“'I intended telling the President to-day,' continued Gen. Silent, 'but was so taken up with other matters that I forgot it; and I feel a strange kind of superstition that I may not see him again. He and I are both in great danger, but I feel that I can protect myself better than he can himself. I do not desire to tell this story to any of my family, as I do not want them, or either of them, to become superstitious. It is so easy for any of us to become so. I find even the President, as strong a man as he is, somewhat so inclined.'
“Gen. Anderson said: 'I am surprised at this. I did not suppose he was so; but many strong people are, and many claim to have cause for being so.'
“Gen. Anderson then related my wife's dream to Gen. Silent, and told him Peters interpretation of it, and said six of her sons were now dead—one only (Henry) remaining alive.
“At this Gen. Silent became melancholy, and quietly responded, ''Tis strange, indeed!' He then related to Gen. Anderson the fact of his having seen a strange form in the night-time while under a tree at Chatteraugus; also, the night that he met him at Nashua, as well as in the night near his quarters while fighting the battle of the Chaparral, its indications at Chatteraugus, and its indications to him at Nashua and in the Chaparral. He said:
“'I have also seen the same spectral form to-night, saying to me: “Move to the left rapidly; the enemy are all in your hands, and in half a moon all will be prisoners.” Gen. Anderson, what is this? Am I dreaming, or am I laboring under some disease of the mind? I hope you will speak freely to me as to what you think. I could not keep it longer. I must tell some one. I feared I was becoming broken down in my brain power,—I have studied over the military situation so much.'
''No, General, you need not have any fears of that. You are as vigorous in that respect as any man living. I cannot, however, explain this; nor can I understand it. I will ask you, however, if you had this character of campaign in your mind before you saw this strange apparition?'
'“Yes, I had a thought of it; but somehow this seemed to influence me not to deviate in the least, and to give me faith and confidence in our final success; and yet I cannot but believe this to be only an optical illusion. It must be; it cannot, it seems to me, be otherwise.'
“'There is one thing, General: it appears to be leading you, or, at least, helping your faith, in the right direction.'
“'Yes; but, Gen. Anderson, it harasses me by day and by night. I cannot keep it from my mind. I try to throw it off, but cannot. But we will speak of this no more at present. I feel that my mind is greatly relieved since I have given you my secret. What a strange feeling this is; but I believe it is so with every person.'
“'Yes, General, that is true. Things pent up in the mind and heart become oppressive, and wear the mind until relieved. This seems to be our safety-valve.'