65 



CHAPTER V. 



The Provosl-MarsTial General U.S., General James Fr3'--My success — 

 Governor Yates, of Illinois — Lovers of spirits among high-spirited 

 gentlemen — I become a captain, commanding a company — Life in 

 Washington — Madame von Corvin — Sanitary arrangements in the 

 United States — The Sanitary and Christian Commissions — How the 

 Government honoured dead soldiers — National cemeteries — A hospi- 

 tal city — Salm again on the war-path — My journey to Iv'^ashville, 

 Tenn. — Returning to Washmgton, 



I DO not exactly know how it happened that the Provost- 

 Marshal-General of the United States had men at his disposi- 

 tion who were not enrolled in any regiment, but it was so, and 

 that was sufficient. This important position was occupied ■ 

 during the whole war by Colonel J, Fry, a man of about thirty- 

 five, who was a great favourite of Mr. Stanton. I was not 

 personally acquainted with him, but I heard that he, though 

 very strict in his service, was also a good and kind man, who 

 was not only much respected, but also beloved by his subordi- 

 nates. It was some comfort to me that he was a married man, 

 but still my heart was very heavy when I entered the War 

 Department and sent in my card to Colonel Fry, who only 

 some time afterward became a general. I was admitted at 

 once. 



Colonel Fry was a tall, very elegant and handsome fair- 

 baired man, with a rather serious face, though with a kind 

 ■expression. He was very quiet and measured, rather sparing 

 of his words, but an attentive listener to all I said. I stated 

 the difficult position of my husband, mentioned the services he 

 had rendered, and his grief and disappointment on account of 

 liis being prevented from taking part in the important events 

 going on in the theatre of war. I said tliat I had been in- 



