66 Ten Years of my Life. 



formed by Senator Harris that he had men at his disposition ; 

 and as they had to be placed somewhere, I requested him to 

 give my husband the preference. 



The colonel did not interrupt me. When I had finished he 

 said that he had a few hundred men, but did not know yet 

 whether he was able to give them to the 68th New York Regi- 

 ment ; he promised, however, to let me know as soon as pos- 

 sible. With that he bowed politely and I left, not knowing 

 whether I had any h(jpe or not, for the face of the colonel was 

 like a book sealed with seven seals, and did not in the least 

 betray his thoughts. 



After many hours of anxiety, having received no answer yet, 

 I became quite despondent and doubtful, for it may be ima- 

 gined that there were, under the circumstances, many compe- 

 titors for these recruits, I was, therefore, electritied and 

 buoyant with hope when at last the card of the colonel was 

 sent in, for if he had to bring me an unfavourable answer, I. 

 reasoned, he would not care to communicate it to me in 

 person. 



1 was not mistaken. The colonel was not so stolid as he 

 at first appeared, and rather pleased with the zeal I showed in 

 the behalf of my husband, and he promised to give all the 

 men he had for the 68th Regiment. I was overjoyed at my 

 success, and as Vappetit vient en inangeant^ I tried to get still 

 more men, for even with those he could give me the required 

 number was not made up yet. 



Though the colonel had not more at his disposal at that 

 moment, he promised his assistance, and for this purpose in- 

 troduced to me his friend Mr. Yates, Governor of Illinois, 

 who at that time was present in Washington. 



Having occasion to confer frequently with General Fry^and 

 Governor Yates, we became good friends, and I passed many 

 agreeable hours in the company of these distinguished men. 

 Society was at that time somewhat out of joint in Washington, 

 for nearly all the leading families were closely connected witl^ 

 the rebels, and had left the city and closed their houses, of 

 which many were seized by the Government, and were used 

 for public purposes, like that of Mr. Corcoran, who had not 

 joined the rebels, however, but lived in Europe, like many 

 persons who would not openly side with any party. The old 

 Virginian families who generally passed the winter in Washing- 



