_Webster's Last Mission.--Anxiety at his Long Absence.--No Tidings of
the Faithful Scout.--Operatives Sent in Search of him.--Webster Ill in
Richmond._
In the latter part of January, 1862, another packet of rebel mail matter
had accumulated, and the various articles, which Webster had agreed to
purchase for the residents of Richmond and vicinity, were ready for
delivery, and Webster prepared himself for another journey into the
South. While in Washington he had not experienced any painful reminders
of his old disease, and he was impatient to be actively employed once
more.
Accordingly, everything was arranged for his trip, and early one bright
winter's morning he came, as was his custom, to bid me farewell.
I often recall, and with an emotion that I cannot control, the
appearance of Timothy Webster, as I saw him that day. Brave, strong and
manly, he stood before me. The merry twinkle in his eyes seemed to belie
the sternness of the set lips, which were even now curved with a smile
of good humor. No trace of fear or hesitancy was apparent in his manner.
He seemed to be animated solely by an earnest desire to serve his
country to the best of his ability. He well knew, as did I, that his
journey lay through a hostile country; that danger was lurking
everywhere around him, and that if his true character was discovered,
the consequences would, no doubt, prove fatal to him. Notwithstanding
this, there was no quivering of the compact muscles, the hand that
grasped mine was as firm as iron, and the brave heart that throbbed in
his bosom was insensible alike to a thought of shrinking, or a desire to
evade, the responsibility that devolved upon him.
After a few words of necessary caution and with good wishes for his
welfare and safe return, Timothy Webster took his departure, and went
his way. I did not know then that I had looked upon his face and manly
form for the last time, and no hint or warning of his subsequent fate
came to me as I sat watching his retreating figure. But to this day, I
can picture him with sentiments of pride, in his valor and services, and
regrets, deep and heartfelt, for the brave man who but a few months
afterwards laid down his life for his country.
For some time previous to this journey of Webster's, Mrs. Lawton had
been located at Leonardstown, where she had assiduously cultivated the
acquaintance of the most important people in that locality, whose
sympathies were with the Southern cause, and whose assistance to Webster
and herself would be valuable in time of need.
Among this number was a man whose name was Washington Gough, a wealthy
secessionist, who was one of the most active in his efforts to assist
the Southern blockade-runners in crossing over into Virginia, and in
eluding the watchfulness of the Federal pickets. Through her
acquaintance with this man, Mrs. Lawton was enabled to acquire much
valuable information from those who sought the aid of Mr. Gough in
obtaining the facilities for reaching the rebel lines in safety.
With Gough, Webster was a prime favorite, and so thoroughly had my
operative ingratiated himself into the favorable opinion of this rebel
gentleman, that any service which would be required would be performed
without question or delay. Mrs. Lawton was invited to make the house of
Gough her home, while in Leonardstown, and by her charms of manner and
conversation proved a powerful ally to Webster in the discovery of
important secrets relating to the movements and intentions of the enemy.
Webster's footing with the rebel authorities was also firmly
established, and every one of them with whom he came in contact yielded
to the magic of his blandishments and was disposed to serve him whenever
possible.
An event which happened about this time fully justified this assertion.
It appeared that during Webster's absence from Leonardstown, a gentleman
by the name of Camilear had crossed over the river, and although a
noted secessionist in his own immediate vicinity, was not known to any
one upon the other side of the water. He was accordingly arrested and
placed in confinement. The appeals of his friends and relatives were
unavailing in securing his release, and the captive chafed terribly
under the burden of his captivity. At length, on Webster's appearance,
the matter was presented to him, and he was entreated by Camilear's
relatives to intercede in his behalf. He promised to do so, and indited
a letter to the officer who had the prisoner in charge, requesting his
release, and giving assurances of the man's fealty to the Confederate
government. In a few days the prisoner was returned to his home, and was
informed by the officer, that only the protestations made by Webster had
been sufficient to accomplish his release. From the highest to the
lowest, the confidence in Webster was universal.
On this last mentioned trip Webster decided to take Mrs. Lawton with
him, and having obtained my sanction to his proposition, he journeyed to
Leonardstown and communicated his wishes to the lady, who was nothing
loath to accompany him. They accordingly made their preparations, and in
the darkness of the night they made their way to the river-bank where an
oyster boat was in waiting to cross the river. Mrs. Lawton wore an
overcoat and felt hat belonging to Webster, and to a casual observer
appeared very masculine in her habiliments. The river was entirely
clear of vessels, and the journey was made in perfect safety. As they
neared the opposite bank the moon shone out brightly, and revealed the
"pungy" to the rebel pickets, who were known by Webster, and from whom
he expected no interference or opposition.
The lights on shore revealed the stations of these pickets, and as they
were expecting his return Webster called out loudly: "Pickets!
Pickets!!"
There was no response to this call, and to his dismay the lights were
suddenly extinguished. The boatman was greatly frightened at this
proceeding, and was in momentary dread of being fired upon; but Webster
reassured him, and continued his loud, but ineffectual calls for the
guard.
Finding it impossible to attract the attention of those who should have
been upon the lookout for him, Webster assisted the boatman in landing
their trunks, after which the "pungy" was pushed off from the shore, and
soon afterwards disappeared in the darkness.
Webster and his companion wandered about for more than an hour, and it
was nearly midnight when they came to a farm house, where their approach
was heralded by the loud barking of numerous dogs, who were aroused by
the unwonted presence of human beings, and were disposed to resent their
approach.
The noise of the dogs brought the farmer to his door, who demanded, in
no very gentle terms, to know who they were, and what had brought them
there at that unseasonable hour. In a few words Webster explained the
situation, and the genial farmer bade them welcome, and safely bestowed
them for the night.
They had scarcely retired, when they were aroused by a loud knocking at
the door, which was discovered to have been made by the pickets from the
adjoining camp, who demanded to know who the new-comers were, and stated
that they had been ordered to bring them immediately before an officer
of the guard, two miles away.
"Why didn't you tell them that, when they called out to you before?"
inquired the farmer, in a contemptuous tone.
"Well we did not know who they were," answered the leader of the party,
"and we did not think it was safe."
"Oho! you were afraid of them, were you, and ran away?"
At this point, Webster, who had heard the conversation, made his
appearance at the door, and demanded to know what was wanted.
The leader of the guard again explained his mission, and demanded that
Webster should accompany him to the camp.
"Tell your commander that I will not stir from this house until morning.
My name is Timothy Webster. I am in the employ of the Confederacy, and
if you had answered my call, there would have been no difficulty."
Finding that Webster was determined, the men went away, and left the
household to their repose. The next morning Webster reported at the
camp, and requested to see Major Beale, the officer in command. He was
informed, that this gentleman was stationed twenty miles away, and upon
telegraphing to him, the answer was returned: "Let Webster go where he
pleases."
The day was cold and stormy, and the roads were in a wretched condition,
but notwithstanding this Webster pushed on to Fredericksburg, and after
delivering some letters and merchandise which he had brought for
residents there, he pushed on to Richmond.
Taking up their quarters at the hotel, they resolved to wait until the
following day before commencing their operations. During the night,
however, Webster's malady returned, and he suffered terribly from his
old enemy, the rheumatism. In the morning he was helpless, and unable to
move.
From this time, I heard nothing further from him directly, and for weeks
was utterly ignorant of his movements or condition. I began to grow
alarmed. Hitherto, his visits had not occupied more than three or four
weeks, and he had always succeeded in escaping suspicion, and evading
being detained by either force through which he would necessarily be
obliged to pass. As the days and weeks passed, and brought no tidings
from him, my apprehensions became so strong that I resolved to send one
or two of my men to the rebel capital, in order to ascertain the cause
of his unusual and long-continued absence.
My anxiety was equally shared by General McClellan, with whom Webster
was a great favorite, and who placed the utmost reliance upon his
reports. One evening, early in February, the General called upon me, and
advised the sending of one messenger, or two, for the sole purpose of
hunting up Webster, or discovering some trace of him. I informed him
that I had already considered the necessity of some such action, and was
upon the point of submitting the matter for his approval. Finding the
General thus fully in accord with the proposition, I at once selected
two of my men for this important mission. After mature consideration, I
decided upon despatching Price Lewis and John Scully upon this delicate
quest. My reasons for this selection, were that both Scully and Lewis
had been connected with other operations in Baltimore, in company with
Webster, and had thus been enabled to form the acquaintance of a great
number of secessionists in that city, some of whom had gone South, while
others, who remained at home, had influential friends in Richmond.
During these operations, both Lewis and Scully had pretended the most
earnest and sincere sympathy for the cause of the Confederacy, and were
known as ardent secessionists. This, I concluded, would materially
assist them after reaching Richmond, particularly if they should be
fortunate enough to meet any of their old Baltimore associates. They had
also been engaged upon various investigations through the Southern
States, and especially in Western Virginia, where they had rendered good
service in the early campaigns in that section of the country. I had,
therefore, no doubt of their ability to perform the task assigned to
them, and felt perfectly satisfied that they would perform their duties
to the best of that ability.
Requesting their presence in my private office, I broached the matter to
them, and submitted the question of their undertaking this task to their
own election. Upon operations of this kind, where there was danger to be
incurred, where a man literally took his life into his own hands, and
where death might be the result of detection, I invariably placed the
question upon its merits, before the person selected for the mission,
and then allowed him to decide for himself, whether he would voluntarily
undertake its accomplishment.
I did this for various reasons. In the first place, I felt very loath to
peremptorily order a man upon an enterprize where there was every
possibility of danger, for in the event of fatal result, I should be
disposed to reproach myself for thus endangering the lives of those
under my command. It is true, that under their terms of service, and by
virtue of the authority vested in me, I had the undoubted right to issue
such order; but I always preferred that my men should voluntarily, and
without urging, signify their willingness to undertake hazardous
missions. Again, I have invariably found, that the ready and cheerful
officer performs the most acceptable service, and that the absence of
fear or hesitation are sure passports to success; while on the other
hand, should there be timidity or unwillingness, or a disposition to
avoid danger, success is rarely, if ever, attained.
It is but just, however, to state that during my entire connection with
the secret service of the government, I never found any of my men
disinclined to undertake an operation that was delegated to them; but on
the contrary, I always experienced the utmost cheerfulness and ready
support from those who so valiantly served under my orders. Nor was I
disappointed in the present instance. On presenting the case, with all
its attendant dangers, to Price Lewis and John Scully, both of them
signified, without the slightest hesitation, their voluntary desire to
go to Richmond, and to make the inquiries, which were considered of so
much importance by both General McClellan and myself.
But few instructions, and very little preparation, were required for
this journey, and in the afternoon both men were prepared to start. I
did not deem it advisable to provide them with any goods, as was
sometimes the case, in order to furnish an excuse for their
blockade-running experiences, for the reason that their journey would be
much delayed, owing to the impassability of many of the roads. I did,
however, cause a letter to be written, apparently by a rebel spy, then
in Washington, and which was directed to Webster. This letter introduced
the two men to Webster as friends of the South, and informed him that
his old route back was no longer a safe one, owing to the presence of
Federal troops in that locality, and advising him to select some other
and less hazardous one on his return to Washington. I did this to guard
against their being suspected and detained after reaching the rebel
lines, as, upon presenting this, they would at once be known as Southern
emissaries, and given safe conduct to the capital. Provided with this
letter, and with full verbal instructions as to their manner of
proceeding, they started from Washington late on the evening of the 14th
of February. As an additional safeguard, I sent along with them an
operative by the name of William H. Scott, who was well acquainted with
the various Federal commanders, and who was to see them safely across
the Potomac river.
The three men departed in good spirits, and, though fully conscious of
the danger before them, thoroughly resolved to successfully accomplish
what they had undertaken.
Prior to despatching these men, I had some misgivings that there might
be still remaining in Richmond some of those families who, while
residing in Washington, had been suspected of sympathizing with, or
furthering the cause of the Confederacy, and whose papers had been
seized, and themselves transported beyond the lines. Among the most
noted of these were the families of Mrs. Phillips, of South Carolina,
and of Mrs. Ex-Gov. Morton, of Florida, who had been residing in
Richmond for a short time. To satisfy myself upon this point, I made
extensive inquiries from deserters, refugees and contrabands, and
learned, from a variety of sources, that Mrs. Phillips had gone to
Charleston, and that Mrs. Morton and her family had departed for their
home in Florida. Believing my information to be reliable, I felt
reassured, and then the men were selected.
While these men were making their way to Richmond, Webster was suffering
excruciating pain, confined to his bed, and unable to move. During all
this time, he was carefully attended and nursed by my resident
operative, Mrs. Hattie Lawton, and through the long, weary days and
sleepless nights, no patient ever had more careful nursing, or more
tender consideration than did Timothy Webster, from the brave
true-hearted woman who had dedicated her life and her services to the
cause of her country and its noble defenders.
This was the state of affairs on the last day of January, and when the
information which Webster had gained would have been of vast importance
and benefit to the cause of the Union, but which, lying an agonized
invalid in a Richmond hotel, he was unable to communicate to those who
were anxiously awaiting his return. And now, leaving Webster at
Richmond, and with Price Lewis and John Scully on their way to the rebel
capital, we will return to Washington, and watch the events which were
transpiring at the capital.
[Illustration: EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.]