Uncle Daniel's Story Of "Tom" Anderson, and Twenty Great BattlesMcElroy, John
History
Uncle Daniel's Story Of "Tom" Anderson, and Twenty Great Battles
McElroy, John
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
“Peter wrote down every word told us by Dent, being very careful about
the signs and passwords. This being done, we cautioned-Dent to be
extremely careful in his conversations with others, and never to speak
of this organization to any one, for fear that he might get into trouble
or suffer in some way from its members. Dent bade us good day and
left for home. We returned to the house and there read over Peter's
memorandum carefully, and studied the signs and passwords so as to fully
comprehend them. This, to us, was a serious question. Peter felt as
though there was much in this to cause our country great trouble in
addition to what was already upon us. I said to Peter that I would at
once write to the President and send him all the statements as they were
made to us by Dent, as well as suggest to him the necessity of having
this conspiracy (as it was nothing less) ferreted out at once, which I
did that day, and also suggested the arrest and trial of all that could
be found who were engaged in getting up these organizations. I soon
received a letter, not from the President, but from another, which
satisfied me that my letter had been received by the one for whom it was
intended.
“Very soon the whisperings and newspaper gossip showed plainly that
there were jealousies in the Army of the East as well as in the Army
of the Center. Officers were complaining of each other, and some were
charging ill-treatment on the part of the Administration, showing
clearly that there were influences silently at work. About this time I
received a note from Washington requesting me to come to that city. I
prepared for the trip. Bidding good-by to our family, and requesting
Peter not to leave until I should return, I was off, no one but Peter
and my wife holding the secret of my leaving home at this time. When I
arrived at Washington I proceeded to the Executive Mansion, sent in my
name, and was at once admitted. The President met me most cordially, and
asked me to be seated. He wrote a note and sent it out by a messenger,
then turned to me and entered into conversation about the health of our
people, the crops of the country, and the sentiments I found generally
held among the people of the West in reference to the war. I said to him
that among the Union people there was but one sentiment, and that was
that the last man and last dollar must be exhausted, if necessary, to
put down the rebellion. He grasped me by the hand warmly and said:
“'Lyon, my good friend, I am exceedingly glad to know that. I have been
hearing curious stories about your part of Indiana. The Governor of your
State seems to fear trouble from some cause.'
“'My dear Mr. President,' I said, 'do not misunderstand me. I do not
mean to say our people are united; it is only the Union people I had
reference to. There is a strong party in the State who are utterly
opposed to the prosecution of the war, and they are led on by very
strong and influential men.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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