, who had been captured while attempting to 
 make their way to the North, and although these faith 
 ful blacks were aware of the attempted escape, and 
 knew full well that they were not included in the 
 movement, their efforts were none the less active 
 in behalf of the white men who were struggling for 
 liberty. 
 
 They had been informed of the attempted escape, 
 from the first, and had kept the matter a profound 
 secret, at the same time rendering such service as 
 they were capable of to the whites. 
 
 Everything worked to their entire satisfaction. 
 The turnkey was unsuspicious ; the grave was made 
 without discovery, and Stanton was carefully con 
 cealed. In a few minutes afterwards the call for 
 retiring was heard, and the men, with throbbing 
 hearts, rushed in a mass toward the door of the com- 
 
S i6 LEWIS AND SCULLY 
 
 dor. This was done in order to escape the counting 
 of their number, in case the old man should attempt 
 to do so, They passed quickly into their cells, and 
 were not required to be counted. Thus far, all had 
 been done as successfully as could be hoped for, or 
 expected ; no suspicions were excited, nor was their 
 missing comrade called' for. It had been the custom 
 of the old man to make a tour of the cells after the 
 prisoners had retired, to see if they were all there 
 .before he went away for the night. In order to over 
 come this possibility of detection, a figure had been 
 made of straw, stuffed into the garments of the men, 
 and laid upon the bed, in order to look as much like 
 a human being as possible. 
 
 This precaution proved to be a good one, for just 
 before the time of closing up the prison arrived, the 
 glimmer of the old turnkey's lantern was seen in the 
 corridor, and shortly after, his face appeared at the 
 door, as he eagerly scanned the occupants of the 
 various cells. Apparently satisfied with his scrutiny, 
 the jailer went his way, the heavy outside doors were 
 closed and locked, and the retreating footsteps of 
 the old man could be distinctly heard. 
 
 The critical moment had at last arrived, and they 
 awaited in breathless silence the appearence of Stan- 
 ton. Fortune favored them in a peculiar manner 
 this evening. As the old man was passing the 
 pile of ashes under which Stanton was concealed, 
 he noticed the unusual appearance of the straw. 
 
ARRESTED AS SPIES. 517 
 
 Stopping for a moment, he drew a match from his 
 pocket, lighted it, and then walked toward the heap as 
 though with the intention of setting fire to it. The 
 match fortunately was extinguished by a blast of 
 wind, and after searching in his pocket for another 
 match, but finding none, he slowly turned, and walked 
 out of the gate, locking it securely behind him. 
 
 Stanton's feelings, under this ordeal, may be 
 imagined. If the old man had succeeded in igniting 
 the straw, under which he was concealed, detection 
 would have followed instantly, and n6 doubt serious 
 injury would have been inflicted upon the brave 
 fellow, who had willingly suffered the discomforts of 
 his unpleasant confinement for the purpose of assist 
 ing his comrades to escape. 
 
 No sooner had the gate closed upon the jailor, 
 than he crawled nimbly out from his place of conceal 
 ment, and hastily made his way to the door He at 
 once began his operations upon the lock. The ap 
 pearance of Stanton at the door was the signal for 
 the others, and in less than an hour the locks upon 
 the cell doors had been removed. Stanton had 
 wrested the lock from the outside door, and only the 
 iron inside one was now to be overcome. This bar 
 rier resisted all their efforts, and it was at last decided 
 that the lock must be removed by main force. This 
 was a proceeding which necessitated a great deal of 
 noise, and they were in an agony of apprehension 
 lest their clamor- should- attract the attention of 
 
LEWIS AND SCULLY 
 
 people passing on the outside, and thus lead to their 
 detection. To prevent this, the colored men, with 
 out any solicitation or instruction, came to the 
 rescue in a very important, though unexpected man 
 ner. They commenced to sing in concert, at the top 
 af their voices, snatches of plantation and camp- 
 meeting melodies, which effectually drowned the 
 sound of their blows, and enabled them to work with 
 out fear of detection. 
 
 The lock at last yielded to their combined efforts, 
 and the men issued silently forth into the darkness of 
 the night, breathing once more the stimulating atmos 
 phere of hope and promised liberty. Only the wall 
 around the prison yard was now to be surmounted, 
 and with the aid of some old planks that were lying 
 around, they succeeded in reaching the top, after 
 which they noiselessly dropped themselves to the 
 ground. Although this wall was very high, they all 
 reached terra firma in safety, and with one impulse 
 breathed a prayer of thankfulness for the success 
 which had thus far attended their efforts. 
 
 Silently, and walking in couples, at long distances 
 apart, they started out to leave the city. The sky 
 was clear, and the moon was shining brightly over 
 head. The stars were twinkling merrily, as though 
 enjoying the success which had attended these brave, 
 patient men, in their labor and toil of days and 
 weeks. 
 
 This was on the eighteenth day of March, and 
 
ARRESTED AS SPIES. 519 
 
 Martial law had been proclaimed some time pre 
 viously. It was now nearly eight o'clock, and by the 
 provisions of the law any one found upon the streets 
 after nine o'clock, must be in possession of a pass, or 
 be liable to arrest. Great haste was therefore neces 
 sary, in order to leave the city before that hour 
 With only the stars for their guide, they set out in a 
 northerly direction. Not one of the men was ac 
 quainted with the country, and their journey was all 
 the more perilous on that account. 
 
 By midnight they had reached the Chickahominy, 
 having succeeded, by the greatest good fortune, in es 
 caping any one who was disposed to make in 
 quiries or to molest them in any manner whatever. 
 Across this swamp their way led through quagmires 
 and deep pools, and was dangerous in the extreme. 
 Sometimes waist deep in the soft mud and water, and 
 scrambling over slipping places which furnished in 
 secure footholds, and threatened instant danger from 
 falling back into the pools through which they had 
 made their way. Their journey was full of hardship 
 and suffering. The air was cold and frosty, and their 
 wet garments clung to them like ice ; their limbs 
 trembled ; their teeth chattered with the cold, and 
 their condition was really a pitiable one indeed. 
 
 At length they reached the woods upon the 
 opposite side. Here they were obliged to stop and 
 rest, completely exhausted. Some of the hardier of 
 the party removed their dripping garments, and 
 
po LEWIS AND SCULLY 
 
 attempted to wring the water from them ; while 
 others, unable to stand the chilling air" any longer, 
 built a fire, around which they gathered in the effort 
 to warm their bodies and to dry their water-soaked 
 clothing. 
 
 They rested for about two hours, and then pushed 
 on again until daylight, when they sought the shelter 
 of the woods and laid down, hoping to get some sleep 
 after their laborious and fatiguing journey of the pre 
 ceding night. Sleep; however, was impossible ; their 
 clothing was wet, and the air was cold. Their suffer 
 ings became intense, and at length, finding it 
 impossible to endure the freezing atmosphere 
 longer, they determined to build a fire, regardless of 
 the consequences. .Proceeding further into the wood, 
 they gathered some boughs, and soon the cheerful 
 blaze afforded them sufficient heat to dry their frozen 
 clothing and to warm their benumbed and freezing 
 bodies. Thus passed the day, and when darkness 
 came on again they resumed their journey. 
 
 Already they began to experience the pangs of 
 hunger. They had eaten nothing since the evening 
 before, and had walked many weary miles. They were 
 foot-sore and tired and hungry. They had provided 
 themselves with the remnants of the corn cake which 
 had been served for their supper on the previous 
 evening, but these had become thoroughly soaked 
 with water on their journey through the swamps, and 
 had crumbled to pieces. Notwithstanding their 
 
ARRESTED AS SPIES. 521 
 
 pitiable condition, their strong wills and brave hearts 
 sustained them, and they plodded on. 
 
 The night was intensely dark ; the stars were 
 obscured, and a pall of inky blackness hung over 
 them, which rendered their journey exceedingly 
 hazardous, as they could not see the way before 
 them, and were unable to tell in which direction they 
 were traveling. 
 
 They had not proceeded far when the storm 
 broke, and a drenching torrent of rain descended. 
 The wind whistled and howled through the trees, and 
 for hours the tempest raged with relentless fury. 
 Seeking the shelter of the woods again, they crouched 
 close to the trunks of the trees, and vainly attempted 
 to screen themselves from the deluge. It was of no 
 avail, however ; the leafless timber afforded them no 
 protection, and during the continuance of the storm 
 the poor, tired and almost exhausted fugitives were 
 exposed to the pitiless blast. 
 
 Shivering with cold, their teeth chattering, their 
 garments drenched through to their quivering skin, 
 they knelt or crouched upon the ground, and when 
 daylight dawned, and the storm at last cleared away, 
 they were almost too weak to help themselves. 
 
 Price Lewis looked around him as the faint 
 streaks of sunrise illumined the horizon, and to his 
 dismay saw that nearly all of his late companions had 
 disappeared, and that only three others beside him 
 self remained. 
 
5 i2 LEWIS AND SCULLY 
 
 With the greatest difficulty they succeeded in 
 building a fire, and were just preparing to enjoy its 
 comforting warmth, when they were alarmed by the 
 sound of the hasty tramping of feet, and in a moment 
 they were surrounded by a number of Confederate 
 soldiers, who commanded them to surrender at once 
 
 This sudden and unexpected appearance was a 
 crushing blow to their hopes. They submitted with 
 out a word ; and although bowed to the ground with 
 disappointment, they experienced a sensation almost 
 amounting to relief, at the prospect of receiving the 
 ewe and attention which even enemies would give to 
 those in such distress as were these poor fugitives. 
 
 Limping along, they were marched to an out 
 building, connected with a farm-house near by, when, 
 to their surprise, they saw the remainder of their 
 party, who had been captured by another band of 
 soldiers, huddled together in one corner of the room. 
 
 The soldiers were touched with pity, as they be 
 held the forlorn condition of the men whom they had 
 secured, and in a short time they had provided them 
 with a repast, which the famished fugitives devoured 
 with a rapidity which gave ample testimony of their 
 long and painful abstinence. 
 
 After dispatching this meal they were conveyed 
 directly back to Richmond, and returned to their old 
 quarters in Henrico jail. On their arrival each man 
 was placed in a separate cell, and doubly ironed, to 
 prevent a repetition of their efforts to escape. 
 
ARRESTED AS SPIES. 5*3 
 
 While Price Lewis had been engaged in this un 
 successful attempt to gain his liberty, John Scully had 
 been undergoing a far different expeiience. A court- 
 martial had been hurriedly convened, where he was 
 fully identified by every member of the Morton fam 
 ily as the man who had searched their premises in 
 the city of Washington, and had, after a very sum 
 mary trial, been convicted and remanded back to 
 prison to await his sentence. 
 
 On the second day after the return of Price Lewis 
 he was conducted before a court-martial, and in a re 
 markably short space of time was accorded a trial, if 
 trial it could be called, and his conviction followed 
 as quickly as did that of John Scully. 
 
 They had been charged with being alien enemies, 
 and at one time acting in the service of the Federal 
 government in Washington. In addition to this, 
 they were charged with loitering around the fortifica 
 tions at Richmond and taking plans of the same. 
 Notwithstanding the fact that no witness could be 
 procured who would swear to having seen them in 
 such localities, or engaged in any such occupation, the 
 members of the court-martial, with singular unanimity, 
 found them guilty of the second charge, with as much 
 haste, and as manifest an air of solemnity, as they did 
 of the first. 
 
 The next day they were each informed of theif 
 sentence, which was that they should be hung by the 
 neck, as spies, and that their execution should fcak 
 
534 LEWIS AND SCULLY 
 
 place in one week from the day of the communica 
 tion of the information to them. 
 
 This sentence was a heavy blow to the two pris 
 oners ; and from the character of the men by whom 
 they were surrounded, thay felt that hope was use 
 less. The spirit of animosity manifested toward them 
 by the court, the indecent haste with which their 
 trial -had been conducted, and the rapidity with which 
 their sentence had followed their conviction, gave 
 them no reasons for hoping for' clemency, or that they 
 would be able to escape the dreadful fate which now 
 was impending over them. 
 
 The conduct of the various members of the Mor 
 ton family in betraying my operatives to the author 
 ities, and in appearing as accusing witnesses against 
 them, in face of their promises, long ago made, to be 
 friend them if possible, was an act which did not re 
 flect very favorably upon their regard for truth, or 
 their appreciation of delicate treatment when they 
 themselves were suspected of treachery. 
 
 Lewis and Scully had never seen each other from 
 
 the time when the latter was removed from the cell 
 
 * 
 
 a few days after their first imprisonment, and each 
 was unconscious of the other's fate or of the state of 
 their feelings under the fatal sentence whicb hung 
 over them both. 
 
 After their conviction they had both been sent to 
 a prison called Castle Godwin, and had been placed 
 in isons, and in separate cells. During the first twa 
 
ARRESTED AS SPIES. 53$ 
 
 days that elapsed after their conviction, they were 
 visited by Judge Crump, who conducted the trial, and 
 by several members of General Winder's staff, all of 
 whom endeavored to obtain some admissions from 
 the two prisoners which would justify their action in 
 condemning them to death. All with no avail, how 
 ever ; the two men stoutly insisted upon their original 
 story, except so far as to admit that they had searched 
 the premises of Mrs. Morton, but each man was firm 
 in stating that he had become disgusted with the ser 
 vice, and had left it very soon after that act had been 
 committed. 
 
 On the day after their sentence had been com 
 municated to them, a letter was brought to Lewis, 
 from the commandant of the post, stating that Scully 
 'was suffering with a serious illness, and having re 
 quested that Lewis be allowed to visit him, the privi 
 lege had been granted. On entering the cell where 
 Scully was confined, Lewis found his fellow-prisoner 
 in a very depressed condition of mind, although his 
 physical infirmities had been assumed in order to se 
 cure an interview with his partner in misfortune. 
 
 After discussing their situation as philosophically 
 as possible under the circumstances, seeking for some 
 ray of hope and finding none, they were at last com 
 pelled to the belief that their doom was sealed, and that 
 their only plan was to bear up manfully to the end. 
 
 Scully, who was a Roman Catholic, desired the 
 services of a priestly comforter, to whom he cou 1 d 
 
526 LEWIS AND SCULLY 
 
 make snch statements as would relieve his mind in 
 the coming trial, and made known this wish to Lewis. 
 
 " You will not tell him what you know of Web 
 ster, and his connection with this matter, will you ?" 
 said Lewis, fearful that Webster might be betrayed. 
 
 " I don't know what I will tell him," answered 
 Scully ; " I have not decided what to say, nor do I 
 know what I will be commanded to relate." 
 
 " For God's sake, Scully, don't say anything about 
 Webster ; we can meet our fate like men, but to men 
 tion his name now, would be wrong indeed." 
 
 " I tell you," said Scully, " I don't know what I 
 am going to say. I don't want to do wrong, but I 
 cannot tell what I may have to do yet." 
 
 Lewis argued with his companion long and earn 
 estly upon this matter, and when at last the priest 
 arrived, and Scully followed him to another cell, the 
 warning admonitions of his fellow-prisoner were ring 
 ing in his ears. 
 
 What transpired during that secret meeting be 
 tween the condemned spy and his father-confessor, 
 Lewis did not know, but when he was conducted to 
 his own cell, late that night, he saw a man and woman 
 closely guarded, in the lower hall, and his heart grew 
 heavy and cold as his imagination conjured up the 
 direful fate which a confession from his imprisoned 
 comrade would bring to the faithful patriot Webster, 
 who lay suffering and anxious upon his bed of pain. 
 
 After a long and restless night, in which he tossed 
 
ARRESTED AS SPIES. 5*7 
 
 uneasily upon his hard prison bed. vainly attempting 
 to court the rest-giving slumber of which he stood so 
 much in need, Lewis arose from his couch, feverish 
 and unrefreshed, as the first faint rays of the morning 
 sun penetrated his damp and dingy cell. 
 
 His mind was in a state of confusion, and his 
 hi art was filled with fear. What had been done he 
 knew not, and yet those guarded figures of the night 
 before were ever in his mind. Could it be that they 
 were Webster and his faithful attendant Mrs. Lawton ? 
 He shrank involuntarily from this thought; and yet, 
 strive as he would, it recurred to him, with increased 
 force, and with more convincing power, after each at 
 tempt to drive it from him. 
 
 In a little while, the prison was astir. The guards 
 were making their accustomed rounds, breakfast was 
 served, and another day, with all its solemn activity, 
 and its bustle so death-like and subdued, had begun. 
 
 Unable to partake of the scanty meal that was 
 set before him, Lewis impatiently awaited the hour 
 when he would be permitted to visit his fellow-pris 
 oner whom he had left upon the eve of consulting 
 with his spiritual adviser, and, if possible, learn the 
 result of his interview with the priest. 
 
 About ten o'clock the turnkey appeared, and he 
 was conducted to Scully's cell. As he entered the 
 dimly-lighted room, he noticed that the face of the 
 man whom he had left the night before, had under 
 gone a wonderful change. His cheeks were sunken 
 
528 LEWIS AND SCULLY 
 
 and pale ; his eyes had a strange, wild expression, and 
 the shadows under the lids were dark and heavy. 
 His hair was unkempt, and his lips trembled with the 
 emotions which he was struggling to repress. What 
 ever events had transpired since he had seen him last, 
 it was evident that their effect upon Scully had been 
 terrible and agonizing. He had been unable to sleep, 
 and the tortures of his mind had been almost unbear 
 able. His greeting to Lewis showed a degree of re 
 straint which had been unknown before, and for a 
 moment he seemed unable to speak. 
 
 At length he grew calmer, and related to his 
 friend the events of the preceding night, and the 
 influences that had been brought to bear upon him. 
 The promise of freedom ; his loving family at home ; 
 the certainty of an ignoble death if he refused ; the 
 degradation of the impending scaffold ; and the 
 promise that his admissions should result in injury to 
 no one, all combined against his weak condition of 
 both mind and body, and at last, yielding to the in 
 fluences which he could not control, he had told his 
 story, and had given a truthful account of all his 
 movements. 
 
 Who can blame this man ? Who, that has stood 
 before the frowning scaffold, and with a free world 
 before him, can utter words of censure ? Only those 
 who have suffered as he did, prostrated as he was, 
 can know the terrible agony through which he passed 
 ere the fatal words were forced from his trembling 
 
^ARRESTED AS SPIES. 529 
 
 \ 
 lips. For myself, I have no judgment to utter. 
 
 Now, as when the news was first communicated to 
 me, I cannot express an unjust sentence. John Scully 
 and his companion were not heroic martyrs. What 
 then ? They were simply men who, after having 
 performed many brave acts of loyalty and duty to 
 their country, failed in a moment of grand and great 
 self-sacrifice. I cannot apologize for them I cannot 
 judge them. Their trial was a severe one, and they 
 were in sore distress. If they succumbed to a con 
 trolling emergency, it was because of a lack of the 
 heroic elements of humanity ; and who, in our day, 1 
 can claim their possession in the very face of death 
 and dishonor ? 
 
 Let us hasten over these unpleasant and disas^ 
 trous events. Finding that the worst had occurred, 
 and that further concealment was of no avail, Lewis, 
 too, opened his mouth. He was again visited by the 
 rebel authorities, and at last he, too, added his voice 
 to that of Scully, and made a revelation of his true 
 character, and of the nature of his mission to Rich 
 mond. The next day they were respited. They had 
 escaped an ignominious death, but, perhaps, in their 
 lonely cells they suffered a death in life, beside which 
 an actual demise might have seemed a blessing; 
 Leaving them to their reflections, we turn again to 
 Timothy Webster. 
 
 M 
 
CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 Webster Arrested as a Spy. A Woman's Devotion and a 
 Patriot's Heroism. Webster is Convicted. The Execu* 
 tion.A Martyr s Crave. 
 
 A 7 TER the departure of Lewis and Scully from 
 Webster's room, where they were so closely 
 ifollowed by the Confederate detective and Chase 
 Morton, my trusty operative heard nothing of them 
 ior some time. Fearing to make inquiries concern 
 ing them, lest he should compromise them still 
 further, as well as bring himself under the suspicion 
 fof the rebel authorities, he maintained a strict silence 
 "with regard to the movements of his compaitons. 
 :Several days of anxious suspense followed, which, to 
 one in Webster's critical condition, were fraught with 
 .agonizing doubts and heartfelt fears for the ultimate 
 safety of himself and his friends. Resolving, how- 
 "ever, to utter no word which would compromise 
 them, he bore the solicitude with unmurmuring 
 v firmness. Only to the heroic woman, who 30 faith 
 -./fully nursed him, did he unburden his mind of the 
 ^weight of care which oppressed him, and her words 
 lof womanly friendship and encouragement were the 
 [530] 
 
A WOMAN'S DEVOTION. 531 
 
 wnly influences which supported him through the 
 trying ordeal. 
 
 \ One day, Mrs. Lawton came into his room aa 
 was her custom but this time there was a gravity 
 about her manner, which, to Webster's quick percep 
 tions, boded no good. Finding him receiving some 
 friendly visitors, the lady withdrew, and repressing 
 his impatience as well as he was able to do, Webster 
 dispatched his friends as quickly as politeness, and a 
 due consideration for their kindly regard, would per 
 mit. When they had disappeared, Mrs. Lawton 
 again entered the room. 
 
 "You have news for me," said Webster, impa 
 tiently; "what is it?" * 
 
 " Be calm, my dear friend," said the devpted lit 
 tle woman ; " what I have to tell, calls for the 
 utmost calmness." 
 
 " Tell me what it is," said Webster ; " I will be as 
 calm as you could wish, but do not, I pray you, keep 
 me in suspense." 
 
 " Well," replied Mrs. Lawton, " I learned this 
 morning that Lewis and Scully have been arrested 
 and taken to Henrico Jail." 
 
 ) " When did this occur ?" asked the invalid, a great 
 4 weight pressing upon his heart. 
 
 " The very day they were here last," answered the 
 [woman. 
 
 ' Then all is lost," exclaimed the sick man. " I 
 /eared as much ; and now the time has come I will 
 
A WOMAN'S DEVOTION 
 
 meet it manfully; however," he continued, "it will 
 be only a short time before I will share the same fate." 
 " Why do you think so ?" anxiously inquired Mrs. 
 Lawton. " Surely they cannot connect you with 
 these men." 
 
 " I do not know why I think so, but I am as con 
 fident that I will be brought into this matter as 
 though the officers were already here to arrest me." 
 
 While he yet spoke, there came a knock at the 
 chamber door, which, on being opened/ revealed the 
 form of Captain McCubbin. 
 
 As he entered the room he gazed furtively around, 
 and his salutation to Webster was very different from 
 the cordiality which had marked his previous visits. 
 
 " Good morning, Webster," said he, as he took 
 the offered chair, and for the first time since they had 
 known each other jpeglecting to shake the invalid by 
 the hand. " This is bad news about Lewis and 
 Scully, isn't it ?" 
 
 "What is it?" inquired Webster, apparently re 
 ceiving the information for the first time. 
 
 " They have been arrested as spies, are confined in 
 prison, and General Winder wants that letter which 
 they brought to you from .the North." 
 
 There was something so cold and imperious in 
 the officer's tones, which confirmed Webster's fears 
 for his own safety; but without evincing the slightest 
 alarm, he cheerfully made reply : 
 
 11 1 am sorry to hear this news, and trust that they 
 
AND A PATRIOTS HEROISM. 533 
 
 will be able to exonerate themselves from the charge. 
 Anything, however, that General Winder wants from 
 me will be cheerfully given. Mrs. Lawton, will you 
 get the letter, and hand it to Captain McCubbin." 
 
 There was no tremor of the voice, and the watch 
 ful Confederate looked in vain for any evidence of 
 fear in the face of the man, who, stricken by disease 
 as he was, still showed the bravery of a lion, and 
 gazed unflinchingly at him. Though the hand of fate 
 was upon him, Webster never lost his heroic courage, 
 and bore the scrutiny of the officer without the quiver 
 of a muscle. 
 
 Captain McCubbin received the letter, and almost 
 immediately withdrew. As he closed the door behind 
 him, Webster turned to his faithful companion, and, 
 in a low, solemn voice, said : " That letter has sealed 
 my fate !" 
 
 From this point. Webster's physical condition 
 seemed to improve, and although depressed with 
 fears for the fate of his companions, he gradually 
 became stronger, and was at length able to leave liis 
 bed and move about his room. 
 
 The visits of his numerous friends had now almost 
 ceased. From General Winder's officers, with whom 
 he had previously been so intimate, he heard nothing, 
 nor did they make inquiries about his health, as had 
 been their custom. Of the many friends in private 
 life, who had surrounded him, only two remained. 
 These were Mr. Pierce and Mr. Campbell, with 
 
534 ^ WOMAN'S DEVOTION 
 
 whom Webster ha<l traveird for some time, and his 
 family. This dropping away of old friends, and the 
 breaking up of old associations, was significant to 
 Webster of impending danger. It must be that he, 
 too, was suspected, and that the favor of the rebel 
 authorities had been withdrawn. 
 
 Day by day, during his convalescence, did the 
 brave little woman who had nursed him back to life, 
 endeavor to encourage him to a hopeful view of his 
 situation, and to impress him with her own sanguine 
 trust for a favorable outcome from this present 
 dilemma. Webster listened to the bright promises 
 of his devoted companion, but he was too profoundly 
 aware of the danger that threatened him to permit 
 himself to hope that the result to him would be a bene 
 ficial one. f 
 
 After he was able to leave his bed, he accepted 
 the pressing invitation of Mr. Campbell, and was re 
 moved to the residence of that gentleman, where he 
 would be more quiet, and where he could receive that 
 care and attention which could not be afforded him 
 in a hotel. The kindness of Mr. Campbell and his 
 i'amily was heartfelt and unceasing. They did every 
 thing in their power to make him comfortable, and 
 their courtesy to Mrs. Lawton was as marked and 
 genuine, as was their regard and care for Timothy 
 Webster. 
 
 Webster had been domiciled at the house of Mr, 
 Campbell but two days, when one of Winder's men 
 
AND A PATRIOTS HEROISM. 535 
 
 came to know if Webster was sufficiently reco\ered 
 to go out, as his presence was imperatively demanded 
 at the couit room, as a witness in the trial of John 
 Scully. The officer further stated that the evidence 
 of Webster had been solicited by Scully himseK 
 Finding him unable still to leave the house, tlu. 
 officer stated that arrangements would be made by 
 which his testimony could be taken in his room. On 
 the second day after the appearance of the officer, 
 the court-martial adjourned to Campbell's house, 
 and Scully accompanied them. Seating themselves 
 around the bedside of the invalid, the court was 
 formally opened, and Webster was requested to state 
 what he knew of the antecedents of the accused. 
 
 Though very weak, and speaking with consider 
 able difficulty, .Webster made his statement. He said 
 that he had known John Scully from April, 1861, to 
 the time of his arrest. That the prisoner was in 
 Baltimore when he first met him, and was always in 
 the company. of known secessionists, and was con 
 sidered by them to be a good friend to the South. 
 So far as he had any knowledge of the accused he 
 was what he assumed to be. and that his appearance 
 iii Richmond was a surprise to him. He was not 
 known to b? in the employ of the government, and 
 Webstei had never met him under any circumstances 
 which would indicate that fact. 
 
 This was all that he could say, ind although 
 closely questioned by the president of the c^urt* and 
 
5 j6 A WOMAN'S DEVOTION 
 
 the attorneys present, he insisted that his knowledge 
 of John Scully was confined to what he had already 
 stated. Finding it impossible to obtain any further 
 information upon this subject from the sick man, the 
 couri., in a body, left the room, and departed from 
 the house.. 
 
 Mrs. Lawton, who had been compelled to retire 
 on the entrance of the Confederate authorities, and 
 who had been in a wild state of excitement and ap 
 prehension during their visit, instantly repaired to 
 Webster's room. When she entered the chamber, 
 she found that the brave man, after the exciting ex 
 periences through which he had been compelled to 
 pass, had fainted. His strength of will, which had 
 supported him through the investigation, had given 
 way, and he lay, limp and inanimate, upon the bed. 
 
 Several days of anxiety and solicitude now passed. 
 Unable to learn any tidings of his unfortunate com- 
 lades, Webster tortured himself with all manner of 
 %ague fears and doubts as to their probable fate, all 
 of which had their effect in retarding his recovery, 
 and keeping him confined to his room. 
 
 At last, after days of weary and anxious waiting, 
 the newspapers were brought in one morning, and 
 the information of the conviction of Lewis and Scully 
 was duly chronicled. The same paper also, announced 
 the day upon which their death was so speedily to 
 follow. This filled the cup of Webster's misery to 
 overflowing, and, sinking upon a chair, he wept like 
 
AND A PATRIOTS HEROISM. 537 
 
 a child. Refusing to be comforted, although Mrs. 
 Lav/ton exerted herself to the utmost. Webster 
 paced the room, half frantic with his grief, at the hor 
 rible fate which had overtaken his friends. 
 
 Slowly the day passed, and when the shadows of 
 evening were falling Webster was at last induced to 
 lie down, and attempt to snatch a few hours sleep. 
 He was soon slumbering quietly, although ever and 
 anon he would start nervously and utter an inarticu 
 late moan, as though his mind was stil troubled with 
 the sad events of the day. While he lay thus, at 
 tended by Mrs. Lawton, Mr. Campbell suddenly en 
 tered the room, with a look of fear upon his face, 
 which filled Mrs. Lawton with alarm. 
 
 " What is the matter ?" she hurriedly ejaculated. 
 
 " One of Winder's men is below, and I fear his 
 presence indicates misfortune for Webster," was the 
 reply. 
 
 -Who is it?" 
 
 " Cashmeyer," answered Mr. Campbell. " He in 
 quired for Webster, and says he must see him at 
 once." 
 
 Webster, disturbed by this conversation, was 
 awake in an instant and inquired what was wanted. 
 
 " Cashmeyer has called, and wishes to see you," 
 said Mr. Campbell. 
 
 " Let him come up at once," replied Webster, in 
 the hope that he might bring some tidings of Lewis 
 and Scully. 
 
538 A WOMAN'S DEVOTION 
 
 Mr. Campbell departed, and in a few moments re* 
 turned with the Confederate officer. Cashmeyer's 
 salutation was cold and formal, and without any pre 
 liminary he addressed Webster. 
 
 " I have a painful duty to perform, Mr. Webster. I 
 am directed by General Winder to arrest you, and 
 convey you at once to Castle Godwin." 
 
 As he spoke, two soldiers appeared at the door 
 way. 
 
 "You cannot wish to take him away in this condi 
 tion, and at this hour of the night," said Mrs. Law- 
 ton. "Such an action would be his death, and 
 would be the worst of inhumanity." 
 
 Webster stood silent and unmoved. He did not 
 utter a word, but gazed fixedly at the officer, whose 
 visits heretofore had been those of sympathy and con 
 dolence. 
 
 " I cannot help it," said Cashmeyer, " my orders 
 are to take him dead, or alive, and those orders I 
 must obey." 
 
 "Then," said Mrs. Lawton, " I will go too. He 
 needs care and attention, without it he will die, and 
 no one can nurse him so well as I." 
 
 Cashmeyer gazed at the brave little woman for 
 a moment, and a shade of pity came over his face. 
 
 " I am sorry to inform you, that my orders are 
 to arrest you also, and to search your trunks." 
 
 "This is infamous," exclaimed Webster; "what 
 can Winder mean by arresting this woman> and what 
 
4ND A PATRIOTS HEROISM. 539 
 
 am I charged with that renders your orders neces 
 sary?" 
 
 " Webster," answered Cashmeyer, " as God is my 
 witness, I do not know ; I only know what my orders 
 are, and that I must obey them." 
 
 Without further parley, Webster and Mrs. Lawton 
 prepared to accompany their guards, and Cashmeyer, 
 demanding their keys, commenced a search of their 
 trunks, which resulted in his finding nothing that 
 would criminate his prisoners. 
 
 A carriage was procured, and Webster was assisted 
 into it, while Mrs. Lawton, under the escort of Cash 
 meyer was compelled to walk. It was quite late 
 when they arrived at the prison, and as Price Lewis 
 was ascending to his cell, Webster and his faithful 
 female companion entered the gloomy portals of the 
 jail. 
 
 General Winder was present when they arrived, 
 and after a hurried examination Webster was re 
 manded to a room, in which a number of Union 
 prisoners were already confined, and the atmosphere 
 of which was reeking with filth and disease. 
 
 As he entered the room, pale and emaciated, and 
 scarcely able to walk, the prisoners gathered around, 
 in silent pity for his forlorn condition. 
 
 " My God !" excaimed one of their number, 
 " they will send the dead here next." 
 
 Mrs. Lawton was conducted before the General, 
 but she stoutly declined to answer a single question 
 
540 A WOMAN'S DEVOTION 
 
 that was propounded to her. This so enraged the 
 valiant officer that he ordered her to be taken away 
 at once. She was then conducted to a room in 
 which another lady was confined, and left for the 
 night. 
 
 As midnight tolled its solemn hour over the city, 
 and the tramp of armed men f resounded through the 
 streets, the noises within the prison died away. An 
 awful and impressive silence brooded over the place. 
 The dim light in the corridor shone faintly upon four 
 miserable human beings, who tossed restlessly upon 
 sleepless couches through the long, weary watches of 
 the night. 
 
 Who can tell the thoughts that thronged through 
 their brains, as the slow moving hours advanced 
 toward the dawn ? The brave woman who had been 
 cruelly deprived of her privilege to administer to the 
 needs of her suffering friend. The heroic Webster, 
 wasted by disease, weakened by his long and painful 
 illness, but still brave and defiant. Price Lewis and 
 John Scully, tortured with the thoughts of their im 
 pending fate, and harassed with reflections of a more 
 agonizing nature, which we may not analyse. 
 
 The trial of Webster was ordered for an early 
 day. With a haste that was inhuman, the Provost- 
 Marshal made his preparations for the farce of an in 
 vestigation. It seemed as though he was fearful that 
 his victim would die, ere he could wreak his ven 
 geance upon him. The court was convened, and, 
 
AND A PATRIOTS HEROISM. 541 
 
 owing to Webster's weakened condition, their ses 
 sions were held in the jail For three long, weary 
 weeks did the investigation dra<* its slow length 
 
 O O > 
 
 along, although it was apparent that those who tried 
 him had already decided upon his fate. Numerous 
 witnesses were examined, and testimony was admitted 
 which would have been excluded by any righteous 
 tribunal whose ideas of justice were not obscured by 
 an insane desire for revenge. 
 
 Price Lewis and John Scully were compelled to 
 give their evidence ; and although they attempted to 
 do their utmost to lessen the effect of their testimony, 
 it bore heavily against the poor prisoner, who sat 
 pale and emaciated before them, and whose heart 
 never failed him through the long and tedious ordeal 
 What Webster's feelings must have been during 
 this harrowing experience is unknown to any one, 
 What thoughts were rushing through his brain, as the 
 damaging statements fell from the lips of his late as 
 sociates, were never revealed by him. No murmurs 
 escaped his lips, no words of censure or blame 
 against the men whose evidence cost him his life, 
 were ever uttered. A heroic calmness, born of the 
 very despair which oppressed him from the first, was 
 manifest throughout the long, weary investigation. 
 Indeed so manfully had he borne himself, so com 
 pletely had he controlled his feelings, that his 
 physical health perceptibly improved, so much so 
 that the tribunal removed their sittings to the court- 
 
WOMAN'S DEVOTION 
 
 house, and Webster was able to be in daily at 
 tendance. 
 
 Webster had secured able counsel for his defence, 
 and they did all that was possible for man to do. 
 Although they were rebels, their efforts in behalf of 
 the accused spy were such, that if pleadings could 
 have availed him aught, his fate would have been 
 averted. 
 
 It was not to be, however ; the trial came to an 
 end at last. A verdict of guilty followed quickly 
 upon the heels of the partial and antagonistic charge 
 of the judge, and Timothy Webster was convicted of 
 being a spy in the employ of the Federal authorities. 
 
 Not even then did the brave spirit break down. 
 Firm and heroic he received the fatal verdict, and 
 the satisfaction of his enemies was robbed of its value 
 by the unflinching deportment of their victim. 
 
 After the trial, he was remanded to a cell, and 
 closely watched. But a little time elapsed, and then 
 came the warrant for his execution. An officer ap 
 peared in the cell, the paper was produced, and the 
 faithful, brave, true-hearted man was condemned to 
 be hung on the twenty-ninth day of April, but ten 
 
 days after the approval of his sentence. 
 
 ****** 
 
 The Union army was before Yorktown. Mo 
 Clellan had already sustained two serious disappoint 
 ments, arxd both of them at the hands of the govern 
 ment at Washington. In the first placer on his 
 
AND A PATRIOT'S HEROISM. 543 
 
 arrival at Fort Monroe, he Had ascertained that the 
 promised assistance of the navy could not be relied 
 upon in the least, and that their efficient co-operation 
 with him would be an utter impossibility. This inter 
 ference with his plans might have been overcome, 
 although the loss of the naval support was a serious 
 misfortune to him ; but a more surprising and dis 
 heartening act of the authorities was yet in store for 
 him. A few days later, he was thunderstruck at the 
 unexpected information that General McDowell's 
 entire corps, upon whose assistance he had confidently 
 relied, was detached from his command, and had been 
 ordered to remain in front of Washington, for the 
 protection of the capital, which was erroneously 
 believed to be in imminent danger of capture by the 
 rebels. These events rendered a scientific siege of 
 Yorktown a necessity; and while engaged in this 
 laborious work, I was in constant consultation w r ith 
 the commanding General. Numerous scouts had 
 been sent out through the rebel country, and the secret 
 service department was taxed to its utmost. George 
 H. Bangs was busily engaged in examining the rebel 
 deserters and prisoners, Southern refugees and con 
 trabands, who were either captured or came willingly 
 into camp, and in preparing daily reports of our 
 movements, which were required to be made to the 
 General in command. I had accompanied McClellan 
 upon this campaign, and gave my untiring personal 
 supervision to the management of the large corps of 
 
544 A WOMAN'S P FACTION 
 
 men and women, white and ulack, then engaged iii 
 obtaining information. 
 
 During all this time, not a word had been received 
 of my missing operatives. Tortured by the uncer 
 tainty of their fate, I passed many an anxious hour 
 At length all doubts were set at rest, and a dreadful 
 certainty manifested itself to my mind. A news 
 paper, published in Richmond, was received by me, 
 and in hastily perusing its contents, with a view of 
 acquring such military information as it contained, 
 my eye alighted upon a small paragraph, which filled 
 me with dread and sorrow. This paragraph was the 
 simple announcement that Price Lewis, and John 
 Scully had been arrested as spies in the rebel capital, 
 and had been sentenced to be hung on the 6th day of 
 April. 
 
 I cannot detail the effect which this announce 
 ment produced upon me. For a moment I sat almost 
 stupefied, and unable to move. My blood seemed to 
 freeze in my veins my heart stood still I was 
 speechless. By degrees I was able to exercise a 
 strong command over myself. I then sought my 
 immediate associates, and communicated the fatal 
 news to them. Their consternation and grief were 
 equal to my own. Every man seemed to be im 
 pressed with the solemnity of the fate of their com 
 rades. What was to be done ? How to intercede in 
 their behalf ? I rushed to the tent of General Me- 
 Clellan, and relating the news to him, besought his 
 
AND A PATRIOT'S HEROISM. 545 
 
 aid in this direful extremity. His sympathy and 
 sorrow were as acute as though the men had been 
 joined to him by ties of blood. Anxiously \ve dis 
 cussed the situation, in the vain attempt to seek some 
 mode of obtaining their release, and all without 
 definite or satisfactory conclusion. 
 
 All that night I paced the camp, unable to sleep 
 unable almost to think intelligently; and when 
 morning dawned I was as far from devising any 
 practical plan of relief as when I first received the 
 information. 
 
 I telegraphed to Captain Milward, Harbor-Master 
 at Fortress Monroe, and in charge of the flag-of- 
 truca boat for exchanging prisoners, asking him to 
 endeavor to ascertain from the Richmond papers, or 
 from any other source, anything definite as to the 
 fate of my unfortunate operatives. f 
 
 Several messages were received from that officer 
 containing various statements of the case, and finally 
 came the crushing intelligence that Lewis and Scully 
 had been respited, after having given information 
 which implicated Timothy Webster, whom the rebels 
 now regarded as the chief spy of the three. 
 
 This was the crowning burden of all, and I was 
 almost prostrated by the blow. Hurried consulta- 
 tions^were held, every conceivable plan was suggested 
 and discussed, which would -avail in the slightest 
 degree to avert so terrible a fate from the faithful 
 patriot who now was in such deadly danger. 
 
 35 
 
<U<5 A WOMAN'S DEVOTION 
 
 I suggested that General McClellan should send, 
 by flag-of-truce boat, such a demand as would, if 
 possible, save their lives ; but to this the General 
 demurred, fearing, and justly too, that such a' course 
 might be productive of more injury than good that 
 it would be a tacit acknowledgment of their real 
 character as spies, and they would be hung without 
 further delay. 
 
 It was at last decided that I should go to Wash 
 ington, accompanied by Colonel Key, an eminent 
 patriot, and an efficient member of General McClellan's 
 'Staff. We were to confer with the President and the 
 ;*nembers of the Cabinet, lay the matter before them, 
 ;and petition for the official interposition of the 
 [government in their behalf. 
 
 With Colonel Key, I started for Washington, 
 *bout the middle of April. The interest of that 
 officer was scarcely second to my own, and he was 
 :fully determined to exert every energy of his manly, 
 ^sympathetic nature in the work of saving their lives, 
 lif possible. 
 
 The journey to Washington was quickly made. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln was readily seen, and he, too, filled with 
 
 sympathy for the unfortunate men, promised to call a 
 
 :special session of the Cabinet to consider the case, 
 
 that evening. 
 
 In the meantime, Colonel Key and I occupied 
 ourselves in visiting the various heads of the depart- 
 iments, in order to prepare them, before evening 
 
AND A PATRIOT'S HEROISM. 547 
 
 arrived, for energetic and speedy action. We felt 
 that no time was to be lost ; if, indeed, it was not 
 already too late to avert their dreadful doom. \ 
 
 Secretary Stanton, whom, among others, we saw, 
 expressed in strong terms his willingness to assist 
 Webster to the extent of the resources of the govern 
 ment, but he was but little disposed to assist the 
 others, who, he alleged, had " betrayed their com 
 panion to save their own lives." 
 
 In the evening the Cabinet was convened, and, 
 after a full discussion of the matter, it was decided 
 that the only thing that could be done, was to author 
 ize the Secretary of War to communicate with the 
 rebel authorities upon the subject. He was directed 
 to authorize General Wool to send by flag-of-truce 
 boat, or by telegraph, a message to Jefferson Davis, 
 representing that the course pursued by the Federal 
 government toward rebel spies had heretofore been ' 
 lenient and forbearing ; that in many cases such per 
 sons had been released after a short confinement, and 
 that in no instance had any one so charged been tried 
 for his life, or sentenced to death. The message con 
 cluded with the decided intimation that if the rebel 
 government proceeded to carry their sentence of 
 death into execution, the Federal government would 
 initiate a system of retaliation which would amply 
 revenge the death of the men now held. 
 
 Receiving a copy of these instructions, Cclonel 
 Key and myself, feeling that we had exhausted the 
 
548 A WOMAN'S DEVOTION 
 
 power of the government in this matter, returned at 
 once to Fortress Monroe. We arrived there on the 23d 
 day of April. General Wool was immediately found, - 
 and without a moment's delay, he caused the required 
 dispatches to be forwarded,, by way of Norfolk, 
 through General Huger, who was then in command 
 of that place, with the urgent request that he would 
 instantly transmit it by telegraph to the Richmond 
 authorities/ 
 
 This, I learned, was done as had been requested, 
 and I learned further, that it reached the officers of 
 the rebel government, and received their considera* 
 tion in time to have been of avail, had there been 
 one spark of manly sympathy animating the breasts 
 of those who were the leaders of a vile conspiracy to 
 destroy the noblest government under the blue 
 canopy of heaven. 
 
 Feeling that all had now been done that was pos 
 sible to save the lives of my men, and believing that 
 the hate and malignity of the rebel officers would 
 not carry them to such a murderous extent as this, I 
 awaited the result of our mission with jwnful holici* 
 
 tude. 
 
 * * * * t 
 
 I 
 
 After the day of execution had been fixed, Mrs. 
 
 Lawton was permitted to visit Webster in the room 
 to which he had been assigned. During all the time 
 that the trial had been in progress, they had never 
 been allowed to communicate with each other, and 
 
AND A PATRIOT'S HEROISM. 543 
 
 the noble little woman had been compelled to suffer 
 in silence, while Webster was undergoing the painful 
 experiences of the investigation, which had resulted 
 in his being condemned to be hung as a spy. 
 
 The meeting between Webster and Mrs. Lawton 
 was a most affecting one. Tears filled the eyes of the 
 faithful woman, as she gazed at the pale and emaci 
 ated form of the heroic patriot. Their hands were 
 clasped in a warm pressure, and her words of heart 
 felt sympathy and grief were choked by the sobs 
 which shook her frame. Even in the excess of his 
 despair, Webster's fortitude never for a moment for 
 sook him. He bore the burdens which had been im-' 
 posed upon him with a courage and firmness that 
 impressed all who witnessed it. 
 
 Under Mrs. Lawton's direction, the room in 
 which he was confined was soon made cheerful and 
 clean ; with her own hands she prepared for him such, 
 delicacies as he needed most, and her words of com 
 fort were of great effect in soothing his mind, and in 
 preparing him for the dreadful fate which he was 
 called upon to meet. 
 
 Nor did Mrs. Lawton stop here. She sought an 
 interview with Jefferson Davis, but, finding him en 
 gaged with General Lee, she obtained the privilege 
 of visiting the wife of the Confederate president. With 
 Mrs. Davis she pleaded long and earnestly in behalf 
 of the condemned man. Besought her by every holy 
 tie of her own life to intercede for the pardon of 
 
50 A WOMAN'S DEVOTION 
 
 the poor invalid, whose life hung by so slender a 
 thread. 
 
 All in vain, however. While fully sympathizing 
 with the fate of the unfortunate man, Mrs. Davis de 
 clined to interfere in matters of state, and Mrs. Law- 
 ton left the house utterly hopeless of being able to 
 avert the dreadful fate which impended over Webster. 
 
 The hours flew swiftly by, and the day of execu 
 tion drew near, and still a ray of hope glistened 
 through the gloom which surrounded him. If 
 McClellan only succeeded in capturing Richmond all 
 would be well. But as the days passed, and this re 
 sult seemed further from accomplishment than ever, 
 even that flickering ember of hope. died out, and he 
 prepared to meet his fate like a man. 
 
 One thing, however, impressed the doomed man 
 more than anything else the thought of being 
 hung. Any other mode of punishment would have 
 been accepted with joy, but to be hanged like a mur 
 derer, was a disgrace which he could not bear to 
 think about. On the day before his execution, he 
 requested a visit from General Winder, and that of 
 ficer, evidently expecting a revelation from the lips 
 of his victim, soon made his appearance at the prison. 
 
 As he entered the cell where Webster was reclin 
 ing upon his couch, he roughly accosted him: 
 
 " Webster, you have sent for me; what is it that 
 you desire?" 
 
 " General Winder," replied Webster, " I have 
 
AND A PATRIOTS HEROISM. 55 1 
 
 sent for you to make an appeal to your manhood ; 
 my fate is sealed I know that too well I am to die, 
 and I wish to die like a man. I know there is no 
 hope for mercy, but, sir, I beseech you to permit me 
 to be shot, not be hanged like a common felon, 
 anything but that." 
 
 " I am afraid that cannot be done," said Winder, 
 coldly. 
 
 "It is not much to ask," pleaded Webster; "I am 
 to dit, and am prepared, but, sir, for God's sake let 
 me not die like this ; change but the manner of my 
 death, and no murmur shall escape my lips." 
 
 " ! cannot alter the sentence that has been or 
 dered." 
 
 Mrs. Lawton, who was present, ' and unable fur 
 ther to restrain herself, exclaimed : 
 
 " General, as a woman I appeal to you you have 
 the power, and can exercise it. Do not, I pray you, 
 condemn 'this brave man to the odium of a felon's 
 death. Think of his family, and his suffering. Let 
 the manliness of your own heart plead for him. 
 It is not much that he asks. He does not sue for 
 pardon. lie seeks not to escape your judgment, 
 harsh and cruel as it is. He only prays to be 
 allov ed to die like a brave man in the service of his 
 country. You certainly can lose nothing by granting 
 this request, therefore, in the name of justice and 
 humanity, let him be shot instead of the dreadful 
 death you have ordained for him." 
 
552 A WOMAN'S DEVOTION 
 
 m 
 
 While she was speaking, the hard lines about the 
 rebel's mouth grew still more harsh and rigid. He 
 did not attempt to interrupt her, but when she had 
 finished, he turned coolly upon his heel, and, as he 
 reached the door he said : 
 
 " His request and yours must be denied. He 
 hangs to-morrow." 
 
 " Then," ejaculated the undaunted woman, " he will 
 die like a man, and his death will be upon year head, 
 a living curse until your own dark hour shall come !" 
 
 Without deigning to notice them further, he 
 passed out of the cell, violently closing the door be 
 hind him. 
 
 The shadows of the night came down over the 
 prison. The last night on earth to a brave man who 
 had met death in a hundred forms ere this. How 
 many times the gaunt, repulsive form of the fatal scaf 
 fold, appeared to the vision of the condemned man, as 
 he sat firm and rigid in his dark cell, we may not know. 
 How many times he lived over again the bright 
 scenes of his past life ! The happy, careless days of 
 childhood, when the fond eyes of a loving mother 
 beamed upon him in his sportive gambols. His 
 school days, the lessons conned by the evening lamp 
 in the dear old home of long ago. The merry days 
 of youth, which glided away amid scenes of mirth and 
 jollity. The first dawnings of the passion of his life, 
 when a soft hand nestled lovingly in his, and earnest 
 eyes, full of- love and trust, seemed to speak a world 
 
AND A PATRIOT'S HEROISM. 553 
 
 of affection. Then the stirring scenes of active life, 
 he a man among men battling with the world, per 
 forming his daily duties, mingling honorably with his 
 fellows, and upheld by a pride of honor and self-re 
 spect His sacrifices for his country in the dark hour 
 of her peril. The lonely marches, the weary bur 
 dens, the unflinching steadfastness of his fealty to his 
 government The long nights of storm and danger, 
 the varying episodes of pleasure and of pain, conflicts 
 with enemies, and happy hours with friendly compan 
 ions all these thoughts came upon him with a dis 
 tinctness which brought their actual presence near. 
 Now he was listening to the sweet lullaby of his 
 mother's voice, now he stood in the hall of the "Sons 
 of Liberty," in the midst of affrighted conspirators 
 and blue-coated soldiers anon he strayed by a purl 
 ing stream, with a loved one upon his arm and again 
 he breasted the dashing waters and the deluging storm 
 on the bay, as he rescued the women and children 
 from* the stranded boat. So vivid were these pictures 
 of his mind that he lived again a hundred scenes of 
 his past life, partook of a hundred pleasures, shared 
 in a hundred sorrows. Suddenly in the midst of 
 some thrilling vision of by-gone days, the flickering 
 of his lamp or the tread of the sentry outside would 
 recall him from a delightful reverie to the dark and 
 dreadful present. Then gloomy and despondent 
 thoughts would come to him. He would picture 
 minutely the scenes of the morrow, the rude platform, 
 
554 A WOMAN'S DEVOTION 
 
 the dangling noose, the armed soldiers, the hideous 
 black cap, the springing of the gallows trap. 
 
 Then, unable to bear the agony of his the lights, 
 he would start to his feet, press his hands to his ears, 
 as if to drown the fearful sounds, and pace rapidly 
 the narrow cell. Mrs. Lawton never left him ; ever 
 alert to his needs, ever ready with sustaining words, 
 although her own brave, tender heart was breaking, 
 she dul her utmost to strengthen and sustain him. 
 Gradually he became calmer. The slow moving 
 hours passed on, and he resolutely performed the last 
 duties that devolved upon him. Messages were con 
 fided to his unwavering nurse for the dear friends 
 at home ; expressions of love and regard for his 
 kindred, and unswerving breathings of devotion to 
 his country. 
 
 " Tell Major Allen that I met my fate like a man. 
 Thank him for his many acts of kindness to me. I 
 have done my duty, and I can meet death with a 
 brave heart and a clear conscience." 
 
 The first faint streams of the early dawn came in 
 through the grated window ; the sun was rising in the 
 heavens, brightly and gloriously lighting up a day 
 that should have been shrouded in gloom. Its beams 
 illumined the little chamber, where Webster lay calm 
 and wakeful, his hands clasped by the woman who 
 had so nobly shared his captivity. 
 
 A silence had fallen upon them. Each was busy 
 with thoughts which lips could not utter, and tha 
 
AND A PATRIOT'S HEROISM.} 555 
 
 deathlike stillness was undisturbed save by the tramp 
 of the guards in the corridor. 
 
 Suddenly there came the sound of hurried foot 
 steps. They paused before the door. The heavy 
 bolts were shot back, and in the doorway stood Cap- 
 Alexander, the officer in charge. 
 
 The little clock that ticked upon the wall noted a 
 quarter past five o'clock. 
 
 " Come, Webster, it is time to go." 
 
 There was no sympathy in the rough voice which 
 uttered these words. 
 
 " To go where ?" inquired Webster, starting up in 
 surprise. 
 
 " To the fair grounds," was the laconic reply. 
 
 " Surely not at this hour," pleaded the condemned 
 man ; " the earliest moment named in my death- 
 warrant is six o'clock, and you certainly vwill not 
 require me to go before that." 
 
 " It is the order of General Winder, and I must 
 obey," answered Alexander. "You must prepare 
 yourself at once." 
 
 Without another word Webster arose from his 
 bed, and began his preparations. Not a tremor was 
 apparent, and his hand was as steady and firm as 
 iron. When he had fully arranged his toilet, he 
 turned to Mrs. Lawton, and taking both her hands 
 in his, he murmured : 
 
 " Good-bye, dear friend ; we shall never meet again 
 on earth. God bless you, and your kindness to inc. 
 
55<5 A WOMAN'S DEVOTION 
 
 I will be brave, and die like a man. Farewell, for 
 ever !" then turning to Captain Alexander, who stood 
 unmoved near the door, he said : 
 
 " I am ready !" 
 
 As they went out through the door.. a piercing 
 shriek rent the air, and Mrs. Lawtoa fell prostrate to 
 the floor. 
 
 Arriving at the entrance to the prison, they found 
 a company of cavalry drawn up before thtm, and a 
 carriage, procured by Mrs.- Lawton, awaiting their 
 appearance. Webster crossed the pavement with un 
 faltering step and entered the vehicle, the order to 
 march was given,, and the procession started for the 
 scene of execution. 
 
 At Camp Lee, the scene was one of bustle and 
 excitement. Soldiers were moving about in compa 
 nies, and in small detachments. Eager spectators 
 were there, curious to watch the proceedings, and the 
 streets leading to the grounds were lined with people 
 whose prevailing emotion seemed to be that of idle 
 curiosity. 
 
 On arriving at the camp, Webster was conducted 
 into a small room, on the ground floor of one of the 
 buildings, and was left alone with the clergyman who 
 bad been requested to accompany him. 
 
 Thus he remained for several hours. At ten min 
 utes past eleven, the carriage was drawn up before 
 the door, and Webster appeared lean ing upon the arm 
 of the jailer, and attended by his spiritual adviser. 
 
AND A PATRIOT'S HEROISM. 557 
 
 The doomed man wore a look of calm composure. 
 His face was pale, and the feebleness of his condition 
 was manifest in his tottering walk ; but his eye was 
 clear and steady and not a muscle of his face betrayed 
 his emotion. 
 
 They reached the scaffold, which was erected on 
 the north side of the parade ground. Slowly and 
 painfully he ascended to the platform. Amid a 
 breathless silence, he stood for a moment and gazed 
 about him. The bright blue sky overhead, the mus 
 kets of the soldiers glistening in the rays of the sun, 
 the white, eager faces which surrounded him. His 
 last look on earth. Though much exhausted by his 
 long illness, he stood alone and firmly whilst his arms 
 were tied behind him and his feet were bound to 
 gether. 
 
 The black cap was placed over his head, and then 
 followed a moment of solemn stillness. The entire 
 assembly seemingly ceased to breathe. The signal 
 was given, the trap was sprung, and, with a dreadful, 
 sickening thud, Webster fell from the gibbet to the 
 ground beneath. The hang-man's knot had slipped, 
 and the man, bound hand and foot, lay In a confused 
 heap, limp and motionfess, before the gathered throng. 
 He was lifted up and carried to the scaffold. 
 
 " I suffer a double death," came from the lips of 
 the dying man as he was again placed upon the re<id- 
 justed trap. The rope v/as again placed around his 
 neck, this time so tight as to be excruciatingly painful. 
 
558 A WOMAN'S DEVOTION 
 
 "You will choke me to death this time," came in 
 gurgling tones from within the enveloping hood. 
 
 - In a second the trap was again sprung, and the 
 brave patriot was swinging in the air, between heaven 
 and earth. 
 
 Rebel vengeance was at last satisfied, the apptcite 
 for human blood was sated. 
 
 Treason had done its worst, and the loyal spy was 
 dead. 
 
 Early in the afternoon, Captain Alexander re 
 turned to the prison, and informed Mrs. Lawton that 
 all was over. He found her deathly pale, but now 
 firm, and giving no other outward sign of the agony 
 of the past few hours. 
 
 " May I see him before he is taken away ?" 'she 
 asked. 
 
 " There is no objection to that." 
 
 Accompanying the officer, she went to the room 
 In which the body lay, incased in a metallic coffin 
 which Mrs. Lawton had procured. His face was not 
 discolored in the least, and the features indicated the 
 same Roman firmness which he exhibited when he. 
 left the prison. He died as he had lived a brave 
 man. 
 
 Several rebel officers stood around the coffin. 
 Turning suddenly upon them, and facing Captain 
 Alexander, Mrs. Lawton, in a burst of passion, ex 
 claimed : 
 
 " Murderers ! this is your work. If there is yen- 
 
AND A PATRIOT'S HEROISM. 559 
 
 geance or retribution in this world, you will feel it 
 before you die !" 
 
 As if stung to the quick by tkis accusation, Cap 
 tain Alexander stepped up to the coffin, and laying 
 his hand upon Webster's cold, white forehead, said : 
 
 "As sure as there is a God in Heaven, I am 
 innocent of this deed. I did nothing to bring this 
 about, and simply obeyed my orders in removing him 
 from the prison to the place of execution." 
 
 Application was made to General Winder for the 
 privilege of sending Webster's body to the North, 
 where it might be buried by his friends ; but this the 
 rebel' officer peremptorily refused. A petition was 
 then made that it be allowed to be placed in the vault 
 in Richmond, with no better success. Not content 
 with heaping ignominy upon him while living, the 
 fiend was determined that even in death the patriot 
 should be the subject of odium and contempt. 
 
 In the dead hour of the night, he ordered the 
 remains to be carried away, and buried in an obscure 
 corner of the pauper's bury ing-ground. 
 
 Farewell, brave spirit ! I knew thee well. Brave, 
 tender and true ; thou hast suffered in a glorious 
 cause, and died a martyr's death. Thy memory will 
 long be green in the hearts of thy friends. When 
 treason is execrated, and rebellion is scorned and 
 despised, the tears of weeping friends will bedew the 
 sod which rests above the martyred spy of the Rebel* 
 lion Timothy Webster. 
 
A WOMAN'S DEVOTION. 
 
 After the war was over, and peace once more 
 reigned throughout the land, I procured his body, 
 and it now lies in the soil of a loyal state the shrine 
 of the patriot the resting-place of a hero. 
 
 But little more remains to be told. After weary 
 months of captivity, Mrs. Lawton, Price Lewis and 
 John Scully, were sent to the North, where their 
 stones were told, and from whose lips I learned 
 particulars I have narrated 
 
CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 i 
 
 The Defeat of General Pope at the second Battle of Mauassas. 
 McClellan Again Called to the Command. The Dattlt 
 of Antic tarn. A Union Victory. A Few Thoughts about 
 t/ie Union Commander. McClellan s Removal froin 
 Command and his Farewell Address. 
 
 O 
 
 N the second day of September, 1862, the 
 following order was issued : 
 
 " War Department, Adj't-Gen.'s Office, 
 
 "Washington, Sept. 2, 1862. 
 " Major-General McClellan will have command of 
 the fortifications of Washington, and of all the troops 
 for the defense of the Capital. 
 
 ' By order of 
 
 ri E. D. TOWNSEND, " Maj.-Gen. HALLECK. 
 
 Ass't. Adj't.-Gen." 
 
 At this time the Federal troops, under General 
 Pope, were retreating in great disorder from the disas 
 trous defeat in the Virginia campaign, and the roads 
 leading to Washington were, for the second time during 
 the war, filled with stragglers from the ranks, making 
 their way to the capital. It will be remembered that 
 while McClellan and the main Eastern army were in 
 the Peninsula, the divisions of McDowell, Fremont 
 
 V J6 [56iJ 
 
$62 MCCLELLAN AGAIN CALLED 
 
 \ i 
 
 and Banks were, by orders of the government, held 
 
 near Washington, for the protection of the national 
 capital. On the 26th day of July, these forces were 
 consolidated as the Army of Virginia, and placed 
 under the command of General Pope. This army 
 was guarding the line of the Rapidan. 
 
 Soon after the retreat of the Union army under 
 General McClellan, the Confederates, in August, 
 1862, began to move towards Washington. Stone 
 wall Jackson, leading the advance of the Southern 
 army, attacked Banks' force at Cedar Mountain, on 
 the 6th day of August. Banks, however, was able to 
 hold Jackson in check for some time ; but the main 
 body of the rebels arriving, Banks was compelled to 
 {retreat. Lee now pressed heavily upon Pope, who 
 retreated northward from every position then held by 
 him. 
 
 When this movement became known to the 
 authorities, General McClellan was ordered to hastily 
 ship the Army of the Potomac back to Washington, 
 .and so persistent was General Halleck in his orders 
 ito that effect, that at the second battle of Manassas 
 McClellan found himself completely stripped of his 
 army literally without a command and compelled 
 tto submit to the mortification of listening to the roar 
 of the battle from afar, and without being allowed to 
 participate in its conflicts. Some idea of his feelings 
 urnay be learned from a dispatch sent by him to Gen 
 eral Halleck at this time: 
 
TO THE COMMAND. 563 
 
 " I cannot express to you the pain and mortification 
 I luve experienced to-day, in listening to the distant 
 sound of the fighting of my men. As I can be of no 
 further use here, I respectfully ask that if there is a 
 probability of the conflict being renewed to-morrow, 
 I may be permitted to go to the scene of battle with 
 my staff, merely to be with my own men, if nothing 
 more ; they will fight none the worse for my being 
 with them. If it is not deemed best to intrust me 
 with the command even of my own army, I simply 
 ask to be permitted to share their fate upon the field 
 of battle." 
 
 These appeals, however, were utterly disregarded. 1 
 Gen. Pope was to command the army, and to do the 
 fighting, and in the end the contemptuous superiors 
 of the heroic commander suffered a crushing defeat 
 in the bloodiest battle of this campaign. The second 
 battle of Manassas was a most disastrous one, and on 
 August 29-30 Pope's army was utterly defeated. 
 
 Lee was now pressing forward, flushed with 
 victory, and threatening Washington. On the ist 
 of September the battle of Chantilly was fought, and 
 in which those brave Generals, Kearney and Stevens, 
 lost their lives. 
 
 Learning by bitter experience the culpable folly 
 of ignoring the genius and bravery of Mc- 
 Clellan, and with the rebel army besieging the 
 capital, General Halleck, in the excess of fear, was 
 forced to again call for the services of the gallant 
 commander of the Army of the Potomac, and General 
 
564 M'CLELLAN AGAIN CALLED 
 
 Mr.Clellan was once more placed in command of an 
 army defeated and demoralized by the incompetency 
 of its generals. 
 
 The broken army of Pope was now united with 
 that of the Army of the Potomac, and the army of 
 Virginia ceased to exist as a separate organization. 
 With the intense enthusiasm of the soldiers for Mc- 
 Clellan, he soon brought order out of chaos, and in an 
 incredibly short space of time he faced them about, 
 in orderly columns, and started to repel the invading 
 army of Lee, who was now crossing the Potomac. 
 
 From reports made by my operatives at this time, 
 it was ascertained that Lee had abandoned, if, indeed, 
 he ever seriously entertained the idea of advancing 
 directly upon the capital, and was now contemplating 
 carrying the campaign into Maryland. Longstreet's 
 division had left Richmond about the 5th day of 
 August for Gordonsville, marching to Orange Court 
 house, he fell back to Gordonsville. Jackson fell 
 back at the same time, and they both participated in 
 the battle of Manassas, and in the fighting that fol 
 lowed. Jackson then crossed the river into Mary 
 land, before Longstreet, who crossed a few days later, 
 at or near Edwards' Ferry. 
 
 On the 4th day of September, my operatives, who 
 were watching the movement of the rebel army, re 
 ported that Lee had his headquarters on the Aldie 
 turnpike, near Dranesville ; while Jackson was near 
 Fairfax Court-house, On the 9th, it was under- 
 
TO THE COMMAND. 565 
 
 stood that the rebels had moved their entire army in 
 to Virginia, and it was presumed that his objective 
 point was Baltimore. 
 
 General McClellan left Washington on the 7th 
 day of September, and established his headquarters 
 at Rockville, having first made all Arrangements for 
 the defense of Washington, and placing General 
 Banks in command of the troops at that place. By 
 this time it was known that the mass of the rebel 
 army had passed up the south side of the Potomac 
 river, in the direction of Leesburg, and that a part of 
 the army had crossed the river into Maryland. 
 
 The uncertainty of Lee's intentions greatly dis 
 tracted the authorities at Washington for the safety 
 of that city, and they were fearful that he would make 
 a feint towards Pennsylvania, and then suddenly seize 
 the opportunity to attack the capital. 
 
 Some writers have animadverted freely upon the 
 alleged " slowness " of McClellan 's movements up the 
 Potomac, and his " delay " in offering battle to Lee 
 before the latter had time to unite his army and 
 occupy the strong position he held at Antietam ; but 
 they persistently ignore the fact that the dispatches 
 from the commander-in-chief at Washington, to 
 McClellan in the field, from the 7th to the i6th of 
 September, were filled with cautions against a too 
 hasty advance, and the consequent impropriety of 
 exposing Washington to an attack. Indeed, it seems 
 evident to me, when I regard the career of the Army 
 
566 WCLELLAN AGAIN CALLED 
 
 of the Potomac, that had those in power in Washing* 
 ton been less concerned for their own safety, and 
 trusted more to the skill and sagacity of the general 
 in the field to direct its movements, the history of 
 that army would have been widely different from 
 what it is. The campaign of the Peninsula termi 
 nated disastrously to the Union arms, and it was 
 mainly due to this real or assumed fear of the author 
 ities for the safety of Washington. 
 
 It is not presuming too much to say, that McClel- 
 lan knew far better than those at Washington the 
 movements and intentions of the enemy, and that he 
 was apprised of them sooner ; but it is equally true 
 that a certain element in the Cabinet was unfriendly 
 to the secret service branch of the army, and, with 
 characteristic stubbornness, placed but little reliance 
 upon the information obtained from this source. 
 
 For instance, General Halleck wasef the opinion, 
 on the evening of the day before Antietam, that 
 Lee's whole force had crossed the river, and so tele 
 graphed McClellan, when the fact was that the rebel 
 army was actually in our front, and ready for the bat 
 tle that so speedily followed. 
 
 Still, the importance of moving with extreme 
 caution was kept constantly in view, and the army | 
 was moved so that it extended from the railroad to 
 the Potomac River, the extreme left flank resting on 
 that stream. 
 
 On the twelfth of September, a portion of the 
 
TO THE COMMAND. 567 
 
 right wing of the army entered Frederick, Lid , and 
 on the following day the main body of the right and 
 the center wings arrived, only to find that f he e r ^my 
 had marched out of the place two days befjre, taking 
 the roads to Boonesboro' and Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Lee had left a force to dispute the possession of 
 the passes, through which the roads across South 
 Mountain ran, while he had dispatched Jackson to 
 effect the capture of Harper's Ferry. In these plans 
 he was partially frustrated, for, while Jackson suc 
 ceeded in capturing Harper's Ferry, McClellan drove 
 the rebel troops from the passes, after short but 
 vigorous engagements at South Mountain, on Sep 
 tember 1 4th, but failed in his efforts to relieve 
 Harper's Ferry, and that place was surrendered on 
 the following day. 
 
 Immediately following the actions at South 
 Mountain, Lee, being closely pressed by McClellan, 
 turned at bay in the beautiful valley of the Antietarru 
 Here he resolved to endeavor to hold his position 
 until he could concentrate his army. His forces at 
 this time numbered about forty thousand men. 
 
 On the sixteenth, he was reinforced by Jackson's 
 gallant corps, numbering about five thousand men, 
 which, together with other reinforcements, received 
 during the day, swelled his numbers to fifty thousand 
 men, which, in the language of one of their own 
 writers, constituted " the very flower of the Army of 
 Northern Virginia," 
 
568 M'CLELLAN AGAIN CALLED 
 
 Our own forces did not exceed eighty-five thou 
 sand men, and it is but correct to say that not seventy 
 thousand were actually engaged on the day of the 
 great battle. My own judgment is, that at no time 
 during the fight was the Confederate army ever con 
 fronted by a force outnumbering their own. 
 
 Confederate writers have sought to make it ap 
 pear that Lee, at Antietam, fought and practically de 
 feated a force in excess of his own in the ratio of 
 three to one. This assertion is proven to be a 
 glaring eiror, for the facts are that the odds were, less 
 than three to two, even in point of actual numerical 
 strength present, while, all things considered, these 
 were reduced until the two armies faced each other 
 on the morning of Antietam pretty evenly opposed, 
 and with no decided advantage in favor of either 
 contestant. 
 
 To explain : taking it for granted that McClellan 
 had eighty-seven thousand men at roll-call on the 
 morning of the seventeenth, it is now known that the 
 battle was mainly fought by the First, Second, Ninth 
 and Twelfth Corps, while the Fifth and Sixth Corps 
 and the Cavalry Division were scarcely used at all. 
 In addition to this, it should be remembered that 
 ours was the attacking force ; that the enemy oc 
 cupied a chosen position, and therefore, in this view 
 of the situation, the odds were by no means great in 
 favor of the Federal troops. 
 
 On the morning of the sixteenth, being then at 
 
I TO THE COMMAND. 569 
 
 headquarters, and desiring to learn from personal ob 
 servation something of the position of the enemy, I 
 accompanied a party of cavalry sent out to recon 
 noitre across the Antietam. Here it was discovered 
 that the enemy had changed the position of some of 
 their batteries, while their left and center were upon 
 and in front of the Sharpsburg and Hagerstown turn 
 pike, and their extreme left rested upon the wooded 
 heights near the cross-roads to the north. 
 
 While returning from this reconnoitering expedi 
 tion, fire was opened upon us from a masked battery 
 upon the hill, and my horse, a beautiful sorrel, that 
 had carried me for months, and to which I was much 
 attached, was shot from under me while I was cross 
 ing the stream. Several of the men who accom 
 panied me were seriously wounded, and I narrowly 
 escaped with my life. 
 
 The next morning, at early dawn, the battle com 
 menced, and raged with unabated fury until nightfall, 
 when the rebels withdrew, and our soldiers slept that 
 night upon a dearly won, yet decisively victorious 
 field. McClellan determined not to renew the attack 
 upon the following day, for which his critics have cen 
 sured him severely ; yet, I am satisfied, that not a 
 few writers who have fought, on paper, the battle of 
 Antietam, just as it should have been fought in their 
 own estimation, have not, in a single instance, given 
 the subject more painful and anxious thought than 
 did the General himself, during all that night, while 
 
M'CLELLAN AGAIN CALLED 
 
 his weary troops lay resting on their arms, on a field 
 covered with their own and their enemy's dead. 
 
 No better reasons can be assigned, and, indeed, 
 none better need be given for the course he pursued, 
 than he, himself, has stated in his own report of that 
 battle. He says : " I am aware of the fact, that, 
 under ordinary circumstances, a General is expected to 
 risk a battle if he has a reasonable prospect of success ; 
 but at this critical juncture, I should have had a nar 
 row view of the condition of the country, had I been 
 willing to hazard another battle with less than an 
 absolute assurance of success. At that moment, Vir 
 ginia lost, Washington menaced, Maryland invaded, 
 the National cause could afford no risks of defeat. 
 One battle lost, and almost all would have been lost 
 Lee's army might then have marched as it pleased on 
 Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia or New York. 
 It could have levied its supplies from a fertile and 
 undevastated country, extorted tribute from wealthy 
 and populous cities, and nowhere east of the Alle- 
 ghanies was there another organized force able to 
 arrest its march." 
 
 The day after the battle, however, General 
 McClellan gave orders for a renewal of the attack on the 
 morning of the nineteenth ; but when morning dawned, 
 it was discovered that the rebels had suddenly aban 
 doned their position and retreated across the river, 
 leaving nearly three thousand of their unburied dead 
 on the late field of battle. Thirteen guns, thirty-nine 
 
TO THE COMMAND. 571 
 
 colors, upwards of fifteen thousand stand of small 
 arms, and more than six thousand prisoners, were 
 taken in the battles of South Mountain, Crampton's 
 Gap and Antietam, while not a single gun or color 
 was lost by our troops in any of these encounters. 
 
 The Battle of Antietam, in its effects, was a bril 
 liant and decisive victory for the Union arms, as it 
 was a terrible blow to the South, who had expected 
 much from Lee's sudden and daring invasion of a 
 loyal state ; and their losses, from the time they first 
 invaded Maryland until the end of the Battle of An 
 tietam, were in the neighborhood of thirty thousand 
 men. 
 
 Whatever, therefore, has been said by unfriendly 
 critics, concerning General McClellan's achievements, 
 they must be regarded by the intelligent and fair- 
 minded student of history, as far from being failures. 
 Nor were they merely the achievements of an ordinary 
 man. It is an easy, and no doubt a tempting task, 
 nearly twenty years after a battle has occurred, and 
 wuh the knowledge and materials now at hand, for 
 writers to fight this battle over again, and point out 
 alleged blunders here and there, and in their vivid, 
 and not always truthful, imaginations conduct affairs 
 as they should have been conducted. 
 
 It may be safely asserted, that no General in the 
 history of the Nation was ever so shamefully treated 
 by his government, as was General McClellan. With 
 a brave and noble devotion, and with a self-sacrificing 
 
57* M'CLELLAN AGAIN CALLED 
 
 love for his country and her flag, he fearlessly offered 
 his life and his services in sustaining the honor of the 
 one, and the perpetuity of the other. 
 
 Reviewing his career from the date of his taking 
 command of all the armies, down to the close of the 
 battle of Antietam, he received the bitter opposition 
 of the Cabinet, and the ill-concealed enmity of the 
 politicians ; and scarcely had he been called to this 
 important position, than his enemies began working 
 to effect his downfall. With such persistence and 
 success did they devote themselves to their task, that 
 by the time he had his Army of the Potomac ready 
 for the field, they had practically deposed him as the 
 Commander-in-Chief. 
 
 His plans of the campaign were required to be 
 submitted to a body of twelve of his subordinates for 
 approval, and this ridiculous proceeding ended in 
 their adoption by a vote of eight to four. The next 
 day the enemy abandoned Manassas, a move which 
 was the result of direct treason, or, at least, criminal in 
 discretion on the part of some member of that com 
 mission, either directly or indirectly. After his plans 
 were adopted, and their execution commenced, he 
 was hampered and distressed by orders from his su 
 periors at Washington, conflicting with his own well 
 formed ideas and deranging his carefully prepared 
 plans in the field. 
 
 He, however, bore all these things patiently, and 
 at all times faithfully endeavored to do the very best, 
 
TO THE COMMAND. 573 
 
 / 
 
 under the adverse circumstances which surrounded 
 him. He, however, at all times, had the courage to 
 speak his convictions, knowing the purity of his own 
 actions, notwithstanding the fact that he was fre 
 quently called upon to execute orders that his own 
 better judgment convinced him were conceived in 
 ignorance or malice, and which could but do harm to 
 him and to the cause he loved. 
 
 On July 7, 1862, we find him writing to the Presi 
 dent his views on the conduct of the war. He said : 
 
 "In carrying out any system of policy which you 
 may form, you will require a Commander-in-Chief of 
 the army, one who possesses your confidence, under 
 stands your views, and who is competent to execute 
 your orders by directing the military forces of the 
 nation to the accomplishment of the objects by you 
 proposed. I do not ask that place for myself, I air 
 willing to serve you in such position as you may as 
 sign me, and I will do so as faithfully as ever subor 
 dinate served superior. I may be on the brink of 
 eternity, and as I hope for forgiveness from my 
 Maker, I have written this letter from sincerity to 
 wards you, and from love for my country/' 
 
 Through all his correspondence, while in the field, 
 with his superiors, there breathed a spirit of earnest 
 and sincere devotion to country ; and rarely was he 
 tempted to utter words which proved how sorely he 
 was tried and how much he resented the interference 
 of incompetent authority. When pushed beyond all 
 
574 WCLELLAN AGAIN CALLED 
 
 control by the foolish, unfriendly and unjust course 
 of those at Washington, and when their interference 
 had caused the failure of his plans, he wrote to Secre 
 tary of War Stanton, " You have done your best 
 to sacrifice this army," and even then the words were 
 written more in a tone of regret than of anger. 
 
 Nearly a month later, when the order was issued 
 for the withdrawal of the Army of the Potomac before 
 Richmond, under the full force of his convictions, he 
 uttered a manly protest against such action, and en 
 treated that the order might be rescinded. "All 
 points," said he, " of secondary importance elsewhere 
 should be abandoned, and every available man 
 brought here. A decided victory here and the 
 strength of the rebellion is crushed, it matters not 
 what partial reverses we may meet with elsewhere. 
 Here is the true defense of Washington ; it is here, on 
 the banks of the James, that the fate of the Union 
 should be decided. Clear in my convictions of right, 
 Btrong in the consciousness that I have ever been 
 and still am actuated by love of my country, .... 
 I do now, what I never did in my life before, I 
 entreat that this order may be rescinded." 
 
 How true these words were, and how prophetic 
 thc ; r scope, may be proven by the words of General 
 Sheridan several years later. When Grant was 
 compelled at last to adopt the very plans of Me- 
 Clellan, thus giving as practical a vindication of that 
 general as could be desired, Sheridan sent a mes- 
 
TO THE COMMAND. 575 
 
 sage to Grant, but a little while before the surrender, 
 urging him to come with all the force he could com 
 mand in pursuit of Lee, saying, "Here is the end 
 of the rebellion" A fit corollary to McClellan's 
 dispatch from James River to Halleck : " Here, di 
 rectly in front of this army, is the heart of the rebel 
 lion:' 
 
 No general in this country, or in any other, was 
 more universally beloved and admired by his troops, 
 and no commander ever returned that affection with 
 more warmth than did McClellan. Troops that 
 under other commanders suffered defeat after defeat, 
 until dismayed and discouraged they fled to Wash 
 ington, followed by a pursuing and exultant enemy, 
 were in a few days, by his magical influence over 
 them, again transformed into brave and hopeful 
 soldiers, ready to follow anywhere their trusted com 
 mander might lead. 
 
 It is a strange fact, but a fact, nevertheless, that 
 the Army of the Potomac received all its good words, 
 words of cheer and encouragement, from McClellan 
 alone. Those in power at the capital were painfully 
 blind to its sufferings on the toilsome march, or its 
 deeds of valor on the bloody field. After the battle 
 of Antietam, and after the Army of the Potomac had 
 driven Lee from Maryland, General McClellan tele 
 graphed his chief as follows : " I have the honor to 
 report that Maryland is entirely freed from the 
 presence of the enemy, who has been driven across 
 
576 WCLELLAN AGAIN CALLED 
 
 the Potomac. No fears need now be entertained for 
 the safety of Pennsylvania ; I shall at once occupy 
 Harper's Ferry." 
 
 Two days later, receiving no word of acknowl 
 edgement for his troops, whom he felt had earned 
 them from the Commander-in-Chief, he, in a tele 
 gram of September 2Oth, said : " I regret that you 
 have not yet found leisure to say one word in com 
 mendation of the recent achievements of this army, 
 or even to allude to them." 
 
 Before this, he had taken occasion to remind 
 General Halleck of the fact that the army deserved 
 some credit for its labors, and appreciated any 
 acknowledgment of the same which the Commander- 
 in-Chief might make. 
 
 On August 1 8th, 1862, and after the fighting 
 before Richmond, he wrote to General Haileck as 
 follows : 
 
 " Please say a kind word to my army, that I can 
 repeat to them in general orders, in regard to their 
 conduct at Yorktown, Williamsburg, West Point, 
 Hanover Court-house, and on the Chickahominy, as 
 well as in regard to the seven days, and the recent 
 retreat. No one has ever said anything to cheer them 
 but myself. Say nothing about me ; merely give my 
 men and officers credit for what they have done. Jt 
 will do you much good, and strengthen you much with 
 them, if you issue a handsome order to them in 
 regard to what they have accomplished. They 
 deserve it" 
 
TO THE COMMAND. 577 
 
 Is it any wonder, then, that the army exhibited 
 such splendid enthusiasm for their leader, uhen they, 
 above all others, were fully acquainted with his char 
 acter as a man and a general ? 
 
 Self was his last and least consideration. Always 
 mindful of the comfort of his men, yet inculcating, 
 by his splendid discipline, the essential requisites of 
 the true soldier, he led his troops through the cam 
 paigns of the Peninsula and of Maryland, achieving a 
 record that was a credit to him, his army, and the 
 nation, and is an enduring menutment to the faithful 
 devotion and the gallant services of the Army of the 
 Potomac. I cannot close this chapter in more fitting 
 words than those used by General McClellan, in his 
 brief and affectionate farewell to his officers and men, 
 after the battle of Antietam, when, having won a vic 
 tory at a critical period, lie was, as a reward, relieved 
 from his command. 
 
 "November ;th, 1862. 
 
 " Officers and soldiers of the Army of the Potomac : 
 " An order of the President devolves upon Major- 
 General Burnside the command of this army. In 
 parting from you I cannot express the love and grati 
 tude I bear you. As an army, you have grown up 
 under my care. In you I have never found doubt or 
 coldness. The battles you have fought under my 
 command will proudly live in our nation's history. 
 The glory you have achieved, our mutual perils and 
 fatigues, the graves of our comrades fallen in battle 
 and by disease, the broken forms of those whom 
 
 37 ""' 
 
578 APCLELLAN AGAIN IN COMMAND. 
 
 Bounds and sickness have disabled the strongest 
 associations which can exist among men unite us 
 still by an indissoluble tie. We shall ever be com 
 rades In supporting the constitution of our country 
 and the nationality of its people." 
 
CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 General Burnside in Command. My Connection with tkt 
 Secret Service Severed. Reflections upon Important 
 Events. Conclusion. 
 
 ON the evening of the seventh of November, fol 
 lowing the battle of Antietam, General Mo 
 Clellan was removed from the command of the Army 
 of the Potomac. After having spent weeks in the 
 laborious effort of reorganizing his forces, which had 
 been severely shattered and weakened by the hard 
 marching and the still harder fighting in the recent 
 battles with Lee, the brave commander, upon the eve 
 of an important forward movement was deprived of 
 his noble army. General Burnside was named as his 
 successor. Again had the political cabal at Washing 
 ton succeeded in their opposition to the noble com 
 mander of the Army of the Potomac, and this time 
 effectually. 
 
 McClellan's tardiness was the alleged cause of his 
 removal. No one in authority seemed to consider 
 for a moment the necessity, which was apparent to 
 their immediate commander, of affording the Federal 
 
 [579] 
 
5 8o CONCLUSION. 
 
 troops an opportunity to recuperate frt;-<i their ex 
 hausted condition. The serious losses sustained at 
 South Mountain, Crampton's Gap, and Antietarn had 
 left the army badly disorganized, and the privations 
 and jiardships to which they had been subjected, ren* 
 dered a delay, for the purpose of allowing the worn 
 and weary soldiers time to rest and recuperate, an ab 
 solute necessity. In the language of McClellan, 
 "The Army had need of rest." After the terrible ex 
 periences of battles and marches, with scarcely an in 
 terval of repose, which they had gone through from 
 the time of leaving the Peninsula ; the return to 
 Washington ; the defeat in Virginia ; the victory at 
 South Mountain, and again at Antietam, it was not 
 surprising that they were, in a large degree, desti 
 tute of the absolute necessities for effective duty. 
 Shoes were worn out ; blankets were lost ; clothing 
 was in rags ; the army was unfit for duty, and time 
 for rest and equipment was absolutely necessary. 
 
 McClellan at once notified the authorities of the 
 condition of his troops, and made the necessary requi 
 sitions on the proper departments for the needed 
 supplies. For some unaccountable reason unac 
 countable to this day the supplies ordered were 
 so slow in reaching the men, that when, on the 
 seventh of October, the command came for him to 
 cross the river into Virginia, and give battle to the 
 enemy, a compliance with tlie order was practically 
 impossible. 
 
CONCLUSION. 581 
 
 Then, too, reenforcements were needed. In or 
 dering the advance, the President, through the Gen 
 eral-in-Chief, had submitted two plans, of which 
 McClellan could take his choice. One was to ad 
 vance up the valley of the Shenandoah with re- 
 enforcements of fifteen thousand troops, the other 
 was to cross the river between the enemy and Wash 
 ington, in which case he was be reenforced with 
 thirty thousand men. McClellan's first inclination 
 was to adopt the movement up the Shenandoah Val 
 ley, believing, that, if he crossed the river into Vir 
 ginia, Lee would be enabled to promptly prevent suc 
 cess in that direction by at once throwing his army 
 into Maryland. Owing, however, to the delay of 
 the supplies in reaching the army, it was nearly the 
 end of October before the troops were ready to 
 move. About the twenty-sixth, the army commenced 
 to cross at Harper's Ferry, and by the sixth of Novem 
 ber the advance upon the enemy was begun. On the 
 night of the seventh, therefore, when the order came 
 relieving him from the command, McClellan's advance 
 guard was actually engaged with the enemy. 
 
 I had already learned that Longstreet was im 
 mediately in our front, near Culpepper, while Jack 
 son and Hill's forces were near Chester's and Thorn 
 ton's Gap, west of the Blue Ridge. McClellan had 
 formed the plan of attempting to divide the enemy, 
 with the hope of forcing him to battle, when it was 
 believed, an easy victory would be achieved. 
 
CONCLUSION. 
 
 At this junctnre, however, and when the army 
 was in an exellent condition to fight a great battle, 
 when officers and men were .enthusiastic in their 
 hopes of being able soon to strike an effective blow, 
 McClellan was removed, and Stanton had, at last, ac 
 complished his revenge, Not only this, but he had 
 also secured the failure of, what was undoubtedly 
 destined to be, a great and decisively victorious 
 campaign. 
 
 McClellan's plan on discovering the position of 
 the enemy's forces, was to strike in between Culpep- 
 per Court House and Little Washington, hoping by 
 this means to separate the rebel army, or at least to 
 force their retreat to Gordonsville, and then advance 
 upon Richmond, either by way of Fredericksburg or 
 the Peninsula. 
 
 Burnside, on assuming the command, submitted a 
 plan of his own, which was to make a feint of doing, 
 what McClellan really intended to do, before adopt 
 ing the move upon Fredericksburg or the Peninsula, 
 and then to advance from Fredericksburg. 
 
 This plan, however, did not meet the approval of 
 General Halleck. That General had a long confer 
 ence with Burnside, at Warrenton. Here their 
 various plans were discussed, without either agreeing 
 to the plan of the other, and the matter was finally 
 referred to the President for his decision. After a 
 further delay of several days, Mr. Lincoln ad 
 Burnside's plan, and the advance was ordei t/1 
 
CONCLUSION. 1 583 
 
 The success of this plan depended upon the im 
 mediate possession of Fredericksburg by the Federal 
 army. The intelligent student knows full well that 
 this was not even attempted until Lee had ample time 
 to heavily re-enforce the rebel army already there. 
 The subsequent results show Burnside's delay to have 
 been fatal to his success. 
 
 There was a time when he could certainly have 
 taken Fredericksburg, with but little loss ; but that 
 time was passed when he permitted the enemy to fully 
 garrison the place, and make ample provision for its 
 defense with an army of nearly ninety thousand men. 
 
 At this time, however, my connection with the 
 Army of the Potomac, and with the military concerns 
 of the government, ceased. Upon the removal of 
 General McClellan, I declined to act any further in 
 the capacity in which I had previously served, 
 although strongly urged to do so by both President 
 Lincoln and the Secretary of War, Edwin M. 
 Stanton. 
 
 From my earliest manhood, I had been an ardent 
 and active abolitionist, and I have endeavored to 
 demonstrate this fact throughout these pages. My 
 deep admiration, therefore, for General McClellan, 
 was the result of my knowledge, of my intimate 
 acquaintance with him, and a consequent high regard, 
 based upon his innate and intrinsic qualities, both as 
 a man and a soldier, and not from any political affinity 
 whatever. 
 
584 CONCLUSION. 
 
 \ . 
 
 Refusing longer to continue with the army under 
 its new commander, I was afterwards employed by 
 the government in the work of investigating the 
 numerous claims that were presented against the 
 United States. While acting m this capacity, I was 
 instrumental in unearthing a vast number of fraudu 
 lent claims, and, in bringing to justice a large number 
 of men who were engaged in the base attempt to 
 swindle and defraud the nation in the dark hours of 
 her need and peril. 
 
 In the Spring of 1864, I was transfered to the 
 Department of the Mississippi, under General 
 Canby, and my headquarters were located at New 
 Orleans. Here I was engaged in looking after cotton 
 claims, and the frauds which were sought to he 
 perpetrated against the government in that region of 
 the country. 
 
 In 1865, I severed my connection with the " Secret 
 Service of the United States," and returned to 
 Chicago, where I have since been engaged in the 
 active prosecution of my profession as a de 
 tective. 
 
 Very often, as I sit in the twilight, my mind re 
 verts back to those stirring scenes of by-gone days ; 
 to those years of war and its consequent hardships, 
 and I recall with pleasure my own connection with 
 the suppression of the rebellion. My subsequent life 
 has been none the less happy because of my having 
 assisted, as best as I could, in putting down that 
 
CONCLUSION. 585 
 
 gigantic act of attempted disunion, and in upholding 
 the flag of our fathers. More than all do I rejoice in 
 the freedom it brought to nearly half a million of 
 people, who, prior to that time, had been held in in 
 human bondage, striking the shackles from their 
 bruised limbs, and placing tl"yern before the law free 
 and independent. 
 
 My task is done. In a few brief pages I have at 
 tempted to depict the work of years. The war is 
 over, the rebellion has been crushed, .peace and plenty 
 are everywhere apparent. The flag of the Union 
 floats from every port in the United States, the slave 
 is free, the South is recovering from the ravages of 
 war, and the stories of those stirring times seem now 
 like the legends of an olden time. 
 
 One more scene remains, and I will then draw the 
 curtain. 
 
 It is a Sabbath morning, the air is fragrant with 
 blossom and flower, the birds are carolling sweetly a 
 requiem for the dead. Around us, sleeping the sleep 
 that knows no waking, lie the forms of those whom 
 we knew and loved. We are in the " city of the dead.'* 
 The wind sighs through the waving branches of the 
 trees, with a mournful melody, suggestive of the 
 place. Near by is the bustling city, but here we are 
 surrounded only by the mute, though eloquent testi 
 monies of man's eternal rest. Here beneath a droop 
 ing willow let us pause awhile. Flowers are bloom 
 
5 8* CONCL USION. 
 
 ing over a mound of earth, saturating the atmosphere 
 with a grateful aroma. Let us lean over while we 
 read what Is inscribed upon the marble tablet 
 
 SACRED 
 
 TO THE MEMORY OF 
 
 TIMOTHY WEBSTER, 
 
 WHO 
 
 WAS EXECUTED AS A SPY, 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REBELS, IN RICHMOND, VA., 
 
 APRIL 29, 1862, 
 
 AFTER GALLANT SERVICE IN THE WAR 
 OF THE REBELLION. 
 
 HE SEALED HIS FIDELITY AHD DEVOTIOH 
 
 TO HIS COUNTRY 
 
 WITH HIS BLOOD. 
 
 Alike to him are the heat* of summer, or the snows of winter. 
 Peacefully And quietly he sleeps. The Spy of the Rebellion is t rest 
 
APPENDIX.: 
 
 REBEL FORCES BEFORE RICHMOND. 
 
 IN submitting the following detailed statement of 
 the rebel troops opposing General McClellan in 
 his advance upon Richmond, and in the various bat 
 tles that followed, a few words of explanation may bs 
 necessary. 
 
 On the 26th day of June, 1862, as Chief of the 
 Secret Service, I submitted a report to General 
 McClellan, showing the estimated strength of the 
 en^my at the time of the evacuation of Yorktown to 
 have been from 100,000 to 120,000 men, and that the 
 number of the rebels on the day of the report was 
 estimated to be about 180,000 men. 
 
 My reports, it will be remembered, were made 
 daily, in writing, and were also matters of almost 
 daily discussion among the general officers and their 
 staff. My sources of information were not confined 
 to my large corps of experienced detectives, who 
 were constantly employed as spies, but every contra 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 band, deserter, refugee, friendly Southerner and 
 ner, taken in daily picket skirmishes, were examined 
 by me, and their statements verified by incontestable 
 proofs. The Richmond papers, also, were promptly 
 and regularly obtained, and these gave detailed lists 
 of sick and wounded soldiers received at the Rich 
 mond hospitals during the progress of the fighting. 
 
 From the above-mentioned report, as far as could 
 be ascertained, the force of the enemy consisted of 
 the following organizations, viz.: 208 regiments of in 
 fantry, including the forces of Jackson and Ewell, 
 just arrived; 9 regiments of cavalry ; 39 battalions of 
 artillery; 30 companies of infantry and independent 
 cavalry ; besides 63 batteries of artillery; amounting in 
 all to from 40 to 50 brigades. There were undoubt 
 edly many others, whose designations I did not learn ; 
 and I am confident that my estimate did not exceed 
 the actual strength of the rebels at that time. 
 
 In the list which follows, I have detailed and 
 classified, as far as possible, the information then ob 
 tained and submitted to the commanding General, 
 and this will furnish to the' impartial reader, a com 
 paratively intelligent idea of the nature, the extent, 
 and the approximate correctness of our system of ob 
 taining information, as well as the almost definite re 
 sults which we were enabled to achieve, while the 
 country was in a state of conflict and the two armies 
 were in almost constant action. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
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THE 
 
 HARDSHIPS AND PRIVATIONS 
 
 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 ^ VERY person who may have survived the expe- 
 
 -L-> rience has undoubtedly a lively recollection of 
 
 the wild groups of people which the building of the 
 
 Union and Central Pacific Railroads brought together 
 
 from all directions, and from all causes. 
 
 There were millions upon millfons of dollars to be 
 expended ; and as the points of construction neared 
 each other, and the twin bands of iron crept along th$ 
 earth's surface like two huge serpents, spanning 
 mighty rivers, penetrating vast mountains, and trail 
 ing through majestic forests, creeping slowly but 
 surely towards each other, there was always the 
 greatest dread at the most advanced points, which, 
 like the heads of serpents, always contained danger 
 and death; and the vast cities of a day that then 
 
 39 [609] 
 
610 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 sprang into existence, and melted away like school- 
 children's snow-houses, were the points where 
 such wild scenes were enacted as will probably never 
 again occur in the history of railroad building. 
 
 Everything contributed to make these places 
 typical of Babelic confusion, or Pandemoniac conten 
 tion. Foreigners were told of the exhaustless work, 
 and the exhaustless wealth, of this new country which 
 was being so rapidly developed, and they came ; men 
 brave men, too who had been on the wrong side 
 during the late irritation, and who had lost all, having 
 staked all on the result of the war, saw a possible 
 opportunity of retrieving their fortunes rapidly, and 
 &hey came ; the big-headed youth of the village whose 
 (smattering of books at the academy, or the seminary, 
 shad enlarged his brain and contracted his sense so 
 that he was too good for the common duties and 
 everyday drudgeries which, with patience, lead to 
 success, learned of the glory and grandeur of that 
 inew land, and he came ; the speculating shirk and the 
 peculating clerk came ; the almond-eyed sons of the 
 Orient in herds herds of quick-witted, patient, plod 
 ding beings who could be beaten, starved, even mur- 
 <dered came ; the forger, the bruiser, the counterfeiter, 
 the gambler, the garroter, the prostitute, the robber, 
 and the murderer, each and every, came ; there was 
 .adventure for the adventurous, gold for the thief, 
 waiting throats for the murderer; while the few 
 Respectable people quickly became discouraged, and 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. *n 
 
 fell into the general looseness of habits that the loose 
 ' life engendered, and gradually grew reckless as the 
 most reckless, or quickly acquiesced in the wild orgies 
 or startling crimes which were of common occurrence. 
 In fact, as in the human system, when any portion of 
 it becomes diseased and all the poison in the blood 
 flows to it, further corrupting and diseasing it untH 
 arrested by a gradual purification of the whole body, 
 or by some severe treatment, so from every portion 
 of the country flowed these streams of morally cor 
 rupt people, until nearly every town west of Mis 
 souri, or east of the mountains, along these lines> 
 became a terror to honest people, and continued so 
 until an irresistible conflict compelled a moral revul 
 sion, sometimes so sweeping and violent as to cause 
 an application of that unwritten, though often exceed 
 ingly just law, the execution of which leaves offenders 
 dangling to limbs of trees, lamp-posts, and other con 
 venient points of suspension. 
 
 As a rule, in -these places, every man, whatever 
 his business and condition, was thoroughly armed, the 
 question of self-defense being a paramount one, from 
 the fact that laws which governed older communities 
 were completely a dead letter ; and the law of might, 
 in a few instances made somewhat respectable by a 
 faint outline of ruffianly honor, alone prevailed, until 
 advancing civilization and altered conditions brought 
 about a better state of society ; so that in these reck 
 less crowds which pushed after the constantly chang 
 
+i* A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 ing termini of tne approaching roads, any instrument 
 of bloodshed was considered valuable, and storeb v/here ' 
 arms and ammunition could be secured did quite as 
 large a trade as those devoted to any other branch of 
 business ; while so outrageous was the price extorted 
 for these instruments of aggression or defense, that 
 they have often been known to sell for their weight 
 in gold ; and just as, during the war, the army was 
 followed by enterprising traders who turned many an 
 honest penny trafficking at the heels of the weary 
 soldiers, so the same class of people were not slow to 
 take advantage of such opportunities for gigantic pro 
 fits which, though often lessened by the many risks 
 run in such trading, were still heavy enough to 
 prove peculiarly attractive. 
 
 As a consequence, there were many firms engaged 
 in this particular business, but probably the heaviest 
 was that of Kuhn Brothers, who were reported to 
 be worth upwards of one hundred thousand dollars, 
 which had principally been made along the line of the 
 read, and who, with headquarters at Cheyenne, had 
 established various " stores " at different points as 
 the Union Pacific was pushed on, always keeping the 
 , largest stock at the most advanced point, and with- t 
 drawing stocks from the paper cities which had been 
 left behind, though only in those towns which had 
 not been altogether destroyed by the periodical ex 
 odus occasioned by each change of terminus. 
 
 For this reason the firms were obliged to entrust 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 their business to the honesty of many different em 
 ployes, who were subject to the vitiating influences 
 and temptations, which were unusual and severe un 
 der the circumstances already mentioned, while the 
 distances between the points, and the scarcity of 
 secure means of safely keeping the large sums of 
 money which would occasionally unavoidably accrue 
 at certain points, left Kuhn Brothers, in many in 
 stances, really dependent on those dependent on 
 them. 
 
 In this condition of affairs, and after a slight de 
 falcation had occurred at one of their smaller stores 
 in the spring of 1867, the firm were seeking a man 
 whom they could place in actual charge of one or two 
 of their establishments at the larger towns, and give 
 a sort of general supervision over the others, when 
 the senior member of the firm, being in Laramie, casu 
 ally met a young gentleman, who happened to be 
 able to do him so great a favor that the incident led 
 to a close friendship and ultimate business relations, 
 eventually resulting in this narrative of facts. 
 
 It was a pleasant May evening, and Mr. Kuhn 
 had decided to returned to Cheyenne in order to 
 secure a proper man for the superintendency nearer 
 home. He was to have left Laramie for the East at 
 a late hour of the evening and, being at a loss how 
 to pass the intervening time, strolled out from the 
 hotel with no particular destination in view, and his 
 mind fully occupied with the cares of his business, 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 enly occasionally noticing some peculiarity or strange 
 sight more than usually striking among the thousands 
 of weired things, to which his frontier business had 
 compelled him to become accustomed, when suddenly 
 he found himself in front of a mammoth dance-house, 
 and yielding to a momentary impulse of curiosity, 
 turned into the place with the stream of gamblers, 
 adventurers, greasers, and, in fact, everybody re 
 spectable or otherwise, who, so far from civilization, 
 found such a place peculiarly attractive. 
 
 The dance-house was a sort of hell's bazaar, if 
 the term may be allowed and it is certainly the 
 one most befitting it and was really no " house " at 
 all, being merely a very large board enclosure 
 covered with a gigantic tent or series of tents, be 
 decked with flags and gaudy streamers. The en 
 trance fee to this elegant place of amusement was 
 one dollar, aad you had only paid an initiatory fee 
 when you had gained admission. 
 
 On either side as you entered were immense bars, 
 built of the roughest of boards, where every kind of 
 liquid poison was dispensed at the moderate sum of 
 twenty-five cents a drink, five-cent cigars selling at 
 the same price, and the united efforts of a half-dozen 
 murderous looking bar-tenders at each side were re 
 quired to assuage the thirst of the quite as murder 
 ous looking crowd that swayed back and forth within 
 the space evedently prepared for that purpose. 
 I Beyond this point, and to either side, as also 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 615 
 
 down the center for some distance, could be found 
 almost every known game of chance, dealt, of course, 
 " by the house," while surrounding the lay-outs were 
 every description of men crazed with drink, Hushed 
 with success, or deathly pale from sudden ruin ; 
 while everywhere the revolver or the bowie intimated 
 with what terrible swiftness and certainty any triflir.g 
 dispute, rankling grudge, or violent insult would be 
 settled, one way or the other, and to be marked by 
 the mere pitching of an inanimate form into the street ! 
 
 After these attractions came a stout partition which 
 had evidently been found necessary, for beyond it 
 there was the strikingly strange heaven of a mushroom 
 city a vast department where there were music and 
 women ; and it seemed that the " management " of 
 this grand robbers' roost had shrewdly 'calculated on 
 the fact that if a poor fool had not been swindled out 
 of every dollar he might have had before he reached 
 this point, those two elements, all powerful for good 
 or evil the world over, would wring the last penny 
 from him. 
 
 Here was another but a finer bar, where more 
 time was taken to prepare a drink and drug a man 
 with some show of artistic excellence, and where a 
 half dollar was changed for a single measure of 
 poison ; women, shrewd, devilish women who could 
 shoot or cut, if occasion required, with the nicety and 
 effect of a man, "steering" every person giving 
 token of having money in hi? possession to the more 
 
6i6 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 \ 
 genteelly gotten up " lay-outs," and acting in the 
 
 same capacity, only with far more successful results, 
 as the ordinary " ropers-in " of any large city ; a wild, 
 discordant orchestra that would have been hooted out 
 of the lowest of the " varieties " east of the Missouri ; 
 but in this place, and to these ears, so long unused to 
 the music of the far-away homes beyond the Missis- 
 sippi, producing the very perfection of enchanting 
 harmonies ; but above all, and the crowning attraction 
 before which every other thing paled and dwindled 
 to insignificance, a score of abandoned women, 
 dancing and ogling with every manner of man, rob 
 bing them while embracing, cheering and drinking 
 with them, and in every way bedeviling them ; the 
 whole forming a scene viler than imagination or the 
 pen of man can conceive or picture ; grouping of wild 
 orgies and terrible debaucheries, such as would put 
 Lucifer to a blush, and compel a revolution in the 
 lowest depths of Hades. 
 
 Kuhn had strolled through the place, and now, 
 out of compliment to general custom, purchased a 
 cigar and was just turning to depart, when he sud 
 denly found himself being hustled back and forth 
 among several hard-looking fellows, who, evidently 
 knowing his business, and surmising that he carried 
 large sums of money upon his person, had determined 
 to provoke him to resistance ; when there would, ac 
 cording to the social codes then in existence at Lar- 
 amie, have been a just cause for either robbing and 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 617 
 
 beating him, or murdering him outright and robbing 
 him afterwards ; when a tall, finely-formed man sud 
 denly stepped into the crowd, and in a very decided 
 tone of voice said : 
 
 " I say, gentlemen, that won't do. You must 
 stand back !" 
 
 Then taking the terror-stricken ammunition dealer 
 by the coat collar with his left hand, but keeping his 
 right hand free for quick use and certain work, if nee- 
 esssary, he trotted him through the now excited 
 throng and out into the open air, hastily telling him 
 to "cut for the hotel," which were quite unnecessary 
 instructions, as he made for that point at as lively a 
 gait as his rather dumpy legs could carry him. 
 
 The person who had thus prevented the mer 
 chant's being robbed, and had also possibly saved his 
 life v was a tall, comely young man of about twenty- 
 eight years of age, and with a complexion as fair as 
 a woman's, pleasant, though determined, blue eyes, 
 and a long, reddish, luxuriant beard, all of which, with 
 a decidedly military cut to his gray, woollen garments, 
 and long fair hair falling upon his shoulders the 
 whole crowned, or rather slouched over, by a white 
 hat of extraordinary width of brim, gave him the ap 
 pearance of an ex-Confederate officer, and right good 
 fellow, as the term goes, perfectly capable of caring 
 for himself wherever his fortune, or misfortune, might 
 lead him which proved the case as he turned and 
 confronted the desperadoes, who had immediately 
 
til A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 followed him in a threatening manner, and whom he 
 stood ready to receive with a navy revolver half as 
 long as his arm, mysteriously whipped from some 
 hiding-place, in each steady hand. 
 
 A critical examination of the man as he stood 
 there, and a very casual survey of him, for that mat 
 ter, would have instantly suggested the fact to an or 
 dinary observer that a very cool man at the rear ends 
 of two navy revolvers huge enough to have been 
 mounted for light-artillery service, was something 
 well calculated to check the mounting ambition on 
 the part of most anybody to punish him for the char 
 acter of the interference shown ; and the leader of the 
 gang contented himself with remarking, " See here, 
 Captain Harry, if it wasn't you, there'd be a reck'ning 
 here ; lively, too, I'm tellin' ye !" 
 
 " Well, but it is me ; and so there won't be any 
 reck'ning. Will there, now, eh ?" 
 
 The ruffians made no answer, but sullenly re 
 turned to the dance-house, when Captain Harry, as 
 he had been called, rammed the two huge revolvers 
 into his boot legs, which action displayed a smaller 
 weapon of the same kind upon each hip ; after which 
 he nodded a pleasant " good-night " to the bystanders, 
 and walked away leisurely in the direction Mr. Kuhn 
 had taken, pleasantly whistling " The Bonnie Blue 
 Flag," or "The Star Spangled Banner," as best 
 suited him. 
 
 The moment that Mr. Kuhn's protector appeared 
 
A DETECTIVE'S I^IFB. 619 
 
 
 
 at the hotel, the former gentleman expressed his live 
 liest thanks for the opportune assistance he had been 
 rendered, and introduced himself to the Captain, who 
 already knew of him, and who in return gave his 
 name as " Harry G. Taylor, the man from some 
 where," as he himself expressed it with a pleasant 
 laugh. 
 
 It was eaey to be seen that there was a stroke of 
 business in Mr. Kuhn's eye, which his escape from 
 the dance-house had suggested, as he told Taylor 
 that he had intended to return to Cheyenne that 
 night ; but he further stated that as he had so unex 
 pectedly been befriended, he should certainly be 
 obliged to remain another day in order to secure a 
 further acquaintance with the man to whem he already 
 owed so much. 
 
 Mr. Kuhn then produced some choice cigars, and 
 the gentlemen secured a retired place upon the hotel- 
 porch, at once entering into a general conversation, 
 which, from the merchant's evident unusual curiosity, 
 and Taylor's quite as evident good-humored, devil- 
 may-care disposition, caused it to drift into the Cap 
 tain's account of himself. 
 
 He. told Mr. Kuhn that his family resided at that 
 time in Philadelphia, where they had moved after his 
 father had failed in business at Raleigh, N. C., but 
 had taken so honorable a name with him to the 
 former city that he had been able to retrieve his for 
 tunes to some extent The Captain was born at 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 
 Raleigh, and had received his education in the South, 
 
 and, being unable to share in his father's regard for 
 the North, even as a portion of the country best 
 adapted for doing business, sought out some of his 
 old college friends in Louisville, Atlanta, and New 
 Orleans, who had been able to secure him a fine busi 
 ness position at Atlanta, where by care and economy 
 in 1860, though but a mere boy yet, he had accumu 
 lated property that would have satisfied many a man 
 twenty years his senior. 
 
 Being impulsive, and a warm admirer of Southern 
 institutions, he was one of the first men to join the 
 Confederate army at Atlanta, and fought in a Georgia 
 regiment under Johnson and Hood during the entire 
 war, at Jonesville and Rough-and-Ready Station 
 seeing the smoke ascend above the ruins of the once 
 beautiful city, and realizing that the most of his 
 earthly possessions had disappeared when the flames 
 died away. 
 
 Having been promoted to a captaincy, he had 
 fought as bravely as he could against the " blue- 
 coats," like a man, acknowledging their bravery as 
 well as that of his comrades ; and at the close of the 
 war, which of course terminated disadvantageous^ to 
 his interests, he had sold his lots at Atlanta for what 
 ever he could get for them, and with thousands of 
 others in like circumstances, had come West and 
 taken his chances at retrieving his fortunes. 
 
 This was told in a frank, straightforward way, 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 6*1 
 
 which seemed to completely captivate Mr. KiAn, for 
 he at once spoke to Taylor concerning his business in 
 Laramie, and bluntly asked him, in the event of 
 mutual and satisfactory references being exchanged, 
 whether he would accept the engagement as superin 
 tendent of his business over that portion of the road, 
 and take actual charge of the store in that place, 
 and the one about to be established at Benton City. 
 
 The result of the evening's interview was the 
 engagement of Taylor by the firm at a large salary ; 
 his immediately taking supervision of the business 
 without bonds or any security whatever ; and for a 
 time his management and habits were so able and 
 irreproachable that, with the gratitude for his protec 
 tion of Mr. Kuhn at Lamarie still fresh and sincere, 
 the firm felt that they had been most fortunate in 
 their selection of an utter stranger, and were in every 
 way gratified with the turn events had taken. 
 
 II. 
 
 \ 
 
 DURING the early morning of a blustering Decem 
 ber day of the same year, I was quite annoyed by the 
 persistence of a gentleman to see me, on what he 
 insisted, in the business office of my Chicago agency, 
 on terming " important business." 
 
6t* A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 It was not later than half-past eight o'clock ; and, 
 as I have made it a life-long practice to get at 
 business at an early hour, get ahead of it, and keep 
 ahead of it during the day, I was elbow-deep in the 
 mass of letters, telegrams, and communications of a 
 different nature, which, in my business, invariably 
 accumulates during the night, and felt anxious to wade 
 through it before taking up any other matter. 
 
 The gentleman, who gave the name of Kuhn, 
 seemed very anxious to see me, however ; and letting 
 drop the statements that he greatly desired to take 
 the morning train for Cheyenne, where he resided ; 
 might not be able to be in Chicago again for some 
 time ; felt very desirous of seeing me personally ; and 
 would require but a few moments to explain his 
 business, which he agreed to make explicit ; I con 
 cluded to drop everything else and see him. 
 I On being ushered into my private apartments, he 
 at once hastily gave me an outline of the facts related 
 in the previous chapter, adding a new series of 
 incidents which occasioned his visit, and to the effect 
 that the firm had made the necessary arrangements 
 for increasing their busines under their new superin 
 tendent, having added largely to their stock at Lar- 
 amie, and placed about twenty thousand dollars' worth 
 of goods at Benton City. 
 
 According to the agreement, he was required to 
 forward money whenever the sales had reached a 
 stated sum at each point, and was given authority to 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 613 
 
 take charge of goods or moneys on hand at any of 
 the less important stations, when convinced that 
 things were being run loosely, or whenever it in any 
 way appeared for the interests of the firm for him to 
 do so. 
 
 It will be seen that under this arrangement, which 
 was in every respect injudicious, no security having 
 been given by Taylor, he immediately became 
 possessed of great responsibility, as well as power; 
 but appeared to appreciate the unusual confidence 
 reposed in him, and conducted the business of Kuhn 
 Brothers with unusual profit to them and credit to 
 himself. Matters progressed in this way for some 
 time, when suddenly, about the first of October, the 
 firm at Cheyenne began to receive dispatches from 
 different employees along the road, inquiring when 
 Taylor was to return from Cheyenne, and intimating 
 that business was greatly suffering from his absence. 
 The members of the firm were astonished. They 
 knew nothing of Taylor's being in Cheyenne. On 
 the contrary, their last advices from him were to the 
 effect that he should be at their city on the tenth of 
 that month, with large collections ; and the announce 
 ment was accompanied with glowing accounts of the 
 prosperity of their business under his careful manage 
 ment. 
 
 After the startling intelligence of Taylor's unao 
 countable absence, a member of the firm immediately 
 left for Laramie, Bcnton City, and other points, to 
 
624 A DETECTIVE S LIFE. 
 
 ascertain the true condition of affairs, still unable to 
 believe that the handsome, chivalrous captain had 
 wronged them, and that everything would be found 
 right upon examination of matters which was imme 
 diately and searchingly entered upon ; but the first 
 glance at affairs showed conclusively that they had 
 been swindled, and it was soon discovered that he 
 had gathered together at the stores under his own 
 charge, and at different points along the line, under 
 various pretexts, fully fourteen thousand dollars, and 
 had been given two weeks in which to escape. 
 
 Mr. Kuhn did not desire to give the case into my 
 hands on that morning; but explained that he had re 
 turned from a fruitless trip to Philadelphia in search 
 of his former superintendent, and had been advised 
 by a telegram from his brothers to lay the case before 
 me and request my advice about the matter ; at the 
 same time securing information about the probable 
 pecuniary outlay necessary for further prosecution of 
 the search, and such other items of information as 
 would enable him to counsel with the remainder of 
 the firm concerning the case, and be able to give the 
 case into my hands, should they decide to do so, 
 without further delay. 
 
 This was given him ; and I, in turn, secured from 
 Mr. Kuhn all the information possible concerning 
 Taylor, which was scant indeed, as they had seen very 
 little of him, could give but a very general descrip 
 tion of the man, and here they had injudiciously given 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 62$ 
 
 i 
 him over two months' start, during which time he 
 
 might have safely got to the other side of the world. 
 
 Only one item of information had been developed 
 by which a clue to his whereabouts could by any pos 
 sibility be imagined. He had often spoken to Mr. 
 Kuhn in the most glowing terms of life in both Texas 
 and Mexico, as he had passed, so he had said, a por 
 tion of a year in that part of America, since the close 
 of the war, and in connection with the subject, he had 
 stated that he should have remained there had he 
 been supplied with sufficient capital to have enabled 
 him to begin business. 
 
 This was all ; and I dismissed the swindled mer 
 chant with little encouragement as to the result of a 
 
 o 
 
 chase for a thief who had got so much the advantage , 
 or, rather, intimated to him that though I had no 
 doubts of being able to eventually catch him, it would 
 be rather a poor investment for the firm to expend 
 the amount of money which might be necessary to 
 effect his capture, unless- in looking into the matter 
 further, I should be able to see opportunities for 
 securing much better knowledge as to his present 
 whereabouts, or clues which could be made to lead 
 to them. 
 
 With this not very cheering assurance, Mr. Kuhn 
 returned to Cheyenne. 
 
 Not hearing from the firm for several days, I 
 finally dismissed the matter entirely from mind ; but 
 on arriving at the agency one morning, I received in- 
 
 40 t 
 
>* A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 etn ctions from the Cheyenne firm to proceed in the 
 matter, and with all expedition possible endeavor to 
 cage the flown bird for them. 
 
 I at once detailed William A. Pinkerton, my eldest 
 son, and at present assistant superintendent, of my 
 Chicago agency, to proceed to Cheyenne, and look 
 over the ground thoroughly there, and also, if neces 
 sary, to proceed along the line of the Union Pacific, 
 and, after ascertainig who were Taylor's friends and 
 companions, work up a trail through them, which 
 would eventually bring him down. 
 
 The latter course was not necessary to be followed, 
 liowever, as on arriving at Cheyenne, with some little 
 information gleaned from the firm, he was able to 
 ascertain that a young lawyer there named La Grange, 
 also orginally from the South, had been a quite inti 
 mate friend of Taylor's so much so, in fact, that La 
 Grange had for the last six months regularly corre 
 sponded with the Captain's sister, who had been de 
 scribed to him as not only an exceedingly beautiful 
 woman, but as also a lady possessed of unusual 
 accomplishments and amiability. 
 
 My son "cultivated" La Grange largely, but 
 could secure but little information through him. He 
 seemed to know nothing further concerning either 
 Taylor or his family, save that he had incidentally 
 JTU* him along the line of the Union Pacific ; they had 
 maturally taken a sort of liking to each other, and in 
 that way became friends in much the same manner 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. **? 
 
 th it most friendships were made in that country. He 
 fuither recollected that he had always directed his 
 letters to a certain post-office box, instead of to a 
 street number; but seemed perfectly mystified con 
 cerning the action of the brother. He had just re 
 turned from a three months' absence in Kentucky, 
 and it was the first intimation he had had of the Cap 
 tain's crime. La Grange also said that as he had 
 been very busy, he had not written to Miss Lizzie 
 (evidently referring to the sister), nor had he received 
 any communication from her during that time. He 
 had had a photograph of Harry, taken in full-dress 
 uniform while stationed at Atlanta, which had been 
 copied in Philadelphia, but a thorough search among 
 his papers failed to reveal it 
 
 This was all that my son could secure, as La 
 Grange, evidently suspecting that, in his surprise at 
 Taylor's crime, he might say something to com 
 promise himself and endanger Taylor or wound his 
 beautiful sister, to whom he seemed greatly attached, 
 positively refused to have anything further to say 
 concerning the matter; and with what information he 
 had, William returned to the hotel in a brown study, 
 determined to take time to exhaust the material at 
 Cheyenne before proceeding on the proposed trip 
 along the Union Pacific. 
 
 After summing up and arranging the points he had 
 got hold of, he telegraphed me fully, adding his own 
 impression that Taylor was in Texas, but expressing 
 
*a8 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 a doubt as to whether he had better proceed along 
 the Union Pacific for more information, or ga on to 
 Philadelphia at once, and in some way secure informa 
 tion of the family as to their son's whereabouts. 
 
 On the receipt of this telegram, which arrived in 
 Chicago about noon, I at once resolved upon a little 
 strategy, being myself satisfied that Taylor had pro 
 ceeded, via St. Louis and New Orleans into either 
 Texas or Mexico, and was then engaged under his 
 own or an assumed name, in some business agreeable 
 to his taste, as formerly explained to Mr. Kuhn, and 
 immediately telegraphed to my son : 
 
 " Keep La Grange busied all day so he cannot 
 write, or mail letters. Study La Grange's language 
 and modes of expression. Get La Grange's and 
 Taylor's handwriting, signatures, and Miss Taylor's 
 address, and come next train." 
 
 Agreeable to these instructions, he secured several 
 letters from Taylor to Kuhn Brothers, concerning 
 business matters, with the last one, containing the 
 announcement that ,he would be in Cheyenne, on the 
 tenth of October with collections ; and immediately 
 sent by a messenger a courteous note to La Grange, 
 desiring an outline of Taylor's life so far as he might 
 feel justified in giving it, and requesting an answer, 
 which was politely but firmly given in the negative 
 over Adolph La Grange's own signature, which com 
 pleted a portion of his work neatly. 
 
 The balance was more difficult He ordered a 
 
A DETECL1VE S LIFE. 6*9 
 
 
 sleigh, and after settling his hotel bill, but reserving 
 
 his room for the night, at once drove to La Grange's 
 office, where he in person thanked him for his court 
 eous letter, even if he did not feel justified in giving 
 him the information desired. A little complimentary 
 conversation ensued during which time my son's quick 
 eyes noticed in the lawyer's waste-basket an envelope 
 evidently discarded on account of its soiled appear 
 ance, addressed to " Miss Lizzie Taylor, Post-office 
 Box , Philadelphia," which on the first opportu 
 nity he appropriated. The next move was to prevent 
 La Grange's mailing any letter, as it was evident he 
 had written several, including one to Taylor's sister, 
 which were only waiting to be mailed. 
 
 Seeing that he had made a pleasant impression 
 upon La Grange, who appreciated the courtesy of the 
 call under the circumstances, and informing him that 
 he had decided to make no further inquiries there, but 
 was to proceed west on the following morning, he pre 
 vailed upon him to take a ride in his company about 
 the city and its environs. In leaving his office, La 
 Grange hesitated a moment as if deciding the pro 
 priety of taking the letters with him, or returning for 
 them after the sleigh-ride ; but evidently decided to do 
 the latter, as he left them, much to my son's relief. 
 
 The drive was prolonged as much as possible, and 
 the outlying forts visited, where, having letters of in 
 troduction from myself to several army-officers sta* 
 ticned there, both he and his companion were so hos- 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 pitably treated that the afternoon slipped away 
 quickly, and, the two returned to town evidently in 
 high spirits. La Grange felt compelled to recipro 
 cate as far as in his power, and billiards, with frequent 
 drinks for the lawyer and a liberal supply of water 
 for the detective, were in order until within a half 
 hour of the eastern bound train time, when La Grange 
 succumbed to an accumulation., of good-fellowship, 
 and on his own suggestion, as he "wash rising y'n'g 
 'torny y'know !" accepted the hospitalities of my son's 
 room, at the Rawlins House, where he left him 
 sweetly sleeping at a rate which would prevent the 
 mailing of the letters he had left locked in his office 
 for at least two days to come ; as "rising young at 
 torneys," as a rule, sober off in a carefully graduated 
 diminishing scale of excesses of quite similar con 
 struction to the original. 
 
 On the arrival of my son in Chicago, I immedi 
 ately caused to be written a letter addressed to Miss 
 Lizzie Taylor, at her post-office box in Philadelphia, 
 of which the following is a copy : 
 
 " SHERMAN HOUSE, CHICAGO, Jan. 1868. 
 " Miss TAYLOR, 
 
 " MY DEAR FRIEND : You know of my intended 
 absence from Cheyenne in the South. During that 
 trip, I really never had the time when I could write 
 you so fully as I desired, and even now I am only 
 able to send you a few words. I am m roiite to 
 Washington on business, and have now to ask you 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 631 
 
 to send the street and number of your father's house, 
 even if it is not a magnificent one, as you have told 
 me, to my address, at the Girard House, in your city, 
 on receipt of this, as I shall be in Washington but 
 one day, and would wish to see both you and your 
 people without delay. I not only greatly wish to see 
 you for selfish reasons, which our long and pleasant 
 correspondence will suggest to you as both reason 
 able and natural, but there are other good reasons, 
 which you all will readily understand when I tell you 
 that I met him accidentally just before my return to' 
 Cheyenne, and that I have a communication of a per 
 sonal nature to deliver. While not upholding him 
 in the step he has taken, I cannot forget that I am 
 his friend, and he your brother. 
 " In great haste, 
 
 " Your true friend, 
 
 "ADOLPH LA G . 
 
 "P. S. I leave here for the East this morning. 
 Please answer on immediate receipt. 
 
 A. L." 
 
 This was posted on the eastern-bound train not 
 an hour after my son's arrival from the West ; and 
 another note was written upon the back of an en 
 velope which had passed through the mail, and had 
 got a very much used appearance, and ran thus : 
 
 " FATHER OF LIZZIE : 
 
 " Treat Adolph well, you can trust him. Give him 
 one of the ' photo.s ' taken at Atlanta in my full-dress 
 uniform ; keep one other of the same for yourselves ; 
 but destroy all the rest. Have been so hurried and 
 
*3* A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 worried diet I don't remember whether I have said 
 anything about photographs before. But this is a 
 matter of imperative necessity. Adolph will explain 
 how he met me. " Good-by, 
 
 "H. " 
 
 It was impossible to detect any difference between 
 this handwriting and that of Captain Taylor's in his 
 business correspondence to Kuhn Brothers ; and, 
 armed with this document, with the assistance of the 
 epistolary self-introduction which had preceded it, I 
 directed my son to leave for Philadelphia that 
 evening, secure admission to Taylor's residence and 
 the family's confidence, agreeable to the appointment 
 made by mail, and thus not only secure the man's 
 photograph, but other information that would be 
 definite. 
 
 On arrival at Philadelphia, he secured the services 
 of an operative from my agency in that city, to fol 
 low any member of the Taylor family who might call 
 for the letter, to their residence, in the event of an 
 answer not being received at, his hotel in due time 
 from the one assumed to have been sent from the 
 hotel in Chicago from La Grange, who found Taylor's 
 home, an unpretentious house on Locust street, 
 while my son remained at the hotel, fully expecting 
 the coveted invitation to visit the Captain's beauti 
 ful sister, which arrived at his hotel only a half day 
 after he did, and strongly urged him to call at his 
 convenience. 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 633 
 
 He was satisfied from this that our theory regard 
 ing his being in Texas, or Mexico, was correct ; that 
 the family had not the slightest suspicion of his iden 
 tity, and that, wherever Captain Taylor might be, 
 communication with his people had been very infre 
 quent, and that, with what he would be able to invent 
 after being received at Taylor's house, he could 
 secure at least sufficient information to put him 
 upon his son's trail. Not desiring to play upon their 
 ieelings and friendship as another person any longer 
 than necessary, however, he sent word by a messen 
 ger, not daring to trust his own handwriting, that he 
 would call that evening, though necessarily at a late 
 hour ; and, accordingly, that evening, about nine 
 o'clock, found him at the door of a pleasant Locust 
 street cottage, ringing for admission. 
 
 A tall, handsome young woman greeted him at 
 the door, and accordingly bade him enter, saying 
 pleasantly, as she ushered him into the cozy little 
 parlor, that she was Miss Lizzie Taylor, and pre 
 sumed he was Mr. La Grange, with whom she had 
 had so long and so pleasant a correspondence ; and of 
 whom " poor Harry," as she said with a shade of 
 sadness and tenderness in her voice, had so often 
 written, before he had made his terrible mistake, and 
 become a wanderer. 
 
 After hastily satisfying her that he was the gen 
 uine La Grange, and profusely apologizing for his 
 act having written for so long a time previous to his 
 
634 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 \ 
 
 arrival at Chicago, from Cheyenne, he took up the 
 thread she had dropped, as quickly as possible, and 
 said that he felt sure that Harry would retrieve 
 himself soon, and return the money, as he had 
 no bad habits, and everything would be all right 
 again. 
 
 " But yet, Mr. La Grange," she continued, "it 
 makes me shudder whenever I think of all my 
 brothers being away off there on the Rio Grande, 
 among those terrible people !" 
 
 " But, you must remember," he replied, encourag 
 ingly, " they are strong men, and can well defend 
 themselves under any circumstances." 
 
 " Harry is strong and brave, I know," answered 
 Miss Taylor, rather admiringly ; "but brother Robert 
 is not fit for such a life. Why, he is but a boy yet." 
 
 "Ah, a younger brother?" he thought, making a 
 mental note of it, in order to assist in shaping his 
 conversation after which he said aloud : " I almost 
 forgot to give you this note ;" and he took the 
 piece of envelope out of his note-book, as if it had 
 been sacredly guarded, and handed it to her. 
 
 Miss Taylor read the hastily written lines with 
 evident emotion ; and after studying a moment, as if 
 endeavoring to reconcile matters, while her face was 
 being searchingly read by an experienced detective, 
 she rose, and, apologizing to him for the absence of 
 her father, who was in New York, on business, and of 
 her mother, who was confined to her apartment, a 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE, $35 
 
 confirmed invalid, she asked to be excused so as to 
 show the note to her mother. 
 
 The instant the door closed, my son had seized 
 the album, which he had located during the preceding 
 conversation ; and rapidly turned its leaves to assure 
 himself that he was not treading on dangerous 
 ground. He found- a half-a-dozen different styles of 
 pictures of the Captain, including three of the copies 
 taken in Philadelphia of the original Atlanta picture, 
 and felt reassured beyond measure at the lucky turn 
 things had taken. He would have abstracted one of 
 these, but it was impossible, and had barely time to 
 return the album to the table, and himself to his seat, 
 when he heard the woman's step along the hall, and 
 in a moment more she entered the room. 
 
 III. 
 
 GIVING the door a little impulsive slam, as she 
 closed it, Miss Taylor at once came to where. rny son 
 was sitting upon the sofa, and seated herself beside 
 him. She said that her mother was anxious beyond 
 measure to learn how and where he had met Harry, 
 how he was looking, and what he had said. 
 
 The imagination and resources of the able detec 
 tive are fully equal ID those of the most brilliant 
 
<* DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 newspaper reporters, and a pleasant and plausible 
 fiction was invented, how he (as La Grange, of 
 course), having taken a run from Louisville down to 
 New Orleans, by boat, was just landing at the levee, 
 when he suddenly came across Harry, who had hastily 
 told him all ; how great had been his transgression, , 
 how deeply he had regretted it ; but that now he was 
 situated in his business matters so that, if let alone, 
 he would be able to return to Kuhn Brothers 
 every dollar which he had taken, and have a fine 
 business left ; how it had been necessary for him to 
 come .to New Orleans on imperative business, and 
 that he should not come east of the Mississippi again 
 under any circumstances. He further said, that 
 Harry seemed hopeful ; that he had stated that his 
 younger brother Robert was well and enjoying the 
 frontier life ; and that, further than that, he had no 
 time or disposition to talk, as he was on the very eve 
 of departure for Texas, only having time to write the 
 little note concerning the photographs. 
 
 Miss Taylor excused herself for a moment to 
 convey the truthful intelligence to her anxious 
 mother ; and on her return suggested that they go 
 through the album together at once, and attend to the 
 photographs, an invitation which was accepted with 
 unusual readiness. 
 
 Every gentleman who has had the experience, 
 and there are few who have not, know that looking 
 over an album with a beautiful woman who has some 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 637 
 
 Interest in her companion, is a wonderfully pleasant 
 diversion. In this instance it was doubly pleasant, 
 for it meant success to my son, whose zeal is as 
 untiring as my own when once on the trail of a 
 criminal. 
 
 " I wonder why," asked Miss Taylcr, as if 
 wondering as much about Mr. La Grange as about 
 any other subject ; " I wonder why Harry desires those 
 photographs destroyed ?" 
 
 He was turning the leaves for her and, as La 
 Giange, of course, had a perfect right to take plenty 
 of time to explain the matter soothingly and sympa 
 thetically. 
 
 "But do those horrid detectives track a man out 
 and run him down, when, if he were let alone, he 
 might recover from his misfortune, and right the 
 wrong he has done ?" 
 
 Mr. La Grange remarked that he had heard that 
 some of them were very much lacking in sentiment 
 and sensibility, and would go right forward through 
 the very fire itself to trace the whereabouts of a crimi 
 nal ; and all those little things helped, he could assure 
 her. 
 
 She began to see how it was, she said ; but sud 
 denly firing up, she shook her pretty fist at some im 
 aginary person, exclaiming : 
 
 " Oh, I could kill the man who would thus dog 
 my brother Harry." And then, after a little April 
 shower of tears, quite like any other woman's way of 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 showing how very desperate they can be ander 
 certain circumstances, began slowly taking the Cap 
 tain's pictures from the album, commenting upon 
 them, and then handing them to the bogus La Grange 
 to burn, who would occasionally step to the fire-place 
 for that purpose, where he would quickly substitute 
 miscellaneous business cards, which answered the pur 
 pose excellently. 
 
 An hour or two was passed with Miss Taylor in 
 conversation upon various topics which might lead 
 the really estimable young lady to divulge _all she 
 knew about the Captain, or concerning his where 
 abouts and business, which was certainly not much. 
 
 It appeared that, immediately after the embezzle 
 ment, and while at St. Louis, Taylor had telegraphed 
 to his brother Robert to meet him at New Orleans at 
 a certain time, as he was going into business in that 
 section, and should need his services, for which he 
 would be able to pay him handsomely ; the brothers 
 had met there and had proceeded to some other 
 point ; the Captain claiming that it would be 
 injudicious to make that fact known as he had also 
 sent a full and complete confession to his parents 
 of his embezzlement from Kuhn Brothers, which he 
 had directed them to burn, and whicn he finished by 
 requesting his family not to write to either himself 
 or his brother for some time to come ; or at least 
 until he should indicate to them that it would be safe 
 to do so ; and under no circumstances to give any 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 63* 
 
 person an iota of information concerning himself or 
 his brother. 
 
 My son left Miss Taylor's hospitable home with 
 a pang of regret for the deception which had seemed 
 necessary in this case ; for whatever may be the 
 opinion of the public regarding the matter, a detect 
 ive has often quite as large and compassionate a 
 soul as men of other and apparently more high-toned 
 professions. 
 
 So long as intelligent crime is the result of a high 
 standard of mental culture and a low standard of 
 moral conscience conditions which now exist and 
 have for some years existed intelligent minds must 
 be trained to battle criminals with their own weapons ; 
 and these two questions, of speedy detection of crime 
 and swift punishment of criminajs will be found quite 
 as essential to a preservation of law and society as 
 lofty arguments or high moral dissertations on the 
 right or wrong of the expediencies necessary to 
 bring wrong-doers to immediate and certain jus 
 tice. 
 
 As ,oon as I had received a full telegraphic re 
 port of the success of the Philadelphia experiment, I 
 directed him to proceed to Louisville, where he would 
 be met by operative Keating, from Chicago, who 
 would bring letters of introduction from myself to 
 Colonel Wood, commanding the First Infantry at 
 New Orleans ; Captain White, chief of the detective 
 force of that city ; General Canby, commanding the 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 Department of Texas, at Austin; Col. Hunt, Chief 
 Quartermaster of the Department of Texas, and 
 other army officers, requesting* them to render my 
 son and his assistant any aid in their power should 
 the necessity for such assistance arise ; the requisition 
 from Governor Foulke, of Dakotah Territory, for 
 Henry G. Taylor, upon Governor Pease, of Texas, 
 and general instructions concerning his conduct of the 
 search for the handsome captain after he had got 
 beyond mail and telegraphic communication. 
 
 I was sending him into a country which was at 
 that time in many portions utterly unsafe for the 
 securing of a criminal should the pursue/s mission 
 become known, so as to allow the person desired time 
 to apprise his friends of his danger, or give him even 
 an opportunity to rally any number of acquaintances 
 for defense ; for the reason that, as Texas had become 
 a sort of refuge for ruffians, they became clannish 
 through the general peril of being pursued each ex 
 perienced ; and would, as a rule, on the slightest prov 
 ocation, assist in the rescue of any person under ar. 
 rest, not knowing how soon it might be their turn to 
 cry for help ; but I have invariably sent my sons into 
 danger with the same expectation that they would do 
 their duty regardless of consequences, as I have had 
 when sending other men's sons into danger. Happily 
 1 have never mistaken their metal ; and, in this in 
 stance, felt sure that I could rely upon him to exercise 
 both discretion and intrepidity in exigencies to which 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 641 
 
 his long experience and careful training have at all 
 times made him equal. 
 
 The two detectives met in Louisville, and at once 
 proceeded to New Orleans, where they arrived early 
 in the morning of the 7th of January, 1868, and were 
 driven to the St. Charles Hotel. No time was lost; 
 and while my son presented his letters to different 
 parties, and made cautious inquiries regarding the re 
 cent appearance in New Orleans of Taylor, Keating^ 
 in the character of a provincial merchant, investigated 
 as far as possible the business houses dealing in stock, 
 leather, or wool, as to whether any such person had 
 made arrangement for consignments from the interior 
 or seaport Texan cities. No trace of their man was 
 found, however, until my son was able to get at the 
 register of the St. Charles Hotel for the preceding 
 three months, which was attended with some difficulty, 
 on account of the crowded condition of things at that 
 house ; and any detective, or other expert, will under 
 stand how much time and patience are required to 
 discover one signature from among ten thousand, 
 when that one may be an assumed name, and perhaps 
 five hundred of the ten thousand be so similar to the 
 one sought, that a disinterested person, could scarcely 
 be convinced it was really not the person's handwrit 
 ing desired; but after a good deal of trouble and 
 searching, the names of " H. G. Taylor & clerk," 
 were discovered on the last half line at the bottom of 
 a page under date of November 3Oth, 1867, which, 
 
 v 41 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFF, t 
 
 by constant wear and thumbing in turning pages, had 
 been nearly defaced, but which, in his handwriting, 
 beyond a doubt told the story of their presence. 
 
 Further inquiry of the clerk on duty at that time, 
 and with his memory refreshed by a glance at 
 Taylor's photographs, developed the facts that he had 
 certainly been at the St. Charles on the date shown 
 by the register, and that he was accompanied by a 
 young man about nineteen years of age, who was re 
 cognized as Taylor's clerk. 
 
 The peculiar register then kept at the St. Charles 
 Hotel in New Orleans was also instrumental in as 
 sisting the detectives. . It gave the guest's name, re 
 sidence, hour of arrival, and hour of departure, with 
 name of conveyance at arrival and departure, in the 
 followin manner : 
 
 
 H. G. Taylor and Clerk, \ Mobile, \ 12 m. \ Ped. 
 2 Dec. | 7 a. m. \ 
 
 This told anybody curious about the matter that 
 H. G. Taylor and clerk, assuming to reside in Mouile, 
 arrived at the St. Charles Hotel, New Orleans, at 
 noon on Saturday, the thirtirth day of November, 
 1867, either afoot or by some mode of conveyance 
 unknown to the clerk of the house, and that they left 
 the house in an omnibus at seven o'clock on the 
 morning of the third day following. 
 
 Naturally the next inquiries were directed to as 
 certaining to what boat or railroad lines omnibuses 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 643 
 
 could be ordered at that hour of the morning ; if to 
 different ones, then to discover who had driven the 
 particular omnibus which conveyed Taylor ar.d his 
 brother from the hotel ; and then make an effort to 
 learn to what point they had been conveyed. This, 
 however, proved less difficult than had been feared ; 
 for it was found that on the morning in question the 
 omnibus had gone from the hotel to but one point, 
 and that was to the ferry connecting with Berwick 
 Bay route, by the New Orleans and Opelousas Rail 
 road and the Gulf, to Galveston, although a large 
 number of passengers had been booked, and it was 
 impossible to ascertain whether Taylor and his brother 
 had actually gone that route or not, though every 
 thing was in favor of that presumption. 
 
 The death of General Rosseau had caused quite 
 a commotion in New Orleans, and it seemed a pretty 
 hard matter to get anything further of a definite 
 character in that place ; and I therefore instructed 
 my son and detective Keating to proceed slowly to 
 Galveston, stopping at Brashear City, where Taylor 
 might have diverged, supposing he had taken that 
 route with the other passengers from New Orleans, 
 and to particularly search passenger lists aboard any 
 lines of boats, and all hotel registers, before arriving 
 at Galveston, so as to have the work done thoroughly 
 nearest the base of operation ; as I knew that for any 
 party to get on the wrong scent in that vast state, 
 thinly settled as it wa$, with no means of quickly con- 
 
44 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 veying needful intelligence, was to enter upon both a 
 needless waste of money for my patrons, and an ob 
 jectless and wearying struggle against insurmountable 
 obstacles for my detectives, whom, whatever may be 
 said to the contrary, I have never in a single instance 
 needlessly or injudiciously exposed to privation or 
 danger. 
 
 In Brashear conductors of trains were applied 
 to ; the hotel and omnibus men were questioned, the 
 postmaster was appealed to, and even the passenger- 
 lists of the boats which had been in port, and to 
 which they were able to gain access for a period of 
 three months, had been searched in vain. Every 
 trace of the man seemed lost ; and I was appealed to 
 for a decision as to whether they should proceed to 
 Galveston by boat, with the presumption that Taylor 
 had taken passage under an assumed name, or take a 
 few days' trip up along the line of the New Orleans 
 and Opelousas Railroad and seek for information 
 of their man at different points through Central 
 Louisiana 
 
 I decided on the former course, and they accord 
 ingly embarked from Brashear immediately after the 
 receipt of my telegram of instructions, on the hand 
 some steamer " Josephine/' the only boat whose books 
 they had had no opportunity of examining; and, hav 
 ing received my telegram but a few minutes before the 
 steamer left, were obliged to do some lively running 
 to reach it ; for, in anticipation of a message from me 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 645 
 
 ) 
 
 to take that route, my son had directed Keating to set 
 tle the hotel bill, and with both valises in hand wait at 
 a convenient corner, where, should William receive 
 a dispatch from me of the character expected, within 
 a certain time, they might yet make the boat. 
 Everything transpiring as my son had hoped, they 
 were just in time, after a lively run, to be hauled up 
 the gang-plank by two stalwart negroes, and were 
 soon steaming down the bay and thence out to sea. 
 
 IV. 
 
 As the two ascended to the cabin they were con 
 gratulated by the officers of the boat and many of the 
 passengers on their graceful and expeditious board 
 ing of the steamer ; and being something of objects 
 of interest on account of the little incident, they con 
 cluded not to lose the opportunity to blend the good 
 feeling evoked into a thoroughly pleasant impression, 
 and consequently took the shortest way to accomplish 
 that desired end by at once walking up to the bar 
 where the assembled gentlemen, to a man, apparently 
 in coripliance to general custom, seemed to under- 
 stand that they had been invited before a word had 
 been uttered by either of the detectives, so that when 
 my son asked, " Gentlemen, won't you join us T it 
 
e 4 6 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 was an entirely superfluous request; for on eithef 
 side, behind, and extending a solid phalanx beyond, 
 the " gentlemen " had already joined and were de 
 scribing the particular liquor that in their minds 
 ,\vould do honor to the occasion in the most lively and 
 familiar manner possible, and interspersing their de 
 mands upon the leisurely bar-keeper with such re 
 marks as " Gen'lemen had narrow 'scape ;" " Gen'le- 
 men made a right smart run of it ;" " Gen'lemen not 
 down from Norlens (New Orleans), reckon come 
 down Opelousas route," and other similar comments; 
 but invariably prefacing each and every remark with 
 the stereotyped word " Gen'lemen," which men were, 
 without exception, assumed to be in that country at 
 that time, at least in conversation ; as any neglect to 
 preface a remark with the word laid one liable to be 
 come immediately engaged in a discussion regarding 
 the propriety of the use of the term, behind navy re 
 volvers, rifles, double-barreled shot-guns, or any other 
 available pointed or forcible means of argument. 
 
 After the thirst of the crowd, which upon a Gulf- 
 roasting steamer is something terrible to contemplate, 
 had been in a measure assuaged, my son excused him 
 self, and with Keating repaired to the office, remark 
 ing to the. clerk : 
 
 "I presume you would like to transact a little 
 business with us now ?" 
 
 * ; Any time to suit your convenience," returned 
 the clerk but getting at his books with an alacrity 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 64? 
 
 which showed that he would be a little more willing 
 to attend to the matter of fares then than at any 
 other time. 
 
 William handed him an amount of money large 
 enough to pay for both the fares of himself and Keat 
 ing from Brashear to G^lveston ; and, while the clerk 
 was making change, said, by way of getting into con 
 versation with him, " I'm afraid we're on a fool's 
 errand out here." 
 
 The clerk counted out the change, inked his pen 
 to take the names, and then elevating his eyebrows, 
 although not speaking a word, plainly asked, " Ah, 
 how's that ?" 
 
 "Well, you see," replied the detective, "we're 
 hunting a man that's had right good luck." 
 
 " He can't be in these parts," replied the cleric, 
 with a slightly satirical smile. "Names?" he then 
 asked. 
 
 "James A. Hicks and Patrick Mallory." 
 1 ' Where from ?" , 
 
 " Pittsburgh 
 
 " Which is which ?" asked the clerk, in a business 
 tone of voice. 
 
 " I am Hicks, and that pretty smart-looking Irish 
 man by the baggage-room is Mallory," was the re 
 ply. 
 
 " Your age and weight ?" asked the clerk mechan 
 ically, at the same time looking at my son keenly, and 
 getting the rest of his description at a glance. 
 
6*8 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 These questions were pioperly answered, and as 
 the clerk was noting them he asked, " Might I ask 
 what was the gentleman's good luck ?" 
 
 " Certainly ; he has fallen heir to a coal mine in 
 Pennsylvania, and we are endeavoring to hunt him 
 up for the executors of the estate." 
 
 " Ah ?" said the clerk, driving away with his pen ; 
 "will you be so good as to ask Mr. Mallory to step 
 this way ?" 
 
 My son stepped up to Keating and remarked 
 aloud, " Mr. Mallory, Mr. Mallory, the clerk would 
 like to see you-;" and then as Keating stepped to his 
 side, remarked as if for his better information, " He 
 knows your name is Patrick Mallory and that we are 
 from Pittsburg, hunting Taylor, so he can come home 
 and enjoy the property the old man left him ; but he 
 wants your entire description." 
 
 " Quite so," said the quick-witted Irishman, 
 dryly. 
 
 " You've got me, now," said Keating, winking 
 familiarly at the clerk, "when we came over we went 
 under ; and so many of us was lost that those saved 
 wasn't worth mendirt' as to age, ye see ; but concern 
 ing heft, why I'd not fear to say I'd turn an honest 
 scale at a hundred an' sixty." 
 
 The clerk smiled, but concluded not to ask Mr. 
 Mallory from Pittsburg any more questions. 
 
 As soon as he had made his notes, however, Wil 
 liam told him that he had examined the lists of all 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 649 
 
 other boats plying between Brashear and Galveston, 
 save those of the " Josephine," and requested him to 
 look through them, concluding by describing Taylor, 
 and stating that he might register either as H. G. 
 Taylor and clerk, or under an assumed name, as he 
 was somewhat erratic, and through family troubles, 
 not necessary to explain, he had got into a haoit of 
 occasionally traveling incognito. 
 
 The clerk readily complied with his request, scan 
 ning the pages closely, and repeating the name mus 
 ingly as if endeavoring to recall where he had heard 
 it. By the time he had got on with the examination 
 of a few pages, William had selected a photograph of 
 Taylor, and on showing it to the clerk the latter 
 seemed to have a certain recollection of having seen 
 him, but a very uncertain recollection as to where, or 
 under what circumstances. He went on repeating 
 the name, however, turning back the pages with his 
 right hand and tracing the names back and forth with 
 the index finger of his left hand, occasionally looking 
 at the photograph as if to assist in forcing a definite 
 recollection, but without any result for so long a time 
 that Messrs. Hill and Mallory of Pittsburg became 
 satisfied that their last hope before arriving at Gal 
 veston was gone, when suddenly the clerk carelessly 
 placed the picture beside a certain name and in a 
 manner very similar to a dry-goods clerk on securing 
 a successful " match," in two pieces of cloth, quietly 
 remarked : 
 
6sc A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 "Yes, can't be mistaken. There you are. IVc 
 got him." 
 
 "Then we've got him !" exclaimed my son, in the 
 excess of his gratification, shaking the hand of Mr. 
 Mallory, from Pittsburg. 
 
 " It's a joy," said the latter, beaming. 
 
 " Think of the immense property !" continued my 
 son. 
 
 "And the surprise to his friends!" murmured 
 Keating. 
 
 " The surprise to himself, I should say," interrupt 
 ed the clerk. 
 
 " Quite so," said Mr. Keating. 
 
 It appeared that Taylor and his brother had 
 missed one or two boats at Brashear from some cause, 
 but had finally taken passage on the "Josephine/" 
 November 7th ; and as the detectives had not been 
 able to ascertain whether the "Josephine" had carried 
 the fugitives or not, on account of her being belated 
 by adverse weather, and was now returning to Gal- 
 veston, after having had barely time to touch at Bra- 
 shear, they had felt that perhaps they might be upon 
 the wrong trail, which, with unknown adventures 
 before them, had been peculiarly discouraging ; so 
 tliat now, when they ascertained that his apprehension 
 was only a question of time and careful work, they 
 could not repress their gratification. 
 
 Nothing further worthy of note transpired on the 
 voyage from Brashear to Galveston, save that the 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 651 
 
 trip was a pretty rough one, and they finally arrived 
 in the latter city, hopeful and encouraged, notwith 
 standing the unusually dismal weather, which seemed 
 to consist of one disconnected but never-ending 
 storm, the " oldest inhabitants" of the place contend 
 ing with great earnestness that " it 'peared like's they'd 
 never had nothin' like it befoah !" 
 
 Arriving in Galveston early Sunday morning, 
 they went to the Exchange Hotel, and after break 
 fast set about examining the hotel registers of the 
 place t ascertaining that Taylor and brother had been 
 in the city, stopped a day or two, and then, so far as 
 could be learned, had gone on to Houston. They 
 were satisfied he had made no special efforts to cover 
 his tracks, although he had not made himself at all 
 conspicuous, as the difficulty encountered in. getting 
 those who would be most likely to recollect him, to 
 recollect him at all, clearly showed ; and it was quite 
 evident that he had not anticipated pursYiit, at least 
 of any nature which he could not easily compromise, 
 and intended going into some legitimate business 
 under his own name, and with his brother's assist 
 ance. 
 
 
 
 Before he could be arrested in Texas, however, it 
 would be necessary to secure Governor Pease's war 
 rant, which obliged a long, tedious trip to Austin, the 
 capital of the State ; nearly the whole distance having 
 to be done by stage, which at that time seemed a for 
 bidding piece of work, as it had rained every day of 
 
$5* A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 the year, so far ; and it might be a question of helping 
 the stage through rather than being helped through 
 by it. Besides this, according to my son's reports 
 which gave a true description of things in Texas at 
 that time, everything beyond Houston had to be paid 
 for in gold, as sectional sentiment and counterfeiting 
 had pronounced a ban upon greenbacks, and not only 
 in gold, but at exorbitant prices ; hotel rates being 
 five dollars per day ; single meals from one to two 
 dollars ; railroad fares eight cents per mile, and stage 
 rates nearly double that amount ; with no assurance 
 that you would ever reach a destination you had paid 
 to be conveyed to ; all attended by various kinds of 
 danger, among which was the pleasant reflection that 
 you might be called upon at any time to contribute 
 to the benefit of that noble relic of chivalry, the Ku 
 Klux Klan, who at that day were particularly busy in 
 Texas. 
 
 All of these pleasant considerations made the 
 departure from Galveston for Austin, in a Pickwickian 
 sense, unusually agreeable. 
 
 At Houston they discovered from different 
 persons, including the postmaster, that Taylor had 
 been there, but had made inquHes about points 
 further up country ; and the general impression was 
 that he had gone on, though at Brenham, the 
 terminus of the railroad, where they arrived Monday 
 evening, they could find no trace of him. 
 
 The next morning, when my son arose and looked 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. *$$ 
 
 on the vast sea of mud, a filthy, black esrth below ; 
 a dirty, black sky above ; with nothing but driving 
 rain and wintry gusts between ; while the lackadaisical 
 Texans slouched about with their hands in their 
 pockets, with only energy enough to procure tobacco 
 or "licker;" their sallow faces, down-at-the-heels, 
 snuff-dipping wives desolately appearing at the doors 
 and windows, only to retire again with a woe-begone 
 expression of suspended animation in their leathery 
 faces, he fully realized the force of the remark 
 attributed to General Sheridan, and more expressive 
 than polite : " If I owned Texas and hell, I would live 
 in hell and sell Texas !" 
 
 The stage was crowded, however, and the dreary 
 conveyance splashed and crunched on until noon 
 when dinner was taken at Wilson's Ranche, a long 
 low, rambling, tumbledown structure, which, like its 
 owner, who had at one time been a "General" oi 
 something, and now retained the thriving title out o/ 
 compliment to his departed glory, had gone to a 
 genteel decay with a lazy ease worthy of its master's 
 copy. The dinner was one long to be remembered 
 by the detectives, as it was their first genuine Texan 
 dinner, and consisted merely of fat boiled pork, and 
 hot bread of the consistence of putty cakes of the 
 same dimensions, which, when broken open after 
 a mighty effort, disclosed various articles Of 
 household furniture, such as clay pipes, old knife 
 handles, and various other invoices, probably playfully 
 
654 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 dumped into the flour barrel by some one of the half- 
 score of tow-headed, half-clad children, which the 
 " General " and his buxom helpmeet had seen fit to 
 provide for torturing another generation with rare 
 Texan dinners at a dollar a plate. 
 
 It was an all-day's labor getting to La Grange, 
 but thirty-five miles from Brenham, where they 
 arrived at ten o'clock, tired and exhausted from the 
 day's banging about in the stage and out of it, for 
 they were obliged to walk many times in order to rest 
 the jaded horses so that they could get tli rough to 
 La Grange at all ; but before retiring made all the 
 inquiries necessary to develop the fact that their man 
 had not been at that point. 
 
 The next day, Wednesday, was rather more try 
 ing than the previous one. Two miles out of town 
 the stage got "bogged," and the entire load of pas 
 sengers were obliged to get out and walk through 
 three miles of swamps, the stage finally sticking fast, 
 necessitating prying it out with rails. After this 
 Slough of Despond was passed, the Colorado river 
 had to be forded three times, and then came a " dry 
 run," which now, with every other ravine or depres 
 sion, had became a "wet run," and was "a booming'* 
 as the drunken driver termed it between oaths. There 
 was at least four feet of water in the dry run, and 
 the horses balking, the buckskin argument was 
 applied to them so forcibly that they gave a sud 
 den start, and broke the pole off short, which further 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 655 
 
 complicated matters. My son, being on the box, 
 sprang to the assistance of the driver, and stepping 
 down upon the stub of the pole, quickly unhitched 
 the -wheel horses, so that the stage could not bo 
 overturned, and then disengaged the head team t 
 finally appropriating a heavy wheel faorsc, with which 
 he rode back to Keating, who was perched upon a 
 rear wheel to keep out of the water, which was rush 
 ing and seething below, sweeping through the bottom 
 of the stage, and at every moment seeming to have 
 lifted the vehicle preparatory to sweeping it away like 
 feathers, and also holding on to the baggage, which 
 he had got safely upon the roof of the stage ; and, 
 taking him aboard his improvised ferry, after securing 
 the valises, rode to the muddy shore, forming with 
 his companions about as fine a picture of despairing 
 " carpet-baggers " as the South has ever on any occa 
 sion been able to produce. The bedraggled passen 
 gers ascertained that the next town, Webberville, was 
 several miles distant, and that there was no house 
 nearer, save on the other side of the rapidly rising 
 stream ; and as night had come on, the best thing 
 that could be done was to penetrate the woods, build 
 a rousing fire, and shiver and shiver through as long, 
 wet and weary a night as was ever experienced. 
 
 There was never a more longed-for morning thin 
 the next one, and the moment that the sickly light 
 came feebly through the mist and rain, and straggled 
 into the dense cotton-wood trees, where the discour- 
 
656 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 aged passengers had a sort of fervent out-doors 
 prayer-meeting, they started forward for Webberville, 
 hungry, drenched, and so benumbed as to be scarcely 
 able to walk. It was five miles into town, but one 
 mile of that distance stretched over a quagmire known 
 and described in that section as " Hell's half-acre ;" 
 and the truthful inhabitants of Webberville related 
 of this delectable ground that during the rainy season 
 its powers of absorption were so great that it would 
 even retain the gigantic Texan mosquito, should it 
 happen to take a seat there. 
 
 This bog was impassable to the travelers, who 
 finally bartered with the owner of a hog wagon to be 
 carried over the marsh for a silver half dollar each. 
 This was far better than remaining on the other side, 
 and they finally trudged into the town more dead 
 than alive. 
 
 Fortunately for the detectives, the brother of 
 ex-Governor Lubbock, of Texas, was one of the party, 
 and as they had all become so thoroughly acquainted, 
 as common misery will quickly make travelers, he 
 took my son and Keating to the residence of Colonel 
 Banks, a merchant of Webberville, whose good wife 
 never rested until she had provided the party with a 
 splendid meal, something with which to wash it down, 
 and beds which seemed to them all to have been com 
 posed of down. 
 
 After they had a good rest, the passengers for 
 Austin were got together, and explained the situation 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 657 
 
 i 
 
 of tilings. The creek the other side of Webberville 
 was a mighty river. The driver thought he could 
 possibly get the stage across, but was certain he 
 could not do so with any passengers or baggage to 
 make it drag more heavily ; but he thought that if 
 once on the other side, they might get to Austin the 
 same day. William was anxious to push ahead, and 
 looking about town discovered a rather venturesome 
 negro who owned a monstrous mule, and at once 
 entered into negotiations with him for the transfer of 
 the party arid baggage, sirtk or swim. So when the 
 stage arrived at the creek, the baggage was unloaded, 
 and the stage successfully forded the stream. But as 
 the water covered so broad an expanse, was so deep 
 and raoid, and altogether presented such a forbidding 
 appearance, the passengers refused to try the mule ex 
 periment unless William, who had proposed the mode 
 of transfer, and had secured the novel ferry, which 
 stood with the grinning negro upon its back ready for 
 passengers, would first cross the Rubicon to demon 
 strate the convenience and safety of the passage. So-, 
 handing the captain one of the valises, he mounted the 
 mule, which after a few whirls, a little " bucking/* 
 several suspicious sidewise movements, and a shouted 
 " Ya-a-oop, da, Dani-el ! done quit dis heyah foolish 
 ness !" plunged into the current without further 
 ceremony. 
 
 The passengers saw that Dani-el and his master 
 were up to a thing or two in that section of the 
 
 4* i 
 
658 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 country ; and after seeing Keating cross the stream 
 in safety also, they one by one ventured upon the 
 transfer, which was finished without accident, but with 
 a good deal of merriment ; and the colored clown 
 paid even beyond his contract price, the stage was 
 enabled to go lumbering on to Austin, where it ar 
 rived at a late hour of the same day. 
 
 RAIN, drizzle and mist ; mist, drizzle and rain. 
 'It seemed all that the country was capable of produc 
 ing ; and the same preface to the befogged condition 
 >of the English chancery courts used by Dickens, in 
 Jiis introduction to " Bleak House," with a few of the 
 ilocalisms expunged, would have fitly applied to the 
 ^condition of things in Texas, which afterward culmi 
 nated in a flood which swept everything before it. 
 
 In Austin though the seat of the State govern- 
 
 -ment and the headquarters of the military depart- 
 
 ;ment of Texas, full of legislators, lobbyists, officers 
 
 .and soldiers, everything had the appearance of having 
 
 been through a washing that had lasted an age, and 
 
 had been prematurely wrung out to dry, but had been 
 
 caught on the lines by an eternal rain day. Invclun- 
 
 itarily,-. with, the spatters and dashes of rain and the 
 
J DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 65t 
 
 morning wind, Longfellow's " Rainy Day " came drift 
 ing into the mind, and the lines : 
 
 "The day is cold and dark and dreary; 
 It rains, and the wind is never weary; 
 The vine still clings to the mouldering wall. 
 While at every gust the dead leaves fall. 
 And the day is dark and dreary!" 
 
 were never more appropriate than when applied to 
 any portion of Texas during the months of January 
 and February, 1868. 
 
 The very first man 'my son met in the office of the 
 hotel, the next morning, was a member of the Legis 
 lature from Besar county, who, hearing his inquiries 
 of the clerk concerning Taylor, informed him that he 
 had been introduced to him in San Antonio a few 
 weeks previous ; that he was in company with a much 
 younger man whom her epresented as his brother, 
 and that he had ostensibly come to San Antonio to 
 make some inquiries concerning the hide and wool 
 trade ; but whether with an idea of settling at that 
 point, or whether he could yet be found in San An 
 tonio, he was unable to state. 
 
 In any event this was cheering news ; for it as 
 sured my detectives that their long and weary search 
 would not prove unavailing ; and William directed 
 Keating to make himself useful about the different ( 
 hotels and hide and stock dealers, as it is a detec-j 
 tive's business to work all the time, and the slightest I 
 cessation of vigilance after the beginning of an opera- j 
 
$60 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 tion might at the most unexpected moment cause the 
 beginning of a series of circumstances eventually per 
 mitting a criminal's escape, while he himself sought 
 out General Potter, who escorted him to General 
 Canby's headquarters, where he was most cordially 
 received, and not only given an order for military aid, 
 should it be required, but General Canby himself 
 went with him to the capitol and introduced him to 
 Governor Pease, vouching for the reliability of any 
 statement made in connection with the business which 
 had brought him so far from home ; as, while I had 
 charge of the secret service of the Government, 
 during the war, with myself and sons had had an in 
 timate acquaintance with, and personal friendship for 
 him. 
 
 Governor Pease frankly stated to William that 
 the affidavits were rather weak, and that should some 
 of the " shysters " of that state, who did a thriving 
 business in habeas corpus releases, get an inkling of 
 his business and the nature of the papers, they might 
 give him a deal of trouble, even if they did not get 
 his man away from him eventually. He said he 
 would make the requisition as strong as possible, 
 however, and expressed his hope that the reputation 
 for ingenuity in devising and executing expedients 
 possessed by Pinkerton's men would be more than 
 sustained in this instance ; and General Canby termi 
 nated the interview by giving the document approval 
 over his own signature. 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 6S1 
 
 My son thanked them both for their kindness, 
 and withdrew, only too anxious to get to where his 
 man was before any information that he was being 
 sought for should reach him, and either scare him 
 beyond the Rio Grande, or enable him to act on the 
 defensive, as only a man can act who has plenty of 
 money, plenty of friends, and, as we already knew, a 
 great plenty of bravery on his own account 
 
 Soon after he had returned to the hotel, Keating 
 came in with undoubted information that Taylor had 
 a permanent residence at or near Corpus Christi ; 
 that either he or his brother owned a sheep ranche 
 near the coast, not far from that city, while the 
 other dealt in hides and wool there ; and that one or 
 the other penetrated into the interior as far as San 
 Antonio, soliciting consignments. 
 
 My son at once concluded that it was the Captain 
 who had done the dealing, as well as stealing, and 
 whose money and business ability had been brought 
 to bear upon the trading at Corpus Christi, and upon 
 the ranche in the country near it ; the brother, though 
 probably entirely innocent of complicity in the rob 
 bery, or even a knowledge of the source from whence 
 the money had come, only being used for a con 
 venient repository for his ill-gotten funds in case of 
 Kuhn Brothers following him before he was ready 
 to meet them. 
 
 He therefore decided to get through to Corpus 
 Christi in the very shortest time in which the trip 
 
$63- A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 could be made vid New B rail nf els, San Antonio, Vic 
 toria, and Port Lavaca, hoping that he might be able 
 to pick him up along some portion of that route, as 
 it was quite evident he made frequent trips in that 
 direction ; and, at whatever point he might be started, 
 should he seem to be going much farther into the 
 interior, which would be improbable, as San An 
 tonio at that time was quite a frontier city, arrest 
 him at once, and hurry him back to Galveston along 
 the route he was already familiar with ; but, should 
 he be going toward the coast, to let him take his own 
 course, keeping him well in hand until he had 
 reached Corpus Christi or some other seaport city, 
 and, waiting a favorable opportunity, arrest him and 
 get him aboard a boat before he could recover from 
 the surprise. 
 
 Not a half hour before they left Austin, he fortu 
 nately met Judge Davis of Corpus Christi, who was 
 there attending some political convention, and who 
 gave him a letter to his law partner at home, should 
 his services in any way be needed, as I had been of 
 some service to him on a previous occasion ; so that 
 when my two detectives left Austin on the seven 
 teenth of January, they felt perfectly satisfied of 
 ultimate success, though the same terrible experi 
 ences as to staging were again encountered. 
 
 It required the entire day to traverse the few 
 miles between Austin and Blanco Creek, where they 
 secured a sort of a supper; the Onion Creek and its 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 663 
 
 branches having been waded and forded numberless 
 times. At Manchell Springs, the stage pole being 
 again broken, they were only able to proceed after 
 improvising a tongue out of a sapling, chopped from 
 the roadside with a very dull hatchet. At Blanco 
 Springs a good rest was taken, and the driver, having 
 the day's experience in his mind, objected to going 
 further that night ; but the detectives insisted that 
 they had paid their money to be taken to a certain 
 destination, and, as they had shown a disposition to 
 more than earn their passage besides, no excuse for 
 their detention should be offered. 
 
 After a good deal of grumbling, fresh horses were 
 got out, a new pole put in the stage, and the proces 
 sion again took up its weary march over the then 
 most horrible of roads, crossing the innumerable 
 brooks and runs which now pushed torrent's into 
 York's Creek. All night long they slushed and 
 splashed, and tramped and cursed ; though the rain 
 had ceased for a time there was but little light from 
 the sky, which seemed full of black heavy clouds 
 ready to burst asunder, to again drench them and 
 swell the torrents afresh. My son, Keating, and a 
 man sent along from Blanco Creek, " took turns," 
 trudging along ahead of the lead-team, and, with lan 
 terns, picked out the way. Often they would be mis 
 led where the ground was so bad as to almost defy a 
 passage over it, when the patient animals behind 
 them, steaming from the toil of straining along with 
 
664 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 nothing but an empty coach, would stop, as if guided 
 by a keener instinct, where they would quietly remain 
 until the united search of the three men had discov 
 ered the road, when the intelligent creatures docilely 
 plodded along again. 
 
 And so, through seemingly bottomless quagmires ; 
 over corduroys, where the shaky ends of timbers, 
 struck by a horse's hoof, would mercilessly splash 
 those walking beside the useless vehicle, or, suddenly 
 relieved from the weight of the ponderous wheel, 
 would fly upwards to heave gallons of slime upon the 
 coach ; laboring around the bases of far-extending 
 mounds of sandy loam ; descending into unexpected 
 and sometimes dangerous depressions, along creeks, 
 and plunging into streams, where drift and changing, 
 sandy bottoms always made it a question whether the 
 coach could ever begot across ; they marched only as 
 Sherman taught soldiers to march, or as honest 
 detectives will crowd all obstacles between them 
 selves and their duty, and came with the gray of the 
 morning to the beautiful, forest-shaded Guadaloupe. 
 
 Fording this river without nearly the trouble 
 presented at some of the petty runs and creeks 
 which had been passed, they came to New Braunfels 
 with the sun, which had shown itself for the first time 
 since their arrival in Texas, and which also shone up 
 on the first city which had shown any of that wide 
 awake " go-aheaditiveness " and thrift so common to 
 nearly all northern cities. 
 
A DETECTIVES LIFE. 665 
 
 The reason that New Braunfels differed so materi 
 ally from the ordinary Texan towns lay in the fact 
 that it was almost exclusively settled by Germans ; and 
 it was a welcome sight to the detectives to be able to 
 enter a place where, fro:n suburb to center, up and 
 down long, finely-shaded avenues, it was plain to be 
 seen that the most had been made of everything. 
 
 From the pleasantest cottage of the extreme 
 suburb, and past the more pretentious residences, 
 every home being provided with an exterior bake- 
 oven, the same as in Germany, Pennsylvania, or por 
 tions of Wisconsin and Minnesota, to the shops, 
 stores, hotels and public buildings, every yard, in 
 many instances, fenced with stone gleaned and cleaned 
 from the soil, and, for that matter, every spot upon 
 which the eye rested showed that thrift and not 
 whisky-drinking ruled that place ; and that fact alone 
 entitles the little Germany city to respectable ele 
 vation from the obscurity which has heretofore sur 
 rounded it. 
 
 As nothing at this point could be learned regard 
 ing Taylor, though leaving the town and its extra 
 ordinary attractions with some reluctance, they im 
 mediately proceeded to San Antonio, the roads to 
 which place were quite passable, and arrived at that 
 city Friday afternoon, v I had telegraphed to Colonel 
 Lee, of San Antonio, to hold himself in readiness to 
 assist my son and Keating, on the score of personal 
 friendship, whenever they might arrive there, not 
 
6G6 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 knowing, from the terrible condition of the roads, at 
 what time it would be possible for them to reach that 
 point, and he, being ignorant from what direction 
 they might come, where they might stay, or under 
 what name they might register, had caused an adver 
 tisement to be inserted in the San Antonio Herald, 
 of which the following is a copy : 
 
 PERSONAL. WHENEVER THE SON OF A. P., of 
 Chicago, may arrive in San Antonio, he will learn of 
 something to his advantage by calling upon Lieut. - 
 Col. Lee, at the Mengler House. 
 
 Keating's sharp eyes first saw the item at the sup 
 per table of the Mengler House, where they were 
 stopping, and they both learned, by listening to the 
 conversation about them, that the Colonel was sitting 
 at the same table. 
 
 After supper William made himself known to 
 Colonel Lee without attracting attention, the latter 
 kindly offering him any help needed, after which in 
 quiries of a guarded character were instituted for the 
 object of their search. The landlord of the Mengler 
 House stated that Taylor had called upon him about 
 three weeks before to inquire for letters, but as he 
 was stopping elsewhere but little attention had been 
 paid to him or his questions ; all of which William 
 had reason to believe absolutely true, on account of 
 the strong corroborative testimony which would lie 
 in the statement of any landlord that no civility was 
 
A DETECTIVE LIFE. 667 
 
 shown to a man who quartered at any hostelry save 
 his own. 
 
 The next morning he called upon Chief of Police, 
 H. D. Bonnet, who extended every imaginable cour 
 tesy, went with him to the offices of the different 
 stage-lines, and insisted in examining their lists for 
 some time previous with a view to ascertaining what 
 direction Taylor had taken when he left San An 
 tonio ; introduced him to the Mayor and Chief Mar 
 shal, and even went with him on an extended tour 
 through the old Mexican quarter of the town ; but 
 no other information was secured save through the 
 German landlady of a hotel, who was as positive as 
 her limited knowledge of the English language would 
 allow her to be, that Taylor had stopped at her house 
 without registering at all, and had gone directly from 
 San Antonio to Port Lavaca or Corpus Christi on 
 horseback, which, after all, in the exceptional condi 
 tion of the weather that year in Texas, seemed quite 
 probable. 
 
 It was evident nothing was to be 'gained by re 
 maining any longer at San Antonio, and was quite as 
 plain that all possible expedition should be used in 
 getting on to the coast. 
 
 As if the fates were ordained perverse, the 
 moment the two left San Antonio a steady drenching 
 rain again began to fall, and as the stage was crowd 
 ed, the discomfort of those within could not very well 
 be increased. About twelve miles from San Antonio 
 
668 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 the driver succeeded in tipping over the stage, and 
 giving the occupants " an elegant mud varnish all 
 over," as operative Keating aptly expressed it. The 
 driver remarked that he was " going up the new 
 road," but some of the more profane passengers swore 
 that, if so, he was hunting it three feet under the 
 old one. On arriving at Lavernia station the dismal 
 announcement was made by the lean, long stage 
 agent, who seemed never to have done anything from 
 time immemorial save sit in the door of his tumble 
 down hovel to make dismal announcement that " the 
 Cibolo (pronounced there ' C'uillou') is just a scootin' 
 and a rippin' up its banks like a mad buffler 
 bull ! ye'll all be back to stay at my tavern all 
 night." 
 
 It was the contemplation of this man's pure 
 cussedness, as he sat there doting on the big bills he 
 would charge when the Cibolo should drive back a 
 stage load of hungry travelers, that nerved them to 
 push on at all hazards and attempt a crossing at some 
 point where the Cibolo " scooted and ripped up its 
 banks " with less ardor than across the regular route 
 to Victoria; but on reaching Southerland Springs, 
 seven miles distant, it was found that it would be 
 necessary to wait until Thursday morning, when they 
 might possibly make a passage, as the stream was 
 running down to within something like ordinary 
 bounds very fast. 
 
 Thursday afternoon came before an attempt to 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 669 
 
 ford the stream was made, when the driver agreed to 
 land the passengers in the middle of the stream on 
 an immense fallen tree, from which point they could 
 reach the other side, when they might be able to get 
 the empty stage across also. 
 
 The trial was made, and was successful so far as 
 landing the passengers was concerned, but while this 
 was being done the wheels of the coach sank deeper 
 and deeper into the mucky bed of the stream, and 
 though but a few minutes ha'd elapsed, the strange 
 action of the water had caused deposits to form about 
 the coach so rapidly that it became firmly imbedded, 
 and could not be moved by the four horses attached. 
 At this juncture an old farmer came along, who 
 carried the evidences of some of his propensities 
 strongly marked in his face, which was a thin one, 
 like his conscience, but with bright tips on his cheek 
 bones and as red a nose as ever the devil-artist in 
 alcohol tipped with crimson. No importunities or 
 amount of money could prevail on him to assist the 
 discouraged travelers with his fine mule train; but a 
 pint of good whiskey, to be delivered the moment 
 the stage had been drawn from its peril, with a small 
 drink by way of retainer, accomplished what would 
 not have been done in any other manner, and set the 
 travelers joyfully on their way again. They jour 
 neyed on at a snail's pace until one o'clock Friday 
 morning, when they arrived at Kelly's ranche, kept by 
 Bill Kelly, uncle of the " Taylor boys," notorious for 
 
670 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 their connection with the Ku Klux and various other 
 gangs of villainous desperadoes. 
 
 The family were unceremoniously awakened, and 
 at once good-humoredly proceeded to provide the 
 ravenous passengers with something to eat ; after 
 which they made a " shake-down "-on the floor, into 
 which substitute for a bed everybody turned, and slept 
 late into the morning, awakening stiff in every joint 
 and scarely able for that day's journey, which, with 
 its complement of accidents and delays, took them 
 safely over Esteto creek and into Yorktown early in 
 the evening, where the detectives secured certain in- 
 formation that Taylor had been in Corpus Christi 
 the week previous, and was undoubtedly there at that 
 time, as Texas by this time had become a net-work of 
 resistless streams, almost impassible quagmires and 
 far-reaching lagoons. 
 
 VI 
 
 LATE the next morning they left Yorktown, hav 
 ing taken on a passenger of no less importance than 
 ex-Confederate Governor Owens, of Arizona. He 
 was a pleasant, voluble old fellow, and my son at once 
 fell in with his ways, and treated him so courteously 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE.' 671 
 
 that it perhaps averted a greater disaster than had at 
 any previous time occurred. 
 
 Governor Owens was largely engaged in the Rio 
 Grande trade of supplying frontier points with pro 
 visions and merchandise, and was just on his way to 
 Indianola, on the coast, where he was to meet his 
 Mexican freighters, comprising thirty wagons and 
 carts, of all characters and descriptions, driven by the 
 inevitable lazy Greaser. Even as late as the same 
 period, 1867-8, a vast amount of freighting was done 
 between St. Paul, Minnesota, and Fort Garry, Mani 
 toba, in the famed Red River carts, driven by the 
 inevitable, lazy half-breed. 
 
 William, knowing the position held by Governor 
 Owens during a portion of the war, and realizing that 
 an ex-office-holder will never lose his tenderness for 
 the political regime which made him titled, assumed 
 to be a Mississippian, from Vicksburg, with an Irish 
 acquaintance, on a trip of inspection through Texas, 
 and, so far, terribly disappointed with the State. 
 
 During those periods when, owing to the depth of 
 the mud, the passengers were obliged to walk, they 
 would fall behind or walk ahead of the stage, when 
 they would chat pleasantly upon general subjects. 
 On one of these occasions Governor Owens eyed his 
 companion sharply a moment, and then asked : 
 
 " Can I trust you, sir ?" 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 " On the word and honor of a gentleman ?" 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 " Yes, and an honest man, too" William answered. 
 
 " I believe you ; thank you. You know stages 
 are robbed out this way ?" 
 
 " I do." 
 
 " Did you ever see it done ?" 
 
 " No ; nor have I any desire to be around on such 
 an occasion," he replied, laughing. 
 
 " I reckon you hadn't better, either," said the 
 Governor earnestly. "It wouldn't nvke so much 
 difference if they would do the work a trifle genteelly, 
 in a gentlemanly way ; but the fact is, we have low 
 fellows along our Texas stage-lines. They have no 
 regard for a man's family. Why," he continued, 
 warmly, " they'll just pop out from behind the trees, 
 or up through some clumps of bushes, ram a double 
 barreled shot-gun, loaded to 'the muzzle with slugs 
 and things, into the coach from both sides at once, 
 and just blaze away all that are not killed outright 
 are scared to death. There's nothing fair about it !" 
 
 William expressed his curiosity to know if the 
 drivers were killed. 
 
 " Drivers ? Never, sir, never. Why, those ruf* 
 fians are too smart for that. Let it be known that 
 they have begun killing drivers, and there isn't a 
 stage company in Texas that could send a coach 
 past the first timber. They couldn't afford to kill 
 stage-drivers, for the moment they' began it, that 
 would be the end of staging." 
 
 My son expressed his thanks at learning so much 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 673 
 
 of the business principles of these land pirates, and 
 the old gentleman continued : 
 
 " You see, it takes a peculiar kind of a driver for 
 a Texas coach. You want one, first, that can drink 
 right smart of whiskey, for the water isn't good along 
 some of these branches. You wan* one that can 
 swear a hoss's head square off, too. He's got to be a 
 coward, or he would help put this robbing down ; 
 and yet, he has got to be rather brave to drive right 
 along up to a spot where he knows he is to see his 
 passengers butchered ! and that," continued the Gov* 
 enor, earnestly, " is just what I want to talk to you 
 about, as I feel sure that I can trust you." 
 
 The Governor then explained to him that a cer 
 tain member of the Ku Klux, whom he was sorry to 
 say was too intimate with those roadside plunderers, 
 had informed him that morning, just as he was leav 
 ing Yorktown, that preparations had been made to 
 rob their stage at a point between Clinton and Mis 
 sion Valley ; and that he very much desired some 
 organization among the passengers for defense, as he 
 himself had upwards of thirty thousand dollars, to be 
 paid out at Indianola, for goods, and to his freighters 
 for wages. 
 
 On the receipt of this alarming intelligence, my 
 son took the responsibility of informing the rest of 
 the passengers what might possibly be expected ; and, 
 as Governor Owens had six fine carbines, which he was 
 also taking down to Indianola for the protection of 
 
674 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 his freighters on the Rio Grand, preparatory to any 
 attack that might be made. 
 
 About six miles from Mission Valley the stage 
 route traversed a low piece of bottom-lands covered 
 with timber, and a considerable growth of underbrush. 
 A corduroy road had been built through the place, 
 and as the coach was obliged to be driven slowly 
 across it, the locality offered particularly fine induce 
 ments for a robbery of the character described by the 
 Governor ; so that the precaution was taken of 
 walking along with the coach, three on either side, 
 with carbines ready for instant use. 
 \ Just before entering the timber, two men were 
 seen prowling about, and, evidently fearing their 
 actions might cause suspicion and frustrate the plan 
 they had in view, made a great effort to appear to be 
 two respectable hunters in search of only wild game ; 
 and, before leaving the timber at the other side, two 
 more persons were seen, who, evidently, not having 
 ibeen given any signal, had come as near to the stage 
 as they dared, to ascertain for themselves why their 
 -.comrades had failed in their calculations; but skulked 
 avray after seeing the force which grimly trudged 
 along, guarding the empty vehicle, into which the 
 passengers were glad enough to climb when the clan 
 ger was gone by, and be carried with sound bodies 
 and whole pockets to the supper which had been 
 ;eme time !n waiting when they reached Mission 
 galley. : v 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 675 
 
 Dinner the next day was taken at Victoria, from 
 H'hich city William and Keating expected to be able 
 to go by railroad to Port Lavaca, only twenty-eight 
 miles distant. They were doomed to disappoint 
 ment in this, as the railroad had been abandoned 
 since the war, eiV_er the Union or Confederate 
 soldiers having taken it up bodily and turned it up 
 side down, like a gigantic furrow, from Victoria to 
 the sea. 
 
 After many years somebody had come along aad 
 turned it back; but to this day the steam-engine has 
 never thundered over it again ; the most that has ever 
 been done having been to drag an occasional freight 
 car over the road by the not peculiarly thrilling appli 
 cation of mule power ; and so it was said a hand-car, 
 worked by a gang of negroes, was used for trans 
 porting passengers, the trips being made back and 
 forth whenever a load could be got, and not before. 
 
 As they were obliged to remain for this new mode 
 of conveyance, their time was entirely unoccupied, 
 and they could not but have leisure to make some 
 thing of a study of Texan life; as it then existed ; and 
 on Sunday afternoon were witnesses to one of those 
 little episodes which sometimes make extremely lively 
 certain periods that would otherwise remain hum 
 drum and ordinary. 
 
 The bar-room of the hotel had been crowded all 
 day, and a good deal of liquor had been drunk, white 
 there had also been a large amount of money lost and 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 won over cards, so that there was that feverish, ex 
 plosive condition of things which always follows large 
 winnings or losses at games of chance, although there 
 had as yet been no disturbance of a serious character. 
 
 At one of the little gaming tables, John Foster, 
 county clerk of Victoria County, and another 
 person, named Lew Phillips, who had been one of 
 the Andersonville prison-keepers during the war, but 
 had drifted out to Victoria and had secured charge of 
 a large livery-stable there, were engaged at a game of 
 poker, when Foster was heard to quietly say : 
 
 "See here, Lew Phillips, you stole that card !" 
 
 " You're a liar !" was retorted, with an oath. 
 
 The two men were up over the card-table in a 
 twinkling, looking at each other, and both very 
 white. 
 
 " Apologize !" demanded Foster, still quiet, but 
 with a terrible earnestness in his voice. 
 
 " I don't do that sort of business, you white-livered 
 coward !" shouted Phillips. 
 
 Without another look or word, the two parted, 
 one passing out one door and the other out of 
 another, while the crowd in the hotel canvassed the 
 matter as coolly as though there had been no diffi 
 culty worth mentioning, while a few quietly laid 
 wagers on who would get the first shot. 
 
 In about fifteen minutes more, Foster was seen 
 returning with a double-barreled shot-gun, and 
 Phillips, who had a wooden leg, came stumping up 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 677 
 
 another street, with an immense navy revolver in his 
 hand. It was noticeable that the space between the 
 advancing men was made very clear, so that nothing 
 should interfere with their sociability. In a moment 
 more, Phillips had fired at Foster, and evidently hit 
 him ; for, as he was bringing his gun to his shoulder, 
 his aim had been badly disturbed, and before he had 
 time to fire, Phillips had fired again and wounded his 
 man the second time. Foster now leaned against a 
 porch column, desperately resolved to get a good 
 aim, his antagonist, all the while advancing, 
 attempted to fire again, but missed this time, the cap 
 refusing to communicate the deadly flash to the 
 chamber of the revolver, then there was a blinding 
 flash from Foster's gun, accompanied by a thunderous 
 report, and the two men fell almost instantaneously. 
 
 Foster had discharged both barrels of his weapon, 
 heavily loaded with buck-shot, at Phillips, the entire 
 charge having entered his wooden leg, and sent him 
 spinning to the ground, like the sudden jerk and 
 whirl of a nearly spent top, the recoil of the gun also 
 "kicking" Foster flat as a Tennessee "poor white's" 
 corn pone. 
 
 The " gentlemen " who had been looking on and 
 quietly criticising the little by-play, now rushed for 
 ward and surrounded the combatants, the anxiety of 
 each of whom was to be assured of the other's death ; 
 or, in case of his being alive, to have some one to be 
 the immediate bearer of tender regards and profuse 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 expressions of friendship ; thus terminating satis 
 factorily to all parties what the chivalrous inhabitants 
 of Victoria informed my detectives was called a " stag 
 duel," the most common and effective method known 
 for settling the little difficulties liable at any time to 
 occur among gentlemen, the only conditions imposed 
 by custom being that neither party shall offer to 
 shoot in a crowded room, or be allowed to fire at his 
 opponent unless he is also prepared, when other citi 
 zens who may be using the streets at those times 
 withdraw from them as rapidly as consistent with the 
 proprieties, when the occasion is immediately made 
 interesting to the participants, who advance and fire 
 *.jjon each other as rapidly as a liberal practice in 
 this and other "codes" of taking human life will 
 permit. 
 
 As the next sensation to a "stag duel " in Victoria 
 was the arrival of the " train " from Lavaca, in the 
 shape of the hand-car manned by four burly negroes, 
 who with the original superintendent of the road had 
 formed a soulless corporation with which nothing 
 could compete, it was not long before the detectives 
 had secured seats with four other passengers, making 
 ten persons in all, to be conveyed twenty-eight miles 
 fen a broken-down hand-car over probably the most 
 villainous excuse for a railroad ever known. 
 
 The fare was six dollars in gold for each passen 
 ger, which might seem to have a shade of exorbitance 
 about it when it was considered that the accommoda- 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 679 
 
 tions consisted of two very insecure seats, constructed 
 over the wheels, upon each of which three persons 
 might cling with a constant expectation of being 
 joilted off by the unevenness of the road, or of falling 
 off from sheer fatigue in endeavor to cling to the 
 ramshackle boards beneath them. 
 
 " All abo'd !" shouted the negro conductor, with 
 all the style and unction of the diamond-pinned aristo 
 crat of a New York Central train ; and then, as the 
 " train " started out of Victoria the passengers and 
 the admiring lookers-on were greeted w r ith the follow 
 ing song, tuned to the " Ra-ta-tat " of the wheels 
 upon the rails, and sturdily sung, .or chanted rather, 
 by the jolly but powerful crew : 
 
 " Heave ho ! 
 Away we go 
 
 Winds may wait, or de winds may blow I 
 Heave ho ! 
 Away we go 
 
 For to cotch de gals at Lavac o !" 
 
 In the sense that this mode of traveling had the 
 charm of novelty and the thrilling attraction of dan 
 ger combined, it was a success. There was freshness 
 and variety about it, too ; for, whenever one of the 
 negroes had " done gin out," the conductor would 
 call for volunteers from among the passengers, and 
 give the demand a peculiar emphasis by the remark, 
 " Takes brawn 'n sinyew to pump dis hy'r train into 
 'vacca ; 'n de* Lo'd never did make no men out o* 
 cl'ar iron 'n steel !" 
 
6So A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 The argument was so forcible that some one 
 would work with the negroes while the " clean done 
 gone " man and brother rested and meditated upon 
 " catchin' the gals of Vacca !" which the song brought 
 out so feelingly. 
 
 Besides this, new interest would be added to the 
 excursion whenever the wind was favorable ; for, 
 stopping the car, a mast, to which, a sort of " mutton- 
 leg sail," as they termed it, would be attached ; the 
 conductor would brace himself and would lengthen or 
 shorten the sail as was most judicious, and then the 
 hand-car ship would speed along the billowy tract 
 like a majestic thing of life for a mile or two, when 
 the party were again forced into a realizing sense 
 of the plodding nature of the means of transit, which, 
 after all, at times became monotonous. 
 
 On one of these occasions of momentary fair sail 
 ing and enthusiasm, they were also favored with a 
 down grade of quite a stretch ; and, as everybody was 
 happy at the wonderful rate of speed acquired, while 
 the negroes were singing snatches of songs in the 
 gayest manner possible, a " spread " of the track let 
 the car upon the ties, from which it leaped at one 
 bound into the swamp, completely immersing several 
 of its occupants in the muddy slime. 
 
 No damage was done, however, as the spot where 
 everything and everybody alighted was too soft 
 to cause anything to be broken; and after righting 
 the car, and repairing the disaster as much as possible, 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE, 6Si 
 
 Wil!Iam and Keating safely arrived in Lavaca early 
 in the afternoon, were at once driven to Indiattola, 
 where they cleaned up, including a most welcome 
 bathing and shaving, at the Magnolia House ; em 
 barked on a little schooner carrying the government 
 mail cicM^ the coast ; were becalmed in Aranzas Bay, 
 and late during the night of the twenty-seventh ol 
 January the light from a quaint seaport city danced 
 along the waves of its beautiful harbor, and welcomed 
 the worn-out but indefatigable detective** to Corpus 
 Christi. 
 
 VII. 
 
 GOING ashore, the two proceeded to a sort of 
 hotel or boarding-house on the beach, where they 
 found Judge Carpenter,- formerly of Chicago, who 
 had become district judge there, and who, on learn 
 ing my son's name, inquired if he were not a relative 
 of Allan Pinkerton the detective. 
 
 He replied that he was very distantly related, 
 which was a literal truth at that time/ when the Judge, 
 claiming an acquaintance, proffered any assistance 
 which might be desired, whatever his business. The 
 courtesy was courteously accepted, but no questions 
 were asked concerning Taylor. 
 
 After breakfast the next morning, they strolled 
 
68* A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 up-town with Judge Carpenter, when passing a Mr. 
 Buckley's store, Keating, while catching step, took 
 occasion to nudge my son, who carelessly looked into 
 the place, as any stranger might, and there saw the 
 object of his long search pleasantly chatting with one 
 of the clerks ; but they walked on quietly with the 
 Judge as far as the post-office, when he kindly intro 
 duced them to another Mr. Taylor, the postmaster. 
 
 After a few moments' pleasant conversation, Wil 
 liam asked thfc postmaster if he could direct him to 
 ex-Sheriff John McLane's residence. It proved to be 
 but a block distant, but on inquiring there, it was 
 ascertained that he was absent at his* store, farther 
 down-town. He was the only person in that city, be 
 sides Keating, whom my son felt that he could trust, 
 as I had not only previously rendered him service, 
 but also held him in the light of a friend ; and he had 
 already been requested by me to render him any ser 
 vice in his power, should William pass that way, so 
 that he knew the first thing he should do was to go 
 to him, explain his business fully and secure his im 
 mediate advice and assistance. 
 
 Finding him, he told him that he did not feel jus 
 tified in arresting Taylor unless the mail-boat in 
 which he had arrived was, in some way, detained for 
 an hour. McLane said he would attend to that, and 
 brought Captain Reinhart to the store, but not telling 
 him why the delay xvas desired, arranged for the same, 
 and at once hunted up Sheriff Benson, $o wfaoni my 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 68 j 
 
 aon delivered the warrant and demanded the pris 
 oner. 
 
 Benson at first hesitated, expressing the utmost 
 surprise, as Taylor was a fellow-boarder, and he could 
 not realize, so he said, that he was other than a brave 
 and chivalrous gentleman, and began to question the 
 validity of the requisition, but William told him that 
 there was the order of Governor Pease approved by 
 General Canby, and that he did, not propose to be 
 dallied with or imposed upon in any manner. 
 
 Seeing that my son had come too far and under 
 gone too many hardships to be trifled with, he went 
 with him to Buckley's stoie, where they found Tay 
 lor, who was given into the detectives' hands,* though 
 utterly astounded and completely unnerved at the 
 idea that the strong hand of J.he law was upon him. . 
 
 In this condition, and before he could collect his 
 scattered senses and decide to make a legal resistance, 
 which would have caused my son a vast amount of 
 trouble, if indeed it had not resulted in the liberation 
 of the elegant swindler, he was placed on board the 
 
 schooner. 
 
 a 
 
 After they had left Corpus Cbristi behind, Wil 
 liam began a system of soothing argument, with the 
 end in view of convincing Taylor, who was now be 
 coming nervous and restless, and evidently ashamed 
 of being carried away so ingloriously, thet it would 
 be the best thing for himself, his brother, and even 
 kis people in Philadelphia; to go along quietly, with- 
 
684 <* DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 \ 
 out creating any disturbance, as, should he do so, he 
 
 would treat him like a gentleman in every instance ; 
 but should he give him any trouble whatever he 
 would be obliged to put him in irons, and not only 
 treat him like a criminal, but would serve him roughly 
 in every particular. 
 
 Taylor saw that he was in my power, and that I 
 had put two men after him who would have gone to 
 Cape Horn for him, and that his only chance of 
 escape lay in strategy. 
 
 He had the perfect freedom of the boat, and, 
 when he desireS, chatted with the captain and the 
 cre\v, who were not apprised by my son of the char 
 acter of Jiis new companion, and everything was done 
 to make him comfortable. 
 
 At first he kept entirely to himself, but of a sud 
 den his manner changed entirely, and he became par 
 ticularly pleasant, especially to the captain of the 
 boat ; and as they were n earing the little barren 
 Saluria Island, at the entrance to Matagorda Bay, 
 William accidentally overheard the captain say to 
 Taylor, "The tide is high enough, and I will be able 
 to run close to the island." This caused him to have 
 no particular suspicion of Taylor, as the remark might 
 equally apply to a hundred other subjects besides the 
 one to which it did ; but in a few moments after, he 
 noticed the schooner, which had hugged the island 
 pretty closely, now suddenly take a still closer tack, 
 and rapidly neared the barren coast. Feeling alarmed 
 
A DETECTIVE S LIFE. 685 
 
 lest the iielmsrnan was not attending to his duty, my 
 son yelled : 
 
 "Captain, what under heaven do you mean? 
 Don't you see that in another moment you'll have us 
 beached ?" 
 
 He had scarcely uttered the words when Taylor 
 was seen to spring into the waves, and then disappear, 
 and the boat at the same moment stood off from the 
 island, as if in obedience to the warning my son had 
 given. 
 
 The truth flashed into his mind in an instant : 
 Here, after this hard, unremitting toil, the discom 
 forts, the annoyances, the dangers, everything 
 through which they had been obliged to pass, after 
 their hopes for success, and after they had earned 
 it if two men ever had earned success just when 
 they were beginning to feel the pleasure of work well 
 done, and be able to experience the genuine satisfac 
 tion it is to any man who is honest enough to ac 
 knowledge it, in securing the regard of the public for 
 assisting in its protection, the commendation of one's 
 employer for good sturdy care for his interests, and 
 the self-respect one gains in doing one's duty, even if 
 it has led him a hard life of It, they were to be 
 cheated and outwitted. Half crazed, my son, with 
 anger and indignation, ajid a perfect flood of humiliat 
 ing thoughts filled his brain in the first great ques 
 tion, " What was to be done ?" 
 
 His first impulse was to plunge in after him, and 
 
686 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 io pursuance of that impulse he had freed himself of 
 his boots and coat, when, seeing Taylor rise to the 
 surface and make but little headway against the tide, 
 which was ebbing strongly, he call to the captain to 
 round to, and began firing with considerable rapidity, 
 so as to strike the water within a few feet of the man 
 who was so unsuccessfully struggling against the tide, 
 but whom he could not blame for making so brave 
 and desperate an effort to free himself. 
 
 He was provided with two magnificent English 
 Trenter revolvers, which will carry a half-ounce ball 
 a fourth of a mile with absolute accuracy ; and as he 
 could use it with great precision he could easily have 
 killed the man in the water. Both the captain and 
 Taylor were terribly scared, and as Taylor held up 
 bis hand, and yelled " I surrender 1" the balls were 
 cutting into the water all about him savagely, and the 
 captain shouted, " For God's sake, don't kill the man I 
 Don't you see I'm rounding to ?" 
 
 Keating, who had been almost worn out from the 
 Texas trip, had been sleeping in a bunk below, and 
 who had been roused by William's firing and the 
 strange motion of the schooner, now came on deck 
 rather thinly clad, and the two detectives covered 
 Taylor with their revolvers ; while the captain, him 
 self at the wheel, handled the schooner so that it was 
 only necessary for him to keep himself above water 
 in order to float with the tide against the side of the 
 boat, when my son, rather too indignant to be partio 
 
A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. $87 
 
 ularly tender, grabbed him by the hair and his luxu 
 riant whiskers, drew him aboard, and soundly kicked 
 him into the cabin, where he began crying from ex 
 citement and fright, even oing to such depths of dis 
 couragement that he Legged for a revolver with 
 which to kill himsdf, ^vhich being handed him by my 
 son for that purpose, he very properly refused, and 
 was put to brd i<v the purpose of drying his clothes 
 like a truant school-boy. 
 
 It ^vao ny son's intention to take the steamer at 
 Indiar.o-!a. for Galveston immediately upon arriving 
 at the former place ; but on account of a heavy 
 " Norther/' which had blown all day Friday, the 
 steamer had been obliged to put out to sea, and 
 the party were consequently compelled to put up at 
 the Magnolia House, and wait there until the follow 
 ing Monday ; a&J it required all the detective's 
 shrewdness to keep Taylor quiet, as he had learned 
 from some source that the creation of Wyoming 
 Territory, which occurred a short time before his 
 capture, had caused Cheyenne to be a city of quite a 
 different Territory than when the requisition was 
 issued, which would have amounted to so grave a 
 technical flaw that the requisition would not have held 
 against a habeas corpus. 
 
 Court had just set at the place, and Indianola was 
 full of lawyers, hungry as vultures for just such a 
 rich case; but by constant persuasions, partial 
 promises, leading to a hope, at least, that a com- 
 
688 A DETECTIVE'S LIFE. 
 
 promise -might be effected at New Orleans, and dark 
 hints of irons, and that, should his brother come on 
 there and create any disturbance he would be imme 
 diately arrested as accessory both before and after 
 the crime; with constant drives out into the country, 
 rambles down the sea-shore, and every pretext known 
 to the mind of the ingenious detective, everything 
 was managed successfully ; a receipt for nearly two 
 thousand dollars in specie secured ; the turning 
 over of the money to Taylor's brother stopped ; and 
 Taylor himself taken to New Orleans without an 
 attempt at rescue ; and receiving a dispatch there 
 from me to the effect that a compromise could not be 
 for a moment considered, the party left that city 
 Thursday, February 4th, arriving in Cheyenne six 
 days later, my son accounting for his prisoner to the 
 authorities into whose hands the case then passed ; 
 the last being seen of " Harry G. Taylor, the Man 
 from Somewhere," being behind the bars of the 
 guard-house at Fort Russell, where he had been 
 placed for safe-keeping previous to his trial ; and I 
 have related these facts, not so much to show any 
 startling phase of crime, as to give the public a single 
 illustration, out of thousands upon my records, of how 
 men must overcome every known obstacle 
 leading the hard life of the detective. 
 
 THB BNP. 
 
THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE 
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 LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS 
 
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 Pinkerton, A. P65 
 
 The spy of the rebellion. 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 DAVIS