“My son Jackson, James Whitcomb and old Ham staid close by Gen. Anderson, doing all they could to alleviate his sufferings. There was no suspicion as to who had shot him. One day, however, he was suffering with a severe fever, and in a delirium remarked: “'Jo Whitthorne is my evil genius. He intends to murder me.' “This he repeated so often that when he was sufficiently recovered Jackson asked him if he remembered saying this? He replied that he did not. Jackson told him that it had aroused his suspicions on the subject. He then revealed the secret to Jackson under the seal of confidence, as he said it would kill his wife if she knew it. Jackson afterwards revealed the same to me, but no mention was ever made of it by either of us. “Old Ham was so attentive and kind that no one asked him as to his whereabouts during the battle. Jackson, however, found him under the bed when they brought the General back from the field. The old man said that he had been sick all day, and got under the bed to be out of the way. When they came back he said to the General; 'I know you be kill' dat day or hurted bery bad, kase I dream it. De good Laud tole me so when I sleep. No 'sputin' it, sho, for de Laud allers tells me 'bout dese matters; and you can ax Marfa if it is not so when you go home.' “When the General recovered so as to think of these matters he dictated his report to Jackson, who wrote it for him, in which he recommended Peter for promotion, among many others, for gallant conduct, and also recommended Orderly James Whitcomb for a Lieutenancy in the Regular Army. These recommendations were complied with at once, and Peter was assigned to the command of a brigade. James Whitcomb was assigned to the 13th U. S. Inf., and detailed at Gen. Anderson's request as an Aide-de-Camp in place of Capt. Day. The President sent Peter's commission to me and I took it to him at Chatteraugus, in accordance with the wish of Gen. Anderson, who desired to see me, and at the same time to keep from his wife and our family the fact of his being wounded until he should be able to come home. I found my sons both well and Gen. Anderson improving when I arrived. I remained several days. I met Gen. Silent and had several conversations with him. I found him well posted as to all matters North as well as South. He said there was no danger of Biggs during that Winter. He could not more than recuperate his army, and in the Spring, in all probability, the rebel army in the center would have a new commander, as Biggs was a great failure; that if he had moved against our forces when he had them caged up before re-enforcements came, our army would have been compelled to surrender. He also spoke of our danger in the North from the anti-war party. He regarded it more dangerous than the rebel army. If they could succeed in carrying the election the Confederacy would by them be recognized and the Union dissolved.