OLD ACQUAINTANCES.

233

repulse into a final defeat. Your Government is strengthening you with the resources of a great people. On this, our nation's birth-day, we declare to our foes, who are enemies against the best interests of mankind, that this army shall enter the capital of the so-called confederacy; that our national constitution shall prevail, and that the Union, which can alone insure internal peace and external security to each State, 'must and shall be preserved,' cost what it may in time, treasure, and blood."

CHAPTER XVIII.

RETURN OF OLD ACQUAINTANCES-THE WOUNDED COLONEL-I VISIT WASHINGTON-MILITARY DISPLAY-EPAULETS-ARISTOCRACY-SPIRIT OF JOHNNY BULL-SOLDIERS' FREE LIBRARYCONTRABAND CAMP-NEGRO TESTIMONY-PATIENT CHARLEYPAINFUL POSITION-BROTHER'S LAST CONVERSATION-RETURN TO THE ARMY-CHRISTIAN COMMISSION-GENERAL HOWARD'S SPEECH.

A

BOUT a week after we arrived at Harrison's

Landing a number of our absent ones joined us, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. B., Nellie, Jack, my wounded darkie friend from Williamsburg Hospital, and last and least of all came that pusillanimous coward, Colonel whom I had assisted in carrying from the field at the battle of Williamsburg, and whom Doctor E. had ordered back to his regiment under penalty of being re

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THE WOUNDED COLONEL.

ported to his superior officer. The next day after the arrival of this individual I received a message requesting me to appear at the headquarters of the-regiment. I started immediately, and found my astonishment that it was this Colonel who desired an interview with me.

to

He had been gone on furlough ever since the battle of Williamsburg, and had played his cards so well that he had been promoted to the command of a brigade. He had also managed, by false representations, to have the following notice inserted in the leading newspapers of his native State, viz.: "Colonel was severely wounded at the battle of Williamsburg, while gallantly leading a desperate charge on the enemy's works, and was carried from the field, but no sooner had the surgeons bound up his wound than the noble and patriotic colonel returned again to his command and led his men again and again upon the foe, until the day was won; when he sank upon the ground, exhausted from loss of blood and fatigue, and was carried the second time by his men from the field."

The paper in which this false statement was published found its way to camp, and Doctor E. replied to it, somewhat changing the editor's sentiments with regard to the conduct of the "noble and patriotic colonel." He, the colonel, had now returned to wreak vengeance upon Doctor E.

Going to his tent I found the colonel alone. He arose as I entered, and in rather an excited

OUR INTERVIEW.

235

manner spoke as follows: "I am informed that you are one of the persons who carried me off the field when I was wounded at Williamsburg, and witnessed the infamous conduct of Doctor E., and heard the insulting language which he used toward me." I did not reply, but stood gazing at the man before me. He looked me in the face for the first time since I entered, and discovering the smile of contempt which I could not suppress, he seized me roughly by the arm and exclaimed: "See here boy, what do you mean? Why do you not answer me?" I replied with provoking coolness and the same sarcastic smile: "Pardon me, sir, I was not aware that you asked me a direct question; I understood you to say that informed that I was one of the persons who carried you off the battle-field at Williamsburg. I have the honor to inform you that thus far your informant was correct."

you were

"Then you saw the treatment which I received, and heard the abusive language which Doctor E. made use of on that occasion?"

"I saw Doctor E. examine you carefully and thoroughly, and when he could discover no cause for your being brought there, I heard him say— 'Colonel, you are not wounded at all. You had better let these boys carry you back to your regiment;' and when you so suddenly recovered your strength and sprang to your feet, making use of threats and profane language, he said: 'If you do

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I VISIT WASHINGTON.

not return to your regiment within fifteen minutes I will report you to General

Suddenly relaxing his grasp of my arm, he assumed a fawning tone and manner, and taking a paper from his pocket he asked me to put my name to it, and he would reward me handsomely. I took the document from his hand and read it carefully. It was drawn up, as near as I can remember after the following manner: "This is to certify that Colonel has been infamously treated and maliciously slandered by Doctor E., while said colonel was suffering from a wound received at Williamsburg battle. Two of the undersigned carried him bleeding from the field, and witnessed the cruel treatment and insulting language of Doctor E."

After reading the document, I said very calmly and decidedly, "Colonel, I must decline signing this paper."

By this time I had become indignant, and determined to cut short the interview; so touching my hat in mock respect, I left him to his own reflections.

Now it came my turn to visit Washingtonand the very next boat that left the landing bore me over the quiet waters of the James river. In due time I reached the Capital, and spent three days in visiting the hospitals in Washington, Georgetown and Alexandria, and various other places of interest.

MILITARY DISPLAY.

237

I was commissioned with numerous orders and had any amount of messages to deliver for officers and others; as many of our men were in the dif ferent hospitals in those cities, and I was expected to find them and deliver letters, packages, etc.

The military display made in Washington is certainly astonishing, especially to those who are accustomed to see major generals go round in slouched hats and fatigue coats, without even a star to designate their rank. But cocked and plumed hats, scarlet lined riding cloaks, swords and sashes, high boots and Spanish spurs, immense epaulets, glittering stars, and gaily caparisoned horses, are to be seen by the hundred around Willard's hotel and other places of resort.

I noticed that some in particular wore painfully tight uniforms and very small caps, kept on by some new law of gravitation, as one portion rested on the bump of self esteem and the other on the bridge of the nose. "Miss Periwinkle" says of this class of military heroes: "They look like stuffed fowls, and ride as if the safety of the nation depended upon their speed alone."

Chaplain A. H. Quint manfully defends the multiplicity of epaulets in Washington, and very appropriately remarks: "Willard's is the news depot. Consider how easily a hundred, interested to read the bulletin there, could assemble. First, the general-in-chief is in Washington, and has a staff necessarily. Secondly, the quartermaster general,