Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/25

 It was Obedience JSVvn Unto Death. 19

of his plain duty, and that it was plainly his duty to go with us and aid the South in the defense of her clear and clearly violated rights.

JOINED THE PARTY.

I cut the matter short by referring him to my father, and he at once went down stairs and interviewed him. Father subsequently told me it was perfectly obvious that Mr. Beers' mind was irre- vocably made up, and that it would be more than useless to resist him so it was settled he was to go with us. I do not remember whether his wife and children were then in New Haven, but they were certainly committed by him to the care of our mother and sis- ters, and subsequently followed Beers to Virginia, as I now recollect, in company with the ladies of our family, but upon this point my memory is not entirely clear.

Our position upon the burning question of the day was well under- stood in New Haven, and about this time all of us, especially the two boys of fighting age, were constantly and most unpleasantly watched and really in danger of arrest or attack. We made a trial trip of a day with our boat out into the Sound, ostensibly for fish- ing, and found we were dogged by two or three boats of volunteer scouts and detectives ; so that it was finally determined to send our boat several miles up the shore by a couple of trusty friends and to drive up to that point at night, with our equipment of provisions, disguises, etc.

Everything had been arranged and we were to have embarked and sailed on a certain night, but, during the preceding day, a telegram \\.is received from a friend in Washington, informing us that we could slip through safely if we could leave New York by a certain train the next day. My recollection is that it was deemed best to divide the party Beers, my next younger brother and I getting off so as to catch the train indicated, father and my youngest, and then non- combatant, brother following later. The United States Deputy Marshal, in fact, came to the house to arrest us not long after \vc had left.

We reached Washington and got safely across the river to Alex- andria; but, by some untoward accident, Beers was left behind there, and experienced some difficulty in dodging the provost guard and completing the last stage of his " On to Richmond," but he finally reached the promised land. We met him at the train and he was heartily welcomed and hospitably entertained by Mr. Ben. Gray,