came in presently, and sat down at the table. A
dark, wiry man, with a highly intellectual face, who had been going over
papers by a lamp in the corner of the room, came forward and saluted.

"Very well, Jarrow. Have you got the mail bag?"

"Yes, sir." He laid upon the table a small, old, war-worn leather
pouch. "It won't hold much, but enough. Headquarters' mail. Service over
the mountain, to the Manassas Gap for the first Richmond train. Profound
ignorance on General Jackson's part of McDowell's whereabouts. The
latter's pickets gobble up courier, and information meant for Richmond
goes to Washington."

"Who is the volunteer, Gold?"

"A boy named Billy Maydew, sir. Company A, 65th. A Thunder Run man."

"He understands that he is to be captured?"

"Yes, sir. Both he and the mail bag, especially the mail bag. After it
is safe prisoner, and he has given a straight story, he can get away if
he is able. There's no object in his going North?"

"None at all. Let me see the contents, Jarrow."

Jarrow spread them on the table. "I thought it best, sir, to include a
few of a general nature--"

"I thought of that. Here are copies of various letters received from
Richmond. They are now of no special value. I will return them with a
memorandum on the packet, 'Received on such a date and now returned.'"
He drew out a packet, tied with red tape. "Run them over, Jarrow."

Jarrow read aloud,--

MOBILE, March 1st, 1862.

HIS EXCELLENCY JEFFERSON DAVIS,
PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA:

_Sir_,--The subject of permitting cotton to leave our Southern ports
clandestinely has had some attention from me, and I have come to the
conclusion that it is a Yankee trick that should have immediate
attention from the Governmental authorities of this country. The
pretence is that we must let it go forward to buy arms and munitions
of war, and I fear the fate of the steamer Calhoun illustrates the
destination of these arms and munitions of war after they are bought
with our cotton. Her commander set her on fire and the Yankees put her
out just in time to secure the prize. This cotton power is a momentous
question--

"Very good. The next, Jarrow."

RICHMOND, VA., February 22d.

HON. J. P. BENJAMIN,
SECRETARY OF WAR:

_Sir_,--I have the honour to state there are now many volunt