Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-01-12

surrendered by Col Pegram TO Gen Me-
Clellan, who treated them very kindly,
paroled them, and told them TO go back
to college aud finish their studies.
I, however, made my escape without
being paroled. l was sick when the
surrender took place. The next day
typhoid fever set in and was sent 10 a
private house. Here ! met a federal
sergeant who engaged for fifty dollars
in gold, in advance, to take me out of
the lines. Before day the next morn
ing he was at the house, and. taking
me in his arms, laid me in the bottom
of his wagon and covered me with hay.
He then drove me TO the outer picket
post, where there was great excitement
and anger, owing to the fact that
two of their men had just been shot by
"bushwhaclzers. As we drove up they
were breathing out threatenings and
slaughter against confederates. One of
them jumped up on the front seat and
asked the sergeant where he was going.
He said: ''FOraging. What he had in
his wagon He said: Nothing" After
a few pleasant words the sergeant said
he must go on. He then drove over
into the woods, and, taking me in his
arms, laid me down, expressing the
greatest regret at leaving me there in
the woods ito die" Cutting off one of
my buttons as a memento, and kissing
me on the cheek, he drove away. The
thought of escape and freedom was far
superior to disease. sat up-stood-
walked-leaped for joy-came up with
confederate wagon, took the cars at
Stanton and reached Manassas in time
to witness the close of the first battle
of Bull Run.
After l had served for some time in
Mosby's independent command, known
to the federals as 'guerrillas," / was
offered the adjutancy of regularly or
ganized regiment The question then
arose whether, as my company was pa
rolled, had right to go into service
before it was exchanged. This ques-
ton was referred to Gen. r Z. Lee,
whom l sought in Richmond 1t was
on Sunday morning. Gen. Lee was in
his parlor. When l was stating my
case he interrupted me by saying that
this seemed to be a matter of business
Its my rule never to transact matters
of business on the Lords day, except in
cases of necessity or mercy" | told
him that / had to leave the city
next morning at six o'clock, and
he then allowed me to proceed.
Though 1 had been received in a
kindly and courteous manner, yet l
felt all the time that Gen. Lee was pre-
occupied. Now and then he seemed en-
gagged in deep thought When l had
stated my case he directed me to repeat
it, saying that he had not been listen
ing to me. This l refused 70 do, ex-
pressing regret that / had intruded
upon him in matter that was largely
personal, and rose to leave.
As reached the door Gen. Lee asked
me my name, saying he had not heard
it when was introduced. l told him,
and he said he knew my family very
we'll He then insisted that / should
dine with him, saying that he would
like very much to have me. ! was moth
ing but boy and declined; but | was
very much ashamed of myself after
ward for being annoyed at his inatten-
ton, when he told me that he had just
received the intelligence that the enemy
had landed in force under Gen. McClel-
Ian on the peninsula.
He then said that l could not be held
technically-that the enemy did not
have my name as prisoner of war on
parole of honor; but they We're kind
to you in sending you to private house
on account of your sickness, and if l
were in your place l should consider
myself in honor bound to observe the
parole until the company is ex-
changed"
The last two years Of the war l spent
at Gen. Lees headquarters as captain
of company of scouts, guides, and
couriers in his body-guard and in all
that had the privilege of seeing of him
during those years the two things that
impressed me most in this first inter
view-his high sense of honor, and his
deep, though intelligent Christian SEN
timent-shone conspicuous.-W. w.
Page, in Century.