Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-11-15

I at once went to Gen. Winfield seott's
headquarters IN Washington and asked
an interview. He granted it. but his
military staff, then present, hearing nv
request for a private conference and not
retiring, Il asked the General into an
other room, but they followed him in al
so, and refused 10 retire. As / then had
reason to believe there was treason in
the army refused to say anvthing. ana
telling the General would call again. re-
tired.
In the quadrangular court of the yard
of Wizards Hotel was an old theater
which had been disused and was then
turned, i believe, into an occasional
church. communicated with themain
hotel by a passage and door, and also
opened upon the street in the rear of the
house.
The hotel was full of guests, friends
and foes Of the Union. I consulted with
such as knew to be true TO the old flag.
and they agreed with me that the Presi-
dent and the other officials of the Gov
eminent, and the Capitol were in danger
Of capture.
We began Immediately to organize a
volunteer force for defense. 1 was placed
IN the leadership. 1 received but those
whom knew to be true, gave the watch
word and introduced them into the old
theater. This nucleus took others in.
All were brought to my private room,
enrolled and sent into the common quar-
ters. When the enemy found what was
going on, they attempted to bully me.
Three gentlemen, one a notorious person
from California, finding me alone in my
front room, came in and demanded
admission to my corps. 1 asked upon
whose recommendation, and they an
sWered insolently upon their own. kept
two TevOlvers upon my bed in the next
room, and coming, came out with one in
each hand, and ordered them out. They
slowly did so, but their chief rolled some
balls in his open hand then put them in
his pocket, as much as to say, "We'u
give you these" every we'll" I said.
eve viii meet you" Again, as I stood
at the doors of our quarters as the crowd
of our force were entering, an unknown
+ face presented itself L challenged him
for the WatchWOrd, and not having it,
and still advancing to enter, 1 leyelled
my pistol at his head, told him it was
revolutionary times and L would shoot
him. He then retired. The names OF
all my corps were taken down, very dis
tinguished men they mostly were, Gov
errors, Senators, Judges, etc. AS 1 soon
went on to Europe, L don't know what
! became of this list.
/ was more fortunate in another call
upon Gen. Scott. 1 gave him my views
and got his consent to arm my men,
which be did-fOr the moral effect, send
| ing to my quarters to get arms to arm
| his household rather than make a requi-
sition himself In the meantime, Sena-
/ tor James H. Lane, of Kansas, had also
raised volunteers. We united our forces
! for dill and action. As I had the mo st.
a. .DL,s g no q n
/ After being organized, armed and drilled
/ my force slept in the theater ready for
/ immediate action.
/ A guard each night was set over the
| Presidents house. We were all called
one night to the Government barracks
/ below Washington, on the Potomac
river, expecting an assault-but we
were not attacked. As 1 anticipated
| the captule of Washington, as itappeared
/ later in the war, was the design of the
reb5ls. I knew they were in fOrcein the
| city. gave out to a man whom 1 knew
! favored the rebel cause, though a pro
! ably next day Scott would declare law.
and that many would be captured, tried
and shot.
The ruse had its effect. That night
hundreds, if not thousands, left Wash
| ington for Virginia. Wizards Hotel,
which lately was full, was so vacated that
the prOprietOrs took up their carpets and
took down their curtains, with view of
closing the house.
But my absence left me unable to say
what was done. So soon as the regi-
ments from New York and Massachu-
sets came into Washington, our VOlun-
! teer force was dissolved. Lincoln,
through the Secretary Of war, gave our
| body thanks for our patriotic services,
and presented me with a Colts pistol,
which L proudly preserve in my family.
/ Charles Sumner and Others insisted on
me taking the post Of Major General OF
volunteers in the United States service,
and his views we're backed by the Union
| Safety Committee" of New York. But
/ declined because Scott was old, and my
rank would have placed me above Worth
and Wool, veteran regular Generals.
| did not think myself gu, lifted to super
sede them, as 1 had only served as a
| Captain IN Mexico, was only Colonel OF
uniform volunteers in Kentucky, and
Z T-gs