Belle Boyd in Camp and Prison

CHAPTER XIV

CHAPTER XIV ON THE F I R S T DAY OF D E C E M ber , early in the morning, I started for Fortress Monroe, under the charge of Captain Mix and an orderly-sergeant.It was my poor father's intention to have accompanied me as far as Baltimore, and beyond, if he could get the necessary permission. Just before I left, however, a message was brought to me stating that my father, though not dangerously ill, was confined to the house by severe indisposition. When I heard that I could not see my fond parent, it distressed me greatly; but I waspowerless to act in the matter; and, though I entreated them to let me go to him, if but for a moment, it was refused. After being subjected to the annoying and ungentlemanly conduct of Captain Mix, who seemed to exert himself especially to make every thing as disagreeable as he possibly could for me, I arrived in Fortress Monroe about 9 A.M. on Wednesday morning. Captain Mix immediately went on shore to report to Captain Cassels, the Provost-Marshal and Aide-de-camp to Butler,to whose care I was to be committed until the "exchange boat" should start for Richmond. Meanwhile all the passengershad landed, and I wasleft in the charge of the orderly-sergeant. Major (now General) Mulford, the exchange officer, returned on board with Captain Mix, and was introduced to me. I found him an elegant and courteous gentleman. In a short time I was escorted from the boat to the Provost-Marshal's office, passing between a company of negro soldiers, who were filed on each side. Thence 168 B E L L E BOYD IN C A M P AND P R I S O N I was taken into the fortress, to Butler's head-quarters, and,after waiting a short time, I was conducted into his august presence. He was seated near a table, and upon my entrance, he looked up and said, "Ah, so this is Miss Boyd, the famous rebel spy. Pray be seated." "Thank you, General Butler, but I prefer to stand." I was very much agitated, and trembled greatly. This he noticed, and remarked, "Pray be seated. But why do you tremble so? Are you frightened?" "No; ah! that is, yes,General Butler; I must acknowledge that I do feel frightened in the presence of a man of such world-wide reputation as yourself." This seemed to please him immensely, and,rubbing his hands together and smiling most benignly,he said, "Oh,pray do be seated, Miss Boyd. But what do you mean when you say that I am widely known?" "I mean, General Butler," I said, "that you are a man whose atrocious conduct and brutality, especiallyto Southern ladies, isso infamous that even the English Parliament commented upon it. I naturally feel alarmed at being in your presence." He had evidently expected a compliment when I commenced to reply to his inquiry, but, at the close of my remarks, he rose, and, with rage depicted upon every lineament of his features, he ordered me out of his presence. I was conducted to the hotel, and felt for the time being exceedingly uneasy lest, by my Parthian shot at an enemy whom I thoroughly detested , I should have laid myself open to his petty spirit of revenge. I feared that I should be remanded to a dreary prison cell: for General Butler was all-powerful in the North about this period. Events have since clearlyproved this man, even to the Yankees themselves , to be but a meretricious hero and a political charlatan. Likeothers who render themselves rather notorious than great, he first pleased a fickle populace by his acts of brutality, then disgusted his contemporaries , who feared that he might become to America what Robespierre had been to France. The tyrant of New Orleans, having failed most signally at Wilmington, was discovered to be a coward, and suspected of being a rogue. Well might the baffled New England attorney exclaim, "Fadlis descensus Averni!" In the hope of being styled a modern Cincin- B E L L E BOYD IN C A M P AND P R I S O N 169 natus, he retired to Lowell, to live upon the ill-gotten gains extorted by threats or force from Southern people. But to resume the thread of my story. I was...