o you remember a conversation we had at my rooms the
night before I left Nashua for the East?'
"'Very distinctly, General; I was much impressed by what you then
said as to your views in reference to crushing this rebellion within a
certain time, and the mode to be adopted for the accomplishment of this
end.'
"'Well, we will do it within the time mentioned. But do you remember my
asking you if you believed in dreams, and if you had ever seen anything
that you could not explain or understand?'
"'Yes, General, I well remember that also.'
"'Well, sir, I desire to make a confidant of you in this particular. I
do not wish what I say known at this time.'
"'You can do so; I will not betray your confidence.'
"'I intended telling the President to-day,' continued Gen. Silent,
'but was so taken up with other matters that I forgot it; and I feel a
strange kind of superstition that I may not see him again. He and I are
both in great danger, but I feel that I can protect myself better than
he can himself. I do not desire to tell this story to any of my family,
as I do not want them, or either of them, to become superstitious. It is
so easy for any of us to become so. I find even the President, as strong
a man as he is, somewhat so inclined.'
"Gen. Anderson said: 'I am surprised at this. I did not suppose he was
so; but many strong people are, and many claim to have cause for being
so.'
"Gen. Anderson then related my wife's dream to Gen. Silent, and told him
Peters interpretation of it, and said six of her sons were now dead--one
only (Henry) remaining alive.
"At this Gen. Silent became melancholy, and quietly responded, ''Tis
strange, indeed!' He then related to Gen. Anderson the fact of his
having seen a strange form in the night-time while under a tree at
Chatteraugus; also, the night that he met him at Nashua, as well as in
the night near his quarters while fighting the battle of the Chaparral,
its indications at Chatteraugus, and its indications to him at Nashua
and in the Chaparral. He said:
"'I have also seen the same spectral form to-night, saying to me: "Move
to the left rapidly; the enemy are all in your hands, and in half a moon
all will be prisoners." Gen. Anderson, what is this? Am I dreaming,
or am I laboring under some disease of the mind? I hope you will speak
freely to me as to what you think. I could not keep it longer. I must
tell some one. I feared I was becoming broken down in my brain power,-
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