The evening I spent quietly at home. About
half past nine o'clock, I went down into the dining room,
with my wife, to get a bottle of champagne
and some ice. Soon after we entered the room, my wife remarked
that she heard someone on the front door steps. I replied
that the noise probably proceeded from the footsteps of
Mr Elder whom we had left up stairs,
but scarcely had spoken before we were startled by a loud
rap at the stoop door, which I instantly opened and to my
astonishment found a Federal office(r) with drawn sword
who informed me that I must walk to the front door. On returning
to the hall I was met by Lieut Col Steadman
of the U. S. Army, with a file of soldiers, who informed
me that I was under arrest and a prisoner by order of the
Secretary of War. My house, in the
meantime, had been surrounded by a company of soldiers.
My wife was horror - stricken at the scene, and commenced
a terrible onslought of words upon the commanding officer.
Perceiving at once that it would be necessary for me to
leave, and desiring that my wife should have someone to
stay with her during the night, I dispatched a servant for
our friend and neighbor Miss Eliza Woodward,
who in a few moments, was present, and added her objurgations
to those of my wife. Remonstrating with both, I stepped
up to my room, accompanied by the Lieut Col and a Lieutenant
Murphy who politely requested me to hurry with changing
my clothes, and to provide myself with a blanket. My toilet
was soon completed and, signifying my readiness, we started
upon the march for the Federal Headquarters established
at the Farmer's Bank, followed and proceeded by about seventy
- five soldiers. About two hundred yards from my house,
we met another squad, who had my friend Wm
H Norton in the same predicament as myself. Thus reinforced,
we marched on, and in a few minutes reached our destination
where we were ushered into the presence of the Colo.
Kingsbury, the military Governor of the town, who informed
us that we were to held as hostages for certain union men
of the town and vicinity who had been imprisoned by order
of the Confederate government. We also found Mr Lewis Wrenn
present as a prisoner. Taking a seat resignedly (as Col
Kingsbury had informed me we should be sent to Washington
early in the morning), I began to reflect that there was
some disposition of money and paper which it was necessary
should be made before my departure and requested that I
might be permitted to go to my office for a few minutes.
The request was granted, but a corporal's guard was ordered
to accompany me.
