The day following my arrival in Washington, the weather being fine, I walked out to Tenallytown, three miles from Georgetown, to visit the old ground on which I had been encamped for several months, while a soldier, early in the war. I found the ground without difficulty, as well as a handsome earthwork our division had thrown up while there, and which I myself had worked on. It had been originally named Fort Pennsylvania, but was now called Fort Reno. Thinking I should like to walk in I approached the entrance, and found it guarded by a negro soldier, with musket and bayonet; while a sable corporal stood talking to him.
“You can’t come in dis place, sah,” said the corporal with an insolent grin, before I was near enough to solicit admittance.
I could not help feeling cut by such a greeting as this, from a negro, at the entrance of a fort I had helped to build. I smothered my rising indignation, however, and with a sunny smile replied:
“No admittance, eh?”
“No, sah; guess not,” was the taunting reply.
“I did not know that,” I rejoined, still keeping down my wrath. “I helped to build the fort, and thought I would like to take a look through it. However, I suppose you are ordered to allow no one to enter.”
“Guess we is. You helped to build it, eh?”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t tink den us cullud fellahs ’d git possession!” he said, with an insolent laugh.
Without replying I turned and walked away.