Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-02-10

afternoon--I know not of what day, but
presume it was the day after leaving
Richmond, which would be Thursday,
March 10. ] made no memoranda at this
time, such as / had not failed to keep dur
ing the darkest parts of our history. In
my own experience joy was more over
towering than sorrow.
After supper we took our proposed
walk, But once outside in the dark
street, with no place to 60 no money to
buy anything and nobody to care for us,
it began to seem rather lonely We had
been objects of so much sOliCitude for so
long that we could scarcely help feeling
little neglected now that nobody prevent
ed us from wandering in any direction we
chose. Beside, we were not yet provided
with new clothing. \ regular requisition
would have to be filed before our wants
in that direction could be supplied; and
the air was chilly. After wandering aim
lessly for Il few squares, looking in at the
shop windows and staring at the great
buildings, we turned and were soon back
in the barracks. The room, which was
well warmed, seemed very coy. 1t was
easy to consider the sentinCls at the door
as placed there to guard us from an enc
my, view of the case which greatly
pleased the Tennessecans. | really think
we slept better than we would have done
if at first class hotel.
The next day, as | had expected, all re-
strictions were removed from the other
members of the party; but we were in
vited to make our home at the barracks,
receiving regular soldiers rations, as long
as convenient
We did not remain long \ wealthy
and patriotic lady, Mrs. Falcs, had fitted
1 1..,,t
style and kept it filled with convalescents
from army hospitals, to whom she gave
the Attendance and most of the comforts
of home life. llsaring our story, she APP
piled to the Ohio state agent. Mr. j. G.
Wetmore, to secure us rs dodgers. He
visited us and carried the invitation,
which we gratefully accepted. Here we
lived III fine style. with all n soldiers
comforts, and excellent company. We
had now received Il suit of army blue and
made bonfire of our Confederate rags;
so that we We're Il little less afraid of lady
visitors. Our hostess made an evening
reception for us, where there was an
abundance of ice cream and Calc-which
did not remind us of anything in Dixie
and had the privilege Of telling our story
to many sympathHihg ladies' Having a
very comfortable ambulance always at
command-the property of our kind
friend, and kept with driver for the use
of her soldiers-wc were able to visit the
places of interest in Washington with
great comfort. OF this privilege we freely
awaited ourselves when business per
mitted
On one of these occasions when we were
at the Smithsonian institution, | saw tall
man of striking appearance and at once
Il l., 1n,,t
Lincoln" But they were incredulous.
They had read in southern papers that he
never stirred out of the White House
without a heavy guard and at once they
| said, You are trying to deceive us; don't
| YOU see there is no guard here | was a
| little puzzled by the absence of the guard
myself, for | had believed the story. and
| there were only one or two civilians with
| him; but had seen Lincoln, who could
| not easily be forgotten | said, Come
up and let us speak to him. \ little re
| luctantly they advanced and when we
| We're near enough ! said, "Can You tell us
the name of this anmal:' pointing to the
| skeleton of the geologic monster he was
| looking at He smiled in his kind, sad
| way and answered, ''That's its name
written on that caTd but | won't under
take to pronounce it. | don know much
about such things One or two remarks
We're exchanged on indifferent topics and
then we parted. When at safe distance
| Buffum said, "Pttenger, you can't play
| such a joke on us as to make us believe
that man who will speak to common
folks in that off hand way is President
Lincoln" But | only replied "Wc'l go
and see him at the White House soon and
then you can Judge"
inst Of or in n oh
ington we gladly accepted the invitation
of our kind hostess to accompany her to
the Baptist church, of which she was u
member This led to great trial on my
! part. The preacher seeing five men in sol
dicr uniform in her pew-Mason, who was
| sick, remained NJ hOme-Came down and
| spoke to her \ few words were eN
| changed, and then he turned to MS and
| said; Cant you tell us little about
your strange deliyerances | will make the
| other services very short The faces of
| all our party turned toward me, and the
minister, taking the hint, repeated his
question to me individually. Something
| like this was Just what | had feared when
| | had the great mental struggle in At
lanta prison. ! wished to refuse, but in
the freshness of deliYeranCe such refusal
would have seemed little less than a
| crime. The minister was better (Or worse
than his word, for he did not preach mt all,
but on finishing the opening services
spoke a few words about the great suffer
ings and lessons of the war, and the hard
ships and temptations Of the army; then
| added that there were some men present
that morning whose experiences Were
marvellous beyond the common lot of men,
and one of them had consented to give
| some account Of Them
| rose at the call and scarcely could
have felt worse for moment if in Swim 5
prison. But the people were so kind and
attentive that embarrassment vanished.
passed very lightly over the military part
of the enterprise, and spoke especially OF
| Gods goodness in delivering US. When
told of the SUddcn death Of our comrades
in Atlanta, and of their regrets for moi
being better prepared for death, there wa.
weeping over all the church. At the clos,
of the meeting kindly greetings and prof