The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-04-24
A FRIEND WITH THE
COUNTERSIGN.
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CONTINUED from first page0
Tell me-" he said, what command is
nearest us in this direction. What say
est thou? Speak suddenly; be brief.
Give it up said |.
Berwick, seriously, | inquire how you
knew that the column which we first met
was Confederate
Captain. | heard one of them say
'rcckin So
And, seriously again, / inquire how
you know that we We're fired on by Con
fedcrates."
What reply could make? The Cap
tain was hard on me. | thought. To an
swer that | knew, but was unconscious
of the process by which | knew, would
be absurd.
Did you hear speech, Captain:'
"Only two words.
What were the words? Repeat them,
please, and naturally
Halt therer
Captain, you are not n Confederate
Not just ut present
And l doubt your being a Northerner.'
"Ah, He turns the tables. Bold,
quick, ingenious, capable You are right.
am English
lie had said the words as perhaps n
Virginian or perhaps a Marylander would
Speak-pOsSibly he was from Baltimore.
The man puzzled me- | said nothing. The
Captain pressed me no further. | knew
that he had lied.
We entered the road again n mile
nOrthward of the scene of our adventure.
The country here was bare of trees and
level; | could dimly see long distance to
the front. We had been i'll the road but
n few minutes when discerned the
forms of men on horses blocking the way,
some 2OO yards from us.
Who comes thereT
Friends with the countersign" | cried.
The Captain had refined back with a
jerk, but was now treasured.
Halt, friends. Advance one, with the
countersignn'
The Captain rode forward alone and
gave the password. We were told by the
men on post that they had been advanced
to this spot from Manassas early in the
night; that Manassas was held by the
18th y. Y. Cav, under Col. Gibbs. We
rode on through the old camp at Manas-
sas and took to the left for Centervile.
The Captain was observation-disclosures merry.
Berwick, we've made night of it. If
to have done the thing you gave in charge
beget your happiness, be happy Gen.
Meade | swear his doubts are fled
He was very anxious, was he, Cap
tain?"
Anxious? He was whole hornets
nest. For by his face straight shall you
know his heart. You ought to have seen
his message to Halleck."
Trouble between him and Haleck?
Sorry to hear it, said /.
. Penetrable to your kind entreats,'
have the honor to say that our General
got the best of the man in Washington.
But no more of this, Berwick. The
thing is settled and we tell no tales.''%
His laugh sounded like iron.
Berwick, how long have you been in
the army?"
Joined in 81, Captain-before Bull
Run"
Were you at Bull RunF'
Yes, sir-twice.''
What regiment was it? Gen. Meade
told me, but I've forgotten"
nth Mass"
you've had experience; follow thy
drum; paint the ground gules, gules.
But you follow no longer; you lead. When
did the General detach your
Very recently, sir" | feared that
Scranton had seen me oil the 18th, when
in Confederate clothing | had stood in
the midst of Gen. Meades staff for half
an hour, answering questions concerning
Lees movements; and l added: Where
were you on the 18th, in the afternoon,
CaptainY'
THE 18th? Let me see-oh, yes;
Sthl lie " lHe SOulu VI luc IlNti
why"
That was the day of my first work for
the General" said |.
As we neared the lines there was the
connection that precedeS movement. Ev-
erything was astir. Fires were surround
ed by groups swallowing their breakfast.
Evidently march was to begin.
And the Captain said dramatically,
waving his hand: 1.-The silent hours
steal on, and faky darkness breaks within
the east "
Captain" said I, 81 feel that 1 have
ridden with SHAKESPEARE"
Don't laugh, Berwick; l can't help it.
You see. | trOd the boards for five years
in Old England"
| doubted the England part, and my
doubt of the mans integrity made me
resolve not to trust him. | deplored the
fact that Gen. Meade had told Scranton
watch this man, but l must not let him
watch me-"
*Halleck telegraphed to Meade: lee
is unquestionably bullying you. If you can
not ascertain his movements, l certainly
cannot. If you will pursue and fight him,
think you will find out where he is.
know of no other way"
Meade replied: "If you have any or
ders to give me, / am prepared to receive
and obey them, but | must insist on be-
ing spared the infection of such truisms in
the guise of opinions as you have recent
ly hOnOred me with, particularly as they
were not asked for. | take this occa-
sion to repeat what | have before stated,
that if my course, based on my own judg-
ment, does not meet with approval, I
ought to be, and desire to be relieved
from command" (Ed.)
No L.