especially to attend the meeting of the leading Knights of the Golden
Circle, who were soon to meet at St. Catharines, in Canada, and send
through me, without delay, his report. The President inquired very
particularly about all our family, including Gen. Anderson and Jackson.
He also desired to know what had become of James Whitcomb and his
sister. Henry explained fully about them all, and when he mentioned that
Seraine was his wife, the President shook his hand most heartily, and
told him that he was a very fortunate man.

"When Henry returned home and had sufficient time for rest we held a
consultation, and agreed to the following plan: Henry was to start at
once with his wife for Detroit, leave her with her parents, and pass
over to Windsor, and there, in company with Wintergreen, visit all
places that Wintergreen might suggest, and then go to St. Catharines
to the meeting arranged for the delegates from the Golden Circle of the
Northern States; that when he had obtained information of any value, he
was to return to Detroit, write his report in full, give it to his wife
Seraine, and she was to come in person with it to me."

"She was a jewel," said Dr. Adams.

"Yes," said Col. Bush; "there were but few like her."

Uncle Daniel continued: "Our lines of communication now being safely
established, we were all anxious for Henry's departure; therefore, Henry
and Seraine left for Detroit, leaving all of us almost heartbroken to
be forced to give them up. But the hope of seeing them very soon again
reconciled us to some extent. The two children said they loved their
Aunty Seraine so much that they did not wish her to go away any more.
After they were gone, it now being far into the Winter--in fact, Spring
was approaching--Gen. Anderson said he felt that he could again take
the field and perform his duty without endangering his health, and
therefore must make preparations for returning to his command. We tried
to dissuade him from it, but it was of no avail, so the next day he told
the family that he should leave very soon. In the conversation he said
that he had felt all the time that there was a void in his military
family that could not easily be filled. He felt the loss of Capt. Day
very much, but said he would try James Whitcomb thoroughly and had
great hopes of him. Aunt Martha was near by and heard what was said. She
immediately hunted up Ham and said: 'Marsa Gen'l is gwine off to fight
dem Sesh agin, and I 'spe