Year: 1879

of mingled rain and snow. We were
more dead than alive when we reached
tour old quarters, and after building q
fire and eating rough supper, we sat
talking over the sufferires we had just
undergone and the men we had lost, and
quite naturally we fell to specializing on
the results of the war. Would it end
favorably for the Union? Would we live
to see it close and return to friends and
home? At last one said he would will
lingly die, if by so doing he could bring
peace to the country. Then this was
discussed very earnestly by our little
| company, and we all agreed to the senti-
ment that it would be better to die vol
UNFAIRLY and deliberately, as Winkelried
and others had for their country in an
cient times, than to be marched to death
or be killed in some insignificant skir-
mish, as some of our comrades had been
on that day. So strongly had this tho't
taken root on our minds that 1t was fire.
quently brought up, and at last shaped
itself into an earnest desire to do some
thing. What to do was the second step.
On this point our minds were led to be-
lieve that if the head of the Confederacy
was removed the war would soon close.
The case of Sergeant Champe in the rev.
olutionary war was brought up, and by a
similar scheme two of our mess were to
escape as deserters, to the Confederates,
work our way to Richmond, and end the
war by killing DAVIS. OF course there
would be obstacles, and certain death to
the two who went; but this was all worked
ont and the cost counted. 1t was death
to go, and pretty sure death TO remain.
| There would be name connected with
it, which private soldier could not hope
to gain IN the ranks.


Just at this time an unusual event oc-
CURED. One of our mess was stationed
! as Safeguard" at farm house near Cul-
pepper Court House, occupied by fam
! lily by the name of Tanner. To this fam
| lily one day came an old lady and her
daughter, bearing the family nalre Of
the mother of the guard, who was horn
and raised in Virginia. ,lhe meeting
between the two ladies anu the soldier
resulted in friendship, and several in
| terviews took place. The old lady had
two sons who were prisoners in our lines,
! and from whom she had not heard for
many months, and through the efforts of
the safeguard she was enabled to CORES
pond with them. The young ladies of
whom there were two, were anxious to
visit our camp, and we got pass from
Gen. Sedgwick for that purpose, and one
day they rode into our camp, accom-
panied by their brother, boy Of u or
Il years. The girls were handsome and
fine riders, like all the Virginia girls, and
were of course welcome visitors to all the
blue coats, who all treated them courte-
ously. A fine dinner was prepared in
their honor, by the Q. Ms sable cook,
after which one Of the girls, who was a
good singer, and fierce secessionist,
sang the "Bonnie Blue Flag" 'The
Dress the Southern Ladies Wear" and
other patriotic G?) songs. This naturally
led to a little conversation on the war,
and she boldly proclaimed it would be
| but right for us especially the one she
called ''cousin, to join the Confederacy,
where she was sure he would be well
| received. She had relatives in good
army standing at Richmond, and would
recommend rs to them. She knew OF
| several she said, who had left our army
in that way, and who were stationed at
Richmond, and not stationed at the front
and exposed to capture. The dinner
party closed, and we escorted the girls
to the picket line and parted with them
all parties apparently pleased with the


When we returned to the campfire
that evening, we were all unusually i'm
pressed with the events of the day, and
the path which seemed to be opened so
| plainly to us. We were in earnest
now, and the question was not which
should go, but which must remain, for we
were all eager to make the attempt.
But it was necessary for one to remain
to state the facts in regard to our deser-
ton, and pat US right in the eyes Of our
friends. 1t was finally arranged who was
to go, and the time and manner were
also agreed upon. We at first intended
to obtain the consent of some superior
officer like Sedgwick, and have a false
pursuit made after us, as was done in
Champe's case; but after sounding the
proper persons that idea was abandoned,


our own responsibility. When these


preliminaries were all arranged, the one


who was to remain behind began to have


misgiyings as to the result Of the enter


prise. Would the killing of Davis, il


we were successful, have the desired
effect? He argued that it would only


exasperate the south, our men in the


prisons woald endure more suffering, etc.


We firmly believed the deed was clear


that we should accomplish deed o.


which our friends would be proud, ant


die in good cause. But he persisted


that men who knew more Of affairs thai


We did would know better as to the re


suits.


Then whom should We ask for advice


Not our army, friends or officers, to-


they had TO faith in anything but them
selves. Not 10 friends at home, for the,
! were the last who must know it. At las