Secrets of the Late Rebellion, Now Revealed for the First Time

by Jacob R. Freese

This house the colonel at once appropriated for the headquarters of his regiment, and not only he, but his lieutenant-colonel, major, doctor, and adjutant slept and messed there. They slept in the beds, lounged on the sofas, ate from the table, drank from the sideboard, and used nearly everything about the house except the piano. No one of the officers played, and erelong the piano became one of the neglected, if not one of the useless, articles about the house. One day, when they were all lounging in the parlor, the doctor said to the colonel:

"What a world of pleasure that piano would give my wife and daughters if I only had it at my own home!"

"Well," replied the colonel, "why then don't you send it to your own home? The owner, or once owner—for I hold, you know, that rebels forfeit everything, even their lives—is not here to object, and I am sure I won't."

This led to a general conversation on the subject among all the officers present, the conclusion of which was that the doctor should have the piano boxed, and sent to his family as soon as he could conveniently. This, of course, pleased the doctor greatly, and on the following day he got together boards, and a carpenter, had a suitable box made, the piano carefully packed, and on the day following sent it to Alexandria, with orders to have it forwarded to his home, in New England, as speedily as possible. When it was being unloaded at the shipping warehouse, one of the provost-guard chanced to be present, and inquired of' those who brought it where it came from, who sent it, and where it was being sent to? Those who brought it answered all these questions without hesitancy, nor did they see any wrong in all that was being done; but the provost-guard, knowing what the orders in the city were upon that subject, felt it to be his duty to inform the Provost-Marshal of what he had seen, and no sooner did the Marshal learn of it, than he informed the Provost-judge.

The Judge directed the Marshal to go at once to the shipping merchant, and direct him not to send that box away until further orders from the court. He next directed the Marshal to call that afternoon upon the doctor and the colonel, and request their presence at the court-room next morning at ten o'clock. Should they decline to attend by request, to inform him at once, when he would order their arrest; but he much preferred to have all the facts inquired into without arrests, if it could be done as well. The Marshal called upon the colonel and the doctor that same afternoon, delivered the Judge's message, and both promised to be at the courtroom next morning without fail.

Promptly, as per promise, the colonel, the doctor, and several other officers of the regiment were at the courtroom next morning. The doctor, it was plain to see, felt a little skary, but the colonel was so confident of the justice of his case that he rejoiced in the opportunity of convincing the Judge that for once, at least, he was in the wrong. When all the other cases before the court had been disposed of, the Judge turned to the doctor, and said:

"Now the court will hear your case."

The doctor at once arose, and said he was there in obedience to the orders of the court, but was not at all aware with what crime he was charged.

The Judge replied that, as yet, he was not accused of any crime, nor was he present by the "order," but rather by the request, of the court: The Judge then stated all that he had learned concerning the piano, and how he had directed the shipping merchant not to send it away until further orders from the court; that he had not issued an order for arrest, for the reason that he much preferred to have the whole matter inquired into amicably, as he was under the impression that all done thus far had been from error of judgment rather than from any intent to do wrong; but, if this course were declined, then there was but one other way left—namely, arrest, trial, and judgment, whatever it might be.

The doctor and the colonel both replied that they much preferred an amicable hearing of the case, and were ready, whenever it might please the court, to state all the facts within their knowledge, either under oath or upon their honors as gentlemen and officers.