The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-11-09
Il Tisit to Richmond.

4 Tisit to Richmond.
Doubtless many of our readers remem-
Der the visit paid the Confederate author
tiles at Richmond by Col. Jacques and
Mr.. J. r. Gilmore in July, 1864. The
scenes and incidents of the trip was very
interesting, and we make some extracts
from it. 1t is from the pen of Mr.. Gill
more, and was published at the time in
the atlantic Monthly:
We went to Richmond because we
hoped to pave the way for negotiations
that would result in peace.
Ii we should succeed, the conscious
ness OF having served the country would
we thought, pay our expenses. If we
should fail, but return safely, we might
still serve the country by making public
the cause of our failure. If we should
fail, and not return safely, but be shot or
hanged as sples,-as we might be, for
we could have no protection from our
government, and no safe-conduct from
the rebels,-tWo lives would be added to
the thousands already sacrificed to this
rebellion, but they would as effectually
serve the country as if lost on the battle
field.
These are the reasons, and the only
reasons, why we went to Richmond.
HOW WE WENT THERE.
We went there in an ambulance, and
we went together,-the Colonel and /:
and though two men were never more
unlike, we worked together like two
brothers, or like two halves of a pair of
shears. That we got Ia was owing, per-
haps, to me; that we got OFT was due
altOgethertO him; and a man more cool,
more brave, more self-reliant, and more
self-devoted than that quiet "Western
parson' it never was my fortune to en-
counter.
When the far-aWay Boston bells were
sounding nine, on the morning of Satur-
day, the 10th of July, we took our glo-
rious Massachusetts General by the hand,
and said to him:
"Good-bye. If you do not see us with
in ten days, you will know we have
gone up"
elf donot seeyou within that time"
he replied, "l'll demand you; and if
they don't produce you, body and soul,
Pll take two for one,-better men than
you are,-and hang them higher than
Hannah. My hand on that. Goodbye"
At 3 O'Clock on the afternoon of the
same day, mounted on two raW-boned
ed with letter to jeff. Davis, white
cambria handkerchief tied to short
stick, and an honest face, this last was
the ColOnel's,-we rode up to the rebel
lines. A ragged, yellow-faced boy,with
a carbine in one hand, and another white
handkerchief tied to another short stick
in other, came out to meet us.
Can you tell us, my man, where to
lind Judge Ould, the Exchange Com
missiOner"'
"Yas. Him and t'other Change Off
GERS is over ter the plantashins beyont
Miss Growers. YEN know it by its
hevin' nary door nur winder the man.
sion he means: They's all busted in.
Foller the bridle-path through the tim
Der, and keep your rag a-fyin', for our
boys is thicker'n huck1eberries in them
didn't see it."
After describing the manner in which
they found the rebel Commissioner. the
writer says:
We were then introduced to the other
officials, Henniken of the War
Department, young man formerly of
New York, but now scOrning the impu-
tation Of being Yankee, and Mr.. Chas.
Javins, Of the Provost-Guard of Rich
sAiOAus IT'D 10VWol lIulNAOuuA WSaS OuT
shadow in Dixie. He was of medium
height, stoutly built, with a short, thick
neck, and arms, and shoulders denoting
greatstrength. H looked a natural-born
iailer, and much such character as u
timid man would not care to encounter,
except at a long range of a rifle warrant
ed to fire twenty shots minute, and to
hit every time.
To give us 4 moonlight yieU Of the
Richmond Notifications, the Judge pro-
posed to start after shutdown; and as it
wanted some hours Of that time, we seat
cd ourselves on the ground, and entered
into conversation. The treatment ofour
prisoners, the status of black troops, and
non cOmbatants, and all the questions
which have led to the suspension of ex-
changes, had been good-naturedly dis
cussed, when the Captain, looking up
from one of the Northern papers we had
brought him, said,--
"Do you know, it mortifies me that
YOU don't hate us as We hate you: You