HAPTER VIII.

BATTLE OF PAGELAND--A VICTORY TURNED INTO A DEFEAT BY
TREACHERY--DEATH OF GEN. LYON--ON THE TRAIL OF THE KNIGHTS
OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE.

"Sorrow breaks seasons, and reposing hours,
Makes the night morning, and the noontide night."
--Shakespeare

"During the two weeks intervening, Dr. Adams was engaged in carefully
writing from his very full shorthand notes the relation of facts as
given by Uncle Daniel. At the appointed time all were again present,
eager for a continuance of this interesting and remarkable history of
events only a short time past, and yet almost forgotten. When all were
seated Uncle Daniel began:

"The time between the sending of my report to the President of
Gen. Anderson's trip and his answer, with further instructions, was
considerable. Finally, I received a letter from the Secretary of War,
who seemed very much gratified about the information that had been
gathered, as also at the manner in which it had been obtained. He
requested that I send or go myself to Canada and ascertain such further
facts as I could in reference to the conspiracy and the movements of
the conspirators. Gen. Anderson, my son Jackson, and myself held a
consultation as to my going. They thought the undertaking too hazardous
for me to attempt, and finally Jackson proposed that he would go
himself, saying that it would be at least two months before Gen.
Anderson could again take the field for active operations; in the
meantime he (Jackson) could be profitably employed in this business for
the Government. This was agreed upon as the better course to pursue.
Jackson was at once given all the secrets of the Circle as far as
the General knew them. He studied the passwords, signs, and their
instructions until the General pronounced him sufficiently well informed
for a first class conspirator. And as soon as he could get himself in
readiness he started for Montreal, C. E., by way of New York. During
all this time the Circle had been busily at work, and the excitement was
increasing all over the country.

"The alarm for fear of the enemy in our rear was producing such a
condition of things as to endanger the safety of the people every
where in the West, and at this time much encouragement was given to
our enemies at home by the many failures of our armies in the East. The
army, as before stated, had been put under a new commander, Gen. Pike,
and the displeasure created among the ranking