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 Union
army inside of Chatteraugus was practically invested, the rebel army
being so situated that every movement of our troops could be watched as
carefully as if they were all of the same army. The enemy persistently
threw shells into our camp and made it very uncomfortable both by day
and night. The rains had so swollen the river and damaged the roads that
there was no direction from which supplies could be drawn in wagons of
sufficient quantity to be of any very great assistance, had the rebels
only held the Une of communication by rail. Our whole command had to be
placed at once on half rations. Over 3,000 wounded soldiers were in
camp and hospital, suffering and dying for want of proper food and
nourishment. Forage for the animals could not be procured, and more than
10,000 died in and about Chatteraugus. One-third of the artillery horses
died, and the remainder were unfitted for service.
“Biggs had cut off a train of supplies of medical stores for the
wounded, and the ammunition of our army was reduced to the minimum.
In the battle of Cherokee Run the men had thrown away and lost their
blankets, so they were exposed to the hot sun and the chilly nights,
without blankets, tents, food, or any of the comforts that even soldiers
usually enjoy in the field. When Rosenfelt started on the campaign his
order was to take but one blanket to each man, and no overcoats. In this
condition they could not retreat. They seemed doomed to surrender at no
distant day.
“The enemy well knew the condition of our troops, being in possession of
the route to our depot of supplies, and the one by which re-enforcements
would reach our army. They apparently held our forces at their mercy.
For these reasons the enemy deemed it unnecessary to assault and lose
lives in an attempt to take what seemed secure. All that Biggs had to
do, as he thought, was to wait, and Chatteraugus would fall into his
hands without a struggle. Starvation would soon force terms, as retreat
or re-enforcements were considered alike impossible. No other portion of
our armies was reduced to such a terrible extremity during the war.
“This was the situation of the Army of the Center when Gen. Silent took
command of it. Biggs had sent his cavalry to the interior to watch all
movements on our part, and especially to prevent supplies from being
brought to or concentrated anywhere for our almost famished soldiers.
Weller and Lawting, in command of the rebel cavalry, captured and
destroyed in the Sewatch Valley 1,000 wagons loaded with supplies. They
also 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 raiders
were burning wagon trains and railroad trains loaded with supplies,
collected all the cavalry he could, obtained horses and mounted two
regiments of infantry. Under a skillful officer he started them in
pursuit of Weller and Lawting, chasing them into Northern Alabama and
capturing near one-half of their commands. Gen. Silent had no means of
getting into Chatteraugus until Biggs's force at Bridgeton and on the
river between there and Chatteraugus could be dislodged and driven out
of Looking-Glass Valley, which ran down along the mountain side to the
river. He had difficulty in getting all the positions correctly.
“Finally he met Mrs. Houghton, who had come out from Chatteraugus prior
to its investment. She gave him the most satisfactory detailed statement
that he had received from any one as yet. In the interview she told him
what she was doing in that country and where she had been; what she had
said 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. The
General questioned her as to the number of the enemy, the names of the
commanders, etc. When she gave the names of Longpath and Stephenson, the
General 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 of
them.'
“'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 he
should take it; 'which,' he said, 'I mean to do in ten days from the day
I open the lines of communication, so as to get food to those starving
soldiers.' 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 think
to 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 in
possession of that place.'
“'Well,' said the General, 'that is of more importance to know than
anything 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 you
learned this.'
“'Well, sir, I visit hospitals on both sides, and many things are there
said that would not be told to anyone in camp. I had seen a sick rebel
who had just come into the city in citizen's clothes to be taken care of
by 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 at
Bridgeton as quickly as possible, and in three days the 20,000 men
from the Army of the East had secured Bridgeton and crossed over Little
Combination River on the road to Looking-Glass Valley. They moved
forward, driving Biggs before them, until they reached the western base
of Coon's Mountain, in order to pass into Looking-Glass Valley. At the
point where he was to enter the Valley the rebels made an assault upon
his head of column. Hord deployed his troops, advanced to the attack,
and very soon routed the enemy. The enemy now could very plainly detect
and understand the movement. Our troops went into camp at about six
o'clock.
“The rebels could see that if this movement was successful
re-enforcements as well as supplies to the Union army would immediately
be the result, and they were bewildered and chagrined. At about one
o'clock the same night, Hord was attacked in force by the enemy. Gear's
command first received the assault. Hord at once moved to the support
of Gear, but before reaching him found a large rebel force posted on a
range of hills which completely commanded his line of march. These hills
were steep and rugged. There was, however, but one course left, and that
was to assault. This was done in a most gallant style. The hills were
scaled and the enemy driven from them with a loss of many prisoners,
as well as killed and wounded. Gen. Gear meanwhile had been contending
against a superior force for two hours, and though almost enveloped at
one time by the enemy, he finally succeeded in repelling the assault.
The moonlight was so bright that the firing seemed to light up the whole
heavens, as if meteors were in every possible space. The yells of the
rebels, the running away of teams, the heavy sound of artillery, were
enough to 'frighten the souls of fearful adversaries.' Mules broke away
from their wagons and hitching places, some with halters, some with
harness and singletrees dangling at their heels. Horses neighing and
mules braying, all dashed in the direction of the enemy, who mistook
the fleeing animals for a cavalry charge, and fled in disorder and
confusion. At daylight the enemy had been repulsed at every point and
our route to Chatteraugus secured.
“Gen. Silent had managed to communicate with Gen. Papson, and directed
that one of his divisions should cross over the river in front of his
camp in plain view of the enemy, and while the enemy were watching
these movements pontoon bridges were being laid across the river by the
Engineer Corps, they passing down the river beyond the left flank of the
enemy in the night time. Over this bridge crossed Palmerston's Division
and joined Hord, and by the next morning all the heights commanding the
bridge and Looking-Glass Valley were secured--communication opened
by 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 was
perhaps never heard before nor since. Gen. Silent entered Chatteraugus
with the supplies for the hungry, and was most gratefully received
by 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 is
not to be described by any one. Poor fellows, they had suffered long and
much. They were patriots; but how many people remember it now?”
At this point the old man grew eloquent, and finally bowed his head for
a moment. Resuming, he said:
“In a very short time every one had gained confidence and courage, and
was again not only ready but eager for the fray. Biggs at once saw his
peril. Longpath was at Knoxburg trying to dislodge Broomfield, while
Gen. Papson was being rapidly re-enforced. And now the tables were
turned. The rebels no longer jeered at and tantalized our boys with
inquiries as to when they proposed to start for 'Pine Forest Prison.'
Jeff Davis, the Confederate President, had only a few days before
visited Biggs's army and looked down upon our starving soldiers. Our
boys 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 of
the troops from the Army of the West, which they knew were marching
with all the energy they could to the aid of their comrades. So the next
morning the rebels were saluted with a shout that rang from the valley
up to the top of Looking-Glass Mountain and along Middle-ton's Ridge. It
was the arrival of Sherwood from Victor's Hill with two full corps of as
good soldiers as ever marched under the American flag. Cheer upon cheer
from both our armies rang out and gladdened the hearts of all.
“The next day Gen. Silent was handed a note by a cavalryman. He examined
it, and found that it bore information to the effect that Longpath had
failed to capture Knoxburg, but had been repulsed by Broomfield and was
then marching rapidly to re-enforce Biggs. On inquiry the General found
that the note was written by a lady, who was then some ten miles away at
a 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 to
say to the General that she was the same lady who had given him certain
information at Nashua some days before, and that she informed the bearer
of the contents of the note and requested him to destroy it if in danger
of being captured. Gen. Silent consulted Gen. Papson and found that he
had implicit faith in her statements, as he said she had given Rosenfelt
truthful and important information twice as to the numbers and movements
of the enemy. Gen. Silent said:
“'This being so, we must drive Biggs from his position before Longpath
can join him.'
“It was then raining and blowing a perfect gale, and Gen. Papson said
that it might be well to delay until the storm was over. This Gen.
Silent assented to, but directed that all preparations be made for the
attack, so as to be in perfect readiness at a moment's notice.
“Sherwood, however, had not yet succeeded in getting to the position
assigned him. He was struggling against rain, wind, and high water. In
crossing Little Combination River to the north side the pontoon bridge
gave way, and Gen. Osterman and his division of Sherwood's command were
completely cut off and left on the south side of the stream. Silent
ordered him to proceed up the river to a point opposite Middleton's
Ridge with the remainder of his command. By this time the freshet was
so great that it was impossible to repair the bridge. So Osterman was
ordered, if he could not get across by eight o'clock the next morning,
to report to Gen. Hord. Sherwood finally succeeded in moving the rest
of his command to the point indicated. Pontoons were now necessary for
bridging the river at this point in order to cross the troops again over
to the south side to assault Middleton's Ridge, the point of it sloping
down near to the river, on which rested the rebel right flank. There
were but few pontoons to be obtained, and here the genius of man came
well into play. Rafts and boats of a rough character were at once
improvised, and by the morning of the 24th of November Sherwood's
command was once more on the south side of the river, with men, horses
and artillery, ready for the assault. He was moving in a drizzling rain,
and as the clouds hung low his movement was pretty well covered. He
pushed forward with great rapidity and seized the smaller hills near the
river, driving the enemy therefrom, and at once fortified them securely.
“The rebels now seeing this advantage made an ineffectual assault to
dislodge him. He had possession of two hills, with a depression in his
front between him and the main ridge, it being his objective point.
The mist and heaviness of the day prevented the enemy on Looking-Glass
Mountain from seeing or understanding the movement of Sherwood on the
right. Night closed in, and as the clouds cleared away, the light of the
camp fires revealed the position of both armies. Indeed, the night was
beautiful. The lights on the north side were made by those guarding the
camp of Sherwood, left in his movement, across the river. These lights
of the camp fires of both armies now formed a complete circuit, making
a grand picture. The stillness of the night was a warning to all that in
the morning work was to be done.
“About the hour of ten Gen. Silent was out looking at the lights, and in
order to form some opinion of the condition of the weather during the
next day, he strolled along the river bank alone. Stopping at no great
distance from one of the sentinels, he sat down upon a stone under a
large tree, the shadows of which obscured him from view.
[Illustration: A Spector appears to the General 238]
“While sitting absorbed in thought as to what the future would be to the
army then preparing for a desperate battle, a strange form seemed to
appear before him. He was at first startled, and then felt as though
he had dreamed, and was thereby deceiving himself. The object was
apparently a woman dressed in a long flowing robe of pure white. The
features were regularly formed; she had large blue eyes, long, auburn
hair, and a light shone about her which made every feature plain and
visible to him. This strange apparition did not speak, but pointed to
Looking-Glass Mountain, and passed her hand, extending her forefinger,
as though tracing the mountain along to where it dips down to the
Roseville road. At this point she held her finger pointing for some
seconds. She then turned and pointed to the end of Middleton's Ridge,
near the river, and there hesitated; then turned and pointed to
the center of the ridge, near where Gen. Biggs's Headquarters were
afterwards located. Here she seemed to trace two lines on the side of
the ridge by passing her finger twice back and forth. She hesitated
at this point for some moments, finally pointing to the sky as though
calling attention to the stars. At this moment Gen. Silent arose quite
excited, and the strange specter vanished. He stood for some moments
motionless. He could not move, and was trembling with nervousness.
Finally he aroused himself and stepped to the spot where the strange
figure had appeared. There was nothing that could have been by dreamy
imagination distorted into such a form. He said to himself, 'I dreamed;
I must have dreamed; how could this be otherwise?' Just at this moment
he saw a sentinel walking his beat some paces away and approached him
cautiously. The sentinel challenged, and Silent went forward and gave
the countersign. He then told the sentinel who he was, and inquired if
anything 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 the
stone under this tree for some time. I have been watching you, as I was
not 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 sitting
under 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 in
a very unusual manner. One of his staff inquired if anything had gone
wrong in the movements of the army. He said not, but inquired if all the
Orderlies were at their posts, saying:
“'I will want them very soon to take orders to the field. They must be
cautioned, also, as they will be in some danger in passing to where they
must go.'
“He then sat down and commenced dictating his orders.
“At midnight they were sent out to the different commanders. Hord was
to attack with all his force, assisted by Osterman's division, in
the morning at the earliest moment possible, and scale Looking-Glass
Mountain. Gen. Papson was to make a demonstration against the rebel
center.
“The mountain is very steep and covered with trees and underbrush. Crags
jut out at every turn all over its sides, and at the summit a high
crest rises almost perpendicular 50 or 60 feet. Around the point of the
mountain nearest the river the enemy had heavy earthworks, held by one
brigade. 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 side
of the mountain, entirely obscured from the sight of any of our troops
who were in the town of Chatteraugus, so that nothing could be seen
except the rebels who occupied the crest of the mountain. The movements
of the enemy proved clearly that some advance was being made.
“Gens. Silent and Papson stood on an earthwork on the north side of the
town near the river, where they could plainly see all the rebel lines.
Very soon the smoke and sounds of battle were seen and heard. Osterman
had attacked the rebels in their works at the foot of the mountain
nearest 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 the
muzzles of the enemy's guns which were on the summit, climbing over
logs, boulders and crags, up hill and down, dislodging and driving the
enemy wherever he opposed. Up and on went our brave boys to the mouths
of cannon and into the very jaws of death. Gen. Silent, addressing
Papson, said:
“'General, our men must be climbing up the mountain's side. The enemy
would not fire so rapidly nor such volleys unless our men were near
them.'
“'No, I should think they would not,' said Papson.
“The fire flashed from their guns and muskets in the sunlight as though
the heavens were in a blaze. Soon batteries could be seen pulling out
and moving on the table of the mountain in the direction of the south.
“'Do you see that, Papson?' said Silent. 'They are getting ready to
retreat. See, they are sending their batteries out of danger!'
“Papson looked, but said not a word. Soon a portion of their infantry
moved in the same direction. The noise of artillery firing could be
heard no longer, but the rattle of musketry was becoming more distinct.
The men and officers who were not in the demonstration against
Middleton's Ridge, which was not a very heavy one, were standing and
looking in breathless silence at the upper table-land of Looking-Glass
mountain. Finally our line was seen moving up the crest, the men firing
as they came, and such a yell as arose from our men in the town of
Chatteraugus was of the kind to bring joy to a patriot's soul. On they
went, the fire flashing from the muzzles of their muskets. The rebels
began to retreat, our men pressing them until they were driven entirely
from the mountain and across the valley near the old Mission House, and
nearly to the foot of Middleton's Ridge. Papson's movement against the
ridge, which was the enemy's right, ceased, and Looking-Glass Mountain
was ours. Joy was unconfined among our troops.
“The poor fellows, who were nearly starved, acted as though they were
perfectly well and hearty, although they had had but little to eat for
weeks.
“This was only the beginning of the end at Chatteraugus.
“Gen. Silent thought the rebels would now retreat into Georgia; but in
this he was mistaken. They strengthened their line on Middleton's Ridge
and extended it across the valley to where Looking-Glass Mountain slopes
down to the road from Roseville to Chatteraugus, and there they seemed
bent on staying. Two days later, finding the enemy again preparing for
battle, Gen. Silent issued his orders for a general assault. Sherwood
at early dawn was to attack the enemy on his right and drive him back if
possible on the southern portion of the ridge; Papson was to be ready to
assault in front at the moment when the commanding General should think
the proper time had arrived; Gen. Hord was to cross from Looking-Glass
Mountain over to the Roseville road and attack his left flank.
“The morning was clear and cold. Biggs's Headquarters could be seen on
the crest of Middleton's Ridge, near the center of his line. Gen. Silent
occupied a knob or high point near our lines that had been wrested from
the enemy in a skirmish the day before. All were anxiously waiting the
assault and final result. Now and again a shot would be heard, and then
a volley. There were skirmishings occasionally in different directions.
On Hord's line, as he advanced, slight skirmishing was kept up, and at
the base of the ridge a shot would be fired in the direction of where
Papson was forming his line. Finally shots were heard on our extreme
left, then more, then a piece of artillery, then a volley, then a
battery opened, then commands were heard and the battle began. Sherwood
was moving against the enemy's right flank.
“He attacked as ordered, but found the enemy in strong force and very
stubborn. The battle continued on this part of the line without any very
material advantage to either side. At about three o'clock Gen. Papson
was ordered not to delay his attack any longer, so at this time the
movement of the whole army against the enemy commenced. Papson attacked
in double column, Gens. Anderson and Sherlin leading the assault
with their divisions. In the center, at the first assault made on the
rifle-pits at the base of the ridge, our forces were not successful, and
falling back for a short distance they readjusted their lines, changed
some of the regiments, and moved forward again to the attack. This time
the movement was as if it were machinery in motion.
“When close to the enemy a bayonet charge was ordered, and against the
foe they drove the instruments of death. The men who were in this
deadly charge will never forget it. As they came with bayonets fixed and
directed, the enemy, seeing their determination, poured a deadly fire
into their ranks. Many a brave man fell, but on the lines swept over the
trenches. Here the rebels were killed and wounded in such numbers that
they lay one across another in great numbers. The enemy fell back,
giving up the trenches to our victorious troops, and retreated to their
main works on the top of the ridge.
“Our troops moved right on up the slope of the ridge, facing a shower
of shot and shell and musketry most destructive and deadly. Anderson and
Sherlin led the way. Commanders of corps, divisions and brigades vied
with one another as to who should reach the crest first. For a time it
seemed doubtful if any of them would succeed in accomplishing it. Our
artillery was in battery playing on the enemy from an eminence on the
plateau east of the town and between the two lines. Finally the guns of
the enemy were disabled, some dismounted, and others driven from their
position. Our whole line then made one desperate effort to scale the
ridge and charge the rebel works. With a mighty shout and 'Come on
boys!' from Sherlin and Anderson, the heights were scaled, and amid
sickening scenes of blood and death our brave boys stormed and captured
their breast-works. Their center was pierced and broken. They wavered
and finally retreated down the opposite slope of the ridge. Gen.
Anderson seized one of our flags, mounted the rebel works, and held it
up so that our whole army might see it, and they did. The sight of the
old flag on the rebel works on Middleton's Ridge, filled our men with
joy and enthusiasm. They rushed forward, shouting as they went. The men
who had been shut up and nearly starved, wept with joy unspeakable.
“Sherwood now doubled the enemy's flank back until they were retreating
and falling back on the two divisions of Anderson and Sherlin, who
turned and poured volleys into their rear. The retreat of Biggs's army
now became general We captured many prisoners. Just at this moment a
rebel cavalry officer on a white horse was seen dashing down the ridge
from the direction of the rebel left. He came within a short distance
of our line and took off his hat to our troops, as if he intended to
surrender. Turning on his horse he drew a revolver and flred. The ball
struck Gen. Anderson in the right shoulder, inflicting a severe and
painful wound. Gen. Anderson turned and saw him as he escaped down the
side of the ridge. Anderson recognized him, but did not say a word. Many
shots were flred at him by the soldiers, but he made good his escape.
(It was Gen. Joseph Whitthorne, the fiend.) Gen. Anderson was taken by
Jackson and James Whitcomb (who had been by his side during the whole
of 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 he
had been severely wounded during the last charge up the ridge, and had
been carried in an ambulance to the hospital.
“The battle was won. No rebel flag was insight, and the Stars and
Stripes w ed over Looking-Glass Mountain and Middleton's Ridge once
more. Longpath just reached Ringgold's Gap in time to meet his flying
friends, who were in a great state of demoralization. They had been
utterly routed and broken to pieces. Our army was in great glee and full
of joy that night and for many days thereafter. The Army of the Center
had been in such bad condition for so long a time--being hemmed in and
starved--that it became necessary to go into quarters for recuperation,
and also to refit and refurnish it with horses, mules, harness, etc. The
troops were, therefore, distributed at the most convenient points on the
lines of our communications.
“Gen. Silent, now having put Gen. Biggs and his army in a condition of
harmlessness 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 not
considered dangerous,) to search for Capt. Day. He found him in the
officers' hospital, wounded severely, shot through the bowels. He died
that night. This was sad news to the General, for he loved him as if
he had been a brother. He was buried at Chatter-augus. His friends were
notified, and removed his remains to the cemetery near Bloomington, Ill.
He was a gallant soldier, and had been so kind to Gen. Anderson that we
all loved him. His death caused nearly as much sadness in my family as
the 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 was
no suspicion as to who had shot him. One day, however, he was suffering
with 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 recovered
Jackson asked him if he remembered saying this? He replied that he did
not. 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 afterwards
revealed the same to me, but no mention was ever made of it by either of
us.
“Old Ham was so attentive and kind that no one asked him as to his
whereabouts during the battle. Jackson, however, found him under the bed
when they brought the General back from the field. The old man said that
he 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' dat
day or hurted bery bad, kase I dream it. De good Laud tole me so when
I sleep. No 'sputin' it, sho, for de Laud allers tells me 'bout dese
matters; 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 dictated
his report to Jackson, who wrote it for him, in which he recommended
Peter for promotion, among many others, for gallant conduct, and also
recommended Orderly James Whitcomb for a Lieutenancy in the Regular
Army. These recommendations were complied with at once, and Peter was
assigned to the command of a brigade. James Whitcomb was assigned to
the 13th U. S. Inf., and detailed at Gen. Anderson's request as
an Aide-de-Camp in place of Capt. Day. The President sent Peter's
commission to me and I took it to him at Chatteraugus, in accordance
with the wish of Gen. Anderson, who desired to see me, and at the same
time to keep from his wife and our family the fact of his being wounded
until 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 posted
as to all matters North as well as South. He said there was no danger
of Biggs during that Winter. He could not more than recuperate his army,
and in the Spring, in all probability, the rebel army in the center
would have a new commander, as Biggs was a great failure; that if he
had moved against our forces when he had them caged up before
re-enforcements came, our army would have been compelled to surrender.
He also spoke of our danger in the North from the anti-war party. He
regarded it more dangerous than the rebel army. If they could succeed
in carrying the election the Confederacy would by them be recognized and
the Union dissolved.
“In a few days Gen. Anderson was adjudged by the Surgeon to be strong
enough 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 for
Allentown. On arriving at home the family were overjoyed, surprised, and
grieved all at the same time--overjoyed at our return, surprised that
they had not heard of the General being wounded, and grieved at his
suffering.
“Lieut. James Whitcomb was introduced to the family, who were delighted
to see him. He left the same evening for his home in Detroit, and we
were together once more, save two sons, Peter and Henry. The meeting
between Ham and Aunt Martha was very affecting. Their manner and queer
remarks were laughable. Soon Aunt Martha came in to see her Marsa Gen'l
Tom. She hugged him and got down on her knees and prayed for him, and
then said to me:
“'Uncle Daniel, I bress de good Laud, for you bring Marsa Tom back. I
cure 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, he
do. 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 Tom
tell you? Was he sick? He awful coward, Ham is, but if he sick, den all
right; but when he not been sick he must stay wid Marsa Gen'l to keep he
things 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, poor
old woman. She was pure gold; God never made a better heart under any
white skin than she had under her black one.
“Gen. Anderson had the best of attention, and improved daily until
he could walk about without pain, but he was not fit for duty for a
considerable time. The two children were delighted, and were full of
questions of all kinds. One day when they were trying to entertain the
General, his little daughter asked him who shot him. I saw the tears
come into his eyes, and he arose and walked out on the porch without
making any answer.”
Just at this moment Mrs. Wilson came into the room, and Uncle Daniel
took her on his knee and kissed her, saying:
“Jennie, you are my all and only hope, save my poor grandson, that I now
have left. My time will soon come, however, when I can quietly quit
this world of trouble and care and find a home where works will have
due consideration; where those who serve in the army of the Lord will
at least be considered the equal of those who have been in rebellion
against him.
“My good friends,” said Uncle Daniel, “you may think strange of my
melancholy mood; but why should I desire to live longer and see what I
do and feel as I do constantly on account of the manner in which things
are now being conducted.”
“I am not in any way surprised at your feeling as you do. I have felt
and do feel the same, though my misfortunes and troubles have not been
severe in comparison with yours,” said Col. Bush. “But, Uncle Daniel,
to call your attention away from your sorrows for a moment, I am very
desirous of knowing what became of Mrs. Houghton.”
“She remained in that part of the country during that Winter and
until our combined Armies of the Center and West commenced their next
campaign, during all of which time she kept our commanding Generals
posted as to the movements of the enemy, his strength, when troops were
sent east or west, where and how many; and when the troops were moved
south in the Spring she returned to New York, and, I have been
informed, married again. I hope she may be yet living and enjoying great
happiness. 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 most
important character, Uncle Daniel.”
“Yes, Colonel, she was a true patriot, and loved her country for her
country's sake, and I hope the Lord has thrown fortune and pleasure in
her pathway. There were a great many patriotic and daring acts performed
by women during our war. God bless the good women. To our poor sick and
wounded soldiers they were like ministering angels, both in the camp and
hospitals.”