West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-10-24

ieW otners. Wnen L came 10 the
little field telegraph office, near
Fairfax Court House, was riding
ahead of my party A wire had
been laid out thus far and dis.
patches from the field were carried
here and wired to Washington. The
last message sent had told how our
troops we're driving the enemy.
"'What news from the field -
cried the little operator, with his
finger on the key.
Our men are routed. They
are running this way / shouted
back to him as l gslloped past. He
cut loosc his instrument. tucked it
under his arm and took to his heels.
When the next orderly came with a
dispatch. he found the battery dis
mounted, and that was how / came
to be the first to carry the news to
Washington.
al overlook Bull Run Russell,
and VIC rode together for q while:
but his horse was tagged and mine
was fresh, so soon left him. AZ
ter that / rode foremost and alone.
At Balls Cross Roads | was chal.
lenged by a Dutch sentinel. Ben
Morgan had my pass through the
lines, but l had an annual over the
Pennsylvania railroad, signed by
Tom Scott. j showed tho sentinel
the name Of Scott, told him il was
General Winfield Scott, the com
mander-in chief. and he passed nae
through. got over the Long
bridge at Washington at 8 O'Clock,
just as the countersign was being
given out for the night. i rode up
to Willard's hotel through streets
thronged with people, wild with ex-
element over the favorable dis
patches that had come in from the
front. The brass bands were out
In force, and somebody was max
ing rousing 'On TO Richmond
speech trem the balcony of the
hotel. i walked into the Office un-
der the sound Of his inspiring
words, knowing how soon those
cheers would he hushed to whispers
of alright. Chad wick was keeping
the hotel then, and as ! pushed up
TO the desk he stared at me, bare
beaded and streaming with dirt and
sweat as | was, and finally recog.
nized me, asked me where had
been and what was the matter.
81 come from the front. Nc
Dowell is licked ont of his boots,
and the wreck Of our army is not
far behind me-
"Chadwick diyed back into his
private Office with scared face, and
in a few moments came back aud
took me in with him.
"There sat General Mansfield,
who was in command of the troops
around Washington, with bottle
OF cham mpagne before him.
'Mr. Chadwick informs me,
sir, that,you report our army re-
treating. Are you military man,
sir p
NO, SIR
"'Then, how do you know, sir,
that they were not merely making
a change Of front or executingssome
other military nianeuver, sir?'
We'll, general ! replied, as
calmly as / could, while tho gray,
haired old martinez eyed me sternly,
Il saw whole regiments throw dow n
their guns and take to the woods.
| saw artillerymen cut their horses
loose from the guns and caissons
and gallop away. saw officers,
men, Congressmen and Texas steers
running neck and neck down the
road toward Washington, and steers
were the only things that had their
tails up. 1t may have been a
change Of front, as you say, but
" Il don't believe a single word
Of it,, broke in the general, who
had listened to nae with evident
impatience.
'Good-evening,' / replied, and
walked out Of the door. The
crowd had got the news by this
time from Chadwick, and ] was
almost pulled to pieces. Somebody
noticed that I was wearing a gray
salt, and shouted Hes a rebel ,
There we're several suggestions that
| be lynched for trying to stimulate
a rising Of the rebel element in the
city. General Mansfield hurried
of to the war department, and
pretty soon sergeant and . squad
o. soldiers came for me and took
me TO the department. President
Lincoln and his entire cabinet
were there, with old General Scott
anziously waiting for news from
the front. Simon Cameron had
known me as . member Of the
legislature and vouched for my
loyalty. There wes very little said
while ! told my story briefly.
"4'he President sat with his
head bent down upon his hands,
and was evidently very much de-
pressed. Simon Cameron, then
secretary Of war, was the coolest
head in the cabinet. lie immedi-
ately consulted with Scott as TO
hurrying Feinforcoments across the
Potomac, and orders were issued 20
stop all fugitiyes at Long bridge.