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

CoSrIB@NcEs on TEE STEAMER.
Il wouldn't work On horseback: so I felt
quite uncomfortable IS I rode lisilessly back
a real prisoner il charge OF this Lieutenant.
he HATED III at their outpost, which WAS
yet several miles beyond theiGfantry picket
lines.
Here were stati0ned-or rather here were
Quarterc3-the relief or the reserve of the
caveirya1n. all Of whom were under COM
mand cf al officer OF higher rank than the
gallant fellow who had surrounded me. /
was glad to see. too. that this superior officer
was inclined to look upon the afairas a good
joke. lie shook nay hand heartily while we
talked il over, c0nEratulating me IN a half
apologize way at my lucky escape.
/ made myself pretty solid with this Off
Ger by satisfying him from my talk that there
was 10 enemy at ali IN his front.
As / have said before. I did not make
practice Of talking about NY work 10 any
but The General WHO had authorized the
venture, bat il This case no one had officially
authorized this undertaking though I had
volunteered my services 10 Gen. Mcdowell
some weeks previous and only 2 day or two
before starting simply suggested TO The
staH O-iceTs al provost headquarters that I
was wiling 50 make a sc0ut IL their front
1 was so impressed with the truth that my
trip had disclosed the fact thas there was no
army - front of Fredericksburg or between
that and Richmond, that I told il 10 every
officer met O. had chance 10 talk with
in a very emphatic way, TOO. I believe l
convinced All Eish whom l talked that my
report Was reliable.
TEE LETTERS DISPOSED OF.
was furnished some Of the camp rations
for my breakfast. and very much against my
incliBati0a I aEas detained at that outpost
long lime, until The officer IN command
was resdE % accompany me TO his regi-
mental headquarters. / took the oppor,u-
pity while walking TO The TesE to quickly
slip q 3ittis pac.-age of papers out Of my
pocket. when ] conveniently dropped il and
put stone On top OF il. out Of sight Of any
body forever j felt relieved. greatly reiiey-
ed at Ills, another danger safely passed
While Z should have preferred To return the
letters fe Tie seEdeTs EnGeliyere3. I was sat
lstied tlat neither the eDcny nor my friends
had been harmed or benefited by their ex-
isteuce.
At the headquarters Of the regiment or
picket-grasd j was again examined aud cross
examined bT every officer who could get a
chance t. stick 2 question 1T me. To ali ] had
the same Story, witJ renewed emphasis every
t.lc-t8al there fas 30 rebel army between
FTedz-icE= lEr- and Richmond.
lHC 1e-aa-5ea ~ 50 UaHT Of these sUbUrii-
nate be- larters 0r tie aaltiBg at so many
stages q yIs return, 70 answer these same
6tcreotgH-.- questions began to annoy me: be-
cause - Hl.. be seen, had been going for IS
hours boat p moments r1st. and 1nv nerves
were al. -rruE. Now that ! had gotten
safely l-aE I wanted 10 90 10 the real head
quarters ard ta-4 al / knew to the General
and taen 20 10 a-rs Weiss A0us- and SEE Gen0
and rest .1r TIE balance u ny .ife. That 7 was
tired, hungry. nervous and irritable is due the
uulorlu=a.e --sl ;Hat I at last became re=cutluI
and Eela~ Insulting 10 some Of the higher
ollcsEs sHglJ tle headquarters staff who cues
toned la~ s-at zlaclts.
cOg.t remember what ] said to them. but
Gen. Mcdowell was not present; lie had been
sent 70 Washington Or tc the Shenandoah Val
icy, Itl.a-. fell in my nervous condition
that they bad abused aud ilsutad re by dar-
ing 70 doubt m- story, 80
LEFT Ig DISGUST,
not Forgetting % give them all my opinion Of
their l-i..-1r- sEL
While set slar.ing under this disagreeabIe
recePslg ~ l-E IL gy-l / SAT Gowu aad sent 1lr.
Goy0ds -l=1a-cl over tie D. Mlitarv wire giv-
ing LiIi ll g1-ri lLe result OF ugy trip 20 Rich
m0nd. al- asserting positively that the army
could 80 b Mcclellan If they wanted TO- Those
are act tie words oi tie dispatch, bat Il was in
substance .As same story that ] bad told, with
the addition ci some bitter comments / did
not stop 30 think at the time thar such dis
patch Hor.a pass through the War Department
le.egfaH Office and he subject To that censor
ship taa- a- suffered from who were uGf0rtu-
nate clClaa b DE obliged 10 use the military
telegraph. - r only dig ect was 10 hasten tie
lnEOrmGt5sH to headquarters through Cavu3e.
because realized that the officers Of Cur army
would Lat set upon lt.
I did Rot Er0w then, neither did Gen Nc
Secretary stanton had some time previously
positive ordered Gen. IcDCwel not 10 rein
force Nlg re- .au.
The s-ol4ry's idea was not to uncover
Washiaglar
Now. dispatch was uuintentionaIly a Sc
we're criticism on the Secretary Of War; and
coming as il aid in this outside and unofficial
way q. l9TodC whose committee was cteruaIIy
lnvcstiEa- tlrsg things, il 40 doubt pat me
IN bad s.a5. before the Secretary Of War.
Undoubtedly Gen. LcEeTt who was then thC
Official lu charge Of tAe telegraph Office but
who ul ff2i. . acted IS q messenger 10 carry
private leTs - the ear Of the Secretary. ia Id
he might be solid there T4s GLAD enough d
get au Itenl ~ L!sEgrceab.C news like this and
conveyed tie dispatch 4 intended privately loi
Coyode 20 t-e Secretary Of War. ] am s.atins
facts that I have had unusual facilities for OBJ
tsihing.
At the time-it was a very hot dav IN Julv.
think cared very litlle for the c0nsaqu uencgs
Al ! wanted was 10 50 through with it thai
might soon &C. home
TO SEE 1EY GIRL
and lie down on the lounge in the cool parIor
and talk to them Of nay adventures aud tia
plans for tue future, when 1 should become al
officer IN the Regular Army and demand Gene
ss an officers wife. I was warmly welcomed
st this truly happy home. and the fact that II
was the only welcome that had received any.
SS1Sfs- I0r-fo years, impressed me all th5
more with, ITS evident sincerity. In fen