We didn’t know exactly what the oath was, but we thought we could take anything to get us out of our scrape. We told General Kelly we would take it, and we were conducted into another room, which I can only remember as being full of Federal soldiers. We were marched up to a desk where a man began reading the oath to us. It was the famous “ironclad.” We did not wait for him to get through. Without a word each of us turned and marched back into General Kelly’s office, as indignant a set of women as could be found. He was looking for us--doubtless he knew by previous experience the effect the reading of that oath produced upon Southern women--and he burst out laughing as our procession filed back into his room. “Why, general,” we began, “we couldn’t take that horrid thing! We are Southerners, and our kinsmen and friends are Southern soldiers.” “I almost knew you wouldn’t take that oath, ladies, when I sent you there.” “General,” I said, “this is the most remarkable position I ever knew people to be in--where you can’t go back, and can’t go forward, and can’t stay where you are. I don’t know what you are to do with us, general, unless you hang us to get us out of the way.” He laughed heartily. “I must do something a little better than that for you. My orderly will take you back to the tavern, and you will hear from me in an hour.” We went with Mrs. Drummond and Miss Oglesby to their room. Before the hour was up we were escorted to another interview with General Kelly. The general beamed on us. “Here is a telegram I received in your absence,” he said, handing it to us: “Mrs. and Miss Duncan are dear friends of mine. Can you see them through? If not, tell them I will be in Harper’s Ferry to-night. Answer. “HOSMER.” “Here is my answer,” said the general: “Stay where you are. Will see them through all right. “KELLY.” “How could he have found out the trouble we were in?” we asked in wonder. “I don’t know. News of the fighting in the valley and the condition of things here reached Baltimore soon after you left there. Hosmer perhaps got an idea of your situation through General Fish. He may have gone to Fish’s office to inquire. Hosmer is a capital fellow and an old friend of mine. I had about determined on what to do for you before I heard from him, but I thought it would please you to know of his message. I will ask you to return to the tavern, ladies, and exercise a little further patience. You will hear from me soon.” This time we waited only a little while before an orderly rapped at the door to say that an ambulance was in waiting for us below. We hurried down with him, and in ten minutes were inside the ambulance, and prisoners of the United States. Behind us into the ambulance stepped a dashing young officer, all brass buttons and gold lace. “I am Captain Goldsborough,” he said, saluting, “commissioned by General Kelly to attend you.”