Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-18

president" wrote Secretary Welles in at
ter years. ct was determined that
special messenger, with positive orders,
should be sent overland, through the in
surrectionary region, to Pensacola, with
positive orders that the troops should be
disembarked without delay"
The secret expedition intended for the
relief of Fort Sumter was to sail that
day, hence there couId be no delay in
an attempt to save Fort Pickens.
DESTROYED THE WRITING.
Secretary Welles had been but
month in office and knew little of the
trustworthiness of the rev men avail
able to undertake such a mission.
IT sent for paymaster Henry Fitting,
in whom I had confidence" he wrote,
ito perform the duty Although not
we'll. he promptly prepared to obey
orders" with an understanding that an
other man should be sent if one could
be found in season.
Before 5 that afternoon paymaster
Etting informed the secretary that
Lieutenant Worden, for whom he could
vouch, had just arrived in Washington.
The secretary ordered Lieutenant Wor-
den Immediately to report to him. To the
lieutenant the secretary explained the
nature of the mission, and that he must
leave within a few hours for Pensacola.
He then read to Lieutenant Worden a
dispatch he had prepared-as brief as
possible-directing Captain Adams to land
the troops.
LIEUTENANT Worden did not get away
that evening, but when the Richmond
train pulled out next morning, 1t carried
passenger. in civilian crothes, who kept
much to himself and listened to all that
was said Occasionally he glanced at
paper in his hand. Then he tore 1t into
minute pieces, which he proceeded to
chew into pulp. His movements were
dissembled, to avoid observation.
This was the dispatch. He had mem
orized its contents.
Keeping steadily on the road, riding
day and night in miserable coaches,
Lieutenant Worden arrived at Pensacola
on the morning of April IL.
He went at once to warrington and
the navy yard, where he presented him
self as an officer of the United States
navy who desired to communicate with
Captain Adams of the Sabine"
The officer in command at the navy
ward referred him to Gen. Braxton Bragg,
in command of the Confederate military
department of Florida. To General
Bragg Lieutenant Worden stated his
business.
"He wrote me pass authorizing me
to go to the Sabine wrote Lieutenant
Worden in a protest to the Confederate
secretary of war, after his arrest, "and
upon handing it to me asked me IL
had dispatches for Captain Adams.
st replied that I had a verbal commu
nication to make to him from the navy
department.
II then asked him If would be per-
mitted to land on my return toward
Washington. He replied that / would,
provided that Captain Adams or myself
did nothing in violation of the agree
ment existing between them. remarked
that I knew nothing Of the agreement
he mentioned.
THE MESSAGE DELIVERED.
Leaving General Bragg, the messenger
from Washington proceeded to the navy
yard, where his pass procured him a
boat with which to go on board the
United States steamer Wyandotte that
lay inside Fort Pickens.
1t CHANGED that a severe wind and
sea prevented the Wyandotte from
crossing the bar. Lieutenant Worden was
prey to anxiety in the hours of de-
lay that followed. The attack on Sumter
might have begun, and he might be too
late to prevent one on Fort rickens.
It was not until noon on the 18th
when Sumter had been eight hours I'M
der fire-that Lieutenant Worden was able
to board the Sabine. On reaching her
deck he took Captain Adams aside, and
repeated to him the order from Secretary
Welles.
Captain Adams, although connected
with the south by marriage and resi-
dence, prepared to execute the order that
night. He plainly saw that new men
were at the helm in Washington, and
that the weeks of his not unfriendly in
tercourse with the Confederate officers
at Pensacola were at an end.
Lieutenant Wordon. in spite of great
fatigue remained only until early after
noon on the ship, and going back to
Pensacola, boarded train about o'clock
for the north.
The train was not far on it's way when