The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-04-26


Everybody within hearing at once took
part in the search, and / was rooted out of my
snug corner by the order to Git out of here
damned sudden; you're wanted at headquar-
ters." This sort OF a summons aroused the Gu
Tiosity Of every old soldier that happened to be
around and that's saying good deal.
It's only those who have lived among the
old soldiers Il mean those Regular chaps who
have been IN the service 20 or 80 years. that
can understand fully what is meant by exciting
their curiosity with an order for q comrade to
report TO headquarters.
They looked upon me with various express
siOns Of pity, contempt, envy and wonder The
general impression was that l was getting into
some kind Of trouble, and one cOmrade sympa-
/ thetic2lly whispered words of cheer and COM
fort; another bade me good-by, etc.
Being only an enlisted man, l was quartered
with the nOn-cOms around headquarters, my
immediate chum being the Hospital Steward.
As soon as ] was wide enough awake to real
ize the situation and understand the summons,
1 knew well enough what it meant but feigned
wonder and surprise, and, hastily dressing my
self rushed through the dark yard TO the house
before any one could question me-
INTERVIEW WITH GEN BURNSIDE.
There were the usual sentries around head
quarters but my man got through them quickly,
and we entered the house through the big hall
way. There was but one lamp burning there,
as every one of the numerous staff had gone of
to sleep. The Orderly gently knocked at the
door as if he were afraid some one might hear.
A quiet voice said, Come; the Orderly
opened the door, put on his Regular" face,
jerked himself in sideways stifened up, sa-
lUted and reported that he had fetched the
man he was ordered TO-"
"All right; fetch him little more, Ser
ge8ut. till see him." were the exact words
the General uttered ia reply, IN his pleasant
way. Without waiting for any further intro
ductiOn from my escort / brushed my bangs
down, wiped of my chin, and stepped inside OF
the door, saluting the General according TO the
regulations. The General dismissed the Or
DERBY with a pleasant An, here he Is; that
viii DO Orderly"
Turning to me, with the pen he pointed to
chair saying:
% / wanted to see you, and it seems as if the
only opportunity / have is after everybody
else has left me- Take q seat till / finish this
note
After expressing my readiness to wait upon
him at any hour, / sat down as directed, and
for the time being / was alone with the Com
mander-in-Chief of the Army Of the Potomac.
/ II ! We're permitted to live a thousand years,
/ that lapse Of time would not efiace from my
memory the impressions that this singular mid
/ night interview with Gen. Burnside has left
/ upon my mind
| Previous TO my reporting the General had
/ probably been engaged with his private CORE
I spOndence, and was at that moment very IN
\ tent Ia an awkward effort at steering his pen
/ over a sheet Of paper. The General, like all
/ great soldiers was pOorpenman. 1t made me
nervous watching him scratch over the paper,
50 that feltlike volunteering my services as an
/ amauuensi5 to help him out Of bis labor, though
/ / am poor penman myself; which, by the way,
4 Is the only claim that l have for comparison
4 with great men.
Almost everybody is familiar with the broad,
/ honest, generous face OF Burnside, with his
1 English side-whiskers -" " Burnsides"; but,
like most pictures, it fails entirely TO show him
with his face lighted up by his happy, encour-
/ aging smile.
Though there were upward Of hundred thou
4 sand soldiers sleeping that cold, inhospita-
bic ground in this darkness, all was as quiet in
I the Army of the Potomac along the Rappahan-
Z mock at that hour as if il were great National
Cemetery containing a hundred thousand quiet
graves. As I sat there and watched the Gen
erals features as he continued to write, the
thought occurred to my mind that this one
man could, by a word call into active life every
one Of those around, not only on this but on
the other side Of the river.
Right over the little RapVahanuoeA River,
on every one Of the hills that were in the
background, we knew well enough was
ANOTHER SLEEPING ARMY;
but their dreary Winter camps were enIivened
somewhat by their hundreds Of cheerful camp
fires, the light from which seemed to flicker in
our faces happy sort Of defiance at our wretch
ed darkness. All along the river 'front.' almost
within gunshot Of our headquarters, was
stretched a line of campfrss at such regular
intervals that the scene resembled the light OF
lamps on a long, winding street. They were
allowed campfres on their picket-lines. We
were prohibited from lighting . match at the
front.
After the General had finished his task o.
writing and sealing the note, he rose from his
chair, threw up both arms as if to stretch him
self out Of a cramp as he walked toward me
saying abruptly:
4 1t seems to me, young man, that you are il
q position that viii enable you 10 do Us grea
service"
When made move to get on my feet to as
sumo the soldiers first position Of attention
the General motiOned me back into my chair
with a command to
Sit still; / want 10 stretch my legs LITTLE
while / talk this matter over" and he halted
in front Of me as he put the question:
" Do you think you can get to the other sid'
in safety to yourself?"
! ! assured him that I had no doubt Of tina
whatever, aud went on to explain that my re
. cent relations with the people there woulc
serve 20 protect me- but that / must not 90 il
the uniform Of a Federal soldier.
{ 4" Are you sure that your friends over ther
have not heard Of your being in the army :"
] thought uOt-indecd. ] was sure they hat
nOt-as some Of my best friends in the Nortl
were not aware oil the step, because l had no
. joined with any Of the State troops bat hat
united with the Regulars where l had becOm
lost as il WeEe among strangers
During this examination had assumed tha
e as q matter Of course my proposition to sub
merge the cable was in the Generals mind.
/. had spent some time aud considerable labor il
r the interval in carefully preparing a section Q
G the soft Rubber or insulated wire for this use
Sufficient length had been carefully selects
e and tested with the electrical batteries an
G then / had put the whole Quartermaster's De
( partment IN a stew by a requisition, approve
}. I by headquarters, for some linseed oil, whic
e was something that was not in the regulatio
j list I wanted to use the oil as an additiona
e coating 70 the rubber, as a better protection j
the water. After much red-tapc business / q
some OIL and pat my coil Of selected wire int
. the barrel for a good soaking
. When / began TO tell the General about tn
! additional security, he interrupted me-
) "0h, never mind about that now; full
g appreciate your ingenuity, and believe ths
= some such plan might become practicable her
4 after but with an impressiveness that l sha
: never forget we know pretty we'll the exteI
and disposition OF the enemy's forces oy,
- there"
With a deep sigh he hesitated moment as
! recalling bis recent battle, that had SO terribl