I remembered the name of this colonel at the time, and mentioned it to her, but I have now forgotten it.

This incident was strictly true, but I have often wondered since that she believed it at once. There was a marvelous change in her manner. She actually smiled, and asked me to be seated, then, hurrying from the room, returned directly with a tray and some buckwheat batter. In a few moments I was in the midst of luxury-golden brown cakes and golden yellow butter. As the girl bent over her work I could see her eyes fill again with tears, and her manner was kindness personified. Speaking in an earnest, sorrowful tone, she said:

"You seem to be a gentleman, and I hope I have not been rude to you. I heard that Colonel was wounded and captured. Didn't he tell you anything of my brother?" mentioning his name.

"No, I regret to say that he did not. But we talked of the war, its cause, its progress and probable conclusion, and recounted our experiences of that first day's fight. I asked him why he did not hold his position, posted as he was behind a rail fence, when we first struck him. His reply was: You fellows fight like wild cats, just as if you had not a particle of sense or fear. You would run over the devil himself at that rate. There is not a particle of sense in such fighting as that.'"'

By this time my first instalment of buckwheat cakes had disappeared. My! my! Like the old negro, I was not able to "'spress myself." My long fast, the rain, and the low temperature of my body had reduced the fever and the soreness of my face, and I ate with a will. While I ate, the young lady stood with her hands resting on the back of my chair, asking me many questions about the war and the people of Dixie. I assured her that a large majority of the Confederate soldiers were hightoned, Christian gentlemen, many of them highly cultured graduates of colleges, chivalrous and refined, having at home humble Christian mothers whose prayers were constantly ascending to heaven for the protection of their sons; that we were fighting the Union soldiers, and were not making war on women and children; that we were fighting for what we conceived

a just cause, though that cause might be hard to define; that we had no animosity against any Union soldier-as an example, I had, while at the hospital, divided with two Union soldiers, lying wounded under a tree, the last particle of tobacco I had, knowing that I could not get any more for perhaps a week; and after having assisted in the amputation of my own colonel's arm, I hobbled out to a shade tree near the house, and found a little boy suffering very much, a grape-shot having penetrated about two-thirds its own diameter into the top of his foot, crushing its way through and embedding itself among the bones. He asked me to see the surgeons and ask them to "please put him on the table next." Though it caused me considerable pain to walk, yet I knew the kind, sympathetic heart of the surgeon of my own regiment, and begged him to attend to that little Yankee boy. He stopped one moment, raised up, turning his benevolent, sympathetic face to me and said: "Captain, I have been watching that little boy for the last six or eight hours, giving him all the stimulants he will bear, but he does not revive. He has never recovered from the first shock, and I fear never will. In his present condition he would certainly die on the table. I shall continue to watch him, and if he revives I will put him on the table immediately." I went back to the house by another path. I could not look upon that pale, boyish face again and tell him what the surgeon had told me.

After I had eaten the cakes she once more left the room and returned, bringing a dish full to the brim with large, luscious raspberries. I asked her to place in another dish the part she wished me to eat, warning her that if they were placed in my hands in their present condition I should eat them all. She assured me that I was welcome to all. I ate all. They had been gathered early in the morning and sugared.

Before I left the house, this hospitable young woman placed in my hands a generous slice of delicious dried beef, neatly wrapped, saying, "You will need this, perhaps." I thanked her, and rejoined the retreating column, but left in her hands, as a memento and not as a reward, the last piece of silver I possessed.

O

UR vessel was a side-wheel steamer, and was formerly a New York tug-boat. She was large and very powerful, and was purchased by the Federal Government to be converted into a gunboat for river service. She proved to be admirably adapted to the purpose: a heavy battery consisting of two nine-inch Dahlgrens, which were pivoted, one forward, the other aft; two thirty-pounder Parrott rifles, and three or four howitzers. She was detailed for the "Potomac Flotilla," then guarding the Potomac, York, and Rappahannock Riv

ers.

We

Our story has to do only with the abovementioned period, on the Rappahannock. were constantly obliged to be on the alert, and to keep a bright and sharp lookout. Our boats patrolled the river by night, in order to prevent supplies and despatches from being carried over. We often were fired on from masked batteries, but as a rule had no trouble in silencing them.

All our officers were volunteers. There was not one regular officer on board. Our commanding officer was an old Fulton Ferry pilot, and, of course, knew nothing about the service. He knew as well, however, how to handle a steamer as any one in the flotilla, and was as brave as Julius Cæsar. He was ready and willing to fight on all occasions, and the name of the opportunities he had was legion. The enemy was very troublesome and kept us constantly moving. We occasionally captured a boat at night, attempting to cross, but they generally managed to destroy their despatches, if they had any, before being captured.

One night we saw the enemy making signals across the river, just above us. We were about to fire upon them, but desisted at the earnest request of one of our officers. He was a young man who had been in the army, and was very fond of adventure. There was nothing too hazardous for him to undertake. He begged the captain not to fire on them, stating that he was sure he could capture the whole party. He then unfolded his scheme, which was as follows: To let them continue their signals for that night unmolested. The next night, he said, if the captain would give him a couple of boats with their crews, he would promise to capture the whole outfit. The captain reluctantly con

sented, and we dropped down the river so as not to be seen by the enemy.

The next night we returned as quietly as possible, and there was the enemy, sure enough, making signals as before. Everything had been prepared during the day for the expedition-the boats' crews selected and instructed. The crews were then armed, and the boats quietly lowered away. We had, of course, taken the precaution of muffling the oars. We were wished all manner of good luck, and away we went. We landed about a mile, I should think, from the place where they were making signals. We anchored the boats a short distance from the shore and put two boat-keepers in each. We then started for the signal station, very quietly and cautiously. No one was allowed to speak but the commanding officer of the expedition. We had no idea as to the number of the enemy, and, indeed, no one appeared to care. After about fifteen minutes' march, we came in sight of the house from which the signals were being made. It had evidently been a negro cabin. We could see about a dozen men around the hut.

When within about fifty yards of the house, our commanding officer ordered us to charge. We did it to such good purpose that we captured the whole party without firing a shot. They were the most surprised people imaginable. They had no idea an enemy was anywhere in the vicinity. We secured the prisoners, took them back to the boats, and got them safely on board ship.

While ashore, and just before starting from the house, the most comical looking darky I ever saw came marching into the place, never dreaming of any change in the condition of affairs. We at once seized him. On questioning him he informed us that he had just returned from the big house, where he had been all day with "Massa Charles." On questioning him further we discovered that "Massa Charles was Captain Charles Lawson, of the 55th Virginia Cavalry, and had a recruiting station in the neighborhood of his house. Judging from what the negro told us we concluded his house must be about four miles inland.

After seeing the prisoner safely on board, we concluded to try and capture "Massa Charles "

as well. So we started off, taking the strange negro with us as a guide. We told him very plainly that should he in any way attempt to deceive us we would certainly blow out his brains. He was terribly frightened, and made the most extravagant promises to be faithful and

true.

It was a very rough road, and we made haste slowly. We again left two boat-keepers in each boat and anchored them as before, giving them orders that in case they should hear any firing, and we should fail to return within a reasonable time thereafter, they were to pull off to the ship. The guide told us the enemy had cavalry pickets out, but that they were very far apart and not very vigilant, as no enemy was expected. We got safely through, and finally reached the captain's house.

We were at once ordered to surround it as quietly as possible, and proceeded to do so. The commanding officer of the party then, taking two men with him, entered the house through a window. The negro had given him a complete plan of the house, describing the position of the rooms, halls, stairs, etc. He also told him the exact location of the captain's bed

room.

The captain awoke just as the party burst into his room. He was a very large, powerful man, but as he saw three revolvers pointed at him, and had no arms himself, he concluded to take the better part" and surrendered, saying: "Great Scott, this is too bad!" It did seem mighty hard, but such is the fortune of

war.

Our commander told the captain that we would treat him with the greatest kindness and consideration if he would go along with us quietly, but if he attempted to escape or make any outcry we would certainly kill him. He also told him he had no desire to humiliate him by binding him, and that if he would give his word of honor to go along peaceably with us he would leave him untrammeled. He gave his parole, and we started for the ship.

We again got safely through the pickets (if, indeed, pickets there were) and reached the boats, got aboard of them, and pulled off to the vessel. We had, we felt, accomplished a good night's work, and all without the loss of a single

man.

A few nights after this, while one of our boats was patrolling the river, a large boat was discovered just ahead. Our boat immediately gave chase, when suddenly another large boat ap

peared, and the two at once attacked our boat with great vigor. We were doing our best, but were very much overmatched. Those on board the vessel, hearing the firing and seeing the flash of the guns, at once came to our assistance. Relief came none too soon. One of the enemy's boats escaped in the darkness, but we succeeded in capturing the other. They were out on a raid for the express purpose of capturing our patrol-boat. In this encounter we had one man killed and three wounded.

We now had more prisoners on board than we could accommodate, so we ran down to the mouth of the river to intercept an army transport steamer. We saw one next day, and put all our prisoners, including the Confederate captain and our own wounded, aboard her. The prisoners were soon safely housed in the "Old Capitol Prison," in Washington.

We again ascended the river and went to

work as usual. work as usual. We steamed up just beyond where we had broken up the signal station. We paid for our temerity. A masked battery (Stuart's) opened upon us with destructive effect. They killed two of our men and wounded seven. We returned the fire briskly, and after about an hour's fighting we silenced the battery. We then dropped down the river a short distance for the purpose of burying the dead, attending to the wounded, and repairing damages. All our machinery was above the water-line, but fortunately, as by a miracle, it all escaped without injury.

The enemy from this time on kept us very busy. We formerly used to have a day off," when we could go oystering and amuse ourselves. But these halcyon days were gone forever. We could have a fight now any time we wanted one. It was only necessary to go up the river a few miles, to get it.

We would occasionally pick up a "contraband." We found them, as a rule, reliable, and sometimes got very valuable information from them, which proved very serviceable to us, enabling us to make many captures. We sometimes had great fun with them, not only from the exaggerated ideas they had concerning us, but also from the great expectations they had of what we would do for them.

We now had less trouble with the enemy, and it had become very quiet, indeed, rather suspiciously so. Our young officer again came to the fore. He, in common with the rest of us, felt there was something wrong a-brewin'." He had another scheme on foot. He proposed on

the first dark night taking a captured skiff we had, disguising himself and escaping (?) to the enemy. We were to chase him and keep up a brisk fire. He said he would have some important information to give the enemy, and would endeavor to get some in return. Since his last adventure the captain had such confidence in him as to be ready to accede to any proposition he might make.

So he made all his preparations, and on the first dark night he took the skiff and was followed by our patrol-boat. After a little while. the crew began firing rapidly, and he rowed for dear life, and just managed to make his escape and reach the shore in safety. He was received by the Confederates with open arms. He told them he had been sent to inform them that General Stuart was about to make a raid, and wanted them to make a demonstration on the gunboat so as to keep her busy and away from him. It was a very clever ruse. They immediately told They immediately told him they had already made their plans to capture the gunboat, and revealed the whole scheme to him. This, it appears, was just what he suspected, and took that method of finding out. He said he must get back before sun-up; they were afraid he would be captured by the Yankees, but he said he had no fear; he had "fooled them coming over" and could do it again.

A couple of hours afterward he was back safely on board ship.

The attack was to take place on the night of the 11th, should it prove to be a dark one. This was the 9th of the month. We made no change whatever in our movements, but acted as though we suspected nothing.

The night came and it was dark as Erebus. We had a slip on our cable and "heavy banked fires." Our guns were loaded with grape and canister, and every man was in his place. About half past eleven we heard them coming; fires were spread and we were all ready. On they came, and as soon as we could see them we got under way and began firing into them. Not one of the boats reached the ship. As soon as they saw we were prepared for them they separated, after giving us a volley, and made for the shore. We never knew what damage we inflicted on them, but it must have been very great.

This was the first time they had attempted any very bold movement. Of their next attempt more anon.

Shortly after this, the first battle of Fredericksburg took place, in which, as all know, the Union forces were defeated, with terrible loss. This

made the Confederates still more bold and defiant on the river, and they certainly made matters very lively for us. We were obliged to keep in the middle of the river. When we approached either bank, we seldom failed to get one or more shots. After enduring this state of things for some litt e time, our captain determined to go up the river as far as possible, and do all the damage we could. He heard that Stuart had a very strong masked battery some distance up the river, and had received very accurate information as to its locality. He arranged to reach the place about midnight. The site was admirably selected, and had we not known the exact position of it, I very much doubt if any of us would have been left to tell the tale. It was on a little bend of the river, just above Port Royal. We arrived there about midnight, as intended, and notwithstanding all our precautions, the enemy discovered us all too soon, and we both began firing at almost the same moment. Our guns were of much heavier calibre than theirs, but they had the advantage of a plunging fire.

I think both sides were glad when the fight was over. It was a long way the most severe one I had yet been in. Our machinery was somewhat disabled, and we were obliged to drop down the river. We kept firing as long as we were in range. Our loss was four killed and nine wounded. We never knew how many they lost on the other side. We went back to the vicinity of our old "stamping ground" to repair damages, bury the dead, and take care of the wounded. We were getting very short of coal, and were looking very anxiously for the arrival of our regular coal-schooner. These schooners were sent us from the Washington Navy Yard, at stated intervals, in tow of a tug-boat. They also brought us supplies of all kinds. It was three days before she appeared, and we were really in great straits when she arrived. Haply the enemy didn't know of our condition. We couldn't leave the river, and to remain, in our then condition and without coal, seemed sure destruction. Mais, la fin couronne l'œuvre. The schooner arrived all right and gladdened our hearts.

This was also our principal means of communication with the outside world. We got all our supplies, and the schooner left for Washington. Shortly after this all the officers were detached, and an entirely new set of officers ordered to the vessel. The new arrivals were given all the information in our possession; were told that "eternal vigilance is the price of safety," etc.

They were also told of the attack that had been made upon us; of the most dangerous parts of the river, etc., etc., etc. It is probable that, finding nothing extraordinary occurring for some time, they relaxed their watchfulness in some degree. The new regime had not been long in existence when the vessel, together with another gunboat, which had been sent on the river, was attacked one dark night by a number of boats under Captain John Taylor Wood, and, after a brief resistance, were both captured.

Captain Wood had formerly been in our service, and was a very gallant and accomplished officer. His expedition was skilfully planned

His men attacked Our people were

and brilliantly executed. with the fury of demons. caught napping, and made but a feeble resistance. The manner in which the whole affair was managed reflected great credit on Captain Wood. Our officers and men all spoke in the highest manner of the way in which they were treated while prisoners. They had plenty of good food to eat, the wounded were tenderly cared for, and all hands, on giving their parole not to attempt an escape, were allowed to roam about as they liked until they were exchanged.

What ultimately became of the captured vessels is a matter of history.