The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-02-24


words Of greeting and compliment. We
talked for u considerable time, not so
much on the subject of our expedition
for took il for granted that, lawyer like,
he had looked over the evidence in the
case and made up his mind about it--as
upon general topics, such as our impress
sions OF the south and the Union men In
it, and of our hopo and feeling about the
war. i was especially struck by his ask
ing us how we had liked Gen. Mitchell as
a commanders and when we spoke OF him
with unstinted enthusiasm he seemed
greatly pleased, and said: THAT'S the
way all his men talk about him." He
told us that he had been aware of our ex-
petition at the time, but had no accurate
information OF the fate of Tire party. His
impression was that all had persisted at
first On the escape of the eight in Octo-
Der he had made official inquiries OF the
Confederate government about Us, but
had been answered that they had no in
formation Of the hanging CT any OF the
party.
He had tlen threatened retaliation in
case any more were put 10 death, and had
endeavored to effect our exchange; he was
very glad indeed That these efforts had
succeeded and surprised us by saying,
''Vou will find yourselves great heroes
when you get hor2e;" then added many
kind words about the high appreciation
Of our services hy the government, which,
coming from the secretary OF war of
great nation TO private soldiers, was most
fattering Stanton seemed especially
pleased with parrott. He was the young
est OF our number and Of very quiet and
simple manners. Stanton gave him the
offer Of complete education if he would
accept It'll understood him to mean at
West Point. Parrot answered that while
the war lasted he did not wish TO go to
school, but would rather 90 back and fight
the rebels who had used him so badly.
At this Stanton smiled, as il he greatly
approved his spirit, and said to him, III
you want friend at any time be sure to
apply to me.' Then going into another
room he brought out q medal and handed
it to Parrott, saying, Congress has by
recent law ordered medals to be prepared
on this model, and your party shall have
the first; they will be the first that have
been given to private soldiers in this war;"
Later all the survivors of the party re-
ceived similar medals. Then he gate us
present of 800 each from the secret SER
vice fund.- and ordered all the money and
the value of arms and property taken
from us by the rebels to be refunded.
Finally he asked US about our wishes and
intentions for the future. Finding that
we were all resolved to return to active
service he offered us commissions as first
lieutenants in the regular army. We
expressed q preference for the volunteer
service, saying that we were soldiers only
for the war, and would wish to resume
our usual pursuits when peace returned.
He promised to request Governor Todd,
- x.;,V ,1o,. tc-
sions in our own regiments Then with
a hearty goodby we left him
We had been invited to call upon the
president the same day, and Gen. Hitch
cock accompanied us on this pleasant
mission My companions had done a lit
tie testing about being able now to show
me how much ] was mistaken in try
ing to impose upon them the tall, plain
stranger we had met at the Smithsonian
institution without any guard, such as
the southern papers said always attended
him, for the great and good Abraham
Lincoln, which enjoyed rs much as they
did. A still greater crowd than at the
war Office was awaiting admission; but as
we came by appointment we had the
preference and were conducted i'm
mediately to the private Office of the presi-
dent. We did feel some little embarrAss-
iucLI, buU ttAio SSdlSSiy uS
over the threshold.
The Office was very plainly furnished.
There was q long table and some chairs
but scarcely anything else. Lincoln met
US 1T the door, greeted us warmly, and
told us how much nc had been interested
in hearing of our adventures and how
glad he was that we had at last escaped
from the hands of the enemy. We
answered as well as we could. remem-
Der telling him that we were very glad to
sec him, though we had been hearing
great many things not complimentary
about him for the past year. He smiled,
saying: "Indeed, there are good many
people up here that say about as bad
things Of me-" I also mentioned the
reason that the other members of the
party would not believe that he was the
man we met at the Smithsonian, which
caused him to laugh heartily and ask
if we really imagined he went everywhere
with great guard parading after him,
and If the people of the south believed all
the stories printed in their papers? While
talking he did not keep one position, but
shifted from plnC1 To Dlaco Coinp from ono