BATTLE OF MURPHY'S HILL.-THE MOST SANGUINARY FIGHTING OF THE
WAR.---MURDER OF STEPHEN LYON.--UNCLE HAM GETS A STRONG
DISLIKE TO WAR.
Generals 'gainst Generals grapple gracious God,
How honors Heaven heroic hardihood!
Infuriate, indiscriminate in ill,
Kindred kill kinsmen, kinsmen kindred kill,
Labor laid levels, longest, loftiest lines;
Men march 'mid mounds, 'mid molts, 'mid murderous mines,
--FINLEY
“After the lapse of considerable time Gen. Anderson whether or not he had
recovered sufficiently to again take the field. His staff officers and
his wife were protesting that his strength was not sufficient.
“I said: 'Well, we will consider this matter at another time.'
“Aunt Martha called us; we all walked in and sat down to tea, Capt. Day
with us, having been with Gen. Anderson almost daily since his return.
While at the table my wife spoke of the absence of Stephen and Peter,
wishing them with us, and again alluded to her dream, saying that she
had dreamed it all over again last night, and that she thought there
must be some kind of a warning to her in it.
“Just at this moment I discovered old Ham standing in the corner very
much absorbed in counting his fingers. He seemed to be considerably
bothered, however, in making up the proper count. Aunt Sarah discovered
him, and said:
“'Ham, what are you doing?
“'Ham saw that his manner caused my wife (Aunt Sarah) to be disturbed,
and the old fox (for he was very sly) said: “'es, missus, I's--I's jes'
seein'w many is here, and how many dey is wid de oder boys what goed
away, so dat I know how many you is when you'uns is all togedder. I tell
you, dis am a big family--dat's all.'
“Old Martha, who was attending the table, spoke to Ham in her usual way,
saying:
“Ham, you jes' git out, you ole fool; go to de kitchen, whar you
belongs.'
“When Ham left we finished our tea, but Aunt Sarah showed plainly that
she was very much troubled. She soon retired for the night, and the rest
of us conversed about the situation and Gen. Anderson's condition;
he claiming that he was strong, the rest of us to the contrary. We
concluded to settle it for the present by visiting the farm the next
morning, which e did, taking Ham with us as driver of our wagon. When
we arrived Joseph Dent invited us all into his house, and while making
inquiries of him as to his health, the condition of his stock, etc., a
man came to the gate and called for him. When he returned he said that
this man was notifying him that he must come to a meeting that night of
the Golden Circle; that the Circle had some very important business on
hand. We encouraged him to go, and to report to us at Allentown the next
morning. Bent consented, saying that the Circle had been exceedingly
active; that an agent had been there from Canada and had required them
to make a selection of agents of their Circle to be ready to do some
particular work, which would be explained at the proper time. He also
gave us the names of two men, one of whom resided in Allentown. This
caused us to think seriously about the danger that we might be in, as
men coming from Canada might discover us in some way and afterwards
recognize any of us who should be in that country prying into their
designs. We left for home, and on the way noticed that Ham was unusually
quiet, but watchful. Finally, he concluded that it was his time to
speak, and turn ing to Gen. Anderson, said:
“'Mssa Gen'l, did you see dat man out at de barn, sir?'
“'No,' said the General.
“'Well, sah! dat was the wussest lookin' Sesh I eber did see. He war
lyin' in de hay, and when he look at me I lef; yes, sah, I lef. Somefin
wrong dar, sah. You better ax Massa Joseph, when he be down to de house,
'bout dat.'
“We satisfied Ham by agreeing to find out on the next day; so we came
home, and were sitting on my portico talking about what was best to do,
when the General received a dispatch from Washington, stating that
Gen. Rosenfelt, commanding the Army of the Center, had asked for Gen.
Anderson to be assigned to him, which would be done whenever he was well
enough to take the field. The General was somewhat disappointed, as
he wished to return to the Army of the East, for reasons that you can
understand from what occurred in his hearing while at Gen. McGregor's
headquarters. He was a true soldier, however, and said not a word, but
promptly telegraphed, thanking them for the assignment, and saying he
would report very soon. He felt that he would be able to attend to duty
without very great danger to himself; so he directed Capt. Jackson, as
we now called him, to get ready, also Capt. Day, who had come in a
few moments after the receipt of the telegram. The young men seemed
particularly well pleased. Capt. Jackson felt that he would be
with Peter and Stephen. Stephen had been promoted and was now a
Brigadier-General. So all seemed pleased, though I knew how Gen.
Anderson felt.
“The General sent a telegram to Gen. Rosenfelt, who was then encamped
between Nashua and Stone Run, Tenn., informing him that he would start
for his headquarters in about two days. He did not get away, however, as
soon as he stated.
“The next day Joseph Dent came, and was greatly delighted at something.
So we gave him a seat and cleared the decks, as you must know that
these secret matters about how information was obtained of which we were
coming in possession, other than in the ordinary course of things, was
not told to the whole household. Before proceeding, however, we asked
him to tell us who was in the barn at the farm the day before, that had
so alarmed Ham. He laughed and said it was his partner; so we dropped
further inquiry, but did not tell Ham.
“Joseph Dent said he attended the Circle the night before, as he had
promised, and that they were in great trouble. They had been advised
that the agents would not be needed for the present; that some scheme
that was on foot had been postponed, and that a consultation was to be
held in order to come to an understanding as to what course was to be
pursued. He said a man who was a stranger to him stated that two of
their principal men who were to carry out the scheme (whatever it might
be) had been sent to Europe, and that this left them in a condition so
that they could not proceed until they could work up their plan; that
their plan or scheme was being matured by the men, who were to obtain
their material in England; that it could not be done here without
suspicion being aroused. This, he said, was all that was said or done.
So you see, this meeting evidently had reference to some desperate
undertaking, of which their leaders in Indiana seemed to be posted as
to the fact that something was to be done, without knowing the details.
This proved to us that they had communication one lodge with another
all over the country, and also with the heads of the conspiracy,
and therefore we would have to take every precaution in all of our
movements; but as we acted only through persons that we could trust with
our lives, we considered the matter comparatively safe, and were very
sure that we would be able to post the President at all times as to what
might be danger in the way of our success.
“The next day, when the family were informed that the General, Capt.
Jackson and Capt. Day must leave us, our house again became a scene of
distress. My wife cried all day long. Mary Anderson was nearer breaking
down than I had ever seen her since we heard that the General (then a
Colonel) was killed at Dolensburg. Jennie also nearly gave way. The two
children begged them most piteously not to go away to fight (as they
termed it) any more.
“Ham seemed rather serious, and did not relish the renewal of his
acquaintance with the Sesh, The next morning, all matters being
arranged, the General and his two aides, with old Ham, after taking
leave of all the family, left. The scene that followed in my household I
will not attempt to describe. Ham lingered a little behind, but finally
he embraced Aunt Martha, and said:
“'Good-by, Marfa; I guess I'se a gone darky dis time. I tell you I do
not like de dream what I had.'
“'Go long, you ole fool; dreams 'mount to nuffin. You eats too much
cabbage las' night. Dats all what ails you. Dar's no danger you git
kill. You jes' go long wid Massa Tom. Dat's what you do.' “'All right,
Marfa, I do it. Good-by.'
“They arrived at Gen. Rosenfelt's headquarters (which were with his
army) and reported. Gen. Rosenfelt was very glad to see the General, and
told him that he would assign him to the command of a first-class
division under Gen. Papson, his army then being divided into three full
corps, commanded respectively by Papson, Gen. Critsinger and Gen.
McCabe. His army numbered, embracing all arms of the service, some
56,000 effective men, and was well supplied with all necessary material
for any kind of movement.
“On the next morning Gen. Anderson was assigned to the command of such a
division as mentioned. He was well pleased with his corps commander, who
was a fine-looking man of middle age, very quiet and unostentatious. The
whole army seemed to be in splendid condition for a campaign. On looking
through his division that day he found Stephen Lyon in command of his
Third brigade, and Peter in command of one of Stephen's regiments. This
delighted the General, and he quickly said to Capt. Jackson:
“'Gen. Rosenfelt and Gen. Papson both being old friends of Uncle Daniel,
I suspect one of his letters might be found amongst the papers of both
Rosenfelt and Papson.' “'Capt. Jackson laughed and said:
“'Well, father has nothing else to do except to keep the President
posted and look after his children, which he faithfully does.'
“'Yes,' said Gen. Anderson; 'he does his duty in all respects.'
“That afternoon Gen. Stephen Lyon and Col. Peter Lyon (being their
respective rank at that time) visited Gen. Anderson's headquarters, and
of course enjoyed themselves, each thanking the good fortune that had
brought them together. They discussed the situation, and Stephen was
decidedly of the opinion that unless we advanced at once and gave battle
that the enemy would do so, and the position we occupied not being a
favorable one for defense, he thought we could force a battle where our
position would be better.
“The enemy at this time were also in good condition, and were commanded
by Gen. Biggs, with three full corps, commanded respectively by Gen.
Polkhorn, Gen. Chatham and Gen. Harding. Biggs's command was disposed
as follows: Polkhorn's corps and three brigades of Harding's were at
Murphy's Hill; the remainder of Harding's corps to the southwest some
twenty miles, forming the left flank; the remainder of Biggs's army
lay some twenty miles to the south and east; on and in advance of his
extreme left was one division on the Nashua and Franktown road. In this
position lay the rebel army, in easy supporting distance to the center
and main line, it having been selected by Biggs as a good position on
which to make his stand against.our forces, his outposts being ordered
to fall back should our forces advance. The position was a good one, as
it forced our army to cross Stone Run in his front in any direction that
our troops might approach him.
“During the evening a lady came to our picket line and asked to be taken
to Gen. Rosenfelt's headquarters. This was done. When she appeared, Gen.
Rosenfelt recognized her as Mrs. Lotty Houghton, who had been employed,
it seems, by Jardine, Marshall & Co., northern manufacturers of cotton
goods, to purchase cotton and get it through our lines. They had a
permit to do so from the Treasury Department of the United States, and
it seems she was quite successful as one of the agents. The enemy were
eager to sell their cotton and our people anxious to get it. She went
to and fro with passes from both sides, neither believing she could
give any information that would be of importance to either side.
She, however, was an exceedingly bright woman, who noted in her mind
everything she saw or heard. She was as true and as loyal to the Union
as any commander we had. She asked the General for a private interview,
and gave him the position of the enemy, as I have before stated. This
was the only certain information he had up to this time as to their
exact position. She also told him that the reason she came to him
now was that all the enemy's main force of cavalry were gone. That of
Morganson and Forester were far away on raids, and would not be able
to return in time to aid in a battle, should Gen. Rosenfelt feel like
assuming the offensive. She proposed to him that she would go to Nashua
and from thence down the Franktown road, pass through the lines of
the enemy, and come in their rear to Murphy's Hill, where she was well
known; remain there quietly with a lady friend, and when she discovered
anything that she considered absolutely important, she would get
through the lines some way and come to him with the information. He was
delighted at this proposition and said to her:
“'You shall be well rewarded for this.'
“She said, in reply:
“'No, sir; you mistake me. I am no spy! I give this information
because it comes to my knowledge without my seeking it, and not in any
confidence. I do this for the good of my country, and not for reward.'
“The General bowed and applauded her devotion to her government. She
then bade him good-by and left for Nashua, refusing an escort.
“Gen. Rosenfelt sent for his corps commanders that evening, and
explained the situation as he understood it. After examining the map and
showing his officers the manner he desired an assault to be made, should
he determine to attack, all agreed that there was no cause for delay.
“The troops were in fine condition and 'eager for the fray.' The General
commanding told them to be ready to move at 'o'clock in the morning. He
would send them written instructions in the meantime. So he prepared his
orders and sent them out. First, his headquarters would be with those of
Gen. Papson's corps; that the army would march by three different roads,
leading from Nashua in a southerly direction. Gen. McCabe, with his
command, would march on the Franktown road; Gen. Papson, with his
command, being the center, on the Nolton and Shell-town Road; Critsinger
on the Murphy's Hill road. McCabe was to assail Harding's forces on his
road; but if Harding should fall back on the main rebel line, in that
event McCabe and Papson were both to bear to the left, so as to present
an unbroken front or line at or near Stone Run, opposite Murphy's Hill.
The movement commenced the next morning, but not so early as directed.
During the march McCabe ran against Harding's pickets, when a skirmish
began. The rebel forces fell back on their main line. Gen. McCabe was
delayed for some reason and did not reach Harding's main position that
day, but on the next. And when he did arrive, Harding had left and was
far away on his road to join Bigg's main force. The rain was now falling
in torrents, and Papson and Critsinger were troubled to get their trains
through the mud over very poor roads. When Gen. Rosenfelt's forces were
finally concentrated he was compelled to rest one day, he thought, in
order not to engage the enemy with his army in a tired and worn-out
condition.
“The enemy had to march about the same distance, however, in order to
make their concentration of forces. The ground over which the battle
must be fought lies between Stone Run and Overman's Creek; it is
slightly rolling ground, with sticky, clayish soil, in which the roads
are tortuous and easily worked up by teams so as to become almost
impassable. There were clearings on this ground, but they alternated
with a chaparral that was almost impenetrable. There are three roads
through this valley, between the two streams, which converge on Murphy's
Hill.
“Rosenfelt, after resting, formed his line with McCabe on the right,
Papson in the center, and Critsinger on the left, leaving Stone Run
between the enemy and himself. One or the other must cross this stream
sometime and somewhere during the engagement, in order to attack his
opponent. There is much in the first assault if made with decision. In
the evening, just before dark, one of McCabe's brigades struck one of
Wittington's (rebel) brigades. The contest was a severe one, in which
our forces were damaged very much. This ought to have proven that the
enemy were intending to cross the run and strike our right flank. But it
did not seem to disturb our commander in the least. That night Rosenfelt
laid before his corps commanders his plan of attack, which was to throw
his left across the run and attack and drive the rebel forces from
Murphy's Hill, and get between the hill and the enemy, and use the high
ground for artillery on the line and flank of the enemy; at the same
time strike him in the center with Papson, leaving McCabe to merely hold
his line to resist and not to attack.
“This being understood, all were to be ready the next morning to carry
out the plan of the battle laid down by the General commanding. During
the day Mrs. Lotty Houghton heard directly from one of the rebel
officers that they were to move that night all their available forces to
our right and attack us on our flank in the morning. So she concluded to
leave that day, in order to be out of the way of the battle, and started
south. After traveling several miles outside of the enemy's lines,
she cut across to the west and took the road leading from Nashua to
Pulaston. Traveling on that for some distance she struck across to the
road from Nashua to Murphy's Hill, following that until she came to our
pickets, and there asked to be shown to Army headquarters. She got in
very late, and the Sergeant made a mistake and took her to Gen. Papson.
He did not know her and was rather suspicious. She told him of the
movement of the enemy. He took her into his headquarters and sent out
to find Gen. Rosenfelt. But he could not be found. He was out somewhere
looking after his lines. This caused delay. He was not found until
morning, and then not until after the movement had commenced on his
left. Critsinger was crossing the run in front of Murphy's Hill. When
Gen. Rosenfelt was informed that Mrs. Houghton was in our lines, and of
her statement made about the enemy, he said:
“'It cannot be so. Biggs cannot suspect our movement. But even so, I
will crush his right, which he has left exposed, and carry out my plan
before he can do anything.' Gen. Rosenfelt superintended the crossing
of the run in person. He saw the moment approaching when he could throw
himself with a vastly superior force upon the isolated division that
Gen. Biggs had left at the hill--the rest of Biggs's command having
crossed the run to his left. At this juncture skirmish firing was heard,
and in a very short time sharp musketry burst forth on our extreme
right.
“At once Rosenfelt questioned in his mind, could Biggs have guessed the
movement by which he was menaced? Was he endeavoring to forestall it, or
was this one of those encounters between pickets? Or had Mrs. Houghton
brought to him the correct information? He at once sent to have her
brought to him. But she had left for Nashua on the turnpike road, so as
to be out of the way, as well as out of danger. Very soon the facts were
revealed to him, when too late, however, to retrace his steps. There
was nothing left but to attack the isolated force at once, as McCabe
had stated that he could hold his position against any force that might
attack him. The battle had commenced on his right, and the rebels were
pressing forward and gaining very great advantage. Our forces were taken
completely by surprise on our right--the soldiers were in their tents,
the officers scattered; the Chief of Artillery was at the headquarters
of Gen. McCabe; the artillery horses had been taken to water, and in
the great haste to get under arms each regiment formed in front of their
tents. On came the rebel division, pouring a terrific fire into our
ranks, advancing at every discharge, and loading as they came. Our
artillery was mixed up and the portion of it that could be got into
position was operated in vain. The two forces came together and fought
hand to hand amid a musketry fire that struck friend and foe alike. Gen.
John's brigade held their ground manfully, but could not long withstand
the impetuosity of the attack and the superiority of numbers. Their line
broke in several places, and the batteries, deprived of horses, fell
into the hands of the enemy. Gen. Willis's brigade was totally routed
and he made a prisoner. Kirkham's brigade was broken to pieces and
routed. The first assault did not last long, but was extremely damaging
to our forces. Thus attacked, our lines were falling back in the
direction of Overman's Creek, when Lawting's rebel cavalry fell upon
their flank, capturing many prisoners, guns, and much camp equipage.
Polkhorn now assaulted Gen. Davies' division with two fresh divisions.
Davies repulsed the first assault, but was struck in flank by Clayber,
which forced him back. Potter's brigade was by Clayber entirely
dispersed. By this time our right flank had been broken and driven back
on Hospital Hill, and finally from there.
“The rebel cavalry then came charging down, capturing many prisoners.
Our wagon trains, ammunition and rations were only saved by the action
of one regiment of our cavalry charging the rebel flank and forcing them
back. News reached Rosenfelt that his right was completely routed. He at
once countermanded his order to attack with his left, and moved to the
right in order to save a great disaster and perhaps his army.
“In the meantime Biggs was preparing to attack the center, and on came
one of his divisions in double column and struck the troops of a general
who was in waiting to receive them (Gen. Sherlin). The attack was quick
and terrible, but they were rolled back, attacked in turn, and the rebel
loss in one brigade was one-third of its force. Gen. Sull, one of our
brave officers, here lost his life while leading a charge. Rosenfelt and
Gen. Papson now commenced forming a new line, which had to be done under
a heavy fire, as the battle had extended down to and on the center.
Sherlin had fallen back to form on the new line. Rosen felt had become
excited, and was riding over the field with his hat off, ordering
everything he came to--batteries, regiments and companies. Papson, who
was always cool and calm in battle as on dress parade, had his corps
well in hand, and ordered Gen. Anderson, who was on his right and
adjoining Sherlin, to receive the enemy and give him the bayonet. There
had been a cessation of fighting for an hour, and the broken troops
had commenced to re-organize and get into line. Biggs, seeing that
postponement would not do, ordered up the division from Murphy's Hill,
and again the battle commenced with renewed vigor. Sherlin was assailed
first by Polkhorn. Gen. Anderson now seeing his chance, moved quickly to
Sherlin's support, and with a dash struck one of Polkhorn's divisions
in flank, and almost annihilated it. One of his brigades, Stephen Lyon
commanding, was ordered to charge against another division. This was
handsomely done, and the rebels fell back rapidly. At this time Biggs
came into the fray, and led back his broken brigades in person, but they
fared the same as before. In this assault Sherlin lost his other two
brigade commanders, and had his troops somewhat demoralized for a time;
but they soon recovered and the attacking commenced on our side. Our
lines were moved forward and the battle was furious; first an advantage
was gained on the one side and then on the other. At last our men became
encouraged and were fighting with a firm conviction that we were gaining
ground and driving the enemy back. During an hour of hard stand-up
hand-to-hand fighting, officers and men fell like the leaves of Autumn
after a bitter frost. Night then closed in, leaving the two armies
facing each other.
“A profound silence prevailed during the night, interrupted only by
the groans and the shrieks of the wounded and dying, after a constant
strife, which had lasted for ten hours. No more sanguinary struggle for
the length of time was ever witnessed. During this day there was not a
single regiment of our troops that had not been more or less engaged.
The enemy's cavalry had crossed the run below our army and captured
and destroyed a great quantity of our provisions, ammunition, etc. That
night no rations were distributed. The poor boys gathered around the
campfires and anxiously inquired about missing comrades, and what of the
day to-morrow. Many of the soldiers thought our army surrounded. Three
of our Generals had fallen during the day, and many thousand poor
soldiers were killed, wounded and captured.
“That night Gens. Anderson and Sherlin met for the first time, and in
talking over the morrow both agreed that they would die on that ground
or win the battle, and they infused this same determination into all
they met.
“Biggs thought that Rosenfelt would retreat during the night. He could
not believe that he would undertake to maintain himself in the position
in which he bad been forced. He thought that he had only to wait until
morning to gather the fruits of a great victory. He was mistaken. The
next morning he found the Union forces in a compact line skirting the
timber, with hastily thrown-up earthworks. If Rosenfelt had made his
movement, on the information given by Mrs. Houghton, earlier in the day,
instead of the afternoon, he would, perhaps, have met with no disaster.
But the next day, when he found that Biggs did not attack, he determined
to do so. He made the same movement that he began the day before, and
was driven back in his first attempt to take the hill. He then began a
general assault, and retook all the positions lost the day before. The
loss of the enemy was very heavy, and the victory of the second day
was complete. Gen. Anderson moved out with his division by the side of
Sherlin, and the two seemed to vie with each other as to which could
face the greatest danger. The rebels lost two Generals, killed that day.
In the two days' fighting the losses on both sides were most serious.
In the evening, after the battle was concluded, as General Anderson was
riding over the field near Hospital Hill, he discovered a rebel officer
leaning against the root of a tree. There were two rebel soldiers with
him. He was very pale, and not able to speak in louder tones than
a whisper. The General dismounted, giving his reins to his orderly.
Approaching the group, the two soldiers arose and said:
“'General, we surrender.'
“The General replied:
“'That is not my purpose. I do not come to make prisoners, but to know
if I can be of any service to this wounded officer.'
“As the General spoke, the wounded officer said, in a whisper:
“'Tom, is that you?”
“'Yes,' said the General, reaching out his hand to Capt. Whitthorne, in
whom he recognized his wife's cousin.
“Capt. Whitthorne took his hand and said:
“'I am dying. I want you to tell cousin Mary that I have never forgotten
her; I love her, and wish I could see her now. We will not speak of our
differences now; the approach of death softens our hearts. You are a
brave man, Tom. I am proud of you, even as an enemy. When I die, as I
will in a few minutes--I can only last a little while--will you bury me
just where I fell? There is the spot,' looking over his left shoulder
and asking one of the men to mark it.
“This exertion caused the blood to flow profusely, as he had been shot
through the lungs.
“In a few minutes he breathed his last. Gen. Anderson had him properly
interred at the place where he requested, and marked it with a headstone
with his name upon it. He wrote to his wife the facts as I have given
them to you. Gen. Anderson never alluded to him afterwards except in the
most respectful terms. When Mary, the General's wife, received a letter
giving an account of her cousin's death, she wept, but said nothing.
“But to return to the results of the battle: Biggs retreated and left
the field to Rosenfelt, who concluded to go into winter quarters
instead of making pursuit. He said it was necessary that his army should
recuperate. Wishing, however, to cover Nashua, he sent a command out
to the west from Murphy's Hill, on the road to Frank-town. It fell upon
Stephen Lyon's brigade to go. He was quite unwell, but would by this
station have an independent command--his brigade and two regiments of
cavalry and two batteries of artillery--consequently he was gratified
by the order. In marching the command moved slowly, there not being an
urgent necessity for their presence at Franktown. On the second day's
march they halted and had a luncheon at a spring by the roadside.
“Gen. Stephen Lyon was lying on a mattress in an ambulance. When
the command had rested he sent them forward, remaining at the spring
himself, saying to his officers that he would come on after resting, as
he could soon overtake them. H e kept with him only one officer (Lieut.
Curtis), two orderlies and the driver, not dreaming of an enemy being in
that part of the country, as Biggs's army was many miles south of Stone
Run, or rather to the southeast at Tullahoming.
“Col. Joseph Whitthorne (then Brigadier-General), with a detachment
of cavalry, came dashing up. He captured Lieut. Curtis and the two
orderlies and driver, and then asked who the officer was that was
lying in the ambulance. On being told that it was Gen. Stephen Lyon, he
replied:
“'I have sworn to kill him if I ever met him, for sending a spy into my
camp.'
“Stephen was unarmed, and protested that he knew nothing about the
charges alleged against him. But it did no good. Whitthorne ordered
his men to shoot him, and it was done and my poor boy was in this
cold-blooded way murdered by this gang of bushwhackers. My other sons
had his body taken back to Murphy's Hill and buried. I never knew who
murdered him until the war was over.”
[Illustration: The Murder of Steven Lyon 182]
“The old man again broke down and for a time was unable to proceed, but
at last said:
“You can see how the fates were against my family. When the news
was received at home my poor wife could not rally under these
successive blows, and she lay sick for months. I thought she would soon
follow the poor boys. When she did recover it was only partially. She
was never well afterwards.
“After the battle, Gen. Anderson thought he would look up his military
family, as his headquarters had been sent to the rear during the
conflict. Capt. Day and Capt. Jackson were near him all the time, and
were no better posted than the General as to where the headquarters
were. Finally they were found some three miles to the rear. The
orderlies, driver, cook, etc., were found established at the
headquarters; but old Ham, poor old man, was nowhere to be found. A
general search was at once instituted, and finally he jumped up like
a rabbit from some thick underbrush. When he came out he looked all
around, and at last realizing who the parties were that had discovered
him he threw up his hands and exclaimed:
“'Bress the good Laud, and you'uns are not all killed. Afo' de Laud I
never 'spected to see any you good people agin. And heah is Massa Gen'l
Tom, and Massa Jackson and Massa Capt. Day. Well! well! if dis isn't a
sprize to ole Ham.'
“The General said:
“'Ham, how did you get here? What made you run away? I thought you were
going to stay with us.'
“'Yes, sah, I thought so, too; but, sah, de shell, de guns and de bums
dey all come rite down over whar I was, and I not know how to fight. One
ob de mans git me a gun and fix it up, and I git behind a tree and poke
it out and pull de trigger, and bress de Laud it shoot de wrong way and
I fine myself knocked ober away off from de tree. Den I said dis is no
place for dis darkey, and I gits; dats what I does, and I corned along
pretty fas' and I got wid de wagons, and pretty soon de hossmen ob de
Sesh--I b'leves dey calls 'em cabalry--dey come on de run and burned up
de wagons and slashed 'bout and cussed about de Yanks and swared about
de niggers and skeered me out ob my breff. Den I gits in de woods and
creeps under de brush and dar I stay, and sho' you born I thought ebery
one was killed, I wouldn't never come out if you hadn't found me, sho'.
I done thought I neber see Marfa no more. O, bress de Laud, I's hungry
doe.'
“'Well, come along, Ham; I guess I will have to send you home; you seem
not to take to war.'
“'Well, sah! Massa Gen'l, 'spect it be de bes'; for afore de Laud I
feels curous when you is fitin'. Somehow I doesn't jes' feel rite all
de time dey is shootin'. It seems dey would kill a darky jes'as quick as
dey do a white man.'
“'Yes,' said the General; 'why not?'
“'Well, sah, I doesn't know why; it 'pears like dey wouldn't kill the
darkies when we work for dem so long. But de Sesh dey is quar folks dey
is; dey fight doe, don' dey, Massa Tom?'
“'Yes; they fight like other people.'
“By this time they were at headquarters, and Ham got hold of his
namesake and devoured it as a wild beast would have done. Ham was very
serious and finally said:
“'Massa Tom, I guess dey not fight any mo' berry soon, does dey?'
“The General replied that he did not know.
“'Well,' said Ham, 'I guess I stay wid you a while longer. You won't
write home 'bout me gittin' in de bush, will you'uns?'
“'No; if you wish us not to do so.'
“'O, for de Laud's sake! Marfa she d neber lib wid dis darky no mo' if
she know what I do. You won't tell her, Massa Tom, will you?'
“'No, Ham; I will keep it a secret from her.'
“'Well, den, I will try him once mo'. I 'spects I stay here nex' time. I
knows I do. O, I knows de nex' time, sho.'
“All right, Ham; you get around now and get our things together, and
look after my “traps.”'
“'Yes, massa, yes.'
“Ham's conduct and explanations afforded great amusement for the boys
around headquarters for some time.
“Capt. Zeke Inglesby said:
“Uncle Daniel, I did not know before that Gen. Stephen Lyon, who was
murdered at Bethesda Springs, was your son. I know all about his murder.
I belonged to his brigade. That dastardly murder was considered by all
soldiers as one of the most outrageous acts and cold-blooded murders
ever known in civilized warfare.”
“Oh, yes. I grieved over his death very greatly, he being the second
one of our dear boys murdered outright--the fourth dead since the war
began. It chilled the blood of our whole family. The strangest thing to
me was how Gen. Anderson, Capt. Jackson and Col. Peter could restrain
themselves so as not to mention the name of his murderer, in all their
conversations about his death; but, as I said, I never knew who did it
until after the war. I could easily understand the reason for their not
telling the name. Mary Anderson, being his sister, was never told the
facts; nor my wife nor any of us at the time, the boys fearing that
it might cause an unpleasant feeling even to know the fact that a near
relative of one of our family could be such a barbarian.
“I was kept quite close at home for some months with our family, being
their only protection within call. During this time no man ever suffered
more in spirit. I can see it all before me now: my poor wife's agony,
the sorrowing of David's widow, Mary Anderson's trouble, the two poor
little children--their questions about their Uncle Stephen, who killed
him, and why? These questions I could not answer.”
At this point Dr. Adams inquired if Gen. Rosenfelt ever expressed
any regret at not listening to the information imparted to him on the
morning of the battle.
“No, sir; I did not so understand.”
“Uncle Daniel, did you know anything of Mrs. Houghton after this?”
“Yes; she continued to do good service for our cause, as you will learn
hereafter.”
Uncle Daniel here called in Mrs. Wilson. She was a bright and beautiful
woman. He took her in his arms and said to us:
“This dear child and one boy, the son of another of my boys, are all of
whom I can now boast.”
His speech at this point was so pathetic and saddening, that the whole
party were unconsciously moved to tears. His voice trembled, and he
slowly walked out of the room, overwhelmed by the sad memories he had
awakened.