Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-23

and side railing, &C., had been removed from
the ties Of the bridge which was about two hum
dred and fifty yards long.and that it had sagged
in the middle down stream so much that It was
In the form Of O crescent. The bridge was from
90 to so feet above the water and appeared as
If 1t must soon fail by its own weight What
to do was the question. There was no food
nearer than twenty-five miles above, and to at
tempt to swim the rushing stream was certain
death. And yet we were SO near home. and SO
home-hungry, that we decided upon plan of
crossing that was almost as fOOl-hardy as would
have been the attempt to swim the river.
At the south end Of the bridge was large pile
eted our horses we set to work. and In the course
of three or four hours had laid plank walk,
some three feet wide. from end to end of the
bridge. The bridge shook and trembed even
under our footsteps. What would it do when
the weight and tread Of a horse was brought to
horse could walk log over stream, much less
the plank walk. and go over he would at any risk.
confess felt like backing out but as an officer
could not shrink where private showed the
way. He led his horse upon the bridge, and
walked steadily to the other side without once
faterlng, while looked on breathlessly Now
came my turn. stepped upon the
panks leading my horse, who at first
pulled hard upon the bride ana put
each foot down slowly and firmly. snorting
at the same time in alright. Near the center
OF the bridge, the point of greatest danger, he
stopped short. l foolishly looked back and
started towards him. when my companion
shouted 'fOr Gods sake don't look back but
come straight ahead" did go, my horse fol-
lowing steadily and we got safely over, when /
sank down in heap. white, faint and tremu-
lous. Looking back at this escapade in cool
blood, do not believe that the wealth OF the
Indies would now tempt me to undertake 1t
again. Some time afterwards l was Informed
that few days subsequent to our passage of
the bridge, and when the river had fallen some
what, Governor Smith extra Billy attempted
to cross with his horse on the plank walk we
had made, and when nearly over the governor
fell or was thrust by his horse from the bridge
into the water, and was with difficulty rescued
by his companions from drowning. Two days
afterwards 1 arrived at Fairfax Court House,
and reported to the provost marshal. My
father having died some ten days previously,
Lieutenants Mcguire and Teers attached to
the office who had personally known him, es-
cOrted me to my home, at the same time in
forming me that was prisoner and must
give my word not to leave the house until sent
for. ! did SO. but could not understand why it
was required when I had my parole in my
pocket from Lieut. Gen. Grant. permitting Inc
to go home and stay there unmolested as long
as behaved myself properly.
MORE TROUBLE.
Early the next day sergeant came to the
house, put me under arrest, and marched me
off to the provost marshal's office, where, after
waiting some time, was bundled with two OF
three other cOnfederates into a lumber wagon,
and joited off to Fairfax station. four miles
away. On entering the train in waiting found
Lieut. Col. johnson, of the engineers, and
twenty-five or thirty confederate officers and
privates, who had been brought down from Ma
nassas. Arriving at Alexandria we were
marched to the provost marshal's office. where
our names, &C.. were taken, and then we were
escorted to the old slave pen where we found some
two or three hundred cOnfederates in a large,
bare room. all engaged in making themselves
at hOme in prospect of a lengthy imprisonment.
1t appears that at this time extensive telegraph
ing was going on between Gen. Candy, in COM
mand of this department, and Gen. Grant, and
the latter had angrily and peremptOrily de-
manded that his engagement with Lees troops
should be respected. Accordingly. about an
hour before shutdown. all the prisoners who had
paroles Ga large number did not were marched
back to the provost marshafs Office and shut up
in a dark pen. After awhile an officer with a
file of men came in, and demanded that we
should give up our paroles, which we
did. The commissioned officers were
then directed to arrange themselves
in line. aud at the word from the provost
marshal Ga Capt. Winshp. if mistake not), a
sergeant stepped forward with pair Of scissors
and began shipping Off the brass buttons from
our uniforms. as well as the bars and stars on
the collar Indicative of our rank. AS the SER
geant approached me he whispered. "This is q
id hateful job to me, but l can't help 1t. >
We were then dismissed, buttonless but I'M
daunted, those of us whose homes were outside
the lines being ordered to report at the office
next morning. No ratiOns were offered US, and
no place indicated where we could sleep in
fact, we were treated with a brutality and lack
of manlness that we could not but contrast
uufavOrably with the conduct of the men to
whose DrOWeSS we had been cOmnaled To Sur.
render.
The next day we were all escorted, under
guard, to Fairfax Courthouse. and there finally
turned loose to rebuild our ruined fortunes. il
we could, from the scanty material then al
hand.