decks, as you must know that
these secret matters about how information was obtained of which we were
coming in possession, other than in the ordinary course of things, was
not told to the whole household. Before proceeding, however, we asked
him to tell us who was in the barn at the farm the day before, that had
so alarmed Ham. He laughed and said it was his partner; so we dropped
further inquiry, but did not tell Ham.

"Joseph Dent said he attended the Circle the night before, as he had
promised, and that they were in great trouble. They had been advised
that the agents would not be needed for the present; that some scheme
that was on foot had been postponed, and that a consultation was to be
held in order to come to an understanding as to what course was to be
pursued. He said a man who was a stranger to him stated that two of
their principal men who were to carry out the scheme (whatever it might
be) had been sent to Europe, and that this left them in a condition so
that they could not proceed until they could work up their plan; that
their plan or scheme was being matured by the men, who were to obtain
their material in England; that it could not be done here without
suspicion being aroused. This, he said, was all that was said or done.
So you see, this meeting evidently had reference to some desperate
undertaking, of which their leaders in Indiana seemed to be posted as
to the fact that something was to be done, without knowing the details.
This proved to us that they had communication one lodge with another
all over the country, and also with the heads of the conspiracy,
and therefore we would have to take every precaution in all of our
movements; but as we acted only through persons that we could trust with
our lives, we considered the matter comparatively safe, and were very
sure that we would be able to post the President at all times as to what
might be danger in the way of our success.

"The next day, when the family were informed that the General, Capt.
Jackson and Capt. Day must leave us, our house again became a scene of
distress. My wife cried all day long. Mary Anderson was nearer breaking
down than I had ever seen her since we heard that the General (then a
Colonel) was killed at Dolensburg. Jennie also nearly gave way. The two
children begged them most piteously not to go away to fight (as they
termed it) any more.

"Ham seemed rather serious, and did not relish the renewal of his
acquaintance wit