stead of turning them in to the post-quartermaster as Captain Von Otto had suggested, Lieutenant Westbrook placed our rifles in the wagons. After three days march we arrived at Cedar Creek. The battery was placed in camp; I then reported to Lieutenant Colonel Sweeney, commanding the 32d O. V. I. then at Cedar Creek. The colonel was a West Point man but his poor health had interfered with his field service. When I explained how I had been relieved and my company given to a foreigner he was indignant and said, "I have had no notice of this nor that your company has been detached from my command, and I order you to report with your men to your place in the regiment."

CHAPTER 7.

Arrested by Order of General Fremont. Winchester and Harper's Ferry. - First Battalion, Ninth Ohio Cavalry.

This I did, and as I expected, General Fremont had the company ordered back to Captain Von Otto and issued an order placing me in arrest. I was given three days in which to prepare for trial for disobedience of orders. Colonel Sweeney took me to the headquarters of our brigade commander, General J. Saunders Piatt, where we met the general and his adjutant, Colonel Don Piatt, the well known writer and war correspondent. To both of them I gave a detailed statement of what had occurred. They became deeply interested and sent to General Fremont's headquarters for a copy of the order depriving me of my command and giving it to Captain Von Otto.

A feeling existed throughout the army that the foreign element was having too much influence with Fremont. The pompous and ceremonial style of most of these adventurers was more in keeping with that of a foreign court than of an American camp. Our officers were becoming sick of it, and often when returning from business interviews at headquarters they could be heard repeating that wicked formula, "Damn the Dutch." Much interest was aroused when

my case became known and it was intimated that perhaps the General might do well to look after his own affairs.

I received plenty of assistance in preparing my defence. On the morning of the day set for the trial we noticed the General's splendid escort of 100 men standing by their horses in line in front of headquarters. A negro in charge of his magnificent white horse stood at the head of the line. Soon General Fremont appeared in full uniform with sword buckled by his side. At a given signal the bugler sounded the call to mount. All as one man sprang into saddles, and as the bugle sounded, "Fours right into column, March", they followed their leader at a gallop. And thus the flag of the General passed over the hill toward Washington and was seen in the valley no more, for the President had relieved him of his command. Fremont was too radical for the times and lacked the patience of Lincoln.

My friends and I went back to headquarters. General Schenck of Ohio, the ranking general, had already been placed in command. At the proper time I reported for trial. He asked what the case was. When I told him, he looked at the entry docket, and told me the case was dismissed and that I was to resume the command of my company in the regiment.

The next day being the 4th of July, our brigade celebrated by reading the Declaration of Independence on the field where, later on, the defeat of an army was to be turned into victory by the arrival of a single