Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/548

536 was lawful prey, he was greatly troubled, and insisted on my accompanying him to Winchester. I consented to do this, but before I would consent, he pledged his word, as an officer and a man, that I should return unharmed.

We came to our pickets about three miles below New Market. Jim Templeman, Company I, Twelfth Virginia, being on picket, and no officer or other soldier being with him, no difficulty was opposed to our passing. That night we staidstayed [sic] at Woodstock, he putting up at Schaeffer's hotel, and I with some friends. As he had got outside the Confederate lines he felt more independent, and before we reached Winchester he acted as if he were protecting me, and had become my safeguard. About the middle of the afternoon we came to the pickets, which we passed without any hindrance. They were just in the edge of the town, a cavalry vidette being on the hill north of them. I remember well that the Sixth Ohio (infantry) was on picket. I met many acquaintances, among them the Logans, Rev. Mr. Eggleston, of the Methodist Church, and the family of Dr. Murphy. We stopped only a few minutes in the town, that the doctor might buy a few cigars. On our way to General Piatt's head-quarters, we fell in with some mounted artillerymen, and it was amusing to see how anxious Dr. Franklin was to prevent their giving me any information, and how determined they seemed to tell all they knew.

We soon reached General Piatt's head-quarters, which were to the left of the Martinsburg road, and distant hardly a mile from the town. Throwing my bridle-rein to and orderly, as if I were accustomed to being waited upon, I walked into the adjutant-general's tent, Dr. Franklin going in at once to see the General. For the first time, then, I realized how little stood between me and Fort McHenry, and although I tried to appear cheerful and composed, I felt that it was very doubtful whether I would get back except by the way of Baltimore and Richmond. General Piatt was in his tent, and I could not see him, but after a conversation of some length, I heard some one call out, "Give that soldier a pass." Upon this the adjutant-general came out, asked my name and to what point I wanted a pass. I replied to Camp Ashby. He replied that he did not know where Camp Ashby was, and that he had no authority to give a pass beyond their pickets. Now feeling certain that I would get a pass, I became more confident, and told him that a United States officer had pledged his word that I should return in safety. At that time a detachment of Pope's forces occupied Luray, and I insisted on having a pass that would protect me from capture if I should happen to meet any of their troops in the main Valley.