Benson J. Lossing, Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War. Volume 1.

[133] “I have sent for you, Hart,” Mrs. Anderson said, “to ask you to do me a favor.” “Any thing Mrs. Anderson wishes, I will do,” was his prompt reply. “But,” she said, “it may be more than you imagine.” “Any thing Mrs. Anderson wishes,” he again replied. “I want you to go with me to Fort Sumter,” she said. Hart looked toward Margaret for a moment, and then promptly responded, “I will go, Madam.” “But, Hart,” continued the earnest woman, “I want you to stay with the Major. You will leave your family and give up a good situation.” Hart again glanced inquiringly at Margaret and then quickly replied, “I will go, Madam.” “But, Margaret,” Mrs. Anderson said, turning to Hart's wife, “What do you say?” “Indade, Ma'am, and it's Margaret's

Peter Hart.

sorry she can't do as much for you as Pater can,” was the warm-hearted woman's reply. “When will you go, Hart?” asked Mrs. Anderson. “To-night, Madam, if you wish,” replied her true and abiding friend. “Be here to-morrow night at six o'clock,” said Mrs. Anderson, “and I will be ready. Good-by, Margaret.”

All things were speedily arranged. The two travelers were to take only a satchel each for the journey. Hart was to play the part of a servant to Mrs. Anderson, and to be ready, at all times, to second her every word and act. What difficulties and trials awaited them, no one knew. The brave, patriotic, loving woman did not care. It was enough for her to know that her husband and country were in peril, and she was seeking to serve them.

The travelers left New York on Thursday evening, the 3d of January.

1861.

None but her good physician — not even the nurse of her children-knew their destination. She was completely absorbed with the subject of her errand. They traveled without intermission until their arrival in Charleston, late on Saturday night. She neither ate, drank, nor slept during that time. From the Cape Fear to Charleston, she was the only woman in the railway train, which was filled with rough men hurrying to Charleston to join in an attack on Fort Sumter. They were mostly shaggy haired, brutal, and profane, who became drunken and noisy, and filled the cars with tobacco-smoke. “Can't you prevent their smoking here?” she gently asked the conductor. His only reply was, “Wal, I reckon they'll have to smoke.” Her appeal to two rough men in front of her was more successful. With sweet voice, that touched the chords of their better nature, she said, “Will you please to throw away your cigars? they make me so sick.” One of them glanced at the speaker, and said to his companion, “Let's do it; she's a lady.” During the remainder of the journey these rude men were very respectful. In that train of cars, Mrs. Anderson was compelled to hear her husband cursed with the most horrid oaths, and threatened with savage violence should he fall into the hands of the exasperated mob. But she endured all heroically.

It was late in the evening when they reached Charleston. When the drunken soldiers were carried out, she asked an agent at the station for a