CHAPTER XIV.

HOW THE REBEL GENERALS DEPORTED THEMSELVES.





THIS history would not be complete, my son, without a portrait of
General John C. Breckinridge. This general accompanied General
Early, in command of a division, and was extremely useful as a
subordinate, since he knew Washington and all its surroundings, and
had many friends in the city, whose respect and hospitality he had
enjoyed. What curious emotions must have excited his breast when he
saw the dome of that building where he had sat as a Senator, and by
his talents and deportment secured the respect and confidence of the
nation, I will leave the reader to imagine. Who but himself can
describe his thoughts when he recurred to that scene in the Senate
Chamber, when he raised the voice of prophecy and foreshadowed the
traitor's reward? Was there a pang in the thought that he was
himself reaping the bitterest fruit of that reward?

Never forget, my son, how terrible is the penalty that attaches to
treason. But now I must ask you to reaccompany me to another part of
the field, that we may see what is going on there. The attack made
on our defenses by the rebels was of the feeblest kind. Why this
was, some of our officers could not understand. It was evidently