“She was a heroine sure,” said Col. Bush; “her movements were of a most important character, Uncle Daniel.”
“Yes, Colonel, she was a true patriot, and loved her country for her country's sake, and I hope the Lord has thrown fortune and pleasure in her pathway. There were a great many patriotic and daring acts performed by women during our war. God bless the good women. To our poor sick and wounded soldiers they were like ministering angels, both in the camp and hospitals.”
CHAPTER XIV.
SERAINE WHITCOMB'S EXAMINATION OF THE REBEL PRISONS AND
HENRY LYON'S RELEASE.—MAN'S INHUMANITY.—SERAINE WHITCOMB
VISITS THE SOUTHERN PRISON PENS.—A SAD TALE OF WOE.—
GRAPHIC PICTURE OF SUFFERING, WRETCHEDNESS AND DEATH.
“Oh war, thou son of hell,
Whom angry heavens do make their ministers,
Throw in the frozen bosoms of our past,
Hot coals of vengeance.”
—Shakespeare.
Uncle Daniel Lyon resumed his story by giving us a history of the adventures of Miss Seraine Whitcomb, who, as had been discovered, was the sister of James Whitcomb, now Aide-de-Camp to Gen. Anderson. He continued by saying:
“Miss Seraine's journey to Richmond was accomplished by overcoming the greatest of difficulties. The President's authority was good at every point in and through the Union lines. But when she reached the rebel pickets at or near the Rapidan she was placed under arrest as a spy, and taken to the headquarters of the commander of the rebel army. She then stated her case in a modest way, presenting the note given to her by our President. Her story was so simple and reasonable that she was permitted to enter Richmond in order to lay her case before President Davis. At the same time the authorities at the rebel army headquarters had a lurking suspicion of her on account of (as they thought) her pretended perilous undertaking. Yet she was conducted to Richmond, and there took lodgings at the Virginia Hotel, where she was subjected to a constant watch over her every movement. She was in much doubt for several days what course to pursue. There was great activity going on in making preparations for some movement of the rebel army. She was not permitted to leave her hotel.
“She finally wrote a note to President Davis, stating that she wished to be permitted to have an interview with him on a matter of grave import to her; that she was alone and under a vigilant watch; that she thought she could satisfy him of her harmless intentions.
“To this she received a very polite answer permitting her to see him at 11 o'clock the following day, and informing her that he would send an escort.
“The next day, promptly at the time, an officer appeared and inquired if Miss Seraine Whitcomb was in. She readily responded, and directed that he be admitted. Presenting himself, he said he was Capt. T. P. Redingson. The arrangements were soon agreed upon, and the two started for the Executive office. The detention in the ante-room was-but slight, before they were ushered into the presence of Mr. Davis. Seraine said he was seated in an arm-chair, rather oldish and common. Mr. Davis rose and greeted her pleasantly. He looked care-worn and haggard, and seemed thoughtful; but at no time during the interview did he forget his genial, polite manner toward her. She hardly knew what to say. After a short time he broke the ice by asking her if he could serve her in any way. She gained courage enough to tell him her whole story. She told him she would not give information of any kind to any one in reference to what she might see or hear while under his protection; that she wished to examine the prison records for the name of her friend, Henry Lyon, who she hoped, through his kindness, to find, and have exchanged.