The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-03-23
MANKAro FREE PRESS.
FRIDAY. MARCH 23 1888.
DARING and SUFFERING.
CHAPTER XVII.
REPORTING TO SECRETARY STANTON AND
PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

took place on this homeward voyage, it,
indeed, my mind was not too nearly in the
condition of n waking dream to receive
definite impressions. / saw some of the
great gunboats as we drew near the
mouth of James river, which looked like
grim sentinels guarding the avenue to re-
bellion. We We're furnished comfortable
blankets, and when tired out, as much by
unwonted emotions as by physical effort,
we could lie down and slumber Mt our
will.
We arrived in Washington late in the
afternoon know not of what day, but
presume il was the day after leaving
Richmond, which would be Thursday,
March 10. made no memoranda mt 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 go, no money to
buy anything and nobody to care for us,
il began To seem rather lonely. We had
been objects of so much solicitude for so
long that we could scarcely help feeling n
little neglected now that nobody prevent
ed us from wandering in any direction we
with new clothing. A 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 few squares, looking in ut the
shop windows and staring at the great
buildings, we turned and were soon back
in the barracks. The room, which was
we'll warmed, seemed very cozy. 1t was
easy To consider the sentinels at the door
rs placed there to guard us from an enc
my, q view of the case which greatly
pleased the Tennesseeans. l really think
we slept better than we would have done
II 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. A wealthy
and patriotic lady, Mrs. Fales, had fitted
up n pavilion in her yard in excellent
style and kept it filed with convalescents
from army hospitals, to whom she gave
the attendance and most of the comforts
of home life. Hearing our story, she ap-
piled to the Ohio state agent, Mr.. j. g.
Wetmore, to secure us as dodgers. He
visited us and carried the invitation,
which we gratefully accepted. Here we
lived in fine style, with all a soldier s
comforts, and excellent company. We
had now received a suit of army blue and
made a bonfire of our Confederate rags;
so that we were a little less afraid of lady
visitors. Our hostess made an evening
reception for us, where there was an
abundance of ice cream and cake-which
did not remind us of anything in Dixie
and had the privilege of telling our story
to many sympathizing 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-we 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
said to my comrades, THAT is President
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 hcrC?" 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 l had seen Lincoln, who could
not easily be forgotten. | said, Come
up and let us speak to him" A little re-
luctantly they advanced, and when we
were near enough said, Can you tell us
the name of this ANIMAL" 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 card; but won't under
take TO pronounce it. don't know much
about such things One or two remarks
were exchanged Oh indifferent topics and
then we parted. When at a safe distance
Buffum said, ''Pittenger, You can't play
such joke on us as to make us believe
that a man who will speak to common
folks in that off hand way is President
Lincolnr' But only replied, Gwen go
and see him at the White House soon and
then you can judge"
The first Sunday of our stay in Wash
ington we gladly accepted the invitation
of our kind hostess to accompany her to
the Baptist church, of which she was a
member. This led to great trial on my
part. The preacher seeing five men in sol
der uniform in her pew-Mason, who was
sick, remained at home-came down and
spoke to her. A few words were eX-
changed, and then he turned to us and
said: Cant you tell us a little about
your strange deliverance? l 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
l had the great mental struggle in At
lanta prison. | wished to refuse, but in
the freshness of deliverance such refusal
would have seemed little less than q
crime. The minister was better Tor worse1
than his word, for he did not preach at al,
but on finishing the opening services
spoke 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's
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 sudden death of our comrades
in Atlanta, and of their regrets for not
being better prepared for death, there was
weeping over all the church. At the close
of the meeting kindly greetings and prof
fers of service were showered upon us.
We lodged H. the tent provided by this
lady during tie whole of the ten days OF
our stay in Washington. Many other per-
SONS wished to take us rs guests, but she
refused unless we would say that we
wished to leave her care. Mason, being
sick, was taken into the house and nursed
most carefully.
On our first morning in Washington
had written q note to Secretary Stanton
giving notice of our arrival and of NY he
lief that the government, If not nlrcaf,y
fully informed, ought to know our story.
l supposed this would produce more speedy
results than to let the matter pass through
the ordinary channels, and was not disap-
pointed. He gave written orders to Hon.
Joseph Holt, judge advocate general, to
investigate the whole matter, provide for
all our wants in the meantime, and then
bring us to him. Hon. j. G. Wetmore, of
tne ONO military agency, attcnueu uO pro-
curing us the legal allowance for cOmmu-
tation of ratiOns during the time of i'm
prisonment, so that we were soon in funds.
Regular pay with arrcaragcs could not be
given till we returned to our regiments.
Our fri visit to Judge Holt was a
merely fricr,,Iy one, and the time was
spent in familiar conversation. Maj. Gen.
Hitchcock, commander of the post ut
WnClIin,stpu Was also nraCant
The next day we went again, being taken
each time in a government carriage, and
found Justice Callan, of Washington,