The National tribune., 1888-03-29

MEETING BELLE BOYD.
deliver ia. me. under his strict orders TO per
NIT no communication. When recognized
the address OF enc letter TO ba IN the we'll
known handwriting Of my father, the very
sight Of Il seemed to be like q thrust OF a
knife into my heart. as 1 81 once realized
how dis is.ressiuE TO him would be the news
Of my arrlst-especially Bs, with all other
ofmy friends. had been expecting IN It's stead
promotion, by way OF Tac0mpense for my
past services The other Dot5 I knew WAS
from Gau5. Fhile the Biblewas the last, best
gift OF Mrs Wells, and remains to this day
one Of my most valued relics Of those un10T-
gotten days
I was assured by Gen. Patrick that they
should BE sent along with me TO Washing
ton. in tire care Of the officer IN charge and
he hCpeE and expressed the belief that i
should soon be free. and get possession OF
them
With a kind goo5-by he introduced me
TO CAPTAIN -, whose name j have now
forgotten and 2 Lieutenant, who would
kindly accompany me 10 Washington The
Captain considerably 0hscT-ed that it had
been aIraueed that W. sh0uad
CIT OFT OF TOWN QUIETLY,
that is. without attracting any attention
from the crowds about the streets, who had
no doubt heard Of ny arrest. I thought
this very nice Of the Captain at the time,
but I'n inclined now to think it was done.
partly at least, 10 save himself any annoy
ance, and 10 better prevent or avoid any at
tempt at communication.
To better accomplish this and avoid the de-
pot, wC crossed the river together at ferry,
ia order 60 take the train for Aqua Greek
from the ether side, and in SO doing we passed
within q half block Of Geno's house, but not
within sight q T.
As my wife and daughter5-EThO, by the way
are young ladies' uoW-area q l55Jle bit interested
Ia the present narrative, and 70 a certain eE-
tent are copying my rs On the typewriter
ID win Of course be seen that i an held u
check as it were. just now: but some day / viii
break out - e fresh place and tel the whole
stOry-il confidence.
TIE incidents of which have been writing
arc, strie,ly speaking, all facts which actually
occurred during june and July, 1852. This Is
now june, l5-7 about = years have elapsed
since, iEt those are EnfOrEutten days that
are treasured IN Guy memory aud heart as fresh
and as swelt-aTd attle same time IS bitter
ss If il F.r-g 5ut yesterday.
Mr. Secretary of War stauton's despotic
method oi tapping his little ball and ordering
by telegraph. l1om his own room or office, tll
summary arrest and confinement Of prominent
persons ID military prisons throughout ali sec
tiOns Of lac country, has been severely cI1tr
cized
In giving ny own experience in this direc
ton, I laaE zaE 5lGutly that though it was, Z
put it ili-- r. 81 least an outrageous order from
the War Cllae. the execution ot the drcaail
War S3creeFE'5 mandate was 80 lelicately and
c0usidera- 3 performed that much Of lis iu
mediate a.laE vGs removed, as u were, by tli
soothing -gl3riae Of sympathy aud magnanim
ity applied dy tie rentlculEGig Captain Wit
had UC b. charge as his prisoner Of state.
As j haze said. the Captain s orders were 4
permit ng communication with me whatever
Exactly . av ta.5 additional condition was im
posed q U-a lae cannot even now explain, ez
cep., perhaps that it was personal wLin
added % tile order Of tie Secretary, 10y some O
the lel.a9s tael 50 numerous about the va
DePart-lal. - prevent my making any p1D.l
prolcsl H- -EI .1Lat4gl. ll order more 5ocurcl
10 euf9.e ISIS exclusive order from the Wa
Departl.-lt 3 Lieutenant ha8 DeCn detailed 1
acclmIaar t.se Captain iu this escort duty
Gen. sick had considerably and lTankl
eZFlallrl BIS orders 10 me, with q view, u
doubt, tg 1al-len me against giving them an
zunoyaIra iH the execution oi the order.
The Captain who accompanied me, thong
S-wags By llE side, OF a. least close By me,
-DEEETELy MADE IT A POINT
10 act t9alzl ue, his prisoner, as If / wcl
merely p companion; not any of the crow
that too. t.-g train that day W-gh Us suspecte
that 4 W. g prisoner. And, by .hc way thcl
was q Er.t crowd leaving for Masling.g
about tl4r -.lle caused, II I remember arigh
by some I..- news from Gen. Banks ia tie Va
ley, OF -tam Mcclellan.
il was the Lieutenant Who was acting Is III
silent partner Of the Captain. who kent Il
closer eye uEgu me, while at the same time !
discrec,iy kept himself aI00f from us and III
~ -. me- q . gF Fra
ti0n al. tais infinitely, merely to show th
tfstaaQiug the strict orders Of the Seer
tary o. Nar and the close watch OF the two oil
Gers, j succeeded ia communicating with a
friends az Washington.
When tag gyescr0Tded train Of open freig
cars and one or two passenger coaches C.
tlOusly Ege- over the big tres.i work bridg
construed by details Of soldiers between f.
mouth, on the opposite side of the river FRO
FredeI5cl-5urg. and reached be-dau
Station uaar Aqua Creek, though only y
I4 mile, IS Was late in the day. There was
long, Temporary pier az Aqua Creek and
number of rough board sheds had been erect
for the acc9lm01ation Of the Quartermast
Comm s-.gE and other officers at this base
supplies. Among these Offices was located t
railroad telegraph Office, which was then
charge Of IL. William limerick, At the p1Csl
time tie tlcleEt manager Of the Gold a
Stock TELEGRAPH Company in New York eli
III Ale Alea.s.t cement OF the BlslLCsS IN h4Du.
80 hapleuel that ny Captain WAS obliged
call in q ls.uess way upon the QuartcEInas
stationed Hc.e to secure tie required trausu
tation l4r Is party on the boat up to Washiy
ton city. I went along Of course. and wh
he was 5G=lF engaged iu q talk 10 the Qu
termastcss Cll-z-shoWiug his papers and
planning his erraud-I occupied a seat tia
discovered 70 De convenient 10 the tclcgra
Office OF desk which was located ia the sa
room 5ir. Limerick did not So that time S
pect THAI I Fas au operator, neither did he ku
that 1 W.ls 20 arrest; So when tie attention
the Captain was drawn TO the business Of E
ting has passes vised. and Dir. Limerick was {
ing hls l.Ecl outside, i sal on the Cdge Of
TCugh table Chat was used for the telegrs
instruments. Without speaking q word
apparently latent On watching the Captai
business. as my face was toward him all
~ time, quietly with one hand / touched
telegraph key, and deity making use Of
education Is "a operator,