Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-05-03
TRAVELLING to Washington Under DImcuI-
ties.
Editorial Correspondence.

When l last wrote, 1 WN IN Euilhuelphlh,
waiting patiently at the Continental for an
opportunity to go to Washington In a man
nsr BETTING peaeeably disposed citizen
There I met Col. Christopher Wolcott and
James F. Brown, CT MassillOn, vainly en-
deavoring-owing to the wires being cut by
the Secessionists-to get a message through
by telegraph to the War Department for an
order for equipments for the Ohio volunteers.
Expecting to leave by the cars l proposed to
be the bearer Of the message, which PROPOSE
ton was accepted. l took the cars on the
2Ist inst, hoping to reach Hare de Grace,
aud from there take boat or hire a carriage
for Baltimore. Found after I started, that
the train would not go any farther than Will
mingtOn, 'hus leaving thirty-seven miles to
be travelled by stage or carriage to Hsyre de
Grace. This would give me an overland
route to Baltimore of rs miles. Not wish
ing to take such a long trip by carriage, and
run the risk Of not being able to hire privOte
conveyance at that l returned 10 Philadel-
phia, with the intention OF endeavoring to
OBTAIN passage, as "bearer of dispatches to
the Wa Department" on board one OF the
steamers chartered by the Government to
convey troops to Washington. On my return.
I found that no steamer would leave Phila-
delphia with troops. On Tuesday the 22d, I
learned that a train would leave for Perry
vile, opposite Hsvre de Grace, and accord
ingly improved the opportunity. Arrived at
P~erryville at P. NJ hoping to be able to
leave in a steamer for Annapolis, and from
thence to Washington by cars. Much to my
disappointment, found that no steamers
would leave for the purpose OF conveying
passengers. There were, however, three
~propellers, with steam up, voting to
convey a regiment of Pennsylvania troops,
under the command OF Col. Dare, which was
encamped at Perryville. Called on the
Colonel and represented myself as ''bearer OF
dispatches to the War Department from Col.
Wolcot. Of the Ohio volunteers" and solicit
cd passage on one of the propellers-
He replied that "he was awaiting
orders and did not know how soon
be would leAve-it might be that afternoon,
and might not be until tie next day, but if
had q mind 10 run the risk of waiting a day
or two, be would be happy to have my CON-
pany." I presented him with a couple of late
N. Y. papers which he thankfully received,
having been deprived of Northern papers
for three days. l left him for the purpose OF
~endesvoring to hire a carriage to take US to
Baltimore, So miles, not wishing TO run the
risk OF being kept waiting for the propellers
to leave. Crossed the Susqpehanna to Havre
de Grace, and found that every vehicle had
Been engaged. l here made the acquaintance
Of lyoung Texan gentleman, who was a
student in the University Of Virginia and
who was on bis way to Richmond. We pro-
posed to charter a small schooner to take US
to Baltimore. Found a skipper, who offered
to take US for sixty dollars -Our party not to
exceed tsn,and we to agree to keep ourselves
Gin the cabin while entering the harbor OF
BaltimoreI' Not being able to make up a
larger party than three, we declined paying
his ~exorbitant price. A hack at that moment
drove up with a party Of fugitives who were
fleeing from Baltimore. The driver offered
to take back three in his carriage for forty.
Eve dollarsI Ny choleric Texan friend said
he would be id if be would submit to
such extortion from a Southerner. he was
a iull-blOOded Southerner, and could stand a
heavy shave from a Yankee, but not from
any one south of Mason 4 Dixon's line
Sooner than pay such a cut-thrOzt price for
the privilege OF riding IS miles in a hack, on
its return trip at that be would foot it,
Jehu finally said be would take us for ten
dollars, which offer we accepted. l offered
him a bonus of two dollars, if he would reach
Baltimore in time to take the half past
eight o'clock train for Washington. He
agreed 10 do so, and it was arranged that we
should start at two o'clock the next morn
ing.
We spent the balance of the afternoon and
evening in wandering about the venerable
hamlet of Havre de Grace. 1t has a most
beautiful location at the mouth Of the oman
tic Susquehanns. As we wandered up its
magnificent shore, we soon became engse cd in
discussing the all absorbing topic of the day.
Ny Texan acquaintance was a strong Union
man with an "if;"-that is, eff the North
would compromise" We argued the ques-
ton to our hearts content. On our return 10
the Hotel, my friend took me one side, and
of me not TO touch upon that "deli-
cate question: fr fear I might get into
l relieved his anxiety by assuring
him that I was a firm believer in the old say
that discretion was the better part of
valor, " especially when I was in the heart of
he enemy's country.
Promptly at the appointed hour, we left
be next morning for Baltimore. After we
lad ridden some six miles, we were stopped
" a party Of six men, armed with muskets,
who required us TO give an account of our
Having on my person letters to
members Of the different Departments at
Washington, especially that dispatch from
Aessrs. Wolcott 4 Brown, for equipments for
be Ohio volunteers, visions of being taken
;harge of by that terror of a Nortberner, a
Southern Vigilsnce Committee, very natur-
lily fitted through my brain. Ny Texan
riend, who knew I had such documents,
whispered to me to get my revolver ready
md be would stand by me. Our Baltimore
however, got of from the carriage
md took the leader of the band one side, and
convinced him that we were all right being
3outherners on our way home. We were
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