offices during the day and passed the night in the buildings to which they were assigned, to be awakened and take charge of the defense in case of attack. From my experience in visiting them during the night, I think that they allowed themselves but little sleep, for I do not remember to have ever found one of them asleep, although they were expected to rest except in case of attack. Captain William B. Franklin, Corps of Engineers, who had charge of the construction of the Treasury Building, remained there at night and took command of the 200 or 300 men whom I detailed daily for service there. He solidly barricaded the openings of the basement and thus rendered the building a sort of citadel which could be desperately held, it being flanked by the State Department building; and about one hundred men were placed under the command of Captain Shiras in the Riggs' building opposite the Treasury front.

For my part, after having, during the day, made necessary details and attended to the organization and wants of the whole force, I, during the night, placed the guards in the President's house and grounds, and visited all the guards and pickets at least once between evening and morning, making the entire circuit of the District. The only sleep which I could snatch was taken in a carriage while driving from one picket to another. The drive from Long Bridge to Chain Bridge would afford me a nap; that from Tennally Town to the Fourteenth Street picket, another; that from Seventh Street to Benning's Bridge, yet another, and that from Benning's Bridge to the Capitol, one more. I usually arrived back at the Executive. Square an hour or more before daybreak and passed the time until sunrise with Captain Franklin, after having paid a second visit to the guard in the Executive Mansion.

Magruder's Battery was stationed near the Executive Square behind the Headquarters of Lieutenant-General Scott, whence it could be promptly sent to reinforce any point which might be attacked, and Barry's Battery was stationed at the Arsenal. Magruder suddenly departed after the secession of Virginia, and the battery passed under the command of Ricketts, under whose name and command it afterward won fresh renown.

When Virginia passed her ordinance of secession, Alexandria was promptly occupied by a small force of State troops; and I was informed that a small cannon had been placed on the wharf to command the navigation of the Potomac. I was also informed that on the day following that on which the information was received, the large steamboats which made the railway connection between Washington and Acquia Creek would be brought to and detained at Alexandria for the use of the commonwealth of Virginia. This information I conveyed to Mr. Cameron, Secre

The people of Virginia aliation of the Constitution of the United Sartes of America adopted by them in Conventons on the twenty fifth, day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven, hundred and eighty night, having intered that the powers granted under the and Coastding ware dorived from the peoples of the United States, and might be returned, whenever the same should he perverted to their impery and oppresion, and the Federal Government (Chaveny perverted said powers, not, only to the injury of the people / Virginia lat the oppressions of the Souther slaveholding States,

Now, therefore, we the people of Virginia, do declare and ordam. Then the the ordinance adoptect by the people of this Seats in Convention, on the twenty fifth day of Jones, on the your of our Leid one Sousand seven hundred and righty eight, acharnly the Constateren of the Unitat States of Homerice was raped, and all ads of the Jencia (Wembley of this State ratifying or adopting amonéinials a sect ad Constitution & are hereby repented abrogated that the min between the State of Lirginia and other Teates under the Consstation aforesaid a hitely disolved, and What the Laste of Virgin the full possesion and surase of all the rights of severgntzpahuch bebing and appartain to free independent State, And they do further dedare. That pail Conssination of the United Hates of America is, me longer bending on any of the Cirigins of his Sistes The dimance shall tate offct and harvact of this day show rasfied by a majority of the notes of the people of this Shale, cast at a, thel furth Thursday in May mest in pursuance of architude horn for to komentar

tary of War, and he, while very desirous of not taking any premature violent action, nevertheless gave orders for the seizure and detention of these steamboats. They were promptly occupied and held at their wharf by two companies of the District of Columbia volunteers.

This vigorous action, which took place at about four o'clock in the afternoon, created great excitement in Washington. The Unionists were delighted; the Secessionists were furious and denounced the act as unconstitutional, illegal and irritating.

Late in the evening of the same day I learned from excellent authority that the steamer St. Nicholas (afterwards made quite notorious by her capture) was to sail at seven o'clock the next morning for Baltimore, laden with flour and molasses. It was a new thing for Washington to supply Baltimore with food, and at this time, especially, food was more valuable in Washington than Baltimore. It was evident that the steamer would be captured at Alexandria if she sailed, and the provisions would go to supply the Virginia troops. I therefore sought Mr. Cameron and found him at about half-past ten o'clock in his room at the War Office. Mr. Cameron looked wearied, as he had a perfect right to after so long a day's work in his office, and on my reporting the information concerning the St. Nicholas, he said : "Well, Colonel, you can seize her as you have the other steamers; but this violent action on the part of the government is sure to create troublesome excitement throughout the country."

I said to him: "Mr. Secretary, why should it cause undue excitement or even surprise? War is made on the government. Has not the government at least the right of self-defense?" Mr. Cameron replied: "Yes, it is all right, but our people are not accustomed to see the government take such violent action, and from Maine to Texas to-morrow morning, the newspapers will discuss nothing but these seizures. Before midnight this news will be flashed all over the country."

I said to him: "Mr. Secretary, why should it be so? Why do you allow it? Do you receive by telegraph any important news from Montgomery or New Orleans or Charleston? Why should one side act as if all were peace, while the other side uses all the rights of war?"

Mr. Cameron reflected a moment and then said: "Colonel Stone, you mean that we should seize the telegraph as well as the steamboats!"

I replied: "Yes, Mr. Secretary, that is exactly what I mean. Nothing should, from this time out, go over the wires from here unless approved by the War Department. We are in a state of war, and should act accordingly.'

Mr. Cameron asked: "Will you do it?" I answered, "Yes, sir! immediately, if you give the order." With a bright look he said, "Do it."

I left his office, drove to the armory of the National Rifles Company commanded by an admirable officer, Captain Smead, and directed him to send twenty men under his first Lieutenant (Davidson) to Seventh Street wharf to seize and occupy the Steamer St. Nicholas, and having seen the detail off

on its mission, I ordered Captain Smead to take with him a squad of ten men and to meet me in ten minutes from that time at the general telegraph office on Pennsylvania Avenue, and should I nod to him, to immediately take possession of the office and allow no despatches to be sent without the authority of the War Department. I then drove to the house of the

President of the transportation company to which the St. Nicholas belonged, informed him of the seizure of the steamer by the government in the interest of his company, and then drove to the telegraph office. Entering the office on the ground floor, where messages were received and sent up to the operators' room by an elevator, I placed myself at the desk and appeared to be preparing a despatch. Hardly was I posted there when Mr. S―n, the reporter of the New York Times, hurriedly entered, holding in his hand a long despatch. He walked to the counter and was about to send off his despatch when he saw me at the desk and turned at once, evidently hoping to get some additional news from the Inspector-General of the District: "Ah, good evening, Colonel, have you any news to-night?" "Yes, indeed, Mr. Sn, plenty of news," and I commenced the story of the Acquia Creek boats. "Oh, yes! I have all that down here in full; but has anything else of importance occurred?" "Yes, a great deal." Just then Mr. Hm, reporter of the New York Herald arrived with a despatch apparently longer than that of Mr. Sn. Mr. Hm, seeing the reporter of the Times in conversation with the Inspector-General rushed up to see to it that the Herald should not be behind the Times in news. Ah, good evening, Colonel! has anything important happened to-night?" "Yes, Mr. H—————m, I was just saying to Mr. Sn," and much to the disgust of Mr. Sn, I recommenced the story of the first two boats. Mr. H hastened to assure me that he was fully posted on the Acquia Creek boats as he had been to the wharf and learned all the particulars. Just then we heard the steady tramp of soldiers outside, and the command "Halt!" in Captain Smead's voice, rang out in front of the door. Captain Smead entered, I gave him a nod of recognition, and he walking up to the counter, laid his hand on it and said: "I take possession of this office in the name of the United States Government. Stop that elevator!"

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Mr. Hm looked at me, then at Mr. S―n, and crying out: "Sold!" he ran out of the door. Surmising that he was about to go up to the operators' room by the front door, I told Captain Smead to hold the lower office and to send a sergeant and three men to the operators' room above to see to it that no instrument was used without authority. Going up to the operators' room I found the Superintendent, who was naturally enough in a state of great excitement and indignation, denouncing my action as one which was outrageous and contrary to the orders of the government, etc., etc. He said a great deal about "fearful responsibility," but I quietly told him that I was fully aware of the responsibility and had assumed it when taking possession. He declared he would go at once and complain to the Secretary of War, if he had to seek him in his own