upon a broad and continental basis. My offending has this extent. No more.

Please excuse so much about myself. Your message seemed to make it not only proper but almost necessary for your own correct understanding of my true position in these matters. With sentiments of the highest esteem toward you and kindest regards toward your mother, I remain, Yours Truly,

ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.

Oct. 10. Dreamed of the Hon. Solomon G. Haven. He was in Congress with me. He died since the war. Dreamed of the Hon. Francis H. Cone who has been dead some time. Last night Captain Allen, of the fort, called and sat with us. He is from Buffalo. We talked of Haven, who was once Mayor of Buffalo.

Linton made a communication to me to-day which deeply impresses me. What it was I will not state here

further than that it was in relation to his future life.

The evening boat now leaves Boston at 3 and gets here at 4. Tomcat has become quite domesticated again. Yesterday Linton tried an experiment in seeing how much Tom could eat. He ate all we left from dinner, and still looked for more.

Oct. II. Letter from John A. Stephens stating that all are well. The freedmen, from his account, were doing well. He and Major Henly Smith were candidates for the Convention.* The letter was dated 30th September; the election was to take place on the 4th October; so I suppose John is elected, of which, if so, I shall be truly glad. Linton sent his letter to Mrs.

* Called under President Johnson's proclamation providing for restoration of the State to its constitutional relations with the Federal Government."

Salter to-day. By boat we got the papers, nothing in them except the Journal which states that Dr. Seaverns, of this post, and several other surgeons, are to be mustered out of service. The Tribune expresses the hope of Reagan's and my early release. The New York Day Book sends an extract that I wished to see, a published letter by Lieut. Newton, of this fort, about me. It makes out a very good case of treatment toward me. I am "furnished meals from the officers' mess." I am furnished at my own expense. This is very kind, indeed. My room is comfortably supplied. This, too, and all else I get here, except soldiers' fare and soldiers' rations, is at my own expense. I do not consider it very humane to imprison a man and impoverish him by allowing him to spend what he has while depriving him of all power to make more, or even to save what he has made.

Received a suit of clothes, presented by Pierce and Bacon, of Boston; vest and pants came to-day; the coat, cap, and shawl yesterday. Also by express an overcoat from New York, sent by Mr. L. W. Harris, of Carter, Kirkland & Co., and presented, he says, by Thos. F. Hooker, formerly of Rome, Ga., and now of Aberdeen, Miss.

T

CHAPTER XXVII

HURSDAY, Oct. 12.-This never-to-be-forgotten day of the week is again upon me. It is a blustering morning. Linton went up by

the boat.

Soon, Dr. Seaverns appeared and stated that orders had come for my release. Major Livermore soon followed with the telegram. It embraced Judge Reagan and myself. So, I am again free as far as personal locomotion is concerned. It is just twenty-two weeks to the day since the first keys were turned upon me as a prisoner. What events come to me on Thursday! Major Livermore said he would give me a copy of the order. Meantime I see in the Boston Post the General Order embracing Judge Campbell, General Clark, Judge Reagan, myself, and Trenholm. I wish Linton were here. Wrote letters to John A. Stephens, C. T. Bruen, S. J. Anderson, Lieut. W. H. Woodman.

Linton returned by the evening boat. He, Reagan, and I took a last evening walk on the rampart. Dr. Seaverns called after supper and sat some time.

Oct. 13. I rose early and now make this last entry. I expect to start by this evening's boat for my dear home. It is a long and hazardous trip for me, beset with many dangers, and I am beset in the outset with many anxieties concerning many things. But, O God, in whom I put my trust, deliver me from all evil!

CRAWFORDVILLE, GA., Oct. 27, 1865-Thanks be to the Giver of all good, the Father of all mercies, and the Bestower of all blessings, I am once more at home! I am sitting in the same room and at the same table from which I arose to suffer arrest on the 11th of May. As a sequel to this Journal, I record briefly some of the incidents intervening between my departure from Fort Warren and my reaching home, yesterday, Thursday:

On the 13th of October, Linton, Judge Reagan, and I left Fort Warren at 4, on the William Shand, the regular evening boat. I gave Corporal Geary my bedding and room furniture and nearly all the things that I had had brought there for my use and comfort, except books and wearing apparel. The amount paid by me for these articles was about $100. Linton gave him $10 in currency. I gave Major Livermore my copy of Greeley's "American Conflict"; Lieut. Newton my Prescott's "Conquest of Mexico"; Dr. Seaverns my Robertson's "Sermons," Greek Testament, lexicon, etc. To Corporal Geary I gave my copy of Burns's "Poems" and wrote him a friendly farewell letter. All the officers of the fort and all the men seemed kind in feeling toward me, and all who met with me took a friendly leave. Mrs. Livermore was sick, I did not see her, but addressed her a note. I saw Mrs. Seaverns, the doctor, Mrs. Harrington, Captain Baldwin and Mrs. Baldwin. Lieuts. Niebuhr and Newton accompanied us to Boston. Linton was quite unwell and hardly able to attend to anything. I packed all his clothes and felt very badly on his account. We slept at the Revere House, where rooms had been ordered for us by friends in Boston.

It was about 6, and a little after dark when we reached Boston. Great numbers of persons called to see us

at the Revere House, amongst them Mrs. Salter and Dr. Salter. Linton and I had a room to ourselves, and Reagan one to himself. Mrs. Salter brought me an invitation from Mr. Thos. W. Pierce to spend Saturday and Sunday at his country place. Saturday morning I bought two trunks and packed all our things, carpetbags and all, in them.

Sunday-Went out to Mr. Pierce's Saturday night, Judge Reagan with me. Linton remained at the Revere House; was better when we left him than on the previous evening. We went by train some 25 miles, starting at 5 p. m., and reaching Pierce's about 7.30. Mr. Pierce is a relation of ex-President Pierce, and a gentleman of wealth and great generosity. He has a beautiful place at Topsfield; is a merchant and was worth about four million before the war. He had large interests at the South and may lose a good deal there. Saturday night there was a heavy fall of rain. It was greatly needed; there had been an unusual drought throughout New England. I told our host that our welcome had brought the long-prayed for rain. Several gentlemen were invited to meet us at dinner, but in the storm which has continued all day, no one came except Mr. Edward Pierce, our host's brother, and the Hon. Mr. Hillard,* who drove out from Boston in spite of the weather; no trains run on Sunday.

We spent a pleasant day at Topsfield. It is a famous spot. Here is where the witches lived; and where two old women, whose names I forget, were arrested for witchcraft. The stone-pile on the road where, it was charged,

Reference probably to G. S. Hillard, lawyer, legislator, author and journalist. U. S. District Attorney for Mass., 1866-70; or Francis Hilliard, jurist, legislator, and author may be

meant.