The National tribune., 1902-04-10
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON D. c. THURSDAY

Ntdh tHItuSH ItNtT, ana SlTbnS tuituSH
unnatural excitement. there can be no
wonder that the Captain thinks me wild.
He may suspect that such Il creature is
seeking the presence of Gen. Meade in
order to asSasSinate him.
Captain" said L. you have my arms.
Search me for other weapons. Bind my
hands behind my back and tie my feet
under this horses belly. All | ask is to
have speech with Gen Meade. If | am
not wretchedly mistaken, / can find men
near him who will vouch for me"
''Halt.' said he! Now, Thomas, you
will continue to escort this gentleman to
headquarters. Wait there for orders, and
| then ride for your life to- Gen. Gregg
Bring back the extra horse"
He wrote note or something, and
handed it to Thomas.
| Now said he 10 me, Il cannot say
| that | trust you are telling the truth, for
the matter is too dangerous. | hope you
are deceived i'll some way. Good luck to
| you"
He put spurs to his horse and galloped
west.
had yielded my gun to Thomas. At
his saddle hung carbine, and his holsters
were not empty.
Six PAGES in front of me, sir" says
Thomas.
We go at trot. 1t is now fully u
o'clock. We are nearing the river again.
| We can hear the rumbling of railroad
trains, directly in 'front.' but far away.
The speed we are making is too slow.
| dig my heels into my horses sides; he
breaks into gallop. stop. roars
| Thomas. | do not stop. | say nothing.
| know he will not shoot. He threatens
and storms, but keeps his distance. At
length he makes his horse bound to my
side. and ] feel his hand on my collar
Are you crazy!" he shouts.
| fear that he means what he says. l
pull in my horse. Such Il suspicion may
ruin my plan.
After a time we began to see camps
ahead. We passed through the camps. We
passed troops of all arms, and wagon
trains.
At last we reached headquarters.
Thomas reported to an Aid, giving him the
note. was admitted, still under
Thomas's guard, before the General. He
was surrounded by many officers and cour-
iers and orderlies. The Aid approached
the General. who turned and looked at me.
The General held the note i'll his hand.
What is your name!" he asked.
Jones Berwick. Jr., sir" said |.
What Brigade?"
'McGOwan's."
What State is McGowan's Brigade
from?"
South Carolina
What diYisionE'
"WilcoXs."
How many brigades are in that divi-
sion?"
-Four, General"
Name them"
'Lan's. Scales's, Thomass, and Me
Gowan's."
From what States?"
Lanes and Scales's are from North
Carolina. Thomas's Brigade is from
Georgia"
When did you leave the reb--when
did you leave the enemy
This morning, sir before daylight"
You say that a movement was i'll prog
ress?' .-s
Yes, SIR
WHAT"
Gen. Lees army was moving up the
river, sir"
Up what river?"
THE Hedgeman. The North Fork
You say the armyf Gen. Lees army"
Yes, sir; all but Longstreet's Corps,
which has gone TO Georgia"
Did you see the other troops?"
Yes, sir; all Of the Second and Third
Corps"
Did you see both corps?"
II was in Hills Corps, General, and
Ewell's passed Hills in the afternoon of
yesterday; Ewell's Corps was many hours
passing"
The officers standing about were atten-
tive, even serious. Gen. Meade's face
showed interest, but not grave concern.
How can ! know that you are not
deceiying me-?
Il have nothing on me to prove my
character, General, but there are some
officers and men in your army who would
vouch for me if they were here"
Who are theyF
Gen. Morrel is one, sir"
All Of the officers, as well as the Gen
eral, now stared at me. | saw one of
them tap his forehead.
What are you to Gen. Morell?" asked
the Commander.
Gen. Grover would also vOuch for me,
sir"
You do not answer my question. An
swer promptly, and without evasion. What
are you to Gen. Morell!'
Nothing now, sir. Our relations have
ceased; yet | am sure that he would know
me and believe me-"
What are you to Gen. GrOverE
HE knew me, General"
"Well, sir, neither Gen. Morell nor Gen.
Grover is now with this army. You have
peculiar way Of calling for absent wit
nesses."
Il believe, General, that Gen. Fitz-John
Porter would bear me out"
zen. Porter is no longer Iii tnlS army.
"Then Gen. Butterfield."
Gen. Butterfed is no longer in this
army"
was staggered. What l was trying to
do was to avoid calling for Dr. Khayme,
who, | feared, would betray me through
surprise. What had become of all these
Generals? Even Gen. Mcclellan, who,
by bare possibility might have heard of
me through Gen. Morrell, was, as | knew
very WELL far from this army. Certainly
the war had been very hard on the gen
eral officers of this Army of the Potomac.
| would risk one more name.
"Then, General, should be glad to see
Col. Blaisdell."
What Col. Blaisdell? What regi-
ment?"
Eleventh Massachusetts, sir"
Gen. Meade looked at an officer. The
officer shook his head slightly.
Nor is Col. Baisdell here my good
fellow. Now | am going to ask you some
questions, and / think it well to advise
you to answer q'lickly and without many
words. How do you happen to know that
the Colonel of the 11th Mass. is named
Blaisdell?"
| did not know what to say. If had
been with Gen. Meade alone, | should
have confided in him at this mOment-yet
the idea came again that he would have
considered me a lunatic / had to an
swer quickly, SO | said: 81 had friends
III that regiment, General"
The officers had gathered around their
commander as close as etiquet allowed.
They were looking on and listening-sOme
of them very SeriOuS-otherS with SDeerS