The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-08

'EOEM DEh ), 1913. w ELY
turned to wreak vengeance upon DR.. E
Going To his tent, | found the Colone
alone. He arose as | entered and il
rather an excited manner spoke as 70!
| lows:
Il am informed that YOU are one OF tn
persons who carried me off the field whei
was wounded at Williamsburg, anC
Witnessed the infamous conduct Of Dr.
| E, and heard the insulting language
| which he used toward me-
! j did not reply, but stood gazing at the
man before me. He looked me in the
! face for the first time since entered, and
! discovering the smile of contempt which
| could not suppress. he seized me
roughly by the arm and exclaimed:
See here, boy; what do you mean!
Why do you not answer me2i
| replied with provoking GOODNESS and
the same sarcastic smile;
Pardon me, sir; was not aware that
you asked me direct question. under
stood you to say that you were informed
that | was. one Of the persons who carried
you off the battlefield at williamsburg.
have the honor to inform you that thus
far your informant was correct
Then you saw the treatment which |
received, and heard the abusive language
which DIR. E made use of on that oc-
casiono'
saw DR.. F. examine you carefully
and thoroughly and when he could dis
cover no cause for your being brought
there, / heard him say: Colonel, you are
not wounded al all You had better let
these boys carry you back to your regi
ment'; and when you so suddenly recov-
cred your strength and sprang to your
feet, making use of threats and profane
language. he said. If you do not return to
your regiment within Is minutes, l will
report you to Gen. -
Suddenly relaxing his grasp of my arm
he assumed fawning tone and manner,
and, taking paper from his pocket. he
asked me to put my name to it, and he
would reward me hands mely. | took the
document from his hand and read it
carefully. 1t was drawn up, as near as
can remember, after the following man
ner:
This is to certify that Col - has
been UNANIMOUSLY treated and maliciOusy
slandered by DIR. E, while said Col
onel was suffering from wound received
at Williamsburg battle. Two of the I'M
dersigned carried him bleeding from the
field, and Witnessed the cruel treatment
and insulting language OF DIR. F.:
After reading the document, | said very
calmly and decidedly: Colonel, | must
decline signing this paper
By this time | had become indignant,
and determined to cut short the inter
view So touching my hat in mock re-
spect, left him To his own reflections.
VISITING WASHINGTON.
Now it came my turn to visit Washing
ton, and the very next boat that left the
landing bore me over the quiet waters OF
the James River. In due time | reached
the Capital, and spent three days in Wis
iting the hospitals in Washington, George
town, and Alexandria, and various other
places Of interest.
| was comm issioned with numerous or
derS, and had any amount Of messages to
deliver for officers and Others as many OF
eur men were in the different hospitals In
those cities, and | was expected to find
them and deliver letters packages, etc.
The military display made in Wash
ington is certainly astonishing, especially
to those who are accus toned to see Major
Generals go round in slouched hats and
fatigue coats, without even star to des-
ignate their rank. But cooked and plumed
hats, scaret-lined riding cloaks. swords
and sashes high boots and Spanish spurs,
immense epaulets, glittering stars, and
gaily- caparisoned horses are to be seen by
the hundred around Wizards Hotel and
other places OF resort.
/ noticed that some in particular wore
painfuly-tight uniforms and very small
caps, kept on by some new law OF gravi-
tation, as one portion rested on the bump
Of self esteem and the other on the bridge
of the nose. Miss Periwinkle' says of
ttllS CidSS vi Iiiiltdit iSioNo- 1hNy iOoh
like stuffed fowls, and ride as if the safety
of the Nation depended upon their speed
alone"
Notwithstanding the "troublOus times, +"
there are generally gay times at the Capt.
tai. Levees and public receptions are
frequent. except during the reign OF terror
when some bold dash of rebel cavalry is
made upon the devoted city, and then
there is genuine panic for a short time.
An hours walk through the contra
band camp was amusing and instructive.
Here were specimens of all grades of the
negro character. from the genuine piOuS
trusting Christian to the saucy
lazy, degraded creature which generations
with the beasts OF the field. But all of
them kind-hearted, merry-tempered, and
quick to feel and accept the least token of
kindness.
Their cheerfulness is proverbial; old
with wool white with age bent over
the wash tub, grinned and goSsiped in
the most cheerful manner; girls romped
with their dusky sweathearts. and moth
erS tossed their babies with that tender
pride and mother-love which beauties
the blacklist and homeliest face
All were happy because they were free
and there seemed to be no room for any
thing like gloom or dependency in their
hearts Men women. and children sang,
and laughed together. and
whether their songs were OF heaven or
If hoecakes, they were equally inspiring.
ITO be continued.)