48 



CHAPTER IV. 



Our New York life— In a Methodist's house — Sahn, Colonel of the 68th 

 Regiment N.Y.V. — In partibiis — Recruiting difficulties-^Salm autho- 

 rised to raise a brigade — His and Corvin's recruting plan favoured by 

 Secretary of State, W. H. Seward — An audience with President 

 Lincoln — Secretary of War Stanton opposing — A visit to Blenker's 

 farm — The battle of Chancellorville — Defeat of Hooker— Superseded 

 by General Meade — The glorious battle of Gettysburg — General 

 Sickles severely wounded — The New York Riots — Mrs. Bennett — 

 Mr, James Gordon Bennett — His Son — Fort Washingron — The first 

 appearance of Master Jimmy — Mrs. James Speier — The Spiritualist 

 Excitement — Mrs. Anna Sugdon, a pretty knocking, and Mrs. Heath 

 Adams, a writing medium — Spiritual seances at my house — At Mrs. 

 Bennett's — The flying music-book — At Mrs. Speier's--A table 

 knocked off its legs — A detected tipping medium— Bad state of affairs 

 — I go out recruiting to Washington. 



We took private lodgings in 32, Bond Street, New York, in 

 the house of Rev. Baldwin, a Methodist preacher. Every 

 Wednesday and Saturday night prayer meetings were held in a 

 large room adjoining ours, and we were much astonished by 

 the clamorous devotion of the congregation. The spirit moved 

 them vehemently, and those who did not know what they were 

 about would have believed that the inmates of a madhouse had 

 broken loose. Their ecstacies were wonderful, and the longer 

 the thing lasted, the louder and wilder and more piercing be- 

 came the shrieks of the devoted. Dozens of voices cried out, 

 * Jesus Christ, come dov/n, come down, that we can touch 

 your garments ! ' or ' Glory, glory, glory ! Many fainted or fell 

 down in fits, kicking and beating the ground. 



One of these nights, when some particular occurrence must 

 have moved the saints in an unusual manner, the police 

 knocked at our shutters — we lived on the ground-floor — and 



