CLOSING INCIDENTS--PROFESSOR LOWE'S BALLOON--FITZ JOHN PORTER'S
ADVENTURE--HIS UPWARD FLIGHT--RECONNOITERING FROM A DANGEROUS
POSITION--COOL COURAGE--ENTHUSIASTIC GREETING--AN EARNEST INQUIRER--A
BAPTISM IN THE ARMY--PREACHING BY MOONLIGHT--A MAGNIFICENT SCENE--A
WEDDING IN CAMP--GAY TIMES--A CONTRAST--HOSPITAL IN WINCHESTER--SPIRIT
OF REVENGE--SABLE HEROINE--A WHITE DARKEY--COLORED
SOLDIERS--CONCLUSION.
In looking back over the events of the two years which I spent in the
army, I see so much worthy of record I scarcely know where to stop.
A most thrilling incident occurs to my mind at this moment in connection
with Professor Lowe and his balloon, which I must relate before closing.
It took place while McClellan's army was in front of Yorktown.
General Fitz John Porter having been in the habit of making frequent
ascensions in company with Professor Lowe, learned to go aloft alone.
One morning he stepped into the car and ordered the cable to be let out
with all speed. We saw with surprise that the flurried assistants were
sending up the great straining canvas with a single rope attached. The
enormous bag was only partially inflated, and the loose folds opened and
shut with a sharp report like that of a pistol. Noisily, fitfully, the
great yellow mass rose toward the sky, the basket rocking like a feather
in the breeze. Presently a sound came from overhead like the explosion of
a shell--the cable had snapped asunder, and the balloon was adrift.
All eyes were turned toward the receding car, where General Porter sat in
his aerial castle, being borne heavenward as fast as if on eagle wings,
without the power either to check or guide his upward flight.
The whole army was agitated by this unwonted occurrence, and the rebel
army evidently partook in the general excitement.
Lowe's voice could be heard above the confusion and tumult shouting to the
soaring hero--"Open--the--valve! Climb--to--the--netting--and--reach--the
valve--rope!"
"The valve--the valve!" repeated a multitude of voices, but all in vain,
for it was impossible to make him hear.
Soon the signal corps began to operate, and at last the general was made
to understand by signals when it was impossible to reach him by the human
voice.
He appeared directly over the edge of the car, and then clambered up the
netting and reached for the cord, but he was so far above us then he
looked no bigger than a great black spider.
It was a weird spectacle--that frail, fading object floating in the azure
sky, with the miniature boat swinging silently beneath, looking no bigger
than a humming-bird's nest; and a hundred thousand brave hearts beneath
beating with the wildest excitement and warmest sympathy, yet powerless to
render the least assistance to their exalted brother-in-arms.
"Had the general been floating down the rapids of Niagara he could not
have been farther from human assistance."
We at length saw him descend from the netting and reappear over the edge
of the basket, and he seemed to be motioning to the breathless crowd below
the story of his failure.
Soon after the balloon began slowly to descend, and when we next saw him
it was with spyglass in hand, reconnoitering the rebel works. Shouts of
joy and laughter went up from the long lines of spectators as this cool
procedure was observed.
For a moment it seemed doubtful in which direction the balloon would
float; it faltered like an irresolute being, and at length moved
reluctantly toward Fortress Monroe. Bursting cheers, half uttered,
quivered on every lip. All eyes glistened, and many were dim with tears.
But the wayward canvas now turned due west, and was blown rapidly toward
the confederate works.
Its course was fitfully direct, and the wind seemed to veer often, as if
contrary currents, conscious of the opportunity, were struggling for the
possession of the daring navigator.
The south wind held the mastery for awhile, and the balloon passed the
Federal front amid groans of despair from the soldiers. It kept right on,
over sharpshooters, rifle-pits, etc., until it stood directly over the
rebel fortifications at Yorktown. The cool courage, either of heroism or
despair, seemed to seize the general, for turning his tremendous glass
upon the ramparts and masked batteries below, he viewed the remote camps,
the beleaguered town, the guns of Gloucester Point, and distant Norfolk.
Had he been reconnoitering from a secure perch on the top of the moon he
could not have been more vigilant; and the Confederates probably thought
this some Yankee device to peer into their sanctum in spite of ball or
shell. None of their large guns could be brought to bear upon the balloon,
but there were some discharges of musketry, which seemed to have no
effect whatever, and finally even these demonstrations ceased.
Both armies were gazing aloft in breathless suspense, while the deliberate
general continued to spy out the land.
Suddenly another change of position, and the air craft plunged and tacked
about, and steered rapidly for the Federal lines again. Making a desperate
effort to catch the valve-rope, the general at length succeeded, and
giving it a jerk, the balloon came suddenly to the ground; fortunately,
however, it struck a tent as it descended, which perhaps saved the general
from any serious injuries from the fall.
By the time the crowd had reached the spot, Porter had disentangled
himself from the folds of oiled canvas, and was ready to greet his anxious
friends; and amid hearty congratulations and vociferous cheers, he was
escorted to his quarters.
As this chapter is devoted to incidents in camp, I will try to illustrate
the variety of interesting events with which our camps abound.
After one of the most severe battles ever fought in Virginia, and while
our troops were still rejoicing over their victory, a young soldier sought
the chaplain for the purpose of religious conversation. Said the chaplain:
"The tears were in his eyes, and his lips trembled with emotion. I knew
that he was in earnest. We knelt down together and I prayed with him, and
he prayed for himself. In this manner we spent several hours, pleading
with God in his behalf, until light broke through the darkness, and he
arose from his knees praising God."
Wishing to manifest by some outward sign his consecration to God and to
His service, he requested the chaplain to baptize him by immersion. The
next day being the Sabbath his request was complied with, in the presence
of thousands of his comrades.
The scene was a most solemn one, and after the ordinance was administered
there was scarcely a dry eye in the company to which he belonged.
In the evening one of the delegates of the Christian Commission preached
to an immense congregation of grim warriors seated on the ground--a little
pine grove for a church, the great blue dome of heaven for galleries, and
the clear, bright moon for a chandelier.
The scene was a magnificent one. A little to the right lay a cloud of
white canvas tents shining in the moonlight, and just below, in plain
sight, were the transports dotting the water, with their gleaming lights
and star-spangled banners floating in the evening breeze. All combined to
make the scene beautiful and interesting.
The discourse was excellent and well chosen, and the men listened with
profound attention, and I have no doubt with much profit. Then was sung
Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing,
and the benediction being pronounced, the vast assembly marched to their
quarters as solemnly as if going from a funeral.
Next came a wedding! Yes; a real wedding in camp. You must know that when
military necessity prevents our young heroes from going home to fulfill
their engagements to their devoted fair ones, it is the privilege of the
waiting damsels, in war times, to remove all unnecessary obstacles, and
facilitate matters by declaring themselves in favor of the _union_, and
claiming their lovers on the field.
This wedding was a grand affair, and took place in a camp which was very
prettily decorated, being picturesquely arranged among pine trees--just
the most romantic place imaginable for such an event.
A little before noon the guests began to arrive in large numbers. Among
them were Generals Hooker, Sickles, Carr, Mott, Hobart, Ward, Revere,
Bartlett, Birney, and Berry.
The troops, looking their very best, formed a hollow square, in the center
of which a canopy was erected, and an altar formed of drums.
As the generals marched into the square--General Hooker leading the
van--and grouped themselves on each side of the altar, the bands struck up
"Hail to the Chief," and on the appearance of the bridal party the
"Wedding March" was played.
The day was cold and windy, with a few snow-flakes interspersed, which
made the ladies in attendance look very much like "blue noses"; but the
blushing bride bore the cold and the admiring glances of the soldiers like
a martyr, and retained her dignity and self-possession throughout the
ceremony worthy of a heroine, as she was.
To add to the dramatic effect of the scene, a line of battle was formed by
the remaining troops in that section, a short distance from camp, to repel
an expected attack of the enemy.
The ceremony having been performed, dinner was announced, and all partook
of the good things provided for the occasion.
After dinner, came numerous toasts, speeches, songs, and music from the
bands, and, to close up the day in good style, a regular military ball was
held, and fireworks exhibited in the evening--"and on the whole," a
newspaper correspondent says, "it entirely eclipsed an opera at the
Academy of Music."
I have before alluded to the vindictive spirit manifested by the women of
Virginia toward our soldiers. I will illustrate this fact by an incident
which took place in one of the hospitals just after a severe battle.
Many wounded soldiers, both Union and Confederate, were brought into the
town of Winchester, and placed in the churches and court-house side by
side.
The ladies (beg pardon, ladies, I mean females) of that place brought into
the hospital many things to nourish and tempt the appetites of the
sufferers, but they gave all these delicacies to the Confederate soldiers:
our men were passed by as unworthy of notice or sympathy.
One day a lady, who had been a constant visitor, brought in a supply of
fragrant tea. She went from one cot to another of her friends, but had no
eye or heart of pity for others.
One of our wounded men, who lay near his end, longed for a cup of this tea
as he saw it handed to those around him, and requested the chaplain, who
stood by his side, to ask the lady for a little of the tea.
He did so in a very polite manner, at the same time telling her how ill
the man was, and that it was the soldier himself who wished him to make
the request.
"No," said she, and her face flushed with anger; "not a drop of it; this
tea is all for our suffering martyrs."
The chaplain replied: "Madam, I looked for no other answer. I beg pardon
for having seemed for a moment to expect a different one."
A few moments afterwards, as the poor disappointed man lay there seeing
the delicious tea passed on all sides of him and could not procure a drop
of it, an old lame negro woman came limping up the aisle with a large
basket on each arm.
Coming up to where the chaplain stood, she laid down the baskets and
addressed him thus:
"Massa, I'se a slave--my husban' and chil'en is slaves. Will you 'cept
dese tings for de poor men?"
Then taking up a roll of stockings, she said: "Dem I knit wid my own hands
for de soldiers, when all sleep, in my cabin. We know'd dis war was comin'
long 'fore you Yankees did. We see it 'proaching, an' we began to prepare
for it."
Then taking packages of tea, cans of fruit, pears and peaches, lint, linen
for bandages, and pocket-handkerchiefs, she said: "Massa, permit me to
give you dese for de poor men. I have not stole 'em. My own hands have
earned 'em over de washtub. I wish to do something for de Union soldiers,
Lord bless 'em!"
"As she talked," says the chaplain, "she grew more earnest, and looking
around on the mutilated men the tears rolled down her black face, and fell
on her hands, as she lifted the treasures out of the baskets and handed
them to me."
Our sick men looked with wonder and admiration on the old colored woman,
and soon a hundred voices cried out "God bless you, aunty! You are the
only white woman we have seen since we came to Winchester."
Some people assert that colored people have no souls. Which, think you,
acted most as if lacking soul--the black or the white woman in the
hospital at Winchester?
The devotion of the negro woman, as manifested in the hospital, is a
perfect sample of the devotion of the contrabands, male and female, to the
Union cause.
And now that the time has come when the colored men are permitted, by the
laws of the land, to assume the privileges of rational beings, and to go
forth as American soldiers to meet their cruel oppressors on the bloody
field, there is evidently as great, if not greater, enthusiasm and true
patriotism manifested by them, as by any troops in the United States army.
And still further--it has been proved satisfactorily within the last
twelve months that the colored troops endure fatigue as cheerfully and
fight as well (and get less pay) as any of the white troops. Thank God,
this is one great point gained for the poor down-trodden descendants of
Africa.
I imagine I see them, with their great shiny eyes and grinning faces, as
they march to the field, singing--
Oh! we're de bully soldiers of de "First of Arkansas,"
We are fightin' for de Union, we are fightin' for de law,
We can hit a rebel furder dan a white man eber saw,
As we go marchin' on:
Glory, glory, hallelujah, etc.
See dar! above de center, where de flag is wavin' bright;
We are goin' out of slavery; we are bound for freedom's light;
We mean to show Jeff. Davis how de Africans can fight!
Glory, glory, hallelujah,
Glory, glory, hallelujah,
Glory, glory, hallelujah,
As we go marching on.
And now, what shall I say in conclusion? The war still continues--our
soldiers are daily falling in battle, and thousands are languishing in
hospitals or in Southern prisons; and I for months past have not given
even a cup of cold water to the sufferers. I am ashamed to acknowledge it!
But when I look around and see the streets crowded with strong, healthy
young men who ought to be foremost in the ranks of their country's
defenders, I am not only ashamed, but I am indignant!
To prove to my friends that I am not ambitious of gaining the reputation
of that venerable general (Halleck) whose "pen is mightier than his
sword," I am about to return to the army to offer my services in any
capacity which will best promote the interests of the Federal cause--no
matter how perilous the position may be.
And now I lay aside my pen, hoping that after "this cruel war is over,"
and peace shall have once more shed her sweet influence over our land, I
may be permitted to resume it again to record the annihilation of
rebellion, and the final triumph of Truth, Right, and _Liberty_.
O Lord of Peace, who art Lord of Righteousness,
Constrain the anguished worlds from sin and grief,
Pierce them with conscience, purge them with redress,
AND GIVE US PEACE WHICH IS NO COUNTERFEIT!