Camp-fire and cotton-field : southern adventure in time of war. Life with the Union armies, and residence on a Louisiana plantation

Front matter

.k Jlzl ij|<i:si:nti;i) hy

SOUTHEEIT ADVENTUEE m

TIME OF "WAR.

Chapter I. Ante Bellum

At the Rocky Mountains. — Sentiment of tlie People. — Firing the Southern Heart. — A Midwinter Journey across tiie Plains. — An Editor's Opinion. — Election in Missouri. — The North springing to Anns. — An amusing Arrest. — Off for the Field. — Final Instructions. — Niagara. — Curiosities of Banking. — Arrival at the Seat of War 19

CHAPTER 11.

MISSOURI m THE EARLY DAYS.

Apathy of the Border States. — The Missouri State Convention.— Sterling Price a Union Man. — Plan to take the State out of the Union. — Capture of Camp Jackson. — Energy of General Lyon. — Union Men organized. — An Unfortunate Collision. — The Price-Harney Truce. — The Panic among the Secessionists. — Their Hegira from St. Louis. — A Visit to the State Capital. — Under the Rebel Flag. — Searching for Contraband Articles. — An Introduction to Rebel Dignitaries. — Governor Jackson. — Sterling Price. — Jeff. Thompson. — Activity at Cairo. — Kentucky Neutrality, — The Rebels occupy Columbus 27

CHAPTER HI.

THE BEGINNINa OF HOSTILITIES.

General Harney Relieved. — Price's Proclamation. — End of the Truce. — Conference between the Union and Rebel Leaders. — The First Act of Hostility. — Destruction of Railway Bridges. — Promptness of General Lyon.— Capture of the State Capital.— Moving on the Enemy's "Works. —The Night l:efore Battle.— A Correspondent's Sensation 39

CHAPTER ly. /

THE FIRST BATTLE IN MISSOURI.

Moving up the Eiver. — A Landing Effected. — The Battle. — Precipitous Eetreat of the Rebels. — Spoiling a Captured Camp. — Eebel Flags Emblazoned with the State Arms. — A Journalist's Outfit. — A Chaplain of the Church Militant. — A Mistake that might have been Unfortunate. — The People of Booneville. — Visiting an Official. — Banking-House Loyalty. — Preparations for a Campaign 47

CHAPTER V.

TO SPRIKGFIELD AND BEYOND.

Conduct of the St. Louis Secessionists. — Collisions between Soldiers and Citizens. — Indignation of the Guests of a Hotel. — From St. Louis to EoUa. — Opinions of a "Eegular." — Eailway-life in Missouri. — Unprofitable Freight. — A Story of Orthography. — ^Mountains and Mountain Streams. — Fastidiousness Checked. — Frontier Courtesy. — Concentration of Troops at Springfield. — A Perplexing Situation. — The March to Dug Spring. — Sufferings from Heat and Thirst 55

CHAPTER VI.

THE BATTLE OF WILSON CREEK.

The Eeturn from Dug Spring. — The Eebels follow in Pursuit. — Preparations to Attack them. — The Plan of Battle. — Moving tp the Attack — A Bivouac. — The Opening Shot. — "Is that Official ?" — Sensations of a Spectator in Battle. — Extension of Distance and Time. — Characteristics of Projectiles. — Taking Notes under Fire. — Strength and Losses of the Opposing Armies. — A Noble Eecord. — The "Wounded on the Field. — " One More Shot." — Granger in his Element. — General Lyon's Death 67

CHAPTER VH.

THE RETREAT FROM SPRINGFIELD.

A Council of "War. — The Journalists' Council. — Preparations for Eetreat. — Preceding the Advance-Guard. — Alarm and Anxiety of the People. — Magnificent Distances. — A Novel Odometer. — The Unreliable Countryman. — Neutrality. — A Night at Lebanon. — A Disagreeable Lodging-place. — Active Secessionists. — The Man who Sought and Found his Riglits. — Approaching Civilization. — Echel Couriers on the Route. — Arrival at Eolla 81

CHAPTER VIII.

GENERAL FREMONt's PURSUIT OF PRICE.

Quarrel between Price and McCuUoch. — The Eebels Advance upon Lexington. — A Novel Defense for Sharp-shooters. — Attempt to Re-enforcethe Garrison. — An Enterprising Journalist. — The Surrender. — Fremont's Advance. — Causes of Delay. — How the Journalists Killed Time. — Late News.— A Contractor " Sold."— Sigel in Front. — A Motley Collection. — A "Wearied OfScer. — The "Woman who had never seen a Black Republican. — Love and Conversion 93-

CHAPTER IX.

THE SECOND CAMPAIGN TO SPRINGFIELD.

Detention at "Warsaw. — A Bridge over the Osage. — The Body-Guard. — Manner of its Organization. — The Advance to Springfield. — Charge of the Body-Guard. — A Corporal's Ruse. — Occupation of Springfield. — The Situation. — "Wilson Creek Revisited. — Traces of the Battle. — Rumored Movements of the Enemy. — Removal of General Fremont. — Danger of Attack. — A Night of Excitement. — The Return to St. Louis. — Curiosities of the Scouting Service. — An Arrest by Mistake 103

CHAPTER X.

TWO MONTHS OF IDLENESS.

A Promise Fulfilled. — Capture of a Rebel Camp and Train.-r— Rebel Sympathizers in St. Louis. — General Halleck and his Policy. — Refugees from Rebeldom.^ — Story of the Sufferings of a IJnion Family. — Chivalry in the Nineteenth Century. — The Army of the Southwest in Motion. — Gun-Boats and Transports. — Capture of Fort Henry. — The Effect in St. Louis. — Our Flag Advancing 113

CHAPTER XI.

ANOTHER CAMPAIGN IN MISSOURI.

From St. Louis to Rolla. — A Limited Outfit. — Missouri Roads in 'Winter. — "Two Solitary' Horsemen."— Restricted Accommodations in a

Slaveholder's House. — An Energetic Quartermaster, — General Sheridan before he became Famous. — " Bagging Price." — A Defect in the Bag. — Examining the Correspondence of a Rebel General. — "What the Eebels left at their Departure 121

CHAPTER XII.

^ THE FLIGHT AlfD THE PURSUIT.

From Springfield to Pea Eidge. — Mark Tapley in Missouri. — "The Arkansas Traveler." — Encountering the Rebel Army. — A "Wonderful Spring. — The Cantonment at Cross Hollows. — Game Chickens. — Magruder m. Breckinridge. — Rebel Generals in a Controversy. — Its Result. — An Expedition to Huntsville. — Curiosities of Rebel Currency. — Important Information. — A Long and "Weary March. — Disposition of Forces before the Battle. — Changing Front. — What the Eebels lost by Ignorance 127

CHAPTER XIII.

THE BATTLE OF PEA RIDGE.

The Rebels make their Attack. — Albert Pike and his Indians. — Scalping Wounded Men. — Death of General McCuUoch. — The Fighting at Elkhorn Tavern. — Close of a Gloomy Day. — An Unpleasant Night. — Vocal Sounds from a Mule's Throat. — Sleeping under Disadvantages. — A Favorable Morning. — The Opposing Lines of Battle.— A Severe Cannonade. — The Forest on Fire. — Wounded Men in the Flames. — The Rebels in Retreat. — Movements of our Army. — A Journey to St. Louis 137

CHAPTER XIV.

UP THE TENNESSEE AND AT PITTSBURG LANDING.

At St. Louis. — Progress of our Arms in the Great Valley. — Cairo. — Its Peculiarities and Attractions. — Its Commercial, Geographical, and Sanitary Advantages. — Up the Tennessee. — Movements Preliminary to the Great Battle. — The Rebels and their Plans. — Postponement of the Attack. — Disadvantages of our Position. — The Beginning of *the Battle. — Results of the First Day. — Re-enforcements. — Disputes between Officers of our two Armies. — Beauregard's Watering- Place 147

CHAPTER XV.

SHILOHit iSD THE SIEGE OF CORINTH.

The Error of tlie Eebels. — Story of a Surgeon. — Experience of a Eebe] Eegiment. — Injury to the Eebel Army. — The Effect in our own Lines. — Daring of a Color-Bearer. — A Brave Soldier. — A Drummer- Boy's Experience. — Gallantry of an Artillery Surgeon. — A Eegiment Commanded by a Lieutenant. — Friend Meeting Friend and Brother Meeting Brother in the Opposing Lines. — The Scene of the Battle. — Fearful Traces of Musketry-Fire. — The Wounded. — The Labor of the Sanitary Commission. — Humanity a Yankee Trick. — Besieging Corinth. — A Cold-Water Battery. — Halleck and the Journalists. — Occupation of Corinth 157

CHAPTER XVI.

CAPTURE OF FORT PILLOW AND BATTLE OF MEMPHIS.

The Siege of Fort Pillow. — General Pope. — His Eeputation for Veracity. — Capture of the "Ten Thousand." — Naval Battle above Fort Pillow. — The John JI. Diclcey. — Occupation of the Fort. — General Forrest. — Strength of the Fortifications. — Their Location. — Eandolph, Tennessee. — Memphis and her Last Ditch. — Opening of the Naval Combat. — Gallant Action of Colonel EUet. — Fate of the Eebel Fleet.— The People Viewing the Battle.— Their Conduct. . 1C9

CHAPTER. XVH.

IN MEMPHIS AND UNDER THE FLAG.

Jeff. Thompson and his Predictions. — A Cry of Indignation. — Memphis Humiliated. — The Journalists in the Battle. — The Surrender. — A Fine Point of Law and Honor. — Going on Shore. — An Enraged Secessionist. — A Dangerous Enterprise. — Memphis and her Antecedents. — Her Loyalty. — An Amusing Incident. — How the Natives learned of the Capture of Fort Donelson. — The Last Ditch. — A Farmer- Abolitionist. — Disloyalty among the Women. — "Blessings in Disguise." — An American Mark Tapley 179

CHAPTER XVHL

SUPERVISING A REBEL JOURNAL.

The Press of Memphis.— Flight of The Appeal. — A False Prediction. — The Argus becomes Loyal. — Order from General Wallace. — Installed in Office. — Lecturing the Rebels. — "Trade follows the Flag."— Abuses of Ti'affic. — Supplying the Eebels.T-A Perilous Adventure. — Passing the Eebel Lines. — Eluding WatchV, 4 Eyes 189

CHAPTER XIX.

THE FIRST SIEGE OF VICKSBURG.

From Memphis to Vicksburg. — Eunning the Batteries. — Our Inability to take Vicksburg by Assault. — Digging a Canal.' — A Conversation with Eesident Secessionists. — Their Arguments jpro and cora, and the Answers they Eeceived. — A Curiosity of Legislation. — An Expedition up the Yazoo. — Destruction of the Eebel Fleet. — The ArJcansas Eunning the Gauntlet. — A Spirited Encounter. — A Gallant Attempt. — Eaising the Siege. — Fate of the Arlcansas 197

CHAPTER XX.

THE MARCH THROUGH ARKANSAS. — THE SIEGE OF CINCINNATI.

General Curtis's Army reaching Helena. — Its "Wanderings. — The Arkansas Navy. — Troops and their Supplies "miss Connection." — Eebel Eeports. — Memphis in Midsummer. — "A Journey due North." — Chicago. — Bragg's Advance into Kentucky. — Kirby Smith in Front of Cincinnati. — The City under Martial Law. — The Squirrel Hunters. — "War Correspondents in Comfortable Quarters. — Improvising an Army. — Eaising the Siege. — Bragg's Eetreat 205

CHAPTER XXI.

THE BATTLE OF CORINTH.

New Plans of the Eebels. — Their Design to Capture Corinth. — Advancing to the Attack. — Strong Defenses. — A Magnificent Charge. — Valor ts. Breast-Works. — The Eepulse. — Eetreat and Pursuit. — The National Arms Triumphant 213

CHAPTER XXIL

THE CAMPAIGN FROM CORINTH.

Changes of Commanders. — Preparations for the Aggressive. — Marching from Corinth. — Talking with the People. — "You-unsand We-uns." — Conservatism of a " Eegular." — Loyalty and Disloyalty. — Condition of the Eebel Army. — Foraging. — German Theology for American Soldiers. — A Modest Landlord. — A Boy without a Name. — The

C02TTENTS. 13

Freedmen's Bui*eau. — Employing Negroes. — Holly Springs and its People. — ^An Argument for Secession 219

CHAPTER XXIII.

grant's occupation of MISSISSIPPI.

The Slavery Question. — A Generous Offer. — A Journalist's Modesty. — Hopes of the Mississippians at tlae Beginning of tlie "War. — Visiting an Editress. — Literature under Difficulties. — Jacob Thompson and his Correspondence. — Plans for the Capture of Vicksburg. — Movements of General Sherman. — The Paid upon Holly Springs. — Forewarned, but not Forearmed. — A Gallant Fight 233

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE BATTLE OF CHICKASAW BATOU.

Leaving Memphis. — Down the Great Piver. — Landing in the Yazoo. — Description of the Ground. — A Night in Bivouac. — Plan of Attack. — Moving toward the Hills. — Assaulting the Bluff. — Our Pepulse. — New Plans. — Withdrawal from the Yazoo 243

CHAPTER XXV.

BEFORE VICKSBURG.

Capture of Arkansas Post. — The Army returns to Milliken's Bend. — General Sherman and the Journalists. — Arrest of the Author. — His Trial before a Military Court. — Letter from President Lincoln. — Capture of Three Journalists 253

CHAPTER XXVI.

KANSAS IN TVAR-TIME.

A Visit to Kansas. — ^Recollections of Border Feuds. — Peculiarities of Kansas Soldiers. — Foraging as a Fine Art. — Kansas and Missouri. — Settling Old Scores. — Depopulating the Border Counties. — Two Examples of Grand Strategy. — Capture of the " Little-More-Grape '^ Battery. — A "Woman in Sorrow. — Frontier Justice. — Trial before a "Lynch" Court. — General Blunt's Order. — Execution ,of Horse- Thieves. — Auction Sale of Confiscated Property. — Banished to Dixie 261

CHAPTER XXVII.

GETTYSBURG.

A Hasty Departure. — At Ilarrisburg.— ^?i route for tlie Army of tho Potomac, — The Battle-Field at Gettysburg.— Appearance of the Cemetery. — Importance of the Position. — The Configuration of Ground. — Traces of Battle. — Kound Hill. — General Meade's Head-Quarters. — Appearance of the Dead. — Through the Forests along the Line. — Eetreat and Pursuit of Lee 275

CHAPTER XXVHI. '

IN THE NOETHTVEST.

From Chicago to Minnesota. — Curiosities of Low-Water Navigation. — St. Paul and its Sufferings in Earlier Days. — The Indian "War. — A Brief History of our Troubles in that Region. — General Pope's Expeditions to Chastise the Ked Man. — Honesty in the Indian Department. — The End of the 'Warfare.— The Pacific Eailway.— A Bold Undertaking.— Penetrating British Territory. — The Hudson Bay Company. — Peculiarities of a Trapper's Life 289

CHAPTER XXIX.

INAUGURATION? OF A GREAT ENTERPRISE.

Plans for Arming the Negroes along the Mississippi. — Opposition to the Movement. — Plantations Deserted by their Owners. — Gathering Abandoned Cotton. — Rules and Regulations. — Speculation. — "Widows and Orphans in Demand. — Arrival of Adjutant-General Thomas. — Designs of the Government 305

CHAPTER XXX.

COTTON-PLANTING IN 1863.

Leasing the Plantations. — Interference of the Rebels. — Raids. — Treatment of Prisoners. — The Attack upon MUliken's Bend. — A Novel Breast-Work. — Murder of our Officers. — Profits of Cotton-Planting. — Dishonesty of Lessees. — Negroes Planting on their own Account. 313

CHAPTER XXXL

AMONG THE OFFICIALS.

Reasons for Trying an Experiment. — Activity among Lessees. — Opinions of the Residents. — Rebel Hopes in 1863. — Removal of Negroes to

"West Louisiana. — Visiting IsTatcliez. — The City and its Business. — " The Eejected Addresses " 323

CHAPTER XXXn.

A JOURNEY OUTSIDE THE LINES.

Passing the Pickets. — Cold Weather in the South. — Effect of Climate upon the Constitution. — Surrounded and Captured. — Prevarication and Explanation. — Among the Natives. — The Game for the Confederacy. — Courtesy of the Planters. — Condition of the Plantations. — The PiCturn 331

CHAPTER XXXni.

ON THE PLANTATION.

Military Protection. — Promises. — Another "Widow. — Securing a Plantation. — Its Locality and Appearance. — Gardening in Louisiana. — How Cotton is Picked.—" The Tell-Tale."— A Southerner's Opinion of the Negro Character. — Causes and Consequences 341

CHAPTER XXXIV.

RULES AND REGULATIONS UNDER THE OLD AND NEW SYSTEMS.

The Plantation Record. — Its Uses. — Interesting Memoranda. — Dogs, Jail, and Stocks. — Instructions to the Overseer. — His Duties and Eesponsibilities. — The Order of General Banks. — Management of Plantations in the Department of the Gulf. — The two Documents Contrasted. — One of the Effects of " an Abolition "War " 355

CHAPTER XXXV.

OUR FREE-LABOR ENTERPRISE IN PROGRESS.

The Negroes at "Work.— DifBculties in the "Way. — A Public Meeting. — A Speech. — A Negro's Idea of Freedom. — A Difficult Question to Determine. — Influence of Northern and Southern Men Contrasted. — An Increase of Numbers. — " Ginning " Cotton. — In the Lint-Eoom. — Mills and Machinery of a Plantation. — A Profitable Enterprise.. 371

CHAPTER XXXVI.

"WAR AND AGRICULTURE.

Official Favors. — Division of Labor. — Moral Suasion. — Corn-gathering in the South. — An Alarm. — A Frightened Irishman. — The Eebels

Approaching. — An Attack on "Waterproof. — Falstaff Eedivivus. — His Feats of Arms. — Depaxtui-e for New Orleans 381

CHAPTER XXXVII.

IN THE COTTON MARKET.

New Orleans and its Peculiarities. — Its Loss by the Eebellion. — Cotton Factors in New Orleans. — Old Things passed away. — The Northern Barbarians a Race of Shopkeepers. — Pulsations of the Cotton Market. — A Quarrel with a Lady. — Contending for a Principle. — Inharmony of the " Eegulations." — An Account of Sales 391

CELAPTER XXXVIII.

SOME FEATURES OF PLANTATION LIFE.

Mysteries of Mule-trading. — " What's in a Name ?" — Process of Stocking a Plantation. — An Enterprising White Man.— Stratagem of a Yankee. — Distributing Goods to the Negroes. — The Tastes of the African. — Ethiopian Eloquence. — A Colored Overseer. — Guerrillas Approaching. — Whisky vs. Guerrillas. — A Iliut to Military Men, 405

CHAPTER XXXIX.

VISITED BY GUERRILLAS.

News of the Paid. — Returning to the Plantation. — Examples of Negro Cunning. — A Sudden Departure and a Fortunate Escape. — A Second Visit. — "Going Through," in Guerrilla Parlance. — How it is Accomplished. — Courtesy to Guests. — A Holiday Costume. — Lessees Abandoning their Plantations. — Official Promises 417 .

CHAPTER XL.

PECULIARITIES OF PLANTATION LABOR.

Resuming Operation. — Difnculties in the Way. — A New Method of Healing the Sick. — A Thief Discovered by his Ignorance of Arithmetic. — How Cotton is Planted. — The Uses of Cotton-Seed. — A Novel Sleeping-Room. — Constructing a Tunnel. — Vigilance of a Negro Sentinel 425

CHAPTER XLl.

THE NEGROES AT A MILITARY POST,

The Soldiers at Waterproof.— The Black Man in Blue.— Mutiny and Desertion.— Their Cause and Cure.— Tendering a Resignation.— No Desire for a Barber.— Seeking Protection.— Falsehood and Truth.— Proneness to Exaggeration. — Amusing Estimates 433

CHAPTER XLH.

THE END OF THE EXPERIMENT.

The Nature of our "Protection."— Trade Following the Flag.- A Fortunate Journey.- Our Last Visit.— Inhumanity of the Guerrillas.— Driving Negroes into Captivity.— Killing an Overseer.— Our Final Departure. — Plantations Elsewhere 441

CHAPTER XLHI.

THE MISSISSIPPI AND ITS PECULIARITIES.

Length of the Great Eiver, and the Area it Drains.— How Itasca Lake obtained its Name.— The Bends of the Mississippi.— Curious Effect upon Titles to Eeal Estate.— A Story of Napoleon.— A Steamboat Thirty-five Years under "Water.— The Current audits Variations.— Navigating Cotton and Corn Fields.— Eeminiscences of the Islands 455

CHAPTER XLIY.

STEAMBOATING ON THE MISSISSIPPI IN PEACE AND WAR.

Attempts to Obstruct the Great Eiver.— Chains, Booms, and Batteries. —A Novelty in Piloting.— Travel in the Days Before the Eebellion. —Trials of Speed.— The Great Eace.— Travel During the War.— Eunning a Eebel Battery on the Lower Mississippi.— Incidents of the Occasion. — Comments on the Situation 465

CHAPTER XLV.

THE ARMY CORRESPONDENT.

The Beginning and the End.— The Lake Erie Piracy.— A Eochestor Story.— The First War Correspondent.— Napoleon's Policy.— Waterloo and the Rothschilds.— Journalistic Enterprise in the Mexican War.— The Crimea and the East Indian Eebellion.— Experiences at the Beginning of Hostihties.- The Tender Mercies of the Insurgents.

— In the Field. — Adventux-es in Missouri and Kentucky. — Correspondents in Captivity. — How Battle-Accounts were Written. — Pro-* fessional Complaints. 4T9

CHAPTER XLVI. '

THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE SOUTH.

Scarcity of the Population. — Fertility of the Country. — Northern Men already in the South. — ^Kansas Emigrants Crossing Missouri. — Change of the Situation. — Present Disadvantages of Emigration. — Feeling of the People. — Property-Holders in Eichmond. — The Sentiment in North Carolina. — South Carolina Chivalry. — The Effect of War. — Prospect of the Success of Free Lahor. — Trade in the South 493

CHAPTER XLVII.

HOW DISADVANTAGES MAY BE OVERCOME.

Conciliating the People of the South. — Eailway Travel and its Improvement. — EebuiMing Steamboats. — Eeplacing ."Working Stock. — The Condition of the Plantations. — Suggestions about Hasty Departures. — Obtaining Information. — The Attractions of Missouri 503

CHAPTER XLVIII.

THE RESOURCES OF THE SOUTHERN STATES.

How the People have Lived. — An Agricultural Community. — Mineral and other Wealth of Virginia. — Slave-Breeding in Former Times. — The Auriferous Eegion of North Carolina. — Agricultural Advan tages. — Varieties of Soil in South Carolina. — Sea-Island Cotton. — Georgia and her Eailways. — Probable Decline of the Eice Culture. — The Everglade State. — The Lower Mississippi Valley. — The Eed Eiver. — Arkansas and its Advantages. — A Hint for Tragedians. — Mining in Tennessee. — The Blue-Grass Eegion of Kentucky. — Te-sas and its Attractions. — Difterence between Southern and Western Emigration. — The End 509

CAMP-FIRE AND COTTON-FIELD.

CHAPTER I.

ANTE BELLUM.

At the Eocky fountains. — Sentiment of the People. — Firing the Southern Heart. — A Midwinter Journey across the Plains. — An Editor's Opinion. — Election in Missouri. — The North springing to Arms. — An amusing Arrest. — Off for the rield.-»-Final Instructions. — Niagara. — Curiosities of Banking. — Arrival at the Seat of War.

I PASSED tlie summer and autumn of 1860 in the Rocky Mountain Gold Region. At that time the population of the young Territory was composed of emigrants from Northern and Southern States, those from the colder regions iDeing in the majority. When the Presidential election took place, there was much angry discussion of the great questions of the day, and there were threats of violence on the part of the friends of the "institution." The residents of the Gold Region were unable to cast their votes for the men of their choice, but their anxiety to know the result was very great.

When it was announced that the Republican candidate had triumphed, there were speedy signs of discontent. Some of the more impulsive Southerners departed at once for their native States, predicting a separation

20 PREPARING FOR THE FIELD.

of Dixie from the North before the end of the year. Some went to "New Mexico, and others to' Texas, while many remained to press their favorite theories upon their neighbors. The friends of the Union were slow to believe that any serious difficulty would take place. Long after the secession of South Carolina they were confident our difierences could be healed without an appeal to arms.

. My visit to the Rocky Mountains v/as a professional one. During my stay in that region I supplied several Eastern journals with letters from Colorado and New Mexico. One after another, the editors of these journals infonned me that letters from the Territories had lost their interest, dwing to the troubles growing out of the election. Wishing to take part in the drama about to be enacted, I essayed a midwinter journey across the j)lains, and, early in February, stood in the editorial room of TJie Herald.

1 anno-unced my readiness to proceed to any point between the Poles, wherever T7ie Herald desired a correspondent. The editor-in-cliief was busy over a long letter from some point in the South, but his response was promptly given. Half reading, half pausing over the letter, he briefly said :—

"A long and bloody war is upon us, in which the whole country will be engaged. We shall desire you to take the field ; probably in the AVest. It may be several weeks before we need you, but the war cannot be long delayed."

At that time few persons in the North looked upon

THE MISSOURI ELEOTIOIT. 21

the situation with any fears of trouble. There were some who thought a hostile collision was among the possibilities, but these persons were generally in the minority. Many believed the secession movement was only the hasty work of political leaders, that would be soon undone when the people of the South came to their senses.

That the South would deliberately plunge the country into civil war was difficult to comprehend, even after the flT'st steps had been taken. The majority of the Northern people were hoping and believing, day by day, that something might transpire to quell the excitement and adjust the difficulties threatening to disturb the country. •

Before leaving the Rocky Mountains I did not believe that war was certain to ensue, though I considered it quite probable. As I passed through Missouri, the only slave State that lay in my route, I found every thing comparatively quiet. In St. Joseph, on the day of my arrival, the election for delegates to the State Convention was being held. There was no disorder, more than is usual on election days in small cities. Little knots of people were engaged in discussion, but the discussions partook of no extraordinary bitterness. The vote of the city was decidedly in favor of keeping the State in the Union.

Between the Tth'of December and the 12th of April, the IN'orthern blood warmed slowly. The first gun at Sumter quickened its pulsations. When the President issued his call for seventy-five thousand men for three

22 MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

montlis, to put down insurrection, tlie ]N"ortli woke to action. Everywhere tlie response was prompt, earnest, patriotic. In the ISTorthern cities the recruiting offices were densely thronged. New York and Massachusetts Vv^ere first to send their favorite regiments to the front, but they were not long in the advance. Had the call been for four times seventy-five thousand, and for a service of three years, there is little doubt the people would have responded without hesitation.

For a short time after my arrival at the* East, I remained in a small town in Southern 'New Hampshire. A few days after the first call was issued, a friend invited me to a seat in his carriage for a ride to Portsmouth, the sea-port of the State. On reaching the city we found the war spirit fully aroused. Two companies of infantry were drilling in the public square, and the citizens were in a state of great excitement. In the course of the, afternoon my friend and myself were arrested, by a committee of respectable citizens, who suspected us of being Southern emissaries. It was with great difficulty we convinced them they had made a -slight mistake. We referred them to the only acquaintances we had in the city. They refused to consider the truth established in the mouths of two witnesses, and were not induced to give us our liberty until all convenient proof of our identity had been adduced.

To be arrested within twenty miles of home, on suspicion of being delegated from Charleston or Montgomery, was one of my most amusing experiences of the war. The gentleman who accompanied me was a very

. UNDER ARREST. 23

earnest believer in coercion. His business in Portsmouth on that occasion was to offer his services in a regiment then being formed. A few months later he received a commission in the army, but did not obtain it through«any of our temporary acquaintances at Portsmouth.

Our captors were the solid men of the city, any one of whom could have sat for the portrait of Mr. Turveydrop without the slightest alteration. On taking us into custody, they stated the grounds on which they arrested us. Our dark complexions and long beards had aroused suspicions concerning the places of our nativity. Suspicion was reduced to a certainty when one of them heard me mention my presence in Missouri on the day of choosing candidates for the Convention. Our purpose was divined when I asked if there was any activity at the Navy Yard. We were Rebel emissaries, who designed to lay their 'Nslyj Yard in ashes !

On our release and departure we were followed to our homes, that the correctness of our representations might be ascertained. This little occurrence, in the center of JSTew England, where the people claim to be thoroughly quiet and law-abiding, indicated that the war spirit in that part of the North was more than momentary.

The West was not behind the Eastern States in the

•determination to subdue the Rebellion. Volunteers

were gathering at Cairo, and threatening to occupy

points further down the Mississippi. At, St. Louis the

struggle was active between the Unionists and the Seces-

24 GOING WEST. .

sionists. A collision was a mere question of time, and of short time at the l)est.

As I visited Tfie Herald office for final instructions, I fonnd that the managing editor had determined upon a vigorous campaign. Every point of interest "was to l)e covered, so that the operations of our armies "would Ibe fully recorded from day to day. The war correspondents had gone to their posts, or were just taking their departure. One correspondent was already on the way to Cairo. I was instructed to watch the military movements in Missouri, and hastened to. St. Louis as fast as steam could bear me.

Detained twelve hours at Niagara, by reason of missing a railway train, I found that " the opening war gave promise of affecting that locality. The hotel-keepers were gloomy at the prospect of losing their Southern patronage, and half feared they would be obliged to close their establishments. There were but few visitors, and even these were not of the class which scatters its money profusely. The village around the Falls displayed positive signs of dullness,' and the inhabitants had personal as well as patriotic interest in wishing there was no war.' The Great Cataract was unchanged in its beauty and grandeur. The flood from the Lakes was not diminished, and the precipice over which the water plunged was none the less steep. The opening war had no effect "apon this wonder of the K'ew World.'

In Chicago, business was prostrated on account of the outbreak of hostilities. Most of the banks in Illinois had been holding State bonds as securities for the re-

EUMOES OF WAR. 25

demption of tlieir circulation. As these "bonds were nearly all of Southern origin, the beginning of the war had materially affected their value. The banks found their securities rapidly becoming insecure, and hence there was a depreciation in the currency. This was not uniform, hut varied from five to sixty per cent., accord; ing to the value of the bonds the respective banks were holding. Each morning and evening bulletins were issued stating the value of the notes of the various banking-houses. Sucii a currency was very inconvenient • to handle, as the payment of any considerable sum required a calculation to establish the worth of each note.