manner. Whatever may happen, cher- whatever my future may be, confident ish the consolation that I was engaged in that He who noteth even the fall of a the performance of a sacred duty; and, sparrow, will have some purpose even to-night, thinking over the probabilities in the fate of one like me. My darling of to-morrow, and the occurrences of the and ever-loved parents, good-bye. God past, I am perfectly content to accept | bless, protect and care for you." CHAPTER XIV. AFFAIRS ON THE POTOMAC. MILITARY possession having thus been Immediately on his arrival at these taken of the positions in Virginia front-desirable headquarters, General Sanding the Capital, the main avenues to the ford issued the following proclamation: city between Georgetown and Alex- "Fairfax County being occupied by the andria guarded, the railway approaches troops under my command, I deem it from the interior cut off and intrench- proper to repeat publicly the assurances ments thrown up for protection, Major- I have personally given to many of the General Charles W. Sandford of the New good citizens about me that all of its inYork militia established his headquarters habitants may return to or remain in at Arlington House, the well-known seat their homes and usual pacific occupations of the Custis family, which had been a in peace and confidence, and with asfew days before vacated by its owner sured protection to their persons and and occupant, General Robert E. Lee, property, as the United States forces in formerly of the United States army, and Virginia will be employed for no other of late commander of the insurgent forces purpose than that of suppressing unlawin the vicinity. As an indication of the ful combinations against the constituted courteous spirit in which these novel authorities of the Union, and of causing military proceedings were commenced, the laws thereof to be duly respected it may be mentioned that on presenting and executed."* himself before the mansion General Sandford sent to inquire if the family of the rebel officer remained, and if so that he would place a guard for their protection. On being assured that they had left a fortnight before, he sent to General Lee to say that he was obliged to make Arlington House his quarters, and would see that the premises received no damage.* * Special Dispatch to the New York Tribune, May 26, 1861 Colonel O. B. Wilcox, of the 1st Regiment Michigan Volunteers, was at the same time in command of the Union forces in and about Alexandria. In a proclamation of the 26th he announced the moderate course of policy he would pursue towards the city. "The peace of the city," he promised, "will be preserved unless attacked by the enemy. Private property will be respected and * Proclamation of Major-General Sandford, May 25 1861. THE TOMB OF WASHINGTON. 203 protected by the officers and men of service, and within the last month as the whole comman 1. Peaceable citizens acting Inspector-General on General will be held inviolate in the persons Mansfield's staff. of themselves, their families and servants." One of the agreeable results of the occupation of Alexandria, was to give Colonel Wilcox was presently suc- the public assurance of the safety of the ceeded in command of the brigade at remains of Washington in the cemetery Alexandria by Colonel Charles P. Stone at the neighboring Mount Vernon. It of the 14th regular infantry, a native of had been currently reported, with some Massachusetts, whose experience in the show of probability, that the tomb had Mexican war and in other responsible been violated and the remains removed relations had commended him to General to some secret place in the interior, lest Scott to take charge of the early military they should fall under. Northern propreparations for the defence of Wash- tection and afford a certain prestige to ington at the close of President Bu- the cause of the Union. The rumor was chanan's administration, a service which connected with the circumstance of the he had performed with efficiency. Colo- former owner of the estate, Colonel John nel Stone held his new position but a A. Washington, who had retained a few days, being recalled to Washington right of guardianship of the sepulchre, to resume command of the District mi- having joined the Confederate Army. litia. He was succeeded at Alexandria There appeared, however, on examiby Colonel Samuel P. Heintzelman of nation, to be no authority for the the 17th regular infantry. This officer, report, the tomb being found in its usual who was presently raised to the rank of condition. As it was some time before Brigadier-General, was born at Man- the lines of our army were extended in heim, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, that direction, reports arose from time in 1806, became a graduate of West to time of the occupation of the grounds Point of the year 1826, when he was of Mount Vernon by the rebel troops, appointed to a 2d Lieutenancy in the 3d and fears were entertained of injury to Infantry, and had since been engaged in the premises, which had come to be reevery active duty which had fallen to garded as the property of the nation. the army. He had served in Florida General Scott, subsequently, when the and Mexico, and particularly distin- war was assuming greater intensity, and guished himself in Southern California rumors were again current of acts of and Texas, where independent commands spoliation, made the protection of the had been assigned to him, and he had exe-spot a subject of his especial concern in cuted some brilliant military manoeuvres a general order from the Capital. "It with energy and success. Foreseeing the has been," he proclaimed, "the prayer difficulties at hand, he had at the begin- of every patriot that the tramp and din ning of the year obtained leave of absence of civil war might at least spare the from General Twiggs, in whose depart- precincts within which repose the sacred ment of the Southwest he was stationed, remains of the Father of his Country; and reporting himself at Washington, but this pious hope is disappointed. had been employed in the recruiting Mount Vernon, so recently consecrated Scott in the organization of the army. Thoroughly accomplished in military affairs, of an unusually manly and vigorous frame, strengthened by habits of strict temperance, associating rare candor and modesty with the patient, steadfast performance of duty, he was eminently qualified for the peculiar position to which he was now advanced. anew to the immortal Washington by the Previously to that time he had been ladies of America, has already been over-actively engaged at Washington in his run by bands of rebels, who, having department by the side of General trampled under foot the Constitution of the United States-the ark of our freedom and prosperity-are prepared to trample on the ashes of him to whom we are all mainly indebted for those mighty blessings. Should the operations of war take the United States troops in that direction, the General-in-Chief does not doubt that each and every man will approach with due reverence and leave un- The month of June opened with a injured, not only the Tomb, but also the spirited dash on one of the outposts of House, the Groves and Walks which the line of the enemy, which in fact, with were so loved by the best and greatest the exception of the short distance beof men."* tween Georgetown and Alexandria, closeOn the 27th May, Brigadier-General ly encompassed the whole course of the Irvin McDowell of the regular army took Potomac from its lower waters to Harcommand of the Union forces in Virginia, per's Ferry and the confines of Northsucceeding General Sandford in his head-western Virginia, where the Union army, quarters at Arlington House. General whose proceedings we shall trace in a McDowell, a native of Ohio, was a grad-subsequent chapter, already held the uate of the West Point Military Academy country under control. The military of the year 1838, when he was promoted positions of the enemy immediately beto the rank of Brevet 2d Lieutenant. fore Washington were at Manassas JuncHe was assistant instructor in infantry tion, an important station commanding tactics at West Point in 1841, and Ad- the railway communication with Richjutant from that year to 1845. For the mond and the South and the central valnext two years he was aid-de-camp to ley of the State; thence sweeping round General Wool, serving with him through- the Union encampments by Fairfax Court out the Mexican war. He was engaged House and Vienna to Leesburg on the in the battle of Buena Vista, and for his north. Manassas Junction, where the gallant services on that field received the rebel army was reported assembling in rank of Brevet Captain in February, force and throwing up earthworks for 1847. In the following May he was pro- permanent defence, lies in a south-westmoted to the rank of Assistant Adjutant-erly direction 27 miles from Alexandria. General with the rank of Captain. In Fairfax Court House, intermediate be1856 he became Assistant Adjutant- tween Alexandria and Georgetown, is General with the rank of Major. His about 18 miles distant from Washington. recent appointment of Brevet Brigadier- It was at the latter place that the first General bore date the 17th of May. serious skirmish between the two forces * General Order. Head-quarters of the Army, Wash. arrayed against each other in front of the Capital occurred. On the night of the ington, July 31, 1861, LIEUTENANT TOMPKINS' CAVALRY CHARGE. 205 mel of his saddle, and holding him in this position charged twice through the town. After an interview with General Scott, the rebel prisoner accepted the more national views of duty of that eminent officer, took the oath of allegiance and was released. On the night following the gallant charge of Lieutenant Tompkins, word having been brought that two of the missing dragoons captured by the rebels were about being hung, the company was again summoned from their quarters, made a dashing descent upon the Court House, where their companions were imprisoned, rescued them and brought them back to the camp at daybreak.* 31st of May, Lieutenant Charles H. quier County. Among the prisoners Tompkins of the 3d U. S. Cavalry, in taken by Lieutenant Tompkins on this pursuance of instructions from Colonel occasion was Captain John B. WashingDavid Hunter commanding, set out from ton, a son of the late Colonel John A. Camp Union, before Washington, in com- Washington of the regular army. A mand of company B of the regiment, 47 trooper, it is said, in the onset caught in number, for the purpose of reconnoitre- | him by the hair, lifted him on the poming the country in the vicinity of Fairfax Court House. On approaching that locality he fell in with a picket guard of the enemy, which he surprised and captured. He then rode onward with his men, entering the town at early dawn, when his command was fired upon by rebel troops from the windows and house tops. He was also opposed by a body of mounted men, upon whom he promptly charged, driving them from the town. Immediately, however, two or three additional companies came up to their relief and opened fire, which was returned. Finding that he was largely outnumbered, Lieutenant Tompkins then ordered a retreat, which he accomplished in good order, bringing off with him as trophies of the encounter five prisoners fully armed and equipped and two horses. The loss of the rebels was estimated by Lieutenant Tompkins in his dispatch at 20 to 25 killed and wounded. Of his own men, three were missing and three slightly wounded. He also lost six horses.* Captain John Q. Marr, whose company of the Warrenton Rifles took part in the engagement, was killed at the beginning of the fight. He was a person of note in Virginia, and his death was much lamented. He had been a member of the recent State convention, and was a member elect of the Legislature from Fau * Charles H. Tompkins, 1st Lieutenant, Commanding Co. B, 3d Cavalry, to Colonel D. Hunter, 3d Cavalry, Com manding 1st Brigade, Dept. Eastern Virginia. Camp Union, Va., June 1, 1861. The next military incident of general interest in this quarter was an unhappy "reconnoissance" in the direction of Vienna, which occurring a few days after the melancholy affair at Bethel in General Butler's new department, of which an account will be found in another chapter, called forth many unpleasant comments from the public in association with that disaster. It was an important object for the Union troops in their advance into Virginia to secure possession of the Loudon and Hampshire railway, which, following the Potomac within a few miles of the stream, extended from Alexandria to Leesburg. The lower end being already in their possession, repairs had been made of the adjoining portion which had been broken up by the insurgents, and on the 16th of June *N. Y. Tribune, June 3, 1861. the track was in good running order a was some difficulty about this, in consedistance of some fifteen miles to Vienna. quence, as he alleged, of the brakes As there was some danger of the railway being down, and when that was remecommunication being again interrupted, died the engine with the rear car was General McDowell ordered Brigadier- found to be detached from the rest. General Schenck of Ohio, who was in The engineer was then directed to take camp with his men about three miles his station a little below and await beyond Alexandria, to go over the line further orders. The troops had meanand station a sufficient body of men at while left the remaining cars, and retired different points for its protection. In for safety to the adjoining woods. When pursuance of these directions General the services of the engine and single car Schenck early in the afternoon of the were required to carry back the wound17th set forth on the track with about ed, it was found that the terrified en700 officers and men of the 1st Ohio gineer had deserted the command, and regiment, under the immediate com- had gone off in full speed for Alexanmand of Colonel McCook. As the train dria. The wounded had in consequence advanced several detachments were set to be carried on litters and in blankets, down at various stations where the road and, what added to their misfortune, the seemed easy of access to the enemy, surgeon who was with them was withleaving four companies in the cars, num- out the use of his instruments, which bering in all 275 men, who were to be had been taken away by the absconding stationed at Vienna. As the same train engineer. Six maimed and mutilated had passed over the route the day be- men were thus without relief till the fore, carrying General Tyler and his next morning. Five were known to be staff beyond the town, and no enemy killed by the enemy's fire, and nine were had been reported in the neighborhood, missing. The remainder were brought there were no particular steps taken on off in safety along the line of the road. the present occasion to guard against The enemy's force in this affair, accordsurprise. The omission was the more ing to a statement in the Louisville important as the road at the immediate Courier, was composed chiefly of a body approach to Vienna passed through a of 600 South Carolinians, with an artildeep cut succeeded by a curve. It was lery company under the command of about 6 o'clock when the train was Colonel Gregg, who was out on a recondriven slowly forward at this point by noitering expedition in the neighborthe engine in the rear, the forward cars hood, when the distant sound of the in which the troops were sitting being slowly advancing locomotive led him to open and without protection. As the plant his battery on the spot. He had curve was turned a raking fire of shells, also, it is said, two companies of cavalry round shot and grape from an unsus- with him. Notwithstanding these adpected battery was directed upon the vantages, however, he made no pursuit. foremost cars, killing and wounding a Had our men been followed up their number of the men. The train was loss probably would have been very instantly stopped, and the engineer was great. That they were not pursued ordered to carry it out of range. There was the only item of consolation in this |