The National tribune., 1888-02-23

in Mr. SCOTS Office, bat it was probably that
the real object was to get me out of Washing
ton, according to nay wishes, :" till something
could be DONE"
OF course the first thing TO do was to find a
hotel. ] was shown to the Exchange, think
it was, CT maybe it was the Planters; anyway
it was the best hotel located on the hillside,
on one of the principal streets leading out
toward Marye's Nights. 1t was not an agree
able place for me, because l saw at once that
the young boy who ran the Office for his moth
er, was only there to collect all the money he
could from the Is Yankee Invaders" while the
father aud elder brother were probably in the
rebel camps outside Of town, only waiting
favorable opportunity to return and scalp the
boarders.
The town was full, literally, not only of Nc
D0weiPs soldiers. who were in camp all ar0nnd,
but of all sorts of strange people in civilians
dress; adventures, suffers, traders whisky
smugglers, strange women; in fact the main
street Of the quiet, sleepy old aristocratic town
was perfect bedam in May, 1862, as compared
with my first visit in August 1861.
That evening, before dark, saw on the street
a greater variety of life than had met in
Washington on any one evening during my
stay there. These numerous hangers-on OF the
armies had been, to great degree, excluded
from the Peninsula, so they had swarmed up
to Fredericksburg as the next best place for
them, TO be nearest their favorite regiments,
and on the road TO Richmond, where they
all expected to rejoin McClelans army IN
very few days.
In addition to the great number Of officers
and men of the army, there were several
patches of naval officers from one or two gun
boats of the Potomac iotilla, which had sailed
up the Rappahannock and were anchored be-
low town.
Altogether it was what might be termed
lively town. The ordinary, quiet population
had been suddenly increased to 10000 or 5O,-
600 by McDowelIs army aud followers, which
had settled down around the hills and the
streets in one night like flock of blue birds
or crows at a roosting place.
During my walk about the town that even
ing ran against crowd of contrabands on
the sidewalk, who/were watching with the
greatest interest the antics of pair OF New
York street Arabs, or news-boys, who We're
dressed up in their rags doing some sOng-and-
dance acts to the great delight of the country
soldiers and assembled contrabands. There
was even an attempt at theatrical perform
ance after early candle-hghting. Indeed 1T
was only after taps that the PrOyoSt-M -MarshaIs
guard made any attempt to suppress the fun.
1t did not occur TO me until after had I'M
dressed myself and had doused the giim -
while looking ont of the window toward the
Virginia hill, since so well known as Marye's
Hights, that there was any possibility of the
rebels making a sudden dash on the town and
capturing US all. I seemed to realize only
when l was alone that there might be some
I chance for those rebel fellows getting in there
/ in sufficient force to gobble US al up.
/ As l gazed through the darkness in the di-
rection of Richmond, l appreciated pretty
strongly the fact that was getting close to the
/ front of that rebel gang again, and had not
I the least desire tc get inside their lines. l
didn't sleep well SO early next morning l
started out to find a pace to stay, which did
not impress nae SO strongly as being the house of
my enemy.
It was my good Iuck or my fate TO have met
| with clever gentleman in Mr.. Jimmy Wilson,
! Of MiddIetown, Pa. He was ore Of those happy,
panionable persons, to whom one naturally
attaches ones self to on first acquaintance. His
business in Fredericksburg was that of trader
to the army, and he had secured some special
privileges in this direction through his towns
man, Gen. Simon Cameron, while he was yet
Secretary of War.
It may be that Mr.. Wilson was attracted to
me by something of selfish motive. through a
knowledge Of my connection with the railroad
in an Official capacity, by which he might he
able to better facilitate his business interests IN
the transportation Of his supplies over the
road and eyading too close inspections
Anyway Jimmy Wilson was clover gentle
man, to whom l was indebted Tor some greaa
favors at that time In, the shTewd mannei
IESL4l4E W ALb BAA5glEls1 % SdtSsLlSH
he had discovered the very best place in tht
town to live. to which he kindly consented t.
introduce me. It was through him that l firs
MET NY "FATE,"
in the family Of Capt. Wells. There were IL
this happy and accomplished household quite
beyy of young ladies. "All were young, bu
one was beautiful"
1t is quite long, ard think may be an in
teresting story. which is indeed quite to-
Z tive IF T nil
only say that GeRo, the youngest, was, to m.
eyes, all that may be described as beautiful
budding young girl.
The eldest, Miss Sue, had been 4 bale ii
Georgetown before the war; another, His
Mary, was noted for her sweet disposition. Th
father, grieye to add, vas suspected by on
officers Of being blockade runner for the reh
els. He had been engaged on the regula
underground line between Richmond an
Washington, via the Potomac River, since th
commencement Of the war. Previous TO thi
: he had been the owner and Captain Of steame
2 plying between Washington and the Lowe
Potomac. Through this means he had game
4 valuable information Of the rivers and littl
D bays Of that part of Virginia, and knew a
I about the inlets and outlets of the adjacen
water, and was, in consequence of this fac
: probably suspected Of being most valuable all
7 20 the rebel Government His sym pathies wer
] openly with the South, but as this was the ger
2 eral feeling among the citizens, no one gave th
2 Captains personal sentiments much thought.
Z Between nay infatuation for Geno and th
4 sense Of duty to the Government, had a troI
) blesOme old time Of it in the weeks and month
6 and years that followed this first evening
the Wells home.
t It's pretty much the came old story of love
: first sight and trouble forever after. I was pi
: litely invited 10 join the family circle in til
{ parlOr after tea. The mother was as youthfI
IL her happy manner as her daughters. I'll
). genial Captain permitted himself 10 be prevail
! ed upon by the younger children TO sing one
c tgo c0mical songs, which were received wit
I hilarious applause The three daughters vie
with each other in their polite efforts TO entertai
d such dull boy, as ! must certainly have becon
i after encountering the apparition Of Geno tn
Il evening. Jimmy Wilson's presence seemed
a help me out little. A group played card
i while some one banged the piano and saI
d - Bonnie Blue Flag" Dixie and, by way
! q tease, " Yankee Doodle" The elder daugl
g ter, Miss Sue, was decidedly beautiful girl,
z perhaps 20; quite lively, and perhaps a lit
u bit Of flirJ. I state this opinion generally.
1f did not entertain it so fully at that time as
did subsequently. Miss Mamie was the goc
girl Of the family.
10 If / were not writing this story myself
II shoEld be tempted to honestly declare th
Geno was not only the prettiest, but the sweete
r. girl ] ever saw, and have seen great mar
It ia my life. She was not tall, but slendt
graceful womanly figure, dressed in dark bl
calico, with no artificial aids to her fre