The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-03-05

w
hour will you start? He replied, The
earlier the better. AS near daybreak a.
may be, to avoid the SUM- we can't bt
ready before 10 o'clock. The mules are
quartered six miles out Very well-1t
clock. then, let it be-we'll be ready.
We babe the Judge goodnight at the land
ing. and entered our apartment
The visitors passed their second night a
the Spotswood House without incident oi
disturbance. Next morning they hat
breakfast, and newspapers with sensation
nj reports. They We're all ready and wait
ing at the appointed hour; but no ambu
lance appeared.
COL. JAQUEss's SUBLIME COURAGE.
Eleven o'clock came, then -, then
O'Clock, and the delay caused some anxiety
and conjecture. Gen. Grant had warned
them at City Point that they were liable
to be treated as SPIES while Gen. Butler had
| loosely treasured them by saying that il
they Were hanged they would reta!iate by
executing half a dozen "bctter men," Va
rious thoughts fitted through Mr.. Gil
more's mind; thoughts of home, family and
| friends, and likewise close confinement in
Castle Thunder or other Bastie. as he re.
cords them. Gilmore paced back and
forth, then turned to Javins and said:
will you Gb!ige me by stepping into the
hall? My friend and l would have; Il few
words together
AS .Iavins passed out. Gilmore, address
ing Col. .Jaquess. said: ''Ould is more than
three hours late! What does it meant
The Colonel, withdrawing his attention
! from his newspaper, but betraying no I'M
easiness, replied: 1T looks bad, but
ask no odds of them. We may have to
show we are men. We have tried to serve
the country: that is enough. Let them
hang us if they like"
While saying this, the Colonel took off
his spectacles. and quietly rubbed the
glasses with his handkerchief.
Colonel exclaimed Gilmore, "you are
n trump; the bravest man / ever knew"
] TO which the Colonel replied: II trust in
God. that is aI''i
| Mr.. Gilmoressays these words convey
no idea of thef sublime courage which
shown in the Gblonels eye. and lighted up
his every feature. l felt rebuked, and
turned away to hide my emotion"
After little time there was heard n
rap at the door, and Judge OuId entered.
Good evening"" he said.
Good evening" we replied.
Ould-'.Weli, gentlemen, if You are
ready. we'll walls round to the Libby
Says Mr.. Gilmore:
MY worst fears were realized. We
were prisonersi A cold tremOr' passed over
me, and my tongue refused its Office.
., ~ i TUNED to fine Colonel. He
stood drawn up to his full hight, looking
mt Ould. Not a feature of his fine face
moved. but shislarge gray eye was beam
ing with a sort of triumph. | have met
brave men, men who have faced death
Il hundred times without quailing; but
never met a man who had the moral
grandeur of that man. His look inspired
me; for l turned to Ould, and with Il cool
ness that amazed myself, said: Very well,
we are ready"
With this the visitors shook Javins' 5
hand, bidding him good-by, and then, at
tended by Judge Ould, they passed to the
street where they found Jack with the
mule team and ambulance. The sight of
these had Il wonderfully reassuring effect,
as up to that time Mr. Gilmore had con-
sidered himself "jugged'' sure enough. The
visitors. piloted by Commissioner Ould,
visited Libby Prison, Castle Thunder, and
the hospitals where the wounded prison.
ers were kept The Colonel wore his full
blue uniform and naturally attracted at
tention on the streets, commanding full
quota of black frowns from white women
and white smiles from black men.
AGAIN WITHIN THE UNION LINES
n At o'clock they separated from Ould,
bidding him kindly gOod-by, as doubtless
it was mainly due to him that the visitors
were permitted to go their way" In an
ambulance drawn by the mule-team the
visitors were conveyed to the point where
they first entered it, and thence, accom-
panied by Capt. Hatch with flag, ap-
preached the Union lines, where they ar
rived Just as the sun was going down. 4
young officer rode over from the nearest
Union picket station, and was forthwith
sent to Gen. Foster for pair of horses
which being furnished Col Jaquess and
Mr.. Gilmore arrived at Gen. Fosters tent
a half hour later. After supper with Gen.
Foster they started to Gen. Buffers head
quarters, arriving there by 10 o'clock
p. M, very tired; but, provided with cots,
they rested and We're thankful, devoutly
thankful, that we were once again under
the folds of the Old Flag"
1t is impossible to estimate the value
of the advantage derived by the National
Union party in the political campaign of
1864 as result of this and other peace
missions. That Of Col. Jaquess was first
in importance, because he sought and OBJ
tanned an Interview with the highest Off
Ger in the COnfederacy, and heard deliber-
representative and official head of the re-
bellion.
Another "peace mission" the one I'M
dertaken by Clay, Holcombe and Saun-
ders, from base of operations III Canada.
was clearly working in harmony with the
Peace Party,'. 10 secure common prr-
pose, the defeat of President Lincoln.
One browning result of Col. Jac1uess's
visit was a demonstration of the utter i'll
sincerity, want Of authority, and want of
purpose-beyOndl affecting the pending
Presidential electiOn-Of the abOve-named
peace commissioners from the South.
HORACE GREEHEY'S ESTIMATE OF THE
MISSION.
Horace Greeley, in Volume III of his
american Conflict" after devoting atten-
ton to the Clay, HolcOmbe and Saunders
mission, has this to say concerning that
of Col. Jaquesss and Mr.. Gilmore. Mr..
Greeley, having been deputed by President
Lincoln to go to Niagara and confer with
the rebel emissaries, was the more thor
oughly posted and qualified to judge of the
results of Col. Jaquess's trip to Richmond
Mr.. Greeley's statement, which fully dis
closes Jefferson Davis's ultimatum, reads:
but happily another negotiation, even
more irregular and wholly clandestine. had
mOnd with n similar result. Rev. Col
James +. Jaquess, I'D ILL.,, with Mr. J.
II. Gilmore of New York. had, with Presi-
dent Lincoln's knowledge, but without his
formal permission, paid visit to the Con-
federate Capital on peace errand, being
allowed to pass through the lines of both
armies for the purpose.
arrived in Richmond, they addressed
a joint letter to Judah p. Benjamin, Sec
rotary. of State, requesting an interview
with President Davis, which was accorded
and a long, familiar, earnest collOquy en-
sued, wherein the Confederate Chief pre-
sented his ultimatum in these terms:
desire peace as much as you do; l