Sketches of the War: A Series of Letters to the North Moore Street School of New YorkNott, Charles C.
History
Sketches of the War: A Series of Letters to the North Moore Street School of New York
Nott, Charles C.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives; United States. Army. Iowa Cavalry Regiment, 5th (1861-1865)
We have all wanted to catch Master Mitchell; and now, on our way from
Mr. Hurt's, I accidentally learn that last evening he came into Paris.
We have been on the road since three this morning, and it is eleven
now; but this opportunity shall not be lost, though he is a cunning
fellow, who probably will not stay two nights in the same place. And
now we halt at the house of an old Unionist, who bears a striking
resemblance to General Scott, and whose fine old house is surrounded
and overshadowed by a noble grove, equal to our Battery in its better
days.
"Call me at half-past one," I say to the corporal of the guard; "and
relieve guard in an hour."
"Half-past one, captain," says the corporal.
"Call up the men."
The men turn out promptly after their two hours' sleep.
"The moon seems pretty much in the same place," says one.
"No wonder," answers another, "it's only half-past one."
Nothing more is said, and no surprise expressed. If you could hear
them, you would think that going to bed at eleven and rising at
half-past one is their usual course.
We pass quietly out of the beautiful grove, and wend our way toward
Paris. Paris is not altogether safe; Captain Mitchell's visit may have
been the forerunner of a guerrilla raid. At three in the morning we
have passed Mrs. Ayres', and are on the outskirts of the town. The men
are informed of the object of the movement, and are burning with the
desire of taking him. There is no need of the order, "If he attempts to
escape, shoot him, cut him down, give him no quarter." Those who know
the house form a party to surround it, and the rest a reserve to look
at the court-house square and see if there be any guerrillas there. We
descend to the little stream that bounds Paris; we climb the hill, and
enter its empty streets. The men are riding by file, and intent as I am
on my object, I am struck with the strange, spectral appearance of this
long line of horsemen slowly winding through the silent town.
We approach the house, and the sergeant who has charge of the party
dismounts half his men; they fasten their horses, and climb the fence.
There is an instant's exciting pause, and then the men on foot rush to
the back of the house, while the others gallop to the front; the house
is surrounded. I dismount and enter the gate, and as I do so the front
door opens, and a woman and two or three girls come out.
"Is Captain Mitchell in this house?" I say to the woman, whom I
naturally take to be his wife.
"No, sir."
"When did he leave it?"
"I don't know, sir."
"Is this Mrs. Mitchell?"
"No, sir. My name is Mrs. ----. I don't live here."
He has either escaped, I think, or is still in the house, and this
party has been sitting up with him; so I say, somewhat sarcastically:
"Are you ladies in the habit of being up till three in the morning?"
"No, sir. To-night we are sitting up with a sick person."
"How sick?" I say, not half believing the reply.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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