The Portland daily press., 1894-11-01
WASHINGTON IN WARTIME.
Constant Suspicion Of Secret Plotting
in the City.

ALoyalist Who Thought Prof. Henry was
Signalling to the Enemy-Confederate
in Uniform at the Capitol.
Noah Brooks, who was newspaper
correspondent at Washington during the
war time. and who was admitted to an
unusual degree of intimacy with Lin
coin, has chapter of "reminiscences in
the November number of The Century.
Mr.. Brooks asys:
1t is impossible in these days, 50 re-
mote from the excitements of the civil
war, to give readers of the later gen
GRAFTON any adequate idea of the uneasi-
ness that pervaded Washington, or of the
morbid sensationalism which character
lied the conversation and conduct of the
loyalists who were constantly haunted
by suspicious of secretly potting all
about them. One evening, while was
sitting with the President in his cabinet;
Prof. Henry, then in charge of the
Smithsonian Institution, came in for
social chat with the President, The
conversation ran upon various unimpor-
tant themes, and presently a card was
brought in by the doorkeeper, who said
that the man in waiting was extremely
urgent to see the President, as he had
matters of pressing Importance to COM
municate. He was brought into the
room, and proved to be modest shop
keeper whose home was not far from the
Smithsonian Institution. Glancing un-
easily at the Presidents two visitors.
whom he evidently did not know, he
said his business was very important
and should be kept secret. The Presi-
deat assured him that Prof. Henry and
myself were to be trusted with any busi-
ness of state however secret it might be,
and genially encouraged his visitor to
speak out without fear of being be-
trayed in case the weighty matter which
he carried in his mind was of an ex-
plosive character. The man then went
on to say that he had frequently OBJ
served lights shown from one of the
late at night He had noticed that
these lights invariably made their APP
pearance about the same time Cat mid
mighty, and he was confident that the
person displaying them was carrying on
contraband correspondence with the
rebels by means of signals. The Presi
dent, with great gravity examined the
Witness but elected nothing more from
him than the fact that the lights were
actually shown.
The President said, "Do you suspect
any body in the Smithsonian Institutiony
"No,n replied tile witness, Il do not
know anybody inside of that institution.
But / have heard tnat Prof. Henry is a
Southern man and rebel sympathizer." +"
With that the President turned to
Prof. H enry, and with admirable COM
mand of countenanoe said "This is
Prof. Henry; perhaps be will be able to
answer for himself" The look of dis
may on the countenance of the visiting
witness wss so grotesque that the Presi-
dent could not restrain his laughter.
Prof. Henry. who was somewhat dis
turbed by this expression of suspicion on
the part Of the well meaning but mis-
taken Unionlst, very briefly disposed of
his tale.
He explained that the scientific instru.
meuts used to ascertain the direction and
force of the wind, temperature, etc.,
were examined at certain hours of the
day and night for the purpose of taking
their record. and that the supposed
signal light lin the Smithsonian tower
was the lantern carried to tie obserya-
tory by the attendant who made those
observations. Somewhat crestfallen, the
visitor with drew, the President thank
lug him for his svigilance and we'll meant
promptness in reporting thisI incident,
and adding, as the man departed, "If
you see any indications OF rebel con-
spiracy in Washington, you will do the
country real service by reporting at once
to headquarters"
The frequent appearance in Washing
ton of parolled rebel officers, who usual.
ly wore their own uniform with evident
pride and pleasure, and sometimes with
swagger, generally threw loaylists into
fever of excitement. More than once
| saw ultra-loyal newsboys or bootb;acks
throw lump of mud or a brick bat at
the passing Confederate. One of these
oficers,a Lieut.. Garnett, being on parole
sent in his card to Representative Wick
life of Kentucky, and was by him in
troduced upon the floor of the House
where he attracted attention, AS we'll as
Indignation, from the members present.
Presently wave of excitement seemed
to sweep over the galleries, the spectators
being visibly affected by the appear
ance of an officer in full Confederate
uniform sitting on one of the sofas of
the House of Representatives. This was
intensified when doorkeeper spoke to
the visitor, who rose froIn his seat. gave
profound and sweeping bow, and with
drew to the outer corridor. it appears