The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-11-09

at the Union lines, already lettering
| with exhaustion, was wilder than any
thing tn military history since three
Austrian soldiers. coming out OF the
woods to surrender after the battle of
Solferino, put the whole French army
to rout for time. Regiments that
had stood up to their work bravely
since 8 o'clock in the morning melted
away in a few minutes at the sight of
the gray charging columns. There was
no knowing what force was behind
Smith, and Hunters men did not wait
to see. They took the road to Center
vile, pell-mell, every man for himself
The infantry charged their own batter
les, cut the horses loose, jumped on
their backs and went to the rear on q
gallop. Russell disappeared at the
top of his speed. Raymond drifted
away from me, and / did not let many
pass me in the race myself. It was the
further the faster, and after covering
what seemed to me about five miles
dropped exhausted beside the road to
rest.
"By and by Raymond came along.
He had found his barouche, and be
took me in. We whirled along in the
crush of ambulances, artillery horses,
privatee, officers and camp followers on
foot, ladies and politicians in carriages,
and 200 or 300 steers, all making the
best of their way to Washington. 4
drove of cattle had been driven out be-
hind the army to be slaughtered after
the battle. They were stampeded with
the rest and added to the confusion.
ST got over the Long bridge at Wash
ington at 9 o'clock, just as the counter
sign was being given out for the night.
I rode up to Wizards hotel, through
streets crowded with people, wild with
excitement over the favorable dispatch
es that had come in from the front.
The brass bands were out in force, and
somebody was maging rousing 'on to
Richmond speech from the balcony of
the hotel. I walked into the Office, I'M
der the sound of his inspiring words,
knowing how soon those cheers would
be hushed to Whispers of alright.
Chadwick was keeping the hotel then,
and as 1 pushed up to the desk he star
ed at me, bare-headed and streaming
with dirt and sweat as was, and, final
~ recognized me, asked me where I
had been and what was the matter.
L come from the front. Mcdowell
is licked out of his boots, and the
wreck of our army is not far behind
"Chadwick dived back into his pri-
vate Office with a scared face, and in
few minutes came back and took me in
with rim.
There sat Gen. Mansfield, who was
in command of the troops around Wash
r Il.
fore him.
"'Mr. Chadwick informs me, sir, that
you report our army retreating. Are
you a military man, sir?''
emo, sir.
Then how dc you know, sir, that
they were not .nerely making change
of front or executing some other mill
tary maneuver, sir2'
We'll, general, Ireplied, as calmly
as could, while the gray haired old
martinez eyed me sternly, 4 saw whole
regiments throw down their guns and
take to the woods. I saw artillerymen
cut their horses loose from the guns
and caissons and gallop away. / saw
officers, men, congressman and Texas
steers running neck and neck down the
road toward Washington, and the steers
were the only things that had their
tails up. 1t may have been change Of
front, as you say, but"
I don't believe single word of it, ,
broke IN the general, who had listened
to me with evident impotence.
Good evening" I replied, and walk
ed out of the door. The crowd had got
the news by this time from Chadwick,
and 1 was almost pulled to pieces.
Somebody noticed that was wearing
a gray suit, and shouted; Hes rebel,
There were several suggestions that I
be lynched for attempting to stimulate
a rising of the rebel element in the city.
Gen. Mansfield hurried off to the war
department. President Lincoln and
his entire cabinet were there, with old
Gen. Scott, anxiously waiting for news
from the front. Simon Cameron had
known me as member of the hgisla-
ture and vouched for my loyalty.
There was very little said while I told
my story briefly"