Secrets of the Late Rebellion, Now Revealed for the First TimeFreese, Jacob R.
History
Secrets of the Late Rebellion, Now Revealed for the First Time
Freese, Jacob R.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865
The Colonel was disguised--so disguised, indeed, that even his own
sister would not have known him, had she met him in the street--and the
arrangement was, that Ben should await in the entry, near the Senator's
chamber-door, while the Colonel went in to talk with him; and that, if
the Senator did not receive him kindly, or if he showed any disposition
to arrest him, the Colonel should at once quit the room, and Ben would
help him to escape.
Everything thus understood, the Colonel went to the Senator's door
and knocked gently. A deep, stentorian voice replied, "Come in but the
Colonel pretended not to hear this, and knocked again, as he wanted the
Senator to come to and open the door, that he might at once step within
the room, whether the Senator invited him to do so or not. The second
knock brought the Senator to the door, which he opened far enough to
face his visitor, when he said:
"How do you do, sir?"
The Colonel replied, and, while replying, stepped within the room, when
the Senator shut the door, and invited his visitor to take a seat. The
Colonel did not sit down, but, taking hold of the back of the chair
offered him, he said to Mr. Johnson:
"You seem not to know me, Mr. Senator. When did you leave Greenville?
and where is Mrs. Johnson and Bob?"
This confused the Senator more than ever, as the visitor seemed to be
familiar with his wife and son, as well as with himself, and yet he
could not recollect to have ever seen him before.
"Well, no," replied the Senator, "I really cannot place you, or call
your name. By jingo! who are you, any way?"
"I guess you don't want to know me," replied the Colonel, "and I had
better be going."
"Oh, no, sir; oh, no," replied Mr. Johnson; "sit down! sit down! When
did you come from Greenville? But really, sir, I cannot recall your
name--I cannot."
The Colonel observed the Senator's confusion, and so enjoyed the joke
that it was some time before he would let himself be known. Then,
suddenly tearing the false whiskers from his face and putting on a
natural expression, he stood revealed before the Senator.
"My God! is this you, Ralph?" was all that Mr. Johnson could say for
some moments; and then added, "Why, Ralph, ain't you in the rebel
service?"
"Well, what if I am?" replied the Colonel; "you don't propose to arrest
me, do you?"
"No, no; but, by jingo! what under heavens brought you here?" said the
Senator; and, going to the door, locked it before the Colonel had time
to reply. "Sit down! sit down!" he added, "and tell me all about it.
What under heavens could have brought you here, or induced you to call
upon me?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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