The Portland daily press., 1894-06-06
MY ONLY BATTLE.

For three years of the civil war had
been closely connected with the sanitsry
commission of Massachusetts, and of the
United States The commission had for
Its duty to keep the people at home in touch
with the army.
1t tried to keep alive the enthusiasm OF
the people for the soldiers, and it tried to
make the soldiers understand that they
were not forgotten by the nation. In the
correspondence and other work connected
with the commission I had occasion to visit
Fortress Monroe in the spring of 1864 and
was most cordially and cautiously re-
ceived there by General Butler.
I was his guest at his house, and with
regard to some interesting things in the
movement of the war I learned great
deal which was very curious from him,
When we parted, I said to him: 1t will
not be long before you will see me again.
shall be drafted some day, and as pre-
sent arms to you as a sentinel you will re-
member your old guest. y He asked if /
could not stay then and said he would
put me to work But had home duties
in hand
Twas not surprised, therefore, when, aft
er General Butler, by well planned sur
prise, had taken up his position at Bermu-
da Hundred, where the Appomattox and
James rivers join each other, to receive a
telegram from his chlef OF staH, saying
simply: Come on at once. We are more
successful than our best hopes"
AT that time, the beginning of May,
1864, the chances were good for the COM
b1ned armies going, separately or togeth-
er, into Richmond. Alas, 1T was a year
before this happened! Bus made at once
arrangements to join the headquarters
staff, with which 1 was now intimate, and
went on, with fortnight's leave OF abb
sence from my work at home.
AS passed through Washington, where
we were all at home IN the war, went TIC
the war department., where the adJutant
general was an old classmate OF mine. l
was no stranger there then, and 1T SO hap
pened that he gave me a dispatch Tor Gen.
erai Butter This elevated me at once in
the esteem OF all chlefs OF transportation,
giving me DO not know how much pow
or, puJ great pfestlge whenever needed 1t.
went down to Fortress Monroe at once,
where found only one or two gentlemen
OF the stall, chafing because they were not
- 49, " ~ " o
steamer OF the next day Went up to Ber-
muda Hundred.
We were rather more than half way up
when we were arrested Tor little by the
sound OF firing on the shore. 1t proved
that this was one OF the days when F1tz-
hugh Lee had attempted to utoH General
Buffers river communications. He had
attacked the heldWorks which we had on
the south side OF the river. AS 1t happen
ed, these works were held by negroes re-
crulted IN Virginia, and this was one OF
the earlier trials OF those troops After a
little delay on this account we pressed on
and JUST ABOUT nlght1aii arrived at thi'
crowded water 'front.' o. bermuda Hundred.
The whole army OF S5,O o0 men had ar
rived there suddenly fortnight before, as
II 1t had fallen from the skies. In tina;
time wharyes and Landing places had been
lmprovlsed with marvellous rap1dlty, and,
although there was endless CONFUSION, still
tnlngs seemed TO go forward with the KIND
OF energy which marks a we'll disciplined
army.
For me, was innocent as freshman is
on entering college what L was to do. |
knew tha6 General butler and MS starf
were SIX OF seven miles away, L knew 1hag
nlgnG was Ialilng, ana alo not know
now was 10 go TO MIN. for0unately ZOE
me- as 0houghS' 1nere was on the BOAT q
MEMBER OF ms stall' WIN whom L had
some acquaintance and reileo upon MN
TO nelp me through, When we landed,
however, ne was OUT OF the way, and !
could not ma MIN. suspected that he
dld not care TO emparrass hlmself with
clvlilan ana was 1n6entlonaily keeping out
OF sight.
: therelore dlo Wnat always 40 In lie
Struck as nigh as could. said to the
sentlnei that was bearer Oh dlspatches
and asked nm the way TO the headquar-
ters OF the COMMANDER OF that post. wish
: remembered this gentieman's name, SO