Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-03-30
ors of Colonel Marshall's regiment Of
1861 give it:''-Chicago Inter Ocean.
A stirring Adventure.

A Stirring Adventure.
Among the Washington men who at
the beginning of the civil war left this
city and identified themselves with the
late Confederate States was Capt. Wal
ter Drew. who was more or less prom
inent in military affairs in Virginia
from the beginning to the end of the
struggle.
lone experience that happened to me
not long before the battle of Bull
Run" said Capt. Drew the other day,
has a Judgment in my cranial apart
ment that is certain to last with me
as long as | last myself. One thing
that was considered necessary to get
in the military division to which l was
assigned was Il supply of brass but
tons. and | was detailed to make a
journey to Baltimore and secure
quantity of them. | also had some
matters to attend to in this city. and
so Washington became my first objec4
tive point.
Il had with me passes and creden1
tails from Gen. Gustavus A. Smith and
Col Luther Stuart, and, with whole
lot of Virginia State money in my
pockets, and accompanied by the late
Billy Bailey and Bob Morgan, both
Washington men. started on what we
all felt to be rather risky expedition!
We were going to LeOnardtOWn, Md, q
favorite crossing place for 'Confeds'
in those days, and from there get to-
| Washington by the easiest practicable
route.
My first mishap was at a little
| place known as Jacksons Creek, ON
the Virginia side, where little North
| Carolina captain in command of a
company on guard there arrested me
on the charge of robbing a jewelry
| store in Richmond, Va. l couldn't
explain things to his satisfaction.
though l showed my passes, and was
marched back and carried before
| Gen. Lee. He understood the situa
| ton, and | was released, while the
'Tarheel' soldier, though he was prais
ed for his zeal, was admonished for
/ his lack of judgment in not perceiving
from my credentials and explanations
| that | was a loyal Confederate soldier
bound on somewhat important mis-
sion.
I'm the meantime Bailey and Nor
| gan had taken steamer on the Poto-
mac and got away. My time came
| when, with number of others, l
| ,,h s+C, nj I fo T
| ardtown. There was a Massachusetts
captain in command Of the tug. and he
| began search of the passengers, Sus-
! pecting diSlOyalists might be on board
| BY some means | escaped being search
ed. How that happened [ could never
satisfactorily explain to myself, but SO
| it was, and | landed with my Virginia
! State cash, passes and credentials, and
| got to Washington Very few of the
people who knew me were aware of
the fact that l had gone South. and
| | wandered about in an apparently I'M
concerned manner One of my first
! strolls was in the neighborhood of the
old Capitol prison. | glanced at one
of the upper windows, and who should
/ see there but the men who were to
| have been my fellow travelers-Bailey
and Morgan. l made no sign of rec
| IGNITION that could be detected. but
could not help grinning, and they smil-
| ed back.
ut got out, however. that I was here
on mission from the South, and an
old friend of my father and myself,
the late William T.. Howard, one of
gave me a warning that agents of the
| War Department were after me.
'"rhe authorities were after one
| Drew. however. and my father was ar
rested He was taken to Col. Bakers
office and put through sort Of third
degree process.
'In the meantime some of my friends
arranged with Jim Humphrey, who
kept a livery stable on c street, in the
rear of the National Hotel, to furnish
a carriage. and | FASTENED to the depot
| and boarded a train for Baltimore.
| There | met a man named Riley, who
was going South. l had secured my
brass buttons. and Riley and myself
started with them for Leonardtown,
where we purchased Il sloop for $50
| and hired man to take us across the
| Potomac We started out in a terrific
gale. 1t wasn't long before one of those
| vigilant gunboats that were constantly
patrolling the Potomac caught sight of
us. though we carried no light. and
| the night was as dark as a pocket.
! The gunboat opened fire, and kept up
a long time, but we were not hit.
thought the old sloop would go to the
! bottom at any minute but luck was
with us. and we landed on the Nir
| ginia side and left the boat to herself.
we got into the interior without de
| Inu Nn Chin ntnn Post