The National tribune., 1909-12-16
An Episode of the Rebellion.

This is an extract from the Life of
Little Justin Hulburd. the private spy
OF President Lincoln, as given by Gen.
Winfield Scott:
1 wish to relate little occurrence or
instance that took place in Washington
during my stay there
The Hon. David Davis and myself
were walking thru the Capitol grounds.
After talking on several subjects l saw
a gentleman approaching us who turned
out to be Mr.. Chase. We fell into con-
versation about things relating to our
Nation and especially those connected
with the rebellion. After we had been
talking about Is minutes / saw another
gentleman approaching US. When he
came to where we were standing Mr..
Chase recognized him and introduced
him to Mr.. Davis and myself under the
name of Mr.. Winthrop. Mr.. Chase said
he was strong Union man from New
Orleans
After he had been in our company
about 10 minutes he said Gentlemen.
If you will join me in a glass of wine
We Will drink the health Of the Union
and the glorious Stars and Stripes"
which seemed satisfactory TO all parties.
He said he would lead us to quiet and
select Part Of the city where a friend
had taken him the evening before. He
said, There, gentlemen, we will find
many Union friends"
After we had walked about half a
block from the Capitol grounds a
muIatto boy came up whistling Yankee
Doodle with a backing box slung over
his shoulder. In strong negro dialect
he said: You gents what bears the
bright countenance of dis var glorious
country, / knows every one Of ye is true
Lincoln gents; seein' that yer faces is
all polished up, wants to polish per
feet to correspond"
He got down on his knees and put his
box in front ot Mr. Winthrop saying.
"You jes put yer foot on dat box and /
gives you a high Union polish. I'll glib
you Washington style or Baltimore style.
or Philadelphfd style-its all just in de
way you handles de brush"
While he was preparing to black Mr..
Winthrop's shoes, Mr.. Davis said, Boy,
where were you born" He said, Right
here. sir. in Washington; can't ye tell
dat by de way l. acts?"
Mr.. Davis said, And what was your
fathers name?"
The boy looked up at Mr.. Chase with
a peculiar leer in his eyes and a grin
all over his face, "Dey say. sir, my
fader's name was Chase" Mr.. Chase
broke in. That's lie. boy; there never
was any one who bore the name of
Chase who was the father of a mulatto."
The boy laughed in his negro way and
said, Gents, how strange it is when you
mention your fader's name dare's some
one sure to get mad"
Just then he commenced to wave his
brush in the air, giving his shoes some
fancy touches. He held up his blacking
towards Mr. Davis saying. "Guv'ner. lend
us a spit" which made US all laugh.
The Gov'ner spit in the box TO please
him. then he held it towards me. Cen
eral, just throw in some sojers lubrica-
ton" ] spit in the box to please him,
for he had a winning way. Then he
said TO Mr.. Chase, "Old man, drop in
tear and a sigh for de sake of squarin'
up things
While he was going thru these ma
nuyers j noticed there were two men on
the opposite side of the street. or square,
you might call it. The boy, when he
placed the backing box on the ground.
said TO Mr.. Winthrop. Now Pm goin'
to give you polish that will send you
inside brick wall" and with that he
gave loud whistle.
Those two men then approached quite
1ast. When Mr.. Winthrop discovered
them approaching us he tried to with
draw his foot from the backing box,