The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-29


the way Of the discharge OF his plain
duty, and that It was plainly his duty
10 20 with us and q the South In the
defense Of her clear and clearly violated
rights.
JOINED THE PARTY.
cut the matter short by referring him
10 my father, and ne az once went down
stairs and interviewed him. Father SUD-
sequently told me that II was perfectly
obvious that Mr. Beers mind was IRE
vocably made up. and that 1t would De
more than useless 10 resist him-so IL was
settleu he was % go with US. l do not
remember whether his wife and chldren
were then i'm New Haven but they were
certainly committed by him TO the care
OF our mother and sisters. and suose-
quently followed Beers TO Virginia, as
now recollect, In company with the ladies'
of our Family. but upon this point my
memory Is not entirely clear.
Our position upon the burning question
OF the day was well understood IN New
Haven. and about this time all or us es-
pecially the two boys Of lighting age
were constantly and most unp'easshly
watched and really in danger OF arrest
or attack We made trial trip OF Gay
with our boat out into the sound osteh-
sibly Or fishing. and found we were
logged by two or three boats Of volun-
teers scouts and detectives; so that II was
finally determined to 80 cur boat sever
al miles I'D the shore b. o couple OF
trusty friends and TO drive sp to that
point at night. with our equipment OF pro-
visions, DISCUSSES, etc.
Everything had been arranged ana We
were to have embarked and sailed on
certain night but, during the preceding
day. a telegram was received from
friend I'm washington informing US that
we could slip through safely II we could
leave New York by a certain tram the
next day. Ny recollection Is that 1t was
deemed best 10 divide the party-Beers,
nv next younger brother and I getting
off so az to catch the train indicated
father and my youngest and then non
combatant brother following later The
United States Deputy Marshal, In fact.
came 10 the house 10 arrest us not long
after we had left.
We reached Washington and got safely
across the river 10 Alexandria; but, by
some untoward accident, Beers was left
behind there. and experienced some diff
Guilty I'm lodging the provost guard and
completing the last stage OF his "On to
Richmond" but he finally reached the
and he was heartily welcomed and hos
pltably entertained by Mr.. Ben. Gray, in
his attractive home, No. 23 east Frank
lin street. with the balance OF the last
rebel reinforcement from the North.
wish had at hand the means Of deter
mining the exact dates Of these occur
rences, but can only say we arrived In
Richmond some time before the battle Of
Bethel, my brother and l volunteering In
what was called Junior Company F."
which was at that time recruiting and
drilling in a basement room under the
Spotswood Hotel the drill master OF cur
squad being the lamented John H.. famil-
larry known as Jock Ellerson.
AN ADVENTURE.
A day or two after his arrival another
unfortunate and most unpleasant acct
dent befel poor Beers. He had gone out
alone after dinner and did not return. He
was not a man 10 be taken at a disadyan-
tage by an emergency. but the city was
full Of excitement and his position was a
delicate one. and as time passed and the
we bad sent out In every direction
failed 10 bring any news of him, we be-
came anxious and apprehensive At last.
sometime after dark. we heard that he
had bfen arrested as "a Yankee spy
and locked up I'm the negro jail. Two or
three OF US hurried to the spot to find
the Notifying report only too true.
/ can never forget the impression made
upon me by the bearing Of the noble fell
ow as I attempted 10 express the pain
and modification felt at the ignominious,
treatment he had received. He uttered
not one word Of complaint. but met me
With a manly smile and hearty hand
hake. exnrcssi7g mi ed amusement an
saying that while the charge