VISIT FROM GENERAL MEADE. Of a different kind, and far more pleasant is the last thing I shall put down in these reminiscences. More pleasant because it relates to a visit we had from General George C. Meade. My mother, who still lives a vigorous old lady-though she doesn't think so-of 80 years, was a daughter of the late George M. Dallas, Vice-President under Mr. Polk, and was related to or connected by marriage with General Meade. They had known each other well before the war, but, of course, had not seen each other since it began, as my mother was all the while in Richmond. One morning we were much surprised, and, indeed, somewhat startled, by seeing a very distinguished-looking man, wearing the insignia of a United States. general, stop and dismount before our front door. He was accompanied, I think, by his staff, in full uniform, and was followed, not unnaturally, by quite a crowd of negroes. I presume these latter thought, perhaps, we were all to be arrested and sent to the calaboose, as our strong Southern sentiments were pretty well known. But such, I am happy to say, was not in the programme. After he dismounted, General Meade, followed by one of his staff, also my mother's cousin, came on the porch and rang the bell. It fell to my lot to answer this call, and as this was the first time I had ever been so close to a "Yankee general," I felt, boyishly, half resentful and half abashed. Of course, I did not know either who it was or what he wanted. Just as he asked, in the kindliest tones, if Dr. Tucker lived there, my little sister, a flaxen-haired girl, appeared in the hall, and, with a smile on his face, the General quickly said: "I know he does, for that child is the image of her mother”. calling my mother by her maiden name. Then he told who he was, and asked for my mother. He was shown into our little parlor, and soon the latter came in also. Naturally, both seemed at first a little awkward, and bowed stifly-my mother especially, I think—and sat down, when a silence ensued, which neither party seemed to know exactly how to break. As a matter of fact, it was broken at last by the General, in tones of deep sympathy. My recollection is he said this: "Lit has certainly been awful, but I have not come to discuss the past, but to see what you and your family need, and what I can do for you." These words, spoken in such quiet dignity, yet with so much warm sympathy, broke the icy reserve, and, in the conversation which followed, not only were many pleasant things said on both sides, but the good offices of the General were pledged and gratefully accepted. Let it be said, he was true to every offer, and among his many, many subsequent kindnesses, he secured for my mother and the children, excepting myself, free tranportation to Philadelphia. In no way was there anything wanting in General Meade's generosity as a man, kindness as a friend, sympathy as a relative, dignity as a soldier, or loyalty to his country; and so I shall never forget the opportune visit, the goodly offices, and the soldierly bearing of General George C. Meade. Instead now of hate, war, and death, we have faith, hope, and charity; but the greatest of these is charity. Esto perpetua. [From the Baltimore, Md., Sun, December 7, 1901.] HOW VIRGINIA SUPPLIED MARYLAND WITH ARMS. JOHN W. GARRETT'S ADVICE. Wanted Virginia Army to Occupy Baltimore, but General Lee Refused. Major McDonald's Reminiscences. Major E. H. McDonald, of Charlestown, W. Va., contributes to THE SUN Some war history never before published, and which will prove interesting to Marylanders, particularly Baltimoreans. Major McDonald is a gentleman of high standing, and is now extensively engaged in farming and stock raising in Jefferson county. He is one of four brothers who served with distinction in the Confederate Army, and is a son of the late Colonel Angus McDonald, who commanded a Virginia cavalry regiment in the Confederate service. Messrs. Editors: On the night of April 18, 1861, the Virginia troops, under command of General Kenton Harper, marched into Harpers Ferry by the light of the burning arsenal and armory, fired by the Federal soldiers before their evacuation. On the day following, Federal troops from Massachusetts were attacked by the people of Baltimore as they passed through her streets on their way to the South. Maryland's best and noblest sons were in sympathy with the South, but situated as she was, between the North and Washington, she would have been foremost in the brunt of a terrible war. Her business men had large interests in the North as well as the South, and hesitated to stake all upon the issues of war; so, at first, she stood for neutrality, and denied the Federal troops the right to pass through her territory without her consent. When, in defiance of this right, Massachusetts troops were marched through the streets of Baltimore and her citizens were shot down in cold blood, the whole State became aroused, and would, if they could, have joined the South in her attempt to resist the invasion of her soil, by recourse to arms. In Baltimore the excitement was intense, and the offer of volunteers far exceeded the ability of the authorities to arm them. General George H. Stewart, commanding the troops in Baltimore, appealed at once to Virginia for arms, in a letter sent by L. P. Bayne and J. J. Chancellor, who, in delivering it said: "The people of Baltimore and the citizens of Maryland, generally, were united in at least one thing, viz: that troops volunteering for Federal service against Virginia or other sister Southern States, should not pass over the soil of Maryland if they could prevent it." ARMS FOR MARYLAND. In response to this appeal, Governor Letcher, of Virginia, sent the following telegram on April 22d: "Major-General Kenton Harper, in command at Harpers Ferry, is hereby ordered to deliver to General Stewart, at Baltimore, 1,000 of the arms recently taken at Harpers Ferry." On the same day, at the recommendation of the Governor, the Advisory Council of the State of Virginia agreed to loan the State of Maryland 5,000 more arms from the arsenal at Lexington, Va. The dispatch, arriving late that night, was given me as one of General Harper's aides-de-camp, and carried to headquarters after the General and his staff had retired. He sent for Major Harmon, his quartermaster, who said it was impossible to ship them that night. Seeing the importance of the order, I suggested to the General that it could be done, and proposed to deliver them in Baltimore before morning if he would give me a regiment and transportation. The necessary orders were given, and I went to the railroad station and telegraphed for an engine and car, which were promised to be ready within an hour. I then went to the officer in command of the Second Virginia Regiment, and told him to turn out his command. He demurred until he saw the orders, and appreciating the import ance of the service, he and his men obeyed cheerfully, some carrying arms, others straw, while we packed them in the car. By 2 A. M. I was on my way to Baltimore,, riding on the bumper of the car which carried the arms, enveloped in a cloud of steam and cinders, until, at the end of the journey I resembled more a miner than a soldier, so blackened and disfigured was I. But, notwithstanding my appearance, I met with a royal welcome from those gallant sons of old Maryland whom I afterwards learned to admire for their soldierly bearing in times that tried men's souls. I was escorted to the Institute, where the Maryland Line was quartered; then to Holliday street, where Marshal Kane had his police and cannon. Everywhere the colors of the Confederacy were displayed-upon the houses and the people—as if all Baltimore was of one mind, and that was with the South; I was urged to tell the Virginia authorities to move the army from Harpers Ferry to Baltimore. Before leaving for Harpers Ferry that evening, I was told that John W. Garrett, president of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, desired to talk to me. I went to his office, where I met him and the chief officers of the road. JOHN W. GARRETT'S ADVICE. He told me to go at once to Richmond, and tell the authorities there to move their men to Baltimore and make the fight there; that everything was favorable for such a move; the railroads north of Baltimore were cut and nothing from the west was leaving the city; that they were taking all the freight offered in the west, and that Baltimore was then full of supplies necessary to an army. They seemed much in earnest, and desirous to have the move made. LEE REFUSED. When I reached Harpers Ferry and delivered their messages to General Harper, he sent me immediately to Richmond. Arriving there the next day, I had an interview with General Lee, who, on the 23d of April, had been put in command of all the Virginia troops. He was eminently a cautious leader and did not approve of moving our forces to Baltimore. If the command of the troops had not been turned over to him, the armies of Virginia would have been marched to join the Marylanders in the defense of Baltimore, and the first battle of the war would have been fought there. Lee's caution may have lost Maryland from the list of Confederate States, . but from within her borders came many of the bravest men who followed the fortunes of the South. Her best blood stood in the forefront of most of the battles of the Army of Northern Virginia. In numbers she may not have furnished her quota, but in heroism and self-denial they were peerless among the troops that followed the colors of the South. Charlestown, W. Va. E. H. McDonald. [From the Atlanta, Ga., Journal, November, 1901.] CHANCELLORSVILLE. The Fight Well Described by a Georgia Colonel. "FIGHTING JOE" HOOKER BOASTED. He was Confident and Restless, but Ultimately Learnt his Lesson- General Hooker, commanding the Federal army in 1863, occupied the hills north of the Rappahannock river in rear of Fredericksburg, Va., with a force of about 125,000 thoroughly equipped and well seasoned troops. It was by far the best furnished body of soldiery at that time in the field on either side. It was commanded by · "Fighting Joe Hooker," who had boasted "that while in command of the army of the west he had only been able to see the backs of the Confederate soldiers." He had been transferred to the army of the Potomac for the express purpose of taking Richmond. So sanguine was he of accomplishing this feat that he dated his general orders " Headquarters in the Saddle." General Lee's army of 59,000 veterans occupied the south bank of the river and in front of Fredericksburg. It was composed of Stonewall Jackson's and A. P. Hill's corps and McLaws' and Anderson's divisions of Longstreet's corps (Longstreet, with the balance of his corps, being at Suffolk, Va., some 200 miles away.) |