The National tribune., 1903-07-23

myself riding with n small Signal detach-
ment in the advance of the armies which
had swept from the Valley of the Missis-
sippi to the sea and were then turning
from the sea toward the mountains. On
the afternoon of that day, after a march
of 81 miles, we entered Raleigh, the Cap
ital of North Carolina. We found that
Kilpatrick's S cavalry had been there before
us and passed through the city.
Near the center of the city was 4 square
occupied by the two buildings of the
Raleigh Academy, now the location of the
Governors Mansion. l saw an old gen-
tleman on the grounds. who proved to be
Prof. Lovejoy, the Principal. He told ME
he was a native of Vermont, had come TO
North Carolina as n teacher, and was con-
cerned for the safety of his family.
/ must here explain that the uncle af-
ter whom l was named had been since
his college days a teacher in Georgia and
the Carolinas. His boys had volunteered
in the Confederate service at the same time
my brother and l had taken up arms for
the Union. And at that very hour l knew
that somewhere in North Carolina the
family of my favorite uncle was in cir
cumstances similar to Prof. Lovejoy's. or
course, l at once took lively interest in
the matter, and said what l could to calm
his fears. Prof. Lovejoy spoke especially
of the burning of Columbia. l told him
l was not in that part of the army, and
did not know the facts about that event,
but l could assure him that the most
stringent orders had been issued by Gen.
Schoteld, my immediate commander, for
the protection OF non-combatantS, and
particularly on the subject of fire. l fur
ther told him l was looking for camp
ing place for the night, and that l would
like to preempt his grounds for our Sig
nal Corps before the larger bodies of in
fantry and artillery came into the city.
Prof. LOyejoy seemed pleased with the ar
rangement, and readily assented.
had pitched a cosy encampment un-
der the trees of the Academy and had
sent, with my compliments, n small pack
age of genuine coffee" to Mrs. LOvejOy,
and that estima0le lady had just reciprO-
Gated with a few early vegetables for a
supper then impending, when l received an
order from the headquarters of Gen. Scho-
field, then commanding the Army of the
Ohio, to establish signal station at once
on the dome of the Capitol, about two
squares distant.
ESTABLISHING A SIGNAL STATION ON THE
CAPITOL.
cast longing glance at the f1eshpots
the Capitol. A Provost Marshal's office,
under the charge of Capt. John Il.
Thomas, of Illinois, had just been opened
on the lower floor, in order to secure to
soldiery and citizens the benefits of mill
tary law, in the absence of the civil au
thority. l looked around to find some one
who had charge of the building. The Pro
vest knew as little about it as l. We
found the Senate Chamber and Represen-
tatives' Hall, but no Senators or Repre-
senatives. Even the Governor and jani-
tor had stepped out, and not soul could
l find to give me the slightest idea of how
l was to reach the dome. 1t was not
without some fear and trembling that l
went rummaging around the large, strange
edifice. i could not be certain but the
Capitol was a 'Grecian horse" which at
from its halls and corridors to sweep us
from the face of the earth. l was for
tunate enough, however, to find in a closet
two bits of candle, which were useful in
exploring the dark passages as we worked
our way upward. Finally we emerged to
the fat roof of the building. / raised my
signal flag, placed man on the lookout.
and went to inspect the dome. expected
to find stone steps, or at least an iron lad
der, by which l could reach the top; but
not the slightest thing could l see to sug-
gest that such trip was ever made by
visitors. l then went down into the build
ing again and endeavored to find an in
side passage to the dome, but l failed for
the best of reasons-there was none.
1t was after dark when l returned to
the roof, tired, hungry AID discouraged.
l found there my orderly, William Cobb.
whom l had left with our horses at the
camp. He was bright, beardless boy of
is, still living in Oxford, n. j., and l
was much attached to him. The supper
which he brought me worked a wondrous
change in my feelings. l had just fin
ished eating it, when / saw with alarm
conflagration bursting forth, over the
trees that obscured the city. l at once
thought of the LovejOys, and dispatched
the following to my down stairs neigh
bor:
$3.50 p. m.
''From the State Capitol Signal Station.
ITO the Provost Marshal of Raleigh:
"a large fire is now raging in the city
about 20 degrees east of south. 1t ap-
pears to be three-fourths of a mile distant
and spreading. 2342,
Lieut. and Signal Officer"
Let me here explain that each Signal
officer in the army had his ''call.' by which
'.23342"
My first impression was that the fire
was caused by the wanton excuses of our
cwn soldiers, and / was concerned for the
non-combantants under our temporary pro-
lection and for our soldiery name Nv
second surmise was that it was part of
the strategy of our adversaries to call at
tention from night or morning attack. /
began again to study and contrive how !
could get ladder or other means of seal
ing the dome. One-half the horizon was
now hidden from our station, and that half
was toward the retiring Confederates. Had
the fire occurred on that side l could not
have seen it. l walked nervously around
the great dome to the other side and
watched there alone. The fire had sub
sided, the hoarse shouts of the provost
guard fighting back the flames had ceased.
the tired army was sleeping, and / held
the most important post among the guards
that watched while they slept.
AT this point let me say that l subse-
quently ascertained that the building which
burned was an old saddle factory, and that
the fire was accidental. Fortunately, it was
situated apart from other buildings. 1
think no one was disposed to attach any
blame to our army in connection with the
conflagration.
In order that you may clearly under
stand the events which are detailed here
after, and which to me were of the great
est possible Importance, l ask your care
full attention TO brief description of the
Capitol. 1t stood at the junction of the four
main avenues of the city, was built of n
Hght-colored stone in the massive style
usual for good public buildings, well pro-
pOrtloned and surmounted by beautiful