Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-06

| shrcwdness he placed much confidence
and II l could answer readily all the
| questions of this man and confirm what
had said. IL would be satisfactory.
| BY this time Bronson's whole family
were awakened, and as they gathered in
tho large hall OF the comfortable, old
f, Fashioned house, peering to see me AND
what was going on, we went up the broad
stairway and entered the room In which
the blockade-runner lay snoring away
loud enough IL seemed TO me. to have
| kept every one in the house awake. You
| should have seen the surprise and fright
| depicted on the countenance OF this large,
! oald-headed. big, blue-eyed man as. when
4 rudely awakened by Bronson, he sat bolt
| upright in bed and appealingly inquired
| what was wanted, expecting that he was
already prisoner, and that his team and
chattels would be confscated. 1t was
some time before he could realize what
was wanted of him. but when he did col
lect his frightened and scattered senses.
he became a fairly-good inqusitor. glad.
l suppose, to have the turn on me for
such a fright as had been given him.
/ soon satisfied him that l knew more
about my old home yorktown and the
persons he asked concerning than himself
This seemed 60 thoroughly satisfy Bron-
son, SO he asked me TO a comfortable
fire, and his servants soon prepared a
palatable breakfast, for which my recent
nights exposure and exertion gave me
much zest
After breakfast Mr.. Bronson drove me
over 10 Mr.. Newton's, an ex-ConRress-
man, near the Hague. Here / remained
two days. as Mr.. Newton and his wife
feared that on the road 1 might be re-
captured by some Federal cavalry, then
raiding the upper part of the county. But
l was anxious to reach Richmond. and
learn from friends there the condition Of
everything concerning our cause. Then.
too, ny home being within the enemy's
lines, ! In a measure considered Rich
mond my home However much the word
implies usually. it had a deeper sgnii.
canoe to me as returning prisoner of
war.
Mr.. Newton had a servant drive me
twenty miles to the Rappahannock river
near Tappahannock. q struggling village
on the south side Of the Rappahannock
said 20 be as old as Philadelphia but hav-
ing them only about three hundred inhabi-
tants, well-to-do. genial people. who, in
the old families yet retain the spirit Of re-
fnement and extend hospitality, as did their
ancestors. There was a courthouse there
and pleasant residences. From this place
went by stage TO Richmond, paying 500
in Confederate money, with which / had
now provided myself, for my passage, in
a rickety stage with poor horses Starting
very early in the morning, and changing
horses on the route we reached Richmond
az 10 o'clock Saturday night, a distance
Of about sixty miles Here L met with a
warm reception. Sunday morning / sent
20 a prominent tailor and obtained a suit
~ fsnffnFYfa xxsbf oh
months previous, when our division was
encamped near Richmond. 1t came in
most OPPORTUNITY, as it saved annoyance
from guards. who were diligent in re-
quiring passports of ali In citizens dress,
besides, when i ordered this suit, l paid
$3.50 for IL, and now it would have cost me
$1,000.
That Sunday was a happy and memora-
BILE Gay to me. In the morning l had an |
interview with President Davis regarding |
the condition of our officers in prison at
Johnson's Island. and can assert, from |
the great feeling and warmth he evinced !
for them. that l believe no one connected |
with our cause more earnestly desired the |
exchange of prisoners than Mr.. Davis.
In the afternoon a large crowd had as
sembled on the Capitol Square to meet a |
small detachment of officers and priyates |
just AlOli IbtIl 4IoOhDulf MHO were tA-
changed at City Point. I was delighted
TO meet among these several Of my old
comrades and fellow-sufferers of John
sons Island, among them DR.. William
Christian, who had been of great service |
at the prison as Confederate Medical Dr.
rector in general charge of the hospital
and junior surgeons. in which capacity he
was invaluable, and helped to relieve
much suffering and mitigate many hard
ships.
President Davis appeared on the square
and cordially greeted each of the ex-
changed soldiers and again grasped my
hand and congratulated me on having ar
ranged my own cartel. Many lovely
women and brave men met to greet the
returned prisoners, whether known per-
sonally or not.
The day following was spent with
friends in various departments, where /
ascertained the loss of many a dear friend
until then thought TO be living. and learn
ed Of the disposition of the regiments.
brgades and divisions in which l had
warm personal friends, In the afternoon
called on the Secretary of War and OBJ
tanned leave of absence for thirty days.
the Secretary very kindly asking me TO
name the time 1 wished.
My home being on the Peninsula, bes
tween the York and the James rivers.
which smgularly had been the scene of
the chief strategic events and great bat
ties I'm both the war OF the Revolution
and those fought the first two years of
the civil war, to say nothing of its beine
the section made historic long before
either Of these wars by the numerous
conflicts of John Smith and his followers
with the hostile Indians, and a little
ater Of Nathaniel Bacon and his liberty
owing but rebellious band against the
rascible and naughty, though brave.
Governor Berkeley. 1 was compelled. in
rider to see my family, TO go not only out
tide Of our lines. but very near the enemy.
rhe Secretary cautioned me of this but
iaid he was not afraid Of my recapture.
when l had just risked so much to escape
rom prison.
HOME AT LAST.
Leaving Richmond on Tuesday, the 22d
# March, by the York-River railroad
or the white House"-General William
/. +. Lees historic home on the Pa
nunkey-I took private vehicle and
cached my home, about twenty miles
arther down the Peninsula. Loving wife
nd child waited impatiently my rtsurn.
md welcomed me with that fervency
which the fond heart of wife and mother
ILL DISEASES or TINE EI00D