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.
