by John McElroy
CHAPTER XIII.
GEN. SILENT GUIDED BY A SPECTER.--ARMY OF THE CENTER.-- BELEAGUERED AND HALF STARVED IN CHATTERAUGUS.--MIDDLETON'S RIDGE.--GEN. SILENT'S FORCES SWEEP THE REBELS FROM THE CREST.
"O thou whose captain I account myself, Look on my forces with a gracious eye. Put in their hands thy bruising irons of wrath That they may crush down with a heavy fall, The usurping helmets of our adversaries. Make us thy ministers of chastisement, That we may praise thee in thy victory. To thee I do commend my watchful soul. Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes, Sleeping and waking, O, defend me..." --Shakespeare
"The Army of the Center was now in a most deplorable condition. Gen.Biggs's lines extended to the river above and below, so that the Unionarmy inside of Chatteraugus was practically invested, the rebel armybeing so situated that every movement of our troops could be watched ascarefully as if they were all of the same army. The enemy persistentlythrew shells into our camp and made it very uncomfortable both by dayand night. The rains had so swollen the river and damaged the roads thatthere was no direction from which supplies could be drawn in wagons ofsufficient quantity to be of any very great assistance, had the rebelsonly held the Une of communication by rail. Our whole command had to beplaced at once on half rations. Over 3,000 wounded soldiers were incamp and hospital, suffering and dying for want of proper food andnourishment. Forage for the animals could not be procured, and more than10,000 died in and about Chatteraugus. One-third of the artillery horsesdied, and the remainder were unfitted for service.
"Biggs had cut off a train of supplies of medical stores for thewounded, and the ammunition of our army was reduced to the minimum.In the battle of Cherokee Run the men had thrown away and lost theirblankets, so they were exposed to the hot sun and the chilly nights,without blankets, tents, food, or any of the comforts that even soldiersusually enjoy in the field. When Rosenfelt started on the campaign hisorder was to take but one blanket to each man, and no overcoats. In thiscondition they could not retreat. They seemed doomed to surrender at nodistant day.
"The enemy well knew the condition of our troops, being in possession ofthe route to our depot of supplies, and the one by which re-enforcementswould reach our army. They apparently held our forces at their mercy.For these reasons the enemy deemed it unnecessary to assault and loselives in an attempt to take what seemed secure. All that Biggs had todo, as he thought, was to wait, and Chatteraugus would fall into hishands without a struggle. Starvation would soon force terms, as retreator re-enforcements were considered alike impossible. No other portion ofour armies was reduced to such a terrible extremity during the war.
"This was the situation of the Army of the Center when Gen. Silent tookcommand of it. Biggs had sent his cavalry to the interior to watch allmovements on our part, and especially to prevent supplies from beingbrought to or concentrated anywhere for our almost famished soldiers.Weller and Lawting, in command of the rebel cavalry, captured anddestroyed in the Sewatch Valley 1,000 wagons loaded with supplies. Theyalso captured 700 wagons at Macklinville, with about 1,000 prisoners,and at the same time destroyed millions of dollars of other property.
"Gen. Silent had just arrived at Nashua, and, finding that the raiderswere burning wagon trains and railroad trains loaded with supplies,collected all the cavalry he could, obtained horses and mounted tworegiments of infantry. Under a skillful officer he started them inpursuit of Weller and Lawting, chasing them into Northern Alabama andcapturing near one-half of their commands. Gen. Silent had no means ofgetting into Chatteraugus until Biggs's force at Bridgeton and on theriver between there and Chatteraugus could be dislodged and driven outof Looking-Glass Valley, which ran down along the mountain side to theriver. He had difficulty in getting all the positions correctly.
"Finally he met Mrs. Houghton, who had come out from Chatteraugus priorto its investment. She gave him the most satisfactory detailed statementthat he had received from any one as yet. In the interview she told himwhat she was doing in that country and where she had been; what she hadsaid to General Rosenfelt the night before the battle of Murphy's Hill,and what she told him the day before the battle at Cherokee Run. TheGeneral questioned her as to the number of the enemy, the names of thecommanders, etc. When she gave the names of Longpath and Stephenson, theGeneral said:
"'They are sending troops here from the rebel army East?'
"'Yes, General,' she replied; '20,000, I am sure, and I so told Gen.Rosenfelt.'
"The General said: 'They are using the Victor's Hill prisoners?'
"'Yes,' said she; 'Gen. Stephenson is said to be in command of 20,000 ofthem.'
"'But they have not been exchanged as yet?'
"As to that she did not know, but they were now in Gen. Bigg's army.Gen. Silent thanked her and invited her to come to Chatteraugus when heshould take it; 'which,' he said, 'I mean to do in ten days from the dayI open the lines of communication, so as to get food to those starvingsoldiers.' He then left her with many thanks for the information.
"The next day Mrs. Houghton sought Gen. Silent again and said to him:
"'General, there is one matter, which may be important, I did not thinkto mention yesterday in our conversation.'
"'Pray, what is that?' said he.
"'Gen. Longpath is to start in a day or so to Knoxburg with his command,in order to drive Broomfield from there, who they understand is now inpossession of that place.'
"'Well,' said the General, 'that is of more importance to know thananything you have told me.'
"'I am exceedingly glad then, General, that I thought of it.'
"The General then said to her: 'I am extremely curious to know how youlearned this.'
"'Well, sir, I visit hospitals on both sides, and many things are theresaid that would not be told to anyone in camp. I had seen a sick rebelwho had just come into the city in citizen's clothes to be taken care ofby his friends, and you must not ask me who or where he is.'
"'No,' said the General, 'I will not. Good-by!'
"Gen. Silent at once ordered Gen. Hord to concentrate his whole force atBridgeton as quickly as possible, and in three days the 20,000 menfrom the Army of the East had secured Bridgeton and crossed over LittleCombination River on the road to Looking-Glass Valley. They movedforward, driving Biggs before them, until they reached the western baseof Coon's Mountain, in order to pass into Looking-Glass Valley. At thepoint where he was to enter the Valley the rebels made an assault uponhis head of column. Hord deployed his troops, advanced to the attack,and very soon routed the enemy. The enemy now could very plainly detectand understand the movement. Our troops went into camp at about sixo'clock.
"The rebels could see that if this movement was successfulre-enforcements as well as supplies to the Union army would immediatelybe the result, and they were bewildered and chagrined. At about oneo'clock the same night, Hord was attacked in force by the enemy. Gear'scommand first received the assault. Hord at once moved to the supportof Gear, but before reaching him found a large rebel force posted on arange of hills which completely commanded his line of march. These hillswere steep and rugged. There was, however, but one course left, and thatwas to assault. This was done in a most gallant style. The hills werescaled and the enemy driven from them with a loss of many prisoners,as well as killed and wounded. Gen. Gear meanwhile had been contendingagainst a superior force for two hours, and though almost enveloped atone time by the enemy, he finally succeeded in repelling the assault.The moonlight was so bright that the firing seemed to light up the wholeheavens, as if meteors were in every possible space. The yells of therebels, the running away of teams, the heavy sound of artillery, wereenough to 'frighten the souls of fearful adversaries.' Mules broke awayfrom their wagons and hitching places, some with halters, some withharness and singletrees dangling at their heels. Horses neighing andmules braying, all dashed in the direction of the enemy, who mistookthe fleeing animals for a cavalry charge, and fled in disorder andconfusion. At daylight
the enemy had been repulsed at every point andour route to Chatteraugus secured.
"Gen. Silent had managed to communicate with Gen. Papson, and directedthat one of his divisions should cross over the river in front of hiscamp in plain view of the enemy, and while the enemy were watchingthese movements pontoon bridges were being laid across the river by theEngineer Corps, they passing down the river beyond the left flank of theenemy in the night time. Over this bridge crossed Palmerston's Divisionand joined Hord, and by the next morning all the heights commanding thebridge and Looking-Glass Valley were secured--communication openedby way of the north side of the river by crossing the pontoon bridge,and on that very day rations for the men were taken into Chatteraugus.Such a shout as went up from the throats of nearly 50,000 men wasperhaps never heard before nor since. Gen. Silent entered Chatterauguswith the supplies for the hungry, and was most gratefully receivedby officers and men. When this line was opened the boys christened it'Silent's cracker line.'
"The scene that followed the opening of this line of communication isnot to be described by any one. Poor fellows, they had suffered long andmuch. They were patriots; but how many people remember it now?"
At this point the old man grew eloquent, and finally bowed his head fora moment. Resuming, he said:
"In a very short time every one had gained confidence and courage, andwas again not only ready but eager for the fray. Biggs at once saw hisperil. Longpath was at Knoxburg trying to dislodge Broomfield, whileGen. Papson was being rapidly re-enforced. And now the tables wereturned. The rebels no longer jeered at and tantalized our boys withinquiries as to when they proposed to start for 'Pine Forest Prison.'Jeff Davis, the Confederate President, had only a few days beforevisited Biggs's army and looked down upon our starving soldiers. Ourboys knew this, and would ask if Jeff Devis would like to dine with Gen.Silent on hard-tack?
"Just at this time our forces were anxiously looking for the arrival ofthe troops from the Army of the West, which they knew were marchingwith all the energy they could to the aid of their comrades. So the nextmorning the rebels were saluted with a shout that rang from the valleyup to the top of Looking-Glass Mountain and along Middle-ton's Ridge. Itwas the arrival of Sherwood from Victor's Hill with two full corps of asgood soldiers as ever marched under the American flag. Cheer upon cheerfrom both our armies rang out and gladdened the hearts of all.
"The next day Gen. Silent was handed a note by a cavalryman. He examinedit, and found that it bore information to the effect that Longpath hadfailed to capture Knoxburg, but had been repulsed by Broomfield and wasthen marching rapidly to re-enforce Biggs. On inquiry the General foundthat the note was written by a lady, who was then some ten miles away ata farmhouse. The cavalryman stated that she was very anxious that Gen.Silent should get the note that day, and that she had also told him tosay to the General that she was the same lady who had given him certaininformation at Nashua some days before, and that she informed the bearerof the contents of the note and requested him to destroy it if in dangerof being captured. Gen. Silent consulted Gen. Papson and found that hehad implicit faith in her statements, as he said she had given Rosenfelttruthful and important information twice as to the numbers and movementsof the enemy. Gen. Silent said:
"'This being so, we must drive Biggs from his position before Longpathcan join him.'
"It was then raining and blowing a perfect gale, and Gen. Papson saidthat it might be well to delay until the storm was over. This Gen.Silent assented to, but directed that all preparations be made for theattack, so as to be in perfect readiness at a moment's notice.
"Sherwood, however, had not yet succeeded in getting to the positionassigned him. He was struggling against rain, wind, and high water. Incrossing Little Combination River to the north side the pontoon bridgegave way, and Gen. Osterman and his division of Sherwood's command werecompletely cut off and left on the south side of the stream. Silentordered him to proceed up the river to a point opposite Middleton'sRidge with the remainder of his command. By this time the freshet wasso great that it was impossible to repair the bridge. So Osterman wasordered, if he could not get across by eight o'clock the next morning,to report to Gen. Hord. Sherwood finally succeeded in moving the restof his command to the point indicated. Pontoons were now necessary forbridging the river at this point in order to cross the troops again overto the south side to assault Middleton's Ridge, the point of it slopingdown near to the river, on which rested the rebel right flank. Therewere but few pontoons to be obtained, and here the genius of man camewell into play. Rafts and boats of a rough character were at onceimprovised, and by the morning of the 24th of November Sherwood'scommand was once more on the south side of the river, with men, horsesand artillery, ready for the assault. He was moving in a drizzling rain,and as the clouds hung low his movement was pretty well covered. Hepushed forward with great rapidity and seized the smaller hills near theriver, driving the enemy therefrom, and at once fortified them securely.
"The rebels now seeing this advantage made an ineffectual assault todislodge him. He had possession of two hills, with a depression in hisfront between him and the main ridge, it being his objective point.The mist and heaviness of the day prevented the enemy on Looking-GlassMountain from seeing or understanding the movement of Sherwood on theright. Night closed in, and as the clouds cleared away, the light of thecamp fires revealed the position of both armies. Indeed, the night wasbeautiful. The lights on the north side were made by those guarding thecamp of Sherwood, left in his movement, across the river. These lightsof the camp fires of both armies now formed a complete circuit, makinga grand picture. The stillness of the night was a warning to all that inthe morning work was to be done.
"About the hour of ten Gen. Silent was out looking at the lights, and inorder to form some opinion of the condition of the weather during thenext day, he strolled along the river bank alone. Stopping at no greatdistance from one of the sentinels, he sat down upon a stone under alarge tree, the shadows of which obscured him from view.
A Spector appears to the General 238]
"While sitting absorbed in thought as to what the future would be to thearmy then preparing for a desperate battle, a strange form seemed toappear before him. He was at first startled, and then felt as thoughhe had dreamed, and was thereby deceiving himself. The object wasapparently a woman dressed in a long flowing robe of pure white. Thefeatures were regularly formed; she had large blue eyes, long, auburnhair, and a light shone about her which made every feature plain andvisible to him. This strange apparition did not speak, but pointed toLooking-Glass Mountain, and passed her hand, extending her forefinger,as though tracing the mountain along to where it dips down to theRoseville road. At this point she held her finger pointing for someseconds. She then turned and pointed to the end of Middleton's Ridge,near the river, and there hesitated; then turned and pointed tothe center of the ridge, near where Gen. Biggs's Headquarters wereafterwards located. Here she seemed to trace two lines on the side ofthe ridge by passing her finger twice back and forth. She hesitatedat this point for some moments, finally pointing to the sky as thoughcalling attention to the stars. At this moment Gen. Silent arose quiteexcited, and the strange specter vanished. He stood for some momentsmotionless. He could not move, and was trembling with nervousness.Finally he aroused himself and stepped to the spot where the strangefigure had appeared. There was nothing that could have been by dreamyimagination distorted into such a form. He said to himself, 'I dreamed;I must have dreamed; how could this be otherwise?' Just at this momenthe saw a sentinel walking his beat some paces away and approached himcautiously. The sentinel challenged, and Silent went forward and gavethe countersign. He then told the sentinel who he was, and inquired ifanything unusual was going on. The sentinel replied in the negative.Silent then inquired if he had seen nothing unusual.
"'No,' replied the sentinel, 'except that you have been sitting on thestone under this tree for some time. I have been watching you, as I wasnot aware of your business.'
"
'You saw nothing else?' said the general
"'No, sir,' was the reply.
"The General then bade him good night and returned to his headquarters,feeling pretty sure that he had fallen asleep and dreamed while sittingunder the tree. Yet he had a half lingering superstition on the subject,and it annoyed him very much. He could not divine the meaning of it;whether a dream or not he could not decide. He walked back and forth ina very unusual manner. One of his staff inquired if anything had gonewrong in the movements of the army. He said not, but inquired if all theOrderlies were at their posts, saying:
"'I will want them very soon to take orders to the field. They must becautioned, also, as they will be in some danger in passing to where theymust go.'
"He then sat down and commenced dictating his orders.
"At midnight they were sent out to the different commanders. Hord wasto attack with all his force, assisted by Osterman's division, inthe morning at the earliest moment possible, and scale Looking-GlassMountain. Gen. Papson was to make a demonstration against the rebelcenter.
"The mountain is very steep and covered with trees and underbrush. Cragsjut out at every turn all over its sides, and at the summit a highcrest rises almost perpendicular 50 or 60 feet. Around the point of themountain nearest the river the enemy had heavy earthworks, held by onebrigade. The ridge or crest of the mountain was held by some 7,000 men,with many pieces of artillery. Hord's command was all on the west sideof the mountain, entirely obscured from the sight of any of our troopswho were in the town of Chatteraugus, so that nothing could be seenexcept the rebels who occupied the crest of the mountain. The movementsof the enemy proved clearly that some advance was being made.
"Gens. Silent and Papson stood on an earthwork on the north side of thetown near the river, where they could plainly see all the rebel lines.Very soon the smoke and sounds of battle were seen and heard. Ostermanhad attacked the rebels in their works at the foot of the mountainnearest the river and driven them pell-mell out of their intrenchments,killing, wounding and capturing a great number. At the same time Gen.Gear was pushing up the mountain, his right passing directly under themuzzles of the enemy's guns which were on the summit, climbing overlogs, boulders and crags, up hill and down, dislodging and driving theenemy wherever he opposed. Up and on went our brave boys to the mouthsof cannon and into the very jaws of death. Gen. Silent, addressingPapson, said:
"'General, our men must be climbing up the mountain's side. The enemywould not fire so rapidly nor such volleys unless our men were nearthem.'
"'No, I should think they would not,' said Papson.
"The fire flashed from their guns and muskets in the sunlight as thoughthe heavens were in a blaze. Soon batteries could be seen pulling outand moving on the table of the mountain in the direction of the south.
"'Do you see that, Papson?' said Silent. 'They are getting ready toretreat. See, they are sending their batteries out of danger!'
"Papson looked, but said not a word. Soon a portion of their infantrymoved in the same direction. The noise of artillery firing could beheard no longer, but the rattle of musketry was becoming more distinct.The men and officers who were not in the demonstration againstMiddleton's Ridge, which was not a very heavy one, were standing andlooking in breathless silence at the upper table-land of Looking-Glassmountain. Finally our line was seen moving up the crest, the men firingas they came, and such a yell as arose from our men in the town ofChatteraugus was of the kind to bring joy to a patriot's soul. On theywent, the fire flashing from the muzzles of their muskets. The rebelsbegan to retreat, our men pressing them until they were driven entirelyfrom the mountain and across the valley near the old Mission House, andnearly to the foot of Middleton's Ridge. Papson's movement against theridge, which was the enemy's right, ceased, and Looking-Glass Mountainwas ours. Joy was unconfined among our troops.
"The poor fellows, who were nearly starved, acted as though they wereperfectly well and hearty, although they had had but little to eat forweeks.
"This was only the beginning of the end at Chatteraugus.
"Gen. Silent thought the rebels would now retreat into Georgia; but inthis he was mistaken. They strengthened their line on Middleton's Ridgeand extended it across the valley to where Looking-Glass Mountain slopesdown to the road from Roseville to Chatteraugus, and there they seemedbent on staying. Two days later, finding the enemy again preparing forbattle, Gen. Silent issued his orders for a general assault. Sherwoodat early dawn was to attack the enemy on his right and drive him back ifpossible on the southern portion of the ridge; Papson was to be ready toassault in front at the moment when the commanding General should thinkthe proper time had arrived; Gen. Hord was to cross from Looking-GlassMountain over to the Roseville road and attack his left flank.
"The morning was clear and cold. Biggs's Headquarters could be seen onthe crest of Middleton's Ridge, near the center of his line. Gen. Silentoccupied a knob or high point near our lines that had been wrested fromthe enemy in a skirmish the day before. All were anxiously waiting theassault and final result. Now and again a shot would be heard, and thena volley. There were skirmishings occasionally in different directions.On Hord's line, as he advanced, slight skirmishing was kept up, and atthe base of the ridge a shot would be fired in the direction of wherePapson was forming his line. Finally shots were heard on our extremeleft, then more, then a piece of artillery, then a volley, then abattery opened, then commands were heard and the battle began. Sherwoodwas moving against the enemy's right flank.
"He attacked as ordered, but found the enemy in strong force and verystubborn. The battle continued on this part of the line without any verymaterial advantage to either side. At about three o'clock Gen. Papsonwas ordered not to delay his attack any longer, so at this time themovement of the whole army against the enemy commenced. Papson attackedin double column, Gens. Anderson and Sherlin leading the assaultwith their divisions. In the center, at the first assault made on therifle-pits at the base of the ridge, our forces were not successful, andfalling back for a short distance they readjusted their lines, changedsome of the regiments, and moved forward again to the attack. This timethe movement was as if it were machinery in motion.
"When close to the enemy a bayonet charge was ordered, and against thefoe they drove the instruments of death. The men who were in thisdeadly charge will never forget it. As they came with bayonets fixed anddirected, the enemy, seeing their determination, poured a deadly fireinto their ranks. Many a brave man fell, but on the lines swept over thetrenches. Here the rebels were killed and wounded in such numbers thatthey lay one across another in great numbers. The enemy fell back,giving up the trenches to our victorious troops, and retreated to theirmain works on the top of the ridge.
"Our troops moved right on up the slope of the ridge, facing a showerof shot and shell and musketry most destructive and deadly. Anderson andSherlin led the way. Commanders of corps, divisions and brigades viedwith one another as to who should reach the crest first. For a time itseemed doubtful if any of them would succeed in accomplishing it. Ourartillery was in battery playing on the enemy from an eminence on theplateau east of the town and between the two lines. Finally the guns ofthe enemy were disabled, some dismounted, and others driven from theirposition. Our whole line then made one desperate effort to scale theridge and charge the rebel works. With a mighty shout and 'Come onboys!' from Sherlin and Anderson, the heights were scaled, and amidsickening scenes of blood and death our brave boys stormed and capturedtheir breast-works. Their center was pierced and broken. They waveredand finally retreated down the opposite slope of the ridge. Gen.Anderson seized one of our flags, mounted the rebel works, and held itup so that our whole army might see it, and they did. The sight of theold flag on the rebel works on Middleton's Ridge, filled our men withjoy and enthusiasm. They rushed forward, shouting as they went. The menwho had been shut up and nearly starved, wept with joy unspeakable.
"Sherwood now doubled the enemy's flank back until they were retreatingand falling back on
the two divisions of Anderson and Sherlin, whoturned and poured volleys into their rear. The retreat of Biggs's armynow became general We captured many prisoners. Just at this moment arebel cavalry officer on a white horse was seen dashing down the ridgefrom the direction of the rebel left. He came within a short distanceof our line and took off his hat to our troops, as if he intended tosurrender. Turning on his horse he drew a revolver and flred. The ballstruck Gen. Anderson in the right shoulder, inflicting a severe andpainful wound. Gen. Anderson turned and saw him as he escaped down theside of the ridge. Anderson recognized him, but did not say a word. Manyshots were flred at him by the soldiers, but he made good his escape.(It was Gen. Joseph Whitthorne, the fiend.) Gen. Anderson was taken byJackson and James Whitcomb (who had been by his side during the wholeof the engagement) back to the town to be cared for by the Surgeon. Gen.Anderson inquired after Capt. Day, and upon inquiry it was found that hehad been severely wounded during the last charge up the ridge, and hadbeen carried in an ambulance to the hospital.
"The battle was won. No rebel flag was insight, and the Stars andStripes w ed over Looking-Glass Mountain and Middleton's Ridge oncemore. Longpath just reached Ringgold's Gap in time to meet his flyingfriends, who were in a great state of demoralization. They had beenutterly routed and broken to pieces. Our army was in great glee and fullof joy that night and for many days thereafter. The Army of the Centerhad been in such bad condition for so long a time--being hemmed in andstarved--that it became necessary to go into quarters for recuperation,and also to refit and refurnish it with horses, mules, harness, etc. Thetroops were, therefore, distributed at the most convenient points on thelines of our communications.
"Gen. Silent, now having put Gen. Biggs and his army in a condition ofharmlessness for the season, took up his headquarters at Nashua.
"The next morning after the battle, my son Jackson left Gen. Anderson(who was comparatively easy, for his wound, though painful, was notconsidered dangerous,) to search for Capt. Day. He found him in theofficers' hospital, wounded severely, shot through the bowels. He diedthat night. This was sad news to the General, for he loved him as ifhe had been a brother. He was buried at Chatter-augus. His friends werenotified, and removed his remains to the cemetery near Bloomington, Ill.He was a gallant soldier, and had been so kind to Gen. Anderson that weall loved him. His death caused nearly as much sadness in my family asthe loss of one of our own sons.
"My son Jackson, James Whitcomb and old Ham staid close by Gen.Anderson, doing all they could to alleviate his sufferings. There wasno suspicion as to who had shot him. One day, however, he was sufferingwith a severe fever, and in a delirium remarked:
"'Jo Whitthorne is my evil genius. He intends to murder me.'
"This he repeated so often that when he was sufficiently recoveredJackson asked him if he remembered saying this? He replied that he didnot. Jackson told him that it had aroused his suspicions on the subject.He then revealed the secret to Jackson under the seal of confidence,as he said it would kill his wife if she knew it. Jackson afterwardsrevealed the same to me, but no mention was ever made of it by either ofus.
"Old Ham was so attentive and kind that no one asked him as to hiswhereabouts during the battle. Jackson, however, found him under the bedwhen they brought the General back from the field. The old man said thathe had been sick all day, and got under the bed to be out of the way.When they came back he said to the General; 'I know you be kill' datday or hurted bery bad, kase I dream it. De good Laud tole me so whenI sleep. No 'sputin' it, sho, for de Laud allers tells me 'bout desematters; and you can ax Marfa if it is not so when you go home.'
"When the General recovered so as to think of these matters he dictatedhis report to Jackson, who wrote it for him, in which he recommendedPeter for promotion, among many others, for gallant conduct, and alsorecommended Orderly James Whitcomb for a Lieutenancy in the RegularArmy. These recommendations were complied with at once, and Peter wasassigned to the command of a brigade. James Whitcomb was assigned tothe 13th U. S. Inf., and detailed at Gen. Anderson's request asan Aide-de-Camp in place of Capt. Day. The President sent Peter'scommission to me and I took it to him at Chatteraugus, in accordancewith the wish of Gen. Anderson, who desired to see me, and at the sametime to keep from his wife and our family the fact of his being woundeduntil he should be able to come home. I found my sons both well and Gen.Anderson improving when I arrived. I remained several days. I met Gen.Silent and had several conversations with him. I found him well postedas to all matters North as well as South. He said there was no dangerof Biggs during that Winter. He could not more than recuperate his army,and in the Spring, in all probability, the rebel army in the centerwould have a new commander, as Biggs was a great failure; that if hehad moved against our forces when he had them caged up beforere-enforcements came, our army would have been compelled to surrender.He also spoke of our danger in the North from the anti-war party. Heregarded it more dangerous than the rebel army. If they could succeedin carrying the election the Confederacy would by them be recognized andthe Union dissolved.
"In a few days Gen. Anderson was adjudged by the Surgeon to be strongenough to travel. He was granted an indefinite leave of absence by Gen.Silent, who regarded him very highly as an able officer. Gen. Anderson,myself, Jackson, James Whitcomb (now lieutenant), and Ham started forAllentown. On arriving at home the family were overjoyed, surprised, andgrieved all at the same time--overjoyed at our return, surprised thatthey had not heard of the General being wounded, and grieved at hissuffering.
"Lieut. James Whitcomb was introduced to the family, who were delightedto see him. He left the same evening for his home in Detroit, and wewere together once more, save two sons, Peter and Henry. The meetingbetween Ham and Aunt Martha was very affecting. Their manner and queerremarks were laughable. Soon Aunt Martha came in to see her Marsa Gen'lTom. She hugged him and got down on her knees and prayed for him, andthen said to me:
"'Uncle Daniel, I bress de good Laud, for you bring Marsa Tom back. Icure him, sho. I knows what to do; de Laud tell me, he do. He not goin'to let Marsa Genl Tom die; no he not! He want him to whip de Sesh, hedo. I knows; de Laud tell me bout dat in de dream. He not fool dis old'oinan; he neber do. Ham, he dream 'bout dat when he down to de fight.He say he sick when dey fight. How is dat, Uncle Daniel? Did Marsa Tomtell you? Was he sick? He awful coward, Ham is, but if he sick, den allright; but when he not been sick he must stay wid Marsa Gen'l to keep hethings all right. Ham say he do dat. I 'spect he do; he say so.'
"We told Aunt Martha that Ham was all right, and that pleased her, poorold woman. She was pure gold; God never made a better heart under anywhite skin than she had under her black one.
"Gen. Anderson had the best of attention, and improved daily untilhe could walk about without pain, but he was not fit for duty for aconsiderable time. The two children were delighted, and were full ofquestions of all kinds. One day when they were trying to entertain theGeneral, his little daughter asked him who shot him. I saw the tearscome into his eyes, and he arose and walked out on the porch withoutmaking any answer."
Just at this moment Mrs. Wilson came into the room, and Uncle Danieltook her on his knee and kissed her, saying:
"Jennie, you are my all and only hope, save my poor grandson, that I nowhave left. My time will soon come, however, when I can quietly quitthis world of trouble and care and find a home where works will havedue consideration; where those who serve in the army of the Lord willat least be considered the equal of those who have been in rebellionagainst him.
"My good friends," said Uncle Daniel, "you may think strange of mymelancholy mood; but why should I desire to live longer and see what Ido and feel as I do constantly on account of the manner in which thingsare now being conducted."
"I am not in any way surprised at your feeling as you do. I have feltand do feel the same, though my misfortunes and troubles have not beensevere in comparison with yours," said Col. Bush. "But, Uncle Daniel,to call your attention away from your sorrows for a moment,
I am verydesirous of knowing what became of Mrs. Houghton."
"She remained in that part of the country during that Winter anduntil our combined Armies of the Center and West commenced their nextcampaign, during all of which time she kept our commanding Generalsposted as to the movements of the enemy, his strength, when troops weresent east or west, where and how many; and when the troops were movedsouth in the Spring she returned to New York, and, I have beeninformed, married again. I hope she may be yet living and enjoying greathappiness. She was a true woman. I have not heard of her for many years,however."
"She was a heroine sure," said Col. Bush; "her movements were of a mostimportant character, Uncle Daniel."
"Yes, Colonel, she was a true patriot, and loved her country for hercountry's sake, and I hope the Lord has thrown fortune and pleasure inher pathway. There were a great many patriotic and daring acts performedby women during our war. God bless the good women. To our poor sick andwounded soldiers they were like ministering angels, both in the camp andhospitals."