The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-22

most anything to get around the ugly point,
that seemed like a rock in my path. without
being forced to explain that had voluntarily
united with the rebel army and involuntariy
borne arms against the Government. dreaded
very much putting my name to paper which
could in any event be brought up against me
as a proof that l was s. a peTjureT."
was
LOYAL TO THE CORE,
as everybody who has read this must know;
but l had may say voluntarily y-unitod my
self with the Sd battalion of rebel Maryland
artillery. To be sure l was forced by the neCes-
sites Of my peculiar work and the situation
during my sickness in Richmond, as well as
prompted by desire to further and better aid
the United States Government, to do this; but
the stubborn fact was-I had taken their oath
and ! had in reality borne rebel arms. | had
not told anyone in Fredericksburg about this,
and none of the railroad employees knew any
thing Of my former experiences Perhaps Geno
had my confidence but none of the family ever
received any intimation from her of my true
character To them all l was, as Sue put it,
a nice little fellow from Pennsylvania, and
that's all we know"
I saw at the first glance of this new oath that
/ was in a tight place; and in a moment of
hasty impulse, prompted solely by desire to
be truthful and honorable 20 myself, l scratch
ed my name from the paper. Without a word
u GA JidIidtiOu ~ Llt dSlOulout4 C4CIh bOOh ~
to Gen. Mccallum, and III few words explain
ed my action, and desired him to try and find
some way out of the trouble for me. He had
understood IN a general way something Of my
experiences, and when told him my action he
agreed with me- and said that it was right and
honorable IN me to protect my name Further
on his return to Washington the day following,
ne said he would report the matter to the Sec
retary Of War, and ask that / be permitted to
remain in tlp Epryiou y-it6Ouf bpIUU gpmDplIpI
to sign that irOn-Clad paper.
! thought then that the matter was settled,
and in the evening went home from my Office
TO pass another, only one more Of the enjoya-
bic, happy nights in the company of the ladies.
IN the meantime the leaven l had sent to
Washington previously, in the shape Of 4 tele-
gram to COvOde had begun to work so that
when Gen McCalIum got back to Washington
city the next day and reported my case to the
Assistant Secretaries. p. ii. Watson and Gen.
Lckert, these two officials put their wise heads
together, and with only the evidence in their
possession, which was additionally overbal-
anced by Gen. Eckert's former prejudice, they
came TO
THE HAsTY CONCLUSION,
without giving me chance to be heard, that
81 was a very dangerous man, and so reported
their conclusion to Mr.. Stanton, whose atten-
tion was at the same time called to my reports
to Coyode.
The telegrapher at Fredericksburg at that
time was q Mr.. Gentry, of Kentucky, a clever
geutlemau-as all Kentuckians are that l
have ever met
That afternoon while lounging in the cool
parlor with Geno and Miss Sue, was called to
the door by a visit from Mr. Gentry, who politely
informed me that he had an ntination from my
brother and friends in Washington that would
get into trouble unless l signed that OATH Mr..
Gentry very kindly advised me, to use his
own words, which made such q lasting impress
sion on me that l have not forgotten them:
" Now don't you be carried away by infatua-
ton for this pretty little girl; act sensibly for
the present. Why, "a sign anything, and I'm
from Kentucky"
He was very courteous, and felt that he had
been sent after me- and If there is any one thing
that / abhor it is being " led or coddIed he
knew nothing Of my reasons for declining
the oath, and when he desired a reply from me
to telegraph back to Washington, merely said:
Just tell them won't DO it. They Will un-
deTstand that"
But" Mr.. Gentry interposed, the Secre-
tary Of War sends this word, that you must do
It."
We'll, I won't do it for the Secretary Of
War or anybody else"
What shall I tell him? D"
Tell him to 90 to -, and that I said so F"
No." laughed Gentry; l wouldn't like to
do that You would be arrested at once"
/ felt at that time that it was not Mr.. Stan
ton personally who was insisting upon corner
ing me in this way. He certainly knew Of my
former services, and that ] could not be dis
loyal If / wanted to. II he had given the
subject moments consideration he would have
saEmised the reason for my reeaici;rancy -
TO call il by a big name.
! believed then, and I have always enter
tanned the opinion, that Mr. Eckert,, through
s Assistant -ag-pf4ry Agr-gTt was al
IN creating this misunderstanding. Perhaps /
an mistaken, but I shall die without chang
ing my mind on this subject
nr. Gentry probably went direct to his Of
fee after his short interview with me and re-
ported the failure Of his effort to reconstruct
ne"
| imagine that in his jocnlar manner, com
mon to all operators, he debHiie1 the exact con-
Versation with me over the wire to the War
Department operators. ] cannot think he sent
my words as an official message to the
Secretary of War but undoubtedly the
substance had been telegTaphed aud Of course
the War Bepal tment telegraph spies made the
most use Of their opportunity 10 down one who
was inclined to be 50 independent and OBJ
stropeTous."
ORDERED TO BIZ ARRESTED.
IN an hour or two Mr. Gentry returned TO
the hCusc-they all knew very well where TO
Aud me-called me TO the door again, and in
the most feeling manner told me privately that
le bad received and at the same time held in
his possession q telegraph order from the 5ccre-
tary Of War, T. H. Stanton, TO Provost Marshal
General Patrick for my arrest
5lr Gentry very kindly kept the feet that
he had received such a message entirely TO
himself considerably bringing to ne first the
ugly intelligence. He did not say so, but |
have always believed his object was to give me
an opportunity Of escaping. / could easily
have done SO without leaving any suspicion
attach TO him Of having advised me OF this IN
tentiOn.
I had no thought Of attempting anything of
this kind. We sat down on the porch together
while / read the order which is to-day on-fle
III the War Office, in these words arrest and
keep in the closest confinement, O. X and
send to Washington in charge Of sufficient
/ guard to prevent any communication"
Ar. Gentry cndeayorcd to ease
THE "DIsAGREEABLE DUTY"
as he termed it, by saying that the receipt Of
+ such an order was great surprise 10 him, and
+ he felt sure there was some mistake, and that
/ all would be Iighted when l should reach Wash
+ iugton.
/ Whom I realized the full purport of such an
. order from the Secretary Of War; / was almost
/ stunned at the direful prospect
Ny first thoughts were OF the distressing
elect OF such news upon my father and rcla-
I tvcs at home, who were expecting that /
/ should receive very soon promotion from the
/ Secretary Of War 70 the Regular Army How,
gHst H.+Hn q