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CHAPTER
XXVI.
Evacuation of Richmond.
—The Doctor's Arrest, Detention
and Release. —Col.
Trowbridge. —Maj.
Standish. —His
Return to Horse Pasture.
—The Raid.
Thus passed the winter of 1864-'65. The Doctor was happy in the
consciousness that he was doing some good and making himself useful to his
fellow men. His only drawback was, we heard nothing from our mother and
daughter, and the already heavy burden of his debt was daily growing
heavier. He never fretted or complained, but bore his enforced exile
patiently.
I am sure that for several months he had not believed the
South would succeed. He thought the odds against her too formidable and
her resources too limited. Her soldiers were on half rations most of the
time, and their ranks were being depleted by death and capture.
The 1st of April, Richmond was evacuated, and President Davis
and the cabinet halted at Danville. The news of the fall of Richmond
traveled fast, and penetrated even to our secluded home. As soon as the
Doctor learned that it was really so, he left Bro. Spencer's to go to
Danville, consult with Gen. John B. Clark, Vest, and Hatch, of Missouri,
as to the prospect of the Confederacy. When he had learned that, he could
decide what was best to be done.
He left Horse Pasture the morning of April 9th. He had
received grapevine dispatches that Stoneman with his command was coming
from Christiansburg, on
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his way to North Carolina to join the Federal forces coming from the
South. This hastened the Doctor's departure.
He had not been gone more than two hours before we learned
that he must have ridden right into the Federal lines. Gen. Stoneman,
having heard that there was a small Confederate force at Henry
Court-house, sent around a portion of his command under Col. Trowbridge to
drive them out.
I will give Dr. Hopson's account of his trip:
"I was riding along in no enviable mood, thinking of the
uncertain future and of my separated family. As I neared the courthouse, I
noticed some, soldiers sitting on the fence by the roadside. They were in
their skirt sleeves, and as I rode on, some one cried, 'Halt!' I said,
'All right,' and continued on my way. Again the word rang out, 'Halt, I
tell you!' and another argument in the shape of an army musket induced me
to obey the command. I still did not comprehend why I should be halted
this far from the army. I began to look round, and saw four soldiers, and
soon discovered that some of them had on blue coats instead of gray. I
knew then that I was in the hands of the Federals. One of them said, 'Get
down off that horse.' I said, 'All right,' and dismounted. Another, 'Come
out of them spurs.' I took my gold spurs (a present from Dr. C. K.
-Marshall, of Atlanta,) off and gave them to him. 'Hand over that watch,'
said a third, and I handed it. I took my saddle and blanket off my horse,
and as I laid it down I asked the fourth man, who had not said anything,
if there was anything he would like to have. He said no, he did not want
anything. Just at this juncture an old darkey walked up and said to the
soldiers: 'What for you take dat man's horse? He's a preacher. Lives up to
mas' Harrison Spencer's. He's the best preacher in dis country.' The
fourth man then turned and asked me, 'Are you a preacher of the gospel?' I
told him I was. 'Why didn't you say so before?' 'Because I thought it
would be worse for me.' 'Well, if you will go with us to headquarters you
will get back your watch and spurs.' I had no choice and went, with my
saddle and blanket thrown over my shoulder.
"I was taken at once before Col. Trowbridge. Dr. Ramey, a
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warm friend of mine, who had known my grandfather and father, and who was
the one Union man in Henry C. H., happened to he present. Col. Trowbridge
asked me who I was. I told him. He wanted to know how I happened to have
on a Confederate gray uniform. I told him we had only two colors in the
South—gray and butternut—and
I preferred the gray. He said he thought it showed good taste. Dr. Ramey
corroborated my statements in regard to my profession, and that my home
for six months had been in the country, and I had been preaching and
teaching all the time.
"I then ventured to ask for my watch and horse. He asked me
to point out the man who had my watch. I did so, and it was returned to
me. I was so anxious about my horse I forgot my spurs. I then said,
'Colonel, I would like my horse, as it is really my means of support. I am
compelled to have it to go to my appointments twenty miles apart.' 'Dr.
Hopson, you can not have your horse. We need horses very much, and yours
seems to be a fine one, and I shall be compelled to keep him.' I saw the
case was desperate, but determined not to give it up readily. I said:
'Col. Trowbridge, you are an old army officer and was with Gen. Robert E.
Lee in the Mexican war, and I know you are too much of a gentleman to take
a poor preacher's horse.' The Colonel looked at me a moment and said: 'How
did you know all this? You have done some good talking, but I can not let
you have your horse.' 'You'll give him to me, Colonel, I am sure.' 'You'll
see,' said he.
"Just then Dr. Ramey and Maj. Standish, who was
Quartermaster, I think, came up to where we were talking. Colonel
Trowbridge said: 'Maj. Standish, see what that horse is suitable for.' The
Major walked round the horse, examined him closely, and told one of the
men to throw the saddle on. As soon as the saddle touched his back the
horse became very restive. The Major found a sore on his back as large as
a dollar. I always put a thick pad under the saddle, with a hole in it, so
as to protect the place when I rode, but when I took the saddle off, the
pad was lost. Maj. Standish said to the Colonel: 'This horse will not do
for a pack horse, his hack is too sore; and he is too heavily built for a
cavalry horse.' ' Very well; let the gentleman have his horse.' 'Thank
you, Colonel. I told you that you would let me have my horse.' 'If he had
been fit for service you would
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not have got him back. I assure you. "I can go now, Colonel?' 'No, you can
not leave here for twenty-four hours.'
"Dr. Ramey invited me to go home with him, which I did.
He and Maj. Standish accompanied me. As we were walking along, the Major
said: 'Dr. Hopson, Dr. Ramey tells me you are a minister in the Disciples'
church. Do you know
Isaac Errett,
of Cincinnati ?' 'Very well.' 'Well, he used to live in Michigan, and he
baptized my wife and daughters. To tell you the truth, he did me, too, but
I have got a bit demoralized in the army; but my wife and daughters are
good Christians. I think my wife will forgive me a few wrong things when I
let her know I saved one of her preachers his horse. Your horse is a very
fine horse, and we needed him; but you have got him—try
and keep him.' I certainly felt very grateful to the Major for his
kindness. The loss of my horse would have been a serious one to me at that
time."
The following day he was allowed to leave for home.
On Saturday night we learned from a servant that the soldiers
would pass Bro. Spencer's on Sunday morning, on their way back to join
their command. I was up by sunrise, watching to see the approach. At eight
o'clock we saw the column advancing over the hill, nearly two miles away.
The blue line and glittering sabers looked formidable in the bright
sunlight. I presumed the Doctor was a prisoner, and would be in the
approaching line. I was certain I should easily recognize the gallant gray
horse and his rider among a thousand. The horse was raised on the place,
and would likely desire to call.
By nine o'clock the long line began to file past in the road
a hundred yards down the hill. I watched in vain for the horse and rider I
wanted; nothing answering the description was in sight. At length, just as
the column was more than half past the house, I saw sixty of the colored
troops leave the command, and, wheeling
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their horses out of the line, they came galloping up to the house. To say
I was frightened, would express my feelings very feebly.
I rushed down stairs and into Sister Spencer's room, which by
this time was filled with soldiers. If there had been a single white man
among them, I should not have been so frightened; but there was not one.
Just then I espied Dr. Ramey's dining-room servant, whom I knew, and
thought I would venture to ask him if he had seen anything of Dr. Hopson.
He said certainly; he stayed all night with his master the night before,
and would leave at noon, after all the troops had got fairly off; but he
did not know where the Doctor was going. I felt some relief in knowing he
was safe, at least.
At that moment Bro. Spencer came into the house, and said to
the soldiers, "Boys, the liquor is in the smoke house." They dropped the
keys, and followed him out of the house. By the time they had filled some
of their canteens with apple brandy, and the remainder with sorghum
molasses, and secured each one a piece of bacon, a ham, or a shoulder, the
receding line of troops warned them that they had better he going; and we
were left in peace. I went to bed ill from fright and anxiety. About six
o'clock that evening, a servant belonging to a neighbor came to the house
to bring me tidings of the Doctor. When he left Henry Court-house, he made
a wide detour, to avoid falling in with the soldiers again, and on Sunday
evening reached a high hill commanding a view of Bro. Spencer's house,
about six miles away. He got the boy to come to let me know he would come
home in the morning, when he would not be apprehensive of further trouble.
I felt so relieved and thankful that it was as well with us all as it was!
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