I

THE WAR FOR THE UNION

Report at Washington-Visit McDowell's Army-Ordered to Boston-Chief topographical engineer of Port Royal Expedition-An army corps wasted.

We were now within reach of the War for the Union and McPherson and I were resolved to get into it without delay. Pausing at New York only long enough to call on our friends, we pushed on to Washington the next morning. There were no sleeping cars in those days, and unfortunately I fell violently ill and was compelled to leave the train at Wilmington. Fortunately, I met Dr. Grimshaw, the best physician of the town, at the station, and, although I had never seen him before, he took me to the "Indian Queen," put me to bed and cared for me tenderly till the crisis had passed.

As soon as I could leave my bed, I drove to the country residence of Colonel Andrews, the father of my classmate and of the young girl who five years later became my wife. I was at once surrounded by an atmosphere of comfort, sympathy, and patriotism. My host, a gentleman of the old school, had received his early education with Meade and Kearney at a private military school and had played soldier with a company of Delaware dragoons at

his own expense for many years. He was, besides, one of the few men of the state who had voted for Fremont. Naturally a Free-soiler and a Republican, he had supported Lincoln with all his might and was one of the first to answer the call for three months' volunteers as lieutenant colonel of the First Delaware Infantry. When the regiment was reorganized and mustered into the service for three years he was its colonel. Handsome, accomplished, and learned in military history as well as in tactics, he was one of the best instructors and disciplinarians of the volunteer army.

Quickly restored, I reached Washington three days later and early on August 27 I reported at the War Department, expecting to receive orders at once. Full of enthusiasm and anxiety and longing for active service, I innocently assumed that the service was longing for me. I supposed that there were a hundred places where I could make myself useful, but none of them was for me. The chief of my corps, a patriotic, loyal gentleman, was superannuated, and, instead of having any definite idea as to how or where I should be used, he seemed to be half dazed and told me to look about a few days and make up my mind as to where I should like to serve. It was both disappointing and discouraging. The enemy was almost in sight of the capital from the heights beyond the Potomac, camps and entrenchments surrounded it on all sides, volunteers were pouring in from the North, and the air was full of bustle and excitement. No one seemed to be in charge, however, or to know what should be done to organize, discipline, and direct the forces that

were rallying to the support of the Union, "three hundred thousand strong!" I found my classmate, Andrews, who had arrived a few weeks ahead of me, connected with the provost guard, in charge of a houseful of Southern women, Confederate sympathizers, who were suspected of acting as spies and sending information to the Southern leaders." With "suspicion poiscning his brother's cup," secrecy and mystery in every movement, doubt, hesitation, and uncertainty in every measure, it was a time to try men's souls and to shake the courage of the boldest.

With all Lincoln's simplicity, the White House lay beyond the reach of a second lieutenant, but, fortunately, both custom and duty required me to call upon the General-in-Chief, the aged and patriotic Lieutenant General Scott. Although a Virginian, no shadow of suspicion had ever been cast upon his loyalty. I found him still grand and majestic, but borne down by the weight of his laurels and of his public services. All eyes were turned upon him for inspiration and guidance, and he gave even me a sympathetic reception. Although clad yet with power and responsibility, he was the setting sun, and even at that early day the sycophants and place-hunters no longer crowded the entrance to his private office. Shown in at once, I found him seated at his desk, clad in full uniform, a herculean figure like a mighty ruin, "whose very frown terrified the glance its magnificence attracted." He was all courtesy and benevolence. Rising with difficulty, he extended his hand and waved me graciously to a seat near him, calling me his dear young friend. Making haste to tell him who I was and that I was just in from

the far-away Columbia and had called to pay my respects, I assured him of my loyalty, my desire for service, and my sympathy for him in the great emergency which had overtaken him and the country. Thereupon he spoke in substance

as follows:

"We have indeed fallen upon perilous times! The country is torn by treason and rebellion. It has no guide and no army. I am old and feeble, and the men I have depended upon to help bear my burdens, and, if need be, to take my place, have sent in their resignations and are going over to the enemy. Lee has gone, Beauregard has gone, Johnston has gone, Hardee has gone, and the best of the younger officers are following them. How we shall make head against them, or how it will all end I dare not say, but my heart is full of doubt and

sorrow!"

I confess I was greatly surprised at this extraordinary outbreak of lamentation to a junior lieutenant of the army, though I had heard that the aged chieftain was much broken and discouraged. Viewing his tremulous speech as a permission, if not an invitation, to reply, I broke out:

"But pardon me, General; all the best men have not gone and are not going! You should not forget that we have McClellan, McDowell, Sumner, Rosecrans, Buell, Thomas, Anderson, Sherman and Wright and many other gallant officers, both regulars and volunteers, who will stand by the old flag to the last. The Northern states, with all their resources, are united in support of the Union and the Constitution, and in the end, with you to guide us, we shall not fail!"