Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-08-02
A NARROW ESCAPE.
A Story Told by tho Venerable Prcsid mt
of the Chrlatinn Commission.

n
of tho ChriatiRn Commission.
During the civil war tho "Christian
Commission" wi,p one OF those gigantic
agencies which followed tho ARISES
and played the Good Samaritan, its
special function, however, being the
providing for the moral and religious
needs OF tho soldiers, Mr.. George IL
Stuart, OF Philadelphia, was tho presi-
dent OF this body. He is an animated
cyclopedia OF facts and anecdotes OF
that period and work. Mr.. Stuart re-
comfy told the following story:
visited n camp one day, n few miles
below Washington, and in tho evening,
in company with two or three other
gontlemen-one OF whom was the late
Mr.. VIM. T. Dodge, of New York
held a prayer-mccting among the SOL
diers Nine o'clock was the regulation
hour for closing; but the interest was
so deep that the Colonel OF the regi-
ment said, ''go on" and the meeting
was prolonged for half an hour more.
At last ton o'clock had come when we
prepared to return to Washington by
carriage. But the Colonel said: you
can't go TO Washington tonight The
guard is posted already (as nine o'clock
was the hour for guard mountingl, and
an order has been issued that no civil
ian shall have the countcrsign." I'M
perative business required the presence
OF Mr. Dodge. and ho said he must be
IL, Waobipptnp hnfOra tnprpino
Tho Colonel said he would SEQ what
could be done. Perhaps the magic
word would bo given to me on ac-
count OF my position. lie went to
headquarters, and returning soon whis-
pered the word" in my car. Then
he gave these minute directions:
"Drive out near the sentinel s post
about two miles from camp; then leave
the carriage and walk up to him. He
will present the gun to your face and
will call out, Who goes thereH You
will answer, "A friend. with the coun-
tersign.' The sentinel will say, What
is itp' You will then give the word
whispered in your ear, and he will al
low you 10 pass.
Well, we drove out in the darkness,
and left the carriage Mt the appointed
place, and advanced till the mtisket of
the guard cleaned in dangerous near
ness to my face. Then the qustions
and answers followed just as the Col
onel had described. only when the sem
tinel said, What is itP" | answered
"Beverly;" and instead of this proving
the wonderful sesame" the sentinel
cried, calling me by name; "Mr Stuart,
you have given tho wrong word-that
is not the countersign. can not let
you pass you must go back to camp
and get the right word"
81 back Mr. Dodge and drove in
t'.o black night, over the muddy roads
1t turned out that the officer by mis-
take had whispered the countersign of
the day beforc-it was changed every
day. The mistake rectitied. we started
again, and again went through the pro-
grammo. This timo the word was
Massachusetts" and we were permit
ted to go on, but not before | had turn
ed and asked the soldier, "How did you
know who was in the darkness?n and
the man had answered: about fifteen
years ago heard you speak to II Sun
day-school up in YORK State; and,
though have never seen you since. l
remembered your voice. II it hadn't
been for that should have shot you"
Then said l: My friend, hope you
have the comtersign," n have"
Christ" waa the reverent reply. st.
Louis Republican.