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Rowe Descendant Tree Index of Names George Henry Clay Rowe

Journal of George Henry Clay Rowe
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Wednesday, August 20, 1862
Though I went to bed last night in pretty good spirits, yet thoughts of home took possession of me and sleep was impossible. Got up about one o'clock in the night and wrote some letters. Went to bed again just before day and slept about an hour and a half. Did not, however, feel the loss of sleep, and partook heartily of the savory breakfast which Mr Norton had skillfully prepared. Indeed our room now begins to wear some appearance of comfort; we have purchased cooking utensils, sheets, pillows, and provisions. After breakfast we went to Hunter's room where about two o'clock, I was made glad by hearing the commandant of the prison, Lieut. Miller, called out, "Mr Rowe will prepare himself to go see the Secretary of War." My heart bounded with hope, for I was sure either that the paper I had prepared on behalf of the whole party had accomplished its object, or that Mr Leutze's intercession for me individually had been successful. I soon joined the guard who was in waiting and with a Dr Stanley of Chicago who had been similarly summoned with myself, we proceeded out of prison. The day was bright, I was full of hope, and words cannot describe my sensations in breathing the fresh air outside of prison bars. We first went to the office of the Provost Marshal of the District of Columbia. There we were told that our cases did not come under his cognizance, but should go before the War Department, for which point we started. On arriving there, we were sent before the Judge Advocate General, L C Turner. He is a man of prepossessing appearance, and seemed to dispatch the business before him with remarkable ease and rapidity. He very soon reached my case, and inviting me to a seat near him, asked me if I was a native of Fredericksburg; responding affirmatively, he inquired if I desired to return; responding affirmatively, he then asked whether I would take the oath of allegiance. I replied positively that I never would. Here the examination ceased, and after musing a little while, he turned to Mr Stanley and myself and remarked that he would send down to the prison in the afternoon. I asked twice whether I would be sent for, and both times he stated I would. The Dr and I then returned with the guard on our way to the "Old Capitol." Dr Stanley stated the release of both of us was certain, and we walked back in the best of spirits. The guard was kind enough to permit us to walk through the Capitol grounds and to pass through the building itself in order that I might see Mr Leutze. I found him at work but had only time to pass salutations with him as the guard was in a hurry. On reaching the prison, I was asked a thousand questions respecting my trip, and after giving my conpanions a f ull account of all that occurred, I sat down with a keen appetite ot one of Mr Norton's best dinners. I counted the very minutes of the afternoon, but no summons came. I sat up until midnight, still no summons from Mr Turner. I spent a sleepless night in conjecturing the cause of the delay.

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