the people of Washington into a state of great alarm. The southern
sympathizers at the capital were in high feather at the prospect of
Washington being captured by their friends, the rebels. Magnificent
stories were set afloat, the government got into a state of great
confusion, and timid people went about shaking their heads, and
wondering what the War Department was doing. Everybody wanted to do
something, and yet nobody knew what to do. The Chief of Staff sat in
his easy chair, and issued orders by the dozen. The Secretary of War
ran about excited, and issued orders that conflicted with everybody
else's orders. The President, not to be behind either of them,
issued orders that agreed with none of them. The great wonder is,
that some one of these high officials, so much given to issuing war
orders, did not issue a proclamation, warning Mr. Early that it
would not be comfortable for him to bring his rebels this way.

I am not prepared to say what effect such a notice would have had on
Mr. Early, who turned his column in this direction, and, marching
with great rapidity, was in a few days on the banks of the Monocacy.
And, as if to increase our alarm, he sent that festive young
trooper, Harry Gilmore, galloping down into Maryland, where his old
friends received him with open arms, and entertained him
sumptuously. Never was hero so entertained by his friends. And when
this bold trooper had enjoyed the trip, and shared the hospitality
of his friends as much as pleased him, he went to work disturbing
our military arrangements. Yes, my son, he captured one of our
railroad trains on its way to New York, and all the passengers in
it. And, what was worse than all, there was one of our most
distinguished major-generals in it, and he was made a prisoner of
war by this bold trooper. Thus he cut our communication with the
North. He did all this, and walked away leisurely and unmolested.