Year: 1878

the censure of the most fastidiOus.


UnhOly scandal would have been
forced to hide It's head in shame had
1t breathed a word of malice based
upon what all the world could see
and could not criticise Grave events


were, however, Matching in the womb
of time, and among these was plan
to strike the rebellion at its heart,
cut off the very current Of its life,
and stifle what it seemed impossible
otherwise TO destroy. \ great expe-
dition was set on foot that was to ri
val in its proportions the Spanish
Armada, and swooping like the fall
con on its prey was to descend upon
the coast of rebellion with the force
of the hurricane, and sweep away
from it all the power it gained by
the way of the sea. OF course, the
plans, the de; ails, the force, and es-
pecially the destination of this for


midable organization was necessarily
a profound and solemn secret. In
fact, Its whole success lay in the in-
volatility of those who we're
charged with this knowledge. So
sacred was this trust regarded that
the writer who, at his own request,
was assigned 70 a not unimpOrtant
command in the expedition, refrained
from all interrogatOries as to its des-
tination, and in reality suppressed
every natural desire to be informed
of the objective point, because he re-
garded such knowledge as a trust to
sacred that it should be confded in
advance only to those to whom it
was absolutely and imperatively nee
essary that it should be known. In
fact, it was Cabinet secret, impart-
ed under seal to the commanders of
the expedition, to be revealed only
at the moment Of sailing. Twenty
Thousand soldiers, 5000 sailors, and
20 vessels constituted this formida-
ble force. On the eve of its depar-
ture, but before the troops had en-
barked its destination was impaired
to the writer-not by the President,
with whom he was in constant con-
tact, not by a Cabinet Minister, some
of whom he saw nearly every day,
not by the chief in command of the
expedition, but the information came
through the fascinating Southern
friend of the Secretary, and Jefferson
Davis was made aware of it at the
same time. Nevertheless, the writer
still kept his own counsel. He knew
that at the moment of sailing a
council of war was to be held, and
that the budget would be then and
there unfolded; and if the informa-
tion given to him through a channel
so INDUSTRIOUS should unfortunately
prove TO be true, that it would not
be too late to make the terrible fact
known. The hour came for the
council to be held. Never did Amer
lean waters behold a sight so mag
nifieent as was seen that day in
Hampton Roads. The finest frigates,
the noblest steamers, the largest
merchant-ships had all been gather


ed together, filled with enthusiastic
troops, and Americas most patriotic
sons, guns of great calibre, mOrtarS,
tons of ammunition, stores of all
kinds in enormous quantities, trained
officers who had followed the flag
to victory in other climes, brave men
who had gwen all to their country.
The hope of a great nation was
about to cast itself upon terrible
chance, while the prayers from count
less fresides went up to heaven for
their safety and success; never did
the flag of freedom wave over a more
determined band. The hour for the
council came. Upon the flagship
were assembled the few who had
been selected to lead these men to
victory, to guide this great expedi-
tion to success. In the inner re
cesses of the AImiral's cabin
the council assembled. The doors
were locked, sentinel placed Is feet
from the door on the outside, with
orders that none should approach him
within a like distance. The sacred
budget was unsealed, and in low and
measured tones the instructions of
the Government were read, and in
inspired words the destination was
told. 1t was "Bull's Bay and Fer
nandina." The same that the faci-
mating friend of the Secretary had
distinctly named! What = stupen-
dous farce was being enacted before
high heaven! The writer could not
believe his senses, nor could the au-
gust council of war believe theirs.
Fortunately for the cause-fortu-
nately for the country-the Cabinet
had added to its instructions that the
council of war could, in its discretion,
change the destination on the eve
of sailing, if in its wisdom it should
deem sucn a course expedient. 1t
is sufficient to say that the expedi-
tion sailed, each vessel under sealed
orders to be opened only in mid
ocean. For Port Royal and for
victory-which the Government
first knew through rebel sources.


To much for diplomacy and its
secrets. And 50 much for the pow
er of diplomacy over war.