Mr.Stokes, being a leading Democrat, argued against the right of the North to use force for the preservation of the Union.

He gave vent to sentiments which caused me to lose my self-control, and I exclaimed: "Mr.Stokes, we shall be hanging men like you in less than six weeks." I hear his laugh as I write, and his voice calling to his wife in the adjoining room: "Nancy, Nancy, listen to this young Scotch devil.

He says they will be hanging men like me in less than six weeks." Strange things happened in those days.

A short time after, that same Mr.Stokes was applying to me in Washington to help him to a major's commission in the volunteer forces.

I was then in the Secretary of War's office, helping to manage the military railroads and telegraphs for the Government.